Thursday, September 30, 2010
Michigan's Mike Cox defends Andrew Shirvell's right to be a terrible human being
You do realize if the target had been another minority group (except Muslims and atheists..and possibly the French), he'd be out the door..
Harper and Co. don't need all that fancy science learnin
The federal government engages in "unacceptable political interference" in the communication of government science, says the head of a group that represents both government press officers and science journalists.
"Openness is being held ransom to media messages that serve the government's political agenda," wrote Kathryn O'Hara, president of the Canadian Science Writers' Association, in an opinion published online Wednesday in the international scientific journal Nature.
The article comes during Right to Know Week in Canada, a celebration of open information that "ironically … comes on the back of new evidence of unacceptable political interference in the public statements of federal government researchers," said O'Hara, who is also the CTV chair in science broadcast journalism at Carleton University.
"This message manipulation shows a disregard for both the values and virtues of journalism and science," she said.
Read more here.
"Openness is being held ransom to media messages that serve the government's political agenda," wrote Kathryn O'Hara, president of the Canadian Science Writers' Association, in an opinion published online Wednesday in the international scientific journal Nature.
The article comes during Right to Know Week in Canada, a celebration of open information that "ironically … comes on the back of new evidence of unacceptable political interference in the public statements of federal government researchers," said O'Hara, who is also the CTV chair in science broadcast journalism at Carleton University.
"This message manipulation shows a disregard for both the values and virtues of journalism and science," she said.
Read more here.
To Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei: F*ck you
Two Rutgers University students have been charged with invasion of privacy after secretly live-streaming video of a gay student having sex with a man in his dorm room. Reportedly the gay student then committed suicide.
Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei, both 18, were charged with two counts of invasion of privacy after allegedly putting a camera in a fellow student’s room and transmitting a sexual encounter over the internet. Prosecutors said Ravi of Plainsboro tried to do the same thing to yet another classmate just days after the first incident.
Oh well, at the very least their right to privacy has been blown out of the water. Prison can be so drafty.
Read more here.
Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei, both 18, were charged with two counts of invasion of privacy after allegedly putting a camera in a fellow student’s room and transmitting a sexual encounter over the internet. Prosecutors said Ravi of Plainsboro tried to do the same thing to yet another classmate just days after the first incident.
Oh well, at the very least their right to privacy has been blown out of the water. Prison can be so drafty.
Read more here.
Michigan says it's AOK that their assistant attorney general Andrew Shrivell is a psychotic childish homophobe...as long as it's gays he's attacking
Michigan, you disgust me.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox defended an assistant's constitutional right to wage an Internet campaign against an openly gay college student, even though he considers that employee a "bully."
"Here in America, we have this thing called the First Amendment, which allows people to express what they think and engage in political and social speech," Cox told Anderson Cooper on CNN's "AC 360" on Wednesday night. "He's clearly a bully ... but is that protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution? Yes."
There are times people are more revolting than you thought possible. This is one of those times.
Read more here.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox defended an assistant's constitutional right to wage an Internet campaign against an openly gay college student, even though he considers that employee a "bully."
"Here in America, we have this thing called the First Amendment, which allows people to express what they think and engage in political and social speech," Cox told Anderson Cooper on CNN's "AC 360" on Wednesday night. "He's clearly a bully ... but is that protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution? Yes."
There are times people are more revolting than you thought possible. This is one of those times.
Read more here.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Andrew Shirvell: Vile Homophobe of the Day
I know, "vile homophobe" is redundant.
This childish little man is the Asst. Attorney General of Michigan...
Btw, is your gaydar going off at full blast...?
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Maryland judge says man within rights to record police traffic stop
In a decision that could make it easier for citizens to record police officers in Maryland, a Harford County judge ruled Monday that state police and prosecutors were wrong to arrest and charge a man for taping his own traffic stop and posting it on the Internet.
Circuit Court Judge Emory A. Plitt Jr.'s ruling helps clarify the state's wire tap law and makes it clear that police officers enjoy little expectation of privacy as they perform their duties.
Read more here.
Circuit Court Judge Emory A. Plitt Jr.'s ruling helps clarify the state's wire tap law and makes it clear that police officers enjoy little expectation of privacy as they perform their duties.
Read more here.
Obama fuzzy on the meaning of privacy
It's taken some time, but Western governments are coming as disrespectful of their citizen's rights as any tin pot dictator...
In early August, two dictatorial (and U.S.-allied) Gulf states -- Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- announced a ban on the use of Blackberries because, as the BBC put it, "[b]oth nations are unhappy that they are unable to monitor such communications via the handsets." Those two governments demand the power to intercept and monitor every single form of communication...
..."[a]mong law enforcement investigators and intelligence officers [in the U.S.], the Emirates’ decision met with approval, admiration and perhaps even a touch of envy." ...
...the Obama administration will propose new legislation to mandate that the U.S. Government have access to all forms of communications, "including encrypted e-mail transmitters like BlackBerry, social networking Web sites like Facebook and software that allows direct 'peer to peer' messaging like Skype." In other words, the U.S. Government is taking exactly the position of the UAE and the Saudis: no communications are permitted to be beyond the surveillance reach of U.S. authorities.
Read more here.
In early August, two dictatorial (and U.S.-allied) Gulf states -- Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- announced a ban on the use of Blackberries because, as the BBC put it, "[b]oth nations are unhappy that they are unable to monitor such communications via the handsets." Those two governments demand the power to intercept and monitor every single form of communication...
..."[a]mong law enforcement investigators and intelligence officers [in the U.S.], the Emirates’ decision met with approval, admiration and perhaps even a touch of envy." ...
...the Obama administration will propose new legislation to mandate that the U.S. Government have access to all forms of communications, "including encrypted e-mail transmitters like BlackBerry, social networking Web sites like Facebook and software that allows direct 'peer to peer' messaging like Skype." In other words, the U.S. Government is taking exactly the position of the UAE and the Saudis: no communications are permitted to be beyond the surveillance reach of U.S. authorities.
Read more here.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Segway CEO drives segway off cliff
The millionaire owner of the UK Segway company has died after apparently riding one of his company's motorised scooters off cliffs and into a river.
Jimi Heselden, 62, crashed into the River Wharfe while riding the vehicle round his estate in Thorp Arch, Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, on Sunday.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. The scooter was found in the water.
As were any future sales of this ridiculous device.
Read more here.
Jimi Heselden, 62, crashed into the River Wharfe while riding the vehicle round his estate in Thorp Arch, Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, on Sunday.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. The scooter was found in the water.
As were any future sales of this ridiculous device.
Read more here.
Toronto set to return to the Stone Age as alleged Fat F*ck Ford predicted to become mayor
No story here, as that is frightening enough.
Griffintown and Devimco: Pretension, thy name is District Griffin
The Parade of Pretension that is condo advertising would be highly amusing if it didn't mask a very fucked up attitude.
“We could have called it Griffintown, but that wouldn’t be entirely true, as the Griffintown historical site encompasses a much larger area.”
Yes, true, fair enough, but you wanted to redevelop almost all of Griffintown and didn’t quite have all the cash for that so you have scaled back, but still want to be the major player for the area. We know what you would have called your “new” neighborhood and the signs say Phase 1.
We have seen much too much of this nonsense in Point Saint Charles with small scale projects that call themselves “Le Charles” or some such tripe. Do you really not get how much of an insult that is to locals? Oh, sorry, forgot that you don’t want there to be any locals. This reminds reminds me of Europeans discovering America – imagine how damned pissed off they must have been to discover there was already people here? People already live in Griffintown.
“The term “district” seemed to be appropriate. It was formerly home to a single industry, yet was always within reach of everything. Now it is THE District. An enclosed, autonomous area with it’s own shops and services, an enclave for those in the know.”
Enclosed? And in the know? What will the residents of “District Griffin” know that the rest of us will not? Sounds like you are building a little walled in city for the worst kind of snobs.
Condo advertising is built on snobbery.
Read more here.
“We could have called it Griffintown, but that wouldn’t be entirely true, as the Griffintown historical site encompasses a much larger area.”
Yes, true, fair enough, but you wanted to redevelop almost all of Griffintown and didn’t quite have all the cash for that so you have scaled back, but still want to be the major player for the area. We know what you would have called your “new” neighborhood and the signs say Phase 1.
We have seen much too much of this nonsense in Point Saint Charles with small scale projects that call themselves “Le Charles” or some such tripe. Do you really not get how much of an insult that is to locals? Oh, sorry, forgot that you don’t want there to be any locals. This reminds reminds me of Europeans discovering America – imagine how damned pissed off they must have been to discover there was already people here? People already live in Griffintown.
“The term “district” seemed to be appropriate. It was formerly home to a single industry, yet was always within reach of everything. Now it is THE District. An enclosed, autonomous area with it’s own shops and services, an enclave for those in the know.”
Enclosed? And in the know? What will the residents of “District Griffin” know that the rest of us will not? Sounds like you are building a little walled in city for the worst kind of snobs.
Condo advertising is built on snobbery.
Read more here.
Elżbieta Radziszewska: Bigoted Lowlife Idiot of the Day
Homophobes are among some of the lower life forms this planet has to offer, yet they continue to see themselves as the good guys.
They are not.
The Polish minister for equality has been accused of homophobia for outing a gay man on television and saying Catholic schools should have the right to sack gay teachers...
...According to the Warsaw Business Journal, she said: “If, for example, Mr Śmiszek, in a situation when we know that he is a member of the homosexual society and an activist for the Campaign Against Homophobia and it's no secret who his partner is…”
There aren't enough "Fuck You's" for this woman.
Read more here.
They are not.
The Polish minister for equality has been accused of homophobia for outing a gay man on television and saying Catholic schools should have the right to sack gay teachers...
...According to the Warsaw Business Journal, she said: “If, for example, Mr Śmiszek, in a situation when we know that he is a member of the homosexual society and an activist for the Campaign Against Homophobia and it's no secret who his partner is…”
There aren't enough "Fuck You's" for this woman.
Read more here.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Just In: Banks are F*cking Greedy
I'm shocked, shocked!
Bank fees: They're like a game of Whac-a-Mole. The minute one set is banned, a whole new set pops up.
In August, the Card Act banned a variety of fees -- including certain overdraft and excessive late charges. But one month later, banks are increasing existing fees and finding creative new ways to charge customers more for credit cards, so-called "free" checking accounts and banking services
Read more here.
Bank fees: They're like a game of Whac-a-Mole. The minute one set is banned, a whole new set pops up.
In August, the Card Act banned a variety of fees -- including certain overdraft and excessive late charges. But one month later, banks are increasing existing fees and finding creative new ways to charge customers more for credit cards, so-called "free" checking accounts and banking services
Read more here.
Pushy Christians: Pulpit Freedom Sunday
There's a reason we had an Enlightenment, to stop crap just like this...
Nearly 100 pastors across the country planned to take part in Pulpit Freedom Sunday, an in-your-face challenge Sunday to what the government says can and cannot be said in church*.
The pastors, along with the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based nonprofit Alliance Defense Fund, are reacting to a law stating that churches are not allowed to support politicians from the pulpit, according to the ADF.
The growing trend is a challenge to the IRS from the churches, and may jeopardize their all-important tax-exempt status. But some pastors and church leaders said they are willing to defy the law to defending their right to freedom of speech.
* The tone of this article may not be completely unbiased (it is CNN after all) as the tone of that sentence indicates.
Read more here.
Nearly 100 pastors across the country planned to take part in Pulpit Freedom Sunday, an in-your-face challenge Sunday to what the government says can and cannot be said in church*.
The pastors, along with the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based nonprofit Alliance Defense Fund, are reacting to a law stating that churches are not allowed to support politicians from the pulpit, according to the ADF.
The growing trend is a challenge to the IRS from the churches, and may jeopardize their all-important tax-exempt status. But some pastors and church leaders said they are willing to defy the law to defending their right to freedom of speech.
* The tone of this article may not be completely unbiased (it is CNN after all) as the tone of that sentence indicates.
Read more here.
Friday, September 24, 2010
The Texas School Board: Idiots of the Day
Hatred was good enough for me, and it's going to be damn well good enough for our children!
The Texas school board is set to vote on a resolution urging publishers to keep "pro-Islamic/anti-Christian" language out of textbooks in the state.
Among other complaints, the non-binding decree says some textbooks devote more lines to Islam than to Christianity and print "whitewashes" of Islamic culture.
Critics say it relies on a flawed reading of books that are out of use.
They can read?
Read more here.
The Texas school board is set to vote on a resolution urging publishers to keep "pro-Islamic/anti-Christian" language out of textbooks in the state.
Among other complaints, the non-binding decree says some textbooks devote more lines to Islam than to Christianity and print "whitewashes" of Islamic culture.
Critics say it relies on a flawed reading of books that are out of use.
They can read?
Read more here.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Netflix Canada: Idiots of the Day
Netflix Inc. tried to bring a touch of Hollywood to its Canada debut Wednesday only to wind up apologizing for a botched publicity stunt.
Things backfired at a Toronto street celebration after reporters discovered that actors hired by the Netflix had been given written instructions to give media interviews gushing about the video subscription service's arrival in Canada.
The actors also were urged to fill a variety of stereotypical roles, including "mothers, film buffs, tech geeks, couch potatoes," according to the one-page handout given to them.
Best bullshit:
Netflix never intended to mislead reporters, company spokesman Steve Swasey said. He attributed the mix-up to the bureaucratic hoops that Netflix had to jump through to get a permit to close an entire street for Wednesday's event.
Translation: We regret getting caught.
So far, their selection is poor btw...
Read more here.
Things backfired at a Toronto street celebration after reporters discovered that actors hired by the Netflix had been given written instructions to give media interviews gushing about the video subscription service's arrival in Canada.
The actors also were urged to fill a variety of stereotypical roles, including "mothers, film buffs, tech geeks, couch potatoes," according to the one-page handout given to them.
Best bullshit:
Netflix never intended to mislead reporters, company spokesman Steve Swasey said. He attributed the mix-up to the bureaucratic hoops that Netflix had to jump through to get a permit to close an entire street for Wednesday's event.
Translation: We regret getting caught.
So far, their selection is poor btw...
Read more here.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Massive blast 'created Mars moon'
Scientists say they have uncovered firm evidence that Mars's biggest moon, Phobos, is made from rocks blasted off the Martian surface in a catastrophic event.
The origin of Mars's satellites Phobos and Deimos is a long-standing puzzle.
It has been suggested that both moons could be asteroids that formed in the main asteroid belt and were then "captured" by Mars's gravity.
Read more here.
The origin of Mars's satellites Phobos and Deimos is a long-standing puzzle.
It has been suggested that both moons could be asteroids that formed in the main asteroid belt and were then "captured" by Mars's gravity.
Read more here.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
City of Laval police pay out $1.5 million for gross incompetence
Weren't the Laval police the little tin pot dictators fining people who didn't hold the metro railing correctly?
Three men who were shot by a jealous RCMP officer bent on killing his ex-girlfriend have agreed to accept damages of $1.5-million after winning a civil suit against local police.
The men, all in their 30s, successfully sued the city of Laval, Que., after it was revealed police brushed off complaints by Lucie Gélinas that her former boyfriend and then-Mountie, Jocelyn Hotte, had been stalking and threatening her.
The city and plaintiffs reached the financial settlement Monday, several months after Mr. Justice Steve Reimnitz of Quebec Superior Court found police at fault for failing to investigate Ms. Gélinas’s case.
Ms. Gélinas died and Pierre Mainville, Hugues Ducharme and David Savard were wounded while out celebrating Quebec’s St. Jean Baptiste holiday in June, 2001. Mr. Hotte, a trained marksman and onetime bodyguard of prime minister Jean Chrétien, chased them over 13 kilometres of Montreal freeway, firing all the way with his RCMP pistol.
The gross incompetence?
Ms. Gélinas, 37, had called 911 twice in the days before her death, complaining that Mr. Hotte had suggested she could end up getting shot. When Laval police constables Nathalie Rufer and Joël Sirois met with her, they dismissed the threat. They also said Ms. Gélinas was reluctant to file a formal complaint, saying it would cause trouble for Mr. Hotte.
They closed the case, marking her complaint “unfounded.”
Three men who were shot by a jealous RCMP officer bent on killing his ex-girlfriend have agreed to accept damages of $1.5-million after winning a civil suit against local police.
The men, all in their 30s, successfully sued the city of Laval, Que., after it was revealed police brushed off complaints by Lucie Gélinas that her former boyfriend and then-Mountie, Jocelyn Hotte, had been stalking and threatening her.
The city and plaintiffs reached the financial settlement Monday, several months after Mr. Justice Steve Reimnitz of Quebec Superior Court found police at fault for failing to investigate Ms. Gélinas’s case.
Ms. Gélinas died and Pierre Mainville, Hugues Ducharme and David Savard were wounded while out celebrating Quebec’s St. Jean Baptiste holiday in June, 2001. Mr. Hotte, a trained marksman and onetime bodyguard of prime minister Jean Chrétien, chased them over 13 kilometres of Montreal freeway, firing all the way with his RCMP pistol.
The gross incompetence?
Ms. Gélinas, 37, had called 911 twice in the days before her death, complaining that Mr. Hotte had suggested she could end up getting shot. When Laval police constables Nathalie Rufer and Joël Sirois met with her, they dismissed the threat. They also said Ms. Gélinas was reluctant to file a formal complaint, saying it would cause trouble for Mr. Hotte.
They closed the case, marking her complaint “unfounded.”
What moron thinks mafia themed political ads are a good idea?
Rocco Rossi does, the cretin.
And Don Rossi, this isn't personal, it's only business.
Italian-Canadians lashed out Monday at Rocco Rossi’s new mafia-themed ad campaign, which labels the mayoral candidate a “wise guy” and tells voters to “fuggetaboutit.”
“It sounded like an East Side Mario’s ad, quite honestly,” said Valentino Assenza, whose parents immigrated from Sicily. “I think the Italian-Canadian community was misrepresented . . . I was undecided, but him putting that ad out definitely confirmed that I’m not going to be giving my vote to him.”
The new campaign includes print ads featuring the words “wise guy,” “goodfella” and “bocce balls,” as well as TV and radio spots. The ads were launched as a new poll shows Rossi’s support stagnating at 9.7 per cent, a distant fourth place.
Read more here.
And Don Rossi, this isn't personal, it's only business.
Italian-Canadians lashed out Monday at Rocco Rossi’s new mafia-themed ad campaign, which labels the mayoral candidate a “wise guy” and tells voters to “fuggetaboutit.”
“It sounded like an East Side Mario’s ad, quite honestly,” said Valentino Assenza, whose parents immigrated from Sicily. “I think the Italian-Canadian community was misrepresented . . . I was undecided, but him putting that ad out definitely confirmed that I’m not going to be giving my vote to him.”
The new campaign includes print ads featuring the words “wise guy,” “goodfella” and “bocce balls,” as well as TV and radio spots. The ads were launched as a new poll shows Rossi’s support stagnating at 9.7 per cent, a distant fourth place.
Read more here.
KOMONEWS.com: Idiots of the Day
Just read this epic piece of moronic journalism, as they try to make us feel sorry for this sick fuck who tried to kill his ex girlfriend:
The idiocy begins with the headline:
Man badly burned when girlfriend's house set on fire
Oh no!...but wait...
Clark County sheriff's deputies say a Vancouver man was badly burned when a house with his girlfriend and three others inside was set on fire.
The sheriff's office says deputies responding to a domestic disturbance Friday night were told the boyfriend had doused the 23-year-old woman with gasoline, poured gas around the house and fled.
A fire broke out, but the woman, her 5-year-old son, her sister and mother were able to escape.
So this murderous pervert tries to kill his ex and son, but....
The sheriff's office identified him as 23-year-old David Michael Miller, of Vancouver. No charges have been filed in the case.
Huh?
The idiocy begins with the headline:
Man badly burned when girlfriend's house set on fire
Oh no!...but wait...
Clark County sheriff's deputies say a Vancouver man was badly burned when a house with his girlfriend and three others inside was set on fire.
The sheriff's office says deputies responding to a domestic disturbance Friday night were told the boyfriend had doused the 23-year-old woman with gasoline, poured gas around the house and fled.
A fire broke out, but the woman, her 5-year-old son, her sister and mother were able to escape.
So this murderous pervert tries to kill his ex and son, but....
The sheriff's office identified him as 23-year-old David Michael Miller, of Vancouver. No charges have been filed in the case.
Huh?
The Tunkhannock Area School District forgets students are people and gets their ass kicked for it
Another case of a school treating its students as something less than human.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania announced today that it has settled a lawsuit filed in May alleging that the Tunkhannock Area School District (Wyoming County) illegally searched a student's cell phone, punished her for storing semi-nude pictures of herself on the device, and then referred her case for criminal prosecution to the district attorney's office. Under the settlement, the school district denied any liability or wrongdoing but agreed to pay the student and her lawyers $33,000 to resolve the dispute. The student's claims against the District Attorney's Office were not settled and will proceed through litigation.
Read more here.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania announced today that it has settled a lawsuit filed in May alleging that the Tunkhannock Area School District (Wyoming County) illegally searched a student's cell phone, punished her for storing semi-nude pictures of herself on the device, and then referred her case for criminal prosecution to the district attorney's office. Under the settlement, the school district denied any liability or wrongdoing but agreed to pay the student and her lawyers $33,000 to resolve the dispute. The student's claims against the District Attorney's Office were not settled and will proceed through litigation.
Read more here.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Homophobic Sacha Baron *Borat* Cohen to play Freddie Mercury in film..what could possibly go wrong?
The story of Queen singer Freddie Mercury's extraordinary life will be the subject of a new rock and roll biopic.
In an interview with HARDtalk's Stephen Sackur former Queen guitarist Brian May exclusively reveals that Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen has signed up to play Mercury, in a film which will focus on the years leading up to Queen's appearance at the Live Aid concert in 1985. Production is set to begin next year.
Read more here.
In an interview with HARDtalk's Stephen Sackur former Queen guitarist Brian May exclusively reveals that Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen has signed up to play Mercury, in a film which will focus on the years leading up to Queen's appearance at the Live Aid concert in 1985. Production is set to begin next year.
Read more here.
Former Senator Al D'Amato (R-NY): Hero of the Day
One of the most effective weapons against the racist is to call them out on it.
GOP strategist Jack Burkman spouts the usual unfeeling conservative crap.
The rich and famous avoid jail time
As was speculated to take place, Paris Hilton has agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanors in her drug-possession case – and she will be sentenced to a year of probation but no jail time, reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The socialite, 29, is due before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure on Monday, at which time she will formally plead guilty to misdemeanor drug possession and misdemeanor obstructing an officer, says the newspaper, which obtained a copy of Hilton's plea deal.
Like to see the sentence a 29 year old anonymous black guy (with priors) would get...
Read more here.
The socialite, 29, is due before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure on Monday, at which time she will formally plead guilty to misdemeanor drug possession and misdemeanor obstructing an officer, says the newspaper, which obtained a copy of Hilton's plea deal.
Like to see the sentence a 29 year old anonymous black guy (with priors) would get...
Read more here.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Religious extremists continue assault on free speech
You may have noticed that Molly Norris' comic is not in the paper this week. That's because there is no more Molly.
The gifted artist is alive and well, thankfully. But on the insistence of top security specialists at the FBI, she is, as they put it, "going ghost": moving, changing her name, and essentially wiping away her identity. She will no longer be publishing cartoons in our paper or in City Arts magazine, where she has been a regular contributor. She is, in effect, being put into a witness-protection program—except, as she notes, without the government picking up the tab. It's all because of the appalling fatwa issued against her this summer, following her infamous "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" cartoon.
Read more here.
The gifted artist is alive and well, thankfully. But on the insistence of top security specialists at the FBI, she is, as they put it, "going ghost": moving, changing her name, and essentially wiping away her identity. She will no longer be publishing cartoons in our paper or in City Arts magazine, where she has been a regular contributor. She is, in effect, being put into a witness-protection program—except, as she notes, without the government picking up the tab. It's all because of the appalling fatwa issued against her this summer, following her infamous "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" cartoon.
Read more here.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Cornell Daily Sun comes out as illiterate
The Cornell Daily Sun defends their rookie "ethics" column writer Elisabeth Rosen.
Seems they can't read what she clearly wrote..perhaps if they sounded out the words slowly...
There are a few factors at work here. First, the analogies: In my opinion, Rosen did not equate homosexuality with having an eating disorder. I think Rosen’s distinction was more subtle than it might first appear. In my opinion, her writing was not bigoted or malicious. Nor was it homophobic. I think the chorus of strong-worded accusations on that point is misguided and ultimately wrong.
The analogies, however, were worded somewhat unartfully. Rosen was trying to enhance her column with punchy clauses to give it a more conversational — and less serious — tone. Coupled with the gravity of the situation she was addressing, the writing could seem inconsistent. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this; she is just trying to find her voice as a columnist. Rosen had a certain writing style as a reporter (her coverage of the Kot murder trial, for example, was clear and articulate), and she is trying to develop in her new role. Tone will likely not be an issue in the long run.
Tone will not be an issue, as the tone has already been set...
Second, there is the substantive content of Rosen’s advice. On Jezebel, North noted the “fluidity of human sexuality,” which is central to this point. Sexuality is indeed a complicated issue, and it’s hard to address with care and nuance in a small space. At worst, Rosen might have been naïve in oversimplifying the issue.
Translation: She's a new and not yet competent writer. Although her column came across as homophobic, it's just because she can't write worth shit. But we're keeping her on...it made us laugh.
Sheesh, you liberals!
Read more here.
Seems they can't read what she clearly wrote..perhaps if they sounded out the words slowly...
There are a few factors at work here. First, the analogies: In my opinion, Rosen did not equate homosexuality with having an eating disorder. I think Rosen’s distinction was more subtle than it might first appear. In my opinion, her writing was not bigoted or malicious. Nor was it homophobic. I think the chorus of strong-worded accusations on that point is misguided and ultimately wrong.
The analogies, however, were worded somewhat unartfully. Rosen was trying to enhance her column with punchy clauses to give it a more conversational — and less serious — tone. Coupled with the gravity of the situation she was addressing, the writing could seem inconsistent. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this; she is just trying to find her voice as a columnist. Rosen had a certain writing style as a reporter (her coverage of the Kot murder trial, for example, was clear and articulate), and she is trying to develop in her new role. Tone will likely not be an issue in the long run.
Tone will not be an issue, as the tone has already been set...
Second, there is the substantive content of Rosen’s advice. On Jezebel, North noted the “fluidity of human sexuality,” which is central to this point. Sexuality is indeed a complicated issue, and it’s hard to address with care and nuance in a small space. At worst, Rosen might have been naïve in oversimplifying the issue.
Translation: She's a new and not yet competent writer. Although her column came across as homophobic, it's just because she can't write worth shit. But we're keeping her on...it made us laugh.
Sheesh, you liberals!
Read more here.
The US Corn Refiners Association is hoping you're really stupid
Would high-fructose corn syrup, by any other name, have sweeter appeal?
The Corn Refiners Association, which represents firms that make the syrup, has been trying to improve the image of the much maligned sweetener with ad campaigns promoting it as a natural ingredient made from corn. Now, the group has petitioned the United States Food and Drug Administration to start calling the ingredient “corn sugar,” arguing that a name change is the only way to clear up consumer confusion about the product.
Here comes the bullshit:
“Clearly the name is confusing consumers,” said Audrae Erickson, president of the Washington-based group, in an interview. “Research shows that ‘corn sugar’ better communicates the amount of calories, the level of fructose and the sweetness in this ingredient.”
Read more here.
The Corn Refiners Association, which represents firms that make the syrup, has been trying to improve the image of the much maligned sweetener with ad campaigns promoting it as a natural ingredient made from corn. Now, the group has petitioned the United States Food and Drug Administration to start calling the ingredient “corn sugar,” arguing that a name change is the only way to clear up consumer confusion about the product.
Here comes the bullshit:
“Clearly the name is confusing consumers,” said Audrae Erickson, president of the Washington-based group, in an interview. “Research shows that ‘corn sugar’ better communicates the amount of calories, the level of fructose and the sweetness in this ingredient.”
Read more here.
Doctor sued for 'branding' patient's uterus
You can't make this shit up:
A California gynecologist is being sued for branding a patient's name on her uterus using an "electrocautery device."
Dr. Red Alinsod removed Ingrid Paulicivic's uterus during an operation at his Orange County office in 2006, according to the complaint posted on The Smoking Gun's website. The Laguna Beach doctor carved "Ingrid" on the organ, according to the site, because he "did not want to get it confused with others."
Alinsod told the site that labeling of body parts in that manner is not typical. But, he said, he "felt comfortable putting her name on the uterus" since the 47-year-old hairdresser was a "good friend."
Not anymore I would think.
Read more here.
A California gynecologist is being sued for branding a patient's name on her uterus using an "electrocautery device."
Dr. Red Alinsod removed Ingrid Paulicivic's uterus during an operation at his Orange County office in 2006, according to the complaint posted on The Smoking Gun's website. The Laguna Beach doctor carved "Ingrid" on the organ, according to the site, because he "did not want to get it confused with others."
Alinsod told the site that labeling of body parts in that manner is not typical. But, he said, he "felt comfortable putting her name on the uterus" since the 47-year-old hairdresser was a "good friend."
Not anymore I would think.
Read more here.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Evil in the real world: Prudential Financial Inc.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs failed to inform 6 million soldiers and their families of an agreement enabling Prudential Financial Inc. to withhold lump-sum payments of life insurance benefits for survivors of fallen service members, according to records made public through a Freedom of Information request.
The amendment to Prudential’s contract is the first document to show how VA officials sanctioned a payment practice that has spurred investigations by lawmakers and regulators. Since 1999, Prudential has used so-called retained-asset accounts, which allow the company to withhold lump-sum payments due to survivors and earn investment income on the money for itself.
Read more here.
The amendment to Prudential’s contract is the first document to show how VA officials sanctioned a payment practice that has spurred investigations by lawmakers and regulators. Since 1999, Prudential has used so-called retained-asset accounts, which allow the company to withhold lump-sum payments due to survivors and earn investment income on the money for itself.
Read more here.
Rare Roman suit of armour found
Archaeologists digging at a site in south Wales have uncovered an entire suit of Roman armour and some weapons.
The rare discovery was made during an excavation at the fortress of Caerleon in south Wales, one of Britain's best known Roman sites.
Dig leader Dr Peter Guest of Cardiff University said the suit was only the third or fourth to be found in the UK, and the first in Wales.
"It's very important for the study of Roman Britain," he said.
Read more here.
The rare discovery was made during an excavation at the fortress of Caerleon in south Wales, one of Britain's best known Roman sites.
Dig leader Dr Peter Guest of Cardiff University said the suit was only the third or fourth to be found in the UK, and the first in Wales.
"It's very important for the study of Roman Britain," he said.
Read more here.
When cattle car designers make airplanes: Aviointeriors
An Italian company called Aviointeriors, which manufactures commercial airline seats, is debuting the SkyRider, a seat with "a 23-inch pitch or less".
That means there's 23 inches from your seatback to the one in front of you—at least eight inches shorter than most conventional economy class seats.
Read more here.
"We feel extremely confident that this concept will ... have great appeal to airlines for economic purposes,"
Translation: it will save the airlines money, so fuck the passagers.
That means there's 23 inches from your seatback to the one in front of you—at least eight inches shorter than most conventional economy class seats.
Read more here.
"We feel extremely confident that this concept will ... have great appeal to airlines for economic purposes,"
Translation: it will save the airlines money, so fuck the passagers.
Idiot Politicians: Silvio Berlusconi
Seems the Italians are following the world trend of placing Idiots in Office.
Faced with a tottering economy and a crumbling coalition government, Silvio Berlusconi has chosen to woo a youth rally with jokes about Adolf Hitler and his own sexual prowess...
...The former cruise ship entertainer told a joke in which Adolf Hitler is begged by his supporters to return to power after they discover he is still alive. After resisting, Hitler says: "I'll come back, but on one condition ... next time I'm going to be evil."
Read more here.
Faced with a tottering economy and a crumbling coalition government, Silvio Berlusconi has chosen to woo a youth rally with jokes about Adolf Hitler and his own sexual prowess...
...The former cruise ship entertainer told a joke in which Adolf Hitler is begged by his supporters to return to power after they discover he is still alive. After resisting, Hitler says: "I'll come back, but on one condition ... next time I'm going to be evil."
Read more here.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Pushy Christians: Australia's SRE
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Get 'em while they're young....
Short version: Christian classes are taught in Australian schools, kids who don't want it have to take an "ethics" course...
Que outraged Christians in 3..2...
Read more here.
Russia Uses Microsoft to Suppress Dissent
It was late one afternoon in January when a squad of plainclothes police officers arrived at the headquarters of a prominent environmental group here. They brushed past the staff with barely a word and instead set upon the computers before carting them away. Taken were files that chronicled a generation’s worth of efforts to protect the Siberian wilderness.
The group, Baikal Environmental Wave, was organizing protests against Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin’s decision to reopen a paper factory that had polluted nearby Lake Baikal, a natural wonder that by some estimates holds 20 percent of the world’s fresh water.
Instead, the group fell victim to one of the authorities’ newest tactics for quelling dissent: confiscating computers under the pretext of searching for pirated Microsoft software.
Read more here.
The group, Baikal Environmental Wave, was organizing protests against Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin’s decision to reopen a paper factory that had polluted nearby Lake Baikal, a natural wonder that by some estimates holds 20 percent of the world’s fresh water.
Instead, the group fell victim to one of the authorities’ newest tactics for quelling dissent: confiscating computers under the pretext of searching for pirated Microsoft software.
Read more here.
Dude, you HAVE no Quran
Is it news when somebody burns a Quran? It probably shouldn't have been.
Is it news when somebody DOESN'T burn a Quran. No. Well, maybe ...
Enter Jacob Isom, a resident of Amarillo, TX. The 23-year-old skateboarder happend to be nearby when he heard somebody mention burning a copy of the Quran. Apparently that didn't seem too righteous to Jacob, who snatched away the holy book -- already doused in a flammable liquid -- and told the agitator, "Dude, you have no Quran!" before running off.
Read more here.
Is it news when somebody DOESN'T burn a Quran. No. Well, maybe ...
Enter Jacob Isom, a resident of Amarillo, TX. The 23-year-old skateboarder happend to be nearby when he heard somebody mention burning a copy of the Quran. Apparently that didn't seem too righteous to Jacob, who snatched away the holy book -- already doused in a flammable liquid -- and told the agitator, "Dude, you have no Quran!" before running off.
Read more here.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department: Idiots of the Day
Pedobear is a meme featuring a cute cartoon bear who pops up wherever people are being creepy about kids on the Internet. Cops in California don't understand this, and have issued a hilarious warning about Pedobear.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department, who can't be bothered to look up Pedobear's extensive Wikipedia entry, issued a very serious warning about Pedobear last week...
Read more here.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department, who can't be bothered to look up Pedobear's extensive Wikipedia entry, issued a very serious warning about Pedobear last week...
Read more here.
Montreal Tam Tam
Every Sunday in summer, hundreds of Montreal residents trek to Mont Royal to play, drum and dance. The BBC's Krupa Padhy explored the vibrant delights of the city's longest running drum circle.
Montreal's famed summer festivals come and ago, but among them, there is one event that has been going strong for 30 years, rain or shine.
Sunday for Montrealers means one thing. Not Mass, not a family roast, but the Tam Tam, one of the world's most loyal drum circles named after the eponymous hand drum.
Hundreds of musicians and dancers gather on Plateau Mont Royal every Sunday to get creative. The event has no official organiser and the only publicity it has ever had is word of mouth.
Read more here.
Montreal's famed summer festivals come and ago, but among them, there is one event that has been going strong for 30 years, rain or shine.
Sunday for Montrealers means one thing. Not Mass, not a family roast, but the Tam Tam, one of the world's most loyal drum circles named after the eponymous hand drum.
Hundreds of musicians and dancers gather on Plateau Mont Royal every Sunday to get creative. The event has no official organiser and the only publicity it has ever had is word of mouth.
Read more here.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Tony Blair: Idiot of the Day
Excerpt from Tony Blair's new book (prefaced by Time's editorial comment):
That old canard of the left about Bush’s intelligence is rebutted by one of the smartest political leaders around. Perhaps it’s time to let that one rest*.
"George Bush was straightforward and direct. The stupidest misconception was that he was stupid. He also had (has) great intuition. But his intuition was less—as in the case of Bill—about politics and more about what he thought was right or wrong. This wasn't expressed analytically or intellectually. It was just stated. ... I would be at a press conference with him, in the epicentre of those world-changing events, and I would think 'George, explain it; don't just say it." (p. 5)
"This was not because he wasn't smart; he was very smart. One of the most ludicrous caricatures of George is that he was a dumb idiot who stumbled into the presidency. No one stumbles into that job**."
Revisionist history can be an amusing read, but bullshit is still bullshit, and Bush continues to be an idiot.
Read more here.
* Some really do believe Bush 2 was and is intelligent. They also believe in unicorns.
** Having the Supreme Court "stumble" you in doesn't hurt.
That old canard of the left about Bush’s intelligence is rebutted by one of the smartest political leaders around. Perhaps it’s time to let that one rest*.
"George Bush was straightforward and direct. The stupidest misconception was that he was stupid. He also had (has) great intuition. But his intuition was less—as in the case of Bill—about politics and more about what he thought was right or wrong. This wasn't expressed analytically or intellectually. It was just stated. ... I would be at a press conference with him, in the epicentre of those world-changing events, and I would think 'George, explain it; don't just say it." (p. 5)
"This was not because he wasn't smart; he was very smart. One of the most ludicrous caricatures of George is that he was a dumb idiot who stumbled into the presidency. No one stumbles into that job**."
Revisionist history can be an amusing read, but bullshit is still bullshit, and Bush continues to be an idiot.
Read more here.
* Some really do believe Bush 2 was and is intelligent. They also believe in unicorns.
** Having the Supreme Court "stumble" you in doesn't hurt.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Palin and Beck use 911 to rake in the cash
Could these people be more disgusting? Yup, and they will be.
Prominent conservatives and right-wing groups are making plans to use the 9/11 anniversary this weekend to rake in some cash. Among them are Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck, who are teaming up for a rally in Anchorage, AK. The right-wing duo are charging attendees between $74 and $225 to hear them speak.
And to top it off, this crowning piece of bullshit:
Event promoter Christopher Cox says the 9/11 date is a coincidence. Cox originally eyed Sept. 4, but didn’t want to compete with the Alaska State Fair.
Only teabaggers, goats and an empty box are dumb enough to believe that line.
Read more here.
Prominent conservatives and right-wing groups are making plans to use the 9/11 anniversary this weekend to rake in some cash. Among them are Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck, who are teaming up for a rally in Anchorage, AK. The right-wing duo are charging attendees between $74 and $225 to hear them speak.
And to top it off, this crowning piece of bullshit:
Event promoter Christopher Cox says the 9/11 date is a coincidence. Cox originally eyed Sept. 4, but didn’t want to compete with the Alaska State Fair.
Only teabaggers, goats and an empty box are dumb enough to believe that line.
Read more here.
Incredibly Arrogent Marketers: Nissan
Translation: We helped cause this mess in the first place, but are betting you're too dumb to notice.
Friday, September 10, 2010
'Birth certificate of Scotland' unearthed by archaeologists
The ancient mound known as the Moot Hill in the ground of Scone Palace was once the site of the "lost" abbey of Scone, founded in 1114 by Alexander I, where Scottish kings are believed to have assumed the mantle of power on the Stone of Destiny.
It was revealed yesterday that archaeologists studying the historic site have been able to use radiocarbon dating to push back the origins of the ancient seat of ecclesiastical and royal power to at least 1,000 years ago, in a remarkable breakthrough that has been hailed as uncovering the "birth certificate of Scotland".
Read more here.
Jo Public,
09/09/2010 10:19:48
The Death Certificate was dated 1707
It was revealed yesterday that archaeologists studying the historic site have been able to use radiocarbon dating to push back the origins of the ancient seat of ecclesiastical and royal power to at least 1,000 years ago, in a remarkable breakthrough that has been hailed as uncovering the "birth certificate of Scotland".
Read more here.
Jo Public,
09/09/2010 10:19:48
The Death Certificate was dated 1707
U.S. Federal Judge rules DADT unconstitutional
No shit, but that probably won't change much, bigots are blind.
Nice to see them getting their asses kicked in court recently though...
A federal judge in Riverside declared the U.S. military’s ban on openly gay service members unconstitutional Thursday, saying the “don't ask, don't tell” policy violates the 1st Amendment rights of lesbians and gay men.
U.S. District Court Judge Virginia A. Phillips said the policy banning gays did not preserve military readiness, contrary to what many supporters have argued, saying evidence shows that the policy in fact had a “direct and deleterious effect’’ on the military.
Phillips said she would issue an injunction barring the government from enforcing the policy. However, the U.S. Department of Justice, which defended “don’t ask, don’t tell” during a two-week trial in Riverside, will have an opportunity to appeal that decision.
And they will in a heartbeat, election year don't ya know...
Read more here.
Nice to see them getting their asses kicked in court recently though...
A federal judge in Riverside declared the U.S. military’s ban on openly gay service members unconstitutional Thursday, saying the “don't ask, don't tell” policy violates the 1st Amendment rights of lesbians and gay men.
U.S. District Court Judge Virginia A. Phillips said the policy banning gays did not preserve military readiness, contrary to what many supporters have argued, saying evidence shows that the policy in fact had a “direct and deleterious effect’’ on the military.
Phillips said she would issue an injunction barring the government from enforcing the policy. However, the U.S. Department of Justice, which defended “don’t ask, don’t tell” during a two-week trial in Riverside, will have an opportunity to appeal that decision.
And they will in a heartbeat, election year don't ya know...
Read more here.
Halley's comet 'was spotted by the ancient Greeks'
Too bad its 1986 appearance was just an utter disappointment.
A celestial event seen by the ancient Greeks may be the earliest sighting of Halley's comet, new evidence suggests.
According to ancient writers, a large meteorite smacked into northern Greece between 466BC and 467BC.
The writers also described a comet in the sky at the time the meteorite fell to Earth, but this detail has received little attention, say the researchers.
Comet Halley would have been visible for about 80 days in 466BC, researchers write in the Journal of Cosmology.
New Scientist magazine reports that, until now, the earliest probable sighting of the comet was an orbit in 240BC, an event recorded by Chinese astronomers.
Read more here.
A celestial event seen by the ancient Greeks may be the earliest sighting of Halley's comet, new evidence suggests.
According to ancient writers, a large meteorite smacked into northern Greece between 466BC and 467BC.
The writers also described a comet in the sky at the time the meteorite fell to Earth, but this detail has received little attention, say the researchers.
Comet Halley would have been visible for about 80 days in 466BC, researchers write in the Journal of Cosmology.
New Scientist magazine reports that, until now, the earliest probable sighting of the comet was an orbit in 240BC, an event recorded by Chinese astronomers.
Read more here.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Five Toronto brain dead actually allow their support for alleged fat f*ck Rob Ford to be recorded for posterity
 |
| Mary Kairys, Accountant (figures) This woman is deciding your future...think about it |
More of Toronto's more embarrassing citizens, positively pining for an Idiot In Office.
They live in social housing. They live in Lawrence Park. They hate gridlock and what they see as profligate spending at city hall. Their politics are left, centre and right. But they have one thing in common: They plan to vote for Rob Ford, the candidate plenty of Torontonians love to hate.
Read more here.
Montreal allows PepsiCo to rebottle tap water for sale to trendy morons
The Polaris Institute estimated that one third of the bottled water sold in Canada is the treated tap water.
Read more here.
Read more here.
Nova buses continuing to prove they are the WORST BUS EVER
Having almost been hit by one of those fucking mirrors, I can relate.
Police are investigating after a middle-aged man was hit by the side mirror of a city bus on the corner of St. Hubert and De Maisonneuve streets in Montreal.
Witnesses say the man was struck by the mirror as he was crossing the street...
...This is not the first time a bus's side mirror has caused serious injuries in Montreal.
In 1998, Concordia student Raphael Imer was killed by a mirror on the driver's side of a similar bus, made by Quebec company Nova. The coroner looking into Imer's death ruled it was an accident but suggested that the mirror posed a safety concern.
Read more here.
Police are investigating after a middle-aged man was hit by the side mirror of a city bus on the corner of St. Hubert and De Maisonneuve streets in Montreal.
Witnesses say the man was struck by the mirror as he was crossing the street...
...This is not the first time a bus's side mirror has caused serious injuries in Montreal.
In 1998, Concordia student Raphael Imer was killed by a mirror on the driver's side of a similar bus, made by Quebec company Nova. The coroner looking into Imer's death ruled it was an accident but suggested that the mirror posed a safety concern.
Read more here.
The German Communist Party lights up children's day
To sweeten their first day at primary school German children are normally given a cardboard cone filled with sweets, but schoolchildren in Essen this year opened their cones to find pens which project erotic images.
Children attending the Adolf Reichwein School in the northwestern German city were handed cones containing the pens by members of the German Communist Party, according to the school's headmaster.
Angry parents who discovered that the pens given to their six-year-old children could project erotic images of women informed the headmaster.
In a press release the German Communist Party stated that it had purchased the pens from a discount store, which had said the pens lit up at the push of a button.
Read more here.
Children attending the Adolf Reichwein School in the northwestern German city were handed cones containing the pens by members of the German Communist Party, according to the school's headmaster.
Angry parents who discovered that the pens given to their six-year-old children could project erotic images of women informed the headmaster.
In a press release the German Communist Party stated that it had purchased the pens from a discount store, which had said the pens lit up at the push of a button.
Read more here.
German company told they can't be heartless c*nts
A German company that fired a man for the theft of 1.8 euro cents (two U.S. cents) worth of electricity had no grounds for sacking him, a court ruled, dismissing the firm's appeal against his reinstatement.
Network administrator Oliver Beel lost his job after charging his Segway, a two-wheeled electric vehicle, at work in May 2009. After he connected the vehicle to the firm's power source for 1-1/2 hours, his boss asked him to remove it.
Twelve days later Beel found himself without a job.
The court ruled that dismissal was disproportionate to the offence, especially given the "minimal electricity cost involved, the plaintiff's 19-year employment by the company and the fact other employees charged mobile phones and digital photo frames at the firm's expense without punishment."
Network administrator Oliver Beel lost his job after charging his Segway, a two-wheeled electric vehicle, at work in May 2009. After he connected the vehicle to the firm's power source for 1-1/2 hours, his boss asked him to remove it.
Twelve days later Beel found himself without a job.
The court ruled that dismissal was disproportionate to the offence, especially given the "minimal electricity cost involved, the plaintiff's 19-year employment by the company and the fact other employees charged mobile phones and digital photo frames at the firm's expense without punishment."
Jaguar tells epic twidiot Stephanie Rice to walk from now on
Ha! Suck on that Stephanie.
Luxury car maker Jaguar has cut its sponsorship of star Australia swimmer Stephanie Rice, a triple Olympic gold medalist, after she sent a tweet using an anti-gay slur.
Rice, 22, tweeted "Suck on that f--gots" after Australia's rugby union team, the Wallabies, defeated South Africa's Springboks on Saturday.
Read more here.
Luxury car maker Jaguar has cut its sponsorship of star Australia swimmer Stephanie Rice, a triple Olympic gold medalist, after she sent a tweet using an anti-gay slur.
Rice, 22, tweeted "Suck on that f--gots" after Australia's rugby union team, the Wallabies, defeated South Africa's Springboks on Saturday.
Read more here.
Monday, September 06, 2010
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Idiot Scientists: Israeli scientists claim Arabic "hard for brain"
Let me guess, they find Hebrew "soft for brain"?
Israeli scientists believe they have identified why Arabic is particularly hard to learn to read.
The University of Haifa team say people use both sides of their brain when they begin reading a language - but when learning Arabic this is wasting effort.
The detail of Arabic characters means students should use only the left side of their brain because that side is better at distinguishing detail.
The findings from the study of 40 people are reported in Neuropsychology.
Read more here.
Israeli scientists believe they have identified why Arabic is particularly hard to learn to read.
The University of Haifa team say people use both sides of their brain when they begin reading a language - but when learning Arabic this is wasting effort.
The detail of Arabic characters means students should use only the left side of their brain because that side is better at distinguishing detail.
The findings from the study of 40 people are reported in Neuropsychology.
Read more here.
Friday, September 03, 2010
Cornell's Elisabeth Rosen: Idiot of the Day
Ms. Elisabeth writes an ethics column for Cornell University.
She's also a world class idiot.
A "Nervous Katy Perry Fan" asks if she should come out to her sorority sisters, to which Ms. Rosen responds:
Dear Nervous,
Everyone has secrets. Your roommate might not know how to put in a tampon, or the skinniest girl on campus might have secret Twinkie binges every night. But these secrets don’t affect anyone else, while yours does. Some girls might have chosen to live in the sorority house because they don’t want to live with guys who could be checking them out, and even if you don’t have a crush on any specific girl, you’re right that your sexual orientation would make them uncomfortable. It would be just as unethical for you to “pretend to be straight” to avoid discomfort as it would be for a guy to get breast implants in order to land a sweet single in Balch. No matter what the motivation, placing your roommates in a situation that could potentially make them very uncomfortable if they knew the truth is just not ethical.
It’s not fair to you, either. You’re wasting time worrying about what they might think of you, when for all you know they might not care at all about your sexuality. Telling the truth might seem stressful now, but it’ll save you a lot of hardship later. The other girls might not mind a gay roommate; a dishonest gay roommate, on the other hand, would be harder to stomach.
Translation: The feelings of your straight roommates trumps your silly little feelings every time. HOW DARE YOU make them feel uncomfortable. Their homophobia is much more important than your right to privacy. Hurrumph the nerve of the question!
Cornell itself has backed away from those comments:
Editor's note, appended Sept. 2, 2010: Like all columns, the views and advice in this column do not represent the views or opinions of The Cornell Daily Sun. Cornellians seeking advice on gender, sexuality and identity should refer to Haven, which "seeks to enrich Cornell University by supporting its diverse array of sexual and gender identities and expressions. Through education, outreach, and service, [they] promote understanding and the development of inclusive communities."
Read more here.
She's also a world class idiot.
A "Nervous Katy Perry Fan" asks if she should come out to her sorority sisters, to which Ms. Rosen responds:
Dear Nervous,
Everyone has secrets. Your roommate might not know how to put in a tampon, or the skinniest girl on campus might have secret Twinkie binges every night. But these secrets don’t affect anyone else, while yours does. Some girls might have chosen to live in the sorority house because they don’t want to live with guys who could be checking them out, and even if you don’t have a crush on any specific girl, you’re right that your sexual orientation would make them uncomfortable. It would be just as unethical for you to “pretend to be straight” to avoid discomfort as it would be for a guy to get breast implants in order to land a sweet single in Balch. No matter what the motivation, placing your roommates in a situation that could potentially make them very uncomfortable if they knew the truth is just not ethical.
It’s not fair to you, either. You’re wasting time worrying about what they might think of you, when for all you know they might not care at all about your sexuality. Telling the truth might seem stressful now, but it’ll save you a lot of hardship later. The other girls might not mind a gay roommate; a dishonest gay roommate, on the other hand, would be harder to stomach.
Translation: The feelings of your straight roommates trumps your silly little feelings every time. HOW DARE YOU make them feel uncomfortable. Their homophobia is much more important than your right to privacy. Hurrumph the nerve of the question!
Cornell itself has backed away from those comments:
Editor's note, appended Sept. 2, 2010: Like all columns, the views and advice in this column do not represent the views or opinions of The Cornell Daily Sun. Cornellians seeking advice on gender, sexuality and identity should refer to Haven, which "seeks to enrich Cornell University by supporting its diverse array of sexual and gender identities and expressions. Through education, outreach, and service, [they] promote understanding and the development of inclusive communities."
Read more here.
Jan Brewer or Attack of the Brain Dead
What about the beheadings Governor?
LALALALALALA...
Arizona better watch out, or she'll release the flying monkeys.
Wild chimps send a big F*ck You to the animals that hunt them
Across Africa, people often lay snare traps to catch bushmeat, killing or injuring chimps and other wildlife.
But a few chimps living in the rainforests of Guinea have learnt to recognise these snare traps laid by human hunters, researchers have found.
More astonishing, the chimps actively seek out and intentionally deactivate the traps, setting them off without being harmed.
Now if they could only set their own traps for the bastards that hunt them.
Read more here.
But a few chimps living in the rainforests of Guinea have learnt to recognise these snare traps laid by human hunters, researchers have found.
More astonishing, the chimps actively seek out and intentionally deactivate the traps, setting them off without being harmed.
Now if they could only set their own traps for the bastards that hunt them.
Read more here.
Bank of Nova Scotia trust company: Unfeeling Bastards
Giuseppe and Francesca Piterna have lived in their three bedroom home in west-end Toronto for 45 years, but on Thursday morning they’re being evicted because a trust company foreclosed on them...
...The family’s real estate agent Keith Myrick managed to find a buyer for the property and secure an agreement to sell the Davenport Ave. and Old Weston Rd. home for $233,000.
But the Bank of Nova Scotia trust company has turned down the deal.
“I don’t think $233,000 gets everyone paid,’’ said David Dolson, the lawyer for the trust company.
May you burn in Hell.
Read more here.
...The family’s real estate agent Keith Myrick managed to find a buyer for the property and secure an agreement to sell the Davenport Ave. and Old Weston Rd. home for $233,000.
But the Bank of Nova Scotia trust company has turned down the deal.
“I don’t think $233,000 gets everyone paid,’’ said David Dolson, the lawyer for the trust company.
May you burn in Hell.
Read more here.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Tin Pot Dictator Stephen Harper annoys Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood is criticizing Stephen Harper over what she sees as his dictatorial approach to regulating the airwaves.
The literary icon has signed an online petition aimed at keeping a “Fox News North” channel off the air in Canada. But it’s not the idea of a right-wing television station she’s objecting to. Rather, the prolific and celebrated writer doesn’t like the Prime Minister’s style of governing.
“Of course Fox & Co. can set up a channel or whatever they want to do, if it's legal etc.,” she told The Globe and Mail in an email.
“But it shouldn't happen this way. It's like the head-of-census affair – gov't direct meddling in affairs that are supposed to be arm's length – so do what they say or they fire you.
“It's part of the ‘I make the rules around here,’ Harper-is-a-king thing,” she wrote.
Read more here.
The literary icon has signed an online petition aimed at keeping a “Fox News North” channel off the air in Canada. But it’s not the idea of a right-wing television station she’s objecting to. Rather, the prolific and celebrated writer doesn’t like the Prime Minister’s style of governing.
“Of course Fox & Co. can set up a channel or whatever they want to do, if it's legal etc.,” she told The Globe and Mail in an email.
“But it shouldn't happen this way. It's like the head-of-census affair – gov't direct meddling in affairs that are supposed to be arm's length – so do what they say or they fire you.
“It's part of the ‘I make the rules around here,’ Harper-is-a-king thing,” she wrote.
Read more here.
iTunes 10: Worst Icon, Ever.
They waited 10 years to unload that turkey?
Also, the removal of colour from icons within the app....yuk.
Apple, fire your grade school designers.
Also, the removal of colour from icons within the app....yuk.
Apple, fire your grade school designers.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Mankind back as prime suspect in mammoth extinction
The theory that the great beasts living in North America 13,000 years ago were killed off by a space impact can now be discounted, a new study claims.
Mammoths, giant bears, big cats and the like disappeared rapidly from the fossil record, and a comet or asteroid strike was seen as a possible culprit.
But tiny diamonds said to have been created in the collision have been misinterpreted, a US-UK team says.
Read more here.
Mammoths, giant bears, big cats and the like disappeared rapidly from the fossil record, and a comet or asteroid strike was seen as a possible culprit.
But tiny diamonds said to have been created in the collision have been misinterpreted, a US-UK team says.
Read more here.
Young Guns: Actually Middle Aged Pasty White Republican Men
I love the smell of hubris in the morning.
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