Intellectual Bubblegum

The girls in Kindergarten just stare.

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5-year-old Giuliano Stroe has been bodybuilding for most of his life and is now is a new entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

Don't let the facts get in the way of your decision

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Only 39% of us believe in Darwin and evolution - despite physical and empirical evidence that makes it hard to dispute as strong viable explanation.  Yet more people believe there a man in the sky that watched everything you do with no physical evidence except a book other people wrote.

Not putting on your best face on FaceBook

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Last week, the GOP posted a fan page on Facebook in order to present the GOP as a hip organization in touch with the moods of Facebook folks. Well, the mood of some of the pages users isn't so pretty.  Users posted multiple offensive images including those below.  To the GOP's credit and awareness of the PR problem, it took down most of the inappropriate photos and offensive comments, but left up a few crude Photoshopped images including one text graphic that read “OMG, Just Shut Up Obama.

  

If this was a person, not a company, this would be called stalking.

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A blog article about the merits of giving store clerks your zip code when they ask for it during a credit care purchase, shows what companies can do with that information. 

According to a recent court case in California  (Pineda v. Williams-Sonoma Stores Inc., Cal. Ct. App., 4th Dist., No. D054355). Giving the zip code allows the store to "enhance" the information they already have about your (your name from the credit card) and determine your home address.

The blog written by Chris Hoofnagle and his description of the facts behind this case…

"Jessica Pineda visited a store in California owned by Williams-Sonoma Stores, Inc. (the Store) and selected an item to purchase. She then went to the cashier to pay for the item with her credit card. The cashier asked for her zip code, but did not tell her the consequences if she declined to provide the information. Believing that she was required to provide her zip code to complete the transaction, Pineda provided the information. The cashier recorded it into the electronic cash register and then completed the transaction. At the end of the transaction, the Store had Pineda's credit card number, name and zip code recorded in its databases.

After acquiring this information, the Store used customized computer software to perform reverse searches from databases that contain millions of names, e-mail addresses, residential telephone numbers and residential addresses, and are indexed in a manner that resembles a reverse telephone book. The Store's software then matched Pineda's now-known name, zip code or other personal information with her previously unknown address, thereby giving the Store access to her name and address."

Foxed up News

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Jon Stewart once against hits it on the head as to Fox's bleeding of opinion and fact into the consumer mindstream.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
For Fox Sake!
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Video: A modern-day christian helps Jesus get started.

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I have an equation for religion.  Religion - minus what's inconvenient to you in your religion = your religion.

An interesting cartoon that shows how modern-day Christians have ignored the teaching of Jesus for those own preferences.

How to buy a gadget.

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A funny, yet pretty true chart from scordit.com for how to consider buying a gadget. 

Democrats are red. Republicans are blue.

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A diagram of the values and foundations between conservatives and liberals.  Don't agree with all, but interesting to think about.

"Captain, I can't change the laws of physics. Or dating."

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Dating has its own laws of physics. Rules I've known for quite some time. And rules I follow, and was recently reminded again why I follow them religiously. We drop the rules we have because, every once is a while we come across someone "special."

Because there may be special people or people you think are special and different, but like the law of gravity, some rules of dating still apply to everybody, even "special people." They don't defy the law of gravity and much as you are likely defying the laws of your own instincts and judgements because you want to like them.

Below is the summary excerpt from an article that I recently bumped into that I think gets it right:  the YourTango article "Love Lessons you Should Learn By 35, for the details on each one from the original article by, click here.

No answer IS the answer - If you call/email/text someone and leave a message asking them out and  they don't reply, they're not interested.

There is no such thing as closure - Stewing over a break up or unceremonious dumping? Find a way to let it go that doesn't require being acknowledged or contact from the guilty party. Once someone is done, they're done. If you feel compelled to tell them off or speak your mind, send it in an email. But know this: They're not going to respond to you.

Monogamy and exclusivity should never be assumed - Until a man tells you himself, verbally, that he's no longer going to sleep with someone else, assume that he is. And learn the difference between, "I'm not sleeping with anyone else " and, "I don't plan on sleeping with anyone else."

If he/she "seems" disinterested, they are - By 35, you shouldn't be trying to decipher why someone you met online refuses to get on the phone and only text messages you or why it takes them 1-3 days to respond to an email.

Ladies - Men have more options - Deal with it. That means you can't get away with being bitchy, rude, cold, demanding or otherwise difficult. They'll dump your ass in a heartbeat for someone younger because they can and because younger women bring less baggage to the relationship.

Guys - Clean yourselves up….By 35, even if you refuse to sell out, you need to clean up your act and stop walking around looking like you just rolled out of bed or haven't seen a barber in years. It's not cute anymore.

Relationship and Commitment are two different things- Just because you initiated the "where is this going" talk and he didn't immediately commit to you doesn't mean he won't or fears commitment. It means he doesn't want to commit right at that moment, and certainly not after being coerced. There's a big difference between a guy saying he doesn't want a relationship and saying he's not ready for a commitment. Men are never truly ready for a commitment. They usually find themselves committing to a woman unbeknownst to them. For guys, it has to happen organically. If you do have "the talk" with him and he does express hesitation to commit, the best way to get him to commit is to drop the subject and keep on going the way you've been going*.

If you sense something is "off" about them, there is - If someone only calls you during the day or only gives a work number or can only seem to make plans last minute, something is up.

No, you're not single by choice - I hate this excuse. I truly do. Sure, we'll take a sabbatical from dating every once in a while. But if you truly enjoy being single, but are dating regularly, you're not okay with being single. So stop lying to yourself because by doing so, you're attracting people who are equally confused and afraid.

Yes, Virginia, there is such a dating caste system aka "leagues - We were told from a very early age that people should love us for who we are on the inside. Adorable. And totally, utterly pointless after the age of 16. The hot people date the hot people, the average people date the average people. Determine your league and you'll avoid a lot of frustration and heartache.

Just because they ask you out/say yes doesn't mean they're interested - Sadly, people will accept or make a date with no intention of ever pursuing anything. Maybe they want a free meal, maybe they want to get laid. Who knows.

If you're still single at 35, you're probably either: a) have issues or b) are too picky - Like I said above, there are a lot of excuses we use to justify our single status and most of them are bunk. Issues abound in those over 35 and single—anger issues, entitlement issues, fears of comittment, emotional issues. Whatever the reason, you're where you are because you chose to be there. Whether it's because you stayed in a relationship too long or dated/attracted the wrong people or whatever. Determine what those choices were and why you made them and get your life back.

The Anti-semitic play of the week

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(SUNG TO LIKE A BOSS). Pinch my pennies...like a Jew.  Tip 13%...like a Jew.  Wait for the discount sale...like a Jew. Don't be surprised if that's not an actual song from the GOP based on this event:

In response to democratic party complaint that  Republican Congressman, James DeMint, didn't bring enough Federal funds to his state,  state GOP officials responded with messaging essentially saying he was miserly -like, you know, those Jewish people. In a letter, the GOP said,

"There is a saying that the Jews who are wealthy got that way not by watching dollars, but instead by taking care of the pennies and the dollars taking care of themselves."

Everytime I say the words "greedy asshole" do I have to pay you royalties, too?

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The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) recently tried to claim that every time a ringtone on your phone is played, ASCAP should receive a royalty payment. Fortunately a federal judge has ruled that your phone ringing does not constitute a public performance. Greedy bastards.

I'm not breaking up, I'm just logging off

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Breaking up is indeed hard to do. It can be even harder when you realize that you follow your ex (and more importantly, your ex follows you) on all the social networks—especially if one or both of you really shouldn't be. Fortunately Ars Technica gives you these basic steps to make life easier and protect yourself from being bugged, harassed, or stalked.

You would dump me for Dsanti Water?

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I've always said that women are much more sexually driven than men, but this survey from the nationwide Women's Wellness Survey seems to say otherwise.  Notice sex is number 7. 

Women respondents ranked the following behaviors in terms of importance to overall health and well being. Their priorities:

1. Getting enough sleep
2. Keeping stress level low
3. Finding time to relax
4. Eating healthfully
5. Drinking the recommended amount of water
6. Finding time to exercise
7. Having enough sex

See more of the survey here

Destroying America in self defense?

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A poll done by the Democratic leaning and political active polling firm representing Democracy Corps points out some mind views of Republicans voters culled from focus groups.  One of the bigs attitude findings seem to support my Republican friends who hate Obama and keep telling me that their actions against him isn't about Racism.  It's about he as a symbol. A symbol conservative Republican voters believe is, 

"deliberately and ruthlessly advancing a ‘secret agenda’ to bankrupt our country and dramatically expand government control over all aspects of our daily lives."

And because he is "destroying the American way of life" many are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure he fails.  Which explains why "God fearing" and "law abiding" GOP seem to breaking rules of decorum, decency and dipping into the well of vitriol at Obama. Including trying to stop health care. Not because they are so much against health care, but feeling that killing health care will kill Obama's presidency.  

See the report for yourself

Think of the kids…that I'd have to look at and hate.

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A justice of the peace in rural Louisiana is refusing to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple. This, according to him is  out ofconcern for any children the couple might have.

Sayeth the justice according the Associated Press, "I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell says. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."

First of all. You are a racist. You just don't want to be labeled one.  

Secondly, what he is doing is illegal since Loving Vs. Virginia was decided by the Supreme Court.  But growing up and hearing from friends who've dated interracially, including myself, the justice of the peace's defense of the age old cry I've heard from every "concerned" parent who facings the real prospect of their son or daughter dating a black person.  "What about the kids?"

To which I say, "What about the kids? 'Cause it's not about the kids."  No one brings up that argument, when the person you're about to get get married to is a wife beater, alcoholic, poor, badly educated, a womanizer.  But when they are black (as well as some other groups) all of a sudden we gotta start thinking about the children.  That's because when they think about the children, those "concerned" parents are more thinking about the embarrassment and how they'll have to explain walking with a grandson or granddaughter that doesn't look like them.

A dollar a day keeps the unemployement check away

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New York cuts off unemployment benefits for woman who reported $1.30 a day in advertising income from her blog. 

That's some magic wand, Harry Potter

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Satisfaction taking off

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According to the Brookings Institution, the recession, less people traveling and less planes in the air have made the air travel bearable and less delayed.  The bad news,  economic recovery will mean more delays in the future.

Ghost of economy past

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My how things have changed.  A couple of quick economic snapshots from the past and now.

$855.40: The price of an ounce of gold on Oct. 10, 2008 opposed to $1,048.60 for an ounce of gold on Friday.

6.2 percent: Unemployment rate a year ago. 9.8 percent today.

Personal savings rate in 2005, -0.5 percent. Positive 6.9 percent in May 2009

$975 billion: Credit card debt held by Americans last September.  $899 billion in August.

$245,000: Median price of homes sold in 2006. $195,000 in August.

With this award, nobody wins

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Even the President's most staunch supporters really don't believe Barack Obama deserved the Nobel Peace Prize in terms of actual achievement. Most see it as a message of support for the president rather than achievement.  But it's a message may have done more damage than good.  In one swoop, the Nobel committee seems to have succeeded dragging the awards into the political realm. Giving it to someone they liked for his policies rather than someone whose produced results.

Also what does this say about those recipients that actually achieved results?  Actually did something?  It's like having everybody else run 100 yards to score a touch down, but you give it to President Obama for having a good stride at his team's own 20.  Or, next year, will a scientist get an Nobel for saying he want to cure cancer rather than doing it?

Also it's something the administration doesn't want.  Particularly as a black black man, subtle jabs about affirmative action (getting a honor he's not qualified for) are likely to follow.  And for conservatives, the fact that countries outside America gave him an award, is only proof that the President liked by those who hate America. Presumably because the President shares their hatred for America.

This is a prize where there are no winners.

Ch, ch, ch, ch, ch, changes

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A graph showing how the design of some items we know have changed over last six decades.

Face-the-music-book

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The dangers of opening old wounds.  Writer Elizabeth Bernstein reports on the perils of contacting old flames via Facebook. Including learning that old flames are gay, losers, crazy or other ways that destroy your image of them. Read more here.

I don't care. Tell Jesus to do a re-write

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After years of telling people like me the Bible was the inerrant and complete true world of God, Conservatives are attempting to re-write the Bible to get rid of liberal leaning words and events. Yea, I guess 'cause the left wing liberal King James and the wing-nut liberal Greeks and Romans of centuries ago who watched MSNBC on parchment paper and read the New York Roman Times messed it up. And there was that socialist, you know, the one who gave free loaves and fishes to everybody. Can't remember that dude's name.

My opinion: the Bible has always been a political document.  Ask King James and Constantine. Or in leaving the book of Mary out.  And this is another case of the words of God don't fit a groups desires and become too much a pain-in-the-ass to follow, they change the book. Even though in Revelations, God says, not to change his book.

To see more about what they are doing check out this page...

I'll show you a bat signal

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That's a Croc of Bush Shit.

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According to Matt Latimer, the former speech writer that's writing of the tell-all book on The Bush Administration called "Speech-less"  George W. Bush, walked around the White House in Crocs.