It Sickens me to Read about People who Leave their Children in Hot Cars

A woman who found her 17-month-old son dead in her hot, stuffy car after she worked her seven-hour shift as a Hooters waitress has been arrested, police said Wednesday.

It seems she forgot the child, her child, her only real responsibility in her life, was in the back seat of her tinted window car.
Arggh.

Hooters Mom Charged With Homicide After Toddler Dies in Hot Car

First, We Find the Oldest Living Creature on Earth...

But in the process of finding it, we kill it.  Humans, ya gotta love us?!

A biology team from Bangor University in Wales was dredging the waters north of Iceland as part of routine research when a clam belonging to the Arctica islandica clam family was hauled up from waters 250 feet deep.

Only after researchers cut through its shell, which made it more of an ex-clam, and counted its growth rings did they realize how old it had been — between 405 and 410 years old.  (There has got to be a better way to determine this stuff before we go off and kill the poor thing that had been minding it's own business on the ocean floor for the last 400 years. )

For a few more details you can check out Fox News

The Giant Plastic Trash Pile in the Ocean

If you're wondering about what this giant plastic trash pile is in the ocean I refer to, it's also referred to as the trash vortex.  It's all of our plastic trash that's ended up out in the ocean and via the many ocean currents out there, this mound of trash has accumulated in the Northern Pacific Ocean.

Nice going team!

This patch of floating debris is estimated to be about twice the size of the great island state of Hawaii.  But it's not a mound of floating pie of trash.  It's more as if you threw a thousand plastic pellets into your pool, and then they ended up being manipulated by currents in your pool (if they existed) into a collected section of the body of water.  Hence, though it's referred to often (as I did here) as a pile, it's really a field of tiny plastic debris floating about the ocean.

And it's hard to see because much of it exists below the surface of the ocean.

And this isn't the only ocean gyre current collecting trash.  There are others.  But as is the case with many folk, if ya don't see it, it ain't an issue.  But to be honest, you can't see cancer, but it can be a big issue.  And this trash that humanity has managed to dispatch, one piece at a time, is collecting, and IS a cancer to the wildlife in the oceans.

But that's another piece altogether!

[wikipedia]

A 9 year old and Apple's Lawyers

Imagine you're a 9 year old and you have an idea for Apple and it's iPod Nano.

So you tell your mom you have an idea, your mom, very proud of you, supports your idea to write a letter to Apple with your very cool idea.

Then, 3 months later, you get a response from Apple.

Actually, the letter is not from Steve Jobs saying, wow, great idea and thanks for writing. Instead, it was signed by the senior counsel from Apple's Law Department.

The letter told the nine year old that apple does not accept unsolicited ideas, do not send them her suggestions, and if she wants to know why, she could read their legal policy on the Internet.

Nice going Jobs. Let's sqaush the 9 year old's initiative before it even gets developed.

SOURCE

Remember the Guy that Prematurely Torched the Burning Man?

A few weeks back, during the Burning Man festival, one fellow got carried away and torched the Burning Man structure a wee bit too early for the celebration that was scheduled for that weekend.

It seems that the same fellow, Paul Addis, is setting a lifestyle pattern for himself, as he was arrested by police Sunday night on suspicion of trying to set fire to the historic Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.

They caught the fellow before he could commit any dimwitted behaviorally based fire damage thankfully.
Wow, talk about not learning from the err of your ways!!

AP Google

Bruce's November 2008 Newsletter

Hey all, here's my monthly grouping of interesting links for your edification:

Yes - I did print/put 2008 in my title / link.. Life is so good, I want it to be 2008 already!!
Sheesh.. I need an editor!!!


Bruce's Place (This blog)
Daylight Saving Time
Today's Quote 102507
Southern California Fires
Our Environment - A Thought
Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore
Coke versus Pepsi - Who wins out?
Saving a Dog - Check it out
Skin Cancer Awareness
So How Big is NASCAR?
A Thing About a Pumpkin or Two

Consumer Letter
Toy Sword Recall
Drugmakers Recall Infant Cough / Cold Medicine
E300 Electric Scooters Being Recalled
Recall: Mini Zooper Doll Strollers
Infant Play Yard Recall
Fuel Economy and Hyper Mileage

NASCAR
An Interesting Tidbit on a Track in the Northwest
In Cup, We Really Have 3 Races to Watch
Meet Number 9 dot Com
The Race after the Race
Reed Sorenson to Raise Awareness for Breast Cancer...

This one raised some ire in the fanbase:
House Homeland Security Committee looks at NASCAR
Nationwide Confirmed as Series Sponsor

COMPUTER STUFF
Windows System Key Combo Short-Cuts
More Observations on my AOL experience - The Web I...
Consumers say no to Vista and Yes to XP
Help - My Email Address is Being Spoofed
Older Versions for Your Software
Stealth Updates from Microsoft
Phishing Emails - Wal Mart Abuse Hot Line

ENTERTAINMENT Bits
Jules Verne Festival in December
Damages on FX with Glenn Close
Stargate Atlantis Gets a Fifth Season
Nicole Kidman's Demise
The Biggest Loser takes an Ugly Turn
CA Fires Interrupt Filming

This sucks for the owner:
Malibu Castle was in Escrow

Friday the 13th franchise character visits a tv series:
Supernatural Fans Lookout for Jason!
For the Stanley Kubrick Fan
Sci Fi Fans Get Shorted on Dr Who
Criminal Minds without Gideon

Daylight Saving Time

Gotta wait for Daylight Savings Time.

Remember: Starting this year, 2007, most of the United States begins Daylight Saving Time at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and reverts to standard time on the first Sunday in November. Not the last Sunday of October, like it used to be.

So some of you might have older vcr's that may have the wrong time, and if your computer is updating it's clock incorrectly, you need to get the patch for your system.
(clock image from wikipedia.. thanks wiki!)

Here's an interesting quote:

The official spelling is Daylight Saving Time, not Daylight SavingS Time.
Saving is used here as a verbal adjective (a participle). It modifies time and tells us more about its nature; namely, that it is characterized by the activity of saving daylight. It is a saving daylight kind of time. Because of this, it would be more accurate to refer to DST as daylight-saving time. Similar examples would be a mind-expanding book or a man-eating tiger. Saving is used in the same way as saving a ball game, rather than as a savings account.

Nevertheless, many people feel the word savings (with an 's') flows more mellifluously off the tongue. Daylight Savings Time is also in common usage, and can be found in dictionaries.
Adding to the confusion is that the phrase Daylight Saving Time is inaccurate, since no daylight is actually saved. Daylight Shifting Time would be better, but it is not as politically desirable.

SOURCE

A Bone Head Humor Moment

One of my old companies used to delegate out an annual "Cheese Head" award to the duffiest stunt or boo boo that someone pulled off in the calendar year.

One year, this one fellow had gone looking for a certain book that the company library said it had 3 copies.

They couldn't find the copies, so they ordered him another copy.

It turns out they did finally find the other copies.  They were all in his office!!

That's my humorous moment for the day!

Today's Quote 102507

Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling.

(Margaret Lee Runback)

Southern California Fires

by Bruce Simmons

My heart, prayers and thoughts go out to the folk enduring through this terrible record setting event of fires in Southern California.

Back in 2003, I had flames no more than 1000 feet from my front door in Stevenson Ranch so I understand some of their plights.  I also developed an immense amount of respect for the fire fighting pilots skills and risks they take as their aircraft passed no more than 50 feet over my roof as I watched their dance with the flames as they dropped fire fighting chems on spots I did not think a helicopter or fixed wing craft could ever get to.  In regards to Stevenson Ranch, "fire experts ranked Stevenson Ranch favorably among 11 communities in the state that face persistent fire dangers, and called it a model development for its building standards."  See the article over at The Free Library.

For updates on the So Cal fire situation, this LINK is a Google search link for "southern california fires".

Our Environment - A Thought

Our Environment, by Bruce Simmons

I've moved my post to my new Bruce's Place Of Thoughts.

A Quote for Thursday 101807

If only the people who worry about their liabilities would think about the riches they do possess, they would stop worrying.

Would you sell both your eyes for a million dollars… or your legs… or your hands… or your hearing?

Add up what you do have, and you'll find that you won't sell them for all the gold in the world.

The best things in life are yours, ifyou can appreciate yourself.

Dale Carnegie(1888-1955, American Author, Trainer)

Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore

by Bruce Simmons

Al Gore, in conjunction with the United Nations panel on climate change, had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work on global warming education.

Gore's documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, was a well documentary, putting stats into understandable quantities, and Gore was not beholden to anyone but himself for producing information and having no restrictions on what he could present.

After An Inconvenient Truth, the constant state of denial about global warming diminished. We saw charts referencing the past, and those same charts predicting our climate's future, showing in stark and depressing data plot lines what we've accomplished with our environment through the advancement of our society and our industrial growth, with no thought to the repercussions of our actions.

I found it a riveting piece, and depressing, all at once. It convinced me that even when I slack for one moment on my recycling efforts is to bear witness to a very small piece of the larger puzzle, the very attitude that has put us here.

If we, as a whole, think any one deed, one action, has no impact on anything, consider the fact that in the U.S. alone, the estimated population is 301,139,947 people. If everyone tossed out a piece of paper out their car window the size of a paperback book page thinking that one deed would do no harm, we've thrown out the equivalent of over 1 million paperback books on the road. That is why we can't relax in turning off lights when we aren't using them, or doing our part to car pool, or other acts that are deemed simple and small, in preserving our planet.

Despite the awareness the film brings to us, the film still draws criticism:

The film has become part of the regular curriculum in countries around the world, but its content is still stirring up controversy, with critics charging that it is partisan.

British High Court Judge Michael Burton, ruling recently on an effort to ban the film from U.K. schools, said `Truth'' was ``broadly accurate.'' He said it could be shown in schools if "guidance notes'' are included that draw attention to nine different errors made in "the context of alarmism and exaggeration.''

Nine errors. Oh my. How will we ever trust the information again?

Well, it is what it is, and things can only get worse if we ignore the basic premise of the message, which, even with some factual flaws, tells us the tale we needed to become aware of.

Source that sparked my thoughts: variety

A Quote for October 16

I believe that if you think about disaster you will get it. Brood about death and you hasten your demise.

Think positively and masterfully with confidence and faith, and life becomes more secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and experience.

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker(1890-1973, American Aviator, World War I Ace)

Coke versus Pepsi - Who wins out?

So have you ever wondered who wins out in a competition between Coke and Pepsi?

Well, The long-standing rivalry between Coke and Pepsi took a physical turn when a Pepsi deliveryman allegedly punched his Coke counterpart in the face at a western Pennsylvania Wal-Mart. Three times!!! I guess Pepsi wins.

They were bickering about something, probably arguing about which alcohol mixes better with what product!

Source: news.yahoo.com

Saving a Dog - Check it out

A public service announcement by Bruce Simmons

A new site started up recently that is aimed at trying to save dogs in various states that are slated for destruction.

About 4 million dogs are put to death each year in the United States, by injection or gas and they are working on saving one dog at a time, if they can.

The site is www.dogsindanger.com.

The adoption service is free both for shelters and people looking for pets, allowing users to search by location, breed or time until death.

The site uses an in-your-face approach, as you look at various animals and it points out which dog is going to die when.

So if you're looking for a dog, there may be one in your state that could use saving, and believe me, they know when they've been saved and can be very appreciative.

Skin Cancer Awareness

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer, with over 250,000 new cases per year estimated in the United States. It arises in the squamous cells that compose most of the upper layer of the skin.

Most SCCs are not serious. When identified early and treated promptly, the future is bright.

However, if overlooked, they are harder to treat and can cause disfigurement. While 96 to 97 percent of SCCs are localized, the small percentage of remaining cases can spread to distant organs and become life-threatening.

Read more on this scenario at
skincancer.org
or
aocd.org

So How Big is NASCAR?

The article starts out in a light mood:

NASCAR fans might seem rabid, but are they actually contagious?

The House Homeland Security Committee planned a fact-finding trip about public health preparedness at mass gatherings and decided to conduct the research at two of the nation's most heavily attended sporting events, NASCAR's Bank of America 500 event this weekend (At Lowe's MotorSpeedway near Charlotte, NC) and the UAW-Ford 500 (At Talladega, in Talladega, Alabama) last weekend.

Though NASCAR fans may not be rabid, staff who organized the trips advised the NASCAR-bound aides to get a range of vaccines before attending -- hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria and influenza. (What you saying folks?)

Rep. Robin Hayes, a Republican from Concord, took umbrage when he heard about it. "I have never heard of immunizations for domestic travel, and as the representative for Concord, N.C., I feel compelled to ask why the heck the committee feels that immunizations are needed to travel to my hometown," Hayes said in an Oct. 5 letter

The aides headed out to this observation were asked to explore public health issues at events involving large gatherings, such as how law enforcement and medical personnel would respond to an act of terrorism or other emergency. (Personally, I think a NASCAR fan in the staff probably came up with this idea so he can travel on our dime!!)

They explain the immunization requests with: "Since committee staff members are visiting hospital and other health-care facilities available at or near these venues, including areas where groups of people are detained before being transferred to other off-site facilities, I believe that the recommendation (not requirement) that our congressional staff receive these same immunizations was sound," Thompson said in a letter responding to Hayes issued Wednesday.

See the whole article at thatsracin.com

A Quote by Bruce

I like to start my day with a smile, just to get it over with!

A Thing About a Pumpkin or Two

Here's a talent to make you famous:

Pumpkin Carving - Fastest Time.
Stephen Clarke carved a pumpkin in 24.03 seconds in Orlando, Florida, USA on July 23, 2006.
I ownder if that counts cleaning it out?
guinnessworldrecords.com

According to http://www.bigpumpkins.com/, the largest pumpkin to date is 1,689 pounds! Sheesh! http://www.bigpumpkins.com/ (Link to the specific article)

That be a lot of pumpkin pie!

Bruce's October 2007 Newsletter

Computer:
Phishing Emails - Wal Mart Abuse Hot Line
Fun with Excel - Make Your Own Lottery Number Gene...
Word Tip-Tricks 092507
Word Trick-Tips 070923
Fun with Perl - Default Answers
Fun with Perl - Auto Increment
Phishing is Ramping Up
The Lamest Phishing Attempt I've Ever Seen
SpyWare Fighters Rated
AOL Email Spacing


Consumer:
Fuel Economy and Hyper Mileage
Home Prices hit 5 Year Low
Home Builders Using Ebay - An Update
Chip Implants Associated to Animal Tumors
Simplicity Crib Recall Due to Infant Deaths
ABC's Exteme Home Makeover and Taxes
When a Car Experiences a Flood
How I Save Money When I Buy a New Car
Mortgage Loans - Do You Know What You are Signing
Global Warming - So Who Kept Saying it Was Rumors
Calorie Mindful Website
Toy Recalls - Lead Paint - 9/5
Crib Recall
Lowest Gas Prices in Town


Bruce's Place Entries (Links to Items on this very blog)
America's Biggest Mystery - The Lost Colony
Global Warming - Rising Sea Levels
Have You Ever Wanted to Author Your Own Book?
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 (This was a reflection of a memory on this day!)
Politics to shut down Science?
Steve Fossett still Missing
Steve Irwin - 1 Year Missed


NASCAR: (Some of this news is just more sports worthy than NASCAR worthy)
NASCAR Ratings - Sept 22-23 (TV Ratings and where NASCAR stood this weekend)
Coors Light - The Official Beer of NASCAR
A John Force Update
Dale Jr's New Sponsor - AMP Energy by Mountain Dew...
John Force - Alert and Conscious
Dale Earnhardt Jr - The 88 Car and His Sponsors
Jeff Gordon, Dupont and you, the Fans
(An interesting jump to an article on the business of Jeff Gordon's sponsors and the fan base)
Budweiser to Kasey Kahne

Earnhardt Jr's related news had some of the biggest business impacts this sport has seen in years. Pepsi-co, it was rumored, pulled their major series funding of NASCAR to support their new driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr and when Earnhardt Jr could not bring Budweiser with him to his new team next year, (He left the team that his father started) that move also, was a big change for a favored product /sponsor of the sport.

Thanks for visiting everyone!!!

Quote for the Day - Oct 2 07

If a ship has sunk, I can't bring it up.
If it is going to be sunk, I can't stop it.
I can use my time much better working on tomorrow's problem than fretting about yesterday's. Besides, if I let those things get me, I wouldn't last long.
Ernest J. King (1878-1956, American Navy officer)