Tuesday, December 1, 2015

After 3 decades of deception here’s what we know about climate warming

                                         Good Day World!

A nonprofit’s new report documents what oil and coal firms knew about the reality of global warming, when they knew it—and how they have misled the public.

More than half of the carbon dioxide ever created by humans has been released into the atmosphere since 1988.

That was the year NASA climate scientist James Hansen told Congress that global warming was already under way and burning fossil fuels was the primary cause. Hansen’s testimony catapulted climate change from a low-key scientific specialty and the subject of obscure Capitol Hill committee hearings onto the front pages of the nation’s newspapers.

The oil, gas, and coal industries knew Hansen and his peers had the facts straight, but they responded with years of efforts to undercut carbon-cutting regulations—mostly by creating doubts about climate science, especially the link between burning fossil fuels and rising global temperatures.

1. At least one major oil company knew the risks of climate change three decades ago but denied them in public.

2. Years after acknowledging privately that the links between human activities and climate change were proven, major oil firms including Exxon and Mobil (premerger), Chevron, Shell, and BP continued to argue that there was “unsettled science” about this connection.

3. Despite the increasing severity of climate change impacts in the U.S. and around the world, industry campaigns to distort the realities around global warming and fossil fuels have not stopped.

How we know: A 2014 presentation by the Western States Petroleum Association, a powerful oil industry trade group, describes more than a dozen astroturf groups “activated” to challenge climate action policies in Western states.

With names such as Californians for Energy Independence, Fed Up at the Pump, and Kern Citizens for Energy, these groups sounded like grassroots efforts. “At least two of the front groups set up by WSPA…launched aggressive public relations campaigns in 2014, including radio ads and billboards,” reported the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Related:

Funding From Exxon or Koch Brothers Gave Deniers a Megaphone in Climate Change Debate

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

Monday, November 30, 2015

It’s not easy to say goodbye: I’ll always love your game Kobe

Photo published for Dear Basketball | By Kobe Bryant

The time has finally arrived for Kobe Bean Bryant to retire.

I remember watching him as a brash kid taking questionable shots late in games. How he became the most dominant player in the NBA.

This season has been painful to watch. The Black Mamba’s moves have faded with his outside shot.

But he’s a confirmed Hall-Of-Famer, and his game will live on in basketball lore.There will never be another player like him.

Here’s Kobe full poem about retiring:

Dear Basketball,

From the moment
I started rolling my dad’s tube socks
And shooting imaginary
Game-winning shots
In the Great Western Forum
I knew one thing was real:

I fell in love with you.
A love so deep I gave you my all —
From my mind & body
To my spirit & soul.

As a six-year-old boy
Deeply in love with you
I never saw the end of the tunnel.
I only saw myself
Running out of one.

And so I ran.
I ran up and down every court
After every loose ball for you.
You asked for my hustle
I gave you my heart
Because it came with so much more.

I played through the sweat and hurt
Not because challenge called me
But because YOU called me.
I did everything for YOU
Because that’s what you do
When someone makes you feel as
Alive as you’ve made me feel.

You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream
And I’ll always love you for it.
But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer.
This season is all I have left to give.
My heart can take the pounding
My mind can handle the grind
But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye.

And that’s OK.
I’m ready to let you go.
I want you to know now
So we both can savor every moment we have left together.
The good and the bad.
We have given each other
All that we have.

And we both know, no matter what I do next
I’ll always be that kid
With the rolled up socks
Garbage can in the corner
:05 seconds on the clock
Ball in my hands.
5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1

Love you always,
Kobe

I’ll always love your game Kobe. Don’t go quietly into the night.

On This Day Ann Hodges Was Hit By a Meteorite and Lived!

The victim of a meteor strike in Sylacauga, Alabama.

Good Day World!

I’ve got a bit of trivia for you to share around the water cooler today.

On this day, November 30th, 1954, the first modern instance of a meteorite striking a human being happened at Sylacauga, Alabama.

A sulfide meteorite, weighing 8.5 pounds and measuring seven inches in length, crashed through the roof of a house and into a living room. It then reportedly bounced off a radio and struck a woman on her hip.

The victim, Ann Hodges, was sleeping on a couch at the time of impact. Fortunately, Hodges was not permanently injured, but she did suffer a nasty bruise along her hip and leg. (Source)

Ann's story is particularly rare because most meteorites usually fall into the ocean or strike one of Earth's vast, remote places, according to Michael Reynolds, a Florida State College astronomer and author of the book Falling Stars: A Guide to Meteors & Meteorites.

"Think of how many people have lived throughout human history," Reynolds said.

"You have a better chance of getting hit by a tornado and a bolt of lightning and a hurricane all at the same time."

Time for me to walk on down the road…

 

Sunday, November 29, 2015

A Homage to Sports Fans Everywhere

 Good Day World!

I’m paying homage to sports fans today.

A true sports fan is the salt of the earth. Loyal, passionate, and proud of their team.

(Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast)

Don’t mistake fan loyalty, particularly with respect to team sports, to brand loyalty. There is a difference.

What causes a person to be a loyal fan, sticking with a team through adversity, rather than a fair weather fan, that switches support to whatever teams happen to be successful at the time?

Psychologists attribute it to the following factors:

Entertainment value
The entertainment value that a fan derives from spectating motivates him/her to remain a loyal fan. Entertainment value of team sports is also valuable to communities in general.
Authenticity
This is described by Passikoff as "the acceptance of the game as real and meaningful".
Fan bonding
Fan bonding is where a fan bonds with the players, identifying with them as individuals, and bonds with the team.
Team history and tradition
Shank gives the Cincinnati Reds, all-professional baseball's oldest team, as an example of a team where a long team history and tradition is a motivator for fans in the Cincinnati area.
Group affiliation
Fans receive personal validation of their support for a team from being surrounded by a group of fans who also support the same team.

Finally, as a loyal Los Angeles Laker fan for 52 years, I wouldn’t even think about changing loyalties to another team – despite the fact the Lakers are currently playing the worst ball in their franchise history.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Here’s some news that’s not fit to be primetime, but it’ll make you laugh!

Good Day World!

Welcome to my zany world of news tidbits. These tidbits seldom make the mainstream news, or even in social media for that matter. 

But you can always stop by here to see what your missing:

NEWS FLASH!

rare026The NFL recently conducted tests on player’s helmets to see if they could be improved, and reduce traumatic head injuries.

Unfortunately, the test volunteer developed a lisp and was talking in tongues when they finally suspended the research.

10-punt-gunWHAT A BLAST!

 In a moment of downtime, Republican candidates for president recently tried out the new Hummingbird Shotgun in order to gain the NRA’s approval.

 According to reports Donald Trump shot himself in the foot with it! Ted Cruz got in on the fun with the big gun and pointed it at the Mexican border and dared immigrants from entering the country. Ben Carson was such a bad shot that he missed a gaggle of hummingbirds three feet away and reportedly took out the archangel Michael who was converting Ft. Knox into a grain storage center!

BEST-Halloween-Pet-Costumes-Funny-Animal-Costume-Ideas-for-Dogs-and-Cats-unique-holloween-top-ever-pets-19-300x225DRONE on DUDE!

Doug the Wonder Dog prepares to make history by being the first Drone Dog to patrol the skies over animal shelters. His stealthy goggles allow him to see great distances.

His master says if Doug sees an animal in trouble he’ll swoop down and rescue it (as long as it doesn’t weigh more than him!)

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Friday, November 27, 2015

Rock and Roll Heaven Alert: Happy Birthday Jimi Hendrix!

Good Day World!

Somewhere in Rock and Roll Heaven today musicians are celebrating Jimi Hendrix’s birthday.

Jimi, born Johnny Allen Hendrix, is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century.

He will always be my favorite electric guitarist. I remember the first time I heard his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner I went crazy! Never heard anything like it, and it spoke to me in ways I still don’t understand.

In 1968, the year I graduated from high school, I heard Foxey Lady for the first time. It was like a revelation. I loved his unique sound and lyrics and became a die-hard fan.

As I went through my full-fledged hippie days, sparking up joints and dropping LSD, Jimi came up with Purple Haze and it spoke to me personally! 

I must add All Along The Watch Tower and Hey Joe to round out my all time Jimi picks.

Thanks for the memories, Jimi! Rock on!

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

No Post Tomorrow – I’m Taking Thanksgiving Day Off to Give Thanks!

                                  Good Day World!

No Thanksgiving Day door-busters for me tomorrow. Black Friday isn’t even a consideration. I’m going “old school” this year.

For those of you not familiar with more traditional Thanksgivings, that means I’m spending the day with family and friends celebrating life.

No standing in long lines to get dubious sale items for me. I’ll be watching the Turkey Bowl on TV. The day will be spent grazing on great food and drink amid bursts of laughter.

It’s a no politics day. Conversations will be much lighter and less controversial. In other words, I look forward to the gathering tomorrow and really plan on having a great holiday!

Thanks for stopping by!

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Note to BLM Activists: Please don’t marginalize me or my race

Good Day World!

I believe all lives matter.

Unfortunately, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement is predominately aimed at police officers whom they feel are unjustly killing blacks.

In fact, 99.9% of people aren't police officers. So, as a non-black, non-police officer person, when I say 'All lives matter' what I'm saying is "Hey Bro, I'm agreeing with you, your life matters just as much as mine."

Yet somehow, I'm considered a racist for saying 'All lives matter?'  That's wrong. I don't give a damn about your race, every life matters.

Sure, I GET that they want the police to know that black lives matter too, but don't marginalize me or my race because they want to be angry at cops. That's not my problem.

If black lives really mattered, the protestors would be in Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland etc., marching against the numerous black lives being lost every single week in those cities controlled by black gangsters. But, they aren’t. Why?

The only time black lives seem to matter to BLM, is when a white cop is involved, justifiably or not. Facts no longer seem to matter to BLM. Spreading false stories about events sure seems to matter though.

Lying for your cause because you're frustrated doesn't help your credibility at all. It makes you look like an idiot. If the only time a black life matters to them is when they can blame a white person, their telling me that they don't give a damn about black lives, they just want to vent their anger towards whites.

Why don’t the BLM activists look at their own lives closer? Why don’t they address the REAL PROBLEM – blacks are killing themselves in crime-ridden neighborhoods in record numbers?

That doesn’t make me a racist for pointing this out – despite what many activists claim when that inconvenient fact is brought up. If BLM wants to start saving lives now, they should be protesting the violence in black communities across the nation.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Monday, November 23, 2015

Celebrating the 1st episode of ‘Dr. Who’ Today!

Good Day World!

Time to celebrate faithful Dr. Who fans. The doctor is in the house!

The doctor is an alien – the last of the powerful Time Lords. An intrepid traveler, a wander through time and space. He is, He agrees, “a madman with a box.”

On November 23,1963, the first episode of Doctor Who, the world's longest-running science fiction television show, was broadcast on BBC television, starring William Hartnell as the first incarnation of the title role.

Keeping up with the doctor:

Doctor Who: This Was All The Doctor’s Fault

Here’s a video of the very first episode of Dr. Who

Explore the Dr. Who Universe here. 

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Why it’s easier to hate than to love

Good Day World!

Do you know why it’s easier to hate than to love?

I’ve read a lot of books and magazine articles on the subject. The most recent article being James W. Cone’s brilliant piece;

Why is hate easier than love?

About Mr. Cone: he’s a combat veteran of the Vietnam War and has worked with veterans’ groups in the United States. As a combat Vietnam vet myself(1970), I’m always encouraged to see my fellow survivors emerge from the other side of hell, and go on to lead meaningful lives.

Here’s a quick summary of his insightful article:

Hate

Hate is natural and love is supernatural. Hate does not require any effort on our part because it is a part of the human existence. Hate is fueled by fear or by it’s milder forms concern and worry.

Bias, including racial, gender, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic, are fueled by self-doubt and the feeling we cannot obtain the things we need to survive because of certain people. To make ourselves feel more secure we degrade those who we fear.

Sometimes hate is taught to young people and they believe this hate-talk because it comes from those who they trust. Hate is sometimes passed down from generation to generation even though the hate-talk is illogical and lacks evidence.

Hate requires nothing from us so it is easy to indulge in. All we have to do is dismiss reality and any facts that might differ with our hate-filled beliefs.

LOVE

Love, on the other hand is supernatural. It requires that we overcome the human need to be defensive and have high expectations of others in order to feel secure.

Love also requires that we have the confidence to be able take on life’s challenges and trust we’ll succeed. It demands that we be willing to walk in another person’s shoes so we can see things through the eyes of others and feel their pain.”

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Saturday, November 21, 2015

A Revealing Conversation Among Two Terrorists

Good Day World!

While the world recoils in horror and anger over the Paris terrorist attacks, a conversation takes place in a candle lit mosque in Raqqa, Syria:

Two men.

One of them is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS.

The attacks on the French crusaders went well enough. What do you think Mohammed?”

The second man replies:

“Better than expected Caliph! Have you heard the reports coming from the United States?”

“No, tell me warrior of Islam.”

“The country is divided even more now, and their government is undermining it’s own foundations regarding immigrants!”

“How so?”

“Members of Congress have banned Syrian and Iraqi citizens from coming to America. I see this as just the beginning in the unraveling of their own constitution and long-held belief that they are the melting pot of the world.”

I see. Soon other refugees from around the world will be banned too. Just as I planned. The anti-refugee rhetoric will show Muslims worldwide that the infidels hate and distrust them.

“True my caliph. It will also lead to total anarchy as ethic groups already living in the USA will be forced to protect themselves from the ruling white class. Militias everywhere. Truly dark days for the great Satan!”

“It is Allah’s will. Now, go out my son and sow more discord among the crusaders to assure yourself a place in Paradise.”

Meanwhile, fear stalks America like a ravening beast as politicians fall over themselves in spewing hateful rhetoric and presidential campaign propaganda.

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Trump's Lowest Grift Ever Saved for Holy Week

This is a story about how the devil's puppet, aka Donald Trump, mocked Christianity by selling a book combining the Bible, the Constitu...