April, 2012 archive
Twits on Twitter 0
Twitting is beyond him:
But (Philadelphia City–ed.) Councilman Jim Kenney apparently needs help. Professional help.
The at-large councilman is spending $28,800 in taxpayer money this fiscal year for the Center City-based company ChatterBlast to perfect his “social-media strategy.” The company monitors his Twitter and Facebook pages, and has posted on Kenney’s campaign-funded website.
No other Council member pays a contractor to help with Twitter. Just Kenney, who has the third-priciest staff on Council. He has 10 staff members with a payroll of $654,034, including his salary – plus another outside communications consultant.
You Can’t Make This Stuff Up 0
But the wingnuts can. And do.
They really can’t deal with the idea of a black guy in the White House.
Little Ricky’s Fantasy World 0
Like the seducer pursuing the girl, Little Ricky will say whatever he thinks his prey wants to hear. You know what comes next.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The Booman tries to explain Little Ricky’s perspective.
Video via Raw Story.
Droning On, Radioactivity Dept. 0
No doubt absolutely nothing can go wrong with this:
The blueprints for the new drones, which have been developed by Sandia National Laboratories – the US government’s principal nuclear research and development agency – and defence contractor Northrop Grumman, were designed to increase flying time “from days to months” while making more power available for operating equipment, according to a project summary published by Sandia.
QOTD 0
George Bernard Shaw, from the Quotemaster (subscribe here):
Gambling promises the poor what property performs for the rich: something for nothing.
Pride Two 0
Second Son has a gig on the Pride of Baltiimore II. The ship is currently in the area for pre-season maintenance and outfitting, so we got a tour of the ship yesterday.
Here are a few shots. You will see many more and better photos at the Pride of Baltimore II’s website.
Unfortunately, it was a gray day, so I had to tinker with the images a little to try to bring out the detail.
Click on each image to see a larger version.
Here is the view of the ship moored at the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth. She has low, sleek lines, so only the masts are visible.
What a Horrible Thought! 0
Justin Bieber Linux, aka Biebian.
Apparently, it has gotten a better reception than the venerable Hannah Montana Linux.
Wannabe Vigilantes 0
Listen to the first five or ten minutes of last week’s Bob and Chez show (you can fast-forward through the intro if you are in a hurry).
It’s all you need to know about gunnuttery in one tidy package.
QOTD 0
Marcius Porcius Cato, from the Quotemaster (subscribe here):
Those who steal from private individuals spend their lives in stocks and chains; those who steal from the public treasure go dressed in gold and purple.
War Pr0n 0
At Asia Times, Pepe Escobar takes a look at what keeps the 101st Fighting Keyboard Brigade turned on. War is for them what guns are for gun nuts: their viagra.
There is, however, a crucial difference. Gun nuts actually shoot guns, often when they shouldn’t.
The Fighting 101st doesn’t actually fight wars; it just likes to watch.
This was also a war OF terror – as in a manifestation of state terror pitting urban high-tech might against basically rural, low-tech cunning. The US did not exercise this monopoly; Beijing practiced it in Xinjiang, its far west, and Russia practiced it in Chechnya.
Like porn, war porn cannot exist without being based on a lie – a crude representation. But unlike porn, war porn is the real thing; unlike crude, cheap snuff movies, people in war porn actually die – in droves.
Read the rest.
Support the Troops, Bushie Style 0
Congressman Joe Walsh (R-You Lie) on his opponent, military veteran Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs and part of one arm in the Great and Glorious Patriotic War for a Lie in Iraq:
These are truly vile people.
Via Bob Cesca.
Little Ricky Pinkie Phobia 0
Warning: Clinical song lyrics in the second half.
Day in Court Foregone 0
Back in Philly, an official of the Catholic Arch-Diocese of Philadelphia is on trial for covering up priestly abuse of children. The trial is happening because, unlike most of the other cases that have come out, this one was still within the Statute of Limitations.
Since I follow Philly news, having lived in that part of the world for three decades, I cannot escape news stories of this case. Here’s today’s Monica Yant Kinney column.
The more I read, the more I am convinced that, if this case did not involve a 2,000 year old religious institution with scads of dollars, a claim to be on a mission from God, and lots of fancy duds for its officials, this trial would have been superseded by a Federal RICO prosecution.