Niiice, dave!

Hilly Freeways

niiicedave — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:57:36 +0000

From this screenshot from NBC Nightly News, you see a road design that isn’t helping reduce fatalities. This is the Florida Interstate freeway that was the scene of a 200 car pileup that resulted in 70 serious injuries and 10 deaths.
While the sudden loss of visibility was due to motorist speed, thick smoke and nighttime darkness, the hilly freeway itself likely had a role.
Like many freeways in the United States, the road is built on the ground surface and follows the contours of the ground – the rolling hills effect – plus when a man-made obstacle is encountered, the road simply catapults it via a rainbow bridge-shaped overpass. Motorists go down the road at superhighway speeds and bound over these frequent hilly features, encountering briefly short down-road visibility spots throughout the drive, and get used to them. These brief but frequent periods of little information about road conditions a short distance away are especially nerve-wracking at night, but also lull motorists into feeling little initial alarm when the taillights ahead of them disappear, as they usually shortly reappear.
Not all, but most of California’s major freeways are built along berms and trenches. Elevated sections on berms run for two miles then sunken sections in a trench two miles with half-mile long transitions in between. It’s really snazzy. A hill never conceals what’s ahead. Plus, since the road is never at ground level, road noise from the freeway is reduced in the areas along it. The downside is you don’t get to enjoy the roadside sights – like poor neighborhoods that are situated next to freeways. You’re either in a pretty landscaped trench or soaring well above a city below you. The elevated sections provide for remarkable vistas, however.
Hilly freeways work out nicely for ticket “sales” however. The rolling hills are handy for staging speed traps.

Newt Gingrich’s List of words

niiicedave — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:58:03 +0000

Whenever Newt Gingrich rises to prominence, he does it with his mouth. His use of language is so effective, you have to just watch and marvel at the sheer political carnage when he goes to work. Sometimes, you can see a reporter’s life pass before her or his eyes when he nails them. His mouth gets aimed like a machine gun and he fires, no hesitation. Turns out, the mystery of what he does is in plain sight, in a book he wrote! The secret is words. Not just any words. Specific words that define “them” and define you, or “us.”
From Language, A Key Mechanism of Control by Newt Gingrich(1995), a list of specific words!

“Them” words

Apply these to the opponent, their record, proposals and their party.

decay… failure (fail)… collapse(ing)… deeper… crisis… urgent(cy)… destructive… destroy… sick… pathetic… lie… liberal… they/them… unionized bureaucracy… “compassion” is not enough… betray… consequences… limit(s)… shallow… traitors… sensationalists…

endanger… coercion… hypocrisy… radical… threaten… devour… waste… corruption… incompetent… permissive attitudes… destructive… impose… self-serving… greed… ideological… insecure… anti-(issue): flag, family, child, jobs… pessimistic… excuses… intolerant…

stagnation… welfare… corrupt… selfish… insensitive… status quo… mandate(s)… taxes… spend(ing)… shame… disgrace… punish (poor…)… bizarre… cynicism… cheat… steal… abuse of power… machine… bosses… obsolete… criminal rights… red tape… patronage

“Us” words

…these words help develop the positive side of the contrast…

share… change… opportunity… legacy… challenge… control… truth… moral… courage… reform… prosperity… crusade… movement… children… family… debate… compete… active(ly)… we/us/our… candid(ly)… humane… pristine… provide…

liberty… commitment… principle(d)… unique… duty… precious… premise… care(ing)… tough… listen… learn… help… lead… vision… success… empower(ment)… citizen… activist… mobilize… conflict… light… dream… freedom…

peace… rights… pioneer… proud/pride… building… preserve… pro-(issue): flag, children, environment… reform… workfare… eliminate good-time in prison… strength… choice/choose… fair… protect… confident… incentive… hard work… initiative… common sense… passionate

Now start developing your “us” words and “them” words. Don’t necessarily use his, as his are meant to work for his disposition as a “conservative” specifically. Find your “us” and “them” words and use them in your letters to the editor and your facebook posts. But be careful with THE POWER…

Newt Gingrich is the very symbol of abuse of power. He brought corruption and decay to our once proud democracy by robbing us of useful public dialogue in such perilous times. Dispatching opponents with robotic precision, with no interest of the nation at heart, his coercion adds nothing to honest dialogue. In fact, it only feeds our nation’s collapse into has-been status by giving tax breaks to hedge fund managers= while casting shame on struggling families.
By contrast, we mobilized to fight for positive change and successfully elected Barack Obama. With his committed leadership, he restored our focus as a maturing nation to fairness by facing healthcare reform head-on, taking on unfair banking practices and getting us out of a foolishly expensive war in Iraq, ensuring a future of strength for America and all hard working families that make up our nation.
There! Now try it yourself!

Article Reference: http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1276
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/6266105010/

Here Comes The Water!

niiicedave — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:13:01 +0000

In a typical error as an amateur weather observer, i noticed a mulling hulk of moisture west of Hawai’i on a satellite pic last week i disregarded as insignificant, since probably it had no way of getting from the seas west of Hawai’i to the US West Coast. Turns out it was the beginning of a Pacific train known as a “pineapple express” that was very much headed our way.

And here it comes, a wave about to clear Hawai’i! It’s just about 2 days away! Weather statements are reserved. They don’t know if it will punch through the clear high pressure located on the West Coast of North America and maintain a stormy weather pattern to the Californias or if the high pressure will immediately seal back up, breaking up any more storms before they make it to shore.

¡Outernational!

niiicedave — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:34:47 +0000

Outernational is a high quality indie rock band that sells its music directly to fans, no record company. They are affiliated with Rage Against The Machine/Tom Morello The Nightwatchman and involved with Occupy Wall Street. They are from New York City.

Oh, no! I’ve given it the first full listen and so far just mildly impressed by the final track, “Que Queremos.”

The West Coast Drought Is Back Already?

niiicedave — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:26:12 +0000

Sea Surface Temperatures in the equatorial Pacific are in the cold phase of the cycle of La Niña/ El Niño. El Niño is hot and encourages storms, La Niña is cold and encourages calm. A La Niña means that the Equatorial Pacific has successfully released all the heat it once had, ending its last El Niño. Typically, this process does not die until the sea down there has been cooled off a lot. The cold phase is life saving for coral reefs and other sea life, as when the water remains too hot, the coral dies and nasty red tides pollute the sea. Yesterday’s analysis seen below shows a huge La Niña of colder-than-normal waters along the equator and in the waters on the east side of the Pacfic.

Blue = colder than normal, Dark blue= way colder than normal Green=normal Yellow=slightly warmer than normal Orange= rather warmer than normal Red= way hotter than normal.
The equatorial Pacific being quite cold right now invites less agitation between the equatorial and polar air masses, thus less storms this winter for California and other West Coast locales along the long coast of the Americas. During the calm, the heat will slowly get recharged until the air exchange between the equatorial and polar regions gets restarted. Until then, the sea will be in a recharging phase. So West coast USA, enjoy this “cold weather summer” you’re having. No storms anywhere headed your way, you may plan mountain hikes, beach gatherings, flea market shopping. Seriously – same conditions as July, without the heat. The heat will soon arrive, however, with the change of the seasons, perhaps sooner rather than later. The ONLY reason it’s cold right now here in California is cold, dry air from the inland mountain basin seeps down when Pacific storm activity is absent. Otherwise, it would quite balmy right now. That seepage will cut off soon, though. That’s only a winter thing.
About that eastern half of the USA “fake springtime.” Normally also when Pacific storm activity is weak the bitterly cold Alberta Clipper brings sub-zero temperatures to the eastern side of the USA. This isn’t happening now. There is an absence of Alberta Clippers. This is something entirely different and I would invite commentary on this.
It have to approve comments. I know that sucks, but comment on this anyway. Let’s talk weather.

Happy New Year as America gets slathered in Blood!

niiicedave — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 07:26:36 +0000

News

Cops: Fatal shooting at Seaford drugstore
Newsday
Click here Cops: Fatal shooting at Seaford drugstore Originally published: December 31, 2011 3:08 PM Updated: December 31, 2011 11:40 PM By KEITH HERBERT AND ANTHONY DESTEFANO. keith.herbert@newsday.com,, anthony.destefano@newsday.com A suspected …

No bond for man accused in fatal shootings at Church’s Chicken
Chicago Tribune
The man charged in the fatal shooting of two teenagers and the wounding of five others at a South Side chicken restaurant this week was ordered held with no bond today. Arthur Chaney, of the 6600 block of South Peoria Street, did not appear in bond …

Shooting at Tyler motorcycle club injures one
KYTX
By Courtney Friedman – email TYLER (KYTX) – An early morning shooting in the 1700 block of North Palace Street in Tyler leaves one man injured. 61-year-old Odis Bagley was outside the Wild Bunch Club at 2:00 am Saturday morning when he was shot in the …

Suspect sought in fatal shooting at house party
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Pittsburgh police are searching for a suspect in the fatal shooting of a Bethel Park man at an Arlington house party early Saturday. Police responded at 3:40 am to a report of a fight at a home at 313 Sterling St. Shortly after came a report of a man …

Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Two men wounded in shootings at Pleasantville restaurant
The Star-Ledger – NJ.com
But investigators say it’s not yet known what sparked the shooting at Sam’s Rialto Grill in Pleasantville early today. And it’s not clear if either man was involved in the shooting or were innocent bystanders One man was struck in the leg, …

The Star-Ledger – NJ.com
Woman accused of shooting at her husband
Ocala
By Austin L. Miller OCALA — A woman who deputies said shot at her husband during an argument on Friday was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, simple battery and possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, according to a Sheriff’s Office …

Police: Man shot after shooting at police
Chicago Tribune
Chicago police say they shot a man in the Marquette Park neighborhood after he fired a gun at them about 12:10 am Sunday. He was shot on the 7200 block of South Campbell Avenue, Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Hector Alfaro said. …

Arrest warrant issued for man suspected of shooting at repo man in Charlotte …
The News-Press
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit this afternoon issued an arrest warrant for the man believed to be responsible for shooting at a tow truck driver who went to the man’s home to repossess a vehicle Friday. No serious injury was sustained …

Family of Tucson shooting victim honors her memory with Rose Parade float
Pasadena Star-News
By Brian Day, Staff Writer John and Roxanne Green and their son Dallas, parents and brother of Christina Taylor Green who was killed in Tucson, AZ, shooting assassination attempt that left Congresswoman Giffords wounded, decorate a floragraph of their …

Questions linger in the fatal shooting of Newark boy, 2
The Star-Ledger – NJ.com
By Star-Ledger Staff The Star-LedgerWakir Bryant, left, was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of 2-year-old Mikhy Robinson, right, in Newark. NEWARK — The mother of 2-year-old Mikhy Robinson was awakened by the sound of a gunshot in her …

The Star-Ledger – NJ.com
Police seek suspects in shooting death of 5-year-old boy in East Oakland
San Jose Mercury News
Police don’t have a motive for the shooting and doubt the little boy was the target. Other people, including some children, were standing outside the truck, but no one else was hurt. “This is terrible,” said Officer Eric Milina, lead investigator in …

2 teens arrested for shooting spree, face attempted-murder charges
Grand Junction Sentinel
By Amy Hamilton Two local 18-year-olds have been arrested in connection with a string of shootings at vehicles, homes and at a man whom they didn’t know but fired at to watch him die, according to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Department. …

Shooting suspect to be arraigned
Detroit Free Press
25 shooting death in Redford Township has been charged with three felonies. Andre Johnson, 27, is expected to be arraigned this week in the death of his roommate, Dexter Stafford, also 27. Johnson is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and …

Shooting leaves 1 dead
Eagle Tribune
By Alex Bloom abloom@eagletribune.com LAWRENCE — A 29-year-old Fairhaven man is dead after a “senseless” shooting in Lawrence. Lawrence Police believe an early morning argument outside a food truck at Campagnone Common escalated into murder, …

Arizona shooting drives Congress to beef up security
AZ Central.com
The shooting near Tucson also resulted in increased police presence at weekly Flagstaff City Council meetings, especially when such hot topics as water disputes, snow-making at ski resorts or immigration are being discussed, said Sgt. James Jackson. …

NEW Shooting suspect remains at large
Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
MILTON-FREEWATER — The search continues for George West Craigen, 49, who is wanted in connection with the Friday shooting of Cecil “Rob” Carter, 58. Carter was shot in the office of his plumbing contractor business located near his home. …

Man Arrested After Shooting in Odessa
NewsWest9.com
Police say a man was driving in the 1100 block of Douglas around 8:45 am when three men, one he knew and two he did not, started shooting at him. The 36-year-old was shot in the left arm and hand. He drove to family member’s home after he was shot. …

3 more shootings amid Battle of Trenton, anti-violence vigil
The Trentonian
Then, hours after an activist delivered her message of hope and healing at City Hall in the wake of last week’s five shooting deaths, more gunplay rocked Trenton as a gunman fired off almost two dozen rounds. There was a third shooting, too. …

Wheatland shooting top story of the year
Wyoming Tribune
By Josh Rhoten CHEYENNE n Last summer’s shooting in Wheatland, which left four people dead and one injured, topped this year’s list of the 10 most important local stories, as voted by the Wyoming Tribune Eagle newsroom staff. The shooting rocked the …

Zee News
Ohio police say juvenile admits shooting cat found with arrow between its jaw …
The Republic
AP GALION, Ohio — Police in northern Ohio say a juvenile has admitting shooting at a cat that was found with an arrow through its jaw. Police in Galion, about 55 miles north of Columbus, tell The Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum (http://ohne.ws/tSjFAc ) that …

Kansas City Star
Police working Wilcox Blvd shooting
WRCB-TV
(WRCB) — Chattanooga Police were called to 2285 Wilcox Boulevard Thursday at 8:48 pm on a shooting call. When responding officers arrived they were unable to locate a victim or crime scene. Approximately ten minutes later police were called to …

After killing, a call for patience
Albany Times Union
Edward B. Smart speaks during a community meeting to discuss the shooting death of Nahcream Moore by the Albany Police at the St. John’s Church of God in Christ in Albany on Saturday, Dec.31, 2011. ( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union) Pastor McKinley B. …

Police investigate possible shooting on Green Bay’s west side
Green Bay Press Gazette
GREEN BAY — Green Bay police are investigating an apparent shooting at about 5 am Friday after finding a blue Dodge Charger covered in bullet holes in the 900 block of Howard Street. No one is believed to be injured, but police found the vehicle in …

Clearwater police arrest woman in connection with shooting outside apartment …
Tampabay.com
Burgos and Timothy Lamar Miller, 39, are accused of robbing and shooting the unidentified victim Thursday morning while the trio was in a white 1997 Toyota Camry outside the complex at 2625 State Road 590. Burgos was in the driver’s seat of the Camry …

Enon Beach sees change after deputy’s shooting
Springfield News Sun
Patterson moved to the campground this year after the shooting last January. Staff photo by Bill Lackey By Matt Sanctis, Staff Writer Updated 11:39 PM Saturday, December 31, 2011 ENON — When Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Suzanne Waughtel Hopper was …

Shooting spree in stolen car preceded Newton County man’s death
Beaumont Enterprise
By Sarah Moore SCMoore@BeaumontEnterprise.com (409) 880-0730 A Newton County man shot by a deputy there Friday was driving a stolen car and, in possession of stolen guns, had been on a shooting rampage apparently targeting churches before the incidents …

Man wounded in gang-related shooting
Tulsa World
By AMANDA BLAND World Staff Writer A man was shot in the arm in a gang-related shooting Saturday afternoon, police said. About 10 people, including several teenagers and their grandmother, were inside a home in the 1700 block of East 50th Place North …

Tulare officers fatally shoot kidnapping suspect
Visalia Times-Delta
Tulare police officers and Tulare County Sheriff’s deputies investigate a shooting in the 600 block of North Blackstone Street on Thursday night. Ron Holman A 28-year-old man suspected of an armed kidnapping in Porterville was fatally shot by three …

SC man shot dead in parking lot of restaurant was dining with family
14 News WFIE Evansville
The Columbia Police Department say the deadly shooting outside a local Italian restaurant that left one man dead Thursday night, was not a random act of violence. According to police, the victim, 21-year-old Thomas T. Hoefer, may have known the person …

Suspect arrested, man dead after triple shooting Friday evening in St. Roch
NOLA.com
By Times-Picayune Staff New Orleans police have arrested a man in connection with a triple shooting Friday evening that turned fatal when one victim died from his injuries. Romero Rouser, 35, was booked Saturday with first-degree murder after he …

Juvenile injured in hotel shooting
Topeka Capital Journal
By The Capital-Journal A juvenile was rushed to a Topeka hospital late Saturday night after a shooting incident at a north Topeka hotel, police officials confirmed. There was no immediate word about the youth’s condition. Topeka police and emergency …

This once a day Google Alert is brought to you by Google.

Delete this alert.
Create another alert.
Manage your alerts.

United States Beats Iraq In War

niiicedave — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:15:53 +0000

In 2003, The Unites States challenged Iraq to a war due to unfinished business regarding control of this vital region of the world under the header “A New World Order” which was later retitled “Regime Change.” Under President Saddam Hussein, Iraq accepted the challenge, which was extended by U.S. President George W. Bush. The war began with a “shock and awe” bombing campaign followed by ground forces. The agencies and prisons of Iraq were seized and stripped of the Sunni leadership of Iraq known as the Baath Party and were reopened under direct Coalition control, then turned over to the Iraqis, whose first job was to locate, try and execute their former President, Saddam Hussein, who was so kind to invite the U.S. invasion in the first place by being too assertive over the region.
Iraq is essentially administered today by a new government and by an agency of the U.S. government, the US Embassy of Iraq. To see your borrowed dollars at work, visit this: the Reconstruction Agency: http://iraq-prt.usembassy.gov/baghdad.html

Medicare For All In The USA

niiicedave — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:15:17 +0000

Santa Claus on Solstice by Niiicedave

Medicare for all. Pick up the phone. Make an appointment. Get seen. Never worry about “health insurance” again.

Stores for Christmas Shopping 2011

niiicedave — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:41:28 +0000

Kwirkworld – Puzzles, games, wacky gifts

The Hemp Shack – they sell things made out of hemp and things related to stoner culture

The Brass Unicorn – they sell Native American jewelry, real mocassins, books and super cool gift cards

Fig Garden Bookstore – An independent bookstore that has survived the invasion of Barnes & Noble and the rise of Amazon

Horn Photo – cameras and accessories

Valley Novelty – holiday headquarters, party central, beloved fire trap of yore

The Grape Tray – Wines, sandwiches, and wine accessories

Fresno Ag Hardware – work clothing, tools, gardening soil, lighting, paint

Bono of U2: George W. Bush saved 1 million lives

niiicedave — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:18:57 +0000

Egypt is having elections today. It’s for a parliament without governing power. The military dictatorship is in fact solidifying its grip on power even as elections are held in the wake the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings for democracy. The free election is going forward without the participation of banned candidates, banned parties, or thousands of demonstrators in Tahrir Square who are calling it a sham. And they themselves are carrying on without many of their friends because they’ve been jailed, tortured, disappeared or killed – certainly that doesn’t resemble the dawn of democracy either.
It’s World AIDS Day 2011. Bono is praising George W. Bush for giving the world, particularly Africa, lifesaving AIDS medicines. He credits the surge in medicine for saving at least 1 million lives. While other U.S. Presidents throught small and thought mitigated, that one thought big, according to Bono, the lead singer of U2. And today the fight against AIDS may see the announcement of a dramatically better treatment. It’s a rumor. Today 5,000 troops will come home from Iraq. 5,000 troops a day are coming home as the largest evacuation of military personnel and equipment since World War Two takes place. And 26,000 troops will leave Afghanistan this month as well. For good.
In Fresno, dry winds are whipping crispy leaves about the town into leafdrifts all over the streets, sidewalks and yards under a creamy December sunshine glaring from a baby blue sky. As Winter’s grip descends slowly down the continental United States, news headlines morphed from one meaningless thing to another, from the triumph of Black Friday shopping to the bailout of Europe’s banks that triggered a Wall Street rally totaling a 5% gain in value on the last day of November.
One reporter breathlessly reported all 401(k)’s grew dramatically in value yesterday, and the Markets of Wall Street are back in the black for the year! Now there’s a meaningless statement. To be “back in the black for the year” all you have to be is at a higher value that you were at the beginning of the year. The first day of the year could have been a pathetically deep pit in the value of the Market. Given the volatility of the market, very meaningless statement.
Black Friday shopping was spent chasing items for lowest price, with no scrutiny of where anything came from, including its brand or quality. It’s a $2 waffle iron! Whoopie! It’s a $199 39-inch flat screen HDTV! Gotta camp – all night – for that! There were occupy camps in front of Best Buys coast to coast. Occupy camps of shoppers, that is. At the end of the day, the frenzy led to another meaningless statistic that this Black Friday was bigger than last year’s. The crowds at shopping malls were met by equally impressive armies of temporary help in the shops. Nicely that boosts the numbers in that area – sending the unemployment rate down, but that will be followed by post seasonal layoffs. Numbers as weak and meaningless as they are, the very ones the news reporters last night used to bolster their case everything has turned around.
The market has been so volatile, yesterday’s rally was not the only 500 point rally this year. It seems there have been several, maybe not on the same day, but week to week, 500 up, 500 down. And what triggered this rally? Was it reform of the markets? No. Have we seen the last crisis for a long time? No. Has everyone’s life improved overnight? No. We still have record foreclosure, wages are being frozen, jobs cut, college tuitions hiked, infrastructure projects stalled. Nothing has improved. What was the cause of the rally?? It was another bailout. The only thing causing this stupid rally we had yesterday was a government bailout in Europe. Nothing has been fixed. Nothing has been reformed. Nothing has changed. Nothing is different.
Well, one thing is different. Law enforcement cleaned up two more Occupy Wall Street encampments this week, leading MSNBC to declare only two remained: Boston and DC.

Fresno can't get no love! We never did earn a dot on the Occupy Map.