Doughnut makes a top 'Simpsons' moment
After 20 years, the best "Simpsons" moment may come down to Homer, a doughnut, and the devil.
Friday, January 8, 2010
'Faux & Friends' Peddle Lies about CIA, Climate Change
Photo via CorveDacosta
Faux & Friends is a show that's not exactly known for getting its facts right--but people watch it and confuse the drivel there for actual information. A particularly appalling segment aired yesterday, in which the Friends attacked the White House for allegedly giving up on gathering intelligence on terrorists, and instead using the CIA to study icebergs. They took a report and mangled the facts in order to rile up their viewers--and the bit was literally funded by Exxon.
Article continues: 'Faux & Friends' Peddle Lies about CIA, Climate Change (Video)
One Third of Scotland's Sheep May Freeze to Death
From Treehugger:
One Million Sheep May Freeze
You've almost certainly heard about the cold snap that sweeping both the US and Northern Eurasia (while it's uncharacteristically warm in other parts of the world)--record cold temperatures are being set, and many tragedies are unfolding. In Scotland, the victims are the sheep: one million of them, a whole one third of Scotland's sheep, may freeze to death during the current cold spell.
Article continues: One Third of Scotland's Sheep May Freeze to Death
Court to Cops: Stop Tasing People into Compliance
Sometimes there is good news:
The use of Tasers has become increasingly controversial over the last year, following high-profile cases such as the Tasering of a 10-year-old girl who had refused to take a shower and video of a 72-year-old great-grandmother who was Tasered following a driving offense. Now a federal appeals court in San Francisco has set down new rules for when police officers are allowed to use Tasers. In particular, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Tasers can’t be used simply to force a non-violent person to bend to an officer’s will. The court’s reason was that Taser’s X26 stun gun inflicts more pain than other “non-lethal” options.
However:
It would be naive to assume that there will not be any market response to the ruling. We have recently seen a rash of new devices aimed at police forces, including assorted laser dazzlers and pepper ball guns as Taser alternatives. There are also portable pain beams in prospect, both microwave and infrared laser varieties, not to mention various acoustic blasters. The ruling is likely to lead to more experimentation, both technical and in the courts, to find out just what the acceptable level of pain and suffering is and how it can best be delivered.
The ruling is also a potential boost for devices such as the LED Incapacitator, which does not rely on pain but other physiological effects (disorientation, loss of balance and nausea).
Global Warming
How did a 10-year-old speculative comment over disappearing Himalayan glaciers come to be included in an IPCC report?Debate heats up over IPCC melting glaciers claim
*****
Antarctica is warming, but not melting anything like as much as expected.
The apparent contradiction is explained by the seasonal pattern of warming.
Why Antarctica isn't melting much – yet
Arctic roots of 'upside-down' weather
- The current big chill is a result of high pressure over the polar region, which has pushed cold air out of the Arctic towards much of northern Europe, parts of Asia and the US. Winds from the north and north east, rather than the south and south west, have brought freezing temperatures to the UK.
Although this article is Anglo-centric (Great Britain) it gives a good a easy to understand explanation as to why some places are experiencing some rather chilly temps and other places are having down-right balmy weather (relatively speaking that is).
Read the entire piece here.
Read the entire piece here.
Science News
From BBC-Science:
Cleopatra's heavy make-up was good for eyes, research suggests
Creature comforts
How the cold snap is affecting the animal kingdom.
Cleopatra's heavy make-up was good for eyes, research suggests Creature comforts How the cold snap is affecting the animal kingdom.
 | | Grey squirrels have little impact on woodland bird species in England, a study by the British Trust for Ornithology shows. |
| An editorial in the medical journal the Lancet has urged China's authorities to do more to prevent scientific fraud. | | Britain's wildlife is on "the brink of a crisis" as harsh winter conditions continue to grip the nation, warn conservationists. |
Liars and Fools today are:
Liars and Fools today are:
Virginia Foxx lies saying 'Every promise Obama has kept endangers our lives'.
This bitch is senile, enough said.
Lush Dimbulb lies saying "We are at war with our own president, we are at war with our own government".
It's Lush so who cares what his fat ass says ... it's a lie anytime he opens his mouth.
Virginia Foxx lies saying 'Every promise Obama has kept endangers our lives'.
This bitch is senile, enough said.
Lush Dimbulb lies saying "We are at war with our own president, we are at war with our own government".
It's Lush so who cares what his fat ass says ... it's a lie anytime he opens his mouth.
Cop News
In Cop News
Pennsylvania cop who oversaw corrupt narcotics unit gets sweet job at District Attorney's office
Lawsuit filed in Maryland videography arrest
Panel orders reinstatement for North Carolina cop fired for kicking K9 dog
Philadelphia cop pleads guilty to drug charges
Alabama cop arrested after $20K disappears from evidence room
Pennsylvania cop who oversaw corrupt narcotics unit gets sweet job at District Attorney's office
Lawsuit filed in Maryland videography arrest
Panel orders reinstatement for North Carolina cop fired for kicking K9 dog
Philadelphia cop pleads guilty to drug charges
Alabama cop arrested after $20K disappears from evidence room
The Valley of The Statues in San Agustin
The Valley of The Statues in San Agustin
Along the Magdalena River in Colombia, there lies a seemingly innocent, yet mysterious collection of Pre-Colombian statues carved out of volcanic rock.
Their piercing gazes across the lush vegetation is a warning, or rather a form of protection for the tombs they guard.
Cutting-edge technology 30 years ago
Cutting-edge technology 30 years ago
At the 1979 Consumer Electronics Show, the buzzy gadgets couldn't quite fit in your pocket.
Joe Biden's mother dies at 92
Joe Biden's mother dies at 92
Jean Finnegan Biden passes away after becoming seriously ill in recent days.
Retail chain winners and losers
Retail chain winners and losers
Once a hot brand for teens, Abercrombie is now a turnoff for budget-minded shoppers.
Record fine for a speeding ticket
Record fine for a speeding ticket
A Swiss millionaire is slapped with a huge bill that was calculated based on his net worth.
Why it's a great time to rent right now
Why it's a great time to rent right now
Landlords are more willing than ever to renegotiate as they scramble to keep tenants.
1,000-calorie restaurant meals to avoid
1,000-calorie restaurant meals to avoid
The worst pasta entrée packs 1,450 calories and 74 grams of fat onto your plate.
Icy hazards persist through US, deep into South
Snow and blustery winds blew into the already-frigid East on Friday and drivers as far south as Georgia were urged to stay off icy roads.Full Story
Bitter cold just won't go away
Treacherous conditions persist in the East while the South deals with a prolonged deep freeze.
Malaysian churches attacked in 'Allah' dispute
This is why all religious nuts should all be castrated:
Three churches in Malaysia were attacked with firebombs, causing extensive damage to one, as Muslims pledged Friday to prevent Christians from using the word "Allah," escalating religious tensions in the multiracial country.
Three churches in Malaysia were attacked with firebombs, causing extensive damage to one, as Muslims pledged Friday to prevent Christians from using the word "Allah," escalating religious tensions in the multiracial country.
Many Malay Muslims, who make up 60 percent of the population, are incensed by a recent High Court decision to overturn a ban on Roman Catholics using "Allah" as a translation for God in the Malay-language edition of their main newspaper, the Herald.
Housecat gets Swine Flu
Today, the University of California at Davis confirmed that a housecat had H1N1 influenza:
Experts at the California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory on the UC Davis campus told Los Angeles County Veterinary Public Health officials on Dec. 22 that the cat suffered from swine flu.
The cat was sneezing and had developed a nasal discharge and occasional cough, officials said. The cat had spent a considerable time on her owner's lap.
The owner was also confirmed to have H1N1 flu and had been ill a few days prior to the cat becoming sick.
No prison for killer of abusive husband
A woman who shot her white supremacist husband while he slept -- leading to the discovery of Nazi memorabilia, an arsenal of weapons and bomb-making materials in their home -- won't have to go to prison for killing the man she said subjected her and their daughter to years of extreme abuse.
No prison for killer of abusive husband
No prison for killer of abusive husband
Possible Break in Tylenol Poisoning Case
In a potential breakthrough in a 27-year-old case, the sole suspect in the poisoning of Tylenol capsules that led to the deaths of seven people was subpoenaed this week to attend a court hearing that would order fingerprint and DNA samples.
Possible Break in Tylenol Poisoning Case
Possible Break in Tylenol Poisoning Case
Pomegranate Juice May Help Stave Off Breast Cancer
No one is ready to argue that eating pomegranates will keep one free of breast cancer, but recent research at the City of Hope cancer research and treatment center in Duarte, California, suggests that an acid found in pomegranates can block an enzyme that converts androgen to estrogen, a hormone that plays a role in the development of breast cancer. Reuters reports that the researchers' search for phytochemicals with the ability to suppress aromatase and ultimately block cancer growth revealed 10 natural compounds in the fruit may potentially prevent estrogen-related breast cancer.
Teabaggers looking for new targets
A founder of the "tea party" movement said Wednesday he had a warning for repugican state leaders: Back wingnut candidates or else other states will suffer the same backlash that toppled Florida's repugican party chairman this week.
"We are turning our guns on anyone who doesn't support constitutional conservative candidates," said Dale Robertson, who operates TeaParty.org out of Houston and helped start the movement nearly two years ago.
He declined to say which states are next on the tea party's hit list. He said party leaders in those states would be warned privately, but the movement's wrath "will be very clear publicly" if they don't listen.
*****
This is the same moron who used the "N" word on a sign he held up at one of his 'rallies' and in typical teabagger fashion he misspelled it.
Oh, and it's spelled M-O-R-O-N ... not, M-O-R-A-N ... by the way (in reference to another typical teabagger spelling champion.)
"We are turning our guns on anyone who doesn't support constitutional conservative candidates," said Dale Robertson, who operates TeaParty.org out of Houston and helped start the movement nearly two years ago.
He declined to say which states are next on the tea party's hit list. He said party leaders in those states would be warned privately, but the movement's wrath "will be very clear publicly" if they don't listen.
*****
This is the same moron who used the "N" word on a sign he held up at one of his 'rallies' and in typical teabagger fashion he misspelled it.
Oh, and it's spelled M-O-R-O-N ... not, M-O-R-A-N ... by the way (in reference to another typical teabagger spelling champion.)
Video footage of Japanese whaling ship ramming environmentalists
The Japanese footage made it difficult to tell much other than there being an accident, but this is a different story. It's clear that the anti-whaling activist boat was not moving much and that the Japanese ship intentionally rammed it. After striking the boat, the Japanese ship immediately slowed its speed and turned away. Everyone down there may be in a gray area according to the law, but this video is very bad news for Japan.
US Cold Snap Sees Iguanas Fall From Trees
Temperatures in normally balmy Florida are so low that an urban myth can be witnessed a ' freezing iguanas falling from the trees.
US Cold Snap Sees Iguanas Fall From Trees
US Cold Snap Sees Iguanas Fall From Trees
Banks lure customers with cold cash
Banks lure customers with cold cash
Some banks are giving as much as $200 to customers who open checking accounts.
World's tallest tower inspires record feat
World's tallest tower inspires record feat
Just days after the Burj Khalifa's debut, an expert skydiver launches his own historic bid.
The costliest car-buying mistakes
The costliest car-buying mistakes
One wrong move at the dealership could cost you dearly — possibly thousands of dollars.
Anger over store ruining unsold clothes
Anger over store ruining unsold clothes
Trash bags full of destroyed coats, gloves, and shoes are found from two stores.
Today is ...
Today is Friday, Jan. 8, the 8th day of 2010.
There are 357 days left in the year.
Today In History January 8
Today's unusual holidays and celebrations are:
Bubble Bath Day,
Learn To Ski Day,
National English Toffee Day,
National Joy Germ Day,
as well as
Midwife's Day
and
Show and Tell Day at Work
There are 357 days left in the year.
Today In History January 8
Today's unusual holidays and celebrations are:
Bubble Bath Day,
Learn To Ski Day,
National English Toffee Day,
National Joy Germ Day,
as well as
Midwife's Day
and
Show and Tell Day at Work
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
Bristol, England United Kingdom
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Strasbourg, Alsace, France
Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Cremora, Lombardia, Italy
Linz, Oberosterreich, Austria
as well as Finland, and the United States
Bristol, England United Kingdom
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Strasbourg, Alsace, France
Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Cremora, Lombardia, Italy
Linz, Oberosterreich, Austria
as well as Finland, and the United States
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
Your natural leadership skills both are a curse and a blessing.
They're a blessing for others, because when things start to get out of control, they know they can turn to you with a plaintive look on their face, and within minutes, you'll have everything up and running like a well-oiled machine.
The curse part comes in when you're out for recreation, looking forward to some fun, and then suddenly you're asked to take over.
Like today, for example.
Oh, well.
Think of it as a compliment.
A compliment ... yeah, that's the ticket.
Your natural leadership skills both are a curse and a blessing.
They're a blessing for others, because when things start to get out of control, they know they can turn to you with a plaintive look on their face, and within minutes, you'll have everything up and running like a well-oiled machine.
The curse part comes in when you're out for recreation, looking forward to some fun, and then suddenly you're asked to take over.
Like today, for example.
Oh, well.
Think of it as a compliment.
A compliment ... yeah, that's the ticket.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Two Blackwater Guards Charged with Murder
Two former Blackwater contractors were arrested Thursday on murder charges in the shootings of two Afghans after a traffic accident last year, according to an indictment.
How clean are your new clothes?
How clean are your new clothes?
Lab tests on brand-new garments reveal disturbing findings — germs that prove some have been worn before
Top weight-loss myths busted
Top weight-loss myths busted
Constantly feeling hunger pains is normal while you're dieting, and it should be expected.
Tricks to turn canned soup into 'homemade'
Tricks to turn canned soup into 'homemade'
The right add-ins can transform a plain can of soup into something special.
Footprints shift evolutionary timeline
Footprints shift evolutionary timeline
A discovery of fossilized footprints made by animals called tetrapods surprises scientists.
Scientists discover oldest footprints on Earth
Scientists have found the oldest fossilized footprints made by a four-legged creature forcing a rethink on when fish first crawled out of water and onto land.
Money must-dos for the new year
Money must-dos for the new year
Five simple saving and spending tips could spare you serious financial headaches.
Simple ways to be happier this year
Simple ways to be happier this year
Boost your feelings of satisfaction with these easy, no-cost tips and ideas.
Gas prices hit a 15-month high
Gas prices hit a 15-month high
Prices at the pump are approaching or already at $3 per gallon in some cities.
Ways to cut travel costs
10 ways to cut travel costs
Taking these simple steps could save you big on flights, hotels, and car rentals.
Do vitamin supplements do any good?
Do vitamin supplements do any good?
Studies raise doubts about vitamins' benefits and find some could pose real medical risks.
Fast Food Soda Fountains Contain Bacteria that Grew in Feces
From Treehugger:
Photo via Flickr
Seems like the reasons to not eat at fast food restaurants just keep on piling up. We've heard all about the unseemly practices that go into obtaining their meats and innumerable other horrors. But now, let's look at the quality of the soda fountains--another staple of the fast food experience. A recent study has revealed that a full 48% of soda fountains at fast food restaurants contain coliform bacteria--a bacteria that grows in feces. Oh, and 11% contained E. Coli, too.
Article continues: 48% of Fast Food Soda Fountains Contain Bacteria that Grew in Feces
Mexican government says Starbucks owes for using pre-Hispanic images on coffee mugs
The government of Mexico and Starbucks are engaged in an intellectual property rights battle over a line of coffee mugs at the coffee chain that display images of the Aztec calendar stone and the Pyramid of the Moon, from the Teotihuacan ruins.
The Mexican government says it has notified Starbucks Corp. that Mexico is owed intellectual property rights for a line of coffee mugs showing pre-Hispanic images.
*****
Want to bet Mexico loses this one.
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