October 2009 Archives

Under the category of "define yourself, lest your enemies do it for you" comes this definition of socialism by actual socialists.

Hint: Barack Obama isn't a socialist. He isn't even a liberal in the traditional sense of the word. The GOP and FAUXNews are - as usual - lying to you. I wish we could land a liberal in the White House. I'm not sure it has ever happened.

Whether you accept what this article says or not, it sure is a hell of a lot more coherent and rational than any bullshit I've heard from the reich wing in recent years.

A neat gallery of many of the guys under the monster masks.

Weird coincidence: I once worked for a guy who was Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. He was our casino manager at Jumer's for a time.

This morning I heard that I'd better improve on my taking the trash out routine if I want to stay useful at home.

According to a new bit o'research, scientists can now make sperm and eggs from stem cells. Yes, that's right, men are no longer needed for reproduction.

Granted, this will be cool for some gay couples who can now genuinely have children that have the genes of both parents. Hopefully that should be enough to silence the anti-gay marriage bigots, but I doubt anything less than a tac nuke on their hate-filled homes would accomplish that.

That said, as far as the male part of the species is concerned, we've got some reason for worry.

Cliff Lee shut down the Mercenaries Yankees, and Chase Utley treated The House That Exorbitant Cable Fees Built like his own personal Southern marriage and the Phillies won Game 1 of the World Series.

Granted, I'm not a huge Phillies fan, but the team seems to be full of good guys and hell, I'd root for a team full of cracked-crazed murderers over the Yankees. Besides, I'm a National League guy anyway.

There are a couple of shots of a very nonchalant Cliff lee catch I'd like to pass along. Check 'em out.

Granted, it is only one game, but a quote from this recap tells the tale:

They call it a long series, but Lee just shortened it. If he's going to be Beckett, or Schilling, or Morris, he just shortened it a lot.

A couple of more notes on the Yankees. Turns out that on top of gouging their fans for seats, they also like to jerk their fans around as to whether tickets are available or not.

And then there's this priceless image of Mayor Bloomberg "enjoying the game":

Up next, the possible restoration of the Legend of Pedro Rodriguez.

Yes, the Phillies may yet lose the whole damn thing, but today feels good.

John Stewart points out that John McCain is still an idiot and should stay away from technology.

Okay, I'm sick - and you all already knew that - but I have had this open in a tab and keep referring back to it when I need a laugh.

If you've followed US politics for any length this decade (and longer) you've been assured of one thing at all times: Joe Lieberman is a backstabbing piece of shit. By the way, a HUGE middle finger to the state of Connecticut for sending this a-hole back to the Senate.

Anyway, here is a list you can vote on on the biggest weasel stunt by Droopy Dawg.

I've been pretty down on Harry.

Ever since he hemmed and hawed last year on Barack Obama's candidacy (because his kid was Shrillary's state chairman) he's seemed pretty damn spineless. His so-called work as majority leader has been equally flaccid.

But he finally came through on inserting a public option into the Senate's health reform bill. And since he's asking for help, here's a link to a petition he's pushing to show other senators that they need to get behind this. So, since he's actually on the side of Americans for once, I'm asking you to sign the thing too.

Thanks.

There's a lot of things I don't like messed with and books are usually one of those things. Fortunately, the guys Kerouac's Big Sur to music did a great job. Check it out.

Click here for more.

I am looooong since being willing to eat Pizza Hut, but I love this.

Granted, it's not a Deliverator, but it's a damn cool concept. If that last sentence confused you, you really, really need to read Snow Crash.

Now this is good to know. Apparently scalding your hands like a lobster doesn't make that much of a difference versus washing them in a temperature near the boiling point of lava.

Someday I'm gonna have a garage and be able to do stuff like this.

Pretty interesting stuff that might keep you safe this winter.

Meet Larry Whitten. According to him, he's no racist.

Nah, he just hates Mexicans and makes them change their names to "be more normal" or something.

Now I've been to Taos and it's a pretty moderate place. Hell, Santa Fe and that whole area kind of is. So, why some Latino-hating peckerwood from Texas thought it would be cool to piss off the locals who have been speaking Spanish since, I don't know, the 1600s is beyond me.

Reposting in it's entirety because I'm too flabbergasted at the stupidity of people to come up with anything coherent.

I've been trying to figure out why the establishment press is so anxious to defend Fox News Channel, considering how Fox News Channel is dedicated to bludgeoning them as being "liberal" and "in the tank" for the president. After all, they didn't go after the Bushies when New York Times reporters were kicked off Air Force One or when Helen Thomas was booted to the back of the press room. Why defend Fox News Channel?

The best conclusion I can reach is that by defending Fox News Channel, they're attempting to further dispel the false perception of a liberal bias. It's the same reason they self-consciously overcompensate on other aspects of the news -- lopsided panels, repeating wingnut conspiracy theories and so forth.

So they're willing to defend a network that hates them for the sake of seeming not liberal. In other words, they'll defend wingnut conservatism in order to distance themselves from liberalism.

And people still think there's a liberal bias?

A refresher course on the rules of the internet.

I heard two really fascinating interviews with RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan this week. He has just published a new book called The Tao of Wu, which I'll probably be checking out. For now, give these a listen

First off, an interview from earlier this week on Marketplace.

Next up an interview I heard on NPR's All Things Considered.

Enjoy!

Love it.

Now, to the non-Democrats who may be watching today I want everybody to know we believe in a strong and loyal opposition. I believe in a two-party system where ideas are tested and assumptions are challenged -- because that's how we can move this country forward. But what I reject is when some folks decide to sit on the sidelines and root for failure on health care or on energy or on our economy. What I reject is when some folks say we should go back to the past policies when it was those very same policies that got us into this mess in the first place.

Another way of putting it is when, you know, I'm busy and Nancy's busy with our mop cleaning up somebody else's mess -- we don't want somebody sitting back saying, you're not holding the mop the right way. Why don't you grab a mop, why don't you help clean up. You're not mopping fast enough. That's a socialist mop. Grab a mop -- let's get to work.

It seems there is a difference between Democrats and Republicans.

Ronald Reagan famously wanted to declare ketchup as a vegetable. Democrats want to remove juice as a fruit and vegetable and make our public school meals more nutritious.

This is exactly the kind of change we voted to have in this country.

I'm not sure what it is but I find this girl really attractive. Acting ability is so-so from what I've seen but maybe she'll improve?

Gallery 1

Gallery 2

Gallery 3

In Dallas, cops have been writing illegal citations for those either speak no English or broken English. That's Texas in a nutshell for ya. Give us an appointed illiterate as "president" and then bust people driving their kids around for not being able to do the same as Lil' Bush.

In Geneva High School in Illinois, it's a double whammy as a teacher bashes both gays and blacks in the same breath.

Yeah, you know what? Keep your white sheet and hood in the closet for your weekend activities and stop spreading hate in public schools.

Frank lays it out there and writes the letter the government should be writing to Murdoch. In short, his "news" channel is fomenting violence and inspiring racist yahoos to go kill people in our government, from the President on down. Basically, he should turn down the treasonous crazy lest he be remembered as the guy who aided and abetted the next variant of the Oklahoma City bombing.

Dear Rupert Murdoch, since you are responsible for what is on Fox News I have a question for you: Do you ever wonder how you'll be remembered by Americans and the world (not to mention your children) if someone takes a shot at President Obama, and when asked why they did it, quotes the misinformation spouted by Fox News as their "reason"?

You have dozens of far right and dangerous and/or crazy seeming commentators working for you but lets just talk about one as an example of the rest. What of Glenn Beck?

Does the name Father Charles Coughlin ring a bell? Do you want to be remembered as the facilitator of today's version of that deranged radio personality and hater who hounded President Roosevelt? What if a Coughlin devotee had assassinated Roosevelt? Instead of just being a nasty footnote to American history Coughlin would be remembered as another John Wilkes Booth. What if Coughlin had had someone with money and virtually unlimited influence backing him and amplifying his remarks? How would we feel about his backer?

Glenn Beck is a second rate, not terribly bright Coughlin-type demagogue with rather dimwitted followers. And you are the paymaster making his silliness dangerous by giving him a voice that would otherwise be heard only by those who happened to hear him barking at the moon on some lonely street corner.

You've given today's Coughlins -- the haters -- a national platform. And they have taken the lies of the "birthers", "deathers", "Obama-is-the-Antichristers" etc., nationwide. It was a bad day for America when you became a citizen for the sole purpose of purchasing TV stations and invading us with your far right agenda. But you've gone way past politics, even the politics of hate.

You have legitimized actual insanity by widespread repetition of extremist racist and religion-based lies to the sort of people who believe the earth is 6000 years old, that Jesus will come back soon and send everyone not like them to Hell, that Obama is the Antichrist. In other words you've got the keys to the national asylum, are stirring up the inmates and threatening to unlock the door!

Here's a sample (compiled with the help of Media Matters and the online magazine Crooks and Liars) of just a small stock of the incendiary rhetoric and bare-faced lies your money pays for.

Fox News host Glenn Beck has:

# said President Obama has, "a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture,"

# flirted with the idea that FEMA is building detention camps,

# suggested that President Obama is purposefully "tanking" the economy to force young people to work for AmeriCorps,

# said that Obama is "moving us away from our republic and into a system of fascism,"

# stated: "We are a country that is headed towards socialism, totalitarianism, beyond your wildest imagination..."

# says Obama "Wants you to work as a bureaucratic slave to government."

# said: "President Obama, why don't you just set us on fire? For the love of Pete, what are you doing? Do you not hear -- do you not hear the cries of people who are saying stop? We would like some sanity in our country for a second! We didn't vote to lose the republic."

# ran several segments, including one on his radio show, promoting the concept of the secession of Texas from the Union,

# promotes "one world government" paranoia, including a supposed plot to put us all on a global currency controlled by the New World Order,

# warned his audience about Obama's supposed secret plot to grab our guns,

# speculated that it is actually liberal "political correctness" that inspires right-wingers to go on murderous killing rampages...

Rupert Murdoch; is there a limit? If Beck was shrieking, "Kill the uppity nigger in the White House!" would that be okay too? Would it be any more of an incitement to violence than what Beck is saying now?

You can't claim you're not having a baleful impact. How about this? According to the Boston Globe ("Secret Service Strained" October 18, 09),

The unprecedented number of death threats against President Obama, a rise in racist hate groups, and a new wave of antigovernment fervor threaten to overwhelm the US Secret Service, according to government officials and reports, raising new questions about the 144-year-old agency's overall mission.

Where is this "new wave of antigovernment fervor" coming from? Media barons have started a war or two before but I don't recall one fomenting the climate wherein an assassination attempt becomes virtually inevitable. Far fetched? Who stirred up that nut in Pittsburgh who shot down three police officers because he believed that Obama was going to order cops to take away his guns?

Don't you know that here in America we have a rather large angry far right well-armed subculture thriving on imagined insults and nursing a perpetual grievance against the "other"? Don't you have any qualms about feeding them the red meat of hate, lies and incitement?

However you got to this point you still have a choice: reign in FOX News, fire Beck, speak out to undo some of the lies you have told through your people about our President, our country and the world, or go down in history as the man who fed the unhinged haters lies until one or more of them boiled over in some desperate act and lashed out.

You are playing Russian roulette with American history. When your name is forever linked to an act of history-derailing domestic terror your billions won't save you from the place in history reserved for a select group of monsters. When your name is linked to our next Oklahoma-type bombing or the killing of one of our elected leaders, nothing else you did in your life will be remembered.

Sincerely,

This is just a damn funny list, with at least one big surprise for ya.

Enjoy.

During the Presidential election campaign last year the differences between the two candidates was stark. While Obama was attached surgically to his CrackBerry and his staff leveraged social media from their Macbooks, McCain admitted having little or no knowledge or interest in modern technologies like email or the Internet.

It seems suspicious that the Internet is suddenly a major concern for him. Maybe he just missed seeing his name in the paper.

McCain may not know how to operate a mouse, but he sure knows how to be the cable companies' bitch. He is moving to kill net neutrality, a stunt that must be hard to do while on his knees.

Where the hell was this when Gabriel was born?

I can't tell you how many times I use these graph paper templates for quick prints.

Since it took me forever to find the link this morning I figured I would blog them so I could find them easier the next time.

Here are some real sensible things that you can either do - or have your elected officials push for - that would really make a hell of a difference in this country.

I mean, the least you can do it try, right? That is, if you care enough to even attempt some change for the better.

Check out this video of California's White Mountains and Yosemite and check out other's from the same photographer. Good stuff.

Timescapes Timelapse: Mountain Light from Tom @ Timescapes on Vimeo.

Hopefully I can catch the series online or something but this is a good writeup as to why CNN actually produced a relevant piece of reporting.

Maybe they can fire Lou Dobbs, put Larry King out to pasture, fix Alex Castellanos, muzzle Wolf Blitzer and maybe be a reputable news organization again.

Historical reference: related to that Falcon Henne kid who tricked the news into believing he could ride a glorified party balloon.

As if you needed more proof that humans are probably bad for our planet...

So, I've been on a few cruise ships and have had that moment at sea where I wondered what the hell would happen if the damn thing sprung a leak. Sure, they show you where your escape ship is and all - and yes, I was only in the Caribbean - but that somehow didn't seem to be enough for me.

That's why I really, really like this water distilling buoy thingy. If they had these on the ships I have been on, I'd probably had kept one in my cabin or attached to me at all times.

Look, sir, droids!

What else do I have to say, but hey! robots!.

Gardening bot design:

Traveling bot buddy:

Climbing bot:

I was going to make a series of posts related to the cool designs I found on Yanko, but decided to just lump a bunch together in one post and post others as they interest me.

Starting off, the SoundBulb, a wireless speaker in a light bulb.

Next, the E-Note, basically a digital Post-it you can reuse.

Now here's something I could really use. That, or less soda, probably the latter. Either way, it is a device that decontaminates soda cans.

Something we all could use, meat freshness labels that change color as the meat stays longer in the package.

For the ultimate traveller, a "third eye" that gives you everything you need to know about what you are looking at in the viewer.

And, the possible future of air travel: a huge airship-looking thing made to carry up to 1,500 passengers.

That's it for now. Enjoy!

A couple of galleries concerning actions figures and people with too much time of their hands.

Here is another.

Alright, so Modern Met has led me to Yanko. Expect more posts related to stuff I find on both sites in the near future.

If these ever become reality, I'm definitely keeping a couple in the car just in case.

Heard this on the way home today and had a good chuckle. Read the backstory and then watch the following and enjoy.

I laughed. A lot. Too bad this article accurately reflects a good portion of our political system.

You really can't make this shit up. Amazing stuff if a bit childish in my level of enjoyment.

My favorite part:

Men who voted for Obama maintained stable testosterone levels, while men who voted for McCain saw those levels drop more than 25 percent.

We cannot continue transferring the nation's wealth to those at the apex of the economic pyramid -- which is what we have been doing for the past three decades or so -- while hoping that someday, maybe, the benefits of that transfer will trickle down in the form of steady employment and improved living standards for the many millions of families struggling to make it from day to day.

That money is never going to trickle down. It's a fairy tale. We're crazy to continue believing it.

In short, Bob Herbert notes that we really, really, really need to stop bailing out rich people. They never learn, they never share, and they can never - ever - have enough money.

Jake Tapper of ABC is apparently trying to get a job at FAUXNews. He was apparently indignant that the White House has had enough of FAUX's shit. Media Matters relays the many, many reasons Fox is a pack of biased fools.

Even more examples here.

A frightening look at the job losses incurred during the Bush Recession, by both time and location.

The BBC tries to get to the bottom of this particular brand of political name calling.

What is clear is that calling someone a fascist delves into muddy waters. What is for sure though, a fascist is definitely not a liberal. You are either talking about racists, or corporate-owned government types who hate democracy, or just general jingoistic thugs.

While this may not necessarily mean the GOP is fascist - at least applies to every Republican - it sure as hell makes it a useless tag to put on most Democrats, particularly the President.

Granted, most of you probably already knew this, but I just wanted an authoritative source to add more proof that whoever is running or ramrodding the GOP are complete idiots divorced from reality, logic, or truth.

Even when the Yankees are winning, the umpires can't help but to fall over themselves and make shitty calls that benefit the Yankees.

I swear, if it isn't some kid actively interfering with the game, it's the umps.

This was a pretty intriguing series on the modern family farm.

Here and Now covered the series last week. Links to each day's audio follow.

Monday - Craig and Lavon Griffieon, near Ankeny, Iowa

Tuesday - Eddie and Dorothy Wise, Nash County, North Carolina

Wednesday - Hager Family, Colrain, Massachusetts

Thursday - Pecusa Family, Hopi Reservation, Arizona

Friday - Jeff and Annie Main, Yolo County, California

This was a frightening story to listen to, but chock full of information you can use.

For more detailed info, consult the New York Times series on the subject of our drinking water.

In short, Republicans who soullessly say we should not reform health care are complicit in allowing things like the following happen.

Yeah, I know, it may be an unfair generalization, but these are the same folks who stand in the same party as racists, bigots, wife beaters, child rapists, misogynist "compassionate conservatives", folks okay with gang rapes brought to you by Halliburton, Talibangelicals, gay murderers, etc.

At some point, some of the shit has to stick.

These health care stories happen every day. Don't believe me? Do a quick search on HuffPo, or Bob Cesca's site. Troll the internet. Americans are suffering and the bastards cashing checks from the health and insurance lobbies are complicit in this, regardless of party affiliation.

I really hate these ads. But they also make me laugh, particularly after learning some more about them.

They are paid for by "Americans Against Food Taxes", which is basically paid for by convenience stores and beverage companies.

From Sourcewatch:

"Americans Against Food Taxes is a coalition funded by the beverage industry which consists of major restaurant chains, food and soft drink manufacturers and their associated lobbying groups. It was organized by the American Beverage Association to fight a proposed three to ten cent tax on soda, sugary drinks and energy drinks to help fund health care reform in the United States ... its extensive membership consists mainly of lobbying groups for packaged food and soda companies, chain restaurant corporations and the world's large food and soft drink manufacturers and distributors, including the Coca-Cola Company, Dr. Pepper-Royal Crown Bottling Co., PepsiCo, Canada Dry Bottling Co. of New York, the Can Manufacturers Institute, 7-Eleven Convenience Stores, and Yum! Brands."

Anyway, on to the comedy. First off, you gotta love it when people link their corporate shit on YouTube and refuse to allow for comments or voting. So much for that two-way conversation the internet was supposed to allow!

First off, we've got Angry Lady who looks and talks like she wants to shiv the nearest federal representative that comes to her cul de sac. The recession has definitely hit her family. Her perm has gone to shit and it looks as if all she can afford is generic lime soda.

Next we have a family camping. Or that's what the "Liberal Media" would like you to think. What really happened is that this family was crippled by a two cent tax on their soda pop that they are now forced to live out of a tent.

Poor bastards.

Here's an idea. Why don't you drink some milk, or even water. You know what else you can use water for? Tea! See? Now you don't have to go around dehydrated!

It was almost a year ago now when the nation was divided between those with hope for a future and the angry racist Palinites who hadn't yet found total validation through FAUXNews. You know, back when sane people actually thought it in poor taste to hang Obama in effigy. Now it's the GOP platform.

I think of this as I have been going through the Modern Met blogs and have found some pics and articles related to the President.

First off, some pics from the campaign and election day.

Remember when you were branded as an al-Qaeda member for doing this:

I mean, you still are but we've all acknowledged those idiots for fascist whackjobs who eat their young.

And now some global reaction as the world welcomed us back into the fold:

More good information on why you should get the swine flu shot and information debunking some myths.

Wired's latest issue covers the concept of fear, much of it related to vaccines and vaccination.

One key article covers the dangers everyone is exposed to by those parents who refuse to have their kids vaccinated.

I love maps. Road maps, aerial photos, Google Earth overlays, I don't care.

You can't love travel without knowing how to consult a good map. So, I read this review and realized that I should probably set some cash aside and get the latest copy of this.

Food as a metaphor for war. More on this here.

If nothing else, consult the cheatsheet.

A proper critique of the treasonous travesty that is FAUXNews.

Any news organization that took its responsibilities seriously would take pains to cover presidential criticism fairly. It would regard doing so as itself a test of integrity. At Fox, by contrast, complaints of unfairness prompt only hoots of derision and demands for "evidence" that, when presented, is brushed off and ignored....

Rather than in any way maturing, Fox has in recent months become more boisterous and demagogic. Fox sponsored as much as it covered the anti-Obama "tea parties" this summer. Its "fact checking" about the president's health-care proposal is provided by Karl Rove. And weepy Glenn Beck has begun to exhibit a Strangelovean concern about government invading our bloodstream by vaccinating people for swine flu. With this misinformation campaign, Fox stands to become the first network to actively try to kill its viewers.

To followup, a slideshow of 10 of the worst FAUXNews lies.

Also, this:

The best part of these images are in the reflections. The full StarWars.com interview is here.

"I love reflections. I mean, if you crop one of my paintings, it can be abstract, it can be surreal, it's a play of light, a play of values, how things get distorted. You can just play around with so much. I'm now trying to take the art to see more hidden things in the reflections that people will catch."

- Chris Waggoner

Leryn Franco is a professional model and was runner up in the 2006 Miss Paraguay competition and Miss Bikini Universe pageant.

I have got to watch the javelin events from here on out.

Typical Yankees. It isn't enough to try to hire enough mercenary players to win on account of having a payroll equal to at least two of your opponents' combined, now their aging "ace" closer is conjuring spitballs.

I'd say I was surprised but there isn't a Yankee Hater in this country who is.

Apparently, it's a slow sports news day. SbB is doing a story on professional mountain biker Willow Koerber, who admittedly is pretty attractive.

A neat article on how the Prime Meridian was created, but some useful discussion on how it's location seems best for setting the International Date Line.

(h/t to Robert for sending me the link)

This is both heartbreakingly brilliant and pathetic all at the same time.

Q: These are questions my editor wanted me to ask. I'm trying to build my journalistic career here.

A: You're not building a journalistic career. You're making yourself look like a moron and you're not a moron. Who's your editor?

Look, I have no idea who Christianna Ablahad is, nor do I really care. And I don't care who her editor is either. That sad, if you are stupid enough to ask these loaded, inane questions to anyone, much less a musician who is only wanting to talk about his music, then you deserve all the abuse you get. If anything, this twit got off light.

As for John Mayer, I suddenly want to go to a bar with this guy and watch him get us both in a fight with some cute girl's boyfriend that he is sure to piss off.

More on the Bill Maher wants pregnant women to die story. Look, if Bill Frist is making more sense than you and telling folks to trust the government as his party is arming for a race war, then you are absolutely in the wrong.

Setting the record straight on Obama's economic achievements. Basically, to all the PUMAs left at Saturday Night Live and the Quisling Republicans all over the nation, you may not agree with everything the president has done, but quit being intellectually dishonest.

He has done a lot, and none of it involved either clearing brush on a "ranch" or sitting with a stupid blank stare while our country was being attacked.

Be thankful we've got a guy who realizes he needs to be on the ball.

NIcely done:

There's a lot of hysteria going on about the flu shots, both the season and the swine flu one. GeekDad points out that you'd better get your kids vaccinated as they are a primary audience for the swine flu.

Follow the links in that story for some good information.

Not that this surprises me much but sales of hand sanitizer are way up. That, in theory, is a good thing but I hope we don't overdo it. That said, I still see guys who take a leak and don't wash their hands. Yes ladies, it probably happens more than you think.

One of the things that stops me for calling myself a progressive rather than just a plain vanilla liberal are the kinds of folks who call themselves progressive. Bill Maher is one of those folks. I mean, he's funny, and sometimes he absolutely right.

And then there are times he thinks reality revolves around him, rather that being something he has to endure along with the rest of us. Things like, he keeps calling out the President for not pushing policies that he - Bill Maher - would like passed. As if somehow Barack Obama had mischaracterized what his agenda was at some point.

The relevant part to this discussion is that Maher is using his media soapbox to scare folks - particularly pregnant women - to not get the H1N1 shot. This is reckless, and it is going to get some woman - and probably her baby - killed. And Maher? He's not going to give a shit. He'll just shrug and light up a joint until he burns out the brain cell that reminds him he told her to risk her life for an anti-government talking point.

Just in case you think I'm being hard on the guy, his stance is in line with both Beckkk and Rimjob. The company ya keep, ya know?

Daily Kos has some good info, and then there's this from The Daily Show:

Well, actually, this makes sense.

Apparently, our eggs might be too fresh, making them harder to peel.

And they say progress is a good thing.

Well, the hot days are pretty much done here in Vegas, at least we think so, so here's one last look at summer, in the form of Bar Rafaeli.

What's the real truth behind bottled water? Tapped is a film that examines the role of the bottled water industry and its effects on our health, climate change, pollution, and our reliance on oil. If you've ever wanted to be exposed to the negative impact bottled water can have on us and our environment, check out this movie.

(h/t to ModernMet for the link)

Some of the beautiful photos you can find at Houser Photography.

I got these pics from The Met at this post as DeviantArt is blocked here at work.

Some honesty from a fourth grader at the end of the President's speech in New Orleans.

Let's be honest, there is at least one big media company (FAUX, Wall Street Journal, et al), various radio blowhards, and lots of racists cheering on anyone trying to diminish the work of the president.

They have a huge bullhorn so at times, yes, it seems like the angry American mob is out to get the president.

But as he said in some of his response to the young boy:

"First of all, I did get elected president, so not everybody hates me,. What is true is if you were watching TV lately, it seems like everybody's just getting mad all the time. And I -- you know, I think that you've got to take it with a grain of salt. Some of it is just what's called politics where, you know, once one party wins, then the other party kind of gets -- feels like it needs to poke you a little bit to keep you on your toes....

"You've just got to keep on going, even when folks are criticizing you, because -- as long as you know that you're doing it for other people, all right?"

I've been having a lot of fun skimming through the new Star Wars: The Essential Atlas. The link here takes you to some background info, author chats, and an online planetary directory that will be updated as new systems and such get written/created.

As a fan, it's been more than a little discouraging to pour through dozens of fan-made maps, hoping for a system that works. A guy named Cartographer had taken the maps created for the New Jedi Order and had spent a lot of work organizing those into something usable. Up until this book's release, the best current map was a mash-up of Cartographer's and Modi's map, found here.

Ironically, and somewhat pathetically, the states who are seeing the most new jobs from stimulus money are the states that voted against Barack Obama.

I mean, yeah, they are Americans and all, but most of those jackoffs would never thank the president for putting food on their table. And that's the pathetic part.

I have to admit, these are pretty weird. As in, way overly airbrushed or something.

That said, I will rarely, if ever, pass up a chance to check out Gina Gershon.

Lauren Graham is usually a cutie too:

Trippy stuff.

I'm not sure what the corporate argument is for using Domo-kun in America. Target had him last year and 7-11 right now. Either way, I like it.

Once again, Filippa Hamilton is too fat? The fashion world is crazy.

More pics from Holly's visit to the Hofbrauhaus last Friday. Enjoy.

Some repeats in the Girl category today, including Heidi Klum being a cute milkmaid in a Got Milk? ad, with more pics plus video following.

Well, this is just plain fun!

Hey! Crazy People!

Here are some Mayans who want you to put down the crack pipe and stop stocking up for Armageddon or the Rapture or Shaken Yak Day or whatever the hell you are doing.

The world isn't ending in 2012, so sayeth the actual Mayans themselves.

Now stop with the crazy talk!

Seriously, I had to watch this interview in multiple segments. This guy makes my damn skin crawl.

Making hundreds of millions of dollars fomenting artificial conflict which does nothing but divide otherwise amiable Americans does not come without consequences.

Unlike the off-air hypocrises which somehow served to redouble the devotion of his massive audience, Limbaugh doesn't get a do-over on this one. Money and fame will never erase this public embarrassment - despite his inevitable, eternal denials.

Goodell's remarks today scarred Limbaugh personally probably more than anything that has every been said about him. His love for the NFL, if you've ever heard him speak about the league, was perhaps the only thing genuine he's ever consistently represented on his show. Almost childlike.

One of the few (the only?) enterprises for which Limbaugh has a genuine affection caused him, besides perhaps the stolen pharma fiasco, the most significant public embarrassment he's suffered.

Brooks argues that the NFL basically did the wrong thing, but for the right reasons.

As an owner, Limbaugh would probably had been ancillary since he was just a part of a group. However, no doubt he was going to eventually say something so heinous, he would have to be sanctioned, fined, and maybe jailed considering how close to the line he's come before.

So, yeah, maybe they should have let him try - and ultimately fail - before judging him. I would have loved to have seen if players would pass up tainted money and not play for the Rams. I would love to have seen the circus surrounding the Fat Blowhard destroy any positives his money could have provided the team.

I know why the NFL did what they did: to save their ass. But, unlike what happens to corporations, Lush Rimjob should not be treated as "too big to fail". Fuck him, yeah, he's a fat body, but I say we should have allowed him all the room in the world to fail.

And then chortled with glee when he did.

Seriously, why are all the gorgeous women from Australia these days. Here is Gemma Ward.

What follows is a quick collection of food articles from GQ. Enjoy.

How to Cook Breakfast at Home

How to Cook Perfect Scrambled Eggs

How to Cook Flawless Fried Chicken

How to Cook Truly Juicy Pork Tenderloin

How to Cook Winter Steak

How to Cook the Crispiest Cutlet

How to Cook Impossibly Tender Barbecued Spareribs

How to Make Meatballs Magnifico

How to Cook a Better Burger

How to Make Better Meat, Overnight

How to Cook Magnificent Mac and Cheese

How to Cook Crisp, Golden Roasted Potatoes

How to Dress Up Your Spaghetti

How to Make a Better, Bolder Salad

Some of the faces behind the camera of some famous photographs.

Seriously, you have to love the South.

The year is 2009. We're in the 21st century living in a First World county and you still can't get an interracial marriage in some parts of Conservative America.

Will somebody please disbar this racist asshole immediately? Minorities are good enough to piss in his toilet but not good enough to marry into a family like his? Give me a break.

Relevant to this story is this blog entry: Why the South looks stupid to the rest of America

GeekDad points out the obvious reason why that little kid supposedly in the balloon was definitely not in the balloon.

Reason? The bottom of the balloon never sagged from his weight.

Ta da! Science!

The MythBusters gang jumps in and helps to spread useful info on the H1N1 virus.

We need folks like this who have some credibility with certain parts of our society to help weed out the fearmongering out there.

I probably won't get to listen to this until I get home later tonight, but today's State of Nevada covers discussions on both things to do around Vegas in the fall and winter as well as an interview with Max Brooks, who is coming to my local library tonight for a lecture called "An Evening with Max Brooks: Surviving the Zombie Wars".

Of course I'm going to this. Leslie is unfortunately on call but she's letting me take the night off to go listen. Yeah, my wife is pretty cool.

Yeah, this is bordering on a bit much, but Reon Kadena is a famous Japanese bikini and lingerie model. Frankly, she's just so damn cute too.

So pardon the attraction.

I'm not trying to be an utter dirty old man, but this girl is just gorgeous.

More photos of Miss Miranda Kerr here. And her Wiki bio is here.

This is a sad, sad world. So, Meghan McCain, Torture Lover's kid, posted a pic up on Twitpic and is getting reamed by her Talibangelical fan base for it. Enough so, that she has since pulled the pic and apologized for basically revealing a candid look into her life of...reading books on the couch.

Yeah, that's it. You'd think she'd have posed nude in a goat show or something for the response she got.

Look, I probably wouldn't agree with 95% of the things in Miss Meghan's head at any time, but after she got reamed for being "too fat" by conservatives earlier, I sure don't want to be part of the club that bludgeons her for her looks. Besides, she seems at least more reasonable than the rest of the cretins in her party. Not that I want her to run for anything, mind.

Plus, she's kinda cute. Or at least hasn't had her looks ruined by that permanent angry scowl conservatives get. You know, like her step mom Cindy.

This about covers the failed revamp of GOP.com.

I have no idea why I don't try to create a blogroll kind of thing, but I'll just use this list for now as a reference and add to it as necessary. I may even double post it on Wave or something since I now have an account.

I'll linkify the list as I get around to it, just brainstorming right now.

News/Opinion
BBC
LV Sun

Politics
Bob Cesca
Huffington Post
Daily Kos
ThinkProgress

Technology
Lifehacker
Smarterware
Wired

Daily Checklist
GeekDad
SportsbyBrooks
Google Wave

Pictures
Big Picture

Arts/Culture
MetModern

Hobbies
GoodReads

News you can use right away. Here are some tips on securing your webmail with tips for GMail, Yahoo! and HotMail accounts.

I found a couple things I could be doing and plan on setting up.

Happy browsing folks!

I don't know what it is, but I find Zooey amazingly cute and sexy. Here are some pics, plus a huge collection here.

This is sad.

Funny, but still sad.

Frankly, this is pretty messed up. Check it out anyway. A taste or two follows.

I burned through this book pretty quickly and enjoyed the hell out of it. It's a horror flick set in a Star Wars environment. Not a bad read.

Here is some more info on the book, an excerpt, plus some notes from the passengers and crew of the damned ship.

Also big version of the cover plus the main site hosts a Zombie Week.

Not the best news to come out of that campaign, but unfortunately probably really close to home.

From those servicemen I know who have served in Afghanistan a similar tale rings true. Face it, the locals have been wrapped up in war for 30 years now. They probably don't even give a damn who is occupying them anymore, much less want to lend a hand.

It is bound to affect those serving in the campaigns there. And to think there would be a plus side to serving in Iraq.

"I guess it's an efficiency thing. You don't want to waste tax-payer money giving it to someone who advises fake prostitutes how to commit imaginary crimes, you want to give it to Halliburton because they're committing real gang rape."

- John Stewart on the difference between ACORN and Halliburton

These are some pretty creative ideas. Check them out.

You don't have to wait for these creative designs. Check out these actual origami tea bags...

...and these banana drink containers.

October 9, 2009: A Bill Moyers essay on the health industry lobby.

Good stuff. Wish I could figure out how to embed these videos.

You know, maybe I'm wrong about Dylan Ratigan. When they first gave him a show on MSNBC I just figured he'd be extra BS time for Scarborough-style stupidity. But I've been off the mark on that of late.

Here he is railing against exorbitant Wall Street bonuses with Michael Moore as the banks owe us billions and millions remain out of work.

And here he is the other day calling out the head of the Chambers of Commerce for "talking nonsense".

He also had an informative HuffPo piece on the health insurance industry last week.

Speaking of earlier, Michael Moore had an equally thoughtful article on health care reform bills.

So, hopefully, another progressive-minded voice in the wilderness, at least on a few subjects.

Freaky stuff. And these are real!

John Boehner is a tool.

I know, you were already aware of that, but this is insidious bullshit coming from an already slimy creep.

He's against the recent expansion of hate crimes to cover sexual orientation, but not just for the knee-jerk gay bashing that Republicans are famous for.

No, his problem is, partly, that hate crimes law somehow constitutes some kind of Minority Report-style "thought police" that will incarcerate people for just imagining crimes against women, minorities, gays, and Muslims.

I could see his point. If this were true, the state governments of Texas, hell, the whole South, Plains, and Alaska would grind to a standstill.

But his real objection is that some rabid, angry Hate Jesus-loving pastor could be arrested for preaching things such as, oh, I dunno, sermons such as "Why I Hate Barack Obama" which inspire people to pack assault weapons to political protests.

Look, assholes, Timothy McVeigh listened to crap like this. So do all those militias seeing a comeback these days. Or the "Minutemen" vigilantes.

Put a stop to it and actually try to help fix the problem. Because, honestly, if you HAVE to count on these people to get elected, maybe you shouldn't be involved in politics. Ya know?

How much do I have to comment on this. It's a story regarding cooking with beer for God's sake. With recipes.

Read it!

Holy crap!

(h/t to Alice @ MyModernMet

A little old, but relevant to me given my drinking excursion last weekend. Enjoy.

Also, check out Oktoberfest Girls.

Seriously, do you think this girl is fat?

Filippa Hamilton is 5' 10" and 120 pounds, and was fired for being too fat by Ralph Lauren. So much so that they mutated a picture of her to look like this:

Here's her interview this morning:

Here's another story on the subject.

It's a damn shame fashion morons think this is what a woman should look like.

For some contrast, here is an example of an attractive woman who actually exists in the real world.

Also, a video from former Baywatch star Nicole Eggert reacting to asshats who have mocked her weight gain.

Neat shirt

From the ModernMet write-up:

What I Like About It: This is a hilarious design by Aaron Hogg for Tee Fury. This illustration plays off the popularity of Facebook and status updates. This is the reason you shouldn't post everything on Facebook, especially if you are friends with your boss and most definitely if your boss is Darth Vader. The sad part about this is there are a ton of people who actually makes these types of posts on Facebook and Twitter. A few other funny details here are the Z-Harmony and Contractors Wanted ads, and the fact that the Storm Trooper is friends with R2D2.

HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

So, the GOP has been harping since basically the beginning of his presidential campaign that the Democrats treat Barack Obama as some form of minor deity. You know, with McCain's mocking faux-religious commercial about "The One" and such crap.

I mean, I've been to African-American campaign events and never saw anyone worshiping Obama. Hoping to God he won, yes, but prostration? No.

So, since Saint Ronald can't actually be a god to them (he got divorced, remember?) the have no issue calling him Ronaldus Magnus. You know, like Charlemagne or something of the like. A Holy Roman Emperor from Death Valley (Days), as it were.

Jackasses.

Other failures from GOP.com include the name change to Tom Michael Steele's blog. Yesterday it was called "What Up!" Today it is called Change the Game.

That sounds very - ahem! - whitewashed. Not that you could tell by all the non-white and mostly non-male faces being used as decoration on the website.

Wow, at least some people are noticing that the GOP is motivated by racial hatred, moral bankruptcy and deranged lunacy.

An aside, and hopefully not a horrifically offensive one. Does anyone know the Jewish equivalent of Uncle Tom? Because if anyone qualifies for that role in this situation, Eric Cantor absolutely does.

His silence on this topic speaks volumes about how big of a sellout he is.

This is kind of a hoot concerning tiny particles, time travel, and irony. Give it a read.

Take this quiz It is amazing how much stuff we don't know about how our modern world works. Honestly, if it wasn't for my father and grandfather working in machine shops most of their lives, I probably wouldn't have done as well as I did.

Most people know that I have little use for golf. I think courses are a waste of property and help create an environment of smug privilege.

Now, I also don't have a whole lot to say about Hugo Chavez. I admire his goals but really think being a thug is absolutely the wrong way to go about it. That said, I kinda like his plans to take over Venezuela's golf courses and turn them into public parks.

Just to add fuel to the fire for doing something similar here, the Secret Service is investigating an incident at a Massachusetts golf course where a swastika was carved next to the President's name, presumably by a golf cleat. Here's a local report on the event.

And this is in supposedly liberal Massachusetts. We already know how the traitors down South feel.

More truth from Reddit:

Obama has already gone one month longer than Bush without letting the US be attacked. Why hasn't Dick Cheney congratulated him yet?

This is goddamned funny.

Question: why do we keep fighting wars to protect backstabbing bastards like these?

From the episodes in this article, I really do hope the Democrats are realizing they have had the majority in Congress for coming on three years now.

Who cares if the GOP doesn't want to reform health care as long as a large majority of Americans do? I'm not saying cram things down people's throats that they don't want, but Christ.

Why should we torture people? Why should we outsource EVERYTHING to private companies who have zero interest in America's image? Why should people suffer, get fleeced, hell, get raped and killed just to satisfy some corporate lobbyist's wet dreams?

Fix it. You're the only ones we seem to have that will do so. The Republicans are all in a lather about rejecting anything you or the President come up with. Until that changes, screw them.

I've been pretty sedentary in my fiction reading, I'll admit. But I really need some new writers. Turtledove's latest series haven't quite grabbed me. Ferrigno ended his Assassin series more than a bit predictably. King finished the Dark Tower books and nothing since has satisfies. Clancy wrote himself into a corner with the Jack Ryan books years ago.

Gibson is into modern mysteries and hasn't found his old touch. Stephenson is getting more and more involved with his created worlds that he's frankly getting hard to follow. Stirling's Emberverse is about all I can follow, though I still have my Star Wars books and the latest is - literally - a scream.

So, along with my GeekDad recommendations and Stacy's work (hi!) I picked up Boneshaker and boy am I glad I did. Here's the review from GeekDad.

A fun take on alternate history and a well written book to boot. Hell, the ivory pages and brown text just screams "Read me! I'm different!". Pick it up and thank me later.

For a free sneak peek into the steampunk world by the same author, check out Tanglefoot.

We haven't discussed it much, but I'm pretty sure it's a parental (ir)responsibility to corrupt their children with the stuff they grew up on. This article discusses the merits and issues of showing Army of Darkness to young kids.

Groovy.

Some of these are scary hilarious. I miss really good local ads. For some reason Vegas doesn't do them that well.

This brings to mind the Vern Fonk ads that Ray turned me on to. Here's a taste:

back in the day (2002), Heidi Klum recreated some famous poses. The results are, frankly, pretty hot.

Mucilage. Yeah, it's as nasty as it sounds.

See that picture? It's basically aquatic snot. Mmmm.

GeekDad reminded me that I had heard a story about this earlier. Check the reminder story here.

National Geographic has the original story on the substance, along with some video:

Plus, Bill Nye (the Science Guy) spoke on the subject on Rachel Maddow tonight:

Esquire does this most of a year long guessing game with it's readers and they usually pick someone for their Sexiest Woman Alive issue that is both attractive and interesting. This year's pick qualifies, even if you have to forgive some of the crap movies she's been in of late.

More pics here.

All things considered, this is a good sign.

The less racist teabagger traitors in my city, the better, as far as I'm concerned.

You know yesterday when I kind of almost said a nice thing about Bill O'Reilly?

Yeah, with this flashback in history of Bill the Sexual Predator, I'm taking that comment back now.

The Republicans reopened GOP.com and have some issues.

Here is what happened earlier today when you searched their Future Leaders page. The link is to a story, I'm not linking you to that stupidity.

HuffPo is hosting a poll of relating GOP failures at modern communications.

Turns out you can be fired at an office supply company for voting for a black guy. This is what a guy found out at (K)KK Office Supplies last year after his CEO "jokingly" told his employees that he'd fire people for voting for Obama.

After bringing in around $300,000 in new business, he got sacked weeks after the election. He says this has much to do with him being a vocal Obama supporter.

If that's why he was fired, he's got a case. I figure he put himself on a short list and that's a tad harder to prove.

That said, I work for a bunch of conservative Aussies and one Kiwi who is actually very American conservative and not that European and First World kind of conservative that makes you a raging liberal by Republican standards. The company donates to the GOP against the will of many of the workers here. We have some Talibangelical prayer circle sanctioned by the higher ups that has a calendar where they pray for us "heathens". Apparently I've been on that.

So yeah, I'm smart enough not to wave a huge "O" flag up in here. If asked, I'm not going to lie, but I'm also not going out of my way to get fired either.

I may be spending too much time on GeekDad but this discussion fascinates me.

I suppose you could always refer to the chart.

If you berate them for not closing Guantanamo fast enough, not ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell fast enough, not evacuating Iraq fast enough, not passing a health care bill fast enough, and so on...do you not expect one their number to at some point push back and point out that making these kind of changes takes time and is a bit difficult?

I firmly believe that a lot of Obama's liberal critics are a) progressives who don't realize Obama isn't a liberal or b) PUMAs who won't let it go. BooMan addresses all of them in what can be called a nice breath of fresh air.

Your bar is scamming you. According to the New York Times, chicken breasts are strangely cheaper than chicken wings, leading to the birth of the boneless chicken wing. Both cheaper and less tasty, these mutants of bar food are turning folks off.

Some things aren't worth saving a buck on.

(hat tip to Sports by Brooks for pointing this out)

A couple weeks late, but a cool interview with Anna Torv regarding the new season of Fringe.

Don't hover over any links, the damn page is infested with Microsoft advertising. Plus I'm not sure they needed to add the cheesecake shot of her. It seems odd.

I haven't seen this flick yet - and may not get around to it until it's rentable - but I like this weapon's review of the zombie killing items used in the movie.

Granted, the writer is a douchebag and a complete idiot when it comes to the AK-47, but you can't expect most geeks to actually know what the hell they are talking about when it comes to guns. This anonymous writer ("admin" indeed) went for funny and tripped all the way to dumbass.

Willie Nelson is on the cutting edge of the future. First with his biodiesel venture, now with roadworthy broadband.

I'm not a country fan by any stretch of the imagination but I've always had a spot set aside for Willie. He seems like good people. Can't pay the taxman for shit, but everyone's got a fault.

Thanks Mike.

All I ask of those who voted for Obama is to not pile on him too quickly. Yes, make your voice heard (his phone number is 202-456-1414). But don't abandon the best hope we've had in our lifetime for change. And for God's sake, don't head to bummerville if he says or does something we don't like. Do you ever see Republicans behave that way? I mean, the Right had 20 years of Republican presidents and they still couldn't get prayer in the public schools, or outlaw abortion, or initiate a flat tax or put our Social Security into the stock market. They did a lot of damage, no doubt about that, but on the key issues that the Christian Right fought for, they came up nearly empty handed. No wonder they've been driven crazy lately. They'll never have it as good again as they've had it since Reagan took office.

But -- do you ever see them looking all gloomy and defeated? No! They keep on fighting! Every day. Our side? At the first sign of wavering, we just pack up our toys and go home.

(h/t to Bob Cesca for pointing this out.

Love this. Incidentally, Gabriel is going as a sock monkey, so nothing as odd as all this:

It has been awhile since I heard a glowing review of Rachel Maddow so this was nice to read.

Granted, I think she's gone over the edge a bit in damning the President of late, but it's her show and she does have a vested interest in at least advancing gay rights.

I still say he's out to do good for the majority of Americans first so he can then be allowed to do more good for smaller but still significant groups of people as his presidency progresses, but I guess I'm the only one who believes that or something.

She often brings on conservatives for the same kind of in-depth interviews, and even when she strongly disagrees, she always gives them a chance to air their views (and generally hang themselves with those views). Her show is the exact opposite of Bill O'Reilly's show. Where he cuts people off for saying things he doesn't like, Maddow digs in deeper.

Since I don't catch a lot of CNN anymore I don't get to hear from Sanjay Gupta that often. Here he is with a great interview, some of it focusing on our (incorrect) thoughts on the subject of "brain dead".

Beautiful photos of places Republicans would love to turn into open pit mines or strip malls. Go enjoy these living wonders while you can.

We were actually at the Hofbrauhaus on Friday, when Holly Madison was there. We didn't get to meet her but one of my co-workers got a picture with her, which is pretty much why folks live in Vegas, ya know?

I'm still waiting for my celebrity pic but I'm sure it is bound to happen.

I love this story. While FAUXNews and Rimjob are firing up traitors and race war advocates, our president is English-language study material in some parts of the world.

Wouldn't it be ironic if all the Obama-haters would have to put up with foreign folks speaking English in an Obama-like cadence for the rest of their lives?

Holy crap! You see, this is what amazes me about science. You get stuck in a rut thinking there's only one way to do things and then you find out it might only take five weeks to get to Mars.

I mean, yeah, sure, I can't take more than a week off right now, but what if we're all able to have a shot at getting to the Red Planet for some extreme tourist once we get old?

"As they are undertaking a war against Barack Obama and the White House, we don't need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave."

- Anita Dunn, White House Communications Director, discussing FAUXNews

Finally, the White House realizes who is airing the poisonous treason against them and will, hopefully, keep calling them out on it.

You aren't gonna catch me linking to these cretins often, but Bill O'Reilly takes off his asshat hat for a moment and remembers he's an American, and the wingnuts he relies on for a paycheck sell him out as a traitor.

I honestly feel bad for him in a "now you know how far thirty pieces of silver will go" kind of way. The answer is "not damned far" but he should have known better than to throw in with irrational traitors.

He was respectful to the President and they're planning to hang the guy, hopefully in effigy.

I am still not sure what to make of this but I may eventually like it.

Basically it is a mix of flamenco and hip hop. Strange, no? Check out the actual album here.

I'm not sure who turned me onto these two but I really do owe that person a big thank you. Here is an interview with Rodrigo y Gabriela that I heard yesterday. Check it out.

If the above video doesn't display, click here to get to it.

Thank me later.

Some damn serious info on what's at stake with health care reform. Looks like we've got our work cut out for us.

Christ is this guy fun to watch

Margaret, I know it has been a few years since we last made the trip across the pond, but I was wondering if anyone is still alive in Europe? I watched a little bit of Fox News this weekend and I'm afraid everyone in Europe might have died from lack of access to healthcare. What a shame. They had such delicious food and beautiful art.

I damn near laughed my ass off reading this. Enjoy.

"A lot of us took it as more of a racial-type thing. I can only imagine how his players would feel. I know I wouldn't want to play for him. He's a jerk. He's an --. What he said (about McNabb) was inappropriate and insensitive, totally off-base. He could offer me whatever he wanted, I wouldn't play for him. ... I wouldn't play for Rush Limbaugh. My principles are greater and I can't be bought."

- Jets linebacker Bart Scott

Looks like the prospect of Lush Rimjob buying the St. Louis Rams doesn't sit well with some NFL players.

Let's hope every player - regardless of color - thinks the same way. They won't, but you'd like to think something this foul would inspire them to do the right thing.

More on the Conservative Bible Project.

Plus, in a similar vein, a guy tries to legally get a church to stop praying for him and his family to die violently after he protested against the Air Force Academy turning into Talibangelical Central. Seeing as he is Jewish, he had a problem with a government military force trying to convert everyone to wingnut style Christianity. He basically wants the church to "stop asking Jesus to plunder my fields ... seize my assets, kill me and my family then wipe away our descendants for 10 generations."

More compassionate conservatism than he wanted apparently.

I heard this interview yesterday and it reminded me that I wanted to post a Wired article on the same topic last week.

In short, it concerns an old Soviet "last strike" nuclear program that still exists to this day. Chilling stuff.

I get the Republicans being unpatriotic, racist fucktards. What I don't get are liberals falling over themselves to out-denounce the GOP in disapproving of the Nobel Peace Prize. Bob Cesca nails my feelings on this:

And as for some of the liberals who are treating this like a negative, shame on you, too. This is a great day for the American presidency. But it's more than just about any one man. This is about our collective reputation in the world. If you can't recognize that, then I don't know what else to tell you other than to remember how embarrassed you felt just a year ago when the previous president had utterly reduced our nation to a laughing stock. Show some appreciation for the big picture.

I love that Democrats are finally fighting back against Republican stupidity.

The GOP can't stand that Obama has been recognized as a peacemaker, even as he has the clean up Bush's wars. Look at the following quotes, first by some conservative blowhards and then by terrorist spokesmen. There isn't much difference between them.

"What has President Obama actually accomplished?" - Michael Steele, RNC Chairman

"The Nobel gang just suicide bombed themselves. Gore, Carter, Obama, soon Bill Clinton. See a pattern here? They are all leftist sell-outs. George Bush liberates 50 million Muslims in Iraq, Reagan liberates hundreds of millions of Europeans and saves parts of Latin America. Any awards?" - Lush Rimjob

"I did not realize the Nobel Peace Prize had an affirmative action quota for it" - RedState's Eric Erickson

"He has done nothing for peace in Afghanistan ... We condemn the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for Obama." - Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman

"Obama has a long way to go still and lots of work to do before he can deserve a reward. Obama only made promises and did not contribute any substance to world peace." - Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas official

"I believe Obama is working hard for peace. We in Syria believe that Obama's initiative have been suitable, and that Syria is now witnessing important steps to correct the relationship with the United States. I believe everyone here will be very happy for Obama." - Muhammad Habash, a Syrian member of parliament and director of the Islamic Studies Center in Damascus

"We are not upset and we hope that by receiving this prize he will start taking practical steps to remove injustice in the world." - Ali Abkar Javanfekr, media aide to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

And here is the DNC's response, which seems very appropriate given these statements:

The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists -- the Taliban and Hamas this morning -- in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize. Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize -- an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride -- unless of course you are the Republican Party. The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It's no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore - it's an embarrassing label to claim.

Michigan's Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who nailed John Kyl on hating women recently, had this to add:

"I find it very very disappointing for the chairman of the Republican Party -- after the cheers that went out when America lost the Olympics -- to now be attacking our president, everyone's president in our country, at a time when he is being recognized on the world stage."

It's nice to see Democrats growing a spine again.

Frank Schaeffer lays out the arguments of both the traitorous right and the unsatisfied left in response to the President winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

As for me, sure, it is way too early for him to be considered for this. I mean, this is more an indictment of the Bush years than an endorsement of Obama, so in that it is unfair to the man.

As for the right, this is typical. They hate having to acknowledge that there is a world outside our borders and that we should play nice with it at times. They hate the UN and thus send douchebags like John Bolton as our rep there. It's like sending Lush Rimjob to a NOW convention. They hate the Olympics and thus cheered when we lost the 2016 games. They hate the Nobel committee but love to mock those Americans who win prizes there, be they scientists, writers, or even the President.

Being patriotic is more than waving a Chinese made flag or sticking a sticker in the window of your SUV. It is also being proud of the image we present to the rest of the world, ESPECIALLY as we try hard to not be pigheaded antagonists.

That is something our unpatriotic brethren are never going to grasp.

As the title states, these are designs for weapons using items found in a corporate office environment.

Don't go shooting each other's eyes out all at once folks.

This, unfortunately, says a lot about this nation. We almost had a cadre of female astronauts to lead our nation into the Final Frontier. The only thing holding them back? The United States Air Force. Yeah, the same Air Force that is full of Talibangelical End Times idiots that are trying to turn our nation into a theocracy. The same Air Force that should have their academy in Colorado Springs disbanded and burned to the ground for their backward beliefs and religious thuggery.

These are the sexist pricks that kept women grounded when we could have used them to advance science, adventure and democratic ideals back in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Oklahoma is pushing for a 21st century Scarlet Letter. If you have an abortion in the Sooner State starting next month, your personal details will be posted online, presumably to instigate some form of public shame. Granted, your name isn't used, but I've lived in enough small towns to know that such an omission isn't going to stop your prying neighbors from finding out who you are.

Next, I imagine they'll be re-instating public stoning for "sinners" or "witches" or "liberals". Lord, am I glad I moved away from that self-righteous hellhole.

"(W)omen voting is bad for conservatism, and as a conservative, of course, I think that's bad for society."

That quote comes from a National Review conservative hack who adamantly desires that this nation takes the right to vote away from women. Why? People women predominantly do not vote for Republicans.

Not that this has anything to do with Republicans being fans of gang raping.

Wow.

No, really, the pigheaded smugness of these fake Christians is mind-numbing. Read about these false prophet's mutilation of the Word of God.

A little creativity goes a long way. I read this story about a Malawi teenager who built some windmills based off of some pictures he saw. Basically, he's now powering the essential services in his town.

We've got a nation full of conservatives who hate and fear science and wonder why their kids are idiots who think Jesus rode a dinosaur on a planet only 6,000 years old when they're having unprotected anal sex when they aren't scratching all their STD scabs. Meanwhile, this kid creates a veritable energy conglomerate in the Third World using his mind. And you wonder why the rest of the world is kicking our ass.

Here's a kid who couldn't even afford school, self-taught himself at the library and made a difference in his community.

Meanwhile in Texas, Rethugs are too busy removing the word "democracy" from the textbooks to realize how poor our educational system is.

But, hey, kudos to this kid. Well, he's in his 20s now, but he's still trying improve life for his community.

Here he is getting interviewed on The Daily Show:

Well, unfortunately this is not a surprise. Las Vegas also comes in dead last in a list of intelligent cities. Yes, this place has a long way to go before we get some respect. Part of it is the transitory nature of many of the folks who live here - a lot of them are working on getting rich quick. Some of it has to do with the hands-off libertarian experiment that says government shouldn't try to help improve schools, bring in museums, cultivate the arts, etc. And, honestly, this is a new town that grew out really fast without taking the time to worry how to grow *up*.

Either way, at least we've still got the meth-head zombie horde in Fresno to kick around.

Well, turns out the Redneck Republicans are throwing down the gauntlet and demanding that President Obama step down next week or else. Or else what? Dunno, they even pulled down the treason video they had threatening our democratic way of life.

They aren't alone. Here is a timeline of other seditious events calling for either a violent overthrow or some kind of secession BS.

And some conservatives want to abuse the system to create some quasi-legal justification for impeachment proceedings because they can't believe the President in an American citizen.

You know what the sad part is? I know a couple branches of my family are conservative, and while that sucks, it's unavoidable in most families. The part that really blows is that some of them feed into this hate and racism and call it patriotism.

I just hate thinking that such a level of stupidity exists somewhere in my gene pool. That said, they are my cousins so maybe it isn't congenital.

I'm having a really geekish day. So follow this link for some pretty good software options you may need.

I'm on a list mode today and remember this article from awhile back.

GeekDad hosts a similar list.

Here is an article on the variety of ways that the GOP has either bashed women or voted against them in recent weeks. From either discrediting maternity care or voting to essentially support the gang raping of female contractors, I hope these incidents get more press and prove to non-sexist Americans how wrong they are when they vote for Republicans.

Yeah, the title is a tad daunting, but the article is a good argument for making sure your kids watch stuff that educates and inspires your kids to discover the world around them.

God I suddenly feel old.

Just trolling through GeekDad's archives and ran into this list of things our kids will miss out on. Granted, it's a tad English-centered and I *do* plan to introduce my little guy to old consoles and shortwave radio, but still pretty much a spot on article.

*Sigh*

This should be required viewing for every member of Congress that still believes they owe their jobs to their electorate. If you need just the transcript, you can get that here.

Here is Nick Kristof's story on the Waddington family and the sons who have been advised NOT to try to donate a kidney to their father. Keith referenced this story tonight and I remember reading it the other day in an increasingly blind rage.

I heard most of the sad story of Heather and Dave Mroz tonight on the way home. If this doesn't make you want to beat the living hell out of an insurance executive, I'm not sure I want to know you anymore.

Mmmm....fried chicken, and the variety of ways people make it.

At least, the following senators voted to protect contractors like KBR from stopping people from turning in those who gang rape them.

Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS) - isn't he supposedly really religious?
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK) - this from an obstetrician even
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV) - yet more reason I'm ashamed to be represented by this prick
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Inhofe (R-OK) - no big surprise, he even looks like a rapist
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Kyl (R-AZ)
McCain (R-AZ) - and the Rethugs wanted this guy as president
McConnell (R-KY)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA) - given that he likes whoring around, not a shocker
Wicker (R-MS)

Basically, these are a pack of pro-rapist thugs, led in all but name by McCain, a guy who decided to cheat on his wife because she lost her looks in a near-fatal car wreck. Many of the rest seem to have real dismal opinions of women as well.

Thankfully there are not in the majority in our government, and hopefully change their damn ways if they ever get there again.

Alright, so this is a bit beyond my usual postings but I really liked the take that SbB did with the subject. In short, the lady below is Lolo Jones, an Olympic hurdler, and she is posing in the ESPN "Body Issue", in the nude as you can clearly see. What's cool about this article is that it deals with her looks as objectively as the site can - I mean, it *is* written by somewhat mean-spirited sports guys.

But truly, here's someone who looks great through exercise and hard work, not by starving herself or doing injections or implants. She is thinner than most "real" women, but that's due to her job, not by any expectations or outside pressure. So, good for her, good for ESPN for putting her in the issue, and good for SportsbyBrooks for handling the subject like adults. Yes, she's attractive, but more for her merits than her looks. If only the world worked this way more often.

Mythbusters is back for a new season and NPR provides a preview

What's even better is the GeekDad interview with Adam and Jamie.

You know, I read this and was a bit disheartened because it is true, we have forgotten to honor the sacrifices made by our troops. In that, Bush has won by making up all worked up about the evil he and his cronies did - and still do - and forgetting the cost of those decisions.

Then I got home and saw the following piece on Rachel Maddow on Afghanistan, where she begins with video from Dover that honors those who fell in our service. Hopefully we see more time spent touching on this issue.

Even the Bible is "too liberal" for conservatives. They are now rewriting the Word of God to get rid of things that offend them. Among the things that bother them are words like "comrade", "peace", and "miracle".

They want to turn the miracle of the fishes into some kind of trickle-down parable. No, I'm not kidding.

And they want to remove all references to "Yahweh" or "Jehovah". Still not kidding.

Okay, time for some kidding.

Salon decides to help them with their Hate Bible.

Cases in point:

John 8:3-7: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"

Jesus bent down and picked up a rock. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "OK, we start on the count of three. And if I see any of you throwing like limp-wristed sissies, you're next."

Matthew 9:10-13: While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

On hearing this, Jesus said, "Tax collectors? I had no idea, and wouldn't have eaten with them if I had known, for I favor a flat tax."

Matthew 5:21-22: You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, "You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment." But I tell you that a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, so git 'er done.

I've always been alternately amused, frightened, and intrigued over Wired's explanation of what are inside our common day products. In this case, coffee.

Other recent examples have been on what makes up a Slim Jim. Or matches. How about WD-40 or Downy or even baby formula.

It's nice to know I'm doing something right with my kid. According to this article, you should be talking to your infant. Well, I've been chatting like a parrot with Gabriel since he was born so apparently I'm on the right track.

This interview covers a recent book that challenges some conventional child rearing philosophies. I'm going to at least pick up the book and give it some thought. So far, I've heard a few things I'd like to use.

And this article discusses the benefits of having pets on both child development and general family health.

Say what you will about the beknighted, besotted Metrodome, it sure put up a hell of a show this week.

I got to GameTrack and then watch the highlights of the Twins-Tigers playoff. Fascinating stuff really.

Television announcers seem to assume you can see everything in the game. Or they're flat out not as good. Take you pick.

Radio announcers don't have the luxury of visuals, so they tell you exactly what's happening. It was so much better for my son than my feeble attempts to be an amateur play-by-play announcer.

This story is about football, but the lesson applies to all sports. Leslie thinks I'm nuts for wanting to watch games on TV. Most of what I enjoy is hearing the little details I wouldn't pick up from a program.

But what I really love is listening to games on the radio. I swear, aside from getting the BBC, the part I enjoy most about having XM in the new ride is that I can listen to ball games.

There's an important lesson here for getting kids interesting in being a sports fan - and in keeping them one.

So....

The head of an abstinence group is caught trying to bed a fourteen year old girl..

I guess he was trying to show her the true meaning of compassionate conservatism. Sick bastard.

Yeah, I finally gave in. Don't expect too much from me. I barely blog anything of personal note anymore - as you've obviously noted.

I'm a sucker for huge machines. This photo series does not disappoint.

The Cubs get Ricketts. Actually, it's the other way around.

Well, let's hope that new ownership will turn the Cub's fortunes around.

Or at least mitigate stupid decisions like signing Milton Bradley.

I've always Alice in Chains and both from this story and from hearing some of their new stuff, it looks like they've got a bit of a comeback brewing. Best of luck to them.

Another fine post by Dingeldein. Click the link for proper links and such.

By BCAB Chief Rush-Limbaugh-Should-Shut-The-Fuck-Up Correspondent Elvis Dingeldein.

Oh Teh Christ™, if only Barack Obama were as popular in his own country (Psst: That's "America," Wingnut Douchebags!) as he is worldwide right now! While Republicans are taking out ads in Soldier of Fortune and using Vicks Vap-O-Rub to whip up some phony face tinkle, Democrats are poking Progressives in their Angry Mad Growly Faces and Progressives are readying themselves to MoveOn (dot-ROAR!) because the President hasn't yet rescinded Don't Ask Don't Tell while kicking the doors off the hinges at Guantanamo in a spectacular A-Team-style raid to free all the wrongly-testicle-tasered brown people, huzzah!

But as we all argue about which of us hates President Obama the most and for what Totally Non-Racist Reasons, the rest of the fucking planet loves them some O-Man:

The United States is the most admired country globally thanks largely to the star power of President Barack Obama and his administration, according to a new poll. It climbed from seventh place last year, ahead of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan which completed the top five nations in the Nation Brand Index (NBI).

Oops! Sorry, Rush Limbaugh, you disease-ridden porcine fuckhole: Seems the rest of the world thinks America kicks ass, Obamastyle. Apparently in a post-Bush world, the best way to whip up international support for America is to run all over the world telling foreigners how much we suck! A little honesty, some Tough Love, and we're back on top, bitches! WE'RE VAGUELY TO BLAME! WE'RE VAGUELY TO BLAME!

See, a Fat Suppurating Sack of Weasel Scrota like Limbaugh tends to forget that a whopping huge chunk of the planet whose axis is dangerously destabilized by his massive fatness is some shade of brown or another. Whoops! That means that while his filthy racist mouth earns him Teeth-Flashing Guffawfery from the Big Deliverance Banjo Brigade in the toothless hooch hollers of Appalachia, the rest of the Big Brown World can judge America and her new president without the Honky-Colored Glasses, where everything is still 1955 (or better yet, 1855) and Liking Ike was cool, Daddio, because he played golf and took naps in his footie jim-jams and had the occasional stroke on the East Lawn.

So you Teabagging Wingnuts keep up the good work cheering our Olympic Fail and rooting for the Statue of Liberty to fall over and crush a 4th of July field trip of blind apple-pie-baking orphans with Bald Eagle Leukemia; the rest of the world thinks we're the tits, if only because we're free enough to allow pig-ignorant fascist suck-merchants like Limbaugh to speak in public without an electrified genital cuff wired to a Whack-A-Mole.

Republicans hate America:

I've always been confused by how Miguel Cabrera ended up going from the Marlins to the Tigers. I mean, sure, it was a good trade and all, but seriously, look at the guy.

He's moderately gifted and looks smug. How could he NOT end up with the Yankees?

Turns out he just wasn't ready. Now he's a professional drunk who is a shitty dad and beats his wife to boot. Plus, accordingly to events in August,e likes to demean and threaten to beat overweight teenagers.

Yep, I'm sure he'll be wearing pinstripes and playing with Jeter's balls any day now.

Your most recent update on the swine flu season.

Going along with Krugman's argument about Republicans and Medicare:

A postmortem to the 2009 season for the Cubs, plus some early analysis for next year.

In short, damn near everyone got injured. Bradley was a miserable experiment: i mean, couldn't he have been a dismal teammate while putting up good numbers too? Lilly was a surprise, because - seriously - who though he was going to have that good of a year? Lou FINALLY figured out Kevin Gregg can't close and basically threw Marmol into the job. Better late than never I guess but hopefully Carlos figures it all out in time for next year.

Either way, no playoffs and a long road again waiting for next year.

If Republicans think something might be good for the president, they're against it -- whether or not it's good for America.

That - to be blunt - is the entire platform of the GOP these days. So much for their faux patriotic bullshit.

They want wars but won't put on the uniform. They want to preserve all life, but only squander it on said wars or to execute anyone they can see. They don't want to discuss euthanasia but want to force people to live like vegetables against their will, all the while bankrupting families by not offering health care reform.

And that's just off the top of my head. Krugman addresses this toxic hate a bit more coherently.

Hell, even the GOP cum-gurglers at Politico are pointing out that the Democrats see Republicans as sandbagging hypocrites worthy of scorn. Which, while incapable of making a stance against their masters, is pretty damning by Politico in it's own way.

Hypocrisy, thy name is the GOP. Check out their plans for Iraqi health care versus their bullshit arguments against offering the same to Americans.

Apparently, to Republicans, you need to have your country ruined by Republicans to qualify for health care. Wait a minute! They ruined our country TOO!

This article points out the obvious: if the Russians screwed us over as bad as the Republicans have, there would be blood in the streets all day, every day.

If the Russians had come here and done this -- if they had come and stolen our resources, if they come and enslaved our children into inescapable soul-numbing jobs, if they had left us with environmental degradation and a wrecked economy and destroyed education system and a crumbling infrastructure and a sieve-like healthcare regime -- if the Russians had come and done any or all of this, we would've risen up in anger and hostility and patriotism and nationalism, and we'd have loaded up our weapons and killed every last one of them.

More truth from Reddit:

"Capital must protect itself in every possible manner by combination and legislation. Debts must be collected, bonds and mortgages must be foreclosed as rapidly as possible.

When, through a process of law, the common people lose their homes they will become more docile and more easily governed through the influence of the strong arm of government, applied by a central power of wealth under control of leading financiers.

This truth is well known among our principal men now engaged in forming an imperialism of Capital to govern the world. By dividing the voters through the political party system, we can get them to expend their energies in fighting over questions of no importance.

Thus by discreet action we can secure for ourselves what has been so well planned and so successfully accomplished."

NPR reports on an essay written in a military journal that states that having gays in the militarywould have no impact on either morale or unit cohesion.

Just yet another in a long line of conservative scare tactics that is absolutely wrong. Go figure.

Yet another reason to love Reddit:

This nation was led by a ruler who enforced the laws on threat of death. This ruler demanded that each person pay a 20% income tax annually. 10% was devoted to the poor and immigrants (this nation had virtually no immigration restrictions) and the other 10% went to government workers and infrastructure.

The richest members of society had restraints placed on their ability to generate wealth - an extra portion of their potential profits (above an established cap) was devoted for the poor and immigrants (on top of the 10%).

Labor laws were also strict. Weekends were enforced. Anyone caught working (or forcing others to work) on the day off was severely punished. And every seven years, workers and owners would take an extended vacation, living off of state reserves and private savings.

Most shockingly, the land and wealth of the nation was nationalized once each generation (about 50 years)- debts were forgiven, land and resources were redistributed, and each family restarted with a share of the wealth regardless of how successful or unsuccessful they or their forefathers had been.

So where was this socialist hellhole and who was it's tyrannical leader?

The nation was called Israel and the leader was named Yahweh. You can read all about it in Deuteronomy.

Christians should read their Bibles more often.

You know, I wasn't even a huge Ted Williams fan, but this is NOT how you treat the dead, even those dumb enough to have their skulls lopped off and plopped in a deep freeze.

More hate-filled sedition from the "compassionate conservatives".

This is rude and coarse, but I wiggled in my seat with glee while reading it.

Yes, Grayson is a wild card, but being above the fray only got Obama elected. Everyone else had a dog fight on their hands. Besides, the more we make Republicans look like do-nothing Talibangelical idiots, the better off we'll all be. If you only option is to side with racist sociopaths, you can't even pretend to claim the moral high ground.

Sure, they'll try, but it will become more and more of a circus sideshow to the remaining sane people in America.

Alternet has a less virulent strain of Grayson commentary for ya.

Basically, from the Olympics loss to the jobs report to basically any bad news under the sun, the GOP is proudly laughing and mocking the President today.

Why do Republicans hate America?

More on Rethug hate collected from Alternet today:

Republicans Have Decided to Call Anything a Democrat Ever Does or Says "Nazi"

Why Right-Wing Demagogues Are Trying to Peddle Ludicrous Conspiracy Theories

http://www.alternet.org/politics/142988/tea_party_movement_returns_christian_right_to_its_racist_past

And just to be petty:

Glenn Beck's Secret for Crying on Cue: Vick's Vapo Rub Under the Eyes

I heard a great story on Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone 50th anniversary on Here and Now this afternoon.

GeekDad also covers the day with some good reporting.

You can catch some episodes here as a refresher course.

Remember: this asshole represents my state. As odious as this story originally sounded, it just gets worse.

Ensign AND his enabler Coburn should resign if they truly believe in the "family values" shit they peddle.

Tom Friedman wonders whatever happened to the notion of one country coming together instead of the dangerous divisions we have today.

Wow, a Republican finally grows a spine...or at least rented one. Lindsay Graham, John McCain's enabler, has decided he can probably get re-elected by denouncing Glenn Beckkk and the crazies who follow him. This is only relevant news to me because after Sanford, DeMint, and Wilson, this actually makes Graham to most sane Republican in South Carolina. Which is kind of like saying Sarah Palin is the most gifted female governor Alaska ever elected, but give the guy minor kudos for stepping up.

What's funny is that many blogs are laughing this off as he obviously never mentioned Lush Rimjob, whose failing numbers are tied directly to Beckkk's rise.

Over in print, David Brooks is condemning Rimjob, Beckkk and InHannity for forcing their hate as the mainstream view in GOP politics. To him, it isn't that they actually have power, it's just that everyone lets them have their way out of fear or perception. Wait, isn't that actually the definition of power? You know, the whole "people letting you have your way" thing?

In any case, Brooks is mostly correct, even though he comes this close to blaming the "liberal media" for building up these idiots. You know, because the trio aren't in ANY way related to hate wing radio or FAUXNews.

Get ready for this Halloween season with the following zombie survival video:

That said, given recent events this year, anyone dancing alongside Michael Jackson would probably actually be a zombie this year given that he would be one of the undead ghouls.

Seriously, Roger Ebert makes a lot of sense when he wades into the political pool and his teabagger analysis does him credit.

How much of the anti-Obama outrage is racist? Some is. Many of these angry people (I believe, but cannot prove) are made deeply unhappy by the reality of an African-American in the White House. Let's not pretend otherwise. Perform this mind experiment. If Obama had declared war in Iraq and was caught lying about weapons of mass destruction, what would the right have had to say?

Racism plays a role, but conspiracy theories themselves have an addictive quality. They appeal to a personality type. Many of those who take nourishment from them have, I suspect, a bitter resentment against authority. They don't want anyone telling them what to do. They're defiant. Some of them may have been the victims of child abuse. Anyone who is in power is lying to them for evil motives. Nothing they learn from the mainstream media can be trusted. Some people may think they're so smart -- but these conspiracy insiders know the real story. They learn it from each other, they embellish it, they pass it around, they "document" it with invented connections, they bond among themselves, and they live in a closed system that seems to validate them.

They lack common sense. Their conspiracy theories cannot tolerate it. Most reasonable people, when they heard Obama wanted it kill their grandmother, simply smiled, because -- well, because they knew he didn't. But the conspiracy people Know Better. That's the whole point. That's where the fun comes in. They have a peculiar intensity in their circular reasoning. They cite facts that are not facts, supported by authorities who are not authorities. As my grandmother freely said of perhaps too many people, "They don't have the sense God gave them."

Stunning photos from China's celebration of the Revolution. Here's a taste:

Apparently Mongolia is big news judging by the amount of stories I've picked up on it lately. Here are some pics from both Mongolia and Inner Mongolia.

A taste:

Time is focusing on the death of Detroit and hoping to find stories of rebirth as well.

They even include some really, really depressing photos.

I heard about the project on Here and Now today so check out the interview.

As a bonus, ESPN is carrying a story on the Tigers making it to the playoffs and that is inspiring their fans to hope for better things, as sports at it's best will do.

Stevie Ray Vaughn isn't on this list but otherwise I have no issues with it.