Worred about the Zombie Apocalypse? Never Fear! The CDC Has Got You Covered!

Do you often wonder what you will do if and when the zombie apocalypse occurs?  Will you be able to survive or will you fall prey to one of the zombies or, even worse, not be able to make it through because you are unprepared?

Well, put your fears to rest.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released some tips and guidelines to let you know what you should include in your survival kit and how you should plan to meet up with loved ones. 

So, my friends, follow these tips!  They could save your life!

The zombie apocalypse guide was originally prepared and posted on the CDC Blog by Dave Daigle, a longtime CDC spokesman.  Since it was released Monday, it has drawn so many hits it crashed the CDC blog (I still can't get it to come up!).

Daigle, a 52-year-old father of four is one of several writers on the blog and said he was looking for a way to create interest in preparedness in the wake of the recent disasters in the United States and with hurricane season just around the corner.  According to Daigle, "Essentially, the kids and many of the messages are the same.  We have had a hard time engaging people."

For More Information:
Working Link:  http://emergency.cdc.gov/socialmedia/zombies_blog.asp
Original Public Health Matters Blog Link (blog currently not working):  http://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2011/05/preparedness-101-zombie-apocalypse/

Eastern Newfoundland's Newest Celebrity: A Pacific Coast Hummingbird

When you think of an island paradise Newfoundland, Canada might not be the first place that comes to mind, right?  I would say "island paradise" are two words that most certainly can be used to describe Newfoundland.  From the picturesque landscapes and breathtaking ocean views to the colorful charm of the capitol city, St. John's (which also just happens to be the oldest city in North America), Newfoundland has a beauty and charm a lot of other places cannot claim.

In August of 2010, the island got one more extremely rare thing to add to the already long list of attractions and beauty it's known for:  a tiny hummingbird native to the Pacific Coast.  Yes, you read that correctly.  A hummingbird in Newfoundland, Canada.  Eastern Newfoundland, to be exact.

Injured Turtle Gets A Brand New Set of Wheels

There isn't much to this story but I thought it was a truly amazing one.

Tzvika was run over by a lawn mower and suffered severe damage to her shell and a spinal injury which affected her ability to use her back legs.  Veterinarians at the Wildlife Hospital in the Ramat Gan Safari near Tel Aviv, Israel attached two tiny wheels to Tzvika's shell to prevent it from being worn down as she moved and to help her to walk.

It's awesome that the veterinarians worked so hard to save her life and make it as good as it possibly can be.  I can imagine she really gets along at a pretty good clip now that she's got her a nice set of wheels!

To see pictures of Tzvika, you can check out this article.

An Unlikey Vocabulary Champion: Chaser the Border Collie

It isn't every day that you come across a dog that knows over 1,000 words.  Of course, it isn't every day that you get to meet Chaser the Border Collie.  Six-year-old Chaser currently holds the title for canine word comprehension.  She was trained at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina in the United States.  She knows the names of 1,022 objects and clearly understands the meanings of each word in her massive vocabulary.

Chaser's handlers say her extraordinary vocabulary skills come close to that of a 3-year-old child.  Her skills have made her famous around the globe.

I love this story and it really is proof positive that dogs aren't just "dumb animals" as some would like to believe. 



Source:  http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com News Article

Play Chess on a NYC Playground & You'll Get Your Day In Court

We all love New York, right?  All the lights, colorful people, good food, entertainment, television shows that are set there, Central Park.  What isn't there to love about New York?  It's the big city at it's best!

However, if you are a resident of New York and live in the district of the 34th Precinct you better not let the police catch you playing chess on the Inwood Hill playground!  That's right, you better not play chess on the playground or you'll get a ticket, buddy, because we all know that it's purely criminal to check or mate in public!

A group of men were playing chess at tables on the Inwood Hill playground last month and were ticketed by a swarm of bullet-proof vest clad police officers.  It should be stated that it is against the law to be in the park if you are not accompanied by a child even if there is no one else in the park.

Laws are laws and should be followed and it's good that the police uphold all laws.  But, (and there is always a 'but', isn't there?) is playing chess really the worst thing that could happen in that park?  I seriously doubt that the truly hardened criminals that lurk in the Big Apple would be on Inwood Hill trying to grab a knight with the bishop.  And even if there were kids in the park at the time, would it truly be so bad that they be exposed to a chess game?  Granted, I'm no Bobby Fischer or Boris Spasskey, but a good game of chess isn't a bad thing every now and then.

Regardless, the group of baddies are due in court on December 28, 2010.  Let's just hope the judge doesn't lock them up and throw away the key without at least letting them take their chess boards and pieces into the joint with them.

Source:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40261971/ns/local_news-new_york_ny/

140 LB. Newfoundland Dog Saves 95 Year-Old Neighbor

It's been a while since I've done one of my regular sort of posts as I've been focusing on a lot of television lately.  I haven't forgotten about the sort of posts I usually do and will be doing my best to get more of them back on the blog, especially once the holidays are over and I've got a bit more time on my hands.

Anyway, I've got an awesome story for you today.

Murphy, a 140 pound full-blooded Newfoundland dog is a true hero tonight after helping to save his 95 year-old neighbor.  The neighbor had apparently fallen in her garage and was in need of help.  Murphy knew something was wrong even though his owners did not.  He barked and caused a ruckus so that his owner, Stephanie Goese of Roseville, Minnesota took a look to see what was the matter.  Stephanie was able to get her neighbor indoors and make sure she was OK (Stephanie is a nurse).

News stories like this just have a way of making you smile, don't they?  And isn't Murphy the most adorable big guy you've ever seen?

You can watch a video of the news story courtesy of the MSNBC.com video player here:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

10,000 Packages of Marijuana Seized on Tijuana/US Border

We are all more than familiar with the ongoing drug war being waged in Mexico and the fact it is spilling over into the southwestern United States.  The news is constantly dotted with headlines about the latest violence to erupt on Mexican soil.

So, it wasn't anything new to read that a shootout took place in Tijuana between members of the drug cartels and law enforcement.  However, it was surprising to read the amount of marijuana that was confiscated following the shootout:  10,000 packages totaling more than 105 tons!  The drugs are worth over $330 million on the Mexican market and as much as twice that if taken across the border and sold in the United States.

Soldiers and police arrested eleven people following the shootout between Tijuana policemen and gunmen in a convoy of seven vehicles.  The drug violence in Mexico has claimed almost 30,000 lives.

For more information and to see a photo of the massive amount of weed confiscated by authorities, you can refer to this article.

Postal Union Election Delayed Because Ballots Were LOST IN THE MAIL

I'm not one who reads or watches Fox News but when I saw the link to this article I had to read it.

For anyone who has ever had a problem with the post, this will make you feel so much better.  Almost enough to make you feel like the universe has somehow righted some of the postal wrongs we've all suffered through one time or another.

The American Postal Workers Union recently had to extend the deadline for their internal election after thousands of ballots were lost in the mail.  Ballots were originally going to be counted this weekend in Washington D.C., but the deadline for submitting a ballot has been extended to October 14, 2010.

Now, tell me you didn't read this article and laugh out loud.  I certainly know I did.  Next time the post loses your letter to Aunt Martha, you can at least feel a little better about it knowing they lose their own mail, too.

Source:  http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/07/postal-union-election-delayed-ballots-lost-mail/?test=latestnews

Life of Derby, UK Man Saved 28 Times By Doctors & Medics

Steve Nixon, a 44 year-old Derby, England man had a heart attack while riding his motorbike causing him to swerve into the path of an oncoming car.  Nixon's heart stopped several times at the scene and he was revived by paramedics before being airlifted to University Hospital Coventry.  Once there, his heart stopped an additional twenty-three times.  Doctors were able to restart Nixon's heart each time and were finally able to fit him with a pacemaker to stabilize his heartbeat so they could repair a torn artery.

Dr. Dawn Adamson, Consultant Cardiologist at the hospital said Nixon was suffering from a tear in the main artery supplying the heart.  He wasn't stable enough to survive heart surgery.  Instead, doctors opted for a two-hour surgery that provided scaffolding to the damaged arteries supplying blood to the heart.

Nixon, a father of three, is thankful to the doctors for working so hard to save his life.  He credits not only the doctors but the love of his family for his amazing recovery.  Nixon's wife, Miriam, put a family photograph on the back of his door so it would be the first thing he saw if he didn't perish.

This story could have had a tragic ending but, thankfully, it didn't.  I love a happy ending and this most certainly is one.

Source:  http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/health/health/3106504/Doctors-saved-my-life-28-times.html

Proof of Alien Life Could Come Within 25 Years, Astronomer Says

Astronomer Seth Shostak, senior astronomer at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI) in Mountain View, California said on Sunday, August 15, 2010 that he believes the chances are pretty good they will be able to find ET within the next twenty-five years.  Shostak made his comments at the SETIcon convention.

Shostak is using the Drake Equation, a formula invented by SETI pioneer Frank Drake that calculates the number of alien civilizations (N) we might be able to communicate with.  The equation uses factors like rate of star formation in the galaxy, fraction of stars with planets, fraction of habitable planets, planets that actually develop life and the fraction of civilizations that have a technology that can broadcast into space, among other things.

The late Carl Sagan estimated the Drake Equation amounted to N=1 million.  Isaac Asimov estimated N=670,000.  Frank Drake estimated N=10,000.

SETI's quest to make ET contact will take a giant step when the Allen Telescope Array becomes fully operational, hopefully by 2015.  The ATA is a network of radio dishes that should be able to scan hundreds of thousands of stars for signs of extraterrestrial life and intelligence.

For more information:
Source article:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38727371/ns/technology_and_science-space/
SETIcon Convention:  http://www.seticon.com/
SETI Institute:  http://www.seti.org/Page.aspx?pid=1366

100 Year-Old Scotch Whiskey Found in Frozen Crate

It was trapped in Antarctic ice for a century and finally unveiled on Friday, August 13, 2010.  Bad news, whiskey lovers.  The Scotch whiskey won't be available to drink.  Instead, it is being preserved for historical significance and for possible replication by master blenders.

Eleven bottles of Mackinlay's Scotch whiskey dating to 1896 or 1897 were found in a crate that was discovered in the Antarctic hut of Sir Ernest Shackleton in 2006 and slowly thawed at the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand.  The whiskey was found wrapped in paper and straw to protect it during transit for Sir Shackletons 1907 Nimrod expedition.  The crate itself was frozen solid but the whiskey still sloshed in its bottles as the -22F (-30C) Antarctic weather wasn't enough to freeze the liquor.

Samples will be taken from the whiskey and sent to Scottish distiller Whyte and Mackay.  Once that is done, all eleven bottles will be returned to where they were found:  beneath the floorboards of Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds on Ross Island, near Antarctica's McMurdo Sound.  The samples have been taken so master blenders can try and replicate the liquor since the recipe for it no longer exists.

For more information and to watch a news video of the Scotch whiskey, you can refer to this article.

Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle Solved?

For decades the area of the North Atlantic Ocean known as the "Bermuda Triangle" or "Devil's Triangle" has both intrigued and terrified people around the world.  It's been known as a place where strange disappearances and disasters are the norm and answers have been elusive, at best.

But, all that may have changed.

Using the "mystery areas" identified by Ivan T. Sanderson in the 1960's, Professor Joseph Monaghan and honor student David May conducted their own research at the Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.  Monaghan and May believe they have come up with an answer to the mysterious disasters and disappearances of the Bermuda Triangle.

Their paper, published in the American Journal of Physics attributes the mysteries of the Triangle not to the supernatural but to gas, specifically methane gas.

The paper suggests that the methane gas, which is normally frozen at great pressure as gas hydrates embedded in subterranean rock, becomes dislodged.  It then transforms into gaseous bubbles and expands as the bubbles explode upwards.  When the bubbles reach the surface of the ocean, they rise into the air while still expanding up and out.  Any ships caught in the bubbles lose buoyancy and sink to the bottom of the ocean.  Larger bubbles that carry enough density can unexpectedly knock aircraft from the sky.

After all these years of speculation, what do you think of this possible explanation?

For more information you can read this article.

Fossils Suggest "Lucy" Species Used Stone Tools & Ate Meat

Two animal bones, both over three million years old, have yielded information to researchers that stone tools were used to butcher the animals for eating by early human ancestors, known as Australopithecus afarensis, the species best known for the "Lucy" fossil.

The study of the bones was published in the Thursday issue of the journal Nature by Zeresenay Alemseged and colleagues from the California Academy of Sciences.

The study claims afarensis carved the meat from the animal carcasses and used other stones to smash the bones to get the marrow.  Researchers believe this discovery is the earliest evidence of meat eating among hominins.  They believe the afarensis probably scavenged carcasses instead of actually hunting live prey.

Two female afarensis fossils have been found near the same site where the two animal bones were found.  In 1974 "Lucy" was found and latter, a female skeleton named "Selam" was found approximately 200 yards from the bone site.

Not all scientists are convinced by the research done by Alemseged and the California Academy of Sciences researchers. 

Paleoanthropologist Nicholas Toth of Indiana University has doubts because of the fact the bones were found on the surface rather than buried beneath the earth requiring excavation.  He also believes the markings on the bones differ from marks commonly left by stone tools, an area Toth studies.  Toth speculates the marks could have even been made by animal bites.

Other scientists agree with the Nature paper.

According to Bernard Wood of George Washington University, "I'd be willing to bet a month's salary that those are cut marks (from stone tools) and not tooth marks."

For more information about this interesting research and to see a photograph of the two animal bones you can read this MSNBC Technology and Science article.

Tokyo's Oldest Man Dead For 30 Years

Officials in were under the impression that Sogen Kato was the oldest living man in Tokyo until they recently went to his home to wish him a happy 111th birthday.  They made a shocking discovery when they learned that Mr. Kato had died.  Quite possibly Mr. Kato could have died as many as thirty years ago.

Kato's family has denied visits from welfare officials before.  On Wednesday, July 28, 2010, police forced their way into the home and found Mr. Kato's mummified remains in his bed.

According to Mr. Kato's family, he confined himself to his bedroom more than three decades ago and "became a living Buddha". 

Kato's family is currently being investigated for fraud as they have received 9.5 million yen ($109,000) in widower's pension payments after the death of Kato's wife six years ago and recently withdrew some of the funds.

Source:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-10809128

A Whale of a Story

When Cape Town Sailing Academy Administrator Paolma Werner and her sailing instructor boyfriend, Ralph Mothes set out for a sail this past Sunday they thought it would be another enjoyable and relaxing excursion.  That is, until a 40-ton Southern Right Whale crashed into their 10-meter yacht, The Intrepid. 

Werner and Mothes had been watching the whale for about a half hour when it moved to about 100 to 200 meters from the boat then disappeared under water.  Next thing they knew, the whale was out of the water and crash against the mast of the boat.  While the whale received minor injuries, the mast of the steel boat was destroyed and there was some structural damage.  However, the damage wasn't severe enough to sink the boat or cause it to leak.  The couple were able to get safely back to shore.

You can find out more information and see a series of 6 photographs taken by an individual on a nearby boat by visiting this article at MSNBC.com.  To scroll through the photos, click "Next" on the left side of the page.

Some who have seen the photos and read the article believe this is just a really good fish story helped along by a bit of creative Photoshop work.  What do you think?

Trigger Sells for More Than $260,000

Trigger, the faithful companion and famous horse of legendary 'singing cowboy' Roy Rogers was sold at the New York City auction house Christine's on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 for more than $266,000.  RFD-TV in Omaha, Nebraska purchased the stuffed horse from the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Missouri.  The museum is now closed and the items it housed were put up for auction.  The Nebraska television network purchased the horse with plans to include it as part of a museum it hopes to open.  They are looking to purchase more of Roy Rogers items at auction for the museum.

Trigger passed away in 1965 one day short of 31 years of age.  Rogers, known as the "King of the Cowboys", couldn't bear to bury his friend and had the horse stuffed.  Rogers originally purchased the horse for $2,500.

More information, photos of Trigger, Rogers' German Shepherd "Bullet", Rogers wife Dale Evans and more Rogers memorabilia is in this entertainment article.

Which Came First? The Chicken, or the Egg?

Which came first?  The chicken, or the egg?  It's a question that has been asked by thousands and everyone believes they know the answer.  But, do they?  Does anyone?

A group of researchers at Sheffield and Warwick universities in Britain claim they have the definitive answer to the age-old question:  the chicken.

According to the scientists, a protein that speeds the development of the hard shell of an egg is found only in a chicken's ovaries is necessary for the protection and formation of the egg.  Thus, the egg can only exist if first created inside a chicken.

The scientists revealed their research in a paper, Structural Control of Crystal Nuclei By an Eggshell Protein.  They hope their research lends assistance to other science and technological research.

So, was "the chicken" the answer you always chose when you were asked this riddle?  ;)

For more information you can read this MSNBC Technology and Science article.

Ten Technologies that Should Be Extinct (But Aren't)

Dan Tynan from PC World has put together a list of ten technologies he feels should be extinct in the modern world but are still chugging along.  A brief note should be made here that Mr. Tynan commonly writes technology humor so, I guess an argument could be made that he meant this list to be another piece of geek humor.  On some things, I agree with Mr. Tynan.  However, there are some things on his list that shouldn't have even been considered, even for sake of humor.

1.  The Telegraph.  As Mr. Tynan points out, the world leader in telegrams, Western Union, stopped providing that service in 2006.  Another company stepped up and took Western Union's place and now offers that service over the web for $25 a message plus 88 cents a word. 
If you're already on the web STOP
wouldn't it be a lot easier and cheaper STOP
to send an e-mail to the individual STOP
you wish to contact? STOP

12 Year-Old Norwegian Boy Saves Sister from Moose Attack Thanks to World of Warcraft

Twelve year-old Hans Jørgen Olsen has become a hero after saving himself and his from a moose attack.  The siblings were walking in the forest near their home when a moose started to attack.  Any other 12 year old might be frightened in a situation like this but not Hans.  You see, Hans is a devoted player of the online video game, World of Warcraft (hereafter referred to as "WoW"). 

Young Hans immediately went into WoW mode.  He first "taunted" the moose, using himself as a target to draw the moose away from his sister.  In WoW, "taunting' is used to distract monsters from the more vulnerable team members.  After successfully 'taunting' the moose from his sister, Hans employed a skill he learned at WoW level 30:  he feigned death.  The moose tired of harassing the boy and wandered away.

Kudos to Hans for having the courage to protect his sister from an animal as large as a moose!

I'm a bit of a Pogo.com addict.  You think my top-notch Poppit skills would ever come in handy during hand-to-hand combat with an attacking woodland creature?

Source:  http://www.nextnature.net/2010/05/norwegian-boy-saves-sister-from-moose-attack-with-world-of-warcraft-skills/

Man Enters Into Wedded Bliss--With a Pillow??

A 28 year old Korean man has finally found Miss Right.  The only thing is, Miss right just so happens to be a pillow.

Lee Jin-gyu has apparently fallen head over heels in love with his "dakimakura", a large, Japanese huggable pillow with the picture of his favorite anime character, Fate Testarossa printed on it.  Fate Testarossa is a character from the Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha.

The wedding was a special ceremony complete with a local priest and wedding dress for the "bride".

From all accounts, Lee Jin-gyu takes his pillow everywhere just as he would a real woman.  They go to the funfair together and even out to eat where the pillow gets its own seat and meal.

I know cultures all have their own customs and things can sometimes seem strange from one culture to another, but a pillow??  Really??

For more information and to see a photo of the lovely couple, click here.