I know this sounds cold, but I also know that I echo many many people when I say this, and I say it with love, "Get a freakin' hobby, you have enough kids!"
Thursday, October 16, 2008
OHIO: YOU DIDN'T REALLY SAY THAT, DID YOU?
Watch the below clip to see some Republican supporters speaking a whole lot of jibberish while at a rally for Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin. Some of the quotes sound like they should be on greeting cards at the Hillbilly Hallmark:
- “I’m afraid if he wins, the Black will take over.”
- “When you’ve got a Negro running for President, you need a first stringer. He’s definitely a second stringer.”
- “He seems like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I believe Palin is filled with the Holy Spirit and I believe she’s going to bring honesty and integrity to the White House.”
- “He must support terrorists. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a duck. And that to me, is Obama.”
- “Just the whole Muslim thing. A lot of people forgot about 9/11. I don’t know, it’s just a little unnerving.”
- “Obama and his wife. I’m afraid they could be anti-White.”
- “I don’t like the fact that he thinks us white people are trash. Because we’re not!”
I will say this: I appreciate the fact that they were being honest and expressing how they feel. It seems that the prejudice we hear out loud is at least something that can be dealt with, you can try to share the proper facts and hopefully educate them. I look at this as a reflection of how many people in the red states feel.
Side note: I don't want to assume that these people are poor, but I suspect they are middle-to-lower class and I always find that funny because even though they relate to the God piece most, financially Republicans probably WILL NOT HELP YOU!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
BRAVO: YOU F**KED UP
I had the misfortune of watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The previous seasons were mildly bearable, but this new batch of women is completely worthless. What a waste, I'll stick to watching almost anything before I watch another episode of that shit. The woman in the middle is the worst of them all.
Now, I'm not particularly high-brow with my tv selections, but that's even too vapid for my tastes! And that my friends, is saying something.
BOTTLED WATER, FULL OF CONTAMINANTS?
From the AFP:
Sweden's second city Gothenburg has decided to stop buying bottled water due to environmental concerns and will only provide civil servants with tap water, a city councillor said Thursday .
Tests on leading brands of bottled water turned up a variety of contaminants often found in tap water, according to a study released Wednesday by an environmental advocacy group.
The findings challenge the popular impression — and marketing pitch — that bottled water is purer than tap water, the researchers say.
However, all the brands met federal health standards for drinking water. Two violated a California state standard, the study said.
An industry group branded the findings "alarmist." Joe Doss, president of the International Bottled Water Association, said the study is based on the faulty premise that a contaminant is a health concern "even if it does not exceed the established regulatory limit or no standard has been set."
The study's lab tests on 10 brands of bottled water detected 38 chemicals including bacteria, caffeine, the pain reliever acetaminophen, fertilizer, solvents, plastic-making chemicals and the radioactive element strontium. Though some probably came from tap water that some companies use for their bottled water, other contaminants probably leached from plastic bottles, the researchers said.
"In some cases, it appears bottled water is no less polluted than tap water and, at 1,900 times the cost, consumers should expect better," said Jane Houlihan, an environmental engineer who co-authored the study.
The two-year study was done by the Washington-based Environmental Working Group, an organization founded by scientists that advocates stricter regulation. It found the contaminants in bottled water purchased in nine states and Washington, D.C.
Researchers tested one batch for each of 10 brands. Eight did not have contaminants high enough to warrant further testing. But two brands did, so more tests were done and those revealed chlorine byproducts above California's standard, the group reported. The researchers identified those two brands as Sam's Choice sold by Wal-Mart and Acadia of Giant Food supermarkets.
In the Wal-Mart and Giant Food bottled water, the highest concentration of chlorine byproducts, known as trihalomethanes, was over 35 parts per billion. California's limit is 10 parts per billion or less, and the industry's International Bottled Water Association makes 10 its voluntary guideline. The federal limit is 80.
Wal-Mart said its own studies did not turn up illegal levels of contaminants. Giant Food officials released a statement asserting that Acadia meets all regulatory standards. Acadia is sold in the mid-Atlantic states, so it isn't held to California's standard. In most places, bottled water must meet roughly the same federal standards as tap water.
The researchers also said the Wal-Mart brand was five times California's limit for one particular chlorine byproduct, bromodichloromethane. The environmental group wants Wal-Mart to label its bottles in California with a warning because the chlorine-based contaminants have been linked with cancer. It has filed a notice of intent to sue.
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Shannon Frederick said the company was "puzzled" by the findings because testing by suppliers and another lab had detected no "reportable amounts" of such contaminants. She said Wal-Mart would investigate further but defended the quality of its bottled water.
The researchers recommend that people worried about water contaminants drink tap water with a carbon filter.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
OBAMA + XBOX 360 CAR RACING GAME = MORE VOTES?
Thinking inside the box, get it? Har har.
Ads for Democratic politician Barack Obama are appearing in an Electronic Arts high-speed racing game. This appears to be the first time that a presidential candidate has bought in-game advertising.
Electronic Arts confirmed on Tuesday to our sister site GameSpot that the ads have been appearing on virtual Obama billboards since October 6, and will continue to run until election day in November.
The ads will appear in the Xbox 360 version of the game in 10 states, most of them hotly contested: Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Colorado, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
MACBOOK AIR GETS FASTER GRAPHICS, MORE STORAGE
Want more deets on the new MacBook Air, well click away!
HAYDEN PANETTIERE SAYS, "NOBODY F**KS WITH JOHN MCCAIN"
From Just Jared, a great site:
In the latest celebrity PSA, Heroes star Hayden Panettiere sarcastically encourages people to vote for John McCain come election time. Watch the vid below or check out the transcript here:
“Hi, I’m Hayden Panettiere, and I’m hot enough that I know I have your attention for at least 30 seconds. There are three things I think all citizens should do: Smoke cigarettes, vote for John McCain, and don’t wear a seat belt. A vote for McCain is a vote against change. He’ll keep tax breaks for the rich, start another war, and we’ll all probably die. He’s just like George Bush, except older and with a worse temper. Let’s vote for McCain and stay the course. Don’t switch horses midstream. Get an older horse that will take 12 years to cross that stream, ‘cause he’s old. John McCain, he’s had affairs with lobbyists, so you’ll get f—ed, and he’ll get f—ed. Everybody wins. Nobody f—s with McCain.”
See more Hayden Panettiere videos at Funny or Die
THE SWEETEST THING
Camaron Diaz and Christina Applegate in one of my favorite scenes. "You like that?"
Below is another favorite of mine, there really are too many to count.
BAD DAY IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Poor thing...
While I'm not a huge fan of perpetuating stereotypes, it's still funny and mostly harmless!
Monday, October 13, 2008
SEATTLE THRILLER DANCE CREW
Check out the site if you want to dance or see the dancers perform to Michael Jackson's Thriller somewhere in Seattle on October 27. Fun stuff!
Tina Fey 'leaving Earth' if Palin wins
I love Tina Fey! I even enjoyed Baby Mama because of her. By the way, does anyone else think Tina Fey is sexy as hell?
Fact Check: Is Obama ‘palling around with terrorists’?
Get the facts, for both sides. It's a nice insight into the often-distorted view of politics.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/05/fact-check-is-obama-palling-around-with-terrorists/
Apple notebook event: Live blog at 10 a.m. PDT Tuesday
Set your alarms y'all! There's a new Apple product a-coming.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10064559-37.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0
GAYS TO FEEL SAFE IN HIGH SCHOOL
I've had this conversation with friends, and the very issue has been discussed in the pop culture media: Why should people come out, especially if they're celebrities? I'll start off by first stating that I realize many people aren't further along in their emotional development and like an unhatched egg, they should be given special care and consideration. However, celebrities that make millions of dollars a year, have widespread appeal (like alleged lesbians Queen Latifah, Jodie Foster, etc.), and have a great deal of power in and respect by the Hollywood community, have a certain responsibility to help gays assimilate in the mainstream society. If everyone who is gay comes out, it becomes more difficult to shove us in a corner and discriminate against us. It makes it more difficult for people to not realize that we are next to them in the grocery store, in Target, at the gas station, on the bus, on and on. And guess what, our lives are just as "normal" as theirs. I often say that my day consists of going to work, letting the dogs out, hitting the gym, watching TV, eating dinner, reading a book, doing all the same things as anybody else. Boring right? I wouldn't have it any other way.
There's another argument I hear often, which is, "I don't feel the need to discuss who I sleep with, so why do gay people?" Trying to be objective, I often ask them how it would be if they didn't feel they could mention their spouses name, or what they did that weekend, what their goals are, and conversations they're having in their relationship. Can you imagine what they would have to talk about? If you think about any of your coworkers who might have their spouse's picture on their desk, a ring on their finger, anything that represents probably the most important part of their life, and you'll maybe realize how much is asked of gay people to keep silent about. And by the way, how much of the above items have anything to do with sex? Exactly.
To know me is to know all of me, not a sanitized version of me. For these kids in the article below, they deserve the chance to be who they are, especially in such hugely formative years. I would be remiss to not mention that if you have a gay child, PFLAG is a great resource that should be able to provide you some guidance.
School officials say the proposed school would offer a welcoming, harassment-free environment for gay students.
The School for Social Justice Pride Campus, which officials say will not be exclusive to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, is aimed at being safe and welcoming for any student looking for another school option, said Josh Edelman, executive officer in the Chicago Public Schools' Office of New Schools.
"It is not going to be a 'gay high school,' but yes, in a way, it is meant to target kids who feel they have been victims of bullying for their sexual orientation or perceived orientation," Edelman said.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan announced his recommendation Wednesday. Officials said Pride Campus would be separate physically but be attached administratively to the School for Social Justice.
School officials said the standards and curriculum for the school would be in line with other schools in the district. The school would also offer counseling for students, though because of federal laws, officials cannot ask students about their sexual orientation. The curriculum would not rely on, but would incorporate lessons about, sexual identity in history and literature classes, officials said.
"It's about creating another option for kids," Edelman said. "When it comes down to it, though, it is all about having a choice and providing high-quality options for students, whether they are gay or not."
The school could be a lifeline for students who are struggling for academic success.
Gay and lesbian students are three times more likely to miss school because they feel unsafe, according to a 2003 Chicago Public School District survey. And a study released Wednesday by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network showed similar trends across the country.
The national study, which the group says is the most comprehensive report ever on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students nationwide, found that 86.2 percent of those students reported being verbally harassed, 44.1 percent physically harassed and 22.1 percent physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.
This harassment, the study concludes, has affected students' ability to achieve success in school, causing their grade-point level to be, on average, half a point lower than that of heterosexual students nationwide.
Dropout levels are higher among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students because of more frequent truancy, the study found. Almost 32 percent of those students missed a class because of feeling unsafe, compared with only 5.5 percent of heterosexual students nationwide, the study said.
Truancy and lower grades aren't the only repercussions of anti-gay sentiments in schools, said Kevin Jennings, the founder and executive director of GLSEN. He cited the killing of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student shot by a classmate in Oxnard, California, in February after King asked to be his valentine.
Jennings said the repercussions of harassment alone underscore the need for Pride Campus.
"If we keep doing nothing, we are going to keep getting these horrifying levels of harassment, greater rates of skipping, not going to college and more tragic violence like the murder of Lawrence King," he said. "Those are our choices. We can continue to do nothing, and we know the results, or we can save young people's lives and offer them an education and a future."
A similar school in New York, the Harvey Milk High School in the East Village, was created because of similar fears.
The school, which had been around since 1985, serving gay and lesbian students, expanded to a "gay-themed" school for 100 students in 2003. The Pride Campus is expected to serve 600 students, school officials said.
Harvey Milk High School, like the Pride Campus, is open to all students regardless of sexual orientation. But unlike the proposed school in Chicago, Harvey Milk requires its attendees to be at risk of dropping out because of harassment.
Harvey Milk boasts a graduation rate of 95 percent of its students -- all of whom were at risk of or had dropped out -- well above the city average of 52 percent.
When the school opened its doors, protesters, led by anti-gay Kansas minister Fred Phelps, screamed at supporters gathered outside to repent for their "sodomite behavior."
Edelman said that while some concerns have been raised about Pride Campus at community meetings, officials have not heard any large-scale opposition.
One Chicago resident said at a meeting that he could not support the school because of his religious beliefs, Edelman said. Others told local media they didn't support the use of public money to create the school. Some thought that if gay students went to the Pride Campus, students in other schools would not learn to accept the gay community. Instead, they suggested, the focus should be working toward acceptance in all schools.
"Absolutely, we should work for [acceptance] across the board," said Jennings, the GLSEN executive director. "But it's not going to change overnight, and in the meantime, these kids aren't going to graduate."
Jennings said that GLSEN research shows acceptance among peers is helped by having a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender support group at school.
The most important factor, according to the GLSEN study, is the existence of a state law that protects students from harassment based on their sexual orientation.
Thirty-nine states, including Illinois and New York, do not have laws offering that specific protection, Jennings said citing the GLSEN study. Some have laws, but they don't specify on what basis the protections apply, which Jennings said was essentially as effective as having no law at all. California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin are the only states with specific sexual orientation protections for students.
The Chicago School Board will vote October 22 to approve the School for Social Justice Pride Campus in addition to 17 other proposed schools.
As far as Jennings is concerned, the school board's choice is an easy one.
"The choice they are making is not should we have this kind of school," he said. "The question is 'Are we going to do anything we can to get these kids an education?' And there's only one right answer -- yes."
Sunday, October 12, 2008
WA WOMAN SHOT IN LEG BY HER STOVE
Too funny, but very odd! Glad she's ok of course.
http://perezhilton.com/2008-10-12-headline-of-the-week-weak-250#more-33190
8 RULES FOR A SUCCESSFUL "STAYCATION"
#1 Change your routine
It won’t feel like much of a vacation if you do the same things. Shake up the routine! Be spontaneous and give yourself unscheduled time for fun. Do the unexpected. Your usual routine will be there waiting when you’re back to work!
#2 Unplug
Turn off the cell phone, take off the watch, put the blackberry in a drawer, stay away from e-mail and screen your telephone calls. Resist the temptation to check in with work. Pretend you are too far away for anyone to reach you. The biggest challenge of your staycation is to keep work at bay!
#3 Skip the chores
You’re going to feel really deprived if you spend your time cleaning out closets or doing other chores. Hire a cleaning service so you can spend the time lounging or having fun instead of cleaning. Take a vacation from the pets as well by sending them to a local kennel for a few days.
#4 Eat out
Dining out is part of any holiday. Visit your local farmer’s market and go on a gourmet hunt. Get online and read reviews of local restaurants and pick out some new cuisines to try. Invite some friends offer for dinner or invite them out to a restaurant and pick up the tab -- you can afford since you’re saving money staying at home.
#5 Spend some time with nature
Slow down. When was the last time you laid back and watched the clouds roll by? Take a hike, a canoe trip or swim in a lake. National Parks have nominal fees but offer some great places to explore. Plan an overnight camping trip. If you’re a foodie, visit a u-pick farm and pick up your favourite berries or fruits.
#6 Become a local tourist
Rediscover the things you love about your hometown. There’s sure to be some local attractions you’ve been meaning to visit for years. Get out to those concerts in the park or festivals you’ve been missing for years. Pick up a guidebook and discover what visitors enjoy in your town. As a local, you’ll be eligible for all those amazing discounts most cities offer.
#7 Pamper yourself
Be kind to yourself and don’t be afraid to splurge. Visit a day spa. Spend the entire afternoon lounging in one of those glorious robes while you get a massage, facial, pedicure and manicure. Check into a four-star hotel for an evening away and soak up the luxury. Since it’s close to home, you won’t have the hassle of luggage or finding your way in an unfamiliar city.
#8 Relax
Don’t over-schedule yourself. Leave time for downtime and let yourself do whatever you feel like. Read a book, take naps in your hammock, visit friends for afternoon coffee, sleep-in, spend the day in your pyjamas -- lose track of time. The idea is to feel like you’ve gotten a break without exhausting yourself.
(Source: Green Living Online)
MITTENS FOR LOVAHS
I imagine these mittens are either for Siamese twins that are connected at the hand, or for people who like to take little romantic strolls in the moonlight. Either way, they're inventive and I love that kind of stuff. Have a look at the Pedlar's site.
BAD DAY CURE
Nothing in the whole world will make you laugh harder than giving your dog eyebrows. Check out this site, Bad Day Cure.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
A SHARK VIRGIN - TOO MUCH TEETH?
Males aren't needed by the females, blasphemy!
According to this article, scientists have confirmed the second case of a "virgin birth" in a shark.
In a study reported Friday in the Journal of Fish Biology, scientists said DNA testing proved that a pup carried by a female Atlantic blacktip shark in the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center contained no genetic material from a male.
The first documented case of asexual reproduction, or parthenogenesis, among sharks involved a pup born to a hammerhead at an Omaha, Neb., zoo.
CAN I BUY SOME TOILET PAPER PLEASE?
Good comments on this one.
American Airlines recently announced that beginning in 2009, it would imitate the a la carte pricing plan of Air Canada by offering a basic fare and allowing travelers to select additional services for extra fees.
But when we asked msnbc.com readers what they thought of the "unbundling" of airline services, many were displeased. "This is absolutely ridiculous! Next they will charge us for oxygen on the airplane," wrote dcarey.
Some worry this is only the beginning of additional fees. "I will not be surprised if airlines begin selling magazines, or charging $20 for carry-on baggage, $5 to use the overhead bin, or $2 per restroom visit, and a few bucks for post-flight trash disposal and interior cleaning fee — regardless of whether you fly coach, business, or first class," said km-452746.
Read more.
SOUTHWEST IS THE MOST RELIABLE AIRLINE
Southwest Airlines, the no-frills discount carrier, handily beat the competition in most of the categories we judged. JetBlue, also considered a discount airline despite its plush leather seats and individual television sets, ranked third just behind Continental Airlines. Fourth place went to AirTran, another budget carrier.
Alaska Airlines, Northwest Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines were solidly average performers. United Airlines and US Airways landed at the bottom of the list.
CHIVALRY IN THE DOG WORLD
A new study has found that young male dogs playing with female pups will often let the females win, even if the males have a physical advantage.
Male dogs sometimes place themselves in potentially disadvantageous positions that could make them more vulnerable to attack, and researchers suspect the opportunity to play may be more important to them than winning.
Such self-handicapping has been documented before in red-necked wallabies, squirrel monkeys, hamadryas baboons and even humans, all of which frequently take on defensive positions when playing with youngsters, in particular.
OKLAHOMA TAKES ON ABORTION, BUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY
Is this right? Is it another way of making an abortion illegal or at least decrease the number of them? Thoughts?
The law effective as of Nov. 1 would make Oklahoma the fourth state in the country that requires that an ultrasound be performed prior to an abortion so that the woman can have a chance of viewing the fetus. The other states are Alabama Louisiana and Mississippi.
The Oklahoma law is reportedly unique among the four states in that it requires that the ultrasound screen be turned toward the woman during the abortion and that the doctor explain what's on the screen including the fetus. But the law does not require the woman to look at the screen.
The supporters of the law hope that the requirements would cause emotional disturbance in women who intend to seek an abortion that could in turn curtail their attempts to undergo such a procedure.
SAN FRAN TAKES THE FUN AWAY
Golden Gate Bridge directors voted decisively Friday to try to stop people from jumping to their deaths from the landmark bridge by hanging nets along the sides of the span.
The Board of Directors voted 14-to-1 to install the stainless-steel net system, which would be placed 20 feet below the deck, and would collapse around anyone who jumped into it, making it difficult, if not impossible, for anyone to leap to their death. The lone "no" vote came from Director James Eddie of Mendocino County, who said his constituents did not consider a barrier necessary.
An audience of about 50 people, including psychiatrists, suicide prevention experts and family members of people who had jumped to their deaths from the bridge, applauded the decision. Some had fought for decades for a suicide barrier.
"This is a red-letter day," said Dr. Mel Blaustein, director of psychiatry at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco. "There's been a real change in attitude on this board, and I'm thrilled. It's just marvelous."
The net, which is expected to cost $40 million to $50 million, has the lowest projected annual maintenance and operation cost of five proposed suicide barriers and is considered the safest for bridge workers. The other four designs were 10-to-12-foot vertical or horizontal barriers that would sit atop the existing 4-foot railings.
SEATTLE ARBORETUM: COLOR
Jason, Tom, and myself went for a nice little walk through the Arboretum and it was just a beautiful, crisp, October day.
PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE - ALAMO TOUR
Another formative movie of my childhood, I've seen this a hundred times! "Can you say adobe?" This scene is of Pee-Wee on his search to find his stolen bike, and being told by a sham fortune teller than his bike would be found in the "basement of the Alamo".
SERIAL MOM - THE BEST SCENES!
Serial Mom is one of my favorite movies! Above is a clip of Kathleen Turner's character prank calling a "friend" who once stole her parking spot at the grocery store. Classic!
Below is my second favorite scene of the movie. This is where the very same two characters are in court. This inspires my humor no doubt.
FLIGHT OF THE PENGUINS - THANK YOU RESCUERS
Flying penguins are unusual. Especially when they fly on a C-130 Hercules military plane.
Almost 400 lost Magellanic penguins march back to the sea after being rescued by animal-welfare groups.
In Brazil, 373 young Magellanic penguins were rescued, rehabilitated and released last weekend after their search for food left them stranded, hundreds of miles from their usual feeding grounds.
Animal-welfare activists loaded the birds onto a Brazilian air force cargo plane and flew them 1,550 miles to the country's southern coast, where a crowd of onlookers celebrated as the penguins marched back into the sea.
"We are overjoyed to see these penguins waddle back to the ocean and have a second chance at life," said veterinarian Dr. Valeria Ruoppolo of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the group that oversaw the rescue. See photo gallery of rescued penguins »
Magellanic penguins are warm-weather birds that breed in large colonies in southern Argentina and Chile. The young animals then migrate north between March and September, following their favorite fish, the anchovy. The birds are named after Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who first saw them in 1519.
But changes in currents and water temperature apparently confused the juvenile birds, who strayed too far north to the warm beaches of Salvador, Brazil, 870 miles north of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Starting in mid-July, in the northeastern Brazilian state of BahÃa, "It was just about raining penguins," Ruoppolo said. "There was not much of a food supply. The birds were stranded and emaciated. They had lost all their muscles and body condition."
While occasionally a few birds show up so far north, the unusual sight of hundreds of wayward penguins posed a challenge for animal conservation groups.
"We had to learn how to work with them," said Carlos Garcia, a spokesman for IBAMA, the Brazilian Institute for Environment and Renewable Resources. "Fewer than 20 penguins usually wash ashore, but with such a large number, we had to really understand their biology and learn how to treat them."
The Instituto MamÃferos Aquáticos (Institute for Aquatic Mammals) also fed and cared for the hungry and disoriented birds.
Ruoppolo, who is also the emergency relief officer for IFAW, has a lot of experience saving penguins and other animals injured in oil spills. Last week she worked with conservation groups and volunteers to save as many of the birds as possible.
"We showed them how to stabilize the animals, to feed them and give them proper care," she said. Healthy Magellanic penguins grow to about 27 inches tall and weigh about 9 pounds.
Ruoppolo said IBAMA -- the government's environmental authority -- and the Brazilian military were supportive throughout the unusual relocation mission.
On Friday, the penguins were loaded into special crates and put onto the plane for the journey to Pelotas, in southern Brazil. After their first-ever flight, the birds went on a truck ride to the Center for Recovery of Marine Animals, where they rested for 24 hours.
The birds released at Cassino Beach the next day had to meet very specific health criteria, said Ruoppolo.
"Their feathers had to be waterproof, their overall body condition had to be good, their lungs healthy, and they had to be able to catch food," she said.
The youngsters had some adult supervision for their return to the wild. They were released with a small group of adult penguins that had been nursed back to health after surviving an oil spill. Scientists expect the older birds will help guide the little ones to nearby feeding grounds.
Some penguins are still being cared for, both in the north and south of Brazil. The newly released birds have bands on their flippers so scientists can follow their progress and learn more about their migratory habits.
Of more than 1,600 penguins that washed ashore in northern Brazil, about half are still alive. That is a fairly good outcome, given the fragile status of young birds on their first migration, said Ruoppolo.
"For all species you have animals that die within the first year," she said.
And without quick human intervention, the consequences would have been much worse. At this point there is no way to know exactly why the animals became stranded.
While the Magellanic penguin population is not in jeopardy because of this one event, Ruoppolo said there are other threats, primarily from overfishing.
(Source)
FRIDAY NIGHT PICTURES
I'm trying out a new iPhone application called HiCon so that's where the B&Ws are coming from.
Friday, October 10, 2008
BRITNEY SPEARS "WOMANIZER"
"Toxic" part 2 huh? It's hot, and it looks like the old Brit is back. Stylish vid for sure, I'm diggin' it, go Britney.
THANK YOU CONNECTICUT
From CNN: The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Friday that gay and lesbian couples have the right to get married.
Joanne Mock, left, and Beth Kerrigan were among the plaintiffs in a suit brought by eight same-sex couples.
The ruling makes Connecticut the third state, after Massachusetts and California, to decide its constitution mandates treating citizens equally when applying for marriage licenses, regardless of their sexual orientation.
"Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same sex partner of their choice," the ruling said.
"To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others. The guarantee of equal protection under the law, and our obligation to uphold that command, forbids us from doing so. In accordance with these state constitutional requirements, same sex couples cannot be denied the freedom to marry."
The decision would only allow gay couples the state benefits of marriage. The Defense of Marriage Act, passed in 1996, denies gay couples federal recognition of state marriages, which provides for federal benefits with regard to Social Security, taxation, immigration and others.
Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and New Jersey have civil unions.
In 2005, Connecticut began to allow civil unions, intended to be marriage in all but name, without being forced by its courts. Two years later, Connecticut's Legislature tabled a bill allowing marriage.
Eight same-sex couple sued the state, saying that civil unions were not equal to marriage and that Connecticut's Constitution guaranteed them equal treatment.
In the dissent, one justice said he disagreed with the majority's opinion that "sexual orientation is a quasi-suspect class under our state constitutional provisions guaranteeing equal protection of the laws" because that point of view "unduly minimizes the unique and extraordinary political power of gay persons in this state."
A representative of Connecticut's commissioner of public health said he does not know when the state might start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
The suit was called Kerrigan and Mock v. the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
LAW TARGETS PUPPY MILLS
From MSNBC: HARRISBURG, Pa. - Sammy, a Shetland sheepdog, wouldn't touch his food, retreating to a corner of the yard and devouring mouthfuls of dirt — behavioral oddities his owner later learned came from a lifetime of abuse as a "stud" in a large puppy mill.
The 10 years of caged confinement Sammy endured would have been illegal under a bill signed late Thursday by Gov. Ed Rendell. The governor, who owns two rescued golden retrievers, and other dog advocates hope the new law will help Pennsylvania shed its reputation as the puppy mill capital of the East.
The Humane Society of the United States has counted Pennsylvania among a handful of states where lucrative, largely unregulated puppy mills are concentrated.
The issue caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey after a suburban Philadelphia rescue organization put up a billboard in Chicago begging her to do a show on dog breeder abuse. The movement took on new momentum when, in August, operators of two eastern Pennsylvania kennels shot 80 dogs after being ordered to let veterinarians examine some of them.
The new law imposes strict standards on commercial kennels, including at least twice-a-year veterinary exams, larger cages and exercise requirements.
"We've catapulted ourselves into having one of the best laws in the country," said Sara Speed, the Humane Society's Pennsylvania state director.
Three other states have cracked down this year
At least three other states have passed crackdown measures this year. New laws in Virginia and Louisiana limit the number of dogs that can be housed in kennels, and Arizona law enforcement officials were given the power to impose a $50 fine against anyone caught selling animals along public roads or in public parks in urban counties.
The new law in Pennsylvania targets about 650 large-scale commercial breeders, or roughly one-quarter of the state's 2,600 licensed kennels, that sell any dogs to dealers and pet shops or traffic in at least 60 dogs per year. Violators would be subject to both criminal and civil penalties.
The law also gives dog wardens the authority to act on alleged violations, a power previously given only to police and humane officers. Also, only veterinarians will be allowed to euthanize dogs in commercial breeding kennels.
The cost of larger cages and exercise areas could drive some kennels out of business, said Mark O'Neill, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.
The new law is also stricter than federal inspection standards to which kennels are subjected, said Ken Brandt, lobbyist for the Pennsylvania Professional Dog Breeders' Association, which represents about 400 breeders.
"Quality breeders got shortchanged by the ones that have not been operating properly," Brandt said.
Sammy's owner, Linda Eroh of Douglassville, said the changes are long overdue. In the meantime, she said Sammy has come a long way from being the miserable, cowering creature she rescued two years ago after answering a classified ad that read: "10 year old sheltie, free to a good home."
"He's very strong, and he has personality plus," Eroh said. "He's making up for lost time."
STARBUCKS IS IN HOT WATER
Starbucks Corp. is hastily testing alternative ways to disinfect the spoons it uses to prepare drinks, after a British tabloid on Monday accused the coffee company of wasting 6.2 million gallons of water per day.
The Sun's investigation, titled "The great drain robbery," has generated disgust at Starbucks from environmentalists around the world. Besides wasting tons of water while some places suffer droughts, the practice also appears to contradict Starbucks' boasted commitment to environmental responsibility.
"The giant coffee chain has a policy of keeping a tap running non-stop at all its 10,000 outlets worldwide, wasting 23.4 million litres a day," The Sun reported. "That would provide enough daily water for the entire 2 million-strong population of drought-hit Namibia in Africa or fill an Olympic pool every 83 minutes."
(Starbucks actually had 16,548 stores as of its last quarterly income statement. The company would not confirm whether The Sun's water estimates were correct.)
Ironically, Starbucks owns Ethos Water, a bottled water brand that donates a portion of its revenue toward helping children have access to clean water and raising awareness of a worldwide water crisis.
The Sun article did not appear to consider in its calculations that Starbucks baristas also pour out coffee every 30 minutes to keep a fresh brew ready for customers. Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz once said, "We'll be pouring out more coffee than most people serve."
Seattle-based Starbucks does keep a tap running at all of its stores, a spokeswoman confirmed Thursday. But she defended the coffee chain's policy, saying that the running water into a "dipper well" is needed to kill bacteria and remove allergens.
Other food companies also use dipper wells to clean ice cream scoops and spoons used to serve foods such as mashed potatoes and coleslaw. Starbucks appears to have been using dipper wells for more than 10 years.
THE TWILIGHT TRAILER - OPENS NOV. 21
Lost Boys meets Superman, or something to that effect - have a look.
READ THIS
I want to share some shocking news with you.
The National Marine Fisheries Service just revealed that populations of Alaska pollock, the largest food fishery in the world, have dropped 50 percent since last year. I am forwarding our press release below.
Please help us prevent the collapse of our fisheries by making a generous gift today. Today is the final day of our challenge grant and your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar. This is clear evidence that we need to act and we need to act now: please click here to donate.
Our challenge grant has raised $64,190 towards our $75,000 goal. I thank all of you who have given so generously to protect our oceans, together we can make a difference.
For the oceans,
John Hocevar
Oceans Campaigner
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greenpeace" <info@wdc.greenpeace.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 9:59 AM
Subject: [Media List] World's Largest Food Fishery in Danger of CollapseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 9, 2008
World's Largest Food Fishery in Danger of Collapse
Dwindling Food Supply Puts Endangered Steller Sea Lions, Fishing Jobs in Jeopardy
WASHINGTON -A new survey conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service reveals that populations of Alaska pollock, the world's largest food fishery, have dropped 50 percent since last year. Pollock is America's most ubiquitous seafood product, found in McDonald's fish sandwiches, frozen fish sticks, fish and chips, and imitation crabmeat.
The assessment revealed that Bering Sea pollock stocks have declined to their lowest level on record-a startling development for a fishery NMFS' chief scientist recently called "one of the most successfully managed species in the world" and that has earned a Marine Stewardship Council certification.
In December, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council will set the new pollock catch limits for 2009. Scientists and conservationists have warned that unless the Council reduces fishing pressure on pollock, a vital forage species for fur seals, whales, and endangered Steller sea lions, the entire Bering Sea ecosystem could be in jeopardy of collapse. This would prove devastating for the state's commercial fishermen and traditional coastal communities that depend on a healthy ocean for their livelihoods.
"Economic pressures to keep on fishing at such high levels have overwhelmed common sense," said Dr. Jeremy Jackson, Director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. "With the huge uncertainties inherent in fisheries models, a far more precautionary, ecosystem-based approach is required. Otherwise, fisheries managers are gambling with the health of our oceans and coastal communities."
Over the past several years, the pollock fishery has experienced poor juvenile survival rates and dwindling populations, forcing the council to reduce harvests in the past two fishing seasons. But experts say these actions have been inadequate, failing to prevent further declines. In order to restore the fishery's health, the allowable catch must be cut in half, fishing on spawning populations suspended, and marine reserves established to protect critical habitats.
"We are on the cusp of one of the largest fishery collapses in history," said John Hocevar, Greenpeace Oceans Campaign Director. "It may still be possible to prevent disaster, but the North Pacific Fishery Management Council must take swift and decisive action when they meet in December."
For background on the pollock fishery, see our report at: www.greenpeace.org/usa/rethinking
Contact: John Hocevar, Greenpeace USA Oceans Campaign Director
----- End Message -----
702 H Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001 | (800) 326-0959
WHO IS BARACK OBAMA
John McCain keeps asking this question at his rallies -- then he gives answers that are shockingly false and negative.
That's why it's vital that you sign up to volunteer for at least one day during the final days of this election. Voters won't know the truth about Barack unless supporters like you reach out to them.
I also wanted to share a video of personal moments from behind the scenes at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, so you can see Barack and Michelle as they are -- decent, warm, and kind people with a loving family.
Watch the video and get to know the Obamas a little better. Then sign up to volunteer on a crucial day before the Election:
Our opponents try to stir up doubt and fear by questioning who Barack really is -- as if after more than a decade in public office, more than 20 months on the campaign trail, dozens of debates, two books written by him and dozens more about him, people still don't have enough information to decide for themselves who should lead our country.
Millions of Americans have gotten to know Barack Obama as an American who's devoted his life to things bigger than himself -- his community, his country, and ordinary citizens looking for a voice.
Our challenge now is to do the same -- to devote these last weeks to a cause bigger than ourselves.
These tough economic times make our cause more urgent and the stakes even higher. Barack needs your help to win this election and bring the change we need to Washington.
Can you give a day of your time during the last four days of the election?
Watch the video, share it with others, and get involved:
http://my.barackobama.com/FourDays
Only 24 days remain until Election Day. Won't you commit at least one to ensure our victory?
David
David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America
P.S. -- You don't have to wait till the four days before Election Day to get involved. Visit your state page to find events happening near you.
LEHMAN BROTHERS PROTEST
Lehman Brothers employees stage a protest by blockading the entrance to the Bank's Headquarters.
SEND AN URGENT GREEN-ENERGY MESSAGE TO CANDIDATES (DO IT NOW!)
| Over the course of this campaign, we’ve heard a lot of talk about oil pipelines in Alaska, “drill, baby, drill,” and even an unfortunate embrace of so-called “clean coal” technology, though no form of coal is ever truly “clean.” With less than one month to go before Election Day, we need to let our candidates know we’re demanding a comprehensive, modern, green energy policy that will put this country back on the right path in more ways than one. Right now, we can launch a new green energy plan for the US that is intentionally designed to meet five urgent needs at once. We can:
While Co-op America members have been making green-energy changes in their lives for many, many years, the time is NOW for a major system change. We’re challenging each of you to come together with us and tell all presidential and congressional candidates that our country is ready for a clean energy infrastructure that makes it easier to live green. All of our candidates need to be reminded that if we do this – if we implement a comprehensive green energy policy that calls for energy efficiency, cleaner cars, and renewable solar and wind power – we’ll ALL reap the rewards of a cleaner environment, reinvigorated economy, and more secure future. When you click through to take our action, you’ll be prompted for your ZIP code, which will bring up all congressional and presidential candidates running for office in your area. Then you can add your own personal touch to our editable message, urging all of the candidates to endorse a greener energy platform. Please take this urgent action today. Send your message to the candidates now » Then, click through to our action page for more information on what should NOT be included in our energy policy (off-shore drilling, oil-and-gas subsidies, new coal plants, risky nuclear plants), before using our form to send your own message to Congress. Thanks for joining with us to keep this critical issue at the top of our leaders’ minds, as we push for action now, and under the new administration in 2009. Here's to all you do, |
|
"THAT'S SO GAY" PART 2 - DON'T SAY IT Y'ALL
This PSA has Wanda Sykes in it and with just a simple phrase, she can make you laugh.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
FASHION ON A SEATTLE BUS
Bold choice below, very 80's Madonna in the Like a Virgin era or in Desperately Seeking Susan, but updated with a short denim jacket. Props to the brave fashionista.
Below is another fashion choice with um, slightly different results.
HAVE A SEAT
I love these chairs I saw at Gelatimo, a gelato place I sometimes frequent with my coworker when we need to have a "meeting". I would assume they're walnut, and they would go nicely in our house. Hmm...
APPLEBEE'S CAN MAKE YOU FAT
Damn you Applebee's...for forcing me to eat your food.
A King County woman has sued the Applebee's restaurant chain claiming menus dramatically understate fat and calorie counts.
In a lawsuit filed earlier this month in King County Superior Court, attorneys representing Anne Paskett claim items on the restaurant's healthier Weight Watchers menu had two to three times the amount of fat advertised.
"Ultimately, the issue is whether consumers were misled," said Jason Epstein, an attorney with Premier Law Group representing Paskett. "Applebee's made certain representations ... and independent lab tests showed that the representations they made were way off."
Applebee's parent company, DineEquity Inc., has yet to file a response to the lawsuit.
Similar lawsuits have been filed against Applebee's in other states. Facing a similar case a Kansas federal court, a DineEquity spokesperson told the Washington Business Journal that Applebee's does "not believe the suit has merit," and it would not comment further on pending litigation.
In King County, attorneys for Paskett have asked that the case receive class-action status. Such a ruling would allow other customers to join the suit.
BRITNEY SPEARS "FOR THE RECORD"
Do you care? I'm curious. “For the Record,” is set to air on November 30 @ 10PM on MTV, two days before her new album Circus is released on December 2 (her 27th birthday).
POOR REPUBLICANS
The Republicans are up in arms because they feel Sarah Palin's Newsweek cover should have been retouched. Um, should that be considered an insult to Sarah Palin because they think she should have retouched? Or perhaps is it truly because they feel Obama had preferential treatment?
I have the magazine sitting here in front of me and while I can't stand the thought of her being our Vice President, she is a beautiful woman and she looks like a beautiful woman. It seems counterproductive to argue that they should have made her look prettier when much ado has been made of her perceived inability to help lead the country because she was a "beauty queen" or "too pretty". Republicans, come on now! I think by arguing about this you're really doing more damage than good. Similar to how McCain and Palin are mudslinging, this just seems like a petty argument that is ultimately just another distraction from what really matters.
Lighten the fuck up! And I recommend you do this by watching this hysterical discussion on FOX News. FOX = Hysterical.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
