The brain-powered CAR: Vehicle monitors whether a driver is paying attention and slows down if they're distracted -

The brain-powered CAR: Vehicle monitors whether a driver is paying attention and slows down if they're distracted -



How many times have you had a close-call after being distracted behind the wheel?
According to road safety charity, Brake, probably far more often than you'd like to think. 
The group estimates that a huge 22 per cent of all crashes are caused by driver inattention.
A new car, however, hopes to solve this problem by using a driver's brain waves to start the engine and keep it going.

The concept, developed by the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia and Emotiv, is currently being tested in a Honda i40.
The Attention Powered Car features a neuro headset that connects brain activity to the car’s engine through customised software.

More...
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The headset has 14 sensors detecting electrical activity from the frontal, temple, parietal and perceptual areas of the brain.
The amount of activity in these areas registers what the driver is processing, or if they are zoning out.

Read more: -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2483553/The-brain-powered-CAR-Vehicle-monitors-driver-paying-attention-slows-theyre-distracted.html

Bill Clinton On Obama: 'He's Luckier Than A Dog With Two Dicks' -

Bill Clinton On Obama: 'He's Luckier Than A Dog With Two Dicks' - 



During the 2012 campaign, former President Bill Clinton was amazed that President Barack Obama seemed to be catching break after break, while GOP nominee Mitt Romney seemed to stumble constantly.

"He's luckier than a dog with two dicks," Clinton would often tell his pals, according to the new book "Double Down" by journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.

Meanwhile, Clinton thought Romney was a good guy who had fallen into the wrong line of work.

"He really shouldn't be speaking to people in public," Clinton reportedly said.

The book also reports that Obama couldn't stomach spending too much time with Clinton, even though he realized he needed him for his reelection battle. From an account of the book by The New York Times:

When the two of them golfed together in September 2011, an effort aides hoped would bring them closer, they did not even finish 18 holes. Mr. Obama succinctly expressed his view of Mr. Clinton to an aide after coming off the course at Andrews Air Force Base. “Obama grimaced and replied, ‘I like him ... in doses,’ ” the authors write.
Earlier in the year, “Clinton held Obama captive in the presidential limo” outside a fund-raiser at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, the authors write, grabbing Mr. Obama’s hand as he reached for the door. Instead of having a one-on-one meal together that night, as was planned, Mr. Obama, unable to “handle any more undiluted Clinton,” invited aides from both of their staffs to join the dinner and talked to them about their children, rather than talking about politics with his predecessor.

Read more - 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/01/bill-clinton-dog-comment-double-down_n_4191555.html

Austin Firefighters Save Dog From Floodwaters Because They 'Don't Just Rescue Two-Legged Victims' -

Austin Firefighters Save Dog From Floodwaters Because They 'Don't Just Rescue Two-Legged Victims' - 



The Austin Fire Department has been battling widespread flooding after a fall storm dumped up to 15 inches of rain over parts of central Texas. Crews have been assisting with flood relief efforts as entire neighborhoods were evacuated to avoid rapidly rising rivers.

This touching photo, taken by photographer Preston Culver, shows Firefighters Matt Harvey and Michael Cooper rescuing a dog from the floodwaters. The image was posted to the department's Facebook page on Thursday, shining some well-deserved light on those at the front lines of disaster relief.

Spokesperson Michelle Tanzola told The Huffington Post the rescuers' efforts are emblematic of the department's motto, "Our Mission Goes Beyond Our Name," and we'd have to agree.

Read more - 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/31/firefighters-rescue-dog_n_4183191.html

Walmart Is One Of The Biggest Beneficiaries Of Food Stamps - 18% of all food stamp dollars spent at Walmart -

Walmart Is One Of The Biggest Beneficiaries Of Food Stamps - 18% of all food stamp dollars spent at Walmart - 



One of the major beneficiaries of the nation's food-stamp program is actually a hugely profitable company: Walmart.

Americans spend about 18 percent of all food stamp dollars at Walmart, according to company estimates told to the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by The Huffington Post. That's about $14 billion of the $80 billion Congress set aside for food stamps last year. The company's total profits for 2013 were $17 billion.

The news comes just as food-stamp benefits are about to be cut for 47 million Americans. On Friday, a key provision boosting the program is set to expire.

After that, 47 million Americans will struggle even more than usual to afford the basics. Walmart isn't too concerned: When shoppers become more concerned about price, they’re more likely to turn to Walmart, Bill Simon, the retailer’s U.S. CEO, said at an analyst meeting earlier this month.

"I would say we're cautious but modestly optimistic," Simon said. "When the [food-stamp] benefits expanded, our market share actually went down."

Still, as the nation's largest low-cost retailer, the company has close ties to the food-stamp economy. Walmart has historically lobbied around food stamps, according to a report from Eat Drink Politics, an advocacy group. In addition, the company also worked with First Lady Michelle Obama in 2011 on the Great American Family Dinner Challenge, a push to get families to eat healthy on a food-stamp budget.

“A significant percentage of all SNAP dollars are spent in our stores, and they are used to buy items like bananas, whole milk, Ramen noodles, and hot dogs,” then-Walmart executive Leslie Dach said at a conference in 2011, where he discussed the retailer's plans to help shoppers buy healthier meals on food stamps.

That so many people associate Walmart with food stamps was clear earlier this month, when Louisiana food-stamp users realized a computer glitch caused them to temporarily have unlimited food-stamp money to spend. What did they do? They raced to local Walmart stores and stripped the shelves bare.

In the past, companies like Pepsi, Coke and the midwestern grocery chain Kroger, have lobbied around food stamps, indicating how much they rely on the money. Last year, Tony Vernon, then the incoming CEO of Kraft, admitted the mac n’ cheese maker opposed food stamp cuts because food stamp users were “a big part of our audience.”

Read more - 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/31/walmart-food-stamps_n_4181862.html?utm_hp_ref=business

Flight turns unforgettable when passengers learn of fallen soldier -

Flight turns unforgettable when passengers learn of fallen soldier - 



Delta Flight 2255 from Atlanta to Los Angeles seemed to be an ordinary flight with the exception of Candy, who was the most loving flight attendant I’ve ever encountered. Besides using her Southern charm to quickly defuse every situation, she began her welcome announcement by thanking the handful of uniformed soldiers on-board for serving our country. Her poignant message was followed by applause, and it put into perspective that none of us would be able to do what we do without these brave men and women.

But this transcontinental flight turned out to be everything but ordinary. We later learned, when the captain got on the PA system about 45 minutes prior to landing, that we were transporting a fallen soldier. The plane went quiet as he explained that there was a military escort on-board and asked that everyone remain seated for a couple of minutes so the soldiers could get off first. He also warned us not to be alarmed if we see fire trucks since Los Angeles greets their fallen military with a water canon salute. See my video below.

A few minutes after touchdown, we did indeed have a water canon salute, which I’d previously only experienced on happy occasions like inaugural flights. This time, the water glistening on the windowpanes looked like tears.

Passengers in the airport must have been worried when they saw our plane pull into gate 69A, as we had a full police and fire escort, front and back.

I was on the left side of the plane and later realized that the family could be seen off to the right, standing with the United States Army Honor Guard. According to Wikipedia, each military branch has its own honor guard, usually military in nature, and is composed of volunteers who are carefully screened. One of the primary roles for honor guards is to provide funeral honors for fallen comrades.



Read more - 

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/fallen-soldier-213011521.html

Judge Dons Fairy Godmother Costume During Adoption Ceremony -

Judge Dons Fairy Godmother Costume During Adoption Ceremony - 



Eight Clark County kids were adopted Halloween morning. The judge who presided over the ceremony and finalized the adoptions, dressed up as a fairy godmother.  Judge Cynthia Guiliani says she's granting their wish to find a permanent home and a family with which to spend all of their other holidays. She also allowed the kids to show up to the ceremony in costumes. 
Although the Judge added a touch of light to the proceedings, it was a serious day as some of the children had spent years without a permanent homes. One grandmother at the ceremony had spent more than three years trying to adopt her grandsons and extricate them from foster care. The fairy godmother made her wish come officially true. 
This is the second year Judge Giuliani has dressed up for Halloween. She believes it to be a treat for the entire courtroom - but mainly the kids. 

Read more - 

http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/2013/11/01/Judge-Dons-Fairy-Godmother-Costume-During-Adoption-Ceremony

U.S. Energy Dept. Seeks Company to Turn Sunshine Into Gasoline -

U.S. Energy Dept. Seeks Company to Turn Sunshine Into Gasoline - 



Although CO2 is considered a "greenhouse gas" that contributes to climate change, if the Energy Department (DOE) finds partners to capitalize on the research of one of its laboratories, someday cars might run on sunshine.  Technically, cars would run on the product of sunlight, CO2, and water using a "two-step solar thermochemical cycle" developed by the Albuquerque, New Mexico government lab.  The DOE posted the special notice seeking interested companies on the Federal Business Opportunities website on Tuesday:

Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) is conducting ongoing research and development into solar fuels, the conversion of sunlight, CO2, and H2O into high energy density, gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel pre-cursors...

Sandia is seeking a company or companies interested in this unique opportunity which will lead to the demonstration and deployment of this technology. 

Researchers have been working on this idea for some time, according to a 2007 press release from the Sandia lab.  At that time, one of the researchers speculated that although a prototype of a device to carry out the chemical process was already under development, it was "a good 15 to 20 years away from being on the market."  

The special notice released this week did not contain a timetable, but did note that companies interested in the project "must have a significant interest in developing this technology to the demonstration and deployment stage."

Read more - 

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/energy-dept-seeks-company-turn-sunshine-gasoline_765700.html

Cocaine-filled pumpkins seized at airport in Canada -

Cocaine-filled pumpkins seized at airport in Canada - 



Canada's border services agency says it has stumbled upon a different kind of Halloween surprise in some pumpkins this year.

Authorities believe three pumpkins found in a woman's luggage at the Trudeau International Airport in Montreal airport on Thursday were stuffed with approximately 4.4 pounds of cocaine.

Scanning equipment had detected masses inside the pumpkins. Those masses turned out to be bags filled with the chalky substance.

A border agency spokeswoman was not able to say where the passenger was coming from or whether she was a Canadian citizen.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have taken over the investigation.

Read more - 

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/11/01/pumpkins-filled-with-cocaine-found-at-montreal-airport-officials-say-1391574380/?intcmp=latestnews

Chinese state media show plans for nuke strikes on US cities... -

Chinese state media show plans for nuke strikes on US cities... - 



Chinese state-run media revealed for the first time this week that Beijing’s nuclear submarines can attack American cities as a means to counterbalance U.S. nuclear deterrence in the Pacific.
On Monday, leading media outlets including China Central TV, the People’s Daily, the Global Times, the PLA Daily, the China Youth Daily and the Guangmin Daily ran identical, top-headlined reports about the “awesomeness” of the People's Liberation Army navy’s strategic submarine force.
PHOTOS: See the Navy's biggest, baddest, destroyer
“This is the first time in 42 years since the establishment of our navy’s strategic submarine force that we reveal on such a large scale the secrets of our first-generation underwater nuclear force,” the Global Times said in a lengthy article titled “China for the First Time Possesses Effective Underwater Nuclear Deterrence against the United States.”
The article features 30 photos and graphics detailing, among other things, damage projections for Seattle and Los Angeles after being hit by Chinese nuclear warheads and the deadly radiation that would spread all the way to Chicago.
China’s sub fleet is reportedly the world’s second-largest, with about 70 vessels. About 10 are nuclear-powered, and four or more of those are nuclear ballistic submarines capable of launching missiles.


Read more: - 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/31/inside-china-nuclear-submarines-capable-of-widespr/

Daylight Saving Time Can Trigger Headaches That Last Weeks! -

Daylight Saving Time Can Trigger Headaches That Last Weeks! - 

DC News FOX 5 DC WTTG

For some, the end of Daylight Saving Time means an extra hour of sleep.

But for others it can mean a headache.

Doctors say the time change can cause cluster headaches that can last as long as eight weeks.

The portion of the brain that triggers these headaches also controls your body's rhythms.

Slight changes can throw off the rhythm, which can also happen when you switch time zones.

Read more: -

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/23838643/beginning-of-daylight-saving-time-can-mean-headaches-for-some#axzz2jEfH5NpA