Guts

The 2nd picture of the volcano erupting is amazing:

NASA Celebrates Earth Day With Stunning Photos Of, You Guessed It...Earth | TPM Photo Galleries

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Very interesting. Football teams as socialist commies.

The Science Behind College-Football Helmet Stickers | Playbook:

"When small rewards become visible trophies of status within a group, male players change their approach in competition, sacrificing their own best interest to serve the needs of the team."

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As with blood, several types of human gut | The Raw Story

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Can. Not. Wait.

Behind The Scenes Of The Hobbit [VIDEO]

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One Way Bang

Come on, science! Banking on you to get us off this dirtball.

Proof of extra dimensions possible next year: CERN | Raw Story:

"Scientists at the CERN research center say their 'Big Bang' project is going beyond all expectations and the first proof of the existence of dimensions beyond the known four could emerge next year."

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Not sure why there's resistance to this, and yes, the private sector could roll wit it.

Scientists propose one-way trips to Mars - Yahoo! News

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Hard out there for a baby anaconda.

Anaconda Babies Live Birth: Can They Survive Piranha And An Ocelot? (VIDEO)

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I hate you, Ryan Reynolds.

GQ's 2010 Babe of the Year: Scarlett Johansson: Photos: GQ

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Po' Boy

Why we've allowed a bunch of white people to systematically destroy one of the grandest and most unique areas of this country over the past several years is a tragedy in and of itself.

Boat captain's suicide shows human toll of Gulf oil disaster:

"Allen Kruse tenderly kissed his wife goodbye just after sunrise Wednesday and headed to the docks in Gulf Shores, Ala., where his boat, The Rookie, was moored.

A charter boat captain for 25 years, Kruse had signed on as a BP contractor to spot oil, deploy boom and eventually learn how to skim oil. His business had come to a screeching halt after the April 20 oil spill.

About an hour later, Kruse was dead. He was 55, the father of 11- and 12-year-old boys, Cory and Ryan, and daughter Kelli, 26.

About 7 a.m., after a BP training meeting, he climbed into the wheelhouse of his 46-foot charter boat and ended his worry, his frustration and his anger with a single bullet to the head.

'Nothing was easy working with BP. Everything was hard, and it consumed him. He wasn't crazy,' said his wife, Tracy, 41, sitting outside the couple's home in Foley on Thursday."

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It makes me nauseous thinking of the loss of all of the great NO dishes. New York, San Francisco, New Orleans: The top 3 foodie towns in the U.S. NO = eliminated.

City Brights: Yobie Benjamin : BP oil spill Corexit dispersants suspected in widespread crop damage

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She's got my vote.

Julia Gillard risks Christian vote with doubts on God | The Australian:

"In a radio interview yesterday morning, Ms Gillard said that while she had been raised as a Baptist, she was now not religious and was not prepared to go through 'religious rituals' for the sake of appearances.

'I am, of course, a great respecter of religious beliefs, but they're not my beliefs,' Ms Gillard told ABC radio in Melbourne.

'For people of faith, I think the greatest compliment I could pay them is to respect their genuinely-held beliefs and not to engage in some pretence about mine.'"

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Great interview.

Buzz Aldrin Is Not All That Impressed With Walking on the Moon | Little Gold Men | Vanity Fair:

"But you don’t interrupt Buzz Aldrin. For one thing, he once punched a reporter in the face for getting uppity. And also, have you ever walked on the Moon? No? Then why don’t you just shut the fuck up."

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This was posted on Wes Freed's Facebook page. Some very cool pictures.

Hidden In An Abandoned Orphanage � Scouting NY

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I'm "Da Crack Smoka". Yeah, not too apt. I enjoy the sleep too much.

The Original Gangsta Name Generator | GangstaName.com

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Cap Smear

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Cap Smear @ 2:08 is must see TV:

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Dead rich chicks walking... or rather, 'running'. Let's go Jerry!

Harold Meyerson - Calif. GOP primary winners look headed for defeat:

"There's a reason Arnold Schwarzenegger is the only Republican elected to a major statewide office in California since 1994 -- and it's not his celebrity status. It's because, when he was first elected governor, he did not have to run in and win a Republican primary: He was elected in a special recall election open to candidates and voters from all parties.

Whitman and Fiorina had no such luck. In winning their nominations, they said things deeply offensive to a fatally large swath of California voters. Their campaigns may be gold-plated, but they have ears of purest tin."

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Larry Flynt is so smart.

Stephen Hawking On Religion: 'Science Will Win' (VIDEO):

"When Sawyer asked if there was a way to reconcile religion and science, Hawking said, 'There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on authority, [and] science, which is based on observation and reason. Science will win because it works.'"

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Hawking has spoken.

6-story Jesus statue in Ohio struck by lightning - Yahoo! News:

"MONROE, Ohio – A six-story-tall statue of Jesus Christ with his arms raised along a highway was struck by lightning in a thunderstorm Monday night and burned to the ground, police said."

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What a picture.

Hard to port! Eject Goose, eject! | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine

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Space City Round-up

Are we witnessing the fall or Rome part deux? Some say 'yes'. (I SO could write copy for FAUX News).

Op-Ed Columnist - Our Epic Foolishness - NYTimes.com:

"If a bank is too big to fail, it’s way too big to exist. If an oil well is too far beneath the sea to be plugged when something goes wrong, it’s too deep to be drilled in the first place.

When are we going to stop behaving so stupidly? We nearly wrecked the economy and we’re all but buried in debt. But we can’t break up the biggest banks, and we can’t raise taxes. Now we’re fouling the magnificent Gulf of Mexico and ruining entire communities along the southern Louisiana Coast."

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Double, triple, quadruple down. Whatever it takes. It is the ONLY force of potential good in this game.

The Plum Line - Obama doubles down on gov't as force for good

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Because they are a bunch of assholes is why. Weren't brought up right. Everything given too them. Always got a trophy. Never had to solve any of their own problems. Wore a fucking helmet to jump on the trampoline. Bunch of assholes.

Today's College Students Lack Empathy - Yahoo! News

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Space City Round-up.

The mission to Mars that will never leave Earth - Science, News - The Independent

Aliens Found In Ohio? The Wow! Signal : NPR

Do aliens live on a Saturn moon? | Mail Online

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And just to make sure it doesn't get too classy around this joint:

This takes skill:

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EXXTREME (Everything)

Nothing says 'Bush (t)Era' like Hummer... and not the good kind.

Be careful, your hood my pop open whilst you're circling the Wal-Mart parking lot looking for a closer space.

POS

It's Really Over: Last HUMMER H3 Rolls Off Louisiana Line - The Car Connection:

"But earlier this month, the HUMMER's last days were punctuated by a recall by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The clips that hold the H3's hood louver in place can break over time, meaning the hood louver can 'detach from the vehicle.'

Virtually all H3 models--more than 162,000, according to the NHTSA--need to be inspected as part of the recall."

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Read it:

Daily Kos: NHL tough guy to march in Pride Parade (updated)

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Part of my schizo political existence these days encompasses this half the time:

Eschaton:

"Fail

We spend an immense amount of money planning for things which won't happen, fighting wars for no purpose, and bailing out assholes who are destroying the country.

Not feeling hopey changey lately.

-Atrios 17:45"

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Thanks for all your hard work, Lander. You kicked ass.

NASA Declares Mars Lander Broken and Dead - Yahoo! News

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More like WIN! If this little fella follows through on half of these, he will rule the world.

Rise To Power Fail - FAIL Blog: Epic Fail Funny Pictures and Funny Videos of Owned, Pwned and Fail Moments

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Liberal-Tarians

"Help with my luggage". "Wide Stance". Etc, etc.

Just another day in Hypocritistan.

Exposed: Christian leader caught with male escort says he needed help with his luggage | Raw Story:

"A Christian leader and prominent neuro-psychiatrist who co-founded the Family Research Council with evangelist James Dobson took a ten-day European vacation with a callboy he met through RentBoy.com and was caught in an airport with the escort by a Miami newspaper."

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What Kos says:

Daily Kos: Libertarians viewed more favorably by Democrats than Republicans:

"The notion that Republicans are libertarian is ludicrous. They stick their noses into our bedrooms, into our doctors' offices, into churches. They demand the roundup of people who don't look like them. They whine about Miranda rights and due process. They are more concerned about the rights of big energy conglomerates, than they are about the rights of people to enjoy long walks on pristine beaches. They whine about true independent and free media that doesn't validate their ideology. They freak out about anyone who doesn't believe in their god, or worse, in any god at all.

For the American Taliban, 'liberty' means their ability to impose their beliefs and lifestyle on the rest of society.

So of course they would react negatively to the word, since they equate it with libertinism. For a movement predicated on imposing its mores on the rest of society, this is obviously deeply offensive."

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Larry Flynt is so awesome:

Stephen Hawking Explains How To Build A Time Machine:

"Stephen Hawking, a self-described 'physicist, cosmologist and something of a dreamer,' offers instructions on how to build a time machine in an article for the Daily Mail. 'All you need is a wormhole, the Large Hadron Collider or a rocket that goes really, really fast,' the article promises.

Hawking roots his premise in Einstein's theory of relativity, suggesting that since time moves faster in some places than others, it's quite possible to move along this 'river' into the future--but not back to the past."

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Universities of Wall Street.

Catch the documentary. It is online, too:

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1. Funny 'cause it is true. 2. Funny because it is Louis C.K. 3. Apropos funny or something.

NSFW language:

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At least I hope I did

Fair and balanced journalism:

Fox News yanks Sean Hannity from Cincinnati Tea Party rally he was set to star in | Show Tracker | Los Angeles Times

Well, duh.

Cincinnati Tea Party: Fox Isn’t Telling The Truth About The Hannity Broadcast:

Faux + Teabaggers = Violence.

Tea Partiers Get Their News From Fox And Are More Likely To Justify Violence Against The Government

He really can't.

Daily Kos: He really can't be their president:

"Just like some people distort the Koran to fit their crazy fanaticism, teabaggers twist ideals like 'Freedom' and 'Self Reliance' and 'Individualism' into something that is 180 degrees different. 'Freedom' is the freedom to hate anyone who isn't like 'us', 'Individualism' is ignoring anyone who is not as successful as 'we are' because it's their fault and they can go to hell, and 'Self Reliance' turned into simple selfishness."

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Shocking

Report: Tea Parties created as GOP political ploy | Raw Story

The Tea Party has been billed as an organic grassroots operation, but a newly uncovered document obtained by Politico suggests the movement has been successfully co-opted as a Republican fundraising ploy.

GOP political consultant Joe Wierzbicki floated the proposal a year ago today to create the Tea Party Express, a nationwide bus tour to "give a boost to our PAC and position us as a growing force/leading force as the 2010 elections come into focus." His idea eventually became one of the best known brands in the Tea Party movement.

The document cautioned planners to be careful when discussing the ruse to use Tea Parties for political gain. "We have to be very, very careful about discussing amongst ourselves anyone we include 'outside of the family' because quite frankly, we are not only not part of the political establishment or conservative establishment, but we are also sadly not currently a part of the 'tea party' establishment," Wierzbicki wrote.

Wierzbicki, who works for the Sacramento firm Russo Marsh + Rogers, went on to outline how conservative media including Fox News could be leveraged to hype the Tea Party Express. He recommended using "mentions and possibly even promotion from conservative/pro-tea party bloggers, talk radio hosts, Fox News commentators, etc..."

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To reiterate: 'Go Fuck Yourselves, FAUX'.

Stewart calls out Fox News hypocrisy: ‘Go f*ck yourselves’ | Raw Story:

"'They're tarring the entire Tea Party movement and the Republican Party,' Goldberg complained.

'Bernie Goldberg is right!' Stewart exclaimed. When it comes to generalizing, just 'don't do it.'

But the Fox News pundits don't seem so worried about generalizations of liberals and the Democratic Party. Goldberg told MSNBC's Joe Scarborough that liberals think 'that whole middle of the country is made up of sort of jerks. You know, that's a Democratic thing. That's a liberal thing.'

'That's what we call a fair generalization,' said a sarcastic Stewart. 'By the way, the anti-generalizers at Fox want you to know that generalizing is the least of the liberals problems,' explained Stewart. And to make the point, The Daily Show's research staff had no trouble find plenty examples of conservative pundits at Fox News doing their own generalizing.

'The left in this country is invested in defeat in Iraq,' said Cal Thomas.

'Liberals see just about everything through the prism of race,' according to Goldberg.

'The left always paint Christians as hate mongers,' Glenn Beck told O'Reilly.

Jon Stewart concluded with just three word for the hypocrites at Fox News: 'Go f*ck yourselves.'"

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Rockets, man.

Asteroid, bitches!

Obama: NASA Still Has Space Adventures Ahead:

"Asteroids zip by Earth fairly often and have occasionally smacked the planet with disastrous results. For example, asteroids have been blamed for the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Landing on an asteroid would give scientists a better idea of how to handle a future killer asteroid that could wipe out much of life on Earth. Also, it would be a feat sure to win great attention – and there is far less gravity than the moon, meaning it would be easier and cheaper to leave."

Despite uproar, Obama holds firm on NASA space exploration plans / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com

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Finishes what he starts and very well organized.

Man delivers obituary to newspaper, hangs himself:

"The Mountain Democrat newspaper published part of the Allan Leo Peters II suicide note accompanying the obituary. The 64-year-old man wrote he'd been struggling with emphysema and had trouble breathing. He wrote, 'Yes, I have hanged myself (At least I hope I did).'

The suicide note and obituary arrived at the newspaper Tuesday night, but went unopened until the following day. It included a $90 money order, the cost of publishing an obituary."

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Pretty damn amazing:

Red Bull Skydive Team Pulls Off Incredible Stunt: Man Jumps From Plane To Plane In Midair (VIDEO)

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Suspended Animation

The endless false equivalences from the 'news media' drives me fucking crazy.

Daily Kos: The Left Wing Hate No One is Talking About:

"It is dishonest for right-wing commentators to insist on an equivalence that does not exist. The danger of political violence in this country comes overwhelmingly from one direction -- the right, not the left. The vitriolic, anti-government hate speech that is spewed on talk radio every day -- and, quite regularly, at Tea Party rallies -- is calibrated not to inform but to incite.

Demagogues scream at people that their government is illegitimate, that their country has been 'taken away,' that their elected officials are 'traitors' and that their freedom is at risk. They have a right to free speech, which I will always defend. But they shouldn't be surprised if some listeners take them literally."

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Not too sure about irreversible, but ass whuppins have occurred. Just wish that would show up in what passes as 'news media'.

Open Left:: David Frum is right: conservatives have suffered crushing, nearly irreversible defeats

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Neither did I, Johnny. I always considered you a principless asshole.

However, you did brand your Presidential campaign "Two Mavericks".

So 'liar' applies, also.

McCain: ‘I never considered myself a maverick’ | Raw Story

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This practice is definitely a class cock block. Probably a factor in the music 'industry's tanking. Too many privileged incompetents.

Growth of Unpaid Internships May Be Illegal, Officials Say - NYTimes.com

Unpaid Labor Illegal? In America? : Lawyers, Guns & Money:

"Good on ‘em. Let’s be clear; the unpaid internship effectively excludes a wide socioeconomic swath from gaining useful experience and making effective connections in business, government, and NGOs. For example, it was utterly impossible for me to even consider an unpaid internship as an undergraduate; paying the bills was difficult even with loans and full time work. Lots of young people lack significant parental support, and require minimum payment to have any hope of making ends meet. Moreover, even for those with support the “payment” for unpaid internships (connections, experience, and recommendations) often has no lasting effect on the intern’s job prospects. If you’ve ever wondered why DC NGOs and journalistic organizations are dominated by Ivy Leaguers, it ain’t just because they’re smart."

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Dude is hilarious.

Obama Humor: Comedian-In-Chief

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Lord knows I've been doing my part in the test phase.

Is 'Suspended Animation' Just Around The Corner???

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Just OMG. I hate you Ryan Reynolds (not really. I actually think you are kinda funny. But, still, don't be an asshole bogart).

Scarlett Johansson's Sexy 'Iron Man 2' Poster: Skintight Catsuit (PHOTOS)

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Rewriting History or NeoCon Bastards

It is hard to track Republican hypocrisy. Hard work, I say.

So, here's a handy-dandy cheat sheet to help you out:

The Washington Monthly:

"Obstructionism," for example, only refers to Democratic minorities opposing Republican proposals.

"Tyranny" is found when an elected Democratic majority passes legislation that Republicans don't like.

"Reconciliation" describes a Senate process that Republicans are allowed to use to overcome Democratic "obstructionism."

"Terrorism" refers to acts of political violence committed by people who aren't white guys.

"Bipartisanship" is found when Democrats agree to pass Republican legislation.

"Big government" describes a dangerous phenomenon to be avoided, except in cases relating to reproductive rights or gays.

"Treason" refers to Democrats criticizing a Republican administration during a war.

"Patriotism" refers to Republicans criticizing a Democratic administration during a war.

"Fiscal responsibility" is a national priority related to keeping our deficit in check, which only applies when Republicans are in the minority.

"Parliamentarian" is a seemingly independent official on the Hill who Senate Republicans are allowed to fire when the GOP disapproves of his/her rulings.

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Amen. But god forbid we ever elect an effective Democrat to anything.

Maher: Obama’s ‘mistake’ was not telling Republicans to ’suck on it’ | Raw Story

"I think the biggest mistake that he has made in his first year was to put bipartisanship ahead of fixing the country," Maher declared Wednesday on MSNBC's Countdown With Keith Olbermann.

He said Obama should have "com[e] in with all the energy from the election and saying, you know what, we're in a crisis mode, I won this election by a sizable mandate -- here's what we're going to do; if you don't like it, Republicans, you can suck on it."

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Horrors of horror. How can a state that gives me Best and Johnson and Austin foist this revisionist horseshit upon the entire nation.

Plain and simple, this is the rewriting of history before our eyes.

Texas Textbook MASSACRE: 'Ultraconservatives' Approve Radical Changes To State Education Curriculum

But just when you thought is couldn't get worse....

"Likely to test"?!? Are you fucking kidding me? Legitimizing the politicization of the Supreme Court?

We are totally fucked. Back to my Mandarin lessons.

Justice's wife launches 'tea party' group - latimes.com:

"Justice's wife launches 'tea party' group The nonprofit run by Virginia Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is likely to test notions of political impartiality for the court."

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Stupid is as stupid does and, boy, do American ever does.

Home school textbook market dominated by books skeptical of evolution.:

"“Those who do not believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God will find many points in this book puzzling,” says the introduction to “Biology: Third Edition” from Bob Jones University Press. “This book was not written for them.” The textbook delivers a religious ultimatum to young readers and parents, warning in its “History of Life” chapter that a “Christian worldview … is the only correct view of reality; anyone who rejects it will not only fail to reach heaven but also fail to see the world as it truly is.”"

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Channeling the true spirit of Disney.

Florida Lawmaker Attempts To Deny Tax Credit To Movies Filmed With Gay Characters:

"“Think of it as like Mayberry,” Precourt told the Palm Beach Post News. “That’s when I grew up — the ’60s. That’s what life was like. I want Florida to be known for making those kinds of movies: Disney movies for kids and all that stuff. Like it used to be, you know?”"

Full out onslaught of NeoCon history rewrite.

NYT columnist peddles ‘post-modern illusions’ and ‘propaganda’ to varnish Bush legacy | Raw Story:

"'My three cents,' began Andrew Sullivan, blogging for The Atlantic. '[No] president in the twentieth century did as much damage to this country as Bush: in terms of unfathomable debt, unwinnable wars, political cynicism, the dangerous fusion of politics and religion, the integration of torture into the DNA of America, the squandering of American soft and hard power, the lost years on non-carbon energy, the trashing of constitutional balance, and the immiseration of most ordinary Americans, he was a disaster. The only way in which Fish is correct is that the damage was so deep and so intractable that Obama, perforce, cannot undo it overnight and so cannot help but be tarred with its consequences, including a brutal recession."

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B/C deep down, you know they loves them some child abuse.

GOP: Law banning child abuse in schools will lead to ‘government takeover’ | Raw Story:

"A proposed law designed to prevent child abuse in schools has been lauded by children's protection advocates, and slammed by House Republicans as an unnecessary expansion of federal government power."

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Don't worry, Bart.....

Bart Stupak: Democratic Leaders Are 'Ignoring Me':

You aren't being ignored....

Democratic activist to challenge Stupak for seat | detnews.com | The Detroit News:

"Washington -- A Democratic activist announced today she's challenging Rep. Bart Stupak out of her frustration that his hard line on abortion funding threatens to derail health care legislation pending in Congress.

And those like you are not being ignored:

Labor On Dems Who Block Health Reform: We'll 'Take Them Out'

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Hurry the fuck up and take me out of the shit hole.

Anyone who doesn't believe in science is not allowed.

Mars In 40 Days: New Rocket Engine Could Make Quick Space Travel Possible

"After years of underinvestment in new technology and unrealistic budgeting, the President's plan will unveil an ambitious plan for NASA that sets the agency on a reinvigorated path of space exploration," the White House said in a statement.

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Get Angry

Damn Right! Tired of all these bland faux-pragmatic compromise-away-our-soul 'liberals' who crap their pants when our side raises hell. (Which is rare... the hell raising part)

We have to beat them (baggers) at their own game. We need to beat them into submission. That';s all conservatives understand. Why do you think it is that Republicans single-handily keep the BDSM market thriving. Self loathing fuckers.

Beat that ass hard enough and they'll nuzzle your ankle and shrink from your raised hand like a good little puppy.

Daily Kos: State of the Nation:

"Why are you so angry?

The warning is in my name. I'm not Complacent Mouse. I'm not Easy Going Mouse. I'm Angry Mouse. And I don't mince my words in the hopes of converting anyone who blushes at a four-letter word or wishes I'd tone down my anger. I leave the calm and moderated tones for the sedate NPR commentators, the too-cute-by-half columnists at the New York Times, the oh-so-reasonable talking heads on the Sunday talk shows, the members of Congress who insist upon referring to each other as their “esteemed colleagues from the other side.”

Yes, I’m angry. Angry at a two-party system that favors corporations over people; angry at a justice system that most severely punishes those who are least able to fight back; angry at the media who refuses to call a lie a lie; angry at a health care system that allows private corporations to profit by allowing the sick to suffer and die; angry at the terrorists who want to deprive women of our reproductive autonomy; angry at the misogynists who want us to know our place; angry at the Democratic leadership -- and yes, even some of our fellow “progressives” -- for treating women's rights as a fringe issue; angry at anyone who feels the need to question whether it’s really necessary to be so angry.

You're goddamned right I'm angry. And you should be too."

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Ha! About to fuck it up, too. Gonna strangle the golden goose 'cause of greed.

NFL: Socialism makes everyone rich - The Boston Globe:

"The Tea Partiers are right. There is socialism in the United States. It’s called the National Football League. In fact, this fantastically successful experiment in corporate socialism is now at risk of being ruined by owners and players who are threatening to behave as rational market actors.

The league’s business practices contradict the tenets of a free market"

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What the disgraced, indicted Texan says.

Just roll that one around your mouth for a moment. People are unemployed because they want to be. Yup.

Baby Jesus would be proud.

Tom Delay: People Are Unemployed Because They Want To Be

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If by 'sympathy and understanding' you mean 'beat with a baseball bat' then I'm on board.

Daily Kos: Psychology Today Takes On Tea Party Paranoia:

"Psychology Today has published one mental health professional's diagnosis of the pathology of the Tea Bagger. Dr. Michael Bader provides an astute examination of a serious emotional malformation, complete with clinical examples and prognosis. Bader's conclusion is that the victims of this brewing epidemic of acute paranoia warrant our sympathy and understanding."

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Keeping it classy, GOP.

Tenn. CEO compares Michelle Obama to chimpanzee | Raw Story:

"'Who wants to come to a state where people think like that? This is far reaching and it's damaging,' said District 3 Metro Council Member Walter Hunt.

This isn't the first e-mail sent by a Tennessee official since President Obama took office that smacks of racism.

In October, a state trooper sent a 'white pride' e-mail to nearly 800 state employees.

Several months before, an aide in the state Senate sent out an e-mail depicting Obama as two cartoonish white eyes peering from a black background.

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau has decided to drop its contract with Baker's marketing firm Saturday, but many are calling for Baker's resignation from the Tennessee Hospitality Association."

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Virginia, we have a problem.

Virginia AG orders colleges to stop protecting gays | Raw Story:

"'Virginia’s Attorney General is actually trying to make it easier for people to discriminate against gays and lesbians in Virginia,' he wrote on his blog. 'This, despite the fact that the entire country is moving towards granting our GLBT fellow citizens equal rights with everyone else in all areas.'

Anthony added, 'I strongly condemn the ever increasing message of intolerance coming from the Republican leadership in Richmond. I encourage them to reconsider their recent actions that have not only harmed our fellow Virginians but also tarnished our beloved Commonwealth’s image.'"

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The hate parade that is the modern day Grand Old Party of Assholes.

RNC Fallout: 'Ashamed' donor closes checkbook - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com:

"A prominent Evangelical figure and Republican donor says he will end his contributions to the organized Republican Party in reaction to the leaked fundraising presentation that advised using 'fear' to solicit contributions and displayed an image of President Obama as the Joker from Batman.

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Let's do this! Damn, I'm ready for some space exploration. I'd like to visit the moon before I die.

Opinion: Buzz Aldrin Says Mars Is Within Our Reach -- Here's How - AOL News:

"I believe we can be well on our way to Mars by July 20, 2019 -- which just happens to be the 50th anniversary of my Apollo 11 flight to the moon. The plan I've designed, called a unified space vision, contains ideas for the development of a deep-space craft that I call the Exploration Module, and development of a true heavy lift space booster evolved from the existing space shuttle."

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Does he even know that he's my hero.

Man Builds House With 6 Million Beer Bottles In Argentina (VIDEO)

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Great News for Republicans

We'll start with the utter horseshit from the Villagers

Dems, incumbents get wake-up call - Yahoo! News:

Nothing of the sort, news media assholes.

Eschaton:

"Deep Thought

After tonight's elections results, Joe Biden must resign, Sarah Palin must be confirmed as his replacement, and then Barack Obama must resign. The people have spoken."

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The AP's only premise: What if Dems lose on Tuesday? | Media Matters for America:

"UPDATED: What's also astonishing, and this is absolutely ignored by the press, is that the NJ race is only close today becuase the GOP candidate has lost a double-digit lead in recent months. It's only close because the GOP candidate's campaign has imploded since the summertime. But the press doesn't care about that, or what that might say about the GOP. The press only cares if Dems lose."

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Great news for Republicans.

Democratic win in conservative district is first since 1871 | Raw Story:

"The Democratic victory for a retired Air Force captain was the first for Democrats since 1871."

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This seat, historically, has been Republican. Dems won it last cycle and again this time. But, somehow, this is great news for Republicans.

Democrat Garamendi Cruises in California 10 - Yahoo! News:

"Lt. Gov. John Garamendi kept California's 10th Congressional District in Democratic hands, easily winning the special election to fill an open seat."

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Excellent news for the teabaggers.

Breckenridge, Colorado voters legalize marijuana, paraphernalia | Raw Story:

"Voters in the ski resort town of Breckenridge, Colorado legalized marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia by a nearly three-to-one margin on Tuesday.

It is the first municipality in the United States to allow paraphernalia, such as pipes, bongs and bubblers.

'[The measure] passed 73 percent to 27 percent,' ABC 7 News in Denver reported."

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But there are lessons to be learned. I'm looking at your Creigh Deeds (Worse. Campaign. Ever)

Daily Kos: State of the Nation:

"by kos
Tue Nov 03, 2009 at 09:32:52 PM PST

There will be much number-crunching tomorrow, but preliminary numbers (at least in Virginia) show that GOP turnout remained the same as last year, but Democratic turnout collapsed. This is a base problem, and this is what Democrats better take from tonight:

1. If you abandon Democratic principles in a bid for unnecessary 'bipartisanship', you will lose votes.

2. If you water down reform in favor of Blue Dogs and their corporate benefactors, you will lose votes.

3. If you forget why you were elected -- health care, financial services, energy policy and immigration reform -- you will lose votes.

Tonight proved conclusively that we're not going to turn out just because you have a (D) next to your name, or because Obama tells us to. We'll turn out if we feel it's worth our time and effort to vote, and we'll work hard to make sure others turn out if you inspire us with bold and decisive action.

The choice is yours. Give us a reason to vote for you, or we sit home. And you aren't going to make up the margins with conservative voters. They already know exactly who they're voting for, and it ain't you."

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Bazooka vs. Spork comes to mind.

Bush, Clinton Debate At Radio City In February:

"Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will go head to head in a debate at Radio City Music Hall next February, as part of a series pairing liberal and conservative thinkers called 'Minds That Move The World.'"

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Cool.

Star Pictures: NASA's Most Extraordinary Images EVER (PHOTOS, POLL)

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Smile

Fun, geeky way to pass some time today.

Daily Kos: Photo Tour of The Solar System (Part 1)

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It don't look pretty. And by 'worse case' I think they mean 'the only case'.

Losing Net Neutrality: What The Worse Case Scenario Looks Like:

"As we've previously discussed, Senator John McCain hates him some 'net neutrality.' And so, he's introducing the 'Internet Freedom Act of 2009,' that would give telecoms the 'freedom' to turn the 'internet' into a confounding and baffling ordeal that would suck, into infinity. Net neutrality, which McCain, inventor of the Blackberry, wants to do away with, would keep internet service providers from favoring some content packets over others. To borrow an example elucidated by Boing Boing's Xeni Jardin, net neutrality is what prevents Time Warner, a provider, from slowing or blocking access to MSNBC in favor of CNN.

What would life be like under the 'Internet Freedom Act?' Well, one Reddit user created an image that depicts the 'worst case scenario.'"

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Zogby has always been a crap poll, but, geez, come on. This isn't even attempting a dog whistle anymore. Just shouting it from the roof tops. 'The Sheriff is..... near'.

Zogby asks if FCC should force "good white people" to "make room for more African-Americans and gays." | Media Matters for America

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When you go to B.C. always check that you have your room key, your wallet and your feet with you at ALL TIMES, people.

Foot found on Richmond beach is seventh foot found on B.C. coast:

"RICHMOND - A right foot has been found inside a running shoe on a beach in Richmond, the seventh foot found along B.C.’s coast in two years, RCMP said Wednesday."

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Cool. If there's any water left, though.

Giant Crack in Africa Will Create a New Ocean | LiveScience:

"A 35-mile rift in the desert of Ethiopia will likely become a new ocean eventually, researchers now confirm.

The crack, 20 feet wide in spots, opened in 2005 and some geologists believed then that it would spawn a new ocean. But that view was controversial, and the rift had not been well studied.

A new study involving an international team of scientists and reported in the journal Geophysical Research Letters finds the processes creating the rift are nearly identical to what goes on at the bottom of oceans, further indication a sea is in the region's future."

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Don't worry. Be happy. Seriously. Be happy or else.

The Happiness Hat Will Spike Your Skull - Happiness hat - Gizmodo:

"This is the Happiness Hat. It detects whether or not you're smiling. If you aren't, it jabs you in the back of the head with a metal spike. Nothing makes people happier than sharp skull pain!"

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Yeah, riddle me this recent vegetarian who attempted to argue with me that meat was not necessary part of a diet. If a plant eats meat, then I can eat met. End of discussion. (with the caveat that sustainable farming is something we really need to work on. I'mma gonna eat meat. It just doesn't need to be shipped 2000 miles before I do).

11 Carnivorous Plants (PHOTOS)

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Letter to the Editor FAIL

Letter to the Editor - Southern Style - FAIL.

Lots of good folks down there, but ol' Janice doesn't seem to be one of them.

Never going back to Buttholeville..... Star.

A great idea | TimesDaily.com | The Times Daily | Florence, AL:

"I am writing in response to the You Said It caller who sarcastically remarked about the possibility of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh being the president and vice president of the United States.

What a great idea! I believe if Glenn Beck were president, the U.S. Constitution would be honored once again, there would be no more czars and Rahm Emanuel and David Axlerod would not be in the White House telling the president how to run the country (into the ground)!

Janice Williams

Center Star"

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Just takes the snark right out of me.

"We should change the part about giving to the poor, 'cause that's some commie lovin' crap, and, instead, say give big ass corporate tax breaks to companies we deem 'too large to fail'". Jesus would have wanted it that way."

Mighty presumption to think you can edit 'the word of GAWD'.

Conservative Bible Project Cuts Out Liberal Passages:

"Lo and behold, the Bible has gotten too liberal, according to a group of conservatives. And it needs a little editing.

That's the inspiration behind the Conservative Bible Project, which seeks to take the text back to its supposed right-wing roots.

Yes, even scripture is not orthodox enough for the modern conservative. Not that it's the fault of the author(s), exactly. The group cites a few reasons why the Bible is too progressive: 'Lack of precision in the original language ... lack of precision in modern language' and 'translation bias in converting the original language to the modern one.'"

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Executed an innocent man. Now covering it up. Stay classy, Perry.

Cameron Todd Willingham: Texas Governor Dismisses 3 Commission Members Just 48 Hours Before Arson Review

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A few days old, but if I can make one more fundie head explode, I've done my duty.

Oldest "Human" Skeleton Found--Disproves "Missing Link":

"Scientists today announced the discovery of the oldest fossil skeleton of a human ancestor. The find reveals that our forebears underwent a previously unknown stage of evolution more than a million years before Lucy, the iconic early human ancestor specimen that walked the Earth 3.2 million years ago (interactive time line: how the new discovery changes human evolutionary theory)."

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This would really pop some fundie head, too.

Rocky Planet Discovery: NASA/Harvard Teams Say "Finding a Second Earth Could Happen Anytime Now":

"Astronomers may be on the brink of discovering a second Earth-like planet, a find that would add fresh impetus to the search for extraterrestrial life. Astronomers from six major centers, including NASA, Harvard and the University of Colorado, agreed at a conference last year that advances in technology suggest scientists are on the verge of being able to detect the presence of small, rocky planets, much like our own, around distant stars for the first time. The planets are considered the most likely habitats for extraterrestrial life."

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Duuuude. Awesome. Good luck with the deadlines, though.

Denver Westword IS Hiring A Pot Critic To Review Marijuana Dispensaries - Speakeasy - WSJ:

"On Tuesday, the Denver Westword, a respected alt-weekly, posted an unusual job opening on its Web site. “Calling all potential pot reviewers: Westword wants you!”"

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GODDAMMIT!

You can't knock somebody up via dream and/or solo shower 'sex', right?

If no, then I repeat: GODDAMMIT!

Padma Lakshmi Is PREGNANT! But With Whose Baby?

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Blackwashing

Seriously. Bunch of damn pussies.

It's time for Obama to take off the kid gloves -- latimes.com:

"The president's coolness in the face of the right wing's relentlessly anti-intellectual assault on his policies has been impressive as a display of character. But it also has enabled his opponents to subvert his program and erode his popularity.

He hasn't been helped by the feckless performance of the Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. They've behaved like they think the public buys into such Republican talking points on healthcare as the 'death panel' and 'socialized medicine' claims -- all discredited fantasies.

By failing to take a strong line, the Democrats allowed the GOP to dominate the healthcare debate all summer. Senate Majority Leader Reid wasted weeks trying to enlist the GOP in a compromise, despite clear signs that Republican leaders were only interested in sabotaging reform. Obama didn't really take the reins of the debate until his address to Congress on Sept. 9.

Consequently, reform that Congress might have passed by Labor Day may not happen for months. Reid still isn't guaranteeing that healthcare reform will pass this year, saying only that there's 'a very good chance' it will happen. Is this how a leader with a commanding majority should talk?"

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Only a Southerner could pull this off.

Blackwashing: Stephen Colbert Goes There. . .

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The Post is lying out of its ass. The drops were due to the grassroots (small donors) extremely turned off by the unchanginess of the Obama administration. I've given directly to a couple of candidates, but the DNC, DCCC, DSCC, Obama, won't see a dime from me until they start acting like progressives.

Democrats Jarred By Drop In Campaign Donations:

"The Washington Post reports that harsh rhetoric about big business is costing Democrats campaign funds.

The Post reports that the majority of the fundraising declines were due to wealthy donors holding back."

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It is a bitch when one is required to actually deal with the horseshit laws one's party crammed down the U.S.'s throat during the Bush Wonder Years.

Poor, poor baby.

TSA, GOP Rep. square off in airport over body scanners | Raw Story:

"A Republican congressman who recently had an unpleasant run-in with the Transportation Security Administration in a Utah airport is denying allegations that he acted out over being ushered into a line for a full body scanning machine.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), a longtime opponent of the security technology witch effectively performs a strip search on its subjects, told a Salt Lake City NBC affiliate that a TSA agent claimed to know “exactly” who he is, causing the congressman to wonder if the whole incident was direct harassment.

He added that while the body scanner is optional, agents tried to force him through it.

“They did not make it optional; and when I told them I didn’t want to do it, they started treating me as though I was some sort of criminal or something, giving me the third degree,” he told KSL NBC 5."

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Uh.... I call titty bleeding an emergency. But, hey, I'm not medical insurer, so what do I know.

CA Insurer: Woman's Bleeding Breast Not Emergency - cbs5.com:

"Why? Documents from Blue Shield indicate the company had reviewed the case and determined Miran-Ramirez 'reasonably should have known that an emergency did not exist.'

'I am like how can they say that it was not an emergency? Like, my breast was bleeding! I am not a clinical person but if your breast is bleeding, for me that's an emergency,' she said."

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Hurry up with the real space travel already. I'm ready to jump off this rock and check out what else is out there.

Water detected on the Moon

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This should help you pass some time today.

There, I Fixed It: Epic Kludges Jury Rigs

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Hairdrying the Myth Away

No need to post this, really. The default assumption is that when the GOP cites anything you can be sure that A. It is complete bullshit B. It is complete bullshit C. All of the above.

Research Firm Cited by GOP Is Owned by Health Insurer - washingtonpost.com:

"The political battle over health-care reform is waged largely with numbers, and few number-crunchers have shaped the debate as much as the Lewin Group, a consulting firm whose research has been widely cited by opponents of a public insurance option.

To Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House Republican whip, it is 'the nonpartisan Lewin Group.' To Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee, it is an 'independent research firm.' To Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the second-ranking Republican on the pivotal Finance Committee, it is 'well known as one of the most nonpartisan groups in the country.'

Generally left unsaid amid all the citations is that the Lewin Group is wholly owned by UnitedHealth Group, one of the nation's largest insurers."

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Max Baucus is the fakiest of the fake Democrats.

This guy is pure awful:

Daily Kos: Report: Baucus Drawing Outrage in Dem Caucus.

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As one who marks up a good 60 papers a week, this is hilarious. Vanity Fair marked up VPILFs actual resignation speech.

She talk pretty... not.

Palin's Resignation: The Edited Version | vanityfair.com

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I gotta get me one of these.

A hair dryer. Brilliant!

Atheists choose 'de-baptism' to renounce childhood faith - USATODAY.com:

"In a type of mock ceremony that's now been performed in at least four states, a robed 'priest' used a hairdryer marked 'reason' in an apparent bid to blow away the waters of baptism once and for all. Several dozen participants then fed on a 'de-sacrament' (crackers with peanut butter) and received certificates assuring they had 'freely renounced a previous mistake, and accepted Reason over Superstition.'"

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Because... well, I don't have much else to blog about today. My apologies for the Foxworthyness:

Redneck Games Slideshow: Vote

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Mars Flight Simulation: 6 Men Endure 105 Days Of Isolation In Simulated Flight:

"MOSCOW -- Russian engineers broke a red wax seal and six men emerged from a metal hatch after 105 days of isolation in a mock spacecraft, still smiling after testing the stresses that space travelers may face on the journey to Mars."

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Good vs. Bad and Ugly

The Alabama 'Good'"

Regina Benjamin, Obama's Pick For Surgeon General:

"WASHINGTON — The Associated Press has learned that President Barack Obama has chosen a well-known Alabama family physician, Dr. Regina Benjamin, to be the next surgeon general.

An administration official said Obama will announce the nomination later Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to upstage the official announcement.

Benjamin was the first black woman to head a state medical society, received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights and just last fall received a MacArthur Foundation 'genius grant.' But she made headlines in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, with her determination to rebuild her rural health clinic Bayou La Batre, Ala., which serves 4,400 patients who would be hard-pressed to find care elsewhere."

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The Alabama 'Bad' and 'Ugly'.

Like Jefferson has any clue what 'mainstream' is.

Priceless watching this bigoted fuck wring his hands over our Wise Latina.

Sotomayor ‘has the votes’:

"'I think philosophically her statements indicate an approach to judging that is outside the mainstream,' Sen. Jeff Sessions, senior Judiciary Committee Republican, said in a nationally broadcast interview."

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Only love here.

America's Love-Hate History with Pot - CBS News:

"The story of how a child of the post-war era came to doubt, and then reject, conventional wisdom about the horrors of the 'devil weed' parallels the story about how the rest of America has gradually rethought its views of marijuana. The transformation has been intertwined with the rise of the Baby Boom generation and its successors, the societal upheaval of the 1960s and 1970s, and a generational shift that chipped away at long-held assumptions about trust and authority.

Today the potent smell of marijuana legalization is in the air. States including California and New Mexico -- and, as of mid-June, Rhode Island -- already permit marijuana's use for medicinal purposes. The success of those initiatives, coupled with an economic downturn, a president who did inhale and governors who are willing to discuss complete legalization, make it seem possible that legal bans on recreational use of marijuana will, in the not-so-distant future, go up in smoke."

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Dang ol' interweb bringing the cool.

WeChooseTheMoon.org: Website Recreates Apollo 11 Mission In Real Time:

"BOSTON — Families crowded around black-and-white television sets in 1969 to watch Neil Armstrong take man's first steps on the moon.

Now, they'll be able to watch the Apollo 11 mission recreated in real time on the Web, follow Twitter feeds of transmissions between Mission Control and the spacecraft, and even get an e-mail alert when the lunar module touches down. Those features are part of a new Web site from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum commemorating the moon mission and Kennedy's push to land Americans there first."

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Shouldn't say 'fuck' no you shouldn't say 'fuck', fuck no!

Stub your toe? Say ‘Sh#!’ You’ll feel better - Behavior- msnbc.com:

"Peggy Loper doesn’t know why, but she’s sure that the rapid hissed repetition of her favorite expletive somehow dulls the pain when she’s hammered her thumb rather than the nail she’d aimed for.

“Generally I start swearing even before the pain actually registers,” says the 48-year-old student from Salem, N.J. “And usually, the ouch-ouch dance, where I’m hopping from foot to foot, goes along with it. People have told me that I should try deep breathing, but I personally prefer to swear.” The F-bomb is her curse word of choice; that hard consonant at the end is particularly satisfying, she explains."

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Right Wing Politics

If only some government agency could have predicted the potential for violent right-wing extremism.....

Holocaust museum shooter reportedly white supremacist James von Brunn.:

"This afternoon, a gunman apparently shot at least one person at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. MSNBC is reporting that the suspected shooter, who also sustained gunshot wounds, is James Von Brunn, a white supremacist born in 1920. Brunn has been approvingly cited on Stormfront, a national white supremacist website. He is apparently the author of a tract called, “Kill the Best Gentiles,” which his website describes as “a new, hard-hitting expos�of the JEW CONSPIRACY to destroy the White gene-pool.” Brunn, a WWII veteran, also wrote a screed on President Obama’s citizenship that was re-posted to popular right-wing message board Free Republic:"

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...oh, wait, one actually did:

Will Republicans Admit That Their Partisan Outrage Over The DHS Report Was Misplaced? | Media Matters Action Network

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Almost the sanest thing ever stated on FAUX News.... until they tie it to the blogs and ignore the fact that the fuel for these fires is coming directly from their 'news' organization. From the Becks. From the Hannitys. From the Limbaughs.

The accountability rest squarely on FAUX News and its associated ilk.

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Really? You think? You mean the report that FAUX reflexively dismissed out of some partisan outrage?

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But what do they know anyway....

Health Professionals Tell Congress They Want Single-Payer:

"At a long-awaited House subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, health-care professionals made it clear that they believe a single-payer system to be the best and perhaps only workable option for health care reform.

'Single-payer is the only reform that can control health care costs,' said Walter Tsou, a University of Pennsylvania professor and an adviser to Physicians for a National Health Program. The last 50 years of government policy have protected insurance industry profits at the expense of taxpayers, doctors and hospitals, he said.

'Our most famous radical document begins with the words, 'We the People.' Not 'We the Insurers,'' he said. 'It is time for our own generation's revolution."

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More like this, Democrats. Keep in mind that this is a Freshman Senator. We need more progressive Freshman Democratic Senators.

Senator Calls Out Frank Luntz From Senate Floor:

"Here we go. Frank Luntz's memo, that's his memo on how to kill health care, came out in April. It says - talking point number five - 'Health denial care horror stories in Canada and other countires do resonate, but you have to humanize them. You notice we recommend the phrase 'government takeover' rather than 'government run' or 'government control.'' Why? Because government takeover sounds even scarier.

So what did we hear in the chamber from our minority leader just recently? I quote - 'Americans are concerned about a government takeover of health care and for good reason.' And it goes on. So recognize that that is a point that's coming from a document about how to kill health care, not a responsible debate about the plan we have in front of us."

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WTF is he talking about? $10 for anyone that can decipher this tortured analogy.

God, I love Michael Steele.

The gift that keeps on giving.

Minnesota Independent: News. Politics. Media. � ‘Big tent’ no more: RNC’s Steele says GOP is a hat:

"Here’s more evidence that the GOP is still struggling to find fitting metaphors to talk about itself. The party was likened to a miffed Eminem by Gov. Tim Pawlenty at the College Republicans’ national confab over the weekend, while at another of the convention’s sessions, RNC chair Michael Steele was coming up with imagery of his own. Steele told the audience that “no one knows what the hell it means” when the GOP refers to itself as a “big tent.”

So he offered another analogy: The GOP is a hat.

Some people wear a hat frontwards, others cocked to the left, he explained. Some wear it backwards, he added, echoing a past statement, “because that’s how they roll.” But “the strength of the party is in this: … the fact that you’re willing to put the damn thing on… The problem we’ve had as a party is: too many of our friends, neighbors, colleagues are taking the hat off, because we’ve decided we don’t like the way they wear it… The GOP is not about how you wear the hat, but the fact that you want to wear the hat.”"

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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

HA!

GOP Leader Rep. Eric Cantor Predicts Republican Landslide in 2010 - ABC News:

"These may be dark days for the Republican Party, but a top GOP congressional leader predicted today that Republicans would trounce Democrats in the 2010 midterm elections and could take back control of the House of Representatives."

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Damn, those conservatives sure do love to hate on some America.

Ed Goes Ballistic over GM "Socialist" Boycott

Hewitt: I won't be visiting a GM or Chrysler lot, now matter the quality of the product. The only way to fight socialism, is to Boycott GM.

Ed: We are talking about hundreds of thousands of Americans. And this is what they have? They openly say, if you‘re angry. No, I think the word is "if you hate Obama." If you hate Obama. If you can‘t stand the fact that he‘s having success as a president. If you just hate the fact that this guy has got a 60-plus percent approval rating. He‘s trying to save American industry.

If you hate him that much, don‘t buy a GM and don‘t buy a Chrysler. Now the thing that bothers me, this is the crowd that was on the president because they didn‘t—he didn‘t wear a lapel pin. This is the crowd that wrap themselves in the flag and said that the liberals weren‘t American.

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Loves me some Lawrence O'Donnell.

Another Lawrence O'Donnell Teaching: This Time On Joey "Book Boy!" (Updated 2x: The Video):

"'Liberals ended slavery, liberals got woman the right to vote, liberals created Social Security, Medicaid and a minimum wage, they wrote the Civil Rights Act, , the Voting Rights Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, they have done all of those things in at every moment, for every one of those things in this country, what did conservatives do, they opposed every one of those things, including your right to vote (pointing at Mika).'"

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Heh. Palau.

Palau to take Guantanamo's Chinese detainees - Yahoo! News:

"WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Palau agreed to accept 17 Chinese Muslims who have languished in legal limbo at Guantanamo Bay, indicating a resolution to one of the major obstacles to closing the U.S. prison camp."

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Ah, CL. I knew ye when you were but a nascent local posting board.

Craigslist expects record revenue: $100 million:

"Defying its anti-commercial reputation, Craigslist is expected to rake in $100 million in revenue this year, the most ever for the classified advertising site, according to a new report."

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Ladies, FYI, I'm available for 'end of world' sex. Better hurry. 3.5 billions years will be here before you know it. And you don't want to get crushed by Venus without first having experienced my... rhymes with 'Venus'.

Earth-Venus smash-up possible in 3.5 billion years: study

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The Beast with Two Backs

Good, Obama administration, good!

Obama's Serious About Taking an Axe to Corruption and Waste at the Pentagon :

"Of all Barack Obama’s promises of reform, perhaps the most audacious is his pledge to “restore honesty, openness, and commonsense to Pentagon contracting and procurement.” Washington is littered with the open-jawed skeletons of such efforts, and given the historic length of the White House to-do list, some might say taking on the defense establishment smacks of hubris. But a raft of recent statements, directives, and appointments indicate the administration fully intends to chaperone Pentagon shopping trips and hold defense contractors accountable in a way they never have been before."

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Bad, Obama administration, bad!

Obama Administration: Constitution Does Not Protect Cell-Site Records | Threat Level from Wired.com

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Who needs Republicans when you have Blue Dog Shitty-ass Democrats.

These people are the worst.

Just switch parties, already.

Who Are The Anonymous ‘Three Or Four’ Senators In Bayh’s Blue Dog-Style Coalition?

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As one who use to love performing in Shakespeare's stage plays, (Iago in Othello and Orlando in As You Like It, thank you very much) this is pretty damn cool.

Academic 'discovers' six works by William Shakespeare - Telegraph

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Bat peer pressure. An often overlooked problem in the states.

Bat Hung On For a Ride Into Space | LiveScience:

"A small bat that was spotted blasting off with the space shuttle Sunday and clinging to the back side of Discovery's external fuel tank apparently held on throughout the launch."

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Day O' the St. Patrick

Here's some Pogues love via JennB:

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Sigh.

Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno Fools Alabama National Guard:

"BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The actor best known as 'Borat' tricked the Alabama National Guard into allowing him onto a post, giving him a military uniform and briefly letting him train _ all, supposedly, for a German TV documentary.

The ruse, which included comedian Sacha Baron Cohen exposing his thong underwear while changing clothes, was going well until a young cadet recognized Cohen and notified older officers who weren't familiar with the actor.

'It's an embarrassment to the Alabama National Guard,' Staff Sgt. Katrina Timmons said Monday. 'Since then we have put in protocols to make sure this doesn't happen again.'"

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Stock mArKetz iz hard.

The Washington Monthly:

"Just so we're clear, here's a helpful guide to the rules of market watching, as they relate to partisan politics:

When the market went down on Bush's watch before the 2008 elections, this was Bill Clinton's fault.

When the market went down on Bush's watch between November 2008 and January 2009, this was Barack Obama's fault.

When the market went down during Obama's first seven weeks in office, this was definitely Barack Obama's fault.

And when the market rallies on Obama's watch during the second week in March, George W. Bush deserves at least some of the credit."

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As one who was raised in a Union family, the EFCA is damn important.

Employee Free Choice Act just what Maine's economy needs | Portland Press Herald:

"Historically, no institution has been as effective at improving the quality of life for working families as membership in a union.

Union members earn better wages, have better health-care coverage and can count on a more secure retirement than non-union workers.

As current and former union members ourselves, we know that unions work.

Who brought us the weekend? Unions. Who rose with unions? The middle class. It just makes sense. Tens of millions of workers would join a union if they could. The problem is that if they try, and their employer resists, workers have only about a 20 percent chance of success.

This is because the current system for forming a union is unfairly tilted in the employer's favor.

That's just wrong. It's un-American and one more example of greed and power run amok."

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And here's Maddow from last week debunking Republican bunk:

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Goddamn Socialists!

Or is this what Jesus would do?

So confusing sometimes.

Beth Israel workers agree to go without to save jobs - The Boston Globe:

"The consensus was that the workers don't want anyone to get laid off and are willing to give up pay and benefits to make sure no one does. A nurse said her floor voted unanimously to forgo a 3 percent raise. A guy in finance who got laid off from his last job at a hospital in Rhode Island suggested working one less day a week. Another nurse said she was willing to give up some vacation and sick time. A respiratory therapist suggested eliminating bonuses."

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Hurry up with the warp drive already.

Scientists harness anti-matter, ordinary matter's 'evil twin' :

"Nevertheless, the Defense Department, the Energy Department, NASA, university physicists and a few private companies are working to produce and manage anti-matter and to develop useful applications for this weird stuff.

Potential applications include propellants for deep space travel, better cancer radiation therapies and detectors for smuggled nuclear materials, according to Gerald Jackson, a physicist and the president of Hbar Technologies in West Chicago, Ill. 'Hbar' is physicists' shorthand for anti-hydrogen."

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