... I bet one would meet all sorts of interesting people kicking open random bathroom stalls.
More here.
2013-10-31
How amusing indeed.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/10/27/how-amusing-barnes-noble-is-now-amazons-biggest-publishing-problem/
Indeed -
"B&N’s argument is that if they cannot sell the digital version of the book then they’ll not be willing to sell the paper one either. And Amazon really isn’t going to start offering B&N the opportunity to sell the digital versions.
The effect of this is larger than you might think. For Amazon had deliberately aimed at that general interest best seller market. But seeing that the books it has published haven’t gained traction it’s finding that authors and agents don’t particularly want to sign up with Amazon as the publisher"
Gee, as an author I wouldn't want anything to do with Amoron either.
Indeed -
"B&N’s argument is that if they cannot sell the digital version of the book then they’ll not be willing to sell the paper one either. And Amazon really isn’t going to start offering B&N the opportunity to sell the digital versions.
The effect of this is larger than you might think. For Amazon had deliberately aimed at that general interest best seller market. But seeing that the books it has published haven’t gained traction it’s finding that authors and agents don’t particularly want to sign up with Amazon as the publisher"
Gee, as an author I wouldn't want anything to do with Amoron either.
2013-10-30
Time to revolt - really? Now?
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/10/29-4
Very nice, but frankly a part of me thinks the time to revolt has come and gone. Let's face it - our society's political systems have been so co-opted and corrupted by 500+ years of capitalism, corporations, and wealth and opulence all tied up with conservatism, religion and downright stupidity of the less-informed (willfully or otherwise) and downright idiocy of the cynical and tuned-out, to really think that human beings are truly going to come together as a species and really save the planet from irreversible destruction.
Simply put, not enough people really care enough to do something - that's the problem right there.
Very nice, but frankly a part of me thinks the time to revolt has come and gone. Let's face it - our society's political systems have been so co-opted and corrupted by 500+ years of capitalism, corporations, and wealth and opulence all tied up with conservatism, religion and downright stupidity of the less-informed (willfully or otherwise) and downright idiocy of the cynical and tuned-out, to really think that human beings are truly going to come together as a species and really save the planet from irreversible destruction.
Simply put, not enough people really care enough to do something - that's the problem right there.
Yeah a public health care option would've been a very good first step.
Indeed, but it goes beyond that.
Right-wingers didn't object to it because they really thought it was bad.
Right-wingers objected to it because the public would accept it en masse, to the point where there'd be no choice but to move forward with a a nationalized single-payer health care plan that covers all.
Right-wingers didn't object to it because they really thought it was bad.
Right-wingers objected to it because the public would accept it en masse, to the point where there'd be no choice but to move forward with a a nationalized single-payer health care plan that covers all.
2013-10-28
I'll believe it was really Monstanto's bad week ...
... when the actions from Mexico, Hawaii hold true, and I-522 actually passes.
Still, this is a good sign.
Still, this is a good sign.
2013-10-27
It's because Diebold is a corporation - and not an individual sentient human being - that they can get away without being charged as a criminal.
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=10323
If they were an actual person, they'd be in jail. Instead, because they aren't, and because they have a shit-ton of money to spend (on such things as say, fines), there is no real accountability for their "worldwide pattern of criminal conduct".
If they were an actual person, they'd be in jail. Instead, because they aren't, and because they have a shit-ton of money to spend (on such things as say, fines), there is no real accountability for their "worldwide pattern of criminal conduct".
2013-10-23
I guess not everyone tests their software before it's rolled out to customers.
But hey, let's play the blame game when teams don't do proper performance testing under nominal, heavy, and peak volume loads (not to mention determining system stress capacity), nor do they conduct proper analysis and evaluation of changes in usage late in the testing cycle.
More here - http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal-s-cgi-faces-scrutiny-over-troubled-obamacare-site-1.2187662
But at least the US Government is willing to admit just that ...
"With Republicans and Democrats launching attacks over the introduction of the insurance website, the Obama administration acknowledged Wednesday that the system didn't get enough testing, especially under high volume loads."
More here - http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal-s-cgi-faces-scrutiny-over-troubled-obamacare-site-1.2187662
But at least the US Government is willing to admit just that ...
"With Republicans and Democrats launching attacks over the introduction of the insurance website, the Obama administration acknowledged Wednesday that the system didn't get enough testing, especially under high volume loads."
The price of progress? That's one way of putting it. I prefer the craziness of coal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Harbin_smog
"Officials blamed the dense pollution on lack of wind, burning of crop waste in farmers' fields, and the 20 October[1] start-up of Harbin's coal-powered district heating system.[2]"
"Officials blamed the dense pollution on lack of wind, burning of crop waste in farmers' fields, and the 20 October[1] start-up of Harbin's coal-powered district heating system.[2]"
2013-10-21
More corporate stupidity - those who try to hide their brazen attempt to stop I-522.
The “No on 522″ donations include:
– Soft drink manufacturers: Pepsico is tops with $1.6 million, just as it was the lead contributor in the 2012 campaign that defeated Prop. 37, a similar measure on the California ballot. Coca-Cola has given $1.047 million to No on 522.
– “Big Chocolate:” NestleUSA has given $1.052 million through the Grocery Manufacturers Association. The Hershey Company has donated $248,305 that’s gone to No on 522.
– The cereal industry: General Mills tops out with $598,819 that has found its way into No on 522 coffers, followed by Kellogg Co. with donations of $221,852 through the “Defense of Brands Strategic Account” fund set up by the Grocery Manufacturers Association.
– Bread and Butter: Bimbo Bakeries — its brands include Orowheat, Sara Lee and Ball Park buns — has given $94,093, while butter maker Land O’ Lakes has donated $99,803.
– Agribusiness: Such firms as Monsanto ($4 million) have given separately to the record-setting No on 522 campaign. But Cargill & Co. put in $98,601 through the Grocery Manufacturers Association, and Conagra — whose products include Hunt’s Tomatoes, Banquet foods and David seeds — has put up $285, 281 to defeat the Washington labeling initiative.
– Canned foods: Del Monte put in $86,576 through the “Defense of Brand” fund, and Campbell Soup gave $265,140. Campbell donated $500,000 directly to the anti-Prop. 37 campaign in California last year.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/10/18/pepsi-coke-nestle-top-multi-million-dollar-campaign-against-i-522/ (Source Common Dreams, and HuffPo)
– Soft drink manufacturers: Pepsico is tops with $1.6 million, just as it was the lead contributor in the 2012 campaign that defeated Prop. 37, a similar measure on the California ballot. Coca-Cola has given $1.047 million to No on 522.
– “Big Chocolate:” NestleUSA has given $1.052 million through the Grocery Manufacturers Association. The Hershey Company has donated $248,305 that’s gone to No on 522.
– The cereal industry: General Mills tops out with $598,819 that has found its way into No on 522 coffers, followed by Kellogg Co. with donations of $221,852 through the “Defense of Brands Strategic Account” fund set up by the Grocery Manufacturers Association.
– Bread and Butter: Bimbo Bakeries — its brands include Orowheat, Sara Lee and Ball Park buns — has given $94,093, while butter maker Land O’ Lakes has donated $99,803.
– Agribusiness: Such firms as Monsanto ($4 million) have given separately to the record-setting No on 522 campaign. But Cargill & Co. put in $98,601 through the Grocery Manufacturers Association, and Conagra — whose products include Hunt’s Tomatoes, Banquet foods and David seeds — has put up $285, 281 to defeat the Washington labeling initiative.
– Canned foods: Del Monte put in $86,576 through the “Defense of Brand” fund, and Campbell Soup gave $265,140. Campbell donated $500,000 directly to the anti-Prop. 37 campaign in California last year.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/10/18/pepsi-coke-nestle-top-multi-million-dollar-campaign-against-i-522/ (Source Common Dreams, and HuffPo)
2013-10-18
Of course JFK was killed by more than one gunman.
So says the doctor who first examined him (pesky these things facts, observation, and logic are) -
"Speaking via teleconference to a Duquesne University symposium marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination, Robert N. McClelland said he was the first doctor in Parkland Hospital's Trauma Room One to notice the massive wound in the back of Kennedy's skull and that a trauma of that size had to be an exit wound.
"The whole right side of his skull was gone. I could look inside his skull cavity. Obviously, it was a mortal wound," he told a spellbound audience of legal, medical, forensic and investigative experts and the public who packed the university's Power Ballroom.
Dr. McClelland, now 83 and professor emeritus at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, said that because it was an exit wound, it logically followed that it had been fired from in front of the president's limousine. And, in turn, that meant a second gunman was involved in the assassination, contradicting the Warren Commission's finding that there was but one assassin."
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/surgeon-in-er-insists-2-gunmen-shot-jfk-708042/#ixzz2i7pzuTvp
"Speaking via teleconference to a Duquesne University symposium marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination, Robert N. McClelland said he was the first doctor in Parkland Hospital's Trauma Room One to notice the massive wound in the back of Kennedy's skull and that a trauma of that size had to be an exit wound.
"The whole right side of his skull was gone. I could look inside his skull cavity. Obviously, it was a mortal wound," he told a spellbound audience of legal, medical, forensic and investigative experts and the public who packed the university's Power Ballroom.
Dr. McClelland, now 83 and professor emeritus at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, said that because it was an exit wound, it logically followed that it had been fired from in front of the president's limousine. And, in turn, that meant a second gunman was involved in the assassination, contradicting the Warren Commission's finding that there was but one assassin."
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/surgeon-in-er-insists-2-gunmen-shot-jfk-708042/#ixzz2i7pzuTvp
2013-10-17
2013-10-16
Quote of the day - 10-14-2013.
Courtesy Glenn Greenwald -
"Most people, let alone journalists, would be far too embarrassed to admit they harbor such subservient, obsequious sentiments. It's one thing to accord some deference or presumption of good will to political officials, but the desire to demonstrate some minimal human dignity, by itself, would preclude most people from publicly confessing that they have willingly sacrificed all of their independent judgment and autonomy to the superior, secret decrees of those who wield the greatest power."
Established journalism=Corporate Stenography, pure and simple.
It makes sense that since large global corporations with vast amounts of money (the lifeblood of corporation) pretty much own most national governments, it stands to reason that institutes that once called themselves part of the journalism profession would eventually be required to compromise their objectivity, honesty, and integrity to its readers and be beholden to their owners to maximize profit and sales over actual, you know, their job.
"Most people, let alone journalists, would be far too embarrassed to admit they harbor such subservient, obsequious sentiments. It's one thing to accord some deference or presumption of good will to political officials, but the desire to demonstrate some minimal human dignity, by itself, would preclude most people from publicly confessing that they have willingly sacrificed all of their independent judgment and autonomy to the superior, secret decrees of those who wield the greatest power."
Established journalism=Corporate Stenography, pure and simple.
It makes sense that since large global corporations with vast amounts of money (the lifeblood of corporation) pretty much own most national governments, it stands to reason that institutes that once called themselves part of the journalism profession would eventually be required to compromise their objectivity, honesty, and integrity to its readers and be beholden to their owners to maximize profit and sales over actual, you know, their job.
2013-10-15
'Travesty' is hardly the word.
http://www.truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/18255-the-awarding-of-the-world-food-prize-to-a-monsanto-gmo-executive-is-a-travesty
It's like rewarding Amazon for selling books and supporting the book industry - they're a fucking cancer.
It's like rewarding Amazon for selling books and supporting the book industry - they're a fucking cancer.
2013-10-11
2013-10-09
Feel like stopping the Tea Partiers and their corporate masters from destroying the US?
Those corporate masters being the Koch Brothers, who by the way have been the true funders of these pretend activists controlling the US House of Representatives and hence hijacking what's left of our democracy in order to destroy it?
Well it may not be much, but for starters, you can boycott Koch products -
Toilet Paper:
Angel Soft
Quilted Northern
Soft N, Gentle
Paper Towels:
Brawny
Sparkle
Mardi Gras
Napkins:
Mardi Gras
Vanity Fair
Zee
Agriculture:
Nitamin
Bumper Harvest
Food Service:
Quik-Rap sandwich paper
Quilt-Rap insulating sandwich wrap
Food Shop sandwich wrap
Menu tissue
Packaging:
Color-Box
MulitKraft
GP paper products
GP industrial claening & janitorial products
GP healthcare products
GP building & remodelling products
Well it may not be much, but for starters, you can boycott Koch products -
Toilet Paper:
Angel Soft
Quilted Northern
Soft N, Gentle
Paper Towels:
Brawny
Sparkle
Mardi Gras
Napkins:
Mardi Gras
Vanity Fair
Zee
Agriculture:
Nitamin
Bumper Harvest
Food Service:
Quik-Rap sandwich paper
Quilt-Rap insulating sandwich wrap
Food Shop sandwich wrap
Menu tissue
Packaging:
Color-Box
MulitKraft
GP paper products
GP industrial claening & janitorial products
GP healthcare products
GP building & remodelling products
2013-10-08
This all seems bad ...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/canada-s-math-science-lag-bad-for-economy-report-says-1.1930150
Canada’s math, science lag bad for economy, report says
OECD survey finds Canadians’ numeracy ‘significantly below’ average
CBC News
Posted: Oct 08, 2013 3:26 PM ET
Last Updated: Oct 08, 2013 3:53 PM ET
"While Canadians scored far above average at problem solving in
technology-rich environments and their average literacy score was around
the average of OECD countries, their mean numeracy score was
“significantly below the average,” the OECD said, putting Canada 13th
out of 21 countries."
A part of me does wonder how much of this is industry funded however ...
"Meanwhile, Canadians are paying a heavy price for the fact that less
than 50 per cent of Canadian high school students graduate with senior
courses in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at a time
when 70 per cent of Canada’s top jobs require an education in those
fields, said report released by the science education advocacy group
Let’s Talk Science and the pharmaceutical company Amgen Canada. "
Check out the rather weasel-y last recommendation involving guess who ...?
So I thought I'd find out just how supports this 'advocacy group' ...
http://www.letstalkscience.ca/supporters.html
Ugh ... look who one of their 'champions' are ...
Sure I'd like to talk science, but I'd rather keep the Frakenfood purveyors of the world away from teenagers if you don't mind.
Check out the rather weasel-y last recommendation involving guess who ...?
So I thought I'd find out just how supports this 'advocacy group' ...
http://www.letstalkscience.ca/supporters.html
Ugh ... look who one of their 'champions' are ...
Champions
Sure I'd like to talk science, but I'd rather keep the Frakenfood purveyors of the world away from teenagers if you don't mind.
2013-10-07
Monsanto - co-winners of the World Food Prize for their Frakenfood?
Honestly, one cannot make this shit up -
http://action.sumofus.org/s/world-food-prize-monsanto-syngenta-thanks/5/3/?action_id=11152923&akid=2390.963480.QkB3Ai&ar=1&form_name=act&rd=1&sub=fwd&t=1
A telling piece of info behind the award for fucking up the food supply you likely won't see in the corporate media -
"Winning this prize will encourage the wider use of genetically engineered crops and be a huge obstacle to those fighting to investigate the long-term effects of its frankenseeds -- which is exactly what Monsanto wants. In 2008, Monsanto made a $5 million pledge to the World Food Prize Foundation, part of its plan to buy the credibility it can’t legitimately earn. By handing its benefactor this award, the Foundation risks undermining the credibility of the most respected prize in agriculture."
Access the link below to do something about it.
http://action.sumofus.org/s/world-food-prize-monsanto-syngenta-thanks/5/3/?action_id=11152923&akid=2390.963480.QkB3Ai&ar=1&form_name=act&rd=1&sub=fwd&t=1
A telling piece of info behind the award for fucking up the food supply you likely won't see in the corporate media -
"Winning this prize will encourage the wider use of genetically engineered crops and be a huge obstacle to those fighting to investigate the long-term effects of its frankenseeds -- which is exactly what Monsanto wants. In 2008, Monsanto made a $5 million pledge to the World Food Prize Foundation, part of its plan to buy the credibility it can’t legitimately earn. By handing its benefactor this award, the Foundation risks undermining the credibility of the most respected prize in agriculture."
Access the link below to do something about it.
Latest term to despise - '' Free registration required "
What the fuck does this mean?
Yes what you're about to access doesn't cost you money, but rather we want some information, take up time you'll never get back in giving it to us, and then we'll likely harass you later to try and sell you something you don't need or want.
Yes what you're about to access doesn't cost you money, but rather we want some information, take up time you'll never get back in giving it to us, and then we'll likely harass you later to try and sell you something you don't need or want.
2013-10-04
2013-10-03
Perhaps it's a good thing my kids I'm not a sports parent.
Can you imagine having to deal with people like this?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/hockey-mom-s-spat-with-league-leads-to-ban-of-7-year-old-son-1.1876932
Meow! It's no wonder her kid was banned. It was her behavior and her daughter's behavior that got her son banned - the association simply doesn't want her causing her son to potentially act all unruly and endanger other kids.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/hockey-mom-s-spat-with-league-leads-to-ban-of-7-year-old-son-1.1876932
Meow! It's no wonder her kid was banned. It was her behavior and her daughter's behavior that got her son banned - the association simply doesn't want her causing her son to potentially act all unruly and endanger other kids.
2013-10-02
Happy International Day of Non-Violence!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_of_Non-Violence
Let's hope I can get through it without yelling, screaming, threatening, or hurting anyone.
Let's hope I can get through it without yelling, screaming, threatening, or hurting anyone.
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