An attorney for MegaUpload -- which was shut down by the US government earlier this month, and whose assets have been frozen, following copyright complaints from the entertainment industry -- says that the US Attorney General is planning to destroy all its user data within a week. With its assets frozen, MegaUpload can no longer pay to host its data with its service provider, and so the AG will cooperate with the erasure of tens of millions of users' personal files -- backups, family photos, personal videos, financial records, and even movies and music in production by independent artists who used MegaUpload as a file-locker while their produced their work. TorrentFreak characterizes this as the destruction of evidence, and I think that's right.
Read more here.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Toronto and yet more bullsh*t condo marketing
195 units ranging from 380-square-foot studios ($238,000) to 1,230-square-foot three-bedroom suites ($724,000).
So affordable..
A man signed a waver, and finds his image used in a 23 ft mural promoting yet another condo project..
The closest I’ll ever get to one of these condos is when I tiptoe into the presentation centre. I am a lifelong renter. I have no credit history. My mortgage application would make even the kindliest banker bust a gut. This isn’t a complaint. I’ve made a conscious choice to live my life a certain way, to eschew money for time — time to write, to stroll, to enjoy an afternoon espresso — and now my lifestyle is being used to sell a condo that I could never afford — because of my lifestyle.
Read more here.
So affordable..
A man signed a waver, and finds his image used in a 23 ft mural promoting yet another condo project..
The closest I’ll ever get to one of these condos is when I tiptoe into the presentation centre. I am a lifelong renter. I have no credit history. My mortgage application would make even the kindliest banker bust a gut. This isn’t a complaint. I’ve made a conscious choice to live my life a certain way, to eschew money for time — time to write, to stroll, to enjoy an afternoon espresso — and now my lifestyle is being used to sell a condo that I could never afford — because of my lifestyle.
Read more here.
US Rep. Jane Harman: Idiot of the Day
She outraged about being wired taped, while supporting the Patriot Act.
The stupid, it burns, it burns!!
H&M rips off artist design
Tori LaConsay, painted a billboard in the US with the message You Look Nice Today to make residents in her town feel good about themselves.
A couple of days ago, she realised that H&M were selling towels, pillows and doormats with a similar design.
One message written in support of Tori LaConsay, from Georgia, Atlanta, said: "Your You Look Nice Today rug and pillow design has been stolen."
H&M's initial response denied copying the artwork: "H&M apologises if anyone thinks we have copied, which has never been our intention and not allowed.
Their bullshit:
"We have merely been inspired after seeing many different varieties of different text messages, to create something similar in a different font, with the use of the big and small brackets and the placement of the heart.
Read more here.
A couple of days ago, she realised that H&M were selling towels, pillows and doormats with a similar design.
One message written in support of Tori LaConsay, from Georgia, Atlanta, said: "Your You Look Nice Today rug and pillow design has been stolen."
H&M's initial response denied copying the artwork: "H&M apologises if anyone thinks we have copied, which has never been our intention and not allowed.
Their bullshit:
"We have merely been inspired after seeing many different varieties of different text messages, to create something similar in a different font, with the use of the big and small brackets and the placement of the heart.
Read more here.
Sunrise Propane explosion finally goes to trial
Took their fucking time about it, no?
The Ontario government’s court case against Sunrise Propane begins on Monday, more than three years after the company’s facility in northwest Toronto exploded, killing a worker and forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Sunrise employee Parminder Saini died in the explosion and firefighter Bob Leek suffered a fatal heart attack while battling the fire that followed. The blast sent up a fireball that could be seen across the city and forced the evacuation of 12,000 people from their Downsview neighbourhood homes.
The company faces several charges under provincial labour and environmental laws for its role in the Aug. 10, 2008, explosion that charged the lives of those who live near the fuel depot at 62 Murray Rd., in the area of Keele Street and Wilson Avenue.
Read more here.
And let's not forget this little gem, from 'Shut up!' Councillor Maria Augimeri:
Saturday, January 28, 2012
MPAA just doesn't understand the Internet
To them, it's all about control...
The MPAA's O'Leary concedes that the industry was out-manned and outgunned in cyberspace. He says the MPAA "is [undergoing] a process of education, a process of getting a much, much greater presence in the online environment. This was a fight on a platform we're not at this point comfortable with, and we were going up against an opponent that controls that platform."
Read more here.
The MPAA's O'Leary concedes that the industry was out-manned and outgunned in cyberspace. He says the MPAA "is [undergoing] a process of education, a process of getting a much, much greater presence in the online environment. This was a fight on a platform we're not at this point comfortable with, and we were going up against an opponent that controls that platform."
Read more here.
Harper and Co. will f*ck over old people...slowly
Harper, step by step making this country just that much more heartless.
Any changes to retirement income won't be sudden, but the government isn't ruling out any options for restructuring the system, Minister of State for Finance Ted Menzies said Friday.
In an interview with Rosemary Barton on the CBC News Network, Menzies says the government wants to make sure the system in place now can be sustained in the future.
"I don't think we'd change anything overnight," he said.
"We're looking at all options right now. We're looking at all options that make it sustainable."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper told world leaders Thursday that Canada's retirement income system will see some "necessary" changes in the coming months.
While his keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday was short on details, Harper said Canada's aging population "poses a threat" to the country's social programs and services.
Read more here.
Any changes to retirement income won't be sudden, but the government isn't ruling out any options for restructuring the system, Minister of State for Finance Ted Menzies said Friday.
In an interview with Rosemary Barton on the CBC News Network, Menzies says the government wants to make sure the system in place now can be sustained in the future.
"I don't think we'd change anything overnight," he said.
"We're looking at all options right now. We're looking at all options that make it sustainable."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper told world leaders Thursday that Canada's retirement income system will see some "necessary" changes in the coming months.
While his keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday was short on details, Harper said Canada's aging population "poses a threat" to the country's social programs and services.
Read more here.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Mustang Mid-High School forgets students are people
Another school reacts to students with an abuse of power...
A suburban Oklahoma City school district has suspended a ninth-grade student and is investigating whether a substitute teacher whose photograph was taken on a cell phone was asleep on the job.
Mustang school district officials say a Mustang Mid-High School student snapped a picture of what appears to be a man with his eyes closed behind a school desk last week.
A district spokeswoman told The Oklahoman a faculty member saw the photo on a social media website and reported it to the principal. It's not clear if the photo was taken during class time.
School officials say cell phones are allowed on school grounds, but can't be used during class. The names of the student and the substitute teacher under investigation weren't released.
Read more here.
A suburban Oklahoma City school district has suspended a ninth-grade student and is investigating whether a substitute teacher whose photograph was taken on a cell phone was asleep on the job.
Mustang school district officials say a Mustang Mid-High School student snapped a picture of what appears to be a man with his eyes closed behind a school desk last week.
A district spokeswoman told The Oklahoman a faculty member saw the photo on a social media website and reported it to the principal. It's not clear if the photo was taken during class time.
School officials say cell phones are allowed on school grounds, but can't be used during class. The names of the student and the substitute teacher under investigation weren't released.
Read more here.
More government moves to control the Internet, this time called ACTA
Sopa and Pipa might be on hold for the time-being, but there is a greater threat looming. It's called the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and it's an international agreement that aims to establish multinational standards on intellectual property rights enforcement.
Most recently, Acta made the headlines when online activists paralysed some of Poland's government sites to protest against Warsaw's plans to sign the international copyright treaty. They fear that it could lead to censorship on the web. Meanwhile Anonymous has announced over Twitter that it is planning a "huge operation soon" opposing Acta.
Wired.co.uk has created a handy guide to the agreement and how it might affect you. It's worth looking at the introductory video in this post to start with.
Read more here.
The Australian transport minister Anthony Albanese: Idiot of the Day
'In Australia we have serious challenges to solve and we need serious people to solve them,' he said. 'Unfortunately, Tony Abbott is not the least bit interested in fixing anything. He's only interested in two things - making Australians afraid of it and telling them who's to blame for it.'
If you think that sounds a tad familiar, you'd be right.
In the 1995 movie The American President, President Andrew Shepherd, played by Michael Douglas, tore into his rival Bob Rumson.
Read more here.
If you think that sounds a tad familiar, you'd be right.
In the 1995 movie The American President, President Andrew Shepherd, played by Michael Douglas, tore into his rival Bob Rumson.
Read more here.
Study indicates conservatives may be idiots
No, really?
There's no gentle way to put it: People who give in to racism and prejudice may simply be dumb, according to a new study that is bound to stir public controversy.
The research finds that children with low intelligence are more likely to hold prejudiced attitudes as adults. These findings point to a vicious cycle, according to lead researcher Gordon Hodson, a psychologist at Brock University in Ontario. Low-intelligence adults tend to gravitate toward socially conservative ideologies, the study found. Those ideologies, in turn, stress hierarchy and resistance to change, attitudes that can contribute to prejudice, Hodson wrote in an email to LiveScience.
Read more here.
There's no gentle way to put it: People who give in to racism and prejudice may simply be dumb, according to a new study that is bound to stir public controversy.
The research finds that children with low intelligence are more likely to hold prejudiced attitudes as adults. These findings point to a vicious cycle, according to lead researcher Gordon Hodson, a psychologist at Brock University in Ontario. Low-intelligence adults tend to gravitate toward socially conservative ideologies, the study found. Those ideologies, in turn, stress hierarchy and resistance to change, attitudes that can contribute to prejudice, Hodson wrote in an email to LiveScience.
Read more here.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Twitter becomes a craven coward
A new Twitter policy which goes into effect today allows the social network "to reactively withhold content from users in a specific country," so that Twitter can further expand globally and "enter countries that have different ideas about the contours of freedom of expression."
Fuck you Twitter
Read more here.
Fuck you Twitter
Read more here.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Flint expert 'reverse engineers' Neanderthal stone axes
Researchers at the University of Kent have recreated the processes Neanderthals used to produce sharp flint axes, and found that our ancestors were skilled engineers.
A modern-day 'flintknapper' replicated the sharpening processes that Neanderthals used to create tools - a sort of modern 'reverse engineering' of ancient techniques in use by three kinds of early 'hominin' including Neanderthals as early as 300,000 years ago.
The researchers found that Neanderthals could shape 'elegant' stone tools - shaping them to be hard-wearing, easily sharpened and with a perfectly balanced centre of gravity.
The reproduction of how Neanderthals worked shows that it is unlikely that stone flakes used in the tools could have been shaped by accident - and that our ancestors intentionally 'engineered' stone cores to create tools fit for their jobs.
Read more here.
A modern-day 'flintknapper' replicated the sharpening processes that Neanderthals used to create tools - a sort of modern 'reverse engineering' of ancient techniques in use by three kinds of early 'hominin' including Neanderthals as early as 300,000 years ago.
The researchers found that Neanderthals could shape 'elegant' stone tools - shaping them to be hard-wearing, easily sharpened and with a perfectly balanced centre of gravity.
The reproduction of how Neanderthals worked shows that it is unlikely that stone flakes used in the tools could have been shaped by accident - and that our ancestors intentionally 'engineered' stone cores to create tools fit for their jobs.
Read more here.
Reality vs. Oklahoma state Senator Ralph Shortey
...Shortey’s bill, which we pray is the last remaining evidence of human civilization when aliens finally discover Earth:
No person or entity shall manufacture or knowingly sell food or any other product intended for human consumption which contains aborted human fetuses in the ingredients or which used aborted human fetuses in the research or development of any of the ingredients.
Read more here.
No person or entity shall manufacture or knowingly sell food or any other product intended for human consumption which contains aborted human fetuses in the ingredients or which used aborted human fetuses in the research or development of any of the ingredients.
Read more here.
Rob Ford: Idiot of the Day
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford compared his political opponents at city hall to despot Joseph Stalin on Tuesday, the same day that one of those councillors had praised the mayor for a new attitude.
Speaking on Toronto radio station AM 640, Ford was asked a question about Coun. Josh Matlow — a first-term politician usually described as centrist, who has said he will oppose the mayor's planned abolishment of the land transfer tax.
After calling Matlow a "left-wing NDPer," Ford compared him to left-leaning councillors Adam Vaughan, Gord Perks, Janet Davis and Paula Fletcher.
"These people are all two steps left of Joe Stalin," he said. "So I'm not discouraged by that and I don't expect it. They don't care about the taxpayers. But I know one person that does, and that's me."
Stalin? Really Robbie, Stalin?
Read more here.
Speaking on Toronto radio station AM 640, Ford was asked a question about Coun. Josh Matlow — a first-term politician usually described as centrist, who has said he will oppose the mayor's planned abolishment of the land transfer tax.
After calling Matlow a "left-wing NDPer," Ford compared him to left-leaning councillors Adam Vaughan, Gord Perks, Janet Davis and Paula Fletcher.
"These people are all two steps left of Joe Stalin," he said. "So I'm not discouraged by that and I don't expect it. They don't care about the taxpayers. But I know one person that does, and that's me."
Stalin? Really Robbie, Stalin?
Read more here.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Tea party group in Tennessee want their children to be as ignorant as they are
Muddle a child's mind and you've got them for life.
A little more than a year after the conservative-led state board of education in Texas approved massive changes to its school textbooks to put slavery in a more positive light, a group of Tea Party activists in Tennessee has renewed its push to whitewash school textbooks. The group is seeking to remove references to slavery and mentions of the country's founders being slave owners.
Read more here.
A little more than a year after the conservative-led state board of education in Texas approved massive changes to its school textbooks to put slavery in a more positive light, a group of Tea Party activists in Tennessee has renewed its push to whitewash school textbooks. The group is seeking to remove references to slavery and mentions of the country's founders being slave owners.
Read more here.
Monday, January 23, 2012
US Supreme Court hands down yet another hideous decision
Revolting
A state law mandating "humane treatment" of downed livestock headed for the slaughterhouse was unanimously overturned Monday by the Supreme Court.
At issue was whether federal regulations dealing with inspection of domesticated animals about to be killed, processed, and sold for human consumption preempted -- or nullified -- California Penal Code 599f.
Several justices had earlier noted the good intentions behind the state action, but all now agreed that it went too far into the traditional federal arena.
Read more here.
A state law mandating "humane treatment" of downed livestock headed for the slaughterhouse was unanimously overturned Monday by the Supreme Court.
At issue was whether federal regulations dealing with inspection of domesticated animals about to be killed, processed, and sold for human consumption preempted -- or nullified -- California Penal Code 599f.
Several justices had earlier noted the good intentions behind the state action, but all now agreed that it went too far into the traditional federal arena.
Read more here.
Harper and Co. continue to embarrass Canada on a global scale
Canada is becoming a jingoistic petro-state.
OK, so our friendly northern neighbor isn’t exactly Saudi Arabia or Venezuela. But neither is it the verdant progressive utopia once viewed as a haven by American liberals fed up with George W. Bush. These days Canada has a Dubya of its own. And judging by a flurry of negative press from around the world—the latest: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and other African leaders are taking out newspaper ads accusing Canada of contributing to famine and drought on the continent—it seems anti-Canadianism could be the new anti-Americanism.
Well done Stephen, you must be so proud.
Read more here.
OK, so our friendly northern neighbor isn’t exactly Saudi Arabia or Venezuela. But neither is it the verdant progressive utopia once viewed as a haven by American liberals fed up with George W. Bush. These days Canada has a Dubya of its own. And judging by a flurry of negative press from around the world—the latest: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and other African leaders are taking out newspaper ads accusing Canada of contributing to famine and drought on the continent—it seems anti-Canadianism could be the new anti-Americanism.
Well done Stephen, you must be so proud.
Read more here.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
U.S. Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia: Idiot of the Day
U.S. Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia has a simple solution for people who don't like all the political advertisements unleashed by the court's decision two years ago that ended limits on corporate contributions in political campaigns – change the channel or turn off the TV.
Scalia was asked about the decision during a presentation before the South Carolina Bar on Saturday, exactly two years after the court handed down the 5-4 decision in the case that led to the rise of Super PACs. They are outside groups affiliated with candidates that can take in unlimited contributions as long as they don't directly coordinate with the candidate.
"I don't care who is doing the speech – the more the merrier," Scalia said. "People are not stupid. If they don't like it, they'll shut it off."
Moron.
Read more here.
Scalia was asked about the decision during a presentation before the South Carolina Bar on Saturday, exactly two years after the court handed down the 5-4 decision in the case that led to the rise of Super PACs. They are outside groups affiliated with candidates that can take in unlimited contributions as long as they don't directly coordinate with the candidate.
"I don't care who is doing the speech – the more the merrier," Scalia said. "People are not stupid. If they don't like it, they'll shut it off."
Moron.
Read more here.
Police union attempt to get themselves off the hook for G20
They'll do it too. No official will ever be held accountable for the fuck up that was the G20.
The head of the Toronto Police Association says he intends to challenge any attempt to lay disciplinary charges against five officers involved in the 2010 arrest of G20 protester Adam Nobody.
Best bullshit:
Mike McCormack said Friday that the investigation took too long.
"The association takes the position on a point of principle," he said. "These things should be concluded within a reasonable timeframe, like any other investigation."
Read more here.
The head of the Toronto Police Association says he intends to challenge any attempt to lay disciplinary charges against five officers involved in the 2010 arrest of G20 protester Adam Nobody.
Best bullshit:
Mike McCormack said Friday that the investigation took too long.
"The association takes the position on a point of principle," he said. "These things should be concluded within a reasonable timeframe, like any other investigation."
Read more here.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
FOX New's Dr. Keith Ablow: Idiot of the Day
FOX News defends serial adulterer Newt Gingrich:
Newt Gingrich's three marriages mean he might make a strong president -- really
Best bullshit:
Two women—Mr. Gingrich’s first two wives—have sat down with him while he delivered to them incredibly painful truths: that he no longer loved them as he did before, that he had fallen in love with other women and that he needed to follow his heart, despite the great price he would pay financially and the risk he would be taking with his reputation.
Conclusion: I can only hope Mr. Gingrich will be as direct and unsparing with the Congress, the American people and our allies. If this nation must now move with conviction in the direction of its heart, Newt Gingrich is obviously no stranger to that journey.
Guess to FOX, being an adulterer is admirable. At least he's not a Mormon....
Read more here.
Newt Gingrich's three marriages mean he might make a strong president -- really
Best bullshit:
Two women—Mr. Gingrich’s first two wives—have sat down with him while he delivered to them incredibly painful truths: that he no longer loved them as he did before, that he had fallen in love with other women and that he needed to follow his heart, despite the great price he would pay financially and the risk he would be taking with his reputation.
Conclusion: I can only hope Mr. Gingrich will be as direct and unsparing with the Congress, the American people and our allies. If this nation must now move with conviction in the direction of its heart, Newt Gingrich is obviously no stranger to that journey.
Guess to FOX, being an adulterer is admirable. At least he's not a Mormon....
Read more here.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Latest in a long series of bids by the Entertainment Industry to control the Net delayed
It's only a tiny victory, but it's good to see those motherfuckers denied what they wanted in the blinding hurry they wanted it.
The US Congress has halted debate on two contested anti-online piracy bills.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid delayed a vote on the Protect IP Act (Pipa) scheduled for Tuesday.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith then said his panel would not consider the Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) until a compromise was reached.
The decisions follow protests by online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, and thousands of other websites, which went "dark" in protest for 24 hours earlier this week.
"In light of recent events, I have decided to postpone Tuesday's vote on the PROTECT IP Act," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said in a statement on Friday.
Read more here.
The US Congress has halted debate on two contested anti-online piracy bills.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid delayed a vote on the Protect IP Act (Pipa) scheduled for Tuesday.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith then said his panel would not consider the Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) until a compromise was reached.
The decisions follow protests by online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, and thousands of other websites, which went "dark" in protest for 24 hours earlier this week.
"In light of recent events, I have decided to postpone Tuesday's vote on the PROTECT IP Act," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said in a statement on Friday.
Read more here.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
SOPA/PIPA blackout helps eight US lawmakers see the light
After a 24-hour blackout, Wikipedia has returned to full working order but declared: "We're not done yet."
The site had blocked its content for 24 hours in protest at proposed anti-piracy legislation in the US.
The encyclopaedia said the site had been viewed 162 million times, with eight million people following instructions to contact politicians.
The protest led to eight US lawmakers withdrawing their support for the proposed bills.
Two of the bill's co-sponsors, Marco Rubio from Florida and Roy Blunt from Missouri, are among those who have withdrawn their support after "legitimate concerns".
But backers of the legislation, led by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), described the action as an "irresponsible" publicity "stunt".
Read more here.
The site had blocked its content for 24 hours in protest at proposed anti-piracy legislation in the US.
The encyclopaedia said the site had been viewed 162 million times, with eight million people following instructions to contact politicians.
The protest led to eight US lawmakers withdrawing their support for the proposed bills.
Two of the bill's co-sponsors, Marco Rubio from Florida and Roy Blunt from Missouri, are among those who have withdrawn their support after "legitimate concerns".
But backers of the legislation, led by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), described the action as an "irresponsible" publicity "stunt".
Read more here.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Twisted psychopaths use Islam as an excuse to spew hatred
A father has told a court he was only doing his duty as a Muslim by handing out leaflets calling for gay people to be executed.
Kabir Ahmed, 28, said he handed a leaflet called Death Penalty? to a policeman and stuffed them through letterboxes across Derby because he was spreading the word of God as taught by Islam.
He said: 'My intention was to do my duty as a Muslim, to inform people of God’s word and to give the message on what God says about homosexuality.'
Read more here.
Kabir Ahmed, 28, said he handed a leaflet called Death Penalty? to a policeman and stuffed them through letterboxes across Derby because he was spreading the word of God as taught by Islam.
He said: 'My intention was to do my duty as a Muslim, to inform people of God’s word and to give the message on what God says about homosexuality.'
Read more here.
Idiot movie goers in Liverpool complain that The Artist is a silent movie
The Artist has been praised for being a charming delight and condemned for being a charming trifle. But there’s one thing everyone can agree on: It’s a silent movie. Like, the kind without dialogue. Apparently, that information escaped a few moviegoers in Liverpool. As reported by The Telegraph, the Odeon Liverpool One theater received several complaints from people who saw the movie without realizing it would not have any diegetic sound.
Read more here.
Read more here.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
MPAA reacts like a spoiled child over SOPA/PIPA protest
WAAAAAAAA, we might not get our way....
A so-called “blackout” is yet another gimmick, albeit a dangerous one, designed to punish elected and administration officials who are working diligently to protect American jobs from foreign criminals. It is our hope that the White House and the Congress will call on those who intend to stage this “blackout” to stop the hyperbole and PR stunts and engage in meaningful efforts to combat piracy.”
Best bullshit:
It is also an abuse of power given the freedoms these companies enjoy in the marketplace today.
They are clueless on the concept of irony.
Read more here.
A so-called “blackout” is yet another gimmick, albeit a dangerous one, designed to punish elected and administration officials who are working diligently to protect American jobs from foreign criminals. It is our hope that the White House and the Congress will call on those who intend to stage this “blackout” to stop the hyperbole and PR stunts and engage in meaningful efforts to combat piracy.”
Best bullshit:
It is also an abuse of power given the freedoms these companies enjoy in the marketplace today.
They are clueless on the concept of irony.
Read more here.
Obama makes clueless choice on where to accept nomination
President Barack Obama plans to accept the Democratic presidential nomination in the open air of Bank of America Stadium on the final day of his party's convention next summer in Charlotte, N.C.
Read more here.
Read more here.
Monday, January 16, 2012
National Post pushes appalling lie: "The most exciting city in Canada? Toronto, of course!"
Two of Toronto's most, um, lovable traits: New York envy and self love, together in one article!
In an occasional series about what Toronto can learn from other cities, it’s suggested we take a page out of New York’s book and market this town as it’s meant to be sold.
To tourists and visitors, New York it ain't...
Read more here.
In an occasional series about what Toronto can learn from other cities, it’s suggested we take a page out of New York’s book and market this town as it’s meant to be sold.
To tourists and visitors, New York it ain't...
Read more here.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Pushy Christians: Missouri wants to introduce beads and rattles into the classroom
Six Missouri republicans -- "the stupefy me six," let's call them -- are hard at work trying to make Missouri kids stupid. House Bill 1227, introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives on January 10, will, if enacted, require "the equal treatment of science instruction regarding evolution and intelligent design," according to the bill's language.
In other words, the bill will require the equal treatment of religious opinion and science, depriving Missouri kids of the knowledge they need to compete in the knowledge economy, and robbing them of a clear understanding of how to tell the difference between real knowledge and someone's truthy opinion.
Read more here.
In other words, the bill will require the equal treatment of religious opinion and science, depriving Missouri kids of the knowledge they need to compete in the knowledge economy, and robbing them of a clear understanding of how to tell the difference between real knowledge and someone's truthy opinion.
Read more here.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Note to Mitt Romney: F*ck you
According to Mitt Romney, the nation's growing focus on income inequality is all about envy.
"You know, I think it's about envy. I think it's about class warfare," the leading Republican presidential candidate said Wednesday on The Today Show.
When asked if there are any fair questions about wealth distribution, Romney replied, "It's fine to talk about those things in quiet rooms and discussions about tax policy and the like."
Romney has accused President Obama of promoting the "bitter politics of envy." The president is ramping up his talks about the nation's growing income divide and the shrinking of the middle class. He is focusing on the tax benefits afforded to millionaires and executives.
Read more here.
"You know, I think it's about envy. I think it's about class warfare," the leading Republican presidential candidate said Wednesday on The Today Show.
When asked if there are any fair questions about wealth distribution, Romney replied, "It's fine to talk about those things in quiet rooms and discussions about tax policy and the like."
Romney has accused President Obama of promoting the "bitter politics of envy." The president is ramping up his talks about the nation's growing income divide and the shrinking of the middle class. He is focusing on the tax benefits afforded to millionaires and executives.
Read more here.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Commenter expat100 is one sick f*ck
Some are so put out by graffiti, they have the balls to post this:
expat100
I recall some years ago in one US city, graffiti was a problem until a vigil-anti shot a couple of taggers - mid spray. Virtually all the graffitti/tagging stopped in the city and the shooter was never caught thou it was assumed it was an owner of a building who had been blighted.
Somewhat gruff, but - win win.
You sir, are a sick fuck
Read more here.
expat100
I recall some years ago in one US city, graffiti was a problem until a vigil-anti shot a couple of taggers - mid spray. Virtually all the graffitti/tagging stopped in the city and the shooter was never caught thou it was assumed it was an owner of a building who had been blighted.
Somewhat gruff, but - win win.
You sir, are a sick fuck
Read more here.
British Prime Minister David Cameron now thinks he's a Goddamn film producer
It's hard to start without any other thought: that, once again, someone who doesn’t understand the film industry is meddling with it. In this case, though, it's not the kind of meddling that's easy to dismiss. It leads to the door of British Prime Minister David Cameron, and the government.
This has all come about as a result of comments from David Cameron on the state of the industry, and what needs to be done.
The British film industry just isn’t profitable enough for them, apparently, and so films must be more mainstream and more commercially viable. In fact, his exact words were that the industry should be “More dynamic and entrepreneurial” and “Rival the quality and impact of the best international productions”.
This means, it seems, that big production companies churning out identikit movies will receive money, while small, unproven companies and filmmakers will be left to rot. Thanks David Cameron, you’re really helping the industry grow. Already equipped with its own ironic fundablefilms hashtag on Twitter, many people are rightly outraged at this, and pouring scorn on the whole idea.
Cameron’s suggestion really is idiotic...
Read more here.
This has all come about as a result of comments from David Cameron on the state of the industry, and what needs to be done.
The British film industry just isn’t profitable enough for them, apparently, and so films must be more mainstream and more commercially viable. In fact, his exact words were that the industry should be “More dynamic and entrepreneurial” and “Rival the quality and impact of the best international productions”.
This means, it seems, that big production companies churning out identikit movies will receive money, while small, unproven companies and filmmakers will be left to rot. Thanks David Cameron, you’re really helping the industry grow. Already equipped with its own ironic fundablefilms hashtag on Twitter, many people are rightly outraged at this, and pouring scorn on the whole idea.
Cameron’s suggestion really is idiotic...
Read more here.
George Lucas accuses Hollywood of racism
No really?
Director George Lucas says it took 20 years to get his latest film made, "because it's an all-black movie".
Speaking on The Daily Show, Lucas said he had to self-fund Red Tails, the true story of a group of African-American pilots who fought in World War II.
He claimed major film studios would not back the movie because "there's no major white roles in it at all".
"I showed it to all of them and they said, 'No. We don't know how to market a movie like this,'" he said.
"They don't believe there's any foreign market for it, and that's 60% of their profit," he added.
Read more here.
Director George Lucas says it took 20 years to get his latest film made, "because it's an all-black movie".
Speaking on The Daily Show, Lucas said he had to self-fund Red Tails, the true story of a group of African-American pilots who fought in World War II.
He claimed major film studios would not back the movie because "there's no major white roles in it at all".
"I showed it to all of them and they said, 'No. We don't know how to market a movie like this,'" he said.
"They don't believe there's any foreign market for it, and that's 60% of their profit," he added.
Read more here.
Harper and Co. finally let their homophobia come to full flower
It's no secret Harper and Co. just *hated* having to legalize same sex marriage. Now they can get some revenge...
The government of Canada is reportedly arguing that thousands of same-sex couples who have travelled to this country to get married are not legally wed.
The Globe and Mail reported Thursday that the government is contending in a Toronto court case that non-Canadians gays and lesbians who have been married here since 2004 are only considered married under this country's laws if gay marriage is also recognized in their home country or state.
So if interracial marriage were illegal in their home country, they couldn't marry here? Or different religions?
The logic of this exposes our government's hatred, plain and simple.
Our conservative government is vile, vindictive and petty. And that's just their good qualities.
Read more here and here.
The government of Canada is reportedly arguing that thousands of same-sex couples who have travelled to this country to get married are not legally wed.
The Globe and Mail reported Thursday that the government is contending in a Toronto court case that non-Canadians gays and lesbians who have been married here since 2004 are only considered married under this country's laws if gay marriage is also recognized in their home country or state.
So if interracial marriage were illegal in their home country, they couldn't marry here? Or different religions?
The logic of this exposes our government's hatred, plain and simple.
Our conservative government is vile, vindictive and petty. And that's just their good qualities.
Read more here and here.
LA Cop Punches Defenseless Mentally Ill Homeless Woman in Face
Jermaine Green recorded this cop punching a mentally ill homeless woman in the face on the bus in Hawaiian Gardens, CA (Los Angeles County.) When the police realized that they were being recorded they demanded that Jermaine Green give them his cell phone, or they would arrest him. He took the sim card out of the phone without them noticing, and put it in his mouth, and gave the sim card to his wife while kissing her, just before handing the phone to the police.
Homeland Security likes to watch
The Fatherland Homeland Security folks are ever vigilant..
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's command center routinely monitors dozens of popular websites, including Facebook, Twitter, Hulu, WikiLeaks and news and gossip sites including the Huffington Post and Drudge Report, according to a government document.
A "privacy compliance review" issued by DHS last November says that since at least June 2010, its national operations center has been operating a "Social Networking/Media Capability" which involves regular monitoring of "publicly available online forums, blogs, public websites and message boards."
The purpose of the monitoring, says the government document, is to "collect information used in providing situational awareness and establishing a common operating picture."
Read more here.
See the Homeland Security document here.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's command center routinely monitors dozens of popular websites, including Facebook, Twitter, Hulu, WikiLeaks and news and gossip sites including the Huffington Post and Drudge Report, according to a government document.
A "privacy compliance review" issued by DHS last November says that since at least June 2010, its national operations center has been operating a "Social Networking/Media Capability" which involves regular monitoring of "publicly available online forums, blogs, public websites and message boards."
The purpose of the monitoring, says the government document, is to "collect information used in providing situational awareness and establishing a common operating picture."
Read more here.
See the Homeland Security document here.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Who is murdering Iranian scientists?
What’s most remarkable here is to compare the boisterous, furious denunciations of the mere suggestion by a blogger on the Internet that Iranian scientists be killed, versus the relative silence in the face of its actually being done in real life, now that the corpses of murdered Iranian scientists are beginning to pile up. Does anyone doubt that some combination of the two nations completely obsessed with Iran’s nuclear program — Israel and the U.S. — are responsible? (U.S. officials deny involvement while pointing the finger at Israel, whose officials will not comment but “smile” when asked; the CIA has “targeted” Iran’s scientists in the past, several of whom have disappeared only to end up in U.S. custody, including one who “resurfaced in the United States after defecting to the CIA in return for a large sum of money”). At the very least, there has been no denunciation from any Obama officials of whoever it might be carrying out such acts.
Read more here.
Read more here.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Clueless Putin supporters
The Russian blogger leading Russia's vote-rigging protests has accused supporters of Vladimir Putin of seeking to smear him with a fake photo.
Alexei Navalny proved that a picture in a newspaper distributed by Putin supporters was a forgery when he published the original on his blog.
The faked photo shows Mr Navalny alongside fugitive Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who lives in London.
Protesters fear the March presidential vote may be rigged to favour Mr Putin.
Read more here.
Alexei Navalny proved that a picture in a newspaper distributed by Putin supporters was a forgery when he published the original on his blog.
The faked photo shows Mr Navalny alongside fugitive Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who lives in London.
Protesters fear the March presidential vote may be rigged to favour Mr Putin.
Read more here.
gc.ca does search for "joe oliver is an idiot" which lead them here
Someone at gc.ca has done a Google search for "joe oliver is an idiot" which lead them here...
Enemies list anyone?
IP Address 132.156.116.# (Natural Resources Canada)
Hi!!!!
Enemies list anyone?
IP Address 132.156.116.# (Natural Resources Canada)
Hi!!!!
Conservative torture porn classic 24 coming to the big screen
It’s been chatted about ever since the eighth and final season of the show came to an end a year or two back, but it looks like the film version of 24 is finally happening.
Kiefer Sutherland, Mr Jack Bauer himself, confirmed the news to TVLine, telling the site that the movie was set to start filming “at the end of April, beginning of May”. That firmly points towards a summer 2013 release, although that’s not been confirmed by anyone. That’s just us playing our highly reliable guessing games.
Read more here.
Kiefer Sutherland, Mr Jack Bauer himself, confirmed the news to TVLine, telling the site that the movie was set to start filming “at the end of April, beginning of May”. That firmly points towards a summer 2013 release, although that’s not been confirmed by anyone. That’s just us playing our highly reliable guessing games.
Read more here.
Former Pages bookstore now a f*cking condo sales centre
Priorities people priorities! Tocondo doesn't care about reading, but does about shiny new pens for the sheep.
Two and a half years ago, after three decades at 256 Queen Street West, Pages Books & Magazines announced it would close its storefront because its rent was being pushed too high. Turns out the rent was pushed too high for anyone: the space was still vacant this summer, when the realtor told The Grid’s Jacob Rutka that ”Pages closed during the height of recession….Youth brands in the Queen West area have all suffered. Commercial prices on Queen between Spadina and University are just too expensive.” (Pages is still alive now, but the store’s moved “beyond bricks and mortar.”)
It’d take two whole years before something finally moved into Pages’ former home. That new tenant? A condo sales centre (or “presentation gallery”) for Picasso on Richmond—a 39-storey condo coming at 318 Richmond Street West.
Read more here.
Two and a half years ago, after three decades at 256 Queen Street West, Pages Books & Magazines announced it would close its storefront because its rent was being pushed too high. Turns out the rent was pushed too high for anyone: the space was still vacant this summer, when the realtor told The Grid’s Jacob Rutka that ”Pages closed during the height of recession….Youth brands in the Queen West area have all suffered. Commercial prices on Queen between Spadina and University are just too expensive.” (Pages is still alive now, but the store’s moved “beyond bricks and mortar.”)
It’d take two whole years before something finally moved into Pages’ former home. That new tenant? A condo sales centre (or “presentation gallery”) for Picasso on Richmond—a 39-storey condo coming at 318 Richmond Street West.
Read more here.
Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver: Idiot of the Day
Never stand between a conservative and his money. They get feisty.
Environmental and other "radical groups" are trying to block trade and undermine Canada's economy, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said Monday.
Oliver's comments come one day before federal regulatory hearings begin on whether to approve Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline, which would deliver crude from Alberta's oilsands to Kitimat, B.C., for shipment to Asia.
More than 4,300 people have signed up to address the proposed pipeline over the next 18 months.
"Unfortunately, there are environmental and other radical groups that would seek to block this opportunity to diversify our trade," Oliver said in an open letter.
Read more here.
Environmental and other "radical groups" are trying to block trade and undermine Canada's economy, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said Monday.
Oliver's comments come one day before federal regulatory hearings begin on whether to approve Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline, which would deliver crude from Alberta's oilsands to Kitimat, B.C., for shipment to Asia.
More than 4,300 people have signed up to address the proposed pipeline over the next 18 months.
"Unfortunately, there are environmental and other radical groups that would seek to block this opportunity to diversify our trade," Oliver said in an open letter.
Read more here.
Monday, January 09, 2012
'Entitlements Are Not Rights'
US Republicans continues their merry way down the path to becoming even more cold hearted bastards
Amnesty International states the f*cking obvious
Amnesty International warned of another year of protests and government repression in the Middle East if the region's rulers do not ensure democratic and human rights for their people.
In a report released Monday on the 2011 Arab uprisings, the London-based organization detailed the harsh measures governments across the region used to suppress protests calling for democratic reforms and greater freedoms. It also noted that activists across the region have refused to accept bogus promises and appear unlikely to give up their demands.
Read more here.
In a report released Monday on the 2011 Arab uprisings, the London-based organization detailed the harsh measures governments across the region used to suppress protests calling for democratic reforms and greater freedoms. It also noted that activists across the region have refused to accept bogus promises and appear unlikely to give up their demands.
Read more here.
The moment Britain became an island
Ancient Britain was a peninsula until a tsunami flooded its land-links to Europe some 8,000 years ago. Did that wave help shape the national character?
The coastline and landscape of what would become modern Britain began to emerge at the end of the last Ice Age around 10,000 years ago.
What had been a cold, dry tundra on the north-western edge of Europe grew warmer and wetter as the ice caps melted. The Irish Sea, North Sea and the Channel were all dry land, albeit land slowly being submerged as sea levels rose.
But it wasn't until 6,100BC that Britain broke free of mainland Europe for good, during the Mesolithic period - the Middle Stone Age.
Read more here.
The coastline and landscape of what would become modern Britain began to emerge at the end of the last Ice Age around 10,000 years ago.
What had been a cold, dry tundra on the north-western edge of Europe grew warmer and wetter as the ice caps melted. The Irish Sea, North Sea and the Channel were all dry land, albeit land slowly being submerged as sea levels rose.
But it wasn't until 6,100BC that Britain broke free of mainland Europe for good, during the Mesolithic period - the Middle Stone Age.
Read more here.
Friday, January 06, 2012
Thursday, January 05, 2012
WTF Montreal
A Montreal restaurant devolved into chaos early New Year’s Day after a fight between two patrons turned into an eatery-wide brawl, with evidence of the action now making the rounds on YouTube...
..The introduction to the video is titled “Chinese vs Blacks.” But police have no idea whether the fight sparked from a racial comment —in fact, they know little, if anything, about what spurred the brawl.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
It's only over when the Fat Mayor sings
To celebrate the 15th successful year of the Student Composer Collective, the Faculty of Music will present Rob Ford, the Opera...
...The opera [approximately an hour in length] is a surrealist fantasy based loosely upon the personality of Toronto’s current and much discussed Mayor.
Read more here.
...The opera [approximately an hour in length] is a surrealist fantasy based loosely upon the personality of Toronto’s current and much discussed Mayor.
Read more here.
The Toronto Star: Come for the advertising, stay for...um I can't think of a reason
If you picked up a hard copy of the Toronto Star on December 10, you may have noticed the cover of the Entertainment section: a full-page ad for War Horse, a play presented by Mirvish Productions. On December 17, the ad appeared again in the same place, along with a Rogers ad covering the entire paper in hopes readers would use it to wrap holiday gifts. We got over the holidays, it seems, a taste of what advertising could make papers could look like in the near future. Some people have a big problem with that.
Read more here.
Read more here.
US Republicans have one less crazy person in the race
Bubye
An adviser to Michele Bachmann says the Minnesota congresswoman is ending her bid to win the Republican presidential nomination after coming in last in the Iowa caucuses.
Bachmann finished sixth out of six candidates in the first of many contests to pick a Republican presidential candidate.
She canceled appearances planned for Wednesday in South Carolina and scheduled a news conference in Des Moines, Iowa, instead.
The adviser requested anonymity to speak before Bachmann makes the announcement late Wednesday morning.
An adviser to Michele Bachmann says the Minnesota congresswoman is ending her bid to win the Republican presidential nomination after coming in last in the Iowa caucuses.
Bachmann finished sixth out of six candidates in the first of many contests to pick a Republican presidential candidate.
She canceled appearances planned for Wednesday in South Carolina and scheduled a news conference in Des Moines, Iowa, instead.
The adviser requested anonymity to speak before Bachmann makes the announcement late Wednesday morning.
Vote Rick Perry for an all white, Christian America..or else
Comments *and* ratings disabled on Youtube. Well, at least he learned that lesson.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Pushy Christians: Christians for a Moral America
Pushy, and slightly dim witted...
Invading your local cinema next winter is a new work of evil The Hobbit. The Hobbit follows on from the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and seemingly has brought everyone back to "Middle Earth" from the dead. Peter Jackson has once again stepped up as Satan's Little Helper to direct the two-part film and is once again using witchcraft and wizardry to peddle the film, even though the books had strong Christian undertones (good vs evil; Christians vs Atheists) but Jackson being the self-proclaimed Atheist he is obviously doesn't want to present this movie in the way it was meant by Tolkien. Let's vote with our wallets and send a big message to Hollywood and Jackson; Christians will NOT tolerate this blatant Anti-Christian bigotry and Atheist propaganda. Our children's minds are filled with enough poison these days from the media without us as parents actively doing the same while filling liberal fat cats' coffers.
Read more here.
Invading your local cinema next winter is a new work of evil The Hobbit. The Hobbit follows on from the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and seemingly has brought everyone back to "Middle Earth" from the dead. Peter Jackson has once again stepped up as Satan's Little Helper to direct the two-part film and is once again using witchcraft and wizardry to peddle the film, even though the books had strong Christian undertones (good vs evil; Christians vs Atheists) but Jackson being the self-proclaimed Atheist he is obviously doesn't want to present this movie in the way it was meant by Tolkien. Let's vote with our wallets and send a big message to Hollywood and Jackson; Christians will NOT tolerate this blatant Anti-Christian bigotry and Atheist propaganda. Our children's minds are filled with enough poison these days from the media without us as parents actively doing the same while filling liberal fat cats' coffers.
Read more here.
Lo Green: Idiot of the Day
May the spirit of John Lennon rise up and smite you, you moron.
New Year’s Eve is usually truce time in the culture wars — a moment to reflect and hope and forget your troubles (and the world’s). Not so on Saturday night, when Cee Lo Green changed the lyrics to John Lennon’s “Imagine” while performing the song on live television in New York’s Time Square.
Instead of “Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too,” Green sang, “Nothing to kill or die for, and all religion’s true.”
Read more here.
New Year’s Eve is usually truce time in the culture wars — a moment to reflect and hope and forget your troubles (and the world’s). Not so on Saturday night, when Cee Lo Green changed the lyrics to John Lennon’s “Imagine” while performing the song on live television in New York’s Time Square.
Instead of “Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too,” Green sang, “Nothing to kill or die for, and all religion’s true.”
Read more here.
Monday, January 02, 2012
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