Teenage Girl Stabbed to Death at Connecticut High School Chosen as Prom Queen

Instead of attending their prom, Connecticut high school students spent their Friday night at a seaside vigil for their murdered classmate. Students selected slain Maren Manchez as their junior prom queen.

About 200 members of the community and students, some donning their prom dresses and tuxedoes, gathered Friday evening at Walnut Beach in Milford, Conn., to remember 16-year-old Maren Sanchez, a junior who was murdered early Friday morning after rejecting a classmate’s invitation to the prom. Detectives say the boy is accused of stabbing Miss Sanchez near a school stairwell, lacerating her neck, chest and face with a knife that was recovered at the scene.

Maren Sanchez, a connecticut high school student, was stabbed to death Friday. Her classmates chose her as their prom queen Friday night.
Image courtesy of Facebook.

Friends identified the suspect as Chris Plaskon, 16-years-old. He has been charged with murder as a juvenile, however he may also be charged as an adult following a court appearance Monday in New Haven, Conn.

Police did not identify the boy.

Distraught Connecticut high school students made their way down Walnut Beach around 6 p.m. â€" just one hour before the school’s junior prom had been scheduled to take place. The annual dance was postponed to a later date due to the tragedy.

Wearing their formal wear, the students cried and prayed at the local beach, the Hartford Courant reported. Friends talked about memories of their slain classmate as they released purple balloons into the air and shouted, “Love you, Maren,” the newspaper reported.

Earlier in the day, students covered a rock outside the school with purple spray paint and wrote the teen’s name and birthday, Aug. 26, 1997, with a white heart.

Another memorial service was held at the First United Church of Christ in Milford, Conn.

“She was a really good person and she didn’t deserve that,” one of  Sanchez’s classmates,18-year-old Crystal Johnson, told the New Haven Register.

Johnson said that the students of Jonathan Law High School selected Sanchez as their prom queen.

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Second Arrest made in the Disappearance of Nursing Student Holly Bobo

A significant development has taken place regarding Tennessee nursing student Holly Bobo’s abduction from her family’s home three years ago, as a second person has been arrested and charged by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation after evidence was presented to a grand jury.

Jason Wayne Autry, 39, was indicted on charges of aggravated kidnapping and first degree murder authorities announced Tuesday.

Second suspect arrested for the kidnapping and murder of nursing student Holly Bobo
Courtesy of Facebook

According to TBI Director Mark Gwyn, Autry shares a longstanding relationship with Zachary Adams, who has previously been charged with kidnapping and murder in this case. The 29-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

“We have sworn statements from witnesses that saw Holly in the presence of Autry and Adams,” Gwyn said, adding that authorities have also collected physical evidence through their investigation that is being analyzed.

The 20-year-old nursing student’s body has not been recovered, and the case was considered cold, until Adams was placed under arrest in late February. Authorities are not releasing any information regarding a possible motive at this time.

Presently, Autry is serving a three-year sentence at the Riverbend Maximum Security Facility stemming from an aggravated assault charge. On Wednesday, he will be formally arraigned on the new charges, according to Gwyn.

Furthermore, an additional indictment for coercion of a witness was imposed against Adams by the grand jury on Tuesday. This added charge is in relation to a threat Adams allegedly made against his brother, who is also a witness in the Bobo case and currently incarcerated as well.

For now, the status of the Bobo case remains active and ongoing, according to District Attorney General Hansel McCadams, as authorities strongly suspect that there are other individuals at large with possible involvement or information regarding the case. Investigators said they highly anticipate additional arrests to be forthcoming.

“I think this sends a message to them that we will come knocking on their door soon,” McCadams said.

The District Attorney General says he will consider pursuing the death penalty if Adams is convicted.

Second Arrest made in the Disappearance of Nursing Student Holly Bobo

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Children With IBS Could Be More At Risk For Celiac Disease

A new research study has found that children with IBS (Irritable Bowl Syndrome) should be checked for Celiac Disease because they may be more at risk.  Early diagnosis is important to avoid any complications that can arise from prolonging the diagnosis.

Children With IBS Could Be More At Risk For Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects about 1 in 100 people worldwide- though about 2.5 million people with the disorder are not diagnosed.  It is a disease that affects the small intestine and if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems.  Gluten is the culprit for people with this disease as it causes an immune response that attacks the small intestine when eaten.  This damaged the small intestines and causes it to be very hard for the person to properly absorb nutrients.

Grains tend to be the irritant in people with Celiac Disease.

Previous studies show the link between the two diseases in adults, but have not shown a link in children.  But Celiac Disease is hereditary, with about a 1 in 10 chance of a child having the disorder if the parent also carries it.

The Celiac Disease Foundation explains some of the long term effects of the disease:

 Long Term Health Effects

Celiac’s can develop at any age after people start eating foods or medicines that contain gluten. Left untreated, celiac disease can lead to additional serious health problems. These include the development of other autoimmune disorders like Type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis (MS), dermatitis herpetiformis (an itchy skin rash), anemia, osteoporosis, infertility and miscarriage, neurological conditions like epilepsy and migraines, short stature, and intestinal cancers.

Because there can be some serious health implications if left untreated, the sooner the diagnoses, the better the outcome for the patient.  By testing kids with IBS for the disease, they will be able to start treatment early on in life and avoid long term health effects.  Treatment is typically the avoidance of gluten in the diet.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Children With IBS Could Be More At Risk For Celiac Disease

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FDA Looking At Opioid Combo Drug Concerns Panel

An opioid combo drug that combined morphine and oxycodone into pill form is being questioned by the FDA reviewing panel due to concern of raising prescription drug abuse.

FDA Does Not Approve Opioid Combo Drug

The drug up for review by a panel for the FDA and they are concerned about allowing another prescription painkiller to go on the market.  The painkiller will combine morphine and oxycodone in one pill.

The committee met on Tuesday to discuss whether or not to recommend the drug, called Moxduo, to the Food and Drug Administration to provide quick relief to patients in severe  pain.  The committee is not recommending to the FDA that the drug be approved because it could possibly worsen the prescription drug abuse epidemic.

The maker of Moxduo, QRxPharma, says the new drug is needed because it allows for quick pain relief for those in severe pain.  The drug has a lower risk of respiratory side effects than other opioids.  This will be an important development for patients that cannot take morphine or oxycodone because of side effects that include breathing difficulty, nausea, dizziness, and vomiting.  Because the medication is a combination of low doses of each of the drugs, it lowers the risk of side effects and would overall be safer for pain patients that have typically had issues with painkillers.

But because the product is made of pure morphine and  oxycodone, it is  very easy to abuse.  It is easy to crush and snort or inject, which makes it significantly more dangerous than its competitors.  It would be the first pill to combine the two narcotics in one capsule.

After the approval of another painkiller, Zohydro, recently, there is concern for the number of painkillers being seen on the market.  The more that is out there, the more they can contribute to the prescription drug abuse epidemic.

FDA Does Not Approve Opioid Combo Drug

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Cochlear Implants With Gene Therapy Allows Regrowth Of Auditory Nerves

Scientists have combined cochlear implants with gene therapy to allow regrowth of auditory nerves.  Not only does it help those with cochlear implants hear better, but also can mean advances in neurology and psychological research and treatment.

Cochlear Implants With Gene Therapy Allows Regrowth Of Auditory Nerves

Neurotrophins are naturally occurring proteins important for neuron development, function and survival.  Is has always been known that if neurotrophins are delivered to the cochlea of the ear, auditory nerve endings are able to regenerate.  But it’s proven impossible to deliver neurotrophins to the cochlea using drug delivery or viral-based gene therapy and have it be effective.

A cochlear implant as worn by a user.

Scientists from University of New South Wales in Australia found a way to combine cochlear implants with gene therapy to get the job done.

Cochlear implants have been around for years.  Cochlear.com describes a cochlear implant as:

A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear. Unlike hearing aids, which make sounds louder, cochlear implants do the work of damaged parts of the inner ear (cochlea) to provide sound signals to the brain.

In the study, the surgeon injects a DNA solution into the cochlear when it is implanted, close to the implanted electrodes.  The electrical impulses sent from the cochlear to electrodes also send the DNA solution to cells close to the electrodes.  These cells were then able to produce neurotrophins and trigger regeneration of auditory nerves.

Though the neurotrophin activity is severely reduced after two months, the neural activity that the cochlear provides may be able to maintain the auditory nerve changes.

Though helping the hearing impaired is an amazing discovery that has been made, this is just the beginning of research that can further help people with neurological disorders.  It could lead to safe and directed gene therapy through deep brain stimulation to help provide treatments.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Cochlear Implants With Gene Therapy Allows Regrowth Of Auditory Nerves

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How Will The Bachelorette Death Be Addressed On The Show?

The Bachelorette death of contestant Eric Hill is a tragedy that will surely need to be addressed when the upcoming Bachelorette season premieres.  But how will it be integrated in the show?

How Will The Bachelorette Death Be Addressed On The Show?

Bachelorette contestant Eric Hill passed away on Wednesday, April 23rd from a paragliding accident over the weekend.  His parachute collapsed while he was paragliding in Utah with a friend.  Hill was in a coma before he passed away.  Hill had a love for traveling and adventure and planned to travel the world in 1200 days.

Bachelorette contestant Eric Hill eating octopus on one of his adventures.

See Also: Bachelorette Andi Dorfman Contestant Dies After Parachute Collapses

Hill was a contestant on the upcoming season of The Bachelorette with Andi Dorfman.  The season is still in the works of filming.  Though the accident did not happen while filming or while Hill was still a contestant, he will be appearing on the show and the crew will need to address as sensitively as possible.

Creator of The Bachelorette, Mike Fleiss, spoke with E! News about the loss:

“We’re going to try to be as sensitive as possible.  It’s a bizarre predicament that we never expected to be in, but our problems aren’t important. It’s about his family now. My heart goes out to them. I pray for them and my staff, they’re just wrecked.”

Hill had launched a company called The Global Odyssey that was dedicated to him visiting 195 countries in world record time.  The Facebook page for his company is now asking people to hashtag #livelikeeric to show their support.  They are also having a a fundraiser to help raise funds for his family for his memorial service.

The tragic loss is nothing anyone at The Bachelorette could have anticipated, but it sounds like they will carefully plan how it will be played out on the show.

Photo courtesy of Facebook.

How Will The Bachelorette Death Be Addressed On The Show?

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Why Are There Handicap Parking Places In Front Of The Skating Rink? – ‘The Why’

Welcome to today’s edition of The Why.

Everywhere you look the media is pushing you telling you who to follow, what to watch and when to watch it.   You’re even sometimes told how to do it all.  Truth is, here at American Live Wire we do a bit of that too.  The big difference is we also tell you why.

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

“Why are there handicap parking places in front of the skating rink?” you ask? Don’t expect verbal chastisement over the word “handicap” here either. This is one column that does not fear the overly-PC crowd.

“Why are there handicap parking places in front of the skating rink?” /Image: FigureSkatingAbout

Seriously, “disabled” sounds sad and serious. “HandiCAPABLE”? Please!  No offense, but if they’re truly capable then why do they need special parking anyway?

No one is perfect.  No one can do everything well.  Most people can’t do everything whether they can walk or not.  Everyone sucks at something.

No. “Handicap” is fine. It actually sounds kinda “athletic” if you think about it. People get handicaps in sports right? OK then, we get it. No stress.

“Why are there handicap parking places in front of the skating rink?” First off, businesses get tax breaks when they have these spaces. It’s ADA-related. (If you don’t get the whole ADA thing then you missed the other handicapped edition of this series and should read it ASAP.) They are there so the owner gets the tax breakâ€"duh!

You don’t like the cynical response to our question “Why are there handicap parking places in front of the skating rink?” Fair enough. Let’s consult a Yahoo Question respondent or two.

One person who shall remain unnamed thought maybe “a handicapped Mom is driving her kids to the skating rink.” After all, he pointed out “a twelve-year-old kid (doesn’t drive) “his or her own car.”

Really? If you are married with children why would you make your handicapped spouse do the driving? Besides, if the person is able to drive the vehicle rather than just be a passenger he or she is not all that disabled, huh?

“Why are there handicap parking places in front of the skating rink?” Another mystery man suggested a more realistic retort. He said the spaces are possibly “for family members that go to watch their loved ones skate”.

Let’s ask an expert our question: “Why are there handicap parking places in front of the skating rink?” Our anonymous respondent sums it up quite nicely as he is both a “federal and state registered disabled person with disabilities.”

“Why are there handicap parking places in front of the skating rink?” /Image: Facebook

He states: “The reason why there are Handicapped Parking Spaces in front of a skating rink is for wheelchair users, Disabled persons who are able to walk that still have a legitimate need for a Handicapped Parking Space, and for Non-Disabled persons who are transporting Wheelchair users and/or Disabled persons who are able to walk that still have a legitimate need for a Handicapped Parking Space.”

Odds are that the handicapped folks aren’t skating. They could, however, want to watch. Chances are they aren’t going to drive themselves. Therefore, there can be a need for special spaces at the front of the building for special off-loading of people and equipment. The building owner gets a tax break and is made to look like he cares as well.

“Why are there handicap parking places in front of the skating rink??” Now you know.

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

American Live Wire . . . Listen and be heard.

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2014 NBA Playoffs: Nothin’ But Nets; Bullish Bulls; Rookie Rocket

2014 NBA Playoffs: As the playoffs roll on the stakes will continue to get bigger and bigger. Some teams will come through; some will falter and fall.

What will your team do?

Toronto Raptors at Brooklyn Nets:

The Toronto Raptors nearly staged an impressive comeback Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets. Down by 15 with just five minutes to go in the final quarter the end seemed to be a given, but that was far from case. An 18-4 run cut the lead down to 97-96 with 34 seconds to go.

But is just wasn’t meant to be.

Paul Pierce started to shut the door with a pair of free throws and 14 seconds to go giving Brooklyn a four-point lead. Amir Johnson cut the lead to two, but with just three ticks left Toronto had to foul giving Joe Johnson a chance to finish the Raptors off.

“This team tried to throw haymakers at us and go at us, and we did a good job of battling back and staying in the game,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.

With the 102-98 win the Nets take a 2-1 lead in the series. Game Four will be on Sunday in Brooklyn.

Chicago Bulls at Washington Wizards:

Chicago needed to come up big going in to Game Three against Washington and thanks to Mike Dunleavy. The veteran forward scored 35 points on the night with most of it coming from behind the arc (8-10 from three-point range).

“He was in the zone, man,” Beal said. “I guess the hoop looked like an ocean to him.”

It was a three-pointer from someone else that made the difference in the end. With 24 seconds to go and the game tied at 91 Jimmy Butler hit a 26-footer to give the Bulls the lead for good en route to a 100-97 win.

As impressive as Dunleavy’s rain of three-pointer was the difference maker in the game very well may have been Wizards forward Nene Hilario who was ejected after grabbing Butler by the neck and side of the head.

“I have nothing to regret,” he said. “I’m a warrior right there. What I did, I’m supposed to do.”

He may have plenty to regret if he ends up being suspended for Game Four on Sunday and the Bulls are able to tie the series up.

Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers:

The Rockets needed something in order to push them over the edge and notch a win against the Portland Trail Blazers and finally got itâ€"just from an unlikely source.

It wasn’t from any of the team’s big name players. No, it came from someone who averaged a little over eight points a game during the regular seasonâ€"rookie guard Troy Daniels.

With 11.9 seconds left in overtime Daniels took a pass from Jeremy Lin after a few chaotic moments that saw both teams turn the ball over. Daniels hit the open three giving Houston a 119-116 advantage, Harden hit a pair of free throws to make the final score 121-116.

“He competes,” McHale said. “He dives on the floor for balls. He’s a tough kid.”

Daniels, who went undrafted out of VCU, spent most of the season in the D-League and didn’t join the team until March 3.

The Rockets managed to shut LaMarcus Aldridge down in the first half holding him to just four points (23 on the night). They will have to do so again on Sunday if they want to tie the series up before going back to Houston.

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Are Kids With IBS More At Risk For Celiac Disease?

A new research study has found that kids with IBS (Irritable Bowl Syndrome) are more likely to be diagnosed with Celiac Disease later in life.  Kids with IBS should be checked for Celiac Disease to avoid any complications from prolonging the diagnosis.

Are Kids With IBS More At Risk For Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects about 1 in 100 people worldwide- though about 2.5 million people with the disorder are not diagnosed.  It is a disease that affects the small intestine and if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems.

Gluten sources, such as these, can be irritants in kids with IBS that also have Celiac Disease.

Previous studies show the link between IBS and Celiac Disease in adults, but have not shown a link in children.  But Celiac Disease is hereditary, with about a 1 in 10 chance of a child having the disorder if the parent also carries it.

The Celiac Disease Foundation explains why knowledge of Celiac Disease early on is so important:

When people with celiac disease eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley), their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine. These attacks lead to damage on the villi, small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine, that promote nutrient absorption. When the villi get damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly into the body.

Celiac disease is hereditary, meaning that it runs in families. People with a first-degree relative with celiac disease (parent, child, sibling) have a 1 in 10 risk of developing celiac disease.

---

 Long Term Health Effects

Celiac disease can develop at any age after people start eating foods or medicines that contain gluten. Left untreated, celiac disease can lead to additional serious health problems. These include the development of other autoimmune disorders like Type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis (MS), dermatitis herpetiformis (an itchy skin rash), anemia, osteoporosis, infertility and miscarriage, neurological conditions like epilepsy and migraines, short stature, and intestinal cancers.

Because Celiac Disease can have serious health implications if left untreated, the sooner the diagnoses, the better the outcome for the patient.  By testing kids with IBS for Celiac Disease, they will be able to start treatment early on in life and avoid long term health effects.  Treatment is typically the avoidance of gluten in the diet.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Are Kids With IBS More At Risk For Celiac Disease?

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Video of Ohio Woman Stealing Toy From Baby’s Grave Goes Viral

Surveillance video footage of an Ohio woman stealing a stuffed duck toy form a 14-month-old baby’s grave quickly went viral and made its way across the web. The video has received several thousand hits.

Police have charged the Ohio woman for stealing items from the baby’s gravesite at Mansfield Memorial Park.

An Ohio woman was caught on camera stealing a toy duck from a boy’s grave. The video quickly went viral.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

Detective Jon Sigler said Frieda Kay Shade, 54, of Mansfield, Ohio, turned herself in Wednesday and she provided an explanation to authorities for why she stole the stuffed toy in the first place. Shade claims she took the stuffed duck from the grave of Hayden “Tank” Cole Sheridan because a dog was running loose in the area and she was afraid it would destroy the toy.

Shade’s attorney, Charles Robinson, said Shade will plead not guilty to one count of theft, a first-degree misdemeanor offense. Her court date has been scheduled for May 8 in Ontario.

Sigler said several people came forth to identify Shade as the suspect after a video camera the police had set up near the gravesite captured a woman taking the toy was shared on social media.

“The video is there, we’re not denying that. But video evidence does not show what a person is thinking. There are mitigating circumstances,” Robinson said, without going into detail. “We all have sympathy for a child who has expired. We know how hard that is, and we sympathize with that.”

According to Mansfield Municipal Court records, the Ohio woman has made several appearances in court for criminal and civil charges including passing bad checks, unauthorized use of property and evictions. Shade currently has two open cases in Richland County Common Pleas Court Ohio in reference to state taxes.

“I have no idea yet how I feel about (the arrest). I’m kind of in shock and have had no chance to think about it,” said Scott Sheridan, Hayden’s father, who died in 2007.

Surveillance cameras were first set up by the Ontario Police Department in July 2012 after Sheridan and his wife expressed concern that the grave has been targeted for thieves over the years; stealing items from flowers to wreaths and other toys.

They’ve definitely experienced enough theft over the years to make them feel that way,” Sigler said of the Sheridans. “In 2012, they noticed some solar lights were gone when all the graves around had theirs.”

The video of the Ohio woman prompted several people to contact the Ontario Police Department identifying Shade after it was posted on Facebook.

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2014 NBA Playoffs: Hawks Fly; Great Grizzlies; Warriors Robbed?

2014 NBA Playoffs: By time the weekend rolls around the next round of the NBA postseason will be taking shape thanks to a week of great basketball action. With the way things are shaping it up it certainly isn’t looking good for some of the season long favorites.

Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks:

After appearing to get their act together in Game Two the Indiana Pacers returned to the form that has cursed the team over the last couple months of the season. Three of the teams biggest starsâ€"Paul George, Roy Hibbert, and George Hillâ€"had an almost epic night of ineptitude on the court combining for just 20 points and making only six of 31 shots.

“We’ve got to be much more tougher than that. I don’t think it’s there. Our toughness is questionable right now,” George Hill said after the game.

Atlantaâ€"who finished six games under .500 in the regular seasonâ€"took advantage of the Pacers continuing to slump and easily beat them 98-85. Game Four will be in Atlanta on Saturday.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies:

Kevin Durant is a scoring machine, but the Thunder fans are quickly learning that for post season glory the team needs a lot more than just one incredible scorer. For the second game in row his shooting percentage has dropped (52 percent in Game One; 42.9 in Game Two; and 37 in Game Three.

That would be okay if there was someone that could pick up the slack, but Russell Westbrook hasn’t shot much better (42.1, 39.3, 34.6 percent respectively).

“Personally, I think we missed a lot of good looks, some open 3s, some lay-ins, some I wish I could take back,” Durant said.

The Thunder were able to hit some shots when it counted most putting on an incredible display in the fourth quarter to overcome a 10-point deficit and force overtime, but than they went cold again making just three of 11 in OT.  Westbrook had a chance to tie it up late after getting fouled a three point attempt, but made just one shot.

Memphis held on to win 98-95 to go up two games to one in the series. Game Four will be in Memphis on Saturday.

Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors:

After getting destroyed by the Clippers in Game Two the Warriors were determined to exact a little retribution on their home courtâ€"and nearly did. Some will say that the chance for that retribution was stolen from them.

Down by 11 going in to the final quarter the Warriors turned it on down the stretch cutting the lead to two late in the game. Stephen Curry tried to give Golden State the lead with a three point attempt and only four ticks on the clock, but missed in large part to solid defense by Chris Paul.

No foul was called, but had one been called no one would have been surprised. With Curry being an 89.6 percent shooter over the course of his career from the line chances are good the game would have gone to overtime. Instead the Clippers walk away with a 98-96 win.

“I thought I initiated enough contact,” Curry said. “That’s my go-to move, the step-back. I’m not going to air-ball that.”

Golden State will look to tie up the series Sunday in Game Four.

[ESPN, NBA]

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Heartbroken Mother Files $100 Million Lawsuit Against FedEx Over Fatal California Bus Crash

A lawsuit was filed Tuesday against FedEx by the mother of a 17-year-old honors student â€" one of 10 people who perished in a fiery Northern California bus crash. The grieve-stricken mother is alleging that FedEx trucks have a history of catching fire.

This is the first negligence suit filed in association with the April 10 freeway crash that occurred in Orland, said A. King Aminpour, the attorney representing the plaintiffs. The family is seeking $100 million in damages.

Mother of 17-year-old victim of Northern California fatal freeway crash, files lawsuit against FedEx
Courtesy of abcnews.go.com

Official documents pertaining to the suit were filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of Rosa Rivera who is the mother of Jennifer Bonilla of Los Angeles.

Jennifer Bonilla was a stellar student at Dorsey High School, and due to her high GPA,  was awarded a college scholarship. She was among several teens en route to Humboldt State University for the spring open house and tour of the campus, when the bus was struck head-on by a FedEx truck.

A large number of teenagers were able to escape through the windows of the bus before it exploded into a ball of flames, however, five students, three adult chaperones and both drivers were not so fortunate, and died in the accident.

“She had her whole future before her,” Aminpour said of Bonilla. “She was the first in her family to ever go to college.”

The California Highway Patrol is still piecing together details of their investigation into the tragic crash 100 miles north of Sacramento, therefore, the exact cause has yet to be determined.

There are reports from some witnesses that the FedEx truck was on fire moments prior to the crash occurring. The lawsuit contends that FedEx trucks have a history of catching fire for a variety of reasons including mechanical problems, driver error or improper cargo loading.

“Our heartfelt condolences remain with everyone affected by this tragic accident,” Memphis, Tenn.-based FedEx Corp. said in a statement. “We remain focused on providing support to those affected and cooperating with the authorities as they conduct their investigation. This is not the time for us to discuss potential litigation.”

Other defendants implicated in the lawsuit include the estate of the FedEx driver as well as the bus owner, Silverado Stages. The lawsuit also alleges that the bus lacked sufficient exit doors, which severely impaired the passengers means of escape after the crash.

Officials for Silverado Stages have not yet commented publicly about the pending lawsuit.

Heartbroken Mother Files 100 Million Lawsuit Against FedEx Over Fatal California Bus Crash

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Fascinating 4,500 Year Old Burial Ground Recently Excavated Sparks Heated Disagreement

Archaeologist and Native Americans go head to head over Indian remains and artifacts.  According to reports, the artifacts were excavated during a construction project in the San Fransisco Bay Area and then reburied at an undisclosed location.

Image courtesy of Associated Press

Archaeologists say the burial ground and village site in Larkspur dated back 4,500 years and held a treasure trove of information about Coast Miwok life that should have been preserved for future study. The 300-foot long site contained 600 human burials, tools, musical instruments, harpoon tips, spears and throwing sticks from a time long before the bow and arrow, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/1mEgxXu).

But The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, which made the decision to remove and rebury the remains and artifacts, say the items belonged to their ancestors, and how they are handled is no one’s business but the tribe’s.

“The philosophy of the tribe in general is that we would like to protect our cultural resources and leave them as is,” said Nick Tipon, a longtime member of the tribe’s Sacred Sites Protection Committee. “The notion that these cultural artifacts belong to the public is a colonial view.”

The development has scheduled to cover the site with multimillion-dollar homes. Construction began this month, but was preceded by an excavation conducted by San Francisco’s Holman & Associates Archaeological Consultants and overseen by the Graton Rancheria Indians, the Chronicle reported. The federally recognized tribe includes Native Americans of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo descent and was deemed the mostly likely descendent of the remains that were found.

State law requires tribal consultation when Native remains are found or suspected and gives tribes considerable say over the final disposition of the remains and artifacts.

The artifacts at the Larkspur site included stone tools and idols apparently created for trade with other tribes, according to the Chronicle. The site also included a ceremonial condor burial.

“This was a site of considerable archaeological value,” said Dwight Simons, an archaeologist who consulted on the excavation. “My estimate of bones and fragments in the entire site was easily over a million, and probably more than that. It was staggering.”

Greg Sarris, chairman of the 1,300-member Graton Rancheria tribe, said the tribe traditionally reburies sacred objects because many of them are intended to accompany the person who died.

“Our policy is that those things belong to us, end of story,” Sarris said. “Let us worry about our own preservation.

Fascinating 4,500 Year Old Burial Ground Recently Excavated Sparks Heated Disagreement

The facts of this article were contributed by the Associated Press.

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Georgia’s “Guns Everywhere Bill” Get Governor’s Signature

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal just signed a controversial bill into state law that was deemed the “Guns Everywhere Bill” by those who opposed it. While the bill’s official name was the “Safe Carry Protection Act”, many skeptics saw this proposed (and now passed) bill as being too controversial to go into effect. Georgia was already regarded by many for having too relaxed of a policy on their gun laws, so this additional right granted to law abiding citizens adds to those concerns. The fact of the matter is that the law will only apply to those licensed individuals who have the right to carry a firearm in a concealed manner. This new law will allow all legally carrying citizens to also carry their weapons into public places that previously did not allow them to.

There are those out there who fear an armed society, but those people choose to allow a fear of violence overshadow their Constitutional Rights to legally carry a firearm. There have been many states in the past that have already successfully prohibited their citizens from exercising this 2nd Amendment right, but Georgia clearly does not wish to do so. Even other states, such as Arizona, who have seemingly liberal gun laws do not allow the same time of freedom to carry in government buildings that Georgia’s new Safe Carry Protection Act afford their citizens.

The scare tactics by the bill’s opposition did not phase law makers Georgias State Congress, as the bill was given a majority endorsement after a few provisions were dropped from the bill. Some of the concerns regarding the right to carry on school property were alleviated when those were removed from the bill specifically before being passed onto the Governor for his signature. In effect, this law will probably have little impact on the everyday lives of most people.

There were some groups of opposition for this bill from current and former law enforcement officials in Georgia too. Their reasoning for wanting to prohibit the bill from getting passed was that there are provisions in the bill that allow almost anybody (including former felons) to possess a firearm within their home for self defense, despite the law actually not allowing them to obtain a firearm in the first place. This situation creates a sort of loophole that allows felons in possession of firearms to not get charged for possessing them if they are only found within their home. This could make the job of law enforcement a bit more difficult in dealing with armed felons, and knowing when they have the right to possess the weapon.

Featured image from Georgia Governor’s website.

Georgia’s “Guns Everywhere Bill” Get Governor’s Signature.

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B612 Asteroid Impact List, PLUS VIDEO!

Image Credit: Matt Reinbold/Tumblr

“If you think of this idea of nothingness as mere blankness, and you hold onto this idea of blankness, you haven’t understood it. Nothingness is really like the nothingness of space, which contains the whole universe. All the sun, moon and stars, and the mountains and rivers, and the good men and bad men, and the animals and the insects, the whole bitâ€"all are contained in the void. So out of this void comes everything and you are it. What else could you be?”  Source: Alan Watts

Dr. Ed Lu, former US Shuttle and Soyuz Astronaut and co-founder and CEO of the B612 Foundation was joined by former NASA Astronaut Tom Jones, President of the Association of Space Explorers and Apollo 8 Astronaut Bill Anders, first Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and former Chairman and CEO of General Dynamics to discuss findings recently released from the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization, which operates a network of sensors that monitors Earth around the clock listening for the infrasound signature of nuclear detonations.

Between 2000 and 2013, a network of sensors that monitors Earth around the clock listening for the infrasound signature of nuclear detonations detected 26 explosions on Earth ranging in energy from 1-600 kilotons â€" all caused not by nuclear explosions, but rather by asteroid impacts.

These findings were recently released from the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization, which operates the network. To put this data in perspective, the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945 exploded with an energy impact of 15 kilotons.

While most of these asteroids exploded too high in the atmosphere to do serious damage on the ground, the evidence is important in estimating the frequency of a potential “city-killer-size” asteroid.

• 8/25/2000 (1-9 kilotons) North Pacific Ocean
• 4/23/2001 (1-9 kilotons) North Pacific Ocean
• 3/9/2002 (1-9 kilotons) North Pacific Ocean
• 6/6/2002 (20+ kilotons) Mediterranean Sea
• 11/10/2002 (1-9 kilotons) North Pacific Ocean
• 9/3/2004 (20+ kilotons) Southern Ocean
• 10/7/2004 (10-20 kilotons) Indian Ocean
• 10/26/2005 (1-9 kilotons) South Pacific Ocean
• 11/9/2005 (1-9 kilotons) New South Wales, Australia
• 2/6/2006 (1-9 kilotons) South Atlantic Ocean
• 5/21/2006 (1-9 kilotons) South Atlantic Ocean
• 8/9/2006 (1-9 kilotons) Indian Ocean
• 9/2/2006 (1-9 kilotons) Indian Ocean
• 10/2/2006 (1-9 kilotons) Arabian Sea
• 12/9/2006 (10-20 kilotons)Egypt
• 9/22/2007 (1-9 kilotons) Indian Ocean
• 12/26/2007 (1-9 kilotons) South Pacific Ocean
• 10/7/2008 (1-9 kilotons) Sudan
• 10/8/2009 (20+ kilotons) South Sulawesi, Indonesia
• 9/3/2010 (10-20 kilotons) South Pacific Ocean
• 12/25/2010 (1-9 kilotons) Tasman Sea
• 4/22/2012 (1-9 kilotons) California, USA
• 2/15/2013, (20+ kilotons) Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia
• 4/21/2013 (1-9 kilotons) Santiago del Estero, Argentina
• 4/30/2013 (10-20 kilotons) North Atlantic Ocean

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO!

  Read more at: https://b612foundation.org

B612 Asteroid Impact List, PLUS VIDEO!

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Colorado Celebrates 4 20 Holiday With Snoop Dogg and Slightly Stoopid

DENVER (AP) â€" Once the province of activists and stoners, the traditional pot holiday of April 20 has gone mainstream in the first state in the nation to legalize recreational marijuana.

Tens of thousands gathered for a weekend of Colorado cannabis-themed festivals and entertainment, from a marijuana industry expo called the Cannabis Cup at a trade center north of downtown, to 4/20-themed concerts at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater â€" acts include Slightly Stoopid and Snoop Dog â€" to a massive festival in the shadow of the state capitol where clouds of cannabis smoke are expected to waft at 4:20 p.m. MDT Sunday.

The festival in Denver’s Civic Center Park is the most visible sign of the transformation. It started as a defiant gathering of marijuana activists, but this year the event has an official city permit, is organized by an events management company and featured booths selling funnel cakes and Greek food next to kiosks hawking hemp lollipops and glass pipes.

Image from the Associated Press.

Gavin Beldt, one of the organizers, said in a statement that the event is now a “celebration of legal status for its use in Colorado and our launch of an exciting new experience for those attending. ”

On Saturday, the first day of the two-day festival, only a few people lingered on the steps of a Roman-style amphitheater where marijuana activists spoke angrily about bans on the drug in other states. Thousands instead lingered on the park’s broad lawns, listening to hip-hop music blasting from the sound stage and enjoying the fresh, albeit marijuana-scented, air.

“It’s a lot mellower this year,” said Cody Andrews, 29, of Denver. “It’s more of a venue now. More vendor-y.”

Last year’s event was marred by a shooting that wounded three and is still unsolved. This year a fence rings the park, armored security guards roamed the grounds and all entrants were patted down for weapons. There was also tension earlier in the year when some organizers wanted to officially sanction the 4:20 pm Sunday smokeout, but the city noted that public consumption of marijuana is still illegal in Colorado. By Saturday night, Denver police said they had issued at least 17 citations for public pot smoking.

Still, participants expect to light up on Sunday, which happens to also be Easter Sunday. Plenty weren’t waiting until 4/20 proper. On Saturday, Jairin Genung, 25, of Aurora, sat on the grass with friends, including one who was carefully rolling a thick joint.

“We’re going to light up no matter what,” Genung said. “If you can’t smoke at the 4/20 rally, it just doesn’t make sense.”

The whole scene was wonderfully surreal for Bud Long, 49, from Kalamazoo, Mich., who recalled taking part in his first 4/20 protest in 1984.

“Nationwide, it’ll be decriminalized,” he predicted, “and we’ll be doing this in every state.”

___

Follow Nicholas Riccardi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NickRiccardi .

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Says He Would Consider Military Action in Ukraine

DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) â€" Russia’s foreign minister on Wednesday promised a firm response if its citizens or interests come under attack in Ukraine â€" a vow that came after Ukraine announced a renewal of its “anti-terror” campaign against those occupying buildings in its troubled east.

Although Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did not specifically say Russia would launch a military attack, his comments bolstered wide concern that Russia could use any violence in eastern Ukraine as a pretext for sending in troops. Large contingents of Russian troops â€" tens of thousands, NATO says â€" are in place near the Ukrainian border.

“Russian citizens being attacked is an attack against the Russian Federation,” Lavrov said in an interview with Kremlin-funded satellite TV channel RT. “If our interests, our legitimate interests, the interests of Russians have been attacked directly, like they were in South Ossetia, I do not see any other way but to respond in full accordance with international law.”

It was unclear from the interview what Russia would regard as its interests in Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin previously has said Russia would be justified in protecting ethnic Russians in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s acting president on Tuesday ordered resumption of an “anti-terrorist operation” against pro-Russia forces that have seized police stations and government in at least 10 cities and towns in eastern Ukraine. The order came after the bodies of two people allegedly abducted by pro-Russia insurgents were found.

However, there were no reports Wednesday of any actions taken by the Ukrainian military or security services.

Pro-Russia forces admitted Wednesday they are holding an American journalist, saying he was suspected of spying for Ukrainian ultra-nationalists.

Simon Ostrovsky, a journalist for the Brooklyn-based Vice News, has not been seen since early Tuesday in the eastern city of Slovyansk . The fluent Russian-speaker who also holds an Israeli passport has been covering the crisis in Ukraine for weeks and was reporting about the groups of masked gunmen seizing government buildings in one eastern Ukrainian city after another.

The insurgents in the east are defying last week’s international agreement in Geneva that called for all sides to disarm militant groups in Ukraine and to vacate public buildings they are occupying.

Members of the nationalist Right Sector movement have occupied two buildings in the capital, Kiev, for months, but Ukraine authorities have said the priority is to get the gunmen in eastern Ukraine to vacate the government buildings they hold.

Stella Khorosheva, a spokeswoman for pro-Russia insurgents in Slovyansk, confirmed that Ostrovsky was being held at a local branch of the Ukrainian security service that gunmen seized more than a week ago.

“He’s with us. He’s fine,” Khorosheva told The Associated Press. She dismissed claims that they were keeping Ostrovsky hostage, saying the insurgents were not seeking to “exchange him for someone.”

“(We) need to be careful because this is not the first time we’re dealing with spies,” Khorosheva said when asked why Ostrovsky was held captive.

She said he is suspected of spying for the Right Sector “and other enemy organizations.”

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said U.S. authorities are “deeply concerned” about Ostrovsky’s detention, which she said violated the agreement between Russia, Ukraine, the European Union and the Unites States reached last week.

“We condemn any such actions, and all recent hostage-takings in eastern Ukraine, which directly violate commitments made in the Geneva joint statement,” she said. “We call on Russia to use its influence with these groups to secure the immediate and safe release of all hostages in eastern Ukraine.”

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Kiev, the capital, on Tuesday to offer support to the beleaguered interim government.

Since November, Ukraine has been engulfed in its biggest political crisis since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union. Months of anti-government protests in Kiev culminated in President Viktor Yanukovych fleeing to Russia in late February.

Ukraine’s acting government has accused Russia of orchestrating the unrest in eastern Ukraine, which it fears Moscow could use as a pretext for an invasion. Last month, Russia annexed Crimea weeks after seizing control of the Black Sea peninsula.

___

Jim Heintz and Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow and Matthew Lee in Washington, DC, contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Transitioning From Career Driven to Stay-At-Home Mom: The Dirty Truth

Transitioning from being career driven to stay-at-home mom was not an easy feat for me.  This is my story, how I went from being completely lost to finding a new self in motherhood.  The most natural thing in the world does not come so natural to all woman.

Courtesy of loveandfidelity.org

Goals. I had them, most of which I feel I executed. I knew what I wanted to do with my life and was on the straight and narrow path to get there. My husband and I had plans to join the Peace Corps after he completed Graduate School. We had been planning this since we were juniors in undergrad.

Shortly before the application period we found out we were expecting a bundle of joy.  Looking back it is quite shocking how quickly we welcomed our fading dreams in trade of the prospect of this bundle of joy.

I loved my job. I felt needed, respected and at times admired. I had schedules to keep and meetings to attend. Every day was uncertain and I looked forward to tackling it head on with a cup of coffee in my hand and a new pair of heels on my feet. If the day didn’t go quite right, there was always the promise of a hot bath, quiet home and any drink of my choice.

Once our bouncing baby boy arrived I was given the opportunity and encouraged to stay home. I said, yes, I had my reasons, though I do hold the working mother to high esteem. It was an answer that would have surprised my year ago self. My job was to work with children in need and there was no other child that needed me more at that moment than my very own.

With this decision set in stone I was greeted with a never ending list of things to do. The contradiction here is I had no idea what I was supposed to do all day.

This is when my “mom” world got rocked. I would wake up in the morning not sure of what I was supposed to do. For so long, I woke to an alarm, jumped in the shower, put on nice clothes and sprinted out the door eager to tackle the world. Now, I woke when he woke. I was uncertain if I was supposed to put on “normal” clothes, would we even leave the house today? Should I put on gym clothes? Would anyone notice at the end of the day if I stayed in my jammy? Is there a point to taking a shower? Within 5 minutes I’m sure I will end up with some sort of bodily fluid in my hair, again.

I began questioning my identity. Who am I now? I was struggling to identify with my new role in life. Pinterest and mommy bloggers just intensified my feelings of complete inferiority. I needed to discover new parts of me if this stay-at-home thing was going to work. I made the decision to put myself out there and join a mommy’s group. I discovered, I was not alone!

Every day there are rewards to being a stay-at-home mom yet not without its challenges.  In one 24 hour period a mom can literally experience laughter, tears, silliness, frustration, happiness and on certain day much much more. Still, at the end of the day when we peek into the crib of our sleeping babe we cannot wait to do it all over again.

As my son became mobile and started to communicate my calendar began to fill up. I became busier and more scheduled than ever before in my life. I found new things I enjoy and discovered I am pretty good at them.  I discovered my inner silly child.  I experienced new challenges and found the outcome made me better, bigger and wiser.  The best part is that each and every day is an adventure and a celebration.

I feel overwhelmed at least once a day. I still wear my gym clothes at least four out of seven days in the week yet never see a gym. I get tunnel vision when entering a store with a toddler. I always forget something at home and have yet to adjust to the 1001 things you need to have on hand. Slowly though I have found a new self, one I hope my son will admire, appreciate and respect if not today then one day.

Transitioning From Career Driven to Stay-At-Home Mom: The Dirty Truth

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Why Does Salt Melt Snow? – ‘The Why’

Why Does Salt Melt Snow?

Welcome to today’s edition of The Why.

Everywhere you look the media is pushing you telling you who to follow, what to watch and when to watch it.   You’re even sometimes told how to do it all.  Truth is, here at American Live Wire we do a bit of that too.  The big difference is we also tell you why.

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

“Why Does Salt Melt Snow?” you ask? Today’s question is brought to you by singer-songwriter James Halifko. Currently based in New Jersey snow is something still fresh in his mind. Indeed, according to the lovely Stacy Richards (from this reporter’s favorite Facebook group: You grew up in the Souderton/ Telford/ Harleysville area if you remember…) they had snow flurries about a week ago, believe it or not.

Salt/Image: CollegeGreenMagazine

For those folks this piece is still surprisingly timely and for those more fortunate already experiencing temperatures in the 80s the thought of cold snow might be welcome.  So let’s get to our question: “Why does salt melt snow? “

Your personable penman grew up in Pennsylvania and has hiked up and down snow-capped mountains across the country. Thus this one will be an easy one.  If you live somewhere that has snowfall on a regular basis then you have no doubt seen salt being used to melt the ice and snow on roads and sidewalks.

All well and good but “Why does salt melt snow? “ you ask again? Salt melts snow because it lowers both the freezing and melting point of water.

Scientifically-speaking, it works like this: When water reaches 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius ice forms. When one adds salt, the temperature drops. An addition of 10 percent salt will not freeze until the temperature drops to 20 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 6 degrees Celsius. Add 20 percent and the freezing temperatures drop to 2 and minus 16 degrees respectively.

On a road or sidewalk when the salt dissolves into the water in the ice it lowers the freezing point. It’s actually an observable phenomenon. One can literally watch how ice and snow melt outward away from the salt itself. (Mind you, if the temperature is lower than 15 degrees Fahrenheit the salt cannot get into the ice to begin the process of dissolving it.)

“Why does salt melt snow?” Now you know.

(Hope this edition of the series will help keep you cool over the coming summer months and that you didn’t go snow blind reading it.)

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

American Live Wire . . . Listen and be heard.

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Oil Pulling is Trending in America

Oil pulling should work with pretty much any oil you choose. Coconut oil is preferred because of the Lauric Acid (about half of the fats in coconut oil) is proven to be antimicrobial… it can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi.

The taste of coconut oil is also fairly pleasant compared to other oils. 

Photo: Wikipedia “Coconut Oil”

Consumers all across the America and beyond are rediscovering an ancient practice the employs coconut and other types of organic oils in a method dubbed oil pulling, or oil swishing, which has been reported to sweeten breath, help treat gum disease, prevent tooth decay and even improve arthritis and asthma.

Studies have shown there can be an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action,” Marc Halpern, a chiropractor and president of the California College of Ayurveda in Nevada City, Calif., explains to Health Day.

“I try to do everything within the realm of Ayurveda to see if it’s of value,” Halpern said, although he admits oil pulling may not produce the broad range of benefits some boast.”People have reported all kinds of wonderful results from doing it,” he said. “but you can’t attribute every result to the practice.”
Hard evidence backing up the benefits, or risks, for that matter, is hard to find. And is there anything that supports the assertion oil pulling actually works to whiten teeth? “It hasn’t been studied,” said Halpern.

Some people feel a little nauseous after they swish. For that, however, he recommends using the oil for just five minutes, not the 20 minutes some recommend, and perhaps using less oil.

“Between a teaspoon and a tablespoon is fine. There is no exact amount of oil that must be put in your mouth,” he said.

While Halpern is confident swishing oil is safe, he nevertheless suggests people work with a trained and experienced Ayurveda specialist who can determine the type best type of oil that fits a person’s needs and physical profile and then prescribe a specific use plan.

Oil pulling is incredibly simple and effective.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Put about a tablespoon of oil in your mouth.
2. Swish the oil around your mouth for about 10-20 minutes.
3. Spit out the oil, then brush your teeth.

If you use coconut oil, then you may have to chew on the oil for a few seconds for it to melt, because it is solid at room temperature.

It is best to do this on an empty stomach, before you brush your teeth.

Put the oil in your mouth, swish it around and try to “push” and “pull” the oil between your teeth, spit out the oil, rinse mouth with water and brush teeth.

There is no need to use a lot of force here, if doing this causes pain in your facial muscles then just relax a bit. Try using less oil next time and don’t swish it around too forcefully.

It’s important to spit out the oil. You don’t want to swallow it because it is full of bacteria and nasty things.

Oil Pulling is Trending in America

(sources: Latin Post, Wikipedia)

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Could this 805 Pound Mako Shark be the Largest on Record?

A new record for land-based shark fishing may have just been established by a Florida man who pulled in a mako shark from the shores of the Gulf measuring 11 feet long and weighing in at over 800 pounds.

After tussling with the beast for close to an hour, Joey Polk from Milton, Florida, was able to heave it onto land last Tuesday night utilizing approximately 900 yards of line pulled out of his reel.

Joey Polk shown here with 805 pound mako shark pulled from the shores of the Gulf
Courtesy of nydailynews

The mako shark is notoriously known as the fastest of all sharks with a swim speed ability of 60 miles per hour, which Polk says he can definitely confirm.

“She was pulling line out of my reel at easily 60 miles and hour. We call that ‘smokin’ the drag’ round here,” said Polk who already holds one land-based shark fishing record prior to this conquest.

“(The reel) has 60 pounds of drag on it, it’s amazing that these fish can pull it out,” Polk said, adding that a person can scarcely pull out the line by hand.

“When I saw it, I knew it was a big fish. I’ve been fishing since I was a little kid, but I thought it was maybe 700 pounds or so, then when we weighed it, it came in at 805!  It was amazing,” said Polk.

Polk’s monster of a shark is a contender to beat the previous land- based shark fishing record, which is coincidentally held by his cousin, Earnie, who captured a 674 pound mako in 2009.

Earnie Polk was on hand to witness his record get crushed as was another cousin, Kenny Peterson, who aided in the capture by roping the shark’s tail. The trio worked in unison as they wrestled the monster shark up onto the beach.

The size of the shark was so extensive that it was impossible to fit it in the back of Polk’s truck. The rear end â€" tail and all â€" was dangling out the back of the pick up, as Polk made his way home with the enormous fish.

While this particular catch may seem like the record of all records, this is not the largest acquisition for this third-generation shark fisherman. Polk’s other world record was documented in 2010 for the capture of a 949 pound tiger shark.

The father of three children said he looks forward to his kids following in his footsteps. While his daughters, ages 7 and 9, are already little pros, its only a matter of time before his son, just 3 weeks old, will be out with him on the water.

“The funny thing is, as I left the house to go out that night, I kissed my son and said ‘Daddy’s gonna catch up a big, big fish tonight,’ but I didn’t think it would be this big,” Polk said.

In most cases, when the Polk cousins snag a shark, its common practice to tag and release it. Not this time says the family, as the giant mako was cooked and served to the community of 250 people using an old Polk secret family recipe.

“We release about 98% of what we catch…we only bring in the ones too injured to swim away,” said Polk, who recognizes that not everyone agrees with fishing the animals just for sport.

“I do it because I saw my grandfather do it, my father, then my older brothers, then me. I love the sheer power of these fish, to be locked in hand-to-hand combat with a fish that can bite me,” Polk said.

Polk and his family of shark fisherman have chosen not to divulge the exact whereabouts of the catch as they are concerned that the beach would become overwhelmed by floods of tourists as well as other competing fishing groups.

Could this 805 Pound Mako Shark be the Largest on Record?

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Does Amazon Have a Smartphone? They Could Have One Soon

• Amazon smartphone could offer viable alternative to Android and IOS.

NEW YORK (AP) â€" A report this week in The Wall Street Journal that Amazon is planning to release a smartphone has prompted industry analysts and technology blogs to muse about what the device might offer.

Amazon hasn’t confirmed that it has plans for a smartphone. Introducing such a device would be tough in a crowded market dominated by Apple and Samsung. Even so, innovations like the Kindle Fire and Prime membership program demonstrate that the online retailing giant has a knack for using its massive size and marketing budget to capitalize on gaps in the marketplace.

Some unconfirmed reports say the phone could have a 3-D interface and multiple front-facing cameras.

Here’s a look at five features technology experts believe Amazon might include on its smartphone.

1. 3-D shopping

A 3-D interface doesn’t require special glasses could have a lot of uses. For example, when you’re shopping online, you could pull up a 3-D image of sneakers or a jacket and see all of the features easier, suggests Bill Menezes, principal research analyst at Gartner. Another possibility: you could scan your living room to make a 3-D rendering. Then, when you’re out furniture shopping, take a picture and digitally insert the product into the rendering to see if it fits.

“You could see ‘Oh that’s how that purple couch looks in the bedroom, I think I’ll buy it,’ and you avoid buyer’s remorse,” says Ramon Llamas, research manager of research firm IDC’s mobile phones team.

2. Enhanced games

Amazon is rapidly expanding into the gaming arena with its Amazon Game Studio and video game offerings on its new streaming device, Amazon Fire TV.

“A phone could be a way to help them potentially push more on the game front,” says CRT Capital analyst Neil Doshi.

The phone’s purported 3-D interface could be a way to offer a more robust gaming experience.

3. Seamless grocery shopping

Amazon has been testing a Wi-Fi wand called Amazon Dash that simplifies barcode scanning. Such capabilities could be included in the Amazon phone to improve on current barcode scanning apps. Combine that with Amazon’s same-day grocery service Amazon Fresh, currently in testing in Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and grocery shopping could be drastically simplified. Rather than dragging a shopping cart through aisles â€"or even scrolling through a list of products onlineâ€" a quick wave of the phone in your pantry could have all your groceries at your doorstep within hours.

“It’s an opportunity to continue to tie users into the Amazon ecosystem,” Doshi says.

4. Free streaming video

IDC’s Llamas suggests one of the phone’s selling points could be a free ad-supported version of Amazon’s current instant Video service, which is included in the $99-per-year Prime membership. The hypothetical service could be viewed on the phone, a Kindle or on Amazon’s Fire TV but not elsewhere like Xbox or Roku, he says, which could be a selling point for the phone.

5. Competitive pricing

Menezes at Gartner speculates that the phone could be offered on different price tiers. One tier could be a one-time payment for the phone that offers Amazon’s apps and services but a limited number of other features. A higher price tier could feature a monthly bill and a phone with more bells and whistles.

It’s difficult to be competitive on price in the cutthroat phone market. But as Amazon has shown with its tablets, the company is willing to deliver high-quality hardware at a loss in order to undercut competitors like Apple and put its devices in the hands of people who will use them to buy Amazon’s goods and services.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Boston Marathon Security High After Last Years Bombing

With the Boston Marathon security tight along the 26.2-mile route, tens of thousands of runners set out from the starting line at the Marathon on Monday in a “Boston Strong” show of resilience a year after the deadly bombing. Marathon runners are determined to show their support and determination in the face of terrorism. “I showed up, I’m back, and I am going to finish what I didn’t finish last year,” said Mary Cunningham, 50, of St. Petersburg, Fla., who was stopped a mile short of the finish line by the explosions last year.

Boston Marathon Security 2014

The two pressure-cooker bombs that went off near the finish line killed three people and wounded more than 260.

Boston Marathon Security 2014 image from the AP.

Police were deployed in force along the course, with helicopters circling above and bomb-sniffing dogs checking through trash cans. Officers were posted on roofs. Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray said it had been a long and difficult year.

“We’re taking back our race,” he said. “We’re taking back the finish line.” A total of 35,755 athletes were registered to run â€" the second-largest field in its history, with many coming to show support for the event and the city that was traumatized by the attack on its signature sporting event. “I can’t imagine the number of emotions that are going to be there,” said Katie O’Donnell, who was stopped less than a mile from the end last year.

“I think I’m going to start crying at the starting line, and I’m not sure I’ll stop until I cross the finish line.” Buses bearing the message “Boston Strong” dropped off runners at the starting line in the town of Hopkinton. A banner on one building read: “You are Boston Strong. You Earned This.” Joe Ebert, 61, of Hampton, N.H., was cheering on his son-in-law near the spot in downtown Boston where the bombs went off. He was in the same area last year at the time of the attack.

“I wanted to be in this spot,” said Ebert, who wore a jacket and medal from when he ran the race in 2010. “Just wanted to let them know that they can’t beat us down. I think it makes us all stronger when something like that happens.” Sabrina Dello Russo, 38, of South Boston, was running her first marathon for a good friend, Roseann Sdoia, who lost her right leg in the bombing. “She is my inspiration from day one last year when I saw her in the ICU. Every run I do, she is in the back of my head, and she will be keeping me going today,” Dello Russo said.

The most obvious change for the 118th running of the world’s oldest annual marathon was the heavy security. While Gov. Deval Patrick said there had been no specific threats against the race or the city, spectators had to go through tight checkpoints before being allowed near the starting and finish lines. Fans hoping to watch near the finish line were encouraged to leave strollers and backpacks behind. And runners had to use clear plastic bags for their belongings.

More than 100 cameras were installed along the route in Boston, and race organizers said 50 or so observation points would be set up around the finish line to monitor the crowd. Runner Scott Weisberg, 44, from Birmingham, Ala., said he had trouble sleeping the night before. “With everything that happened last year, I can’t stop worrying about it happening again. I know the chances are slim to none, but I can’t help having a nervous pit in my stomach,” Weisberg said. Race organizers expanded the field from its recent cap of 27,000 to make room for more than 5,000 runners who were still on the course last year at the time of the explosions, for friends and relatives of the victims, and for those who made the case that they were “profoundly impacted” by the attack. Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia and Kenya’s Rita Jeptoo, who crossed the finish line on Boylston Street about three hours before the explosions, returned to defend their championships.

Desisa came to Boston last fall to donate his first-place medal to the city as a gesture of support. Jeptoo, who also won the race in 2006, said she is hoping for a third victory â€" and one she can enjoy. “It was very difficult to be happy. People were injured and children died,” she said of last year’s marathon. “If I’m going to win again, I hope I can be happier and to show people, like I was supposed to last year.” Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 20, is awaiting trial in the April 15, 2013, attack and could get the death penalty. Prosecutors said he and his older brother â€" ethnic Chechens who came to the U.S. from Russia more than a decade ago â€" carried out the attack in retaliation for U.S. wars in Muslim lands.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, died in a shootout with police days after the bombings. One runner Monday, Peter Riddle, a 45-year-old Bostonian, said he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder from being at the finish line last year. “I did a lot of talking this year, but running has helped me resolve a lot of things in my head,” he said. “Running the marathon this year and running down Boylston Street will help me find peace and help me move forward.” ___ Associated Press writers Jimmy Golen and Rik Stevens in Boston and Paige Sutherland in Wellesley contributed to this report. ___ Follow Jimmy Golen on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/jgolen

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Why Do We Get Goosebumps? – ‘The Why’

Why do we get goosebumps?

Welcome to today’s edition of The Why.

Everywhere you look the media is pushing you telling you who to follow, what to watch and when to watch it.   You’re even sometimes told how to do it all.  Truth is, here at American Live Wire we do a bit of that too.  The big difference is we also tell you why.

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

“Why do we get goosebumps?” you ask?

Today’s question comes from musician Sonny Rock. Rock posed the question: “Why do we get goosebumps?” Excellent! Yet another chance to demonstrate that there is mental life and memory after the age of . . . well, never mind.)  If memory servesâ€"(and it does because we always try to check our facts here at American Live Wire)â€"there only a couple of reasons why most people get goosebumps so let’s get right to it.

Why do we get goosebumps?/Image: Wikipedia

“Why do we get goosebumps?” We get goosebumps because we are cold. When we feel a chill the muscles that surround our hair follicles react.  The muscles contract and that makes the hairs stand up.

Director of the Human Origins Program at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, in Washington, D.C, anthropologist Richard Potts, PhD, explains it in further detail noting that when the hairs stand up it creates “a layer of insulation” thus the “bumps”. It’s a trait we share with other mammals but we simply don’t have enough hair on our bodies to make much of a difference in our appearances.

It harkens back to the days when we humans had furry coats. Potts is one of many who believe that a long time ago when our ancestors’ copious body hair stood on end, they looked scary and threatening. This would cause potential predators to “move on to look for less imposing prey.”

OK that’s one answer to the question: “Why do we get goosebumps?” What are the others? You ask? (Coming right up!)

“Why do we get goosebumps?” We get goosebumps when we’re scared. (Well, yours truly doesn’t get scared because he has kids and has been married already but you get the point.) The body reacts in the exact same manner when something frightens us.

Why do we get goosebumps?/Image: Desnorteado

Those of us who are single and have been exposed to online dating and websites like Craigslist and ChatRoulette have something to ad in response to the question: “Why Do We Get Goosebumps?” It seems being unpleasantly startled by pictures of incredibly unattractive people smiling as if they think they are attractive as well as seeing way too much of people one would have no interest in doing the “Horizontal Bop’ weith also can cause goosebumps (and near epileptic-like bodily shuddering).

“Why Do We Get Goosebumps?” Now you know.

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

American Live Wire . . . Listen and be heard.

Why Do We Get Goosebumps? â€" “The Why”

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Donald Trump, Jim Kelly Among Names to Buy Buffalo Bills

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) â€" Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly is prepared to make a bid to buy the Buffalo Bills. Donald Trump’s on board, too.

Don’t discount the family of Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs. And include New Jersey rocker Jon Bon Jovi’s name for added spice.

It’s not every day â€" or every year â€" an NFL franchise goes on the market as the Bills are, following owner Ralph Wilson’s death last month.

Wilson’s wishes to have the team sold rather than passed on to his family raise the possibility of the Bills relocating from the city that’s been home for more than 50 years. Toronto and Los Angeles are potential landing spots because owners would have an opportunity to make more money than in Buffalo, the NFL’s second-smallest market.

Image from Associated Press.

Prospective owners are already lining up or, at the very least, expressing interest.

Without providing names, Erie County deputy executive Richard Tobe said he has been approached by as many as 10 prospective ownership groups, which he has told to contact the team.

The Bills were valued by Forbes last year at $870 million, but the sale price could go higher given the number of expected bidders and the scarcity of NFL teams on the market.

The formal bidding process won’t begin until Wilson’s estate appoints an investment banking firm to put an updated value on the franchise and oversee negotiations.

“We are all just waiting,” Michael Cohen, Trump’s executive vice president, said this week. “And Mr. Trump is at the top of that list.”

Cohen said Trump, the New York City real estate mogul and reality TV star, has already contacted the NFL, Wilson’s estate and several league owners.

“There’s nobody more serious than Donald Trump,” Cohen said, reiterating a point Trump made in tweets last week. “Donald Trump has made it crystal clear that the Bills will remain in Buffalo.”

Dan Kelly, vice president of Jim Kelly Inc., told The Associated Press last week that his brother will pursue the Bills.

“Jim will be an active participant in it moving forward,” Kelly said, noting that his brother will pursue the Bills despite undergoing treatments for a recurrence of sinus cancer.

The Jacobs family name also keeps coming up, according to several people familiar with the process.

“He is definitely a player,” one person told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because Jacobs has not revealed his plans.

Last week, Jeremy Jacobs Sr. released a statement saying he has no intention of selling the Bruins in order to purchase the Bills, a move that would be required because NFL rules do not allow owners to control major sports franchises in separate markets. But Jacobs’ statement did not address whether his sons would be involved in an ownership group.

Jacobs is from Buffalo, and his three sons, Jeremy Jr., Lou and Charlie, are principals of Buffalo-based Delaware North food service company. Charlie Jacobs is also a principal of the Bruins.

Then there’s Bon Jovi, who is linked to Larry Tanenbaum, a Toronto-based developer and chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which controls the NBA Raptors and NHL Maple Leafs.

Though Bon Jovi and Tanenbaum have close ties, no formal relationship has been made between the two involving a potential purchase of the Bills and relocating them to Toronto.

Bon Jovi’s representative, Ken Sunshine, said, “Jon is passionate about owning an NFL team,” but steered clear of any mention of the Bills.

There are major obstacles standing in the way of the team relocating during the term of the 10-year lease it reached with the state and county in December 2012.

The Bills would incur a $400 million penalty by even broaching the prospect of moving during the lease’s term. There is a one-time exception that would allow the Bills to break the lease for just under $28.4 million in July 2020.

___

AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Can A Laser Control Weather? Scientists Have Found A Way

Having a laser control weather sounds like something out of a movie, but it is a very real possibility now that scientists discovered a way to have the strength of a laser be strong enough to reach the clouds and control the weather.

Can A Laser Control Weather? Scientists Have Found A Way

The laser will be able to make rain happen on demand and control lightening bolts.  It does this through a short intensive laser pulse that produces plasma.  The plasma interacts with charged particles in a storm and makes it possible to interact with the storm.

Scientists have known this was possible, but getting the laser to the cloud was always a problem.  The beam was weak and could easily be intercepted.  So scientists at University of Arizona and the University of Central Florida figured out a way to make the beam strong enough so it can make it to the clouds.  By using a second beam to power the beam intended for the cloud.  The second beam is a lower intensity but it allows the higher intensity beam to extend from a few centimeters to a few meters.

The US Department of Defense funded the research for about $75 million because the laser has the ability to  do more than alter the weather.  It can also be used for analyzing chemical compounds from a far distance or channeling microwaves.

Can A Laser Control Weather? Scientists Have Found A Way

The study’s abstract explains:

Plasma channels produced in air through femtosecond laser filamentation^{1, 2, 3, 4} hold great promise for a number of applications, including remote sensing⁵, attosecond physics^6, 7 and spectroscopy⁸, channelling microwaves^{9, 10, 11, 12} and lightning protection¹³. In such settings, extended filaments are desirable, yet their longitudinal span is limited by dissipative processes. Although various techniques aiming to prolong this process have been explored, the substantial extension of optical filaments remains a challenge^{14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21}. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that the natural range of a plasma column can be enhanced by at least an order of magnitude when the filament is prudently accompanied by an auxiliary beam. In this arrangement, the secondary low-intensity ‘dressing’ beam propagates linearly and acts as a distributed energy reservoir²², continuously refuelling the optical filament. Our approach offers an efficient and viable route towards the generation of extended light strings in air without inducing premature wave collapse or an undesirable beam break-up into multiple filaments².

When exactly the beam will be used to control the weather is still unknown, but the implications now that the laser can reach long distances brings into question what more can be done with the laser besides controlling the weather.

Can A Laser Control Weather? Scientists Have Found A Way

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