Eastman Media

14-Million-Year-Old Antarctic Lake Cooties?

2012-02-07T01:13:00.000-08:00

I wonder what the potential is for them to release some kind of virus or bacteria for which modern life (especially us) may have no exposure or immunity to? The same question goes for the melting permafrost.

Russian Drill Penetrates 14-Million-Year-Old Antarctic Lake | Wired Science | Wired.com:

'via Blog this'

Be Prepared. Be A Prepper.

2012-01-22T23:36:00.000-08:00

Prepping is something I've done most of my life, starting with my days as a Boy Scout, then a Coast Guardsman, and now an old fart watching the world go crazy.

Subculture of Americans prepares for civilization's collapse | Reuters:

'via Blog this'

Occupy Wall Street protest camp cleared by police

2011-11-14T23:03:00.000-08:00

So - is this how Occupy Wall Street will end?

BBC News - Occupy Wall Street protest camp cleared by police:

'via Blog this'

Brian Setzer's Fantastic Animation and Song

2011-10-02T15:46:00.000-07:00

U.S. hikers freed after 2 years, leave Iran - CBS News

2011-09-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

I'm really glad that all three hikers will soon be reunited and there will finally be a happy ending. But I still have one question I have yet to hear anyone ask these three. What the hell made you think hiking in that part of the world was even remotely safe to do? North Korea is about the only place that might have been an even worse destination.

U.S. hikers freed after 2 years, leave Iran - CBS News: "Their families and the U.S. government said they were just hiking in northern Iraq's scenic and relatively peaceful Kurdish region when they may have accidentally strayed over the unmarked border with Iran."

'via Blog this'

Top Secret America : NPR

2011-09-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

This sounds like a great book and I look forward to reading it. Does anyone have a copy I can borrow?

Top Secret America : NPR:

Amazing Optical Illusion Video - Think You Have Sharp Eyes?

2011-08-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

As an artist, I pay a lot of attention to things like shading and tone. This video is simply amazing!

Revenge and Retribution - Is This What War Has Become?

2011-08-10T15:04:00.000-07:00

I remember when wars were theoretically fought by nations. They were about settling border disputes, political issues, and other similar concerns over national security.

But now war has become an excuse for revenge and retribution. Osama bin Laden is finally caught and killed, and the nation celebrates. We grieve when our own soldiers are killed in battle, then go to extraordinary lengths to identify and hunt down the specific person who pulled the trigger?

Nato kill Taliban insurgents responsible for Chinook shooting - Telegraph

Alien Space Eggs Found In Alaskan Village?

2011-08-09T23:03:00.000-07:00

First we had the birds that dropped dead from the sky. Now we have orange "goo" in Alaska, and all we know so far is that they are eggs of some kind... Next someone will cause an intergalactic incident by mistaking the alien ambassadors for caviar.

Mysterious Orange Goo ID'ed As Eggs; Alaskan Village Still Worries : The Two-Way : NPR

Claiming The Military Has "Withered" is BS!

2011-07-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

Would someone please explain how the largest and most powerful military force in history has "withered" because of spending cuts? Yes, it has been stretched thin and we are overextending our resources. The solution is to get us out of the needless wars we are presently tied up in, not continuing to throw more and more money at them!

In a rare and hastily called Saturday press conference with fellow Republicans in the Capitol, Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard "Buck" McKeon, of California, said Democrats were “shortchanging” the U.S. military and threatening readiness.

McKeon defended the House bill sponsored by Speaker John Boehner, R.-Ohio, that narrowly passed late Friday. The Senate rejected that bill within hours and Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid, of Nevada, hoped to pass his alternative bill after midnight Saturday. Leaders from both chambers would then have to negotiate a single compromise bill and put it to another vote.

While members are battling to pass a bill by Aug. 2 to keep troop paychecks coming, House Republicans sought to highlight the longer-term stakes: hundreds of millions of dollars in defense cuts over the next 10 years.

“Let me put this plainly,” McKeon said, flanked by other Republicans. “If Senator Reid’s plan passes, if we stand idly by while this Administration pays down its domestic spending spree with the blood and sweat of our troops, our military will break.”

“We are determined we will provide for national defense,'' said Rep. Bill Young, R.-Fla., a Republican defense stalwart.

McKeon, in prepared remarks, said, “Our debt has exploded, while our military has withered. …We owe them our liberty, but this Administration treats them as just another number on the chalkboard.”

Boenher's office, on the speaker's blog, wrote, "It is time for Democrats in the Senate to get serious and…begin putting America on a more sustainable fiscal path without compromising our national security."

Source: Stars and Stripes - (The military's news agency)

Eagle Love Story: Injured Mates Reunited At Rehab Center : The Two-Way : NPR

2011-07-18T17:43:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time, but here is an honest feel good story!

Eagle Love Story: Injured Mates Reunited At Rehab Center : The Two-Way : NPR

Austrian Man Wins Right To Wear Pasta Strainer In License Photo : The Two-Way : NPR

2011-07-13T18:59:00.000-07:00

Maybe I should consider becoming a Pastafarian too!

Austrian Man Wins Right To Wear Pasta Strainer In License Photo : The Two-Way : NPR

Social Security Promises Made by Obama

2011-07-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

I rely on Social Security Disability Insurance just to survive. I paid a large portion of my earnings into the system all through my life. I served 6 years in the U.S. Coast Guard with an honorable discharge, I've worked in the healthcare system, and my last job before becoming disabled was working as an Emergency Medical Technician for the local 911 system. I've done my share of volunteer and pro-bono work. I've spent most of my life trying to help others.

There are many people who take advantage of the Social Security system. Some take advantage because it is easier than working. Some take advantage simply because they can. But there are far more people who depend on it for their day to day survival. Barak Obama made some significant promises related to Social Security, which he now seems poised to renege on. I understand politics. It sometimes becomes necessary to make concessions. But this issue is too big and the probable ramifications are being ignored. So here are my suggestions, based on my own first hand experiences.

1. Drastically cut the administrative costs of running the system. The bureaucracy is insane and often contributes negatively to the well being of the people they are supposed to be serving.

2. Do more to be proactive about getting disabled workers back to work instead of being an impediment to any attempts. Hire the disabled to work the front windows at the SSA. The people I have encountered are often rude, ignorant about their own job, and have no ability to actually do anything. Any deaf or blind person could do an equally good job, if not better.

3. Stop focusing on AGE as a qualifying factor. Some people, like myself, will probably never be able to work for wages again. I am only 50 years old. Other people, by choice and good fortune, will choose to work their entire lives without retiring. Social Security, whether needed by the disabled like myself, or by the retired like my mother, should be a "need based" benefit. In my mind, those who are wealthy or were fortunate enough to stack pension plans have no need for Social Security retirement benefits and should not receive them.

4. Revisit the COLA (cost of living allowance) and the reasons they were put in place. I haven't received an increase in years because there was "no inflation." The funny thing is, the price for everything has been going up steeply all this time. Now they tell me that any COLA increase coming for 2012 will probably be eaten up by increased Medicare premiums. How does this help people on fixed incomes live a worthwhile life? I'm already making decisions about my healthcare based on what medications and treatments I can afford.

5. I think the pay, perks, and benefits received by politicians is an outrage. Reform in that area will most likely never happen in my lifetime. But here is one place they could start. Put all federal employees, from soldiers to statesmen, on Medicare. Do away with concierge healthcare and on-site medical staff for the "privileged." If We the People have to sit for hours in overcrowded Emergency Rooms, then so should everyone that works for the government that created this situation.

6. Stop trying to balance the budget on the backs of the unfortunate and needy! Cut useless bureaucracy wherever it is found. Equalize social programs and provide them to U.S. Citizens and withhold them from illegal aliens. Cut back significantly on military and intelligence gathering costs and expenditures. Cut back on foreign aid. Put an end to special interests and lobbyists, and make behind the door agreements against the law. Then enforce the law and penalize those who break it.

Opt Out of Statism

2011-06-30T22:16:00.000-07:00

Kind Of Blue: Using Copyright To Make Hobby Artist Pay Up | Techdirt

2011-06-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

Just because the law allows you to sue someone, it doesn't mean you *should*.

Kind Of Blue: Using Copyright To Make Hobby Artist Pay Up | Techdirt

Lytro Camera Lets You Focus Photos After You Take Them | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

2011-06-22T15:45:00.000-07:00

Here comes the next BIG thing!

Lytro Camera Lets You Focus Photos After You Take Them | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

The Future of Food

2011-06-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

"The Future of Food" left me dumbfounded. I thought I was relatively well informed about the pros and cons of genetically modified organisms (GMO) until I watched this documentary. I already know corporations are corrupt, so that part didn't surprise me. If you eat food, you should watch their video.

The Future of Food

Texas Should Hire Me As a Rainmaker

2011-06-04T08:48:00.000-07:00

I swear, all I have to do is move from one home to another, and I can magically make it rain. Even here in Northern California, where I can't even remember it raining in June. It's taking me a long time to get my stuff packed and moved. I started on June 1st, and it has been raining ever since!

Being disabled and having to do all the moving by yourself really sucks. I don't recommend it. In hindsight, I should have paid a couple guys with a moving truck to pack and move me in a couple of hours. But I wanted to save some money by doing it myself. Live and learn.

Just. Stop. The. Rain!

Music Creation on an iPad is Magic!

2011-05-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

This musician does magical things with Garageband and an iPad 2. I want one so bad!!

Urban Stencil by Christi Bertelsen

2011-05-25T19:55:00.000-07:00

This is a short, magical mix of animation and video. Gotta love it!

High court upholds order that may release thousands of Calif. inmates - The Washington Post

2011-05-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

High court upholds order that may release thousands of Calif. inmates - The Washington Post

I read just recently that California spends over $30,000 a year, per inmate. The vast majority of the people in prison have never made $30,000 a year, which might explain why they ended up in prison. Heck, why not GIVE everyone $25,000 per year just for living within the law? Yes, I'm being sarcastic, but think about it.

History of the Universe in 2 Minutes and 39 Seconds

2011-05-21T16:03:00.000-07:00

Adding to my collection of totally fascinating videos. Well, fascinating to me anyway.

Space Ship 2 - Wicked "Feather" Flight

2011-05-18T20:35:00.000-07:00

If you have any interest in space travel or aeronautics, you have to watch this video. My jaw dropped when they execute the maneuver!

Should we save smallpox? A conversation with Richard Preston | The Loom | Discover Magazine

2011-05-13T21:26:00.000-07:00

What if they completely wipe out the virus, alien bad guys invade us, and it turns out that the smallpox virus could have saved us, i.e. "War of the Worlds?"

Should we save smallpox? A conversation with Richard Preston | The Loom | Discover Magazine

Me and Computer Technology - Feeling Old

2011-05-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

I joined the military at age 17 in 1979 and went directly into telecommunications. Just stick me into this great computer history visual - 1980 is when I started using computers for the first time.

Via: OnlineComputerScienceDegree.com