The police don't want to be taped when they fuck up? My shock knows no bounds.
With the spread of phone cameras and pocket videorecorders, citizens around the United States have taken to recording the conduct of police. Often the conduct seems innocuous enough. But sometimes, the act of recording itself seems to send police off the deep end. ABC News’s Ray Sanchez now reports on a growing trend: police prosecuting citizens for taping them.
The story sums it up:
This is an extreme example of the arrogance of power, in which a Maryland cop exercised bad judgment, was embarrassed when he was publicly exposed, and got his colleagues and prosecutors to exercise still worse judgment.
Read more here.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
The Dove World Outreach Center: Flaming Idiots of the Day
Just when you thought some religious types couldn't set the bar any lower...
In protest of what it calls a religion "of the devil," a nondenominational church in Gainesville, Florida, plans to host an "International Burn a Quran Day" on the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
The Dove World Outreach Center says it is hosting the event to remember 9/11 victims and take a stand against Islam. With promotions on its website and Facebook page, it invites Christians to burn the Muslim holy book at the church from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
"We believe that Islam is of the devil, that it's causing billions of people to go to hell, it is a deceptive religion, it is a violent religion and that is proven many, many times," Pastor Terry Jones told CNN's Rick Sanchez earlier this week.
Jones wrote a book titled "Islam is of the Devil," and the church sells coffee mugs and shirts featuring the phrase.
Read more here.
In protest of what it calls a religion "of the devil," a nondenominational church in Gainesville, Florida, plans to host an "International Burn a Quran Day" on the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
The Dove World Outreach Center says it is hosting the event to remember 9/11 victims and take a stand against Islam. With promotions on its website and Facebook page, it invites Christians to burn the Muslim holy book at the church from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
"We believe that Islam is of the devil, that it's causing billions of people to go to hell, it is a deceptive religion, it is a violent religion and that is proven many, many times," Pastor Terry Jones told CNN's Rick Sanchez earlier this week.
Jones wrote a book titled "Islam is of the Devil," and the church sells coffee mugs and shirts featuring the phrase.
Read more here.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Khabarovsk region in Russia: Idiots of the Day
Some little judge banged his little gavel today...
Russia's blogosphere reacted with anger today after a regional court banned YouTube because it carried a single video containing "extremist" content.
The court in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Khabarovsk region in the Russian far east ordered Rosnet, a local internet provider, to block YouTube as well as three online libraries and a website that archives deleted web pages.
The regional ban was made because YouTube hosted Russia For Russians, an ultra-nationalist video which was added to the justice ministry's federal list of banned extremist materials after a separate court decision in Samara region in November.
Read more here.
Russia's blogosphere reacted with anger today after a regional court banned YouTube because it carried a single video containing "extremist" content.
The court in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Khabarovsk region in the Russian far east ordered Rosnet, a local internet provider, to block YouTube as well as three online libraries and a website that archives deleted web pages.
The regional ban was made because YouTube hosted Russia For Russians, an ultra-nationalist video which was added to the justice ministry's federal list of banned extremist materials after a separate court decision in Samara region in November.
Read more here.
Pushy Bigoted Christians: Ruben Diaz Sr.
These people really do get pleasure out of making sure others don't.
Part of Mr. Diaz Happy Dance, in letter form:
[New York] Senators Shirley Huntley, Frank Padavan and Hiram Monserrate were instrumental in joining me to defeat the gay marriage bill in the New York State Senate. Today the State of New York does not have legalized gay marriage and we have to praise God and thank Senators Shirley Huntley, Frank Padavan and Hiram Monserrate.
They all risked their chances of being elected in order to take this stand.
We in the Christian community – and all God-fearing people – owe them our support, our respect and our help.
The homosexual community has targeted the three of them and put candidates – funded with money from the homosexual community – so their candidate can vote for gay marriage next year.
Just another case of Christians picking and choosing which of God's cheerly little rules to follow and which to quietly ignore.
Hypocrites.
Part of Mr. Diaz Happy Dance, in letter form:
[New York] Senators Shirley Huntley, Frank Padavan and Hiram Monserrate were instrumental in joining me to defeat the gay marriage bill in the New York State Senate. Today the State of New York does not have legalized gay marriage and we have to praise God and thank Senators Shirley Huntley, Frank Padavan and Hiram Monserrate.
They all risked their chances of being elected in order to take this stand.
We in the Christian community – and all God-fearing people – owe them our support, our respect and our help.
The homosexual community has targeted the three of them and put candidates – funded with money from the homosexual community – so their candidate can vote for gay marriage next year.
Just another case of Christians picking and choosing which of God's cheerly little rules to follow and which to quietly ignore.
Hypocrites.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Target comes out as bigoted
Now that corporation in the U.S. can openly contribute to political candidates, they are doing just that.
Over the weekend, Steve [at Towleroad] posted about Target's $150,000 donation to the Minnesota Forward PAC, which bought ads for anti-gay gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. Target's motivation and ability to give this money is a direct result of the Supreme Court's decision in January to allow corporations to donate freely to political campaigns.
Best Buy has also donated $100,000 to the MN forward PAC, the Star Tribune revealed today. We were warned after that SCOTUS decision that corporations would now be in charge of American politics and it now seems to be manifesting itself in Minnesota.
In these situations, fiscal issues trump social ones, at least in Target's, and now Best Buy's, case.
And Target's reasons?
Target has long believed that engaging in civic activities is an important and necessary element of operating a national retail business. What's more important than any one candidate's stance on a particular issue is how we nurture thoughtful, long-term growth in the state of Minnesota.
Our support of causes and candidates is based strictly on issues that affect our retail and business interests. To continue to grow and create jobs and opportunity in our home state, we believe it is imperative to be engaged in public policy and the political process.
So it's good for Target to throw gays under the bus?
Fuck you Target.
Read more here.
Over the weekend, Steve [at Towleroad] posted about Target's $150,000 donation to the Minnesota Forward PAC, which bought ads for anti-gay gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. Target's motivation and ability to give this money is a direct result of the Supreme Court's decision in January to allow corporations to donate freely to political campaigns.
Best Buy has also donated $100,000 to the MN forward PAC, the Star Tribune revealed today. We were warned after that SCOTUS decision that corporations would now be in charge of American politics and it now seems to be manifesting itself in Minnesota.
In these situations, fiscal issues trump social ones, at least in Target's, and now Best Buy's, case.
And Target's reasons?
Target has long believed that engaging in civic activities is an important and necessary element of operating a national retail business. What's more important than any one candidate's stance on a particular issue is how we nurture thoughtful, long-term growth in the state of Minnesota.
Our support of causes and candidates is based strictly on issues that affect our retail and business interests. To continue to grow and create jobs and opportunity in our home state, we believe it is imperative to be engaged in public policy and the political process.
So it's good for Target to throw gays under the bus?
Fuck you Target.
Read more here.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Harper's conservatives: One peep and we'll defund you
In Canada's "marketplace of ideas," it's amazing how many stalls are being slammed shut these days and how many attendants are trembling for their very existence.
In the fields of justice, human rights and foreign aid, it seems that one non-governmental agency after another is being "de-funded" into non-existence or near paralysis by the Harper government.
So what, you ask. Well, the end result will likely be a less civil society with less informed debate and less public testing of ideas. Also, I suspect, less courage in the voluntary sector.
Read more here.
In the fields of justice, human rights and foreign aid, it seems that one non-governmental agency after another is being "de-funded" into non-existence or near paralysis by the Harper government.
So what, you ask. Well, the end result will likely be a less civil society with less informed debate and less public testing of ideas. Also, I suspect, less courage in the voluntary sector.
Read more here.
Harper's conservatives: We don't need all that fancy book learnin'
Ian Brodie, Harper’s former chief-of-staff:
“Every time we proposed amendments to the Criminal Code, sociologists, criminologists, defence lawyers and Liberals attacked us for proposing measures that the evidence apparently showed did not work,” Brodie said. “That was a good thing for us politically, in that sociologists, criminologists and defence lawyers were and are all held in lower repute than Conservative politicians by the voting public. Politically it helped us tremendously to be attacked by this coalition of university types.”
Massively dumb, and proud of it.
We're doomed.
Read more here.
“Every time we proposed amendments to the Criminal Code, sociologists, criminologists, defence lawyers and Liberals attacked us for proposing measures that the evidence apparently showed did not work,” Brodie said. “That was a good thing for us politically, in that sociologists, criminologists and defence lawyers were and are all held in lower repute than Conservative politicians by the voting public. Politically it helped us tremendously to be attacked by this coalition of university types.”
Massively dumb, and proud of it.
We're doomed.
Read more here.
Microsoft: "Be what's next"
My goodness, the Microsoft marketing team must have been up all night coming up with that one...
According to Engadget, the company showed off a new three-word motto at the Microsoft Global Exchange (MGX) last week, along with a short teaser (see video below).
Microsoft's new tagline (confirmed by Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos, according to Chris Pirillo): "Be what's next."
Meh, what's next?
According to Engadget, the company showed off a new three-word motto at the Microsoft Global Exchange (MGX) last week, along with a short teaser (see video below).
Microsoft's new tagline (confirmed by Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos, according to Chris Pirillo): "Be what's next."
Meh, what's next?
Friday, July 23, 2010
Republican Bill Cooper: Idiot of the Day
Another moronic politician with no more historical knowledge than a doorknob.
Australia the Nanny State tries to avoid "premature unnecessary debate" on web censorship
If there's nothing a censor likes better than telling you what they think you should see and hear, it's the rush of power they get in displaying said power.
Also, a government will always use these tactics when they plan to do something scummy.
The federal government has censored approximately 90 per cent of a secret document outlining its controversial plans to snoop on Australians' web surfing, obtained under freedom of information (FoI) laws, out of fear the document could cause "premature unnecessary debate".
The government has been consulting with the internet industry over the proposal, which would require ISPs to store certain internet activities of all Australians - regardless of whether they have been suspected of wrongdoing - for law-enforcement agencies to access.
All parties to the consultations have been sworn to secrecy.
Now you citizen of Australia, go sit at the kids table, you're government obviously doesn't think you're responsible enough adults to do you own thinking.
FYI, your government is embarrassing you on a global scale, but in that respect I understand completely.
Read more here.v
Also, a government will always use these tactics when they plan to do something scummy.
The federal government has censored approximately 90 per cent of a secret document outlining its controversial plans to snoop on Australians' web surfing, obtained under freedom of information (FoI) laws, out of fear the document could cause "premature unnecessary debate".
The government has been consulting with the internet industry over the proposal, which would require ISPs to store certain internet activities of all Australians - regardless of whether they have been suspected of wrongdoing - for law-enforcement agencies to access.
All parties to the consultations have been sworn to secrecy.
Now you citizen of Australia, go sit at the kids table, you're government obviously doesn't think you're responsible enough adults to do you own thinking.
FYI, your government is embarrassing you on a global scale, but in that respect I understand completely.
Read more here.v
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Moronic Marketers: Dead animal beer bottles at £500 each
A beer served in bottles made from stuffed animals has been criticised as "perverse" and "pushing the boundaries of acceptability".
The End of History, made by BrewDog of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, is 55% and £500 a bottle.
The bottles have been made using seven dead stoats, four squirrels and a hare, said to have died of natural causes.
Like the good taste of those behind this bad idea.
Read more here.
The End of History, made by BrewDog of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, is 55% and £500 a bottle.
The bottles have been made using seven dead stoats, four squirrels and a hare, said to have died of natural causes.
Like the good taste of those behind this bad idea.
Read more here.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
GOPTRUST.com: When Fascists use Final Cut
THEY!
911 is like porn to these people.
Of course, comments have been disabled on youtube. Can't have any actual input, now can we?
BP BSs about PS when they should really STFU
Spokesman Scott Dean says Tuesday that two screens were blank in the original picture and a staff photographer used Photoshop software to add images.
Dean says the company put the unaltered picture up Monday after a blogger for the website Americablog wrote about telltale discrepancies.
He says the photographer was showing off his Photoshop skills and there was no ill intent.
But he has no skills, none, NADA!
Dean says the company put the unaltered picture up Monday after a blogger for the website Americablog wrote about telltale discrepancies.
He says the photographer was showing off his Photoshop skills and there was no ill intent.
But he has no skills, none, NADA!
Andrew Breitbart, even Glenn Beck thinks you're a scumbag
A great crime seems to have been committed in the U.S., and voices are being raised in unlikely places to rectify it.
Shirley Sherrod has accomplished a number of things in her career, but she had never planned on uniting Glenn Beck and the NAACP.
The former USDA official was allegedly forced out of her job as director of rural development in Georgia after a video surfaced that appeared to show her admitting that race played a factor in a decision to limit help for a white farmer. Sherrod is African American.
Mr Breitbart & friends seem to have edited the video to damage Ms Sherrod, but hopefully their underhanded tactics will backfire big time.
Read more here.
Shirley Sherrod has accomplished a number of things in her career, but she had never planned on uniting Glenn Beck and the NAACP.
The former USDA official was allegedly forced out of her job as director of rural development in Georgia after a video surfaced that appeared to show her admitting that race played a factor in a decision to limit help for a white farmer. Sherrod is African American.
Mr Breitbart & friends seem to have edited the video to damage Ms Sherrod, but hopefully their underhanded tactics will backfire big time.
Read more here.
National Organization for Marriage: Bohoho we're the victims here!
National Organization for Marriage's pathetic attempt to drum up sympathy for their spiteful hateful "tour".
The only bright side to this is that provides footage for any future documentary concerning how crappy people can actually be.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
BP used PS to BS
Apparently BP is no more adept at doctoring photos than it is at plugging deep-sea oil leaks.
A blogger has noticed that the oil giant altered a photograph of its Houston crisis room, cutting and pasting three underwater images into a wall of video feeds from remotely operated undersea vehicles. The altered photo is displayed prominently on the company's Web site.
An enlarged version of the photograph reveals flaws in the editing job. One of the 10 images sticks down into the head of one of the people sitting in front of the wall, while another piece of the image is separated from the other side of the head by jagged white space. The right side of the same image also hangs down below the area on which the video feeds were projected.
And of course, when caught, bullshit:
Scott Dean, a spokesman for BP, said that there was nothing sinister in the photo alteration and provided the original unaltered version. He said that a photographer working for the company had inserted the three images in spots where the video screens were blank.
"Normally we only use Photoshop for the typical purposes of color correction and cropping," Dean said in an e-mail. "In this case they copied and pasted three ROV screen images in the original photo over three screens that were not running video feeds at the time."
Read more here.
A blogger has noticed that the oil giant altered a photograph of its Houston crisis room, cutting and pasting three underwater images into a wall of video feeds from remotely operated undersea vehicles. The altered photo is displayed prominently on the company's Web site.
An enlarged version of the photograph reveals flaws in the editing job. One of the 10 images sticks down into the head of one of the people sitting in front of the wall, while another piece of the image is separated from the other side of the head by jagged white space. The right side of the same image also hangs down below the area on which the video feeds were projected.
And of course, when caught, bullshit:
Scott Dean, a spokesman for BP, said that there was nothing sinister in the photo alteration and provided the original unaltered version. He said that a photographer working for the company had inserted the three images in spots where the video screens were blank.
"Normally we only use Photoshop for the typical purposes of color correction and cropping," Dean said in an e-mail. "In this case they copied and pasted three ROV screen images in the original photo over three screens that were not running video feeds at the time."
Read more here.
Pushy Christians and Idiot Australians
Treating your citizens like children wouldn't be complete without a visit from the clergy.
THE Australian Christian Lobby was briefed one day before Labor's major announcement on delaying its controversial internet filter plan.
On July 9, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy announced the government would ask state and territory ministers to review the refused-classification processes.
Senator Conroy's filter plan will force all internet service providers to block web pages on a government blacklist of RC content.
Lobby chief of staff Lyle Shelton confirmed that on July 8, the government told it there would be an announcement on ISP filtering within 24 hours.
"We received a briefing the night before July 9," Mr Shelton said.
"They said there would be an announcement the next day but didn't go into details."
He refused to say who tipped off the ACL.
Of course, they've trotted out that tired old warhorse:
"Any delay which still leaves children vulnerable is not a good thing. What gets lost in the furious debate over this matter is filtering is just one of many (cyber-safety) measures.
"It's like saying don't ban semi-automatic weapons because it won't stop murders."
"Protect the children" is the unstoppable rallying cry of the censor, even if the "children" here are fully grown adults.
Read more here.
THE Australian Christian Lobby was briefed one day before Labor's major announcement on delaying its controversial internet filter plan.
On July 9, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy announced the government would ask state and territory ministers to review the refused-classification processes.
Senator Conroy's filter plan will force all internet service providers to block web pages on a government blacklist of RC content.
Lobby chief of staff Lyle Shelton confirmed that on July 8, the government told it there would be an announcement on ISP filtering within 24 hours.
"We received a briefing the night before July 9," Mr Shelton said.
"They said there would be an announcement the next day but didn't go into details."
He refused to say who tipped off the ACL.
Of course, they've trotted out that tired old warhorse:
"Any delay which still leaves children vulnerable is not a good thing. What gets lost in the furious debate over this matter is filtering is just one of many (cyber-safety) measures.
"It's like saying don't ban semi-automatic weapons because it won't stop murders."
"Protect the children" is the unstoppable rallying cry of the censor, even if the "children" here are fully grown adults.
Read more here.
Court throws out Montreal’s anti-postering bylaw
Thank goodness, as posters help convey there's still some city life left.
A Quebec Court of Appeal judge has ruled that Montreal's anti-postering bylaw, which prohibits posters from being stuck to public street furniture, violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Montreal will now have to find a way to legally accommodate posters on public proper
Read more here.
A Quebec Court of Appeal judge has ruled that Montreal's anti-postering bylaw, which prohibits posters from being stuck to public street furniture, violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Montreal will now have to find a way to legally accommodate posters on public proper
Read more here.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Coca-Cola: Idiots of the Day
The distance between an edgy marketer and a moron is atomic in scale.
A Facebook promotion for Dr Pepper, part of the Coca-Cola drinks range, posted a reference to a notorious pornographic film on the “wall” of an underage girl.
As part of the promotion, users allowed the company to hijack their Facebook status box, posting apparently embarrassing messages under their names...
...But the marketing drive backfired when a parent complained that her 14-year-old daughter’s hijacked status claimed that she had watched a hardcore pornographic film which is notorious for the obscene practices it depicts.
The status referred to the film by name, and the mother said she was particularly distressed after finding that her daughter had subsequently searched for it on the internet...
CC may also have been monumentally clueless as well...
Coca-Cola has since apologised and announced an investigation into its promotion procedures. Executives said they had approved the offending message without realising its true meaning.
BTW, the "quote" was "i saw two girls one cup and felt peckish after"
Read more here.
A Facebook promotion for Dr Pepper, part of the Coca-Cola drinks range, posted a reference to a notorious pornographic film on the “wall” of an underage girl.
As part of the promotion, users allowed the company to hijack their Facebook status box, posting apparently embarrassing messages under their names...
...But the marketing drive backfired when a parent complained that her 14-year-old daughter’s hijacked status claimed that she had watched a hardcore pornographic film which is notorious for the obscene practices it depicts.
The status referred to the film by name, and the mother said she was particularly distressed after finding that her daughter had subsequently searched for it on the internet...
CC may also have been monumentally clueless as well...
Coca-Cola has since apologised and announced an investigation into its promotion procedures. Executives said they had approved the offending message without realising its true meaning.
BTW, the "quote" was "i saw two girls one cup and felt peckish after"
Read more here.
Taliban training monkeys....WTF?
Guerilla warfare...O...K...
Monkeys have been trained by the Taliban in Afghanistan to use machine guns and trench mortars against U.S. military forces, reports People's Daily Online.
According to this Chinese media story, monkeys can now operate the Kalashnikov, Bren light machine gun, and have the ability to identify and attack U.S. soldiers based on the appearance of their uniforms.
Read more here.
Monkeys have been trained by the Taliban in Afghanistan to use machine guns and trench mortars against U.S. military forces, reports People's Daily Online.
According to this Chinese media story, monkeys can now operate the Kalashnikov, Bren light machine gun, and have the ability to identify and attack U.S. soldiers based on the appearance of their uniforms.
Read more here.
Caravaggio
On July 18, 1610, a man named Michelangelo Merisi died on the southern coast of Tuscany. Recently, a team of Italian forensic investigators made the international news by claiming to have discovered his bones. By all accounts, he died miserably – the latest, not very plausible suggestion, being that lead poisoning had something to do with it. Murder has also been suspected. The earliest accounts describe a fatal attack of impatience, causing him to pursue on foot along the scorching coast a boat that was carrying his baggage away. Whatever the cause, the deceased was the great artist better known to posterity as Caravaggio. He was 38 years old.
Read more here.
Read more here.
A head for a head
A Gurkha soldier has been flown back to the UK after hacking the head off a dead Taliban commander with his ceremonial knife to prove the dead man’s identity.
The private, from 1st Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles, was involved in a fierce firefight with insurgents in the Babaji area of central
Helmand Province when the incident took place earlier this month.
His unit had been told that they were seeking a ‘high value target,’ a Taliban commander, and that they must prove they had killed the right man.
Read more here.
The private, from 1st Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles, was involved in a fierce firefight with insurgents in the Babaji area of central
Helmand Province when the incident took place earlier this month.
His unit had been told that they were seeking a ‘high value target,’ a Taliban commander, and that they must prove they had killed the right man.
Read more here.
Harper and those fighter jets: bought on U.S. orders?
On Friday, Defence Minister Peter MacKay made it official, publicly committing Canadian taxpayers to a $16 billion deal for the purchase and maintenance of 65 F-35s.
The contract will not be put out for tender because the Harper government has determined that only one plane fits its operational requirements. Or, more accurately, the Harper government has drawn up the operational requirements to exclude everything but the F-35.
The F-35 is a stealth fighter designed to penetrate radar defences on the first day of a war. It's the sort of plane you would use to create “shock and awe” in Baghdad or Tehran.
Unless Canada is planning on being the sharp end of the American spear, we don't need stealth technology.
The F-35 is designed for short takeoff and landing, with two of the three versions destined for aircraft carriers. Canada, of course, doesn't have aircraft carriers.
And all that stealth technology and short takeoff and landing capacity comes at a cost. In addition to the price tag of about $135 million per plane, the F-35 has a relatively short range.
This makes it an odd choice for a large, sparsely populated country.
Read more here.
The contract will not be put out for tender because the Harper government has determined that only one plane fits its operational requirements. Or, more accurately, the Harper government has drawn up the operational requirements to exclude everything but the F-35.
The F-35 is a stealth fighter designed to penetrate radar defences on the first day of a war. It's the sort of plane you would use to create “shock and awe” in Baghdad or Tehran.
Unless Canada is planning on being the sharp end of the American spear, we don't need stealth technology.
The F-35 is designed for short takeoff and landing, with two of the three versions destined for aircraft carriers. Canada, of course, doesn't have aircraft carriers.
And all that stealth technology and short takeoff and landing capacity comes at a cost. In addition to the price tag of about $135 million per plane, the F-35 has a relatively short range.
This makes it an odd choice for a large, sparsely populated country.
Read more here.
Sarah Palin thinks she's William F*cking Shakespeare
If there's one thing that's wrong with the English language, it's that there just aren't enough words. Luckily for all of us, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin invented a new one this weekend, and then compared herself to Shakespeare.
How did you spend your weekend? Did you invent any new words? Because Sarah Palin did. And that word is: "Refudiate."
Read more here.
How did you spend your weekend? Did you invent any new words? Because Sarah Palin did. And that word is: "Refudiate."
Read more here.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Harper's conservatives compensate for tiny dicks with $9B in new fighter jets
Gotta love those bed wetting conservatives and their fetish for all things military.
The Canadian government said Friday it plans to spend $9 billion to purchase a new generation of fighter jets, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay told a news conference in Ottawa that the jets would be purchased from Lockheed Martin, with the first one expected for delivery by 2016
The contract, one of the biggest military equipment purchases in Canadian history, is worth $9 billion, but the full cost could rise to as much $18 billion once the government signs a maintenance contract.
Best bit:
...the purchase is also important for Canada to meet obligations to its international allies.
"Everybody else is updating their fighter jets"
Wahhhh, Johnny got a new fighter jet, I want one too, I want it, I want it!!
Read more here.
The Canadian government said Friday it plans to spend $9 billion to purchase a new generation of fighter jets, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay told a news conference in Ottawa that the jets would be purchased from Lockheed Martin, with the first one expected for delivery by 2016
The contract, one of the biggest military equipment purchases in Canadian history, is worth $9 billion, but the full cost could rise to as much $18 billion once the government signs a maintenance contract.
Best bit:
...the purchase is also important for Canada to meet obligations to its international allies.
"Everybody else is updating their fighter jets"
Wahhhh, Johnny got a new fighter jet, I want one too, I want it, I want it!!
Read more here.
Champaign from the 1780's discovered
Divers have discovered what is thought to be the world's oldest drinkable champagne in a shipwreck in the Baltic Sea, one of the finders said Saturday. They tasted the one bottle they've brought up so far before they even got back to shore.
Diving instructor Christian Ekstrom said the bottles are believed to be from the 1780s and likely were part of a cargo destined for Russia. The nationality of the sunken ship has not yet been determined.
"We brought up the bottle to be able to establish how old the wreck was," he told The Associated Press. "We didn't know it would be champagne. We thought it was wine or something."
Ekstrom said the divers were overjoyed when they popped the cork on their boat after hauling the bubbly from a depth of 200 feet (60 meters).
"It tasted fantastic. It was a very sweet champagne, with a tobacco taste and oak," Ekstrom said.
Read more here.
Diving instructor Christian Ekstrom said the bottles are believed to be from the 1780s and likely were part of a cargo destined for Russia. The nationality of the sunken ship has not yet been determined.
"We brought up the bottle to be able to establish how old the wreck was," he told The Associated Press. "We didn't know it would be champagne. We thought it was wine or something."
Ekstrom said the divers were overjoyed when they popped the cork on their boat after hauling the bubbly from a depth of 200 feet (60 meters).
"It tasted fantastic. It was a very sweet champagne, with a tobacco taste and oak," Ekstrom said.
Read more here.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Iran to Canada over G20: Gee Guys, Lighten Up
If Iran thinks you need to lighten up, you've got a PR problem.
Not quite the same situation though, as the police at the G20 didn't shoot any protesters...yet.
Iran has summoned the Canadian charge d'affaires to the foreign ministry to condemn human rights violations by Canadian riot police against G20 protesters.
The Canadian envoy was summoned to the ministry on Wednesday to receive Iran's protest over the "violent and inhuman" treatment and the massive arrests of G20 protesters by the country's riot police.
Read more here.
Not quite the same situation though, as the police at the G20 didn't shoot any protesters...yet.
Iran has summoned the Canadian charge d'affaires to the foreign ministry to condemn human rights violations by Canadian riot police against G20 protesters.
The Canadian envoy was summoned to the ministry on Wednesday to receive Iran's protest over the "violent and inhuman" treatment and the massive arrests of G20 protesters by the country's riot police.
Read more here.
Karen Handel: Bigot of the Day
Q: I guess I want to know why you think gay parents aren’t as legitimate as heterosexual parents.
A: Because I don’t.
Well, that settles it, doesn't it.
Read more here.
A: Because I don’t.
Well, that settles it, doesn't it.
Read more here.
Bristol and Levi: American's creepiest couple are getting married!
Did you hear? America's Most Important Unmarried Young White Parents, Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin, have gotten engaged. This development explains some things in their recent history — most prominently, Johnston's very recent apology to Sarah Palin and her family for aggressive comments he's made about them in the media in the past. Johnston admitted that he "publicly said things about the Palins that were not completely true," though frustratingly he did not specify which things. According to Us Weekly, for which they posed adorably with their baby son Tripp, the couple got engaged two weeks ago. "It felt right," said Bristol, "Even though we don’t have the approval of our parents."
Damn, and here I'd hoped they'd stop breeding. They've muddied the gene pool enough already.
Read more here.
Scientists who can't paint annoyed by those who can
Science has pursued its fascination with the Mona Lisa once again, this time by applying X-ray techniques to understand the shadowing in her face.
The painting was one of seven Leonardo Da Vinci masterpieces investigated by Philippe Walter and colleagues.
Their investigation describes the ultra-thin layers of glaze and pigment used to achieve seamless transitions from light to dark...
..."One of the most striking things you will notice in front of one of these paintings is that you can't see any brushstrokes, any fingerprints," observed co-researcher Dr Laurence de Viguerie.
"Everything is so fine, everything is blended. That's why it was said these paintings were impossible to analyse because they don't give you any easy clues," she told BBC News.
Damn artists.
Read more here.
The painting was one of seven Leonardo Da Vinci masterpieces investigated by Philippe Walter and colleagues.
Their investigation describes the ultra-thin layers of glaze and pigment used to achieve seamless transitions from light to dark...
..."One of the most striking things you will notice in front of one of these paintings is that you can't see any brushstrokes, any fingerprints," observed co-researcher Dr Laurence de Viguerie.
"Everything is so fine, everything is blended. That's why it was said these paintings were impossible to analyse because they don't give you any easy clues," she told BBC News.
Damn artists.
Read more here.
Muslims make more demands (how rare), this time of Facebook
Go to Facebook Blog and read the comments on any of the recent blog posts. You can’t help but notice a templated comment left by quite a few people who are threatening to boycott Facebook on 21st of July if their demands are not met.
The group in question belongs to the Muslim community that is angered by Facebook’s decision of removing a few hugely popular Islamic pages from the social networking site...
Our demands are:
1- Reactivating the four pages that have been disabled
2- Adding a Facebook Term that illegalizes disrespecting Islamic religious symbols
3- Disabling any Facebook Page, Group, or Event that shows direct or indirect disrespect towards Islamic religious symbols
As I am unsure why Facebook removed the "four pages" in question, I will reserve judgement. On points 2 and 3, they (the "demanders") can go fuck themselves.
Read more here.
The group in question belongs to the Muslim community that is angered by Facebook’s decision of removing a few hugely popular Islamic pages from the social networking site...
Our demands are:
1- Reactivating the four pages that have been disabled
2- Adding a Facebook Term that illegalizes disrespecting Islamic religious symbols
3- Disabling any Facebook Page, Group, or Event that shows direct or indirect disrespect towards Islamic religious symbols
As I am unsure why Facebook removed the "four pages" in question, I will reserve judgement. On points 2 and 3, they (the "demanders") can go fuck themselves.
Read more here.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Global TV fakes news report to smear G20 protesters
Rule #1: Demonize the protesters.
July 10, Global TV National 5:30 PDT reported on that day's Toronto Day of Action for Civil Liberties. Rights advocates called for a complete and independent public inquiry into the police response to G20 demonstrations and Global was unimpressed. They claimed 5,000 protesters had been expected - without saying by whom - and only 2,000 showed up. The reporter said this was evidence that civil rights advocates were losing public support.
Global showed incidents of G20 vandalism intended to inform or outrage casual viewers and help them to the conclusion provided by the Global reporter. I guess they were lacking in sufficiently outrageous footage of Toronto G20 vandals so they cut in a video of Vancouver black-bloc crazies knocking over two newspaper street boxes during the 2010 Olympics.
Read more here.
July 10, Global TV National 5:30 PDT reported on that day's Toronto Day of Action for Civil Liberties. Rights advocates called for a complete and independent public inquiry into the police response to G20 demonstrations and Global was unimpressed. They claimed 5,000 protesters had been expected - without saying by whom - and only 2,000 showed up. The reporter said this was evidence that civil rights advocates were losing public support.
Global showed incidents of G20 vandalism intended to inform or outrage casual viewers and help them to the conclusion provided by the Global reporter. I guess they were lacking in sufficiently outrageous footage of Toronto G20 vandals so they cut in a video of Vancouver black-bloc crazies knocking over two newspaper street boxes during the 2010 Olympics.
Read more here.
Michael Becker: Possible Idiot of the Day
I know I know, one shouldn't expect anything but idiocy coming from the mouth of anyone involved in sports, but...when in doubt, blame the gays.
German football was engulfed in controversy today over remarks by the agent of a top footballer, who allegedly referred to a "bunch of gays" in the national team.
Michael Becker, who has been the agent of German national football captain Michael Ballack for more than a decade, is reported to have made the comment in the latest edition of the news magazine Der Spiegel.
In an essay entitled New German Men, Aleksander Osang recounts an interview he had with Becker prior to the World Cup in which the agent allegedly told him which of the players in the team were gay. He later said that a former national player was ready to reveal the "bunch of gays" in the German team, according to Osang. Asked about the sexuality of one of the newer players, Becker, who is a lawyer by profession, referred to him as being "half gay".
Osang went on to say that Becker put the new adroit, lighter and elegant style of play that has become a trademark of trainer Joachim Löw's players down to their homosexuality, in contrast to the typically more aggressive and offensive German style of past years, but suggested they played too delicately to assure themselves a place in the final.
Read more here.
German football was engulfed in controversy today over remarks by the agent of a top footballer, who allegedly referred to a "bunch of gays" in the national team.
Michael Becker, who has been the agent of German national football captain Michael Ballack for more than a decade, is reported to have made the comment in the latest edition of the news magazine Der Spiegel.
In an essay entitled New German Men, Aleksander Osang recounts an interview he had with Becker prior to the World Cup in which the agent allegedly told him which of the players in the team were gay. He later said that a former national player was ready to reveal the "bunch of gays" in the German team, according to Osang. Asked about the sexuality of one of the newer players, Becker, who is a lawyer by profession, referred to him as being "half gay".
Osang went on to say that Becker put the new adroit, lighter and elegant style of play that has become a trademark of trainer Joachim Löw's players down to their homosexuality, in contrast to the typically more aggressive and offensive German style of past years, but suggested they played too delicately to assure themselves a place in the final.
Read more here.
Judge rules is OK to say accidentally say FUCK on U.S. televison
A federal appeals court struck down the Federal Communications Commission's indecency policy Tuesday, calling the agency's longstanding rules "unconstitutionally vague."
A three-judge panel on the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 32-page ruling that the FCC's indecency rules created "a chilling effect that goes far beyond the fleeting expletives at issue here."
FCC commissioner Michael Copps said in a statement that the court's decision was "anti-family." He said the FCC's policy was "constitutional and enforceable," but he called on the commission to "immediately to clarify and strengthen its indecency framework."
The appellate court's decision was a major milestone for television and radio broadcasters who have long complained the FCC's rules violated First Amendment rights.
Read more here.
A three-judge panel on the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 32-page ruling that the FCC's indecency rules created "a chilling effect that goes far beyond the fleeting expletives at issue here."
FCC commissioner Michael Copps said in a statement that the court's decision was "anti-family." He said the FCC's policy was "constitutional and enforceable," but he called on the commission to "immediately to clarify and strengthen its indecency framework."
The appellate court's decision was a major milestone for television and radio broadcasters who have long complained the FCC's rules violated First Amendment rights.
Read more here.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Macleans Magazine: Just be glad we didn't shoot the G20 protesters, because they deserved it
Macleans Magazine has stepped to the forefront of the revival of vile right wing boot stomping that seems to be more and more popular since Harper has released them from under the rock where they'd been hiding.
It starts subtle:
Lock them up: Why the G20 thugs don’t deserve any leniency...
What took place on the streets of Toronto was indeed a serious situation, yet anxiety over the behaviour of police is wildly overdone. Those responsible for the damage should be the focus of society’s anger. Only the professionalism and preparedness of police prevented circumstances from being much worse. Rather than an inquiry, we need further police effort to ensure every one of those lawless thugs is brought to justice.
In case you are in doubt:
Legitimate protest acknowledges the existence of state authority while providing a different point of view.
Just don't state that point of view and all will be peachy...for us.
Btw, the author of this piece of puffed up vitriol don't have the courage to step forward. Actions speak louder than words.
Read more here.
It starts subtle:
Lock them up: Why the G20 thugs don’t deserve any leniency...
What took place on the streets of Toronto was indeed a serious situation, yet anxiety over the behaviour of police is wildly overdone. Those responsible for the damage should be the focus of society’s anger. Only the professionalism and preparedness of police prevented circumstances from being much worse. Rather than an inquiry, we need further police effort to ensure every one of those lawless thugs is brought to justice.
In case you are in doubt:
Legitimate protest acknowledges the existence of state authority while providing a different point of view.
Just don't state that point of view and all will be peachy...for us.
Btw, the author of this piece of puffed up vitriol don't have the courage to step forward. Actions speak louder than words.
Read more here.
Harper government follows the conservative play book and demonizes the G20 protesters
As I predicted (and it doesn't take a psychic to do so), the Harper government is following the usual conservative trick of demonizing anyone who dares raise a voice in protest of their thug-like tactics....
The Harper government Monday blocked attempts to probe police conduct at the G20 summit in Toronto that was marred by riots and the largest mass arrests in Canadian history — most of whom were never charged.
Conservative members of the Commons public safety and national security committee talked out the clock preventing a motion to review controversial security matters, arguing it would only lend a voice to the thugs, hooligans and anarchists who traumatized Toronto last month during the gathering of world leaders.
It's the usual bullshit, crafted to play for their base.
But when was the last time you heard of a conservative taking responsibility for some crummy action they've taken...
No, I can't either...
“I urge . . . the opposition to put aside political motivations and instead stand with our police, stand with the appropriate bodies already examining this issue, condemn violence by these thugs and hooligans and agree to hold these meetings when all of the facts can be properly presented,” said Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro (Peterborough).
Never you mind your pretty little head about violations of the Charter. That's so 20th century.
Now everybody, march together!
And there will always be the brain dead, willing to conform no matter what. "Swifty" gives us the classic example.
Can we let the happenings of the G20 go? Yes, we all have a right to speak freely. Yes, some people were unable to be heard. Yes, it is unfortunate that some innocent people got caught up in the mess. But, everyone that attended the protests, whether spectator or participant, that weekend should have known that there were risks and should have taken that into consideration when they headed down there. The police did what they had to do to keep Toronto safe. And that includes all the people that gathered downtown. I don't want to think about how much worse things could have been if police did not take drastic measures.
Lalalala, nothing to see, lalalalala
Read more here.
The Harper government Monday blocked attempts to probe police conduct at the G20 summit in Toronto that was marred by riots and the largest mass arrests in Canadian history — most of whom were never charged.
Conservative members of the Commons public safety and national security committee talked out the clock preventing a motion to review controversial security matters, arguing it would only lend a voice to the thugs, hooligans and anarchists who traumatized Toronto last month during the gathering of world leaders.
It's the usual bullshit, crafted to play for their base.
But when was the last time you heard of a conservative taking responsibility for some crummy action they've taken...
No, I can't either...
“I urge . . . the opposition to put aside political motivations and instead stand with our police, stand with the appropriate bodies already examining this issue, condemn violence by these thugs and hooligans and agree to hold these meetings when all of the facts can be properly presented,” said Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro (Peterborough).
Never you mind your pretty little head about violations of the Charter. That's so 20th century.
Now everybody, march together!
And there will always be the brain dead, willing to conform no matter what. "Swifty" gives us the classic example.
Can we let the happenings of the G20 go? Yes, we all have a right to speak freely. Yes, some people were unable to be heard. Yes, it is unfortunate that some innocent people got caught up in the mess. But, everyone that attended the protests, whether spectator or participant, that weekend should have known that there were risks and should have taken that into consideration when they headed down there. The police did what they had to do to keep Toronto safe. And that includes all the people that gathered downtown. I don't want to think about how much worse things could have been if police did not take drastic measures.
Lalalala, nothing to see, lalalalala
Read more here.
Monday, July 12, 2010
American prepares to do something monumentally stupid in 2012
A new financial report filed Sunday evening showed Sarah Palin’s political action committee has taken its fundraising to a higher level – and suggests that she has begun building a more sophisticated political operation in place of a bare-bones organization powered mostly by her rock star status and scrappy on-line presence.
Read more here.
Read more here.
Pushy Christians: Prof. Mike Adams
Some Christians are harmless and Christlike. Then there's assholes like Mike Adams:
A Supreme Court decision forced a California state university Christian society to accept gays as members as a condition of receiving support from the school ("Other groups may exclude or mistreat Jews, blacks, and women -- or those who do not share their contempt for Jews, blacks, and women. A free society must tolerate such groups. It need not subsidize them, give them its official imprimatur, or grant them equal access to law school facilities.").
This ruling has upset Mike Adams, a prof at UNC Wilmington. He's vowed to disrupt atheist student societies by filling their rosters with Christian evangelical students, "to use my young fundamentalist Christian warriors to undermine the mission of every group that disagrees with me on the existence of God."
As PZ Myers points out, if the situation were reversed, Adams and his fellow travelers would doubtless be even more apoplectic: "I can just imagine what would happen if I tried to turn freethinkers on campus into militant disruptors of other organizations: their faculty advisors would descend on me in fury."
But Mike Adams isn't looking for debate. As he says, "I do not seek robust debate. I seek power over the godless heathen dissident."
Above via Boingboing. Read more here.
A Supreme Court decision forced a California state university Christian society to accept gays as members as a condition of receiving support from the school ("Other groups may exclude or mistreat Jews, blacks, and women -- or those who do not share their contempt for Jews, blacks, and women. A free society must tolerate such groups. It need not subsidize them, give them its official imprimatur, or grant them equal access to law school facilities.").
This ruling has upset Mike Adams, a prof at UNC Wilmington. He's vowed to disrupt atheist student societies by filling their rosters with Christian evangelical students, "to use my young fundamentalist Christian warriors to undermine the mission of every group that disagrees with me on the existence of God."
As PZ Myers points out, if the situation were reversed, Adams and his fellow travelers would doubtless be even more apoplectic: "I can just imagine what would happen if I tried to turn freethinkers on campus into militant disruptors of other organizations: their faculty advisors would descend on me in fury."
But Mike Adams isn't looking for debate. As he says, "I do not seek robust debate. I seek power over the godless heathen dissident."
Above via Boingboing. Read more here.
Switzerland finds child f*cking is ok if done by 'artists'
Switzerland will not extradite the film director Roman Polanski to the United States to face charges of unlawful sex with a minor because of a possible fault in the American application for his extradition, Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf told a news conference on Monday.
“He’s a free man,” she said.
Read more here.
“He’s a free man,” she said.
Read more here.
No-name officers: Cheap but not necessarily better
Toronto Police are investigating whether numerous officers on G20 duty failed to wear proper identification.
At issue is whether officers violated a force requirement to wear epaulettes with their badge numbers and name tags on their uniforms, regardless of whether they’re wearing riot equipment or standard police outfits.
Read more here.
At issue is whether officers violated a force requirement to wear epaulettes with their badge numbers and name tags on their uniforms, regardless of whether they’re wearing riot equipment or standard police outfits.
Read more here.
TTC is a f*cking disgusting mess
A TTC study assessing the cleanliness of all its subway stations has found that none of them meet the transit agency's own standards.
The TTC's cleanliness audit, conducted in May, evaluated stations on a scale of one to five.
Level one is defined as "unkempt neglect," while five has been labelled "orderly spotlessness."
The TTC aimed for a level four, in which floors are clean, payphones free of graffiti and washrooms clean and stocked. But none of the 69 subway stations met that standard — although 66 of them achieved level three cleanliness, described as "casual inattentiveness."
Read more here.
The TTC's cleanliness audit, conducted in May, evaluated stations on a scale of one to five.
Level one is defined as "unkempt neglect," while five has been labelled "orderly spotlessness."
The TTC aimed for a level four, in which floors are clean, payphones free of graffiti and washrooms clean and stocked. But none of the 69 subway stations met that standard — although 66 of them achieved level three cleanliness, described as "casual inattentiveness."
Read more here.
Snivelling cowards attack soccer fans in Uganda
The death toll from bombings in Uganda rose to at least 64, authorities said Monday, a day after explosions ripped through two venues where crowds were watching the World Cup.
At least 71 people were hospitalized, police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba said.
"If you want to fight, why don't you attack soldiers or military barracks instead of fighting innocent people watching football?" said President Yoweri Museveni, who on Monday visited a rugby sports center where two of the blasts occurred Sunday.
CNN, in its usual brain dead way, asks:Uganda bombings: Why the world should care
The thoughtless murder of innocent men, woman and children?
Nope, silly me...
..there could be global implications as countries and businesses vie for opportunities across Africa.
Oh of course...
Read more here.
At least 71 people were hospitalized, police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba said.
"If you want to fight, why don't you attack soldiers or military barracks instead of fighting innocent people watching football?" said President Yoweri Museveni, who on Monday visited a rugby sports center where two of the blasts occurred Sunday.
CNN, in its usual brain dead way, asks:Uganda bombings: Why the world should care
The thoughtless murder of innocent men, woman and children?
Nope, silly me...
..there could be global implications as countries and businesses vie for opportunities across Africa.
Oh of course...
Read more here.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Jeremy Dyer: Hero of the Day
When Jeremy Dyer was selected to represent his province because of his human rights art, he had no idea he'd find himself in line to shake Prime Minister Stephen Harper's hand.
The notion was an affront to Dyer, an activist who vehemently disagrees with many of Harper's policies...
...Dyer dismissed the suggestion he stepped back because he was overwhelmed.
“That's just a ridiculous statement,” said Dyer. “Stephen Harper does not overwhelm me.”
Read more here.
The notion was an affront to Dyer, an activist who vehemently disagrees with many of Harper's policies...
...Dyer dismissed the suggestion he stepped back because he was overwhelmed.
“That's just a ridiculous statement,” said Dyer. “Stephen Harper does not overwhelm me.”
Read more here.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Amateur unearths 52,000 Roman coins
An amateur treasure hunter armed with a metal detector has found over 52,000 Roman coins worth $1 million buried in field, one of the largest ever such finds in the UK, said the British Museum.
Read more here.
Read more here.
Scienceblogs, PepsiCo and corporate propaganda
It's nice when we add another blog to the stable here at Scienceblogs — it means another human face added to the collection, another set of opinions to enjoy or destroy, yet more scientific minds committed to engaging in discussion with the culture. After all, that's what we're all about, putting a human personality to this weird enterprise of science. And as everyone on this blog is particularly aware, we encourage all kinds of diversions and digressions and transgressions, freely stomping on sacred cows and stuffed shirts because we can. Feels good, doesn't it?
So what's with the corporate drones moving in next door?
Read more here.
So what's with the corporate drones moving in next door?
Read more here.
Quebec Health Officials: Idiots of the Day
A photo display of deceased Canadian F1 driver Gilles Villeneuve may have run afoul of strict tobacco advertising laws.
The Gilles Villeneuve Museum is looking at a fine of up to $2,000 for a display booth it set up on trendy Crescent Street during the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal last month.
A decision hasn't been taken on whether a fine will be levied.
Located in Berthierville, Que., the museum survives largely on donations and the work of volunteers.
Photos were among a number of items on display that showed the Quebec driver with a prominently displayed Marlboro logo emblazoned on his uniform.
The report filed by inspectors indicates that while the photos are permitted to be displayed within the confines of the museum, they become illegal when they are on display in public.
Quebec health department inspectors charged with applying the law decided the photo display contravened tobacco advertising rules.
Tobacco advertising has been banned in Canada since 1988. In 2003, those rules were extended to the sponsorship of cultural or sporting events.
A spokeswoman for the health department said the inspectors were just doing their jobs.
Like mindless machines.
The Gilles Villeneuve Museum is looking at a fine of up to $2,000 for a display booth it set up on trendy Crescent Street during the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal last month.
A decision hasn't been taken on whether a fine will be levied.
Located in Berthierville, Que., the museum survives largely on donations and the work of volunteers.
Photos were among a number of items on display that showed the Quebec driver with a prominently displayed Marlboro logo emblazoned on his uniform.
The report filed by inspectors indicates that while the photos are permitted to be displayed within the confines of the museum, they become illegal when they are on display in public.
Quebec health department inspectors charged with applying the law decided the photo display contravened tobacco advertising rules.
Tobacco advertising has been banned in Canada since 1988. In 2003, those rules were extended to the sponsorship of cultural or sporting events.
A spokeswoman for the health department said the inspectors were just doing their jobs.
Like mindless machines.
Pentagon sends out DADT survey, with a heavy sprinkling of "Ewww Ickk!!!"
The Pentagon doesn’t want to know whether troops are gay or lesbian, but is curious if they ever shared a room or the showers with homosexual colleagues, according to portions of a questionnaire sent this week to 400,000 active duty and reserve troops.
A copy of the survey was provided to The Washington Post by the University of California’s Palm Center, which studies gays in the military. The group said it obtained the questionnaire from an active duty service member who received it.
The Defense Department confirmed the copy’s authenticity and called its unauthorized release unhelpful.
lol, unhelpful to whom?
Read the survey here.
Read more here.
A copy of the survey was provided to The Washington Post by the University of California’s Palm Center, which studies gays in the military. The group said it obtained the questionnaire from an active duty service member who received it.
The Defense Department confirmed the copy’s authenticity and called its unauthorized release unhelpful.
lol, unhelpful to whom?
Read the survey here.
Read more here.
CNN becomes apologist for incompetent Oakland police officer
A former police officer convicted of involuntary manslaughter for killing an unarmed man in Oakland, California, apologized to the public and described his memories of the moments after the shooting in a handwritten letter obtained by CNN.
Maybe a full page article from the family of the victim.....?
Fuck you CNN, your bias is outrageous.
Read more here.
Maybe a full page article from the family of the victim.....?
Fuck you CNN, your bias is outrageous.
Read more here.
Friday, July 09, 2010
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Sarah Palin: A Horrifying Spector of the Future
And America is just a fucked up enough country to do it.
Dalton McGuinty or idiots who shouldn't make historical allusions
Those who don't know history are doomed to mangle it.
Premier Dalton McGuinty stared down critics in his own Liberal caucus over his government’s actions during the recent G20 summit in Toronto by invoking the spectre of both Pierre Trudeau and Richard Nixon.
In a closed-door meeting with MPPs on Wednesday, McGuinty deflected questions from members unhappy at the heavy-handedness of police in dealing with protesters—and the government’s complicity in failing to correct the mistaken impression officers had been given more powers.
“He told us, ‘Just remember, the same guy who gave us the Charter also gave us the War Measures Act,’” said one startled MPP, noting the premier also refuted calls from several members to strike a public inquiry into the G20 debacle.
McGuinty’s contrasting of Trudeau’s 1982 entrenchment of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the Constitution to the former prime minister’s use of the War Measures Act during the 1970 October Crisis in Quebec was “bizarre,” said another member.
“Then things got even weirder—he said: ‘Don’t forget about the silent majority.’”
So, let me see if I get this. A large meeting, imposed upon a city like a military campaign, is like martial law enacted to stop the suspected armed overthrow of a government. In the first case, the martial law as imposed against terrorists, in the second against the people of Toronto.
I get it now.
And the "silent majority" refers to Canadians who are just fine with this kind of abuse of power, as long as they aren't personally affected.
Yes, I get it now.
Read more here.
Premier Dalton McGuinty stared down critics in his own Liberal caucus over his government’s actions during the recent G20 summit in Toronto by invoking the spectre of both Pierre Trudeau and Richard Nixon.
In a closed-door meeting with MPPs on Wednesday, McGuinty deflected questions from members unhappy at the heavy-handedness of police in dealing with protesters—and the government’s complicity in failing to correct the mistaken impression officers had been given more powers.
“He told us, ‘Just remember, the same guy who gave us the Charter also gave us the War Measures Act,’” said one startled MPP, noting the premier also refuted calls from several members to strike a public inquiry into the G20 debacle.
McGuinty’s contrasting of Trudeau’s 1982 entrenchment of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the Constitution to the former prime minister’s use of the War Measures Act during the 1970 October Crisis in Quebec was “bizarre,” said another member.
“Then things got even weirder—he said: ‘Don’t forget about the silent majority.’”
So, let me see if I get this. A large meeting, imposed upon a city like a military campaign, is like martial law enacted to stop the suspected armed overthrow of a government. In the first case, the martial law as imposed against terrorists, in the second against the people of Toronto.
I get it now.
And the "silent majority" refers to Canadians who are just fine with this kind of abuse of power, as long as they aren't personally affected.
Yes, I get it now.
Read more here.
Toronto police seek help in finding G20" riot suspects" from pics. Finding lawbreakers on their own side, not so much
Toronto police are asking for the public's assistance identifying protesters they say damaged police and city property during the G20 summit.
Asking for the public's assistance identifying police that ignored the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, not so much.
Asking for the public's assistance identifying police that ignored the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, not so much.
Toronto Council and Police hold public circle jerk to celebrate their G20 wonderfulness
After an emotional morning-long debate, city council voted 36-0 to “commend the outstanding work” of Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, his officers and other police forces working during the G20 summit in Toronto.
Two amendments — lauding Blair for supporting a civilian review planned by the Toronto Police Services board, and the board itself for “exercising its appropriate oversight role” — passed 35-1, with Councillor Rob Ford, a candidate for mayor, the nay on both votes.
The votes, triggered by a motion of support from Councillor Mark Grimes (Ward 6, Etobicoke-Lakeshore), came a day after the police services board reversed its earlier stance that only an internal review was necessary.
The debate at council underlines the aftershocks that continue to rock the city from the June 26 rampage by vandals who broke away from a peaceful protest as world leaders met, and from the mass arrests and detentions a day later.
Read more here.
Two amendments — lauding Blair for supporting a civilian review planned by the Toronto Police Services board, and the board itself for “exercising its appropriate oversight role” — passed 35-1, with Councillor Rob Ford, a candidate for mayor, the nay on both votes.
The votes, triggered by a motion of support from Councillor Mark Grimes (Ward 6, Etobicoke-Lakeshore), came a day after the police services board reversed its earlier stance that only an internal review was necessary.
The debate at council underlines the aftershocks that continue to rock the city from the June 26 rampage by vandals who broke away from a peaceful protest as world leaders met, and from the mass arrests and detentions a day later.
Read more here.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Insanely Bad App: FatBooth
Apple is offering a great new app for the iPhone charmingly called FatBooth. The app allows users to turn headshots of thin people into fat people! Because fat people are hilarious, amiright?!
Naturally, the app doesn't say it only turns thin people into fatties, because the description assumes it's speaking only to thin people—or, as we monstrous non-human fatties are meant to think of them, just "people."
"Tired of diets?! Get fat instantly with FatBooth (by the creators of AgingBooth, #1 Top Paid App in more than 25 countries). What would you look like with a "few" extra pounds? And what about your friends? Find out with FatBooth, a fun way to instantly supersize faces on your iPhone or iPod Touch. Use FatBooth on family, friends or colleagues photos and share them via email, MMS, FaceBook, Twitter."
Won't it just be hilarious to harass your family and friends (and colleagues?!) by showing pictures of them all fat and shit?! That's comedy gold, baby.
Read more here.
Naturally, the app doesn't say it only turns thin people into fatties, because the description assumes it's speaking only to thin people—or, as we monstrous non-human fatties are meant to think of them, just "people."
"Tired of diets?! Get fat instantly with FatBooth (by the creators of AgingBooth, #1 Top Paid App in more than 25 countries). What would you look like with a "few" extra pounds? And what about your friends? Find out with FatBooth, a fun way to instantly supersize faces on your iPhone or iPod Touch. Use FatBooth on family, friends or colleagues photos and share them via email, MMS, FaceBook, Twitter."
Won't it just be hilarious to harass your family and friends (and colleagues?!) by showing pictures of them all fat and shit?! That's comedy gold, baby.
Read more here.
Hawaii's Republican Gov. Linda Lingle to let bigots decide fate of fellow citizens
Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, 2 time divorced and defender of marriage...
Hawaii's governor ended months of speculation by vetoing contentious civil unions legislation that would have granted gay, lesbian and opposite-sex couples the same rights and benefits that the state provides to married couples....
...Lingle said voters should decide the fate of civil unions, not politicians.
"The subject of this legislation has touched the hearts and minds of our citizens as no other social issue of our day," she said. "It would be a mistake to allow a decision of this magnitude to be made by one individual or a small group of elected officials."
Yup, let people vote on civil rights.
Fuck you Miss Lingle.
Hawaii's governor ended months of speculation by vetoing contentious civil unions legislation that would have granted gay, lesbian and opposite-sex couples the same rights and benefits that the state provides to married couples....
...Lingle said voters should decide the fate of civil unions, not politicians.
"The subject of this legislation has touched the hearts and minds of our citizens as no other social issue of our day," she said. "It would be a mistake to allow a decision of this magnitude to be made by one individual or a small group of elected officials."
Yup, let people vote on civil rights.
Fuck you Miss Lingle.
G20 aftermath
Dalton McGuinty expected to get an earful on G20 flap.
Civilian body, SIU to probe G20 role of police.
Watchdog orders probe into G20 police action.
Toronto Police Services Board meeting devolves into G20-related shouting match.
And finally this wrap up from Fagstein:
Why I don’t believe anything I’m told about G20 protests.
Civilian body, SIU to probe G20 role of police.
Watchdog orders probe into G20 police action.
Toronto Police Services Board meeting devolves into G20-related shouting match.
And finally this wrap up from Fagstein:
Why I don’t believe anything I’m told about G20 protests.
Terry Savage: Unfeeling Idiot of the Day
Last week, I was in a car with my brother and his fiancee, driving through their upscale neighborhood on a hot summer day. At the corner, we all noticed three little girls sitting at a homemade lemonade stand...
...my brother asked how much each item cost.
"Oh, no," they replied in unison, "they're all free!"
I sat in the back seat in shock. Free?...
...No wonder America is getting it all wrong when it comes to government, and taxes, and policy. We all act as if the "lemonade" or benefits we're "giving away" is free.
And so the voters demand more -- more subsidies for mortgages, more bailouts, more loan modification and longer periods of unemployment benefits.
They're all very nice. But these things aren't free.
Read more here.
Of course, there are morons who defend this viewpoint...
One Warner Todd Huston is one such moron, and a good example why conservatives are disliked outside their tight knit circle:
It is a lemonade stand, yes. But Terry Savage is wholly right to despise these idiot girls and their Mexican nanny. These kids were learning the WRONG message and their parents should be excoriated for it.
Yup, he had to get a racial dig in there too. Why you may ask?
I admit my stab at the unspoken nationality of the nanny was meant for shock value....come on, it’s the ritzy suburbs of Chicago that Savage was talking about. They don’t HAVE any legal citizens as “nannies” there. It is assured she is from south of the border somewhere!
Mister Huston is the kind of person you set the hounds on if he entered your property.
Read more from the lower forms of American life here.
...my brother asked how much each item cost.
"Oh, no," they replied in unison, "they're all free!"
I sat in the back seat in shock. Free?...
...No wonder America is getting it all wrong when it comes to government, and taxes, and policy. We all act as if the "lemonade" or benefits we're "giving away" is free.
And so the voters demand more -- more subsidies for mortgages, more bailouts, more loan modification and longer periods of unemployment benefits.
They're all very nice. But these things aren't free.
Read more here.
Of course, there are morons who defend this viewpoint...
One Warner Todd Huston is one such moron, and a good example why conservatives are disliked outside their tight knit circle:
It is a lemonade stand, yes. But Terry Savage is wholly right to despise these idiot girls and their Mexican nanny. These kids were learning the WRONG message and their parents should be excoriated for it.
Yup, he had to get a racial dig in there too. Why you may ask?
I admit my stab at the unspoken nationality of the nanny was meant for shock value....come on, it’s the ritzy suburbs of Chicago that Savage was talking about. They don’t HAVE any legal citizens as “nannies” there. It is assured she is from south of the border somewhere!
Mister Huston is the kind of person you set the hounds on if he entered your property.
Read more from the lower forms of American life here.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Study: Neanderthals were oh so butch
 |
| Ugg, on the other hand, preferred show tunes to hunting |
Read more here.
Harry Potter actress' family attempts "honour killing"
Afshan Azad, 22 years old...in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as Padma Patil, a witch going to the ball with pasty, red-haired “Ron Weasley”...
...according to the BBC, Azad's father, Abdul Azad, 54, and his son Ashraf, 28, allegedly threatened to kill the actress this year, on May 21, in their Manchester, England, home, because she was heard talking on the phone to her Hindu boyfriend. At a hearing last Tuesday, the father and son were charged with the attack. Ashraf was also accused of assaulting his sister and charged with “assault occasioning actual bodily harm.”
Read more here.
...according to the BBC, Azad's father, Abdul Azad, 54, and his son Ashraf, 28, allegedly threatened to kill the actress this year, on May 21, in their Manchester, England, home, because she was heard talking on the phone to her Hindu boyfriend. At a hearing last Tuesday, the father and son were charged with the attack. Ashraf was also accused of assaulting his sister and charged with “assault occasioning actual bodily harm.”
Read more here.
Best Buy: Idiots of the Day
More corporate arrogance and epic stupidity. At least now the world knows it too:
A Best Buy employee has been suspended and may be fired after he created a satirical video and posted it on YouTube .
Brian Maupin of Kansas City, Missouri, created the cartoon video about the iPhone 4 versus the HTC EVO phone.
The video portrays an electronics store employee trying to convince a customer wanting an iPhone 4 to purchase an HTC EVO 4G phone instead.
The video became so popular, more than 1. 3 million views on YouTube as of Thursday, that someone at Best Buy saw it. While most people find the video funny, Best Buy corporate did not.
When they realized the creator worked for them, they asked him to take the video down.
When Maupin refused to take the video down because it didn't mention Best Buy, he was suspended.
The Economist bullshits way out of Photoshopped cover
The Economist is defending photoshopping a Reuters image of President Obama in the gulf for its recent cover on "Obama v BP."
The magazine used a May 28 photo of Obama on a Louisiana beach with Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen and local parish president Charlotte Randolph. For its cover image, however, The Economist showed only Obama, looking every bit the lonely president with his head down on the beach confronting his crisis...
Here comes the bullshit.
But The Economist insists their intentions were pure in editing the photo, and that it was not an effort to make Obama look alone.
Not terribly convincing, but it is world class B.S.
Read more here.
The magazine used a May 28 photo of Obama on a Louisiana beach with Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen and local parish president Charlotte Randolph. For its cover image, however, The Economist showed only Obama, looking every bit the lonely president with his head down on the beach confronting his crisis...
Here comes the bullshit.
But The Economist insists their intentions were pure in editing the photo, and that it was not an effort to make Obama look alone.
Not terribly convincing, but it is world class B.S.
Read more here.
What kind of hair would Muhammad have?
I am constantly amazed that some people actually think they have the right to tell others what to (hair) do.
In an attempt to rid the country of "decadent Western cuts", Iran's culture ministry has produced a catalogue of haircuts that meet government approval.
The list of banned styles includes ponytails, mullets and elaborate spikes. However,quiffs appear to be acceptable, as are fashioning one's hair in the style of Simon Cowell or cultivating a 1980s-style floppy fringe.
Most of the models are clean-shaven although one picture features a man with a goatee beard, previously frowned upon by Iran's conservative clerics. Using hair gel is also within the law, albeit in modest quantities.
Monday, July 05, 2010
Civil Liberties Abuses just peachy with Canadians
We're fucked, according to Angus Reid.
People in Canada and residents of the latest G20 summit host city believe the reaction of the police to the demonstrations that took place during the meeting of world leaders was justified, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 66 per cent of respondents in Canada—and 73 per cent of people in Toronto—agree with this view.
Read more here.
People in Canada and residents of the latest G20 summit host city believe the reaction of the police to the demonstrations that took place during the meeting of world leaders was justified, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 66 per cent of respondents in Canada—and 73 per cent of people in Toronto—agree with this view.
Read more here.
Saturday, July 03, 2010
The New York Times tortures the English language to defend torture
Bill Keller, the executive editor of The Times, said the newspaper has written so much about the issue of water-boarding that "I think this Kennedy School study -- by focusing on whether we have embraced the politically correct term of art in our news stories -- is somewhat misleading and tendentious."
Read more here and here
Read more here and here
Dalton McGuinty: Sure your rights were trampled, now get over it
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said today that a public inquiry into G20 police actions is unnecessary.
My shock know no bounds.
"In hindsight, I think that we could have — and probably should have — done something to make it perfectly clear to people what we were actually talking about," he said Friday.
Translation: We took away your democratic right to protest. Oh sorry, didn't we tell you?
the Progressive Conservatives dismissed the idea as a waste of time and money.
One Billion Dollars was ok to spend on the G20, but not a dime to protect citizen's rights!
The predictability of this should surprise no one. Nothing will ever come of this. The powers that be will ride this one out, demonize the protesters and hope the public forgets or just doesn't care.
And in the long run, the majority probably don't. The politicians know the majority is apathetic if you keep them fat and entertained. Just keep the latest TV shows coming, and lalalalala....
Read more hereand here.
My shock know no bounds.
"In hindsight, I think that we could have — and probably should have — done something to make it perfectly clear to people what we were actually talking about," he said Friday.
Translation: We took away your democratic right to protest. Oh sorry, didn't we tell you?
the Progressive Conservatives dismissed the idea as a waste of time and money.
One Billion Dollars was ok to spend on the G20, but not a dime to protect citizen's rights!
The predictability of this should surprise no one. Nothing will ever come of this. The powers that be will ride this one out, demonize the protesters and hope the public forgets or just doesn't care.
And in the long run, the majority probably don't. The politicians know the majority is apathetic if you keep them fat and entertained. Just keep the latest TV shows coming, and lalalalala....
Read more hereand here.
Friday, July 02, 2010
FOX News: Libraries? We don't need no stinkin' libraries
FOX News story out of Chicago:
They eat up millions of your hard earned tax dollars. It's money that could be used to keep your child's school running. So with the internet and e-books, do we really need millions for libraries?
The stunning ignorance of this article would be amusing if it wasn't also simultaneously terrifying.
Read more here.
They eat up millions of your hard earned tax dollars. It's money that could be used to keep your child's school running. So with the internet and e-books, do we really need millions for libraries?
The stunning ignorance of this article would be amusing if it wasn't also simultaneously terrifying.
Read more here.
Maria New: Idiot of the Day
From the upper echelons of quack medicine comes this:
A New York doctor named Maria New has been advising pregnant women to take a steroid called dexamethasone to prevent homosexuality and "masculine behavior" in their daughters.
I'm sorry Miss New, but your stupidity has spread, there's no stopping it now.
Read more here.
A New York doctor named Maria New has been advising pregnant women to take a steroid called dexamethasone to prevent homosexuality and "masculine behavior" in their daughters.
I'm sorry Miss New, but your stupidity has spread, there's no stopping it now.
Read more here.
The New Post G20 "See which of your friends is a fascist" Game
Exciting new game sweeping post G20 Toronto. See which of your friends is a secret fascist. Fun for all ages.
Read more here.
Read more here.
Chuck Colson: Bigot of the Day
Behold as this nasty bigot dives thru hoops in a effort to maintain his hateful world view.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
