Little hand-painted people, left in London to fend for themselves.

Little hand-painted people, left in London to fend for themselves.

A Vatican official has said the Catholic church will excommunicate a medical team who performed Colombia's first legal abortion on an 11-year-old girl, who was eight weeks pregnant after being raped by her stepfather.

Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, the president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family, said in addition to the doctors and nurses, the measure could apply to "relatives, politicians and lawmakers" whom he called "protagonists in this abominable crime".

The girl, whose identity has not been released, had "fallen in the hands of evildoers", the cardinal said in an interview with local television on Tuesday.

A Vatican official has said the Catholic church will excommunicate a medical team who performed Colombia's first legal abortion on an 11-year-old girl, who was eight weeks pregnant after being raped by her stepfather.

Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, the president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family, said in addition to the doctors and nurses, the measure could apply to "relatives, politicians and lawmakers" whom he called "protagonists in this abominable crime".

The girl, whose identity has not been released, had "fallen in the hands of evildoers", the cardinal said in an interview with local television on Tuesday.

If you ever think about travel to Russia and visit Moscow, you might like visit Moscow subway. It’s definetely worth looking. First of all architecture of Moscow subway is astonishing, I think I’ll make a separate post about architecture of Moscow subway, because each stop, each station is so nice. During Soviet era amounts worth of millions dollars were invested in the construction of Moscow subway.

Each station is like museum, with huge patchworks occupying some walls, high ceilings and antique type chandeliers. And in those magnificent interriors nowadays you can meet people that look like really weird.

If you ever think about travel to Russia and visit Moscow, you might like visit Moscow subway. It’s definetely worth looking. First of all architecture of Moscow subway is astonishing, I think I’ll make a separate post about architecture of Moscow subway, because each stop, each station is so nice. During Soviet era amounts worth of millions dollars were invested in the construction of Moscow subway.

Each station is like museum, with huge patchworks occupying some walls, high ceilings and antique type chandeliers. And in those magnificent interriors nowadays you can meet people that look like really weird.

RadioShack Corp. notified about 400 workers by e-mail that they were being dismissed immediately as part of planned job cuts.

Employees at the Fort Worth headquarters got messages Tuesday morning saying: "The work force reduction notification is currently in progress. Unfortunately your position is one that has been eliminated."

Company officials had told employees in a series of meetings that layoff notices would be delivered electronically, spokeswoman Kay Jackson said. She said employees were invited to ask questions before Tuesday's notification on a company intranet site.

RadioShack Corp. notified about 400 workers by e-mail that they were being dismissed immediately as part of planned job cuts.

Employees at the Fort Worth headquarters got messages Tuesday morning saying: "The work force reduction notification is currently in progress. Unfortunately your position is one that has been eliminated."

Company officials had told employees in a series of meetings that layoff notices would be delivered electronically, spokeswoman Kay Jackson said. She said employees were invited to ask questions before Tuesday's notification on a company intranet site.

BUSH: Well those are two different questions, did we fight the wrong war, and absolutely -- I have no doubt -- the war came to our shores, remember that. We had a foreign policy that basically said, let's hope calm works. And we were attacked.

WILLIAMS: But those weren't Iraqis.

BUSH : They weren’t, no, I agree, they weren't Iraqis, nor did I ever say Iraq ordered that attack, but they're a part of, Iraq is part of the struggle against the terrorists. Now in terms of image, of course I worry about American image. We are great at TV, and yet we are getting crushed on the PR front. I personally do not believe that Saddam Hussein picked up the phone and said, “al-Qaida, attack America.”

BUSH: Well those are two different questions, did we fight the wrong war, and absolutely -- I have no doubt -- the war came to our shores, remember that. We had a foreign policy that basically said, let's hope calm works. And we were attacked.

WILLIAMS: But those weren't Iraqis.

BUSH : They weren’t, no, I agree, they weren't Iraqis, nor did I ever say Iraq ordered that attack, but they're a part of, Iraq is part of the struggle against the terrorists. Now in terms of image, of course I worry about American image. We are great at TV, and yet we are getting crushed on the PR front. I personally do not believe that Saddam Hussein picked up the phone and said, “al-Qaida, attack America.”

A PRIEST has died after trying to demonstrate how Jesus walked on water.

Evangelist preacher Franck Kabele, 35, told his congregation he could repeat the biblical miracle.

But he drowned after walking out to sea from a beach in the capital Libreville in Gabon, west Africa.

One eyewitness said: "He told churchgoers he'd had a revelation that if he had enough faith, he could walk on water like Jesus.

"He took his congregation to the beach saying he would walk across the Komo estuary, which takes 20 minutes by boat.

"He walked into the water, which soon passed over his head and he never came back."

A PRIEST has died after trying to demonstrate how Jesus walked on water.

Evangelist preacher Franck Kabele, 35, told his congregation he could repeat the biblical miracle.

But he drowned after walking out to sea from a beach in the capital Libreville in Gabon, west Africa.

One eyewitness said: "He told churchgoers he'd had a revelation that if he had enough faith, he could walk on water like Jesus.

"He took his congregation to the beach saying he would walk across the Komo estuary, which takes 20 minutes by boat.

"He walked into the water, which soon passed over his head and he never came back."

Well, it was fun while it lasted. I kind of enjoyed believing that the saga of lonelygirl15 and danielbeast was the real deal. Having directed a faux documentary myself, I always enjoy seeing people do new things with the form -- especially if I can't tell whether I'm being played or not.

But on August 15, the Bree and Daniel show jumped the shark. The producers just tried too hard to get across exposition and weren't clever enough about presenting it with veracity. This one episode pretty much destroys the entire series, at least in the actually-trying-to-fool-you mock-doc genre. Now I wonder why I ever believed.

What the hell am I talking about? Oh, you must not be addicted to YouTube yet. I'm talking about Bree, aka lonelygirl15, who has been telling her story on YouTube since mid-June. Her videos have more than one million views.

Here's the story:

Well, it was fun while it lasted. I kind of enjoyed believing that the saga of lonelygirl15 and danielbeast was the real deal. Having directed a faux documentary myself, I always enjoy seeing people do new things with the form -- especially if I can't tell whether I'm being played or not.

But on August 15, the Bree and Daniel show jumped the shark. The producers just tried too hard to get across exposition and weren't clever enough about presenting it with veracity. This one episode pretty much destroys the entire series, at least in the actually-trying-to-fool-you mock-doc genre. Now I wonder why I ever believed.

What the hell am I talking about? Oh, you must not be addicted to YouTube yet. I'm talking about Bree, aka lonelygirl15, who has been telling her story on YouTube since mid-June. Her videos have more than one million views.

Here's the story:

For days I've been slogging through a rain-soaked jungle in Indonesian New Guinea, on a quest to visit members of the Korowai tribe, among the last people on earth to practice cannibalism. Soon after first light this morning I boarded a pirogue, a canoe hacked out of a tree trunk, for the last stage of the journey, along the twisting Ndeiram Kabur River. Now the four paddlers bend their backs with vigor, knowing we will soon make camp for the night.

My guide, Kornelius Kembaren, has traveled among the Korowai for 13 years. But even he has never been this far upriver, because, he says, some Korowai threaten to kill outsiders who enter their territory. Some clans are said to fear those of us with pale skin, and Kembaren says many Korowai have never laid eyes on a white person. They call outsiders laleo ("ghost-demons").

Suddenly, screams erupt from around the bend. Moments later, I see a throng of naked men brandishing bows and arrows on the riverbank. Kembaren murmurs to the boatmen to stop paddling. "They're ordering us to come to their side of the river," he whispers to me. "It looks bad, but we can't escape. They'd quickly catch us if we tried."

For days I've been slogging through a rain-soaked jungle in Indonesian New Guinea, on a quest to visit members of the Korowai tribe, among the last people on earth to practice cannibalism. Soon after first light this morning I boarded a pirogue, a canoe hacked out of a tree trunk, for the last stage of the journey, along the twisting Ndeiram Kabur River. Now the four paddlers bend their backs with vigor, knowing we will soon make camp for the night.

My guide, Kornelius Kembaren, has traveled among the Korowai for 13 years. But even he has never been this far upriver, because, he says, some Korowai threaten to kill outsiders who enter their territory. Some clans are said to fear those of us with pale skin, and Kembaren says many Korowai have never laid eyes on a white person. They call outsiders laleo ("ghost-demons").

Suddenly, screams erupt from around the bend. Moments later, I see a throng of naked men brandishing bows and arrows on the riverbank. Kembaren murmurs to the boatmen to stop paddling. "They're ordering us to come to their side of the river," he whispers to me. "It looks bad, but we can't escape. They'd quickly catch us if we tried."

Europe's "Christian values" should be enshrined in a new version of the EU constitution, the German chancellor declared yesterday after meeting the Pope.

In remarks which will reopen the debate on religion in the EU, Angela Merkel threw her weight behind Pope Benedict's campaign to recognise Europe's Christian heritage. "We spoke about freedom of religion," she said after talks at the Pope's summer residence near Rome. "We spoke about the role of Europe and I emphasised the need for a constitution and that it should refer to our Christian values."

Europe's "Christian values" should be enshrined in a new version of the EU constitution, the German chancellor declared yesterday after meeting the Pope.

In remarks which will reopen the debate on religion in the EU, Angela Merkel threw her weight behind Pope Benedict's campaign to recognise Europe's Christian heritage. "We spoke about freedom of religion," she said after talks at the Pope's summer residence near Rome. "We spoke about the role of Europe and I emphasised the need for a constitution and that it should refer to our Christian values."

| Now, I don't mean to pick on Harris — my annoyance with her candidacy is quickly turning to pity — but this argument comes up from time to time. Usually it's phrased a little more articulately, but particularly among far-right conservatives, the notion that our laws "originated" from the Ten Commandments is very popular. And very wrong.

You don't need to be a constitutional scholar or have a doctorate in history to debunk the claim — you just need to look at the Commandments themselves. If the "basis" of our laws "originated" from the Decalogue, it'd be pretty obvious — we could look at the Ten Commandments and see how similar they are to our legal traditions.

The reality, of course, is that the opposite happens.

* The Commandments say people shall not worship false gods. Any laws against this? Strike one.
* The Commandments say people shall not make graven images. Any laws against this? Strike two.
* The Commandments say people shall not take the name of the Lord in vain. Any laws against this? Strike three.
* The Commandments say people must honor a Sabbath day. Any laws mandating this? Strike four.
* The Commandments say people must honor their parents. Any laws mandating this? Strike five.

| Now, I don't mean to pick on Harris — my annoyance with her candidacy is quickly turning to pity — but this argument comes up from time to time. Usually it's phrased a little more articulately, but particularly among far-right conservatives, the notion that our laws "originated" from the Ten Commandments is very popular. And very wrong.

You don't need to be a constitutional scholar or have a doctorate in history to debunk the claim — you just need to look at the Commandments themselves. If the "basis" of our laws "originated" from the Decalogue, it'd be pretty obvious — we could look at the Ten Commandments and see how similar they are to our legal traditions.

The reality, of course, is that the opposite happens.

* The Commandments say people shall not worship false gods. Any laws against this? Strike one.
* The Commandments say people shall not make graven images. Any laws against this? Strike two.
* The Commandments say people shall not take the name of the Lord in vain. Any laws against this? Strike three.
* The Commandments say people must honor a Sabbath day. Any laws mandating this? Strike four.
* The Commandments say people must honor their parents. Any laws mandating this? Strike five.

A delicious and fun new way to get your daily dose of blood! Instead of drinking it or bathing in it, now try spreading it! Although thick and rich, our regular, liquid Infant's Blood isn't quite thick enough for spreading. Our scientists have come up with a top-secret method of congealing infants' blood while still preserving all the nutrients and fresh, straight-from-the-baby flavor you've come to expect from Infants-Blood.info products!

A delicious and fun new way to get your daily dose of blood! Instead of drinking it or bathing in it, now try spreading it! Although thick and rich, our regular, liquid Infant's Blood isn't quite thick enough for spreading. Our scientists have come up with a top-secret method of congealing infants' blood while still preserving all the nutrients and fresh, straight-from-the-baby flavor you've come to expect from Infants-Blood.info products!

Dumped supermarket trolleys litter our rivers and canals. Now one artist is rescuing them... to create these incredible wire sculptures that celebrate our water wildlife...

Dumped supermarket trolleys litter our rivers and canals. Now one artist is rescuing them... to create these incredible wire sculptures that celebrate our water wildlife...

I spent two and a half rollercoaster days of highs and lows in Cambodia. Some of the experiences here are now seared into my conciousness forever changing the way I look at life as well as certain aspects of what I believe in.

In truth, I nearly deleted this gallery as it was painful to recall back the memories months ago, but then thats not going to help the kids here.

I spent two and a half rollercoaster days of highs and lows in Cambodia. Some of the experiences here are now seared into my conciousness forever changing the way I look at life as well as certain aspects of what I believe in.

In truth, I nearly deleted this gallery as it was painful to recall back the memories months ago, but then thats not going to help the kids here.

But back in 1999, in its Netflix-like heyday, Half.com was hot. And then it did something quite remarkable. As a publicity stunt, it bought a town — somewhere in Oregon — and renamed it. This news made the wire services, The New York Times and Wired Magazine.

So what ever happened to Half.com, Oregon, the first dot com city in the world?

But back in 1999, in its Netflix-like heyday, Half.com was hot. And then it did something quite remarkable. As a publicity stunt, it bought a town — somewhere in Oregon — and renamed it. This news made the wire services, The New York Times and Wired Magazine.

So what ever happened to Half.com, Oregon, the first dot com city in the world?

1. Main Page
2. Wikipedia
3. United States
4. JonBenét Ramsey
5. List of big-bust models and performers
6. Pluto
7. Irukandji jellyfish
8. Hurricane Katrina
9. Wiki
10. Jeff Hardy

1. Main Page
2. Wikipedia
3. United States
4. JonBenét Ramsey
5. List of big-bust models and performers
6. Pluto
7. Irukandji jellyfish
8. Hurricane Katrina
9. Wiki
10. Jeff Hardy

The FBI is investigating allegations that self-styled "Painter of Light" Thomas Kinkade and some of his top executives fraudulently induced investors to open galleries and then ruined them financially, former dealers contacted by federal agents said.

Investigators are focusing on issues raised in civil litigation by at least six former Thomas Kinkade Signature Gallery owners, people who have been contacted by the FBI said.

The ex-owners allege in arbitration claims that, among other things, the artist known for his dreamily luminous landscapes and street scenes used his Christian faith to persuade them to invest in the independently owned stores, which sell only Kinkade's work.

"They really knew how to bait the hook," said one former dealer who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the case. "They certainly used the Christian hook."

Kinkade has denied the allegations in the civil litigation.

The FBI is investigating allegations that self-styled "Painter of Light" Thomas Kinkade and some of his top executives fraudulently induced investors to open galleries and then ruined them financially, former dealers contacted by federal agents said.

Investigators are focusing on issues raised in civil litigation by at least six former Thomas Kinkade Signature Gallery owners, people who have been contacted by the FBI said.

The ex-owners allege in arbitration claims that, among other things, the artist known for his dreamily luminous landscapes and street scenes used his Christian faith to persuade them to invest in the independently owned stores, which sell only Kinkade's work.

"They really knew how to bait the hook," said one former dealer who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the case. "They certainly used the Christian hook."

Kinkade has denied the allegations in the civil litigation.

One or two is reasonable. Three and you're a little odd. Four is borderline weird-o. Five is certifiable craziness.

One or two is reasonable. Three and you're a little odd. Four is borderline weird-o. Five is certifiable craziness.

During President Bush's Katrina press conference, CNN's Kyra Phillips took a bathroom break and didn't realize that she left her mic on.

While Bush attempted to reassure people that the federal government will be ready if another natural disaster happens, CNN watchers got to listen to Phillips in the bathroom zipping up and chatting about her brother and "control freak" sister-in-law.

Then, Kyra again: “Of course brothers hafta be, you know, protective. [ZIP] Except for mine. I gotta be protective of him. Ugh, yeah. He’s married, three kids, but his wife is just a control freak.”

During President Bush's Katrina press conference, CNN's Kyra Phillips took a bathroom break and didn't realize that she left her mic on.

While Bush attempted to reassure people that the federal government will be ready if another natural disaster happens, CNN watchers got to listen to Phillips in the bathroom zipping up and chatting about her brother and "control freak" sister-in-law.

Then, Kyra again: “Of course brothers hafta be, you know, protective. [ZIP] Except for mine. I gotta be protective of him. Ugh, yeah. He’s married, three kids, but his wife is just a control freak.”

Genesis, Chapter 1

You'd think God would know exactly what He's doing, but He doesn't. He's a tinkerer. He tries something out—what if I move all the water around so dry land can appear? He checks it out. He sees "that it was good." Then He moves on to the next experiment—how about plants? Let's try plants.

This haphazardness may be why Creation seems so out of order. If God made light on the first day, what was giving the light, since the sun doesn't appear until the fourth day? And God tackles the major geological and astronomical features during the first two days—light, sky, water, earth. But Day 3 is a curious interruption—plant creation—that is followed by a return to massive universe-shaping projects on Day 4 with the sun, moon, and stars. The plant venture is a tangent—like putting a refrigerator into a house before you've put the roof on.

Genesis, Chapter 1

You'd think God would know exactly what He's doing, but He doesn't. He's a tinkerer. He tries something out—what if I move all the water around so dry land can appear? He checks it out. He sees "that it was good." Then He moves on to the next experiment—how about plants? Let's try plants.

This haphazardness may be why Creation seems so out of order. If God made light on the first day, what was giving the light, since the sun doesn't appear until the fourth day? And God tackles the major geological and astronomical features during the first two days—light, sky, water, earth. But Day 3 is a curious interruption—plant creation—that is followed by a return to massive universe-shaping projects on Day 4 with the sun, moon, and stars. The plant venture is a tangent—like putting a refrigerator into a house before you've put the roof on.

It is time to tell CBS and the other networks that enough is enough!.

Not content with all the profanity already on TV, CBS has decided to air the profanity-laden unedited version of "9/11" on Sept. 10. The decision by CBS is a slap in the face to the FCC and Congress, which recently raised indecency fines to $325,000 per incident.

"9/11," which will be shown in prime-time, contains a tremendous amount of hardcore profanity. CBS has stated they have not, and will not, make any cuts in the amount and degree of profanity. CBS will ignore the law. The network is suing the FCC over the indecency law, saying they should be able to show whatever they desire whenever they desire. CBS wants no limits.

Here was my letter:
Dear FCC,

I admire CBS's decision to air the show "9/11" uncut and raw as it should be experienced by the viewer. I do not agree with the thousands of letters from ignorant fundamentalists you will receive protesting such a broadcast. This event was a turning point in American history and the portrayal of it's severity should not be trivialized by censorship. Thank you for your understanding of this issue and your ability to look at the "greater good" of allowing a story to be told as it should.

Sincerely, one concerned American.

It is time to tell CBS and the other networks that enough is enough!.

Not content with all the profanity already on TV, CBS has decided to air the profanity-laden unedited version of "9/11" on Sept. 10. The decision by CBS is a slap in the face to the FCC and Congress, which recently raised indecency fines to $325,000 per incident.

"9/11," which will be shown in prime-time, contains a tremendous amount of hardcore profanity. CBS has stated they have not, and will not, make any cuts in the amount and degree of profanity. CBS will ignore the law. The network is suing the FCC over the indecency law, saying they should be able to show whatever they desire whenever they desire. CBS wants no limits.

Here was my letter:
Dear FCC,

I admire CBS's decision to air the show "9/11" uncut and raw as it should be experienced by the viewer. I do not agree with the thousands of letters from ignorant fundamentalists you will receive protesting such a broadcast. This event was a turning point in American history and the portrayal of it's severity should not be trivialized by censorship. Thank you for your understanding of this issue and your ability to look at the "greater good" of allowing a story to be told as it should.

Sincerely, one concerned American.

The opening shot can tell us a lot about how to interpret what follows. It can even be the whole movie in miniature. I'm going to talk about some of my favorites, and how they work, and then request that you contribute your own favorites for possible publication in future Scanners columns.

The opening shot can tell us a lot about how to interpret what follows. It can even be the whole movie in miniature. I'm going to talk about some of my favorites, and how they work, and then request that you contribute your own favorites for possible publication in future Scanners columns.

What has been termed, "positively Orwellian", by PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, is indeed frightening. It seems that the self-appointed "Decider", George W. Bush, has decided to "end public access to research materials" at EPA Regional libraries without Congressional consent. In an all out effort to impede research and public access, Bush has implemented a loosely covert operation to close down 26 technical libraries under the guise of a budgetary constraint move. Scientists are protesting, but at least 15 of the libraries will be closed by Sept. 30, 2006.

"Public access to EPA libraries and collections will end as soon as possible", according to a report found online at PEER, an acronym for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. All total, nearly 80,000 documents, not in digital format, are being boxed up and placed in infinite limbo status by the Bush Administration. The scene from the Raiders of the Lost Ark, where the Ark of the Covenant was wheeled into a massive sea of identical box crates, inside an enormous warehouse, comes vividly to mind.

What has been termed, "positively Orwellian", by PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, is indeed frightening. It seems that the self-appointed "Decider", George W. Bush, has decided to "end public access to research materials" at EPA Regional libraries without Congressional consent. In an all out effort to impede research and public access, Bush has implemented a loosely covert operation to close down 26 technical libraries under the guise of a budgetary constraint move. Scientists are protesting, but at least 15 of the libraries will be closed by Sept. 30, 2006.

"Public access to EPA libraries and collections will end as soon as possible", according to a report found online at PEER, an acronym for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. All total, nearly 80,000 documents, not in digital format, are being boxed up and placed in infinite limbo status by the Bush Administration. The scene from the Raiders of the Lost Ark, where the Ark of the Covenant was wheeled into a massive sea of identical box crates, inside an enormous warehouse, comes vividly to mind.

During the 1950s, much of the world was quivering with anticipation over the exciting prospects of nuclear power. Atomic energy promised to churn out clean, safe electricity that would be "too cheap to meter." It seemed that there was no energy problem too large or too small for the mighty atom to tackle during the glorious and modern Atomic Age.

It was during this honeymoon with nuclear energy– in 1957– that the Ford Motor Company unveiled the most ambitious project in their history: a concept vehicle which had a sleek futuristic look, emitted no harmful vapors, and offered incredible fuel mileage far beyond that of the most efficient cars ever built. This automobile-of-the-future was called the Ford Nucleon, named for it's highly unique design feature… a pint-size atomic fission reactor in the trunk.

During the 1950s, much of the world was quivering with anticipation over the exciting prospects of nuclear power. Atomic energy promised to churn out clean, safe electricity that would be "too cheap to meter." It seemed that there was no energy problem too large or too small for the mighty atom to tackle during the glorious and modern Atomic Age.

It was during this honeymoon with nuclear energy– in 1957– that the Ford Motor Company unveiled the most ambitious project in their history: a concept vehicle which had a sleek futuristic look, emitted no harmful vapors, and offered incredible fuel mileage far beyond that of the most efficient cars ever built. This automobile-of-the-future was called the Ford Nucleon, named for it's highly unique design feature… a pint-size atomic fission reactor in the trunk.

• There is no question that the Communist menace in French Indochina has been stopped. [American General J. Lawton Collins, Army Chief of Staff, 1951]
• Every quantitative measure we have shows we're winning the war. [Robert McNamara, American Secretary of Defence, 1962]
• The corner definitely has been turned towards victory in Vietnam. [Arthur D. Syvester, 1963]
• The Vietcong will just peter out. [American General Maxwell Taylor, October 1965]
• The Vietcong are going to collapse within weeks. Not months, but weeks. [Walt W. Rostow, American State Department policy planner, 1965]
• It looks very good. The other side is near collapse. In my opinion, victory is very near... I'll show you the charts. The charts are very good. [Walt W. Rostow, 1967]

• There is no question that the Communist menace in French Indochina has been stopped. [American General J. Lawton Collins, Army Chief of Staff, 1951]
• Every quantitative measure we have shows we're winning the war. [Robert McNamara, American Secretary of Defence, 1962]
• The corner definitely has been turned towards victory in Vietnam. [Arthur D. Syvester, 1963]
• The Vietcong will just peter out. [American General Maxwell Taylor, October 1965]
• The Vietcong are going to collapse within weeks. Not months, but weeks. [Walt W. Rostow, American State Department policy planner, 1965]
• It looks very good. The other side is near collapse. In my opinion, victory is very near... I'll show you the charts. The charts are very good. [Walt W. Rostow, 1967]

The Cinque (5 smartest people in the world)

The Cinque is a name proposed by Ronald Hoeflin in a letter to Johannes Veldhuis [former Mega Society membership officer] in the mid-1980's, to consist of the 5 smartest people in the world, and whenever a smarter person came along, one of the members of The Cinque would be bumped into an "emeritus" status. Johannes informed Hoeflin that "The Cinque" had been the name of some murderous secret society, so Hoeflin dropped the idea.

The Cinque (5 smartest people in the world)

The Cinque is a name proposed by Ronald Hoeflin in a letter to Johannes Veldhuis [former Mega Society membership officer] in the mid-1980's, to consist of the 5 smartest people in the world, and whenever a smarter person came along, one of the members of The Cinque would be bumped into an "emeritus" status. Johannes informed Hoeflin that "The Cinque" had been the name of some murderous secret society, so Hoeflin dropped the idea.

SALTILLO - A pastor who says his congregation voted not to accept black membership has resigned. The church says it never made such a decision.

The Rev. John Stevens says Fellowship Baptist Church in Saltillo voted not to approve blacks as members during a scheduled Sunday night business meeting Aug. 6. Because of the decision, Stevens stepped down from the Baptist Missionary Alliance congregation that has an average Sunday morning attendance of 30 people.

According to Stevens, the church made race an issue after a biracial 12-year-old boy, Joe, began attending Fellowship Baptist with his temporary guardians.

The church was "afraid Joe might come with his people and have blacks in the church," Stevens said. "I could not go along with that. There would always be a wall between us, so I resigned that night."

SALTILLO - A pastor who says his congregation voted not to accept black membership has resigned. The church says it never made such a decision.

The Rev. John Stevens says Fellowship Baptist Church in Saltillo voted not to approve blacks as members during a scheduled Sunday night business meeting Aug. 6. Because of the decision, Stevens stepped down from the Baptist Missionary Alliance congregation that has an average Sunday morning attendance of 30 people.

According to Stevens, the church made race an issue after a biracial 12-year-old boy, Joe, began attending Fellowship Baptist with his temporary guardians.

The church was "afraid Joe might come with his people and have blacks in the church," Stevens said. "I could not go along with that. There would always be a wall between us, so I resigned that night."

The military is fully aware of the existence of atheists in uniform and, in fact, makes specific allowance for us in the Oath of Enlistment. In the Oath there is a clear choice -- we can "swear" (basically before "God," the Great Pumpkin, whatever.) to serve our country, or we can "affirm" the Oath. There are NO Bibles or other sacred books used in this Oath, unlike for some political offices, and the only item required to be present is the American flag. All my re-enlistments were "affirmed," as were hundreds of others I witnessed.

Among these "affirmed" Oaths I personally counted dozens of soldiers wearing Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars, and at least five Silver Stars. Among them were Special Forces, Rangers, Intelligence Officers, Artillerymen, tank crewmen, helicopter crewmen, cooks, paratroopers, combat medics, truck drivers and Infantrymen.

No atheists in foxholes? I beg to differ.

Preachers may blather on about serving "for God and country," but, as any number of combat studies have proven, that is pure crap -- to use a traditional military term. Soldiers certainly do enlist for patriotic motives, and many of them no doubt have deeply-held religious beliefs, but that is not why, in the heat of combat, they risk their lives. They risk their lives for their fellow soldiers -- to not let their comrades down, and to assure the survival of their buddies (and themselves) by getting the job done as rapidly and brutally as possible.

Broadcasting a feel-good fluff-piece on religion is all well and good, but perpetuating the nonsense that only religious zealots defend their country is not only offensive, but demonstrably wrong. Most atheists and agnostics in uniform get stuck with the Army\'s favorite euphemism "No Religious Preference," on their dog tags, but mine simply said "Atheist" after some initial arguments with my superiors.

The military is fully aware of the existence of atheists in uniform and, in fact, makes specific allowance for us in the Oath of Enlistment. In the Oath there is a clear choice -- we can "swear" (basically before "God," the Great Pumpkin, whatever.) to serve our country, or we can "affirm" the Oath. There are NO Bibles or other sacred books used in this Oath, unlike for some political offices, and the only item required to be present is the American flag. All my re-enlistments were "affirmed," as were hundreds of others I witnessed.

Among these "affirmed" Oaths I personally counted dozens of soldiers wearing Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars, and at least five Silver Stars. Among them were Special Forces, Rangers, Intelligence Officers, Artillerymen, tank crewmen, helicopter crewmen, cooks, paratroopers, combat medics, truck drivers and Infantrymen.

No atheists in foxholes? I beg to differ.

Preachers may blather on about serving "for God and country," but, as any number of combat studies have proven, that is pure crap -- to use a traditional military term. Soldiers certainly do enlist for patriotic motives, and many of them no doubt have deeply-held religious beliefs, but that is not why, in the heat of combat, they risk their lives. They risk their lives for their fellow soldiers -- to not let their comrades down, and to assure the survival of their buddies (and themselves) by getting the job done as rapidly and brutally as possible.

Broadcasting a feel-good fluff-piece on religion is all well and good, but perpetuating the nonsense that only religious zealots defend their country is not only offensive, but demonstrably wrong. Most atheists and agnostics in uniform get stuck with the Army\'s favorite euphemism "No Religious Preference," on their dog tags, but mine simply said "Atheist" after some initial arguments with my superiors.

The following flight pattern visualizations are the result of experiments leading to the project Celestial Mechanics by Scott Hessels and Gabriel Dunne. FAA data was parsed and plotted using the Processing programming environment. The frames were composited with Adobe After Effects and/or Maya and the final dome piece was highlighted at SIGGRAPH 2005 in the NVIDIA Immersive Dome Experience.

The following flight pattern visualizations are the result of experiments leading to the project Celestial Mechanics by Scott Hessels and Gabriel Dunne. FAA data was parsed and plotted using the Processing programming environment. The frames were composited with Adobe After Effects and/or Maya and the final dome piece was highlighted at SIGGRAPH 2005 in the NVIDIA Immersive Dome Experience.

After reading about blogger Raed Jarrar's experience at JFK (he was forced to take off a shirt with Arabic writing on it or miss his flight), I finally stopped being depressed about the war on terror and began being proactively pissed off. I made this shirt, which says "I am not a terrorist" in Arabic. I plan to wear it every time I go to the airport from now on.

We have already given away too many freedoms in the name of war on terror. Freedom of speech cannot be one of them.

After reading about blogger Raed Jarrar's experience at JFK (he was forced to take off a shirt with Arabic writing on it or miss his flight), I finally stopped being depressed about the war on terror and began being proactively pissed off. I made this shirt, which says "I am not a terrorist" in Arabic. I plan to wear it every time I go to the airport from now on.

We have already given away too many freedoms in the name of war on terror. Freedom of speech cannot be one of them.

When we think of pensioners in Florida, retirement communities, crates of Lipitor, and canasta tournaments naturally come to mind. It's the place where your bubby goes for early-bird specials and balmy winters.

So who could have imagined that the Sunshine State was filled with so many elderly cons, senior citizens who haven't let advanced age get in the way of committing serious crimes. Here are some of the offenses for which those pictured in the following mug shots have been convicted: cocaine trafficking; grand theft; gun possession; aggravated assault; auto theft; fraud; sexual battery; child abuse; witness intimidation; and drunk driving.

When we think of pensioners in Florida, retirement communities, crates of Lipitor, and canasta tournaments naturally come to mind. It's the place where your bubby goes for early-bird specials and balmy winters.

So who could have imagined that the Sunshine State was filled with so many elderly cons, senior citizens who haven't let advanced age get in the way of committing serious crimes. Here are some of the offenses for which those pictured in the following mug shots have been convicted: cocaine trafficking; grand theft; gun possession; aggravated assault; auto theft; fraud; sexual battery; child abuse; witness intimidation; and drunk driving.

President Bush is currently responsible for two ground wars; a crisis in Israel and Lebanon; a midterm election; a sagging housing market; the upcoming hurricane season; a laundry list of scandals; an on-going attempt to avoid coming off like a retarded frat-boy bully; and the day-to-day struggle to basically run the nation -- that is, pretend to run the nation. Looking back on 2006, he's faced numerous other critical events at home and abroad including gas prices, immigration, the Dubai ports deal, the Plame investigation, and his vice president shooting a lawyer in the face.

Yet, he's somehow found time to read not one, not five, not 20, but 60 books this year alone (via Crooks & Liars). According to US News & World Report, he's in a competition with Karl Rove to see who can read more books over the course of the year. Rove is trailing by 10 books, until November when Diebold will put him up by three.

Of course, I don't begrudge someone who chooses to read that much literature. That is, if that someone is a student or an author or a shut-in or a prison inmate or simply a person who is fortunate enough to have a buttload of free time. But the president, any president, shouldn't have more free time than you and I.

President Bush is currently responsible for two ground wars; a crisis in Israel and Lebanon; a midterm election; a sagging housing market; the upcoming hurricane season; a laundry list of scandals; an on-going attempt to avoid coming off like a retarded frat-boy bully; and the day-to-day struggle to basically run the nation -- that is, pretend to run the nation. Looking back on 2006, he's faced numerous other critical events at home and abroad including gas prices, immigration, the Dubai ports deal, the Plame investigation, and his vice president shooting a lawyer in the face.

Yet, he's somehow found time to read not one, not five, not 20, but 60 books this year alone (via Crooks & Liars). According to US News & World Report, he's in a competition with Karl Rove to see who can read more books over the course of the year. Rove is trailing by 10 books, until November when Diebold will put him up by three.

Of course, I don't begrudge someone who chooses to read that much literature. That is, if that someone is a student or an author or a shut-in or a prison inmate or simply a person who is fortunate enough to have a buttload of free time. But the president, any president, shouldn't have more free time than you and I.

My 6-year-old was traumatized
Bryan Flynn

On Tuesday, August 8, I took my family out to Daniel’s for groceries. I have a 6-year-old daughter who learned how to read from the Barney and Friends book series. As we stepped out of the family van, she was very excited to see a Barney movie being advertised on the Daniel’s Market lit sign. She said, “Look, Daddy, a Barney movie!” I couldn’t see it, so she guided my eyes to the vulgar obscenity arranged there on the sign. “Look! Up there! Barney’s p***s!” I was shocked when I saw the words arranged on the sign. I quickly averted her eyes and escorted her into the store.

Since then, she has not stopped mentioning Barney’s p***s. This has shaken the bedrock of our family. I made an emergency call to our church’s pastor about this bombshell in my daughter’s life and he is unsure how it will affect her future.

This sort of sick joke is typical of unlawful teenagers across the country, but I just didn’t think the little town of Fallbrook was home to such hoodlums. I am frightened for my daughter’s future; she won’t stop bringing up this horrible movie title! I would like Daniel’s Market to apologize for traumatizing my daughter, and I would like the pranksters to know just how vile their criminal act was.

My 6-year-old was traumatized
Bryan Flynn

On Tuesday, August 8, I took my family out to Daniel’s for groceries. I have a 6-year-old daughter who learned how to read from the Barney and Friends book series. As we stepped out of the family van, she was very excited to see a Barney movie being advertised on the Daniel’s Market lit sign. She said, “Look, Daddy, a Barney movie!” I couldn’t see it, so she guided my eyes to the vulgar obscenity arranged there on the sign. “Look! Up there! Barney’s p***s!” I was shocked when I saw the words arranged on the sign. I quickly averted her eyes and escorted her into the store.

Since then, she has not stopped mentioning Barney’s p***s. This has shaken the bedrock of our family. I made an emergency call to our church’s pastor about this bombshell in my daughter’s life and he is unsure how it will affect her future.

This sort of sick joke is typical of unlawful teenagers across the country, but I just didn’t think the little town of Fallbrook was home to such hoodlums. I am frightened for my daughter’s future; she won’t stop bringing up this horrible movie title! I would like Daniel’s Market to apologize for traumatizing my daughter, and I would like the pranksters to know just how vile their criminal act was.

Tsar Bomba (Russian: Царь-бомба, literally "Emperor-bomb") is the Western name for the largest, most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated. Developed by the Soviet Union, the ~50 megaton bomb was codenamed Ivan (Russian: Иван) by its developers.

The bomb was tested on October 30, 1961 in Novaya Zemlya, an island in the Arctic Sea. The device was scaled down from its original design of 100 megatons to minimize nuclear fallout.

Due to its enormous size, the bomb was not practical for warfare purposes, and was created primarily for propaganda use in the intense rivalry of the Cold War. There is no evidence that any other bomb of similar power was ever made.

Tsar Bomba (Russian: Царь-бомба, literally "Emperor-bomb") is the Western name for the largest, most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated. Developed by the Soviet Union, the ~50 megaton bomb was codenamed Ivan (Russian: Иван) by its developers.

The bomb was tested on October 30, 1961 in Novaya Zemlya, an island in the Arctic Sea. The device was scaled down from its original design of 100 megatons to minimize nuclear fallout.

Due to its enormous size, the bomb was not practical for warfare purposes, and was created primarily for propaganda use in the intense rivalry of the Cold War. There is no evidence that any other bomb of similar power was ever made.

Very well made CGI footage of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb blowing up

Very well made CGI footage of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb blowing up

This photo came from a collection of over 400 Polaroid photos of strippers trying out for dancing jobs at a So. Cal club. They were taken from the late 1960's thru the early 1970's. I bought the entire collection for $10.

This photo came from a collection of over 400 Polaroid photos of strippers trying out for dancing jobs at a So. Cal club. They were taken from the late 1960's thru the early 1970's. I bought the entire collection for $10.

Abstract:
The incidence of rape in the United States has declined 85% in the past 25 years while access to pornography has become freely available to teenagers and adults. The Nixon and Reagan Commissions tried to show that exposure to pornographic materials produced social violence. The reverse may be true: that pornography has reduced social violence.

Abstract:
The incidence of rape in the United States has declined 85% in the past 25 years while access to pornography has become freely available to teenagers and adults. The Nixon and Reagan Commissions tried to show that exposure to pornographic materials produced social violence. The reverse may be true: that pornography has reduced social violence.

RainbowPuke exists so that fans of puking rainbows have a place to make their collective voices heard. In this celebration of the greatest dichotomy, you don't have to be an artist to join in the wave of multi-colored vomit that's sweeping the world.

RainbowPuke exists so that fans of puking rainbows have a place to make their collective voices heard. In this celebration of the greatest dichotomy, you don't have to be an artist to join in the wave of multi-colored vomit that's sweeping the world.

A few years back we executed a mission that involved repeating time. Ever since then I've wanted to try something that stopped or slowed down time. How would people react if they found themselves surrounded by people moving forward at a different rate or time (or not moving at all)? I decided the Home Depot on 23rd Street in Manhattan was the perfect place to try this out for two reasons. 1) The assonance in "Slo-Mo Home Depot" sounds funny. 2) The mere existence of a Home Depot, an enormous behemoth of a store, on our tiny island is hilarious. It also helped that the store is located on the exact same block as the Best Buy we invaded earlier this year.

A few years back we executed a mission that involved repeating time. Ever since then I've wanted to try something that stopped or slowed down time. How would people react if they found themselves surrounded by people moving forward at a different rate or time (or not moving at all)? I decided the Home Depot on 23rd Street in Manhattan was the perfect place to try this out for two reasons. 1) The assonance in "Slo-Mo Home Depot" sounds funny. 2) The mere existence of a Home Depot, an enormous behemoth of a store, on our tiny island is hilarious. It also helped that the store is located on the exact same block as the Best Buy we invaded earlier this year.

By the end of the year, American women will be able to walk into any pharmacy and buy emergency contraceptive pills without a prescription as a result of a Food and Drug Administration decision announced yesterday.

The decision means women will not have to go to a doctor first as long as they can prove they are 18 or older to a pharmacist, who will keep the drugs behind a counter. Younger teenagers will still need a prescription, and the pills will not be sold at gas stations, convenience stores or other outlets that do not have pharmacists.

By the end of the year, American women will be able to walk into any pharmacy and buy emergency contraceptive pills without a prescription as a result of a Food and Drug Administration decision announced yesterday.

The decision means women will not have to go to a doctor first as long as they can prove they are 18 or older to a pharmacist, who will keep the drugs behind a counter. Younger teenagers will still need a prescription, and the pills will not be sold at gas stations, convenience stores or other outlets that do not have pharmacists.

The American Falls have frozen over on six occasions since the keeping of records began. Each were attributed to ice jams that have actually curtailed the flow of the American Falls to mere trickles.

Unlike the Horseshoe Falls (which has never frozen over), the American Falls are susceptible to freezing because of the small amount of water flow. Normally the American Falls has a peak mean flow of 10,000 cubic feet of water per second. The winter mean water flow is reduced to less than 8,000 cubic feet of water per second. This minimal flow is barely sufficient to cover the rock face of the Falls. During harsh winters, ice frequently built up at eastern end of Goat Island causing an ice dam to reduce the water flow to the northern channel which feeds water to the American Falls. As a result water flow is restricted sufficiently that any remaining waters quickly freeze over.

The installation of the ice boom at the mouth of Lake Erie, the building of the International water control dam (which regulates water flow) and milder winters have all but eliminated the possibility of the American Falls ever completely freezing over in modern times.

The American Falls have frozen over on six occasions since the keeping of records began. Each were attributed to ice jams that have actually curtailed the flow of the American Falls to mere trickles.

Unlike the Horseshoe Falls (which has never frozen over), the American Falls are susceptible to freezing because of the small amount of water flow. Normally the American Falls has a peak mean flow of 10,000 cubic feet of water per second. The winter mean water flow is reduced to less than 8,000 cubic feet of water per second. This minimal flow is barely sufficient to cover the rock face of the Falls. During harsh winters, ice frequently built up at eastern end of Goat Island causing an ice dam to reduce the water flow to the northern channel which feeds water to the American Falls. As a result water flow is restricted sufficiently that any remaining waters quickly freeze over.

The installation of the ice boom at the mouth of Lake Erie, the building of the International water control dam (which regulates water flow) and milder winters have all but eliminated the possibility of the American Falls ever completely freezing over in modern times.