Geologists See 2018 as Year of Monster Quakes

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Geophysicists who studied seismic activity over the past 117 years report 2018 could be shaping up as a year of monster earthquakes – especially around the equator . . .

The signal that causes the alarm from a historical pattern, they say, is the slowing of the Earth’s rotation.

The new study, presented at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, in Seattle, is published in Geophysical Research Letters by geologists Roger Bilham of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and Rebecca Bendick of the University of Montana.

It tracked the incidence of magnitude 7 or greater earthquakes worldwide since 1900, revealing through recent history, such major quakes occur about 15 times per year. Yet, over the last 117 years, there have been evenly spaced intervals in which the annual total jumped to between 25 and 30 . . .

While the researchers caution that 117 years is a relatively short period of time in the history of the Earth, something else caught the attention of the researchers. (Read more from “Geologists See 2018 as Year of Monster Quakes” HERE)

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Texas Rep Barton Apologizes for Nude Pic and Sext, but Won’t Retire

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Congressman Joe Barton, R-Texas, has apologized for sending a nude photo and illicit text message to a woman not his wife. The image circulated around social media earlier this week.

“While separated from my second wife, prior to the divorce, I had sexual relationships with other mature adult women,” Barton said in a statement Wednesday. “Each was consensual. Those relationships have ended. I am sorry I did not use better judgment during those days. I am sorry that I let my constituents down.”

Barton announced his reelection bid earlier this month. The Republican representative told the Texas Tribune on Tuesday he was still deliberating his political future.

However, a spokesman for Barton told The Dallas Morning News Wednesday that the congressman has no plans to retire.

“You’re as aware of what was posted as I am,” he said. “I am talking to a number of people, all of whom I have faith in and am deciding how to respond, quite frankly.”

Barton, 68, was first elected to the House in 1985 and is the longest-serving member of Congress from the Texas delegation. (For more from the author of “Texas Rep Barton Apologizes for Nude Pic and Sext, but Won’t Retire” please click HERE)

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Man Claims in Lawsuit That He Was Groped by LA Kings Mascot

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A man is filing suit against the person who plays the Los Angeles Kings mascot for allegedly groping him inappropriately.

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, Maso Griffin accuses the hockey team’s mascot, known as “Bailey the Lion,” of groping him in an elevator last year. At the time, he alleges a man named Tim Smith played Bailey.

Griffin, who was working as a dishwasher at the stadium’s restaurant at the time, claims he reported the groping to his boss Melissa Smith, who was married to Tim. After he reported it, he claims he was made fun of by other staff and eventually fired. (Read more from “Man Claims in Lawsuit That He Was Groped by LA Kings Mascot” HERE)

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Democratic State Rep. Arrested in Anti-Black Friday Protest

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A Democratic state representative in Missouri was among those arrested as part of anti-Black Friday protests in St. Louis.

State Rep. Bruce Franks Jr. was among seven people arrested after they marched through the St. Louis Galleria mall, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The protesters reportedly chanted “Shut it down!” as they marched through the mall.

Franks advertised the protest on Twitter beforehand.

(Read more from “Democratic State Rep. Arrested in Anti-Black Friday Protest” HERE)

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Eminem Whines That Trump Hasn’t Noticed His Unhinged Rap

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Eminem basically threw a hissy fit because he wrote a rap slamming President Donald Trump and the president hasn’t reacted to it yet.

“I was and I still am extremely angry. I can’t stand that motherfucker,” the 45-year-old rapper — real name Marshall Bruce Mathers III — complained Tuesday on SiriusXM radio.

“I feel like he’s not paying attention to me,” he added. “I was kind of waiting for him to say something, and for some reason, he didn’t say anything.”

The rapper’s comments stem from a five-minute-long freestyle rap he performed for the BET Hip Hop Awards in October. The video quickly went viral with close to 40 million views to date.

[Explicit language]

(Read more from “Eminem Whines That Trump Hasn’t Noticed His Unhinged Rap” HERE)

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Self-Driving Cars Programmed to Decide Who Dies in Crash

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. . .It’s not just a theoretical question anymore, with predictions that in a few years, tens of thousands of semi-autonomous vehicles may be on the roads. About $80 billion has been invested in the field. Tech companies are working feverishly on them, with Google-affiliated Waymo among those testing cars in Michigan, and mobility companies like Uber and Tesla racing to beat them. Automakers are placing a big bet on them. A testing facility to hurry along research is being built at Willow Run in Ypsilanti.

There’s every reason for excitement: Self-driving vehicles will ease commutes, returning lost time to workers; enhance mobility for seniors and those with physical challenges, and sharply reduce the more than 35,000 deaths on U.S. highways each year.

But there are also a host of nagging questions to be sorted out as well, from what happens to cab drivers to whether such vehicles will create sprawl . . .

Who dies when the car is forced into a no-win situation?

“There will be crashes,” said Van Lindberg, an attorney in the Dykema law firm’s San Antonio office who specializes in autonomous vehicle issues. “Unusual things will happen. Trees will fall. Animals, kids will dart out.” Even as self-driving cars save thousands of lives, he said, “anyone who gets the short end of that stick is going to be pretty unhappy about it.” (Read more from “Self-Driving Cars Programmed to Decide Who Dies in Crash” HERE)

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US Troops Killed in Plane Crashes Skyrockets in 2017

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Even before the Navy cargo plane crash Wednesday, the number of U.S. troops killed in plane crashes had skyrocketed this year along with the total number of crashes overall compared to this point a year ago, a Fox News investigation has uncovered.

So far this year, there have been 22 U.S. military noncombat plane crashes flying routine operations. That’s up 38 percent from this time last year.

The number of American troops killed in these plane crashes has more than doubled. Following the announcement by the 7th Fleet Thursday night that it has ended its search for three missing American sailors hundreds of miles off the coast of Japan, the number of U.S. service members lost to plane crashes in 2017 stands at 37. That is more than 130 percent higher than the number killed in non-combat plane crashes at this point in 2016 . . .

“Perhaps the greatest harm to our national security and our military is self-inflicted. I repeat self-inflicted,” Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and former naval aviator, said on the senate floor. “We are killing more of our own people in training than our enemies are in combat.”

The Navy cargo plane crash this week was the deadliest crash for the U.S. military since an Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed off the coast of Hawaii killing five soldiers in August. (Read more from “US Troops Killed in Plane Crashes Skyrockets in 2017” HERE)

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Homeless Man Returns $10,000 Check, Gets Rewarded in Huge Way

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On November 14, a successful business woman from New Haven thanked a homeless man, who returned a $10,000 check she had dropped in the street, by giving him money and entrance into her real estate school, free of charge.

But, Wednesday morning, another surprise awaited the homeless man. The Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce played hist to some true thanks giving.

“He has absolutely no idea what’s about to happen,” said Dr. Roberta Hoskie, who was about the change the homeless man’s life . . .

Hoskie reminded Mr. Alvarez she will pay for his real estate course through her school and English language classes. Then, an unexpected gift.

“You don’t have to worry about being in the cold,” she told Alvarez. “We have housing for you.” (Read more from “Homeless Man Returns $10,000 Check, Gets Rewarded in Huge Way” HERE)

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Death Threat Allows Muslim Woman to Evade Deportation

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A Jordanian woman living in Michigan is seeking court protection from being deported back to her homeland out of fear that she will be killed as soon as she returns in accordance with Islamic Shariah law . . .

The woman, who came to the United States on a student visa but has overstayed, got pregnant out of wedlock. Her cousin has vowed to kill her to preserve the family’s honor.

The Associated Press reported the story Friday without mentioning Islam or Shariah law, attributing the threatened honor killing to “an ancient practice across the globe that calls for defending a family’s reputation by slaying female relatives who violate traditional taboos.”

Three 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges in Cincinnati voted this month to block the deportation of Jordanian native Olga Jad Kamar.

Contrary to what the AP reports, the case is not about violating “traditional taboos,” says women’s rights advocate Pamela Geller. (Read more from “Death Threat Allows Muslim Woman to Evade Deportation” HERE)

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Militants Target Mosque in Egypt

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Suspected militants attacked a crowded mosque during a Friday sermon in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, setting off bombs, opening fire on worshippers and killing at least 235 in the deadliest ever attack on Egyptian civilians by Islamic militants, the official MENA news agency reported.

Some 130 people were also wounded, according to the news agency.

The local Islamic State affiliate — Sinai Province — appeared to be responsible for the gruesome incident, in the first attack on a large mosque since the militants began their terror campaign in 2013, the Associated Press reported.

Police said militants in four off-road vehicles carried out the attack during prayers at the al-Rawdah mosque in the town of Bir al-Abd, located 25 miles from the regional capital of el-Arish. The militants stopped people from escaping by blowing up cars and leaving the burning wrecks blocking the roads, police said.

President Abdul Fattah el-Sisi condemned the “criminal” and “cowardly” attack, and said that it “will not go unpunished.” He said the victims’ suffering will only “add to our insistence” to combat terrorism. (Read more from “Militants Target Mosque in Egypt” HERE)

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