Script

Only with your donations am I able to continue this blog. Please
consider donating.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Odd Stories: That Yelling Isn't Coming from Santa

Norcross, GA – After spending more than ten hours stuck in a chimney a teenager is free and charged with burglary and providing a false name to police.

A neighbor called police after hearing Renaldo Jack yelling for help from the chimney. When the fire department arrived he told them he was stuck since three in the morning. He was finally out of the dilemna around 1:30 p.m. via a rope lowered to him.

Odd Stories: Really? Stealing That Much Shellfish?


Newport, Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania State Department say someone stole more than 16 tons of shellfish during the weekend from a truck stop.

According to Patriot-News, the tractor-trailer was stolen late Friday or early Saturday morning. The truck is the property of Western Star Transport, a California company.

Odd Stories: Careful About Texting When It Comes to Drugs


Broken Bow, Nebraska – A mistakenly sent text message resulted in a man's drug arrest.

One of Nebraska State Patrol's officers started getting text messages from someone trying to buy drugs. Instead of telling him he has the wrong number or warning him that he's a cop, the trooper corresponded with the man until they set up a meeting place.

When he arrived at the agree-upon place he arrested Aaron Sartin and charged him with driving under the influence of drugs, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Other charges may be added.

Odd Stories: Cats are Free from Prison


Belle Glade, Florida – Eighty cats living in a Florida prison are going to be given to homes before the prison closes, authorities say.

The cats, which got into the prison by digging under fences and live around the buildings, currently outnumber the 69 prisoners left in Belle Glades prison. They've been feeding the felines despite it being against the rules. 

Though the cats are being removed so they won't starve when the jail closes its doors for the last time, four were sadly euthanized after being deemed feral and un-adoptable.

Odd Stories: Man Attacks Snowplow With Ax


Big Lake, Alaska – Frustrated about his driveway being blocked with snow, a man decided it would be a good idea to attack the nearby snowplow he felt was responsible....with the driver still in it.

Anchorage Daily News reports on November sixth Vernon Logan ran in front of the snowplow with his ax, causing James Ross to slam on the breaks so he wouldn't run over him. Logan swore at him in the beginning, followed by him hitting the driver's side door with the ax. The hit caused $200 worth of damage to the vehicle.

Logan, who denied anything happened, is being charged with third-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal mischief.

Friday, November 18, 2011

McDonald's Drops Egg Suppliers Over Health Concerns


Chicago – McDonald's dropped an egg supplier after the Food and Drug Administration found it to have “filthy conditions and unacceptable rodent activity.” An animal rights group, Mercy for Animals, also exposed the inhumane treatment of the chickens.

After inspecting five egg facilities, in Iowa, Minnesota, and Colorado, the FDA issued a warning to Sparboe Farms saying there were “serious violations” of a law put into place to prevent the spread of salmonella.

McDonald's vice president, Bob Langert, released a statement today saying the choice to let go of Sparboe Farms was out of “concern regarding the management of Sparboe's facilities.” Mercy for Animals was also a factor in the decision after the group released a tri-state three-month-long investigation of its farms.

“Wired with a pin-hole camera,” Mercy for Animals executive director Nathan Runkle said, the worker “documented repeated cases of animal abuse and neglect.”

The video, posted here on Youtube and here on their site, shows dead and live chickens in the same enclosure, chicks with broken beaks, talk of workers abusing the animals, and live chickens being discarded with dead ones in plastic bags.


Keystone XL Legislation Won't Go Through Sandhills



Lincoln, Nebraska – Two bills to make sure the Keystone XL Pipeline would not go through the Sandhills region of Nebraska will reach a final vote November 29th.

Nebraska's legislators also approved a measure allowing the state to pay around two-million dollars for an environmental study for a new route and gives governor Dave Heineman the final say on it.

Nebraska Senator Mike Flood announced proudly he made a deal with TransCanada, the company behind the Keystone XL pipeline. While he didn't say specifically what was in the deal, he did say the company volunteered to move the route out of the Sandhills.

Another bill was approved on November 17th by Senator Annette Dubas giving the Nebraska Public Service Commission authority for all future oil pipelines. It doesn't apply to Keystone XL.

Egypt's Military Push Unpopular Among Civilians


Egypt - A rally to push Egypt's military council to hand over power to a government run by the people numbered into the tens of thousands. In the rally both religious and secular people joined forces.

Called the “Friday of One Demand” Egyptians called the protest after the military-backed government passed a “supra-constitution” that would declare the military the guardian of "constitutional legitimacy". “Constitutional Legitimacy” is the suggestion that the armed forces would have the final word on major policies even after a civilian parliament and president are elected.

People from a variety of political groups, such as liberal and conservative Muslims, are trying to change the law, saying it “will push Egypt toward a more civil, secular state.” Others however are calling for it to be eradicated completely.

"My demand is that the ... document be cancelled. Enough. We are tired now. We thank the army, but it's time to transfer power and let the parliament start organizing a constitution and get ready for a civilian state," he said. "I'm happy that all the coalitions are here today,” says Yasir Hamida, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. Islam fundamentalists are not alone in in their sentiment. They are joined by liberal and left-leaning groups as well.

The April Sixth Movement known for their solidarity with labor organizations, joined them in the protest. They did so in order to end the military trials of civilians who faced unfair trials that so far resulted in the jailing of thousands of people.

Even those who aren't politically-inclined joined them. Anan Zuhairi, a doctor, said "Nothing we revolted for has happened. Emergency law is still not canceled. People are being taken out of their homes. Our demands have remained the same except they've become more. We just want democracy and freedom. The people with opinions are all in prisons."





Thursday, November 17, 2011

"Miracle Dog" Finds New Home


Nutley, New Jersey - Some of you may remember the story about the dog who survived the gas chamber. Well now he has a new home with Joe Dwyer, a motivational speaker and dog trainer who lives in Nutley, New Jersey.

Daniel is the beagle-mix, is now one of five other dogs living with Dwyer. There are dachshunds, a pitbull, and another beagle-mix.


Dwyer said Daniel is “in extremely good shape, especially in light of what he went through. His attitude is just incredible.”

There is talk about Daniel being a spokesdog for outlawing gas chambers in shelters and promoting adoption instead of buying from retail stores, which usually are fronts for puppy mills. Dwyer has made it clear that "He won’t be exploited. His life as a part of this family is paramount." 

I'm sure Joe Dwyer will take care of Daniel.  He seems to be just the kind of person who Daniel deserves.

Cops Win NYSE Battle, But Will Lose War



New York City - The police won a fight against Occupy Wall Street when they prevented the group from shutting down the New York Stock Exchange.

By barricading “the narrow streets around Wall Street” and using “batons to push protesters onto the sidewalk as they marched through the area,” they prevented the general strike from occurring as planned. With their identification and police on their side, they walked into the building as protesters, separated from them with barricades, chanted “We are the 99 percent.” To the police were the chants "You're sexy, you're blue, now take off that riot suit."

The real winner is all of this however is the people who work at the NYSE. While police fight protesters, they are flaunting the fact they are getting way with their crimes to our faces. The police are clearly paid by someone to do all of these things. When the cops stop arresting and abusing people in the OWS movement this will not go away.

Philly Retired Police Captain Arrested at Occupy Wall Street

More will be written later.  Here's the video.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Panetta Defends "Obama's Decision"

Of course I am paying attention to what's going on in the Occupy Movement after the fall of Occupy Wall Street, but given that just about every other blogger and news organization of merit are doing so as well, I figure my lowly self will cover another story.


Washington D.C. - President Obama's decision to take the troops out of Iraq in a few weeks was defended by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. Citing the agreement between George W. Bush and Iraqi officials to get the troops out of Iraq by the end of the year, he said “The bottom line is that this is not about us, it's about what the Iraqis want to do and the decisions that they want to make and secure itself, and hopefully, make the decisions that are in the interests of its people.”

President Obama spun it a different way on October 21st when he announced on television he is “keeping his campaign promise” to get U.S. forces out of Iraq.

However he did mention even though we are “out of Iraq” we aren't really. He and Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the military will still practice counter-terrorism tactics with 10 of Iraq's forces. There is also a claim that some of them will give counter-terrorism training in the camps but not go embed themselves into Iraq's forces.

This goes to show what the end-game is for them. They will help Iraq if they get diplomatic immunity but if not the people are on their own. Chances are they're hoping Iran starts something and starts messes with it through Israel.

At least we are more than sure where Leon Panetta stands.

Middle Eastern Student Beaten in Indiana


St. John, Indiana – A school in Indiana is being sued by a Jordanian family because they failed to prevent their son's bullying, which lead him to suffer a severe injury.


Osama and Hind Haddad state in their lawsuit, filed on Monday, that Lake Central High School didn't do anything to protect their son David from seven bullies despite the fact it was brought to their attention.


David is presently being treated for a brain injury, and has trouble with his balance and vision since the school hallway attack that took place on November 8th.


Kenneth Allen, the family's attorney, says the bullying began with verbal attacks such as “Little bin Laden” and “Little Osama” due to his middle name of Osama. Before too long it turned into physical attacks and in January several of the boys tried to get him outside to beat him up. Allen also said “The administration turned a blind eye to threats of violence – to bullying.”


The superintendent of Lake Central School Corp., Lawrence Veracco, has yet to comment about the event.


The Haddads haven't sent their son back to the school after the attack, citing fears for his safety.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Commentary: Dan Siegel Versus Jean Quan


Someone finally has some sense in Oakland. After the horrible job Jean Quan made in having the police attack the citizens of Oakland several times the city's top civil rights attorney resigned from his job.

Dan Siegel is obviously on the side of Occupy Oakland and looking after its citizens when the city fails to do so. He mentioned several times his disgust with having police take down people's tents, even though it's a peaceful movement by their own admission. He says of the actions the city did makes him "Really disappointed with the city, the most hostile city to the Occupy movement. Where else are they having 600 police officers take down some tents?"

Mayor Quan apparently doesn't care about what he said, as she said they've had times where they disagreed. She called the occupation a “campaign tactic....one that has divided Oakland, a city of the 99%. It's time to work together on the issues of unemplyment, foreclosures, and education cuts. While the camping must end the movement continues.”

Is she crazy? Is she really pretty much saying “Okay children you've had your fun, now go elsewhere”?
She keeps throwing gasoline onto the flames, huh?

Commentary: A Possible Attack on the American People


This is an interesting opinion piece from Al-Jazeera's Heather Digby Parton. The feeling I got from it is the same as the one I got while reading “Police State America” which dealt with the militarization of the police. What I find the most frightening, though not unexpected, thing is “pain compliance.”
"An operator squeezes off a blast. The first shot hits them like an invisible punch. The protesters regroup, and he fires again, and again. Finally they’ve had enough. The ray gun drives them away with no harm done." cites Harper's Magazine article The Soft-Kill Solution: New Frontiers in Pain Compliance. The author, Ando Arike, writes about a 60 Minutes piece in which soldiers, dressed as protesters yet called Iraqi fighters, are zapped with a ray gun.

This stuff will be used domestically as well. Look at the Occupy groups. The people in charge of weapons would LOVE to sell something like this to police officers and they would do so at a very high price. Am I being paranoid? I hope so. I really do. However the way things are looking this will be used in the near future. I wouldn't be surprised if they use it at the main Occupy group in New York City. If they have a smaller version of it they could put it in Sky Watch at Zuccotti Park and make sure nobody ever goes back. I know this may seem even more extreme but what if the police put a computer program which constantly scans for peoples' faces and even if they go back ten years later they will get zapped. That would end the Occupy groups forever. It might even be used on a bigger scale to discourage protesting by certain people.

Okay so I'm being a little too paranoid.

However this article is almost a plea for the people to stand up against those in control. It's saying to be aware of what's to come if you don't go to the streets and show your anger. Forget the fake Democrat and Republican stuff. I'm aware it can be very difficult but the Republicans are taking away rights and the Democrats are letting them do it. The judges are even in on it. Our voices must be heard and they must be heard now.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Odd Stories: Grabbing the Bull by the Horns.


Honolulu – After probably the most uncomfortable day in his life a bull named Skywalker is free of thetire that encumbered him.

Paige De Porte, Skywalker's owner, says her son Scott and ranch hand got it off the bull by using a crowbar to wench the tire off his head and horns.

De Porte theorizes the bull encountered the tire because people use the mostly-rural area as a dumping ground. She hopes this will bring to light the harm doing so does to the environment, animals, and people.

Skywalker, so tired he endured maneuvering and levering, was exhausted but seems to feel fine.

Odd Stories: Who Steals a Giant's Bike? This Guy!




Murray, Utah – Ex-NBA star Shawn Bradley (remember him? I do because of the NBA Jam game) has his bike back after someone stole it from his house last Friday.

It's such a unique bike – made for Bradley because he's 7'6” tall – the company who made it for him, Trek, didn't even bother putting a serial number on it.

Police found the bike during a search of the house of Joshua Carter, who likely walked off with the bike since he's just 6 feet tall. Bradley said he was probably just looking for something to sell to a pawn shop.