Last week, I wrote in my column that “So far, consensus around the FAA’s thinking indicates that…
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Some Domestic Drones May Get Rubber Bullets, Tear Gas

Last week, I wrote in my column that “So far, consensus around the FAA’s thinking indicates that domestic drones would not be approved to fly with weapons.”

That was in reference to the Federal Aviation Administration’s announcement that it will ease restrictions on civilian use of unmanned drones for use in surveillance and research.  The institutions most interested in using drones are law enforcement entities ranging from the FBI to local police departments.

Now, consider this:

Chief Deputy Randy McDaniel of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in Texas told The Daily that his department is considering using rubber bullets and tear gas on its drone.

“Those are things that law enforcement utilizes day in and day out and in certain situations it might be advantageous…[more]

May 23, 2012 • 03:32 pm

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Home Jester's Courtroom A Runaway (rather Runway) Lawsuit Against American Airlines
A Runaway (rather Runway) Lawsuit Against American Airlines Print
Thursday, September 09 2010

American Airlines is being sued by a Washington State woman who claims she was traumatized when an American plane ran off the runaway at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
 
In a federal lawsuit, passenger Jewel Thomas claims she suffered severe mental and emotional problems after the New York bound plane skidded onto the grass next to the runway in an emergency landing at Chicago's O'Hare.  "That day changed my whole life – it changed my whole world," Thomas said, adding: "This is one problem I can't solve."
 
No physical injuries were reported among the passenger or crew and the damage reported to the plane was a blown tire.  Nonetheless, Thomas contends the incident upset her so much that she is on disability leave from her job at Microsoft, that she can no longer fly and sometimes even "freaks out" when she hears an airplane. 
 
Thomas claims the flight crew is at fault because it had notice of electrical and battery trouble and did not divert the flight sooner.  In the lawsuit, Thomas cites that the cabin public address system failed and eventually all power to the passenger cabin went out, including the lights, and passengers were praying and calling family members.  The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
 
—Source:  msnbc.com

Question of the Week   
How many steps in each direction are marched by the sentinels while guarding The Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery?
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Quote of the Day   
 
"Trying to figure out Valerie Jarrett’s mysterious hold on Barack and Michelle Obama is a favorite guessing game in the parlors and dining rooms of Washington. No other White House official in history has enjoyed such a unique relationship with both a president and a first lady, and yet the mainstream media have ignored Jarrett’s enormous influence over the shape and direction of the Obama…[more]
 
 
—Edward Klein, Author, Vanity Fair Contributing Editor, Former Newsweek Foreign Editor and Former New York Times Magazine Editor in Chief
— Edward Klein, Author, Vanity Fair Contributing Editor, Former Newsweek Foreign Editor and Former New York Times Magazine Editor in Chief
 
Liberty Poll   

Should the Obama administration authorize the use of aerial drones by local police agencies?