Friday, January 29, 2021

Woman finds GoPro while scuba diving in Cozumel, learns it belongs to fellow Oklahoman

A woman was 2,100 miles away on vacation for a scuba diving trip when she made a discovery that led to an unbelievable reunion. “It’s not a real deep dive, about 45 (feet) to 50 feet,” the woman said, but while down there, something caught her eye. “A color that stood out. The handle was gray and the tip was blue – a color you don’t normally see in nature,” she said. It was a GoPro. Unbeknownst to her, it belonged to another Oklahoman. The owner, who’s from Tuttle, Oklahoma, was in Cozumel days before the woman found it. The owner thought she’d never see that camera or those memories again. The woman was eager to find the GoPro’s owner, so she turned the camera on and looked at the photos. She then started posting on Facebook if anyone recognized the people in the pictures and within 24 hours and a few shares on Facebook, the owner saw it. Against all odds, the two women lived just a few miles apart. Because of the woman’s hard work to find the owner, the equipment was returned to the owner. (KOCO)

Florida led the world in shark attacks again in 2020

The US is once again the shark attack capital of the world in 2020. Last year, the US reported 33 unprovoked shark attacks, accounting for about 58% of the total number of unprovoked shark attacks that occurred worldwide, according to the Yearly World Shark Attack Summary from the International Shark Attack File (ISAF). This is a decrease from 2019, when 64% of the global unprovoked bites occurred in the US. ISAF categorizes shark attacks by first deciding if they were provoked or unprovoked. “Unprovoked attacks are defined as incidents in which an attack on a live human occurs in the shark’s natural habitat with no human provocation of the shark,” ISAF said. “Provoked attacks occur when a human initiates interaction with a shark in some way. These include instances when divers are bitten after harassing or trying to touch sharks, bites on spearfishers, bites on people attempting to feed sharks, bites occurring while unhooking or removing a shark from a fishing net and so forth.” ISAF said it investigated 129 alleged shark-human interactions worldwide in 2020 — 57 were unprovoked shark bites on humans, and 39 were provoked bites. Of the 33 unprovoked shark attacks in the US, 16 of them were in Florida. The state’s 16 cases represent 28% of unprovoked bites worldwide. (CNN)

Chick-fil-A employee helps guide drive-thru vaccine traffic

When you want a nearly-perfect chicken sandwich, you call in the pros at Chick-fil-A. When you want to unsnarl traffic at a COVID-19 vaccine site, you call in the pros at… Chick-fil-A. While the chain offers delicious fast-food, it has also made a name for itself by getting the food to its drive-thru customers quickly and efficiently. When massive traffic from a software glitch plagued a COVID-19 vaccine site in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, the city’s mayor knew exactly who to call when the going got real tough. The Mayor wasn’t happy to see traffic at a site backed up for an hour, so he phoned the local Chick-fil-A Manager, knowing he could do wonders with the long lines. Bringing his Chick-fil-A know-how with him, the Manager arrived on the scene and quickly reduced the hour-long traffic wait to just 15 minutes. The city’s Mayor thanked the Chick-fil-A Manager for his services in a tweet, saying that “when you need help, call the pros.” (Mayor Will Haynie Twitter)

Pair accused of using drones to drop drugs like an ‘Easter egg hunt’ for inmates at Ohio prison

Two men in Ohio allegedly used a drone to drop drugs and cell phones into the yard at an Ohio prison last summer in what authorities described as an “Easter egg hunt” for inmates. Authorities say the two men used glue to cover the small drug packages with turf, then used a drone to transport the packages onto the grounds of the Warren Correctional Institution in Lebanon in July and August. Authorities won’t say whether any inmates had obtained any of the packages before law enforcement intervened. The two men were indicted by a Warren County grand jury this week on 23 counts. (Fox 8)

Man charged after social media video shows speedometer reach 213 mph on I-465

A man is facing reckless driving charges after police were tipped off to a social media video that shows a Lamborghini being driven at speeds up to 213 miles per hour on I-465. Indiana State Police say the video was uploaded November 18th and allegedly shows a black Lamborghini stop in the left lane of I-465 near the 9 mile marker. The vehicle then accelerates rapidly, passing other vehicles on the roadway, with video showing the speedometer reach a speed of 213 mph before the driver decelerates. During a follow-up investigation, ISP Crash Reconstructionists estimated the vehicle’s speed at 198 mph as it passed another vehicle, according to state police. In January, investigators turned over their findings to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, who reviewed the case and filed reckless driving charges against 33-year-old male driver. (Fox 59)

UK government backs birth control for grey squirrels

The UK government has given its support to a project to use oral contraceptives to control grey squirrel populations. The Environment Minister says the damage they and other invasive species do to the UK’s woodlands costs the UK economy about two billion dollars a year. The bizarre-sounding plan is to lure grey squirrels into feeding boxes only they can access with little pots containing hazelnut spread. These would be spiked with an oral contraceptive. The Environment Minister says the damage from squirrels also threatens the effectiveness of government efforts to tackle climate change by planting tens of thousands of acres of new woodlands. A partnership of conservation and forestry organizations called the UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA) is behind the proposal. They particularly target broad-leafed varieties including oak, which are particularly ecologically important because they support so many other species. It is estimated the UK is home to some three million of these invasive rodents. (BBC)

States with least COVID-19 restrictions

New survey shows which states in the nation have the least restrictive COVID-19 regulations. According to a study done by the personal finance site, Wallethub, they set out to identify which states have the fewest coronavirus restrictions. WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 14 key metrics. Their data set ranges from whether restaurants are open to whether the state has required face masks in public and workplace temperature screenings.

States with the least COVID-19 restrictions

1. Oklahoma
2. South Dakota
3. Iowa
4. Arkansas
5. Florida
6. Utah
7. Missouri
8. Wisconsin
9. Alaska
10. South Carolina

States with the most COVID-19 restrictions:

1. Calilfornia
2. Virginia
3. Massachusetts
4. District of Columbia
5. New Mexico
6. Washington
7. Vermont
8. North Carolina
9. Hawaii
10. Illinois

(Wallet Hub)

China starts using anal swabs to test ‘high-risk’ people for Covid

China has begun using anal swabs to test those it considers to be at high risk of contracting Covid-19. Officials took anal swabs from residents of neighborhoods with confirmed Covid-19 cases in Beijing last week, while those in designated quarantine facilities have also had the tests. Small, localized outbreaks in recent weeks have resulted in multiple cities in northern China being sealed off from the rest of the country and prompted mass testing campaigns, which had mostly been conducted using throat and nose swabs. The anal swabs method “can increase the detection rate of infected people” as traces of the virus linger longer in the anus than in the respiratory tract, according to a senior doctor from Beijing’s Youan hospital. Doctors said anal swabs would not be used as widely as other methods, as the technique was “not convenient”. As cases rise around the world, China has imposed stricter requirements on international arrivals in an effort to keep domestic transmission close to zero. (The Guardian)

Woman Unable To Recognize Her Younger Self In Pictures Stabs Husband For ‘Cheating’

In a very peculiar stabbing case, a wife stabbed her husband after discovering pictures of him posing with a woman on his phone and assuming her husband is cheating on her. However, the husband claimed that the woman she saw him posing with in the pictures is his wife herself, only younger. The woman has been arrested by the Police for stabbing her husband. While her husband made a claim that the pictures her wife came across were pictures of him and his wife only from the time they were dating. He also added in that back in those days they both looked ‘young’ and ‘slim’. The wife was found by the police with a knife she used to attack her husband. The incident took place in Sonora, Mexico. The husband informed the police that he managed to save his life from his wife by snatching the knife from her. The husband also convinced his wife that he got pictures of them from dating days digitized and the pictures she came across in his phone was one of them. (Outlook India)

California unemployment fraud 4 times worse than first reported; $8 billion paid to criminals

The amount of unemployment funds stolen from California taxpayers in 2020 may total more than $8 billion — four times higher than estimated just one month ago. The numbers are staggering; the solutions elusive, credited with cracking down on fraud have had issues. Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve shared countless stories of struggling Californians desperate to get their unemployment benefits. Legitimate claimants are being mistaken for scammers. Yet people who don’t deserve the money are getting it. Bank of America said last month $2 billion had been paid out in fraudulent unemployment claims. (ABC 30)

Martha Stewart launches line of cannabis munchies for dogs

Martha Stewart launched a line of cannabis-infused pet snacks and oils earlier this week. “Just as CBD can support human wellness, it’s been shown to improve the quality of life for pets as well,” according to her statement. The soft-baked chews range from roughly $20 to $25 dollars for a 30-pack, according to Canopy Growth, Stewart’s partner in the venture. Different varieties aim to promote calm, mobility and wellness. There are also chicken-flavored CBD drops available for $39.99. They are corn-, soy- and wheat-free and contain no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Stewart teamed up with Canopy scientists to develop the products, the company said. The pet snacks are the latest in a string of new releases since Stewart announced a partnership to develop a line of CBD-infused products with Canopy Growth. (Fox Business)

Florida man accused of sex crimes cuts ankle monitor, starts GoFundMe to flee country

A fugitive from Florida is asking for $2,000 to flee the country. The 29-year-old man is wanted in Clay County for violating the conditions of his release. Deputies say he bonded out of the Clay County Jail and cut off his ankle monitor. He was initially arrested in December of 2019 on multiple charges, including committing a sex crime on a person aged 12 to 16, deputies say. Now, he is asking for help from the public in fleeing from the country. He started a GoFundMe fundraiser entitled “Trying to be free” under the Dreams, Hopes & Wishes category of the website. He set his donation goal at $2,000. “I’m fundraising to basically live,” the page reads. “I was on bond that was revoked over something I never did. Now I’m on the run.” He writes that he needs money to flee the country, because if he goes back to jail, he believes he’ll die. After three days of being active, the GoFundMe has raised $0. (WGFL)

Congress will start working on the new COVID-19 relief package next week

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that President Biden’s $1.9T package includes $1,400 in direct payments, $400 a week in federal unemployment benefits, and $350B for state and local governments. It would also increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Pelosi and Schumer would like to pass a bipartisan package but that is unlikely because it would require the support of 60 senators and most Republicans have rejected the proposal. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who is Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, urged Democrats to use budget reconciliation, a procedure that requires only 51 votes. With the Senate split 50/50 along party lines, Vice President Kamala Harris would be the tie-breaker. Schumer called for “big bold action” and cited the slowdown in the economy. The U.S. economy contracted 3.5% in 2020, its worst performance since the end of World War II. Congress approved $4T in federal aid last year. (Politico)

Friday Flips Off With:

• Big Wig Day (Last Friday)
• Corn Chip Day
• Curmudgeons Day
• Fun at Work Day (Last Friday)
• Freethinkers Day
• Pre-school Fitness Day (Last Friday)
• Puzzle Day
• Seeing Eye Dog Day
• Thank Your Mentor Day
• Thomas Paine Day