No time for the ole in/out, I'm just here to read the meters.

Falling birds likely died from massive trauma

(CNN) -- The thousands of birds that fell from the sky just before midnight New Year's Eve in Arkansas likely died from massive trauma, according to a preliminary report released Monday.

The birds -- most of which were dead when they were found -- were red-winged blackbirds and starlings, and they were found within a one-mile area of Beebe, about 40 miles northeast of Little Rock, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said.

Keith Stephens, a spokesman for the commission, said the birds showed evidence of trauma in the breast tissue, blood clots in the body cavity and a lot of internal bleeding.

He cited a preliminary report conducted by the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission.

As of Saturday, between 4,000 and 5,000 birds had been found dead, said Stephens.

Karen Rowe, an ornithologist for the game and fish commission, said the incident is not that unusual and is often caused by a lightning strike or high-altitude hail.

A strong storm system moved through the state earlier in the day Friday. Officials also speculated that fireworks shot by New Year's revelers in the area might have caused severe stress in the birds.

"The birds obviously hit something very hard and had hemorrhages," said Rowe.

"Initial examinations of a few of the dead birds showed trauma. Whether or not this trauma was from the force of hitting the ground when they fell or from something that contacted them in the air, we don't know," she said.

:rolleyes:

It's almost as if someone was pointing a radar type emitter dish over a large swath of sky.

that doesnt explain the 100,000 dead fish of a single species:wtf:

Perhaps some new gene exclusive virus.

Caloocan councilor takes photo of his own killer
 

Caloocan councilor takes photo of his own killer


MANILA, Philippines - A barangay councilman solved his own killing after coincidentally capturing the images of his gunman and the suspect's lookout in a photo.

Barangay councilor Reynaldo Dagsa of Barangay 35 in Caloocan City was taking a picture of his wife and daughter outside his house on January 1 when he was shot by a lone gunman.

A report by Philippine Daily Inquirer said Dagsa was able to shoot his camera right before he was shot dead. A front-page photo published by the broadsheet newspaper shows a man aiming at Dagsa. It also captures an image of another person, later identified as the shooter's lookout.

Later, during the investigation, Dagsa's family turned over the photo to the police, which led to the arrest of the suspect identified as Michael Rollon, not Gonzales as earlier reported.

Senior Superintendent Jude Santos, Caloocan City police chief, told ANC?s Dateline Philippines in an interview that the motive behind the killing could be work-related as Dagsa was very active in the police's barangay peacekeeping action teams program.

"Talagang sa mga operations ay kasama siya. Ito nga may panahon nakaraan na ang mga tao na ito ay nakasuhan dahil sa information galing kay Dagsa," Santos said, referring to Rollo and the other suspects.

The newspaper report said Rollo and the other suspects were arrested through the help of Dagsa. They were out on bail durig the killing.

Santos said Rollo's group is allegedly involved in a string of robbery and car theft cases in the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area.

He said another suspect, who served as Rollo's lookout, identified as Frederick Sales has been arrested in an operation at the boundary of Caloocan and Quezon cities.

Santos said that it was just fortunate that seconds before he was killed, Dagsa was able to take a picture of his killers.

He said that if not for the picture, police would not be able to immediately trace and arrest the suspects.

"A dead man tells no tales, pero ito siya mismo ang nakakuha ng mga pictures ng mga killers niya," he said.

Santos said Rollo and Sales have admitted to the crime and are spilling information that may lead to the arrest of a 3rd suspect identified as Arnel Buenaflor.

He said Buenaflor may be arrested by tracker teams "in due time."

Like getting knocked out is the normal part
 

2 Accused Of Using Snake In Sexual Assault
January 4, 2011 8:26 AM



EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) ? Two northwestern Wisconsin men are accused of sexually assaulting a woman with a live snake.

Twenty-four-year-old John Bullock of Altoona and 25-year-old Domonta Jones of Eau Claire pleaded not guilty to the assault Monday in Eau Claire County Circuit Court. Each man is charged with first-degree sexual assault.

A criminal complaint says the woman told police she was knocked out in the bedroom of Jones? home on Nov. 11. And, when she regained consciousness, Jones was holding her while Bullock assaulted her. She says Jones then got his snake and used it to assault her. Bullock says the sexual contact was consensual.The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram says the men are jailed on $30,000 cash.

Don't fancy a pint? UK introduces new beer size
 

The Associated Press
Tuesday, January 4, 2011; 1:11 PM

LONDON -- Britain is calling time on more than 300 years of history, by relaxing rules on pub glass sizes.

Pubs will soon be able to serve a smaller beer, holding about 400 milliliters - a measure popular in some parts of Australia where it is known as a schooner.

Science Minister David Willetts said Tuesday that centuries old rules governing the sale of alcohol are being relaxed in response to health concerns and following demands from businesses to sell sizes better suited to modern waistlines and wallets.

The British pint - a 568 milliliter pour - has been the standard size for beer or cider since it was introduced in 1698. Bars are currently permitted to serve beer only as a pint, or as a third or a half of that measure.

Willetts said legislation would be introduced within months allowing pubs and bars to serve smaller glasses of beer and wine.

"This is exactly the sort of unnecessary red tape the government wants to remove," Willetts said in a statement. "We have listened to consumers and businesses. They have called for fixed quantities to be kept but with greater flexibility."


The change may also help Britain's government reduce the country's seemingly unquenchable thirst for alcohol.

Liam Donaldson, then Britain's chief medical officer, said in 2009 that while per capita alcohol consumption had fallen since 1970 in many European countries, it had increased by 40 percent in Britain,

Britain's government has pledged to do more to help people reduce excessive drinking.

Willetts said the new rules would also allow drinkers to buy smaller servings of wine, in a 75 milliliter glass. Current laws mean bars aren't allowed to sell wine in glasses smaller than 125 milliliters, preventing premises from offering customers small samples of pricey bottles.

Lawmakers had also previously raised health concerns over a trend for bars to serve wine only in giant 250 milliliter goblets, rather than the smaller 125 milliliter glass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJOo6iV974M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRsyFGB_rw8