US sheriffs expand concerns about Waze mobile traffic app

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Not only does a feature of a popular Google Inc. mobile app put police officers' lives in danger, it also interferes with law enforcement's ability to carry out its speeding ticket mission, a leading group of sheriffs said Wednesday.

The National Sheriffs' Association had previously focused its campaign against Waze on police safety after the fatal shootings of two New York police officers in December. It broadened its campaign with a new statement criticizing Google's software as hampering the use of speed traps. The trade association said radar guns and other speed enforcement techniques have reduced highways deaths.

"This app will hamper those activities by locating law enforcement officers and puts the public at risk," the group said.

In the Waze app, which operates like a free GPS navigation tool, users can tag the locations of parked police vehicles, accidents, congestion, traffic cameras, potholes and more, so that other drivers using Waze are warned as they approach the same location.

In a twist, the newly expressed concern about speeding is also Google's own defense of its software.

"Most users tend to drive more carefully when they believe law enforcement is nearby," Waze spokeswoman Julie Mossler said.

Waze actually gained popularity in the last week since The Associated Press first disclosed law enforcement's concerns, climbing four positions to No. 8 on Apple's ranking of the top free mobile apps.

Waze users mark locations of police vehicles — which are generally stopped in public spaces — on maps without much distinction other than "visible" or "hidden." Users driving nearby see a police icon, but it's not immediately clear whether police are there for a speed trap, a sobriety check or a lunch break.

Police objections to Waze add new complexity to the debate about technology and privacy. Some Waze supporters lashed out at outspoken sheriffs on social media, pointing to the irony of police concerns about being watched amid sensational disclosures about police and government surveillance of citizens.

Mission: Impossible 5' Release Moved Up

Mission: Impossible 5' Release Moved Up By Five Months To This Summer

 

Paramount has moved up the release of 'Mission: Impossible 5' from Christmas Day of this year to the middle of this summer.
The film will not hit theaters on July 31, 2015. The revised date will help it avoid a box office clash with 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' which was to release on December 18.
It also means that 'Mission: Impossible 5' will release on the same weekend that 'Guardians of the Galaxy' launched on this past summer.
The film will now go up against the much less well known 'Point Break' redux and 'Southpaw'.

50-Foot-long dinosaur discovered

50-foot-long  dinosaur species discovered in China

 

Sauropods, a category of dinosaurs that includes the Diplodocus, typically had necks that comprised up to a third of their body size. A new species of dinosaur described in a recent Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology had a neck that could stretch up to 25 feet long, which is half its body length.
The dino has been named Qijianglong (pronounced "CHI-jyang-lon"), which means "dragon of Qijiang." Its bones were discovered near China's Qijiang City by construction workers in 2006. It belongs to a family of sauropods known as mamenchisaurids. Miraculously, when the beast was unearthed, its head was still attached to its vertebrae, something extremely unusual in the paleontology world.
"It is rare to find a head and neck of a long-necked dinosaur together because the head is so small and easily detached after the animal dies," explains Tetsuto Miyashita, a University of Alberta paleontologist who, along with former master's student Lida Xing and professor Philip Currie, discovered the new species.

Also of note is that the dinosaur's vertebrae were filled with air, much like the skeletons of birds. This made their necks fairly lightweight for their massive size (and no doubt, kept them from face-planting when they were being chased by other big baddies). The vertebrae were also found to be interlocking in such a way that would have allowed the dinosaur to lift its head up and down like a construction crane, but not move it very easily from side to side.
The dragon of Qijiang is thought to have lived about 160 million years ago during the Late Jurassic period, when dinosaurs like the Stegosaurus also roamed Earth. Its unusually long neck hints at the breadth of evolutionary adaptations, says Miyashita.
"Qijianglong is a cool animal. If you imagine a big animal that is half neck, you can see that evolution can do quite extraordinary things," he said in a statement.
The paleontologist also wonders if ancient residents of China -- the only place where mamenchisaurids are found -- once stumbled upon the remains of a Qijianglong, which could have contributed to legends of dragons in the region.
"China is home to the ancient myths of dragons," said Miyashita. "I wonder if the ancient Chinese stumbled upon a skeleton of a long-necked dinosaur like Qijianglong and pictured that mythical creature."

No drones in the end zone

No drones in the end zone

 

 

A 60-mile wide 'no drone zone' will be set up around the Super Bowl on Sunday as part of the stringent security operation. 

The Federal Aviation Authority is setting up flight restrictions in several circles around Phoenix, Arizona, for the big game and have threatened to prosecute those who ignore the ban.

It follows a video campaign from the government agency to make sure no drones hover anywhere near the action at the University of Phoenix stadium.

The Department of Homeland Security has also announced it will be scanning social media in a bid to uncover any potential threats which may arise.

Within 10 miles of the stadium no aircraft - including media banners and blimps - will be allowed. 

According to the FAA a second outer ring will encompass the airspace between 10 and 30 miles from the stadium. 

General aviation aircraft will be able to operate there provided they have filed flight plans, are using transponders that broadcast specific information about their aircraft

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2933618/No-drones-end-zone-FAA-imposes-60-mile-wide-ban-unmanned-aircraft-Super-Bowl.html#ixzz3QPhKTya2

North Korea blames Obama

 North Korea blames Obama for the release of controversial movie, The Interview. North Korea  calls Obama monkey. 

Party boy Johnny Manziel gets in trouble

Party boy Johnny Manziel gets in trouble for throwing a  big party Friday night. The 22nd first round pick in this draft missed Saturday's 

The Interview

The Interview, was a hit this Christmas. With very limited theater release and online rentals the movie reached $1million on Christmas Day alone and its expected to reach $4million by Sunday.