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Friday, June 30, 2006Sunken Boats in Amsterdam
A blog dedicated to swamped or sunken boats in Amsterdam. (Thanks Anonymous) Sunken Boats in Amsterdam
A blog dedicated to swamped or sunken boats in Amsterdam. (Thanks Anonymous) Have any millionaires ever been executed in the United States?From The Straight Dope:
If the expression "You simply cannot hang a millionaire in America," attributed to politician and orator William Bourke Cockran (1854-1923), is timeworn, Tim, it's not from overuse--Google turns up a big four hits. That tells you something about U.S. attitudes right there, because the fact is, while a few millionaires have gone to the gallows (chair, whatever), we haven't hanged many. Let's count:
Have any millionaires ever been executed in the United States?From The Straight Dope:
If the expression "You simply cannot hang a millionaire in America," attributed to politician and orator William Bourke Cockran (1854-1923), is timeworn, Tim, it's not from overuse--Google turns up a big four hits. That tells you something about U.S. attitudes right there, because the fact is, while a few millionaires have gone to the gallows (chair, whatever), we haven't hanged many. Let's count:
Man Found with 1,300 Rats in his One Bedroom ApartmentSheesh.
PETALUMA, Calif. (AP) - It all started four years ago when Roger Dier bought a baby rat to feed his pet Indian python. But when he saw the furry little critter squeaking for its life, the lifelong animal lover said he didn't have the heart to let it become just another snake snack.
"I couldn't stand it," he told The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa. "I took the rat out of the cage and got to know it." After that, Dier was hooked on the rodents, which he described as gentle, lovable and an endless source of entertainment. He later bought four more at the pet store _ but didn't think to spay or neuter them. Last week, animal control officers discovered more than 1,300 rats in Dier's small one-bedroom Petaluma home, after a neighbor complained about the foul smell. He was cited for misdemeanor animal cruelty. Dier, 67, said depression, loneliness, denial and a recent bout of flu and bronchitis kept him from maintaining control of the fast-breeding population. Man Found with 1,300 Rats in his One Bedroom ApartmentSheesh.
PETALUMA, Calif. (AP) - It all started four years ago when Roger Dier bought a baby rat to feed his pet Indian python. But when he saw the furry little critter squeaking for its life, the lifelong animal lover said he didn't have the heart to let it become just another snake snack.
"I couldn't stand it," he told The Press Democrat of Santa Rosa. "I took the rat out of the cage and got to know it." After that, Dier was hooked on the rodents, which he described as gentle, lovable and an endless source of entertainment. He later bought four more at the pet store _ but didn't think to spay or neuter them. Last week, animal control officers discovered more than 1,300 rats in Dier's small one-bedroom Petaluma home, after a neighbor complained about the foul smell. He was cited for misdemeanor animal cruelty. Dier, 67, said depression, loneliness, denial and a recent bout of flu and bronchitis kept him from maintaining control of the fast-breeding population. Supposing... I'm Too Old for MySpaceAn editorial on MySpace:
Because I don't "get" it. I mean, I know what MySpace is and what it's supposed to do and how influential it is. It's just that whenever I've visited a MySpace page I've thought "is that it?" and wandered around the perimeter looking confused, like a blind man patting the walls for an exit he can't find.
So users create a page and upload their music and photos and videoclips; they post blog entries and links to other stuff and leave witty little messages for one another. And it all meshes together to form a thriving social network. Okey dokey. On the surface it all makes sense. Yet it's not for me. I mean, I could go and create a page myself, but somehow I'd rather scrape my retina off with a car key. At 35, I'm too ancient for MySpace - I'd look like a school-gate paedo - but that's not really the issue. No. It's simply bloody-minded "olditude" on my part - the same sort of fusty grumbliness that made greying musos boycott CDs in favour of vinyl in the 80s because they JUST DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW about this new-fangled whatchamathing. Supposing... I'm Too Old for MySpaceAn editorial on MySpace:
Because I don't "get" it. I mean, I know what MySpace is and what it's supposed to do and how influential it is. It's just that whenever I've visited a MySpace page I've thought "is that it?" and wandered around the perimeter looking confused, like a blind man patting the walls for an exit he can't find.
So users create a page and upload their music and photos and videoclips; they post blog entries and links to other stuff and leave witty little messages for one another. And it all meshes together to form a thriving social network. Okey dokey. On the surface it all makes sense. Yet it's not for me. I mean, I could go and create a page myself, but somehow I'd rather scrape my retina off with a car key. At 35, I'm too ancient for MySpace - I'd look like a school-gate paedo - but that's not really the issue. No. It's simply bloody-minded "olditude" on my part - the same sort of fusty grumbliness that made greying musos boycott CDs in favour of vinyl in the 80s because they JUST DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW about this new-fangled whatchamathing. Scientology Orientation VideosThe rest of the parts seem to be on YouTube now. (It seems to start at Part 2 for some reason.)Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 I'll watch through them and give the highlights: Part 2 starts off explaining why Scientology is an actual religion (REALLY! We swear!) and compares L. Ron Hubbard to Buddha.(I didn't know Siddartha wrote bad sci-fi) We also find out that L. Ron was "fully professional in 29 different fields" such as aviation, ethnology, filmmaking and getting rich hollywood actors to hand over lots and lots of money. (Ok, I made up the last one....... wait, no I didn't) Part 3 continues the tour through the L.Ron Museum where it is explained that he gave his entire fortune to the Church of Scientology so that it would "always be here for the benefit of all mankind." So, he is kind of like the Warren Buffet of space cults. Part 3 starts getting creepy, er, creepier when the tour guide explains how the government realized the power of dianetics and tried to wrestle it from L.Ron. *cue scary music* Part 4 takes us to the book store where people are lining up to buy Dianetics like it was the latest Harry Potter book. (Bad example I know. Harry Potter has a better chance of being real than Dianetics) The rest of Part 4 mostly deals with what Scientology books a good beginning Scientologist should have in their library. Surprisingly, Battlefield Earth is not mentioned. Part 5, The Organization. We find out that all the churches of Scientology have a Dept. 21 or Office of L.Ron Hubbard which is a large furnished office set aside for Ron as a symbol of... oh whothefuckknows. My thetans are starting to yell at me for starting this synopsis. All I know is that the glassy-eyed lady in L. Ron Hubbard's office is really creeping me out. We head over to the "Director of Processing" to find out how Scientology works. Part 6, Auditing. The Director of Processing, let's just call him scary moustache man, holds up a chart and explains how auditing can help you gain iq points. And by explaining I mean he holds a pencil up to the chart. Get it? Scary moustache man start in on how psychology is a scam and looks like he is about to jump on a couch at any moment. Scary moustache man then says "Only a raving lunatic would try to harm Dianetics and Scientology, or Scientologists for that matter. They need psychiatric help, that would finish them." Even the scientology moderator looks a bit scared. Part 7. Pretty boring up until the 1:33 when we get to the ecclesiastical redress of wrongs or the Scientology justice system where you can resolve disputes against fellow Part 8 Starts off restating how they are an actual honest to goodness real religion. Really! The IRS said so and they're always right! "Even your donations are tax deductible. Just like any other religion." Then Part 8 goes to the TESTIMONIALS! WOOHOO! Isaac Hayes makes a cameo. Part 9. The testimonials continue. Kirstie Alley tells us that without Scientology, she would be dead. Vinnie Barbarino finishes off the Testimonials. Part 10 wraps up this insanity by telling us that we are perfectly free not to think about Scientology, "It would be stupid, but you can do it. You can also jump off a bridge or blow your brains out. That is your choice." WTF??? Those are your options?? There you have it. The Scientology orientation film. Feeling clear yet? Update: You can download the entire video at the Internet Archive: (Thanks George) Update 2: Xenu is thwarted once again by L. Ron's mighty legal team. The YouTube videos have been taken down but you can still see the entire video at the Internet Archive. Scientology Orientation VideosThe rest of the parts seem to be on YouTube now. (It seems to start at Part 2 for some reason.)Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 I'll watch through them and give the highlights: Part 2 starts off explaining why Scientology is an actual religion (REALLY! We swear!) and compares L. Ron Hubbard to Buddha.(I didn't know Siddartha wrote bad sci-fi) We also find out that L. Ron was "fully professional in 29 different fields" such as aviation, ethnology, filmmaking and getting rich hollywood actors to hand over lots and lots of money. (Ok, I made up the last one....... wait, no I didn't) Part 3 continues the tour through the L.Ron Museum where it is explained that he gave his entire fortune to the Church of Scientology so that it would "always be here for the benefit of all mankind." So, he is kind of like the Warren Buffet of space cults. Part 3 starts getting creepy, er, creepier when the tour guide explains how the government realized the power of dianetics and tried to wrestle it from L.Ron. *cue scary music* Part 4 takes us to the book store where people are lining up to buy Dianetics like it was the latest Harry Potter book. (Bad example I know. Harry Potter has a better chance of being real than Dianetics) The rest of Part 4 mostly deals with what Scientology books a good beginning Scientologist should have in their library. Surprisingly, Battlefield Earth is not mentioned. Part 5, The Organization. We find out that all the churches of Scientology have a Dept. 21 or Office of L.Ron Hubbard which is a large furnished office set aside for Ron as a symbol of... oh whothefuckknows. My thetans are starting to yell at me for starting this synopsis. All I know is that the glassy-eyed lady in L. Ron Hubbard's office is really creeping me out. We head over to the "Director of Processing" to find out how Scientology works. Part 6, Auditing. The Director of Processing, let's just call him scary moustache man, holds up a chart and explains how auditing can help you gain iq points. And by explaining I mean he holds a pencil up to the chart. Get it? Scary moustache man start in on how psychology is a scam and looks like he is about to jump on a couch at any moment. Scary moustache man then says "Only a raving lunatic would try to harm Dianetics and Scientology, or Scientologists for that matter. They need psychiatric help, that would finish them." Even the scientology moderator looks a bit scared. Part 7. Pretty boring up until the 1:33 when we get to the ecclesiastical redress of wrongs or the Scientology justice system where you can resolve disputes against fellow Part 8 Starts off restating how they are an actual honest to goodness real religion. Really! The IRS said so and they're always right! "Even your donations are tax deductible. Just like any other religion." Then Part 8 goes to the TESTIMONIALS! WOOHOO! Isaac Hayes makes a cameo. Part 9. The testimonials continue. Kirstie Alley tells us that without Scientology, she would be dead. Vinnie Barbarino finishes off the Testimonials. Part 10 wraps up this insanity by telling us that we are perfectly free not to think about Scientology, "It would be stupid, but you can do it. You can also jump off a bridge or blow your brains out. That is your choice." WTF??? Those are your options?? There you have it. The Scientology orientation film. Feeling clear yet? Update: You can download the entire video at the Internet Archive: (Thanks George) Update 2: Xenu is thwarted once again by L. Ron's mighty legal team. The YouTube videos have been taken down but you can still see the entire video at the Internet Archive. Thursday, June 29, 2006The Tetris EffectI suffered from this once after a marathon session of Grand Theft Auto. My lawyers advise me against saying anything else.
The Tetris effect refers to the ability of any activity to which people devote sufficient time and attention to begin to dominate their thoughts, images, and dreams. It is named after the video game Tetris, in which users have to rotate different shapes as they fall down the computer screen to fit together in a neat pile at the bottom. People who play Tetris for a long stretch of time may be subsequently involuntarily prompted to think about ways different shapes in the real world can fit together, such as on seeing boxes on supermarket shelves. They may also see images of falling Tetris shapes in dark parts of the visual scene or when they close their eyes.
(via del.icio.us/revgeorge)The Tetris EffectI suffered from this once after a marathon session of Grand Theft Auto. My lawyers advise me against saying anything else.
The Tetris effect refers to the ability of any activity to which people devote sufficient time and attention to begin to dominate their thoughts, images, and dreams. It is named after the video game Tetris, in which users have to rotate different shapes as they fall down the computer screen to fit together in a neat pile at the bottom. People who play Tetris for a long stretch of time may be subsequently involuntarily prompted to think about ways different shapes in the real world can fit together, such as on seeing boxes on supermarket shelves. They may also see images of falling Tetris shapes in dark parts of the visual scene or when they close their eyes.
(via del.icio.us/revgeorge)1979 Star Wars Drunk Driving PSA
Rare PSA featuring the creatures of the Star Wars Cantina in the famous "Friends don't let friends drive drunk" campaign. This was produced for the US Dept of Transportation in 1979.
(via Digg)1979 Star Wars Drunk Driving PSA
Rare PSA featuring the creatures of the Star Wars Cantina in the famous "Friends don't let friends drive drunk" campaign. This was produced for the US Dept of Transportation in 1979.
(via Digg)Wednesday, June 28, 2006Oklo: Natural Nuclear Reactors
Creating a nuclear reaction is not simple. In power plants, it involves splitting uranium atoms, and that process releases energy as heat and neutrons that go on to cause other atoms to split. This splitting process is called nuclear fission. In a power plant, sustaining the process of splitting atoms requires the involvement of many scientists and technicians.
(Thanks Jabberwocky)It came as a great surprise to most, therefore, when, in 1972, French physicist Francis Perrin declared that nature had beaten humans to the punch by creating the world’s first nuclear reactors. Indeed, he argued, nature had a two-billion-year head start.1 Fifteen natural fission reactors have been found in three different ore deposits at the Oklo mine in Gabon, West Africa. These are collectively known as the Oklo Fossil Reactors. Oklo: Natural Nuclear Reactors
Creating a nuclear reaction is not simple. In power plants, it involves splitting uranium atoms, and that process releases energy as heat and neutrons that go on to cause other atoms to split. This splitting process is called nuclear fission. In a power plant, sustaining the process of splitting atoms requires the involvement of many scientists and technicians.
(Thanks Jabberwocky)It came as a great surprise to most, therefore, when, in 1972, French physicist Francis Perrin declared that nature had beaten humans to the punch by creating the world’s first nuclear reactors. Indeed, he argued, nature had a two-billion-year head start.1 Fifteen natural fission reactors have been found in three different ore deposits at the Oklo mine in Gabon, West Africa. These are collectively known as the Oklo Fossil Reactors. Scamming Nigerian Scammers
This has to be the most elaborate reverse scam ever! The 419 Baiter gets the Nigerian scammer to send in wood carvings for a substantial scholarship:
A slightly different twist on my now familiar artwork anti-scam. I manage to secure two pieces of artwork, but unfortunately due to the temperature and humidity fluctuations between here and West Africa, as well as rogue rodents, there are problems.
(via Waxy)Scamming Nigerian Scammers
This has to be the most elaborate reverse scam ever! The 419 Baiter gets the Nigerian scammer to send in wood carvings for a substantial scholarship:
A slightly different twist on my now familiar artwork anti-scam. I manage to secure two pieces of artwork, but unfortunately due to the temperature and humidity fluctuations between here and West Africa, as well as rogue rodents, there are problems.
(via Waxy)List of Movies That Filmmakers Have Seen the MostFrom Slate:
What movie have you seen the most? That's the question Slate asked a collection of filmmakers and critics, knowing that what's addictive is different than what's deemed the best. The answers vary from Ghostbusters to Dr. Zhivago, from Citizen Kane to Election.
Star Wars for me although I only have them on VHS. I refused to buy the new editions that Lucas released on dvd.(via Kottke) List of Movies That Filmmakers Have Seen the MostFrom Slate:
What movie have you seen the most? That's the question Slate asked a collection of filmmakers and critics, knowing that what's addictive is different than what's deemed the best. The answers vary from Ghostbusters to Dr. Zhivago, from Citizen Kane to Election.
Star Wars for me although I only have them on VHS. I refused to buy the new editions that Lucas released on dvd.(via Kottke) An Open Letter To Rush Limbaugh Very heartfelt:
To Our Fellow Viagraholic:
(Thanks Anonymous)We feel your pain. We've been there, and we too have suffered the humiliation and shame of having our lives torn apart by Viagra abuse. Rush, it doesn't have to be this way. We at Viagraholics Anonymous are here to offer you hope. We faced our addiction and are now on the path of recovery. If we can do it, so can you. We're your brothers, and we want to help you spare yourself any more suffering due to this insidious addiction. We know all the games. Hiding the pills. Lying to doctors. Getting multiple prescriptions, or prescriptions in someone else's name. We tried all the same tricks, and like you, eventually most of us got caught. An Open Letter To Rush LimbaughVery heartfelt:
To Our Fellow Viagraholic:
(Thanks Anonymous)We feel your pain. We've been there, and we too have suffered the humiliation and shame of having our lives torn apart by Viagra abuse. Rush, it doesn't have to be this way. We at Viagraholics Anonymous are here to offer you hope. We faced our addiction and are now on the path of recovery. If we can do it, so can you. We're your brothers, and we want to help you spare yourself any more suffering due to this insidious addiction. We know all the games. Hiding the pills. Lying to doctors. Getting multiple prescriptions, or prescriptions in someone else's name. We tried all the same tricks, and like you, eventually most of us got caught. Strange Statues Around the World A gallery of weird statues. Not sure what's weird about the one pictured above though. Strange Statues Around the WorldA gallery of weird statues. Not sure what's weird about the one pictured above though. Trailers of Historically Significant FilmsTons of movie trailers can be found here from 2001 A Space Odyssey to Zelig.(via Monkeyfilter) Trailers of Historically Significant FilmsTons of movie trailers can be found here from 2001 A Space Odyssey to Zelig.(via Monkeyfilter) Tuesday, June 27, 2006Flag Burning Amendment Misses By One VoteI share the same sentiment as Sen. Daniel Inouye:
"Our country's unique because our dissidents have a voice," said Sen. Daniel Inouye D-Hawaii, a World War II veteran who lost an arm in the war and was decorated with the Medal of Honor.
"While I take offense at disrespect to the flag," he said, "I nonetheless believe it is my continued duty as a veteran, as an American citizen, and as a United States senator to defend the constitutional right of protesters to use the flag in nonviolent speech." Flag Burning Amendment Misses By One VoteI share the same sentiment as Sen. Daniel Inouye:
"Our country's unique because our dissidents have a voice," said Sen. Daniel Inouye D-Hawaii, a World War II veteran who lost an arm in the war and was decorated with the Medal of Honor.
"While I take offense at disrespect to the flag," he said, "I nonetheless believe it is my continued duty as a veteran, as an American citizen, and as a United States senator to defend the constitutional right of protesters to use the flag in nonviolent speech." Flag Burning Up a Whopping 33%And if we take a closer look at that number?
The Citizens Flag Alliance, a group pushing for the Senate this week to pass a flag-burning amendment to the Constitution, just reported an alarming, 33 percent increase in the number of flag-desecration incidents this year.
The number has increased to four, from three. Flag Burning Up a Whopping 33%And if we take a closer look at that number?
The Citizens Flag Alliance, a group pushing for the Senate this week to pass a flag-burning amendment to the Constitution, just reported an alarming, 33 percent increase in the number of flag-desecration incidents this year.
The number has increased to four, from three. The Daily Show on The Miami Seven
Jon Stewart takes a look at the case known to many as "The Miami Seven." He examines the careful and decisive evidence told to us by Alberto Gonzales:
Gonzales: These individuals wish to wage a quote: "full ground war against the United States." Stewart: Seven guys? I’m not a general. I am not anyway affiliated with the military academy, but I believe if you were going to wage a full ground war against the United States, you need to field at least as many people as say a softball team. The Daily Show on The Miami Seven
Jon Stewart takes a look at the case known to many as "The Miami Seven." He examines the careful and decisive evidence told to us by Alberto Gonzales:
Gonzales: These individuals wish to wage a quote: "full ground war against the United States." Stewart: Seven guys? I’m not a general. I am not anyway affiliated with the military academy, but I believe if you were going to wage a full ground war against the United States, you need to field at least as many people as say a softball team. The Indian Hair TradeFrom The Observer:
The women gathered here in the rising heat of the Indian morning, have one thing in common. In an act of piety they have their heads shaved as an offering to the temple. Those donations have made the temple the wealthiest in all of India.
(via Information Junk)The reason? Within a few days, tonnes of donated waist-length hair will make its way from a vast warehouse in the temple grounds to lucrative auctions and processing factories around the busy port of Chennai (formerly Madras) eventually arriving in Britain, America and France where it will adorn the heads of Western women. The demand in the UK and US for hair extensions and cosmetic products with hair extracts means that turning faith into fashion has become big business, earning major temples and exporters revenues of more than $300m last year alone. With most Hindus, who make up 85 per cent of the India's billion-plus population, having their heads shaved at least once as prescribed by the scriptures, hair dealers have clearly tapped into an abundant market. The Indian Hair TradeFrom The Observer:
The women gathered here in the rising heat of the Indian morning, have one thing in common. In an act of piety they have their heads shaved as an offering to the temple. Those donations have made the temple the wealthiest in all of India.
(via Information Junk)The reason? Within a few days, tonnes of donated waist-length hair will make its way from a vast warehouse in the temple grounds to lucrative auctions and processing factories around the busy port of Chennai (formerly Madras) eventually arriving in Britain, America and France where it will adorn the heads of Western women. The demand in the UK and US for hair extensions and cosmetic products with hair extracts means that turning faith into fashion has become big business, earning major temples and exporters revenues of more than $300m last year alone. With most Hindus, who make up 85 per cent of the India's billion-plus population, having their heads shaved at least once as prescribed by the scriptures, hair dealers have clearly tapped into an abundant market. Lost MysteriesA blog about the mysteries of the tv show Lost.
A complete list of all the remaining Mysteries that have yet to be solved in ABC's show LOST. If you would like a new Question Added please add it to the relevant section. All answered questions will be moved to the Lost Answer page.
Lost MysteriesA blog about the mysteries of the tv show Lost.
A complete list of all the remaining Mysteries that have yet to be solved in ABC's show LOST. If you would like a new Question Added please add it to the relevant section. All answered questions will be moved to the Lost Answer page.
The 10 Weirdest Things Ever Sold on eBay
Perhaps you've heard stories of people auctioning off strange items on eBay, like the homely kid who put his virginity up for bid or the bald guys who offer their own heads as advertising space. But those are nothing compared to some of the items that have made their way onto eBay's digital auction block.
(via Digg)Here are ten of the weirdest things ever to appear on eBay. To qualify for this list, the item or items must have received at least one bid, proving the point that no matter what you have to sell, somewhere there is a buyer for it. The 10 Weirdest Things Ever Sold on eBay
Perhaps you've heard stories of people auctioning off strange items on eBay, like the homely kid who put his virginity up for bid or the bald guys who offer their own heads as advertising space. But those are nothing compared to some of the items that have made their way onto eBay's digital auction block.
(via Digg)Here are ten of the weirdest things ever to appear on eBay. To qualify for this list, the item or items must have received at least one bid, proving the point that no matter what you have to sell, somewhere there is a buyer for it. Limbaugh on DrugsIn honor of Rush Limbaugh's latest drug incident (he apparently likes the Viagra), I thought it would be fun to revisit some of his quotes on drugs.
These tough sentencing laws were instituted for a reason. The American people, including liberals, demanded them. Don't you remember the crack cocaine epidemic? Crack babies and out-of-control murder rates? Liberal judges giving the bad guys slaps on the wrist? Finally we got tough, and the crime rate has been falling ever since, so what's wrong?
--RushLimbaugh.com (8/18/03) When you strip it all away, Jerry Garcia destroyed his life on drugs. And yet he's being honored, like some godlike figure. Our priorities are out of whack, folks. --Rush Limbaugh radio show (quoted in the L.A. Times, 8/20/95) I have a solution for Mrs. [Jocelyn] Elders. I mean, if she wants to legalize drugs, send the people who want to do drugs to London and Zurich and let's be rid of them. Now...The problem with legalizing drugs is, it's just another abhorrent example of human behavior that we've suddenly decided, "Hey, we can't handle it. We've given up and we're going to sanction the destruction of lives. We're going to let you destroy your life. We're going to make it easy, and then all of us who accept the responsibilities of life and don't destroy our lives on drugs--we'll pay for whatever messes you get into."... --Rush Limbaugh TV show (12/9/93) Limbaugh on DrugsIn honor of Rush Limbaugh's latest drug incident (he apparently likes the Viagra), I thought it would be fun to revisit some of his quotes on drugs.
These tough sentencing laws were instituted for a reason. The American people, including liberals, demanded them. Don't you remember the crack cocaine epidemic? Crack babies and out-of-control murder rates? Liberal judges giving the bad guys slaps on the wrist? Finally we got tough, and the crime rate has been falling ever since, so what's wrong?
--RushLimbaugh.com (8/18/03) When you strip it all away, Jerry Garcia destroyed his life on drugs. And yet he's being honored, like some godlike figure. Our priorities are out of whack, folks. --Rush Limbaugh radio show (quoted in the L.A. Times, 8/20/95) I have a solution for Mrs. [Jocelyn] Elders. I mean, if she wants to legalize drugs, send the people who want to do drugs to London and Zurich and let's be rid of them. Now...The problem with legalizing drugs is, it's just another abhorrent example of human behavior that we've suddenly decided, "Hey, we can't handle it. We've given up and we're going to sanction the destruction of lives. We're going to let you destroy your life. We're going to make it easy, and then all of us who accept the responsibilities of life and don't destroy our lives on drugs--we'll pay for whatever messes you get into."... --Rush Limbaugh TV show (12/9/93) Monday, June 26, 2006Scientology Orientation VideoIt's labeled part 10 of 10 but I don't see 1-9. Update: Schmoo in the comments writes: Scientology is no worse, or any more ludicrous than any other religion - they're just better at what they do :/ I have to disagree with Schmoo on this. Most religions such as Christianity, Judaism, etc., are open about what it is they are teaching. Scientology witholds all the Xenu stuff until you have given a pretty big chunk of change. I don't believe that any Christian organization has ever tried to sue a website because they discussed the Ascension. Scientology Orientation VideoIt's labeled part 10 of 10 but I don't see 1-9. Update: Schmoo in the comments writes: Scientology is no worse, or any more ludicrous than any other religion - they're just better at what they do :/ I have to disagree with Schmoo on this. Most religions such as Christianity, Judaism, etc., are open about what it is they are teaching. Scientology witholds all the Xenu stuff until you have given a pretty big chunk of change. I don't believe that any Christian organization has ever tried to sue a website because they discussed the Ascension. Vegas in Second LifeI downloaded Second Life and gave it a try this weekend so I've been googling quite a bit about it this morning and was wondering if someone had tried to build a version of Vegas in SL yet. Yep, already been done. Above is a video of them creating the sim of Sin City and this guy has screen shots from when he visited. I'll have to visit there tonight. Vegas in Second LifeI downloaded Second Life and gave it a try this weekend so I've been googling quite a bit about it this morning and was wondering if someone had tried to build a version of Vegas in SL yet. Yep, already been done. Above is a video of them creating the sim of Sin City and this guy has screen shots from when he visited. I'll have to visit there tonight. Sunday, June 25, 2006How To Open a Coconut
Everone has a few problems the first time they try and learn how to open a coconut. These little guys must be the most well protected nut in all of the world, but we humans can't just sit around and let monkeys show us up, right? In this site I will detail the most common method of opening up a coconut along with pictures of the process.
How To Open a Coconut
Everone has a few problems the first time they try and learn how to open a coconut. These little guys must be the most well protected nut in all of the world, but we humans can't just sit around and let monkeys show us up, right? In this site I will detail the most common method of opening up a coconut along with pictures of the process.
The Baader-Meinhof PhenomenonFrom Damn Interesting:
You may have heard about Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon before. In fact, you probably learned about it for the first time very recently. If not, then you just might hear about it again very soon. Baader-Meinhof is the phenomenon where one happens upon some obscure piece of information– often an unfamiliar word or name– and soon afterwards encounters the same subject again, often repeatedly. Anytime the phrase "That's so weird, I just heard about that the other day" would be appropriate, the utterer is hip-deep in Baader-Meinhof.
The Baader-Meinhof PhenomenonFrom Damn Interesting:
You may have heard about Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon before. In fact, you probably learned about it for the first time very recently. If not, then you just might hear about it again very soon. Baader-Meinhof is the phenomenon where one happens upon some obscure piece of information– often an unfamiliar word or name– and soon afterwards encounters the same subject again, often repeatedly. Anytime the phrase "That's so weird, I just heard about that the other day" would be appropriate, the utterer is hip-deep in Baader-Meinhof.
The McGurk EffectClick here for a short video demonstrating the McGurk Effect. Here is the wikipedia entry for it:
The McGurk effect is a perceptual phenomenon which demonstrates an interaction between hearing and vision in speech perception. It suggests that speech perception is multimodal, that is, that it involves information from more than one sensory modality. The McGurk effect is sometimes called the McGurk-MacDonald effect. It was first described in a paper by McGurk and McDonald (1976).
The McGurk EffectClick here for a short video demonstrating the McGurk Effect. Here is the wikipedia entry for it:
The McGurk effect is a perceptual phenomenon which demonstrates an interaction between hearing and vision in speech perception. It suggests that speech perception is multimodal, that is, that it involves information from more than one sensory modality. The McGurk effect is sometimes called the McGurk-MacDonald effect. It was first described in a paper by McGurk and McDonald (1976).
Best City Council Meeting Ever
Local lunatic David Thompson complains to Charlotte, NC city council during a community access forum, which is conveniently captured on tape and broadcast live on the local community access channel. There aren't enough tags to cover his rant against ice in the arena, rogue helicopter pilots, and "terrorist pussies".
(Thanks to everyone who sent this in)Best City Council Meeting Ever
Local lunatic David Thompson complains to Charlotte, NC city council during a community access forum, which is conveniently captured on tape and broadcast live on the local community access channel. There aren't enough tags to cover his rant against ice in the arena, rogue helicopter pilots, and "terrorist pussies".
(Thanks to everyone who sent this in)Battle of the Somme FilmThe Independent on The Battle of Somme footage. The clip above is a compilation of a few scenes from that film.
All film of the carnage was thought to have been faked, but now some of it has finally been authenticated. And it reveals the heroics of Captain 'Pongo' Dawson. By Jonathan Thompson
(via Robot Wisdom)Sheltering in a sunken road near the French village of Beaumont Hamel on 1 July 1916, Captain Edmond McNaghten "Pongo" Dawson believed the first British thrust during the Battle of the Somme would be swift and decisive. The German lines had been subjected to heavy bombardment for an entire week, and the Allies had the advantage of vastly superior numbers. As the order came just after dawn to send the troops over the top, Captain Dawson was captured on film ushering his men, of the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, along the trench. As commander of the company, he was one of the first on to the parapet. A few seconds later, he was also one of the first to be cut down by German machine-gun fire. For decades, historians have argued over the veracity of the film shot that morning, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Certainly, some scenes were re-enacted and filmed for propaganda purposes. But now, using a series of new scientific techniques, analysts have proved for the first time that most of the images are genuine, enabling them to identify many of the combatants and trace their surviving relatives. Battle of the Somme FilmThe Independent on The Battle of Somme footage. The clip above is a compilation of a few scenes from that film.
All film of the carnage was thought to have been faked, but now some of it has finally been authenticated. And it reveals the heroics of Captain 'Pongo' Dawson. By Jonathan Thompson
(via Robot Wisdom)Sheltering in a sunken road near the French village of Beaumont Hamel on 1 July 1916, Captain Edmond McNaghten "Pongo" Dawson believed the first British thrust during the Battle of the Somme would be swift and decisive. The German lines had been subjected to heavy bombardment for an entire week, and the Allies had the advantage of vastly superior numbers. As the order came just after dawn to send the troops over the top, Captain Dawson was captured on film ushering his men, of the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, along the trench. As commander of the company, he was one of the first on to the parapet. A few seconds later, he was also one of the first to be cut down by German machine-gun fire. For decades, historians have argued over the veracity of the film shot that morning, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Certainly, some scenes were re-enacted and filmed for propaganda purposes. But now, using a series of new scientific techniques, analysts have proved for the first time that most of the images are genuine, enabling them to identify many of the combatants and trace their surviving relatives. The Whoniverse
The Whoniverse is intended to be (or at least become) the ultimate guide to the universe of Doctor Who - the world's longest running Science Fiction TV series. Doctor Who originally ran from 1963 to 1989, with a one-off TV Movie in 1996, and a whole new TV series which started on the 26th of March 2005. In the interim, Doctor Who has been kept alive by several ranges of books and audios, which are considered part of the Doctor Who Universe by a large portion of fandom.
The Whoniverse
The Whoniverse is intended to be (or at least become) the ultimate guide to the universe of Doctor Who - the world's longest running Science Fiction TV series. Doctor Who originally ran from 1963 to 1989, with a one-off TV Movie in 1996, and a whole new TV series which started on the 26th of March 2005. In the interim, Doctor Who has been kept alive by several ranges of books and audios, which are considered part of the Doctor Who Universe by a large portion of fandom.
Saturday, June 24, 2006Fire Destroys Most of the Principality of SealandLuckily the sole person onboard didn't get seriously hurt in the blaze:
A FORMER wartime fortress which is now a self-proclaimed independent state has been left devastated after a fierce blaze tore through the structure.
Here is Wikipedia's entry on Sealand.The so-called Principality of Sealand, seven miles off the coast of Felixstowe and Harwich, was evacuated at lunchtime yesterdayafter a generator caught fire. Thames Coastguard, Harwich RNLI lifeboat, Felixstowe Coastguard rescue teams, firefighting tug Brightwell, the RAF rescue helicopter from Wattisham and 15 Suffolk based firefighters from the National Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG) were all called into action to tackle the blaze. Fire Destroys Most of the Principality of SealandLuckily the sole person onboard didn't get seriously hurt in the blaze:
A FORMER wartime fortress which is now a self-proclaimed independent state has been left devastated after a fierce blaze tore through the structure.
Here is Wikipedia's entry on Sealand.The so-called Principality of Sealand, seven miles off the coast of Felixstowe and Harwich, was evacuated at lunchtime yesterdayafter a generator caught fire. Thames Coastguard, Harwich RNLI lifeboat, Felixstowe Coastguard rescue teams, firefighting tug Brightwell, the RAF rescue helicopter from Wattisham and 15 Suffolk based firefighters from the National Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG) were all called into action to tackle the blaze. Friday, June 23, 2006Top 10 Unfinished Films of All TimeFrom Filmthreat.com:
Throughout film history, there have been endless occasions where productions have been the victim of unkind abortions. Whether the movie in question only began shooting or was nearing completion, the notion of unfinished films always pose the most tantalizing game of cinematic “What If?”
(via Begging to Differ)In celebrating the most intriguing unfinished films ever made (or never made, if you prefer), certain ground rules need to be considered. First, a film cannot be completed belatedly – this cancels such noteworthy unfinished works as Erich Von Stroheim’s “Queen Kelly,” Sergei Eisenstein’s “Que Viva Mexico” and Orson Welles’ “It’s All True” and “Don Quixote.” Those films saw some degree of completion, in one form or another, and found their way into commercial release. Top 10 Unfinished Films of All TimeFrom Filmthreat.com:
Throughout film history, there have been endless occasions where productions have been the victim of unkind abortions. Whether the movie in question only began shooting or was nearing completion, the notion of unfinished films always pose the most tantalizing game of cinematic “What If?”
(via Begging to Differ)In celebrating the most intriguing unfinished films ever made (or never made, if you prefer), certain ground rules need to be considered. First, a film cannot be completed belatedly – this cancels such noteworthy unfinished works as Erich Von Stroheim’s “Queen Kelly,” Sergei Eisenstein’s “Que Viva Mexico” and Orson Welles’ “It’s All True” and “Don Quixote.” Those films saw some degree of completion, in one form or another, and found their way into commercial release. Where the Hell is Matt?
Matt is a 29-year-old deadbeat from Connecticut who used to think that all he ever wanted to do in life was make and play videogames. He achieved this
goal pretty early on and enjoyed it for a while, but eventually realized there might be other stuff he was missing out on. In February of 2003, he quit his job in Brisbane, Australia and used the money he'd saved to wander around the planet until it ran out. He made this site so he could keep his family and friends updated about where he is.
(via Digg)A few months into his trip, a travel buddy gave Matt the idea of dancing everywhere he went and recording it on his camera. This turned out to be a very good idea. Now Matt is quasi-famous as "That guy who dances on the internet.No, not that guy. The other one.No, not him either. I'll send you the link. It's funny." Where the Hell is Matt?
Matt is a 29-year-old deadbeat from Connecticut who used to think that all he ever wanted to do in life was make and play videogames. He achieved this
goal pretty early on and enjoyed it for a while, but eventually realized there might be other stuff he was missing out on. In February of 2003, he quit his job in Brisbane, Australia and used the money he'd saved to wander around the planet until it ran out. He made this site so he could keep his family and friends updated about where he is.
(via Digg)A few months into his trip, a travel buddy gave Matt the idea of dancing everywhere he went and recording it on his camera. This turned out to be a very good idea. Now Matt is quasi-famous as "That guy who dances on the internet.No, not that guy. The other one.No, not him either. I'll send you the link. It's funny." 360 Degree Globe Fan This is cool.
360° globe fan circulates air and won't disturb papers on a desk. Modeled after bankers' fans of the 1920s and 1930s, this 3-speed fan has a blade that spins on a horizontal axis to take in air at the top and blow it out of the center of the fan cage housing. Integrated carry handle makes it easy to move.
(via Ursi's Blog)360 Degree Globe FanThis is cool.
360° globe fan circulates air and won't disturb papers on a desk. Modeled after bankers' fans of the 1920s and 1930s, this 3-speed fan has a blade that spins on a horizontal axis to take in air at the top and blow it out of the center of the fan cage housing. Integrated carry handle makes it easy to move.
(via Ursi's Blog)Thursday, June 22, 200613 Things That Do Not Make SenseFrom New Scientist
8 The Pioneer anomaly
THIS is a tale of two spacecraft. Pioneer 10 was launched in 1972; Pioneer 11 a year later. By now both craft should be drifting off into deep space with no one watching. However, their trajectories have proved far too fascinating to ignore. That's because something has been pulling - or pushing - on them, causing them to speed up. The resulting acceleration is tiny, less than a nanometre per second per second. That's equivalent to just one ten-billionth of the gravity at Earth's surface, but it is enough to have shifted Pioneer 10 some 400,000 kilometres off track. NASA lost touch with Pioneer 11 in 1995, but up to that point it was experiencing exactly the same deviation as its sister probe. So what is causing it? Nobody knows. Some possible explanations have already been ruled out, including software errors, the solar wind or a fuel leak. If the cause is some gravitational effect, it is not one we know anything about. In fact, physicists are so completely at a loss that some have resorted to linking this mystery with other inexplicable phenomena. 13 Things That Do Not Make SenseFrom New Scientist
8 The Pioneer anomaly
THIS is a tale of two spacecraft. Pioneer 10 was launched in 1972; Pioneer 11 a year later. By now both craft should be drifting off into deep space with no one watching. However, their trajectories have proved far too fascinating to ignore. That's because something has been pulling - or pushing - on them, causing them to speed up. The resulting acceleration is tiny, less than a nanometre per second per second. That's equivalent to just one ten-billionth of the gravity at Earth's surface, but it is enough to have shifted Pioneer 10 some 400,000 kilometres off track. NASA lost touch with Pioneer 11 in 1995, but up to that point it was experiencing exactly the same deviation as its sister probe. So what is causing it? Nobody knows. Some possible explanations have already been ruled out, including software errors, the solar wind or a fuel leak. If the cause is some gravitational effect, it is not one we know anything about. In fact, physicists are so completely at a loss that some have resorted to linking this mystery with other inexplicable phenomena. The 1.844 Billion Mile WebpageHere is another webpage to show scale.
This page is 9 quadrillion pixels wide by 9 quadrillion pixels tall. Thus it contains a large number of pixels:
8,100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 otherwise known as 8.1 nonillion. In scientific notation, that's 8.1x10^30, hereafter shown in the form 8.1e30. This means that the repeating background image has 5.4e28 stars on it-- about as many as there would be if our universe was multiplied to a million times it's current observable size. Futhermore, at 77 pixels to the inch, this page takes up 3.4e18 square miles and is 1.844 billion miles on a side-- an area roughly equivalent to a section of the plane of our Solar System with the sun at the center and the orbit of Saturn on the outside edge (a square 22 AU on a side). That's about 17 billion times the surface area of the Earth. The 1.844 Billion Mile WebpageHere is another webpage to show scale.
This page is 9 quadrillion pixels wide by 9 quadrillion pixels tall. Thus it contains a large number of pixels:
8,100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 otherwise known as 8.1 nonillion. In scientific notation, that's 8.1x10^30, hereafter shown in the form 8.1e30. This means that the repeating background image has 5.4e28 stars on it-- about as many as there would be if our universe was multiplied to a million times it's current observable size. Futhermore, at 77 pixels to the inch, this page takes up 3.4e18 square miles and is 1.844 billion miles on a side-- an area roughly equivalent to a section of the plane of our Solar System with the sun at the center and the orbit of Saturn on the outside edge (a square 22 AU on a side). That's about 17 billion times the surface area of the Earth. Goering's 1939 Mercedes-Benz for sale on eBay
This vehicle was a special order from Adolf Hitler´s Deputy, Field Marshall Hermann Goering in Berlin, (Leipzig Street No. 3), in January 1940.
At the time, this automobile represented ¨cutting edge¨ technology and design - However, with war spreading across Europe, only 34 examples were ever prodouced by the Mercedes Benz factory. After the Russian occupation, the car was taken to Poland where it remained until discovered during the early 1990´s. It was subsequently professionaly restored to the very highest standards, including all the mechanics, wood, leather and paintwork. Goering's 1939 Mercedes-Benz for sale on eBay
This vehicle was a special order from Adolf Hitler´s Deputy, Field Marshall Hermann Goering in Berlin, (Leipzig Street No. 3), in January 1940.
At the time, this automobile represented ¨cutting edge¨ technology and design - However, with war spreading across Europe, only 34 examples were ever prodouced by the Mercedes Benz factory. After the Russian occupation, the car was taken to Poland where it remained until discovered during the early 1990´s. It was subsequently professionaly restored to the very highest standards, including all the mechanics, wood, leather and paintwork. The Eleven Mile Webpage
And you thought there was a lot of empty space in the solar system. Well, there's even more nothing inside an atom. A hydrogen atom is only about a ten millionth of a millimeter in diameter, but the proton in the middle is a hundred thousand times smaller, and the electron whizzing around the outside is a thousand times smaller than THAT. The rest of the atom is empty. I tried to picture it, and I couldn't. So I put together this page - and I still can't picture it.
(via Digg)The page is scaled so that the smallest thing on it, the electron, is one pixel. That makes the proton, this big ball right next to us, a thousand pixels across, and the distance between them is... yep, fifty million pixels (not a hundred million, because we're only showing the radius of the atom. ie: from the middle to the edge). If your monitor displays 72 pixels to the inch, then that works out to eleven miles - making this possibly the biggest page you've ever seen. The Eleven Mile Webpage
And you thought there was a lot of empty space in the solar system. Well, there's even more nothing inside an atom. A hydrogen atom is only about a ten millionth of a millimeter in diameter, but the proton in the middle is a hundred thousand times smaller, and the electron whizzing around the outside is a thousand times smaller than THAT. The rest of the atom is empty. I tried to picture it, and I couldn't. So I put together this page - and I still can't picture it.
(via Digg)The page is scaled so that the smallest thing on it, the electron, is one pixel. That makes the proton, this big ball right next to us, a thousand pixels across, and the distance between them is... yep, fifty million pixels (not a hundred million, because we're only showing the radius of the atom. ie: from the middle to the edge). If your monitor displays 72 pixels to the inch, then that works out to eleven miles - making this possibly the biggest page you've ever seen. Wednesday, June 21, 2006Ava Lowery & WWJDI just caught 15 year old Ava Lowery's video, WWJD, for the first time and it is very well done. It seems she has been getting quite a few death threats as a result of it:
She says she’s received a lot of positive feedback in short messages back to her site. And she understands that the fact that “people are on the web, and they just let loose.” But she was unprepared for the viciousness of the negative feedback—especially the ugly sexual slurs similar to those that Cindy Sheehan has faced. (If you can’t stand foul language, stop reading now.)
Crooks and Liars also has video of her being interviewed on CNN.“It’s people like you who need to fucking die and get raped while your corpse rots in the sun,” said one e-mail Lowery shared with me. “Fuck you, I would jack off on your parents if I could. If you don’t like the team, get out of the park. That means take ur small dick and get the fuck off of my homeland you faggot chocolate gulper.” “You are a TRAITOR to your country and should be executed for treason,” another one said. “All you do is bitch about the US. If you hate it so much, why don’t you GET THE FUCK OUT.” Ava Lowery & WWJDI just caught 15 year old Ava Lowery's video, WWJD, for the first time and it is very well done. It seems she has been getting quite a few death threats as a result of it:
She says she’s received a lot of positive feedback in short messages back to her site. And she understands that the fact that “people are on the web, and they just let loose.” But she was unprepared for the viciousness of the negative feedback—especially the ugly sexual slurs similar to those that Cindy Sheehan has faced. (If you can’t stand foul language, stop reading now.)
Crooks and Liars also has video of her being interviewed on CNN.“It’s people like you who need to fucking die and get raped while your corpse rots in the sun,” said one e-mail Lowery shared with me. “Fuck you, I would jack off on your parents if I could. If you don’t like the team, get out of the park. That means take ur small dick and get the fuck off of my homeland you faggot chocolate gulper.” “You are a TRAITOR to your country and should be executed for treason,” another one said. “All you do is bitch about the US. If you hate it so much, why don’t you GET THE FUCK OUT.” Ava Lowery & WWJDI just caught 15 year old Ava Lowery's video, WWJD, for the first time and it is very well done. It seems she has been getting quite a few death threats as a result of it:
She says she’s received a lot of positive feedback in short messages back to her site. And she understands that the fact that “people are on the web, and they just let loose.” But she was unprepared for the viciousness of the negative feedback—especially the ugly sexual slurs similar to those that Cindy Sheehan has faced. (If you can’t stand foul language, stop reading now.)
Crooks and Liars also has video of her being interviewed on CNN.“It’s people like you who need to fucking die and get raped while your corpse rots in the sun,” said one e-mail Lowery shared with me. “Fuck you, I would jack off on your parents if I could. If you don’t like the team, get out of the park. That means take ur small dick and get the fuck off of my homeland you faggot chocolate gulper.” “You are a TRAITOR to your country and should be executed for treason,” another one said. “All you do is bitch about the US. If you hate it so much, why don’t you GET THE FUCK OUT.” Chinese Death Vans
"Makers of death vans," USA Today reports, "say they save money for poor localities that would otherwise have to pay to construct execution facilities in prisons or court buildings. The vans ensure that prisoners sentenced to death can be executed locally, closer to communities where they broke the law." It's the infrastructure of punishment detached from the limitations of geography.
Chinese Death Vans
"Makers of death vans," USA Today reports, "say they save money for poor localities that would otherwise have to pay to construct execution facilities in prisons or court buildings. The vans ensure that prisoners sentenced to death can be executed locally, closer to communities where they broke the law." It's the infrastructure of punishment detached from the limitations of geography.
The Constitution of the Confederate States of AmericaComparing the differences between the U.S. Constitution and the Confederate Constitution.
We can get a good glimpse into the founding principles of the Confederacy by taking an in-depth look at the Confederate constitution, which was approved, and came into use by the rebel states on March 11, 1861. The document is largely a word-for-word copy of the United States constitution, but with several key changes. The changes offer the clearest window of insight into how precisely the CSA intended to be different from the USA, and why.
The Constitution of the Confederate States of AmericaComparing the differences between the U.S. Constitution and the Confederate Constitution.
We can get a good glimpse into the founding principles of the Confederacy by taking an in-depth look at the Confederate constitution, which was approved, and came into use by the rebel states on March 11, 1861. The document is largely a word-for-word copy of the United States constitution, but with several key changes. The changes offer the clearest window of insight into how precisely the CSA intended to be different from the USA, and why.
Bad Boss Contest
A contest where a bad boss story could win you a prize of some sort (I didn't bother to read what the prize was) Bad Boss Contest
A contest where a bad boss story could win you a prize of some sort (I didn't bother to read what the prize was) The ugly truth about everyday life in Baghdad (by the US ambassador)From The Independent:
CONFIDENTIAL MEMO
FROM: US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Baghdad TO: Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State SUBJECT: SNAPSHOTS FROM THE OFFICE SENSITIVE 2. Two of our three female employees report stepped up harassment beginning in mid-May. One, a Shia who favors Western clothing, was advised by an unknown woman in her Baghdad neighbourhood to wear a veil and not to drive her own car. She said some groups are pushing women to cover even their face, a step not taken in Iran even at its most conservative. 13. We cannot call employees in on weekends or holidays without blowing their "cover". A Sunni Arab female employee tells us family pressures and the inability to share details of her employment is very tough; she told her family she was in Jordon when we sent her on training to the US. Mounting criticism of the US at home among family members also makes her life difficult. She told us in mid-June that most of her family believes the US - which is widely perceived as fully controlling the country and tolerating the malaise - is punishing the population as Saddam did (but with Sunnis and very poor Shia now at the bottom of the list). Otherwise, she says, the allocation of power and security would not be so arbitrary. 14. Some of our staff do not take home their American cell phones, as it makes them a target. They use code names for friends and colleagues and contacts entered into Iraq cell phones. For at least six months, we have not been able to use any local staff for translation at on-camera press events. The ugly truth about everyday life in Baghdad (by the US ambassador)From The Independent:
CONFIDENTIAL MEMO
FROM: US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Baghdad TO: Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State SUBJECT: SNAPSHOTS FROM THE OFFICE SENSITIVE 2. Two of our three female employees report stepped up harassment beginning in mid-May. One, a Shia who favors Western clothing, was advised by an unknown woman in her Baghdad neighbourhood to wear a veil and not to drive her own car. She said some groups are pushing women to cover even their face, a step not taken in Iran even at its most conservative. 13. We cannot call employees in on weekends or holidays without blowing their "cover". A Sunni Arab female employee tells us family pressures and the inability to share details of her employment is very tough; she told her family she was in Jordon when we sent her on training to the US. Mounting criticism of the US at home among family members also makes her life difficult. She told us in mid-June that most of her family believes the US - which is widely perceived as fully controlling the country and tolerating the malaise - is punishing the population as Saddam did (but with Sunnis and very poor Shia now at the bottom of the list). Otherwise, she says, the allocation of power and security would not be so arbitrary. 14. Some of our staff do not take home their American cell phones, as it makes them a target. They use code names for friends and colleagues and contacts entered into Iraq cell phones. For at least six months, we have not been able to use any local staff for translation at on-camera press events. Tuesday, June 20, 2006Chocolate Covered Bacon These should be used on the beer battered deep fried bacon double quarter pounder.
A quick search on the internet yielded little information, which raised some serious concerns on the safety of combining two such powerfully substances. Several questions came to mind; maybe bacon and chocolate aren’t supposed to be combined? Maybe combining them could start the apocalypse? With complete careless recklessness for ourselves and the rest of the planet we decided it had to be done.
I’ve carefully documented the procedure for making Chocolate Covered Bacon (CCB) to serve as record incase I was killed during the combining process. Chocolate Covered BaconThese should be used on the beer battered deep fried bacon double quarter pounder.
A quick search on the internet yielded little information, which raised some serious concerns on the safety of combining two such powerfully substances. Several questions came to mind; maybe bacon and chocolate aren’t supposed to be combined? Maybe combining them could start the apocalypse? With complete careless recklessness for ourselves and the rest of the planet we decided it had to be done.
I’ve carefully documented the procedure for making Chocolate Covered Bacon (CCB) to serve as record incase I was killed during the combining process. North Pole Webcam
NOAA/PMEL's North Pole web cam deployments began in April 2002. The web cams operate during the Summer warmth and daylight (April - October) and are redeployed each Spring. The images from the cameras track the North Pole snow cover, weather conditions and the status of PMEL's North Pole instrumentation, which includes meteorological and ice sensors (seen in the camera imag |
