November, 2014 archive
Facebook Frolics, Running Naked through the News Dept. 2
Edward Wasserman finds the trend for persons to get news via Facebook rather disturbing. A snippet:
That seems to be what now has happened. By throwing in with Facebook, news sites rent space in a virtual metropolis teeming with enthusiasts, who send traffic their way, and permeated by commercial vendors.
That’s the good part of the story. The rest of the story is that their readers’ online comings and goings, likes and dislikes, are noted, rummaged, inventoried, and harvested for data to be acted on and resold by Facebook and its collaborators.
Read the rest, then go buy a newspaper.
Not What It Claims To Be 0
The suit claims false advertising by the company Hampton Creek for labeling its egg-free product “Just Mayo.” Unilever says in a complaint filed in federal court that the world mayo implies that the product is mayonnaise, and Just Mayo is “stealing market share from Hellmann’s.”
The product in question is no more mayonnaise than “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” (oh, yes, by the way, I can) is butter.
Our grocery aisles are full of artificial crap pretending to be real crap. I hope Unilever wins.
Also, forget Hellman’s. Dukes rules.
Ancient Mysteries 0
Recent archaeological findings suggest that an essential feature of every Babylonian office was the Nebucadenza.
Bushwhacked 0
Pap and David Haynes examine the legal legacy of King George the Worst.
Red, White, Blue, and Yellow, Reprise 0
Rick Steves is fed up with cable news; he suggests that television news now foments fear for funding. A snippet.
But times have changed, and now corporations have a legal responsibility to maximize short-term profits for their shareholders. They’ve started sexing up, spicing up and bloodying up the news to boost ratings. And 24/7 news channels have to amp up the shrillness to make recycled news exciting enough to watch.
In a sense, news has become entertainment masquerading as news. Now an event is not news, it’s a “crisis.”
The drek to information ratio of TV news, cable or not, is off the scale.
The last time I watched a television news show was a couple of years ago when we had (I kid you not) a white Christmas. We watched local TV News reporters standing around shocked! shocked! I tell you, that below-freezing temperatures are cold and slippery streets lead to car crashes.
At least their findings were factual.
SWATting at Flies 0
Jim Hightower reports on the Florida police department that used a SWAT team to raid a properly-licensed barbershop for barbering without a license.
Really. They did.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
It’s still open season for politeness.
The Park County Sheriff’s Office says Ellyson and his companions had just finished their hunt and were preparing to leave when a rifle leaning against a vehicle fell over and fired.
Once More Repetitively All Over Again 0
Jim Wright expects the next years to be painful, but he finds some cause for optimism. A snippet:
Yeah, we got America’s first black liberal president.
In a landslide.Twice.
You owe it to yourself to follow the link and read the rest of the post.
Red, White, Blue, and Yellow 0
F. T. Rea puzzles out the fear factor in last week’s elections. A nugget:
Read the rest and remind yourself: Frightened persons don’t think.
Stir-Fry Shrimp Teriyaki 0
I have a new toy, and I’ve been learning to use it. It’s very easy to use, as long as it has been properly seasoned.
Last night I made a variation on this recipe, and it was excellent. The recipe below will feed three or four persons, depending on appetites.
Ingredients:
1/2 pound sugar snap peas, with strings removed.
5 large mushrooms (or equivalent smaller fungi), sliced.
3 cloves garlic, minced.
5 spring onions, chopped.
1 pound raw shrimp.
Olive oil.
Teriyaki sauce.
Procedure:
1. Heat wok (you can also use a skillet) until water droplets evaporate in about a second.
2. Add about 1 tbs. oil and allow to heat.
3. Sauté shrimp until pink (about five minutes), stirring frequently (after all, it is a “stir-fry”). Reserve shrimp.
4. Saute onions and garlic for about a minute, then add mushrooms and peas and cook until tender, stirring frequently, until done (about five minutes). (You may need a bit more oil.)
5. Add shrimp and enough teriyaki sauce to coat ingredients lightly (about 3 tbs.). Stir to thoroughly reheat shrimp (about one minute). Serve with rice.
Sibling Rivalries 0
You can’t make this stuff up.
The New Secesh 2
Steven M. notices that they aren’t even trying to hide the racism any more. He refers to the talk that Loretta Lynch might be nominated for Attorney-General:
Do read the rest, then check out George Smith’s essay (be patient–his hosting service seems to have some issues).
Going to the Dogs 0
Shaun Mullen finds a parable in a dog park.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Be polite to your brothers.
Now there is one brother fewer.
