Britain's Home Secretary apologized Sunday for putting five pay-per-view movies on her parliamentary expense account _ including two X-rated ones screened by her husband.
Jacqui Smith admitted she should not have claimed any of the movies and said all the money would be paid back. She attributed the mistake to not being careful enough with a service package that included both Internet and TV.
"I am sorry...
Read more here.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Earth Hour is a joke
Our homegrown conservative *National* (hahahahaha) newspaper takes issue with Earth Day...
We're capitalists... we prefer to put our faith in the inter-twined march of technology and the free market rather than feel-good slogans and rituals.
Part of the reason we're fucked...
Read more here.
We're capitalists... we prefer to put our faith in the inter-twined march of technology and the free market rather than feel-good slogans and rituals.
Part of the reason we're fucked...
Read more here.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Gov. Douglas of Vermont takes petty to a new level
There could be a major roadblock for the gay marriage bill in Montpelier. Gov. Jim Douglas said he will veto the bill if it makes it to his desk.
The governor told reporters he doesn't typically announce his intentions like this so far ahead of time, but said he thinks it's the only way to stop speculation about what his move may be, to refocus lawmakers' attention on the state budget.
"I'm announcing I will veto this legislation when it reaches my desk," Douglas said.
Read more here.
The governor told reporters he doesn't typically announce his intentions like this so far ahead of time, but said he thinks it's the only way to stop speculation about what his move may be, to refocus lawmakers' attention on the state budget.
"I'm announcing I will veto this legislation when it reaches my desk," Douglas said.
Read more here.
Palin still blind as a bat
Sarah Palin is teeing off on the media once again...
...Reflecting on the campaign, Palin said there were "a variety of reasons" Republicans lost in November, namely the faltering economy, but she seemed to place most of the blame on the press.
Hahahahaha!
Little miss Palin couldn't possibly realize that the major reason they lost was her, Her, HER.
And thank god for that.
Read more here.
...Reflecting on the campaign, Palin said there were "a variety of reasons" Republicans lost in November, namely the faltering economy, but she seemed to place most of the blame on the press.
Hahahahaha!
Little miss Palin couldn't possibly realize that the major reason they lost was her, Her, HER.
And thank god for that.
Read more here.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Briny pools 'may exist on Mars'
Pools of salty water might be able to exist just below the surface of Mars, planetary scientists believe.
Researchers previously thought water existed largely as ice or as vapour on Mars, because of the low temperatures and atmospheric pressure.
But Nasa's Phoenix lander has shown the presence in Martian soil of perchlorate salts, which can keep water liquid at temperatures of minus 70C.
Pockets of brine might form when soil interacted with ice.
Read more here.
Researchers previously thought water existed largely as ice or as vapour on Mars, because of the low temperatures and atmospheric pressure.
But Nasa's Phoenix lander has shown the presence in Martian soil of perchlorate salts, which can keep water liquid at temperatures of minus 70C.
Pockets of brine might form when soil interacted with ice.
Read more here.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
"Densification is a natural, desirable trend"
There is an article about the disappearing single story homes in Montreal being replaced by what else, condos.
Within is a singularly frightening statement that "densification is a natural, desirable trend"
That sums up why some people are willing to see cities become Condoland.
Depressing.
Read more here.
Within is a singularly frightening statement that "densification is a natural, desirable trend"
That sums up why some people are willing to see cities become Condoland.
Depressing.
Read more here.
The virtues of public anger and the need for more
Seems to me we aren't pissed off enough.
With lightning speed and lockstep unanimity, opinion-making elites jointly embraced and are now delivering the same message about the public rage triggered this week by the AIG bonus scandal: This scandal is insignificant. It's just a distraction. And, most important of all, public anger is unhelpful and must be contained or, failing that, ignored.
This anti-anger consensus among our political elites is exactly wrong...
Read more here.
With lightning speed and lockstep unanimity, opinion-making elites jointly embraced and are now delivering the same message about the public rage triggered this week by the AIG bonus scandal: This scandal is insignificant. It's just a distraction. And, most important of all, public anger is unhelpful and must be contained or, failing that, ignored.
This anti-anger consensus among our political elites is exactly wrong...
Read more here.
Greg Gutfeld confirms conservatives are cowards
Fear drives much conservative thinking, and now we can add Gutless to the list.
Seems Greg Gutless, oh excuse me Gutfeld, couldn't crawl out from under his rock, but had to send a spokesperson instead...
He mocked our military and our Mounties, and incited outrage among our highest-ranking politicians, but Greg Gutfeld couldn't muster the guts on Monday to tell us himself that he's sorry.
Sure, he apologized in a roundabout way: He issued a rueful statement through Fox News's corporate channels, saying "It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize."
But the late-night talk show host and blogger, who recently ridiculed Canada's military effort in Afghanistan, opted not to respond to a Globe and Mail e-mail Monday offering him an opportunity to personally explain himself (and engage in a short game of Canadian trivia).
Instead, he forwarded the message to a Fox publicist, who responded. "He's not doing interviews," she said, noting that the offending segment of Mr. Gutfeld's chat show was broadcast March 17, one week ago....
...I realize that my words may have been misunderstood,” Mr. Gutfeld said in a statement released by Fox News
The only people that could have possible misunderstood your words are the brain dead Fox viewers who think it is actually a news network.
Read more here.
Seems Greg Gutless, oh excuse me Gutfeld, couldn't crawl out from under his rock, but had to send a spokesperson instead...
He mocked our military and our Mounties, and incited outrage among our highest-ranking politicians, but Greg Gutfeld couldn't muster the guts on Monday to tell us himself that he's sorry.
Sure, he apologized in a roundabout way: He issued a rueful statement through Fox News's corporate channels, saying "It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize."
But the late-night talk show host and blogger, who recently ridiculed Canada's military effort in Afghanistan, opted not to respond to a Globe and Mail e-mail Monday offering him an opportunity to personally explain himself (and engage in a short game of Canadian trivia).
Instead, he forwarded the message to a Fox publicist, who responded. "He's not doing interviews," she said, noting that the offending segment of Mr. Gutfeld's chat show was broadcast March 17, one week ago....
...I realize that my words may have been misunderstood,” Mr. Gutfeld said in a statement released by Fox News
The only people that could have possible misunderstood your words are the brain dead Fox viewers who think it is actually a news network.
Read more here.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Canada to FOX News: Fuck you
More proof conservatives are about as funny as a boot to the groin.
Insulting Canada, our military and exhibiting homophobia all at once. There's even a suggestion they invade us. Ha ha ha, invasions are a thing of humour now.
This is what happens when immature minds are allowed their own show.
I'd like to see how long these *patriots* would last in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Oh no, our Federal Science Minister is a dope Christian
Get these people out of power!
Our Conservative government continues to embarrass us on a planetary scale.
I know I shouldn't be surprised, this is a Harper appointment after all, but but, the man is clearly unqualified for the job of *Science* minister. Perhaps that is Harper's point.
"Shucks we don't understand all this new learnin', then gosh darn either will you."
It might explain why science budgets have been cut by this government. Guess the money for all those Armed Services ads on TV has to come from somewhere.
I don't mind if they want to keep themselves ignorant, but please don't put them in the Science portfolio. Minister of Voodoo, or of "Duh I dunno" perhaps?
Federal Science Minister Gary Goodyear's refusal to say whether he believes in evolution has left scientists questioning what that means for Canadian research.
Dolph Schluter, a professor at the University of British Columbia, told CBCNews.ca in an email that he was "first flabbergasted and then embarrassed" when he heard Goodyear's response to a reporter's question about whether he believed in evolution.
"I'm not going to answer that question," Goodyear, federal minister of state for science and technology, told the Globe and Mail in an article published Tuesday. "I am a Christian, and I don't think anybody asking a question about my religion is appropriate."
Again, I must apologize at the daily ignorance our Conservative government displays to the world.
Read more here.
Our Conservative government continues to embarrass us on a planetary scale.
I know I shouldn't be surprised, this is a Harper appointment after all, but but, the man is clearly unqualified for the job of *Science* minister. Perhaps that is Harper's point.
"Shucks we don't understand all this new learnin', then gosh darn either will you."
It might explain why science budgets have been cut by this government. Guess the money for all those Armed Services ads on TV has to come from somewhere.
I don't mind if they want to keep themselves ignorant, but please don't put them in the Science portfolio. Minister of Voodoo, or of "Duh I dunno" perhaps?
Federal Science Minister Gary Goodyear's refusal to say whether he believes in evolution has left scientists questioning what that means for Canadian research.
Dolph Schluter, a professor at the University of British Columbia, told CBCNews.ca in an email that he was "first flabbergasted and then embarrassed" when he heard Goodyear's response to a reporter's question about whether he believed in evolution.
"I'm not going to answer that question," Goodyear, federal minister of state for science and technology, told the Globe and Mail in an article published Tuesday. "I am a Christian, and I don't think anybody asking a question about my religion is appropriate."
Again, I must apologize at the daily ignorance our Conservative government displays to the world.
Read more here.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Is HBO blocking Real Time podcasts outside the U.S.?
Is HBO blocking Real Time podcasts outside the U.S.?
Sure seems like they are. Move over Comedy Central, make room Hulu, there a new player screwing with the net on the block.
There are reports, which I can confirm, that recent podcasts are broken on download, and that you can't even subscribe to Real Time anymore.
No message to listeners, no nothing. Just a broken service and a big Fuck You.
Why bother to have a podcast in the first place, and then block it? (Yes I know, to force us to buy the watered down version of HBO they pass off here in Canada).
Ever notice when big money'd interests get there hands on anything, restrictions suddenly go up?
Sure seems like they are. Move over Comedy Central, make room Hulu, there a new player screwing with the net on the block.
There are reports, which I can confirm, that recent podcasts are broken on download, and that you can't even subscribe to Real Time anymore.
No message to listeners, no nothing. Just a broken service and a big Fuck You.
Why bother to have a podcast in the first place, and then block it? (Yes I know, to force us to buy the watered down version of HBO they pass off here in Canada).
Ever notice when big money'd interests get there hands on anything, restrictions suddenly go up?
Daniel Drezner - David Frum
Interesting insight into the conservative mind. They're still hard nosed bastards, but these two state their case rationally.
Pope Ben, enlightened mind of the 9th century
More pie?
"You can't resolve [the spread of HIV] with the distribution of condoms," the pope told reporters aboard the Alitalia plane headed to Yaounde, Cameroon, where he will begin a seven-day pilgrimage on the continent. "On the contrary, it increases the problem."
Gee, I can think of another thing that increases the problem...
Read more here.
How the simple minded use religion to justify their own violence
Josip Situm, who threw Molotov cocktails at a group of homosexuals, does not repent, not even after 14 months in prison...
...Josip Situm (26) says that there is no psychopath hiding, or a monster or a killer, but a regular Zagreb lad, who is not afraid to raise his voice against what he calls “egoistic exposure of a small groupation of people which doesn`t care about others, but only and exclusively for itself”.
But..but..the irony...
I grew up in a Catholic family where directions in life exclusively follow dignity and what can serve as an example for others. Being a homosexual, insisting on same-sex marriages and adopting children is something that does not suit my point of view or religious beliefs. I believe that nobody`s, not even my own child, should not be exposed to such immoral surroundings. Also, I am a patriot who knows how to appreciate the sacrifice of my father and other fathers who shed blood for our freedom, and I now that there are too many disempowered and desperate people on the brink of poverty whose live their life humbly, they don`t harass anyone or parade in the city for their rights
Yes, Jesus was big on Molotov cocktails.
Man's a cretin of the highest order.
Read more here.
...Josip Situm (26) says that there is no psychopath hiding, or a monster or a killer, but a regular Zagreb lad, who is not afraid to raise his voice against what he calls “egoistic exposure of a small groupation of people which doesn`t care about others, but only and exclusively for itself”.
But..but..the irony...
I grew up in a Catholic family where directions in life exclusively follow dignity and what can serve as an example for others. Being a homosexual, insisting on same-sex marriages and adopting children is something that does not suit my point of view or religious beliefs. I believe that nobody`s, not even my own child, should not be exposed to such immoral surroundings. Also, I am a patriot who knows how to appreciate the sacrifice of my father and other fathers who shed blood for our freedom, and I now that there are too many disempowered and desperate people on the brink of poverty whose live their life humbly, they don`t harass anyone or parade in the city for their rights
Yes, Jesus was big on Molotov cocktails.
Man's a cretin of the highest order.
Read more here.
SCI FI Channel is evolving into Syfy
To attract more illiterate viewers I guess..
Syfy -- unlike the generic entertainment category "sci-fi" - firmly establishes a uniquely ownable trademark that is portable across all non-linear digital platforms and beyond, from Hulu to iTunes. Syfy also creates an umbrella brand name that can extend into new adjacent businesses under the Syfy Ventures banner, such as Syfy Games, Syfy Films and Syfy Kids.
Oh I get it, a "ownable" trademark, one they can't get sued for.
Silly me.
Read more here.
Syfy -- unlike the generic entertainment category "sci-fi" - firmly establishes a uniquely ownable trademark that is portable across all non-linear digital platforms and beyond, from Hulu to iTunes. Syfy also creates an umbrella brand name that can extend into new adjacent businesses under the Syfy Ventures banner, such as Syfy Games, Syfy Films and Syfy Kids.
Oh I get it, a "ownable" trademark, one they can't get sued for.
Silly me.
Read more here.
Michael Steele: Idiot of the Day
"We are cooling. We are not warming. The warming you see out there, the supposed warming, and I am using my finger quotation marks here, is part of the cooling process. Greenland, which is now covered in ice, it was once called Greenland for a reason, right?
Greenland is named Greenland because of a Viking (the Republicans of 1000 AD) scam, you idiot.
[now is] the ultimate political Armageddon between conservatism and liberalism...get ready, strap it on, because it's coming. And you better pick your sides, you better choose now
Ignoring the simple mindedness of this, Mr. Steele would make side picking a breeze.
Mid-way through the program, a caller offered words up support for the embattled RNC chair. "Don't let them shut you up," the voice said.
Steele replied: "Nope, nope. That ain't happening."
No, please continue, it is most entertaining.
Read more of this parade of dumb here.
Greenland is named Greenland because of a Viking (the Republicans of 1000 AD) scam, you idiot.
[now is] the ultimate political Armageddon between conservatism and liberalism...get ready, strap it on, because it's coming. And you better pick your sides, you better choose now
Ignoring the simple mindedness of this, Mr. Steele would make side picking a breeze.
Mid-way through the program, a caller offered words up support for the embattled RNC chair. "Don't let them shut you up," the voice said.
Steele replied: "Nope, nope. That ain't happening."
No, please continue, it is most entertaining.
Read more of this parade of dumb here.
Scholar Claims Dead Sea Scrolls 'Authors' Never Existed
Oy!
Biblical scholars have long argued that the Dead Sea Scrolls were the work of an ascetic and celibate Jewish community known as the Essenes, which flourished in the 1st century A.D. in the scorching desert canyons near the Dead Sea. Now a prominent Israeli scholar, Rachel Elior, disputes that the Essenes ever existed at all — a claim that has shaken the bedrock of biblical scholarship.
Read more here.
Biblical scholars have long argued that the Dead Sea Scrolls were the work of an ascetic and celibate Jewish community known as the Essenes, which flourished in the 1st century A.D. in the scorching desert canyons near the Dead Sea. Now a prominent Israeli scholar, Rachel Elior, disputes that the Essenes ever existed at all — a claim that has shaken the bedrock of biblical scholarship.
Read more here.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Vikings: it wasn't all raping and pillaging
More PC inspired nonsense from historians, seemingly unable to admit some people in history *were* murderous thugs.
Even Nazis dusted and did the dishes.
For centuries, they have been stereotyped as marauding barbarians arriving in their helmeted hordes to pillage their way across Britain. But now a group of academics believe they have uncovered new evidence that the Vikings were more cultured settlers who offered a "good historical model" of immigrant assimilation.
Read more here.
Even Nazis dusted and did the dishes.
For centuries, they have been stereotyped as marauding barbarians arriving in their helmeted hordes to pillage their way across Britain. But now a group of academics believe they have uncovered new evidence that the Vikings were more cultured settlers who offered a "good historical model" of immigrant assimilation.
Read more here.
Shatner wants P.M. job
It would be better than the varool we have now.
Montreal-born William Shatner says he wants to be prime minister of Canada, the New Zealand newspaper Web site Stuff.co.nz reported.
The 77-year-old Star Trek actor revealed his ambition in response to a letter from a fan who urged him to put himself forward for governor general of Canada.
"My intention is to be prime minister of Canada, not governor general, which is mainly a ceremonial position," he reportedly wrote.
Shatner added: "I must, with my deepest thanks, turn down your honourable intent to advance me as Governor General. Besides which, I don't have time to be Governor General. ... As Prime Minister I can lead Canada into even greater exploits."
Montreal-born William Shatner says he wants to be prime minister of Canada, the New Zealand newspaper Web site Stuff.co.nz reported.
The 77-year-old Star Trek actor revealed his ambition in response to a letter from a fan who urged him to put himself forward for governor general of Canada.
"My intention is to be prime minister of Canada, not governor general, which is mainly a ceremonial position," he reportedly wrote.
Shatner added: "I must, with my deepest thanks, turn down your honourable intent to advance me as Governor General. Besides which, I don't have time to be Governor General. ... As Prime Minister I can lead Canada into even greater exploits."
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Sears Tower name to change to Willis Tower
More corporate arrogance. We here in Toronto have suffered through similar (The Skydome/Rogers Center etc)
Come this summer, Chicago's iconic landmark known around the world is getting a new moniker: Willis Tower.
Willis Group Holdings, a London-based insurance broker, announced Thursday that it will consolidate its area offices to Sears Tower and as part of the deal, gets to put its own name on the 36-year-old skyscraper.
Willis will move nearly 500 associates into Willis Tower, at 233 S. Wacker, initially occupying more than 140,000 square feet on multiple floors. The company said the move to the new space, at $14.50 per square foot, will result in significant real estate cost savings, and that there is no additional cost to the company associated with renaming the building.
"It was part of our negotiations," said Willis spokesman Will Thoretz. "We are actually not having to pay anything for renaming the building."
You'll pay with the hatred of Chicagoans, but what do you care? Now, paint it silver as a final finger to the city.
Read more here.
Come this summer, Chicago's iconic landmark known around the world is getting a new moniker: Willis Tower.
Willis Group Holdings, a London-based insurance broker, announced Thursday that it will consolidate its area offices to Sears Tower and as part of the deal, gets to put its own name on the 36-year-old skyscraper.
Willis will move nearly 500 associates into Willis Tower, at 233 S. Wacker, initially occupying more than 140,000 square feet on multiple floors. The company said the move to the new space, at $14.50 per square foot, will result in significant real estate cost savings, and that there is no additional cost to the company associated with renaming the building.
"It was part of our negotiations," said Willis spokesman Will Thoretz. "We are actually not having to pay anything for renaming the building."
You'll pay with the hatred of Chicagoans, but what do you care? Now, paint it silver as a final finger to the city.
Read more here.
An icon of resistance to censorship
Chinese censors are getting their asses kicked. Exxxceeelllent.
via videogum.com
The children are singing about grass mud horses ("Fuck Your Mother") who live in a desert ("Your Mother's C-word") (ha), and defeat the river crabs (a word synonymous with "censorship.") Do you know what this means? It means YouTube is IMPORTANT.
Read more here.
20 Years in Jail for Downloading Article on Women's Rights
Laws and governments like this are repulsive.
Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, the student journalist sentenced to death for blasphemy in Afghanistan, has been told he will spend the next 20 years in jail after the country's highest court ruled against him – without even hearing his defence.
The 23-year-old, brought to worldwide attention after an Independent campaign, was praying that Afghanistan's top judges would quash his conviction for lack of evidence, or because he was tried in secret and convicted without a defence lawyer. Instead, almost 18 months after he was arrested for allegedly circulating an article about women's rights, any hope of justice and due process evaporated amid gross irregularities, allegations of corruption and coercion at the Supreme Court. Justices issued their decision in secret, without letting Mr Kambaksh's lawyer submit so much as a word in his defence.
Read more here.
Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, the student journalist sentenced to death for blasphemy in Afghanistan, has been told he will spend the next 20 years in jail after the country's highest court ruled against him – without even hearing his defence.
The 23-year-old, brought to worldwide attention after an Independent campaign, was praying that Afghanistan's top judges would quash his conviction for lack of evidence, or because he was tried in secret and convicted without a defence lawyer. Instead, almost 18 months after he was arrested for allegedly circulating an article about women's rights, any hope of justice and due process evaporated amid gross irregularities, allegations of corruption and coercion at the Supreme Court. Justices issued their decision in secret, without letting Mr Kambaksh's lawyer submit so much as a word in his defence.
Read more here.
Iraqi who threw shoes at Bush jailed for 3 years
And Bush is free...
The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at then-President George W. Bush was convicted Thursday of assaulting a foreign leader and sentenced to three years in prison, provoking outrage among many Iraqis who consider him a hero.
Read more here.
The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at then-President George W. Bush was convicted Thursday of assaulting a foreign leader and sentenced to three years in prison, provoking outrage among many Iraqis who consider him a hero.
Read more here.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Caravaggio used 'photography' to create dramatic masterpiece
The 16th century master used modern darkroom techniques to create his masterpieces, more than 200 years before the invention of the camera.
Italian researchers claim the technique explained why many of his subjects were left-handed – the image projected onto the canvas had been reversed.
Art historian Roberta Lapucci said Caravaggio's dramatic 'chiaroscuro' style of light and shadow was based on "a whole set of techniques that are the basis of photography".
Art history scholars have long known that Caravaggio worked in a sort of darkroom, illuminating his subjects through a hole in the ceiling and projecting the image onto a canvas using a lens and a mirror.
But Mrs Lapucci is the first researcher to suggest that he treated the canvas with light-sensitive substances, including a luminescent powder made from crushed fireflies, in order to "fix" the image as 19th century photographers later would.
Read more here.
Italian researchers claim the technique explained why many of his subjects were left-handed – the image projected onto the canvas had been reversed.
Art historian Roberta Lapucci said Caravaggio's dramatic 'chiaroscuro' style of light and shadow was based on "a whole set of techniques that are the basis of photography".
Art history scholars have long known that Caravaggio worked in a sort of darkroom, illuminating his subjects through a hole in the ceiling and projecting the image onto a canvas using a lens and a mirror.
But Mrs Lapucci is the first researcher to suggest that he treated the canvas with light-sensitive substances, including a luminescent powder made from crushed fireflies, in order to "fix" the image as 19th century photographers later would.
Read more here.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Saudi court sentences 75-year-old woman to 40 lashes, 4 months in jail for mingling with men
Some countries just cry out to be criticized. I'm not afraid to say this kind of action is repulsive.
If this is *truly* God's wish, he's got some 'xplainin' to do. Looks suspiciously man made to me.
A 75-year-old widow in Saudi Arabia has been sentenced to 40 lashes and four months in jail for mingling with two young men who are not close relatives, drawing new criticism for the kingdom's ultraconservative religious police and judiciary...
...The newspaper Al-Watan said the woman met with the two 24-year-old men last April after she asked them to bring her five loaves of bread at her home in al-Chamil, a city north of the capital, Riyadh.
Al-Watan identified one man as Fahd al-Anzi, the nephew of Sawadi's late husband, and the other as his friend and business partner Hadiyan bin Zein. It said they were arrested by the religious police after delivering the bread. The men also were convicted and sentenced to lashes and prison.
Religious police. There is no words to describe how fucked up that is.
Read more here.
If this is *truly* God's wish, he's got some 'xplainin' to do. Looks suspiciously man made to me.
A 75-year-old widow in Saudi Arabia has been sentenced to 40 lashes and four months in jail for mingling with two young men who are not close relatives, drawing new criticism for the kingdom's ultraconservative religious police and judiciary...
...The newspaper Al-Watan said the woman met with the two 24-year-old men last April after she asked them to bring her five loaves of bread at her home in al-Chamil, a city north of the capital, Riyadh.
Al-Watan identified one man as Fahd al-Anzi, the nephew of Sawadi's late husband, and the other as his friend and business partner Hadiyan bin Zein. It said they were arrested by the religious police after delivering the bread. The men also were convicted and sentenced to lashes and prison.
Religious police. There is no words to describe how fucked up that is.
Read more here.
Corporations continue fucking with the Net
YouTube will not reverse its decision to block music videos to UK users despite a plea from the Performing Rights Society to change its mind.
It is removing all premium music videos to UK users after failing to reach a new licensing agreement with the PRS.
Patrick Walker, YouTube's director of video partnerships said it remained committed to agreeing terms.
But such agreement needed to be done "at a rate which is sustainable to all", he told the BBC.
All=PRS
Read more here.
It is removing all premium music videos to UK users after failing to reach a new licensing agreement with the PRS.
Patrick Walker, YouTube's director of video partnerships said it remained committed to agreeing terms.
But such agreement needed to be done "at a rate which is sustainable to all", he told the BBC.
All=PRS
Read more here.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Microsoft Labs 2019
Will this video look as quaint as most predictions of the future do when we finally get there?
Parks only for Emperors and Kings
The Supreme Court recently unanimously denied that a religious group had a free speech right to place a monument to its "Seven Aphorisms" in a town public park near where a monument to the Ten Commandments has stood for decades.
Why you may ask?
Justice Alito writes:
Governments have long used monuments to speak to the public. Since ancient times, kings, emperors, and other rulers have erected statutes of themselves to remind their subjects of their authority and power. Triumphal arches, columns, and other monuments have been built to commemorate military victories and sacrifices and other events of civic importance. A monument, by definition, is a structure that is designed as a means of expression. When a government entity arranges for the construction of a monument, it does so because it wishes to convey some thought or instill some feeling in those who see the structure...
Accordingly... Government decision makers select the monuments that portray what they view as appropriate for the place in question, taking into account such content-based factors as esthetics, history, and local culture.
The accepted monuments are meant to convey and have the effect of conveying a government message and thus constitute government speech.
Even when a monument features the written word the monument may be intended to be interpreted, and may in fact be interpreted by different observers, in a variety of ways.
Leaders don't put up many statues to themselves these days, no work would get done with all the giggling the public would do.
Pigeons have the right idea.
Why you may ask?
Justice Alito writes:
Governments have long used monuments to speak to the public. Since ancient times, kings, emperors, and other rulers have erected statutes of themselves to remind their subjects of their authority and power. Triumphal arches, columns, and other monuments have been built to commemorate military victories and sacrifices and other events of civic importance. A monument, by definition, is a structure that is designed as a means of expression. When a government entity arranges for the construction of a monument, it does so because it wishes to convey some thought or instill some feeling in those who see the structure...
Accordingly... Government decision makers select the monuments that portray what they view as appropriate for the place in question, taking into account such content-based factors as esthetics, history, and local culture.
The accepted monuments are meant to convey and have the effect of conveying a government message and thus constitute government speech.
Even when a monument features the written word the monument may be intended to be interpreted, and may in fact be interpreted by different observers, in a variety of ways.
Leaders don't put up many statues to themselves these days, no work would get done with all the giggling the public would do.
Pigeons have the right idea.
Vatican to women: stop worrying about equality and go put on another load
The Parade of Stupid continues today:
As International Women’s Day is celebrated, the Vatican had a novel message for the women of the world: give thanks for the washing machine. This humble domestic appliance had done more for the women’s liberation movement than the contraceptive pill or working outside the home, said the the official Vatican newspaper, Osservatore Romano.
Read more here.
As International Women’s Day is celebrated, the Vatican had a novel message for the women of the world: give thanks for the washing machine. This humble domestic appliance had done more for the women’s liberation movement than the contraceptive pill or working outside the home, said the the official Vatican newspaper, Osservatore Romano.
Read more here.
Poor (sniffle) Devimco
Devimco asking the city for even more handouts than it has already received seems to finally be the last death-knell for this project. Other developers have been clammering over Griffintown to build their own schemes and were extremely angry with the city last year when the entire area was handed over to Devimco without asking any other developers. If the city does go through with Devimco’s demands, other developers will inevitably line up to say they can do it without the demands creating a less than ideal PR climate for City Hall (in an election year).
Boy, the crooks inside and out of City Hall must be livid...
Read more here.
Boy, the crooks inside and out of City Hall must be livid...
Read more here.
Rep. Todd Thomsen of Oklahoma tempts to idiofy entire state
HR 1014 − By Thomsen
A resolution disapproving certain actions of the University of Oklahoma regarding the theory of evolution; distribution...
...views that are not shared and are not representative of the thinking of a majority of the citizens of Oklahoma
We'z all idiots, so our children should be too.
The whole document is much more entertaining...
Read more here.
He's trying to ban Richard Dawkins from speaking too. Richard responds:
A resolution disapproving certain actions of the University of Oklahoma regarding the theory of evolution; distribution...
...views that are not shared and are not representative of the thinking of a majority of the citizens of Oklahoma
We'z all idiots, so our children should be too.
The whole document is much more entertaining...
Read more here.
He's trying to ban Richard Dawkins from speaking too. Richard responds:
China 'will not have democracy'
Let's hope these are famous last words.
China will never adopt Western-style democracy with a multi-party system, its top legislator has said.
Parliament chief Wu Bangguo said that China would draw on the achievements of all cultures but would not "simply copy" the West.
Communist Party leadership should be strengthened and "the correct political orientation" maintained, he said.
Tanks a lot.
Read more here.
China will never adopt Western-style democracy with a multi-party system, its top legislator has said.
Parliament chief Wu Bangguo said that China would draw on the achievements of all cultures but would not "simply copy" the West.
Communist Party leadership should be strengthened and "the correct political orientation" maintained, he said.
Tanks a lot.
Read more here.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Reading Every Single Word of the Bible
David Plotz of Slate did just that.
Best comment:
uncle ebeneezer: The 11th Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Ignore The Call of Thy Wife!!
Friday, March 06, 2009
Spain arrests 'cocaine cast' man
It was for the pain, really.
A Chilean man with a broken leg was arrested at Barcelona airport after his "cast" was found to be made of cocaine not plaster, Spanish police say.
The 66-year-old carried six cans of beer and two hollowed-out stools that also contained cocaine, they add.
Read more here.
A Chilean man with a broken leg was arrested at Barcelona airport after his "cast" was found to be made of cocaine not plaster, Spanish police say.
The 66-year-old carried six cans of beer and two hollowed-out stools that also contained cocaine, they add.
Read more here.
Horses tamed earlier than thought
Hey, this helps the movie "10,000 B.C." to be less of the historical nightmare it is now.
Horses were domesticated much earlier than previously thought, according to a team of researchers.
They found evidence suggesting that the animals were used by a culture in northern Kazakhstan 5,500 years ago.
Until now, the earliest evidence of horse riding was metal parts from harnesses dating from the Bronze Age.
Read more here.
Horses were domesticated much earlier than previously thought, according to a team of researchers.
They found evidence suggesting that the animals were used by a culture in northern Kazakhstan 5,500 years ago.
Until now, the earliest evidence of horse riding was metal parts from harnesses dating from the Bronze Age.
Read more here.
Firm 'sold workers' secret data'
I've given up being shocked at anything.
From the UK:
A company that allegedly sold workers' personal details, including union activities, to building firms is to be prosecuted by the information watchdog.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said the Consulting Association, in Droitwich, had committed a "serious breach" of the Data Protection Act.
The ICO said a secret system had been run for over 15 years to enable firms to unlawfully vet job applicants.
Unions have called on the government to outlaw "blacklisting" practices.
Around 40 construction companies who subscribed to the scheme would send lists of prospective employees to The Consulting Association, who would then warn them about potential troublemakers.
Some of the notes uncovered by an ICO raid on the association's offices included descriptions such as "ex-shop steward, definite problems", "Irish ex-Army, bad egg".
Read more here.
From the UK:
A company that allegedly sold workers' personal details, including union activities, to building firms is to be prosecuted by the information watchdog.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said the Consulting Association, in Droitwich, had committed a "serious breach" of the Data Protection Act.
The ICO said a secret system had been run for over 15 years to enable firms to unlawfully vet job applicants.
Unions have called on the government to outlaw "blacklisting" practices.
Around 40 construction companies who subscribed to the scheme would send lists of prospective employees to The Consulting Association, who would then warn them about potential troublemakers.
Some of the notes uncovered by an ICO raid on the association's offices included descriptions such as "ex-shop steward, definite problems", "Irish ex-Army, bad egg".
Read more here.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Northern Ireland now Europe's Bible Belt
The Irish once saved Western Civilization, now they lead the push to send it back a few hundred years.
"What does surprise me is that 25% of people in Northern Ireland had given any thought to where the world came from,"
Lol.
The idiotfying of the world continues...
Northern Ireland has the highest percentage of people who believe human beings were created by God in the last 10,000 years, according to a UK survey.
Theology think-tank Theos questioned 2,060 people across the UK, 60 of whom were from Northern Ireland.
People were asked their views on evolution and the origins of mankind.
A quarter of those questioned in Northern Ireland said they believed in creationism while 16% said they believed in Intelligent Design.
Read more here.
"What does surprise me is that 25% of people in Northern Ireland had given any thought to where the world came from,"
Lol.
The idiotfying of the world continues...
Northern Ireland has the highest percentage of people who believe human beings were created by God in the last 10,000 years, according to a UK survey.
Theology think-tank Theos questioned 2,060 people across the UK, 60 of whom were from Northern Ireland.
People were asked their views on evolution and the origins of mankind.
A quarter of those questioned in Northern Ireland said they believed in creationism while 16% said they believed in Intelligent Design.
Read more here.
Cowards attack cricketers in Pakistan
These people really are the scum of the earth.
Gunmen have attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team on its way to play in the Pakistani city of Lahore.
At least six policemen escorting the team bus were killed, along with a driver. Seven cricketers and an assistant coach were injured.
Pakistani officials said about 12 gunmen were involved and grenades and rocket launchers have been recovered.
Officials said the incident bore similarities to deadly attacks in Mumbai in India last November.
The Mumbai attacks were blamed on Pakistan-based Islamic militants.
Read more here.
Gunmen have attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team on its way to play in the Pakistani city of Lahore.
At least six policemen escorting the team bus were killed, along with a driver. Seven cricketers and an assistant coach were injured.
Pakistani officials said about 12 gunmen were involved and grenades and rocket launchers have been recovered.
Officials said the incident bore similarities to deadly attacks in Mumbai in India last November.
The Mumbai attacks were blamed on Pakistan-based Islamic militants.
Read more here.
Tell us who the crooks are Toronto
Toronto has busted some dishonest city workers, but won't tell the public who they are. Yeah, that will go a long way to boost public confidence.
News that nine city employees have been fired for filing fraudulent benefits claims will only fuel talk-radio and water-cooler chatter that is already coloured by the stereotype of the "lazy and pampered" government worker.
This follows other news stories – reasonably but incorrectly gleaned from a city auditor's report – that said the auditor had uncovered a parking ticket-fixing scam after 500 tickets were withdrawn for one individual.
Turns out fraud is not to blame. Smart people took advantage of a legal loophole, since closed. Still, enough other concerns exist to sustain the perception that our public servants are overpaid, underworked fraudsters.
And that's on a good day. He left out an air of contempt for the public...
Read more here.
News that nine city employees have been fired for filing fraudulent benefits claims will only fuel talk-radio and water-cooler chatter that is already coloured by the stereotype of the "lazy and pampered" government worker.
This follows other news stories – reasonably but incorrectly gleaned from a city auditor's report – that said the auditor had uncovered a parking ticket-fixing scam after 500 tickets were withdrawn for one individual.
Turns out fraud is not to blame. Smart people took advantage of a legal loophole, since closed. Still, enough other concerns exist to sustain the perception that our public servants are overpaid, underworked fraudsters.
And that's on a good day. He left out an air of contempt for the public...
Read more here.
The sound of ass kissing
Plant a big one on that ass Michael, it's hard to miss..
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says he has reached out to Rush Limbaugh to tell him he meant no offense when he referred to the popular conservative radio host as an “entertainer” whose show can be “incendiary.”
“My intent was not to go after Rush – I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh,” Steele said in a telephone interview. “I was maybe a little bit inarticulate. … There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership.”
The dust-up comes at a time when top Democrats are trying to make Limbaugh the face of the Republican Party, in part by using ads funded by labor. Americans United for Change sent a fund-raising e-mail Monday that begins: “The Republican Party has turned into the Rush Limbaugh Party.”
Steele told CNN host D.L. Hughley in an interview aired Saturday night: “Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer. Rush Limbaugh — his whole thing is entertainment. He has this incendiary — yes, it's ugly.”
Read more here.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says he has reached out to Rush Limbaugh to tell him he meant no offense when he referred to the popular conservative radio host as an “entertainer” whose show can be “incendiary.”
“My intent was not to go after Rush – I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh,” Steele said in a telephone interview. “I was maybe a little bit inarticulate. … There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership.”
The dust-up comes at a time when top Democrats are trying to make Limbaugh the face of the Republican Party, in part by using ads funded by labor. Americans United for Change sent a fund-raising e-mail Monday that begins: “The Republican Party has turned into the Rush Limbaugh Party.”
Steele told CNN host D.L. Hughley in an interview aired Saturday night: “Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer. Rush Limbaugh — his whole thing is entertainment. He has this incendiary — yes, it's ugly.”
Read more here.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Now Devimco wants city money
The comedy cavalcade that is Devimco continues, with word that they won't be able to continue the Griffintown project without city money...
Griffintown, un projet immobilier de 1,3 milliard amputé de 70% à cause de difficultés de financement, est toujours sur la table, assure M. Goulet en entrevue. «À 400 millions de dollars, c'est toujours un énorme projet pour Montréal», dit-il. Dans la partie située au sud de la rue Wellington, Devimco veut toujours construire des résidences «milieu de gamme», des bureaux et des commerces de proximité « de plus grande superficie que dans la rue Sainte-Catherine». Le projet, résidentiel à 90%, comprendra des logements sociaux et abordables.
Btw, the "author" of this piece, a one Éric Clément, seems just a little too fond of the project to be totally unbiased...
Just sayin'.
Read more here.
Griffintown, un projet immobilier de 1,3 milliard amputé de 70% à cause de difficultés de financement, est toujours sur la table, assure M. Goulet en entrevue. «À 400 millions de dollars, c'est toujours un énorme projet pour Montréal», dit-il. Dans la partie située au sud de la rue Wellington, Devimco veut toujours construire des résidences «milieu de gamme», des bureaux et des commerces de proximité « de plus grande superficie que dans la rue Sainte-Catherine». Le projet, résidentiel à 90%, comprendra des logements sociaux et abordables.
Btw, the "author" of this piece, a one Éric Clément, seems just a little too fond of the project to be totally unbiased...
Just sayin'.
Read more here.
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