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

When is shaking hands inappropriate? When Conservatives say so!

The latest Conservative outcry over President Obama shaking hands with President Chavez, is so stupid that I can't believe people are really getting upset over it. Blogs are having a banner day with this latest obstructionist tactic.

Newt Gingrich, one of many carnival barkers for the Republican Party, was on CNN this morning whining and claiming that Obama shouldn't go around shaking hands with other world leaders who are not in lock-step with America. I guess he's forgotten about President Nixon's visit to China, when they were our open enemy, or President Reagan going to Communist occupied Berlin to thaw out relations between the two countries.

Short-term memory, and no recollections, seem to plague those Conservatives that are making this world goodwill tour by Obama seem to be a negative thing.

Apparently history means nothing to a party that is looking for any way to attack Obama. Their efforts are pathetic and only encourage more polarization in this country.

THE NEW YORK TIMES  has an article this morning about Obama meeting with Western Hemisphere Leaders, and talks about his encounter with Chavez.

MEDIA MATTERS FOR AMERICA has a video of Fox New's response to the now controversial handshake.

FOREIGN POLICY BLOG has this take on Obama's visit.

photo via The New Yorks Times  

Lakers Win game 1 vs Jazz, 113-100 - 'Momma who was that man?'

Trevor Ariza baffles Ronnie Brewer on the way to scoring a career high 21 points in playoff action.

Ariza was a force the Jazz just couldn't contain, shooting 8-18 from the field, 2 assists, and 4 rebounds in 33 minutes of play. Kobe was "the Man" as usual with 24 points, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 4 rebounds in 39 minutes of play.

I'm not counting the Jazz out however. Any team coached by Jerry Sloan is going to be competitive. The Lakers have to be careful of letting their guard down with big leads. I expect Game Two will be even more physical as the Jazz try to make this a series. THE LA TIMES describes the game in more detail.

Why am I posting all this info about the LA LAKERS? It's quit simple. I've been a fan since they moved to LA for the 1960-61 season with their star Elgin Baylor! When they drafted Jerry West that season I became an immediate fan of his tough, and clutch, play. His likeness being used as the NBA Logo is no mistake.

So....fair warning. There will be future posts on my favorite team since I was eleven!

Photo via Chris Carlson/Associated Press

Today's As It Stands: Somali thugs need to answer for their crimes!

 The world needs to quit enabling Somali pirates (criminals) in their ransom business.

It's hard to believe that the entire world can be held hostage by a bunch of youthful Somali criminals, but it's been happening now for nearly two decades!

Today's "As It Stands" column in The Times-Standard deals with the issue head-on.

Forget coddling these criminals! They need to reap the whirlwind for the seeds they sowed. All countries have to have accountability for the action of their inhabitants, and Somali is no exception.

IT'S TIME TO STOP SOMALI CRIMINALS FROM HOLDING THE WORLD'S SHIPPING HOSTAGE

By Dave Stancliff

The crimes will continue until someone gets proactive.

Without any warning your house is filled with angry bees!

You run outside to escape the sudden influx of buzzing insects. Something needs to be done about them, or you will to have to move! What to do?

Get an expert on beekeeping. This expert will go right to the source -- the beehive -- and either move it or destroy it so you can safely go back into your house.

Sounds simple and reasonable don't you think? Then why is the whole world unable to deal with the Somali criminals (pirates sounds too romantic) who attack the ships of every nation and hold the crews for ransom?

TO READ THE REST

OF THIS COLUMN

CLICK HERE.

Graphic via www.whiteafrican.com

Can Superman Save The Newspaper Industry? If not, 'As It Stands' has some tried and true ideas for struggling newspapers

Fair warning...I have a column coming up that strips away any pretenses about the current state of the newspaper industry, and offers hope for those who go with some tried and true business advise. There are options. So keep the faith readers.

To check out some more Horsey cartoons, click here or here.

Cartoon via the Houston Chronicle's Texas On The Potomac Online magazine

Going Treasure hunting for Sea Glass along the California Coast

My wife and I are planning on going down the coast to the Ft. Bragg area soon, to explore the beaches there. I hear there's one beach that contains a lot of sea glass. Where does sea glass come from? Brace yourself...trash. Many years of broken bottles and other glass objects that were tossed into the sea, and smoothed over by the friction of the waves and rocks. The sea offers up these specimens when the tides are right.

 We went to a beach in Kauai last April that had sea glass, but the surroundings were industrial and depressing, so we didn't stay long searching for good specimens.

We were watching a Discovery Channel segment that showed people who used sea glass in their art. They went to special little coves along the San Francisco coast that were only accessible during certain times of the day, to get great pieces of sea glass. The people had to run out, scoop up what they could, and run back before a wave smacked into them!

One of the places was only accessible by kayak. For many years art glass scraps had been thrown into the ocean by an art colony there and the resulting pieces of sea glass are really beautiful...and expensive. Yes, certain pieces of sea glass can be worth a lot of money!

We discovered the most desirable colors were orange and red, both rare, and thus expensive. The prettier pieces are made into jewelry that can sell for astronomic prices. Maybe we'll find a gem in the rough next weekend!

Sand grains from around the world are mixed together like a pouch full of gems in this photo. The sand grains are from Maui, Hawaii, Japan, California, Ireland, Bermuda, and Minnesota.

Where would a person find a such a close-up of sand grains? Step right up and go to www.sandgrains.com to see some beautiful examples of other sands, and artwork by Gary Greenberg who explores images through a microscope.

Here's the story of a newspaper that's thriving in today's economy

 Just when you thought there was no hope for newspapers survival in this tough economy there comes an exception to the norm. Whatever the Real Change Newspaper is doing right, it should be noted by other publications in the industry. Is this the new business model for journalism in the 21st Century? See what you think.

 Real Change newspaper wins national award,

wins national awards and readers

  At a time when traditional media is in the doldrums, it's not often you get an upbeat story about newspapering. This is one of those times.

  Seattle's Real Change newspaper, best known for its cadre of homeless street-corner vendors, is growing dramatically.

  Its circulation jumped 41 percent in the last two years alone, according to executive director Timothy Harris, up to 17,000 weekly.

On top of that, the newspaper's journalism recently won national recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists for a story on the life and death of a man who jumped from the Aurora Bridge. The award is an especially big deal for a paper with a newsroom staff of three.

To read the whole article in the Seattle Times click here.

Photo via KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES

I've always been fascinated with surreal art: here's some nice examples

Erik Johansson's portfolio is worth checking out for more looney and surreal images.

Domino's plans to file a civil lawsuit against piggy pranksters!

  A blogger from "Wandaphull World" probably regrets she ran a video of the two pigs working in A Domino's Pizza. She talks about the clowns who didn't leave the world laughing...

"Remember the video I posted a couple days ago of the two employees doing just ungodly things with people Pizza, well Johnny Law snatched and grab them, I hope someone spits and sneezes on their ass like they did to people food:"

Kristy Lynn Hammonds, 31, and Michael Anthony Setzer, 32, have each been charged with distributing prohibited foods — the same North Carolina statute that forbids any tampering with Halloween candy, police said.The pair, who called themselves “Michael” and “Kristy,” were fired immediately after the video surfaced and turned themselves in to police Wednesday.Setzer was later released under $7,500 bond, while Hammonds remained in jail under a similar bond. Both reportedly have court dates set for Thursday.The pizza delivery giant said it was stunned when the footage surfaced.Employees characterized the stunt as a prank, and Domino’s said the filthy food was never served.

But a spokeswoman said the company “was not in a forgive-and-forget mood,” the BBC reported, thus, taking the extra step to file a criminal complaint.Domino’s apologized for the actions of “Michael” and “Kristy” and said the videos marred “the hard work performed by the 125,000 men and women working for Domino’s” in the United States and all over the world. The company also said it plans to file a civil lawsuit against the pranksters.

"Please, I dont give a damn what they say,  I am traumatized for life and Dominoes don’t ever have to worry about seeing my face anywhere near their establishments…."

FROM THE SMOKING GUN THIS MORNING WE FIND OUT THAT ONE OF THE PRANKSTERS-Kristy Lynn Hammonds, IS A SEX OFFENDER!

Here's the story.

Meet Akiyoshi Kitaoka - you won't believe your eyes!

Akiyoshi Kitaoka is a famous creator of moving illusions. That is, they seem to move but they don't.
Warning : this illusion is so strong that sensitive observers might feel sick.

This is an example of one of the most famous of Kitaoka's posters: Rotating Snakes !

 

Story and Image via darkroastedblend.com

Eureka Tea Party protests everything from taxes to gun control

Yesterday's national call from Conservative groups and organizations to protest taxes, brought out an interesting crowd of about 200 people, according to today's Times-Standard. The photo shown here is from the Times-Standard's front page. As you can see, some people had fun dressing up in historical costumes, while others aired grievances ranging from taxes to gun-control.

On a day that was supposed to be a grass-roots effort to protest taxes, there were conservative talk-show hosts and radio personalities financially-backed by Conservative organizations, who used the event to attack the Obama administration's stance on gun control and other issues unrelated to taxes.

I talked with two people yesterday who attended the event in Eureka. They told me people were talking about gun control, capitalism, corporate greed, reclaiming their country from the liberals, and environmental issues such as global warming.

My impression is the event was an opportunity to air grievances of all kinds. Watching the news on television this morning, I noticed the signs people were carrying (in different cities) were not all about taxation. A whole litany of other complaints got air time yesterday.

I can't remember how many times I've seen protests on Tax Day in the past. This year however, there was an eclectic assortment of issues relating to the economy (no surprise there-we're in a recession). Despite that, comparatively speaking, the protests weren't that well attended. A few big cities had crowds in the thousands. It wasn't the massive mandate against Liberals that Conservatives were hoping would happen.

That doesn't mean the Conservatives are going to give up. They're probably already working on the next event to stir up dissent in this country. They will continue to attack the Obama Administration, and Democrats in general, until they get back in office. They don't care if they have polarized segments of America. The only thing they care about is regaining power, tearing down financial market regulations, and restoring a system that favors the wealthy.

I have no problem with any of the demonstrations that were really grass roots events. I think ours in Humboldt was a microcosm of many others in rural communities. People took the opportunity to protest whatever bothered them. No one likes taxation, so what better day than to hold a tea party than April 15th? I respect that. It's when the neo-cons try to slip their agendas into an event like this that bothers me. They're wolves in sheep's clothing, waiting to capitalize on any dissent to use as a springboard for their ideology.

As It Stands, it was "A tempest in a teapot" brewed by desperate Conservatives.

Homeland Security report on extremism gets flack from veteran's groups

Right-wing Extremism noted in Homeland Security report suggests veterans could be recruited by extremists groups. It also suggests that there's a resurgence in radicalization and recruitment by right-wing groups in America today... 

Homeland security chief Napolitano defends agency assessment of right wing extremist risks

By Associated Press/in the Chicago Tribune

Homeland security chief Napolitano defends agency assessment of right wing extremist risks

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Thursday a report warning that military veterans could be prone to joining right wing extremism was a routine assessment giving a "situational awareness" of potential threats.
Napolitano defended the internal agency intelligence report against a crescendo of criticism during a series of interviews on network news shows as she toured the troubled U.S.-Mexican border.
Asked about the report's assertion that some U.S. military veterans could be seen as potential converts to right wing extremism during a time of a down economy, Napolitano said the report was a routine form of guidance for state and local police and that it is a set of assertions, "not accusations."

Read the whole article here.

Republican/Obstructionist elite are holding a Tea Party today!

Look at what the Moral majority are calling themselves these days...the Silent Majority!

Say what? Based on actual numbers from our recent presidential election, this new incarnation should be called the Silent Minority. The majority of Americans think Obama and the Democrats are doing fine. See most recent Gallup Poll (link provided in MSNBC article below) to confirm this.

So what's the deal with this Obstructionist Tea Party? Do these clowns really think sending a tea bag to Obama will convince him the majority of Americans think he's wrong to raise any taxes? Reality doesn't seem to affect these disaffected elephant worshippers.

I have a word of advise for these rocket scientists; come up with another image! Let's face it, Tea Bagging to protest taxes sounds pretty Gay. Perhaps it's not so ironical, as there are plenty of Republican Chicken Hawks who want to wage war, while wasting our nation's youth on their dreams of empire.

Today's the day, the so-called Silent Majority, hopes to see protests from people waving tea bags in cities across America. Perhaps this Silent Majority is really a majority of the wealthy in America who can't stand the thought of paying their fair share of taxes. Now that would be a majority from the minority of Americans. I've never seen such a bunch of cry babies. They should be passing out baby pacifiers, instead of tea bags, to their rank and file who could wear diapers to demonstrate their infantile displeasure!

As It Stands, after today I expect those wealthy, gun-toting, malcontents to come up with another event. It obvious they're going to keep ranting and fighting until the return of the good old days of the Bush regime.

Poster Image via Constitutional Emergency

HERE'S WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT TODAY'S "TEA PARTY"...

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro of MSNBC
Tea time: Who would have ever thought that a discussion of tea bags -- even used as a verb, from both the right and left -- would become a political topic, let alone a subject we’d mention in First Read.

 But here we are… On this Tax Day, some Americans are attending so-called "tea party" or "tea bag" events across the country to protest everything from tax rates and the federal bailouts, to the young Obama presidency. But let’s be clear about one thing: These tea parties are hardly non-partisan events.

While there’s certainly a grassroots component here, these parties have been co-opted by a major America political party (the RNC's Web site allows for creating send-a-tea-bag post cards to Dem leaders) and an entire cable news channel (which has been promoting the events).

The main Web site for the events today, Tax Day Tea Party, is funded by conservative groups, and a public records search shows it's registered to a conservative techie, Allen B. Fuller, who used to be a legislative correspondent for GOP Sen. Richard Shelby and who touts creating Web sites for Republican elected officials. Also reportedly involved in today’s protest events are FreedomWorks, a conservative group founded by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, and Americans for Prosperity.

*** What Republicans might stand to gain -- and lose: With its association with these “tea party” protests, the Republican Party does stand to gain here in a mechanical/process way. If it gets a huge turnout nationwide, it will be a bit of a test run for its social networking apparatus. The Tax Day Tea Party Web site, in fact, is reminiscent of what the Obama campaign was able to do with things like voter registration and grassroots meet-ups.

You can click on a state and find where there's a local tea party in any state in the country. This kind of tech savvy could pay dividends in the long run. On the other hand, this whole thing could backfire if some unsavory elements (i.e., people saying and doing some very stupid things) attend these events. Also, what happens if today’s parties don’t capture the imagination of anyone beyond the GOP amplifiers of FOX and talk radio?

Today has turned into a big test of the power of the GOP grassroots in the Obama era. The pre-game for these tea parties has seemed a bit scattershot. One can sense a hesitance from the establishment wing of the GOP about getting too involved in this movement, for the fears we've described above. Tax Day has normally been an easy P.R. hit for the GOP, but with the tea party gamble, the GOP doesn't seemed focused on good 'ol fashioned tax issues.

Obama on Tax Day: As for what President Obama is doing on Tax Day, he will deliver remarks at 11:55 am ET about “restoring fairness to the tax code,” as well as “providing tax relief to working families” in the stimulus, the White House says. How big of a political issue have taxes become?

Not much, according to a recent Gallup poll. It found that 48% of Americans think the federal income tax they pay is “about right” -- one of the highest scores on this question since Gallup began measuring it in the 1950s. The poll also found that 61% believe the federal taxes they’re paying are fair. In the last few years, the GOP has seen its advantage on the issue of taxes deteriorate, and it's something that has thrown the party for a loop -- as without taxes as a rallying cry, the GOP has found itself with fewer issues to brag to the public about.

  

Strange News for the Day: Woman tapes puppy to refrigerator!

FROM THE SMOKING GUN THIS MORNING...

Meet Abby Toll. The University of Colorado student, 20, is facing a felony animal abuse rap after she allegedly taped her boyfriend's puppy to the side of a refrigerator in a bid to teach the rambunctious animal a "lesson."

According to police, Toll used clear packing tape early this morning to adhere the eight-month-old dog (a Shiba Inu named Rex) to the appliance in the kitchen of her boyfriend's apartment.

Toll allegedly was angry at Bryan Beck, 21, for failing to get rid of the puppy, which, Toll told cops, bit her a few days ago. According to the below Boulder Police Department reports, when cops responded at 5 AM to a "report of a male and female yelling" at Beck's apartment, they discovered that "Rex's body was completely encased in packing tape."

When Officer Kara Jurczenia asked what was on the side of the fridge, Toll replied, "The dog." Toll added, "I know this looks really bad, but the dog bites. He is aggressive." Jurczenia asked how long the puppy had been taped upside down to the side of the refrigerator. "Not long," Toll replied. "Like 20-30 minutes. It was just until he calmed down."

The reports note that when Beck saw his dog stuck to the refrigerator, he told Toll, "Take him down," adding, "You are so sick!" Toll replied, "No, you are sick for not caring enough about me to get rid of the dog." The animal, whose paws had been bound with elastic hair ties, was clearly in pain and "yelped and screamed loudly" as cops worked to free him. "Rex just lay motionless, but breathing, on his kennel after he was removed from the tape." The puppy was handed over to the Boulder Valley Humane Society.

Toll, seen in the above mug shot, was turned over to county jailers. Beck, who was arrested in connection with his scuffle with Toll, was not charged with animal abuse. Though he did reportedly tell police, "We were going to get rid of him anyway. We usually don't do this."

Image via thesmokinggin.com

 

Pavement Masterpieces: artist Julien Beeves uses 3-D effect

For some more great examples of pavement art go to J. Beever

Pirates aren't going to stop seizing ships until the world wakes up and does something about it!

  It only took Somali pirates 24 hours after an American vessel and crew escaped from one of their attacks, before they started seizing other ships. Four, including one in an unusual night attack, ships were seized and their crews held hostage.     

   The pirates have declared they will get revenge for the killing of three of their thieves who were holding an American ship captain (Richard Phillips) in a lifeboat.

    President Obama told the press that the acts of piracy should be punished. Whether he will send troops to the pirate's den on the coast is another matter. As far as I'm concerned, the only way to stop these thieves is to take out their base of operation on land.

    For nearly two decades, Somali's have been seizing ships and making easy money. I blame the world's various maritime companies who would rather pay a ransom than to actually do anything about these pirates. The companies simply don't want to pay higher premiums, so they enable the pirates.

   This is a worldwide problem. It just doesn't make sense that a little rogue nation can hold the entire world hostage with impunity, and get away with it.

The following article from The Los Angels Times discusses four recent hijackings.

Image via cache.gawker.com

Meandering With Millie: While walking we encountered a skunk today!

   Millie my pug and I were taking our daily walk when we came upon a skunk standing unsteadily on the side of a gravel country road.

   We both instantly knew that skunks shouldn't be out during the day. This one looked like it was drunk on blackberry wine and was swaying slightly from side-to-side.

   Not good. His beady black eyes seemed to be fixed on some point beyond us as he didn't react to how close we were. Time was frozen. I was worried that the skunk would lunge at Millie and bite her if I moved too fast.

   It came to me that Millie had her rabies shot eight days ago, so she was at least protected in the worse case scenario. I, however, haven't had mine. I can't remember the last time I had a rabies vaccination.

    I remember when I was in third grade a dog bit me in the front of my school and I had to get the whole stick-the-needle-in the-stomach treatment! But that was no vaccination. That was the treatment. Do they still do that?

   So far no one made a move. Millie finally decided she wanted to take a closer sniff of this strange black-and-white animal, and I picked her up in the same instant, holding my breath and expecting to be attacked.

  It didn't happen. The skunk continued to wobble, looking blankly ahead. We set off down the road. I put Millie down and we continued on our regular route. On the way back I kept my eyes peeled for the skunk. But it was gone. Probably back into the blackberry bushes and high grass.

   I was secretly thrilled we didn't have to contend with Billy Bob Skunk. You see, Millie and I got to talking while we were walking, and decided it could have been a "geeter-head" (same-same as a meth-head) skunk who might have went by the name of Billy Bob. Why not?

   We started coming up with wild headlines:

'Geeter Skunk sends man and pug packing!'

'Man and pug accidentally stumble upon stoned Skunk's outdoor meth lab!'

'PETA says man and pug threatened skunk stoned on medical-meth'

  Before we knew it we were back home. Just another day in our adventuresome lives. Peace.

Skunk image via  www.caltechgirlsworld.mu.nu/.../tedkennedy.jpg

  

State scammed by people who are supposed to be serving the elderly and disabled

Fraud infects state in-home care program

By Evan Halper/LA Times 
April 13, 2009

Reporting from Sacramento -- Loose oversight and bureaucratic inertia have allowed fraud to fester in a rapidly expanding multibillion-dollar state program that provides personal caregivers to the impoverished elderly and disabled. Hundreds of reports of scams and swindles are going without investigation.
Prosecutors and program administrators across the state say they are alarmed by the ease with which people are taking advantage of the program, In Home Supportive Services.

Read the whole article here.

Today's As It Stands in The Times-Standard: Reality vs Fiction

By Dave Stancliff/For the Times-Standard

Posted: 04/12/2009 01:26:06 AM PDT

Remember the 1995 hit movie “Outbreak?”

Parts of it were filmed here in Humboldt County, and Ferndale was supposed to be the fictional town of Cedar Creek. In the movie, a deadly virus (Motaba) passed from a Capuchin monkey to a human who went on to infect others and scores of unsuspecting people died as a result.

Pretty scary stuff. Now let's consider a small news item recently sent out by the Associated Press. At the Oregon National Primate Center, nine Japanese Macaque monkeys got out of their cage when a keeper accidentally left it unlocked. Five of the monkeys were quickly caught, but the other four remain on the loose. According to Jim Newman, an Oregon Health & Science University spokesman, officials watched three of the escapees from a distance, and tried to catch them in cages baited with apples.

It's that last monkey that concerns me. The missing monkey is thought to be somewhere on the Beaverton Primate campus. One more little thing about this primate, it's infected with a virus that could hurt people! Read the rest of the column here.

Polish politician upset because zoo bought a gay elephant!

OH REALLY? A GAY ELELPHANT. NOW I HAVE HEARD EVERYTHING!

WARSAW (Reuters) – A Polish politician has criticized his local zoo for acquiring a "gay" elephant named Ninio who prefers male companions and will probably not procreate, local media reported Friday.

"We didn't pay 37 million zlotys ($11 million) for the largest elephant house in Europe to have a gay elephant live there," Michal Grzes, a conservative councilor in the city of Poznan in western Poland, was quoted as saying.

"We were supposed to have a herd, but as Ninio prefers male friends over females how will he produce offspring?" said Grzes, who is from the right-wing opposition Law and Justice party.

The head of the Poznan zoo said 10-year-old Ninio may be too young to decide whether he prefers males or females as elephants only reach sexual maturity at 14.

(Reporting by Chris Borowski; editing by Andrew Roche)

Every time you go on the Internet another robot goes to heaven!

From "Every Time You Use the Internet, a Robot Goes to Heaven" - verseguru

These fanciful robots from the fifties are what I grew up with. I had a couple of these whirling, twirling, wind-em up mechanical wonders. Of course, I never saved them. Like most people, I regret not having them now. They'd be antiques and worth something! Oh well...I had some good times with them, and I guess the memory makes up for the material loss. Note that they are all made of metal, not plastic like now. My favorite was Robby The Robot.

"The Robot Hut" is where all good robots end up in afterlife...

John Rigg from The Robot Hut built a whole barn for his immense collection of toy and movie prop robots. Most of the movie prop robots he builds himself including Robby, B-9, Star Wars droids and Huey, Dewey & Louie from the movie "Silent Running" to name a few. He also built a replica of the Time Machine from the classic movie.

(images credit: darkroastedblend.com

Mexican drug cartel violence featured on YouTube & video games

FROM USA TODAY THERE'S AN ARTICLE ABOUT MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS USING YOUTUBE TO BRAG ABOUT THEIR ACTIVITIES.

TO THE RIGHT IS THE COVER FOR ONE OF THE RECENT VIDEO GAMES GLORIFYING THE CARTELS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A TRUE REFLECTION OF MEXICAN SOCIETY TODAY.

THE POWER OF THE CARTELS IS ALMOST UNIMAGINABLE, AS THEY HAVE PENATRATED NEARLY EVERY STATE IN THE USA, WITH THEIR DRUG ACTIVITIES.

IT"S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY TAKE CHARGE OF MEXICO. OUR BORDERS ARE VIOLATED DAILY. SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO STOP THE VIOLENCE FROM THESE GANGS SPILLING OVER INTO OUR COUNTRY? SO FAR, PITIFULLY LITTLE.

THESE MURDEROUS PUNKS THINK THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT. UNTIL WE ACTUALLY GO AFTER THEM BIG TIME, IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE HERE. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS RAPIDLY BECOMING AN EXTENSION OF MEXICO, AND IT'S GANGSTERS.

YouTube riddled with drug cartel videos, messages

By Rick Jervis, USA TODAY

The violence among Mexican drug cartels is not filling just the streets of Mexican border towns: It's also spilling into gruesome online videos and chat rooms.

The videos on YouTube and Mexican-based sites are polished — professional singers croon about cartel leaders while images of murdered victims fade one into the next.

In the comment area, those loyal to the opposing cartels trade insults and threats.

Such videos are used to intimidate enemies and recruit members by touting "virtues" of cartel leaders, says Scott Stewart, vice president of tactical intelligence for Stratfor, a Texas-based global-intelligence company.

Read the rest of the story here. Image via tinypics.com

 

Vietnamese Art: Works by Southeast Asian artists reflects their culture

Buoi Som Dung Street by Pham Binh Chuong

To see more examples of art by other highly-skilled Vietnamese artists click here.

Believe it or not: Scientist says sending pollution into outer space could control global warning, and it's a future option!

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THIS MORNING WE HAVE A REALLY STRANGE SOLUTION TO GLOBAL WARMING...

"Tinkering with Earth's climate to chill runaway global warming — a radical idea once dismissed out of hand — is being discussed by the White House as a potential emergency option, the president's new science adviser said Wednesday.
That's because global warming is happening so rapidly, John Holdren told The Associated Press in his first interview since being confirmed last month.
The concept of using technology to purposely cool the climate is called geoengineering. One option raised by Holdren and proposed by a Nobel Prize-winning scientist includes shooting pollution particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect the sun's rays."

Read the whole story here. Image of John Holdren/science advisor via J. Scott Applewhite, AP Photo

Walking with Millie, and a shout-out to all viewers in the last 24 hours

   Before I ramble off in another direction with Millie my pug, I would like to thank “Taide” for becoming the sixth regular follower of this blog by subscribing to it. I appreciate that you are interested enough to want to read this blog daily. Hopefully, I won’t let you down.
   Speaking of readers, there’s been an interesting string of schools and colleges this last 24 hours. Here are some of them:
   Bishop Kearney High School; University of Phoenix; Trumbull Public Schools; Purdue University; Park Hill School; State of Tennessee Department of Education; Katy Independent School; Danbury Public Schools; University of Masssachusetts; Pennsylvania State College; Confederate College (in Ontario, Canada); and Wayne State University.
     There has been 148 international visitors in the last 24 hours. Here are some of them:
    Tirana, Tirane, Albania; Belmont, New South Wales, Australia; Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium; Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria; Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; Nicosia, Cyprus; Copenhagan, Staden Kobenhaven, Denmark; Helsinki, Southern Finland, Finland; Marseille, Provence-alpes-cote-D’azur, France; Brotterade, Thuringer, Germany; Athens, Attiki, Greece; Milan, Lombardia, Italy; Pune, Maharashtra, India; Tel Aviv, Israel; Amman, Amman Governorate, Jordan; Tokoyo, Japan; Vilnius, Vilniaus Apskritis, Lithuania; Kuala Lumpor, Malaysia; Auckland, New Zealand; Bergen, Hordaland, Norway; Porto, Portugal; Volgograd, Russian Federation; Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa; Meyrin, Geneve, Switzerland; and Istanbul, Turkey.
      Nationally, 178 readers from all over the USA, and Hawaii, have stopped in to visit the last 24 hours. None from Alaska however! I almost always get one from there.
      Moving on....
       As usual I did some good thinking while walking Millie today. Lines of verse teased me as I observed the beautiful countryside here in Dow’s Prairie. Signs of Spring made the walk all the more enjoyable.
      Green leaves provided lush canopies to stroll through, as the sun struggled to pierce the clouds that hinted at rain. Tree limbs, once winter-barren, now explode with buds and new life. The scents of numerous animals made Millie’s walk an adventure. Like every day. She knows to live for the day, and I meekly follow that tactic.
      Life is too short to live it in misery. It’s too short to hold grudges and to feud with family. We are here for a brief blink of time, and it’s up to us to enjoy it. Inspiration comes from everywhere. Walking, going to a good play, or sailing in a boat for the day.
       No matter what life has-or hasn’t- given us, it’s out choice to make it a good day. Walking with Millie helps me to see that. Taking deep breaths from the cleanest air in California, I feel like I’ve won the lottery...just to live here.
       As It Stands, my blog is going somewhere, and touching people out there, and I hope it brings good vibes! 

What should be done to stop Somali pirate attacks on international ships?

My column on March 1st dealt with this problem...

Avast Mate! There are pirates on the high seas, the Web, and Wall Street!

From the Associated Press this morning...

SOMALI PIRATES HIJACK SHIP; 20 AMERICANS ABROAD

By Katharine Houreld/AP

Somali pirates on Wednesday hijacked a U.S.-flagged cargo ship with 20 American crew members onboard, hundreds of miles from the nearest American military vessel in some of the most dangerous waters in the world.

The 17,000-ton Maersk Alabama was carrying emergency relief to Mombasa, Kenya, when it was hijacked, said Peter Beck-Bang, spokesman for the Copenhagen-based container shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk. It was the sixth ship seized within a week, a rise that analysts attribute to a new strategy by Somali pirates who are operating far from the warships patrolling the Gulf of Aden. Read the rest of the story here.

From Somalilandpress.com we have more information on the pirates and what's happening in Somalia

Pirates: The Massive Threat To Somaliland

The pirates illegally operate in Puntland coastal area have enormous threat to Somaliland in term of its social structure, currency value and youth mentality in near future unless the government has not taken tight security measurement.

The fact that pirate has get much publicity in Puntland state with the positive reaction from its society has expressed overwhelming treat to Somaliland, which may effects it’s social institution – marriage.

Read the rest of the story here. Image via somalilandpress.com

Master photographer makes clear images from splashing water

Luiz Luxvich makes startlingly clear images of splashing water. This master from Rio de Janeiro,

Brazil, has a good presence on flickr, so make sure to checkout the rest of his colorful creations.

(images credit: Luiz Luxvich)

Blog Wars rage in Humboldt County cyberspace! Who holds the high ground?

  As I sipped my coffee this morning while surfing the local blog community I was surprised to see a war being waged.

  WatchPaul's, Rose, was out to expose the Humboldt Herald's Heraldo for his/her use of censorship.

  Rose's repeat volley of an October 2008 thread about Heraldo's habit of suppressing sentences that don't serve his/her needs, greeted visitors of her blog today.

  Apparently, there was a reason to shake Heraldo's cool (thread back by popular demand).

  When I see this type of Internet warfare I can't help cringing. Yes, it makes for a good read, and that's what all blogger's strive for.

  My blog averages about 350 viewers a day, but only a small fraction ever make a comment, and the majority are either national or international visitors. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong.

  Then again, all blogs are not alike. I'm learning this slowly, and it really makes me wonder what each's purpose really is. I suspect that there are people who use blogs to further their own political agenda under the guise of something else.

   Local blogs (as in the area we live in) seem to be very vibrant with news that newspapers couldn't possible come up with. There's some excellent blogs here in Humboldt - and that includes both WatchPaul and Heraldo.

  I'm constantly amazed at the information both come up with. Sometimes I think both blogs have a legion of reporters cruising the highways and byways. If you really want a blog about this area's history (written by someone who grew up here) then check out Ernie's Place.  

  For those who love beautiful photos we have the Redheaded Blackbelt, aka Kym's blog. Another great local photography is Jack Durhham, whose website Rambling Jack's Laboratory is a bike-guided tour through Northern Humboldt. For a Southern Humboldt  insider's viewpoints, we have Erick Kirk's blog SoHum Parlance II.

  By my third cup of coffee, I realized that I didn't have a local blog. Yea, I live here, but you would hardly know it by viewing my posts. I've already admitted -from my 1st post last July- that I'm using my blog to shamelessly promote my newspaper column - As It Stands.

  Now, I'm feeling kinda lonely locally. Maybe I should make more of an effort to get local readership. Yesterday's post about my grandchildren and other family members was probably the closest I've come to commenting on anything local.

  Perhaps I ought to join Humboldt County's Blog Wars. Then again, I would probably get sliced-and-diced by the experienced bloggers out there right now!

  As It Stands, I think I'll just get breakfast now, and stop worrying about the state of my blog.

image via Google Images

Generations of young entrepreneur's exploits are entertaining and educational

                                                                                  By Dave Stancliff
 The other day, two of my grandsons, nine-year-old Haydin, and seven-year-old Roanin,  started a business.
  

Their mom, Jassmine, told me the boys sat down one afternoon - with real eye-to-eye contact - and drew up a partnership to sell some colored glass they had dug up. Apparently a local business, Fire & Light, sends their scrap chunks of glass to a local company that sells an aggregate mix speckled through with the colorful stuff.

After sifting through a pile of this material (location kept secret)  for hours, the boys had collected enough pieces - most of which are about size of small beads - to set up shop. They put up a little stand and offered them to customers for 25 cents. (I’m not clear as to how many pieces the buyer got for his/her quarter.)
      

In no time they were also selling and bartering some of their toys (ones mom approved of), to expand their little enterprise. Alas, as good business starts often find, competition sprang up in the neighborhood! Other little entrepreneurs soon offered toys as well.
       Haydin and Roanin then came up with “friend coupons.” The coupons offered two dollars off any item over three dollars. Eventually all of these venturesome children got together and held swap meets in the neighborhood. I’m still waiting for further reports of their business acumen.
      

 I have some great memories of other family members who jumped into the business world at tender ages. One of my favorites concerned my cousins in Michigan about forty years ago.
      

My Dad had a mining claim in the late 1970s and through the 1980s. It was located in the Lytle Creek area of the San Bernardino mountains, just north of Mt. Baldy. The area had once been the site of a short-lived placer gold frenzy.
     

To keep the claim active, my Dad had to show signs of improvement every year, so he hired  heavy equipment every so often to move things around. He also got regular assay reports on the ore that showed a small amount of gold per ton.
     

  The gold content was never high enough to interest a big organization in the claim. The price of gold on the market during the 1980s went from $589 an ounce (1980-1981), down to $327 an ounce by the end of the decade.
      

Still, Dad’s grandchildren and my brother Steve helped over the years in their spare time. I was too lazy for that kind of hard work, but did go up there now and then and share a small bottle of Irish single-malt with Dad, as I watched the others expand the latest hole in the mountain. My two oldest sons, Richard and Nathan, spent time there, too.
     

Some of those tunnels went straight down. There was always the risk of running across rattle snakes, scorpions, and other nasty little critters. As far as I can remember, no one ever got bitten by a snake while working there.
     

  During this period, my cousins (who were about the ages Haydin and Roanin are now) came up with their business enterprise in school. They sold stock to their classmates, offering shares in grandpa’s mine!
      

 When my uncle Harold told me, I thought it was pretty funny, but apparently the school didn’t. The boys got suspended for a week. I was amazed that they knew what stocks were. Of course, I don’t compare their larceny to my grandsons’ business venture. They at least gave people something for their money.
        

I’ve kinda lost touch with those cousins but wouldn’t be surprised if they became stock traders. They weren’t afraid to take risks with other people’s money! Surely a must for anyone playing on Wall Street.
       

I wish I could tell you I was a great little entrepreneur in my youth. My approach was to gamble. We’d flip coins and call odd or even. Sometimes we threw coins up against a wall, and the coin that fell closest to the wall won.
      

There was even a period during junior high when I carried dice in my pocket and gambled with my buddies in the school bathroom. I lost interest in gambling when I was in the military, after watching near deadly encounters during card games. Recently my interest in gambling has returned and I play those quarter slot machines, while on a strict monthly allowance.
        

To be an entrepreneur, you can’t be afraid to gamble sometimes. Gambling, however, is a sure way to lose money. Starting your own business, provided you have a good plan and plenty of seed money, offers better odds for success.
      

 As It Stands, I enjoy stories of successful entrepreneurs of all ages, especially in this down economy.
                                                                

Today's As It Stands: Let's just say no to prescription drug commercials on television

The television brings us commercials on prescription drugs that we can not go out and buy ourselves.

A doctor has to prescribe them. So why do the makers of Flomax and other drugs bother advertising on television? Because they know you will see something that you think you need and you'll ask your doctor for it.

The subtle hidden messages in these commercials hypnotize viewers into wanting them. See today's As It Stands in the Times-Standard on prescription drug commercials. 

Image via Google Images

Remember the movie 'Outbreak?' There's a real monkey on the loose somewhere in Oregon carrying a virus that could harm people!

In a case of fiction blurring into reality, we have a Japanese Macaque monkey who escaped from his handlers and is carrying a potentially human-threatening virus! They say truth is often stranger than fiction, and I think there's something to that.

In the movie Outbreak a White-fronted Capuchin monkey passes on the deadly Motaba virus and it ends up in a fictional little northern California town - Cedar Creek - which was actually filmed in Ferndale,  Humboldt County.

The movie was released in 1995 and starred Dustin Hoffman, Morgan Freeman, Donald Sutherland, and Cuba Gooding Jr., just to name some of the good actors in it. 

In this short press release by the Associated Press, they note that the "monkey's are too fast to catch." Say what? This seems to get stranger by the day. There's a virus-carrying monkey on the prowl...

Today's story from AP: 

Officials say three monkeys on the loose at the Oregon National Primate Research Center are hanging out near "corrals" on the campus, but the whereabouts of a fourth are unknown.

They are among nine who escaped Friday when a keeper left their cage unlocked. Five were recaptured.

Jim Newman, an Oregon Health & Science University spokesman, said today that veterinarians are watching the three Japanese Macaque monkeys, hoping they will be lured into cages baited with apples.

He says the missing monkey is believed to be on or near the Beaverton campus.

The monkeys are too fast to catch. They generally retreat from humans but if threatened, they could bite. One carries a virus that could harm people.

Monkey Image via www.peopleandwildlife.org.uk/newsimages/Japan

City-wide urban apocalyptic art in Copenhagen brings worldwide visitors

An apocalyptic show and a guided bus tour will be provided for those wanting to check out the "Radiant Copenhagen" - a future version of Copenhagen (meaning alternative realities created through eye-catching contemporary art)

Click here to go to the Radiant Copenhagen site and see some more wonders.

 

How can this happen? Baby food formulas contaminated by rocket fuel!

My question is how did the traces of this rocket fuel come to be in baby food! It's troublesome to me to see the CDC won't name the affected brands of baby formula.

From the Associated Press this morning...

Traces of a chemical used in rocket fuel were found in samples of powdered baby formula, and could exceed what's considered a safe dose for adults if mixed with water also contaminated with the ingredient, a government study has found.

The study by scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked for the chemical, perchlorate, in different brands of powdered baby formula. It was published last month, but the Environmental Working Group issued a press release Thursday drawing attention to it.

The chemical has turned up in several cities' drinking water supplies. It can occur naturally, but most perchlorate contamination has been tied to defense and aerospace sites.

No tests have ever shown the chemical caused health problems, but scientists have said significant amounts of perchlorate can affect thyroid function. The thyroid helps set the body's metabolism. Thyroid problems can impact fetal and infant brain development.

Read the rest of the story here.

CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/