GhostWheel

Movie Review Notice

2010-07-16T03:23:00.004-04:00

I have a new post reviewing a season two premier of The Incredible Hulk. You can read it here:

http://ghostwheelkeepsitsimple.blogspot.com/

Please check it out and tell me what you think.

Review: Death Of The Incredible Hulk

2010-07-13T14:31:00.000-04:00

http://ghostwheelkeepsitsimple.blogspot.com/

Movie Reviews

2010-07-12T02:09:00.001-04:00

http://ghostwheelkeepsitsimple.blogspot.com/

I have a lot of movies and shows in mind to review. So much that I think it requires a self contained blog. I'll be submitting one soon but visit to see my first post.

J

Hotdogs and Hamburgers

2010-07-05T17:39:00.002-04:00

From Hot Word
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, people commonly believed that the thin sausages contained dog meat. This particularly gruesome coinage started on American college campuses in the late 19th century, according to hot-dog historian Bruce Kraig.

The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council suggests the phrase, in part, might have slightly more innocent inspiration. In the mid-19th century, German immigrant butchers in the United States began selling variations of sausages, some of which were thin and long, like the dog breed dachshund. They called these dachshund sausages. Over time, the phrase may have been bastardized into “hot dog.”

Two other words for hot dogs — frankfurters and wieners — raise an unsettled debate about where the food originated. The former is named for Frankfurt, Germany; the latter, for Vienna, Austria (wiener is the German adjective that means “of Vienna). Even the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council says this argument is too hard to pin down.

And in case, you’re wondering: Non-kosher hot dogs do not contain dog. They have pork in them, whereas kosher hot dogs have no pork and are likely to contain beef, chicken, or turkey. No dog meat there, either.

The word “hamburger” also owes its origins to a German city — in this case, Hamburg. Food historians believe that around the same time sausage-makers were refining their meat products, cooks in Hamburg served up a cooked version of steak tartare. For awhile, the dish was known in English as “hamburger steak.”

If you’re a vegetarian, fear not. We have a word to barbecue for you, too. Throw a tofu burger on the grill and keep this is mind: “tofu” comes from Chinese, by way of Japanese, meaning “rotten bean.”

The Force Is Strong With This One

2010-06-27T04:11:00.003-04:00

When James Dean introduced himself to Alec Guinness outside a restaurant, he asked him to take a look at the Porsche 550 Spyder. Guinness thought the car appeared 'sinister' and told Dean: 'If you get in that car, you will be found dead in it by this time next week.' This encounter took place on September 23, 1955, seven days before Dean's death.

Guinness, Alec. Blessings in Disguise [Random House, 1985, ISBN 0-394-55237-7], ch. 4 (pp. 34-35)

T-9 Series Terminator Cat

2010-06-25T15:29:00.003-04:00

*A Yahoo reader reported that the first bionic cat was George Bailey in 2006 in North Carolina at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. That is correct. See article here.

LONDON (AFP) – A cat which lost both back paws after a traumatic accident involving a combine harvesterhas regained a spring in its step after being fitted with prosthetic limbs.

In a groundbreaking surgery carried out by Noel Fitzpatrick, a Surrey-based veterinary surgeon, the custom-made implants "peg" the ankle to Oscar's foot and mimic the way in which deer antler bone grows throughskin.

The prosthetic legs, called intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthetics (Itaps) were developed by a team from University College London, led by Professor Gordon Blunn.

"The real revolution with Oscar is [that] we have put a piece of metal and a flange into which skin grows into an extremely tight bone," Fitzpatrick said of the operation which took place last November.

"We have managed to get the bone and skin to grow into the implant and we have developed an 'exoprosthesis' that allows this implant to work as a see-saw on the bottom of an animal's limbs to give him effectively normal gait," he added.

The veterinary surgical team took three hours to insert the pegs by drilling into one of the cat's ankle bones in each of the back legs.

The Itap technology has already been used to create a prosthetic for a woman who lost her arm in the July 2005 London bombings.

Oscar's recovery will feature as part of a six-part BBC One documentary series, The Bionic Vet, starting later this month.

Rolling Stone Article on General

2010-06-23T20:20:00.004-04:00

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/119236?RS_show_page=0

I just read the Rolling Stone article. I have no idea why the General McChrystal would have agreed to something so stupid as a Rolling Stone article. He must have left his political sense at home if he ever had any. I find it hard to believe that the general and his aides thought it would be a good idea to be themselves in the midst of a journalist. If they're that stupid perhaps its a good idea that the general is reassigned.

Sill, I found no good reason for McChrystal to offer his resignation. As of today, he did offer Obama his resignation. Articles were not clear if that meant just to be reassigned or is out of the Army.

The author, Michael Hastings, must have been a typical one. Appearing all likable while interviewing you then craps out what appears to be hate piece at first. Do all journalists work like this? See my upcoming post on Maya, the pop star.

In Hastings own words:

" to keep up the fiction, in essence, that we actually have allies"

"The general's staff is a handpicked collection of killers, spies, geniuses, patriots, political operators and outright maniacs." **As if patriots were a bad thing**

"This is one of the central flaws with McChrystal's counterinsurgency strategy" **Now he's an expert in military strategy**

"took solace in baseball, a sport in which he made no pretense of hiding his superiority" **Why would anyone hide how good they are in a sport?**

**Describing WestPoint,** "was a potent mix of testosterone, hooliganism and reactionary patriotism."

But at least Hastings wasn't completely one sided:

"Despite the tragedies and miscues, McChrystal has issued some of the strictest directives to avoid civilian casualties that the U.S. military has ever encountered in a war zone."

Pear Harbor - Advanced Knowledge?

2010-06-22T23:42:00.002-04:00

One perspective is given by Vice Admiral Frank E. Beatty, who at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack was an aide to the Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox and was very close to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's inner circle, with perspicuous remarks as:

"Prior to December 7, it was evident even to me... that we were pushing Japan into a corner. I believed that it was the desire of President Roosevelt, and Prime Minister Churchill that we get into the war, as they felt the Allies could not win without us and all our efforts to cause the Germans to declare war on us failed; the conditions we imposed upon Japan — to get out of China, for example — were so severe that we knew that nation could not accept them. We were forcing her so severely that we could have known that she would react toward the United States. All her preparations in a military way — and we knew their over-all import — pointed that way."^[54]

Another "eye witness viewpoint" akin to Beatty's is provided by Roosevelt's administrative assistant at the time of Pearl Harbor, Jonathan Daniels; it is the telling comment about FDR's reaction to the attack - "The blow was heavier than he had hoped it would necessarily be. ... But the risks paid off; even the loss was worth the price. ..."^[55]

Admiral Kimmel nor General Short ever faced court martial. It is alleged this was to avoid disclosing information showing the U.S. had advanced knowledge of the attack. When asked, "Will historians know more later?", Kimmel replied, "' ... I'll tell you what I believe. I think that most of the incriminating records have been destroyed. ... I doubt if the truth will ever emerge.' ..."^[93] From Vice Admiral Libby, "I will go to my grave convinced that FDR ordered Pearl Harbor to let happen. He must have known."^[94] It is equally, probably more, likely this was done to avoid disclosing the fact Japanese codes were being read, given there was a war on.

U. S. News and World Report, May 28, 1954, p. 48

1941: Pearl Harbor Sunday: The End of an Era, in "The Aspirin Age - 1919-1941," edited by Isabel Leighton, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1949, page 490

United States Naval Institute (USNI), Oral History Series, Vice Admiral Ruthven E. Libby (Admiral King's staff), No. 4-230, Annapolis, MD, 1984. (Etta-Belle Kitchen conducted the interviews of VADM Libby during the period February-June 1970

U.S. not accepting foreign help on oil spill

2010-06-22T16:14:00.004-04:00

Something most people didn't know because it wasn't widely reported by the mainstream (except for CNN). BTW, ever notice how "they" never seem able to identify who said what in the government. It's always washed over with identifiers such as "we", top leaders", or "the government". I want to know which person in the administration said no to foreign help.

U.S. not accepting foreign help on oil spill
Posted By Josh Rogin Thursday, May 6, 2010

When State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley refused to tell reporters which countries have offered assistance to help respond to the BP oil spill, the State Department press corps was flabbergasted.
"As a policy matter, we're not going to identify those offers of assistance until we are able to see, you know, what we need, assess the ongoing situation. And as we accept those offers of assistance, we will inform you," Crowley said.
Reporters pointed out that the Bush administration identified assistance offers after the Katrina disaster, so what is this, a new policy? They pressed Crowley, but he refused to budge.
Then they mentioned Iran's offer of assistance, through its National Iranian Drilling Company. Crowley said there was no Iranian offer of assistance, at least in any official capacity. The reporters kept on it, asking why it was taking so long to figure out what was needed in the first place? That's the Coast Guard's decision, Crowley explained.
Late Wednesday evening, the State Department emailed reporters identifying the 13 entities that had offered the U.S. oil spill assistance. They were the governments of Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations.
"These offers include experts in various aspects of oil spill impacts, research and technical expertise, booms, chemical oil dispersants, oil pumps, skimmers, and wildlife treatment," the email read.
"While there is no need right now that the U.S. cannot meet, the U.S. Coast Guard is assessing these offers of assistance to see if there will be something which we will need in the near future."
The Obama administration has been relentless in its messaging that it is doing everything possible to aggressively respond to the oil spill. But for the record, the current message to foreign governments is: Thanks but no thanks, we've got it covered.
A State Department official, speaking on background, said that the decision not to initially release the names of offering countries came directly from the State Department leadership.

Which brand makes the best ranch dressing?

2010-06-18T14:08:00.003-04:00

Personally, I like to make my own using real sour cream (16 ounce) and a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch instant dip/dressing. After mixing, it has about 5 grams of fat and 60 calories per a 2 tablespoon serving. That's because, I believe, all of the dressings below have soybean oil as the #1 ingredient. To modify for salad use, mix in enough skim milk to make it pourable.

Ranked by flavor:

#1 Kraft Ranch Dressing & Dip
Nutrition: 1 serving = 120 calories; 12 g fat; 370 mg sodium
Cost: $2.19 for an 8oz. bottle at Associated Supermarket
Blind Tasting Notes: "Nice bright white color"; "Well balanced"; "Tastes like my childhood"

#2 Ken's Steak House Ranch Dressing
Nutrition: 1 serving = 140 calories; 15 g fat; 310 mg sodium
Cost: #3.99 for a 16oz. bottle at Associated Supermarket
Blind Tasting Notes: "Creamy but not too taxing texture"; "Not overly mayonnaise-y"

#3 Hidden Valley "The Original" Ranch Dressing
Nutrition: 1 serving = 140 calories; 14 g fat; 260 mg sodium
Cost: $2.49 for an 8oz. bottle at Associated Supermarket
Blind Tasting Notes: "Not the worst, but not the best"; "Okay"; "Whatever this is, it's what I ate growing up"

#4 Newman's Own Ranch Dressing
Nutrition: 1 serving = 150 calories; 16 g fat; 310 mg sodium
Cost: $4.09 for a 16oz. bottle at Associated Supermarket
Blind Tasting Notes: "Unappealing color"; "Too sweet"

#5 Wishbone Ranch
Nutrition: 1 serving = 130 calories; 13 g fat; 250 mg sodium
Cost: $1.89 for an 8oz. bottle at Associated Supermarket
Blind Tasting Notes: "Too tangy"; "Disgusting"; "Never put me through this again"

Unit of Measure

2010-06-18T13:33:00.003-04:00

Reading all this Gulf oil news, ever noticed how some articles use "gallons" while others use "barrels"?
Kevin Costner's machines can process 210,000 gallons a day while BP captures 25,000 barrels a day.
Hmmmm

Kevin Costner wants cleanup devices near oil rigs

2010-06-18T12:16:00.007-04:00

*Summary*
Note, these devices have been around for over 10 years. These people are just now getting around to using them? Something isn't right with this picture. It reeks with either incompetence or........

Costner has been working for more than a decade in hopes of having the clean up machines on hand for immediate use in oil spills.

"Clearly, there is a market out there," said Costner, who has invested more than $24 million to develop the portable devices.

BP has contracted with Costner and Ocean Therapy Solutions to use 32 centrifuge machines that are designed to separate oil from water.

Costner said all major oil companies should keep the device nearby, like a fire extinguisher, ready whenever accidents occur.

The centrifuges can fit on fishing boats or docks and clean 200 gallons of water per minute — 210,000 gallons per day, Costner said.

Navigating the system is like "playing a video game that no one can master," Costner said. And many government agencies and foreign and U.S. oil companies were unresponsive even after seeing the oil-water separator years ago.

Costner said the device had been sitting at a Nevada facility for 10 years until BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles recently called him.

"He was excited," Costner said. "He told me that the machine worked. He told me that it was working against the dispersants, that it was handling the variations of oil mixtures and thickness present in the Gulf."

Costner said other small businesses like his have ideas that could be used in the oil spill relief effort.

Starbucks offers free Wi-Fi

2010-06-14T18:16:00.001-04:00

Summary Box: Starbucks offers free Wi-Fi

In July, Starbucks will offer free, unlimited Wi-Fi at its 6,736 company-operated U.S. stores. The company only had limited Wi-Fi for certain customers and charged for Internet access after two hours. Meanwhile, Starbucks is partnering with Yahoo to create a special network of content accessible only to customers surfing the Web in its shops. The deal includes free access to the Wall Street Journal's website.

========================================

I used to work for them a few years back. They desire to make Starbucks your "3rd Place". Meaning the consumer spends most of their time at home and work. They would love for the 3rd place to be your local Starbucks. Nothing wrong with that, I like Starbucks but I thought it was insane to charge people $10/mo to access their wifi when a large/venti fruppacino was over $4.
If you love coffee but find their coffee too strong, ask for the House Blend. They always have a mild blend brewing., If still too strong get the barista to fill the cup about 70-75% and fill the rest with hot water. Voila! Perfect coffee.

Quotes From General George S. Patton

2010-06-11T14:17:00.003-04:00

The man actually read the Koran!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_S._Patton

On black soldiers: "Individually they were good soldiers, but I expressed my belief at the time, and have never found the necessity of changing it, that a colored soldier cannot think fast enough to fight in armor."^[42

Patton stated that performance was more important than race or religious affiliation:^[43] "I don't give a damn who the man is. He can be a nigger or a Jew, but if he has the stuff and does his duty, he can have anything I've got. By God! I love him."^[43]^[44]

Later, Patton addressed a group of African-American tankers, saying:

Men, you're the first Negro tankers to ever fight in the American Army. I would never have asked for you if you weren't good. I have nothing but the best in my Army. I don't care what color you are as long as you go up there and kill those Kraut sons of bitches. Everyone has their eyes on you and is expecting great things from you. Most of all your race is looking forward to you. Don't let them down and damn you, don't let me down!^[45]

Patton also insisted on the assignment of some black officers as judges in military tribunals involving black defendants,^[43] and he spent more time with his African-American aide, Sergeant Meeks, than with nearly anyone else while in Europe,^[43] developing a relationship of mutual respect that transcended that of a general with his valet.

Patton was horrified at what he found when his Third Army liberated Buchenwald concentration camp. Local German citizens claimed that they didn't know what was going on, though at least a few admitted to knowing of the atrocities but insisted they had been powerless to stop it. He ordered American troops to round up the approximately 2,000 local Germans and march them through the camps. He wanted them to see the atrocities firsthand.

After reading the Koran and observing North Africans, he wrote to his wife, "Just finished reading the Koran—a good book and interesting." Patton had a keen eye for native customs and methods, wrote knowingly of local architecture, even rated the progress of word-of-mouth rumor in Arab country at 40–60 miles a day. In spite of his regard for the Koran, he concluded, "To me it seems certain that the fatalistic teachings of Mohammad and the utter degradation of women is the outstanding cause for the arrested development of the Arab. . . . Here, I think, is a text for some eloquent sermon on the virtues of Christianity" (both Patton and Halsey were Episcopalians).^[47]^[48]

Patton was highly critical of the victorious Allies use of German forced labor. He commented in his diary "I’m also opposed to sending PW’s to work as slaves in foreign lands (in particular, to France) where many will be starved to death." He also noted "It is amusing to recall that we fought the revolution in defence of the rights of man and the civil war to abolish slavery and have now gone back on both principles."^[50]

Patton wrote much material, including speeches, lectures, and poetry. Incorporating the biblical phrase "Through a Glass, Darkly" he composed a poem imbued with his personal interpretations of reincarnation:^[58]^[59]

Through the travail of the ages,
Midst the pomp and toil of war,
Have I fought and strove and perished
Countless times upon this star
...
So as through a glass, and darkly
The age long strife I see
Where I fought in many guises,
Many names, but always me.
...
So forever in the future,
Shall I battle as of yore,
Dying to be born a fighter,
But to die again, once more

Adidas Goes All ‘Star Wars’ for the World Cup

2010-06-10T21:57:00.001-04:00

http://undertheradar.military.com/2010/06/adidas-goes-all-star-war-for-the-world-cup/?ESRC=soldiertech.nl

Or try ADIDAS STAR WARS.

Viral marketing online can be one of the most annoying things about the Internet. Except when it works.

Adidas imagines everyone coming together from around the universe to watch World Cup soccer at the Star Wars cantina:

adidas Originals invites you to join David Beckham, Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg, Franz Beckenbauer, Noel Gallagher, Ian Brown, Ciara, Jay Baruchel, DJ Neil Armstrong and some of your dear, old friends for an intergalactic 2010 FIFA World Cup™ viewing party that you’ll never forget.

Give them extra points for including the Stone Roses’ Ian Brown alongside Oasis’ Noel Gallagher and not caring if Americans would recognize them.

Echo & The Bunnymen

2010-06-02T03:31:00.004-04:00

My first post for June also happens to be my first music related post.

Saw this group in New Haven, CT late fall 1987. One of my classmates at a naval school said he would buy my ticket if I took him to the Echo & The Bunnymen concert. I was like, Who? Even though I didn't know any of the songs at the time, I really enjoyed it. It was a small venue, some old style large theatre. Felt a little out of place since the audience was almost all Goth. My first exposure to Gothfolk. They're on the Lost Boys soundtrack doing a cover of People Are Strange.

I found this video while doing a search for Peter Murphy of Bauhaus (that's another story, see Max X later).

The below comment had me laughing at 3 in the morning.

UnpunishedMovie

3 weeks ago

Echo was like U2 without the political BS. They should have been as big as U2. Bono turned into the Oprah of rock.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Adventurer leaves NY career to walk across US

2010-05-27T15:04:00.004-04:00

So when someone like Matt Green comes along, we shake our heads a little and wonder. Who is this young man, bearded and weather-worn, pushing a cart down a country road, mile after mile? And why would he abandon a solid career as a civil engineer — a roadway designer, ironically — to walk all the way across America?

*********************************************************

**You can read the entire article on this link. It is dated 5/27/10. The link may not work in a few weeks. For the complete article, please email me. **

Remember the Crocodile Dundee movie? This Matt Green is on a walkabout of sorts. Older folks may not understand why Green is doing this. Heck, my Dad doesn't know why I like to hike in the mountains. To me it's obvious. It's fun. It's outdoors. No 5 day a week desk. Fresh air, except when a car passes you. "There is excitement in discovering what's around the next bend."

But I still like to hike some of the same trails even though I wanna try new ones. I call it Wanderlust. Though I'm not too keen for 6 straight months or 3000 miles of it or doing it alone. Even though I like to enjoy my wanderlust in moderation, I can't help but envy Green a little.

What about you? If circumstances permitted (i.e. you saved money) would you like to engage in a walkabout? Hike the Appalachian Trail? Bicycle cross country? How about the Swamp Rabbit trail once it connects Greenville to the beach? That is something I can realistically see myself do.

You can follow Matt Green on his website: http://www.imjustwalkin.com

Commenting?

2010-05-27T02:52:00.003-04:00

When commenting on a post, please leave it in the comments area. Unless it's of a personal nature, avoid the email link. If you get an email of the blog post I would greatly appreciate responses to the Comments area unless you mean for my eyes only. That way a conversation or debate can begin between anyone reading my posts. Sorta like commenting on the Yahoo news stories.

Thanks all,
Supreme Overlord

Mr Miyagi! HELP!!

2010-05-21T17:22:00.002-04:00

Chinese kung fu kids guard against school attacks

By K.J. Kwon K.j. Kwon Thu May 20, 6:47 am ET

BEIJING (Reuters) – Parents in Beijing are taking no chances over the safety of their children after a series of attacks on schoolchildren frightened and angered China.

A growing number of parents have turned to self-defense classes for children more used to wielding electronic games than their fists.

Six times since March, angry and apparently deranged men have attacked Chinese schoolchildren with knives and, in one case, a hammer, killing 27 people and injuring more than 80. Officials have vowed to "strike hard" against the problem and schools have added security guards, but many parents think that's not enough.

Admissions to kung fu schools in Beijing have risen by at least 20 percent since April, China state media reported.

At the Changzhen Kongfu school near Beijing's university district, more than a dozen 7- to 12-year-old children were learning martial arts techniques meant to help them escape potential danger.

"There have been many changes recently. Before, only one to two students will come to consult, but since last week, we have received about 30 inquiries," said Zhang Xiaohang, the chief kung fu instructor at the school.

"A lot of parents register their children for the self-defense class as soon as they arrive, without hesitation. Parents are putting much more emphasis on children's safety."

Zhang now teaches about 10 classes per week and instructs more than 60 kids.

For pudgy 12-year-old Deng Zhiheng, the lessons serve two purposes.

"I am a little bit fat so I want to lose some weight," he said.

"Second of all, there have been many school attacks recently and I want to know how to prevent such attacks. So it is best if I learn these skills."

The class mainly focuses on teaching children how to respond to threats calmly and react quickly.

Self-defense techniques emphasize avoiding confrontation and escaping to safety, Zhang said.

Obvious Example of Media Slanting

2010-05-19T15:38:00.003-04:00

Why did AP have the below pic as the first pic/video in an article about Obama dissing the AZ anti illegal alien law? The video is about a drug bust. But see how at first glance it would be easy to link the pic with the article's title?

Obama ramps up criticism of Ariz. immigration law

By JULIE PACE, Associated Press Writer Julie Pace, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 3 mins ago

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama stepped up his criticism of Arizona's controversial immigration law Wednesday, calling it "misdirected" and warning that it has the potential to be applied in a discriminatory fashion.

For the rest of the slanted article, see: Obama Ramps

GASP! An Actor Takes Responsibility

2010-05-18T01:42:00.003-04:00

Well well well. It's gratifying to see such a young actor take the blame on how bad a movie turned out. I thought Transformers2 did well enough. The only few bad items that come to mind are the stupid twins and the whole robot afterlife thing was too much for the average person. On paper I can see what the writer was trying to convey but this is a Xformers movie not a student film on philosophy. His performance in IJ4 was good but this is the movie that really lacked the heart the others had. And I blame this soley on the director.

Shia LaBeouf: I 'Dropped The Ball' On 'Indiana Jones' Sequel

Source: Access Hollywood Mon May 17, 2010, 6:51 pm

Shia LaBeouf told the Los Angeles Times that he shares some of the blame for the failures of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" - but he is also pointing the finger at the monkeys he was forced to swing through the jungle with.

"I feel like I dropped the ball on the legacy that people loved and cherished," Shia told the Los Angeles Times' 24 Frames blog when asked about the fourth "Indiana Jones" movie while in Cannes over the weekend. "You get to monkey-swinging and things like that and you can blame it on the writer and you can blame it on [director] Steven [Spielberg]," he continued. "But the actor's job is to make it come alive and make it work, and I couldn't do it. So that's my fault. Simple."

The actor went on to emphasize that he believes that modern audiences are hard to fool.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Shia is not the only "Indiana Jones" star who was less-than satisfied with the movie.

"We [Harrison Ford and Shia] had major discussions. He wasn't happy with it either," he also told the Los Angeles Times, referring to the movie the movie that grossed over $786 million worldwide. "Look, the movie could have been updated. There was a reason it wasn't universally accepted... I'll probably get a call. But he needs to hear this. I love him. I love Steven."

Shia's "Indiana Jones" comments come just days after he publicly criticized "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."

"When I saw the second movie, I wasn't impressed with what we did," he told the Associated Press on Thursday in Cannes when asked about the Michael Bay blockbuster. "There were some really wild stunts in it, but the heart was gone."

Pass The Duck Sauce - Crazy A$$ Chinese

2010-05-15T10:59:00.005-04:00

I mean, really this is remarkable considering they have a population of 1 billion. I am surprised there weren't more attacks. Time for them to ban knives too? Thought only guns were supposed to kill people. Gotta admire that quick death sentence too. No years long death row.

BEIJING - A Chinese court sentenced a man to death Saturday for an attack on a school that wounded 29 children and 3 teachers last month.

The attack was one of five major assaults against schoolchildren in the last two months that have left 17 dead and more than 50 hurt. China has ordered tighter security at schools following another attack Wednesday, the deadliest so far. In that rampage, a man broke into a preschool with a cleaver and killed 7 children and 2 adults. The man was reportedly depressed and suicidal.

The attacks have focused attention on the consequences of ignoring mental illness in modern China, as huge economic inequalities have stoked social tension. Experts say China has failed to adequately address the mental health needs of its citizens. Last year, a study in the British medical journal The Lancet showed that 173 million Chinese, or 17.5% of the population have some form of mental problems. The vast majority -about 158 million- have never received any kind of help.

At leastthree of the recent attackers had a history of mental health problems. Two committed suicide after carrying out the attacks.

The man convicted for the first of the five school attacks, Zheng Minsheng, has been executed already. Zheng killed 8 children in the southern province of Fujian on March 23.

Does The Highlander Know About This?

2010-05-10T20:42:00.002-04:00

Kagen Chosen by Prince Obama for Supreme Court
AP - 1 hr ago
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Monday nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, declaring she would demonstrate the same independence, integrity and passion for the law exhibited by retiring Justice Paul Stevens.

Comparative Analysis

2010-04-24T15:28:00.002-04:00

Hot and Smart?

2010-04-24T15:05:00.002-04:00

I know this is sexist but I was surprised to see this chic (assuming it's her) actually knows something about science. Her comment was in response to this article:

Hubble Telescope Spies Majestic Space Mountains

0Please sign in to rate this comment up.Please sign in to rate this comment down.0

Melissa 1 hour ago Report Abuse

This image is stunning. Just imagine what it looks like right now. I can't even believe the height of the pillar is three light years tall. Seeing the birth of stars is so incrediby humbling. Just thinking about how the Earth was formed 4.5 billion years ago, and the sun 30 million years before that, makes me wonder what it looked like - the nebula that gave birth to us. I wish we could hurry up and send a probe outside the heliopause, that way we could look at our solar system from the outisde.

Islamic Cleric Fighting To Keep Marrying Little Girls Legal

2010-04-24T14:07:00.002-04:00

Mmm, Islam. What is it about that religion and children? See a reader comment below mentioning that PBS special, "The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan".

By AHMAD AL-HAJ, Associated Press Writer Sat Apr 24, 10:25 am ET

SAN'A, Yemen – Yemen's most influential Islamic cleric vowed on Saturday to gather a "million" signatures to protest a draft law banning child brides.

The issue of child brides in Yemen has attracted broad international attention, most recently when a 13-year-old girl bled to death earlier this month after her 23-year-old husband allegedly tied her down and forced her to have sex with him.

The cleric, Sheik Adbul-Majid al-Zindani, said a ban on child brides "threatens our culture and society and spreads immorality." Al-Zindani is Yemen's most powerful Islamic scholar and believed by the U.S. to be a spiritual mentor of Osama Bin Laden.

Speaking at a conference at Iman University in the Yemeni capital San'a, al-Zindani called on the dozens of radical clerics and Islamic law students in the crowd to oppose the draft law.

"You have to gather a million signatures ... that supports the demands of clerics," said al-Zindani. "If the issue calls on us to gather a million protesters, we'll organize it," al-Zindani said.

Al-Zindani's calls against the ban have become increasingly strident ahead of an expected vote by Yemeni lawmakers next month on raising the marriage age to 17.

The practice of marrying young girls is widespread in Yemen, where a quarter of all females marry before they turn 15, according to a 2009 report by the country's Ministry of Social Affairs.

In the country's deeply tribal society, families prefer young brides because they are seen as more obedient and are expected to have more children. It is also difficult for poor families in impoverished Yemen to ignore bride-prices of hundreds of dollars.

A February 2009 law set the minimum age for marriage at 17, but it was repealed and sent back to parliament's constitutional committee for review after pressure from some lawmakers and clerics, led by al-Zindani, who called it un-Islamic.

In March, al-Zindani signed a religious decree that declared people who supported the ban on child brides to be apostates, a particularly severe charge in the deeply Muslim country.

Pressure from al-Zindani and other religious leaders have made the government reluctant to tackle the issue because they rely on their support to stay in power. A parliamentary committee was expected to make a final decision on the legislation this month, but that has now been delayed until May.

It is widely expected that the government will raise the marriage age to deflect international pressure, but will not enforce legislation. Impoverished Yemenis are widely expected to ignore the law.

Pizza Maniac 29 minutes ago Report Abuse

Apparently pedophilia is an ancient tradition in Islam. Watch "The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan" on PBS.org. A real eye opener. Why do you think they are so opposed to western influence? Because of homosexuality and child molestation and human slavery. They are paranoid the truth will be exposed.

Good Info For Everyone - 9 Ingredients to avoid in processed foods

2010-04-17T16:35:00.002-04:00

9 Ingredients to avoid in processed foods

by Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance, on Thu Apr 8, 2010 9:52am PDT

If you know me at all, you know that I’m an advocate for whole, unprocessed foods. However, many of us inevitably turn to packaged or processed foods when we are short on time. Maybe we grab a frozen dinner or pizza for a quick dinner for our family. Maybe we grab a quick nutrition bar to satiate our hunger until we can sit down for a real meal. Or maybe, we just don’t like to cook. Whether we like it or not, packaged and processed food has become a huge part of our food industry and, as a result, a part of many of our diets.

Although there are some brands that I hugely advocate for, there are many more that border on outright unhealthy and “scary.” Many packaged foods that seem healthy often contain fillers, preservatives and other ingredients you don’t want in your diet. It is always preferable to choose products that have only a handful of ingredients, all of which should be recognizable. One test to know whether an ingredient is healthy is to ask yourself whether your grandmother would recognize it. If not, there is a good chance the ingredient is less natural food and more man-made chemical. Another good test is whether or not you can easily pronounce the ingredient. If you feel like you need a science degree to pronounce it properly, chances are the ingredient is worth avoiding.

If you do have to resort to a processed food for a snack or dinner (anything canned, packaged, etc.), try to avoid those that contain the ingredients listed in the following chart. Although this isn’t an exhaustive list, these ingredients are some of the most highly processed and least healthy of all:

Ingredient	Why it is Used	Why it is Bad
Artificial Colors	Chemical compounds made from coal-tar derivatives to enhance color.	Linked to allergic reactions, fatigue, asthma, skin rashes, hyperactivity and headaches.
Artificial Flavorings	Cheap chemical mixtures that mimic natural flavors.	Linked to allergic reactions, dermatitis, eczema, hyperactivity and asthma Can affect enzymes, RNA and thyroid.
Artificial Sweeteners (Acesulfame-K, Aspartame, Equal®, NutraSweet®, Saccharin, Sweet’n Low®, Sucralose, Splenda® & Sorbitol)	Highly-processed, chemically-derived, zero-calorie sweetenersfound in diet foods and diet products to reduce calories per serving.	Can negatively impact metabolism Some have been linked to cancer, dizziness hallucinations and headaches.
Benzoate Preservatives (BHT, BHA, TBHQ)	Compounds that preserve fats and prevent them from becoming rancid.	May result in hyperactivity, angiodema, asthma, rhinitis, dermatitis, tumors and urticaria Can affect estrogen balance and levels.
Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)	Chemical that boosts flavor in many citric-based fruit and soft drinks.	Increases triglycerides and cholesterol Can damage liver, testicles, thyroid, heart and kidneys.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)	Cheap alternative to cane and beet sugar Sustains freshness in baked goods Blends easily in beverages to maintain sweetness.	May predispose the body to turn fructose into fat Increases risk for Type-2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer Isn’t easily metabolized by the liver.
MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)	Flavor enhancer in restaurant food, salad dressing, chips, frozen entrees, soups and other foods.	May stimulate appetite and cause headaches, nausea, weakness, wheezing, edema, change in heart rate, burning sensations and difficulty in breathing.
Olestra	An indigestible fat substitute used primarily in foods that are fried and baked.	Inhibits absorption of some nutrients Linked to gastrointestinal disease, diarrhea, gas, cramps, bleeding and incontinence.
Shortening, Hydrogenated and Partially Hydrogenated Oils (Palm, Soybean and others)	Industrially created fats used in more than 40,000 food products in the U.S. Cheaper than most other oils.	Contain high levels of trans fats, which raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol, contributing to risk of heart disease.

Have you checked your ingredient lists recently? Do they contain any of the above? Have you tried cutting some of these ingredients out?

Excerpted from "GET REAL" and STOP Dieting! Copyright 2009 - Brett Blumenthal

Originally posted on sheerbalance.com

Christian militia and Female Suicide Bombers, We Feel Pretty Safe Right?

2010-03-29T11:31:00.006-04:00

Is it just a matter of time before we see more terrorism on American soil? I think so. How will that affect us as a culture? Individually? I remembered, after 9/11, I paid more attention to planes in the air for the next few weeks with a wary eye. I love amusement parks but if one gets hit, will I ever go back? You?

Twin subway bombings rock Moscow

Two female suicide bombers strike 45 minutes apart as trains are packed with rush-hour commuters.

Militia members charged with police-killing plot

AP – 46 mins ago

WASHINGTON - Nine suspects tied to a Christian militia in the Midwest are charged with conspiring to kill police officers, then attack a funeral in the hopes of killing more law enforcement personnel, federal prosecutors said Monday.

Dogs greeting soldiers: A video round-up

2010-02-22T13:29:00.001-05:00

Dogs greeting soldiers: A video round-up

When U.S. soldiers return from assignment, they are greeted by warm welcomes and loving embraces. Especially from their dogs

LIFESTYLE

•

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009

A soldier poses with his pooch.
(Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters/Corbis)

A dog can't comtain its excitement standing by the door waiting for its owner to return from Army duty. (Watch an excited dog greet a returning soldier on the front lawn)

A dog races out the door to meet its owner in the driveway. This dog shows off some of its tricks, too. (Watch a jumpy dog greet a returning soldier in the driveway)

See more videos at Mental Floss blog

http://www.theweek.com/article/index/103033/Dogs_greeting_soldiers_A_video_roundup

Cop Hater News!

2010-02-18T15:28:00.000-05:00

Ex-NYC police boss gets 4 years in prison

AP – 13 mins ago Sent 245 times

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - Former New York City police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, who was hailed as a hero after the Sept. 11 terror attacks and nearly became chief of Homeland Security, was sentenced Thursday to four years in federal prison.

Fortress Of Solitude Found In Shambles - Supes Missing!

2010-02-17T19:10:00.002-05:00

Clinton: Haiti stress accelerated heart problem not decades of McDonald's Food

2010-02-17T18:19:00.002-05:00

Oh please! I didn't sleep much for a month because of the Haiti earthquake (I suspect he is referring to the hellish nightmare that the Haitians are currently enduring and not just the quake). What he really meant to say is that decades of eating fast food and screwing interns exacerbated a bad heart condition.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (U.N. special envoy to Haiti) blamed stress and a lack of sleep since the devastating Haiti earthquake for accelerating a heart condition that caused him to be admitted to the hospital.

"Once the Haiti earthquake happened I didn't sleep much for a month and that probably accelerated what was already going on with this failing vein," Clinton told reporters at an event to promote the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's fight against childhood obesity.

"What happened to me wasn't all that rare, but what I have to conclude is I'm not going to do any more weeks where I do three overnight flights because I am going to have to help Haiti for several years. I can't get it all done in a week," he said.

An Older Vampire Movie

2010-01-19T17:27:00.001-05:00

Finished watching that movie "Rise". As vampire movies go, its ok. It seems to get some of its canon from "The Hunger" i.e., they need to use a small knife to make the wound, no supernatural strength, a couple of gunshots is enough to at least temp stop one. Sunlight not to big a deal, etc. As an overall movie, it could have used a better crew (director, script writer, and replace a few actors, better editing). In one scene a sailor is shown in his crackerjack but his uniform is missing the neckerchief. Several scenes adding nothing to the movie except time. It is listed as 122 min.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389328/

Have A BBQ While Thousands Die and Loot Just An Hour Away

2010-01-19T12:29:00.002-05:00

Luxury Cruise Ship Docks On Private Haitian Beach, Just 60 Miles From Devastation

Tue Jan 19, 8:58 am ET

BoingBoing reported this morning on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines ship that made its scheduled docking at a private beach. Though the cruise ship delivered 40 pallets of relief supplies while it docked, vacationers frolicked and held a barbecue on the private area, just miles from the devastation caused by the 7.0 earthquake last week.

From The Guardian:

The decision to go ahead with the visit has divided passengers. The ships carry some food aid, and thecruise line has pledged to donate all proceeds from the visit to help stricken Haitians. But many passengers will stay aboard when they dock; one said he was "sickened".

"I just can't see myself sunning on the beach, playing in the water, eating a barbecue, and enjoying a cocktail while [in Port-au-Prince] there are tens of thousands of dead people being piled up on the streets, with the survivors stunned and looking for food and water," one passenger wrote on the Cruise Critic internet forum.

Slumdog star’s home demolished

2010-01-15T05:34:00.001-05:00

ecember 30, 2009

Rubina Ali, child star of the Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire, watches as her shack in Mumbai is demolished.

Rubina’s autobiography, "Slumgirl Dreaming", was published earlier this year. Poor kid. Guess it doesn't compare to the mass hell in Haiti right now.

Green Lantern's nemesis

2010-01-13T01:38:00.001-05:00

Peter Sarsgaard goes big time as 'Green Lantern's' nemesis

The Emerald Crusader already has his love interest, Blake Lively, and now he's got an adversary for his big screen debut. Peter Sarsgaard (acting is ho hum but still pretty solid) is joining the cast of Martin Campbell's "Green Lantern" as the evil Dr. Hector Hammond. The disappointing son of a U.S. senator, Hammond gains telepathic and telekinetic abilities after he discovers a mysterious meteor. Ryan Reynolds is already on board as Hal Jordan, a test pilot who finds a dying alien who bestows the ring of the Green Lantern Corps, making him the new guardian of Earth's sector. Blake Lively was cast as Reynold's love interest, Carol Ferris. Its looking better and better.

Testing the waters

2010-01-12T23:14:00.000-05:00

This is akin to sticking your toes in a dubious looking body of water.