Video of New York police officer slamming a Critical Mass cyclist to the ground.

Video on YouTube shows NYPD officer Officer Patrick Pogan, 23, walk toward oncoming cyclist, Christopher Long, 29, and violently knock him to the ground with a forearm blow to the upper chest and right shoulder in front of crowds of people — at least one with a video camera. A second officer comes over, and the two officers wrestle with Christopher Long before handcuffing him on Seventh Avenue in Times Square.

The officer’s police report claims the bicyclist drove straight into the officer. The video posted on YouTube shows the officer heading toward’s the cyclist before striking Long and knocking him off of his bike to the ground.

Christopher Long was participating in a Critical Mass bicycling event that is held the last Friday of the month in cities around the world. The ride, originally founded in September 1992, had the goal of pointing out how unfriendly a city is to bicycle riders. Today the rides do not necessarily have one specific goal.

See also …
Critical Mass.wikia.com
Critical-Mass.info
Critical-Mass.org

Wikipedia article on Critical Mass

JUL 29 2008 — Cristina Sassudelli, 41, an Italian woman, woke up in a first-class cabin “covered in ticks from head to toe” while making a night crossing over the weekend from the northern city of Genoa to the port of Olbia on the southern Italian island of Sardinia. At six thirty in the morning she woke up with itching on one arm and I soon realized she was covered with ticks from head to toe.

The ferry, run by a company called La Tirrenia, eventually helped her buy new clothes, but the company did not reimburse her for her first-class ticket. the ferry was experiencing heavy traffic in hot, humid conditions and was reported to be first time that a tick infestation has happened. The contaminated zone was sealed off and was disinfected.

In recent years, there have been several cases of tick and flea infestations on Italian transport, especially trains.

Epicenter near Los Angeles — 5.6 magnitude in the Chino Hills area 29 miles east-southeast of Los Angeles.

Earthquake felt from Los Angeles to San Diego about 11:45 PM Local Time in Los Angeles … officially reported at 11:32 AM PDT.

Felt like a long earthquake — lasted 30 seconds. Felt like a roll, not an explosion. Others did report it felt like an explosion. Another reported the earthquake swayed east to west and then north to south

Tall buildings were shaking.

Eight miles deep. Not from the San Andreas fault.

Also felt in Las Vegas, Nevada.

No early reports on injuries.

No serious structural damage expected.

Ten aftershocks hit within 12 minutes of earthquake.
Twenty-six aftershocks reported in 48 minutes after earthquake.

More info …
USGS.GOV
USGS Recent Earthquakes Real Time …

Collective Soul Youth Album

A hawk poses in a tree.

A young hawk was found with an injured or malformed wing and was sitting still in a tree for hours on Sunday. Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. was called on Sunday and returned a call on Monday about noon. The hawk left its perch in north-central Arlington Heights sometime during the day on Sunday.

Dawn Keller, Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. founder, advised that rescuers generally do not chase a hawk that is perched 15-feet high in a tree. Advice was given that the hawk will eventually come to the ground to look for food. The hawk’s landing on the ground gives the best opportunity for capture. Flint Creek recommended placing a recycling bin overturned over the hawk and possibly a weight, like a large rock, on top of the overturned recycling bin. Then Flint Creek recommended another call for help to have Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation come out and pick up the hawk. Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation advises against giving food or water to the hawk because of risk of injury to an inexperienced caregiver.

A hawk that is rescued with a broken wing hopefully will get treatment with a splint or even surgery for a hopeful outcome. Successful treatment outcomes result in hawks being released to the wild, while birds with non-functional wings may find residence in a caged sanctuary or educational facility.

More info …
Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation (Official Site)

Video shows firefighters chasing a fire in the walls at the rear of a Prospect Heights house fire that killed two dogs.

Prospect Heights Fire Department requested an extra alarm for a house fire at 500 Kewaunee Court just before 8:00 p.m. Friday. Extensive fire damage occurred to the first and second floors and a patio deck at the rear of the house.

The house fire was well-involved before fire equipment arrived, but the fire was knocked down quickly by Prospect Heights and mutual aid fire companies. Fire departments from Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Long Grove, Mount Prospect, North Maine, Northbrook, Palatine Rural and Wheeling assisted Prospect Heights Fire Department. Tankers arrived from Prospect Heights, Long Grove and Palatine Rural Fire Protection District. The fire was an amazing stop, considering how well-involved the fire was before firefighters arrived and the fact that the neighborhood does not have fire hydrants.

No human injuries reported. Neighbors reported that residents of the house were waiting at the side yard of the house while firefighters stopped the fire. During the fire, neighbors were concerned whether the dogs inside the house were rescued or whether they perished.

Police blocked northbound Schoenbeck during firefighting operations. Mount Prospect Police Department assisted Prospect Heights Police Department with traffic control.

View Larger Map of Prospect Heights House Fire …