Weekend Blog Break , Retinal implants & the 7 Most Bizarre Objects to Ever Fall from the Sky

Good Day World!

You've probably heard the urban legend about the time it rained frogs somewhere, or seen news stories about a meteorite that crashed through a roof and landed feet away from somebody's recliner. But in the annals of baffling objects that have come raining down from the heavens, here’s some weirder examples ...

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I’m taking a blog break this weekend – Feb. 16th – 17th – and will return on Monday, Feb. 18th

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Here’s some good news that I want to share with you:

FDA approves first retinal implant for rare eye disease

Don’t hesitate to check out the links on the right side of the page. Check out my most recent “As It Stands” columns at the Times-Standard. Take a look at the Learnist links for comprehensive coverage on subjects from politics to society.

Leave comments on past posts that date back till July 2008 when this blog broke into cyberspace for the first time. See ya on Monday.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Drone Wars abroad and how they’re coming home to stalk us

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Drones are increasingly on the front lines of combat.

Good Day World!

The 21st Century is producing technological changes so rapidly they’re hard to keep up with.

For years we’ve been hearing about drones. Most Americans think of them as pilotless planes that bomb or spy on an enemy. As it turns out domestic use of drones is increasing.

  The fact is we’ve been using them to spy on activities from vehicle speeders to suspected bad guys in their homes and wherever they go. Drones are controversial for a lot of reasons. I can’t help feeling queasy about their use in the USA. There’s something about the Big Brother aspect in the sky that doesn’t make me feel warm and cozy.

I’ve gathered some current news about drones that you may find interesting:

Holder Spells Out Why Drones Target U.S. Citizens

American drone deaths highlight controversy

Drone Wars: Rand Paul vs. John Brennan

Panetta announces medal for drone pilots

Military weighs cutbacks, shifts in drone programs

Domestic Drones

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Mardi Gras 2013 is over…but what a party it was!

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Wouldn’t you like to be hanging out with Elvis Presley?

Good Day World!

I’ve never been to Mardi Gras. There I said it. I almost feel guilty. Talk about the ultimate party…

Have you ever gone? Share your story here under comments.

I’ve seen movies about this annual festive event and have read about it’s history. Nothing like first-hand experience through. I put together a few links for you if you’d like to know more about what happened during this year’s Mardi Gras. Enjoy: 

GO HERE FOR A SLIDESHOW OF MARDI GRAS

NICE COVERAGE OF FAT TUESDAY BY LA TIMES

MARDI GRAS 2013

CARNIVAL ROYALTY ANNOUNCED

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Armed bad guys on the run in several states…seems too common these days

UPDATE – Cop Killer cornered….story here LIVE FEED

Good Day World! Hardly a day goes by without dangerous people running from authorities and posing a threat to the general public. That is the state of America today. There’s no ignoring it; we are engulfed with violence. Awash in a sea of guns and crazy individuals bent on violent vendettas. Here are some examples for today:

 

Three dead in Utah home shooting; police hunt for 'person of interest'

Three people are dead near Salt Lake City after a shooting on Tuesday morning, police told local NBC affiliate KSL. A fourth individual was taken to the hospital and considered to be in critical condition after the shooting. Police hunted for David Fresques, 25, after the shooting at a home in the city of Midvale. The shootings were reported at 8:06 a.m., according to Salt Lake City's Deseret News.

Police are looking for Alberto Morales, 42.

 

Prisoner on the run after stabbing Florida officer outside Walmart

Authorities are searching for an escaped prisoner who stabbed a Miami-Dade officer outside a Texas Walmart as the suspect was being transported to Miami from Nevada.

Alberto Morales, 42, was being transported by two officers from Las Vegas for a court appearance when they stopped at the store in Grapevine, just outside of Dallas, around 11 p.m.

Ex-LAPD officer accused of killings thought to have fled to Mexico

Cop killer eludes authorities who think he went south of the border.

Former Los Angeles Police Department officer Christopher Dorner -- the suspect in three killings that have targeted law enforcement and the subject of a continuing manhunt -- was suspected last week of fleeing to Mexico, according to a federal court document.

The criminal complaint filed in federal court on Feb. 7 charges Dorner with fleeing to avoid prosecution. It states that there was reason to believe he had crossed the border into Mexico. An affidavit included in the complaint (pdf) was written by U.S. Marshals Service Inspector Craig McClusky the same day that the search for Dorner led to his burned out truck in the mountain resort of Big Bear.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Let’s talk about Bias in the Media Today at #Learntalk !

        Good Day World!

 The topic of interest today is about Bias in the Media. We all suspect a certain amount is going on. Many Americans are just not sure where facts and bias leave off after being bombarded by countless mainstream media outlets.

 At 5:00 p.m. PST, (8:00 p.m. Eastern) I’m going to be moderating a Live Online discussion about Bias in the Media at #Learntalk Join me…If you’ve got some thoughts about what the American public is watching on TV and listening to on the radio. Do you think social media like Facebook and Twitter are giving the mainstream media a run for their money? What are your thoughts on the subject?

I’ve put together a comprehensive 3-part series on Bias in the Media at Learnist that you can refer to before the chat:

Part I: History of Information & media http://learni.st/users/dave.stancliff.9/boards/9522-bias-in-the-media-part-one-history

Part II: America’s Media Monopoly http://learni.st/users/dave.stancliff.9/boards/10826-bias-in-the-media-part-ii-america-s-media-monopoly

Part III: Demagogues

 http://learni.st/users/dave.stancliff.9/boards/13022-bias-in-the-media-part-iii-demagogues

If you’ve never gone to a Live Chat online before maybe now is the time to check it out. I’ve never done it before and tonight will be my baptism under fire! If for no other reason than to see how the chat goes…stop by and say hi!

Time for me to walk on down the road… 

 

As It Stands - Note to GOP: Changing the Rules isn’t Going to Help

          
 By Dave Stancliff/For The Times-Standard

 The majority of Republicans today recognize they have to change the party’s brand if they want to get back into the White House.
  Many are still stunned that their candidate was so decisively beaten in all the demographics that mattered. There are however, a minority of Republicans who would rather change election rules than admit their message didn’t resonate with the majority of Americans. 
The 150 members of the Republican National Committee met on Jan. 23, and re-elected Reince Priebus as their National Chairman. They discussed the best ways for the party to go forward. Priebus appeared to give the okay to some proposed changes to the Electoral College system when the subject came up:
“I think it’s something that a lot of states that have been consistently blue and are fully controlled red ought to be looking at,” he was quoted as saying in the Washington Post.

 The members looking to change the system were from the battleground states the Democrats won in the last two presidential elections. According to the Washington Post, Republicans in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia proposed awarding their Electoral College votes by congressional district instead of the winner-take-all approach used by every state except for two - Maine and Nebraska.

 The reason was blatantly apparent; the proposed changes would have given them a victory against President Obama in the last election, and would be a real advantage for the next GOP presidential candidate.
The Republican Party currently has the battleground states firmly in control at the state level. The cover story for voters is a song-and-dance about smaller communities getting more of a voice in those states.
Since the RNC meeting however, Virginia decided not to join the other states when Republican Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell opposed the idea. Joining him in opposition was Republican Sen. Ralph Smith, Bedford County, and Subcommittee chairwoman Jill Vogel.

 I applaud Virginia for not going along with this naked attempt to change the rules. It goes to show there are Republicans who recognize things need to change, but not by changing the rules.
Everyone within the Republican Party agrees change is in order if they want a future as a viable party. The problem is the leaders are at odds over too many issues.
  In a recent AP interview, Michael Hudome, a national GOP media strategist said, “We don’t look organized, we look chaotic, we look like wussies, like we’re caving in to the President. We’re not fighting properly. The Republican caucus appears fractured.”
  When you look at Priebus’s response to changing the game in those battleground states, you can see even he was torn after initially giving it a nod. He turned around and also said “…those proposed changes are short-sighted for two reasons. One, the Republicans pushing for them are all but acknowledging their party problems heading into 2016 are so significant that they have to change the rules to win. In other words, they are throwing in the towel and trying to rig the system.
“Two, the proposed changes would only speed up efforts to have a popular vote - and not an Electoral College - decide presidential contests, because many would see that as a fair system.”

  The last thing the GOP Party wants is a Presidential election by popular vote. One of the many challenges facing the Republican Party’s re-branding is reaching out to minorities. Even the most stubborn conservative pundits have come to that conclusion. But how to reach out to a majority they hardly know and understand? They can’t afford to rely on angry white men to win in 2016.
 One of the most obvious ways for Republicans to gain people’s confidence would be to quit trying to cheat their way into power. Blatantly changing the rules doesn’t make the GOP look like the people’s party. It’s just another example of why the brand has faded into a group of quarreling ideologues who are more obstructionists than nation builders.
  Hudome’s hope for the GOP’s credibility lies with Congress hanging together in coming negotiations with President Obama and getting “…some serious spending cuts,” in places sacred to the party. He feels that will go a long way in restoring the brand. Maybe so. But I think the brand will need a lot more than that to change most people’s perception. It’s time GOP party members roll up their sleeves and hit the streets if they hope to get the middle class and minorities to vote for them.
As It Stands, I know one thing for sure, if the GOP offers up another slate of reactionaries like this last time they can kiss all their efforts goodbye!

Manhunt Continues Today & a U.S. History of the 10 Biggest Ones

   Good Day World!

It’s good to be back blogging.

I thought the topic of manhunts is timely as authorities continue to search for a cop killer in Southern California - Christopher Dorner.

The hunt for a former Los Angeles police officer and soldier who went on a deadly rampage has caused great concern among Southern California residents. My wife and I were driving West on the 210 Freeway when the search started, and freeways were being closed in the search for him. Luckily we went West (210) and then North on Interstate 5 – the opposite direction of the manhunt – and didn’t get stuck on any freeways. We made it back north to Humboldt County by 11 p.m. that night.

Since then, on Friday, the search narrowed to the Southern California mountain resort town of Big Bear where its been snowing. Dorner fled to the rugged area after killing three people to get back at those he blamed for ending his police career in 2008. Authorities found his burned-out truck in the area and have sent SWAT teams with dogs into the snowy mountains after him. The search has also extended to Mexico and three other states.

For a comprehensive wrap-up and history of this unfolding drama GO HERE to my special report at Learnist.

Here’s a List of the top 10 Manhunts in American History starting with Osama bin Laden was the leader of Al-Qaeda and was identified as the alleged instigator of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States which killed and injured thousands of people, as well as subsequent incidents.

 Osama bin Laden, the founder and head of the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda, was killed in Pakistan on May 2, 2011, shortly after 1 am local time by Navy SEALs of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group (also known as DEVGRU or SEAL Team Six). The operation, code-named Operation Neptune Spear, was carried out in a Central Intelligence Agency-led operation. In addition to DEVGRU, participating units included the U.S. Army Special Operations Command's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) and CIA operatives. The raid on bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, was launched from Afghanistan. After the raid, U.S. forces took bin Laden's body to Afghanistan for identification, then buried it at sea within 24 hours of his death. Wikipedia

Time to walk on down the road…

Join me a for live chat at #Learntalk about Bias in the Media

  Good Day World!

This is my last post until February 9th, but please feel free to explore past “As It Stands” columns, and more, at the right side of this page.

Coming up on Feb. 11th, I’ll be hosting my first #Learntalk at 5:00 p.m. pst - 8:00 p.m. eastern time. The topic is going to be Bias in the Media.

Note the Learnist board on the right - click the top and you’ll go to Part III of a 3-part series about Bias in the Media. The other two parts are available on my other Learnist boards. After reading all three boards you’re going to be somewhat of an expert on the subject! No kidding. Check them out.

Here’s the website where the chat will take place, so mark it on your calendar and we’ll talk then. I’m looking forward to hearing from you. If you have a Facebook account, or a Twitter account, you’ll be able to participate in the conversation.

Coming Sunday – Feb. 3rd, As It Stands takes a look at “Women in Combat” in the Times-Standard.

Coming Sunday – Feb. 10th, As It Stands has a “Note to GOP: Changing the rules isn’t going to help” in the Times-Standard. 

Time for me to walk on down the road…

     

 

 

Second takes: it’s incredible what some people do…

     Good Day World!

Sometimes when I go through the news I see stories that make me stop and shake my head at how incredibly stupid people can be.

Most people would not light up at a oil storage facility – those flammable signs would be enough warn them to keep their cigarettes in their pocket. Despite that two people (reportedly not employees but trespassers) were critically injured in an explosion and fire Tuesday morning after smoking on a catwalk over oil storage tanks, officials say.

This story about a female Texas trooper who performed a roadside cavity search on two Irving women really made me take a second-look. Excuse me? What was with that anyway? The trooper will be terminated according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The trooper cited them for littering - throwing cigarette butts out of the car – but ended up putting on latex gloves and doing a cavity search in front of the whole world! CLICK HERE TO VIEW DASHCAM VIDEO (WARNING VIDEO MAY BE DISTURBING)

Police in New Mexico found an 8-year-old girl locked in a cage in a darkened mobile home, authorities said on Tuesday, adding that they charged the girl's adoptive mother, who had gone to the movies, with child abuse. He said police, acting on a tip from the woman's estranged husband, found the girl in the corner of a bedroom locked inside the cage, about four feet high, slightly more than two feet wide and about five feet long.

This story about incompetent carjackers made me smile while wondering why they didn’t know how to drive a stick shift? Two men in an attempted stickup were confounded by a car’s stick shift.Neither of the would-be carjackers knew the basic mechanics behind a manual transmission! I guess people don’t get driver’s education anymore – unlike prior generations – and that’s why those two bozos were foiled in their attempt.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

See? I told you they’d bring back Twinkies one way or the other!

The indestructible Twinkie is ready for it’s comeback according to this source which hints that Hostess Brands has narrowed down the bidders for their brand to just two. 

I remember a lot of people rushing into stores to buy up Twinkies because they were sure their demise was imminent and forever. Tsk ! Tsk! I told you then they’d be back. That favorite American Icon for junk food (who can forget the famous “Twinkie Defense?) will be returning to market shelves sometime soon. Strap your feedbags on and be ready for a rush on the sweet treats! (image source)

Show Me the Monkey! Iran claims space flight successful

   Good Day World!

Iran better stop monkeying around with the world. Their leaders claim to have sent a monkey into space and brought it back safely. So where’s the monkey? No one is saying.

Folks in Washington couldn’t – or wouldn’t – confirm if Iran even launched a rocket. But the message was clear, If Iran did launch a rocket then they’re in more hot water with world powers.

It would be a violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1929, whose text bars Iran from "any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology."

In other words, the Iranians would probably be smart to NOT have a parade in the space-traveling simian’s honor. The U.S. won’t play that game and may send some drones over to ruin some fanatics day! So here’s the story:

“Iran said on Monday it had launched a live monkey into space, seeking to show off missile systems that have alarmed the West because the technology could potentially be used to deliver a nuclear warhead.

The Defense Ministry announced the launch as world powers sought to agree a date and venue with Iran for resuming talks to resolve a standoff with the West over Tehran's contested nuclear program before it degenerates into a new Middle East war.

Efforts to nail down a new meeting have failed repeatedly and the powers fear Iran is exploiting the diplomatic vacuum to hone the means to produce nuclear weapons.

The Islamic Republic denies seeking weapons capability and says it seeks only electricity from its uranium enrichment so it can export more of its considerable oil wealth.

The powers have proposed new talks in February, a spokesman for the European Union's foreign policy chief said on Monday, hours after Russia urged all concerned to "stop behaving like children" and commit to a meeting.

Iran earlier in the day denied media reports of a major explosion at one of its most sensitive, underground enrichment plants, describing them as Western propaganda designed to influence the nuclear talks.

The Defense Ministry said the space launch of the monkey coincided "with the days of" the Prophet Mohammad's birthday, which was last week, but gave no date, according to a statement carried by the official news agency IRNA.” Read the rest here

Time for me to walk on down the road…