abby sunderland adrift

Abby Sunderland has been found alive.  Abby’s attempt to sail around the World has ended.  With her mast ripped from the hull of her small craft Abby is drifting in the Indian Ocean.  Australian search crews were able to make radio contact with her from a search plane.  She is in good spirits and awaiting rescue.  She had been out of contact with her family when her satellite phone system failed during the severe storm that broke the mast.

Foul weather is slowing her rescue, but she should be safe within the next 24-48 hours.  Her boat, “Wild Eyes” is upright but missing her rigging.

While the World debates the choice of her parents to allow her to undertake such a voyage, the simple fact is that few parents prepare their children for life as well as Abby’s parents prepared her for this voyage.  Her vessel had safety measures that were the best that money could buy.  She was located via the special rescue beacons that were redundantly installed.  The vessel itself had floatation chambers built into it to make it nearly unsinkable.  She was trained for countless hours at her father’s side.

You can follow Abby’s situation moment by moment at Abby Sunderland’s Blog.

Her other websites, Abby16.com and AbbySunderland.com can be found here and here.

epic beard man attacks

The Epic Beard Man became an overnight sensation.  The initial response from many who first viewed the video was that they saw an older man that was bieng harrassed by a “gang banger” and that the older guy then “kicked the gang banger’s @ss”.  If you have already seen the video you probably already have an opinion.  If you have not seen the video, watch and listen carefully.  Then read the transcript and watch again.  Then watch video from the videographer herself.

On Feb 16th, 2010 Iyanna Washington, a college student hailing from Oakland, CA (Youtube user iyannaw08) submitted the video recording “AC TRANSIT BUS FIGHT I AM A MOTHERFUCKER” to Youtube; a video she recorded of a african american individual and an older white man certainly having a quite hot discussion fueled by racial prejudice resulting within the literally violent confrontation.

Proper away, the on the net video clip has gathered over 400,000 displays and spawned a quantity of posts within the web where hundreds of various image macros have been created.

The old white individual has been given multiple pet names, including Epic Beard Man, and Old Zangief, in reference for the character by way of the Street Fighter video game franchise. It is also important to note the old man is wearing a T-shirt displaying the words “I AM A MOTHERF@CKER” signifying that this male might make a habit of seeking out confrontations on a regular basis.

Right after the black man’s nose is broken, he says “bring an ambulance” which may be misheard as both “bring M&M’s” and “bring Amber Lamps” due to a combination of his dialect and facial injury.

Why do People Watch Things Like This?

Conflict.  Every drama has conflict.  Every Blockbuster Movie has conflict.  Every video game has conflict.  We want the “good guy” to win.  But sometimes it becomes difficult to tell who the “good guy” is.  Is it the Vietnam Vet? Is he even a Vietnam Vet?  Is it the young man who refused to allow someone to make a racial slur in regards to “shoe shine boy”?  In the words of Rodney King, “…why can’t we all just get along?”
Different movies of conflicts and confrontations on city transit have become viral hits in the past, such as Bus Uncle, and Soulja Girl. But because this one involves racism, it motivated a outstanding magnitude of conversation inside a short magnitude of time.

San Luis Obispo County does not seem to have as much racial tension as many of the larger cities in this country.  Still the tension is there in this country where ever you go regardless of your skin color.  This video has caused a great deal of heated conversation regarding what actually occurred.

Watch the video and decide what you think happened.  THEN COME BACK AND READ THE TRANSCRIPT!  Then watch the video again and see if you still feel the same conclusion.  Your mind may change, it may not.  Post your comments and let us know how you feel.
You will have to login to Youtube to view the Video.

Transcript

When the video clips starts verbal conflict has already occurred.

Black man: …AC Transit
White man: Let’s get back to business. How much you charge me for a spit-shine?
Black man: what?
White man: How much you charge me for my Stacy Adams? I’m going to a funeral on Friday…You said you…
Black man: Did you get what I said just now?
White man: Yes
Black man: Why’d a brother gotta spit-shine your shoes?
White man: You offered!
Black man: I didn’t offer you shit.
White man: What’d you just say when you walked by me?
Black man: I said why, why a fuckin’ brother gotta spit-shine your shoes?
White man: You don’t have to!
Black man: Why a white man can’t spit-shine –
White man: [interrupting] – It could be a Chinaman! It don’t matter!
Black man: Look dude…
White man: I ain’t prejudice! What? You think I’m prejudice!
Black man: [pointing toward front of bus] Take your ass back up there and get the fuck out my face right now.
White man: Why you being so hostile, man?
Black man: ‘Cause. I’m pissed off.
White man: Well its better to be pissed off than pissed on.
Black man: Take your ass up there right now
White man: [standing to go to the front] You ain’t scarin’ this white boy. I’m 67 years old. You ain’t scarin’ me. You ain’t scarin’ me.
Black man: [now, also standing] I’m 50.
White man: You ain’t scared of me. You ain’t scarin’ me.
Black man: I’ll put my foot up your ass.
Older white man: No you won’t! No you won’t
White man: You won’t do nothin’ to me! [then something unintelligible]
Black man: Say it again! [then something unintelligible as woman who was filming talks over him]
Iyanna Washington: Say it again! Say it again, Pinky
Someone off camera whom many allege is Iyanna Washington: Beat his white ass! Whoop his ass!
Another passenger: Leave him alone!
Iyanna Washington: It ain’t worth it, blood, it ain’t worth it.
Black man: I’d put my foot up your ass.
White man: I see tough guys like you and I slap the shit out of them.
Black man: What?!
Another passenger: Stop it!
White man: Don’t fuck with me! He hit me! He fuckin’ hit me!
White man: He fuckin’ hit me first! He hit me in the face! [unintelligible] – self defense!
Iyanna: Open that shit! laughs
Iyanna: We can press charges, blood. I got in on videotape. He’s leakin’.
Black man: That motherfucker hit me. No no no no no.
Another passenger: Did he break your teeth?
Black man: No. Bring an ambulance.

The Epic Beard Man Part Two 2

Another day at the office for the EPIC BEARD MAN

This is supposedly the same gentleman at a baseball game.  This is uncomfirmed but the gentleman looks very similar:

The Story from the Videographer about Epic Beard Man

Drivers Viewpoint of the Downtown San Luis Obispo Storm Damage

Southbound traffic on Higuera encountered a large tree that had split in half and dropped on Vieni Vai Trattoria, 690 Higuera Street, this morning.   San Luis Obispo City workers barricaded two lanes and trimmed remaining branches that threatened the traffic signal and The Natural Cafe.

A Large Tree Collapses on Downtown San Luis Obispo Restaurant

Tree Crushes Vieni Vai in Downtown San Luis Obispo

Workmen Remove A Large Tree Collapses on Downtown San Luis Obispo Restaurant

A Powerful Chipper Grinds Branches of the Tree That Collapsed on Downtown San Luis Obispo Restaurant

An Ariel Lift Truck Operator Removes Dangerous Branches Remaining in the Tree That Collapsed on Downtown San Luis Obispo Restaurant

San Luis Obispo City Workers Quickly Removed The Tree That Collapsed on Downtown San Luis Obispo Restaurant

Today there was a traffic collision on CORRAL RD AT FIREFIGHTER RD
at 7:02 PM. This location can be found on the ThomasBrothers map – 855 6F. More details will be provided as they become available.