1% Milk

Masquerade Animated Short Film

2009-05-30T12:44:00.001-04:00

Global Warming Video from MTV

2009-05-30T11:18:00.001-04:00

Linkfest

2009-03-11T18:04:00.001-04:00

I had like 10 links I wanted to post on facebook today, but rather than overwhelm everyone's news feeds I decided to just link them all here and post this one site to facebook.

Here goes:

The Federal Trade Commission wants you to know that FreeCreditReport.com is NOT free (and that there is a legit free alternative). link

Some guy named Mike Elk wants you to know that GOP doom-and-gloom scenarios of government run health care crowding out legitimate competition is stupid because there's already no real competition in that marketplace. link

Former Republican Frank Schaeffer wants you to know why the current incarnation of the Republican Party is nothing but a band of traitorous, spineless do-nothings. link

A bunch of Counter-Protesters want you to know that the Westboro Baptist Church (of 'God Hates Fags' infamy) are a bunch of loonies. Also, God Hates Figs. link

Panurge blog wants you to know how hauntingly beautiful near-infrared photography is. link

Some random teacher with a blog wants you to know about a bonus test question they had their students answer: "A velociraptor is coming at you on a hoverboard. In a haiku, describe how you will survive." link

Carl Sagan wants you to know how truly tiny we all are.

(No Link)

Lastly, I want you to know that the following link is to a picture of a suicide bomb attack mid-explosion. No Guts or gore, just an incredible photograph. link

Strangely Appropriate

2009-01-21T09:11:00.002-05:00

I thought this seemed strangely appropriate and wanted to share it with everyone.

Public Service Announcement

2008-12-02T19:16:00.001-05:00

I found this great PSA from the Ad Council about drunk driving. I think humor can help put important issues like drunk driving into perspective. Although, many of you may not have to deal with these issues directly especially being in NYC (or without a car where ever you are), I still think it is worth the discussion.

PSAs often have a tough task especially in modern times where the standards for good and memorable commercials are very high. PSA not only have to catch your attention, but they also have to teach you a lesson, be informative and attempt to invoke an emotion from you.

You want something that is smart, informative and maybe even funny but often in those attempts you end up with something that is unfunny, depressing & insensitive. This ads succeeds because it touches on recognizable type of humor and a familiar concept of being “buzzed.”

Watch:

Another one with a similar presentation:

Bottom of the Glass

2008-12-02T18:49:00.001-05:00

From the inquistr

The Catholic church won’t do contraception, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t hip and to prove it they have just gone all web 2.0 on the devout unsuspecting masses. A new Catholic website, FlockNote.com was launched this month, providing diocesan, parish and lay organization leaders with a web 2.0 solution to sharing information with their groups.

Does that mean I can poke god?(Not that I would want to).

The inquisitrs follows up by saying:

Having your priest write on your fun wall is one thing, giving you a poke? Now that would be just plain creepy.

Since the Catholic church has caught the web 2.0 bug, we look forward to seeing Bible 2.0, confession via twitter (confess your sins in 140 characters or less), and the Pope’s Myspace page where he blogs regularly bitching the Cardinals just don’t understand him.

I can’t wait for the moment when that happens. By the way Pope Benedict has a Fan page on Facebook. Check it out.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-10-18T00:37:00.001-04:00

Ed McMahon Rapping

2008-10-15T10:13:00.001-04:00

No description necessary. Just watch.

SNL is Sometimes Funny.

2008-10-05T22:30:00.001-04:00

The media's true goal, unmasked

2008-08-16T09:56:00.001-04:00

It is a well-established assumption that the mainstream media is liberally biased. This is evidenced by the cherry-picking of negative news regarding the Iraq war, overly critical “attacks” on president Bush spearheaded by liberal standard-bearer Keith Olbermann, and most recently by the coddling of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Arguments supporting any of these attacks, such as those made by the group Veterans Against The Iraq War, are written off as nonsense or, even worse, unpatriotic garbage.

There is, however, a shining star of hope for journalistic integrity hidden within the fourth estate: FOX news. FOX is the clear leader in the ratings war perpetually being fought by the big established media corporations, and it’s obvious why. Their tag line “we report, you decide” clearly conveys a commitment to the journalistic ideals of information presented in an unbiased fashion so that you, the viewer, can make informed decisions about the world around you. Lost among the obvious liberal tendencies of MSNBC, CNN, ABC, and NBC, there is nowhere for the news-hungry consumer to turn but FOX for information you can trust.

Yet all is not right in the world of mainstream media. Quietly, and with little fanfare (as is to be expected with such subversive tripe), a report was issued by The Center for Media and Public Affairs:

“The Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University, where researchers have tracked network news content for two decades, found that ABC, NBC and CBS were tougher on Obama than on Republican John McCain during the first six weeks of the general-election campaign.

You read it right: tougher on the Democrat.”

If you are shocked and appalled by this obvious lie, you’re not alone. Bill O’Reilly, one of FOX’s most popular talking heads, has brought your anger straight to the source of the study: researcher Robert Lichter. O’Reilly shreds Lichter’s arguments like a wolf among lambs (I assume, I haven’t been able to listen to the file yet, but Papa Bear’s a champ who would never get talked down by some east-coast, pointy-headed phony like this Lichter character).

Now I’m going to go out on a limb here and disagree with Bill. The more I look at the evidence, the more it seems that there is something else going on here – something deeper than is immediately obvious. In fact, I am going to go so far as to argue that the media is, indeed, being tougher on Obama than on McCain. Here’s why:

1. The attacks on Obama are far from substantial (Too skinny to be president? Really?)

2. The attacks on McCain are significant and persuasive (See: Andrea Mitchell)

3. There’s a Communication Science theory known as Inoculation Theory that ties this all together

Let’s start with point number 3. Here is the Medical Analogy explanation for Inoculation Theory shamelessly ripped from the Wikipedia entry:

“Inoculation can best be explained and was derived from the idea of medical inoculation. Providing people with a potential weak opposing argument can act similar to a weak virus injected into a human body building an antibody or defense to future attacks. The goal is to build immunization to future physical threats, or in this case, arguments opposing a potential attacking message.”

Said another way, the media is providing the public with exceedingly weak arguments against Obama. This leads to an easy refutation of those arguments, reinforcing the public’s already positive opinion. Here are just a few examples of obviously anti-Obama “news” presenting arguments or “controversies” more appropriate for a high school class president race than for a race to be President of the United States :

- Obama Crowd Builds in Germany: Good or Bad?

- Too Fit to Be President?

As evidence of just how shoddy this reporting was, there is reason to believe that the idea for the latter article was devised on a Yahoo Message Board or, even worse, in the satirical newspaper The Onion. With journalistic standards like this, it’s no wonder the media isn’t taken seriously anymore.

The media certainly appears tilted against Obama. However, the reasons for the slant are wholly counter-intuitive, with the end goal revealed to be a bolstering of Obama’s approval ratings. This is accomplished by creating a large volume of childish and asinine anti-Obama arguments. To compound all of this, what little criticism of McCain does creep into the media is often scathing, harsh and much harder for the everyday media consumer to refute.

It gives me no pleasure unmasking this supposed anti-liberal bias for all the world to see, but it must be done. Sitting idly by while the media subverts the presidential election process for its own gain would be a far greater crime – a crime I am not willing to commit. My task is complete, but there is still work to be done. Maintain your vigilance and avoid taking the easy path being offered up by the talking heads and “journalists.” Think critically about every story and come to your own conclusions, just like it says here:

Bottom of the Glass

2008-08-13T22:57:00.001-04:00

A Dog-Riding Cowboy Monkey

2008-08-10T12:50:00.001-04:00

No description needed because the title says it all.

The Watchmen Trailer

2008-08-10T12:08:00.001-04:00

I can’t wait for this.

“You’re not the father”

2008-08-09T14:42:00.001-04:00

No precedent for this but here is something that might make you laugh.

Another one.

The best and saddest.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-08-09T13:56:00.001-04:00

So Sad…

MAD Magazine Keeps Us Laughing

2008-08-05T21:51:00.001-04:00

(Courtesy MAD Magazine)

Check this out and read the article about it:New York Sun

Christian The Lion Reunited

2008-08-05T11:54:00.002-04:00

This video is so bad ass.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-08-04T23:11:00.001-04:00

These primate posts should have been one big post but this one deserved its own spot. The hands are just so damn real.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-08-04T23:08:00.001-04:00

He’s smiling because he thought someone might post it on the new facebook.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-08-04T23:07:00.001-04:00

It looks like a elementary school student raising his hand in class to answer a question. Except he’s also sitting on his mom’s back which is somewhat awkward. Only somewhat…

Mirror Trailer

2008-08-04T22:07:00.001-04:00

Kiefer Sutherland stars as a former policeman-turned-security guard who discovers something sinister lurking in the mirrors of a crumbling museum in Haute Tension writer/director Alexandre Aja's menacing study in the origins of evil.

MIRRORS Official Trailer

“W” Trailer from Oliver Stone

2008-08-02T18:49:00.001-04:00

I can’t wait for this. Either this will be good and I will laugh or it will be shitty and I will laugh but either way I will try to get a laugh in somehow.

Dog Plays Mom to Tiger Cubs

2008-08-02T13:09:00.001-04:00

This is really interesting.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-08-01T10:54:00.001-04:00

“Love Story,” by Carlos Lascano

2008-08-01T09:27:00.001-04:00

Check out this short animated film.

A SHORT LOVE STORY IN STOP MOTION from Carlos Lascano on Vimeo.

The Imperial History of the Middle East

2008-07-27T20:33:00.001-04:00

This seems really interesting. Check it out.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-07-23T12:17:00.001-04:00

Bottom of the Glass

2008-07-17T08:06:00.001-04:00

From ABC News:

An endangered Fijian Crested Iguana is perched on a statue of a distant reptilian cousin, a Komodo Dragon, at Sydney's Taronga Zoo Thursday, June 19, 2008. The zoo has begun a program to help save the iguana, which survive on only a few scattered Pacific islands.
(Rick Rycroft/AP Photo)

Bottom of the Glass

2008-07-16T21:58:00.001-04:00

From ABC News:

A silhouette of a man is seen as he walks past a tank showcasing a fine bubble aeration product in Singapore. The Singapore International Water Week brings policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together from around the world to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world.
(Wong Maye-E/AP Photo)

A response to the New Yorker

2008-07-16T07:05:00.001-04:00

I guess this is going to be a New Yorker week. Here is a cartoon from the Washington Post in response to the cover. I think it gets the point across pretty well.

Washington Post

Bottom of the Glass

2008-07-15T20:38:00.001-04:00

A clear response to the New Yorker cover. I think its pretty good but its what I expected though in terms of McCain jokes.

Thanks to the Huffington Post

Another cover from the Nation which isn’t remotely funny but I get the point:

Actually the best part about this is one of the comments at the Politico.

“The cycle of violence in the black community continues”

That was ingenious in addition to being offensive.

Bottom of the Glass: The New Yorker Edition Part II

2008-07-15T19:54:00.001-04:00

McDonald's Refuses to Hate Gay People!*

2008-07-15T15:59:00.005-04:00

*sorry I had to steal that from Wonkette, it was just too good.
Boycott McDonalds is movement to boycott McDonalds because they donated $20,000 to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in exchange for membership and a seat on the group’s board of directors. The NGLCC lobbies Congress in support of same-sex marriage.

The best part about their site is the comments...

“I am informing all my children an gran children to Boycott Mcdonalds, that is a total of 22 people”
"True Christians don’t hate Gays, they only desire to have them acknowledge their sinful lifestyle and and accept Jesus’ forgiveness!"
"I am 73, my wife is 70 - As much as we have enoyed the golden archers over the years, we will not continue to do so because of your close minded leadership. To call us haters tells us your mind is closed, not open to change. We are amazed that your leadership is taking this stand."
"I will drive up to the order window & vioce my reason for not ordering any food. McDonalds should re-McThink their posistion!"
"I will not support any organization that has lined themselves up with the anti-family crowd."
"Congratulations on you suicide. Why on earth would a food company choose to support such an issue? If you were a condom company, maybe I could see it."
"If the CEO of McDonalds is for the Homosexual Agenda, then he is against America and God..."One Nation, Under God.""

In response to the boycott, McDonald's spokesman Bill Whitman suggested to the Washington Post that those who oppose SSM are motivated by hate, saying "...hatred has no place in our culture." McDonald's has decided to adopt the "hate" theme used by gay activist groups for years.

Oh man this has the possibility to get ugly. But really how long do you think they could realistically stay away...Big Macs...McGriddles...Snack Wraps.... (cue Homer Simpson)

Bottom of the Glass: The New Yorker Edition

2008-07-14T01:26:00.001-04:00

The controversial cover of The New Yorker and an article that comment on it.

ABCNews

Said Obama spokesperson Bill Burton: "The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree."

Knowing the liberal politics of the magazine, I believe the magazine's staff when they say the illustration is meant ironically, as a parody of the caricature some conservatives (and some supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.) are painting of the Obamas.

Here is the fabled cover:

A lot of people seem to find this tasteless and crass. I find it to be funny. Considering that the New Yorker has had even more daring covers. Giving dap is common in the black community. And the accuracy of Michelle’s face is so funny. This is something that I laugh at if I saw it on Family Guy or Robot Chicken. I think people should lighten up.

Look at what the New Yorker has done in the past.

This isn’t any less controversial. It is probably more controversial.

Is this really less offensive then the first one?

I don’t even need to comment on this.

Hillary and Barack in bed? Doesn’t the play on the worst fears of racist? A black men and a white women sleeping together? Reminds me of Umbrella.

This isn’t even funny but I added it anyway.

I think joke of this was supposed to be how New Yorkers see themselves in relation to everyone else.

People really need to get over themselves.

From CNN to Youtube

2008-07-12T14:47:00.001-04:00

Remember the CNN post on nonsensical headlines?

Well I bet you didn’t know there were videos to match the ridiculous headlines.

Here is an example from WTFCNN:

Now the video, courtesy of youtube, of a rat riding a cat that is riding a dog.

Frankly, I don’t get it but at least other people will be able to ponder the meaning of this, if it at all has meaning.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-07-12T06:31:00.001-04:00

Were getting somewhat artistic with these “bottom of the glasses,” but we’ll still have funny ones down the line.

From ABC News

Afghan women walk through a street in the central market of Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, June 26, 2008.
(Emilio Morenatti/AP Photo)

Good Times in Harlem

2008-07-11T15:46:00.001-04:00

So apparently the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee is in a little controversy. Apparently, he has a few rent-stabilized apartments in New York. Here is a press conference outside his office.

The best part is 1:10 when someone says “Oh hell No.”

Bottom of the Glass

2008-07-11T12:25:00.001-04:00

From ABC News:

An Afghan man carries a bundle of balloons as he walks along the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, June 27, 2008.
(Emilio Morenatti/AP Photo)

Jesse Jackson’s “Crude” Remarks

2008-07-11T12:14:00.001-04:00

So you or may not have heard but Jesse Jackson made what has been called “disparaging words” about Barack Obama concerning his Father’s Day Speech and Faith-Based Initiatives as they apparently seem to talk down to black people.

Let’s watch:

Okay. I don’t care about debating this. Its too touchy and sparks a negative nerve on both sides. Actually it sparks a nerve on 3 sides. You got the Democrats split then also Republicans.

You can comment on whether its true or not. Some people think Obama did it for political points (it happens it what politicians do) and so people said he had a sister souljah moment where he’s repudiating an extremist view or just telling the truth and maybe he’s not telling the truth.

Oddly enough this is really unrelated but I didn’t know the word “nuts” was banned from public discourse. This clip from 23/6, shows just how hard it is even explain what Jesse Jackson wanted to cut off. Apparently, these remarks were crude and hurtful because Jesse Jackson was believed to have made plans to follow through with his statement. Somewhere along this line you know I am being sarcastic. Hopefully…

Watch(One of the best parts is 1:26 when Al Sharpton in a serious face says “Yeah):

Really CNN?

Maybe they could have said that Jesse Jackson wanted to cut off Obama’s Testicular Fortitude.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-07-07T10:52:00.000-04:00

From ABCNews:

Chinese military officers clean up a beach covered with blue-green algae in Qingdao, in eastern China, on Thursday, July 3, 2008. China's latest Olympics nightmare is a vast algae bloom that covers one third of the sea where the world's best sailors are supposed to be competing in just over a month.
(Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

Selling your Goods for some Gas

2008-07-07T08:10:00.001-04:00

Last week, a Kentucky woman was charged for selling her goodies for gasoline according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

She was looking to accept $100 gas card and additional gifts from an Indiana man she had met for a liaison of a sexual nature according to Police. Poor girl was charged with operating a business without a license and for prostitution.

The guy she was with was charged with promoting prostitution. Her boyfriend denies the charge saying at most she was trying to cheat on him but not selling her body at a gas station for a $100 gas card. Is he naive or maybe he knows his girlfriend better than anyone else? Or maybe he’s just embarrassed.

You times have gotten rough when a regular ole person feels the need to become a street walker just to pay for gas. Guess, these days you’ll receive more than just a pump at the gas station if you are willing to pay for it.

Why WALL-E reminds me of Johnny 5 from the 1980s movie Short Circuit.

2008-07-07T07:52:00.001-04:00

Johnny 5 from Short Circuit

WALL-E

A real life WALL-E(which is basically Johnny 5)

See what I mean? Or maybe its just be discriminating against robots and thinking they all look the same.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-07-06T20:36:00.001-04:00

OPEC President blames Ethanol for rise in price of Oil

2008-07-06T20:33:00.001-04:00

According to OPEC president Chakib Khelil, one of the reasons for the rise in crude oil prices includes “intrusion of bioethanol on the market” which is responsible for 40% of the rise. The other 60% was due to a weak dollar and geopolitical worries. Interesting.

He didn’t explain why ethanol would drive crude prices higher but he curiously mentions that lack of supply is not a problem. He also added that Western investment embargoes on Libyan and Iran and the War on Iraq has also limited production.

The bioethanol part is interesting the me.The other things are understandable. The war isn’t helping and our weakened economy isn’t doing us any favors. That is something that has to be dealt with and I don’t know how will happen. However, I thought ethanol was supposed to be a different story.

I fear that we’re going to pay hell to disengage from the oil market if alternative fuels are being blamed for rise in oil prices. Not that ethanol is a perfect or desired substitute but it is definitely something to watch out for. I wonder if it will become too expensive for us to move towards alternative fuels or other sources of energy with a situation like this.

Oil companies and oil producing countries obviously stand to lose from our sustained efforts to become more environmental. Since, the rise in prices seems to have no end, I can’t imagine how successful we’ll be in fighting oil companies and dealing with OPEC’s ability to control the price of oil.

On the bright side of this mess, supposedly Mercedes-Benz wants to eliminate petroleum from its lineup by 2015 which isn’t too far away. By looking to battery eclectics, fuel cells and highly efficient internal combustion engines that can operate on biofuels, if successful Mercedes-Benz may become a leader in disengagement are destructive attachment oil. I love oil like the next person, but damn its just too costly to deal with.

I’m looking forward to the day when electric cars, or even solar powered cars are in vogue and petroleum powered cars are uncool. Until then, time to pump $30-$50 worth of gasoline into our cars every week.

Marketwatch

Autogreen Blog

Bottom of the Glass

2008-07-06T18:52:00.001-04:00

Quantum of Solace Trailer

2008-07-05T16:25:00.001-04:00

James Bond: Quantum of Solace - Official trailer HD

Bottom of the Glass

2008-07-05T10:26:00.001-04:00

The Politics of Art: Viva La Revolution

2008-07-05T09:27:00.000-04:00

Revolution art stays in my mind. For some reason it stays in my mind whether I agree with the revolution or not. Probably the most revolutionary iconic photo these days is the Che photo which has launched a thousand versions. Here is a little history of the original photo...

From Wikipedia:

"Alberto Korda's famous photograph of Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara entitled: Guerrillero Heroico (translates to: "Heroic Guerrilla"), was taken on March 5, 1960, in Havana, Cuba, at a memorial service for victims of the La Coubre explosion. The photo was not published internationally until seven years later. At the moment of capture, Korda has stated that he was drawn to Guevara's facial expression at the time, which was one of "absolute implacability"^[2] "anger", and "pain"^[3]. Years later Korda would reminisce that in his view, the photo encapsulated Che's "character, firmness, stoicism, and resoluteness."^[4] Guevara was 31 at the time the photo was taken."

I also think the French Revolution has some memorable art so I included some.

The original French Revolution painting.

The original photo.

The first rendition that became immortalized on shirts around the world or at least in NYC.

Look closer at the faces because its not the same thing.

This might be Russian actually. Oh well.

Losers

A little bit on the small side but it features Rush Limbaugh.

Coldplay's new album.

Planet of the Apes' own Che.

This Might Be Mildly Amusing

2008-07-05T09:16:00.001-04:00

First 5 Minutes of The Dark Knight

2008-07-04T11:38:00.001-04:00

First 5 Minutes of Alien vs Predator Requiem

2008-07-04T11:36:00.001-04:00

Watch and enjoy.

Random News & Stories

2008-07-04T11:30:00.001-04:00

Stories that interested me in the past but I didn't get to post them earlier.

S Africa bans Aids vitamin trials

"A South African court has banned unauthorized trials of vitamin therapies for Aids, which some say are a health risk..."

BBC News

- South Africa has a bad history with the use of vitamins to "cure" AIDS/HIV, so this is major progress.

YouType: The strange allure of making your own fonts.

"In April, an online font clearinghouse called FontShop quietly uploaded a program that, the company wrote, was meant to be "purely entertaining—something to kickstart creativity." FontStruct, a browser tool that lets anyone create an original font, was so popular that the site's servers crashed within days of the official launch..."

Slate

- The New York Times has an article about this too. I didn't know making your own fonts was the cool thing to do now. Guess I should start making my own fonts now.

Monaco Grand Prix Is Glamorous and Grueling

"Since its debut in 1929 as one of the earliest Grand Prix races, Monaco has captured the attention of even the least enthusiastic of motor-racing imaginations. There is no setting in the world quite like the cliffs, luxurious homes and buildings that form the race’s backdrop, the harbor filled with multimillion-dollar yachts, and the rich and glamorous crowd the race attracts every year, as it no doubt will again..."

New York Times

Piano and Drums

2008-07-04T11:10:00.001-04:00

Just watch:

Then buy it here. I'm joking. But you should consider it though. You can become a master like him.

Chemical Castration In, Death Penalty for Child Rapists Out

2008-07-04T11:06:00.001-04:00

It is really obvious why this guy might become the next Vice-President of the United States (not that the country's mood in his party's favor but you get the point). Governor Bobby Jindal just signed Senate Bill 144 into Law. What is Senate Bill 144?

Well, in a nutshell, this bill states that a criminal court can use chemical castration as a punishment for individuals convicted of forcible rape, second-degree sexual battery, aggravated incest, aggravated rape, molestation of a child under the age of 13 and aggravated crimes against nature. What are aggravated crimes against nature?

What is chemical castration?

Wikipedia: "Chemical castration is a form of castration caused by hormonal medication. It is used in the main by countries as a preventive measure or punishment on people who violate their laws on sexual behavior, for example those who have committed rape or child sexual abuse or who are homosexual (as in the case of mathematician Alan Turing). It has also been used by eugenicists as a means of preventing people the government deems inferior from breeding, and was practiced in many states during the twentieth century, most notoriously in Germany under the Nazi regime. Depo-Provera, a progestin, is a drug that is sometimes used on sex offenders."

Up until now I never knew what it was. I heard about it in passing but never as a legitimate practice. Furthermore I didn't even know that this was allowed in the U.S. Apparently, at least six states have experimented it, including Louisiana (as we know), Montana, Texas, Georgia, Florida (not surprised about those 4) and California (how is this possible with San Francisco and LA?). California was the first state to use chemical castration.

This seems like a backward practice to me. It's with the times in the sense we use chemicals instead of weapons but still. Especially, after the recent Supreme Court ruling that banned the death penalty for the rape of a child , I would think that maybe we'd find new ways of approaching issues like this. Jindal slammed the Supreme Court's ruling along with, Senator Vitter (yes that Vitter) McCain and Obama (somewhere were Repubs and Dem's agree, or at least this Dem agrees).

One of the odd outcomes is that this law would threaten many of Jindal's GOP Colleagues if they ever decided to do what they do best in the glorious state of Louisiana.

This includes:

Former president of the National Association of Evangelicals Rev. Ted Haggard

Former Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL)

Former Rep. Bob Allen (R-FL)

Senator Larry Craig (R-ID)

Senator David Vitter- (R-LA)

Former Rep. Richard Curtis (R-WA)

Former GOP party chair Glenn Murphy Jr

Also, Strom Thurmond's ghost (R-SC) w

Thanks to 23/6 for this.

Maybe chemical castration is the best way (right now at least) to handle people who violate the long standing legal norms of society as related to rape and child rape in particular. In the absence of the death penalty, and with the agreement in mind that a person who commits these crimes is beyond rehabilitation, we have to find a way to punish these crimes.

To a certain extent I agree with the supreme court ruling that identifies proportionality of the crime (on a basic level rape is not the same as murder...). But at the same time when one remotely ponders how they would feel if this happened to a close family member and the feeling definitely changes or at least that is how I feel. Then maybe the death penalty is the appropriate response.

Can the government force someone to take put drugs into their body? Its a strange concept considering how we are prevented from taking certain drugs (marijuana, cocaine, heroin) and for good reason (our health) but does it change when we commit crimes. Depo-Provera can cause weight gain, thromboembolism, malaise, hypertension, mild depression, hypoglycemia and rare changes in liver enzymes. I think what I am coming to terms or understanding in deeper terms is that when you commit a crime and you're convicted, the government can do anything (or a lot) because you violated our laws and norms.

I guess we have to watch our different interest groups respond to this new chemical castration law in Louisiana. I doubt it will make much of sound on a national level beyond the initial notice of the fact that it was passed. Bobby Jindal is proving to be a very good conservative governor and doing these like these may just help his case. By the way Bobby Jindal also just signed a bill mandating health insurance coverage for children to autism and another bill establish a $10 million scholarship benefiting low-income families. You know he's making conservatives smile around the country.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-07-03T22:22:00.001-04:00

This Suit Was Made for Space Walking

2008-07-03T15:54:00.001-04:00

NASA decided to upgrade their spacesuits. They look kind of badass....as in they don't look much better than they did in the past. They were designed in time for the launch of the 2015 Orion Capsule which will hopefully replace our terribly aged space shuttle program in hopes that we can bring humans back to the Moon, a nearby Asteroid and hopefully Mars.

This is part of a larger mission of the Constellation Program which is aimed at generating new spacecrafts, hardware for the spacecrafts and special trips.

I still like the Mercury spacesuits.

Spacesuits as they are now. Boring and uninspiring.

MIT's sleek, skintight spacesuit called the biosuit

A spacesuit of the future made for abandoning a ship and jumping back into the atmosphere.

More details about this suit from Orbital Outfitters.

And that is my post about spacesuits.

The Japanese Monkey Commercial and Race

2008-07-03T15:06:00.001-04:00

Yesterday afternoon at the career center, I happened to be watching CNN (yes my career center has a TV) and filling our job applications and this interesting story came out of no where. Apparently, the Japanese cell phone company EMOBILE has new commercial featuring a monkey that is supposed to be Barack Obama at a campaign rally. There are a bunch of Japanese people in the background with signs saying "change."

Expectedly enough, there is now outrage over the ad calling it racist and there is attempt to link it to Japan's past ad commercials. No outrage over the fact that a group of Indians are trying to present a statue Indian monkey god Hanuman to Barack Obama.

Watch the video and see what you think:

I can see how this touches some old feelings. Historically, monkeys have been the standard icon for mocking African-Americans. Does that necessarily apply to Barack Obama as well? I think at face value it does but I thought one of the most appealing things about Obama was that he's post-racial (or lighter or less angry about black history). He doesn't necessarily come us as the historical dark black man who will scare everyone away. Are people a bit oversensitive or are Japanese people a bit racist or inconsiderate?

This another clip from Japan featuring a group of impersonators singing "We are the World."

Is this blackface or just impressions? Some would argue blackface but is it no different then Eddie Murphy playing a white guy in that amazingly funny SNL skit from the 1980s?

Watch it here then come back

Or Tracy Ullman playing a black woman (very well). Is it still comedy or impersonation?

Where do we draw the line between funny ads or offensive work?

I think this Japanese ad where a family says "niggar" 100x times is definitely on the offensive side of things especially if it they looked up the history and the context of who uses it and what it means.

Check it out:

But then again Dave Chappelle uses the word in a skit about a white family with the last name Niggar. Is that any better? It might be funnier but is it really helping solve the problem? Especially with Nas' efforts to have his upcoming album titled "Nigger," or the spectacle by the NAACP to bury the word.

Watch the Dave Chappelle Skit:

The Niggar Family-Dave Chappelle - More bloopers are a click away

Is any better than Ms. Swan? Featuring Alex Borstein as something of Chinese/Japanese maybe Eastern European/Icelandic concoction. I always thought she was supposed to be Chinese. But who knows? Maybe it is what I wished it to be or what it reminded me the most of?

Check it out:

What do you think about this monkey scandal? In light of all these recent examples where its hard to tell if something is comedy or serious and the implications of accepting these portrayals. I don't know.

Favorite Superbowl Commercial

2008-06-29T15:43:00.001-04:00

So I was watching Euro Cup 2008 and I saw this commercial which was one of my favorite Super Bowl commercial. Decided to post it. Its simple and nothing really special. But I liked it.

Nicole and Hugh

2008-06-24T07:55:00.001-04:00

Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman in Baz Luhrmann's Australia.

Australia - Trailer
by Jinx-fr

Not bad. Is this is a historical romance/drama like Pearl Harbor/Titanic or something closer too the English Patient? Not sure.

Opening Credits for the Movie Octopussy

2008-06-24T07:44:00.001-04:00

To finish off our celebration of Octopuses here is the opening title sequence from the James Bond movie Octopussy.

Indonesian Mimic Octopus

2008-06-24T07:39:00.001-04:00

This is another badass Octopus video. This one includes the Indonesian Mimic Octopus which can copy the physical likeness and movement of more than fifteen different species including sea snakes, lion fish, flat fish, brittle stars, giant crabs, sea shells, stingrays, jellyfish, sea anemones, mantis shrimp and Britney Spears.

Octopus Camouflage

2008-06-24T07:23:00.001-04:00

This is some serious Octopus camouflage.

Octopus Intelligence

2008-06-24T07:21:00.001-04:00

I didn't know Octopus were smart. Watch this Spanish video of an octopus doing a variety of intelligent and scary things. I feel like we are lucky that these creatures are sea creatures and not land dwellers. I'm sure they wouldn't be able to function the same way either in terms of moving on land but you know what I mean.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-06-21T00:14:00.001-04:00

The Gina Light is a car that features a fabric body that can bend into different shapes. With a push a button you can change the shape of the car. I wonder if you can turn this into a mini van or dodge neon?

And now a video:

Via Kanye West

Hillary Clinton passes Gas

2008-06-21T00:00:00.001-04:00

Because I like politics and I like to see crazy things happen in political settings watch this.

You knew the time would come...

2008-06-20T19:34:00.003-04:00

Introducing:

INCREDIBLE McCAIN GIRL

Don't make her angry...

Once Upon a Time in The West

2008-06-19T14:12:00.001-04:00

As the real west deals with Hezbollah plans to strike (suposedly), Ireland's refusal to sign a treaty and Obama's broken pledge to choose the public finance system and McCain wanting to kill Bin Laden lets look back at the fictional West.

"Once Upon a Time in The West," is a spaghetti Western film from Sergio Leone from the epic and tumultous year of 1968. Featuring Charles Bronson as the hero and Henry Fonda as the villain with the Harmonica. With music by Ennio Morricone and an also appearance by Jason Robards this movie is up there with the greats. Check out the final showdown from this movie which features one of Ennio Morricone's classic songs "Man with the Harmonica."

More Dark Knight Trailer

2008-06-19T09:21:00.001-04:00

I promise we will return soon but until then watch the Dark Knight trailer. Heath Ledger and Christian Bale look so bad ass.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-06-15T23:46:00.001-04:00

Kids, this is why we do not do drugs.....

Bottom of the Glass: Best & Worst Tattoos Edition

2008-06-08T09:12:00.001-04:00

Check out the book at Amazon:

Amazon

Bottom of the Glass

2008-06-07T08:13:00.001-04:00

We Shall Return Soon

2008-06-03T15:05:00.001-04:00

As you may of noticed there have not been too many post recently. Things have gotten busy in the lives of all the writers as the first post-college summer approaches for all the writers. However, we shall return soon once everyone gets the hang of everything. Stay tuned and here are some photos from Mars.

Here is one

and here is another one

Bottom of the Glass

2008-05-29T07:34:00.001-04:00

Campaign Mementos

2008-05-29T07:23:00.000-04:00

Steven Heller from the New York Times has a great article about campaign mementos. He begins by referencing the 1952 presidential election between Adlai Stevenson and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Adlai Stevenson was known for being too frugal and low and behold a photograph taken of his show revealed a hole in the sole of his show. The show was made into metallic lapel pins and worn by his supporters in both his failed election bids.

Heller asks a group of designers to conceive the 21st-century versions of these mementos based on the current campaigns.

Here are the mementos:

Stephen Doyle and Tom Kluepfel
principals, Doyle Partners

Hillary Clinton’s positioning is about her experience, namely that she has already lived in the White House for eight years. So, we have represented her presumption with a key, her key to the White House. Her Slogan? “Don’t worry, I’ll just let myself back in.”

John McCain certainly deserves to get into the White House. He is a prominent patriot: distinguished, injured and imprisoned. Uniformed patriotism doesn’t get better than that. He is the Oldsmobile of candidates, but he comes with neither a 3-year, 36,000-mile warranty nor free towing. His emblem? A skeleton key.

Barack Obama? His emblem of access to the White House is obvious: the swipe card. It is the most modern of the three, but for the life of us, most Americans just don’t know how it works.

- These are perfect and seem to represent each candidate well, especially the lines about "letting myself back in," and "most American don't know how it works."

Daniel Pelavin, illustrator

Hillary Clinton Souvenir Village.
Barack Obama “Hope” Chest.
John McCain Campaign Medal.

-This seems to be the most unifying. Their is a positive memento for each candidate and their constituents. It reminds me of this Onion article where all the candidates announce that they will run together on a superticket.

Thomas Porosoky
art director, ID Magazine

Forget elephants and donkeys, John McCain needs a dog. He needs to reaffirm his most admirable quality, integrity. Dogs are honest, full of energy and will risk harm to save Timmy from the fire because it’s the right thing to do.

-I don't know if a dog is the best representation but its friendly and children may like it.

Steven Guarnaccia
chairman of the illustration department, Parsons the New School for Design

-Very witty.

Lou Beach, illustrator

For McCain the message should be emphatic. Defiant, yet comforting. The appeal is in its counter message to all the “change” banter of the other candidates.

-I am not exactly sure how this work as a counter message for McCain. Is this sarcasm or maybe I'm just not getting the inherent message. The broccoli thing isnt too appealing. They should have used Obama's favorite vegetable argula (too bad the price is getting expensive for him).

Nigel Holmes
principal, Explanation Graphics

This symbolizes pulling back the curtain on a new era of openness and truth. O, the perfect circle, equals completeness: one America. It is eco-friendly, does not have to be manufactured: just go to your local hardware store and you can get it in a variety of sizes and colors. One can hang it (or many of them) in the window to show support and use as a Christmas tree or holiday decoration to celebrate the coming of a new presidency.

-I like this, although it reminds me of a cross between an open condom and ring but as a decorative item it works well. You wouldn't know what it was initially. I can imagine looking at this at a holiday decoration party and not knowing what it was but thinking it was cool.

Viktor Koen, illustrator

As the candidate whose experience became the centerpiece of her campaign, it made sense to bottle that experience and distribute it as the solution to a wide spectrum of problems — new and old, real and imaginary. This magic potion may perform the miracle of nomination of the first woman for the presidency of the United States or cure thinning hair for the common man.

-This works, although it can also be poison or ipecac. Then again the potion thing is appealing. It reminds of a Harry Potteresque memento. "Drink the Poison of Hillary to battle Voldemort," or some type of experience spell: Hillarry Cliticlus Experiencus

Stefan Bucher
principal, 344 Design

The Democratic Party: Unite or Die.

-This is the best one. it is self explanatory. Although I think it would be interesting it one hand was a "black hand" and the other the "hand of woman" with painted finger nails.

The symbolism would almost be too close for comfort. A problem could arise as to which hands holds what. Neither the black hand nor the woman's hand wants to hold the donkey's ass. Nevertheless this is the best memento.

Another version of this in the fall could have the hands shaking each other with the donkey united and even the diversity hands.

New York Times

The Wonder Twins

2008-05-28T08:22:00.001-04:00

Wonder Woman loses her keys and the Wonder Twins help her out.

Soviets are not fans of the new Indiana Jones

2008-05-28T08:09:00.001-04:00

St. Petersburg Communist Party Chief Sergei Malinkovich said it best:

"Why should we agree to that sort of lie and let the West trick our youth?"

What lie you may ask? Well The Communist Party of Russia believes that the Indiana Jones movie distorts their amazing history. Granted, Indiana Jones is a fictional film, it still apparently distorts its own fictional history.

The party officials fear that Russian teenagers will believe that in 1957, Russia made trouble for the U.S. in addition to almost starting a nuclear war and running with crystal skulls throughout the U.S.

Russia capable of starting a nuclear war? Impossible. I think its more likely that Russia's communist will riot.

BBC News

Lion Attack Hyena

2008-05-26T10:41:00.000-04:00

Just watch:

According to the Washington Post: 5 Myths About Lobbyist

2008-05-26T09:20:00.001-04:00

This an interesting op-ed from the Washington Post. Read on:

By Megan Carpentier

Saturday, May 24, 2008; 12:00 AM

The presidential race turned into a game of hot potato this week, as Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Barack Obama tried to bat away accusations of ties to lobbyists. In this game, the candidates are reflecting the views of (or, depending on your point of view, pandering to) the public. Polls consistently find that a majority of Americans hold lobbyists in low regard, and in one recent survey more than 70 percent of respondents favored reducing the influence of lobbyists and special interest groups in Washington. I can't argue with the numbers. But as a former lobbyist myself, I can say that McCain and Obama are perpetuating some misunderstandings and myths about lobbyists. Sure, there are people like Jack Abramoff who have made millions gaming the system and partnering with corrupt politicians. But there are also plenty of decent, hard-working people who don't bribe Congress and have never had three martinis for lunch. These, as Dick Wolf would say, are their stories.

Myth 1: Lobbyists are all wealthy fat cats.

Oh, how I wish that were true; I might never have left the profession. Certainly, some lobbyists make out exquisitely. The Post's Citizen K Street series last year profiled lobbying star Gerald Cassidy, whose personal wealth surpasses $125 million. But many, many lobbyists toil from morning until night -- checking emails, making phone calls, writing issue papers and, yes, lobbying members of Congress and their staffers -- for salaries that make it hard to cover the cost of living in Washington. My first lobbying job after graduate school in 2001 paid $32,000 a year. That's hardly the $145,000-$160,000 (plus bonus) that first-year lawyers can expect at Washington's big firms. It's also only a little more than what a fresh college graduate makes for answering constituent mail in a congressman's office. But, with more than 30,000 registered lobbyists in Washington, not everyone can be rolling in dough or else who would do the grunt work?

Myth 2: Lobbyist is shorthand for soulless corporate shill.

Lobbyists get all kinds of flak for being intellectually promiscuous and ethically-lacking, because people assume they work for whichever, and however many, corporate clients that are willing to pay them. Some lobbyists do have a stable of different corporate clients. But many lobbyists work in-house. And it's not just corporations that hire them. So do trade associations and consumer groups, universities and state governments. There's literally a lobbyist for every cause and every issue you can think of, and a bunch of ones you've never thought of. Most people who lobby focus on a specific set of issues about which they feel pretty strongly. It's hard not to. Working 60 hours or more a week on an issue you don't care about burns you out. (I tried and failed.) Oh, and even some of those promiscuous corporate lobbyists also take work for smaller organizations representing issues near and dear to their hearts. Like everything else in life, nothing is black and white.

Myth 3: Lobbyists don't contribute anything of value to the political system.

Some lobbyists are worthless, I can't argue with that. But most of them do serve a purpose. Thousands of bills are introduced in Congress each year, hundreds will come up for consideration, and most of them generate very little constituent input. To help members decide how to vote, it would be awfully inefficient if Congressional staffers reinvented-the-wheel to research every issue. Instead, they usually try to weigh what different lobbyists with specific knowledge about that issue say. The process often helps identify why a bill may or may not be in the interest of a district, along with unintended consequences of a particular section.

Myth 4: Lobbyists participate in politics only to help their clients or employer.

The vast majority of lobbyists started life as Congressional or campaign staffers -- that's one reason there's a whole section ethics law dealing with when former staffers are allowed to lobby. Knowing how Capitol Hill works and the people who work there isn't something you can pick up from a book or by reading the news, so working there is practically a prerequisite for lobbying. It's one of the first things you get asked about in a job interview, even years into your lobbying career. But what it means in terms of the kind of people that end up as lobbyists is that they are passionate about politics. They don't put in time on the Hill because they hope it will someday lead to a more lucrative lobbying job. Similarly, they don't leave their family and friends for months on the campaign trail because they hope it will be good for business. They go back to politics because it's addictive, and they can't stay away.

Myth 5: Lobbying is a game of quid pro quo in which campaign contributions are exchanged for votes.

No lobbyists I know expect their political contributions to get them legislative support. There may be a vague hope that giving to a campaign might get them 15 minutes of face time with a staffer for a legislative pitch. But even maxing out the donation limits -- $2,300 for an individual or $5,000 for a Political Action Committee ¿ doesn't get you a ton of attention from a politician who needs anywhere from several hundred thousand dollars (for Congressional races) or several million dollars (for presidential candidates) each cycle. A lot of lobbyists have tried to get noticed by becoming so-called bundlers, recruiting donations from other people and turning over all the checks at once. But with hundreds of bundlers bundling, even that isn't going to get you much attention anymore.

In my experience, most lobbyists give primarily because of the pressure to give. Politicians treat donations as their due, rather than as a favor for which they asked. And, as when the collection plates comes around in church, no one wants to be caught not tithing. I would get several of calls and e-mails every day from campaigns and other lobbyists soliciting contributions, even when I didn't work for an organization with a PAC and made hardly any money. And when Congress was at one point supposedly contemplating banning lobbyist donations altogether, I heard lots of comments like "ohpleaseohplease let them make it illegal." They didn't.

Megan Carpentier spent seven years as a Washington lobbyist. She now writes for Glamocracy and Jezebel.

What do you think? Do you agree?

From the Washington Post

Photos from Mars

2008-05-26T05:32:00.001-04:00

As you may or may not have heard NASA in partnership with JPL-Caltech and the University of Arizona were successfully able to land spacecraft on Mar's Northern polar region. The Phoenix Mars Lander had it successfully landing last night (Sunday the 25th) and it has begun to capture photos.

I cannot stress how important this mission is...but I will try to anyway. Scientist believe this region holds a reservoir of ice beneath the soil ,anywhere from inches to a foot deep. Phoenix will look for clues as to when the ice melted and it will also look for organic compounds that are the building blocks for primitive life. Although, it cannot detect alien life, I'm sure scientist are hoping for some surprises.

Here are some photos to give you a taste of what they are looking at. You must remember though, this is Mars and the landscape is pretty much barren, so don't expect any trees or people or gold or random art.

Phoenix Opens its eyes

Icy, Patterned Ground on Mars

Martian Plains

More Martian Arctic Plains

For more photos and information, and to follow this mission, visit NASA.gov

ABC News

Grandma's Boy -- JP Raw Footage

2008-05-25T20:57:00.001-04:00

This made me and my friend feel uncomfortable. But you can also laugh at the ridiculousness nature of it or not. How do you feel about this?

Telescope Links London to NYC

2008-05-25T19:50:00.006-04:00

So some guy has created a telescope linking London to NYC.

From Kanye West's blog:

The installation's creator Paul St George claims to have just completed a forgotten tunnel connecting New York to London and, using giant parabolic mirrors, has reconstructed a Victorian-era optical device enabling people on either end of the tube to wave at each other. It installed the webcams and broadband internet sending live video in both directions. You can also at the Tower Bridge in London see a same electroscope.

This is an interesting except for the fact that it includes video, which to me defeats the purpose or at least reduces the uniqueness of this. Nevertheless, its great to see what people waste their time making. Although, if I had some friends studying abroad in London, I would make sure that they would meet up just so we can wave at each other.

Thanks to Kanye West

DNA and the Law

2008-05-25T12:42:00.003-04:00

Imagine going on Maury during one of his DNA test episodes as a guest. Say you receive the results and it shows conclusively that you are the biological father and you really want to be in the child's life.

Then imagine finding out that you could not press your paternity claim even with conclusive evidence because the child's mother was married to someone else when the child was born. In this alternate universe, "I Do" matters more than DNA. This crazy world is ours.

This is the situation facing James Rhoades. A university libarian who began an affair with married woman only to conceive a child that he could not claim because the law was on the side of marriage and not DNA.

Excerpt the Times article:

The 4-3 decision splintered the court, which issued five separate opinions. The majority was itself divided evenly among two camps, one that said Rhoades might have prevailed had he been able to show the J.N.R.'s "marital relationship had ceased at least 10 months" prior to the boy's birth, and another that said no "stranger to the marriage" can ever attack the legitimacy of a child's birth. "As long as marriage is on the books, it must mean something," wrote Justice Bill Cunningham in one of two concurring opinions. "... We are in need of a bold declaration that the marriage circle, even one with an errant partner, will be invaded at one's own legal risk." He added: "While the legal status of marriage in this early 21st century appears to be on life support, it is not dead."

Marriage is in on life support and with the recent California ruling, it is also being redefined. But despite the redefinition some parts of marriage law are stuck in what may almost be archaic standards and preservations of the law that don't account for changes in science like DNA tests.

Another excerpt:

Kentucky's ruling is firmly grounded in the history of the law, however. In fact, the so-called marital presumption has barred attacks on the legitimacy of children for centuries. Courts have forever held that allegations of fatherhood by third parties can only disrupt the family, confuse or embarrass the child, and unsettle the social order.

Interesting how this has preserved the "legitimacy of children for centuries." We live in such a time and society when it is not unusual to have a live-in partner and to have children with that partner, so what is really the difference besides the paper? We are so accustomed to thinking that blood is thicker than water but then we switch to love being more powerful than blood. Add the fact that marriage is still a strong institution in America (no matter how many times celebrities divorce). These tripolar notions of love, blood and the sanctity of marriage are tiring me out.

Unfortunately for Rhoades, he may not get what he wants. He plans to go to Supreme Court but the odds are long since they've already ruled once on this:

In 1989, on the same issue, upholding California's explicit bar against paternity challenges like his. That decision too was divided and contentious. The biological father in that case did not get to see his daughter till she had turned 21.

It is one of those times where the law of nature as Rhoades explains isn't exactly the law of the land. This situation doesn't happen to a lot of people (I'm assuming) but it is definitely something to think about it terms of how the law sometimes conflicts with what we observe in nature.

Time

Kids and History

2008-05-24T12:32:00.001-04:00

Don't know where this originated, but it's hilarious and I'd like to share it with you fine people...

The following excerpts are actual answers given on history tests and in Sunday School quizzes by children between 5th and 6th grade ages in Ohio. They were collected over a period of three years by two teachers.

Read carefully for grammar, misplaced modifiers, and of course, spelling!!!

***********************************************************

Ancient Egypt was old.. It was inhabited by gypsies and mummies who all wrote in hydraulics. They lived in the Sarah Dessert. The climate Of the Sarah is such that all the inhabitants have to live elsewhere.

Moses led the Hebrew slaves to the Red Sea where they made unleavened bread, which is bread made without any ingredients. Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten commandos. He died before he ever reached Canada but the commandos made it.

Solomon had three hundred wives and seven hundred porcupines. He was A actual hysterical figure as well as being in the bible. It sounds Like he was sort of busy too.

The Greeks were a highly sculptured people, and without them we wouldn't have history. The Greeks also had myths. A myth is a young female moth.

Socrates was a famous old Greek teacher who went around giving people advice. They killed him. He later died from an overdose of wedlock Which is apparently poisonous.. After his death, his career suffered a Dramatic decline.

In the first Olympic games, Greeks ran races, jumped, hurled biscuits, and threw the java. The games were messier then than they show on TV now.

Julius Caesar extinguished himself on the battlefields of Gaul. The Ides of March murdered him because they thought he was going to be made king. Dying, he gasped out "Same to you, Brutus."

Joan of Arc was burnt to a steak and was canonized by Bernard Shaw for reasons I don't really understand. The English and French still have problems.

Queen Elizabeth was the "Virgin Queen," As a queen she was a success. When she exposed herself before her troops they all shouted "hurrah!" and that was the end of the fighting for a long while.

It was an age of great inventions and discoveries. Gutenberg invented removable type and the Bible. Another important invention was the circulation of blood.

Sir Walter Raleigh is a historical figure because he invented Cigarettes and started smoking.

Sir Francis Drake circumcised the world with a 100 foot clipper which was very dangerous to all of his men.

The greatest writer of the Renaissance was William Shakespeare. He was born in the year 1564, supposedly on his birthday. He never made much money and is famous only because of his plays. He wrote tragedies, comedies, and hysterectomies, all in Islamic pentameter.

Writing at the same time as Shakespeare was Miguel Cervantes. He Wrote Donkey Hote. The next great author was John Milton. Milton wrote Paradise Lost. Since then no one ever found it.

Delegates from the original 13 states formed the Contented Congress. Thomas Jefferson, a Virgin, and Benjamin Franklin were two singers of the Declaration of Independence. Franklin discovered electricity by Rubbing two cats backward and also declared, "A horse divided against itself cannot stand." He was a naturalist for sure. Franklin died in 1790 and is still dead.

Abraham Lincoln became America's greatest Precedent. Lincoln's Mother died in infancy, and he was born in a log cabin which he built with his own hands.. Abraham Lincoln freed slaves by signing the Emasculation Proclamation.

On the night of April 14, 1865, Lincoln went to the theater and got shot in his seat by one of the actors in a moving picture show. They believe the assinator was John Wilkes Booth, a supposingly insane actor. This ruined Booth's career.

Johann Bach wrote a great many musical compositions and had a large number of children. In between he practiced on an old spinster which he kept up in his attic. Bach died from 1750 to present. Bach was the most famous composer in the world and so was Handel. Handel was half German, half Italian, and half English. He was very large.

Bethoven wrote music even though he was deaf. He was so deaf that he wrote loud music and became the father of rock and roll. He took long walks in the forest even when everyone was calling for him. Beethoven expired in 1827 and later died for this.

The nineteenth century was a time of a great many thoughts and inventions. People stopped reproducing by hand and started reproducing by machine. The invention of the steamboat caused a network of rivers to spring up.

Cyrus McCormick invented the McCormick Raper, which did the work of a hundred men.

Louis Pasteur discovered a cure for rabbits but I don't know why.

Charles Darwin was a naturalist. He wrote the Organ of the Species. It was very long people got upset about it and had trials to see if it was really true. He sort of said God's days were not just 24 hours but without watches who knew anyhow? I don't get it.

Madman Curie discovered radio. She was the first woman to do what she did. Other women have become scientists since her but they didn't get to find radios because they were already taken.

Karl Marx was one of the Marx Brothers. The other three were in the movies. Karl made speeches and started revolutions. Someone in the family had to have a job, I guess.

The New York Giants' Michael Strahan at NYU's 2008 Commencement

2008-05-23T17:42:00.001-04:00

Bottom of the Glass

2008-05-23T12:33:00.001-04:00

The Whole Country Has Semen On Its Dress

via Wonkette

R. Kelly Uses the Wayans Defense

2008-05-23T12:26:00.001-04:00

Thanks to New York Magazine for finding this. In R. Kelly's child-pornography, the defense used the Wayans Brothers at part of their defense. What does this mean?

Well apparently it is possible that there is someone out there who inserted Kelly's face onto the body through CGI to frame him. That is one serious hater, if you would go through all the that trouble to go on Final Cut Pro and/or Adobe Photoshop.

Robert Kelly has kept us laughing through Trapped in the Closet I, II, III, IV, V and VI. Now finally years later he goes to trial and he still manages to find a way to inject some of the ridiculousness that makes him such a beloved member of the music community.

The best part of this is:

"When a witness pointed out how ridiculous this is, attorney Sam Adam Jr. asked if she'd ever seen the Wayans brothers' acclaimed 2006 comedy Little Man: "They put the head of Marlon Wayans on a midget and it looked real, didn't it?" Yes. Yes it did."

I don't know...the attorney might have a point. By the way did anyone know that Trapped in the Closet had 22 Chapters? Sounds like a future post or posts waiting to happen.

Via New York Magazine from Chicago Tribune

A Cell Phone Company for Progressive People

2008-05-23T12:05:00.001-04:00

Has anyone heard of this? A progressive cell phone company called "CREDO Mobile." Originally and maybe still called "Working Assets," CREDO mobile offers mobile and long distance phone service and a credit card that all have the stated goal of being "socially responsible." This is interesting and almost comical for me. At the same time it is smart idea.

It was founded in 1985 and the company is based in San Francisco, California (Go Figure). San Francisco is in the congressional district that Nancy Pelosi represents (Remember that Political Ad about West Coat Liberals) and where Dianne Feinstein was formerly mayor.

A quick look at their phone plans reveals prices that are no different than that of AT&T or Verizon or Sprint. They have a small selection of phones as well and not a single Blackberry and iPhone. One should also note that they completely run on the Sprint network.

Despite these things (which made be good things for some people) they use 100% post-consumer recycled paper and soy-based ink for all its paper bills and internal communications and they purchase carbon offsets through Carbonfund.org. I like when science and political activism come together.

I wanted to find out about some of the criticisms of this company "Working Assets/CREDO Mobile," and of course Wikipedia gave us some great things.

1st Criticism from Wikipedia:

1. Although the Working Assets credit card is now offered through Bank of America, the product came under criticism when it was issued through the bank MBNA, the top contributor to George W. Bush's 2000 Presidential Campaign. When asked about this, Working Assets' employees have made differing claims. In one letter, it was stated that Working Assets chose MBNA regardless of its political views and entirely for its experience and quality customer service.In another letter, president Michael Kieschnick stated that Working Assets ended up under MBNA when the company purchased the credit card business of Fleet Bank, which had previously issued the card. Kieschnick said it was not Working Assets' choice to select MBNA and cannot change banks without violating its current contract. MBNA was subsequently purchased by Bank of America. Many environmental groups, including ones who benefit from Working Assets, have active campaigns against Bank of America, citing its funding of more projects that contribute to global warming than any other bank. This may cause a conflict of interest for these charities.

2nd Criticism from Wikipedia:

2. Working Assets has been an active opponent against Warrantless wiretapping by the NSA and has been active in criticizing Verizon and AT&T for collaborating with the NSA to permit these activities. Sprint, the network carrier which CREDO resells service on, is also named as a company which participated in this activity. While CREDO has voiced opposition against FISA and providing immunity to AT&T and Verizon against lawsuits stemming from the wiretapping controversy, criticism or mention of Sprint is notably absent in its press releases.

Its definitely hard to be a purist. Its understandable that everything is connected. Check out They Rule. Its an interesting site that allows you to create maps of the interlocking directories of the top companies in the US in 2004. It also includes people from Clinton and Bush's administrations who a good a number of which, were and are directors on the boards of major companies.

But back to CREDO. Its is a honorable mission and socially responsible investing is promising area of business world especially in the last few years. I don't think I'd ever sign up to get their plans but I applaud people who do. It seems that everyone has an agenda anyway...Credo considering its origins and mission is just open about it...and 1% of your charges to progressive nonprofit groups.

I hope to god that their is an independent motivated version of this company and conservative counterpart and a libertarian counterpart just to see how they fare against each other.

Another Funny Political Ad

2008-05-23T09:21:00.001-04:00

I'm waiting for some hard hitting post to come along. We haven't had too much diversity in post or frequency since the summer came. But as you can see, we aren't bound by conventions like the pregnant man who is mowing his lawn.

However, if you have any ideas for some topics or things you like to see mentioned or discussed, definitely write in the comment section.

But back to political ads that crack me up. Here is one from New Jersey. This one is about being old and your own words haunting you. It is a silly ad but its still smart.

Headlines to Check Out

2008-05-23T09:08:00.001-04:00

I included a photo and the first paragraph of each article.

U.S. Senate approves 83.4 bln pounds in new war money

The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved an additional $165 billion (83.4 billion pounds) to wage war in Iraq and Afghanistan for another year after lawmakers blocked proposed timetables for withdrawing American troops from Iraq.

- This one is from the U.K. section of Reuters. When it is written as "war money," and in pounds it just makes it sound so disgusting and dirty and illegal. But then again the U.S. government is not known for being clean so it makes sense.

Error may force "re-do" of U.S. farm bill veto

Congress gave President George W. Bush an incomplete version of the $289 billion farm bill, a mistake that would erase his veto and may require lawmakers to pass the bill again, lawmakers and congressional aides said on Wednesday.

- Only our Congress (This looks a little bad for the Democrats who are in the majority) would send an incomplete bill to the White House. Then again maybe it was on purpose.

At Supreme Court, 5-to-4 Rulings Fade — but Why?

Where have all the 5-to-4 decisions gone? And whatever happened to the “Kennedy Court”? A year ago at this time, the Supreme Court had decided 13 cases by votes of 5 to 4, out of 41 total decisions. That proved to be an accurate snapshot of a highly polarized term. By the time the court wrapped up its work five weeks later, a third of the cases — the highest proportion in years — had been decided by margins of a single vote.

- This is a very interesting outcome that people should be paying attention to. A lot of people were worried about a split court due to the ideological leanings of the justice but it seems that they've been able to vote on different margins. Not sure if it is a testament to John Roberts' power, or the nature of the cases presented.

Tory Wins Labor Bastion, in Blow to Premier

Voters in this old railway town in Britain’s industrial Midlands sent a powerful message to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the governing Labor Party on Thursday, electing a Conservative candidate by a wide margin in a parliamentary constituency that had been a Labor bastion for decades.

- Gordon Brown must be the most unpopular person right now in Britain next to Heather Mills McCartney. It is a strange that what brought Tony Blair down was the war but maybe Blair left at the right time. I wonder how much gains the Tories will make in the next few months. Will Parliament become Tory dominated?

Terrible Campaign Ads

2008-05-22T11:39:00.001-04:00

Here are some more campaign ads that keep us laughing.

This one features a sock puppet.

This one features Chuck Norris and Mike Huckabee

This one features the Twilight Zone, Osama Bin Laden and Aliens (According to this ad of the Mexican Kind), among other things.

This one features a blonde lady dancing to the tune of "Have you had enough?

- Apparently only 4% of voters had enough.

This one features a sex hotline.

This one tops it all. Its probably the add that destroyed Harold Ford Jr.

Bottom of the Glass

2008-05-22T10:56:00.001-04:00

Is this piano for show or to play?

Via Kanye West

Political Commercials

2008-05-21T21:19:00.001-04:00

This is the funniest commercial I've seen in a while. Republican Missouri Rep. Sam Graves "attacks" his Democratic opponent Kay Barnes for being liberal with Nancy Pelosi and throwing parties and dancing with East coast liberals in San Francisco.

Here is a equally funny commercial from Bill Richardson which is as silly as the one above. I can see why he might have lost the nomination. This is almost as bad as the movie Wild Wild West except this guy was supposedly serious about becoming our next President.

Family Guy Matrix Trailer

2008-05-21T20:54:00.001-04:00

Since I'm in a Family Guy mood and the Matrix was good. Here is something interesting to watch:

Family Guy's Original Pilots

2008-05-21T20:48:00.001-04:00

Apparently Family Guy had two pilots in the past. Check them out:

Here is the first one from 1995. You might be able to recognize the Peter voice and Brian voice and some of the jokes as well that have been reused later on.

The second Family Guy pilot from 1996. The animation is so rough and so dated that it hurts. But its interesting to see where Family Guy came from.

No More Currency Discrimination

2008-05-21T18:46:00.001-04:00

In what is being called a major ruling for the blind community, a federal appeals court ruled that the uniform design of U.S. paper money discriminates against the blind, thus violating federal disability law. This decision as a result, necessitates major changes in paper money so that those who are blind can have an easier time at distinguishing between different dominations.

As the court correctly highlights:

"The current design of paper money springs from the world of the sighted...Upon casual inspection, anyone with good vision can readily discern the value of U.S. currency; yet even the most searching tactile examination will reveal no difference between a $100 bill and a $1 bill."

Its something that we have been used to everyday but never thing about. Something as simple as the bills we exchange on a regular basis or not as easy to use for the blind.

As a federal appeals court last year highlighted, more than 100 other countries vary the size of their bills and other include specific features to help the blind. Even the European Central Bank worked closely with the blind when designing the euro so that they contained easily recognizable features and were varied in size. I never noticed this but its nice to know Europe was ahead on this. Its odd and almost embarrassing to think that we are one of the few countries that is not ahead in designing currency that is easily accessible to the blind.

I wonder if this means having braille on our dollars now or certain parts like the one raised so you can feel what denomination is. Its nice to see this happen and I hope more of this occurs.

The Alabama quarter actually has Helen Keller's name in Braille although I don't know if can be read from touching it.

ABC News

The 2006 World Cup's Best Moments and Looking to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa

2008-05-20T13:53:00.001-04:00

I spent a lot time watching the World Cup in 2006. It was basically perfect and it met all expectations. I'm looking forward to the 2010 World Cup and I'm wondering how South Africa will compare. I am hoping for it to be a success but I can't tell how things will go down. As the first African Nation to host the FIFA World Cup a lot of precedents will be set as well as high expectations. I don't want to doubt anything but I'm hoping everything goes well.

I included a clip of the best moments from the 2006 World Cup. We'll see what happens in 2010. Scroll down for a discussion on South Africa.

In the meantime lets look at what is happening in South Africa right now.

In the last few weeks South Africa's government has been dealing with a rise in attacks on foreigners.

13,000 people have been forced to leave their homes. It all started a week ago in North Johannesburg where mobs haveen loking for foreigners to attack. The foreigners have been blamed for taking jobs from locals and for contributing to crime.

Sadly enough many of them are Zimbabweans looking for better opportunity in South Africa. Sounds a lot like what is happening in the U.S. without all the violence, or at least so it seems.

The government fears that these xenophobic actions could threaten the economy as well as the tourism. South Africa needs to be in the best shape possible in order to host the World Cup in 2010 and events like this if not properly addressed can threaten the bid. Granted, I doubt FIFA would leave at this late in the game. However, these incidents cast a shadow on a country struggling to make its way with so much opportunity ahead but many obstacles.

I always like to give a visual perspective to these issues so check it out.

What do you think will happen?

Reuters

BBC News

Bottom of the Glass: Social Services Edition

2008-05-20T11:00:00.001-04:00

via Kanye West

Bottom of the Glass: Gravity Edition

2008-05-19T22:51:00.001-04:00

Li Wei is an artist from Bejing whose work primarily features what appears to be gravity-defying stunts. Check it out.

Via Kanye West

Facebook is Getting a Facelift

2008-05-19T22:25:00.001-04:00

Since Facebook arrived, if you noticed the site's look hasn't changed too much. It has a lot of new functions but general it's still the same despite the addition of 1,000 new functions.

Well that is about to change as designers are planning to change the profile page to make it what they call "Simpler, cleaner and more relevant." What the hell is more relevant? Facebook isn't relevant enough?

Well apparently the new profile will split the main profile into five separate page as tabs. I'm not liking this. I think they should just put applications into the tab because they take up the most space.

What is your profile page without your wall? Then again many people I know don't have walls or at least limit access to it, so that may not matter.

Apparently, Facebook jumped in popularity when it allowed all these third party applications. I personally thought it was always popular for the college and graduate crowd. Facebook fundamentally changed when it stopped being a college only site. One of the big draws of Facebook was it simple nature and somewhat professional look (despite the embarrassing photos people post) in comparison to myspace.

I don't think Facebook is broke but it could certainly use a clean up. All this commercialization as one person mentioned is making Facebook less unique. Maybe Facebook's facelift needs to bring it back to what it once was.

BBC News

Flying Penis Interrupts Speech

2008-05-19T22:00:00.001-04:00

You have to see it to believe it.