A superbly talented friend is working on a new animated project and is looking for assistance in the form of small (and large!) donations to help him complete. To that end, he's created a pretty awesome newspaper-style page: The Prognosticator.
The link to his Indie GoGo page with donation details is at the bottom, (or you can just click here) but the whole Prognosticator is neat -- with fun news, back-stories and additional links to his other completed and in-progress projects.
"There is no conventional or chemical or biological threat out there that we cannot counter with our overwhelming conventional forces." ~ US President Barack Obama
This news comes just a week after the announcement of a new post-cold war strategic arms agreement which will be signed on Thursday (April 8th) between US President Obama and Russian President Medvedev. Both countries have agreed to reduce strategic nuclear weapons by almost one-third and halve the number of delivery vehicles, such as missiles and bombers.
"Those of us who are the firstborn always dream of that imaginary brother or sister who will be their protector, the buffer, the one to take the blows. I'm a firstborn, and Bob was the answer to my dreams. He was the big brother that all of us wish for." ~ Bill Cosby on his I-Spy co-star Robert Culp (79), who died of a heart attack yesterday after a fall outside his Hollywood Hills home
From the LA Times obit link above, an awesome quote from Bill Cosby: At Culp's suggestion, he said, "we agreed to make the relationship between the white character, Kelly Robinson, and the black man, Alexander Scott, a beautiful relationship, so that people could see what it would be like if two cats like that could get along."
Mr. Culp was married 5 times. He leaves behind 5 children and 5 grandchildren.
Martin Bosworth, a wonderful friend and absolutely brilliant journalist, passed away suddenly on the 17th. I can't believe it. I have been digging through email and phone messages to catch up from Fashion week and only just heard the news.
I first met him here on Livejournal a number of years ago: boztopia He was one of the finest human beings I've ever had the good fortune to know. A true mensch. So passionate about life, people and making sure we... all of us, were treated with respect.
Lea Salonga (whom you may know from here, here, here and especially here,) appeared at the "Your Songs" concert in Manila on December 12th, (where singers take on a song suggested by the audience.)
They asked her to sing Lady Gaga's Poker Face.
I saw her perform in Les Mis several times, and twice in Miss Saigon -- both on Broadway. Incredible range and a beautiful, passionate voice.
So I ask.... given the opportunity to ask her to sing virtually anything, what would you have chosen? Personally, I'm not sure what I would have proposed, (a Celine Dion cover, maybe) but it sure wouldn't have been Poker Face.... too monotonous.
Added bonus: (not Lea Salonga) A unique cover of the same song by Molly Lewis (via tracy_rowan) :
Cracking the Cancer Code: We already know that all cancers are caused by DNA mutations acquired during a person's lifetime. But what mutations actually cause cancer? We may be one step closer to finding out. International research teams led by the Cancer Genome Project at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have now mapped the entire genetic code of two of the most common human cancers: lung and skin (malignant melanoma).
Their findings have the potential to revolutionize preventative and treatment therapies as well as pave the way for new early detection tests. More.
Additional research is now underway to map the mutations of cancerous breast, hepatic, oral, stomach, ovarian, pancreatic and brain cells.
Gay Marriage / Same Sex Unions Divorce Unmarried Couples living together Euthanasia
"Thank goodness this is out there, clearly stated, with ample documentation and very reasonably put forward," said Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien of Baltimore, which is hosting the fall general assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops this week. "I think it's going to be a very positive document."
Universal Healthcare (but it shouldn't include treatment for the stuff they're against, listed below)
What they're against:
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Egg, Sperm and Embryo Donation Surrogacy Cloning Abortion
There's nothing new here, but I suppose it's worth noting. Haven't seen the text of "Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology" online yet, but I'm curious to see if they take anything other than the expected position against stem-cell research.
President Obama spoke at a town hall meeting in Shanghai yesterday about the importance of free speech and his support for uncensored internet access. China's state-owned media censored his remarks for public consumption. The White House live feed was also unavailable in China on Facebook and YouTube.
Here is a video of the entire, uncensored town hall meeting:
Nearly 900 9West items are on sale for $14.95 at 6pm.com. (link via FashionHippo and tzikeh) This sale runs 11/15 through 11/22. Shipping is free on orders over $100. You will have to pay shipping for returns.
Condé Nast Traveler: Etiquette 101: Smart Talk, "First Do No Harm...Every country has its subtle taboos and unspoken codes, but when you get down to it, it's what you say, not how you say it, that really gets you in the door (or kicked out). Our guide to the most dangerous topics around the world rates them according to our own alert system, from highest to lowest risk, followed by a few safe subjects that might put you back on solid ground." Other "Etiquette 101" guides can be found in a sidebar at the link.
The Block: The complete history of Eldridge Street between Stanton and Rivington, in Manhattan. Clicking on any building will give you more details about its history. From the site designer: "The tenement that sparked this interest, #218, is a good place to start. My great-great-grandfather lived there in 1860. Keep an eye on it in 1922. Enjoy!"
"If you're the type of person who has trouble throwing anything out, then the job of collections reviewer at the University College London's museums might not be for you. The college is embarking upon a purge of its assorted collections, some 250,000 items in total, only 2% of which are currently on display. A gargantuan task, surely, but the college is not doing it on its own — officials have taken the unusual step of opening the process up to the public. They're asking visitors what they should keep, what they should give away to other museums — one institution's trash is another's treasure — or, as a last resort, what they should just throw away."
Rapists Who Don’t Think They’re Rapists(via rm, here who describes: "A survey on rape shows that if you don't use the R-word, a small percentage (actually 4% is pretty horrifying) of men will admit to rape; a lot of rape. The good news here, of course, is what we hopefully already knew -- that most men aren't rapists. The rest of the news? Rape isn't accidental; it's not a one time thing; it's not about "good guys" going too far -- it's a crime perpetrated by repeat offenders who don't think of themselves as rapists.)
After 60 years in a watery Hawaiian grave, two World War II-era Japanese attack submarines have been discovered near Pearl Harbor. Specifically designed for a stealth attack on the U.S. East Coast--perhaps targeting Washington, D.C., and New York City -- the "samurai subs" were fast, far-ranging, and in some cases carried folding-wing aircraft.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said Wednesday that it will be unable to continue the social service programs it runs for the District if the city doesn't change a proposed same-sex marriage law, a threat that could affect tens of thousands of people the church helps with adoption, homelessness and health care.
Under the bill, headed for a D.C. Council vote next month, religious organizations would not be required to perform or make space available for same-sex weddings. But they would have to obey city laws prohibiting discrimination against gay men and lesbians.
Fearful that they could be forced, among other things, to extend employee benefits to same-sex married couples, church officials said they would have no choice but to abandon their contracts with the city.
"If the city requires this, we can't do it," Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said Wednesday. "The city is saying in order to provide social services, you need to be secular. For us, that's really a problem."
My take on this: Since the Church has taken the stance that helping the needy is less important than discrimination, let them refuse to provide social services. The public funding they receive can then be given to a more charitable group.
"In less time than it has taken Madonna to move from pop-star exhibitionist to tattooed Kabbalist, the 3,000-year-old Jewish taboo against body art has crumbled among some Jewish young adults. Thumb through the portfolio of almost any tattoo artist -- there are now a half-dozen in the city -- and you'll find traditional Jewish symbols of life and luck alongside menorahs and Hebrew blessings."
The Forward: Jews With Tattoos: Pride, Aesthetics and Rebellion Play a Role As Their Popularity Increases. "The idea that tattoos dishonor Holocaust victims tattooed by the Nazis no longer resonates with many."
Tattoo Jew: "Tattoo Jew is documentary about Jewish people getting Jewish-themed tattoos as expressions of individuality and pride; people who feel more connected to their roots by displaying a modern Jewish identity permanently etched in ink upon their skin. This project explores the intersection between traditional Jewish culture and the current popularity of tattoos."
What a disgusting, heartless, dehumanizing thing to do. :(
You know... Roger Williams founded Rhode Island in 1644 on the principles of freedom of religion, equal treatment of Native Americans, the separation of church and state and the abolition of slavery, after he was kicked out of the Massachusetts Bay Colony for advocating equality.
365 years later and William's legacy is run by a bigot.
Give an Hour: Provides complimentary and confidential mental health counseling to returning troops and their loved ones.
"The Mission Continues was built on the belief that our returning wounded should be recognized not only for the sacrifices they have made, but for everything they have left to give. We award fellowships to empower wounded and disabled veterans to serve in their communities. In doing so, we send the message: "We still need you." America owes these men and women a great deal, but as a nation, we have much left to learn from them. While injury may have changed the nature of their service, their mission continues, and it is as important as ever."
Swords to Plowshares: "a community-based, not-for-profit organization that provides counseling and case management, employment and training, housing and legal assistance to veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area."
The recall applies to every umbrella stroller Maclaren has distributed in the US since 1999. The specific models are: Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.
The CPSC says the strollers' hinge mechanism, "poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller."
New York political campaigns are rarely boring, but the race for City Council in my district was unusually contentious this year. Our rep decided not to run, and both parties were vying for his open seat, which had been held by Democrats for the last eight years.
The Challengers: Democrat Kevin Kim raised $430K. Republican Dan Halloran raised $46K.
Halloran won.
I live in an area of Queens that has a large Asian population. Kim signs were everywhere -- businesses, stores etc. Volunteers went door to door and urged us to vote for Kim. Through August and part of September, polls seemed to indicate that he'd win by a large margin. Large groups of Asian residents were driven to the polls by volunteers on election day, and it's estimated that 84% of Asian voters went for Kim.
How did he lose?
He went negative. Far more negative than his opponent. Someone forgot the Lazio lesson.
Towards the end of September one of our local weekly papers, the Queens Tribune, ran an article on the race. The cover of the paper read: City Council Race: Democratic Victor vs. Pagan Lord and revealed Dan Halloran as a Théodish pagan to the voting public. The article inside, Pagan 'King' Has Council GOP Nod, seemed somewhat even-handed, although the paper did "enthusiastically" endorse Kevin Kim for the seat in the same issue.
Kevin Kim used to work for our Congressional Representative, Gary Ackerman. Ackerman founded the Queens Tribune in 1970. (Ackerman's denied any wrongdoing, which is most likely true.) The Tribune's investors have close ties to a political consulting company that Kim gave $80,000 to over the course of his campaign. (See the section titled "Walls of Separation" here.) Concerns were raised that the Tribune was biased, and had inappropriately tried to inject a candidate's religious practices into a political debate. The NY Times weighed in. Tribune readers did too. The Village Voice weighed in, and continued to do so into November. Halloran responded to the Tribune with an editorial in a rival paper, the Queens Chronicle.
By elevating his religion into a campaign issue, the Trib virtually guaranteed it would overshadow everything else. Most of their defenders said that was bound to happen. After all he's a pagan! (Oh dear. Lock up your daughters....)
Halloran won 52.5% to 47.5% (about 1300 votes). The Queens Chronicle cited voter pushback from Kim's negative campaign as a likely reason. The Village Voice was pretty perturbed.
And our City Council became more diverse, which I'd venture to say is a good thing.
Worth noting: For the first time, Chinatown (different race and district,) will be represented by an Asian American. Nice! :)
This morning, Google launched a new feature called "Google Dashboard" that lets users view (and in some cases control,) what data is being stored and analyzed on a range of more than 20 Google services, including Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Web History, Orkut, YouTube, Picasa, Talk, Reader, Alerts, Latitude and others.
Services not currently included -- Analytics, AdWords, AdSense, and Book Search among others -- will be added in later versions.
In other Google-related news, the company is celebrating Sesame Street's 40th anniversary with special home page banners this week. See also: their Banner Art Archive
The Chicago Tribune and other Tribune Co. newspapers plan to utilize as little content from the Associated Press as practical during the week of Nov. 8. The goal, as the papers review costs and needs, is to see whether severing ties with the news cooperative next fall is a viable option. The trial is scheduled to be conducted almost 13 months after Tribune Co. gave the AP a required two-year warning that it might drop the news service, effective Oct. 15, 2010.
"Finally, some words of advice – words of advice not so much for those of you here but those leaving comments on other forums and websites (if you would be kind enough to pass the message along): STOP MAKING IDIOT COMMENTS. Note I didn’t say idiotic comments because that would imply that the lion’s share of the idiocy lies with the comment itself rather than the commentator. No, I mean: STOP MAKING IDIOT COMMENTS.
For example, say you have a problem with the James scene in Darkness in which she threatens Riley and Eli after they try spying on her with the kino. You can go ahead and make an argument for the scene being sexist (although I’d argue that there’s a difference between the scene being sexist and the characters in the scene acting inappropriately, especially given that a clearly disappointed Young admonishes both men), but if, in the body of your comment or any subsequent comment, you refer to the James character as Lieutenant Rack or McBoobs, then you’re a hypocrite who has successfully undermined their argument by demonstrating you can’t be taken seriously. Also, you’re an idiot."
Unlike the more kid-friendly SG-1 and Atlantis with its wholesale slaughters of enemy combatants, tortures, stabbings, and occasional live burnings, Universe will touch on the heinous topic of physically intimacy. These “sex scenes”, which amounted to approximately 1 whole minute of the 270 minutes aired to date, engendered a fair amount of controversy. And that’s fine. I don’t mind continuing to read and approve your comments on the subject so long as you don’t mind knowing that nothing will change in this respect and that if you were offended by that broom closet scene in Air I, I guarantee you’ll be clawing your eyes out of your skull given what we have in store later this season. Also, while I can understand why some may have had a problem with that broom-closet scene in the premiere given that it did come as a surprise to many, I can’t muster up much empathy or understanding for those complaining about the Scott-Chloe scene in Light. Again, if it’s a matter of not enjoying shows that focus on the occasional romance between characters, then that’s unfortunate – because that’s the type of show you’re watching. If, on the other hand, it’s an innate response to the very notion of intimacy no matter how modest the scene, then I’d suggest a deep-rooted personal issue that would be best dealt with somewhere other than this blog.
Worth noting that the complaints about the broom closet scene were more along the lines of outrage that the show was (gasp!) pandering to the same fan demographic that watched Star Trek Voyager to see Seven of Nine in a skintight catsuit.
"We must stand against crimes that are meant not only to break bones, but to break spirits -- not only to inflict harm, but to instill fear. Because no one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love. No one in America should be forced to look over their shoulder because of who they are or because they live with a disability." ~ President Obama
The new law adds acts of violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to the list of federal hate crimes. Gay-rights activists voiced hope that the Obama administration would advance more issues, including legislation to bar workplace discrimination, allow military service and recognize same-sex marriages.
Congress passed the hate crimes protections as an unlikely amendment to this year's Defense Authorization Act. Obama, speaking at an emotional evening reception with supporters of the legislation, said that more than 12,000 hate crimes had been reported the past decade based on sexual orientation."
I'm proud to note that the bill also contains protections for those who are transgendered -- a cause the HRC has snubbed for years.
Note: I've publicly criticized President Obama and the Democratic congress for their lack of progress on a variety of issues. To be honest, I've found their lack of decisive action toward fulfilling campaign promises quite disheartening. But this news? This is simply wonderful. This issue and others like it are precisely why I voted for Democrats in the last election. I'm deeply, deeply proud of them today.
"Chinatown" communities across the United States (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco) are undergoing a shift in linguistic identity, as recent immigrants are more likely to natively speak Mandarin (the official spoken language of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) instead of Cantonese.
Bowers performs the surgery free of charge, and the hospital caps its fees at $1,700. "...you cannot charge money to reverse a crime against humanity," she says. "Sexuality is a right."
Margie Martinez of the Weld County Sheriff's Office said a sibling saw the boy climb into the basket before the balloon took off. Since the door on the balloon was unlocked, Martinez said it's possible the boy had fallen out. The balloon appeared to be a saucer-shaped, Mylar-coated helium balloon, not unlike a party balloon. The craft was drifting eastward, authorities said.
The helium balloon was tethered to the boy's family home in Fort Collins, the Larimer County Sheriff's Department said. The boy got into the craft Thursday morning and undid the rope anchoring it. The aluminum-covered, dome-shaped balloon is 20 feet long and 5 feet high, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office said. "The structure at the bottom of the balloon that the boy is in is made of extremely thin plywood and won't withstand any kind of a crash at all," said Erik Nilsson, Larimer County Emergency Manager, according to CNN affiliate KMGH."
This music video was shot for Japanese band Sour's song 'Hibi no Neiro' ("Tone of Everyday") from their first mini album, 'Water Flavor EP'. Cast is made up of the band's fans and all clips were filmed with webcams.
Seats of Gold: "If you were born before 1984, when you were a first-grader, the best seat in Yankee Stadium cost less than $12. You and your dad could sit by the field for $25. People pay fortunes chasing that feeling. What about the kids in first grade now?" (They'll probably pay $14 per seat in the bleachers, but it won't be the same.
“The real question Americans are asking is, ‘What has President Obama actually accomplished?' It is unfortunate that the president's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights. One thing is certain – President Obama won't be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action.”
The Ugly: From the site owner of the RedState blog:
"I would say regardless of the circumstances, congratulations to President Obama for winning the Nobel Prize. I know there will be some people who are saying “Was it based on good intentions and thoughts or is it going to be based on good results?” But I think the appropriate response is when anybody wins a Nobel Prize that is a very noteworthy development and designation and I think the appropriate response is to say “Congratulations.”
"The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it honored Obama for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."
I hate to be a killjoy, but other than banning torture has he accomplished something to deserve this and I missed it? Peace in the Middle East? End the Iraq and Afghan wars? Kept Iran from developing nuclear weapons? I keep watching the Politifact meter and waiting.
Don't get me wrong, I'm pleased they've recognized him. But...
The prize seems to be more for Obama's promise than for his performance. The Nobel committee cited as his key accomplishment "a new climate in international politics." The president has become "the world's leading spokesman" for its agenda, the committee said.
He has no standout moment of victory. Not surprising. Like most presidents in their first year, Obama's scorecard so far is largely an "incomplete," if he's being graded.
As with many of the promises he made during the campaign, I sincerely hope he can live up to their, and our, expectations. The bar keeps getting higher....
OK, I must admit, I find it amusing that they awarded him this just hours before NASA bombed the moon. :)
"It's quite likely this committee will reward somebody who is engaged in current processes," said Kristian Berg Harpviken, head of the International Peace Institute in Oslo (PRIO).
"They want the prize to have an impact on things that are about to happen and want to affect events," he told Reuters."
Google began inviting volunteers to a public preview test of their new Wave web-based collaborative email and document communications platform yesterday, which enables users to "communicate and work together in real time." Initial reviews this past May seemed positive.
Features include real-time collaboration, (including concurrent editing and control of each "wave" thread,) natural language tools and a variety of APIs which users can use to embed content in other sites.
His campaign website has a message up about his resignation. Sadly, they left out the part where he spanks lobbyists who wear eye-patch undies. :( More.
Jeffrey Walker passed away on Monday. An incredible optimist, he was a talented musician, a self-proclaimed hacker and the President of Atlassian. But Jeffrey was also a cancer survivor, known in tech circles as "Cancer Dude." Over the last 5 and half years he'd fought and weathered several recurrences, until this last one took his life.
"The day I got my (wrong) prognosis of a few years left to live, I faced the biggest challenge of my life: not cancer, but what to tell my children? I got a copy of Lance Armstrong’s book and I remember setting it down on the table in front of Brittany and Mac and telling them the one difference between Lance and me is that I didn’t have to win the Tour de France. I only had to beat cancer."
On July 24th, the New York Yankees hosted Camp Sundown in the Bronx -- a group of kids with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). XP is a life-threatening sun-sensitivity disorder, in which DNA cannot repair damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) light. Kids with the disease develop malignant melanomas and carcinomas if they are exposed to sunlight or bright fluorescent lights.
The kids, these fragile, beautiful kids, who want nothing more than to be whatever we like to call ordinary in this world, are afflicted with a genetic condition called Xeroderma Pigmentosum that takes the lives of most people with the disorder before they reach the age of 20. It is rare, so rare there are only between 150 and 250 sufferers in this country, maybe two or three thousand around the world."
Whole Foods CEO John Mackey penned an op-ed in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, in which he ranted about the new, proposed health care plan, equating it to socialism. He laid out his objections and possible solutions pretty neatly, but as nearly as I can tell they're completely unrealistic for anyone who's living on the financial edge.
This was sweet, sad and a sincerely beautiful gesture. (If you've recently lost a pet, you may want to skip it...): 10 years ago, at the Humane Society.
"Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware that jaups in luggies: But, if Ye wish her gratefu prayer, Gie her a Haggis!" --Robert Burns*: Address to a Haggis
* (Burns' most famous work is probably Auld Lang Syne.) January 25th, 2009 is the traditional date for Burns' Night, celebrated in Scotland with (you guessed it,) a traditional haggis meal.
Yahoo! has cut a deal with Microsoft, and the two companies will now join forces to compete with Google. Yahoo! search will now be provided by Microsoft's Bing search engine, and Yahoo! will become the "exclusive worldwide relationship sales force" for both companies’ premium search advertisers. Details here. Dual company mouthpiece site. Official press release.
Microsoft had originally looked to acquire Yahoo! outright, but failed. This new deal is a compromise of sorts, and may not benefit the software giant long-term, at least as much as they might hope. It also may not mean much of a difference at Yahoo!, since they already have a history of farming out their search to third parties.
Navigating the elements of the deal will also be a test for new Justice Department chief Christine Varney. With increased scrutiny on the DOJ regarding regulatory failures in the finance industry, Ms. Varney vowed in May to aggressively enforce US antitrust laws.
Dpcya Belstaff Sunglasses st wegen einer straftat ist, und kann zu einer lebenslangen haftstrafe verurteilt werden. obwohl es wurde viel darüber diskutiert auf beiden seiten, für und gegen den…
This application is available at the prohibitions person with politicians law a be immediately supplied with a routine for appointment. - Positive HIV/AIDS diagnosis Nevertheless, that which are…
Zoxpn Ugg Gloves straight and so I am also one because I am surrounded by people like such (Ford et . al , 1951Factors that Influenced My Current Sexual IdentityTherefore , the factors that played…
Khqws Moncler jassen heren un investeringen in het bedrijf te behouden. theory o, al op weg naar het bouwen van een ...een blauw- groene infj self- assessmentas , ik ben een introspectieve…
Excsc New Balance 576 Sko t blandt alle de muslimske lande og de udtalelser vedr?rende finansielle forhold i en islamisk bank er afh?ngig af afg?relsen fra shari 'ah advisory board. hver islamic…
Comments
st wegen einer straftat ist, und kann zu einer lebenslangen haftstrafe verurteilt werden. obwohl es wurde viel darüber diskutiert auf beiden seiten, für und gegen den…
straight and so I am also one because I am surrounded by people like such (Ford et . al , 1951Factors that Influenced My Current Sexual IdentityTherefore , the factors that played…
un investeringen in het bedrijf te behouden. theory o, al op weg naar het bouwen van een ...een blauw- groene infj self- assessmentas , ik ben een introspectieve…
t blandt alle de muslimske lande og de udtalelser vedr?rende finansielle forhold i en islamisk bank er afh?ngig af afg?relsen fra shari 'ah advisory board. hver islamic…