August 10, 2012

Give it up for Olympic runner Manteo Mitchell

U.S. runner Manteo Mitchell finishes relay on broken leg

LONDON -- If there were an Olympic award for courage in competition, Manteo Mitchell would get a strong nomination.

Mitchell ran the opening leg of the U.S. men's 1,600-meter relay Thursday and seemed to labor, unable to hand over the lead to Josh Mance after a leg of 46.1 seconds.

Afterward, Mitchell said he had a cramp in his foot. But his struggles didn't seem to matter because Mance, Tony McQuay and Bryshon Nellum rallied to get the U.S. to the finish line in 2 minutes 58.87 seconds, tying the Bahamas for the fastest qualifying time. The time was a record for the first round of an Olympics relay.
<snip>
http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-sp-oly-notes-20120810,0,1438415.story

He heard it break!
That takes some serious stones and commitment to the team. He kept them in the relay heats.

August 10, 2012

TrapWire: See Something, Say Something...To The CIA?

According to new Stratfor emails released by WikiLeaks:

Reports submitted to "See Something, Say Something" in NYC and Las Vegas and "iWatch" in DC and LA are collected, processed by private company run by ex-CIA operatives

TrapWire collects and cross-references surveillance reports from around the world, including: LAPD, DC Police, US Marine Corps, Las Vegas Police Department, Scotland Yard.

TrapWire threat detection software is integrated with surveillance cameras at locations around the world, including 500 deployments in the NYC subway system and at the London Stock Exchange.
<snip>
http://storify.com/bendoernberg/test-post

Say cheese!

August 9, 2012

If you visit the SC beaches, do not have a water emergency.

Morons are shining green lasers at pilots and have grounded missions.

Green lasers hamper 6 rescue missions at SC coast
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) - The Coast Guard has sent a letter to local governments along the Grand Strand warning they may have to limit rescue activities along the northern South Carolina beaches unless they can stop the problems of green lasers being aimed at aircraft.

The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reports (http://bit.ly/QVqldX ) the cities of Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach have already banned the lasers, while Horry County is considering a ban.

The Coast Guard says it has had to abandon at least six rescue missions in the past six months. The green lasers are more powerful that other lasers and can temporarily blind pilots, especially when they're wearing night vision goggles. Federal officials say it is a crime that carries up to five years to shoot a laser at an aircraft.
http://www.wistv.com/story/19199805/green-lasers-hamper-6-rescue-missions-at-sc-coast

I hope they catch the bastids and put them under the jail.

August 9, 2012

Did Romney hire his campaign staff and

others associated with his election from:


I have never seen or heard a candidate and those working for him make so many gaffes.
This should be their official symbol:

August 8, 2012

One man, one dog, one Facebook photo that has touched thousands of hearts

A photo may be worth 1,000 words, but professional photographer Hannah Stonehouse Hudson has learned it can also be worth 2.2 million views, 191,162 likes, 108,766 shares and 21,936 comments (and counting) on Facebook.

"My specialty is documenting relationships, whether it's a wedding or a man and his dog," says the Bayfield, Wis., photographer. "I have known my friend John and his dog, Schoep, for six years. I have seen Schoep age -- he's 19 now. John lives his life in a kind way. He rescued this dog as a puppy, they have gone everywhere together ever since. Schoep has arthritis now, and John finds that the water is therapeutic. He is the kind of person who wants his animals to be comfortable. I wanted to capture their relationship. I told John, 'I really need to get photos of you and your dog.'

Last Tuesday, we met at the beach for the photo. While John swam with the dog, I got on the dock so I could be at eye level. It took five minutes.

"In the shot, the dog is completely relaxed, with his head on John's shoulder, eyes closed, out cold. John's eyes are closed, too. The water is calm. It's completely serene.
<snip>
http://www.twincities.com/ci_21254327?refresh=no

Absolutely beautiful!

August 8, 2012

That was a fun visit to the doctor.

She was alarmed at my thumb or maybe it was me.
It was red and all swole up.
I got a shot in my butt and some big honking pills to take.

The cat who bit me is the one who has become deaf. She has not been a biter, but I think she is getting very crotchety in her old age. She took great offense at the way I was petting her. I think she is a vampire cat now.

Can cats get dementia? I am wondering if that explains her mood.
Of course, she is a cat so no explanations are really required. They morph as they wish.

Thanks for all the advice and thoughts.
(She's sitting beside me now. She glances at me at times and seems to be accessing if I am worth another try at using my fingers as a snack.)

August 8, 2012

I got 2 nasty punctures on my left thumb

from my cat at 5am. One is fine and the other already has 'goo' coming out of it.
Should I just head on out to the doctor now?

August 8, 2012

After blistering Vatican report, nuns gather to weigh response

American nuns are gathering in St. Louis, Mo., this week for their organization's yearly national assembly, where they are expected to discuss the future of their relationship with the Vatican following scathing criticism of the nuns' alleged lack of fidelity to Catholic teachings.

This spring, after a three-year investigation, the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog issued a report questioning the organization's loyalty to some Church teachings, including the nuns' lack of outspokenness on issues such as gay marriage, abortion and contraception. Another concern voiced by the Vatican relates to conferences organized by the nuns featuring "a prevalence of certain radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith."
<snip>

This week, the nuns will discuss a range of options for the future, from accepting the Vatican's mandate to starting a new organization independent of the church's control.

In an interview with NPR in July, Franciscan Sister Pat Farrell, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, an umbrella organization representing about 80 percent of the nuns in the United States, said the organization is "not talking about the risk of excommunication or leaving the church."

"The one and only underlying option for us is to respond with integrity with however we proceed," Farrell added. "Some of the options would be to just comply with the mandate that's been given to us. Or to say we can't comply with this and see what the Vatican does with that. Or to remove ourselves and form a separate organization."
<snip>
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/07/13162177-after-blistering-vatican-report-nuns-gather-to-weigh-response?lite

I'm with the nuns! They have stood up for the poor and others when many have shamefully run for cover.
I believe the Vatican will do everything they can to make them conform. This could lead to an epic showdown.
High Noon In The Cathedral or Sacred Fight Club

August 7, 2012

A special speaker has been scheduled for the GOP convention:

RT @LOLGOP: BREAKING:
Sheriff of Nottingham to speak at the Republican convention.

http://twitter.com/PaulBegala/statuses/232901021322592257

heh!

August 7, 2012

Abby Wambach's brains provided crucial assist to U.S. women's soccer's comeback against Canada

<snip>
On Tuesday, she helped the Americans dramatically defeat Canada 4-3 in an Olympic semifinal with her brains, guile, and gamesmanship by delivering a crucial and controversial refereeing decision that left the Canadians crying.

It was no secret Canada's strategy against the deeper, more talented Americans was to slow the game down. That included, Wambach said, having goalkeeper Erin McLeod hold the ball as long as possible, even over 15 seconds at times during the first half. Soccer rules say the goalkeeper must get rid of the ball within six seconds.

During the second half, with the U.S. frantically trying to speed up the game while attempting multiple comebacks, Wambach began running near referee Christiana Pedersen and counting off the seconds that McLeod held the ball. She said she often got to 10 and into even the teens.
<snip>
The last time came in the 78th minute, with Canada trying to milk a 3-2 lead. McLeod made a save, and Wambach began counting again. "I got to 10 seconds right next to the referee, and at 10 seconds she blew the whistle," Wambach said.
<snip>
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--abby-wambach-s-brains-proved-to-be-big-assist-to-u-s--women-s-soccer-s-comeback-against-canada.html

Smart! Either it's a rule or it's not.
The article says that the Canadian goalkeeper was signaled repeatedly by the official to speed it up.
The call was rare, but not out of the blue. Unbeknownest to the fans, Wambach was continually reminding the referee of the delaying tactic.