A case of the Mondays

Events that matter to me today.. and maybe they should to you, too.. MONDAY JULY 1 2013

Tragic: 19 firefighters killed battling Arizona blaze..
Fast moving..
Elite hotshot crew..

New fears that the deadly MERS virus could be spread across the planet because of an annual pilgrimage to the Middle East.. the Hajj is coming.. and with it fears of a bigger global outbreak..

News now surfaces that the United States have been spying on its European allies..

Veterans Today article asks if DHS has secret assassination squads in major US cities..

Death at Cirque Du Soleil as performer dies during show..

Monsanto GMO wheat found in Oregon was stored at government facility until 2011..

ARAB SUMMER: Egypt back in chaos..

Lightning strikes three children at summer camp..

Sinking volcanoes!

Eat up! Meat from diseased cattle has been sold in the UK..

There will be shockwaves from this decision: Italian court says MMR vaccine cuased autism in child..
BUT..
US MEDIA BLACKOUT ..


LAND OF THE FREE, HOME OF THE GAY: Sunday was a day of gay pride.. but Lady Gaga took it one step further as she opened the events in New York City, changing the words of the National Anthem..
VIDEO..

Welcome to your life: Here are the 7 methods of mind control in the future..

HOW THE WORLD SEES US: IRANIAN media reports: “A quiet American epidemic” of suicide..

Coming this weekend: The Roswell 66th anniversary..

Was Mariah Carey lip synching at the BET awards.. Wait.. people were watching her lips?

A tale of two box offices: WHITE HOUSE DOWN flunked the test at the box office this past weekend but MAN OF STEEL has now passed a billion dollar mark worldwide..


We have been told that THE CONJURING is ‘based on a true story’ of paranormal investigators and their terror at a farmhouse.. we now Well, HORROR-MOVIES has the ‘true story’ of the Perron family and their tale of THE CONJURING ..
Here is another article from PISCAN on Ed and Lorraine Warren, the paranormal investigators that the CONJURING focuses on..
And for that, here are the Warrens. I wonder how much of this story is just buzz as opposed to reality.. I cannot question someone’s perception, as it’s their perception.. but I can certainly ponder the inclusion of the almighty dollar and the fact that, in the end, the stream of images and sounds running across our screens are just that, sounds and images.. entertainment.. and most likely a little additional salt and pepper for a relatively dull meal.

Unbelievable images from

Arizona and tragedy too as 19 elite freighters were killed battling these raging infernos.. Terrible day for the firefighting world— ask any of them, their bond is strong even if they never knew each other..

This is the deadliest day for firefighters in 30 years.. 

As the AP reports:

The “hotshot” firefighters were forced to deploy their emergency fire shelters - tent-like structures meant to shield firefighters from flames and heat - when they were caught near the central Arizona town of Yarnell, state forestry spokesman Art Morrison told The Associated Press.

The fire also destroyed an estimated 200 homes, Morrison said. Dry grass near the communities of Yarnell and Glen Isla fed the fast-moving blaze, which was whipped up by wind and raced through the homes, he said.

Temperatures have been hot all weekend—the West especially with places like Vegas and Arizona soaring above 115 degrees.. 

The nation is baking.

Nature is cruel.. we see that firsthand today with these events..

But humanity is strong..

While we never will defeat nature’s wrath, we can at least battle it. Which is just what these firefighters were doing… 

What are they saying in this photo??

What the hell is J-Lo thinking?!

Happy birthday to a brutal dictator?? Good lord ….

What the hell is J-Lo thinking?!

"To Whom it May Concern: Day 8 of our captivity. Rations are low … so is ink and paper. They’ve printed enough copies of their demands to kill an entire forest of a Mayan Colony in Central America. This my final note, is written in potato chip grease but it too is running low as I licked the bag for the last crumb.

The leaders (whoever they may be) said their demands will be met today or else … if only I had a dime each time I heard that one. We all came here as leaders but none of us have enough followers to stage a coup … but I’m working on it.
The caucus chairwoman appears to be their spokeswoman but she’s banged her gavel so much it’s in splinters and she’s almost hoarse.

We’re told we will be “brought in” (reconvene according to them) to say our peice but it’s all lies. They keep moving the appointed time. 11 AM. No! 12:30 PM. Just kidding 2:00 O’clock. And by 8 PM people are in tears.

The gentleman from Hershey says he has no more candy but I know he went home last night. So I don’t believe him. He’s like my great Aunt Ida in Buffalo, she always had candy, then one day she said she didn’t but I was free to look and there it was at the bottom of her purse an unwrapped chocolate bar, once you wiped the lint off of it you could read the brand. Ex.Lax, a little piece of heaven … candy for adults, as I knew it to be. I was old enough, and garsh darn it I was man enough. Something inside me changed that day. I was a little less trusting of the world. Much like I am now.

They try to break us down but it is in vain because the other hostages are so much more strong (head strong that is). Me I’m willing to comprise but I found out that’s a dirty word in these parts. So I close my eyes and sing in my head that great tune of Bocephus “A Country Boy Can Survive” … “I can skin a buck, I can run a trout line” … I think to myself, I CAN DO THAT! I can skin a buck but I don’t know what a trout line is … the acid drainage from the ole coal mines near my hometown killed all our trout. “My grandfather taught me how to live off the land” HE DID! I’m telling you I’m not lying. “I got me a friend in New York City” … I do, I got me a friend in New York City! A country boy can survive!

I was singing “I Will Survive” by the one and only Gloria Gaynor but I found myself singing out loud … then suddenly the gentleman (whose name we do not speak), overheard me and I got scared, I mean really really scared. So I started signing that great hymn “Love Lifted Me” soon a majority of the others joined in and we drowned them out AND just when it was about to turn into an episode of Glee we were silenced but late breaking negotiations.

I hear things are just as bad across the Rotunda. I’m told my good friendDaylin Leach led a TP raid on the headquarters (corner of Maclay and Front) … but once the first fellow was tasered they all retreated. But I was impressed because most stayed behind in their private cafeteria.

The stench is overwhelming, I must go. Tell my mother I love her.

Now this is some funny stuff from the Honorable Michael Fleck on the Pennsylvania budget, which is due to pass by midnight tonight..

WEEKEND FILMS: WHITE HOUSE DOWN ..

Reviews and thoughts are coming in:

• Dumb-fun extravaganza


• ATLANTIC reviews


• "Not as fun" as it would have been before 9/11..


• NPR: Continuous action


• 
  
  'Family' review: Kids are likely to cry
  
  
  
  


• WALL STREET JOURNAL: Home for tired action tropes


• ROLLING STONE: “Vile” rehash


• 
  
  Washington POST: “Terror porn” fun
  
  
  
  
  So who is going to see it?
  
  

Video: Russian meteor shock wave went 'round the world twice'

Call me crazy but I think I, and the rest of the world, all felt a little strange that day. Maybe now this is what..

Video: Russian meteor shock wave went 'round the world twice'

Blackout: Defense Department Blocks All Articles About NSA Leaks From 'Millions' of Computers

Blackout: Defense Department Blocks All Articles About NSA Leaks From 'Millions' of Computers

The 17-year-cycle is happening

The cicada invasion is on.. They litter the roof of my car.. the ground.. they dive bomb your head.. they are crushed on your windshield.. they are flying in the air, and often during the day, you hear them in the distance singing their song of sex. It’s been 17 years since they were here.. and it will not be until 2030 when they come back again.

I wanted to place something into perspective.. 

The cicadas have not been here along the East Coast of the United States since 1996.. So much has changed since then.

In 1996, I was just 16 .. thinking life would be something it didn’t turn out to be..
Bob Dole thought he’d be president..
Dave Letterman thought his ratings would never sink…

1996..
Boris Yelstin was president of Russia.
And the United States had the Olympics..

There was a blizzard in 96
And lots of concerns about global warming.. And now in 2013, warnings on global earth changes are becoming reality..

The big show in 1996 was THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN. We don’t really like comedy in 2013.. we’re into drama and torture porn.. we like scandal and sadness… I wonder what that says about us..

The Bosnian war was escalating… Massacres of Hutus by Tutsis in Burundi take place, with more than 450 killed in a few days.

Today Syria is adrift into chaos and darkness…

APOLLO 13 soared in 96..
The White House is down  in ‘13..

Ellen hadn’t come out of the closet yet. This year Bert and Ernie are coming out in THE NEW YORKER.

On March 13, 1996: Unemployed former shopkeeper Thomas Hamilton walks into the Dunblane Primary School in Scotland and opens fire, killing 16 infant school pupils and one teacher before fatally shooting himself… We have these events still taking place today.. Horrible events take place no matter the decade, the century, or the moment..

The United States failed at the UN in June 1996 to get enough other nations to support action against Iraq. We know full well what happened since then…

What will the world look like in 2030 when the cicadas rise again?

Will continents be under water? Will we have ice in the Arctic? Will bees be alive..? Will Monsanto destroy everything?

People who were born in 1996 are 17 today. They are entering the workforce, or going to college.. They will be 17 years into that by 2030…What world will they be creating, inheriting, and changing?

My son is only 2.. He does not appreciate cicadas beyond the point where he knows they are bugs, or as he calls them, spiders. But in 2030, when  I’m going ‘over the hill’ in life, he will be in his prime.. I hope to God he and his generation have security, safety, freedom, and peace.

But if the last 17 years are any indication, 2030 will be just as nuts if not more than the things were in 2013, or 1996…

Hope they aren’t.. 

But while those cicadas sleep dormant for the next 17 years…..what will occur on above them? 

Baby Wipes Clogging Sewer Systems In Smaller MN Towns

There are so many things about this I don’t understand..

Baby Wipes Clogging Sewer Systems In Smaller MN Towns

Meet Yatitza Oliva, the girl who cries blood..

Ailing Mandela on life support, official says

Nelson Mandela, the time traveler… Google that if you don’t get the reference..

Ailing Mandela on life support, official says

Kevin Trudeau ordered to surrender his passports as feds try to force $37 million in GIN refunds

They are closing in on the creator of Bob Barefoot..

Kevin Trudeau ordered to surrender his passports as feds try to force $37 million in GIN refunds

Gay day part 2

Wow!!
Big day

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aqDoPDgjco?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

Every now and then, you just have to stand up to bullies..

This video does convince me to teach my child to respect all persons—and all animals.

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

Pretty exciting day over at my other website

My main website, HORRORREPORT.COM, had an active day today.

Remember those old rumors from earlier this year that a tsunami would hit the East Coast by June?

Well.. oddly enough, a tsunami hit the East Coast in June.  It was small, but it occurred. 

And the controversial doctor who started it all, Simon Atkins, actually spoke to me through email this morning, giving some more ‘bug out’ advice.. 

I received some nasty snarky comments that he is a fraud.. I’d love to get people’s points of views on this matter.

And are you somewhat stunned that such a prediction would turn out to be true right in the time frame where this man said it would be?

MY UNDER THE DOME thoughts..

THERE HAS BEEN HIGH PRAISE FOR STEPHEN KING’S ‘UNDER THE DOME’
But I don’t know if I’m ready to give it the same praise that the ‘experts’ who get paid to write things gave it..It felt rushed, it felt choppy, and it felt sloppy.
I know it’s a Stephen King made for TV adaption of a book, so the standard is low, but the acting was much less on par when compared to past television events.. So much so that a friend of mine messages me during the show and said he felt like it was the 1990s again. And that’s true.. there seemed to be a bad Dawson’s Creek feel to the supposed sex scene and eventual relationship gone wrong scenes..
I will admit, I only read about 60% of UNDER THE DOME. I never finished the book because, truly, I got downright bored and confused by the whole event. I knew a dome came down over a town.. and lots of people began to essentially do the worst possible things to each other that they could. I suppose we will begin seeing that in true form over the next twelve weeks of UNDER THE DOME made for TV.. 
Night one wasn’t what I expected. Surely I knew it would not be true to the book—and this movie is so far not—but I was expecting some more production value.The most creative scene was probably a cow being shopped in half.. Let’s home the story line over the next few weeks makes up for a less than spectacular television series..
MORE:  Cut by the dome: This clip from UNDER THE DOME and it may make PETA angry..

Who is this?

Oh just someone who readers of certain magazines have judged as the hottest women in the world. 

As for the person dressed as a witch, I don’t know.

I kid, I kid.

Watch Mila Kunis be transformed here

George Zimmerman's Trial Begins, with a Knock-Knock Joke

The case of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman has always combined tragedy and oddity. Perhaps it’s fitting, then, that on Monday, when both the prosecution and defense offered their opening statements in the first real day of Zimmerman’s trial, the courtroom seemed to be teetering between the two.

Truly bad form.. cannot believe he did this..

George Zimmerman's Trial Begins, with a Knock-Knock Joke

Large desks make people more dishonest, study finds

Sitting behind a big desk can make people more likely to be dishonest, according to a new study.

If you have desk envy, stop. You’re probably more honest. Unless of course you lie about how big your desk is..

Large desks make people more dishonest, study finds

This is either creepy beyond explanation or a natural scientific conclusion will determine what it occurring .. in the meantime, it’s CREEPY: A 4,000 year old Egyptian statue has puzzled curators at the Manchester Museum in England .. why? The relic began to mysteriously spin 180 degrees all by itself.. It dates back to 1800 BC and was found in a mummy’s tomb. For the past 80 years it has been at this museum.. According to the TIMES OF INDIA report, the statute named Neb-Senu is still at night, but spins slowly during the day.. Two comments on the story present two alternative points of view on why: One is the building shaking and feet vibrating is making it move (why not in the last 80 years though?) and the other: “Looks like museum is running out of funding.”

June 25.. the best time of year

It’s not Christmas in July, it’s not Christmas.. but to a kid who was off for summer, it’s the best day of the year.

I say this based on my own experience.. 

I fondly remember this day throughout my early childhood and then teenage years. June 25.. the day when the summer was hot and heavy, but in the scheme of things, still with so much more to go.

The clock starts to tick away after June 25, of course.. we head into July.. the middle of summer and time off from school.. But by July 25 you’d often be insulted and angered seeing “Back to school” sales.. August? well that is just a waste. Each day grows faster.. every night gets longer.. and by the time you’re ready to look at a calender again it’s already Labor Day and school begins anew..

I get melancholy for those old days of my early life often. Especially on June 25ths. The best day of summer…

UNDER THE DOME is about to air on CBS.. tonight at 10pm EDT if you don’t know already..

I didn’t finish the book. I got to about page 600 or so.. and just quit. I couldn’t do it.. It may have been one of the more slow Stephen King books I have ever actually read.

But I do intend on trying the series out.. I hope to make it through all 13 episodes..

Who else is watching?

Americans hate their jobs and even perks don't help

So utntil the economy improves, or the manufacturing-based is back, or people just flat out what a hire again, until then don’t take this job and shove it even though we absolutely hate it..

Americans hate their jobs and even perks don't help

Natural gas found in drinking water near fracked wells

This is a must must must must read for anyone in Pennsylvania, or anyone who thinks drilling in the Marcellus Shale is without its share of dangers..

Natural gas found in drinking water near fracked wells

Pretty big quake just occurred along the mid-Atlantic ridge

NBC 10 Philadelphia : Tsunami Strikes the Jersey Shore

Very interesting..
It happened earlier in June.
The NOAA confirmed today ..

NBC 10 Philadelphia : Tsunami Strikes the Jersey Shore

Only in reality.

Strange story.. but real.. a woman dressed as a giant vagina saves a man dressed as a giant penis from attack..

This pope don’t wear Prada! And he don’t show up for stupid concerts either.

Francis.
Out.

For those who believe you're just another face in the crowd..

Think you are just another face in the crowd? Think again.. this photo proves otherwise.. As the website explains: The image comes from the Vancouver Canucks Fan Zone along Georgia St. for Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final was captured at 5:46 pm on June 15, 2011. It is made up of 216 photos (12 across by 18 down) stitched together, taken over a 15-minute span, and is not supposed to represent a single moment in time. The final hi-res file is 69,394 X 30,420 pixels or 2,110 megapixels. Special thanks to Bonita Howard and CBC Real Estate. You can zoom in on anyone in the crowd, and virtually see every wrinkle or every nose pick.. Technology is both amazing and frightening. You can’t escape the all seeing eye of the mega pixel world..

Hostess: Twinkies to return to shelves July 15

NEW YORK (AP) — Hostess is betting on a sweet comeback for Twinkies when they return to shelves next month.

The long drought will be over.

Hostess: Twinkies to return to shelves July 15

Bank of America whistle-blower’s bombshell: “We were told to lie”

Bombshell: Bank of America whistle-blowers detail horrid schemes to fleece borrowers, reward foreclosures (UPDATED)

How many more ‘bombshell’ reports can we get before we just stop being blown away? We are probably filled to the top of our minds with whistle blowers telling us the truth—so much truth that we just resign from reality and delve deep into fiction and fun. It’s summer after all.. so no better time like the present to offer up some disgusting reports of schemes inside the BOA..

Bank of America whistle-blower’s bombshell: “We were told to lie”

Jim Carrey does not like the violence in KICK ASS 2 .. the actor says he cannot support the level of violence because of Sandy Hook.. 'In all good conscience'..

Curious to hear other people’s thoughts on this?

Porn star Sashsa Grey is known for quite a bit.. Add to that political commentary, as she is stars in this humorous fake commercial ..

She takes a page out of headlines by saying you can work for the NSA and hear sexual conversations from around the world.

Even a quick impression of President Obama calling her ont he phone..

Quite fun .. the end has an Edward Snowden look alike that the actor NSA agents ‘take care of’.. Not sure who got Sasha Grey to do this, but it certainly works..

From 1997: Why would you want to work for the NSA (this one is from GOOD WILL HUNTING, it is not featuring Sasha Grey.

The supermoon chase

Under the light of the global supermoon, Edward Snowden has United States officials on the chase.. the hunt.. for the leaker. Or as they term, ‘criminal.’ Dianne Feinstein said the chase is on.. she spoke for the Administration who is angry at Russia for not turning Snowden over to the US, since the US gave Vlad the Impaler the ‘criminals’ he wanted. But that old Cold War is back, just colder and more lonely..

This chase seems to be quite dire for the United States, which wants to ensure that those four laptops of information don’t leak to the public.. Four laptops? Could the damages be any worse than the entire world knowing that the global technological infrastructure has turned on the citizenry in some creepy 1984 styled-surveillance planet? I suppose it could be worse..

While the United States is busy warning other countries not to let Snowden just travel in peace, he has virtually gone missing from world media after departing Hong Kong..

On Sunday, most reporters were following a plane from Moscow to Cuba. Turns out the former contract employee who knew too much was not on that plane..

Where is he?

Dianne Feinstein sure wants to know..

Until then, we are only left with drama and intrigue .. rumors and airlines..

Some may equate this to a James Bond movie.. debate, however, ensures we don’t know who the villian is quite yet…..

Nik Wallenda just crossed the Grand Canyon without incident..

When it was over I felt like the security guards at the end of the TRUMAN SHOW an quickly switched channels for something else.

Though I took note of the slick placement of a 10:20pm season premiere of NAKED AND AFRAID. Good try, Discovery Channel, good try..

Feinstein warns Snowden: 'The chase is on'

Intentional intrigue developing this weekend..

And to think you thought the highlight was going to be the man crossing the gorge at the Grand Canyon on a wire… Try flying all over the world evading the intelligence agencies of the United States government …

Feinstein warns Snowden: 'The chase is on'

REPORT: Hastings Sent Email Stating 'Need to Go off the Radar' Hours Before Death

This is getting more and more peculiar..

REPORT: Hastings Sent Email Stating 'Need to Go off the Radar' Hours Before Death

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8z3EwZgPx4?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

Edward Snowden left Hong Kong, in a plane bound for somewhere.. Cuba? Venezuela? He’s on the move.. 

It’s certainly not the first time someone ran with the shadows of the night. Pat Benatar  becomes his soundtrack, from about 30 years in the past..

The best I could come up with: Running with the Shadows of the Flight

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

The Snowden saga

He may go to Venezuela.. Cuba… He has tickets to ride but the United States government wants him..

The NY TIMES has the full dish on why Hong Kong didn’t help the USA, and how Wikileaks and a man named ‘Harrison’ is currently with Edward Snowden on his voyage somewhere..

Big developing story..
The Snowden saga

Science-Fiction Phantasmagoria

The supermoon.
Saturday night.
Summer beginning.

Perhaps no time better than  to switch on Coast to Coast AM for science fiction writers all throughout the early AM hours.

John B Wells hosts: Larry Niven, Joe Haldeman, Lois McMaster Bujold, and Paul Di Filippo

Science fiction.. predicting the future? 

How about … the present has become science fiction.

LISTEN if you so desire..

Science-Fiction Phantasmagoria

Tats and gas masks.. Audrey Hepburn never looked better

A friend of mine just told me that she just got a new tattoo of Audrey Hepburn wearing a gas mask. And she told me because she said I was one of the few people who would appreciate it. I am so happy and glad to know that I am one of those few people!

And it is an amazing tattoo..

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOy3jaBqIMU?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=281]

Twitter and Facebook is alive and and well tonight with images of the ‘supermoon’ .. the night when our lunar neighbor is closer to the earth than usual and the fact it’s a full moon only adds to the glory of how big it looks in the sky above us..

It looks super.

And immense..

Amazing images are showing up in Twitter feeds and Facebook friends’ images from around the United States..

You need a good camera. And maybe a tripod And slow, slow exposure.. and a brief moment in time with the moon above..

Oddly enough, above my head tonight, the supermoon not only looks larger than normal in the  East sky by it also appeared to be slightly blood red due to atmospheric conditions. But now, at 10:40 when this post is being written, the moon is brighter and more beautiful than normal..

I picture lovers’ kisses and childrens’ wishes..

And when the 2am crowd leaves the bar tonight, bright lights in the sky will light their drunken way home..

May you all be safe and sound under that supermoon.

Sleep well tonight ..

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

Well happy summer to me..

… there’s mother f$@$ng snakes in the mother f$&$ng house..

U.S. engineers inspect possible leak at Hanford nuclear site

This seems to be a must read for all of Washington, America, and the world..

U.S. engineers inspect possible leak at Hanford nuclear site

Wow… 

Amazing video: This boy, age 3, has heard his father’s voice for the first time ever. And the video of it is amazing and heartwarming.. This is the good side of trans-humanism.. the kind of robotic and scientific work that will add years to our lives and give us health and amazing advances.. The bad side? There are lots of examples of the bad side. But for the sake of Grayson Clamp, we will only say watch for this video for a bit of hope in our world.. we need it.

And if you don’t tear up watching this, you’re not a human, let alone a transhuman.

Field of screams: Some believe that a ghostly presence made itself known on Tuesday at the College World Series.. according to reports — and video evidence— University of North Carolina players were in the outfield attempting to catch a ball when suddenly two appeared to trip over nothing..Media sources are having fun laughing about the trip up, but if you watch the video, it seems somewhat unexplainable. Science and reason should prevail. But I for one have no reason to understand why these two players flopped the way they did. What I noticed is that we may have funny little headlines about ghosts, but no one seems to have tried to get the players statements on what exactly happened at the College World Series..

Another reason that it’s a good time to reexamine our drug policy in this nation.. Ray Martin McFeters is 73 years old, and he faces prison time for pot possession..

HERE GOES THE GUARDIAN: Revealed: the top secret rules that allow NSA to use US data without a warrant

Fisa court submissions show broad scope of procedures governing NSA’s surveillance of Americans’ communication

Normally government dumps info on a Friday. In this case, the government is probably dreading Friday GUARDIAN runs. Each time the information being revealed about the United States spy program becomes more and more interesting..

HERE GOES THE GUARDIAN: Revealed: the top secret rules that allow NSA to use US data without a warrant

Investigators want missile theory probed in '96 TWA Flight 800 crash

A group of whistleblowers have come forward in a new documentary, breaking their silence about the real investigation results from the TWA Flight 800 crash. 

Very interesting story… 

Conspiracy theories coming back.

Investigators want missile theory probed in '96 TWA Flight 800 crash

Dead bees, drugged Americans, and the misery of stress..

Thousands of dead bees have been found in an Oregon parking lot.. One expert was quoted as saying he never say anything like it.. according to reports, a pesticide called Safari was applied to the area about a week ago. And they still say pesticides don’t cause the bee collapse??

This may be a shock for the 3 out of 10 NOT on prescription drugs, but a new study gives rise to the number that 7 of 10 are on drugs of some kind in the United States. America the medicated? But does the medication even help?

The medication is only adding to the misery. The misery of stress—which puts us into a modern prison of being fat, bald, and very unhealthy..

THERE IS NOT ENOUGH BUTTER IN THE WORLD TO MAKE YOU ANY MORE TASTEFUL..

Fireflies and summer nights. . and memories of when they were both magical. Happy solstice.

The solstice.. and the longest day of the year is upon us.  

This is something magical about summer nights.. the notion that it doesn’t get dark until 9pm or so in the middle of the summer season adds to the mystery. Also adding to the strange feeling of joy, love, teenage fun, and laughter: Those fast cars with the tops down, motorcycles without helmets, and fireflies littering the night sky.

 But I noticed something different this year: Less fireflies than normal. It could just be my little place on the planet lacking them so far.. maybe not enough heat has broiled and boiled the landscape yet. But by now?? We’d see them..

I can only speculate on the cause. Bees are collapsing due to —something> Monsanto? Other animals are having a tough time escaping whatever affliction is being placed on them by whomever.

So if fireflies are next, just as the monarch butterly started to be about two years ago, it would only make logical sense. I certainly hope not.

 I recall summer nights long ago, living in my little home town of Centralia, PA, when I would be accompanied in my childhood by my then teenage brother and sister, with their friends, and run into a large field where hundreds  of fireflies just sort of hung out all night. I did the whole childhood collection of fireflies in jars.. and now? Those jars are empty.

Those fireflies just don’t seem to be there anymore..

 

"I want to look in your eyes, Vlad, Georgie liked you. Didn’t he call you Pootie Poot?"

"Oh did I tell you what I have been doing lately? My government can track EVERY phone call ever, and we even tracked Dimitri’s activity a few years ago!"

"Oh like YOU never did it, Mr. KGB!"

"Hey Barack, you may have a state of the art domestic spying program, but do you have a Super Bowl ring?"

"I don’t know what made me think we can start this relationship again. We’re through!"

A few days ago this website reported that Artbell.com was coming back. 

The former radio show host himself announced that something was going to occur on that website, and that it was under construction, and to watch for more.. Around that same time the website appeared with an all black background and one single white question mark. 

Early this morning, the site changed. 

The black background still remains, but now a different punctuation mark is present: The exclamation point.

No word yet officially from anyone on what exactly Bell is planning to do with this website, but there are rumors rampant online that the former webmaster of Arbell.com is once again at the helm.. 

Time will tell, and since there are only a certain number of punctuation marks before you run out, I don’t know what we will see next..

Google challenges U.S. gag order, citing First Amendment

Search giant asking secretive court to let the company reveal the number of government data requests.

Wow.. this will be VERY interesting..

Google challenges U.S. gag order, citing First Amendment

A new project begins beaming your messages into deep space.. will any ETs hear them? According to the interesting article from SPACE.COM, the messages will take 17 years or so to get to their destination, GILESE 526, a distant star system.. And if there are life forms somewhere deep out there, hearing us.. will that be good. Is it good to announce to the universe “we are here! come and get us!”? Will it take 17 years for someone to get back to us? Just a fascinating story. 

Looks like a very,  very awkward first date.

"We have nothing in common, O"

"I can’t believe Bush liked this guy"

Report: School district scanned children's eyes for bus program without permission

A series of behind-the-scenes mistakes by educators in a Florida school district led to children€™s’ biometric information being culled without their parents’€™ permission, 

The future is now. Sadly.

Report: School district scanned children's eyes for bus program without permission

Pope Francis blesses hundreds of Harley Davidsons.. The story reminded me of the scene from PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE when Pee Wee makes the almost life threatening mistake of knocking down rows of motorcycles, only leading him to put on the large shoes and dance on stage for the motorcycle gang.. In this instance, Francis has apparently accepted the bike culture at Vatican City.. Oh, and in Pee Wee’s movie, ‘Francis’ was the neighbor who wanted Pee Wee’s bike.. another weird connection, don’t you think?

The New York TIMES: Faces of the Minimum Wage

The number of Americans earning minimum wage has grown significantly since the recession hit; here, stories of getting by.

Good read. And important..

Where are we going as a nation? Is it acceptable that we are not creating good jobs anymore, but instead expanding the base of the minimum wage earners—a future where the middle class will not exist and it will only be a rich vs poor Robinhood society..

The New York TIMES: Faces of the Minimum Wage

Ms. Utah tried to make a case for .. something.

(Source: http://www.digitalspy.com/)

Did Obama violate our privacy? Did China really ask us what WE are doing? Did Vlad the Impaler actually steal that Super Bowl ring in 2005? It's G8 time

Obama and Putin at the G8.. So many issues: Syria, weapons.. the Syrian ‘rebels’ who are devouring human flesh.. .. oh, and that newfound tension now that the GUARDIAN reported that past events may have been … screened.

President Obama does not think Americans’ privacy has been violated..

A new Firefox plugin warns of NSA surveillance..

CHINA is asking the UNITED STATES to explain internet surveillance.. Did you ever think you’d see that headline with the nations in the order that they are written?

Obama polls crashing: THE US has lost that loving feeling..

Vlad denies stealing a Super Bowl ring (*but anyone who remembers seeing the video will clearly remember he did*)

Another Sunday night, another GUARDIAN doozy: GCHQ intercepted foreign politicians' communications at G20 summits

Exclusive: phones were monitored and fake internet cafes set up to gather information from allies in London in 2009

If the Edward Snowden story has not had global ramifications, it certainly will now.. this is a barn burner of a GUARDIAN  exclusive..

Another Sunday night, another GUARDIAN doozy: GCHQ intercepted foreign politicians' communications at G20 summits

You know how everyone says that thye NSA cannot listen to our calls, but only see the numbers we are calling? Read this: NSA admits listening to U.S. phone calls without warrants

National Security Agency discloses in secret Capitol Hill briefing that thousands of analysts can listen to domestic phone calls. That authorization appears to extend to e-mail and text messages too. Read this article by Declan McCullagh on CNET News.

You know how everyone says that thye NSA cannot listen to our calls, but only see the numbers we are calling? Read this: NSA admits listening to U.S. phone calls without warrants

A few days ago on the HORROR REPORT, I wrote about how the new Superman movie is being marketed to the religious and faithful—which makes sense, after all family friendly and religious themed films do quite well at the box office.

I received one message from someone stating that Superman has historically been compared to Jesus and there was nothing new or different about the MAN OF STEEL concept..

I respecfully disagreed with that assertion. And now a CNN article posted this weekend backs up my contention that this movie, unlike many others, is directly being marketed to Christians .. 

CNN REPORTS that ministers were being given special screenings of the movie.. and perhaps the hope that they would praise Christ from the pulpit along with remind the flock of the benefits of going to see wholesome movies—especially when the hero is being portrayed quite like Christ. 

And after all.. Jesus Christ was an Inside Job.

Clearly the numbers for the movie have been swelling to epic proportions over the weekend. We know Friday night and Saturday night date nights went well for the MAN OF STEEL.

Father’s day Sunday may be strong—and maybe even a big bolster coming with mid-day post Church goers looking for deeper and hidden meanings in the MAN OF STEEL.. 

A father's day reflection.

Mother’s day came first. Dad was an afterthought. And then Father’s day followed.

But that’s fine. 

You see, Mother’s Day, in many respects, is what matters. ‘Mom’ goes through the nine months of changes, the labor pains.. the glorious feeling when she holds her child.  Dad of course had a hand in the whole affair, but.. .. .. and for that, we know why dads mean something.

I have sought to be the best father, ever. Period. I don’t know how often I sink or swim with my son, Ayden, but I certainly try..

Since the first time I looked at my son’s face, I felt a connection that is stronger than the physical form. This may sound corny, and for non-believers, potentially repugnant, but I see “God” in my son’s eyes. Whatever your idea of God is, of course. Because God may not be the God we think God is, or he may be a she, or maybe just electricity.. or maybe nothing.  But I see more than nothing in my son’s eyes, therefore I know there is something more than nothing—and the something is something I have no clue how to even try to understand.. 

And re-re-reading that paragraph, I know it makes little sense. But life sometimes just… makes little sense.

What does make sense, though, is being a father. Sharing laughs, wrestling matches (without real punches), fights, and love.

Family first. At least according to Adam Sandler in CLICK.

And I follow that motto. Family first.

We certainly don’t have to be friends. But we need to be family.

In 1993, I received a Christmas gift: My mom subscribed me to TIME magazine. I have been a reader since. Though I will admit now over the past 10 years I sometimes page through the smaller than ever print edition and just toss it aside. But in 1993 I read a story called ‘FATHERHOOD’… Never of course, at the age of 13, realizing that 20 years later I’d be celebrating my third father’s day…

And in 2003, ten years after that TIME edition was printed on old paper, I was cruising around in my 1999 RED Volkswagen Jetta, searching for a mate and not realizing my best friend Tara would soon be my wife… While cracking the windows, I played my COMPACT DISC of Simple Plan. I’d Do Anything… And now, ten years later, my son Ayden  is watching 2003 reruns of SCOOBY DOO and he is singing along to songs by Simple Plan, as they did the theme songs and background music for the show.. At one point about three weeks ago, I had Ayden in my car and put my old scratched up CD of Simple Plan in.. and me and my son shared a moment of singing along to music. In 2003 did I ever think I’d have a child, let alone be married? No.. I did not.

This is what happens. Life happens when you are busy making other plans. Right, Mr. Holland? Your Opus proved that..

I think I may go back to the 1993 article of TIME and read what  being a father is all about..Though I think I know.

Being a dad is being there. Being the wrestler in Chief and sometimes the disciplinarian in chief. Easing mom’s tension by taking the child away for a while. Being a friend. A foe. And an ally to the end.

Yes, fatherhood is interesting, beautiful, and amazing. All at the same time. I am glad I am taking part in this grand experiment.

To all the dads out there, including my own: Happy Father’s Day. For a few hours Mom may tell you it’s “your” day. Actually it’s not. It is your child’s day — everyday..

Bear with head stuck in jar is rescued in Pa.

JAMISON CITY, Pa. (AP) — Four central Pennsylvania residents said they used only a rope and a flashlight during a wild chase to rescue a young bear whose head had been stuck in a plastic jar for at least 11 days.

Clearly one of those ‘only in Pennsylvania’ type of stories.. The AP has now recorded it forever..

Bear with head stuck in jar is rescued in Pa.

The WASHINGTON POST: Five myths about privacy

Why it matters, even if you have nothing to hide.

The WASHINGTON POST: Five myths about privacy

Open lines weekend

It is a beautiful weekend and in my opinion either a sin crime against humanity if you don’t get out and enjoy it..

But in the meantime my lines are open throughout the weekend.. ask me anything, tell me anything. I’m calling it the ‘DO ASK, DO TELL’ weekend in June..

Enjoy life, all.

So .. who is going to see MAN  OF STEEL this weekend?