Thousands Protest Peacefully in Bahrain

On Friday, thousands joined a peaceful anti government protest in Bahrain.

It was the first protest march that the government had authorized since June, and many were willing to make the two mile walk.

The ban over the last few months had not stopped protesters, but the numerical difference was rather clear.

A very key difference was the lack of violence, which had been the cause of the ban, and had plagued the unauthorized protests.

The Shiite majority population began protesting the Sunni run government in February 2011.

The US has pushed for peaceful talks, between the two sides, but is more on the government's side, as the country holds the base for the US Fifth Fleet.

Saudi Arabia has clearly backed the regime, at one point even sending troops to maintain peace and order.

Iran dodges accusations of aiding the opposition, whilst very much vocally supporting them.

Woman Induced Into Coma to Recover From Acid Attack

Tanya St Arnauld has been put into a medically induced coma in hopes that it will help her body recover after a man threw acid on her.

Seventy percent of her body suffered burns from the corrosive substance.

The Longueuil, Quebec woman, was attacked by her boyfriend, who had a history of throwing food and other liquids on her during arguments.

Nikolas Stefanatos also has an assault conviction from 2006.

A judge has continued to postpone his bail hearing.

Clint Eastwood at The RNC

Clint Eastwood's speech at the Republican National Convention, on Thursday night, has prompted a lot of discussion.

Many are confused by his use of an empty chair to portray President Obama, others were offended by it. Some criticize him for his speech's content, even saying he had things wrong, or that he rambled too much.

Granted, the line about lawyers was a little unfortunate as Romney does have a law degree, but he is a businessman, and that was Eastwood's point. O and as far as the unemployment numbers being wrong, so the man forgot to say unemployed and underemployed whilst giving an unscripted speech. Deal with it.

For me, it was something almost magically perfect. Eastwood grabbed your attention, made his points using humor and facts, and did what actors do, he entertained. And while he was doing so, he made you think, and proved his beliefs. What else could you have asked for?
 
Decide for yourself:

First US Death From H3N2v Strain of Swine Flu

A sixty-one year old woman became the first US victim of the H3N2v strain of swine flu.

H3N2v was first discovered in US pigs in 2010, and then in people in 2011.

Throughout 2011, twelve people were infected with the disease.

Already in 2012, there have bee 289 cases, in five states: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.

The victim who lost her life was the oldest to contract it, whilst it has hit those as young as six months.

Symptoms for H3N2v are very similar to the regular flu, so more cases could easily have gone unreported.

In Minnesota, three people who were working at the state fair became ill with a different strain.

They are all recovering from the H1N2v.

Workers and visitors that attended the fair are being warned to be checked by a doctor, for the disease.

Walmart Tests iPhone Checkout App

Walmart moved a step closer to ending the age of cashiers.

On Tuesday and Wednesday a single store, in Rodgers, Arkansas, tested out a new app for the iPhone.

The app allows customers to scan their items for themselves, and even pay via the phone.

Walmart spends nearly twelve million dollars on cashier wages, every second, in the US alone.

They are hoping that the new app would help them become more cost efficient, and allow for faster checkouts.

Eventually it would be added to apps for other phone platforms.

Recently, the company has been greatly expanding their use of regular self checkout machines, which still require one cashier per two or four registers.

If the app is successful, it could put thousands of cashiers out of jobs, in the name of customer satisfaction.

Mimi The Elephant Heading for Hospice

Since 1961, Mimi the elephant has delighted visitors at the Denver Zoo.

Over the past few years she has been slower and generally had a sore body.

At fifty-three she's had a good long life, most captive elephants don't make it much past forty.

Sadly, Mimi has stopped eating, so zoo keepers and veterinarians have made the decision to move her to hospice.

They haven't given up on her and are continuing to try to get her to eat, but it's time to face that the end soon might be here.

Ten Thousand Could Have Been Exposed to Hantavirus

Hantavirus has already killed two people who visited Yosemite National Park.

Four others are in critical condition from contracting the disease.

All six of the victims stayed at the Curry Village tent cabins.

Somewhere between seven and ten thousand people have visited the California park over the summer.

Three thousand of those have already been sent letters and emails, warning them of the possible danger.

Officials recommend that all who stayed at the village, be checked by a doctor for any signs of the virus.

Man Loses Leg After Crashing Stolen Police Car

Police had responded to a call for a robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, when someone uninvolved stole one of their cruisers.

Within minutes a 911 call came in about a crashed police cruiser, that had hit a light pole in front of Starbucks.

LAPD officers who responded found the car thief ejected from the vehicle, and his leg lying apart from him.

The twenty-five year old man is in the hospital in critical condition.

Andy Roddick Announces Retirement

On Thursday, during his thirtieth birthday, tennis pro Andy Roddick announced that he will retire after the US Open.

"I just feel like it's time,'' said Roddick.

He is currently the only Grand Slam winner on the men's circuit, from the US.

Roddick has a career win percentage of .742, with thirty-two titles.

Over the last few years he has begun battling injuries, and in February dropped to number twenty then thirty-four in March, the lowest he had been ranked since 1991.

Friday night he is set to play what could be his last match.

Spanish Fire Causes Thousands to Evacuate

Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate the Spanish towns Marbella, Monda, Coin, and Ojen, as a wildfire approaches.

The fire started near Coin, on Thursday, and quickly spread to neighboring areas.

At least one person is believed to have died from the fire, and several others have been hospitalized.

As of Friday afternoon, residents are being allowed back into parts of Marbella.

Firefighters are doing all they can to save the towns.

$30 Million Worth of Maple Syrup Stolen

Thirty million dollars worth of maple syrup was stolen from a warehouse in St-Louis-de-Blandford, Quebec.

The facility is part of Canada's strategic reserve of the syrup, and had held 3.4 million liters of it.

An inventory check, by the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, showed that the syrup was missing.

Officials are not saying exactly how much was taken, just what it was worth.

The warehouse, when full, contains about a quarter of the strategic reserve.

Maple syrup reserves are insured, so there will be no financial loss, but the news has caused some to stock up on extra quantities.

Mr. Coffee Brewers Recalled

Mr. Coffee Single Cup Brewing Systems are being recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Sunbeam Products Inc.

Models sold from September 2010 through August 2012 are included in the voluntary recall.

There have been 164 reports of steam forcing open the brewing chamber, splashing people with boiling liquid, causing sixty-one injuries.

The brewers were sold throughout the US and Canada, at most retailers.

All models were black with red, white, or silver, trim.

Plane Missing Near Pueblo

A single engine piper Piper Super Cruiser has disappeared near Pueblo, Colorado.

Pueblo County Sheriff's Department had apparently hired the plane out, for a law enforcement mission.

The pilot and one passenger were supposed to return near 10 am, but have not been heard from since take off.

A search is being made in the San Isabel National Forest, for a crash site.

Fourteen Dead in Flooded Cameroon

Floods in Cameroon are being blamed for the deaths of fourteen people.

State run media also reports that at least twenty-two thousand have fled from the flooded areas.

The Benoue River flooded it's banks after heavy rain fall forced water to be released from the Lagdo hydro electric dam.

Various food crops have been destroyed, and that with the possibility of disease is causing great worries.

Twenty-five hundred troops have been deployed to help the area.

Man Kills Two Then Himself in New Jersey

About 7:30 am EDT police responded to reports of shots fired at a supermarket in Old Bridge, New Jersey.

Upon arrival, officers found three bodies, one of whom was the gunman, in different parts of the store.

The twenty-three year old gunman was an employee of the store, who had worked the night shift, and then left.

He returned in camouflage, an AK47, and a handgun; shooting sixteen shots as he went through the store.

After killing his two coworkers, he apparently shot himself.

At least a dozen other employees were in the store at the time, but managed to hide from the shooter.

His victims have been identified as eighteen year old Cristina LoBrutto and Bryan Breen, who was twenty-four.

No motive is known at this time, but police believe that those killed were not specifically targeted.

7.6 Quake Rattles Philippines

Friday night a 7.6 earthquake struck about a hundred miles off the east coast of the Philippines.

Tsunami alerts were issued for much of the western Pacific, though no where saw anything more than a couple inches.

A house in Cagayan de Oro collapsed, killing a fifty-four year old woman.

Some roads were buckled by the quake, and there were reports of landslides.

People were warned not to go back to sleep, in case of after shocks.

Electricity was knocked out in parts of the Philippines through much of the night.

Mango Recall Continues to Spread

A recall of Daniella Mangoes has now spread from Canada to the US.

PLU numbers 3114, 4051, 4311, 4584, and 4959 that were sold at Costco, Save Mart Supermarkets, Food 4 Less, Ralph's, Topco stores, El Super, Kroger, Giant-Eagle, Stop & Shop, Aldi, and Whole Foods are under the recall.

Seventy-three cases of salmonella poisoning have been linked to the fruit, in California alone.

The fruit came from Mexico, and was sold between June and August.

Two Million Baby Bathers Recalled

Summer Infant Deluxe and Mother's Touch Baby Bathers are being recalled.

Two million of the bathers are being considered defective after seven babies have been injured.

A side hinge can fail, causing the frame to collapse, and the baby to be dropped.

Models sold from September 2004 through November 2011 are included in the recall.

The following model numbers are part of the recall: 08020, 08050, 08054, 08070, 08401, 08409, 08404, 08405, 08650, 08655, 08659, 08754, 08940, 08944, 18004, 18040, 18049, 18050, 18120, 18125, 18129, 18254, 18360, 18375, 18379, 18390, 18394, 18440, 18445, 18449, 18470, 18475, 18479, 38510, 38515, 38750, 38755

Book Review: What The (Bleep) Just Happened?

While on my little twenty-six hour unplanned trip to Chicago to take care of some business, I filled the waiting hours and flight time with Monica Crowley's What The (Bleep) Just Happened? .

This book will infuriate the more deep ceded socialists, fascists, "progressives", and liberals. Blue Dog Democrats may find themselves cheering with some of Ms. Crowley's diction and rhetoric while nodding in assent at some of her indictments.

Monica's book chronicles the first three years of Obama's administration. This book is an indictment. Ms. Crowley juxtaposes Obama's promises with his actions. She sits Obama in front of the floodlight and interrogates him through this book. Armed with the facts from Obama's constant self contradiction and blatant anti American actions, Ms. Crowley executes this questioning utilizing both indisputable evidence and a challenge to Obama's narcissistic ego.

Her catchphrase from the book "What the @#$& just happened?" will leave your average Constitutional Moderate, Libertarian or Conservative Republican feeling like a teenager at their first college frat party.

This book is a must read prior to Election Day this November.

Full Article Originally Posted At Mental Aikido.

Book Review: The Amateur

During the course of my relocation to "places not Arizona", I read a great book entitled The Amateur by Edward Klein. The book grants an honest profile of Barack Obama, his closest advisers, his staff, his inner circle supporters, and his chief bureaucrats also known as "Czars". If you do an internet search on Mr. Klein, you will find numerous interviews. In many of them, he not only talks about some parts of the expose, he expounds upon information not included in the book.

The book delves deep into Obama's failures. It demonstrates not only his inexperience, but that of some key individuals. The book explores, in depth, the relationship between Valarie Jarrett and the Obamas, showing exactly how much she assumes the role of puppet master despite her complete lack of knowledge and experience on the majority of subjects she advises.

The book also contains information from interviews with other prominent liberals and so called blue dog democrats. When even the more extreme socialists refer to Obama by the book's title, all voting age Americans need to heed the warning.

Regardless which side of the aisle your political ideology may reside, this book is a must read before Election Day in November.

Full Article Originally Posted At Mental Aikido.

Taylor Swift's Never Ever Getting Back Together Video Debuts

Seventeen days after announcing her new album, Red, and debuting the first single from it, Taylor Swift has released the video for it.

The video for Never Ever Getting Back Together, debuted Thursday, on MTV.

Reportedly taped in a single take, Swift goes through a partially surreal world where her band is dressed as stuffed animals.

She herself had to undergo four costume changes, during the three and a half minute video.

The full album is set to be released, October 22. Unfortunately the video is not playable off the MTV site, til 8pm EDT, August 31.

Victor Airlines Creates Furs Class

UK based Victor Airline now allows for the family dog to fly in their own seat in the cabin.

The private charter jet company is calling the option "Furs Class".

Seats cost about a thousand dollars a piece, but it's the only way to fly the dog across the ocean, without sending them with the freight.

New Belgium Beer Under Threat

Better enjoy those remaining New Belgium beers.

The brewery is currently on emergency reserves of purified water.

Normally they use purified water from the Poudre River, however the High Park Fire has contaminated the river beyond the ability of filters to completely purify.

Fort Collins, Colorado is warning the company that their time using the reserve, is coming to an end.

New Belgium is trying to figure out a way to avoid being forced to use the Poudre water, which they say would ruin their flavor, if not be totally undrinkable.

Hookah Not Better Than Regular Tobacco

According to a recent study released by the Mashhad University of Medical Science, in Iran, and confirmed by the Israel Cancer Association shows that hookah may not be healthier than regular smoking.

In fact, it may actually be worse.

To start with, the tobacco used for hookah, is watered with sewage water, which contains human waste.

The vapor, which is breathed in, contains arsenic, lead, nicotine, coal tar, and other harmful substances.

Hookah's sweet odor and flavor are actually additives used to disguise the other substances.

Several of the ingredients have been known to cause mutations in lab animals, not to mention cancer and other health issues.

As a result, Israel has already increased taxes on hookah tobacco to be even with that of regular tobacco.

South African Miners Charged With Murder in Police Shooting

Two weeks after thirty-four striking miners were killed when police opened fire, some of their comrades are being charged with the deaths.

The miner's strike went violent, and police in self defense shot into the mob, which had previously killed other officers, and attacked miners that attempted to work.

After the massacre, two hundred and seventy miners were arrested and they now face the charge of murder.

Under South African law, they are being tried under "common purpose", which allows for suspects who were with those who died during an incident with police to be charged for their deaths, no matter who shot who.

At this time, no police are being charged, as the incident is still under investigation.

Echo Mountain Has a New Owner

Echo Mountain ski area has finally been sold, but things will be changing a lot there.

The mountain will still be open to the general public, but focus will be growing all the more on training for alpine racing.

World Cup skiers such as Sarah Schleper-Gaxiola, Petter Brenna, Patrik Järbyn, and Mike Farny have already been lined up as coaches.

The Colorado mountain already has a history of being a place where skiers would train, but it has also been successfully focusing on gaining more and more regular skiers.

Nora Pykkonen, the new owner, plans to have it opened in November.

Sharks Causing Massachusetts Beach Closures

Beaches along Massachusetts' Cape Cod are being closed.

Great white shark sightings have increased to such a number that local authorities are willing to lose any remaining tourist money, over the risk of an attack.

Researchers say the sharks are becoming more visible as the local seal population has continued to grow.

The population has greatly increased as they are protected by law.

Seals have actually become a nuisance to fishermen, as they are not even allowed to chase them away from their catches.

As the seals are a favorite meal of sharks, and sharks can easily confuse a human for a seal, people are being warned to stay more than three hundred feet from seals, no matter the location.

Mayor Killed by Donkey

According to police, Mayor William Bohlke was killed by one of his donkeys.

Bohlke, the mayor of Hollywood Park, Texas kept several donkeys on his ranch, and was apparently killed by a five hundred pound male.

Authorities have not released whether he was trampled, kick, or how exactly the donkey did it, but they say they have the proof.

The family will have to decide what to do with the donkey.

A twenty year Air Force veteran, Bohlke had been elected in May to the mayorship, his first public office.

US Marines Aiding Guatemala

Two hundred US Marines have joined Guatemalan forces in the drug war.

They will be patrolling the country's western coast in an effort to keep drug traffickers from using it.

It is part of Operation Martillo, a joint operation between the US, Belize, Britain, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama and Spain.

Operation Martillo aims to end drug trafficking throughout Central America.


Over the summer Operation Martillo has seen various successes that have nearly completely stopped drug traffickers from being able to use the air.

Now focus has moved to the oceans.

On July 16, Guatemala agreed to the presence of US forces, within their borders, and they arrived in early August.

After arriving, they spent two weeks training and rehearsing their mission, and then began operations earlier this week.

Accompanied by four UH-1 helicopters, the Marines are expected to be on station for about two months.

Mango Recall Grows

A mango recall announced five days ago, has been greatly expanded.

Originally for just sections of Canada and one batch of mangoes, it is now for the whole country and six batches of the fruit.

Daniella mangoes with the PLU number 3114, 4051, 4312, 4584, 4959, and 4961 are all now under the recall.

Mangoes from all six groups have tested positive for salmonella, and twenty-one people have fallen ill from them.

The fruit were sold at multiple retailers from July 12 through August 30.

All of the melons were grown in Mexico.

Canon City Inmate Shot

An inmate at Canon City's Four Mile Correctional Facility felt a sudden pain in his leg on Tuesday, as he was walking around the track during recreational time.

When he looked down he found that he had been shot, which doctors confirmed on Thursday after finally getting the fragments out of his knee.

The prison reports that none of the guards fired the shot, and it is not clear where it came from.

Currently the minimum security prison is on lock down as Colorado Department of Corrections officers, from other prisons, search the facility for a weapon.

Buildings outside the prison are also being searched.

In efforts to look at all possibilities, officials are considering that he may have been shot from the nearby hills, with a high powered rifle.

Student Stops Bus After Driver Falls

Thursday morning while taking a turn a school bus driver fell out of his seat, into the stair well.

A quick reacting teenage student jumped up front and pulled the emergency brake, stopping the bus.

The incident happened near Platte Avenue and Chelton Road, according to Colorado Springs police.

Two Indian Military Helicopters Crash

Two military helicopters crashed in India, on Thursday.

All nine people aboard were killed.

The two Mi-17s were flying out of Jamnagar air base, in the state of Gujarat.

The air force is investigating the crashes.

A mid air collision is possible.

100 Year Old Man Injures 11 With Car

Wednesday afternoon a one hundred year old man lost control of his car and ended up hitting a group of people.

Eleven ended up sent to the hospital, including nine children, four of whom are still in serious condition.

The vehicle backed into and over the group of people standing on the sidewalk, with the driver saying his brakes failed.

Police are investigating the incident as an accident, and no arrest will be made.

The driver turns 101 on September 5.

Isaac Continues to Pound Gulf Coast

Hurricane Isaac may have dropped to tropical storm, but it is still pounding the gulf coast and parts inland.

Isaac has now caused a death in the United States, as high winds knocked a tree over killing a man in Pearl River County, Mississippi.

The storm is continuing to cause tornado warnings and flooding in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

Dozens have been injured in various incidents caused by the winds, tornadoes, and waters; and hundreds have been trapped or displaced by the storm, with thousands more evacuated.

Some places have seen as much as twenty-four inches of rain, in twenty-four hours, and some levees are no longer able to hold back all the water, even as predictions of as much as twenty-five more inches of rain are made.

Parts of Louisiana are being aided by National Guard efforts, and disaster areas have been declared in fifty-eight of the sixty-four parishes.

Nearly a million people are out of power, help is on the way from other states, but some routes are not currently passable.

Residents along the Tangipahoa River have just been given til 11:40 CDT to evacuate as the levee at Lake Tangipahoa is about to brake.

The state government is sending buses to aid in the mandatory evacuation of fifty to sixty thousand people.

Morris Brown College Failed Business: Bankruptcy and Foreclosure

In Atlanta, Georgia, one college is bankrupt and facing possible closure. Morris Brown College posted a notice on their website concerning these financial troubles that are plaguing the one hundred and thirty-one year old university. The school's financial problems are rooted in federal grants to students. The college was receiving up to eight million dollars a year in federal student aid.

With this "free government money" (taxpayer provided funding) coming in, a former president of the school and a former financial director were embezzling funds and defrauding taxpayers. The funding they stole was not intended for personal use, but to allay some of the college's financial woes. The college is currently over twenty-seven million dollars in debt, struggling, and taking on volunteer lecturers and professors in an effort to maintain its various curricula. Alumni are even volunteering hours to provide maintenance and janitorial services.

The embezzled taxes defrauded from the citizens of this great republic are even more indicative of the false narrative that somehow taxpayers should assume individuals' responsibilities. In the case of Morris Brown's scandal in the early 21st century, the president, financial director, and school administration believed that tax payers should pay the debts of a private university.

The financial troubles are further exacerbated by the school's rapidly declining enrollment rate. At the time of the fraud scandal, the school had approximately twenty-five hundred students, with eighty percent of them on federal scholarships and grants. The school is now struggling to keep over fifty students matriculated at the university.

Now, the school faces a very real possibility of closing due to foreclosure and bankruptcy. 

Faculty, staff, and students need to realize that colleges are businesses. They provide goods and services for appropriate compensation. If they want "free education", they will get one that is worth exactly what they paid for it.

Like other businesses, should the colleges mismanage their funds and fail to employ a working business model, they will fail. They should not seek government bailouts or taxpayer money to allay their failure, especially when their failure is, in part, due to defrauding taxpayers.

Original and full article at Mental Aikido

Blue to Gold: Remembering Our Troops

You may have noticed our new "Remembering Our Troops" section. Whether you did notice or missed it, we wanted to share a little bit about the section.

We want to honor our American soldiers, specificaly those who give the ultimate sacrifice, and lose their lives in the service of the country. We are grateful for and respect them.

From now on, every time a US soldier is killed in combat, there will be a short post about them.

Kim Hedum has been gracious enough to commit to this effort. She herself is a blue star mom, and we hope that it stays forever blue.

We hope that the section sees no use, but it shall ensure that none are forgotten.

Each post for this section will start with "Blue to Gold".

Many people are not aware of the significants of flags such as the one pictured. They are kept in windows of houses across America.

Each star represents a family member who is in the military. Blue signifies that they are serving. Silver that they were wounded in combat. Gold that they were killed in action. A star is never replaced. If necessary it is sewn over with the new color of thread.

Cow Trapped in Tree

In Cumbria, England a cow had to be rescued from a tree.

The cow had fallen down a hill, into the branches of a tree, and become trapped.

Firemen were called out to rescue it, but had to wait for a winch to arrive, to life the cow.

A vet tranquilized the cow, even then fire crews wore body armor just in case the cow lashed out.

The cow is apparently fine, but bruised, and her owner is grateful to the rescuers.

Hundreds of Body Parts Found in Pensacola Storage Unit

A man in Pensacola, Florida made a rather unwelcome discovery after he bought the contents of a storage unit, at auction.

When he entered the unit he noticed a rather horrid stench, and found out why when he investigated.

Hundreds of body parts and organs had been stored in the unit, which had been previously owned by Dr. Michael Berkland.

Berkland formerly was a medical examiner for the state of Florida, from 1997 to 2003.

He had been let go for not filling out autopsy reports and suspicion of carrying out unauthorized autopsies.

Police suspect that the organs may have been stolen from bodies he had worked on, and are searching for Berkland.

Storage unit contents are often put up for auction, if their owner fails to pay for the rent for several years.

Pueblo Police Officer Wounded in Shooting

Pueblo County Sheriff received reports of a man shooting at cars near Hollywood Drive and Canterbury Lane, Wednesday morning.

An officer responded to the call and was shot twice before he returned fire and killed his attacked.

The officer is St. Mary Corwin Emergency and will recover.

Pueblo Police Department, County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol, and the 10th Judicial District Attorney’s Office are all involved in the investigation.

Suspect Dies After Wheat Ridge Standoff

Just before 1pm on Tuesday, Wheat Ridge and Westminster police showed up at the Ramada Inn at 4700 Kipling Street.

They came looking for Gary Haney to arrest him for identity theft, criminal impersonation, and forgery.

Haney refused to open the door and stated he was armed.

Guests at the hotel were then evacuated.

After nine hours of standoff, SWAT forced entry into the room and shots were fired after Haney made threatening gestures with his weapon.

He was later declared dead at St. Anthony's Central Hospital, in Lakewood.

No officers were injured in the incident.

Two nation wide warrants were out for Haney, and it is unclear why he was in Colorado. 

Police Peacefully End Standoff in Downtown Denver

Denver Police surrounded a building at 2250 Lawrence Street Wednesday morning, shutting down the street between 22nd Street and Park Avenue.

A suspect in an auto theft task force investigation had apparently holed himself up there.

SWAT appeared in full gear, and ended up using a robot with a battering ram to gain entry.

Shortly after entry was forced several SWAT officers made their way in, and came back out with the handcuffed suspect.

Neighboring business and buildings were evacuated during the standoff.
  
This was the second standoff in two days for the metro area, following a deadly one in Wheat Ridge, on Tuesday.

 

WWII Bomb Found at Schiphol Airport

Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is having a day of it.

Not only have they dealt with a hijacking scare, that luckily turned out to be just failed communication, but a bomb was also found at the airport.

Near Terminal C, an unexploded bomb from World War II was discovered this morning.

The 1,100 pound bomb was discovered at a construction site, and has been safely removed.

During World War II, the airport was a military base, and was bombed repeatedly by both sides.

It is now the fifth busiest airport in Europe.

Forty Percent Increase of West Nile Virus in a Week

On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that cases of West Nile Virus are up forty percent from last week.

An increase was expected, due to the time of year, but this year has already seen very large numbers of cases.

So far there have been nearly 1,600 reported cases, sixty-six of which have been fatal.

Almost half of those have been in the state of Texas.

With this weekend being one of the biggest outdoor holidays for the US, people are being warned to be extra cautious about being near mosquito infested areas.

It can take up to two weeks for people with the virus to even get sick, and there are a whole slew of symptoms, including: headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

Some cities, especially Dallas, Texas, have begun aerial spraying in attempts to kill off the infected mosquito population.

BLUE to GOLD: Army Staff Sgt. Jessica M. Wing

ARMY Staff Sgt. Jessica M. Wing, 42, of Alexandria, VA, died August 27, in Kuwait City, Kuwait.  She was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, Bangor, Maine.

BLUE to GOLD: Army Spc. Mabry J. Anders

ARMY Spc. Mabry J. Anders, 21, of Baker City, Oregon, died August 27, in Kalagush, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered from enemy, small arms fire. He was assigned to the 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

BLUE to GOLD: Army Sgt. Christopher J. Birdwell

ARMY Sgt. Christopher J. Birdwell, 25, of Windsor, CO, died August 27, in Kalagush, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered from enemy, small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO.

Duel in Denver

Saturday, September 8 at 7pm will be the day of the Duel in Denver, at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Team Canada visits Team USA for a rematch of the 2010 Federation of International Lacrosse World Championship gold medal game.

In that game, which took place in Manchester, England, the US beat Canada 12-10.

The Duel will begin the selection of the Team USA for the 2014 Championships and be the first game for new head coach Richie Meade.

The 2014 FIL World Championships will be held at Dick's Sporting Goods Park July 10-19, 2014, and this is the park's chance to show off before then.

At least forty countries and over a thousand players will be taking part in the championships.

Sherriff Arrested for Slapping Handcuffed Man

Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon pleaded guilty, on Tuesday, of slapping a handcuffed man.

A twenty-four year veteran, of the South Carolina county, he will face a five hundred dollar fine and be sent to anger management.

The slapping incident happened January 30 after he and deputies were forced to shoot out the tires of a pickup, that had led them on a twenty-five mile long chase with speeds over one hundred and twenty miles per hour, after hitting a police vehicle.

Cannon admitted that the slapping was "inappropriate and was especially inappropriate for the head of a law enforcement agency to act in such a manner."

The booking of Cannon occurred at the Al Cannon Detention Center, which is named for the Sheriff.

Hijacking Scare Caused by Lack of Communication

Lack of communication from a Spanish airline pilot led to a hijacking scare over the Netherlands, on Wednesday.

Dutch air traffic control followed protocol when radio contact was lost and triggered a security alert.

F16s were scrambled, intercepted the airliner, and escorted it into landing.

Upon landing at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport it was surrounded by Dutch security officers who boarded the plane and searched it.

At this time the passengers are still being held on board, though as the plane has been cleared it is unclear why.

The Vueling aircraft had been flying from Malaga, Spain to Amsterdam, with one hundred and eighty passengers aboard.

Earlier in the day the airport had dealt with a bomb scare.