A Silicon Valley startup has developed a robot that may soon replace mall cops. Knightscope, which specializes in fully autonomous security data machines, says it is officially signed up to patrol malls in New York and Massachusetts, with nearly two dozen accounts set up across 16 cities this year.
“We’re starting off in the public arena, so we are allowing them to patrol places like shopping centers, corporate campuses, professional sporting arenas and movie studios. Once the [robots] prove that what we are saying they are doing is actually happening, then you go to a mayor and say, ‘hey, we are actually able to reduce crime,’ and they are going to buy into this very, very, quickly,” Stacy Dean Stephens, co-founder and VP of marketing and sales, tell FOX Business.
Knightscope, which launched in 2013 after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut -- where 26 kids and adults were shot and killed – was designed to provide intelligence to security centers and law enforcement to help alleviate crime.
[Reuters] Arkansas carried out back-to-back executions on Monday night, administering lethal injections to two men convicted of rape and murder to become the first U.S. state to put more than one inmate to death on the same day in 17 years.
Marcel Williams, 46, was pronounced dead at 10:33 CDT, a little more than three hours after the execution of 52-year-old Jack Jones, according to officials at Cummins Unit prison, about 75 miles southeast of the state capital, Little Rock.
The two men were among eight that the state had initially planned to execute over the course of 11 days this month, prompted by the impending expiration date of the state's supplies of midazolam, a sedative used as part of the three-drug protocol.
Four of those executions have been put on hold by court order.
Jones was convicted of raping and killing Mary Phillips, 34, in 1995 and trying to murder her 11-year-old daughter. He also was convicted of rape and murder in Florida.
Williams was convicted of the 1997 kidnapping, rape and murder of 22-year-old Stacy Errickson. He also abducted and raped two other women.
[IsraelTimes] US-Israeli teen hacker accused of making over 2,000 intimidating calls to Jewish institutions, airlines and police in US; threatening US senator and top defense official.
The Israeli indictment reveals a pattern of threats far more numerous, more vicious, and against a far wider range of targets, than previously reported.
Israel on Monday filed a massive laundry list of criminal charges against an Israeli-American teenager accused of making thousands of bomb threat calls and other violent threats to Jewish institutions, schools, hospitals and airlines all over the world. His alleged threats caused fighter jets to scramble, planes to dump fuel and make emergency landings, large numbers of schools to evacuate, and numerous other chaotic consequences. In some cases, he allegedly threatened to execute children he claimed to be holding hostage.
The Justice Ministry said the 18-year-old hacker from Ashkelon was charged at the Tel Aviv District Court with thousands of counts of extortion, publishing false information that caused panic, computer offenses and money laundering, among other charges.
Continued on Page 49
#1
I smell flight to avoid the heavy prosecution on the part of the parents. I wonder how much of the money the little turd made ended up in the parents pockets.
The Barrett M107 .50-caliber long-range sniper rifle is a firearm made for the modern war on terrorism. Officially adopted by the U.S. Army in 2002 and boasting a 2,000-meter range, a suppressor-ready muzzle brake, and recoil-minimizing design, the semi-automatic offers "greater range and lethality against personnel and materiel targets than other sniper systems in the U.S. inventory," according to an assessment by Military.com.
While Barrett's reputation of "flawless reliability" has made the M107 the sniper weapon of choice, the rifle is just like any other essential tool: It often breaks when you need it most. And that's apparently what happened to one Marine Corps unit pinned down in a firefight, according to one of Barrett's longtime armorers.
Don Cook, a Marine veteran who's been maintaining M107s for more than two decades, told National Geographic in 2011 that he one day received a call to Barrett's workshop from a harried young Marine. During maintenance of the unit's M107, the Marine had bent the ears of the rifle's lower receiver; the next day, after engaging the enemy, they discovered the rifle wouldn't fire consistently.
Despite the unit's lack of tools (and time), Cook knew exactly what to do. The armorer instructed the Marines to use the bottom of the carrier to bend the ears back down. Within 45 seconds, the weapon was firing properly. "Thank you very much," Cook says they told him, then he heard a dial tone. They had a firefight to get back to.
"It's probably one of the biggest highlights of my life, to be able to help a Marine unit during a firefight," Cook told National Geographic.
[CBC.CA] New research suggests a large amount of methane was released in the Arctic Ocean during a period of warming 110 million years ago and the methane "burp" points to the possibility of a similar release in today's warming conditions. [Gag!] "What is that smell?"
The discovery happened in the remote High Arctic, on Ellef Ringnes Island, about 500 kilometres north of Resolute, Nunavut. During the Cretaceous period, 55 million years before the dinosaurs disappeared,
So the methane burp was not a major extinction event? How unexciting.
the island was deep underwater. [Barf!] "It smells like the earth just farted!"
Suddenly, from under the mud, bubbles of methane began to emerge as frozen deposits began to thaw. "I think... I think I'm going extinct!"
The bubbles left traces in the form of over 130 mounds that persist on the island today, complete with fossils of life that formed around the methane seeps. [Rosebud!]
"There must have been some brief, rapid release into the ocean," explained Steve Grasby, one of the researchers who visited the island between 2009 and 2011.
"Because we don't see them in the older rocks and we don't see them in the younger rocks. So something must have happened in the Earth's history at that time to release a bunch of methane into the sea," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/25/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11130 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
I blame prehistoric frackers, possibly marsupial wildcatters.
Posted by: Harry Panda9076 ||
04/25/2017 5:59 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Photo caption: Fossils like these Cretaceous tubeworms show part of the deep-ocean community that fed off the methane leaking from the mud.
So let's feed the tubeworms! AGW resolved!
But I wonder, what put all that methane *in* the ocean in the first place? Progressive dinosaurs? No grant money for that?
Posted by: Bobby ||
04/25/2017 7:45 Comments ||
Top||
#3
...points to the possibility of a similar release in today's warming conditions.
You mean the 'warming conditions' that aren't occurring? And even if they were, what are we going to do - send down the crews from Armageddon to plug a hole or something?
[RT] Fewer US high school students want to build their own business, with figures hitting their lowest level since 2011, a survey has revealed. However, those in grades five to eight are more optimistic, and show more enthusiasm about potential startups. The latest Gallup-HOPE Index report suggests that a little over one in four high school students, or 27 percent of respondents, see their future as linked to owning a business.
As economic conditions improve and the current competitors for baby sitting, lawn mowing, and newspaper delivery jobs return to their homes south of the border, youthful aspirations will grow.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/25/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11130 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
It is interesting to imagine if Obama's plan to change America was all about the kids. A whole generation of College graduates struggling with debt and resigned to not doing as well as their parents. A generation of even younger folks having the entrepreneurial spirit removed by cheap foreign labor taking up jobs.
When all of that hits the work forks, at the same time automation and robots arrive it really will be a challenge.
#2
They should be hit with a lawsuit regarding the march a few weeks back that Antifa's disrupted: the cops made sure the marchers had nothing in their hands to defend themselves, then withdrew out of eyesight to allow the Aintifas to attack.
Happy ending: although the antifas noticed the cops were not around to arrest them, the marchers noticed the same thing...
[Free Beacon] The National Rifle Association will unveil a new concealed-carry training program along with a new concealed-carry insurance plan during the group's annual meeting this week.
The new programs, collectively called NRA Carry Guard, will feature advanced training aimed at the more than 14 million Americans who are legally permitted to carry concealed firearms across the country. In addition to the new training program, the NRA will launch a concealed-carry insurance program aimed at the same group of people.
"Of our 5 million members, a lot of those folks carry and they have been clamoring for the NRA to provide an elite product with respect to training, insurance, and education," NRA spokesperson Bill Powers told the Washington Free Beacon. "The NRA has responded to our members and to the demand of the consumers, gun carrying consumers, that really wanted a first-rate elite program. NRA Carry Guard is an elite training, insurance, and education program. It is the finest in the world. For any citizen who gets up and puts a gun on their hip, Carry Guard is for them."
#1
The disarming of Americans through civil litigation is a reality. If you cannot prove that you have been properly trained and do not have liability insurance, using that firearm may only be the beginning of your troubles.
Not pushing the NRA program, your homeowner's policy may also have a Concealed Carry rider. Other firms also offer liability protection. Key here is, your actions with a firearm MUST be legal for the insurance to be effective, hence the training.
#1
Ginsburg writes. "To get their money back, defendants should not be saddled with any proof burden. Instead...they are entitled to be presumed innocent."
#4
Strict constitutionalism requires that the SCOTUS hear appeals only an on those merits. Count on someone using this precedent to have SCOTUS scotch civil forfeiture.
Rumors are flying about that one of the libs on the court will be retiring this summer...
[USANewsfeed.info] A highly decorated Air Force officer is breaking her silence about the disturbing incident that occurred back in 2011 that marked the deadliest attack on Navy SEALS in U.S. history. She claims that Obama’s administration covered up what happened to 38 of our warriors in Afghanistan, when a Chinook helicopter crashed and killed 38 fighters. She says had it not been for Obama changing the rules of engagement of our military to protect Muslim terrorists, that our men would still be alive today.
Posted by: Jan ||
04/25/2017 02:15 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11134 views]
Top|| File under: Taliban
#1
This story ran here a few days ago, but it needs to run fok'n hourly until someone in the Pentagon and/or the Congress takes action and people are held accountable. I salute Capt(Ret) Joni Marquez for coming forward.
#2
10 U.S. Code § 899 - Art. 99. Misbehavior before the enemy
Any member of the armed forces who before or in the presence of the enemy—
(1) runs away;
(2) shamefully abandons, surrenders, or delivers up any command, unit, place, or military property which it is his duty to defend;
(3) through disobedience, neglect, or intentional misconduct endangers the safety of any such command, unit, place, or military property;
(4) casts away his arms or ammunition;
(5) is guilty of cowardly conduct;
(6) quits his place of duty to plunder or pillage;
(7) causes false alarms in any command, unit, or place under control of the armed forces;
(8) willfully fails to do his utmost to encounter, engage, capture, or destroy any enemy troops, combatants, vessels, aircraft, or any other thing, which it is his duty so to encounter, engage, capture, or destroy; or
(9) does not afford all practicable relief and assistance to any troops, combatants, vessels, or aircraft of the armed forces belonging to the United States or their allies when engaged in battle;
shall be punished by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct.
Calls for an Article 32 investigation into who composed the ROE. Remember - I was just obeying orders fell flat at Nuremberg.
I'm no longer mystified. I sincerely believe that roughly half of our country no longer love the United States and no longer consider it "theirs". The causes are many, and fodder for another day. But so long as that condition persists, they are subject to voting for people like Obama and Clinton who in truth are *enemies* rather than "leaders" of this country.
#6
I didn't see the link posted earlier, sorry for the repost but was so livid I wanted to post, I will try to be more observant to not be repetitive. I'd like to see Obama take responsibility for the deaths of these troops. I'm glad that Trump put these rules of engagement back into the hands of the generals on the ground. I too commend Joni Marquez in coming forward, what a horrible load to carry all this time, and throughout her life. God Bless our Troops and I'm so glad that we now have a President that has their backs.
Posted by: Jan ||
04/25/2017 20:10 Comments ||
Top||
[RT] A Russian-Armenian captive has beat feet from Colombian guerrilla fighters in a shootout worthy of an action movie. The man disarmed his guard and seriously injured five of the bully boys, in the process receiving a gunshot wound himself, the rebels say. Ooh! I seen dat movie!
The man, identified as Arsen (Levon) Voskanyan, a dual Russian-Armenian citizen, took his rescue operation into his own hands and broke free from Colombia’s second largest militia, the National Liberation Army, which is more commonly known by its Spanish acronym, ELN.
At the time of Voskanyan’s heroics a convoy was actually on its way to release him at the request of the Russian embassy in Colombia.
Voskanyan seized one of the bully boys’ guns and shot up the others, injuring five people. He was maimed by return fire, but managed to hide in the jungle.
The incident happened on Wednesday, but the group only reported it on Saturday.
"Mr. Voskanya Arcen Levoni (sic) disarmed a comrade and attacked the unit that was transferring him, resulting in five ELN comrades getting seriously maimed, and the Russo-Armenian fled, also maimed," the group’s central command said in a statement.
The ELN has no information on the escapee's whereabouts.
Voskanyan had been captured in November 2016. The ELN says he was catching poisonous frogs to sell on the international drug market.
The gang is Colombia’s second largest after FARC, and is considered a terrorist organization by many countries, including the US and EU states.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/25/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11128 views]
Top|| File under: Commies
#1
The ELN has no information on the escapee's whereabouts.
Betcha they killed him & buried the body - probably before the negotiations even started.
[MSN] The entire U.S. Senate has been invited to the White House for a briefing Wednesday on the North Korea situation, amid escalating tensions over the country’s missile tests and bellicose rhetoric.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer confirmed the upcoming briefing, for all 100 senators, on Monday.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats plan to provide the update to politicians.
It is rare for the entire Senate to be invited to such a briefing.
Spicer clarified that while the event will take place on the White House campus, it is technically a Senate briefing and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is the one who convened it.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/25/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11128 views]
Top|| File under: Commies
#1
Deal with the bastids now, or deal with them later. Stern NORK and Iran slap-downs are coming. Just a matter of when.
[DAWN] Two brothers allegedly rubbed out their sister and a boy in Sanjwal village in the limits of the Attock Saddar police on Sunday.
Quoting the family members of the victims, the police said the 17-year-old boy, who worked as a helper with a dumper, and the 16-year-old girl, wanted to marry. However, today is that tomorrow you were thinking about yesterday... their parents and other family members did not agree. The boy and the girl lived on the same street.
On Sunday, when the boy was going to work the two brothers of the girl allegedly shot him dead. They then reached the house of their brother-in-law, where the girl was staying, and also killed her.
The alleged killers later surrendered to the police along with the weapon. Regional Police Officer (RPO) Fakhar Sulatn Raja suspended the station house officer (SHO) of the Saddar cop shoppe. The police have registered a double murder case against the two brothers.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/25/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11127 views]
Top|| File under:
It is both incredible and stomach wrenching but Nye (who is, by education, an engineer, not a scientist by the way), introduces a gender fluidity advocate who does a rap song at the link a video put on youtube on apr 23.
Posted by: lord garth ||
04/25/2017 14:27 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11125 views]
Top|| File under:
[RT] The US Supreme Court will not review a case in which lower courts had decided that a Texas cop’s version of events – involving the officer shooting an unarmed man in the back – are “undisputed facts” that effectively block a jury trial.
The case, Ricardo Salazar-Limon v. City of Houston, hinges on Houston police officer Chris Thompson’s version of events regarding a 2010 traffic stop during which Thompson shot an unarmed Ricardo Salazar-Limon in the back, leaving him partially paralyzed. The officer said he feared for his life when he shot Salazar-Limon. Salazar-Limon sued, seeking a jury trial to decide the validity of Thompson’s claims.
At issue is whether a court could accept the officer’s version of events as “undisputed fact” and grant summary judgment to Thompson, effectively avoiding a full trial on Salazar-Limon’s excessive force claims.
"The police officer didn’t have the right to do this," Salazar-Limon told the Houston Chronicle in 2013. "I didn’t abuse him. I didn’t insult him. I didn’t try to hit him or do anything against him for him to use that kind of force."
Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented over the Supreme Court's decision to let stand a lower court's dismissal of the suit. She wrote in a dissent supported by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg that the court's refusal of the case continues a "disturbing trend" of protecting cops from lawsuits and bad behavior.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/25/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11130 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
The best description of what happened are found in the case documents embedded in the article; the brief, the reply, and the SCOTUS summary. It basically is a "he said, he said" case and who's version do you believe. There were three others in the car with Salazar-Limon; Officer Thompson faced a potentially very dangerous situation. The SCOTUS majority decision hinged on whether Salazar-Limon reached into his waistband; a fact he did not deny. Things for Officer Thompson could have easily gone the way they did for Constable Darrell Lunsford - Nacogdoches County, Texas.
#3
Trost said police arrived at the station in less than 5 minutes, but that the robberies took place in just seconds.
Makes me think of another old saw about the police, guns, and time.
Posted by: Bobby ||
04/25/2017 7:48 Comments ||
Top||
#4
Most of Kalifornia is a 3rd world country nowdays. If you travel the interior or in the inner cities you would swear you are in a 3rd world shithole.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
A Silicon Valley startup has developed a robot that may soon replace mall cops. Knightscope, which specializes in fully autonomous security data machines, says it is officially signed up to patrol malls in New York and Massachusetts, with nearly two dozen accounts set up across 16 cities this year.
The Barrett M107 .50-caliber long-range sniper rifle is a firearm made for the modern war on terrorism. Officially adopted by the U.S. Army in 2002 and boasting a 2,000-meter range, a suppressor-ready muzzle brake, and recoil-minimizing design, the semi-automatic offers "greater range and lethality against personnel and materiel targets than other sniper systems in the U.S. inventory," according to an assessment by Military.com. 
North Korea
[DAWN] Two brothers allegedly 
It is both incredible and stomach wrenching but Nye (who is, by education, an engineer, not a scientist by the way), introduces a gender fluidity advocate who does a rap song at the link a video put on youtube on apr 23.
[SFChronicle] BART takeover robbery: 40 to 60 teens swarm train, rob weekend riders
