Ruby"s Diner fire spreading to Seal Beach Pier

WATCH: Popular Seal Beach Pier in Calif. up in flames; restaurant may have caught fire

SEAL BEACH >> Black smoke filled the sky and flames burned bright orange Friday morning as a fire inside the closed Rubys Diner at the end of the Seal Beach Pier burned for more than an hour.

PHOTOS: Blaze erupts at abandoned Rubys Diner on Seal Beach Pier

A fire started around 7:35 a.m. inside the restaurant, and firefighters were pumping water through standpipes at the end of the pier to try to contain the fire, but it spread underneath, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.

Four fire boats from Long Beach Fire Department, one from the Orange County Sheriffs Department and Seal Beach Marine Safety responded to assist from the ocean, Concialdi said. Originally eight boats were called to help, but some didnt make it.

About 70 firefighters from OCFA, Long Beach and Huntington Beach also responded.

The fire was initially knocked down at 9:05 a.m., Concialdi said, but flames re-emerged around 10:45 a.m.

The pier does not have stability issues, but the structure has been destroyed, Concialdi said.

At some point Friday morning, a standpipe at the end of the pier malfunctioned, causing firefighters to rely more heavily on about 2,000 feet of hoses to battle the flames, Concialdi said.

The pier is a quarter-mile long, OCFA Capt. Larry Kurtz said. (Firefighters) have to lay down hose all the way to the building by hand and each of those rolls weighs about 90 pounds. Its very taxing work.

A firefighter was injured while battling the blaze and was taken to Los Alamitos Medical Center, Concialdi said.

OCFA and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigators began examining the charred remains of Rubys Diner and an adjacent structure around 11:30 a.m., although the buildings were still smoldering and roofs completely caved in.

Fire officials were investigating the remains of the building after the flames were extinguished. It was unclear how long it would take to determine a cause.

Electrical, gas and water lines run under the piers wooden planks and it was an electrical wiring short that caused a fire that badly burned the pier on May 15, 1992.

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Rubys Diner closed in January 2013, and the building has been vacant and fenced off since then.

Michael Pless Jr., one of the owners of M&M Surfing School based in Seal Beach, said he was surfing when he smelled smoke before seeing flames under the pier.

Do I smell something cooking? he said he thought when he smelled the fire.

Shortly after, Pless said he saw six firefighters hanging off a Seal Beach Police Department patrol car speeding toward the fire.

David Gillispie, 26, was surfing with Pless and was about 200 feet away from the pier when the fire started.

There were chunks of wood falling into the water, Gillispie said.

Robert Christiansen, 61 of Anaheim was sitting on his beach chair facing the ocean when he spotted the smoke.

I thought Maybe theyre doing some sort of control cleanup fire; I hope its not what I think it is, he said.

But then he saw the smoke building up and emergency crews arriving.

Firefighters told the fishermen and pedestrians on the pier to vacate as the smoke continued to build.

Its pretty serious; hopefully theyll get it under control, Christiansen said.

Rachel Kuryan, who lives nearby, walked out to see the fire with her dog and a friend.

She said some of her fondest childhood memories involve going to the Seal Beach Pier with her family.

(Rubys) is where my mom would come for her birthday, Kuryan said. She doesnt even like hamburgers.

Kuryan hopes the pier, which is the second longest wooden pier in California, will be restored.

The good news, its a small section of the pier and hopefully it will be open very soon, Kurtz said.

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20160520/rubys-diner-fire-spreading-to-seal-beach-pier

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The Chainsmokers & Daya"s "DLMD," Ariana Grande"s "Dangerous Woman" Join Pop Radio"s Top 10

Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman (Live On Good Morning America)

The Chainsmokers Dont Let Me Down (featuring Daya) and Ariana Grandes Dangerous Woman officially crack the Top 10 on this weeks Mediabase pop radio airplay chart.

Spun ~10,657 times during the May 1-7 tracking week (+1,400), Dont Let Me Down jumps five places to a new peak of #7.

Dangerous Woman follows at #10. Up one place from last weeks position, the title track from Grandes new album received ~9,711 weekly plays (+287).

Mike Posners I Took A Pill In Ibiza leads this weeks chart.

Source: http://headlineplanet.com/home/2016/05/08/the-chainsmokers-dayas-dlmd-ariana-grandes-dangerous-woman-join-pop-radios-top-10/

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Shane Black"s Latest Movie, The Nice Guys, Takes Us Back to 1970s Los

The Nice Guys Review! - Cinefix Now

Pollution and the p**n industrytwo constants in 1970s Los Angelesbecome intertwined in a vast conspiracy that threatens the environment, the economy, and the lives of a colorful cast of characters in director Shane Blacks latest, The Nice Guys. After the death of a famous adult-film actress, private detective Holland March (Ryan Gosling) forms an unlikely alliance with enforcer Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) to track down a missing girl who holds the key to several murders. Black, who is known for Iron Man 3 and Lethal Weapon, cowrote the film with Anthony Bagarozzi and recruited production designer Richard Bridgland to bring the seedy vibe of the city to life.

Bridgland was immediately faced with a challenge: He would have to re-create 1970s Los Angeles in modern-day Atlanta. Atlanta is full of green trees, while L.A. has that wonderful stark desert look, says Bridgland. We had to imagine places with all the trees digitally removed. As long as I can find the right architectural elements, I hoped that I could add L.A. to it.

Fortunately, Atlanta had a few surprising gems that were perfect for the production. For a big scene that takes place at the residence of p**n king Sid Shattuck, Bridgland and his team found hip-hop producer Dallas Austins home, which is based on John Lautners Silvertop House. It was bizarre, Bridgland says. Here was this space-age Lautner house dropped into the suburbs of Atlanta. The citys Hilton Hotel proved to be the ideal setting to stage the 1978 L.A. Auto Show. It was built in 1976, and it pretty much hasnt changed since then, he says. We boarded over their tennis courts to create the auto-show opening party.

Bridgland drew on his extensive research, including old Super 8 films and documentary photographs, to add authentic period elements. I used classic 70s designers like Verner Panton quite heavily for the furniture, he notes. Even the Hollywood sign gets a 70s makeunder. The whole thing was was falling down. It just seemed like the perfect metaphor for what Shane was saying and what the city was about.

Source: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/tour-set-shane-blacks-latest-movie-the-nice-guys-starring-ryan-gosling-russell-crowe

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The White House Wants Kids" Science & Technology Ideas, & Here"s How To Get Involved

President Obama COMPLETE REMARKS at 2016 White House Correspondents" Dinner (C-SPAN)

Budding scientists are about to have their ideas heard in the Oval Office. The White House wants kids" science and technology ideas, and children from all over the country are invited to get involved. Students can thank Maryland third-grader Jacob Leggett for inspiring the opportunity, according to CBS Baltimore: while taking part in the sixth White House Science Fair, he asked President Obama whether he"d ever had a "kid science advisor." Though Leggett attended the fair in order to share his 3-D printer creations, his pitch would end up having a national impact.

On Thursday, Obama awarded both National Medals of Science and National Medals of Technology and Innovation, USA Today reported. While speaking in the East Room, he also announced his call for ideas from kid scientists. Though adults populate the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Obama wants to hear specifically from children.

Kids can submit science ideas to the White House through an online form. Obama is interested in students" strategies for tackling major problems, from climate change to cancer. He"s also hoping for kids" input on STEM education: how it"s working in schools across the country and how it can be improved. Children can share questions and let the president know what they"re working on in their communities.

Obama is a big believer in the importance of kids" contributions to scientific innovation. The White House shared his thoughts from the 2016 Science Fair:

One of the things I find so inspiring about these young thinkers is that they look at all these seemingly intractable problems as something that we can solve. There is a confidence when you are pursuing science. They don"t consider age a barrier. They don"t think, well, that"s just the way things are. They"re not afraid to try things and ask tough questions.

Since taking office, Obama established a reputation for being a strong supporter of the sciences. He committed to restoring "science to its rightful place" during his first inaugural address, according to MSNBC, and many of his policy decisions reflect that goal. The president reopened pathways to stem cell innovation that the Bush administration closed, advocated for integrity in the realm of research, and worked toward clean energy solutions for the country. During this year"s State of the Union, he announced the National Cancer Moonshot to support and accelerate oncology research, placing Vice President Biden at the helm. But just as Obama is dedicated to creating pathways for professionals to do their work more efficiently and effectively, he also appreciates the importance of raising a strong generation of young innovators to solve the problems of the future. Obama"s commitment to supporting kids in the sciences emerged when he founded the White House Science Fair, MSNBC reported; Obama said:

If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if youre a young person and youve produced the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too. Scientists and engineers ought to stand side by side with athletes and entertainers as role models, and here at the White House were going to lead by example. Were going to show young people how cool science can be.

Obama isn"t just mobilizing children to pursue careers in science; he"s taking their input now. The White House form invites kids to share what they love most about STEM fields while also asking them to pitch ideas to make the "country work better using science and technology." All submissions are due by Friday, June 17, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The White House reported that there will be more opportunities to contribute going forward, so young scientists can count on their voices being heard.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFOfOuWFOUDBacyaDbP2yz-_et2HQ&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52779111669091&ei=Kt4_V_jvIcjO3QGW4JbIDw&url=https://www.romper.com/p/the-white-house-wants-kids-science-technology-ideas-heres-how-to-get-involved-10977

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Secret Service Shoots Man With Gun Near White House Checkpoint

Larry Wilmore COMPLETE REMARKS at 2016 White House Correspondents" Dinner (C-SPAN)

A man was shot by a Secret Service agent outside the White House grounds after approaching a checkpoint with a gun and refusing commands to drop it, officials said.

Jesse Olivieri, from Ashland Pennsylvania, approached a checkpoint on near 17th and E streets with a gun at around 3:06 p.m. and was shot in the chest, the Secret Service said. No one else was injured.

The shooting prompted a lockdown at the White House and sent heavily-armed officers fanning out across the complex and a sniper scanning the area from the top of the building.

"He was carrying a gun it was a silver gun in clear sight, walked through the fence line," said Larry Samples, who was on E and witnessed the shooting. "They immediately tried to stop him and came up to him," Samples said. "[Authorities] yelled multiple times "stop, stop, stop." He kept ignoring them."

Several law enforcement officials said they believe it may have been an attempt at suicide by cop, and that Olivieri said he wanted to die. "There is no known nexus to terrorism," police and the Secret Service said in a statement.

A Secret Service agent orders people into buildings near the entrance to the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Friday, May 20, 2016, after the White House was placed on security alert after shooting on street outside. Andrew Harnik / AP

D.C. Fire and EMS said Olivieri was transported to a hospital in critical condition. Rohail Khan, who said he was around 5 feet from the shooting, said he heard a single shot and then Secret Service yelled for everyone to get down.

Olivieri was allegedly brandishing the gun and was shot after refusing several commands to drop it, authorities said. Samples described him as around 5 feet, 10 inches tall with shaggy blonde hair. A weapon was recovered, officials said.

"I saw the Secret Service and officers coming around him," Samples said. "They surrounded him. They gave him multiple chances to stop his advance and he refused. He just kept walking. He had a gun in plain sight."

President Barack Obama was not at the White House. He was out for an afternoon of golfing, officials said.

Government sources said two Secret Service officers had eyes on Olivieri before he even pulled out the gun and had "shadowed" him. He was never inside the White House complex.

Taylor Cates was outside of the White House with her boyfriend when she spotted a man with the gun.

"He had a a gun out, just in plain sight. I mean, it wasn"t even hidden," Cates said. "He looked at me, then kept walking," she said.

Cates and her boyfriend and three other people nearby stopped, unsure what to do and afraid of getting any closer. She said the man weaved through a few crowds and approached the security gate.

"He had no facial expression at all," Cates said. "It was honestly terrifying," she said.

Washington, D.C., Metropolitan police will investigate the shooting, and the FBI will look into Olivieri"s background, according to law enforcement officials. Olivieri will likely be charged with assaulting a federal officer, officials said.

Park Police and Secret Service officers searched the Olivieri"s car, parked a few blocks away. He was taken to George Washington University Hospital. The White House lockdown was lifted by 4 p.m.

The Secret Service announced last year that it would be adding "temporary security enhancements" to the White House, including an anti-climb feature with sharp metal spikes on top of the fence surrounding the grounds, after a series of high-profile incidents.

In September of 2014, a man scaled the White House fence and made it all the way into the East Room before he was tackled and arrested. Omar Gonzalez, 43, pleaded guilty to charges related to the breach and was sentenced to nearly 1 1/2 years in prison. Prosecutors said he has a history with law enforcement where he described having "paranoid delusions."

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/white-house-lockdown-after-nearby-shooting-n577701

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What today"s civil-rights activists owe to Malcolm X

Malcolm X - The House Negro and the Field Negro

Library of Congress

Malcolm X before a 1964 press conference.

Thandisiwe Jackson-Nisan thinks Malcolm Xs political legacy doesnt get enough recognition. Shes hoping to change that. We hear about Martin Luther King a lot but we dont hear as much about Malcolm, she said. Ive met children whove never heard who Malcolm X was.

This Saturday, Jackson-Nisan along with a handful of other Twin Cities civil rights activists and community members are hosting the third annual Minnesota Malcolm X Conference to celebrate the civil rights leaders life and discuss his ideas and philosophies.

This years conference, being held at Minneapolis North Community High School Booster Club in north Minneapolis, will focus on the Organization of Afro-American Unity an African American civil rights organization established by Malcolm X shortly before his assassination in 1965. The event will feature a discussion with a panel of Twin Cities black leaders and activists, followed by a series of workshops and performance art.

Im super excited about it, Jackson-Nisan said. This is to honor and reflect on the political legacy of Malcolm X.

People tend to get caught up in Malcolm X not endorsing non-violence like MLK, Jackson-Nisan said, which is why she believes people tend not to celebrate him as much. But as a civil rights leader, and a contributor to African American heritage, she said, his beliefs are still very much at the forefront of todays civil rights activism.

Modern-day relevance

Nekima Levy-Pounds, a St. Thomas Law Professor and president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP, said Malcolm X was unapologetic when he spoke about giving power back to the black community, both with his actions and words.

She believes his teachings and mantra of By any means necessary, have influenced many civil rights activists work today, including her own. Levy-Pounds has participated in several high-profile demonstrations over the last few years, including disrupting freeway traffic, shutting down the Mall of America and occupying the land outside Minneapolis Fourth Precinct Police Station for three weeks after the shooting of an unarmed black man by police.

Just last week, Levy-Pounds interrupted a private Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board retreat because she felt the group wasnt addressing her concerns over what she calls unfair hiring and disciplinary practices against people of color within the department.

She thinks Malcolm X would have done the same if he were alive today. Its important to disrupt the status quo, to speak truth to power, and to disrupt business as usual, Levy-Pounds said. Sometimes that means showing up in sacred white spaces.

Michael McDowell, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Minneapolis, said the act of taking power back, whether received positively or not, was at the heart of Malcolm Xs teaching and is something their movement has also prioritized. He was unapologetic about talking about black power and building black power, McDowell said, and thats something that were pretty explicit with in the Black Lives Matter movement.

Mel Reeves, a longtime Twin Cities civil rights activist and a speaker at this years conference, said Malcolm X also argued for economic equality and likely would support activists fighting for a $15 an hour minimum wage in Minneapolis. He was against capitalism, Reeves said. The idea of profits over people.

Reeves said he sees the conference as a chance to spread the word about Malcolm Xs less talked about views and how they might fit into our political discourses today such as universal healthcare.

For McDowell, hes glad to see the Twin Cities community making an effort to talk more about a figure who has contributed so much to the African American community and civil rights movement. This conference is something thats a blessing for Minneapolis because we havent had something thats reoccurring thats uplifting Malcolm X and his legacy, he said. Its really important that hes someone thats talked about.

The conference takes place on May 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Minneapolis North Community High School Booster Club on James Avenue North. Admission is free and lunch will be provided.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFGg-BYjC7Wrv1TZJjjlNWNloIidw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&ei=ttQ_V7jzC9yQ3wHex6zADw&url=https://www.minnpost.com/community-sketchbook/2016/05/what-today-s-civil-rights-activists-owe-malcolm-x

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Morley Safer Died From Pneumonia

Morley Safer Dead at 84 | 60 Minutes Reporter Passes Away

CBS News has reported the death of broadcaster Morley Safer at 84 years old. He had officially retired just last week after 46 years in the business. According to the network, Safers health had been in decline when it announced his retirement. His wife, Jane Safer, told The New York Times he died of pneumonia.

Morley was a fixture, one of our pillars, and an inspiration in many ways. He was a master storyteller, a gentleman, and a wonderful friend. We will miss him very much, 60 Minutes Executive Producer Jeff Fager said in a statement. Morley was one of the most important journalists in any medium, ever, added CBS Chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves.

CBS News celebrated his long career this past Sunday evening with a post-60 Minutes special, titled Morley Safer: A Reporters Life,featuring interviews with historians, colleagues, past interview subjects, and Safer himself. Perhaps showing his sense of humor, Safer told CBS upon his retirement: What would I do if I wasnt doing this? I have not a clue. Maybe running a whorehouse or something like that. Im not equipped to do much else.

Source: http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2016/05/19/morley-safer-dead-at-84.html

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