XKCD: Period

"413 nanohertz, by the way."

Domestic terrorist warns of further attacks

Domestic terrorist Scott Roeder, alleged assassin of abortion doctor George Tiller, called the AP from prison and warned that more violence was planned around the country as long as abortion remains legal. Sounds like an imminent threat against the lives of Americans - so does this mean we get to waterboard him to find out? He's probably just crazy, but his computer indicates he was in daily communication with anti-abortion groups, providing him with Tiller's movements, and better safe than sorry...

Ironic Poem About Prostitution

Thank you, George Orwell.

When I was young and had no sense
In far-off Mandalay
I lost my heart to a Burmese girl
As lovely as the day.

Her skin was gold, her hair was jet,
Her teeth were ivory;
I said, "for twenty silver pieces,
Maiden, sleep with me".

She looked at me, so pure, so sad,
The loveliest thing alive,
And in her lisping, virgin voice,
Stood out for twenty-five.

I'll see your netbook and raise you one xpPhone

How would you like a phone with an AMD CPU, gig of RAM, 64 gig SSD hard drive, wifi, touchscreen, camera, and 5 hour battery?  Oh, and it runs a version of Windows XP.  Ladies and gentleman - the xpPhone.

Oops - Republicans "accidentally" reveal state secrets

After a closed-door Intelligence Committee hearing on the interrogation of terror suspects, Republicans revealed some of what had been discussed - a big no-no for a closed hearing about classified information.  The Republicans are touting that information presented at the hearing indicated that waterboarding yielded valuable information, but Democrats won't comment because it was a closed hearing.

Oops - US accidentally releases nuclear secrets

In a bid for the 2009 Bonehead Move of the Year award, the U.S. government accidentally released documents containing "highly confidential" nuclear secrets, including an exhaustive list of civilian nuclear sites and stockpiles.  While it's probably not a big deal, it was a stupid move all the same.

GOP, White Voters, and Southern Strategy

In which Nate Silver takes a look at political party demographics and finds that the GOP has always been overwhelmingly white.  He also mentions Southern Strategy, and this contributor never realized the extent of racism used in politics - chalk it up to a little idealistic naivete.

The Truth About Abortion

Abortion is a divisive issue that incites strong emotional responses from all sides.  The problem is that many people don't really know what they're talking about.  Abortion is a relatively rare procedure that is only available in 13 percent of the nation's counties.  Where it is available, there are often many restrictions, some of which rely on political pseudo-science to scare off would-be patients (e.g. requiring counseling that tells girls that abortions increase the risk of breast cancer when no such link has been established).

The recent assassination of Dr. George Tiller, one of the last doctors still performing late-term abortions in the United States, demonstrates that domestic terrorism is still alive in this country.  Furthermore, it has put the Obama Administration in an uncomfortable position after the DHS released a report finding that it was highly likely that domestic terrorism might be commited by “groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single-issue, such as opposition to abortion."

As one of the few remaining providers of late-term abortions told MSNBC, “the only difference between the Taliban and the people who kill doctors in the United States is 8,000 miles.”

Salinger surfaces for a suit

Reclusive author, J.D. Salinger is suing an author by the pen name John David California who penned a sequel to his magnum opus Catcher in the Rye.  The new book, titled 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye, features a 76 year-old man named Mr. C. (presumably Holden Caufield), after he escapes from a retirement home.  The novel is dedicated to Salinger, who even makes a cameo appearance.

If it makes it, the novel will be published in Britain in the summer and the U.S. in the fall.

Canada: Land of Beautiful People

10 handy phrases for your next trip to Japan

This is a list of ten useful phrases in Japanese for your next visit to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Number 3 is the clear winner:

"3. “Ara! Onara suru tsu-mori datta keh-do, un-chi ga de-chatta.”

The literal translation of this useful phrase is “Oops! I meant to fart but poop came out”.

Saying this useful phrase never gets old, especially in public places, especially on a first date and most especially if it’s clearly one of only 10 Japanese phrases that you’ve memorized.

When in Southeast Asia, I especially enjoy muttering in Japanese about crapping my pants while walking past Japanese tourists. The reactions are priceless."

86 rules of drinking

86 Rules of Drinking - a few personal favorites:

"29. If you owe someone twenty dollars or less, you may pay them back in beer.

65. Before you die, single-handedly make one decent martini.

68. If there is a line for drinks, get your damn drink and step the hell away from the bar.

71. It's acceptable, traditional, in fact, to disappear during a night of hard drinking.
You will appear mysterious, and your friends will understand. If they even notice."

Dutch prison crisis: too few prisoners

The Dutch are faced with a crisis - they don't have enough prisoners to fill their prisons.  The sub-sea level country may be forced to shut down prisons and lay off over a thousand workers.  There is a bright light - Belgium currently has an overpopulation problem and the two countries are working on a deal to keep some Belgian prisoners in Dutch prisons.

XKCD: Designated Driver

"Calling a cab means cutting into beer money."

SCOTUS, the GOP, and the Latino vote

The L.A. Times explores the implications of Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation process for the future of the GOP with regard to regaining lost ground with the Latino vote.  While George W. Bush won more than 40 percent of the Latino vote in 2004, Obama won more than two-thirds of the vote this past election.

"The [Republican] senators seemed to be taking their cues from quieter voices within the party who cautioned that opposing the country's first Latino Supreme Court nominee would amount to political suicide."

Why Republicans will fail in SCOTUS fight

Slate's Dahlia Lithwick explains why it would be hypocritical and ineffective for Republicans to try to fight Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on grounds of her being too "emotional" or empathetic to be impartial.  Other likely avenues of attack, including judicial activism and racial bias, are already easily shot down by the facts.  Overall, an interesting article that offers insight into the uphill battle the Republicans have in the SCOTUS confirmation process.

"Judge Sotomayor has taken a fairly moderate, text-based approach to the cases before her, placing her much closer to retiring Justice David Souter than to the late Justice William Brennan on the judicial activism spectrum."

"You can't say she's a judicial activist and then criticize her for applying 2^nd Circuit precedent."

Cocktail: Bacontini

This one comes from a list of The Top 5 Gnarliest College Drinks Known to Man.  Enjoy (responsibly?).

This was made after me and my roommate at the time had literally nothing to do nor drink except the ingredients to a martini and bacon. I’ve actually seen this served in a real bar in New York - somewhat different.

• Cook 3 strips of bacon until crisp.
• Immediately eat one. Why? Just because.
• Crumble up the second one, put into ice in the Martini shaker.
• Strain the gin and vermouth through one of those Martini shaker things.
• Place other bacon strip into this new drink.
• Congratulate yourself.

Should we sleep like the Cleavers?

Sleep is an important part of everyone's day and everyone sleeps best under certain conditions, so should we sleep in separate beds or even, gasp, separate rooms from our spouses?  Gwendolen Fairfax asks precisely that question.

Bunk beds, anyone?

Arab world a little more hopeful about Obama

In a recent poll, the Arab world appears to hate America a 

little less and is a little more hopeful about US policies.

"Just over half of the Arab respondents from six countries say they are 'somewhat hopeful' or 'very hopeful' regarding the Middle East policy of US President Barack Obama's administration, a new survey has found."

Oh shit! N. Korea's got nukes!

North Korea has announced that they successfully completed an underground test of nuclear weapons.  Seismologists in the US and South Korea have confirmed that the 4.5 quake indicates a nuclear test.  The UN Security Council has convened for an emergency meeting and China and Russia have already condemned the test, calling for a return to the multi-lateral talks.

Red Bull: It's got cocaine!

Red Bull may have to change its signature slogan from "It'll give you wings" to "It'll give you arythmia" since authorities in Germany have found traces of cocaine in Red Bull and Cola drinks.  Germany is now considering a national ban on the popular energy drink.

Scientology faces fraud charges in France

Unlike in the United States, Scientology does not enjoy status as a recognized religion in France.  The church is facing charges of fraud amid accusations that it is merely a money-making cult.  The defendants include the group's Paris headquarters and bookshop as well as seven leading French Scientologists, some of whom are being charged with illegally practicing as pharmacists.

TPFD: Mathematical Holidays

NH set to become number six

New Hampshire's governor has sent legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage back to the legislature where it will almost definitely be revised, passed, and then signed.  This will make New Hampshire the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage.  Gov. Lynch maintains that he is personally opposed to same-sex marriage; however, he decided to look at the issue "through a broader lens."

Crocs, meet the Croc Car

Engineers have created a car that is composed primarily of the same foamy substance that is used in the (popular?) Croc shoes.  It floats, it drives, it gets 100 miles per gallon and it's competing for the Automotive X Prize.

In Spain, Yeyo is in the Air

The cocaine in Spain falls mainly on the... cities.  Recent studies in Madrid and Barcelona have detected everyone's favorite White Powder in the air.  While no one is going on a bender from the Iberian Incentive, it potentially presents a new way to measure drug use anonymously.

XKCD: Car Talk

"It was the funniest 6.5 seconds of my life, although as usual like 80% of it was just Tom and Ray's gasping, hacking laughter."

Cocktail: White Bull

WHITE BULL

INGREDIENTS

• 1½ oz Tequila
• 1 oz Kahlua
• Cream

INSTRUCTION

Pour the tequila and Kahlua over ice into an old-fashioned glass and top with cream. Stir gently and serve. Garnish with a cherry.

2nd Century meets 21st Century

Using 21st Century technology, scientists are able to unlock a treasure trove of ancient history and literature.  CAT scans and infrared analysis are allowing scientists to decipher texts that are too fragile to unrole or discover hidden texts that have been scraped away or simply faded over the millenia.  Wall Street Journal has the scoop on the Next Age of Discovery.

White House Correspondence Dinner 2009

The love, the laughs, the wailing on everyone from Hillary Clinton to Rush Limbaugh and Fox News: President Obama's speech at this year's White House Correspondence Dinner.

Konami code works in Facebook

Log onto Facebook.  Outside of any text boxes, type the Konami Code (↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A ENTER ) and you'll see a lens flare effect anytime you click, scroll, or type.

Another One Bites The Dust....

It has been reported that LA Dodgers left-fielder Manny Ramirez has been suspended 50 games for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.

...No wonder the Dodgers are 13-0 at home right now!!!

What does 1 in 7 really mean?

We've all heard the statistic: 1 in 7 Americans is not covered by health insurance. Then comes the inevitable follow up: and millions more are underinsured . . . The harder question, as we try to tackle this problem is, who are the uninsured? The Christian Science Monitor's patchwork nation blog divides America demographically into 11 community types by county. This week they're exploring who's being hit by the healthcare crisis the most?

Comprehensive healthcare and insurance reform has been tried countless times before, and the same pitfalls descend each time: one side says Tort Reform will solve the crisis the other says that only single payer health care will get anything done. In reality both sides are naïve. Medical malpractice is less than 1% of American health care spending and limiting the right to recover violates one of the basic tenants of Tort law, the right to be made whole, a tenant which is a basic foundation of civil justice long before America came to be. On the other hand single payer isn't going to happen, America hates socialism. Getting burnt to the ground in World War II changed Europe forever; market fundamentalism had no choice but to get out of the way when state-centered rebuilding (much of which funded by American dollars) brought Europe back to life. America has never faced such an identity crisis.

Nevertheless, healthcare reform isn't discretionary. We already have universal healthcare. We should recognize that we have the least efficient universal healthcare plan in the world, and maybe we can put some of that American ingenuity to work to change that. What am I talking about? Emergency Rooms; if you are experiencing a medical emergency, they can't turn you away. This means medical indigents don't get basic care when healthcare is cheap, but wait until a cough becomes pneumonia. And when they can't pay for expensive inpatient care, who pays for it? You and I already do. Sometimes its Medicaid, sometimes the Hospital itself absorbs the cost. Either way, the cost already comes back to you, in taxes or insurance premiums.

Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson

The First Mother-in-Law is getting along well in her new role at her new residence.  New York Times' Rachel Swarns takes a look at Marian Robinson's life in the White House.

What can Professor Obama tell us about the next Supreme Court Justice?

The New York times is running an article about President Obama's style as a Constitutional Law professor at the University of Chicago. By all accounts he appeared to be a pragmatist, institutional structuralist who scoffed at the naïvete of apolitical legal formalism. With a sudden vacancy at hand on the Supreme Court, what does this tell us about an unnamed Justice to be?

From the article:

Mr. Obama often expressed concern that “democracy could be dangerous,” Mr. Stone said, that the majority can be “unempathetic — that’s a word that Barack has used — about the concerns of outsiders and minorities.”

But when a student asked Mr. Obama to name the circuit judge he would most like to argue in front of, he named Richard Posner, a conservative. Judge Posner was smart enough to know when you were right, Mr. Obama told the class.

Obama decimates Women's basketball team in PIG

In a game of PIG at the White House, President Obama single-handedly owned the UConn women's basketball team, talking trash the whole time.  There's a reason he's president and they're not.

In other news, I can't believe I'm tagging a post with "Sports."

Everyone loves getting mail

For help, look to the Shadow?

From CNET:

We can all rest easy knowing that our streets are now protected by a motley crew of pseudo-heroes known as The Allegiance.
. . .
A 21-year-old man (I'll believe it when I see it) from Milford, Ohio, Shadow Hare claims his Allegiance of Heroes reaches all across the country, with masked vigilantes each protecting their respective cities. There's Aclyptico in Pennsylvania, Wall Creeper in Colorado, Master Legend in Florida, and Mr. Extreme in California.

For us, the real hero is local news has the real scoop:

Also, Shadow wants to be your friend on MySpace

Gov race in GA heats up

Words fail me in describing the absolute absurdity of an interview with Georgia Creator's Rights gubernatorial candidate Neal Horsley.  The man had sex with a mule and thinks that so has everyone else who grew up on a Georgia farm... did I mention his name is Horsley?  Forgoing the wide road to pun hell, let's just get to the link: Georgia candidate doesn't think past sex with mule will hurt his chances for Governor

Woah, Jakey, it doe'n't have to be so difficult, now.

Helmet and a Hug courtesy of Denmark's police

Like their southern friends in the Netherlands, Denmark is all about riding bikes.  A program has police handing out helmets for free and every helmet comes with a hug.

Arlen Specter (D) Pennsylvania

Today Arlen Specter is announcing that he will be seeking re-election to the United States Senate, but, amidst the likelihood that that he would lose the Republican Primary to Pat Toomey, he's jumping ship on the Republican party and running as a Democrat instead.

In related news, Senator Specter has announced that he's also going to be introducing aggressive carbon control legislation, voting for the stimulus package, supporting the expiration of the Bush tax cuts and voting pro-choice. . . wait a second.

GOP stripped flu pandemic preparedness from stimulus

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" - George Santaya

Perhaps the GOP should have taken a page out of Mr. Santaya's book. In his response to Obama's address to Congress, Bobby Jindal ridiculed funding for volcano monitoring; less than a month later, Alaska's Mount Redoubt erupted 6 times. Then Maine's Senator Susan Collins came out against flu pandemic preparedness funding... and now we're all going to die from swine flu. Way to go Sue. GOP FTW!

Rhetoric for kids... a refresher for the rest of us

One father's account of how he encourages his children to reason and argue on behalf of their points, rather than the usual whining. The author gives a brief refresher in the basics of rhetoric too. Apparently the article was nominated for the 2007 National Magazine Award.

PennDOT

TIME Photo Essay: Obama's first 100 days

TIME put together a photo essay to mark President Obama's first 100 days in office.

Cable monopolies oppose community ISP

Tired of paying out the nose for TV, internet, and phone service? So were the residents of Wilson, North Carolina. They put together a city-owned ISP that offers 81 basic cable channels, 10 MBps (upload and download) internet access, and a digital phone plan with unlimited long distance calls to the U.S. and Canada. Such a package would cost $137.95 with Time Warner Cable (and that's an introductory rate). GreenLight, Wilson's ISP, charges only $99.95.

Citing their inability to compete, TWC and Embarq are pushing for legislation that would ban community-owned ISPs.

It's time that people recognize internet service as a public utility - residents should not be held hostage by private corporate monopolies.

An Economic Sigh of Relief? . . . maybe

The veritable patchwork nation blog at the Christian Science Monitor just published a new economic report looking at the changes in economic conditions in the last month across different types of communities. Unsurprisingly, Michigan, California and Florida could really use some good news, and as always, living in Alaska: bad choice. Otherwise, plenty of interesting tidbits remain. I'm sure the last 8 Americans with internet hookups in their cardboard boxes will appreciate the news.

Condi Rice gave verbal OK to torture

The Obama Administration's recent release of the secret torture memos has revealed that then-national security adviser Condoleezza Rice approved the CIA's request to waterboard an alleged terrorist. While Ms. Rice did not necessarily lie to the Senate Armed Services Committee, the memo indicates that her role in approving torture was far greater than what she admitted to.

NY Times asks: Is Obama Selling Out?

Professor Eric Alterman takes a look at a recent New York Times piece that asks whether Obama is selling out due to recent political moves, rhetoric, and his softening of stance on some issues.

::SPOILER ALERT::
The answer is not really.

Obama cutting $100m in spending

Obama is expected to order his cabinet members to find a way to cut $100 million in spending at their first meeting today. Some of the cost-cutting measures include video-conferencing instead of holding conferences and DHS expects to save around $52 million simply by ordering office supplies in bulk. While $100 million seems like chump change, he's setting the tone and we can expect more cuts to follow.

Champagne sabering - Flying Dutchman Style

In which a young man fulfills his dream - his dream of sabering a bottle of champagne. [insert Christopher Walken-esque over-pronunciation of champagne]

Obverse of the coin: Same-sex divorce

While the fight for marriage equality rages on, there is another side to the issue: same-sex divorce. Same-sex couples experience divorce at about the same rate as opposite-sex couples, but the process of untying the knot is often much more complicated, and, in some cases, legally impossible.

TPFD: Crapped in the Break Room

Debunking 6 common wine myths

To smell or not to smell - and other corky questions are answered in this quick and easy article about a half dozen common wine myths. Your oenological guide, Kurt Michael Friese leads the way to pretense free wine enjoyment.

Hale Stewart explains why the tax code is so complicated

A century of legislation, often poorly written, cluttered by special interest groups, and mangled by individuals and entities trying to get out of payment is the complicated and confusing state of the United State's current tax code.  Tax lawyer Hale "Bonddad" Stewart explains just why exactly the US Tax Code is so complicated.

Image is a visual depiction of US Tax Code as a network.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Start Tonight...

The best tournament in sports, in my opinion, kicks off tonight and that is the quest for Lord Stanley's Cup.

Well, here is my hopeful prediction for sports' most sought after trophy: Washington Capitals defeat San Jose Sharks in the finals in 6 games. Offer your predictions if you choose.

Right-wing extremist groups gaining membership

Looks like it's official: right-wing extremism in the United States is on the rise (and Nazis are, in fact, a right-wing organization, btw).  The Department of Homeland Security has released a report detailing the movements and how the economic troubles as well as the election of Barack Obama may be rallying the base.  Fortunately, the DHS report found no evidence that any of these organizations were planning violence.

Time Warner doesn't want Net Neutrality

Time Warner Cable is in a spat with the Federal Communications Commission over a provision that prevents stimulus money from going to companies accused of being in violation of FCC non-discrimination regulations (i.e. price-gouging bandwidth caps). TWC lawyers are telling the government to watch what it says:

"'Now is not the time, nor is this the appropriate proceeding, to engage in a debate about the need for net neutrality obligations,' two TWC lawyers warned the FCC on Monday."

A little White House Easter nostalgia

Vatican Easter Interrupted by Mardi Gras

In the Philadelphia television market, Good Friday services broadcast from the Vatican were interrupted for thirty seconds by a "Girls Gone Wild" advertisement due to a programming glitch.

MSNBC has the whole story

America - Fuck Yeah

While those pansy Euros went gentle into that good night, the Americans raged against the dying of the light, and they took their ship back from the pirates. Once again, American sailors prove their badass credentials.

Wake + Beer + South = criminal charges and hilarity

Middle aged woman showed up to a wake at a church in Arkansas with a beer and started hitting people. When the cops showed up:

A sheriff's report claimed the woman with the beer became "passively aggressive" with deputies and said that "no backwood country cop" was going to take her to jail.

No photo was available, so I have provided an artistic rendering.

The phrase is COOKING with gas...

... not CLEANING with gas. I don't even know what else to say.

Bruno

Bruno coming to theaters..... absolutely hilarious

You Can't Hug With Nuclear Arms...

Obama to rid the world of nuclear weapons? Only time will tell http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30053670/

Happy (Belated) Birthday Gmail!!!

Gmail turned 5 on Wednesday and it's still in Beta (though that may change soon?). Half of a decade old and it still doesn't know what it wants to be when it grows up. Google marked the special day by introducing some new features for Gmail, including CADIE - an artificial intelligence system that can automatically respond to your emails. Now your correspondence can live on auto-pilot.

Bad Decision Blocker

An iPhone application prevents the user from calling certain contacts for a specified period of time. This is probably useful for the perennial drunk-dialer and that pain-in-the-ass friend of yours who plays with your iPhone apps.

Air Car - coming to a dealership near you!

The Air Car is a near-zero emission vehicle that runs almost entirely on compressed air. The car is going to be available by late 2009 or early 2010 for around $17,800.