First Looks category archive

We are a stupid society.

Citing concerns from constituents, an Arizona lawmaker has called for a hearing next week to address chemtrails over her desert community, according to HavasuNews.com.

State Sen. Kelli Ward called the public meeting, to be held at the Board of Supervisors Auditorium in Kingman, Arizona, saying she had heard from “a lot” of constituents who feel that their concerns over the possible effects of chemtrails on the weather and on their blood chemistry are not being taken seriously.

Really, folks, there’s no there there. The stupid part is not that folks fall for this stuff–one born every minute and so on–it’s that an elected official incongruously assembled thinks they deserve a hearing.

You aren’t doing the following, Facebook is, reports Troy Wolverton. A nugget:

Earlier this month, the dominant social network announced that it’s altering the way it determines which ads to show users of its site. In the past, the company based its ad choices on what users were doing on Facebook — what pages they liked, what links they clicked on.

Now, in addition to using that data, the company will also be taking into account the things users do online or on their smartphones outside of Facebook’s website and apps. So if Facebook sees you shopping for laxatives at an online drugstore, visiting an adult-themed site or using an exercise app to track your workouts, it might use that information to serve up ads while you’re on Facebook.

Read the rest, then learn how to protect yourself from the Watcher at your Windows.

Of course, the best protection is to clear your cache and cookies, then never log onto Facebook again. If the Octopus has dug too deep in your life to do that, the next best option is go to Facebook only in a private tab* in a secure browser; the private tab segregates Facebook’s tracking cookies and automatically deletes them when you close it. A web search will reveal other, more cumbersome options (Live CDs, sandboxes).

___________________

*I chose this link because it was the most inclusive one I found. It is somewhat dated, but still fundamentally accurate.

What Noz said.

Fun and fellowship for liberals. Join us and talk about anything in a relaxed atmosphere.

When: Wednesday, June 18th, 6 p.

Where:
Hair of the Dog Eatery
4000 Virginia Beach Blvd, Ste 120 (Loehmann’s Plaza)
Virginia Beach, VA (map)

More here.

Biker madness.

Just down the road a piece:

Shortly before 3 p.m., police and Animal Control responded after someone reported a black bear on the beach in the 3300 block of Ocean Shore Ave., near the Lesner Bridge.

There’s a new twit in town.

Shaun Mullen explains how the Supreme Court, instead of resolving issues, has turned to creating and perpetuating them.

Just read it.

Via Job’s Anger.

Bridezillas.

Another picture from my brother in Virginia’s Northern Neck:

“Car Float” is railroad for a barge used to convey railroad cars across water. It’s not something that automobiles do.

It looks like Rosie won’t be getting her driver’s license any time soon.

The 5-month-old German shepherd puppy stepped on the gas and sent her owner’s car careening into a pond in Canton Sunday morning, Canton police said.

After a walk with her owner, the puppy climbed back into the car and got her leash tangled in the gear shift. While trying to break free, Rosie fell on the accelerator, sending the vehicle flying forward, police said.

Addendum:

My friend thinks that the insurance company will refuse to pay because this was an “Act of Dog.”

Even dogs know that.

Via Tuxjam.

Last refuge of a scoundrel.

Just read this.

Read it now

No one can be more skeptical of home-schooling than I (mostly because of the predilections of some home-schoolers), but, really, wow.

Off to drink liberally.

Relax and discuss politics and everything else in a liberal atmosphere.

When: Wednesday, May 28, 6:00 p.

Where:
Greene Turtle
Greenbrier Mall (between Sears and Macy’s)
1401 Greenbrier Pkwy, #2260
Chesapeake, VA (map)

Honest to Pete, you can’t make this stuff up.