They were people. Faces in a crowd. And now they are victims to madness

James Holmes is now known by most of the world now as the shooter and monster of the Midnight Massacre in Aurora Colorado during the DARK KNIGHT RISES. But the victims, as usual, will be forgotten in the dust of the justice system and publications in a 24 hours news cycle. So Coal Speaker will just pause for a moment in time to recognize lives that are lost.. I read these names and reports of their deeds on an LA TIMES dispatch this morning.  Clearly, the other 58 who were victims but not deceased deserve space, too. I hope we see more profiles on them soon.

The dead:

Jessica N. Ghawi, 24

Micayla C. Medek, 23

John T. Larimer, 27

Alex M. Sullivan, 27

Alexander J. Boik, 18

Gordon W. Cowden, 51

Alexander C. Teves, 24

Matthew R. McQuinn, 27

Jonathan T. Blunk, 26

Jesse E. Childress, 29

Rebecca Ann Wingo, 32

Veronica Moser-Sullivan, 6

Some striking things about the list. Veronica Moser-Sullivan was in the audience with her mom for a ‘girls night out’ .. Her mother is one year older than the shooter, and now remains in critical condition with bullets in her abdomen.  

Alex Sullivan died protecting others in the theater—it was his birthday and they were at the film to celebrate. 

But maybe most chilling to me is the tale of Jessica Ghawi. She was the same age as James Holmes. And just a month ago in June, she walked out of a Toronto mall before a shooter came in and shot over a dozen people, leaving two dead. Ghawi had a person blog and she wrote these profound words:

“I was shown how fragile life was… I was reminded that we don’t know when or where our time on Earth will end.”

Let that sink in. 

There is something bugging me about these Colorado shootings

Well, more then one thing.

First off, the media announced John Holmes as the murderer. I noticed this weekend that changed to James. Is it because John Holmes was a porn star and web searches were freaking out?

Secondly.. I am tired of how we spend about 1000 words on 12 dead and 58 wounded while the shooter will get 10,000+ words a day. I know that is the nature of the media beast, but I think a week of silence would be in order. There’s time for the trial and the story of how James Holmes was a ‘nerd’ who even gun lovers were freaked out by.. and how neighbors ‘never saw it coming’ even though lots of explosives and ammo was arriving by the day… yes, we will hear it all. But how about we stop and pause a bit for the victims. A man celebrating his birthday? A 6-year-old? They deserve a bit more than they get.

And finally I am tired of all these crappy and ridiculous DARK KNIGHT memes floating around on Facebook and the Internet. Listen, yes, we get it, you’re as upset as me. But you posting a stupid picture of BATMAN with a strange ribbon aside of him doesn’t do anything.. and BATMAN praying over a movie theater? Now that is tacky. 

Just mourn like normal humans did before the moving GIFs and crappy JPEGs of the net.. please? 

And we should mourn. Because this was a horrible weekend for good people. I hope all who are dealing with it find some sort of beauty in life again.. a monster took it away for a while. But it’s still there.. minus out all the hate and carnage and sickness of the human mind, I swear beauty is still there. 

Changing times.. changing rooms

Did a few creative maneuvers in the homestead this weekend. Switched some rooms and altered the surroundings. Those things get tough with a 2 foot person moving all about the room you’re trying to clean. And I noticed something, he was shocked things looked different. My son Ayden even seemed a bit angry at how we moved his toys, moved his books.. And I think that’s good. It was the first shake up of his 17-months of life. This was a big one. He faced it with anger but perseverance. 

I personally think, after living 31 years, life changes a little too much for me. Maybe that’s because no one ever moved my toys from one room to another. Hope we help him deal with a future of constantly evolving things.

The cursed trilogy

This was supposed to be a huge weekend for the DARK KNIGHT RISES. Instead it become a national crisis when John Holmes shot the theater in Aurora, CO. Now Warner Bros is faced with an interesting question about how to fully promote what was geared up to be the biggest movie of the year. Their immediate answer according to the always spot on Nikki Finke is that they may go all weekend without reporting or bragging about box numbers..

However non-chatty Warner is about to become, numbers will still be released to reporters ..

Question will be: how much will this effect overall numbers in the end? Does this mar the Christopher Nolan reinvented franchise?

A tragic film in a sense. Heath Ledger dead as DARK KNIGHT came popular.. DARK KNIGHT RISES released during a real midnight massacre.. Yes indeed, the BATMAN in somewhere in tears tonight..

The only image I can think of right now..

Two tales on one picture. 

When I saw this AP photo yesterday, it gave me chills.

When I see it today, it makes me cry.

Children are growing up in a world that seems to be regressing into a sick cauldron of violence and horror. I have a son, too. I want my son to be excited by a hero named BATMAN.

Our society seems to be becoming a nightmare. God bless America indeed.

If there is a God, you really still think he blesses America…?

ShortFormBlog: President Obama's Statement on Aurora Shooting

joshsternberg:

Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado. Federal and local law enforcement are still responding, and my Administration will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time. We…

ShortFormBlog: President Obama's Statement on Aurora Shooting

shortformblog:

Here’s a clip of the aftermath of the attack on the movie theater near Denver — a lot of commotion, doesn’t appear to be a lot of violence exposed, but it’s nonetheless harrowing. Such a scary incident, we could not even imagine this happening. 

Chaos reigned after the shooting took place. People on television reports calling in to the morning shows describing more scenes of chaos.. one witness on the TODAY show said he was also shooting people trying to escape.. 

(Source: http://shortformblog.com/)

AP: The youngest victim reported was a 6-year-old being treated at Children's Hospital Colorado, where a total of six victims were taken.

shortformblog:

The Denver Post reports that one of the injured victims was a three-month-old child. 9NEWS just confirmed the report.

This is disgusting in all forms to me.. a three month old child.. This is absolutely horrendous. 

AP: The youngest victim reported was a 6-year-old being treated at Children's Hospital Colorado, where a total of six victims were taken.

Waking up to this horrific Dark Knight news

There was a horrific shooting at a Colorado movie theater last night. A midnight massacre took place. At least 14 dead, 50 injured, more developing on that as medical professional teams release information to new stations. I just think about the people in this theater, and I cry.

Dads who took their sons because of how excited their sons were.

To go see a movie? No. To go see how disgusting our human race can so often be.

Yes there were threats to movie critics over the week and even the website rotten tomatoes had to take down its comments section. But this goes far beyond the reach of any fanboys online. This is disgusting, and frightening. 

So who is going to see THIS this weekend? Or tonight?

Some 'other' news..

THE EARTH IS CHANGING.. For several years scientists have been watching for a huge piece of ice to break off of Greenland. And now it has happened, as the crack became complete and the iceberg twice the size of Manhattan has broken off..

This could be the dramatic illustration of a warming Greenland ..

Strange situation developing in Brazil as hundreds of penguins have been found dead on beaches.. And now biologists are on the case..

There is a looming budget crisis.. and 2 million jobs could be lost within months..

Amazing video circulating around the world.. a 7-year-old girl escaped injury when she fell from a window in Brooklyn only to be caught by a neighbor..

Big drug bust in Ohio as student, age 17, is accused of a multimillion dollar drug ring.. he was netting $20,000 a month in sales..

Strange campaign: Is BANE in DARK KNIGHT a Democrat attempt to destroy Mitt Romney?

Entire states may be threatened by the now epic drought taking place across the United States.. record high food prices this fall will be next as corn crop gets decimated by continued heat..

The 2012 Dust Bowl: No End in Sight to Record Drought

A frightening situation is developing today as news emerges about a woman who bit into a needle in her sandwich on a Delta flight now being put on anti-HIV medication.. Four Delta flights are affected.. it is a possible ‘terrorist’ act.. the FBI is investigating the matter. The persons who bit into the needles were biting into turkey sandwiches. How safe from sabotage are airport food products? Apparently not safe enough.. 

I missed this story when it happened but just caught it now: Merck in June delayed a batch of MMR vaccine slated for release because it was released too early, before it was finished an internal approval process.. The company asked 39,000 vaccines to be returned..

UK reports shows that there has been a huge uptake in children receiving the MMR vaccine, 87.1%. But the number ‘falls short’ of the target of ‘95%’..

Chaos in Canada.. a food festival had to close after 17 people were hospitalized after lightning struck..

There were tornadoes in Poland of all places the other day, another heat wave building in the USA, corn crops being decimated.. truly we are living in the quickening, just hope not ‘an ending’

A fierce lightning storm turns night into day

WEBSITE 'ROTTEN TOMATOES' SUSPENDS USER COMMENTS FOR 'DARK KNIGHT' FILM AFTER FANBOYS BEGIN OBSCENE WORD WAR

According to reports tonight, the popular movie website ROTTEN TOMATOES has suspended user comments for the DARK KNIGHT film after users began making threatening and profane comments towards reviewers who gave DARK KNIGHT a less than good review..

This may be the biggest movie opening of the year, maybe ever (? we will see?).. but the fact that the website has suspended users from making comments is a first.. Also, the site is considering a move to a Facebook commenting system, which might cut down on the glut of anonymous posts..

Listen everyone: It’s a movie!!!

Yet more politicization of DARK KNIGHT occurring today as Rush Limbaugh compared Bane to Mitt's Bain

Yet more politicization of DARK KNIGHT occurring today as Rush Limbaugh compared Bane to Mitt's Bain

Owwww

milesfilesx:

That’s currently Miles’ new favorite word. He smacks himself in the head, than runs to me rubbing his head saying ow.

And than I have to kiss it.

After that, he smacks himself in the head again.

I think it’s fair to say that this is the reason kids rule. And are hilarious.

Just sickening..

Welcome to the land of savages: Chicago teens charged with beating death of man who was collecting cans because social security was not enough.. the moron teens posted the video of the beating on Facebook for their fellow savages and crude sickos to like. Fortunately someone alerted police..

We are on borrowed time

I heard this description of life: It’s a bus ride that has no stops. You just keep going faster and faster

… the only way out is a crash: Death.

I think that sums up the gravity of the situation we are all in.

Please don’t consider this a negative posting about life. Life is actually quite fun for me right now.

I have a 17-month-old little man who is the joy of life.. My wife and I have been forever changed by his existence in our world. I have a wonderful family. Friends I cherish. We have jobs. We have a roof over our heads.. we have food when we are hungry. And I have an iPhone, and all the other technology that comes with life these days, too.

In the past two weeks I have been to two funerals. I will keep the overly personal information out, and just say that one was for someone who was 95 and a World War II POW. Another was for an uncle who lived to the truly ripe old age of 94. Both were pushing 100 when they met their respective final resting places. They both had long lives and lots of memories.. they both had stories.. both had a memories.. both had loved ones, cherished friends.. We all have stories, too. No matter the person.. From the richest to the poorest. From the oldest in the world to the child that dies at birth. There IS A MEANING to life.. right?

After contemplation, I have determined that we have become overly busy with our selfish pleasures of newsfeeds and campaign stats and sports stats and bla bla bla bla bla. At least I have.

I have neglected so much in the real world because of the online world. The internet and technology have become habits instead of pleasures. It went from being a novelty to a way of life. We all have been touched by the net bug. We are addicted!! Addicted to virtual reality. Addicted to virtual everything……virtually nothing.

But back to life for a second. REAL LIFE, not virtual.
What is the purpose to all this? Why ask! you know there is no answer. Lots claim to know the truth. Many others ponder it forever. In the end we don’t have a clue. What happens when we do die!? Again, here.. no word from anyone who did perish. We are left to wonder if near death experiences are really experiences of truth or just brain waves going awry. We are left to question tenets of religion.. question all things.

In the net age we have oodles of knowledge at our fingertips. All we have to do is Google or Bing it or MetaFilter it.. or whatever it. Do people even ask Jeeves anymore? Or AltaVista? .. Asta La Vista ..

Search results would amount to tons of data if you printed it on paper. But in our paperless society paper doesn’t exist anymore… right? Even though a paper-stack of bills sits next to me, that snail mail sent me, that was licked by some underpaid secretary in a cubicle maybe even AGHAST! with a typewriter…somewhere in the world.

There are bits and bytes of data flying around the world at a record pace.

And with all this knowledge you’d think by now someone would have found the meaning of life! The closest I know that found something was John Clease in MONTY PYTHON’S THE MEANING OF LIFE. The death penalty introduced to us in that show was, well, one many men wouldn’t mind having.

The information superhighway.. that is what it was once dubbed. Now it’s filled with potholes and dead sites that have dead ends.

Where does it all go in the end, though?

No where.. bits and bytes go bye bye for us.

Our bodies were dust and to dust they return. Despite the big plans we have to strive for big goals, we are cut down by something..whether it’s fate, God, time.. science. Whatever you believe. You can be five months, 15, 35, or 95. All dust.

So after this week, with two funerals (and a wedding, congrats bro), one can only leave the day with a renewed perspective on this strange place called earth.

A new lease on life!?

Not a chance…

A constantly expiring lease?

Now that is more like it..

Interesting ..

I lost two followers after I posted a link to a video about Poland’s tornadoes.

I lost another follower tonight when I said I want politics out of the BATMAN movies.

And finally, I lost 7 followers after I posted the story about foie gras.

I guess there is just something about me people don’t like.

California imposed a ban on foie gras starting July 1 of this year, however the Presidio Social Club says it can still serve the force-fed 'delicacy'

Why? 

Because it has a business on property maintained by the federal government…

Interesting legal debate may be setting up … one food watchers and animal rights activists will be closely following.

I am actually quite sickened by the thought of foie gras.. but for some reason I think if big tall huge aliens invaded earth, they may very well force feed humans and serve us. I don’t know if we’d have a fancy name like foie gras .. and I sure don’t know if we’d be a delicacy.

Then again, during this summer of cannibal rage, maybe such a horrid act is possible..

California imposed a ban on foie gras starting July 1 of this year, however the Presidio Social Club says it can still serve the force-fed 'delicacy'

A truly suspicious package.. the TSA just had to look. I'm sure this story will makes it way around the world, but many will blush speaking about it. The man with the world's largest genitalia was thoroughly searched by the TSA

It just seems more and more like the TSA is just hell-bent on being in a porn movie..

A truly suspicious package.. the TSA just had to look. I'm sure this story will makes it way around the world, but many will blush speaking about it. The man with the world's largest genitalia was thoroughly searched by the TSA

Please for the love of God keep politics out of the DARK KNIGHT!!

Really.. Democrats are using THE DARK KNIGHT film in new advertising against Mitt Romney.. Source here

I don’t care your political belief or presidential pick, I just hope we ALL can agree that the 2012 presidential election should be kept away from what may be the movie of the year.

Please politicians just give us one thing this year that won’t be political.. We beg of you..

Then again, Mitt Romney did star in BATMAN RETURNS as Max Schreck, didn’t he?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQkBeOisNM0?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=281]

Music to start the week. Good luck to all who are facing the prospects of heat, humidity, horrid war, pestilence.. but I think we all will agree: CAN’T WAIT FOR THE DARK KNIGHT in theaters this weekend..

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Old times are a flyin

Remember the show SIGHTINGS hosted by Tim White? That was one great show .. I’ve been You Tubing the past all night.. I wish it was still on

A tale of one painting. Joe Paterno had a halo after he died, but on July 14, 2012, artist Michael Pilato used his skills to remove that same halo..

Sure, the late Penn State coach is no saint. But now that the Freeh report is sinking in and new facts are being digested, it’s clear that he was no saint either. He was a man who wanted to try to cover up as much as he could to save the reputation of Penn State.. and sordid as it all seems, the children who were abused in this situation always were last on the list of people who were helped. It’s a disgusting and sick story .. one that I can’t really read about much or think about much because of how deplorable it was and is, but also because of how many generations of proud Penn State graduates are shamed for good by the scars of sexual abuse in locker rooms on the campus.

Oh, and yes, the school has decided to re-do those shower rooms.. take away the look … but not the memories. No way in hell will people forget what happened there. And with more and more information trickling out about how much higher ups knew of the situation, the story isn’t dead yet.

Tornado alley .. Polish version. You don't hear of these storms often hitting UK nations..

But today a tragic situation unfolded ..

A freak wave of tornadoes slammed in part of Poland today.. houses are wrecked, people are shocked, and tonight at least one is dead in the nation.

This summer has already given Poland and other European nations hail, flash floods, and heavy winds. And now quite powerful tornadoes have struck..

This can happen in this nation and other UK countries, but it rarely does. And when it does it is seldom as powerful as the storms that hit Sunday..

Here is a video of some tornado events:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWUtjpoM7f4]

And here is more information about just how surprising and strong these tornadoes were..

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3fmq48DGwk?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=281]

Beauty in a 1 minute.. 

Here is a time lapse video of the Northern Lights in the early morning hours of 7/15/2012 taken just north of Dubuque, Iowa at the Balltown, Iowa scenic overlook.

And the scenes of a green and purple aura in the sky are absolutely amazing.

Not sure if my hometown saw northern lights.. sadly the sky was cloudy all night.

Sunspot 1520 and the X flare last week caused this spectacular show, and I am truly jealous of whoever got to see it..including the residents of Balltown, Iowa.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

DANCING IN THE DARK, LITERALLY

The arts were cut off in London last night. Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney were wowing the crowd, jamming out the night.. and then they were CUT OFF by the organizers because LONDON HAS A CURFEW.

Glory Days quickly ended. Dancing in the dark ensued.

And lots of people around the world suddenly took notice to a nanny like state that says when too much music is too much.

And yes, the angry musicians are lashing out.. Steven van Zandt said England is becoming a police state.

Next up: The Olympics! Hope the swim matches don’t go too long…

Don't get yourself caught up in an Amityville situation

We all know the story of Amityville horror, whether by watching the movie or remake, reading the book, or listening to countless interviews with lawyers and the family supposedly haunted by the murders that took place within the home in New York. The house exists still and is back and forth on the real estate market.. Lots have debunked the story of the Lutz family. Others stand by the account and believe that DeFeo murders forever haunted the property..

The house was bought by a resident in 2010 for $950,000.. and then sold.. Those who attended the house showing in 2010 moving sale at 108 Ocean Ave. but the basement was not open for public consumption at the time. The owner in 2010 did not claim any haunting took place. As a matter of fact, no owners have since the Lutz family left in the 20th century..

But it brings up an interesting question, should you conclude that your own home is haunted by spirits or worse. What do you do to get rid of the house?

You can technically walk away from the mortgage. 

But if you’re more inclined to care about credit and a future purchase, you’ll want to sell the house on the market—and we know that demons and evilspiritdoers won’t care about the asking price.  

A new show is being filmed to be on the SyFy that may help those in need of advice on how to ditch the witch. A Fort Wane, Indiana, real estate agent is going to try to help. His name is Scott FladHammer and he wrote a book “HOW TO SELL AN UGLY OR HAUNTED HOUSE.”

We all know the housing market collapsed in 2008—and what is left of it appears to be collapsing even further. Maybe we finally have a blame.. now financial institutions’ greed but instead witches and ghosts lurking in the walls of attics of homes. In which case, FladHammer will ride to the rescue.

The Bain drain

The storm: Obama camp decimates Romney in new TV ad.. President attacks in stump speech in heavy rain..

Romney signatures at Bain after he said he left..

Enough to make you sick

Congress may allow Monsanto to write its own rules!

3-year-old gets mugged in NYC! Chain ripped from his neck..

Here is another story on federal agencies offering opposing forecasts of the solar impact to the planet

And I reiterate: I hope this won’t happen should there be a ‘big one’.. 

It appears the world is not going to sizzle with this flare—and won’t in the future, either. But when a strong X class has the potential to do some damage you’d hope that federal agencies are on the same page.

But then again.. what if the same page they are on is dead wrong?

In that regard, maybe it’s better they oppose and offer different forecasts. May the strongest forecast win.

Here is another story on federal agencies offering opposing forecasts of the solar impact to the planet

As the solar storm from the X flare hits earth, federal agencies are providing inconsistent information on the power

What is troubling to think about is when a really large solar event takes place that could have a significant impact on this planet, will things be this much of a mess?

As the solar storm from the X flare hits earth, federal agencies are providing inconsistent information on the power

All that anger about Team USA's Olympics clothing

First of all, I can say this: I don’t like that China made Team USA’s Olympic clothing anymore than the next person. I type this, of course, on a computer make in India.. and read about the story on an iPhone made in China. Oh and of course Congress was outraged too. I am sure Harry Reid, who said we should burn the clothes and start from scratch, was wearing a suit made in the USA? And socks made in the USA? And .. well, he wasn’t. Chances are no one anywhere ever really is anymore.

And that is the tragic part of this story.

We don’t make anything here. Including military vehicles! How many times have you heard about China making weapons of war and selling them the United States? How many times before someone notices? Sports made people notice.. Team USA’s awful beret style outfit made people notice..

Another angle of this story not being mentioned is just how awful the outfits are. It looks like a remake of CHARIOTS OF FIRE. 

Personally I enjoy the summer games. Really. There is something magical, still, about the Olympics. And of course this year they feature a boatload of missiles pointed directly at the city of London by British military … but that aside, the United States, with its double breasted lapels and berets, will march into Olympics stadium proudly with an American flag and outfits made in China. Wonder where that flag was made….

And wonder where team China’s outfits were made? let me guess.. Taiwan? 

Horror is dominating at Comic-Con

…and the Joker is returning from a long hiatus. Can’t wait

Horror is dominating at Comic-Con

Friday night.
The mood is right.

Of course if you’re so inclined to get some information into your system tonight along with your cold or warm brew of choice, here you go.. Enjoy and be safe:

• An interesting article from THE ATLANTIC on Obama’s drone war.. 


• Mitt Romney set to make the rounds this weekend, but it will also be Ron Paul’s last stand.. in Nebraska of all places.. If he wins Saturday in the state he could shake up the GOP convention and the party itself..


• This story is making national headlines most likely only because it’s weird:A boyfriend assaulted his girlfriend with steak sauce. The reason? Well FIFTY SHADES OF GRAY of course..


• Who were the first Americans? Some new information questions how old we are and who was here first…


• A 28-year-old autistic man was found alive after three weeks lost in a remote part of Utah..


• Some historic flooding is taking place in Houston, but it is most likely not enough to end a drought that seems to continue on and on.


• GREEN MILE star Michael Clarke Duncan in hospital after cardiac arrest..


• More horrid Syria massacres taking place..

And.. indeed, it is Friday the 13th. Hopefully there were no black cats in your way or ladders above your head throughout the day. And even if there were, why worry. Amazingly, 60 million people around this planet will. 

Be safe and be lucky.

Perhaps today is the best day to play the lottery.

Very interesting article from THE ATLANTIC about Obama's drone wars..

Very interesting article from THE ATLANTIC about Obama's drone wars..

HOW LOW WITH THE AURORA GO!?

HOW LOW WITH THE AURORA GO!?

The X flare blasted off the sun yesterday with ferocity.. According to SpaceWeather.com, the timing of the event has changed as the CME which blurted out is moving faster than expected..
According to the site:

REVISED FORECAST: The CME launched toward Earth by yesterday’s X-flare is moving faster than originally thought. Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab have revised their forecast accordingly, advancing the cloud’s expected arrival time to 09:17 UT (5:17 am EDT) on Saturday, July 14th. Weekend auroras are likely.

 The other question for skywatchers: How low will aurora go? NASA has a site to monitor it.. If you’re in a lucky Northern state in the United States you may get a glimpse of some beautiful images..

Here is the NASA site with the map
Stay tuned..

A GREAT FRIDAY MORNING TO ALL!

Hope you’re going to have a plan to escape this week in one piece and enjoy life as much as you can, as we know it’s often short…

And this weekend we may enjoy some Northern Lights in my area if this X.4 was strong enough.. hopefully the power stays on and I heat up my frozen pizza . We will see..

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVrYTLs4VV0]

A major X flare burst off the sun today. Ready or not, a geomagnetic storm is heading straight for our pale blue dot

A major X flare burst off the sun today. Ready or not, a geomagnetic storm is heading straight for our pale blue dot

So I got into a discussion today about the meaning of life with someone

Over a pizza buffet nonetheless. But here is what I concluded.

We ask the wrong questions of ourselves.. and by doing so constantly lead new generations to ask the wrong questions, too.

When you’re young and dumb someone old comes and says those typical words: Why do you want to do when you grow up? A plumber! A reporter! A teacher! 

I think we all know that the vast majority of people don’t live up to the childhood dreams. 

But maybe the premise of the question should be rephrased.. maybe the basis of the question isn’t actually about money and income and the choice of a career… 

Hear me out on this, because you know for a FACT that when you go to parties or functions, one of the first questions you typically get is someone asking you, “So what do you do?” i.e. JOB, INCOME, SALARY! MONEY MONEY MONEY. 
Dollars and dinero. But it all means nothing.

So while I was chowing down today in my pizza buffet food I asked the other person, who right now is jobless, “what do you want to do. REALLY want to do.. like REALLLLYYY want to do?” And I said this question is based on the fictitious scenario where you have everything you wanted, salary and income aren’t an issue, and job title could matter less. Minus all that away.. like, obituary type way, whatdo you want to do…….. in this short life…. ?

Now when I asked this question I did it because I was asking her but at the same time asking myself. I, too, wanted to know what I WANT TO DO IN LIFE, TOO. And out of almost no where, I blurted out, 

I want to protect innocent life. I want to protect all innocence. I really want to

And that is it. I figured out my role in life. It was just that easy. Minus away the nonsense about success. Get rid of that veil that your JOB is something that will matter generations after your once intact skin has turned to dust. And bring in the real question: What do you strive to do in life, what matters to do, and what you WANT TO DO with what matters to you?

Sure, jobs matter in the ‘now.’ And the ‘now’ seems to be where we all live all the time, never looking forward to the future and seldom learning any thing at all from the past.

So I figured it out.. 

Protect innocence.

Now to put that into practicality… that’s the tough one.

So ask yourself.. What do you want to do in life?

I spent hours waiting for my car to get repaired today.. only to find out that they could not repair it

On to the dealership, I suppose!

But it gave me time to contemplate life. Contemplace Facebook.. contemplate lots of things that boggle my mind, boggle our world.. and cause consternation, panic, and envy to take precedence. 

Oh, and I went to the mall, got a hair cut, and had pizza, too. 

Yes indeed, that was my emotion/food mixed day. 

Interesting read: An ex Scientologist says the Tom Cruise Katie Holmes split is harmful

And depending on your point of view of Scientology, it may be harmful especially for Katie Holmes ..

Interesting read: An ex Scientologist says the Tom Cruise Katie Holmes split is harmful

Black Lung makes deadly return to coal country

Black Lung makes deadly return to coal country

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8iD6ELQtjQ?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

I think we all need some healing. Which brings up this YouTube video that purports it can do just that, heal you and repair your life.. It is at a 528Hz frequency. The instructions say you should listen to it while you wear headphones. If you like it and it heals you keep searching YouTube for more videos just like it. If it freaks you out and makes you sick, perhaps you were already healed minus the 528Hz that was supposed to do it.

However, before you jump to a conclusion that the 528Hz helped, quick gather some more info and facts, including this website where users debate whether the whole notion of the healing power of this noise is fact or hoax.

But if this whole thing is a scam, it certainly has been one that has long lasted others. And even more, if it’s a fraud from the onset, I still want to know who makes the songs, who hums the dramatic voices, and who creates the vast number of YouTube videos that are set to the tone of the universe….?

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

The Earth has been lucking out lately, but solar events continue to get stronger

The UK DAILY MAIL reports what we already seem to be aware of: Solar flares just seem to be stronger and stronger in recent months..

Last week we have been seen numerous M class flares and one strong X class flare explode from our sun. Some sunspots have been so large that they 15 Earths strung together..

2013 is expected to be the big year for solar events as the sun heads to its peak of its 11 year cycle…

And if just the right elements come together, perhaps the Ed Dames Killshot will happen. But Ed Dames is just crazy… Right?

As if you had any doubt that 2012 was hotter than hell..

June’s second half helped the continental United States break its record for the hottest first six months in a calendar year.. And with that piece of information contemplate this: The last 12 months have been the warmest since 1895.. 

Get that? 1895.

Also in the news in 18895, a sandstorm crippled the panhandle of Texas, Grover Cleveland was president, and an earthquake occurred in the New Madrid seismic zone.

History repeats itself.. so watch the Midwest……. ??

As if you had any doubt that 2012 was hotter than hell..

I love Scranton, PA, but now for the news it's making

but the city of Scranton is in the news for all the wrong reasons lately. The Electric City has lots of great things to brag about but the headlines today is all about the Mayor cutting city workers’ pay to minimum wage because of how broke it is, and how property taxes are about to skyrocket to abnormally high proportions. 

Local news stations WNEP and WBRE have been covering ferociously since it occurred, and now national news orgs are picking up the story.

According to Mayor Chris Doherty, there is only about $5,000 left is the city’s bank account after payroll..

Doherty, according to this FOX NEWS report, did not respond to calls from FOX NEWS..

I am a proud poppa tonight. I wore my Old Navy BATMAN shirt and when mommy brought Ayden home from day care, he pointed at my chest and said “bat”… so either he recognizes the emblem of the caped crusader or I have a job ahead of me in being a winged superhero

'THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN' TOPS HOT BOX

BUT…

Really how ‘amazing’ was Spidey?

$65 million opening weekend and $140 million in six days in 2012? Compare that to 2002 when the first SPIDERMAN film opened with $114 million, a record that year.. and in 2004 when SPIDERMAN 2 got $88 million.. and in 2007 when SPIDERMAN 3 got $151 million. The numbers look different when you compare..

And in that comparison also don’t forget ticket prices were cheaper in all years previous to now. $65 mil for yet another re-imagined Spiderman isn’t so great anymore..

Not only that, but with the extreme heat across much of the United States over the past 6 days, roughly the same amount as the days Spider-Man was in theaters, you’d certainly think that more people would have tried to escape the blazing sun by getting into a cool theater?

Maybe people accepted the joys of summer and simply took a dip into pools instead..?

I am finishing up a quick post about Spiderman and came across this photo of someone eating a burger at Hardees on Fourth of July.. apparently you were able to dress like Spiderman and get a free burger. 

I don’t have a Hardees close to me. And even if I did I would not have considered it.. Don’t like the food much there. Although any excuse to dress like a superhero .. well, that could have changed my outlook. 

The things people will do for free less than quality-filled meatlike byproducts.. my goodness.

Looking at the calender, time appears to be fleeting.

The seconds hands on the clocks fly around in a circular motion.. after all, summer time is about halfway through.

Yes, it’s only July. And sure summer extends well into September, but by then kids are back in school and colleges campuses are less than sober. Every July, around this time, I get that gut feeling. Then the whole “Christmas in July” shopping experience malls used to try back when people went to them only added to the childhood misery of knowing that the clock was ticking.

There is something interesting about the summertime and how it trickles slowly into autumn.

Even with this year’s heat, we can be aware that cooler breezes will blow in two months.

And despite the fact that many of us are long gone from hallowed hallways of high schools, we all get that same pit of the stomach feeling as August winds to a close, and as the summer sun bakes the landscape in one last vibrant attempt to keep things hot.

Summer comes and goes..

The same in 2012 as it was in 2001 and 1991. Enjoy these moments while you can. Be alive … take in some rays.

Wear sunscreen. (I never liked that song.)

Researchers discover a parasite that causes self-harm or even suicide

Another positive step perhaps in getting to a future where mental health will be healthier..

Researchers discover a parasite that causes self-harm or even suicide

I'm contemplating writing a book about a paranoid man dealing with being a father in the 21st century

It will be filled with fact not fiction.
Tales of paranoia and how to deal with it..
Worries over fevers..
Manufactured fears and real ones too.

The only thing about this proposed book is that I first off really don’t know who would read something like this and second, how a paranoid fearful dad who is dealing with things has time to write it.

A work in progress.

Would you read it?

Ernest Borgnine is dead at 95

He has decades of achievements in the acting field.. but ever since I was a small kid growing up in Centralia, PA, I remembered fondly watching Borgnine star in the spaghetti western flick SUPERFUZZ. And while I know the tributes to his skills will most likely neglect to mention the strange and weird movie SUPERFUZZ, I for one will never forget him bouncing and dancing on a giant ball of chewing gum, being frozen underwater, and making me laugh as a tiny child. 

An actor who will be missed.

It's a sushi Sunday

And maybe radiation years from now.. But it’s been too long since a spicy shrimp roll..

There have been some amazing new images of Mars revealed by NASA. I just stare at them and fathom the future.. a base there? Will humans’ footprints litter the landscape? Is there a life form present ? …did the Martians move underground and do they still lurk? Ok maybe the final question can be answered affirmatively as no, unless you’d ask someone like John Lear. But the rest of them are valid and wonderful to ponder.. 

Here is the story on the Mars photos from the UK DAILY MAIL

The LA TIMES reports: The Department of Homeland Security's BioWatch air samplers, meant to detect a terrorist biological attack, have been plagued by false alarms and other failures.

It’s an eye opening story.. the money quote of the article featured here:

President George W. Bush announced the system’s deployment in his 2003 State of the Union address, saying it would “protect our people and our homeland.” Since then, BioWatch air samplers have been installed inconspicuously at street level and atop buildings in cities across the country — ready, in theory, to detect pathogens that cause anthrax, tularemia, smallpox, plague and other deadly diseases.

But the system has not lived up to its billing. It has repeatedly cried wolf, producing dozens of false alarms in Los Angeles, Detroit, St. Louis, Phoenix, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere, a Los Angeles Times investigation found.

The LA TIMES reports: The Department of Homeland Security's BioWatch air samplers, meant to detect a terrorist biological attack, have been plagued by false alarms and other failures.

You have to love creativity.

Tonight on Coast to Coast AM, Saturday host John B. Wells will interview Stan Johnson of the PROPHECY CLUB *(here is more info*) Mr. Johnson has had a long line of predictions concerning the end of time, and now he fits CERN into his end times equation.

That’s fine, I will listen simply because John B. Wells is hosting and he is better than George Noory by far.. but I’d truly wish that Paul Guercio was the main guest…

Maybe next time.

Wells in for Noory. Great music, great voice.. great radio — depending on the guest.

For sure, he’s no Art Bell. But no one will ever be..

HEAT.. STORMS.. RECORDS BROKEN... THIS ISN'T NORMAL FOLKS. NOT NORMAL AT ALL. BUT WHAT IT IS? WE DON'T QUITE YET KNOW

It just feels like something is wrong, very wrong.

Perhaps the heat made me feel that way?

Could it be that 100+ degree heat indexes persuaded me to think that something has gone awry? Or is it that something has gone awry…?

Could it be that something is wrong?

Maybe there is a disturbance in the Force?..

I don’t know. I sometimes wait for the ‘other shoe to drop’ not knowing if there is a shoe or a drop coming.

In the final analysis, it’s a choice between this: Either I am overly negative or negative with purpose.

There will be another shoe or simply socks, socks soaked in sweat from a heat wave that broke 4,000 + records..

My neighbors survived the lightning storm

Maybe a pool is the safest place to be for people.. Eh?

But now that they lived through stormageddon they decided to launch their homemade fireworks at 10pm. Ayden is fast asleep. Maybe soon he’ll be fast awake.

God bless America.

The unpredictable joys of summer

110 degree weather.

Spotty storms.

Your neighbors in their pool during a lightning storm.

Yep.

I'm glad Serena Williams won for two reasons

One: I like Serena Williams

Two: She beat Agnieszka Radwanska. And really, who can spell Agnieszka Radwanska anyway?

The real feel is feeling real

The temperature will soar above 100 today in many cities,. But the real feel temperature will make it feel like it is 115 or more .. It is going to feel absolutely outrageous.

Serena Serena

A great Saturday morning of tennis and Serena Williams wins.. Pretty exciting match.

Sunspot 1515 just produced a major X class solar flare

Space weather reports that protons accelerated by the explosion might soon reach our planet.. .. Turn to the very best solar site online: http://www.solarham.net/

This is a nasty heat wave and everything is 'out of whack'

This is a nasty heat wave and everything is 'out of whack'

Midwest corn decimated by heat .. New dust bowl fears

Midwest corn decimated by heat .. New dust bowl fears

FOURTH OF JULY 2012: THE HEAT IS WRETCHED AND THE POWER IS OUT FOR MILLIONS, BUT THE PARTY IS ON: FIREWORKS GALORE ACROSS THE FRUITED PLAIN

FOURTH OF JULY 2012: THE HEAT IS WRETCHED AND THE POWER IS OUT FOR MILLIONS, BUT THE PARTY IS ON: FIREWORKS GALORE ACROSS THE FRUITED PLAIN

I envy a boy that can spend Fourth of July soaking in a mini pool .. Therefore I envy my own son, Mr. Ayden Morris

He wasn’t born on the Fourth of July but he sure soaked on it.

Natural fireworks scheduled for tonight as long as fireflies show themselves ..and ice cream too.. Happy Fourth everyone.

An ex-FBI agent makes quite the statement in a new book: She says when she responded to Pennsylvania crash site on 9/11, she saw angels

Lilli Leonardi said: “They were dressed as if they were in warrior garb like a Roman centurion, and there were so many of them, you couldn’t see their faces”

An ex-FBI agent makes quite the statement in a new book: She says when she responded to Pennsylvania crash site on 9/11, she saw angels

The Higgs Boson Particle found.. but that leaves one other mystery unsolved

Now that the elusive Higgs Boson particle has been potentially found, maybe it’s high time for scientists to explain the other mystery of life: Why is it that regardless of human intelligence, we always seem to result in war like police states with dictators, why humans seem to always come up with new ways to torture and terrorize, and why there never seems to be a lack of hate across the planet. Animals may eat their young. But at least that’s quick. Humans devise horrid ways to destroy generations.

THAT'S ONE SMALL PARTICLE FOR MANKIND

A major story developing at the Large Hadron Collider today .. CERN scientists announced that a Higgs-like particle has been finally found after decades of the searching.

"We have reached a milestone in our understanding of nature," scientists said in a statement. 

The scientific and religious worlds will now respond.. People will try to comprehend.. and all the while the little tiny particle will keep giving mass to atoms and making this whole thing called a universe work in some magical and strange way.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9Y9NGXxdAg?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

National Prayer Service on September 14, 2001 from Washington National 

Are we better than before..
Do we have more pride…more American zeal to do what is right… What does the Fourth of July this 2012 mean to you?

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdVxk1MGz5g?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

Happy 4th America

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRUjr8EVgBg?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

Ray Charles sings America the Beautiful 

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

If it's not one axis of evil nation, it's the other

Fireworks over the Middle East.. not celebrations of American independence but instead a test of global security: Iran has test fired missiles in a war of nerves..

According to Reuters and other news sources tonight, Iran says that it has successfully test fired medium range missile … these missiles, according to reports, are capable of hitting targets in Israel.

Tensions have escalated between the West and Iran over recent months. Israel has ratcheted up a war of words with the nation..

And now as tensions mount this Fourth of July eve, the United States is sending warships to the Persian Gulf tonight—which according to officials is a signal to Iran..

According to ABC NEWS, the missiles tested by Iranian missiles attacked ‘mock enemy targets’..  And oil prices, predictably, surged

All eyes on Iran during the Fourth of July.

Fourth of July 2012 begins (on July 3).. The tradition continues here on Coal Speaker continues. Here is the final scene of the final episode of the WONDER YEARS… 

It’s the 3rd of July. CoalSpeaker family is ready for the 4th

Tensions flare in Mexico

Tensions flare in Mexico

Summer '12: 2,000 heat records either tied or broken

Summer '12: 2,000 heat records either tied or broken

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yaEwcmrR4Q?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

Good evening… Hot and humid in the United States of hell

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

This seems to be a slow motion unfolding disaster in the Mid Atlantic.. heat and no electricity, no lights in sight and no end of the heat coming either

5 million without power originally. Now it’s 2 million.

But put it into perspective: After Hurricane Katrina, the most without power was 3 million… 

Power companies hope to have at least 90% restored by FRIDAY this week.. 

Of course there will be more heat and more storms throughout…

This seems to be a slow motion unfolding disaster in the Mid Atlantic.. heat and no electricity, no lights in sight and no end of the heat coming either

I have been doing some more thinking about the 'elusive' God particle

As linked yesterday here, scientists at CERN are expected to make an announcement this week that they have found the Higgs Boson God Particle with 99.99% certainty. The particle has been long sought by those who experiment with the giant CERN collider—it is the particle that makes up the mass of atoms..

My mind can’t necessarily comprehend the idea of this Higgs Boson particle. I get the basic premise.. but I’m a mere mortal. And for me it sometimes is just amazing to think about how the Large Hadron Collider even works, being 18 miles long and deep in the mountains..

But back to science.. According to reports and speculation, a press conference will most likely occur on Wednesday to announce the major and amazing discovery.  Peter Higgs will reportedly be there.. And if they are flying him in, you know there will be a mighty word said for mics.

The hope is that science may actually begin to explain something that has puzzled many: Why objects in our universe weigh anything. Comprehending the tiny sub-particle that gives mass to atoms may allow people to bring some form of reason and purpose to the objects in our universe and the nature of everything. 

What it will not do is answer ‘why’ we are here.. but may help in the ‘how’ department.

We will know something, perhaps, this week. Something amazing. Just in time for the great American 4th of July. Fireworks overhead.. the God particle all around. 

This may be a big week: Scientists at CERN expected to announce this week that they FOUND THE GOD PARTICLE!

This may be a big week: Scientists at CERN expected to announce this week that they FOUND THE GOD PARTICLE!

From mild mannered child to .. monster of mayhem. And then he smiles and melts your heart..

Ayden Morris is 16 months old. He is amazing. At times it feels like he’s one of the adults, he tries so hard to be independent. He’ll go so far as to hold the cup with his own hands, but in the process rips it out of yours. He will take walks on his own, but make a fool of you as he whips his hands ferociously away from yours.

And yes, he eats on his own, even if it means he forces utensils out of your hands before you are ready to give them to him.

This is a wild ride. Parenting plus panicking. 
Laughing.. getting angry.. getting sad.. contemplating existence.. contemplating time.. Getting embarrassed as the frenzied flip out occurs at a grocery store checkout counter. 

My wife and I love being parents. We love having the task at hand .. we enjoy having something more important than ourselves being at the center of our marriage and lives. But .. by God, aren’t the terrible 2s supposed to occur when, well, when Ayden turns 2!?

I love the little man.
I love his emotions, as pure as they are.

And yes, even when I wish he wouldn’t get red in the face and belt out louder than a lawn mower on a microphone, I still am amazed as he grows, amazed as he learns.. and can’t wait until he starts asking “Why” to everything.

I think adults stop asking why..

And yes, we stop having meltdowns in grocery stores, too.
But that’s what makes kids more fun, don’t you think? 

Bubbling boiling

Mysterious bubbling is occurring in Assumption Parish in Louisiana .. the bubbles are rising up out of Assumption Bayou. CBS WAFB in Louisiana has more..

A leaking pipeline?

Nothing ruled out yet.

But people in Assumption Parish tell WAFB that they are worried, one man said that houses have been moving and cracks in sheet rock are forming.

No evacuations orders issued. But officials are monitoring the bubbling twice a day..

 

Officials are going to perform a pressure test to see whether an underwater pipeline may be the source of the bubbling.

Residents reported strange tremors around June 8 and still this week. According to a report in THE ADVOCATE, there is still no official word on whether earth shifting and movements have caused the bubbling of the bayou..

This is a developing story that Earth Informer will be watching..Mysterious bubbling is occurring in Assumption Parish in Louisiana .. the bubbles are rising up out of Assumption Bayou. CBS WAFB in Louisiana has more..

A leaking pipeline?

Nothing ruled out yet.

But people in Assumption Parish tell WAFB that they are worried, one man said that houses have been moving and cracks in sheet rock are forming.

No evacuations orders issued. But officials are monitoring the bubbling twice a day..

 

Officials are going to perform a pressure test to see whether an underwater pipeline may be the source of the bubbling.

Residents reported strange tremors around June 8 and still this week. According to a report in THE ADVOCATE, there is still no official word on whether earth shifting and movements have caused the bubbling of the bayou..

A truly dangerous situation developing across the nation of heat

Lives are in danger and the heat is excessive. In 20 states today an excessive heat warning is active while million remain without power due to wild storms in the past 48 hours..

The historic heat and lack of power have prompted officials to tell many, especially the elderly and those who have trouble breathing in normal weather, to seek shelter immediately. 

Much of the Southeast continues to bake in 100+ temperatures. From Chicago to D.C. 90s an 100s dominate the landscape.. 

Cities are opening shelters and cooling centers. In Ohio, Governor John Kasich is dealing with power outages after raging storms swept the state—Kasich has deployed the National Guard to help with the state’s more vulnerable and unhealthy. 

But while the heat continues to swelter the sweaty, this is the bad news on the power outage front: If you power is currently out the chances are it may be out for days—this as the heat continues with little relief in the near future. Millions of people are lacking electric from Indiana to Maryland

According to the Washington POST in hot Sunday editions, D.C. was 80 degrees early in the morning with 100+ expected—all the while many roads are impassible and hundreds of thousands will be without air conditioning and in the dark..

The chaos doesn’t end there but seems to just begin: Gas stations are running dry in some spots, newest numbers in the post ‘land hurricane’ landscape have 13 being dead from the dramatic storms, and now in the D.C. area, cell phone service seems to be crashing.. ..

History may view this summer as the beginning of true earth changes.. a quickening of things, with extremes just becoming the norm.

Notice lately how records break, but not just by a bit but by a lot? Notice how weather forecasters can’t seem to get it all right at all..? Notice how things are so out of the ordinary that you cannot even keep yourself grounded.

Cherry blossoms bloom in winter. Kansas is 118 in summer. And in Colorado wildfires burn without kindness and thousands of people are homeless and many of their homes are simply gone. 

We are only mid way through this year and a mighty more wild events most likely will occur. It’s just becoming all too strange, too horrible… and no normal.

Sandusky did the crime but others sure assisted. Joe Paterno included

The devastating emails trickling out of the shadows now.. Amazing how little scorn Paterno faced. He has since died but it is clear his reputation will take a massive hit after the dust settles on the latest revelations.

Sandusky did the crime but others sure assisted. Joe Paterno included

Life in the coal region: Block party mania.

I suppose only it’s in the coal region during summer that a Saturday night out means you come home with your clothes reeking of butter and onions and your skin has a healthy sheen of bleenie.

Blind pigeons, perogies, halushki, and fries..
You can’t avoid them no matter how hard you try.

Long live block parties

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0IjfYdTEBk?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

If you have not seen ONE NATION UNDER DOG yet, you should. And maybe you should not—depending on how deeply you can get into a documentary with such a horrid ending..

Dogs placed into a metal crate, altogether, as a worker without compassion turns on gas and kills them all at once—the cries from the cage are memorable and haunting.

But why care about animals? Humans have gassed Jewish people, Iraqis, Syrians.. Japanese. A brief stroll through history shows that if we treat each other like we do why would anyone think we would care for animals..?

And in the end, if you truly contemplate the prospects of what occurs in shelters and pet stores, and travel up the rabbit hole to how we treat fellow humans, you will begin to wonder: Is there a knowing God watching and judging? Maybe so .. but if so, why would this God allow such horror?

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Absolutely unbelievable images of the deadly derecho--the hurricane on land..

Absolutely unbelievable images of the deadly derecho--the hurricane on land..

More on the deadly 'super derecho' that hit the Midwest and MidAtlantic

More on the deadly 'super derecho' that hit the Midwest and MidAtlantic

Really strong storms have caused deaths and the loss of power for millions.

More strong lines of storms are forming today and will hit in many of the same areas that were hit yesterday.
More on that from Accuweather. 

Which is why the photo for this post of a snapshot of a page from Frank Miller’s BATMAN comic book compilation (I have the leatherbound edition safety stored away) .. in that comic,  a massive heat wave hit Gotham City. I feel like I am in that comic now.. with the absense of course of Batman, the Joker, and the Mutant Gang. 

I wonder if, in Frank Miller’s world, David Endochrine is funny anymore? He sure ain’t in the real world.

Did everyone make it through the derecho alright last night?

Power is out for millions.. At least 7 deaths being blamed on the storms ad heat.. And more coming today. This has been one nasty summer .. All weather is getting weird and extreme..all. Get it?

Smoking gun emails: Top Penn State officials debated what to do about Sandusky--in 2001!

Wow:

“After giving it more thought and talking it over with Joe (Paterno, the head football coach at the time) yesterday, I am uncomfortable with what we agreed were the next steps,” CNN quoted Curley as saying in an email.

Curley then makes reference to “the first situation,” likely meaning the shower incident involving Sandusky and a young boy in the Lasch building in 1998.

Smoking gun emails: Top Penn State officials debated what to do about Sandusky--in 2001!

Woman claims that she was sexually abused by a priest over a two year period of time while undergoing exorcisms..

Woman claims that she was sexually abused by a priest over a two year period of time while undergoing exorcisms..

San Diego shakes again

It has been several weeks since I wrote about the strange noises, moans, and groans that are blanketing the planet. But tonight it seems impossible to ignore strange noises underneath one of the biggest cities in America: San Diego.

A strange sound has been reported far and wide in the city, almost in all corners ..  There were reports of very large rumbles about 12:45 PM San Diego time .. there was no earthquake activity at the time, according to stats on the USGS.

NBC San Diego reports this:

The mysterious sensation was described by some people as sounding like a door slamming while others said it was strong enough to rattle windows

One report concluded it was a ‘sonic rumble’ under the ground.. 

Several people on Twitter report their houses shaking, rumbles rumbling underneath their feet, and nerves being shaken by the noises.

Could it by skyquakes? Could it be military?  Could it be something even more mysterious taking place underneath our feet?

The jury is out.

Even more from the Sacramento BEE:

The U.S. Geological Survey says it received more than 500 reports from people in San Diego County who felt shaking Friday. The survey maintains an online site where people can report what they felt. USGS geophysicist Bruce Presgrave says it was most likely a sonic boom

x x x x 

Windows rattled.

People jumped.

What exactly shook the city?

Most are stumped.

A McDonald's worker reveals the secrets of the fast food giant and why never to order grilled chicken

A McDonald's worker reveals the secrets of the fast food giant and why never to order grilled chicken

You may think you're not in Kansas anymore, but you are.. as a matter of fact heat is blanketing the nation from sea to boiling sea.

Kansas 110+ degrees?
Colorado 110+ degrees?

Yes, indeed.

If you are still a stalwart that has doubts that the earth’s weather is changing, look no further to this story about how there are record highs being broken by temperatures that have never been this high in recorded history.. 

You may think you're not in Kansas anymore, but you are.. as a matter of fact heat is blanketing the nation from sea to boiling sea.

An amazing story: Author and legendary conservationist Lawrence Anthony died March 2. His family tells of a solemn procession of Elephants that defies human explanation..