http://www.projectcensored.org/category/top-25-of-2013/
Courtesy of Project Censored.
2014-02-28
2014-02-27
Get ready for more bullshit - literally.
No - seriously.
http://www.alternet.org/food/mad-cow-eye-cancer-feces-your-food-price-cutting-back-meat-inspectors
"The USDA is cutting back on federal meat inspectors, allowing slaughterhouses to self-police, and already questions about the program are surfacing. This month, USDA recalled 8.7 million pounds of beef products processed at Rancho Feeding Corp. which included Nestle's Philly Steak and Cheese and Croissant Crust Philly Steak and Cheese Hot Pockets, Walmart Fatburgers, Kroger Ground Beef Mini Sliders and other well-known brands."
...
"Soon after HACCP was implemented in 2000, 62 percent of meat inspectors in a survey admitted that they had allowed feces, vomit and metal shards in food on a daily or weekly basis, which had not happened before HACCP. Almost 20 percent of inspectors said they’d been told not to document violations. Eighty percent of 451 inspectors said that HACCP interfered with their ability to enforce the law and the public’s right to know about food safety. (No wonder HACCP has been dubbed “Have a Cup of Coffee and Pray.”)"
http://www.alternet.org/food/mad-cow-eye-cancer-feces-your-food-price-cutting-back-meat-inspectors
"The USDA is cutting back on federal meat inspectors, allowing slaughterhouses to self-police, and already questions about the program are surfacing. This month, USDA recalled 8.7 million pounds of beef products processed at Rancho Feeding Corp. which included Nestle's Philly Steak and Cheese and Croissant Crust Philly Steak and Cheese Hot Pockets, Walmart Fatburgers, Kroger Ground Beef Mini Sliders and other well-known brands."
...
"Soon after HACCP was implemented in 2000, 62 percent of meat inspectors in a survey admitted that they had allowed feces, vomit and metal shards in food on a daily or weekly basis, which had not happened before HACCP. Almost 20 percent of inspectors said they’d been told not to document violations. Eighty percent of 451 inspectors said that HACCP interfered with their ability to enforce the law and the public’s right to know about food safety. (No wonder HACCP has been dubbed “Have a Cup of Coffee and Pray.”)"
2014-02-25
The Internet just became a "pay-to-play" industry today.
Like Pay-TV now.
"Cogent, which in internet parlance is known as a "backbone provider," routs Netflix's content through to Comcast, which then sends that content to millions of homes across the country.
But with its new megadeal, Netflix will get to avoid Cogent altogether and send its content straight to Comcast, and, from there, to TV fans like you and me.
In the short term, this means that Netflix users who get their internet from Comcast will get to stream movies and TV shows at faster speeds than they did before.
Sounds pretty good, right?
Well, not really.
While Comcast customers will now able to watch House of Cards without having to worry about annoying lag time and loading screens, this deal sets a terrible precedent for the future of the internet.
When the next startup Hulu or the next startup Netflix comes along and tries to break into the streaming market, it will have to fork over millions of dollars to Comcast if it wants the same access to Comcast's broadband networks that Netflix will now have.
If you're thinking of starting a net-based business in your garage, good luck. If you're not an oligarch, you won't have a chance.
Sure, Netflix would prefer not to have to pay Comcast, but by doing so it pretty much guarantees itself a safe spot at the top of the TV streaming market."
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/22084-net-neutrality-died-with-the-comcast-netflix-deal
"Cogent, which in internet parlance is known as a "backbone provider," routs Netflix's content through to Comcast, which then sends that content to millions of homes across the country.
But with its new megadeal, Netflix will get to avoid Cogent altogether and send its content straight to Comcast, and, from there, to TV fans like you and me.
In the short term, this means that Netflix users who get their internet from Comcast will get to stream movies and TV shows at faster speeds than they did before.
Sounds pretty good, right?
Well, not really.
While Comcast customers will now able to watch House of Cards without having to worry about annoying lag time and loading screens, this deal sets a terrible precedent for the future of the internet.
When the next startup Hulu or the next startup Netflix comes along and tries to break into the streaming market, it will have to fork over millions of dollars to Comcast if it wants the same access to Comcast's broadband networks that Netflix will now have.
If you're thinking of starting a net-based business in your garage, good luck. If you're not an oligarch, you won't have a chance.
Sure, Netflix would prefer not to have to pay Comcast, but by doing so it pretty much guarantees itself a safe spot at the top of the TV streaming market."
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/22084-net-neutrality-died-with-the-comcast-netflix-deal
2014-02-24
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame='music elitists and biased journalists'
What it really is all about -
"... this is a cash grab to profit off the dysfunction of rock's greatest groups. While reeking in the disappointment of millions of fans, there is a hidden agenda to discredit these bands publicly despite their musical bodywork."
I couldn't have said it better.
http://www.baeblemusic.com/musicblog/2-24-2014/The-Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Fame-Profits-Off-Dysfunction.html
Must fucking corporations destroy everything in life?
"... this is a cash grab to profit off the dysfunction of rock's greatest groups. While reeking in the disappointment of millions of fans, there is a hidden agenda to discredit these bands publicly despite their musical bodywork."
I couldn't have said it better.
http://www.baeblemusic.com/musicblog/2-24-2014/The-Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Fame-Profits-Off-Dysfunction.html
Must fucking corporations destroy everything in life?
2014-02-22
Gotta love online ads.
No actually I don't, and here's why.
Was listening to a cool tune on YouTube and noticed an ad for Frakenfood from some shitty company. Wondering why a company like Krap would push their shit on me, I clicked on the 'AdChoices' button, and got back this -
"This ad has been matched to your interests. It was selected for you based on your browsing activity.
DoubleClick helped Kraft Foods determine that you might be interested in an ad like this."
Really? These assholes are tracking my activity and think I'd be interested in shit?
Hey DoubleClick and Krap - you know I hate your product. It's shit, and you pushing your shit on me isn't going to make me want to buy it. Rather I want the rest of the Internet to know the kind of crap these ad companies and frakenfood companies will to to.
Now I feel so special.
Was listening to a cool tune on YouTube and noticed an ad for Frakenfood from some shitty company. Wondering why a company like Krap would push their shit on me, I clicked on the 'AdChoices' button, and got back this -
"This ad has been matched to your interests. It was selected for you based on your browsing activity.
DoubleClick helped Kraft Foods determine that you might be interested in an ad like this."
Really? These assholes are tracking my activity and think I'd be interested in shit?
Hey DoubleClick and Krap - you know I hate your product. It's shit, and you pushing your shit on me isn't going to make me want to buy it. Rather I want the rest of the Internet to know the kind of crap these ad companies and frakenfood companies will to to.
Now I feel so special.
2014-02-21
2014-02-19
Note to self and everyone else.
I am all for people reading and learning what you choose.
But seriously, if you choose to read a book about Reba McEntire on public transportation, you really are an idiot.
2014-02-16
I was just thinking about this the other day.
This being - http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/21903-the-best-way-to-keep-our-water-safe
Watching another group of open train cars full of coal going up north on the BNSF line through Seattle, and unable to avoid breathing in all that coat dust.
This also came to mind -
http://content.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2014/01/major-victory-coal-dust-case-advances-against-bnsf-us-clean-water-act
Watching another group of open train cars full of coal going up north on the BNSF line through Seattle, and unable to avoid breathing in all that coat dust.
This also came to mind -
http://content.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2014/01/major-victory-coal-dust-case-advances-against-bnsf-us-clean-water-act
MAJOR VICTORY: COAL DUST CASE ADVANCES AGAINST BNSF FOR U.S. CLEAN WATER ACT VIOLATIONS
When viewed as less than human ...
... it's easy to see why the world is where it is today.
'Globalization' today really means getting something for less value somewhere else because it costs more here.
And then there's this - http://consortiumnews.com/2014/02/15/does-the-media-hate-the-poor/
"The global poor – 2.5 billion people living on less than $2 a day – are considered even more boring, due to the triple whammy of being non-white, non-Anglophone and poor. To become news, poor people have to cause disorder. "
'Globalization' today really means getting something for less value somewhere else because it costs more here.
And then there's this - http://consortiumnews.com/2014/02/15/does-the-media-hate-the-poor/
"The global poor – 2.5 billion people living on less than $2 a day – are considered even more boring, due to the triple whammy of being non-white, non-Anglophone and poor. To become news, poor people have to cause disorder. "
2014-02-12
The joy of testing software ...
... is that no one will ever recognize the value in what one does.
When the project or solution goes live and it's a success, inevitably the executives, the management, the project/solution leadership, the release and functional groups, and of course the developers are all recognized, valued, and often times rewarded or promoted.
When something goes wrong, it's always "who tested this?"
2014-02-11
2014-02-08
Quote of the day - 02-05-2014
Noam Chomsky.
"The ability to ignore unwanted facts is one of the prerogatives of unchallenged power. Closely related is the right to radically revise history."
Context here:
http://inthesetimes.com/article/16227/the_greatest_threat_to_world_peace_is_the_united_states/
I'd go a step further and say that the American public's willingness to allow or fail to stop the corporate and right-wing establishment from usurping its democracy will further unleash the pending global warming disaster of which the world and all its living forms will never recover from.
"The ability to ignore unwanted facts is one of the prerogatives of unchallenged power. Closely related is the right to radically revise history."
Context here:
http://inthesetimes.com/article/16227/the_greatest_threat_to_world_peace_is_the_united_states/
I'd go a step further and say that the American public's willingness to allow or fail to stop the corporate and right-wing establishment from usurping its democracy will further unleash the pending global warming disaster of which the world and all its living forms will never recover from.
2014-02-05
'locavore'? - Local AND Organic.
I've read about this before - eating foods that are organic and local.
Now some details.
http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/01/12365/local-organic-and-fair
And health aside here's the best reason to invest the time in find local organic farmers for one's food -
"Farming with organic methods can also help significantly in reducing global warming. According to research at the Rodale Institute, if organic methods were applied to all of the world's cropland, it would be the equivalent of taking 1.5 billion cars off the roads -- 39 percent of the world's carbon would be sequestered in the soil! By using cover crops, composting, rotating, and mulching, organic farms can sequester 1,000 lb of carbon per acre per year. Building organic matter buffers soils -- in extreme conditions of drought and flooding, organic farms are more resilient and out yield farms using synthetic fertilizers. Pimentel's research shows that on average, organic farms use 30 percent less energy than conventional farms by avoiding synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and focusing on recycling nutrients. The production of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers is especially energy-intensive. Evidence is surfacing that as much as 4 or even 5 percent of nitrogen fertilizer turns into nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide."
Now some details.
http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/01/12365/local-organic-and-fair
And health aside here's the best reason to invest the time in find local organic farmers for one's food -
"Farming with organic methods can also help significantly in reducing global warming. According to research at the Rodale Institute, if organic methods were applied to all of the world's cropland, it would be the equivalent of taking 1.5 billion cars off the roads -- 39 percent of the world's carbon would be sequestered in the soil! By using cover crops, composting, rotating, and mulching, organic farms can sequester 1,000 lb of carbon per acre per year. Building organic matter buffers soils -- in extreme conditions of drought and flooding, organic farms are more resilient and out yield farms using synthetic fertilizers. Pimentel's research shows that on average, organic farms use 30 percent less energy than conventional farms by avoiding synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and focusing on recycling nutrients. The production of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers is especially energy-intensive. Evidence is surfacing that as much as 4 or even 5 percent of nitrogen fertilizer turns into nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide."
Well yay CVS.
Gee - at least one business finally gets it.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/05/us-cvscaremark-cigarettes-idUSBREA140RP20140205
CVS becomes first big U.S. drugstore chain to drop tobacco
(Reuters) - CVS Caremark Corp will stop selling tobacco products at its 7,600 stores by October 1, the company said on Wednesday, making it the first national drugstore chain in the United States to take cigarettes off the shelves.http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/05/us-cvscaremark-cigarettes-idUSBREA140RP20140205
2014-02-03
There was no fucking 'pause' for ocean temperature increases.
"Rising ocean temperatures might not seem as significant for us humans
as rising land temperatures, but they actually affect us in lots of
ways. Warming marine environments are disturbing wildlife the world
over, driving fish to cooler and deeper waters — and that is affecting fishing industries.
The heating waters can also fuel hurricanes and other wild storms. Water temperatures around the Philippines rose nearly 2 degrees F last year just before Typhoon Haiyan hit, which helped whip up the monster storm.
And it’s worth remembering that water expands when it heats up, which leads to rising seas. In some subtropical areas, increasing water temperatures are believed to be responsible for sea-level rise of as much as a millimeter every year."
Context here.
The heating waters can also fuel hurricanes and other wild storms. Water temperatures around the Philippines rose nearly 2 degrees F last year just before Typhoon Haiyan hit, which helped whip up the monster storm.
And it’s worth remembering that water expands when it heats up, which leads to rising seas. In some subtropical areas, increasing water temperatures are believed to be responsible for sea-level rise of as much as a millimeter every year."
Context here.
2014-02-02
Looks like the Seattle Seahawks are going to win Super Bowl XLVIII.
36-8 going into the 4th Quarter.
Congrats to Seattle.
The celebration will go on for decades.
Congrats to Seattle.
The celebration will go on for decades.
2014-02-01
'Sports drinks' to usefulness as 'Reality TV' being related to reality ....
... and by that, no connection whatsoever.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/sports-drinks-unnecessary-counterproductive-for-most-people-1.2517424
http://www.cbc.ca/news/sports-drinks-unnecessary-counterproductive-for-most-people-1.2517424
Sports drinks unnecessary, counterproductive for most people
Drinks replenish electrolytes, but most of us don’t need them
"To test how many electrolytes are actually lost during exercise, Marketplace
recruited a team of recreational runners and tested their blood before
and after a 45-minute run. None of the runners depleted either their
glucose or electrolyte levels enough to require a sports drink to
replenish them. In many cases, electrolyte and glucose levels increased
in the blood. The test revealed that they could have benefited from
water alone."
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