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It has been quite the night.
I guess you know you are meant to keep a dog when he runs away into dark cold woods and after a dashing rescue returns in one piece..

Around 5 o’clock tonight, Ayden suddenly decided to open the door to allow Mutley to escape.. Maybe it was because he was tired of the dog biting his toys, or maybe he wanted to set the dog free from the rules that confine him..

As soon as this occurred a daring chase scene unfolded! I immediately ran after Mutley the dog, over a highway and into the woods, but I couldn’t even catch a glimpse…

Ayden realized what he had done, but his little legs could not join in the search..

So many horrible things were going through my mind, that the dog would get hit by a car, abducted by aliens, or torn apart by Bigfoot..

I said to the higher power “if we’re meant to have this dog let it come back”
Not specifying the fashion I wanted the dog’s return to be in, the higher power answered in his own way.

My father, who joined in the rescue, was driving his car and saw the dog, the dog saw him and darted directly for the vehicle. This is where things get a bit murky.. My dad said that the car and the dog made contact but he said he was not moving at the time. Instead the dog literally railed head first into the car at about 65 mph running speed.. I can attest to that, I’ve never seen an animal on four legs run as fast as Mutley the dog does..

All is now well, the dog has no broken bones but is acting very ashamed.. My dad, as he is done through most of my life, made things right again. Ayden is building his ninja turtle Legos. Mommy is trying, as usual, to understand my meandering and strange stories. And I am just confused and tired from running 2 miles in one minute.

But we will all sleep tonight as a family..

Suicides of young vets top those of active-duty troops

USA TODAY filed an information request about this topic and got some sad results.. 
As they report:

"The rates … are honestly alarming. This group of young veterans appears to be in some trouble," says Janet Kemp, head of the department’s suicide prevention program.

The Army has struggled with suicide among active-duty troops more than other service branches during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the risk persists after soldiers return to civilian life.

There seems to be a big issue when re-adjusting to civilian life.. that, or the horrors of what these men and women saw in combat haunts them so much so that they choose to take themselves out of the misery of memories..

I’d love thoughts and opinions on my open lines page as to what you think the problem is..

Suicides of young vets top those of active-duty troops

NEW YORK TIMES Review: Wearable Filip Phone/Tracker

The Filip phone, worn like a bracelet, keeps track of a child when paired with an app downloaded to a parent’s mobile device.

I am very conflicted with this story.

On one hand, anyone who reads this site knows I fret—sometimes outright fear—the future and how technology will be used to rid the world of humans and replace our emotions wand actions with those of the virtual nature.. But I’m a parent, too, who understands the dangers of society and how children can easily get lost in a K-MART let alone a big world…

So …I don’t know what to say. In a sense I get nervous about the government and big business monitoring our every move. I don’t like cameras watching my facial expressions in stores. I don’t like public buses recording my conversations. And I don’t like how far the NSA seemingly has overstepped some boundaries, at least according to the Snowden documents..

But parents being big brother? That may be allowable and morally acceptable in my mind. After all, constitutional protections sometimes don’t translate well when you’re talking about the relationship a parent has with a child. A dictatorship in a household is often the best course of action—not always of course..

So … The wearable flip phone tracker for children? I may be a fan. So now tell me, does that make me a hypocrite?

NEW YORK TIMES Review: Wearable Filip Phone/Tracker

No one owns the moon says scientist - Telegraph

From the TELEGRAPH story:

“The legal status of the moon is currently defined by the 1967 Outer Space Treaty of the United Nations.”

But he added: “There’s a strong case for developing international law in this area because in 1967 it was not envisaged that anyone other than nation states would be able to explore the moon. Clearly that is changing now and there is a case for developing the outer space treaty to include private organisations that may wish to explout the moon.”

He said there was also a case for developing the treaty in light of private companies who may in the future want to mine the moon for its minerals, but that it was unnecessary to worry about this at the moment as scientific exploration was still ongoing.

Makes me wonder if any other life forms out there in space debate the question: Who owns the pale blue dot?

No one owns the moon says scientist - Telegraph

Snooki Calls NJ Gov. Chris Christie a 'Bully'

Snooki Calls NJ Gov. Chris Christie a 'Bully'

One of the greatest David Blaine tricks, perhaps ever. And the best quote from Harrison Ford, too: “Get the fuck out of my house.” 

Love it..

I think I’d ask Dave to leave, too..

A fire has destroyed the historic Neale Mansion

This perhaps is more a story for my local readers in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania..

According to the Pottsville REPUBLICAN HERALD today, firefighters were called to he Neale Mansion in Foster Twp.. The paper does not yet have specifics as to the totality of the fire, but the word ‘destroy’ in the headline is enough to cause me to think it’s a loss..

This photo is from the newspaper: 

This would make the destruction of a house with historic appeal—and controversial appeal over the past few years.

James B. Neale was a coal baron who, according to books about him, was generous and took care of children from the area.. There are some very positive stories about Neale and idyllic goals.. James Neale was one of those coal barons who did little evil. . as a matter of fact, as the book "The Great Chance" explained, he wanted coal miners to be well housed, healthy, and sanitary, and educated. 

People have long ventured into the area to snap photos of the expansive and amazing mansion..

The mansion itself was subject to years worth of controversy. In 2008, the owners wanted to bar demolition of the mansion.... In 2010, Foster Twp asked a judge to allow work on the mansion. In 2012, it was officially sold.

In 2014: It’s burned to the ground..

Sad day for those who love history, and those who long cherished the ideals set forth by one of the few honest coal barons of that day, James Neale..

West Virginians risk non-stop vomiting if they drink or touch water after chemical spill

And here is some more information on this developing story..

Massive chemical spill in West Virginia forces state of emergency and a water ban in 9 counties! More than that.. schools and restaurants are closed in the main capitol of Charleston.. The water ban and state of emergency comes after a chemical leak into Elk River.. MORE: Affected residents have been told not to drink, cook, bathe or wash with the contaminated water supplied by West Virginia American Water .. Along with all of this, some people are being treated for water related issues .. from the CBS report:

"Once word got out about the governor’s declaration Thursday, customers stripped store shelves in many areas of items such as bottled water, paper cups and bowls. As many as 50 customers had lined up to buy water at a convenience store near the state Capitol in Charleston. "It was chaos, that’s what it was," cashier Danny Cardwell said. "

West Virginians risk non-stop vomiting if they drink or touch water after chemical spill

Whoa

A closed bridge over troubled water..

Does this nightmare ‘weighing down’ the Governor of New Jersey have enough to stop his road to the White House?

….so what other issues actually made Mitt Romney drop Christie’s name from contenders for VP? 

What else …is there?

Target: Stolen information involved up to 70 million people

Target disclosed that a mass information breach involved data belonging to up to 70 million customers, a number more extensive than originally believed.

Thanks for the belated Christmas gift, Target, the inclusion of 30 million more people in the original numbers..

This is a big, BIG, data breach. 

Must have been a Target on this store..

Target: Stolen information involved up to 70 million people

Forced abortion abuses in China being revealed

Forced abortion abuses in China being revealed

It’s Lego time for Ayden Kreuger

Dead cows washing up on beaches

Seriously space aliens, this is the best thing that you can do to get rid of the body?

Dead cows washing up on beaches

Security alert in southern Russia as bodies found in bomb-rigged cars

Security alert in southern Russia as bodies found in bomb-rigged cars

For some fun, I may seek out every newsstand and out this issue of Janet Yellen in front of all Playboy and Playgirl .. Just for fun. Some good clean Yellen fun.

The gloves are off! Fat jokes begin. Get the cattle prod.

I’d much rather hear less about politics and more about how I can warn 50gs in cash!

A quick walk in the woods yielded this, I think I found my Christmas tree for next year already!

A nightmare at naptime!

Ayden it’s going to daycare today looking slightly like a toddler version of Freddy Krueger. But.. The fluffy Ninja Turtle hat and Scooby Doo mittens may take away some of the fear factor.

Investigator reacts to leaked bridge scandal emails: Chris Christie is clueless or a liar

Wait a minute.. did Chris Christie eat the bridge!?

Investigator reacts to leaked bridge scandal emails: Chris Christie is clueless or a liar