Unbelievable Videos of Recent Tornadoes

25 Apr

Locations throughout the United States have seen an incredible number of destructive tornadoes over the last couple of weeks. First, we have the world’s calmest man. He sits in his car and waits as the tornado comes barreling toward him. I’m not really sure why he doesn’t drive away really fast, but he just sits talking calmly. At one point he yells, “hang on, I love you.” Thankfully, he seems to be OK at the end of the day. Some would call him a bad ass, but I prefer “really lucky stupid guy.”

Then, last week a tornado came down suddenly at the St. Louis airport. Somewhat inexplicably and miraculously since the airport was full of people, there were no serious injuries or deaths. Security cameras captured the scene inside one of the terminals.

It was a historic tornado for the city, and left more than 750 homes either destroyed or severely damaged. Incredibly, the airport was up and running at around 70 percent just days after the tornado. More than 50 percent of windows were blown out in Concourse C and airport officials believe it will takes “months” before the airport returns to normal. St. Louis has the nation’s 30th busiest airport with over 12 million people passing through it annually. What makes the airport’s recovery more impressive is the damage visible in this video, shot during and immediately following the tornado.

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Valeriy Tolmachev Attempts Hijacking On Paris-Rome Flight; Demands To Go To Libya

24 Apr

Alitalia

A man attempted to hijack an Alitalia flight from Paris-Rome Sunday night, but was overpowered by other flight attendants.  The 48-year-old man, from Kazakhstan originally and later identified as Valeriy Tolmachev from UNESCO, was in a “disturbed” state when he arose and assaulted a flight attendent with what appeared to be a pair of toenail clippers, according to the Corriere Della Sera (article is in Italian). He held the small knife to her throat for several minutes before he was overpowered.

He demanded that the plane be directed towards the Libyan capital of Tripoli. Thankfully, the other flight attendants and several passengers responded quickly and immobilized the man. A doctor on board the plane administered a sedative. The plane landed around 8:00 p.m. local time at the Rome’s airport.

The flight attendant was treated for minor injuries, but there were no other injuries. Tolmachev was arrested by police on the ground and taken away for questioning.

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Shocking Video of Chrissy Lee Polis’ Beating at McDonalds

24 Apr

Last week, 22-year old Vernon Hackett witnessed a horrific beating unfolding in front of his eyes at a McDonalds outside of Baltimore, MD. 22-year-old Chrissy Lee Polis had come into the restaurant to use the restroom and had just emerged from it when a 14-year-old and 18-year-old friend began attacking her. The two attackers continue to kick Polis repeatedly in the head, as customers and employees at the McDonalds watch. Horrifically, she appears to suffer a seizure towards the end of the attack and lies on the floor without anyone providing any assistance to her. In fact, Hackett urges the two attackers to flee “before the police come.” You can watch the attack on video below (WARNING: some may find the video graphic and disturbing):

The story gets more complicated from there. Polis is transgendered and apparently refused to use the restroom. In the days following the incident, reports of Polis’ own criminal record appeared on the Internet (you can find them if you want) and she issued a statement saying her race may have played a role in the attack. The man who filmed in the video, Hackett, was fired from McDonalds.

Much to their credit, McDonalds quickly issued a statement condemning the attack and saying, “We are shocked by the video from a Baltimore franchised restaurant showing an assault. This incident is unacceptable, disturbing and troubling.” They are looking at the incident and discipling employees as appropriate. Equality Maryland has asked for the police to charge the attackers with a “hate crime.”

Attacks like these are part of a larger, and more disturbing, trend. Technology has made it frighteningly easy for anyone to become a reporter and someone who can capture news as it unfolds. Unfortunately, this also means that many people overlook the chance to help other people in need. I saw this occur after the Earthquakes in Christchurch and Japan as well. People had their phones and cameras out, capturing incredible footage of the events, but not helping the thousands of people trapped around them.

An additional risk happens as people put themselves into increasingly precarious predicaments just to capture those shots. I totally get the desire to do so; I think I might be one of these people. However, we need to take a moment and put our cameras down. Another person’s life is far more valuable than 10,000 views on YouTube.

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What Your PC or Mac Says About You

24 Apr

Fascinating infographic compiled by Hunch. It shows how Mac and PC people differ in every possible way.

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Rodent Poop “Too Numerous to Count” Found on Delta Airplane

22 Apr

Delta Airlines

FDA investigators sent a warning letter to Delta Airlines CEO Richard Anderson after a routine inspection discovered rodent excreta pellets “too numerous to count” in ceiling tiles and near the food preparation area.

The inspection occurred sometime between January 26-February 2 in Atlanta, GA and located rodent poop throughout the plane. Delta immediately pulled the aircraft from service and resolved the issues “within days.”

“This clearly was an isolated incident and we cooperated with the FDA immediately to resolve it earlier this year,” said Delta’s director of communications, Ashley Black to ABC News.

An expert with Orkin Pest Control agreed the situation was extremely isolated, but still unacceptable. FDA regulations require any area that stores or prepares food must be kept free of rodents, flies or other vermin.

“Rodents usually have four ways they can come into an airplane: the airports, jet ways, food carts or food vending companies, and cargo,” said Ron Harrison of Orkin. “The challenge becomes a confined space like this, a perfect habitat for rodents.”

Rats can transmit over 35 diseases to human beings through their feces.

Read the warning letter here.

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