In the news today

[Animeniax]

The next ice age will wipe the slate clean, scraping the earth clear of all man's taint.

[dragonrage]

2012, 2012. Will it end with a bang or slowly esculate.....dun... dun...dunnnnn....

[Assassin]

I expect an Israeli attack on iran in 2012.

1220

Oh, and dont forget the 5th Fleet, with its aircraft carriers, destroyers and all other marine war machines.

Those damn I-ranians need a good bombin'!

Edit:

Interesting story I just came across http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran-intel-20120224,0,1164870,full.story

[rockmanj]

I expect an Israeli attack on iran in 2012.

1220

Oh, and dont forget the 5th Fleet, with its aircraft carriers, destroyers and all other marine war machines.

Those damn I-ranians need a good bombin'!

Edit:

Interesting story I just came across http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran-intel-20120224,0,1164870,full.story

Yea, I have heard about that report. There is all this drum beating in the press probably without good cause.

[rockmanj]

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2012/01/ninjavideo-queen-gets-22-months-in-jail-owes-200000-to-hollywood.ars That seems like a lot of jail time. I agree that she should be punished if caught, but I know of violent offenders who get less time.

[Assassin]

damn that sucks, ninjavideo was probably the best site i've seen to date. i always wondered what she looked like. Too bad it isn't a flattering picture. And i agree, this is ridiculous, but hollywood can afford multiple armies of lawyers to pursue their case. What she "stole" from the MPAA was less then the budget of a REALLY low budget movie. What a criminal.

[Edort4]

Crimes dont get punished by the amount of "bad" things that are done but by the "importance" of the victim (and the amount they expend on lawyers).

[rockmanj]

Yea, I am sure that the MPAA tried to go for as much as they could get. I wonder how they expect her to pay off that restitution after coming out of prison. I doubt it will be easy for an ex-con to get a job that quickly that would allow her to pay that. Sometimes the legal system is baffling (I have had some run ins myself that were very strange).

[Kraco]

They don't expect her to pay it. They just expect that others will think twice before doing something similar, in fear of landing with an unrealistic bill themselves. The example case is just a wasted human life.

[Assassin]

Horray for democracy and justice!

[Animeniax]

So Stephen Colbert asked his viewers to buy more of his Ben&Jerry's Americone Dream to help him beat Jimmy Fallon's Late Night Snack. I've tried both and Americone Dream is definitely better, but I can't seem to find it anywhere for a reasonable price.

Anyone else having this problem?

[Death BOO Z]

first thought when I saw your post...


made with quickmeme (http://qkme.me/36gntz)

edit: sorry, can't figure out how to get the image here.

[Animeniax]

first thought when I saw your post...


made with quickmeme (http://qkme.me/36gntz)

edit: sorry, can't figure out how to get the image here.

Ha, I thought the exact same thing when posting about this feud and almost created my own quickmeme with the FWP meme.

[Animeniax]

F-18 crashes into building (http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/06/us/virginia-plane-crash/index.html?hpt=hp_t1)

Pretty freaky stuff. They're praising the pilots for quick thinking by dumping fuel before the crash to avert a bigger explosion and potential for catastrophe, but all I can think about is the waste of that sweet sweet jet fuel.

[EpyonNext]

JP-8 burns hot. Like, enough in one spot will melt steel given time kinda hot. It's really good that they dumped the fuel. If they had not, the crash would have burned down a significantly larger area.

[Assassin]

i call terrorism!

[dragonrage]

i call terrorism!

I'm reporting you to homeland security, since you obviously know something and you just might have claimed responsibility with those three words. Enjoy the waterboarding.


Alot of information has been suppressed from this story. But it is good to see the government acted immediately to help the people that were affected, even if it might be totally in part to help further quell outcry and to immediately put out small fires before elections.

The pilot acted fast and smartly considering how fast those things take off and land. Kudos to him, it could have been worse, thank god it wasn't.

[dragonrage]

The North is on the march again.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/11/world/asia/north-korea-rocket-launch/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

what do you guys think?

[Kraco]

The North is on the march again.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/11/world/asia/north-korea-rocket-launch/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

what do you guys think?

I think they aren't yet starving enough if they have the resources for something like that.

[Buffalobiian]

I think they aren't yet starving enough if they have the resources for something like that.

It's just a satellite test. People need their TV you know.

[Kraco]

It's just a satellite test. People need their TV you know.

I have heard of South Koreans dying when they couldn't afford to leave their MMO for a minute to visit the toilet or fridge, but considering the quality of TV shows these days, I won't buy the reasoning TV would be more important than food. Especially if you need to watch the TV in candle light like is the case in North Korea.

[KrayZ33]

The North is on the march again.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/11/world/asia/north-korea-rocket-launch/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

what do you guys think?

I remember reading the same article years ago.

*especially* that part


Japan has deployed missile defenses and says it will shoot down any part of the rocket that comes near its territory. South Korea has described the move as a "grave provocation" and says it will respond with "appropriate countermeasures."

[dragonrage]

What it all boils down to in my opinion is more fuel for the North Korean propaganda machine. If they really wanted to be self-sufficient they would be making strides to improve their agricultural industry ( but that really isn't exciting or dangerous and threatening to the rest of the world)

It's another cry for help, and a chance to pat themselves on the back to further bloat their egos. For a country that is censored and regulated by the government and is constantly plagued by power outages and subpar everything, what do they really need a satellite (ballistic missile test/ spy satellite) for?

They don't want to be self-sufficient but want more aid since South Korea and the UN tightened their policies towards them, which was relaxed recently and now this happened. It's just another bargaining chip and fuel for propaganda.

[Ryllharu]

Yup, sabre-rattling to get stuff for free.

[Buffalobiian]

Super Lithium-Ion Battery Could Supercharge Phones, PCs, & Cars (http://blog.parts-people.com/2012/05/23/super-lithium-ion-battery-could-supercharge-phones-pcs-cars/)


Super Lithium-Ion batteries with three times the capacity of today’s models, may begin entering the real world within twelve months. That could substantially change consumer and business usage patterns for phones, tablets, laptops, electric vehicles, and a plethora of other devices and gadgets.

The designation of ‘Super’ is used because those batteries provide triple the energy storage capacity of current lithium-ion batteries. The nanoscale-based technology utilized has the additional benefit of causing the batteries to re-charge far more quickly than current models. An additional benefit is a greatly extended life-cycle. The super lithium-ion types can endure far more recharge cycles than has previously been possible. They can be produced in the same form-factors currently being used, and will have the same appearance. That should make the transition seamless for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, consumers, and business users.

Click above link to read more.

Finally, significant breakthrough in the battery technology department. It's been lagging behind everything else such as processors and memory tech. Too bad the laptop and phone that I want to get later this year will be uni-body in design, making battery replacement somewhat difficult.

[Animeniax]

Super Lithium-Ion Battery Could Supercharge Phones, PCs, & Cars (http://blog.parts-people.com/2012/05/23/super-lithium-ion-battery-could-supercharge-phones-pcs-cars/)
Finally, significant breakthrough in the battery technology department. It's been lagging behind everything else such as processors and memory tech. Too bad the laptop and phone that I want to get later this year will be uni-body in design, making battery replacement somewhat difficult.

Awesome news! Power is the greatest resource in the information age. People can stay wired in and completely unaware of their surroundings for longer periods of time. Also, soldiers can travel lighter with more high-tech equipment.

[enkoujin]

At first, I thought it was related to this (http://phys.org/news/2011-11-battery-electrodes-grid-storage.html) or that (http://phys.org/news/2012-02-power-source.html), but wow, that's really amazing.

Nanotechnology really is the trailblazing factor for innovative technology right now.

[Death BOO Z]

44 million dolars for one day of work (http://grist.org/news/duke-ceo-bill-johnson-resigns-after-one-day-gets-44-million-in-severance/)

It showed up in my newspaper today (still reading the paper in paper-form). anybody knows what happened there?

seems like some sneaky corporate stink case, as far as I can tell.

[enkoujin]

An update said that the CEO was fired under the technicalities of resignation. Maybe the other CEO Rogers "bribed" him to leave because he wasn't satisfied with how Johnson was the leader?

Here's a link with a general idea on how CEO severance packages work for anyone interested:

http://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/index.php/Kellogg/article/are_large_ceo_severance_packages_justified/

[Archangel]

What are these idiots doing hanging around the entrance anyway?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=T7sIiqq66rk

[Animeniax]

It's called rubber-necking and it is the reason auto accidents cause 1000% more congestion than normal... people slow down to see what's going on and block the road. Good thing there weren't any police around to club these people and clear the exits.

[Buffalobiian]

Peugeot paint changes colour with your mood (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9176679/Peugeot-paint-changes-colour-with-your-mood.html)

I was looking up paints that could change colour - not because I wanted my car to telegraph my mood to the world, but because it would be nice to secretly have paint that changed colour at your will. Combined with something that could modify (or simply hide) your registration plate, it might be good enough to slip past anyone chasing/looking for you if needed.

[Archangel]

You do realize that article was posted on April 1st right?

[UChessmaster]

At 12:01 A.M

[Buffalobiian]

Damn.. but sweet.

Guess my chameleon car won't be an advertised model after all.

[darkshadow]

Flora polis is also an anagram for april fools..

[Animeniax]

Did anyone else watch the NASA feed of the Mars landing of the Curiosity rover? It was a fairly exciting and momentous occasion for space exploration and humankind. Here's hoping we don't have a Prometheus experience from this excursion.

[Archangel]

Inb4 aliens.

[Ryllharu]

It was a fairly exciting and momentous occasion for space exploration and humankind. Here's hoping we don't have a Prometheus experience from this excursion.
I'm sorry, this is quite possibly one of the most science-ignorant posts I've seen here in a long time.

What exactly is momentous about it? It's cool that we landed a 1-ton rover on Mars, but it isn't like we haven't flown past, orbited, landed, or crashed things into the Martian surface for dozens of years. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploration_of_Mars#Timeline_of_Mars_exploration)
Landing mechanism: we used parachutes with the two rovers, retro-rockets in the 70s, Pheonix landed itself via rockets. The crane is the only innovative bit, but this isn't exactly untested technology either.
Power source: RTGs, used since...before we ever sent anything into space.

Mars is the most explored planet next to Earth.

Come back in 2015, the real momentous year in Terran space exploration. First close examination of Ceres ever (all we've got are blurry photos from Hubble), then a few months later, the first probe to ever go near Pluto/Charon (again, best we've got is crappy Hubble composites).

[poopdeville]

It's not about the technology that landed the rover. It's about the thousands of pounds of sensors and test equipment on the rover.

[Assertn]

I'm sorry, this is quite possibly one of the most science-ignorant posts I've seen here in a long time.

What exactly is momentous about it? It's cool that we landed a 1-ton rover on Mars, but it isn't like we haven't flown past, orbited, landed, or crashed things into the Martian surface for dozens of years. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploration_of_Mars#Timeline_of_Mars_exploration)
Landing mechanism: we used parachutes with the two rovers, retro-rockets in the 70s, Pheonix landed itself via rockets. The crane is the only innovative bit, but this isn't exactly untested technology either.
Power source: RTGs, used since...before we ever sent anything into space.

Mars is the most explored planet next to Earth.

Come back in 2015, the real momentous year in Terran space exploration. First close examination of Ceres ever (all we've got are blurry photos from Hubble), then a few months later, the first probe to ever go near Pluto/Charon (again, best we've got is crappy Hubble composites).
Looks like a nerd from an anime site just served all the scientists that are currently celebrating this occasion!

Just for the record, there's a big difference between landing a 380lb rover and a 2000lb one. You say Mars is the most explored next to Earth, but that still means virtually nothing, considering that it was only a few years ago that scientists even confirmed the presence of water underneath the planet's surface. Mars is also far more significant to us than distant planets, since we will actually have the means (http://mars-one.com/en/) to colonize it in our lifetimes.

[Ryllharu]

Look, I love the idea of colonizing Mars as much as the next nerd, but it's an impractical pipe-dream.

There's zero benefit to colonizing a magnetosphere-less gravity well like Mars. Anything you put down, isn't coming back up cost-effectively. The moon is better as a staging base for further manned exploration into the asteroid belt and wherever else after that. Titan is more useful to colonize than Mars, primarily due to the dramatically reduced levels of radiation. The thick atmosphere at the surface reduces the only problem to freezing to death (the major problem there), not suffocating as well like on Mars.

[Animeniax]

Looks like a nerd from an anime site just served all the scientists that are currently celebrating this occasion!

Just for the record, there's a big difference between landing a 380lb rover and a 2000lb one. You say Mars is the most explored next to Earth, but that still means virtually nothing, considering that it was only a few years ago that scientists even confirmed the presence of water underneath the planet's surface. Mars is also far more significant to us than distant planets, since we will actually have the means (http://mars-one.com/en/) to colonize it in our lifetimes.

You and I may not always see eye to eye, but you've got it right here. That room full of scientists and the hundreds of thousands of people watching along during the landing were impressed with the achievement, but somehow Ryllharu wasn't. I guess they'll have to try harder next time, maybe add a ring of fire that the pod has to fly through before deploying the rover.

[Ryllharu]

You guys don't get it. NASA folks were equally excited about MESSENGER making a proper insertion, but nobody else gave a shit about it because it wasn't hyped by the media like Curiosity was.

Cassini and the Huygens probe even moreso, but again lacking the same media hype, while being a huge deal scientifically.

It's a rover. We've sent three before this. This one was just heavy, which means a parachute and retro-rockets (which, before Phoenix, NASA wasn't even sure they possessed the expertise to do anymore).

[UChessmaster]

Haha a ring of fire, that`d be kinda cool.

[Assertn]

I'm sensing that Ryllharu is pretty mad about this.

[Kraco]

Ceres will be interesting due to its proximity, but Pluto is way too far away and is basically nothing more than a lump of rock and ice that even lost its full planetary status. I'm surely more excited about a better and more advanced Mars rover than anything centered around Pluto, no matter if it's the first thing to go near it or not.

[Animeniax]

Some fun news out of Norway: http://news.sky.com/story/971920/bears-break-into-cabin-and-drink-100-beers

[Y]

Mars is also far more significant to us than distant planets, since we will actually have the means (http://mars-one.com/en/) to colonize it in our lifetimes.

And then you woke up.

[Assertn]

And then you woke up.
Hey man, moore's law, technological singularity, etc.

[Uchiha Barles]

Some fun news out of Norway: http://news.sky.com/story/971920/bears-break-into-cabin-and-drink-100-beers

How's it feel huh Goldilocks? HOW'S IT FEEL?!? *rawr*

[Kraco]

Hey man, moore's law, technological singularity, etc.

Only the Chinese could afford it, but will their technology advance enough and would they do it? Who knows. The rest of us are too deep in debt to dream of colonizing other planets. So, it would then be truly the red planet, har har.

[Y]

Hey man, moore's law, technological singularity, etc.

And other things that don't exist.

[Carnage]

Superpowers will be wiping eachother out for resources long before we have any capabilities of colonizing Mars.

[Animeniax]

How's it feel huh Goldilocks? HOW'S IT FEEL?!? *rawr*

I get the feeling they really wanted to play up the boozehound aspect of the bear attack. Like they're so much like humans, they drank up all the beer. There was probably more food eaten than anything


Only the Chinese could afford it, but will their technology advance enough and would they do it? Who knows. The rest of us are too deep in debt to dream of colonizing other planets. So, it would then be truly the red planet, har har.Maybe some rich oil barons or Richard Branson could also afford it, or at least to invest into it.

[Carnage]

Maybe some rich oil barons or Richard Branson could also afford it, or at least to invest into it.

Not happening. It would likely cost from tens or hundreds of billions at the very least to colonize the Moon (remember Mitt Romney trashing Gingrich in the debates). A project like colonizing Mars in this lifetime will have massive costs probably ranging in the trillions and would most certainly take a government to fund.

It will take over a decade to transport thousands of workers there, whilst also accounting for transporting years of resources so that the thousands of workers can survive while building the colony. Imagine building New York city from scratch on a planet 20-30 years away. Finally if the planet is habitable, it will likely take decades for a region to develop ecologically such that anyone wants to bother living there.

After all this effort, then you have to find a way to transport millions of civilians all this distance. In addition, you had better damned hope there are either fossil fuels on Mars or we've perfected the utilization of solar energy, otherwise people will have to live with medieval-age tier technology.

Unless there happens to be a gigantic shit-load of useful resources lying around on Mars, there's no reason to bother colonizing it rather than figuring out a way to reduce the population on earth leaving more resources and space per person.

The Asteroid mining project on the other hand, sounds fucking neat-o.

[Penner]

R.I.P Michael Clarke Duncan (http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/03/showbiz/michael-clarke-duncan/index.html)

Sad news, seemed like a really cool dude and i liked most of his work :(

[Animeniax]

R.I.P Michael Clarke Duncan (http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/03/showbiz/michael-clarke-duncan/index.html)

Sad news, seemed like a really cool dude and i liked most of his work :(
Yeah that was shocking, dude was only 54 and apparently in great shape. He's been in the hospital for 7 months since a heart attack. I don't know if that was widely known. Might be a genetic thing.

[Uchiha Barles]

That is absolutely shocking, and yet another wake up call. Make sure to take care of yourselves because even that may not be enough. RIP Micheal, I loved your work, even in the crappy movies.

[Animeniax]

Someone "with a Middle Eastern accent" called in a bomb threat at uni today, so they evacuated campus buildings and cancelled classes. The cynic in me says someone wasn't ready for an exam.

People are upset that the threat came in at 8:30am and said the bombs would go off in 90 minutes, so the uni waited until 9:50am to warn students and force them to evacuate.

[Lucifus]

Yea, had security all over campus here and seriously backed up traffic due to front gate checks.

[Buffalobiian]

Someone "with a Middle Eastern accent" called in a bomb threat at uni today, so they evacuated campus buildings and cancelled classes. The cynic in me says someone wasn't ready for an exam.

/added to my list of emergency procedures.

[Animeniax]

Yea, had security all over campus here and seriously backed up traffic due to front gate checks.Weird, at first I thought maybe you moved to Texas, but it turns out 3 universities got bomb threats today, including one in Ohio and one in North Dakota.


/added to my list of emergency procedures.

Well it'd be a lot easier to get away with than what one guy tried a few years ago when he wanted his exam to be postponed. He parked a rented UHaul/mover truck outside a university building, similar to the one Timothy McVeigh used to blow up a building in Oklahoma. He got the exam postponed, but also prison.

[lelouch]

Geass?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2143584/Scopolamine-Powerful-drug-growing-forests-Colombia-ELIMINATES-free-will.html

[Buffalobiian]

Geass?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2143584/Scopolamine-Powerful-drug-growing-forests-Colombia-ELIMINATES-free-will.html

I'm rather skeptical of that article. Acetylcholine blockers can cause confusion and all the other stuff... but for it to be used to such magical effects as the article suggests raises my eyebrows.

Someone feel free to prove me wrong though. Go down and pick some up in your local pharmacy. It's under the section for stomach cramps.

[enkoujin]

I'm rather skeptical of that article. Acetylcholine blockers can cause confusion and all the other stuff... but for it to be used to such magical effects as the article suggests raises my eyebrows.

Someone feel free to prove me wrong though. Go down and pick some up in your local pharmacy. It's under the section for stomach cramps.

No one can prove you wrong because you majored in pharmacology and are in medical school right now.

[Animeniax]

Isn't the Daily Mail generally regarded as a tabloid site with unsubstantiated reports and shoddy journalism?

[Buffalobiian]

Isn't the Daily Mail generally regarded as a tabloid site with unsubstantiated reports and shoddy journalism?

As in it's intentional like The Onion? Or just.. honest but unreliable?

[Animeniax]

As in it's intentional like The Onion? Or just.. honest but unreliable?

No, it just tries to take itself seriously as a news source but fails because it posts tabloid-worthy sensationalist material, maybe to get the scoop or just from a lack of journalistic integrity. The Onion rules.

[Assertn]

There seems to be a growing fad for mock journalism on the internet these days. I've been finding more and more "shocking" articles that ultimately turn out to be completely made up. Though, what really pisses me off is there seems to be no point to it. Any sort of entertainment value derivable from the articles disappears immediately after discovering that it's fake, which is what makes the onion leagues apart from these impostors.

Case in point. (http://dailycurrant.com/2012/08/30/bill-nye-blasts-todd-akin-challenges-debate/)

[Animeniax]

Something needs to be done to clean up the internet. You got it right Assertn, except I still get email from my father warning me every time he reads one of these fake shock articles, and he's being serious in his concern.

[Assertn]

Something needs to be done to clean up the internet. You got it right Assertn, except I still get email from my father warning me every time he reads one of these fake shock articles, and he's being serious in his concern.

It's quite unfortunate. The Onion is so good, that it's content is generally even more entertaining despite being obviously fake, while still giving us the opportunity to mock the few who still don't get it. (http://literallyunbelievable.org/)

[Animeniax]

It's quite unfortunate. The Onion is so good, that it's content is generally even more entertaining despite being obviously fake, while still giving us the opportunity to mock the few who still don't get it. (http://literallyunbelievable.org/)

Holy crap I can't believe the comments I'm reading on that site. Though I'm really surprised more news outlets aren't mentioning Obama's son.

[Ryllharu]

Satire is an art form, and it isn't an easy one. Some publications get it, most don't.

The Onion attacks poorly written journalism and overblown headlines (usually by making really mundane ones), and their Onion News Network tv show assaults the 24 hour news channel format, with less focus on the content. Both work, but both also jab at separate things. They're successful because they play both mediums completely straight, and don't push things too far so as to make it obvious to the unsuspecting.

It's a very fine line, and a lot of places try too hard to be funny.

[Uchiha Barles]

What the putrid FUCK?

http://gothamist.com/2012/11/12/elmo_voice_actor_kevin_clash_leaves.php

Apparently, Elmo might've been fucking underaged boys...

[Animeniax]

What the putrid FUCK?

http://gothamist.com/2012/11/12/elmo_voice_actor_kevin_clash_leaves.php

Apparently, Elmo might've been fucking underaged boys...

That's the reason I hate it when studios advertise the voices behind characters of animated movies. It takes away the magic and can ruin a beloved character when the voice actor does some evil shit.

My favorite Simpsons episodes featured characters where you didn't even know it was some famous actor doing the voice.

[Archangel]

Oh noes, he may have been "abusing a 16 year old"!

Gay or not 16 year olds are sex starved little fucks, i doubt the guy lured him with candy into a van.

[Animeniax]

I'd agree, except I doubt many teen boys are looking for sex with 40 year old men. And 16 is below the age of consent in pretty much every state in the US. And it's Elmo... which is probably the biggest concern of this story.

[Uchiha Barles]

Yeah pretty much. I like children's shows and the fantasies I grew up with to be free of this kind of shit. Just keep it clean.

[Buffalobiian]

That's the reason I hate it when studios advertise the voices behind characters of animated movies. It takes away the magic and can ruin a beloved character when the voice actor does some evil shit.

Does it really matter that the guy is Elmo's voice actor?

Or am I really a rare breed in that I can evaluate someone's professional performance in a detached manner from their personal lives?

[Archangel]

You can't evaluate nostalgia in a detached manner, that's how nostalgia works.

[Animeniax]

Does it really matter that the guy is Elmo's voice actor?

Or am I really a rare breed in that I can evaluate someone's professional performance in a detached manner from their personal lives?

Yeah that's really the only reason this is news. The guy who is the voice of children's favorite TV friend molests children. Childhood memories -> ruined.

[shinta|hikari]

I am with Buff here. I always judge the professional work separate from the private life of the person.

[Animeniax]

So you guys can like and root for an athlete who plays well even if he's a scumbag off the field/court? Or maybe an actor or musician. Can you really enjoy their roles/music if you know they're despicable human beings off stage? I can't do it.

[Buffalobiian]

So you guys can like and root for an athlete who plays well even if he's a scumbag off the field/court? Or maybe an actor or musician. Can you really enjoy their roles/music if you know they're despicable human beings off stage? I can't do it.

I totally can.

It doesn't matter if Michael Jackson is a paedophile or not, his music (and my enjoyment of it) remains unchanged.

I get particularly worked up about parents vocalising their displeasure about public figures (example: Gil from Twins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twins_%28group%29) for anyone somewhat familiar with Asian pop culture) engaging in scandalous acts. They complained of her being a bad moral influence and was supposed to be a good role model for youths because of her popularity.

Well I'm sorry, but she gets paid to sing, not teach your kid. If you think your kid is receiving such bad influences, maybe you should help them identify them instead of policing other people. Not that you can tell your kid you're a virgin anyway.

Anyway, to finish back on point.. I can enjoy the work/performance of people even if they participate in despicable, unrelated activities. I expect others to evaluate me in the same way, but I know it doesn't happen.

[Xelbair]

So you guys can like and root for an athlete who plays well even if he's a scumbag off the field/court? Or maybe an actor or musician. Can you really enjoy their roles/music if you know they're despicable human beings off stage? I can't do it.

Yes i can.
If you are buying a pizza you evaluate it's taste and skill of the chef, not his/her personal life.

[Animeniax]

I get particularly worked up about parents vocalising their displeasure about public figures (example: Gil from Twins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twins_%28group%29) for anyone somewhat familiar with Asian pop culture) engaging in scandalous acts. They complained of her being a bad moral influence and was supposed to be a good role model for youths because of her popularity.

I remember the scandal(s) with Gillian C. The thing is, a large part of the duo's popularity was their sweet virginal innocence. Finding out she was freaky (there were other accusations of sexual promiscuity aimed at both members) and seeing photo proof of it was a shocker in the conservative (on the face of it) culture of southeast Asia. Plus she needs to landscape that shit.


Yes i can.
If you are buying a pizza you evaluate it's taste and skill of the chef, not his/her personal life.Your example is severely lacking. Huge difference. Won't go on.

[Kraco]

If you are buying a pizza you evaluate it's taste and skill of the chef, not his/her personal life.

If you knew the chef's home is a veritable pigsty and he only takes a shower once a week, that is, you knew a part of his personal life, I think it just might affect your view of the food he prepares.

[shinta|hikari]

If his restaurant is clean and he works clean, I am fine with it.

[UChessmaster]

The guy quit the whole thing btw, he now claims he was of legal age when they had sex.

[Uchiha Barles]

I dunno. It'd be nice to be able to disassociate the actor behind the puppet from the puppet as a character, but for me, that requires work. My first, gut reaction to the whole thing was "oh come the fuck on, really?" I can't help that. I actually can and do separate feelings for the personal lives of artists and athletes, and generally without such a knee jerk reaction. But something like this is different.

As a kid I was lucky enough to be free from knowledge of all the things that I now consider dark, unsightly, wrong, etc. and these kids shows I watched were magical to me. They regularly evoked a feeling that, as an adult, I'm lucky to get even once a year (estimate pulled out of my ass). Some people claim to have stopped getting it altogether. As an adult, you know that the shit you watch is fantasy and that real people create them, and have real lives and real problems. But it's nice if you don't EVER have to realize that about things that were magical to you when you didn't know any better. Sure, if you think about it, you'll realize it, but I honestly never thought about. And this news brought that shit to the fore front for me with a flying dragon kick to the teeth. It's a shame.


The guy quit the whole thing btw, he now claims he was of legal age when they had sex.

Well that's nice, but the damage is done, for me anyway. What an asshole.

[Archangel]

Uchess, always up to date with the gay news.

[Buffalobiian]

Uchess, always up to date with the gay news.

What Uchess said was already in the link U.Barles linked.

[Uchiha Barles]

What Uchess said was already in the link U.Barles linked.

In the original article Kevin Clash was saying the boy wasn't under-aged when the sexual relationship began, and that it was consensual. Now, the accuser himself is recanting his earlier claims and essentially aligning his story with Clash's. This was probably a shameless grab for quick cash. I hope they were able to prove that the relationship was legal and were able to intimidate this guy into dropping the shit. He shouldn't see a penny from this.

abcnews.go.com/US/elmo-accuser-recants-allegations-underage-sex-kevin-clash/story?id=17710758

[Buffalobiian]

Now, the accuser himself is recanting his earlier claims and essentially aligning his story with Clash's.

Right. I thought the "guy" you mentioned was Clash.

Now it sounds even more like MJ's case.

[Animeniax]

Right. I thought the "guy" you mentioned was Clash.

Now it sounds even more like MJ's case.

"Sounds like MJ's case" as in you think MJ wasn't a child molester and the victims just wanted money??

For me, a person's performance is a large part of the person himself. Like finding out Ian Curtis committed suicide makes his performances with Joy Division that much more emotional and meaningful than they otherwise would.

Or take an athlete like Michael Vick. As a dog lover myself, I hope each weekend to see him get crushed and his career in football ended. I don't care that he can play football, lots of guys can do that, but not everyone abuses and tortures little baby doggies in their free time.

[Buffalobiian]

"Sounds like MJ's case" as in you think MJ wasn't a child molester and the victims just wanted money??


Basically, yeah.

While I do think MJ likes children, I don't think he did anything incriminating such as molestation or statutory rape. The courts never found him guilty, while the parents settled out of court. If something like this happenned, I think a decent parent would feel the pain and commit to pressing the charges so that MJ doesn't harm another child again.

[Abdula]

So you guys can like and root for an athlete who plays well even if he's a scumbag off the field/court? Or maybe an actor or musician. Can you really enjoy their roles/music if you know they're despicable human beings off stage? I can't do it.

Of course I can. I am with Buff on this one. I think you wanting to see Michael Vick's career ended is pretty crazy

[Animeniax]

Basically, yeah.

While I do think MJ likes children, I don't think he did anything incriminating such as molestation or statutory rape. The courts never found him guilty, while the parents settled out of court. If something like this happenned, I think a decent parent would feel the pain and commit to pressing the charges so that MJ doesn't harm another child again.

I think MJ had the advantage in pretty much every aspect here. He was the celebrity with all the fan support. He had all the legal power money can afford. The parents look like money grubbers. The parents don't want a drawn out affair that could make things worse for their child. A lot of victims just want to get through it and move on with their lives. Yes there was no hard proof of guilt, but we know in this world the guilty go free all the time.


Of course I can. I am with Buff on this one. I think you wanting to see Michael Vick's career ended is pretty crazyWhy not? He brutalized and killed countless dogs, making them fight for his entertainment. He still has his life and health, he can do something else that doesn't give him the chance to influence impressionable minds and afford him the chance for other illegal activities.

[Abdula]

What exactly is he going to do that isn't going to give him the chance to influence impressionable minds? He is a superstar athlete and he did a lot for the falcons in his time there. People aren't just going to forget that. Plus he has done quite a lot of work with kids and animal charities since then and has publicly condemned his own actions numerous times. If you had made an argument for him being banned from football or something I may have entertained it for a little while but you seem to want him to suffer a career ending injury because of what he did. That is just crazy.

[Animeniax]

Flip burgers or sell used cars maybe? There are plenty of jobs where he doesn't have national exposure and the chance to influence kids.

As for wanting him injured, I don't see that he will leave the game unless he is forced to. Even with his recent poor performance with the Eagles, some team will give him a chance or he will be a backup QB with some team. I think it's ridiculous that because someone can play a sport, pretty much all other considerations of their worth as a human being are ignored. Honestly, if Vick couldn't play ball, you and I wouldn't know who he is, he'd just be another punk guilty of the worst kinds of animal abuse rotting in jail.

[Abdula]

Celebrity status doesn't go away that easily, that is the point I am trying to make here. Secondly, Vick has done a lot to change his image and try to make up for what he has done. Lastly, there are actors who can't act, singers who can't sing, people who are famous for being famous and countless others who get a pass on their actions because they are rich, or famous or have some talent or some other nonsense and that just isn't going to change.

[Animeniax]

Well to be glib it sounds like you're basically saying "don't hate the player, hate the game." But I do hate the players, and I hate the game. All the other useless celebrities with no real ability can rot, but so can the ones with ability but who choose to do terrible things like hurt the defenseless, children, and animals.

I think you're wrong about celebrity status too. I know things go in cycles but even Paris Hilton no longer covers every front page story. People forget celebrities as new ones appear.

[Abdula]

Oy vey. Are you purposely ignoring my point? I forgot who I am dealing with. My point is simple. I'm not saying don't hate the player, hate the game but if that is the message you got that is fine. I am saying that Vick unlike some others, admitted his wrong doing and is actively trying to make up for what he has done. If you think people aren't going to do terrible things like hurt the defenseless, children, and animals particularly if they think they can get away with it, then you are living in some utopian society and I would very much like an invite.

As far as celebrity status goes Mike Vick is very different from Paris Hilton. Joe Namath is still viewed as a god among the jets fans I know, people still go on about Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.

[shinta|hikari]

So the guy took it back. Does this mean nostalgia is preserved for those affected?

[Animeniax]

Oy vey. Are you purposely ignoring my point? I forgot who I am dealing with. My point is simple. I'm not saying don't hate the player, hate the game but if that is the message you got that is fine. I am saying that Vick unlike some others, admitted his wrong doing and is actively trying to make up for what he has done.

As far as celebrity status goes Mike Vick is very different from Paris Hilton. Joe Namath is still viewed as a god among the jets fans I know, people still go on about Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.

No, I just forgot about that point in light of discussing your larger point. Remorse and restitution are fine but they don't erase what you have done and they don't bring back or fully restore the victims. We can hate Paris Hilton or other useless celebrities, but they didn't do anything as criminal or egregious as financing dog fighting rings, abusing and killing dogs. Namath, Cash, and Presley didn't do any terrible things that we know about either, so their legacy is their on-field performance and music. I guess you'd have to be a pet owner/lover to feel the outrage in the case of Vick.


If you think people aren't going to do terrible things like hurt the defenseless, children, and animals particularly if they think they can get away with it, then you are living in some utopian society and I would very much like an invite. No, I don't think we live in such a world, but I do think we should harshly punish those who commit these evils.

[Uchiha Barles]

So the guy took it back. Does this mean nostalgia is preserved for those affected?

Nope, the damage was in the knowledge that the fantasy is not free from the darker realities of the world. In this case, not just what didn't happen, but also what I think did (elmo's being extorted for cash).

[Assertn]

Well that's nice, but the damage is done, for me anyway. What an asshole.

Why is he an asshole, exactly? Or are you referring to the lying kid?

[Uchiha Barles]

The lying kid. What he did was dishonorable, harmful, and most importantly, fucked with some some of the remaining vestiges of childhood I had left.

[Animeniax]

Are you mad that he was lying (possibly for money) or that he revealed an ugly truth about someone that you'd rather not have found out about? I think don't think we can judge him for possibly letting the world know about a dirty secret that may have affected other children, in the hopes of not disturbing your childhood memories.

[UChessmaster]

I`m gonna go with he was lying for money.

[Animeniax]

I'd hope that's the reason he's mad, but it sounds like it could be part of having his childhood memories tarnished.

Btw, can a 16 year old consent to sex? If Sesame St is filmed in NY, the age of consent there is 17.

[Uchiha Barles]

My previous answer was a little tongue-in-cheek. Wrongly accusing people of things that pose a threat to their freedom, their reputation, and their ability to continue on in society as they choose is a garbage move. I'll admit though that I think it's par for the course and would not have cared so much if the subject of the accusation hadn't played as much of a role in my young life as he did. If I didn't recognize the name/character, I'd have glanced over the story as background noise thinking "well that's shitty...what's new?"

[Buffalobiian]

My previous answer was a little tongue-in-cheek. Wrongly accusing people of things that pose a threat to their freedom, their reputation, and their ability to continue on in society as they choose is a garbage move.

That line of thinking is part of why I choose to evaluate people the way I do.

Mere accusations are able to tarnish people's reputations. I dislike the fact that it happens, as well as the weakness of human minds allowing them to be led astray by such unproven accusations (dislike of the weakness, not the human - and I'm not necessarily blaming the person for having the weakness).

Even if the fact is unproven, the idea that He could be a paedophile can still influence one's thinking however, so I take an objective approach and reason that It doesn't matter even if he is a paedophile.

By writing off the "possible fact" as being irrelevant, I am more able to ignore the accusations and not judge someone based on mere possibilities or rumours.

[Xelbair]

Sparks of war are once again in Gaza Strip.
it starts with Israel targeting Hamas' military chief(successfully) (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20328579)
then Palestine responds in kind - by launching missiles(killing 3 people - less than 'precise' strike by Israel - they launched hundreds of rockets) (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20349280)
then Israel mobilizes military reserves and gets ready for fight. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20378425)

Now let me ask this - Why most countries are supporting Israel, despite the fact that this time they fired the first shots and provoked this?(for example US said to give support to Israel)

mind you - I'm not saying that Palestine are good guys in here - I'm saying that this time they aren't the most evil ones. I'm fascinated by military tech, weapons and special forces operations but imho war=hell on earth(and shitload of wasted lives, resources and it's generating more loses than gains).

but take into the account feelings of Palestine's people - Israel was 'recreated' not so long ago
the British were formally awarded the mandate to govern the region in 1922. The non-Jewish Palestinians revolted in 1920, 1929 and 1936. In 1947, following World War II and the Holocaust, the British Government announced their desire to terminate the Mandate, and the United Nations General Assembly voted to partition the territory into a Jewish state and an Arab state.
source - wikipedia

I was always very skeptical and always had my doubts when it came to Arabian people(even before 9/11 and terrorist attacks) - but this time land was taken from them and was used to create the country of Israel - and now they are being repressed by Israelites. It would be ironical for it to turn into mass extermination...

[Ryllharu]

I'm stepping on a landmine here...but I'll respond.

It's okay Xel. You're only skeptical because you're Polish. You don't trust Israel because you're a homophobe and sexist (http://www.defenddemocracy.org/media-hit/47-of-germans-think-israel-exterminating-palestinians/).
The researchers also asked whether “Jews try to take advantage of having been victims during the Nazi era.”

Almost half the Germans questioned responded in the affirmative; the country’s 48.9% result was the highest among the Western European countries. The Netherlands provided the lowest percentage, with 17.2% affirming that Jews were trying to exploit the Nazi era. The number for Poland was 72.2%, and Hungary reached 68.1%. France reached 32.3%, England 21.8%, Portugal 52.2% and Italy 40.2%.

Küpper said that Poland and Hungary were also plagued by extraordinary levels of sexism and homophobia.
As the above illustrates, a very carefully crafted PR campaign, decades long.

As for the US, a whole chunk of morons believe that the Rapture only can come true if the Jewish people are in Israel, so it is their duty to defend them.

[Kraco]

Now let me ask this - Why most countries are supporting Israel, despite the fact that this time they fired the first shots and provoked this?(for example US said to give support to Israel)

What are most countries? If you ask Arab countries, I'm sure they would be more likely to support Palestinians, at least on a spiritual level if not on a realpolitik level (since nobody hates an Arab as much as another Arab, even if they all hate Israelis as well). Even the politicians of great many Western countries voice support for Palestinians. The countries themselves might obey the laws of realpolitik enough to continue relations and trade with Israel, though, because let's face it: There's absolutely no profit in officially supporting Palestine against Israel. Israel knows this as well, which is why they are acting so cool all the time, caring little what individual politicians utter here and there, and they continue to do whatever they want.

[Xelbair]

Ryll - i said I'm skeptical towards Arabian people, not Jews. I don't think that Jews are taking advantage of having been victims(and even if some do - its their damn right after what happened to them). Reading comprehension 101.
But in there we have a case of a real army vs kindergarten.

and about the countries i was speaking about western world - and from what I've read the only support for Palestine came from Egypt this time. and UK said that they will retract their support if it turns into a war(tl;dr supports Israel, wants peace).
Heck - polish army mobilized 50k ppl just in case(to support the Israel).

P.S.
Poland is homophobic as fuck. Extraordinary isn't big enough word to describe it.

[Ryllharu]

Ryll - i said I'm skeptical towards Arabian people, not Jews. I don't think that Jews are taking advantage of having been victims(and even if some do - its their damn right after what happened to them). Reading comprehension 101.

But in there we have a case of a real army vs kindergarten.
a) Develop a sense of humor. It doesn't matter whom you, individually, distrust. That article is absurd, but a very good example. Each time the study found a group who doesn't blindly follow Israeli interests, they toss in some random fact that makes the people of that demographic worth loathing or that they are simply misguided.

b) The point is there is a decades-long, multifaceted relations campaign to ensure that the Israelis are always "the good guys," even when they raid aid ships or clearly violate the Geneva conventions by use of white phosphorous weaponry. Or the countless other examples you can find if you look for it.

c) No, it's called asymmetric warfare. One side has RPGs and what barely qualifies as rockets, while the other has CIWS missile defense systems, F-16s and tanks. A practice that the US was criticized for quite a bit during the war in Iraq and the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan. Hamas fires three of their shitty rockets, two damage buildings only, the other kills 2 people, injures 3. In retaliation, the IDF drops a JDAM on a house or office building, cratering an area, killing 11, injuring 20. See the problem?

The Israelis put Palestinians into what are quite blatantly ghettos, refuses to let them leave or travel (without immense hassles), slowly bulldoze those regions for "settlements," and keeps Gaza in particular near poverty levels. Israel runs projections on exactly how many calories of food (http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/17/world/meast/israel-calorie-count-gaza/index.html)Gazans need to sit just above malnutrition levels (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/17/israeli-military-calorie-limit-gaza). They control exactly what goes in and out. Food, building materials, etc. That's why Gazans had smuggling tunnels from the strip into Egypt. Thankfully, another Israeli human rights group outed the study's existence. The government claims that they didn't implement those levels of food controls.

I cannot side with a group who does those kinds of things.

[Xelbair]

My bad then - didn't expect sarcasm from that 1st part. with B) i agree completely - i've got article in one history magazine that Israel obliterated US military ship and everything was ok... I'll look for that article later.

It seems you haven't got my point - i am NOT siding with Israel in this war - i find them to be aggressors and they are the ones who provoked this.

[Xrlderek]

Norway is also siding with Israel. Sort of hard making sense of the whole thing by navigating news articles since they all say different stuff.

[Animeniax]

It's quite unfortunate. The Onion is so good, that it's content is generally even more entertaining despite being obviously fake, while still giving us the opportunity to mock the few who still don't get it. (http://literallyunbelievable.org/)

Hahahah! China took the Onion's "Kim Jong-Un sexiest man alive" article seriously:


http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t2#/video/crime/2012/11/27/erin-onion-spoof-hits-china.cnn

[Kraco]

Hahahah! China took the Onion's "Kim Jong-Un sexiest man alive" article seriously:

The communists aren't known for their sense of humour, so naturally they would take it seriously. They still have some way to go before they catch up on mass media quirks.

[Uchiha Barles]

I can see how his round face, plump physique, and dead eyes might appeal to women with a zombie dough boy fetish.

In other news, O'Reilly once again puts his foot in his mouth, probably on purpose:

Gangnam Style Sucks (http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/11/28/bill-oreilly-gangnam-style/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ew%2Fpopwatch+%28Entertainmen t+Weekly%2FEW.com%27s%3A+PopWatch%29)

[Animeniax]

As many times as O'Reilly has been owned for his views, I can only imagine that it's a character he plays and will continue to play in order to appeal to his viewer base. He and Ablowhard have one part right about the song being "without intelligible words." 99.9% of those who like Gangnam Style don't understand the lyrics and don't care.

For my part, I will try to watch the video a couple times everyday to get it to 1 billion views.

[Uchiha Barles]

Yeah, sure. I even agree that the song is kind of unsophisticated pop stuff that has a dulling effect on an intellectual level. But um...the guy's not singing gibberish, he's singing in korean. Where do you get off describing someone singing in a foreign language as "unintelligible"? You're asking to get your ass kicked. Furthermore, the song is social satire, so for those who can understand it, there is intellectual validity in the lyrics. To just dismiss that on account of ignorance is crass.

[Animeniax]

Like I said, 99.9% of those who like the song don't know what he's saying and don't care what he's singing about, they just like the catchy beat and fun dancing video. To anyone who doesn't speak Korean, it can be considered unintelligible, the definition of which is '"not able to be understood; incomprehensible." Sure they could look it up with google translate, but how many do you think actually did that?

[Uchiha Barles]

I understand that most people Bill O'Reilley is considering don't understand what's being said in the video. But O'Reilly is being a dick by being dismissive of the fact that the video is a product of an actual culture.

"This is a little fat guy from Yong Yang or some place..."

"Elvis Presley could sing. His songs had words.""

"There are like 16 guys named Psy on Long Island that I could tell you about and they don't look like him."

These are offensive statements. Again, I get that unless you speak Korean, you don't know what the song's about, but Psy isn't singing gibberish. The song has words. English isn't the only language on the planet. There's got to be a better way to say what he's trying to say.

[Animeniax]

Well he's speaking to his fan base in the only language they understand or care to hear, which is racist and xenophobic. Don't let anything he (or any of the loons on Fox) says bother you, just watch some Youtube clips of him getting owned by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

[Carnage]

I used to hate Bill O'reilly. But the older I get, the more I enjoy his show. Granted he's biased, outdated, and often plays to an audience. But the Jon Steward is also biased (albeit less so) and plays to his audience as well.

[Dark Dragon]

I used to hate Bill O'reilly. But the older I get, the more I enjoy his show. Granted he's biased, outdated, and often plays to an audience. But the Jon Steward is also biased (albeit less so) and plays to his audience as well.

Bill O'reilly is actually very intelligent, but he loves to play the right-wing bigot since it pulls in so much more rating than rational and intelligent commentary.

[Animeniax]

I used to hate Bill O'reilly. But the older I get, the more I enjoy his show. Granted he's biased, outdated, and often plays to an audience. But the Jon Steward is also biased (albeit less so) and plays to his audience as well.

Stewart is biased, but widely held to be fairly moderate with his own views. Of course his show appeals to liberals so he plays up that bias, but mostly he rails against people who are too far left or right.


Bill O'reilly is actually very intelligent, but he loves to play the right-wing bigot since it pulls in so much more rating than rational and intelligent commentary.He's intelligent but not quick on his feet. And you're right about playing the bigot to draw ratings. Just look at CNN to see how bad your ratings will be if you take a middle-of-the-road approach to the news.

[Kraco]

Furthermore, the song is social satire, so for those who can understand it, there is intellectual validity in the lyrics. To just dismiss that on account of ignorance is crass.

If kpoplyrics.net has even remotely correct translation of the song, the social satire is rather light in it. In fact I don't really see much satire in the words at all, but maybe it's so much directed at Koreans that you'd need to know them to truly get it. But yeah, the song is certainly not gibberish based on that translation.

[Animeniax]

Yeah I've heard the satire is that PSY doesn't actually represent or live the rich, snobbish Gangnam style, he's just copping off it for the song. Not really a powerful message.

[Uchiha Barles]

Here's the article I read awhile back concerning the satire, although it's not just in the lyrics. The video's important to it as well.

Gangnam Style satirizes a subset of korean culture. (http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/08/gangnam-style-dissected-the-subversive-message-within-south-koreas-music-video-sensation/261462/)

The article mentions that the satire is indeed gentle and nowhere near as subversive as you'd expect from artists here in the states or England. At the same time though, Korea is very different and even this level of satire is something to take note of, particularly because of how popular the video's become. I remember seeing a video of Psy himself mentioning some of these points. If I can find it again I'll link it in here.

[Animeniax]

What you're missing is that the vast vast vast majority of those who made the song/video popular are not Koreans, don't care about the satire as it pertains to Korean culture, and don't know what he's singing. So in a way O'reilly and co. are right about the song's popularity being nothing more than a catchy beat and silliness in the video.

edit: If you think O'reilly and co were harsh on the original song, wait until they critique the version where Hyena sings more lines:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcLNteez3c4

[Y]

Nobody pretends to be a huge bigot for a decade. They either started out or very quickly became actual bigots pretending to themselves it was all an act.

[Animeniax]

Well the conservatives have plenty of ammo to blast PSY with after a story was released that he rapped anti-American lyrics back in 2004 amid Korean anger at the US, calling for the deaths of American soldiers in Iraq after two Korean girls were killed by American soldiers in a vehicle accident. He didn't write the lyrics, just performed them with other rappers. Apparently the right wing pundits are already all over the story.

[Ryllharu]

So are they going to go after the dozens of American bands that actually wrote similar things during the Bush era?

[Animeniax]

So are they going to go after the dozens of American bands that actually wrote similar things during the Bush era?

Only if they're foreigners with a mega hit that the conservatives think is gibberish and a sign of the liberal pox that is destroying traditional America. That's the kind of double standard right wing pundits hold people to. Plenty of negative comments about PSY on his youtube video too.

[Uchiha Barles]

As complete of a reunion for Nirvana as you're going to get is happening tonight during the benefit concert for hurricane Sandy victims. Paul McCartney will be standing in for Kurt.

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/nirvana_reform_with_paul_mccartney.html?no_takeove r

Not sure what to expect from McCartney trying to sing angsty Cobain stuff, but its being streamed so I guess I'll get to see it.

[Ryllharu]

Not sure what to expect from McCartney trying to sing angsty Cobain stuff, but its being streamed so I guess I'll get to see it.That's easy, expect some attention whoring. That's what McCartney does these days. He's like Bono, but less of a douchebag.

For what it's worth...

"If it was up to me, I’d get more oil tanker drivers drunk. I don’t value music much. I like the Beatles, but I hate Paul McCartney. I like Led Zeppelin, but I hate Robert Plant. I like the Who, but I hate Roger Daltrey." -Kurt Cobain

[Animeniax]

I used to think that about rock stars like Steven Tyler when he was on American Idol... why don't you just enjoy what you've done and fade away? Then I saw the Sandy benefit special where he sang "Dream On" while playing piano with Perry on guitar. Even after all these years, dude still has it, and his work entitles him to forever hold a part in the spotlight.

If McCartney is covering Cobain, I guess he gets the last laugh. And don't forget, Cobain loved Courtney Love.

[Uchiha Barles]

If McCartney is covering Cobain, I guess he gets the last laugh. And don't forget, Cobain loved Courtney Love.

lollol! *Kurt Cobain rolls in grave*, Paul McCartney say "yeah...that's right...this is happening..." The funny thing is, they were all already jamming together when McCartney finally realized he was jamming with Nirvana. I remember rumors going around that Kurt and Dave didn't like each other much, so I wonder if this means a little more than meets the eye. I for one, did not know that Kurt "hated" Paul McCartney.

edit: Clapton is ripping it up right now.

[Animeniax]

lollol! *Kurt Cobain rolls in grave*, Paul McCartney say "yeah...that's right...this is happening..." The funny thing is, they were all already jamming together when McCartney finally realized he was jamming with Nirvana. I remember rumors going around that Kurt and Dave didn't like each other much, so I wonder if this means a little more than meets the eye. I for one, did not know that Kurt "hated" Paul McCartney.

edit: Clapton is ripping it up right now.

I think Cobain pretty much hated everything, including himself. I doubt it was a personal dislike for McCartney, just what he represents, but who knows.

I'm still shocked how guys who can make great music together can hate each other so much. I guess it's like they say, the same passion you feel to make something beautiful can also make you hate more deeply.

[Kraco]

Maybe he hated somebody who could later, even temporarily, substitute him...

[Animeniax]

Cobain was a lot of things, but not prescient. From the quote, it sounds like he was a hater.

[Ryllharu]

You're reading the quote far too literally. He is listing all the bands he likes, then stating he hated their frontmen. The quote as a whole is interesting because Cobain was Nirvana's frontman.

Depending on your point of view, the Beatles either had no frontman, or they had two, Paul and John. He lists Paul, and not John, showing which one he had a huge amount of respect for. For The Who, he lists Daltry, but not Townshend, who wrote most of the songs in their heyday.

Plant, Daltry, and McCartney were always very visible parts of their bands. Lennon, not so much. Cobain himself was very reserved during interviews and the like.

[Animeniax]

Nah, I was being flippant about the quote, I'm sure there's a lot more meaning to it. The frontman of any group is usually the one to make a name for himself and move beyond the band into a solo career, as they're the voice of the band and often the one who writes the songs. If that's a reason to hate them, then it must be an artist thing. Maybe some jealously or some artistic sensibility.

[Ryllharu]

...It's kind of impressive how off-base you are.

[Animeniax]

Shrug, his reasons for hating the prominent member of great bands are his own. I'm not too concerned with it. Like I said, the guy brought Courtney Love into the spotlight. Thanks a lot, Kurt.

[Carnage]

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/14/15907407-elementary-school-massacre-27-dead-including-18-kids-in-connecticut?lite

[Ryllharu]

Governor and Representative of the State Police just finished a press conference.

27 Dead, 1 additional at a separate crime scene.

20 are children under 11, very likely far younger.

Absolutely sickening and heartbreaking.

Worse, I am disgusted by the national and international press. Twenty young children are dead, and they are desperately seeking any and all information about the motherfucker who did this. They're throwing out random names, but admitting they're not really sure if that is who it is. The local press has been downplaying the ID of the shooter, focusing on the tragedy itself.

It can't just be a coincidence that days before a 20-something does this, another, similarly aged psychotic asshole goes and lights up a mall on the other side of the country, which in turn was months after another 20-something psychotic asshole shot in a theater full of people. Wearing what looked like body armor (turned out not to be), wearing what looked like body armor (turned out not to be), and there are already preliminary reports that this asshole was too.

They're psychotic, and they're after the attention. The solution to this is pretty straightforward: Stop reporting who the shooter is. Period. Media blackout on the identity, backed up by severe fines. Give them a number (Suspect #M23-002), release an age and gender (or better, include it in the number), and that's it.

It shouldn't be a media circus about the perpetrator. It should be about the victims.

[Dark Dragon]

What's very weird is that there is a similar attack in China today (http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/14/world/asia/china-knife-attack/index.html).

Thankfully, no one die from that attack. I don't know if it's a coincidence or some larger connection, but it's very suspicious that two people decide to attack elementary school on the same day.

Edit: I'm currently watching some reporter trying to interview a bunch of 5-6 year old in order to get their reactions, WTF is wrong with people.

[Kagemane_no_Jutsu]

Governor and Representative of the State Police just finished a press conference.

27 Dead, 1 additional at a separate crime scene.

20 are children under 11, very likely far younger.

Absolutely sickening and heartbreaking.

Worse, I am disgusted by the national and international press. Twenty young children are dead, and they are desperately seeking any and all information about the motherfucker who did this. They're throwing out random names, but admitting they're not really sure if that is who it is. The local press has been downplaying the ID of the shooter, focusing on the tragedy itself.

It can't just be a coincidence that days before a 20-something does this, another, similarly aged psychotic asshole goes and lights up a mall on the other side of the country, which in turn was months after another 20-something psychotic asshole shot in a theater full of people. Wearing what looked like body armor (turned out not to be), wearing what looked like body armor (turned out not to be), and there are already preliminary reports that this asshole was too.

They're psychotic, and they're after the attention. The solution to this is pretty straightforward: Stop reporting who the shooter is. Period. Media blackout on the identity, backed up by severe fines. Give them a number (Suspect #M23-002), release an age and gender (or better, include it in the number), and that's it.

It shouldn't be a media circus about the perpetrator. It should be about the victims.


It really amazes me that we live in a supposed civilized society filled with highly educated individuals, and yet this is not common practice.

The media throws their clumsy, half-retarded weight around, bumping into walls, and knocking over everything delicate in our country.

This just shows me that there are no coincidences. Its no coincidence they continue to over-expose these scum, and its no coincidence the rate at which these tragedies seem to occur only continues to rise.

[Carnage]

I would say logically, the parties at fault aren't the media but education system for not picking up nutjobs in the first place, and the lax gun control we have in the country.

Pragmatically though, this country will never strip its citizens of all their guns and outlaw them, nor will there ever be enough money to care of each individual, so yeah I guess I would have to agree it would be for the best not to sensationalize these things. Although it is sad then that a nation cant even mourn its own tragedies.

[Animeniax]

The local channel made sure to note this was the worst school shooting in U.S. history, like it's some sort of contest. I think they were still wrong, since there were more victims at VT. News coverage in this country sucks.

[enkoujin]

I would say logically, the parties at fault aren't the media but education system for not picking up nutjobs in the first place, and the lax gun control we have in the country.

Social resentment can spawn from being in school like bullying even if it's something as simple as social interaction. Also, it is possible for psychosis to develop after secondary and post-secondary studies or from other factors outside of school like a bad home/family environment.

I'm not really familiar with school shootings at all, but do all the perpetrators really do it for the fame or infamy? What message are they trying to get across?

I think they're just doing it because they enjoy disrupting civil equilbrium by causing chaos.

[Animeniax]

Governor and Representative of the State Police just finished a press conference.

27 Dead, 1 additional at a separate crime scene.

20 are children under 11, very likely far younger.

Absolutely sickening and heartbreaking.

Worse, I am disgusted by the national and international press. Twenty young children are dead, and they are desperately seeking any and all information about the motherfucker who did this. They're throwing out random names, but admitting they're not really sure if that is who it is. The local press has been downplaying the ID of the shooter, focusing on the tragedy itself.

It can't just be a coincidence that days before a 20-something does this, another, similarly aged psychotic asshole goes and lights up a mall on the other side of the country, which in turn was months after another 20-something psychotic asshole shot in a theater full of people. Wearing what looked like body armor (turned out not to be), wearing what looked like body armor (turned out not to be), and there are already preliminary reports that this asshole was too.

They're psychotic, and they're after the attention. The solution to this is pretty straightforward: Stop reporting who the shooter is. Period. Media blackout on the identity, backed up by severe fines. Give them a number (Suspect #M23-002), release an age and gender (or better, include it in the number), and that's it.

It shouldn't be a media circus about the perpetrator. It should be about the victims.
At first I agreed it is a good idea to ignore the killer and focus on the lives lost, but reading a CNN report on the killings left me wanting to know who to blame, who to hate for this horrible crime. I think I'm in the majority in wanting to know who the killer was instead of just thinking of a phantom unnamed killer and all those dead. It's not like it's a hurricane or tornado; it's a person who did this, and he must pay in order to restore order and sense to the world. It just doesn't feel right not knowing.

[Dark Dragon]

Social resentment can spawn from being in school like bullying even if it's something as simple as social interaction. Also, it is possible for psychosis to develop after secondary and post-secondary studies or from other factors outside of school like a bad home/family environment.

I'm not really familiar with school shootings at all, but do all the perpetrators really do it for the fame or infamy? What message are they trying to get across?

I think they're just doing it because they enjoy disrupting civil equilbrium by causing chaos.

I'm not sure that this case had anything to do with fame. The first person shot is the mother of the shooter and then he turned on her class. The principal and other teachers got shot when they got in his way leaving the building. He tried to escape by car, but committed suicide when he was surrounded by SWATs.

[Animeniax]

I'm not sure that this case had anything to do with fame. The first person shot is the mother of the shooter and then he turned on her class. The principal and other teachers got shot when they got in his way leaving the building. He tried to escape by car, but committed suicide when he was surrounded by SWATs.

Where did you hear that? I read on CNN that he killed his mother, who was a teacher, but she did not teach at the school that he attacked.

edit:
Despite earlier reports that said she was a teacher, Nancy Lanza was not a teacher at the school where the killings took place, said Janet Vollmer, a kindergarten teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

[Dark Dragon]

I think it was an article from MSNBC that mentioned his mother was the teacher and he shot her class. I'm checking other articles now and they're saying that he shot her at home before going to the school.

[Animeniax]

I think in the rush to make a connection between all the events, news outlets tried to tie the mother to the school where the massacre occurred, but this has since been corrected.

[Ryllharu]

At first I agreed it is a good idea to ignore the killer and focus on the lives lost, but reading a CNN report on the killings left me wanting to know who to blame, who to hate for this horrible crime. I think I'm in the majority in wanting to know who the killer was instead of just thinking of a phantom unnamed killer and all those dead. It's not like it's a hurricane or tornado; it's a person who did this, and he must pay in order to restore order and sense to the world. It just doesn't feel right not knowing.Well, CNN in particular was a great source, considering they named the wrong brother for hours and began terrorizing anyone who knew him, turning it into yet another case of, "I never expected he would do such a thing."

Complete fucking assholes as usual at that joke of an organization. To be fair, the national branch of NPR wasn't any better, nor was the AP.

The local CT channels never once ran with the tentative/prelmininary identity. They waited until the CT state police confirmed his identity.

The national and international outlets love to bill themselves as "The Press" ffs. They should start acting like it, and do some actual reporting of the facts and not be using dartboards and their Jump to Conclusion mats. Their ability to spread misinformation quickly has never been higher. Collectively, they need to become more responsible.

[Animeniax]

The point is, regardless of which news outlet you got the story from, I as a reader wanted to know who the scumbag was that did it.

Not that I'm defending CNN or any of the outlets, but it's a ratings game, and wild speculation and even the hint of information will garner viewers. Which proves my point, people want to know who did it and that he gets the punishment that's coming to him. So blanking out his identity and focusing just on the victims won't work. It's the same reason that innocent people sometimes hang for crimes. In our society, people want/need someone to blame and to take the punishment so that we can keep on living in safety and security, even if it's a false one.

[Carnage]

The point is, regardless of which news outlet you got the story from, I as a reader wanted to know who the scumbag was that did it.

Not that I'm defending CNN or any of the outlets, but it's a ratings game, and wild speculation and even the hint of information will garner viewers. Which proves my point, people want to know who did it and that he gets the punishment that's coming to him. So blanking out his identity and focusing just on the victims won't work. It's the same reason that innocent people sometimes hang for crimes. In our society, people want/need someone to blame and to take the punishment so that we can keep on living in safety and security, even if it's a false one.

The whole issue could be resolved if the media decided to wait 24-48 hours before releasing info on the perpetrator.

[Animeniax]

What the fuck is wrong with the US legal system? People and their frivolous bullshit, that's what.

Seau family sues NFL and Riddell (helmet maker) for Junior's death (http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/23/sport/nfl-seau-lawsuit/index.html?hpt=hp_t3)

[Buffalobiian]

What the fuck is wrong with the US legal system? People and their frivolous bullshit, that's what.

Seau family sues NFL and Riddell (helmet maker) for Junior's death (http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/23/sport/nfl-seau-lawsuit/index.html?hpt=hp_t3)

It's not just the US.

Chinese Man Sues Wife For Being Ugly, Wins (http://www.worldcrunch.com/default/plastic-surgery-nation-chinese-man-sues-wife-for-being-ugly-wins/china-plastic-surgery-advertisement-verdict/c0s10072/#.UQDkGGc1DTo)

[Animeniax]

It's not just the US.

Chinese Man Sues Wife For Being Ugly, Wins (http://www.worldcrunch.com/default/plastic-surgery-nation-chinese-man-sues-wife-for-being-ugly-wins/china-plastic-surgery-advertisement-verdict/c0s10072/#.UQDkGGc1DTo)

Oh shit that's awesome!!! The human race is doomed.

I've always felt that China's communist control of its people was a good thing, as the unfettered ambition of 1.3 billion people of such industry and cunning as the Chinese possess would hasten the world to its end.

Imagine if all the world advanced the way the U.S. did, but in a shorter amount of time. We're headed that way as China and India modernize. It will be a mess.

[Assertn]

Oh shit that's awesome!!! The human race is doomed.

I've always felt that China's communist control of its people was a good thing, as the unfettered ambition of 1.3 billion people of such industry and cunning as the Chinese possess would hasten the world to its end.

Imagine if all the world advanced the way the U.S. did, but in a shorter amount of time. We're headed that way as China and India modernize. It will be a mess.

I had commented on this last fall when it came up on Reddit, but basically the jist of this is this: cultural relativism.
It's easy for us to look at an article like this and feel appalled, but think about it from a chinese man's perspective. To them, carrying on the bloodline is the most important thing. Couple this with the fact that each person can only have one child, and you can see why a man might feel cheated, when his chosen partner hid her genes from him.

[Buffalobiian]

I had commented on this last fall when it came up on Reddit, but basically the jist of this is this: cultural relativism.
It's easy for us to look at an article like this and feel appalled, but think about it from a chinese man's perspective. To them, carrying on the bloodline is the most important thing. Couple this with the fact that each person can only have one child, and you can see why a man might feel cheated, when his chosen partner hid her genes from him.

That would mean that partners are obliged to disclose their plastic surgery history to partners as a requirement of marriage, and that's not really something I agree with.

[Animeniax]

I had commented on this last fall when it came up on Reddit, but basically the jist of this is this: cultural relativism.
It's easy for us to look at an article like this and feel appalled, but think about it from a chinese man's perspective. To them, carrying on the bloodline is the most important thing. Couple this with the fact that each person can only have one child, and you can see why a man might feel cheated, when his chosen partner hid her genes from him.

That makes sense, and I did miss the culturally relative significance of such a lawsuit. I guess I was still banging my head against the desk from the Seau lawsuit news.

From what I've heard, it's not true that you can only have one child. I've been told (by a Chinese girl in China) each person can have one child, so each couple can have two. Regardless, like Buff said, it requires a level of disclosure that will make a mess of things for those looking to pair and have a family. There's a certain level of disclosure required between partners, and admitting to plastic surgery crosses that line. However I don't know if the Chinese rely on stare decisis in their rulings.

[Ryllharu]

It depends mostly on the region and metropolitan area.

Rural areas are allowed to petition for a second child, but only if the first is a daughter or disabled (mental or physical). Nice comparison there...

Shanghai actively encourages (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/world/asia/25shanghai.html?_r=0) two children because they want to even out the age curve and prevent a work force shortage.

[Assertn]

That would mean that partners are obliged to disclose their plastic surgery history to partners as a requirement of marriage, and that's not really something I agree with.

Again, cultural relativism.

[Animeniax]

Again, cultural relativism.

Do the Chinese rely on arranged marriages or marriages of convenience? If so, then I could see the need for full disclosure, as far as plastic surgery is concerned.

[Buffalobiian]

Do the Chinese rely on arranged marriages or marriages of convenience? If so, then I could see the need for full disclosure, as far as plastic surgery is concerned.

It's pretty free as far as I know. Parents like to (secretly) invite you to meet with other family friends' children and stuff if they don't think you're being proactive enough about finding a mate, but I do not believe arranged marriages are the norm anymore.

This is talking about metropolitan areas. Rural areas and minority ethnic groups may have different cultures.

[Assertn]

Do the Chinese rely on arranged marriages or marriages of convenience? If so, then I could see the need for full disclosure, as far as plastic surgery is concerned.

Regardless of the means, if the goal is to have a healthy, successful child to carry your name, then you might be pissed if he turns out to be born a hideous beast because the qualities you found suitable in your mate are all fake.

[Animeniax]

Regardless of the means, if the goal is to have a healthy, successful child to carry your name, then you might be pissed if he turns out to be born a hideous beast because the qualities you found suitable in your mate are all fake.

True but we're talking about China here, and if you mean by "healthy and successful" that they are physically attractive. From what I've seen of your average Chinese in China, slim pickings if you're looking for even what we'd consider a 4 or 5. The only way to find 6 or 7s is to be rich and famous. The only 8s and above are surgically enhanced.

[Kraco]

Pope Palpatine resigns. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21411304)

I wonder if the next pope will look less like a sith lord but more importantly behave less like one and be a little less ultra conservative and a little more open-minded.

[Death BOO Z]

from what I understand, looks like Benedict is about to be the last [D]WEM as pope. Africa and south America have a greater population of Catholics than Europe does.
I'd like to think that it just means that no one born in the west is both smart enough and crazy enough to believe in that shit. but probably not.

[Animeniax]

I was fully expecting that he was resigning due to a scandal. Turns out it's just old age retirement.

[Carnage]

I'd like to think that it just means that no one born in the west is both smart enough and crazy enough to believe in that shit. but probably not.

Its like I'm really on reddit!

[Dark Dragon]

Apparently not about the budget cut to financial assistance for the poor. (http://thinkprogress.org/media/2013/03/14/1714281/cable-news-obsessesively-covers-cuts-to-white-house-tours-virtually-ignores-cuts-to-programs-for-the-poor/)

[UChessmaster]

Gay marriage etc. (http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/26/politics/same-sex-marriage-court/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews)

[Uchiha Barles]

Lucus Arts Studios murdered by Disney. Along with it, the end of hopes for Star Wars 1313 and any Grim Fandango returns.

http://kotaku.com/disney-shuts-down-lucasarts-468473749

edit: corrected the link

[Kraco]

Lucus Arts Studios murdered by Disney. Along with it, the end of hopes for Star Wars 1313 and any Grim Fandango returns.

http://kotaku.com/disney-shuts-down-lucasarts-468473749

edit: corrected the link

I have always been under an impression Disney is a control freak, so I suspect future SW games aren't too moddable. Although on the other hand since it's all purely licensed stuff from now, perhaps the third party game studios could include a statement in the license agreement that they alone control any modding restrictions, with Disney having no say in it.

At least Disney hasn't so far put an end to Star Wars fanfilm making. Unless the mammoth is just so slow it hasn't yet got down to it.

[Ryllharu]

As many have said around the internet when this story broke, the LucasArts you loved died a long time ago, and wasn't ever coming back.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed [2008/2010] was mediocre at best, I bet you didn't play Lucidity [2009] (nobody else did), Republic Commando [2006] never really went anywhere...Star Wars: Bounty Hunter [2002] shouldn't need to elaborate there, etc.

What was the last really great LucasArts game you played? Probably Jedi Academy in 2003, but that was actually Raven Software. KOTOR? All Bioware.

PodRacer was 1999, Rogue Squadron was 1998/2001. Last great non-Star Wars game? Grim Fandango.

I'll miss them too, but a lot of their greatest non-Star Wars games were Tim Schafer, and that's what DoubleFine is for. LucasArts wasn't the same after he and Larry Ahern both left around 2000.

[Carnage]

I cant fucking believe Battlefront III was scrapped 97% of the way into production. Fucking idiots.

[Dark Dragon]

Explosion at Boston Marathon - NSFW (http://deadspin.com/explosions-reported-at-the-boston-marathon-473008941)

They're reporting that the city is being evacuated.

[Ryllharu]

If you knew anyone in the race, you can check on their status here:

http://baa.org/individual.html

Bomb went off around 4 hours into the race (4:09 elapsed time). About 2:50 EST.

[shinta|hikari]

This is terrible.

But I have to admire the runner in pink. He had enough concentration not to even look back after the explosion.

[Ryllharu]

To be honest, he was probably too exhausted to notice.

I suspect that the older guy who fell wasn't hit, he was just surprised/shocked and his body just gave out.

Terrible stuff. I hope someone has a cell phone video of the culprit(s). The Boston police are looking for any footage anyone has.

[Sapphire]

WHAT THE FUCK??????

SERIOUSLY. WHAT THE FUCK??????

[Dark Dragon]

Senate rejects background check for guns. (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/04/17/guns-background-checks-manchin-senate/2090105/)

CISPA passed in the house, Obama threatened to VETO. (http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/16/4231760/white-house-would-oppose-cispa-in-current-form)

[Ryllharu]

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/189/bostonglobe.png (http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/04/18/mit-police-officer-hit-gunfire-cambridge-police-dispatcher-says/4UeCClOVeLr8PHLvDa99zK/story.html)



Good job Boston PD, Mass. State Police, and FBI!

[Sapphire]

Wow, they pwned those stupid kids.

I guess the lesson is DO NOT FUCK w/ post 9/11 America?



PS—Assuming they're guilty, of course. Innocent until proven guilty yadda yadda.

[Ryllharu]

The lesson is do not fuck with Boston.

At one point, the police and FBI were getting 300,000 tips a minute according to ABC news.

edit: Even a guy who got both his legs blown off allegedly woke up and first thing, was ready to tell the cops he could identify the guy (http://news.yahoo.com/bradley-cooper-visits-boston-bombing-victim-jeffrey-bauman-184619576.html), even with all the drugs he was on.

[EpyonNext]

Wow, they pwned those stupid kids.

I guess the lesson is DO NOT FUCK w/ post 9/11 America?



PS—Assuming they're guilty, of course. Innocent until proven guilty yadda yadda.

Steven Colbert summed it up best: http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/425527/april-16-2013/intro---4-16-13

[Animeniax]

This is why I want to be PD... to be in the middle of the action, instead of just a netizen posting about it. Soon, soon...

[Ryllharu]

That overt desire "to be in the action" is just one of the many reason they won't ever let you.

They have a term for people like you, other than just "sociopath." It's called Hero syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_syndrome).

The Boston PD earned the populace's trust, and were rewarded with overwhelming support during this crisis. That generation of trust is something you could never accomplish.

[Abdula]

I have to completely agree with Ryllharu on this one Ani. Your eagerness is more than a little scary.

[Sapphire]

Did you hear that, Ani?

They called you a hero. <3

[Animeniax]

Did you hear that, Ani?

They called you a hero. <3

That's what I got from it. I think they're being a little defensive since all they can do to contribute to the situation in Boston is post about it on the forums, and maybe on facebook.

@Ryll: you sound like so many people who have this misguided notion about what/who the police are and what kinds of people join the police. It's the same bs that will lead you to castigate and revile police officers who mess up, never mind that they are just humans working under a lot of stress, sometimes life and death. Good thing people like you don't get to choose who polices you.

"The Boston PD earned the populace's trust..." HAHAHAHHA. Oh the storybook world you must live in.

[Abdula]

@Ryll: you sound like so many people who have this misguided notion about what/who the police are and what kinds of people join the police. It's the same bs that will lead you to castigate and revile police officers who mess up, never mind that they are just humans working under a lot of stress, sometimes life and death. Good thing people like you don't get to choose who polices you.
Yeah this has nothing to do with police or what kind of people join the police force this is about you specifically. I know one psycho in particular who went and joined the military because he is a superhero and supposedly when he is satisfied with all the good deeds he is going to do in the US military he is going to become an FBI agent. That last line of yours is a sentiment he expresses often.

[Animeniax]

Yeah well you don't really know me and you probably don't really know this psycho you're talking about either. If he actually believes that being in the military or the police enables you to be a hero, he's young and dumb and the reality will hit him sooner or later how powerless he actually is to do any real good in the world as a soldier or an officer. That's why I'm aiming high, like judgeships and policy making.

[Abdula]

I know him far too well actually, I grew up with him. He is dumb age has nothing to do with it and when he is forced to face reality it only serves to further reinforce his delusions. You really aren't helping your case, saying I don't know him and that he is special and not like other people is his typical defensive bs. Unrealistically high expectations is another. First he was going to go to the NFL and become this superstar RB but then reality set in and he discovered he couldn't cut it, then he moved on to being a lawyer/judge and he was going to go to law school blah blah, couldn't make that happen either. Now it is the military and then the FBI. The more he fails the more motivation he has to try to prove himself. He has an inferiority complex so large that if it were to physically manifest it would blot out the sun. Don't be that guy Ani.

[Buffalobiian]

Let's keep further discussion on Boston police and other news topics. You can continue posting here for career discussions (http://forums.gotwoot.net/showthread.php/16839-Where-are-you-on-your-career-path).

[Animeniax]

Well luckily the Boston PD are a fine squad with 100% compliance and model officers who all have the right mindset for police work and none of whom have a hero complex, which enabled them to apprehend the suspects in this horrible attack.

One thing I'm hearing from the PC crowd is that the suspects are Russian, and that people need to quit being racist by assuming that they are Islamic terrorists. But those PC folks forget, there are Muslims in Russia.

[Ryllharu]

They are Chechens. HUGE difference. Apparently one too subtle for you to understand (though it shouldn't be). The Chechen Separatists weren't even Islamic radicals until the late 2000s, they were just nationalists.

The American Chechen refugee population despises these two. The Russians and Chechens hate these two. The general response from the average Russian interviewed as a result of this story considers them just some pathetic loser wackjobs who were lashing out because their life wasn't going their way. The two were from a different part of Russia (now Kyrgyzstan), one of them (the younger) never even visited Chechnya, and the other (the older) was quite vocal about his dissatisfaction at not making any friends in the US. That last part is far more in line with the regular pattern of domestic terrorism.

So yes, the Islamist Radicalist angle is a bit overzealous at this point, and is a bit bigoted. The brothers probably sought a connection with that as an excuse, rather than as their driving cause.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Chechen Separatist Movement hates these two, because they have brought the Russian Government's attention back on them.

[Kraco]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Chechen Separatist Movement hates these two, because they have brought the Russian Government's attention back on them.

Not only that, but it might make the world pay even less attention to the Chechnya situation, if a portion of people start to think Chechens deserve whatever Russia throws their way.

[Animeniax]

They are Chechens. HUGE difference. Apparently one too subtle for you to understand (though it shouldn't be). The Chechen Separatists weren't even Islamic radicals until the late 2000s, they were just nationalists.

The American Chechen refugee population despises these two. The Russians and Chechens hate these two. The general response from the average Russian interviewed as a result of this story considers them just some pathetic loser wackjobs who were lashing out because their life wasn't going their way. The two were from a different part of Russia (now Kyrgyzstan), one of them (the younger) never even visited Chechnya, and the other (the older) was quite vocal about his dissatisfaction at not making any friends in the US. That last part is far more in line with the regular pattern of domestic terrorism.

So yes, the Islamist Radicalist angle is a bit overzealous at this point, and is a bit bigoted. The brothers probably sought a connection with that as an excuse, rather than as their driving cause.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Chechen Separatist Movement hates these two, because they have brought the Russian Government's attention back on them.

Calm down Beavis. Chechnya is a part of Russia, and most media accounts I've read about the situation don't differentiate between the two, which illustrates that people don't care that there's a difference. It comes back to an "us vs them" scenario, nevermind that domestic terrorism is almost as common as foreign terrorism in the US.

If CNN is to be believed (questionable at best, admittedly) there is a definite connection between the brothers' actions and Chechen Muslim radicalism: http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/20/us/brother-religious-language/index.html

Here's more information from HuffPo demonstrating a strong link between the brothers and their Islamic faith:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/boston-bombing-suspects-muslim_n_3116299.html

You make a lot of assumptions about their motivations, which I think is premature (and totally you). The older brother didn't have a lot of American friends because he couldn't understand them and their way of life/thinking. He wasn't just some loser/loner, he simply had a very different mindset/worldview that made it hard to associate with others who don't share those views.


"There are no values anymore," he observed, and "people can't control themselves."
Regarding friendships, Tamerlan, who had lived in the U.S. for five years, said, "I don't have a single American friend. I don't understand them."




Not only that, but it might make the world pay even less attention to the Chechnya situation, if a portion of people start to think Chechens deserve whatever Russia throws their way.
Maybe, but according to that report, authorities are looking at a connection between the Boston bombers and this Islamist terrorist group:

Imarat Kavkaz, which has its roots in the 1990s Chechen insurgency... was founded in 2007 to bring together various jihadist groups fighting to create an Islamic state in the region. The leader of Imarat Kavkaz is Doku Umarov, a veteran Chechen guerrilla who claimed responsibility for the the 2011 bombing of Moscow's international airport. If that attack happened as recently as 2011, then I doubt they care how the world sees them or feels sympathy for their cause, they simply want to strike out at their enemies. Very similar to how other terrorist orgs conduct themselves.

[Kraco]

Maybe, but according to that report, authorities are looking at a connection between the Boston bombers and this Islamist terrorist group:
If that attack happened as recently as 2011, then I doubt they care how the world sees them or feels sympathy for their cause, they simply want to strike out at their enemies. Very similar to how other terrorist orgs conduct themselves.

I wasn't really talking about islamic terrorist groups. They want nothing but suffering on both sides: Suffiring on the enemy side makes the enemy lose morale, and suffering on their own side generates disillusioned young men ready to be used as fodder in their operations. However, at least in the past there were still opposition in Chechnya who weren't fundamentalists but rather nationalists. But maybe they are a dying breed and are replaced by hardcore islamists.

[Animeniax]

I wasn't really talking about islamic terrorist groups. They want nothing but suffering on both sides: Suffiring on the enemy side makes the enemy lose morale, and suffering on their own side generates disillusioned young men ready to be used as fodder in their operations. However, at least in the past there were still opposition in Chechnya who weren't fundamentalists but rather nationalists. But maybe they are a dying breed and are replaced by hardcore islamists.

From what I've read the Muslims are the driving force behind Chechen nationalism, so it's religious rule similar to other Islamic nations. I wouldn't say it's the same as places like North Ireland or even Taiwan, where nationalism is its own driving force in the separatist movements.

[Ryllharu]

Nice to see you never read my post even though you quoted it. The Chechens were nationalist separatists first. They've only recently (within the last ten years) become dominated by the more Islamic Radicals.

They wanted to leave Russia like all the other republics that left the USSR, and the Russian gov't didn't let them. It was not religious in nature for the first 15 years after the fall of the USSR. Of course, they've been rebelling pretty much since 1905.

[Animeniax]

Nice to see you never read my post even though you quoted it. The Chechens were nationalist separatists first. They've only recently (within the last ten years) become dominated by the more Islamic Radicals.

They wanted to leave Russia like all the other republics that left the USSR, and the Russian gov't didn't let them. It was not religious in nature for the first 15 years after the fall of the USSR. Of course, they've been rebelling pretty much since 1905.

I read it and it has little to do with my original post about Muslims in Chechnya or with the brothers or their reasons for bombing the marathon. People were calling racism for associating the bombings with Islamic terrorism based on the fact that the suspects were Russian, not Middle Eastern. But as I stated, there is Islamic fundamentalism in Russia, so this latest attack certainly has Islamic terrorist roots. The Chechen struggle to be free from Russia has little if nothing to do with the brothers' attack on the US.

[Ryllharu]

So wait, you're complaining that people (the "PC crowd" in your words) are wrong for calling other people racist when they're trying to blame this on Muslims? On the sole basis that there are Muslims within Russia, you're saying that makes it okay to be racist and blame it on Muslims.

Got it.

:shakes head:

[Animeniax]

So wait, you're complaining that people (the "PC crowd" in your words) are wrong for calling other people racist when they're trying to blame this on Muslims? On the sole basis that there are Muslims within Russia, you're saying that makes it okay to be racist and blame it on Muslims.

Got it.

:shakes head:

Wow you just can't admit defeat can you. There are definite ties between the bombers and Islamic fundamentalism, and disregarding these ties because "they're Russian, not Middle Easterners" is foolish because there are Islamic radicals in Russia, namely Chechnya, where these guys are from. Further research has shown and will elaborate on the connection. I'm surprised you haven't learned this from Fox News already.

:bitch slaps Ryll on face:

[Kraco]

Some experts say that Al Qaida has already lost so much from it's core staff and leadership that it has become more of an ideology than a real organization. In the end it hardly matters if a person residing in a Western country and wanting to perform a terrorist attack has ever even spoken face to face with a real islamist. It's enough the person has read and heard enough of the radical movement to want to be a part of it, or even just to use it as an excuse. After all, the end result is no different: The person will execute a villainous act, likely dying or getting captured during it or shortly after. It's not like some firebrand preacher having wasted his time blathering about paradise and a score of virgins in afterlife to the candidate would make any difference when the bomb is set off. And that's all the terrorist organizations would ask of these youths: that they kill as many enemies as possible, sacrificing themselves in the process. It doesn't require years of training and conditioning in some backwards country out there.

[Carnage]

I'm surprised you haven't learned this from Fox News already.


Well now we know you're trolling.

[Edort4]

I dont have the news link in english but they are starting to say that he wasnt the best muslim out there. Dzhojar would get wasted 3 days a week in parties, never pray and act like almost any other teen his age alleges some guy called Zach Bettencourt wich he meet at the college. His college ID puts him several times in the campus after the bombings and the night before the persecution he went to a party.

Also some reports say that the suspect they have under custody had suffered damge in his throat and that he can barely speak.

Dunno dont sound like a fundamentalist to me. Also what the hell was that about a drill (about bombs) taking place at the same time of the bombing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=J5xKtuif5-c

ps: dont respond saying taqiyya

[Animeniax]

Well now we know you're trolling.

Nah, I added that to rub it in because he refuses to concede the likely truth. I don't watch Fox news but I imagine they've thoroughly explored the Islamic connection to the bombing. I have to watch the Daily Show/Colbert to find out what Fox says about stuff and I'm behind on my DVR recordings.


I dont have the news link in english but they are starting to say that he wasnt the best muslim out there. Dzhojar would get wasted 3 days a week in parties, never pray and act like almost any other teen his age alleges some guy called Zach Bettencourt wich he meet at the college. His college ID puts him several times in the campus after the bombings and the night before the persecution he went to a party.

Also some reports say that the suspect they have under custody had suffered damge in his throat and that he can barely speak.

Dunno dont sound like a fundamentalist to me. Also what the hell was that about a drill (about bombs) taking place at the same time of the bombing? The younger brother may not have been as committed to the cause, but older brother definitely was. He got his gf to convert to Islam before marrying her, and prayed 5 times a day in the months leading up to the attack. And we know how often an older brother has recruited his kid brother to do some crazy shit.

[Ryllharu]

Wow you just can't admit defeat can you. There are definite ties between the bombers and Islamic fundamentalism, and disregarding these ties because "they're Russian, not Middle Easterners" is foolish because there are Islamic radicals in Russia, namely Chechnya, where these guys are from. Further research has shown and will elaborate on the connection. I'm surprised you haven't learned this from Fox News already.
You didn't mention their ties to Islamic fundamentalism (which indeed there is ample evidence to support, like the elder brother's youtube channel). Not ONCE in this thread until now.

Your retort to the "PC crowd" was that Because Muslims Exist in Russia, it is okay to place the blame on the fact that they were Muslims. That's straight-up bullshit.

But the brother was very much into boxing, and had to quit after he was found beating someone outside of the ring. His violent tendencies only continued from there. It's pretty easy to say the blame isn't entirely on any radical islamic tendencies.

Additional fun fact, the leadership of the militant fundamentalist Islamic force in Chechnya has said that these two are not connected to them at all, has never had contact with them, and that their organization's fight is with Russia, not the US. Pretty much a formal denouncement of the actions by these two if there ever was one.

[Animeniax]

You didn't mention their ties to Islamic fundamentalism (which indeed there is ample evidence to support, like the elder brother's youtube channel). Not ONCE in this thread until now.

Your retort to the "PC crowd" was that Because Muslims Exist in Russia, it is okay to place the blame on the fact that they were Muslims. That's straight-up bullshit.

But the brother was very much into boxing, and had to quit after he was found beating someone outside of the ring. His violent tendencies only continued from there. It's pretty easy to say the blame isn't entirely on any radical islamic tendencies.

Additional fun fact, the leadership of the militant fundamentalist Islamic force in Chechnya has said that these two are not connected to them at all, has never had contact with them, and that their organization's fight is with Russia, not the US. Pretty much a formal denouncement of the actions by these two if there ever was one.

Yeah, except for in my second post on the subject: http://forums.gotwoot.net/showthread.php/14625-In-the-news-today?p=528567&viewfull=1#post528567 where I stated, "there is a definite connection between the brothers' actions and Chechen Muslim radicalism."

[Ryllharu]

Yeah, except for in my second post on the subject: http://forums.gotwoot.net/showthread.php/14625-In-the-news-today?p=528567&viewfull=1#post528567 where I stated, "there is a definite connection between the brothers' actions and Chechen Muslim radicalism."Your own words (emphasis mine): "If CNN is to be believed (questionable at best, admittedly)..."

Come on, we both know better than to believe the network famous for how often they fail, and given the statement I make above about the Chechen Radical Muslims...still bullshit. This is the same network that reported the Lord and Taylor camera captured an image of a "dark male" [LIE] and that an arrest had been made [LIE].

They have no connection to the Chechen insurgency.

[Animeniax]

Your own words (emphasis mine): "If CNN is to be believed (questionable at best, admittedly)..."

Come on, we both know better than to believe the network famous for how often they fail, and given the statement I make above about the Chechen Radical Muslims...still bullshit. This is the same network that reported the Lord and Taylor camera captured an image of a "dark male" [LIE] and that an arrest had been made [LIE].

They have no connection to the Chechen insurgency. I was playing into the Daily Show lambasting of CNN, but other outlets like HuffPo and the Daily Mail (UK) have also confirmed the link between the brothers and Chechen muslim radicalism. Maybe if you tried other sources for news besides Fox, you'd see that real journalism tries to support its claims with fact, instead of just yelling.

The Chechen insurgency is/was originally more about nationalism, but more recently it's been about Islamic fundamentalism. So the brothers' terrorist attack most certainly has ties to Chechen Islamic radicalism.

[Ryllharu]

I was playing into the Daily Show lambasting of CNN, but other outlets like HuffPo and the Daily Mail (UK) have also confirmed the link between the brothers and Chechen muslim radicalism. Maybe if you tried other sources for news besides Fox, you'd see that real journalism tries to support its claims with fact, instead of just yelling.

The Chechen insurgency is/was originally more about nationalism, but more recently it's been about Islamic fundamentalism. So the brothers' terrorist attack most certainly has ties to Chechen Islamic radicalism.
Oh...but too bad you're full of shit. The DailyFail...really? They're worse than FoxNews, by an order of magnitude. It's a fucking tabloid. Rupert Murdock's UK tabloid was more respected that the DailyMail, and News of the World got canceled due to a scandal involving hacking a dead girl's voicemail. Look at their website right now. Top stories: Kim Kardashian's wardrobe today (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2313093/Kim-Kardashian-squeezes-growing-bump-derriere-sexy-black-dress-meet-Kanye-West.html)! and she hosted a CrAzY party (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2313171/Neighbors-noisy-Park-Avenue-party-hotel-newlywed-Kim-K-lived-lost-sleep.html). Tragedy of 'healthy' Italian student, 23, who died hours after getting a Tattoo (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2312922/Beautiful-Italian-student-23-died-hours-getting-tattoo.html). Ooo, the Femail section sidebar, which is all gossip rag shit. You just proved you have no idea what's going on in the world. HuffPo isn't a whole lot better, just less celebrity gossip. Note I said less, not none, because they have a whole topic (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/the-kardashians/) on the Kardashians, updated daily! O.M.G. the latest news I'm so concerned about!!!


Like I've been saying: Caucasus Emirate, considered terrorists by both Russia, the US, and the UN, denies involvement with the Boston attack (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/apr/22/islamic-extremists-deny-link-boston-marathon-bombi/) and any and all connection with the Tsarnaevs brothers. [Second source link (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:UlrBeeZfdfQJ:blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/04/21/caucasus_jihadist_group_denies_involvement_in_bost on_attacks+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=opera).] Doesn't completely absolve them, but better than random speculation by a conservative gossip rag and and a liberal blog that just copies whatever CNN or AP articles are out there.

[Animeniax]

What'd I say about yelling to make your point? Still doesn't make you right, Bill O'Ryllharu.

[Animeniax]

Holy fuck what is wrong with the world?? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324874204578440331448641330.html

Markets dropped with the DJIA dropping 145 pts in 2 minutes after a fake tweet said the White House had been bombed and President Obama was injured.

[Ryllharu]

Because Twitter is a fucking retarded way to gather information.

Thanks CNN, for making it fashionable, and thanks all other media, for always shamelessly copying the AP instead of doing your own damn legwork. Hard to corroborate stories when they all use either the AP or Reuters.

Personally, I thought it was funny as hell, proving that IT security at the AP a POS (the cause was a "well-crafted" phishing email), and Twitter is aptly named.

The market goes crazy all the time. Blame micro-second transactions causing invariable cascades just like this. It's all automated. Don't you remember that "rogue algorithm" that caused the market to tank several months ago?

[Animeniax]

CNN is having a caption contest for this photo because they have no idea what prompted the President and former first lady to make these faces:

1490

CNN: where news is sourced from online asshats making witty comments.

[Carnage]

This always works.

1491

[Abdula]

Nah, someone probably just showed them one of Ani's old post. Zing!

[Animeniax]

The lead story for the noon news in the one-horse bumfuck town I live in: George Jones died today.

[Animeniax]

Sony patent that requires user interaction to skip commercials or place orders using your TV:http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/04/30/sony-patent-is-hilarious-terrifying/?iid=obnetwork

[Sapphire]

Sound just like that one episode of the UK's hit TV show Black Mirror.

I wish I thought of itttt!

[Animeniax]

Sound just like that one episode of the UK's hit TV show Black Mirror.

I wish I thought of itttt!

Wow, that does sound a lot like Black Mirror (from what I've just read of BM). I'll have to find that series on Netflix or somewhere to watch it. That's clever, how computer/tablet/phone screens are "black mirrors".

[Sapphire]

I know the show creator said the title is interpreted like that, but I always felt like the "black mirror" was a representation of the worst part of ourselves; the people we could very well be, and sometimes are.

[Dark Dragon]

Israel attacked a weapons research center near the Syrian capital (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/05/20135502043908700.html).

Syria is threatening war, but the deadline passed with no action.

Iran is threatening to "annihilate" Israel if they invade Syria.

BBC reports on the event. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22417482)

Apparently the Syrian rebel army is also using this chance to attack and there's report of up to 8,000 deaths. Information is very unclear right now, because U.S news is a joke and most of the info coming out are from social networking sites.

[Dark Dragon]

Major tornado hit Oklahoma (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22604251)

51 confirmed deaths and could reach as high as 91.

Video showing the massive tornado. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XMF22_MEMJU)

[Animeniax]

I know the show creator said the title is interpreted like that, but I always felt like the "black mirror" was a representation of the worst part of ourselves; the people we could very well be, and sometimes are.

I can't believe I let this one past me. Black mirror as the worst of ourselves? Why it gotta be black??


Major tornado hit Oklahoma (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22604251)

51 confirmed deaths and could reach as high as 91.They say it's only going to get worse as long as we continue destroying the planet. Storms are going to be bigger and badder, damage will be greater, death tolls will be higher.

[Sapphire]

I can't believe I let this one past me. Black mirror as the worst of ourselves? Why it gotta be black??

ROFLLLLLLLLLLLLL. Oh shiiiiiiiiiiii--


Major tornado hit Oklahoma (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22604251)

51 confirmed deaths and could reach as high as 91.

Video showing the massive tornado. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XMF22_MEMJU)

This... is insane. I guess the only thing to do would be to re-in-force tornado safe areas such as underground cellars and bunkers in tornado-prone zones? What about the people who weren't on a PC or watching TV at the moment and couldn't even see the warning? That's the scary thing...

I hope we can develop better hazardous weather alert systems, soon. For example, tornado alarms? (Similar to CO2 & fire alarms)

[Abdula]

I can't believe I let this one past me. Black mirror as the worst of ourselves? Why it gotta be black??

They say it's only going to get worse as long as we continue destroying the planet. Storms are going to be bigger and badder, damage will be greater, death tolls will be higher.
What else would it be, purple. Seriously if any color embodies evil it is purple.

Honestly, its not that bad so far. I hope I live long enough to see effects of the global climate shifts they expect will occur in the next 50 years are so.

This... is insane. I guess the only thing to do would be to re-in-force tornado safe areas such as underground cellars and bunkers in tornado-prone zones? What about the people who weren't on a PC or watching TV at the moment and couldn't even see the warning? That's the scary thing...

I hope we can develop better hazardous weather alert systems, soon. For example, tornado alarms? (Similar to CO2 & fire alarms)
Not really going to do much. Nature is beautiful in its total disregard for everything, besides humans need something to keep their arrogance in check. I love tornadoes, have ever since I was a child. I saw a waterspout as a kid and it is still one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Nature kills, it is a fact of life. This guy I knew, the younger brother of one of my father's coworkers actually, was struck by lightning while out on his boat. I hear it was pretty messy his internal organs were liquefied and began bubbling out of his body. I was not at all interested in seeing it though and it wasn't even a stormy day just overcast.

[Animeniax]

What else would it be, purple. Seriously if any color embodies evil it is purple.I think red is pretty evil (USSR/China). Purple is the color of royalty (in Roman and Anglo-Saxon circles).


Not really going to do much. Nature is beautiful in its total disregard for everything, besides humans need something to keep their arrogance in check. I love tornadoes, have ever since I was a child. I saw a waterspout as a kid and it is still one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Nature kills, it is a fact of life. This guy I knew, the younger brother of one of my father's coworkers actually, was struck by lightning while out on his boat. I hear it was pretty messy his internal organs were liquefied and began bubbling out of his body. I was not at all interested in seeing it though and it wasn't even a stormy day just overcast.Shit I hope your dad's coworker is ok. That sounds pretty dangerous going out on a boat in a thunderstorm.

[Abdula]

Yes they did give red a bad image but I think purple is much stronger especially in the western world because of its association with Roman and Anglo-saxon royalty, particularly with the Catholic church back when they tried to rule the world.

Eh, this was a few years ago, he got over it. It is the way you deal with freak sudden deaths like that, you either fall apart or eventually you just accept it and get through it. He did not go out in a storm though, that was the thing. It was a pretty fair day weather wise, there was just a lot of cloud cover, I don't even remember it raining. Just wrong place at the wrong time which is usually how such things happen.

[Animeniax]

Ha, you missed where I intentionally asked if your dad's dead coworker was ok after being struck by lightning and having his innards liquefied. Or did I miss you intentionally pretending to miss my ruse?

[Abdula]

I didn't miss it Ani, I was just musing at how bizarre the whole thing was.

[Ryllharu]

Food Swappers (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22539062)

I found this article infuriating. Not because of the bartering system being used, but because the event takes two hours, and everyone involved makes tasting samples and everyone gets to sample a bit of everything before the actual barter stage begins. It's theater or pot-luck party, masquerading as a farmer's market "without the trappings" of currency.

The whole scenario reeks of a 1st World Solution in search of a problem. Only wealthy, well-fed people with a lot of free time can afford to waste two hours playing around, pretending to be farmers and tradespeople bartering wares.

A distinctly affluent urbanite phenomenon.

(In case you don't believe me on that last bit: Locations (http://www.foodswapnetwork.com/listing/food-swaps-around-the-world/))

[Abdula]

It certainly sounds bad when she says she was baking more bread and cakes than her family could eat so she decided to trade it online for something else. Then they mention that there is so much extra food from people bringing surplus supplies and making things days beforehand just so they can swap it. It also mentions that they sometimes go a step further and just start sharing meals they have cooked, called it a community dinner. They also mentioned clothes swapping. Me wonders if there are not homeless shelters, and people who could really benefit from such things instead of Laura going home with loads of wild garlic. She called it a foodie flash mob. Well their hearts are in the right place, I think.

My sister hosts potlucks in the park every summer with her social network buddies this sounds exactly the same without some humanitarian spin on it. What is with the emphasis on home-grown, home-made or foraged food anyway. The apples for eggs swap in particular is baffling and foraged food really.

[Animeniax]

There's the same kind of disdain for hipsters, foodies, and yuppies. Too much disposable income, too much free time on their hands, looking for a problem to solve in the most meaningless and unsustainable way possible without the money and free time.

[Ryllharu]

Don't get me wrong, I love farmer's markets and specialized food vendors. The best beef jerky I've ever had (and probably ever will have), I bought in Pike Place Market from a kid who couldn't possibly be older than 15.

But I happily paid him in cash for his excellent food. I would happily do so again, if I'm in the area or could remember the name of the farm.

I got his highly-peppered beef jerky, he got to buy whatever he needed with the money. No play-acting 18th century bazaar, just a simple transaction.

@Ani:
Is there any difference between a yuppie and a hipster? It seems to me that Yuppie was just the random, nebulous derogatory term for that kind of person 20 years ago. Same age bracket, early-20s to mid-30s.