Black Friday Breaks Record with 185K Gun Background Checks

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More Americans had their backgrounds checked purchasing guns on Black Friday than any day in the on record, according to data released by the FBI this week.

The National Instant Criminal Background Check System processed 185,345 requests on Nov. 27, one of the largest retail sales days in the country.

“This was an approximate 5% increase over the 175,754 received on Black Friday 2014,” wrote Stephen Fischer, the FBI’s chief of multimedia productions. “The previous high for receipts were the 177,170 received on 12/21/2012.”

Previous spikes for background checks, conducted before a gun buyer can obtain a firearm, occurred after prominent mass shootings, like in December 2012 in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Other Black Friday shopping days in 2014, 2013 and 2012 occupied the FBI’s “top 10” list of the most background checks processed in a 24-hour period. (Read more from “Black Friday Breaks Record with 185K Gun Background Checks” HERE)

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China ‘Clone Factory’ Scientist Eyes Human Replication

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The Chinese scientist behind the world’s biggest cloning factory has technology advanced enough to replicate humans, he told AFP, and is only holding off for fear of the public reaction.

Boyalife Group and its partners are building the giant plant in the northern Chinese port of Tianjin, where it is due to go into production within the next seven months and aims for an output of one million cloned cows a year by 2020 . . .

Boyalife is already working with its South Korean partner Sooam and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to improve primate cloning capacity to create better test animals for disease research . . .

The firm does not currently engage in human cloning activities, Xu said, adding that it has to be “self-restrained” because of possible adverse reaction.

But social values can change, he pointed out, citing changing views of homosexuality and suggesting that in time humans could have more choices about their own reproduction. (Read more from “China ‘Clone Factory’ Scientist Eyes Human Replication” HERE)

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Former U.S. Marine on Hunting Trip With Kids Arrested After Entering Mexico by Innocent Mistake

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An 18-year-veteran of the Marine Corps who did tours of service in Iraq and Afghanistan earning a Bronze Star was hoping for some much-needed dad time with his kids.

So retired 1st Sgt. Jeromie Slaughter, 38, planned a deer-hunting trip with them a few hours from his Houston-area home — a trip that became an odyssey when he took a wrong turn and wound up arrested in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, for carrying weapons.

And when his family tried to find a Mexican lawyer to represent him, the ones they contacted asked for cash in U.S. dollars to help secure his release, Slaughter’s mother, Beverly McKinney, said . . .

According to McKinney, the Texas City resident piled into his pickup with his 14-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter after Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. They were heading for a deer lease – private property that’s open to hunters for a fee – near Rocksprings, about 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, about a 6-hour drive.

Instead, Slaughter made a wrong turn and, at about 1 a.m. Friday morning, wound up crossing a bridge into Ciudad Acuña, across the border from Del Rio, Texas. . . It was frustrating, [Slaughter’s mother told Fox] on Monday, because Mexican officials “were treating him like he is a terrorist. He was on a hunting trip, [he is] not a terrorist. He has fought them, he isn’t one.” (Read more from “Former U.S. Marine on Hunting Trip With Kids Arrested After Entering Mexico by Mistake” HERE)

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Will Genome Editing Allow Scientists to Create the Perfect Baby?

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Jennifer Doudna and her research partner Emmanuelle Charpentier both won the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, Massry Prize. You’d see that and decide these were a couple scientific eggheads, winning some special award. Then you’d forget about it. Unless you see the film clip of Cameron Diaz handing them an award that, at quick glance, could be an Emmy or an Oscar. Then the average person’s attention perks up. This must be some big deal to have a movie star give them the award. And it is. They won for a breakthrough study in genome editing.

Genome editing. It sounds maybe innocent, maybe a little techie. Most people aren’t science oriented enough to know what a genome is without looking it up. And the word “editing” certainly sounds innocent enough. Dictionary.com defines genome as “a full set of chromosomes; all the inheritable traits of an organism.” The first entry in a Google search for “genome” says, “A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. Each genome contains all of the information needed to build and maintain that organism. In humans, a copy of the entire genome—more than 3 billion DNA base pairs—is contained in all cells that have a nucleus.”

Suddenly, “genome editing” becomes more interesting. What these women won the award for is genetic manipulation. In a story by Norah O’Donnell on CBS This Morning, Mrs. Doudna said, among other things, that she was interested in the science not the monetary possibilities. And she seemed honest enough to believe that. But we don’t normally think of scientists “going for the big bucks.” Until you think about what this is.

As we gain more experience and knowledge in the field, there’s the possibility of editing out genetic diseases. Tendencies toward cancer could disappear, family genetics toward certain health issues could be eliminated. Perhaps, as we get better at it, we could develop corrective surgery at the genetic level. That’s all good. (Read more from “Will Genome Editing Allow Scientists to Create the Perfect Baby?” HERE)

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Obama’s Trip to the UN ‘Global Warming’ Summit Emits More CO2 Than Driving 72 Cars for a Year

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President Barack Obama may warn that carbon dioxide is causing global warming, but his flight to Paris to join other world leaders at the United Nations climate summit emitted more CO2 than driving 72 cars for a year.

Obama’s Paris jaunt will send more CO2 into the atmosphere than 31 American homes‘ energy usage for an entire year. The president’s trip is equivalent to burning 368,331 pounds of coal or 797 barrels of oil, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s carbon footprint calculator.

Just one leg of the president’s Sunday trip to Paris emitted 189 tons of CO2 after travelling 3,855 miles and burning 19,275 gallons of jet fuel, according to Daily Caller News Foundation calculations based on past presidential flights. Obama’s return flight to Washington, D.C., would double the amount of CO2 burned to 378 tons — more than 72 cars driving for a year.

Obama has been criticized for past plane rides in the name of fighting global warming. Earlier this year, Obama flew down to the Everglades for Earth Day and was hammered for potentially damaging the fragile eco-system and costing taxpayers more than $866,000.

World leaders will meet Monday in Paris to kick off the U.N.’s 21st attempt to get countries to sign onto a global agreement to cut carbon dioxide emissions. Obama wants signing a climate treaty to be a part of his presidential legacy, and administration staff have been working tirelessly to convince other countries, like China, to agree to emissions cuts. (Read more from “Obama’s Trip to the UN ‘Global Warming’ Summit Emits More CO2 Than Driving 72 Cars for a Year” HERE)

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It’s Nuts to Censor Ads for Man in the High Castle, a Show About Freedom

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Americans increasingly support free speech as a concept but make lots of exceptions. A new Pew Research poll found that 40 percent of Millennials (ages 18 to 34) believe the government should be able to prevent people from making offensive statements about minority groups.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo and Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York City, certainly agree. Often rivals, they teamed up to remove a set of controversial subway ads advertising a new Amazon series that depicts an alternate history in which the Nazis and the Japanese won World War II and divided control of America between them. The show’s creators include director Ridley Scott (Alien and Blade Runner) and writer Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files). It has won rave reviews, including a 96 percent positive rating at Rotten Tomatoes.com.

The ads for Man in the High Castle, which appeared on a single subway line linking Times Square with Grand Central Station, featured a version of Japanese Rising Sun flags and Nazi-inspired imperial eagles (but no swastikas). The Metropolitan Transit Authority approved the ads because they did not violate MTA guidelines against political statements.

When controversy about the ads first arose last week, the MTA at first stood its ground. Adam Lisberg, a spokesperson for the MTA, explained that the public agency had no choice but to allow the ads. “We cannot pick and choose the way WCBS radio can — whether it likes an ad or doesn’t like an ad,” he told WCBS Radio. “This advertising, whether you find it distasteful or not, obviously they’re not advertising Nazism; they’re advertising a TV show.”

Then the politicians got involved, with Mayor de Blasio blasting Amazon. “While these ads technically may be within MTA guidelines, they’re irresponsible and offensive to World War II and Holocaust survivors, their families, and countless other New Yorkers,” he said. Governor Cuomo turned up the heat. Last Tuesday, the MTA acknowledged that “Cuomo called the head of the MTA and asked him to ensure the ads came down.” The MTA quickly took the subway cars out of service. (Read more from “It’s Nuts to Censor Ads for Man in the High Castle, a Show About Freedom” HERE)

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Decade Long Ice Age Predicted as Sun ‘Hibernates’

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A team of European researchers have unveiled a scientific model showing that the Earth is likely to experience a “mini ice age” from 2030 to 2040 as a result of decreased solar activity.

Their findings will infuriate environmental campaigners who argue by 2030 we could be facing increased sea levels and flooding due to glacial melt at the poles.

However, at the National Astronomy Meeting in Wales, Northumbria University professor Valentina Zharkova said fluctuations an 11-year cycle of solar activity the sun goes through would be responsible for a freeze, the like of which has not been experienced since the 1600s . . .

Professor Zharkova said two magnetic waves will cancel each other out in about 2030, leading to a drop in sun spots and solar flares of about 60 per cent.

Sunspots are dark concentrations of magnetic field flux on the surface that reduce surface temperature in that area, while solar flares are burst of radiation and solar energy that fire out across the solar system, but the Earth’s atmosphere protects us from the otherwise devastating effects. (Read more from “Decade Long Ice Age Predicted as Sun ‘Hibernates'” HERE)

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Top Biologists Debate Ban on Gene-Editing

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Delegates at a crucial scientific summit this week are expected to debate a ban on the use of the controversial technique of gene-editing. Hundreds of the world’s leading biologists will gather in Washington to discuss the procedure, in which genes are removed from or added to human embryos.

Some researchers say gene-editing of humans could have unpredictable effects on future generations and is ethically unacceptable. They also warn that the technology could be used to create lineages of “enhanced” humans and want all work in the area halted until its implications are fully assessed.

As a result they are expected to call for a moratorium on future research at the summit, which is to be attended mostly by researchers from the UK, US and China, where gene-editing is most widely practiced. But other scientists say a moratorium would be harmful. Gene-editing has the potential to rid the planet of some fatal illnesses, they argue. Academics in favor of continuing the current research programe point to the work of Chinese scientists, who earlier this year reported they had used a gene-editing procedure called Crispr to modify an aberrant gene that causes beta thalassaemia, an inherited life-threatening blood disorder. This was done in IVF embryos obtained from fertility clinics. The embryos were not implanted into women once the modifications were made, however.

Other scientists say versions of genes that predispose humans to Alzheimer’s disease or make them susceptible to HIV and other infections could be removed from embryos and so free future generations from these conditions. The technology also offers ways to improve stem cell research, boost the effectiveness of IVF techniques and reduce human miscarriage rates. For good measure, techniques like Crispr will allow researchers to rewrite the genomes of plants and animals and transform agricultural science.

“There is a great deal to be gained through the use of gene-editing, but obviously we have be careful how we proceed,” said one conference organizers, Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, of the Francis Crick Institute, in London. “The point of this meeting is to determine just how quickly we should move.” (Read more from “Top Biologists Debate Ban on Gene-Editing” HERE)

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Major Ice Cream Brand Announces 7 Bernie Sanders Themed Ice Cream Flavors

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Press Release: In a revolutionary new development Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with Bernie Sanders! Ben & Jerry’s is proud to call Vermont home and we couldn’t be more proud of Bernie “Socialist” Sanders for representing our state and our mutual values. We would like to introduce to the world our newest line of socially conscious ice creams that are flavored to embody the spirit of Bernie Sanders and his campaign for President Of The United States!!

1) Triple Tax Toffee: This sweet blend of all natural vanilla ice cream is combined with a triple helping of toffee and a triple scoop of tax applied to the price. Every purchase will help to disempower a low risk individual through the reallocation of wealth and increasing resources available to trap them in a vicious cycle of welfare dependency and entitlements.

2) We The People Werthers: This is the perfect flavor to hold you over until your elected Democrats deliver on their campaign promises. Creamy caramel ice cream is paired with an extra helping of long lasting Werthers Originals hard candy, so you can savor the flavor while you wait for Guantanamo to close and Obamacare to finally deliver all of its promised benefits.

3) Occupy Your Arteries: Being in the 99% never tasted so good. What happens when you combine double fudge ice cream and chunks of bacon with ribbons of sour cream and mayonnaise? A sit-in of flavor on your tongue and Type Two diabetes in your future, that’s what!

4) Social Just Ice: This dismal blend of ice sourced from San Diego & Jacksonville’s municipal water supply, will leave your taste buds tingling with hints of arsenic and lead. This ice (cream) flavor is designed to reduce the impact of any possible perceived micro-aggression that might arise from being seen eating a premium branded ice cream in front of those who might not have the opportunity to acquire such a luxury on their own without subsidies or government assistance.

5) Bernt Ends: In this bold new taste creation we’ve combined hand selected cuts of brisket and slow cooked them for 15 hours in the fiery flames of Bernie Sanders’ anti-capitalist and anti-free market rhetoric. In addition to the rhetorical slow cooking we slather on layers of sweet entitlements and incorporate plenty of safe spaces which help each unique ingredient to protect itself from the aggressive flavors of other ingredients. This new flavor is sure to be liked by everyone except billionaires.

6) Carbon Neutral Nut: This all natural nutty harmony of vanilla ice cream and exotic nuts sourced from all over the world is in no way carbon neutral. In fact, all of the nuts traveled by old diesel trucks out of the remote regions of tropical places all over the world to be shipped on rusty old diesel barges across an ocean or two and then placed on diesel trucks and driven to a processing plant. From there the exotic nuts were packaged and sent by more old diesel trucks and shipped to our facility before they were turned into delicious treats and shipped yet again on diesel trucks all over the country to be enjoyed. But don’t feel guilty about the environmental impact of our ingredient sourcing for this flavor medley because each time you purchase one of our $15 packages of Carbon Neutral Nut, we will purchase a carbon credit in your name from Al Gore himself.

7) Socialist Swirl: In the tradition of the United State’s long history of being a cultural melting pot, we have combined literally all of our flavors together into one homogeneous flavor that you are sure to like. And if you don’t like it, it’s probably because you are a racist xenophobe who doesn’t like other people’s cultural palate of flavors. Imagine swirls of Bernt Ends and We The People Werthers, in a complex taste synergy with swirls of Occupy Your Arteries and Triple Tax Toffee. In creating Socialist Swirl, we have set out to radically transform your traditional view of what is tasty and redefine it with a more tolerant, accepting and inclusive perception of what will be delicious in the future. (For more from the author of “Major Ice Cream Brand Announces 7 Bernie Sanders Themed Ice Cream Flavors” please click HERE)

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‘Really Big’ Spider Causes Freakout

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Police were questioning a “flushed” and “out of breath” man who had answered the door to a flat in Wollstonecraft, a small harborside suburb of Sydney, Australia.

The booming sounds of a man shouting “I’m going to kill you” and a “woman screaming hysterically” had earlier echoed through the apartment block, sometime before 2.00am, Saturday November 21. The commotion disturbed neighbors, who were quick to alert the local police force.

The officers then told the man that neighbors had heard death threats, screams and the crash of furniture being flung around the apartment.

“It was a [really big] spider,” the man tentatively explained . . .

A new theory had emerged — the man was indeed alone in the apartment, he was responsible for both the “womanly” screams and the threats to kill. They were not aimed at a woman, but an eight-legged arachnid. (Read more from “‘Really Big’ Spider Causes Freakout” HERE)

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