The Daily News

[mr_pikachu]

Internet Searching May Boost Brain (http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20081014/sc_livescience/internetsearchingmayboostbrain)

There's no word yet on the effects of looking up porn.

[Dark-San]

Talking about superstitions.

Saturn, Leo to blame for global meltdown: astrologers (http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20081015/tls-finance-banking-india-markets-astrol-aeafa1b.html)

At this time and age, I find it hard to believe that people still believe in these theories. Then how can we explain the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis or the 1970s American Great Depression in terms of astrology?

[mr_pikachu]

Talking about superstitions.

Saturn, Leo to blame for global meltdown: astrologers (http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20081015/tls-finance-banking-india-markets-astrol-aeafa1b.html)

At this time and age, I find it hard to believe that people still believe in these theories. Then how can we explain the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis or the 1970s American Great Depression in terms of astrology?

Wow. Forget believing in these theories... I'm amazed that there are still people in this world with the gall to call themselves "astrologers."

Real astrology:

Cancer (http://www.theonion.com/content/horoscope/oct-14-2008) ~ June 22 - July 22
Banking on its growing popularity, Cancer will launch an all-new astrological spin-off starting this fall. Keep an eye out for Cancer: The College Years in weeks to come!

[Blademaster]

McCain bitches about his videos being taken off Youtube. (http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/007933.html)

So, McCain is so desperate for publicity at this point, he wants YOUTUBE to stop removing footage of his dying campaign.

John, I think it's time to throw in the towel.

[mr_pikachu]

Hmm, interesting. The curious thing is that they seem to have a claim to fair use, at least... the only counterargument that could possibly be posed would be point #1, in which they might say it has effects on commerce (hey, it is a commercial, after all). Of course, this ignores the TOS... the question is whether Youtube deleted the videos because they felt obligated or because they wanted to blast 'em.

[Knight of Time]

Wheel's First $1 Million Dollar Winner (http://www.wheeloffortune.com/announcements/?article=20)

Yes guys, you've heard me right, a 24-year old newlywed on Wheel of Fortune won herself one million dollars recently (the taping aired yesterday), I couldn't believe it at first when I saw she got the million, I was speechless.

[Roy Karrde]

Ughh I stopped reading once I read Google and You Tube had a connection. Google has had a past history of being Liberal, and attacking conservative things, so it doesn't surprise me that they have been doing this. Then again I have noticed Youtube being more than willing lately to take off anything that would hurt Democrats.

Shouldnt this be in the election thread btw?

[mr_pikachu]

Shouldnt this be in the election thread btw?

Ehh, the initial thing would have been pretty tangential for the election thread. If it goes much further, though, then yeah.

Gamer juggles over 30 Warcraft characters (http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/gamer-juggles-over-30-warcraft-characters/1255554)

This is totally absurd...


In a case of game addiction gone officially bananas, gaming blog Joystiq reports on what is surely the biggest Warcraft fan of them all. Known only under the moniker "Prepared," the gamer plays a stunning 36 World of Warcraft accounts on 11 different computers...simultaneously.


EDIT: If you ever have to do CPR, remember that the most important thing is Stayin' Alive (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081016/od_nm/us_heart_beegees).

[Blademaster]

The QUEEN OF FUCKING ENGLAND uploads her first Youtube video. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xDTZMYfa6g)

I wonder how many Subscribers SHE has?

[mr_pikachu]

I wonder how many Subscribers SHE has?

23,019.

Somehow, I expected more.


Report: Fake antivirus programs claim 30 million victims (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081017-report-fake-antivirus-programs-claim-30-million-victims.html)

I bring this up because my computer got trashed last weekend by "XP Antispyware 2009," which installed itself on my system. (No, I didn't spend any money to buy or activate it... didn't want the obviously fake program in the first place.) After fighting with it for two days, I finally had to just back up my data and wipe the hard drive. :P

[Roy Karrde]

Didnt think this really had much to do with the election.

7th Grader called Racist for Palin Shirt (http://www.myfoxorlando.com/myfox/pages/News/Politics/Detail;jsessionid=CD8B41B452E187305AF19290E60B4124 ?contentId=7664724&version=11&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.14.1&sflg=1)

I don't know who I feel worse for Joe the Plumber or this girl. I guess her since she is cuter. But man that sucks at some of the things that were thrown at her.

“Some of the students were calling me racist because I was Caucasian,” she said. “I wanted the Caucasian man to win. And I told them that’s not true. It’s my freedom of speech, it’s my opinion.”

[classy_cat18]

It's been a week but I have to post that I watched an episode of Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader and the guy that won all those Jeopardy's was a contestant. Surprisingly, he quit at the million dollar question.

In other news:
Writer might get whacked (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/27182753/?GT1=43001)

Whoa. So it's not a stereotypical thing.

[Ultimate Charizard]

Muslim Extremists claim that the X-Factor is a culprit of hate crimes (http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/tv/realitytv/x-factor/article.aspx?cp-documentid=10289283&GT1=61503&ocid=today)

Essentially because this years X-Factor (Uk version of American Idol) Finalists have recorded a charity single to raise money for the British soldiers injured in the war a Muslim speaker is claiming they are being anti muslim.

How long, seriously, untill the world wakes up and realises how truly stupid it is being?

[MToolen]

How long, seriously, untill the world wakes up and realises how truly stupid it is being?


Well, it obviously hasn't yet after many thousands of years; why start?

[Heald]

Muslim Extremists claim that the X-Factor is a culprit of hate crimes (http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/tv/realitytv/x-factor/article.aspx?cp-documentid=10289283&GT1=61503&ocid=today)

Essentially because this years X-Factor (Uk version of American Idol) Finalists have recorded a charity single to raise money for the British soldiers injured in the war a Muslim speaker is claiming they are being anti muslim.

How long, seriously, untill the world wakes up and realises how truly stupid it is being?
It's not the world, it's just Muslim extremists need to stop being so retarded and realise that not every single action in the world is a slight against their religion.

It is also the fault of journalism for reporting every instance of Muslims being offended by every little tiny thing. It really projects a bad image. If journalists could realise that no one cares if a Muslim is offended by something, then it will stop being a big deal.

[mr_pikachu]

At Women's Marathon, fastest time didn't win (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/21/BAUC13L3GQ.DTL&nopu=1)

Nice going, San Francisco. Idiots....


EDIT: More sports news!

Old school: 73-year-old makes college hoops squad (http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/8710842?MSNHPHCP&GT1=39002)

[Roy Karrde]

Iran: Hey the US may attack us, so lets attack London first! (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017624184&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull)

I love their reasoning for this. "US presidents are usually adventuresome in their second terms... [Richard] Nixon, disgraced by the Watergate scandal; [Ronald] Reagan, with the 'Irangate' adventure; [and Bill] Clinton, with Monica Lewinsky - and perhaps George Bush, the sitting president, will create a scandal connected to Iran's legitimate nuclear activity so as not to be left behind."

Now I am not sure about Reagan, but Clinton was having his affairs before his second term ( There is a photo of Lewinsky at the celebration of being re-elected). And Nixon's people did Watergate before he was re-elected. So their logic pretty much fails on that already.

[Heald]

The funny thing is that if they target London, they'll be blowing up millions of Muslims who live there anyway.

Plus I'll probably have to move house.

[midnightangel]

Hero dog saves litter of kittens (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27381659/)

Dog almost died, but he wouldn't move from where the kittens were.

Now that's what I call a good dog :D

[Heald]

R.I.P. British Patriotism 27/10/2008 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7692933.stm)

Frankly, I'm annoyed. Now there are only really two days of the year I look forward to: my birthday and Christmas. No one ever celebrates any of our other 'national holidays', such as St George's Day, May Day, The Queen's Birthday or even really Easter anymore. A day for people to actually be proud of our country and celebrate it would be only a good thing. I can only assume it was shelved in favour of not offending any of the millions of illegal immigrants who are now rooted into our society.

[Shadow Wolf]

Hey guys! Hope you are doing well.

I don't know if this goes here, but I just dropped by to say that I feel somehow surprised to know that people were actually trying to Assasinate Obama (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081027/ap_on_el_pr/skinhead_plot). Although it was discovered, and even though some people have told me that this could be expected, I'm still surprised.

[Roy Karrde]

I seriously do not see him surviving his first term, or even his first two years. (Although hopefully he wont be elected) Ever since everyone started talking about how he models himself off JFK, and his wife is Jackqueline and when he was in Dallas he wanted to go through the Kennedy Assassination Route. I really see him getting killed in the first year, because killing the first black President would be the ultimate prize for groups of radical skin heads that spend their time training at back water ranches learning how to shoot semi automatics.

[Heald]

Senator Stevens found guilty; faces prison (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7694209.stm)

Proof there is some justice left in this crazy, crazy world. I hope this insane tool gets everything he deserves.

[Clark]

lol down with republicans. what don't they lie about. good riddance.

[Drago]

Gamer juggles over 30 Warcraft characters (http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/gamer-juggles-over-30-warcraft-characters/1255554)

This is totally absurd...
So entirely old news at this point, but I can't believe I missed this one. And to think, I suck at managing one WoW character. On the plus side, I'm sure I can type in the instinctive /cower, /surrender and /cry a hell of a lot quicker than him. :heh:

I didn't really have any news to offer, but I may as well throw this one in there...
Apparently men find red-clad women hotter (http://www.bigpond.com/news/offbeat/content/20081029/2404381.asp). Personally, I dunno... black can be pretty alluring. Clad in naked is always a winner, too. :heh:

EDIT: I originally ended this post with a :D, but screw it, I'll throw in as many :heh:s as the post demands.

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

I wasn't sure whether this belonged here or to the Online Video thread topic. It's a funny video related to the regional election last Sunday here in Finland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBY2bbggxyE&feature=related

The point here is that Jutta Urpilainen the chairwoman of SDP, the social-democratic party is thanking their voters and candidates and such. She uses the same words over and over in the interviews for only two TV companies.

Aivan aluksi/ensinnäkin haluan kiittää kaikkia SDP:tä äänestäneitä...
Firstly, I want to thank everyone who voted for SDP...

I myself think they make a bit too big fuss of this, though. Why isn't she allowed to repeat? There may be new viewers who haven't seen the first broadcasts, especially when we admit that regional elections aren't that popular here in Finland.

[Heald]

Foot massages to calm unruly pupils in London schools (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7707019.stm)

Er...umm...but...

What?!

That's it, the crazy train has gone full circle. In twenty years since the rod was banned in schools, bad behaviour has sky-rocketed, and now we're going to massage these yobs? This country is utterly, utterly bizarre.

[Roy Karrde]

Well two things happened last night, one I mentioned in the election thread, one I just found out on, one awesome, one not.

Awesome: CNN Sets up their first "Hologram" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thOxW19vsTg)

Okay so it isn't technically a Hologram as the image is only beamed onto our TV and the guy there cannot see her. But that is still very very cool. It would have been even more awesome if she snuck in a Star Wars Reference.

Not Awesome: Russia to deploy missiles near Poland, aimed at Europe (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-to-deploy-missiles-near-poland-993981.html)

During the Celebration in the US last night, something sinister was happening half a world away. President Dmitry Medvedev today said Russia will deploy missiles in territory near Nato member Poland in response to US missile defence plans.

He did not say whether the short-range Iskander missiles would be fitted with nuclear warheads.

It seems that this will be the first crisis that President Obama will face when coming into office. He most likely is getting a National Security briefing on it this morning.

[Razola]

That's it, the crazy train has gone full circle. In twenty years since the rod was banned in schools, bad behaviour has sky-rocketed, and now we're going to massage these yobs? This country is utterly, utterly bizarre.It's all been downhill since we let them there coloreds into the schools.

You sound like you're 80, by the way.

[Heald]

It's all been downhill since we let them there coloreds into the schools.

You sound like you're 80, by the way.
http://thenastyboys.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/chris-hansen.jpg

[Ultimate Charizard]

Damn Heald you look like a Chat show host...or Rimmer....whichever ;)

[Heald]

UK Home Minister lies through her horribly misshapen teeth; claims people can't wait to get ID cards (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7712275.stm)

It's just...astounding. ID Cards are one of the most unpopular initiatives in the nation, and will likely lose Labour the next election. Considering the UK is a pretty liberal country, why they'd want to try and destroy our liberal traditions by stripping away our civil liberties so wantonly is absurd. And now, our Home Secretary is claiming that, contrary to the fact that no one citizen is in favour of ID cards, that we are actually begging for them to be released earlier.

To think that before June 3rd 2010 we could be living in an Orwellian State...I'm actually seriously considering moving abroad. This isn't hyperbole, I feel exactly the same as people who lived in fascist pre-WW2 states who moved to the USA to escape their fascist overlords.

[Gavin Luper]

UK Home Minister lies through her horribly misshapen teeth; claims people can't wait to get ID cards (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7712275.stm)

It's just...astounding. ID Cards are one of the most unpopular initiatives in the nation, and will likely lose Labour the next election. Considering the UK is a pretty liberal country, why they'd want to try and destroy our liberal traditions by stripping away our civil liberties so wantonly is absurd. And now, our Home Secretary is claiming that, contrary to the fact that no one citizen is in favour of ID cards, that we are actually begging for them to be released earlier.

To think that before June 3rd 2010 we could be living in an Orwellian State...I'm actually seriously considering moving abroad. This isn't hyperbole, I feel exactly the same as people who lived in fascist pre-WW2 states who moved to the USA to escape their fascist overlords.

Heald: I meant to make a quick post in response, but this turned into a wee rant.

This is how I was feeling last year. The Australian Government was trying to push for a national ID card (inclusive of a tonne of personal and biometric data, that was apparently going to be held in a giant database), except they were disguising it as the non-compulsory "Access Card". So nice of them to make it "optional", right? Wrong. The proposed Access Card was going to replace Medicare cards, pension cards and basically every card used by Australians to access social services in any way. In other words, except for the very, very wealthy who could afford to live without access to social services like Medicare, all Australians would eventually find themselves needing the so-called "optional" card. It was a really sneaky way to force an ID card system in, and for a while it looked like it was going to be forced through in a very hush-hush way.

I found it all so concerning that I ended up writing an essay and giving a speech on it for a Uni assignment. There were so many issues surrounding the idea of the Access Card; firstly, there was the issue of how the government planned to actually achieve the rollout (the plan was to make all people have a 15-20 minute interview to apply for their card; multiply that by 20 million citizens and you've got a hell a lot of time lost, not to mention the costs, which the government never seemed willing to detail). Secondly, there was the issue of personal privacy and the right to lead an anonymous life - the government showed little concern for it - but moreover, there was the issue of function creep. Start issuing a card to citizens that has their photo, signature and a host of personal details and biometric data on it, and you're looking at creating an automatic national ID card; hell, it's practically a "license to exist". What will the government think of someone who opts not to have such a card? Someone who refuses to allow the government full knowledge of who they are, what their personal details and medical history are? They must have something to hide, right? Maybe - just maybe - they're subversive terrorists?

It's late, so I'm probably sounding slightly paranoid and/or incoherent; but these aren't just conspiracy theories, these are serious possibilities. We all know of regimes in both the past (Nazi Germany) and the present (I'm thinking any of the many militaristic dictatorships around) who, I think, would jump at the chance to have more efficient means of social profiling and mass surveillance. This kind of national ID card - like the defeated Access Card in Australia or the apparently proposed one in the UK - could very easily be misused by any government.

In the case of the Access Card, thankfully people like the Australian Privacy Foundation (www.privacy.org.au) and others campaigned against it, and the proposal fell apart late in 2007. But the prospect still really worries me - maybe because I let "1984" scare me too much; or maybe because "1984" seems too bloody possible to ignore completely.

Having said all that, there are a lot of countries which do have some form of national ID card, and I suppose that some, maybe most, of the residents of those countries don't have an issue with an institution that was perhaps installed before they were born. The reality might be that most people in these countries aren't affected by having a biometric ID card; it probably doesn't impact upon their lives in any way, shape or form, which is okay in itself. Maybe those countries don't abuse the system. Or maybe they already are abusing the system and nobody knows. Either way, the potential for misuse of these cards is an enormous risk and very possible, and I personally take issue with the concept. I remember when I was in Belgium in 2006, on the streets late with a bunch of Basque travellers, and the local police accosted us and demanded ID from me (because I drunkenly said "Oh, I do" when they asked who spoke English there ... yeah, idiot.). When I didn't produce my passport (I think it was on me but I didn't want them to know that) they informed me that it was illegal to not be carrying a form of ID at all times, and that I had to get off the streets or I would spend the night in jail.

It probably wasn't a huge deal, and I never felt particularly threatened because I was in Belgium, the heart of Europe and the EU - it felt safe there - but still, it was unsettling to have my identity demanded like that. And what if it wasn't the seemingly friendly Belgians? What if the government of a given country decided that they despised Australians, or people of Italian descent, or homosexuals, or any other race, religion or creed, and wanted them exterminated?

It would be Nazi Germany with hi-tech omnipotence, and that scares the shit out of me.

.........

OK, I don't post in Misc overly often, but I guess there are some issues that press my buttons, and this is one of them. Excuse the ranting. :keke:

Heald, fight the propaganda machine! If that fails, come live in Oz.

[Heald]

Gavin Luper: That is exactly how I feel. Germany purposely refuses to have a centralised national database so that if fascism returned to Germany, they wouldn't be omnipotent. Labour in Britain, however, is already a fascist party - if they win the next election, then we're all doomed.

We are already the most watched society on the planet - no other country has more cameras watching us at all times, has more restrictive powers, has more powers to monitor your communications, movements and actions and to imprison you for long lengths of time without charge, has a larger DNA database - the UK wins in all of these catergories. However, because we're a Western country, it isn't viewed as badly as, for example, China. When Nazi Germany was considered a good country (i.e. pre-1937), no one batted an eyelid to any of their happenings. In fact, many people thought they were progressive and an idyllic society. Many UK politicians wanted to side with Nazi Germany and wanted to follow their policies. Thank God they were a small minority.

The Terrorism Act is the most abused law on this planet. If the police want to detain you, take your DNA, arrest you, whatever, they are allowed to do so whenever and wherever under the Terrorism Act. There is no provision for any sort of reasonable proof or evidence that you are a terrorist, they are allowed to haul you in whenever. There was a story released not too long ago about a man who was a victim of mistaken identity (the police turned up at the wrong house or something). When he resisted arrest as he knew he had done nothing wrong, they just mentioned the words 'Terrorism Act' and then hauled him away, took his DNA and it took him years to clear his name.

I don't want all my biometric or personal information in the Government's hands. Every other day it seems we hear about a government worker who has left a disc, memory stick or briefcase containing millions of people's personal data, in public places. A computer containing taxpayer's information was sold on eBay. I take precautions against ID theft and fraud, and a measure I will take will be to refuse to participate in their fascist state.

I hate how they are doing it. First, they are going to force ID cards on foreign students and airport workers, because that seems fair enough. Then who's next? Seaport workers? Nuclear power plant workers? People who work in terrorist targets (public transport, London, landmarks etc.). Eventually, under this farce, everyone will be on the database. You see no one complains, because the only people being IDed are small minorities, until eventually you're the only one left to be IDed. A big problem is the average Briton is too stupid to realise that this is what they're doing, and thus by the time they roll it out nationally for everyone, those left to be IDed will be the minority.

My grandparents fought against fascism, and I don't intend to let their efforts go in vain.

[Gavin Luper]

I don't want all my biometric or personal information in the Government's hands. Every other day it seems we hear about a government worker who has left a disc, memory stick or briefcase containing millions of people's personal data, in public places. A computer containing taxpayer's information was sold on eBay. I take precautions against ID theft and fraud, and a measure I will take will be to refuse to participate in their fascist state.

I hate how they are doing it. First, they are going to force ID cards on foreign students and airport workers, because that seems fair enough. Then who's next? Seaport workers? Nuclear power plant workers? People who work in terrorist targets (public transport, London, landmarks etc.). Eventually, under this farce, everyone will be on the database. You see no one complains, because the only people being IDed are small minorities, until eventually you're the only one left to be IDed. A big problem is the average Briton is too stupid to realise that this is what they're doing, and thus by the time they roll it out nationally for everyone, those left to be IDed will be the minority.

Creep, creep, creep. Yeah, exactly. It bothers me how people don't seem to care. Last year when I was getting quite vocal about my opposition to it, some people I'm close to seemed completely impassive. Along the lines of, "So? I've got nothing to hide. I don't care if the government knows x, y, z about me." And while I know it's up to individual people how they feel about a given issue, I have to admit it frustrated me, to the point where my best defence was, "just read 1984!"

Maybe I'm naive or desensitised, but the idea of terrorism being the main stimulus for all this seems like a limp excuse to me. So, in order to fight against terrorism, you have to turn society into one giant, surveilled, regulated prison? I was in London a year after the bombings there, and I was really blown away by how there were cameras EVERYWHERE. Combine that with another ten years of amped-up anti-terror legislation and the introduction of a biometric ID card, and I can't imagine a scarier place.

I know this sounds stupid to say, and possibly even disrespectful to people who have been directly affected by terrorism (and if anyone is offended, I apologise), but there are times when I debate which would be worse to live through: one dramatic terrorist attack, or a lifetime of social control and surveillance, a la 1984. And yes, I know that's an oversimplification, but still ... it's what goes through my head at times. I think if we get to the stage where we become so rigidly secure and controlled that everything and everyone is monitored and surveilled, the ideals of "freedom" and "democracy" that we claim to believe in will be long, long dead.

And the thing is, people ought to be able to band together and cry out against oppression and tyranny, which I'm fairly sure would count as "seditious" in an Orwellian (or 2012) Britian.

It's insanely late, so I hope that continued rant made some sense and didn't just go round and round.

I think as long as there are a lot of people aware of what's going on in society, and are determined to speak out against it, there's a chance of oppression and dictatorship being prevented.

Well, I hope.

[mr_pikachu]

Eight-year-old charged with two counts of premeditated murder (http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/eightyearold-shoots-his-father-dead/2008/11/10/1226165420614.html)

They're saying the kid shot his dad and dad's friend with a rifle... sad.

[Heald]

Cue right-wing blaming everything but guns in 5, 4, 3...

[classy_cat18]

Cue right-wing blaming everything but guns in 5, 4, 3...

Can I blame the guy for not doing a good job of keeping the gun away from the kid?

[Roy Karrde]

Cue right-wing blaming everything but guns in 5, 4, 3...

Cue left-wing blaming everything but the dumb asses that left the gun within the reach of a child to use in 5, 4, 3...

[classy_cat18]

Then again, what was he doing with a gun anyway? They said the town was peaceful.

[mistysakura]

Creep, creep, creep. Yeah, exactly. It bothers me how people don't seem to care. Last year when I was getting quite vocal about my opposition to it, some people I'm close to seemed completely impassive. Along the lines of, "So? I've got nothing to hide. I don't care if the government knows x, y, z about me." And while I know it's up to individual people how they feel about a given issue, I have to admit it frustrated me, to the point where my best defence was, "just read 1984!"

Maybe I'm naive or desensitised, but the idea of terrorism being the main stimulus for all this seems like a limp excuse to me. So, in order to fight against terrorism, you have to turn society into one giant, surveilled, regulated prison? I was in London a year after the bombings there, and I was really blown away by how there were cameras EVERYWHERE. Combine that with another ten years of amped-up anti-terror legislation and the introduction of a biometric ID card, and I can't imagine a scarier place.

I know this sounds stupid to say, and possibly even disrespectful to people who have been directly affected by terrorism (and if anyone is offended, I apologise), but there are times when I debate which would be worse to live through: one dramatic terrorist attack, or a lifetime of social control and surveillance, a la 1984. And yes, I know that's an oversimplification, but still ... it's what goes through my head at times. I think if we get to the stage where we become so rigidly secure and controlled that everything and everyone is monitored and surveilled, the ideals of "freedom" and "democracy" that we claim to believe in will be long, long dead.

And the thing is, people ought to be able to band together and cry out against oppression and tyranny, which I'm fairly sure would count as "seditious" in an Orwellian (or 2012) Britian.

It's insanely late, so I hope that continued rant made some sense and didn't just go round and round.

I think as long as there are a lot of people aware of what's going on in society, and are determined to speak out against it, there's a chance of oppression and dictatorship being prevented.

Well, I hope.


The only problem is: Australia already has ID cards. They're called driver's licenses. Maybe it's because I'm from Hong Kong where the ID card is taken for granted, where they're used as proof of age and library cards, but I don't get the deal with the opposition to ID cards. The government already has all the information that's on an ID card, except for biometric information. And while I see concerns with addresses and stuff, which could lead to stalking, I don't see in what form biometric data biometric data can be abused. So basically it's just taking information the government already has and putting it on one card... if that constitutes 1984, we're already living in 1984.

(Heald: On the other hand, I do oppose restrictions to citizens' rights based on terrorism acts. Detaining people indefinitely based on suspicion is an abuse of power.)

[Blademaster]

Cue right-wing blaming everything but guns in 5, 4, 3...


Cue left-wing blaming everything but the dumb asses that left the gun within the reach of a child to use in 5, 4, 3...

Cue middle-of-the-fence blaming the child while laughing at the extremist(s) in 5, 4, 3...

Oh, fuck it.


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j89/Soul_of_the_Phoenix/Guns.png

[Heald]

Roy Karrde, I have seen so many stories about shootings in the USA in the last week that it makes my head spin. It isn't just the left-wing who thinks maybe it is time to reconsider the policy of giving everyone, their kids and their dog a gun, it's called common sense. I'm not advocating a full-out gun ban (since I know that will only serve to leave guns in the hands of criminals, which would be worse than what you currently have), but there have been far too many incidents in this month alone (hell, 1 incident is one too many in many people's eyes) where the lack of gun control is the sole reason for the shooting. You cannot look at more or less 100% of these situations and say 'guns aren't to blame'. None of these incidents could have happened without guns. The kid would have been unable to perform these murders with any other weapon. Something as deadly as a gun cannot be simply handed out to the undereducated populace and everyone hopes that everyone plays nice; it astounds me that some Americans are so eager to give everyone deadly weapons but are willing to throw people in jail for smoking something that grows naturally in the ground.

Yes, the dumb asses are also one of the main reasons why this happened, but come on. Most of America are dumb asses. I can almost say I'm happy that you're so willing to improve the gene pool by giving guns to your most intellectually-stunted citizens but the human side of me is screaming that most Americans do not care about the blood tax that comes with inadequate legislation.

You bitch and moan about the Supreme Court legislating from the bench regarding gay marriage and abortion: may I remind you that it is legislating from the bench regarding the 2nd Amendment that is the reason for such ridiculously inadequate gun control? Why not bitch and moan about that? Or is it because, in this case, it is something you actually agree with and you're just a complete hypocrite?

[Roy Karrde]

You cannot look at more or less 100% of these situations and say 'guns aren't to blame'.

Well until a Gun suddenly grows a mind, suddenly has Criminal Intent, and aims itself at some one, I really can. Like it or not, Guns are a tool, just like a knife or any other tool, it can be used properly or improperly, it all determines on who uses it.


None of these incidents could have happened without guns.

And you truly do not know that.


The kid would have been unable to perform these murders with any other weapon.

Last I heard Butcher Knives or any other really sharp weapon that is kept around the house could be used for killing as well. Unless the family suddenly developed really thick skin.


Something as deadly as a gun cannot be simply handed out to the undereducated populace and everyone hopes that everyone plays nice; it astounds me that some Americans are so eager to give everyone deadly weapons but are willing to throw people in jail for smoking something that grows naturally in the ground.

Well A: You do realize we have various back ground checks as well as education classes you must take for a gun. Or atleast we do in Texas. Second the comparison is very poor and you know that.



You bitch and moan about the Supreme Court legislating from the bench regarding gay marriage and abortion: may I remind you that it is legislating from the bench regarding the 2nd Amendment that is the reason for such ridiculously inadequate gun control? Why not bitch and moan about that? Or is it because, in this case, it is something you actually agree with and you're just a complete hypocrite?

Oh I could, but then again that would be another lengthy debate so I tend to only bitch and moan when I want to.

[Heald]

Well until a Gun suddenly grows a mind, suddenly has Criminal Intent, and aims itself at some one, I really can. Like it or not, Guns are a tool, just like a knife or any other tool, it can be used properly or improperly, it all determines on who uses it.

And you truly do not know that.

Last I heard Butcher Knives or any other really sharp weapon that is kept around the house could be used for killing as well. Unless the family suddenly developed really thick skin.
Most, if not all, of these incidents happened at range and by someone who in no way would've or could've used a melee weapon to perform the kill. Are you seriously suggesting this child could have got a butcher's knife, run over to his dad and his friend, overpower them both and kill them with a butcher's knife?

The exact same thing can be said for more or less every other situation. I agree that the gun itself did not aim itself at the person, but the ready availability, an 8-year old's naivity and excitement at seeing a gun and the relative ease that an 8 year old could dispatch two adults (that it would not have been possible with any other weapon) means most of the blame does lie with a lack of gun control, both on the parent's and the state's side.


Well A: You do realize we have various back ground checks as well as education classes you must take for a gun. Or atleast we do in Texas. Second the comparison is very poor and you know that.
And I've read and heard that many places simply ignore these checks, especially at gun shows where there is no paperwork.

[Roy Karrde]

Most, if not all, of these incidents happened at range and by someone who in no way would've or could've used a melee weapon to perform the kill. Are you seriously suggesting this child could have got a butcher's knife, run over to his dad and his friend, overpower them both and kill them with a butcher's knife?

The child was able to get a weapon that he never used before, aimed it at two people to the point that he was able to kill them, and fire on both. So yes the Element of Surprise played a major part in the death of these two people. If it didn't they would either be wounded right now or have been able to take the gun away from the child. So yes with the motivational to kill, and the element of surprise, he would have been able to kill both of them with a Butcher Knife. And as already shown with the gun incident, he didn't need to overpower them, if he had to both would be alive right now.


The exact same thing can be said for more or less every other situation. I agree that the gun itself did not aim itself at the person, but the ready availability, an 8-year old's naivity and excitement at seeing a gun and the relative ease that an 8 year old could dispatch two adults (that it would not have been possible with any other weapon) means most of the blame does lie with a lack of gun control, both on the parent's and the state's side.

No the blame lies on the Parent's side. The state does not have the power nor ability to sit in the parent's house, and look at the gun they have bought at every minute of the day to see what happened to it. There is absolutely nothing to suggest that there was anything mentally wrong with the parents except the lapse of stupidity of leaving the gun out and with in the child's reach. Which for all we know could have only happened once and truly have been a accident on the part of the parents.

You cannot legislate or create a test that will stop some one from having a accident and leaving the gun with in range one time out of the many times they put it up safely. In the end the blame falls on the parents. Obviously they did not mean to put the gun within the child's reach this time, but it did happen and they paid for it with their lives.


And I've read and heard that many places simply ignore these checks, especially at gun shows where there is no paperwork.

Gun shows are a tricky thing, there is work to get them more guarded, and from what I have heard there are many in which you buy the gun your name instantly gets entered into the state database for the purchase and a quick back ground check does happen. That being said you still need to take the classes to receive the Conceal/Carry License and various other Gun Licenses if you wish to keep that gun. Or else it is like anything else that you have in your position that you carry around with out a License, get caught and it's a instant trip to Jail.

[Heald]

I'm sorry, but you lose all credibility for seriously suggesting an 8 year old child could murder two adults with a knife with the same ease as he did a gun.

Let's consider your two criteria for the child being capable of this murder: motivation and the element of surprise.

It is so easy to kill someone with a gun that that creates an element of motivation in itself; I doubt the child would have been so hasty to attempt the murder if he had to use a knife, which would require at least a degree of melee skill, and the rather large chance that if he didn't kill the adult within a few seconds, he would have been overpowered very easily. The high risk of failure would have been a very large deterrant. The fact that the gun eliminated the risk of failure is a source of motivation in itself.

As for the element of surprise, there could be a chance that he waited around a corner and then when his dad came along, he struck. As I mentioned before, this would still have a high failure rate, especially as he has no history of violence so I would assume his melee skills would be poor, and an 8 year old's relative strength in comparison to an adult would also be a factor. But, for the sake of argument, ignoring all this logic, he managed to score a fatal, incapacitating stab on his father. He has now lost the element of surprise, and perhaps the fact he has just murdered his father with his own hands, something incredibly traumatic, might just shock him a bit. That wouldn't explain how he would still be able to murder another adult standing right there, who, upon seeing a child stab his father, would probably punch or restrain the child and disarm him with relative ease.

[PancaKe]

Are you guys serious? I cant believe you guys are debating whether an eight year old could stab his parents just as easily as shoot them. Just have a look at what you're actually debating.

Why do you have to be so morbid and depressing? Go outside and find some fun news.


Here's some news about condoms and other parts of the body that sure beats raging kids with guns (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=663445)

[Roy Karrde]

I'm sorry, but you lose all credibility for seriously suggesting an 8 year old child could murder two adults with a knife with the same ease as he did a gun.

And your lack of logic in this causes you to lose all credibility as I will explain.


It is so easy to kill someone with a gun that that creates an element of motivation in itself;

It is easy to kill someone with just about anything, especially when you have the want to kill and the element of surprise.


I doubt the child would have been so hasty to attempt the murder if he had to use a knife,

You do not know that, right now you are guessing.


which would require at least a degree of melee skill, and the rather large chance that if he didn't kill the adult within a few seconds, he would have been overpowered very easily.

And the same goes for the gun, which would require at least some amount of precession targeting to deliver a lethal kill. Since there are only few places in the body that delivers a instant kill and of those places it is very hard to hit with a gun unless you have training as to where to aim the gun. There is a very large chance that you wont kill the adult within a few seconds, he would have been overpowered very easily after the first shot.


The high risk of failure would have been a very large deterrant. The fact that the gun eliminated the risk of failure is a source of motivation in itself.

And here is where your lack of logic comes in Gun =/= Instant Kill when you fire it. There is a very high risk of failure in hitting a arm or leg or a non vital organ. By your own logic the high risk of failure would have been a very large deterrent.


As for the element of surprise, there could be a chance that he waited around a corner and then when his dad came along, he struck. As I mentioned before, this would still have a high failure rate, especially as he has no history of violence so I would assume his melee skills would be poor, and an 8 year old's relative strength in comparison to an adult would also be a factor. But, for the sake of argument, ignoring all this logic, he managed to score a fatal, incapacitating stab on his father. He has now lost the element of surprise, and perhaps the fact he has just murdered his father with his own hands, something incredibly traumatic, might just shock him a bit. That wouldn't explain how he would still be able to murder another adult standing right there, who, upon seeing a child stab his father, would probably punch or restrain the child and disarm him with relative ease.

Then by your own logic, seeing the traumatic death of his father would have shocked him, no matter if he was using a gun, knife, or Playboy Magazine. At that point the Child would have been able to be restrained and disarmed by the other person in the room during that moment of shock.

Problem is that he wasn't, he was able to turn and kill the friend after killing his father. Which means there was no shock except on the account of the friend standing there. Which means that the Child had the opportunity to swing the gun over, aim for a vital organ, and fire.

[Gavin Luper]

The only problem is: Australia already has ID cards. They're called driver's licenses. Maybe it's because I'm from Hong Kong where the ID card is taken for granted, where they're used as proof of age and library cards, but I don't get the deal with the opposition to ID cards. The government already has all the information that's on an ID card, except for biometric information. And while I see concerns with addresses and stuff, which could lead to stalking, I don't see in what form biometric data biometric data can be abused. So basically it's just taking information the government already has and putting it on one card... if that constitutes 1984, we're already living in 1984.

(Heald: On the other hand, I do oppose restrictions to citizens' rights based on terrorism acts. Detaining people indefinitely based on suspicion is an abuse of power.)

Thing is, Ada, driver's licences aren't compulsory for all citizens, and they can't just be demanded from you by the government whenever they wish: ID cards are mandatory and in a lot of cases, required to be carried on your person at all times. That's a big difference.

Plus, the "government" in and of itself doesn't currently compile one centralised database of citizen's personal information, which is exactly what the Access Card was proposing. Currently, Medicare will have one lot of your info, the DPI will have the info on your driver's licence, which is your signature, photo, name, date of birth and address, and whatever else they require, and different organisations will have their own databases.

If a true ID card, like the failed Access Card, were to be made for Australia - not a de facto one, like a driver's license - it would involve compiling loads of data, basically every known fact about you and your history, as well as your biometric data, onto one centralised government database. Not only does that open us up to be surveilled and potentially tracked, but it creates a dangerously powerful database that you really wouldn't want to fall into the wrong hands, or be used and acted upon by a government with an agenda.

[Heald]

It is easy to kill someone with just about anything, especially when you have the want to kill and the element of surprise.
Perhaps. But not if you're an 8 year old. That is why this is so surprising: if it was some guy, or even their 16 year old son, then tragic, but the fact it was an 8 year old makes it even more surprising.


You do not know that, right now you are guessing.
And so are you! Pot? Kettle? I'm just using logical psychological deduction. You're clutching at straws to defend your misguided notion that guns are never ever even slightly at fault.

And the same goes for the gun, which would require at least some amount of precession targeting to deliver a lethal kill. Since there are only few places in the body that delivers a instant kill and of those places it is very hard to hit with a gun unless you have training as to where to aim the gun. There is a very large chance that you wont kill the adult within a few seconds, he would have been overpowered very easily after the first shot.
To be honest, I'd have a hard enough getting instant kills with a gun since I've had no training, but I'd imagine I'd fare better than an 8 year old with no training. This is why I'm loathe to believe that this kid has had no weapons training whatsoever. I'd imagine he has been to a range at least once. Either that or he was shooting point blank, but the article goes into no detail.

However, even with no training, it is still easier to kill with a gun than a knife, provided you know how to use the gun (if it was already loaded and safety off, then it's probably a lot easier).


And here is where your lack of logic comes in Gun =/= Instant Kill when you fire it. There is a very high risk of failure in hitting a arm or leg or a non vital organ. By your own logic the high risk of failure would have been a very large deterrent.
A gun can penetrate a human skull or torso very easily and the chance of a lethal hit if you can successfully hit these areas is high. A knife requires both manual precision and strength, as well as being tall enough to hit these areas. 8 years old are quite short, on average. Even if he could reach high enough to stab the torso, he would never have the strength to penetrate to rib cage and hit a vital organ, at least not hard enough to instantly incapacitate an adult. Therefore a knife carries are far higher risk of failure. If your argument was an adult with a knife, then some concessions could be made, but for an 8 year old? No.


Then by your own logic, seeing the traumatic death of his father would have shocked him, no matter if he was using a gun, knife, or Playboy Magazine. At that point the Child would have been able to be restrained and disarmed by the other person in the room during that moment of shock.
I've made the assumption the child shot both the adults from range. Shooting without a close-up of the death is one thing; stabbing your dad in the throat and having him die right in front of you, his blood going all over you and him while he screams, is something else. I'll concede this requires the aforementioned assumption, but it isn't a vital part of the argument.

[mistysakura]

Thing is, Ada, driver's licences aren't compulsory for all citizens, and they can't just be demanded from you by the government whenever they wish: ID cards are mandatory and in a lot of cases, required to be carried on your person at all times. That's a big difference.

Plus, the "government" in and of itself doesn't currently compile one centralised database of citizen's personal information, which is exactly what the Access Card was proposing. Currently, Medicare will have one lot of your info, the DPI will have the info on your driver's licence, which is your signature, photo, name, date of birth and address, and whatever else they require, and different organisations will have their own databases.

If a true ID card, like the failed Access Card, were to be made for Australia - not a de facto one, like a driver's license - it would involve compiling loads of data, basically every known fact about you and your history, as well as your biometric data, onto one centralised government database. Not only does that open us up to be surveilled and potentially tracked, but it creates a dangerously powerful database that you really wouldn't want to fall into the wrong hands, or be used and acted upon by a government with an agenda.

Point 1: I have yet to meet a person who didn't get a driver's license because they don't want their name and address displayed on a card. I admit that you have a point about ID cards being produced on demand. Where my ID card comes from, that doesn't happen much unless you're arrested, pretty much, so I haven't taken issue with it. But it does have the potential to be abused.

Point 2: I assume that if the government becomes totalitarian enough to put citizens under surveillance, it'll find a way to do so, whether it's from a centralised database or separate databases.

So I guess my standpoint is that if the government goes totalitarian, we're all screwed, ID card or not.

By the way, a month ago it was revealed that a covert arm of Victoria Police infiltrated activist groups and compiled information on its members. Now that scares me a lot more. An ID card only contains static information like address and date of birth, which can never be illegal. However, tracking the activist groups with which one is involved could lead to stifling of free speech and threats of prosecution. What anyone is doing should never be the government's business.

[Drago]

Kids with guns and forced ID cards? Let's bring in the happy! I looked up happy news. There's a website called happy news, so I just grabbed an article for us to be happy about. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27366604#27366604
(If ANYONE brings up what happens at 1:44, I will not be happy)

[MToolen]

Well, then you had me eagerly anticipating that time frame. What got me, though, was that the kid blew bubbles in his milk and they went EVERYWHERE. I've only gotten to get as far as the top of the glass before I got in trouble. And this kid even had a plate to get the milk bubbles in. If I drank milk, I would so do that.

[Blademaster]

(If ANYONE brings up what happens at 1:44, I will not be happy)

Must... not... repost... picture...

[mr_pikachu]

We've talked about murder for long enough. Now let's discuss legalized child abandonment!

Nebraska parents rush to leave kids before law changes (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081113/ap_on_re_us/safe_haven)

[Drago]

Woman finds her husband cheating on her in Second Life (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=665873). Just remember everyone, no matter how lame you are... there will always be people who are lamer.

[Roy Karrde]

13 year old girl stoned to death for Adultry after being raped (http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/11/01/amnesty.rape.somalia.ap/index.html?eref=edition_africa[/url)

1,000 people in a Soccer Stadium watched this girl being lowered into a pit and have stones thrown at her until she died. Apparently even after a nurse had confirmed she had died, she was put back into the pit to have more stones thrown at her.

Strict Interpretation of Sharia Law, one of if not the most evil thing on the face of this planet.

If you disagree that is fine, but remember that 1,000 people watched this little girl get pelted with stones, her flesh ripped from her body, until she was killed, and no one even tried to stop it.

[Heald]

BNP Membership List Posted Online; death threats and job losses abound (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7736794.stm)

In the latest in a series of data protection cock-ups, the far-right racist BNP party has had its entire 12 000 strong membership list posted online. Those who are legally not allowed to have any political affiliation, such as police officers, soldiers, prison workers etc. all face job losses. A radio DJ, who is allowed to be a member of a political party, has been sacked. Several people have reported receiving death threats and many people face losing their jobs.

I have been tempted to look at the list, but then again, why the hell is it any of my business? Despite the fact it is of dubious legality to search for personal information, aren't people entitled to freedom of speech? I do not at all agree with the BNP or their views, but I do believe they are entitled to their horrid views, and in jobs where their political affiliation is of no importance, such as being a radio DJ, surely it should be illegal to fire someone based on their political views, especially if they haven't expressed them over the air, but have been outed by some chump. 12 000 people face ostracisation from society, and for what? For their political views? What kind of society is that? As I said, I hate the BNP, but I hate even more restricting people's right to free speech. This whole thing irritates the hell out of me.

Opinions?

[Roy Karrde]

School policing Political Incorrectness (http://hotair.com/archives/2008/11/19/good-news-canadian-school-deputizes-ras-to-police-students-for-political-incorrectness/)


Students at Queen’s University who sprinkle their dialogue with an assortment of “homo” or “retarded” could find out the hard way that not everyone finds their remarks acceptable.

The Kingston university has hired student facilitators to step in when they overhear homophobic slurs, remarks bashing women or racially tinged insults, along with an array of other language that could be deemed offensive…

“If people are having a conversation with offensive content and they’re doing it loud enough for a third person to hear it … it’s not private,” said Jason Laker, dean of student affairs at Queen’s…

“Having a program like this in place could stifle public discussion if people are worried their private conversations are being monitored,” said Angela Hickman, managing editor of the Queen’s Journal, a campus newspaper. “For a lot of people, their opinions get formed in conversations and so stifling that is dangerous.”

First Thought: Damn Blademaster better keep away from this Campus! J/k Blade.

[Jeff]

Well that's gay. :P

I guess free speech was nice while it lasted.

[MToolen]

There is a way to protect that free speech. And that way is [deleted at the request of the DoHS]

[Blademaster]

Man, fuck that. I'd boycott the school. Get me my picket sign and my megaphone: It's time to take back my rights from these fagtards! :mad:

[Roy Karrde]

I think we should start a fund, to ship Blade up there with a Video Camera strapped to him. It would be so worth it!

[mr_pikachu]

Breaking News: Attorney General Mukasey collapses during speech (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081121/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/mukasey_collapses;_ylt=AvubHjvnHyfbGcCzj0UT49oGw_I E)


Mukasey was delivering a speech to the Federalist Society at a Washington hotel when "he just started shaking and he collapsed," said Associate Attorney General Kevin O'Connor. "They're very concerned."

Mukasey was 15 to 20 minutes into his speech about the Bush administration's successes in combatting terrorism when he began slurring his words. He collapsed and lost consciousness, said O'Connor, the department's No. 3 official, who was traveling at the time and was alerted to what had occurred.

Let's hope it's not too serious.

[mr_pikachu]

US officials flunk test of Amerian history, economics, civics (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081120/od_afp/ushistoryeducationoffbeat)

The truly amazing thing? They actually scored worse than average citizens.

[classy_cat18]

Dude, I am so printing this out for my Current Events class!

[Roy Karrde]

Intelligence Chiefs expecting Al Qaeda attack (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5241036.ece)

Al Qaeda to target Penn Station (http://wcbstv.com/national/nyc.subway.terror.2.874830.html)

Most of you probably know about the massacre that happened last night in Bombay. This is the first time that I have heard that it was a Al Qaeda attack. It seems Intel Sources on both sides of the pond are saying that a major attack on the US could be coming in the next few months during the transition between the Bush and Obama Administration.

The next few months could be nail bitters. It's kind of scary that the Long Island Railroad to Penn Station where the attack may happen, I rode on it just a few years ago going from Poli's House to Downtown New York.

[DarkestLight]

>> I gotta go damn close to there every day -.- That attack best not happen, or all heck will break loose.

[Roy Karrde]

I doubt it would be Penn Station, and I doubt it would be bombs or guns though. Then again I know very very little about International Terror, but Al Qaeda doesn't seem like the type to do the same trick twice, they want to do the next one. A "Spectacular" attack as the chatter suggests would mean some place like Times Square on New Years, or Obama's Inauguration day using a Bio Weapon, both places would be packed with millions, and both are symbols of this country where a large killing field would be considered "Spectacular" by Al Qaeda's sick standards.

[Heald]

British government in Stalinist, police state accusation (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7757170.stm)

The UK took another big step towards becoming a fascist state as an opposition MP was arrested, four of his homes and offices (two of each) raided and his DNA added to the criminal database after the government found out he might have discovered leaked information damaging to the government.

Most MPs from all parties called for a review of police powers and for the government to stop taking these steps towards a police state.

The Home Secretary denied saying that the UK was becoming a police state. Her reasoning? She, er, redefined what a police state is. Someone had better call Oxford and tell them to update the dictionary, because apparently a police state isn't when the government abuses their powers over the police but is when Parliament tries to change the law so the government cannot abuse its powers.

It's a good thing tickets to the USA are now cheaper, because I might be moving soon, before thought-crimes become a reality.

[Roy Karrde]

Atheists work to help further the Holiday Spirit (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wa_atheist_display.html)

Atheists decided to set up their own sign at a Christmas Nativity scene that just fills you with the Holiday spirit!

"There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

[Katie]

I really wish there were two different words for the two different types of atheists: the ones who have a live-and-let-live thing going, and the ones who are constantly annoying people trying to prove that religion is bogus, mostly for attention I've noticed. Christianity has fundies; we need a word for those guys.

[Heald]

Landmark ruling on UK's fascist database (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7764069.stm)

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that retaining DNA samples of innocent people on a criminal database infringed their human rights. As the UK is part of the EU and has signed up to the Human Rights Act, it is legally obliged to obey the ruling, or face expulsion from the EU.

Typically, our fascist home secretary says the law will remain in place until they've had time to consider the judgement. This is newspeak for: we'll maintain our fascist policies for as long as humanly possible.

Meanwhile...

China bans lip-syncing at shows (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5286227.ece)

I thought this was quite funny, considering China used lip-syncing during the Beijing opening ceremony.

[mr_pikachu]

O.J. gets at least 9 years for armed hotel robbery (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/oj_simpson)


LAS VEGAS – A weary and beaten-looking O.J. Simpson was put away Friday for at least nine years — and perhaps the rest of his life — for an armed robbery in a hotel room, bringing a measure of satisfaction to those who believed the football star got away with murder more than a decade ago. The 61-year-old Hall of Famer listened stone-faced, his wrists in shackles, as Judge Jackie Glass pronounced the sentence — 33 years behind bars with eligibility for parole after less than a third of that.

[classy_cat18]

Wow. He's already that old? Yeah, he won't make it.

[Heald]

He's an idiot. He must've known that if he committed any offence that could land him a jail sentence, he'd be serving some long, hard time.

I kinda feel bad for him. I don't have an opinion on his murder trial, I don't know whether he did it or not and I probably never will, and I'm not going to judge him. However, he was never going to get a fair trial here. I guess if he did do it, he deserves it. There's probably no way he'll ever get out of there alive.

[Drago]

I don't know about y'all, but the concept of escaping something for all those years, and then for it to finally come out and grab you by the throat after 13 long years, scares the hell out of me.
As a football fan, I feel a little sad to see such a talented man end up in such a way, but I have little doubt that he actually did it (you know what I mean by it), which outweighs anything he ever achieved in football. Similarly, I hadn't realised he was so old either. He sure looks good for a 61-year-old. Well, looked good anyway. He's gonna age real fast from here on.

[Roy Karrde]

You know its funny, if the murder trial had been held ten/fifteen years later now that we have CSI on TV and everything. Simpson would be in jail for life and possibly be heading to the execution chamber. But noooo back then you had idiots on the Jury that thought DNA was as common as blood types, and wasn't very accurate.

Of course it also helps that just a few years before hand LA had been lit up by the Rodney King Riots and there were thousands of angry blacks outside that could have charged the court house.

Only real good things is you got a bunch of inmates in Nevada that are sharpening up their shivs, just waiting to see which one can kill Simpson.

[Mew Master]

I really wish there were two different words for the two different types of atheists: the ones who have a live-and-let-live thing going, and the ones who are constantly annoying people trying to prove that religion is bogus, mostly for attention I've noticed. Christianity has fundies; we need a word for those guys.

Well, in all fairness, every system for correlating one's relationship to the rest of the world (Catholosism/Christianity, Judisim, Islam, Hinduism, Atheism, Agnosticism ) has it's "fundies," I prefer to call 'em "extremists" or "zealots" which is kinda equal across the board.

On one hand I couldn't care less what some people do around the holidays, I'm personally angered by a good chunk of it, and others shouldn't attack others based on one belief. However, it is a counter to many attacks on science, claiming that Science itself is a Religion system (which is something that some atheists [some, not all] don't even accept [Science that is]).

Honestly. I'm glad that these guys are making a nod to the natural processes that we really should be embracing (Winter Solstice imo). However, there is still the bias there about Jewish holiday's getting over-shadowed, while Catholic/Christian holidays are paraded around like they're more important.

And [i]that also 'grinds my gears.'

EDIT: UPDATES! Sign stolen! Missing atheist sign found in Washington state (http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/05/atheists.christmas/?iref=mpstoryview). What was that about 'fundies'?

[mr_pikachu]

You know its funny, if the murder trial had been held ten/fifteen years later now that we have CSI on TV and everything. Simpson would be in jail for life and possibly be heading to the execution chamber. But noooo back then you had idiots on the Jury that thought DNA was as common as blood types, and wasn't very accurate.

I disagree, if only because a bad enough prosecutor and judge can blow any case. I seem to remember some rather interesting interviews with jury members after the case... it was amazing how many basic pieces of evidence they'd never seen.

[Roy Karrde]

"Any preacher who dares to point out the simple ugly facts found in every field imaginable is demonized as volatile, controversial, incendiary, inflammatory, anti-American and radical," Wright said, taking time out to note the thousands of Japanese civilians who died 67 years to the day when American warplane dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. (Actually, Dec. 7 marks the day when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.) (http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/reverend-jeremiah-wright-trinity-united-baptist-church-chicago-obama.html)

Everyone at the same time.

EPIC FAIL

[Heald]

Heh, speaking of crazy racists, Another racist fails to get Obama disqualified on the grounds that he isn't American (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7771937.stm)

[Jeff]

Found this after clicking Heald's link: Cartoons are people too! (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7770781.stm)

[Heald]

Found this after clicking Heald's link: Cartoons are people too! (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7770781.stm)
http://www.b3tards.com/u/f94979c65cdf16050eb2/pbearwoah.jpg

[Roy Karrde]

Heh, speaking of crazy racists, Another racist fails to get Obama disqualified on the grounds that he isn't American (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7771937.stm)

You do realize this guy isn't racist, or at least I havn't heard him as one. He is just a Uber PUMA that was pissed at Obama after he beat Hillary. Or atleast one of the main pushers of this was. I don't know there were two or three major idiots that were pushing these through the courts.

[Heald]

You do realize this guy isn't racist, or at least I havn't heard him as one. He is just a Uber PUMA that was pissed at Obama after he beat Hillary. Or atleast one of the main pushers of this was. I don't know there were two or three major idiots that were pushing these through the courts.
Even if it isn't explicit, it is probably implied; if Obama wasn't black, there would have never have been a debate regarding his heritage, and anyone who fuels the debate is a racist. It's same old small-minded racist America.

Also, regarding Jeff's story on cartoons now being child porn, then surely here are the implications: if a cartoon simulates murder, surely then that's murder. If a cartoon shows rape, isn't that then rape?

[Roy Karrde]

Even if it isn't explicit, it is probably implied; if Obama wasn't black, there would have never have been a debate regarding his heritage, and anyone who fuels the debate is a racist. It's same old small-minded racist America.

Also, regarding Jeff's story on cartoons now being child porn, then surely here are the implications: if a cartoon simulates murder, surely then that's murder. If a cartoon shows rape, isn't that then rape?

It isn't his heritage and more that it's something embarrassing and he may not legally be a US Citizen, which thus means he cannot become President because of Constitutional Law. Injecting racism into it just because he is black is stupid and will probably cause alot of annoy arguments between a lot of people these next 4 years. People tried to challenge John McCain's Citizenship as well, and if you remember 4 years ago people were going after George W Bush for not releasing his air force papers. One of the things that fueled this was Obama being somewhat secretive about the Birth Certificate and his past in what ever foreign country he was raised in. When public officials start being secretive about a already stupid thing, it only gives credibility to the original stupid idea. As we saw 4 years ago, and as we now see.

People will go after a Presidential Candidate that they hate for the most insane things, and 99.9% of the time it has nothing to do with his race.

Edit: Apparently, and I may be misreading this, Leo Donofrio first filed his lawsuit in New Jersey to get both Obama AND McCain off the ticket in New Jersey, as well as Nicaraguan born Roger Colera. So yeah he may be a nut job, but atleast he is a Bi-Partisan one.

As for the Child Pornography Cartoon all I have to say is a quote from another site that picked it up:

"We proscribe child pornography to keep children from getting sexually exploited. Cartoon characters aren’t real people, and we don’t need to protect them from predators. Extending the definition to fiction makes a mockery of the law and the real damage done to real children by actual violations."

[Heald]

I'm well aware of the (ridiculous) law that only natural-born citizens can become Presidents. There is no 'injecting' racism into it; it was racists who began the argument in the first place. When it first became apparent that America could have a black president, every racist out there hurried to question his heritage. None of them had any proof that Obama was not a natural-born citizen, their entire basis was formed on 'He's black, therefore he's American'. Them and everyone who followed them were racially motivated, and I doubt the debate would have picked up any steam (like it didn't pick up steam with McCain) if he wasn't black. There was no injecting racism into this; the mere fact that Obama was black was what fuelled these people to seek his birth certificate.

Now, why didn't Obama publish it straight away? If a bunch of small-minded, stupid, ignorant racists demanded to see your birth certificate, why acknowledge them? The people that demanded to see his birth certificate and demanded to know of his past were a very small, very ignorant minority, and the best way to deal with ignorant people is to ignore them. Acknowledging ignorant people only serves to make them think their opinions matter.

The fact that Obama got so far in his Presidential race without someone who mattered pointing out he wasn't eligible is more or less proof. I doubt any major party would let a candidate run in the Primaries without at least doing a check that they're eligible, whether they're black or white, male or female, Christian or otherwise.

I'd hope that eventually someone would call to have this idiotic part of the constitution removed in order to stop these ridiculous debates happening again.

EDIT Made an edit but you've probably already quoted this in an upcoming post so I doubt it will matter.

[Roy Karrde]

I'm well aware of the (ridiculous) law that only natural-born citizens can become Americans. There is no 'injecting' racism into it; it was racists who began the argument in the first place. When it first became apparent that America could have a black president, every racist out there hurried to question his heritage. None of them had any proof that Obama was not a natural-born citizen, their entire basis was formed on 'He's black, therefore he's American'. Them and everyone who followed them were racially motivated, and I doubt the debate would have picked up any steam (like it didn't pick up steam with McCain) if he wasn't black. There was no injecting racism into this; the mere fact that Obama was black was what fuelled these people to seek his birth certificate.


Umm it did pick up Steam with McCain, as I have already said this guy's original law suit was also originally against McCain as well. Once a winner was decided the guy went on to fire another suit against the winner. And in the case for the other Obama Lawsuiter, Berg I believe his name was. It also had nothing to do with Racism and everything to do with a heated Democrat Battle that saw one side absolutely hating the winner.

You are looking for Racism where there is none. Not in Leo's lawsuit, and not in Berg's.

Also please do not look ignorant by just saying the lawsuit was racially motivated just because Obama was black, and that anyone that filed such lawsuit was racist even if they also fired one against McCain. Not only is that a blanket statement on your part but a massive leap to conclusions. I've sat through this crap for the past 6 months, yes they are nut balls, yes there is some legal gray area, and such gray area has about as much to do with Obama's Blackness as McCain's whiteness.


Now, why didn't Obama publish it straight away? If a bunch of small-minded, stupid, ignorant racists demanded to see your birth certificate, why acknowledge them? The people that demanded to see his birth certificate and demanded to know of his past were a very small, very ignorant minority, and the best way to deal with ignorant people is to ignore them. Acknowledging ignorant people only serves to make them think their opinions matter.

Agreed but it also will shut them up.


The fact that Obama got so far in his Presidential race without someone who mattered pointing out he wasn't eligible is more or less proof. I doubt any major party would let a candidate run in the Primaries without at least doing a check that they're eligible, whether they're black or white, male or female, Christian or otherwise.

Maybe it wasn't obvious in Britain but atleast in the Political Sphere in the US, there was a bit of a stink and always a underlining question about McCain's Citizenship and Obama's Citizenship. No matter who won, there was going to be further law suits because both of them had a bit of a gray area as to if they were legally born in the US.

I would assume that if McCain won, and Leo furthered his lawsuit against McCain (At this point we have no proof he wouldn't) you would also claim racism? As well as the various law suits filed by Obama supporters against McCain's citizenship?

[Heald]

I'll admit now that I never actually heard the news about McCain's citizenship coming under fire until you mentioned it today, so perhaps the British media just didn't choose to publish it, hence why I didn't think it picked up steam. We got a lot of Obama stuff though, lots of stories about how people saying he's not really American and all that stuff. There was also a documentary about Obama and it featured a lot of interviews from people who misunderstood his heritage, a lot of people saying he wasn't really American, hinting because he was black and because he had a funny name and all that jazz. I just assumed any idiot who questioned Obama's citizenship was doing it on race alone.

You misunderstand what I'm saying though. It wouldn't be racist to try and disqualify McCain, because if you're unsure of the law, then you might think a Panama-born person is ineligible (clearly he wasn't aware that he was still born on US territory and both his parents were American, therefore on two counts he counts as an American citizen). Whereas with Obama, Obama said he was born in Hawaii, so fair enough. So what are the main grounds for trying to question Obama's citizenship? I can't see any obvious reason to question Obama when he says he was born in Hawaii other than his race.

That's the difference between McCain/Colera and Obama. McCain and Colera were both born outside of the 50 states and to someone unsure of the constitution might think they're ineligible. Obama was born in one of the 50 American states, so why would someone question his natural-born status? Regardless of colour, Obama had as much eligibility to run as Bill Clinton, both Bush presidents and Nixon, and no one ever questioned their natural-born status (at least not to my knowledge). If you tried to say Clinton wasn't really American, you'd get laughed at. Say the same about Obama and some people think, 'Well, he's black, better check'.

[Roy Karrde]

You misunderstand what I'm saying though. It wouldn't be racist to try and disqualify McCain, because if you're unsure of the law, then you might think a Panama-born person is ineligible (clearly he wasn't aware that he was still born on US territory and both his parents were American, therefore on two counts he counts as an American citizen). Whereas with Obama, Obama said he was born in Hawaii, so fair enough. So what are the main grounds for trying to question Obama's citizenship? I can't see any obvious reason to question Obama when he says he was born in Hawaii other than his race.

Well apparently on the McCain thing the territory may not have been 100% US, as well, the NY Times points out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/us/politics/28mccain.html

As for Obama there are various questions here is what I have been able to gather.

A: His father was a British Citizen giving Obama British Citizenship.

B: Obama wasn't born in Hawaii

C: When Obama moved to Indonesia as a child, he renounced his American Citizenship infavor of Indonesian Citizneship.


That's the difference between McCain/Colera and Obama. McCain and Colera were both born outside of the 50 states and to someone unsure of the constitution might think they're ineligible. Obama was born in one of the 50 American states, so why would someone question his natural-born status? Regardless of colour, Obama had as much eligibility to run as Bill Clinton, both Bush presidents and Nixon, and no one ever questioned their natural-born status (at least not to my knowledge). If you tried to say Clinton wasn't really American, you'd get laughed at. Say the same about Obama and some people think, 'Well, he's black, better check'.

Except you are again coming at this with out any real research on the subject. And jumping to conclusions thinking these lawsuits are only done out of racism and not actual facts or what they believe is facts.

If say Bill Clinton had two parents, one of which wasn't a US Citizen, and then moved to another country when he was a child where a few documents say that he was a Indonesian Citizen. There would have been questions about Clinton. Just as there are questions about McCain, based on different possible facts.

[Heald]

A: His father was a British Citizen giving Obama British Citizenship.

B: Obama wasn't born in Hawaii

C: When Obama moved to Indonesia as a child, he renounced his American Citizenship infavor of Indonesian Citizneship.
These three things are lies though (Obama didn't get British citizenship, he was born in Hawaii and he never renounced his citizenship), and the only reason why someone would make up these lies about someone who is quite clearly an American citizen is because he's black. In fact the first point was originally that his dad was Kenyan, and when that didn't work, said he was British instead.

[Roy Karrde]

These three things are lies though (Obama didn't get British citizenship, he was born in Hawaii and he never renounced his citizenship), and the only reason why someone would make up these lies about someone who is quite clearly an American citizen is because he's black. In fact the first point was originally that his dad was Kenyan, and when that didn't work, said he was British instead.

* Shakes head * Okay now this is getting beyond absurdity and into the realm of stupidity.

I have proven that Leo's lawsuit had nothing to do with racism, but you seem to continue on the misguided belief it actually does.

Is it so absolutely inconceivable that people would either A: actually believe that one of those is true. I mean you denounce all three of them as lies with a flick of a wrist. or B: That they hate the person NOT because of his race, but because of his Political Beliefs? or last but not least C: Because he defeated Hillary Clinton for the nomination.

As for the three arguments, I don't put much credence or research into (A). But I have heard alot about (B and C). B is the main reason for the Birth Certificate scandal, and apparently C dates back to a few documents saying Obama actually was a Indonesian citizen as I have already said.

I mean honestly do you think these people would spend as much time, effort, and money, in something that could be dismissed as a lie with just a flick of the hand?

[Heald]

I mean honestly do you think these people would spend as much time, effort, and money, in something that could be dismissed as a lie with just a flick of the hand?
Never (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology) underestimate the stupidity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism) of the human race (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creationism).

[Mew Master]

Never (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology) underestimate the stupidity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism) of the human race (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creationism).

Second.

[Blademaster]

Never (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology) underestimate the stupidity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism) of the human race (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creationism).

Second.

Third.

[MToolen]

So my governor just got arrested. (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/ILLINOIS_GOVERNOR?SITE=TXDAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)

Seems he was trying to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat, among other stupid things (e.g., trying to get Chicago Tribune editors critical of him fired, working from Chicago instead of the capital and flying down when it can't be avoided). I guarantee his approval rating is terrible here. Apparently, though, he can't be impeached unless he himself calls an emergency meeting of Illinois Congress.

[Roy Karrde]

So my governor just got arrested. (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/ILLINOIS_GOVERNOR?SITE=TXDAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)

Seems he was trying to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat, among other stupid things (e.g., trying to get Chicago Tribune editors critical of him fired, working from Chicago instead of the capital and flying down when it can't be avoided). I guarantee his approval rating is terrible here. Apparently, though, he can't be impeached unless he himself calls an emergency meeting of Illinois Congress.

Some one is going to jaillllll

And the subpoenas will go flyin!

The Obama Campaign better start hiring independent council and fast. One thing about Patrick Fitz is that he digs and digs and digs until he gets what he wants. And as the Times put it today, this could haunt Obama's first year.

Who in his Campaign knew about this? how high up were they? When did they know this? Did Obama know about this?

The words "Grand Jury" is even being tossed about, and we will probably see Axlerod and Obama appear since Axlerod already made the dumbass comment weeks ago about how Obama has met with the Gov about his Senate Seat. Not to mention you have to know the Campaign was watching the backroom dealings for that seat VERY closely.

[mr_pikachu]

Canadian Man Builds Himself Robot Girlfriend (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,465844,00.html)

I knew nerdiness had an upside!

[Jeff]

A Canadian man, apparently unable to find the perfect woman, has done the next best thing — he's built himself one.

Le Trung, a 33-year-old software engineer who lives with his parents in Brampton, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto, says he's spent about $20,000 so far on Aiko, a 5-foot-tall female android with clear skin, a slim if shapely figure and a wonderful disposition.


I sense a connection here...

*cries*

[Bulbasaur4]

Canadian Man Builds Himself Robot Girlfriend (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,465844,00.html)

I knew nerdiness had an upside!


I want one! : D

[classy_cat18]

"Can you **** it?"

"Excuse me?"

"Can you **** it?"

"No!"

"Awwww!"

[mr_pikachu]

Well, you can... but it's best to wait until the third date.

[Jeff]

You know, if this relationship works out, what happens if he proposes? At the wedding, no one will be able to tell if that toaster sitting on the table is a wedding present, or a member of the bride's family.

[Asilynne]

I sense a connection here...

*cries*

this made me sad!!!!! lol ;<

[Bulbasaur4]

That toaster was a whore anyway...

[Jeff]

I know there are plenty of people out there that like to criticize President Bush for everything he does. But you gotta admit, the man sure can dodge a shoe (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28223089#28223089).

[Ultimate Charizard]

You can Freeze it, you can boil it, you can even Microwave it but nothing can kill the SUPER-SPIDER! (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1357179.htm)

:D

[PancaKe]

You can Freeze it, you can boil it, you can even Microwave it but nothing can kill the SUPER-SPIDER! (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1357179.htm)

:D

:cry: waaaah. can you step on it??

[Ultimate Charizard]

Yeah wierdly it doesnt say he tried that one lol

[PancaKe]

As if you wouldn't take a shoe to the spider first thing. I would not boil my kettle if I had to kill a spider.

[DarkTemplarZero]

I know there are plenty of people out there that like to criticize President Bush for everything he does. But you gotta admit, the man sure can dodge a shoe (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28223089#28223089).

"This is a farewell kiss, you dog!" Lol what a maniac, but I definitely give him props for an entertaining, mostly non-violent way to remind Dubya that he's both a criminal and a disastrous failure.

[Roy Karrde]

I would think that he would want to capture it so that they could create a anti-venom if they didn't have one on hand.

Then again it could be worse.

http://www.thefunnypage.com/camel-spiders/spider.jpg

It could be a Camel Spider, I hear those suckers are so big they have been employed by the Iraqi Government to handle the Bus line ~.^

[Ultimate Charizard]

Apparently the Camel Spider isnt actually a Spider (It really looks like one so got that name etc)
Its either an insect or a millipede relative etc.

[Roy Karrde]

Apparently the Camel Spider isnt actually a Spider (It really looks like one so got that name etc)
Its either an insect or a millipede relative etc.

I rather classify it as the "Scary as Shit" Category!

[PancaKe]

AUGHOMG NEVER EVER POST PICTURES OF IT AGAIN! IT IS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN! AUGH AUGH AUGH

[PancaKe]

Spiders scare the absolute bananas out of me.

[Roy Karrde]

No, actually, it can't. I clicked the link; as soon as I saw "Brazilian wandering spider," I turned white. The Brazilian wandering spider is the deadliest spider on the face of the planet. Not to mention it's the size of a tarantula, it can run as fast as a human athlete (hence the name), and it eats birds for lunch instead of mosquitoes and crickets.

Camel spiders are some big, ugly, nasty fuckers, but in terms of true danger, the Brazilian wanderer beats it, the black widow, the brown recluse, and even the Australian funnel web. It's a miracle that this guy survived.

Yeah I know I was just joking.

Camel Spiders are pretty harmless but, sweet Jesus they are huge.

[classy_cat18]

Ten bucks say it's radioactive!

[Ultimate Charizard]

Best thng about that story. Hospital officials say it is no danger because it wont survive the cold.

WHAT THE FUCK DO THEY KNOW!. These are the same guys that released the damn thing after mistaking a 13cm poisonous spider capable of hospitalizing a grown man as a common UK variety?

As far as im aware the UK doent have that many poisonous animals that are a danger to humans (The adder?) nevermind sodding spiders!

[Blademaster]

Then again it could be worse.


No, actually, it can't. I clicked the link; as soon as I saw "Brazilian wandering spider," I turned white. The Brazilian wandering spider is the deadliest spider on the face of the planet. Not to mention it's the size of a tarantula, it can run as fast as a human athlete (hence the name), and it eats birds for lunch instead of mosquitoes and crickets.

Camel spiders are some big, ugly, nasty fuckers, but in terms of true danger, the Brazilian wanderer beats it, the black widow, the brown recluse, and even the Australian funnel web. It's a miracle that this guy survived.

EDIT:
AUGHOMG NEVER EVER POST PICTURES OF IT AGAIN! IT IS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN! AUGH AUGH AUGH

You sound scared... You need a friend.

http://images.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/6/66/Can_we_be_friends%3F.jpg

EDIT 2: WTF is with the backwards posting?

[PancaKe]

AUGH THAT IS NOT FUNNY!

[Jeff]

"This is a farewell kiss, you dog!" Lol what a maniac

Of course, the question we should all be asking here is: Who throws a shoe, honestly? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D5oKEVqQJg&feature=related)

[Pichu Luver]

I don't know how many people here use IE but for those who do:

Major security problem in all versions of Internet Explorer (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7784908.stm).

So... not sure how much it would help but up the security settings, and run anti-virus a lot. Or switch to a different one. The article lists Firefox, Opera, Chrome or Safari as "not vulnerable to the flaw Microsoft has identified."

[Houndoom_Lover]

Awww! ^w^ There you are, Albert! *grabs up the spider and carries him away*

[mistysakura]

"Daddy, am I an abomination?" (from Morphic, by Dragonfree)

Little Adolf Hitler denied birthday cake (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24813656-12377,00.html)

Now, the dad's argument that he wanted to give his kid a unique name would have the slightest chance of passing, if only his daughter's middle name weren't Aryan Nation.

[Jeff]

Of course the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw that one was...

Lil' Hitler, he's such a scamp!

Anywhoo, yes, the name is certainly unique, I'll give the parents that one. But their other kids have Nazi names and their house is decorated with swastikas? You can't tell me that's just because of their relative in the SS.

[Blademaster]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

I wonder if Fifty Hitler Posts will start using this kid when he gets older.

[Houndoom_Lover]

Aah! Beautiful! This found its way on the thread!

On the topic of names, I was once yelled at by a subsistute teacher for my mane, like I was playing some sort of nasty trick on her.

Thus sparking my hatrid of subsistute teachers.

[Roy Karrde]

California Supreme Court rules that Good Samaritans are liable to be sued (http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-me-good-samaritan19-2008dec19,0,6547898.story)

I guess the question is between this, Hollywood Nut jobs, and Scientology, can't we just saw this state off the rest of the 47, and let it float away into oblivion?

[MToolen]

California Supreme Court rules that Good Samaritans are liable to be sued (http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-me-good-samaritan19-2008dec19,0,6547898.story)

I guess the question is between this, Hollywood Nut jobs, and Scientology, can't we just saw this state off the rest of the 47, and let it float away into oblivion?

I ask myself the same question, only about Chicago.

[Roy Karrde]

Christmas in... Iraq? All Iraqis are Christians? (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/21/iraq.christmas/index.html)

Well a bit of good news, Iraq held it's first Christmas Celebration today, featuring a Christmas Tree, a Large Santa, and a Poster of Jesus Christ, as well as various art exhibits.


Afnan, 12 years old, shows me her model called "Arresting the Terrorists."

"These are the terrorists," she tells me. "They were trying to blow up the school." In the middle of the street a dead "terrorist" sprawls on the asphalt, his bloody arm torn from his body by an explosion. Afnan tells me she used red nail polish to paint the blood. A little plastic dog stands nearby. "What is he doing?" I ask. "He looks for terrorists and searches for weapons and explosives," Afnan says.

Her mother, the children's art teacher, Raja, shows me another child's display called "Baghdad Today."

"This is a wedding," Raja explains. "Despite the terrorism, our celebrations still go ahead. This is a park, families enjoying time. And this is a market where people go shopping without fear of bombings. This is a mosque where people can pray with no fear."
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In the middle is a black mound that looks like a body bag. Policemen and Interior Ministry forces surround it. "This is terrorism," she tells me. "We killed it and destroyed it, and our lives went back to normal."

[Asilynne]

thats cute but also sad how those kids make such violent things in their displays :<

[Roy Karrde]

I already talked about this with Heald, but seriously guys WTF?!

Iran's Ahmadinejad to give Alternative Christmas Message on Britain's Channel 4 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5394204.ece)

From what Heald's told me the channel is some what of a joke in Britain and both sides are already spinning it. A part of the message has already been released.

“If Christ was on Earth today undoubtedly he would stand with the people in opposition to bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers,”

“If Christ was on Earth today undoubtedly he would hoist the banner of justice and love for humanity to oppose warmongers, occupiers, terrorists and bullies the world over. If Christ was on Earth today undoubtedly he would fight against the tyrannical policies of prevailing global economic and political systems, as He did in His lifetime.”

[MToolen]

He was in opposition to it, but He didn't fight against it directly. Jesus worked small-time, but His work with individual people made a world of difference in their lives. He may have stormed through the Temple a few times, but that was more directed at a theocracy than the government he was under. He said to "give to Caesar what is Caesar's (Luke 20:25) and allowed Himself to be tried, beaten, and killed by the government. I just don't see where Jesus is against government.

[Katie]

California Supreme Court rules that Good Samaritans are liable to be sued (http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-me-good-samaritan19-2008dec19,0,6547898.story)

I guess the question is between this, Hollywood Nut jobs, and Scientology, can't we just saw this state off the rest of the 47, and let it float away into oblivion?

Well to be fair if you were in a crashed car (that isn't on fire) with spinal injuries would you want to be dragged out of it by someone with no medical training? It sucks because the woman's heart was in the right place, but she's seen too many movies. Not every accident bursts into flames and needs a daring hero with her cape flapping in the wind.

[Roy Karrde]

Here is the "Scare the Fuck out of you" news for today
India warned its citizens on Friday it was unsafe to travel to Pakistan
India's Prime Minister met his military chiefs, (http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4BP16V20081226)
Pakistan began moving thousands of troops away from the Afghan border toward India on Friday (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081226/D95AD7F02.html)

Looks like the world is taking a giant step closer to the very first nuclear war.

[Heald]

Dammit.

I was hoping they wouldn't blow each other up.

I was planning on seeing the Taj Mahal soon.

[Roy Karrde]

Okay show of hands, who can't wait for Tuesday? Seems like a ordinary day, but it could be one of the most exciting days in American Politics. No it isn't the day Obama is sworn in, but the day the US Senate is sworn in.

As I am sure everyone knows, the Governor who is in charge of Obama's vacant senate seat was caught asking for money to nominate that person. Now he is facing impeachment, but earlier this week/last week he decided to screw everyone else and basically go against the wishes of well every Politician right now and nominate some one. So he chose a nut ball racist African American man ( The African American part is important later ). Which has sturred up alot of controversy, including the Secretary of State in Illinois not signing off on his nomination, meaning legally he cannot be seated in the US Senate.

So if he hasn't technically been nominated as a Senator, what happens on Tuesday? Well that is the question given to Harry Reed, you either bow to the wishes of a slime ball and let the nomination be seated, or you make a scene. He decided to make a scene :)

If Burris shows up next Tuesday, he will not be let into the Senate, he will first be stopped by the Senate Doorkeeper. If he continues the scene ( and I hope to God he will ), Armed Police Officers will come to escort him away.

That is right! As of right now come Tuesday we may be treated to the sight of an elderly African-American being led off the Senate floor in handcuffs because his sitting there would be contrary to the collective wish of old, white Democrats.

Yes it will most likely be spinned to be a 60's style Racial Issue as I have just shown, Yes I think Buriss is crazy enough to cause a scene, and Yes it has suddenly become enjoyable to sit back and watch since my party is now completely out of power.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/01/aides-democrats-have-plan-if-burris-shows-up/

[mr_pikachu]

Wow. You know, I'm genuinely astonished that they're trying to block the nomination... thought that they'd just let Burris slide through considering the lack of legal precedent. I'm sure he'll show up on Tuesday, so sit back and grab a bucket of popcorn.

[Mew Master]

Wow Roy, you just wishing for him to make a scene don't you?

[Blademaster]

It's the Democrats. Of course he is.

[Roy Karrde]

It's the Democrats. Of course he is.

Like I said, my party is completely out of power. Only thing I can do is sit back and as Mr. P says, grab the Popcorn and watch the theatrics.

I bet alot of Democrats felt the same way when stuck in the exact same situation during the Terri Schiavo stupidity. They have no control over whats happening, so just sit back and watch the other party act like absolute fools.

[mr_pikachu]

Motorists' habits spur call for tax increases (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090102/ap_on_go_ot/gas_tax)


WASHINGTON – Motorists are driving less and buying less gasoline, which means fuel taxes aren't raising enough money to keep pace with the cost of road, bridge and transit programs.

A federal commission created by Congress to find a way to make up the growing revenue shortfall in the program that funds highway repairs and construction is talking about increasing federal gas and diesel taxes.

A roughly 50 percent increase in gasoline and diesel fuel taxes is being urged by the commission until the government devises another way for motorists to pay for using public roads.

Well, we all knew gas prices weren't going to stay low for long. Here we go again....

[mr_pikachu]

Just an update on the Roland Burris situation: Senate Democrats yield to Obama, retreat on Burris (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090108/ap_on_go_co/senate_burris). On the other side of the coin, it looks like Obama's planned stimulus package doesn't have a hope in hell (http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20090107/pl_mcclatchy/3139420).

[Roy Karrde]

To go with the Obama Stimulus Plan, there is a update over at Drudge which has a interesting headline.

China may balk at buying more US debt... Developing...

If China wont loan us the money, and Europe is about to fall into economic collapse, what is left? India? And could the most Liberal Congress in a long while really force themselves into being Economic Conservatives if no one else will give the US money. Or shall we just dive right into inflation and print money like crazy with out anything backing it up.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/07/business/yuan.php

[MToolen]

Heald, what might be missing from your theory that the UK is becoming a fascist, totalitarian nation-state? How about weird genetic experiments posed as some kind of lottery?

UK's first genetically selected baby born (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0109/breaking33.htm)

Merry belated Christmas.

[mr_pikachu]

US Airways jetliner crashes into Hudson River (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/plane_in_river)

Miraculously, all 155 people onboard survived the incident. Only one passenger was seriously injured, having sustained two broken legs. Thank God for that.


US Airways Flight 1549 took off at 3:26 p.m. It was less than a minute later when the pilot reported a "double bird strike" and said he needed to return to LaGuardia, said Doug Church, a spokesman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

[Drago]

This is indeed a sad day for birds everywhere. A double bird strike, what a horrible tragedy. Damn those humans and their flying machines!!

...I don't have any news, but this post was largely pointless, so... more geniuses get busted by Myspace (http://bigpondnews.com/articles/OddSpot/2008/12/19/KFO_sink_trio_fired_288359.html). I can't believe she's actually bitching about how she got fired for this. Look, do all the stupid stuff you want, but stop posting it on Myspace/Facebook! It is remarkable how idiotic people are; the Internet's most popular form of big brother, and you are WILLINGLY DONATING EVIDENCE.

There's actually a fair bit of good news today, so while we're at it... his penis belongs to me. (http://bigpondnews.com/articles/National/2009/01/05/Woman_allegedly_sets_genitals_alight_292613.html)

[classy_cat18]

There's actually a fair bit of good news today, so while we're at it... his penis belongs to me. (http://bigpondnews.com/articles/National/2009/01/05/Woman_allegedly_sets_genitals_alight_292613.html)

Shoot. She would've had better results with a hot curling iron.

[Jeff]

I'm not going to ask how you know that.

Anyway, how many more idiots posting their potentially illegal antics to MySpace is it going to take before they figure out that might not be the best idea?

[mr_pikachu]

I'm not going to ask how you know that.

Fire attacks are super effective against Lil' Pika. *whimpers*

...

Distraction time! Bush defends 2 tumultuous terms in farewell speech (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/bush_s_farewell).

[Magmar]

Kentucky fried whores!

[Heald]

The British Women's Minister is trying to push through a law that will mean that women that perform ludicrous acts upon their partner will be absolved if there is alleged infidelity. Note the term 'alleged', and now you have given every married woman in the country the right to mutilate their husbands if they simply say 'He was cheating on me!'.

I can't wait to have to wear a penis-guard while I'm in bed!

[classy_cat18]

How about their partner's property? Nothing says "revenge" like a blown-up plasma screen TV during the Super Bowl.

EDIT: Or World Cup. Whatever strikes their fancy.

[Heald]

To be honest, I doubt a woman has even been sent to prison under this fascist government.

[Ultimate Charizard]

They do but theyre all working class, of mixed race or have done something incrdibly brilliant to swindle money out of people but then got caught cos they cant control those silly 'female hormones' and worried theyre pretty little heads off. Havent you seen Bad Girls? lol.

[classy_cat18]

Women don't have it so easy in the U.S. I watch Snapped; some women are more nuts than Miss Penis Torcher.

In other news, what happens when you don't watch A Christmas Story (http://www.asylum.com/2009/01/16/indiana-boy-licks-pole-in-christmas-story-style-stunt/).

[mr_pikachu]

I reported on this one a few months ago, but new developments demand a new update.

Zimbabwe unveils $100 trillion banknote (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090116/ts_afp/zimbabweeconomycurrency_20090116125326)


The new 100,000,000,000,000 Zim-dollar bill would have been worth about 300 US dollars (225 euros) at Thursday's exchange rate on the informal market, where most currency trading now takes place, but the value of the local currency erodes dramatically every day.

The move came just one week after the bank released a series of billion-dollar notes, which already are not worth enough for workers to withdraw their monthly salaries.

Inflation was last reported at 231 million percent in July, but the Washington think-tank Cato Institute has estimated it now at 89.7 sextillion percent -- a figure expressed with 21 zeroes.

All you aspiring economists out there, take note... YOU CAN'T STOP AN ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BY PRINTING MORE MONEY!

[Magmar]

http://www.wftv.com/news/18503521/detail.html#-
Some kid got arrested for... throwing a taco at his mother.

[mr_pikachu]

In today's world, you can sue for being served a hot cup of coffee - and win. Our legal system is so messed up that no bogus punishments should surprise us anymore. :P

[Drago]

http://www.wftv.com/news/18503521/detail.html#-
Some kid got arrested for... throwing a taco at his mother.
And yet women could potentially get away with penis-mutilation. Sweet as. MUTILATE HIS PENIS, MA!

[Crazy Elf Boy]

My one possible contribute to this thread ever is this story (Yes OMG Windows Live messenger finally popped out a story which is interesting to me) The Top 10 most banned Cartoons, guess which is number 1

http://www.yourtv.com.au/news/?i=152429

[mr_pikachu]

You ought to post that one in GD, CEB. It's been awhile since we had a thread about the banning of Pokemon. ...I think.

[Toxicity]

New fauna discovered off Tasmanian shores, but warns of natural changes which might kill certain species. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28711152/)

I guess I'm just a person who cares for more optimistic nature stories.

[Roy Karrde]

Just off the AP Wire, Bush finally commutes the sentences of Ramos and Compean. The two border agents charged in the shooting of a Mexican Drug Runner last year and were facing 10 years in Prison.

This is something the Republicans and many Democrats were pushing for. Finally the two can get out of jail.

[mr_pikachu]

In my view, it's hard to blame Bush for that one; the whole thing with those agents seemed bogus from the start. We're prosecuting our border patrol agents for trying to keep an illegal immigrant from sneaking drugs into the country? Really?

The question is whether Bush will be signing away any other sentences in his final day. Some are still predicting he'll protect Roger Clemens from perjury charges... frankly, if he does that, I'll lose what little respect I had left for him.

[Roy Karrde]

The only ones I see left will be the CIA Interrogators who carried out less than legal interrogation methods in the months after 9/11. And maybe some of his staff that were following the orders of their superiors. Really nothing as controversial as some of the pardons of the last few Presidents.

[mr_pikachu]

I didn't see this until now since I don't browse the Fox News website very often, but... 22-Year-Old Sells Virginity Online -- and Feds Can't Do a Thing to Stop Her (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,480037,00.html)


A 22-year-old woman is selling her virginity online — offering her body to bidders nationwide in an auction that reportedly has netted a $3.7 million offer — and the law isn't doing a thing to stop her.

[Blademaster]

.......

Going to Nevada.

Brb in a month.

[Heald]

So if she gets raped, is that, like, stealing?

[Mew Master]

... Like... fuck.

[Jeff]

*Looks at picture*

She's a virgin?

...

In that case, hey guys, I'm selling my seat in Congress!

[Mew Master]

Actually I think it's honorable that she's raising college funds for herself and her sister. And it's in Nevada, where such an activity is legal, therefore the Feds can't stop it. Just because we get advertisements about Brothels in Nevada doesn't make it illegal if we go there and have some fun because of said advertisements, eh?

It's also consensual, so... yeah. Not much anyone can do to stop this.

[classy_cat18]

Is that even her real picture?

[mr_pikachu]

Is that even her real picture?


http://www.foxnews.com/images/492948/0_21_011509_nataliedylan.jpghttp://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/images/gallery/natalie-dylan.jpghttp://i34.tinypic.com/2jdq1bk.jpg

http://www.dailystab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/tyra-virgin-auction.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2848366014_3e8d7d87c5_o.jpg

...Why do I get the distinct feeling I should have better things to do than look up pictures of a virgin hooker?

[Heald]

Pictures 1, 2 and 5 make her look hot. Pictures 4 and 5 (the Tyra pictures) make her look like a fat big-nosed skank.

Still, my current gf is hotter than this skank, so no.

[Jeff]

Pictures 1, 2 and 5 make her look hot. Pictures 4 and 5 (the Tyra pictures) make her look like a fat big-nosed skank.

My thoughts exactly. So would the hot pictures be considered false advertising?

[MToolen]

Does pic 2 look slightly photoshopped to anyone else?

Also, I understand your sentiments, Heald. My fiancé is also hotter than her.

[Mew Master]

My GF tis the hawtness ^^

[mr_pikachu]

This is starting to devolve into the old "Would You Tap That?" thread.

...Do we need to revive that one? It's been gone for awhile.

[Crazy Elf Boy]

I really don't think she is a virgin, I mean come on 22 in college with a body like that *cough* scam.

[mr_pikachu]

Now that we have a new thread for discussing "tappability," I'd like to direct your attention to David Stinson, a high school football coach who has been charged with reckless homicide (http://www.yahoo.com/s/1020187) for the heat stroke death of one of his players during a practice session.

The primary analyst in this video argues that the coach is fully responsible for what happened to the kid and should face punishment. I (and the opposing analyst) point to the temperature: 94 degrees. I'm sorry, but if you can't take that kind of weather - that's a cool summer day in most of the south - you shouldn't be playing football in the first place.

What was Stinson supposed to do? If he had to freak out every time the weather got a little warmer than room temperature, his only option would be to dump the kid so that he could actually hold a practice. And considering his condition and medications (which apparently contributed to his death), I guarantee that Stinson would've been fired and/or sued for discrimination.

[Heald]

I agree. While 94 in the UK is rather hot, I can understand if you're used to that weather, then I guess that's not so bad. While this is tragic, this coach is hardly responsible. If the kid felt unwell, he should have sat out. If the coach made him carry on despite the kid clearly being unwell, then he'd be liable, but there is no evidence here to suggest that.

[Jeff]

I really don't think she is a virgin, I mean come on 22 in college with a body like that *cough* scam.

Well, looking at those pictures from the Tyra show, I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

But if she does this again, I'm calling bull.

Anyway, on the football thing, I agree, if the kid was taking medication that dehydrated him, he should have been aware that playing a sport that involves the wearing of heavy gear during the hottest days of the Summer would be risky. While the coach should be responsible for giving the kid water, the kid should also have been responsible for asking for it in the first place.

[Heald]

Some real news, for once:

BBC refuse to show humanitarian appeal (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7848673.stm)

The BBC is, by law, non-partisan and impartial, and therefore never makes any opinions on any of the news stories it broadcasts. It is the only broadcaster refusing to show a humanitarian film asking for donations in order to help the thousands of Palestinians whose lives have been destroyed by the wanton actions of Israel. It is citing its impartiality clause as the reason, stating it did not want to appear to take sides.

I want to call bull on this. You can still be impartial and still advertise a humanitarian effort. There is no pro-Israel or pro-Palestine message here; take out the politics and you have thousands of innocent people desperately in need. If it was any other country that had bombed Palestine into oblivion, then the BBC would jump at the chance, but the fact it is Israel makes all the difference.

I'm not against Israel, but their actions in the last few weeks haven't really done them any favours.

[mr_pikachu]

Iran: Men vs. women soccer game draws punishment (http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-iran-forbiddensoccer&prov=ap&type=lgns)

Perhaps I'm insensitive for saying this, but the only real surprise here was that none of the people involved were beheaded.

[Roy Karrde]

The 1 Trillion + Dollar "Stimulus" bill has passed, with all the pork it contains. The vote was at 244-188 right before it was gaveled, with no Republican voting Yes. At the last moment 2 votes were switched to make it 242-190, with either two Republicans switching, or two Blue Dog Democrats switching. Either way, with nearly if not all Republicans voting No, well as another website put it: Either way, for good or ill, this is entirely the Democrats’ baby now.

Edit: Confirmed on CSPAN, not a single defection on the bill for the Republicans, all voted No.

Additional Question: Has Obama now lost his Political Capitol with a bad treasury pick, and a horrible Stimulus plan?

[Blademaster]

Additional Question: Has Obama now lost his Political Capitol with a bad treasury pick, and a horrible Stimulus plan?

Additional additional question: Are we gonna have to hear about this kinda crap EVERYTIME something happens from now until January 2013?

[Roy Karrde]

Additional additional question: Are we gonna have to hear about this kinda crap EVERYTIME something happens from now until January 2013?

Nope

But Obama came in with even bigger Political Capitol than Bush did. Bush blew all of his during the first few weeks of his re-election with a bit of a smug attitude. Now it seems Obama may have let Nancy Pelosi and a bad Treasury pick blow a lot of his if not all of it, guess we will find out how much is gone when it comes up in the Senate.

[Heald]

Additional additional question: Are we gonna have to hear about this kinda crap EVERYTIME something happens from now until January 2013?
Short Answer: Yes

Longer Answer: Possibly until January 2017.

[Roy Karrde]

Short Answer: Yes


Nope

Heald Pwned.

[Heald]

I'm going to hold you to that Roy.

[Blademaster]

Ditto.

[Roy Karrde]

I'm going to hold you to that Roy.

No problem, now mind you I will post landmark things, such as the Republican Whip getting every Republican to vote no, when its the first bill of a Incoming President who is overwhelmingly supported by the populous. I mean getting every Congressman to vote one direction is mindboggling already, add in the fact that it was against a President with 68% approval and it is a huge Political Event.

But say stories like, well there was a news story today of Obama trying to open a door that turned out to be a window, with a accompanied picture. He looks like a absolute idiot in the picture accompanying it. If I wanted to stick it to Obama I could have posted that, and how everyone got onto Bush for when he did a equally stupid move in trying to open a locked door.

I really could care less about posting negative Obama stories that show him in a very bad light, or make him look like a idiot. I personally do not have the time for it.

[Heald]

Granted, but I can't resist:


I really could care less about posting negative Obama stories that show him in a very bad light, or make him look like a idiot. I personally do not have the time for it.

http://www.incompetech.com/Images/caring.png

[Roy Karrde]

Granted, but I can't resist:

http://www.incompetech.com/Images/caring.png

We just divided by zero in... another discussion, a few weeks ago. I believe anything is possible now :P

[Drago]

As much as I love political discussions, how 'bout some of that news, eh?
I doubt y'all were aware, but Australia's going through the worst heat wave it's had in about 100 years. That's right, century-type heat down under!
(will edit with link later, unless someone else wants to do the honours)

[Roy Karrde]

As much as I love political discussions, how 'bout some of that news, eh?
I doubt y'all were aware, but Australia's going through the worst heat wave it's had in about 100 years. That's right, century-type heat down under!
(will edit with link later, unless someone else wants to do the honours)

It iced here today, the worst Ice Storm since 2003, it was so bad my boss called and told me to work from home. It's wierd the US and parts of the world are experiencing bitter cold weather, but Australia is going through the worst Heat Wave ever?

[Crazy Elf Boy]

Well I have noticed it has been a little hotter then usual, but I thought it was just humid

[MToolen]

I saw those ridiculous temperatures watching the Australian Open. Djokovic, who won it last year, gave up halfway through his 4th set against Roddick, who had apparently been training in the heat for weeks and lost a bit of weight doing so.

Meanwhile, I'm going to school for the 2nd day this week tomorrow; about 9 inches (22cm?) has fallen in the St. Louis area since Sunday. Just means I have to laze around inside all day. Darn the luck. Darn!

[mr_pikachu]

Ill. governor pleads his case to impeachment trial (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090129/ap_on_re_us/illinois_governor_impeachment)

Well, Blagojevich finally went into desperation mode and went before the Senate to lodge... a very weak excuse for a defense. Now the Senate is deliberating whether to impeach the governor. I'm watching it live on C-SPAN right now. More information as the story develops.

(Sorry for bringing back the politics, but this is an important issue. It's been something a few decades since a governor was impeached, if I remember correctly.)

[Mew Master]

Since I've been watching a lot of Creationist propoganda on You Tube lately, my "bull-shite-o-meter" has gotten a bit more accurate, and it was going off reading what the Illinois Gov was trying so pass off as "reasonable" because he never really said anything it seems.

[mr_pikachu]

The Illinois Senate is now voting. It looks like it'll be unanimous... yes, every one of the state senators has now voted to remove Blagojevich from office.


EDIT: He has now officially been removed. Rod Blagojevich is no longer the governor of Illinois. Now the Illinois Senate will vote to bar him from ever holding any other office in the Illinois government... and C-SPAN just went insane, which may mean that the cameras have been cut. How odd.


EDIT2: Another 59-0 vote. He's out of the Illinois government for good.

[Mew Master]

Epic Pwnage.

[Heald]

http://www.b3tards.com/u/f94979c65cdf16050eb2/394px-thor_banhammer.jpg

By the way, if you couldn't guess, the guy holding the banhammer is the Illinois State Senate, and the unseen recipient of justice from said banhammer is Rod Blagojevich's ass.

[MToolen]

I don't want to detract too much from real news (it is my state, after all), but this is just too good:

Road signs (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,484326,00.html) warn of (http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/Road_signs_warn_of_zombies) zombies! (http://www.woostercollective.com/2009/01/hacking_the_grid_in_austin_zombies_ahead.html)

[Heald]

I've been Left 4 Dead lately and these signs are excellent. Nazi Zombies lol.

[Heald]

I get to double-post because I'm a mod lulz and also important news story:

UK Nail-Bomber Jailed (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7859887.stm)

While the only person he managed to hurt was himself, there is a scary element of this story: this guy was an otherwise meek bloke with learning difficulties and it is thought that Islamic Extremists took advantage of his mental health and radicalised him. If this is true, it brings another dark element to the already horrific nature of Islamic Extremism: tricking young mentally ill people to commit their deeds for them. These people are nothing but utter cowards, and so are the people and the countries who do nothing to stop them.

[Master Rudy]

Either way, for good or ill, this is entirely the Democrats’ baby now.

In other words once people start seeing how fucked up the plan is I'm now free to tell them "I told you so" :P

[Mew Master]

Ya know, I'm honestly surprised at how much you guys are "Obama-Haterz" I mean seriously, you haven't even given him a bloody chance and you're already to start chanting "I told you so. I told you so." the moment he slips up! Such people "jumped" on him at the inaugural address because of the oath, and you guys just want him to fail so you can rub it in the faces of those who support him.

Seriously.. stop it. you're making yourselves look like idiots. I really don't care if you voted for Mcain (Palin really), just stop flaunting it in our faces like an excuse to start razzing a president you didn't vote for.[/rant]

[Heald]

I mean seriously, you haven't even given him a bloody chance and you're already to start chanting "I told you so. I told you so." the moment he slips up!He hasn't even really slipped up yet, as the results of his first policy decisions remain to be seen.


Seriously.. stop it. you're making yourselves look like idiots. I really don't care if you voted for Mcain (Palin really), just stop flaunting it in our faces like an excuse to start razzing a president you didn't vote for.[/rant]
inb4 the Conservatives whine that that's what people did with Bush.

EDIT: Phelps smokes pot, lol (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7864011.stm)

Regardless of your opinions on weed (I personally think it ought to be legalised and regulated as all evidence points to the fact outright banning it doesn't work and it is not as harmful as some close-minded idiots think it is), this could impact Phelps' career. I'm not sure what Olympic rules or the American's Olympic Team's rules are, but the British Olympic Committee bans any competitor who is caught doing any illegal drugs, whether they are performance enhancing or not. Anyone know how this affects Phelps?

[Mew Master]

He hasn't even really slipped up yet, as the results of his first policy decisions remain to be seen.

I kinda meant it as the ones who didn't vote for or support Obama are ready to jump on his case the moment he slips up. Even if he hasn't already.

And on Phelps. I really don't think it will affect his standings with the Olympics, and he outright apologized and admitted what he did. For that he gets more respect than some other celebrities and politicians.

[Blademaster]

So steroids are useless... It's DRUGS mixed with a lot of exercise that makes you go Super Saiyan...?

SOMEBODY GET ME AN ELLIPTICAL AND TEN POUNDS OF HASH, NOW!

[Roy Karrde]

So... a American Young Adult smoking pot! Stop the presses! As much as we want to believe this guy is Super Man, he is still a young adult, and thus open to all the pressures that brings.

Edit: As for Obama, while he doesn't seem to have the Political Clout to sway Republicans toward such a horrible bill, or to keep the polls from sliding against it. I'm not going to put any blame on him for it until he signs it into law. Until then the blame should be targeted toward the two worst Politicians in Washington right now. Pelosi and Reed.

[mr_pikachu]

The problem is that now, everyone's going to scrutinize every aspect of his pre- and post-Olympic career. There will likely be countless questions about whether he was doing it in Beijing, and I'm sure some of his rivals (or rivals' managers, at least) will call for him to be stripped of his medals. It's really unfortunate timing, too, right after he was pretty much named the face of American Olympians.

I agree with you to an extent, Roy, but on some level people have to realize that once you become famous, everything you do is put under a microscope. If that really was Phelps' first time, you'd think he wouldn't have been so careless. (And if it wasn't, maybe he really will end up stripped of his medals. Can't any of our athletes get it right?)


EDIT: Looking at some of the precedent, there's good news and bad news for Phelps. This article (http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0011527) explores the case of a snowboarder who had his medal stripped and later returned for testing over the limit for cannabis use. It was returned, which would seem to be a good sign for Phelps... but it was returned because the IOC accepted his claim that the high test was due to secondhand smoke.

[Master Rudy]

I tend to hate smug peices of shit like Phelps but if he was smoking weed in China and won all those medals then they should give him another one. Pot is hardly performance enchancing. Ouite the opposite actually.....lol

[Heald]

Iran launches first domestic satellite (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7866357.stm)

Iran becomes the first country stuck in the Middle Ages to launch a satellite.

[Mew Master]

Iran launches first domestic satellite (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7866357.stm)

Iran becomes the first country stuck in the Middle Ages to launch a satellite.

Watch out for the nukes[/sarcasm]

EDIT: Little Love for Lucy (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090125/ap_on_sc/who_loves_lucy;_ylt=As6S3HqtBLj5tgZ1nNfsoQR7hMgF)

Lucy, one of the most influential fossils depicting our own species evolution, is garnering little attention in Seattle due to several factors. However, with the loss of revenue, Lucy may be heading right back to Ethiopia after the Seattle exhibit is over.

Just thought I'd post something from my own profession. ^^

[mr_pikachu]

That's kind of sad, really. I'm not sure how much of it is due to the economic downturn - I've been to expensive museums like New York's Smithsonian, and even they aren't that bad. It's not like PS3-level costs. The weather, though, must be a major factor given the effects on travel where I live. Seattle must be getting tons of snow, more than their plowing staff is accustomed to handling.

Hopefully ticket sales will jump once the weather gets warm again. It'd be a shame for such a great opportunity for so many people to go to waste.


EDIT: On a funnier note, Japanese police seek Mii in hit-and-run probe (http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/japanese-police-seek-mii-in-hit-and-run-probe/1285385).

"Man also wanted in connection with assaulting plumbers; locking princesses in castles."

[MToolen]

In something from my area, ZOMBIES (http://jalopnik.com/5145501/zombie-traffic-sign-hacking-spreads-to-illinois)- AGAIN!

[mr_pikachu]

5K rejected Minn. Senate ballots get another look (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090204/ap_on_re_us/minnesota_senate)

This is the election that never ends... it just goes on and on, my friends....

[Crazy Elf Boy]

Well he is a story which I don't believe to be true since it is so messed up because every shop in Australia could be fined because of it.

Online games banned from sales? (http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/biztech/no-classification-online-games-legal-minefield/2009/02/03/1233423203018.html)

[Heald]

Australia annoys me in that respect. Granted, it is one of the most civilised societies on the planet, but their censorship laws regarding video games are so draconian and outdated, they make the Middle East look like a well-balanced society.

[Mew Master]

I return with more Paleo related news!

Pregnant Fossilized Whales! (http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre5130cq-us-fossils-whales/)

A recent discovery in Pakestan shows more insight into the transition of land-based carnivores into more aquatic life forms. A pregnant fossil whale was found along another fossil whale, yet adding another fossil to the transition of Whale evlolution. I also give you the article that sparked the report!

New Protocetid Whale from the Middle Eocene of Pakistan: Birth on Land, Precocial Development, and Sexual Dimorphism (http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0004366)

Click on PDF and enjoy the Science.

[mr_pikachu]

No offense, but that's... not as interesting to me as the last one. I'll stick with my world-destroying supervolcano (http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/02/04/volcano-mass-extinction.html), thanks.

That, and this dissertation about anime (http://yuuyami.com/luce/thesis.pdf) - I've been waiting for a halfway decent excuse to post it for months. Enjoy! XD


EDIT: Big news that I started expecting about a month ago. House approves new DTV delay bill (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/36552)

Four more months of analog are on the way, it seems.

[Mew Master]

Eh... kinda knew about the volcanic basalt flats in Siberia and their possible connection tot he Permian Extinction. Not really news for me. However the evidence that is coming out is.

[DarkestLight]

What the heck. No one posted that whole thing about the Peruvian dinosaur cave paintings or whatever? I'm actually getting sick of hearing about it, so I tried to find it today, but I can't find any recent articles about it.

[Roy Karrde]

EDIT: Big news that I started expecting about a month ago. House approves new DTV delay bill (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/36552)

Four more months of analog are on the way, it seems.

Seriously, anyone that doesn't know what is going to happen in a few weeks, or doesn't have a Converter box already does not deserve television.

[Jeff]

EDIT: Big news that I started expecting about a month ago. House approves new DTV delay bill (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/36552)

Four more months of analog are on the way, it seems.

Agh come on, just get on with it. The sooner they go through with this the better. This has been advertised for over a year, so there shouldn't be anyone wondering why their antenna TV isn't picking up a signal after the switchover, and also, most people's main TVs use cable or satellite anyway, which won't be affected. Sure, people who don't have the converter boxes yet will be inconvenienced for a little while, but until they get the boxes, or a new TV that can pick up the digital signal, they can just use non-airwave TV.

[DarkestLight]

I agree. this is one thing the nation has been told about what, a year and a half in advance. If you don't have one, screw you-yer being stubborn.

[MToolen]

I feel bad for PBS; they need an additional 22 million (http://www.siliconvalley.com/latestheadlines/ci_11558327?nclick_check=1) just to stay on the air during the delay period.

[Mew Master]

I see your redundant Analog Airwave discussion and raise you...

A 45-foot-long, one ton snake that ate crocs for lunch (http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/02/04/giant-snake-fossil.html)

[Blademaster]

:O

Somebody get Jon Voight on that sum'bitch before it kills us all! ...What? It's extinct? Never mind. >>

[mr_pikachu]

At a recent technology conference, Bill Gates Releases Mosquitoes On Techies (http://www.limelife.com/blog-entry/Bill-Gates-Releases-Mosquitoes-On-Techies/2371.html)


"Malaria is spread by mosquitoes. I brought some here," he said. "There is no reason only poor people should be infected."

[mr_pikachu]

Badass Gates wasn't enough to get your attention? Fine. Let's see if you can break the world record for consecutive TV watching (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090208/ap_on_re_eu/eu_odd_sweden_tv_watching_record).

...I actually think I'd have a shot at this, if I cared enough to waste three days of my life.

[Jeff]

I could do that, but only if there were anything good on TV...

Dang.

[mr_pikachu]

Big news in U.S. politics: Senate passes Obama's economic recovery plan (http://www.yahoo.com/s/1028460)

Three Republicans crossed party lines to boost support for the bill to 61 votes, just over the 60 required for passage.

I don't normally like to bring my personal opinions to the table immediately when introducing a topic, but this bill makes me retch. I'll go so far as to say that if Bush made one horrible, utterly catastrophic mistake in his presidency, it was starting this trend of "stimulus" bills. He can't even blame bad intelligence for this one - aside from his own, of course.

I don't see this having any effect other than draining the government's resources (and later, by extension, our wallets) and providing a stopgap that'll maybe last a month. It's astonishing how fast idiots can waste hundreds of billions of dollars when they put their minds to it. If I remember correctly, over $100 billion from the original bailout simply vanished without a trace....

This won't end well. You can hold me to that prediction.

[Roy Karrde]

Big news in U.S. politics: Senate passes Obama's economic recovery plan (http://www.yahoo.com/s/1028460)

Three Republicans crossed party lines to boost support for the bill to 61 votes, just over the 60 required for passage.

I don't normally like to bring my personal opinions to the table immediately when introducing a topic, but this bill makes me retch. I'll go so far as to say that if Bush made one horrible, utterly catastrophic mistake in his presidency, it was starting this trend of "stimulus" bills. He can't even blame bad intelligence for this one - aside from his own, of course.

I don't see this having any effect other than draining the government's resources (and later, by extension, our wallets) and providing a stopgap that'll maybe last a month. It's astonishing how fast idiots can waste hundreds of billions of dollars when they put their minds to it. If I remember correctly, over $100 billion from the original bailout simply vanished without a trace....

This won't end well. You can hold me to that prediction.

Sadly your prediction seems to be right, the CBO, who I want to point out to everyone else is non partisan, is saying the US will take a drop in GDP by 2019 because of this.

Anyway you can check this website (http://www.stimuluswatch.org/) to get a idea of what your area is getting.

As for my city, I've lived in North Richland Hills nearly all my life, I have driven on Loop 820 to go to Ft Worth or Arlington, and the highway does NOT need 600 million in road improvement.

Also Bloomburg yesterday evening released a article, which... is beyond scary as to what was snuck into the plan.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_mccaughey&sid=aLzfDxfbwhzs

The information about this has slowly been making the rounds, although it was drowned out by the soon to be vote on the Stimulus plan.

Anyway on to a lighter note.

Barack Obama has become the new Oprah (http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/02/henrietta-hughe.html)

Alot of people are questioning the circumstances leading up to this woman's plea today. But I am not really in the mood to get down into the Political Nitty Gritty of it, not to mention I am taking a self imposed step back from politics on here.

But I will say that this is just embarrassing, not only for Fort Myers, not only for Florida, but for the Country as a whole. You get to ask the President, the leader of the free world for a question, and all you can do is beg for a house?

Embarrassing.

[mr_pikachu]

Contact lens TV in 10 years? (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/121134)

It's the new high-def.


Relating to recent news, The great Atlantic Ocean swimming hoax (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/The-great-Atlantic-Ocean-swimming-hoax?urn=oly,140525) was not the AP's finest moment. Aaaand finally, Pa. judges accused of jailing kids for cash (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090211/ap_on_re_us/courthouse_kickbacks).

[Toxicity]

Hey, Heald...

Does being called 'British' offend you at all (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1084738/Council-ranks-term-British-negroes-bans-case-upsets-Scots-Welsh-minorities.html), my Scottish friend?

[Mew Master]

Dino Island (http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/02/11/dinosaur-island.html) the newest set of discoveries for Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous fauna.

[Roy Karrde]

Man arrested by Religious Nutjobs for republishing a article about 'The erosion of the right to criticise religions' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7883612.stm)

I would have something witty to say, but I think everyone is already making their own joke about this.

[Arnen]

Apparently, a couple of days ago, some guy in Florida got arrested for calling 911 because Burger King didn't have lemonade (http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Man_in_Florida,_USA,_arrested_for_using_911_to_com plain_about_fast_food?curid=120877).

[Heald]

Hey, Heald...

Does being called 'British' offend you at all (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1084738/Council-ranks-term-British-negroes-bans-case-upsets-Scots-Welsh-minorities.html), my Scottish friend?
This is ridiculous, considering wherever you come from in the United Kingdom, your passport will say 'British' as your nationality.

I'm not offended by being called British or English really, although if someone calls me English I will politely correct them if I feel like it, although some fat American at my girlfriend's uni called me English the other day and when I told her I was actually Scottish, she said something stupid like, "Well all Scots are English so I'm right," so I went off the handle at her and told her to stop being such a fat American bitch.

[mr_pikachu]

Am I naive for not realizing that Scotland is part of the U.K.?

Also, lemonade man was an idiot who made me laugh. I find it funny that he didn't freak out when the operator told him the police were on their way.


Warning: Borderline grotesque pictures ahead... Octuplets mum bares her ENORMOUS stomach just eight days before giving birth (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1142566/The-mother-baby-bumps-Octuplets-mum-bares-ENORMOUS-stomach-just-days-giving-birth.html).

Seriously, how did she not explode.

How did she even stand?

[Heald]

Am I naive for not realizing that Scotland is part of the U.K.?
Probably, although I'm not sure if it is common knowledge outside the UK.

That leads me to ask: what DID you think was the UK? As in what did you think the UK was made up of.

Also:



Warning: Borderline grotesque pictures ahead... Octuplets mum bares her ENORMOUS stomach just eight days before giving birth (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1142566/The-mother-baby-bumps-Octuplets-mum-bares-ENORMOUS-stomach-just-days-giving-birth.html).

I did NOT want to see that.

[mr_pikachu]

I guess it's not quite so much that I didn't know as I never think to consider it. I'm well aware that Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and Wales are part of the U.K., but I never really stop and think, "What's that fourth one again?" Given a lot of thought I might have remembered it, but... ehh. Thinking is for people who care. :sweat:

Also: I warned you about that link.

[Heald]

Actually, Wales is in Great Britain, I imagine you meant England instead of Great Britain.