Is this polar bear floating out in the middle of the arctic ocean wondering where all the ice went, while he struggles for survival?
Or is it some trained Hollywood polar bear that just mugs for the camera?
It's one or the other.
4/29/2009
Is This For Real (global warming pic.)
Is this polar bear floating out in the middle of the arctic ocean wondering where all the ice went, while he struggles for survival?
Or is it some trained Hollywood polar bear that just mugs for the camera?
It's one or the other.
The Power of God
God is said to be all powerful (omni-potent). Well, that's fine, except there are kind of paradoxical situations where that would seem a bit difficult.
Could God create a river so wide that he couldn't jump over it?
obviously the answer is that God is not in human form, and therefore wouldn't be able to do any "jumping over" in the sense that i described in the above question.
Could God create a river so wide that he couldn't jump over it?
obviously the answer is that God is not in human form, and therefore wouldn't be able to do any "jumping over" in the sense that i described in the above question.
A Digital Crutch
this was in the editorial "rants & raves" letters to the editor section of WIRED last month. I thought it was interesting/funny.
"After reading "Inside the GPS Revolution" (issue 17.02), I realized that GPS is turning people into idiots. You need it to hail a cab, find a toilet, and wake yourself up? Are we becoming so narcissistic in our own little technological wombs that we can't do simple everyday tasks? Do we need an app to tell us to eat? To breathe? To take a dump? This isn't an advance; it's pathetic.
-Kevin Hall (Bristol, Virginia)
"After reading "Inside the GPS Revolution" (issue 17.02), I realized that GPS is turning people into idiots. You need it to hail a cab, find a toilet, and wake yourself up? Are we becoming so narcissistic in our own little technological wombs that we can't do simple everyday tasks? Do we need an app to tell us to eat? To breathe? To take a dump? This isn't an advance; it's pathetic.
-Kevin Hall (Bristol, Virginia)
4/24/2009
Watching The Evening News Will Make You Dumber
a few recent news items on the local news:
1. Susan Boyle - ugly lady with pretty singing voice. the world is stunned. we are now on day 12 of this ongoing news coverage. uggh.
2. Miss USA contestant thinks marriage should be between a male and female. The world is outraged and offended by her comments. WTF?! Are we living in the twilight zone?
B-list pseudo-celebrity-freak Perez Hilton calls her an effin' b*tch because of what she said. really? REALLY? is everyone such a fricken baby nowadays that anytime anyone gives their opinion about something everyone gets super offended?
3. ArtPrize. Grandson of one of the Amway founders decides to create an art contest where the winner (based on popular votes) wins cash prize. Anyone who knows anything about modern art understands that any "art" that is truly popular is as bland and boring as possible. pointless.
1. Susan Boyle - ugly lady with pretty singing voice. the world is stunned. we are now on day 12 of this ongoing news coverage. uggh.
2. Miss USA contestant thinks marriage should be between a male and female. The world is outraged and offended by her comments. WTF?! Are we living in the twilight zone?
B-list pseudo-celebrity-freak Perez Hilton calls her an effin' b*tch because of what she said. really? REALLY? is everyone such a fricken baby nowadays that anytime anyone gives their opinion about something everyone gets super offended?
3. ArtPrize. Grandson of one of the Amway founders decides to create an art contest where the winner (based on popular votes) wins cash prize. Anyone who knows anything about modern art understands that any "art" that is truly popular is as bland and boring as possible. pointless.
4/14/2009
Mark "The Bird" Fidrych dies at age 54
Mark Steven "The Bird" Fidrych (August 14, 1954 – April 13, 2009), was a Major League Baseball player for the Detroit Tigers from 1976-1980. He was reported dead by the Worcester District Attorney's office on Monday, April 13, 2009 in a reported accident while working on his 10 wheel dump truck at his home in Massachusetts.
In the minor leagues one of his coaches dubbed the lanky right-handed pitcher "The Bird" because of his resemblance to "Big Bird" of the Sesame Street television program.
Fidrych made the Tigers as a non-roster invitee out of the 1976 spring training, not making his major-league debut until April 20, and not making his first start until mid-May. He only made that start because the scheduled starting pitcher had the flu. Fidrych responded by throwing seven no-hit innings, ending the game with a 2-1 victory in which he only gave up two hits. He went on to win a total of 19 games, led the league in ERA (2.34) and complete games (24), was the starting pitcher in that year's All-Star Game, won the American League Rookie of the Year Award, and finished second in voting for the Cy Young Award.
In the process Fidrych also captured the imagination of fans with his antics on the field. He would crouch down on the pitcher's mound and fix cleat marks, what became known as "manicuring the mound", talk to himself, talk to the ball, aim the ball like a dart, strut around the mound after every out, and throw back balls that "had hits in them," insisting they be removed from the game. On June 28, 1976, he pitched against the New York Yankees in a nationally televised game on ABC; the Tigers won the game 5-1. After a game filled with "Bird" antics in which he and his team handily defeated the Yankees, Fidrych became an instant national celebrity.
Every time he pitched, Tiger Stadium was jam-packed with adoring fans who became known as "Bird Watchers". In his 18 appearances, attendance equalled almost half of the entire season's 81 home games. Teams started asking Detroit to change its pitching rotation so Fidrych could pitch in their ballparks, and he appeared on the cover of numerous magazines, such as Sports Illustrated (twice, including once with Sesame Street character Big Bird), The Sporting News, and became the first athlete to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone. In one week, Fidrych turned away five people who wanted to be his agent, saying, "Only I know my real value and can negotiate it."
He will be missed, and, did you catch that part about how he talked to the ball?
4/13/2009
Carl Sagan
Carl Edward Sagan, Ph.D. (November 9, 1934 – December 20, 1996) was an American astronomer, astrochemist, author, and highly successful popularizer of astronomy, astrophysics and other natural sciences. He pioneered exobiology and promoted the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI).
He is world-famous for writing popular science books and for co-writing and presenting the award-winning 1980 television series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, which has been seen by more than 600 million people in over 60 countries, making it the most widely watched PBS program in history.[2] A book to accompany the program was also published. He also wrote the novel Contact, the basis for the 1997 Robert Zemeckis film of the same name starring Jodie Foster. During his lifetime, Sagan published more than 600 scientific papers and popular articles and was author, co-author, or editor of more than 20 books. In his works, he frequently advocated skeptical inquiry, secular humanism, and the scientific method.
plan for Broadband Internet Access for everyone
by Cecilia Kang
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 9, 2009; Page A06
The Federal Communications Commission yesterday began mapping out a plan to bring high-speed Internet service to the entire nation, starting with questions on how to increase its availability, improve its quality of service and make it more affordable.
In a meeting yesterday, acting FCC Chairman Michael J. Copps invited comments from the public on the national broadband plan the agency has been ordered by Congress to complete by February 2010. He said the process for creating the plan will be "open, inclusive, out-reaching and data-hungry."
The meeting was largely intended to set the stage for greater debate on contested policies that could be included in the FCC's broadband plan and would likely be spearheaded by President Obama's nominee to lead the agency, Julius Genachowski. The public will be able to submit comments to the agency for the next 60 days and then reply comments will be open for another 30 days.
ad_icon
Already telecommunications companies and public interest groups have weighed in at the FCC on things they think should be in the plan. Some carriers want rules on how much large network operators can charge carriers to use parts of their networks. Others say a $7 billion federal phone subsidy program for rural areas should instead be used for broadband.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 9, 2009; Page A06
The Federal Communications Commission yesterday began mapping out a plan to bring high-speed Internet service to the entire nation, starting with questions on how to increase its availability, improve its quality of service and make it more affordable.
In a meeting yesterday, acting FCC Chairman Michael J. Copps invited comments from the public on the national broadband plan the agency has been ordered by Congress to complete by February 2010. He said the process for creating the plan will be "open, inclusive, out-reaching and data-hungry."
The meeting was largely intended to set the stage for greater debate on contested policies that could be included in the FCC's broadband plan and would likely be spearheaded by President Obama's nominee to lead the agency, Julius Genachowski. The public will be able to submit comments to the agency for the next 60 days and then reply comments will be open for another 30 days.
ad_icon
Already telecommunications companies and public interest groups have weighed in at the FCC on things they think should be in the plan. Some carriers want rules on how much large network operators can charge carriers to use parts of their networks. Others say a $7 billion federal phone subsidy program for rural areas should instead be used for broadband.
eventually we'll all use satellite phones
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The vast, thinly populated expanses of the country that still lack cell phone coverage could be getting an interesting option next year: ordinary-looking cell phones that connect to a satellite when there's no cell tower around.
In June, a rocket is scheduled to lift the largest commercial satellite yet into space. In orbit 22,000 miles above the Earth, the satellite will unfurl an umbrella of gold mesh 60 feet across and aim it at the U.S. That gigantic antenna will let the satellite pick up signals from phones that are not much larger than regular cell phones.
In June, a rocket is scheduled to lift the largest commercial satellite yet into space. In orbit 22,000 miles above the Earth, the satellite will unfurl an umbrella of gold mesh 60 feet across and aim it at the U.S. That gigantic antenna will let the satellite pick up signals from phones that are not much larger than regular cell phones.
trashed antartica
NEKO BAY, Antarctica — On the 2 percent of Antarctica that isn't covered in ice, the juxtaposition of man-made refuse and Planet Earth-worthy wildlife tableaux is far from rare. But cleaning up that prime real estate is complicated by the nature of the debris, much of which is deemed "historical" and thus unmovable.
link
Who Do You Root For On The TV Show COPS?
Here is an interesting passage from the book Scratch Beginnings by Adam Shepard. The premise of the book is that the author, having just graduated from college, sets out to see if — starting with the clothes on his back, a sleeping bag, and $25 — he can build that into a furnished apartment, a working car, and $2,500 in savings within a year without using any of his contacts or mentioning his college degree.
This is how Shepard describes the experience of watching COPS with the folks in his homeless shelter:
But we didn’t watch TV’s original reality show like I used to when I was a kid. Growing up, I used to love watching that show so that I could see what idiots there were around the nation and find satisfaction in the fact that no matter how crazy I thought I was, I was more stable than those people.
Nope. We watched it in a completely different light. We cheered for the suspected criminal the whole way through. It didn’t matter who was on the other end. We always cheered for the guy the cops were after. Guys would be huddled around the TV set hollering, “Go mother f—–r! S–t. Go! Hop that fence! Go! Go! Ah. Ah. Ah, damn, they got ‘im. Again. They got ‘im again. He shoulda hopped that fence like I said. Damn. They always get ‘im.”
And they would always give the criminal the benefit of the doubt. After a long chase, the cops would dig in the suspected criminal’s pockets and find some illicit drug or whatever, and the guys at the shelter would look around at each other and murmur, “S–t, that’s bulls–t. You know that’s bulls–t. They planted that on him. He ain’t have that on him before. They put it there so their stupid TV show can get ratings.”
And they were serious, too. Every night we would watch, every night we would pull for the criminal, and every night he would be dragged away in handcuffs.
This is how Shepard describes the experience of watching COPS with the folks in his homeless shelter:
But we didn’t watch TV’s original reality show like I used to when I was a kid. Growing up, I used to love watching that show so that I could see what idiots there were around the nation and find satisfaction in the fact that no matter how crazy I thought I was, I was more stable than those people.
Nope. We watched it in a completely different light. We cheered for the suspected criminal the whole way through. It didn’t matter who was on the other end. We always cheered for the guy the cops were after. Guys would be huddled around the TV set hollering, “Go mother f—–r! S–t. Go! Hop that fence! Go! Go! Ah. Ah. Ah, damn, they got ‘im. Again. They got ‘im again. He shoulda hopped that fence like I said. Damn. They always get ‘im.”
And they would always give the criminal the benefit of the doubt. After a long chase, the cops would dig in the suspected criminal’s pockets and find some illicit drug or whatever, and the guys at the shelter would look around at each other and murmur, “S–t, that’s bulls–t. You know that’s bulls–t. They planted that on him. He ain’t have that on him before. They put it there so their stupid TV show can get ratings.”
And they were serious, too. Every night we would watch, every night we would pull for the criminal, and every night he would be dragged away in handcuffs.
4/08/2009
Economy Bad Enough To Justify Reverse Auction Job Applications
http://jobaphiles.com/Default.aspx
http://jobaphiles.com/Default.aspx
http://jobaphiles.com/Default.aspx
VanAndel Arena could host 2011 NCAA tournament first round
"We're in the queue for the first round Division I championship," said well-known Republican activist, West Michigan resident and businessman Peter Secchia.
Secchia, an MSU booster, has been talking to NCAA officials about bringing a regional playoff to Van Andel Arena in 2011. Sources with the NCAA confirm there have been ongoing discussions with high-ranking officials.
According to NCAA.com, the opening round will be March 15, with first- and second-round games played on March 17-20. The Final Four in 2011 will take place April 2 and 4 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Blockbuster Video to file bankruptcy soon
They have made 2 crucial mistakes.
1. alienating their customer base with years of ridiculously high late fees.
2. not buying Netflix before it became the number one company for movie rentals.
Blockbuster operates 7,400 stores globally and has a total debt of $780.9 million.
Shares of Blockbuster closed up 1.2 percent, or 1 cent, at 88 cents per share on Monday on the New York Stock Exchange.
Good riddance to bad rubbish!
cyberspies penetrate electrical grid
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cyberspies have penetrated the U.S. electrical grid and left behind software programs that could be used to disrupt the system, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
The spies came from China, Russia and other countries, and were believed to be on a mission to navigate the U.S. electrical system and its controls, the newspaper said, citing current and former U.S. national security officials.
The intruders have not sought to damage the power grid or other key infrastructure but officials said they could try during a crisis or war, the paper said in a report on its website.
"The Chinese have attempted to map our infrastructure, such as the electrical grid," a senior intelligence official told the Journal. "So have the Russians."
The espionage appeared pervasive across the United States and does not target a particular company or region, said a former Department of Homeland Security official.
"There are intrusions, and they are growing," the former official told the paper, referring to electrical systems. "There were a lot last year."
The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama was not immediately available for comment on the newspaper report.
Authorities investigating the intrusions have found software tools left behind that could be used to destroy infrastructure components, the senior intelligence official said. He added, "If we go to war with them, they will try to turn them on."
Officials said water, sewage and other infrastructure systems also were at risk.
Protecting the electrical grid and other infrastructure is a key part of the Obama administration's cybersecurity review, which is to be completed next week.
The sophistication of the U.S. intrusions, which extend beyond electric to other key infrastructure systems, suggests that China and Russia are mainly responsible, according to intelligence officials and cybersecurity specialists.
While terrorist groups could develop the ability to penetrate U.S. infrastructure, they do not appear to have yet mounted attacks, these officials say.
(Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Jon Boyle)
The spies came from China, Russia and other countries, and were believed to be on a mission to navigate the U.S. electrical system and its controls, the newspaper said, citing current and former U.S. national security officials.
The intruders have not sought to damage the power grid or other key infrastructure but officials said they could try during a crisis or war, the paper said in a report on its website.
"The Chinese have attempted to map our infrastructure, such as the electrical grid," a senior intelligence official told the Journal. "So have the Russians."
The espionage appeared pervasive across the United States and does not target a particular company or region, said a former Department of Homeland Security official.
"There are intrusions, and they are growing," the former official told the paper, referring to electrical systems. "There were a lot last year."
The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama was not immediately available for comment on the newspaper report.
Authorities investigating the intrusions have found software tools left behind that could be used to destroy infrastructure components, the senior intelligence official said. He added, "If we go to war with them, they will try to turn them on."
Officials said water, sewage and other infrastructure systems also were at risk.
Protecting the electrical grid and other infrastructure is a key part of the Obama administration's cybersecurity review, which is to be completed next week.
The sophistication of the U.S. intrusions, which extend beyond electric to other key infrastructure systems, suggests that China and Russia are mainly responsible, according to intelligence officials and cybersecurity specialists.
While terrorist groups could develop the ability to penetrate U.S. infrastructure, they do not appear to have yet mounted attacks, these officials say.
(Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Jon Boyle)
4/07/2009
MSU Spartans
MSU played a horrible game last night.
They still had a great run though.
They beat Kansas, Louisville, and UConn.
MSU beat two number one seeds, nobody else did.
That game against UConn might have been the most exciting NCAA basketball game all year.
4/03/2009
Is Plastic Dangerous?
News of possible health threats associated with plastic bothered Jeanne Haegele of Chicago so much that she has quit using plastic. The 28-year-old marketing coordinator chronicles her efforts online at www.lifelessplastic.blogspot.com. “Plastic is absolutely everywhere–our food is packaged in it, our clothes are often made out of it, and even baby toys are made of plastic,” Haegele says. “It was scary that something that was such a big part of my life might be dangerous.”
Scientists are mostly worried about bisphenol-A or BPA. “It’s an endocrine disruptor and in numerous animal studies it’s been linked to cancer, infertility, obesity and early puberty,” says Anila Jacob, M.D., M.P.H., a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit research and advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. “The CDC has found this chemical in 93 percent of people they have tested,” she says.
Scientists are mostly worried about bisphenol-A or BPA. “It’s an endocrine disruptor and in numerous animal studies it’s been linked to cancer, infertility, obesity and early puberty,” says Anila Jacob, M.D., M.P.H., a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit research and advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. “The CDC has found this chemical in 93 percent of people they have tested,” she says.
4/02/2009
Some people REALLY hate McDonald's breakfast
Man shoots at McDonald’s window over breakfast menu
(associated press)
SALT LAKE CITY – Police said a customer fired one or two shots into a Salt Lake City McDonald’s after the driver of the car he was in was told the restaurant was not serving lunch yet. Police said the female driver of a white Dodge Intrepid pulled up to the drive-thru and ordered from the lunch menu early Sunday but was told only breakfast was available.
Police said two men then got out of the car and one pulled a sawed-off shotgun from the trunk, shooting into the drive-thru window once or twice, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Monday. No one was injured.
The car then left the scene.
Michigan traffic deaths lowest since 1925
When you don't think about the headline as you read it, then it sounds like good news.
It's not good news though.
The REASON why the traffic fatalities are so low is because there are fewer people driving on Michigan roads than ever before.
The reasons for this are:
1. many residents of Michigan are giving up and moving away.
2. many factories are moving operations out of state, requiring less shipping and semi traffic.
3. many residents no longer have jobs to drive to.
there are probably a few more to add to the list, but you get the idea.
When Michigan is being compared to Rhode Island and North Dakota, you know things aren't going well.
More Info. Creates Less Knowledge
Is global warming caused by humans? Is Barack Obama a Christian?
Is evolution a well-supported theory?
You might think these questions have been incontrovertibly answered in the affirmative, proven by settled facts. But for a lot of Americans, they haven't.
Read Article Here
4/01/2009
KFC wants to sponsor fixed potholes
Will sponsored pot holes sell chicken? KFC seems to think so. They've asked the City of Chicago if they can fix potholes — in exchange for including a white stencil saying the spot was "Re-freshed by KFC."
Despite the fact that the ads would be a "distraction and safety hazard,"— both Chicago and the State of Illinois are interested in partnering with a private company, says the Sun-Times.
(This is not an April Fools joke)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
