A Wonder Woman Movie Can Work

Eric A. Diaz from Geekscape expalins why.

No Main Topic

1. "It is a broad-based problem. One response to this has been making (elimination of) racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes a priority. One of the issues is the extent to which economic and social disadvantage. In general, Wisconsin is a prosperous and middle-class state, but African Americans are concentrated in high-poverty communities."
2. Hurricane Alex was becoming stronger in the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday, but was expected to skirt oil fields before making landfall later in the day or early Thursday.
3. "This is absolutely unacceptable. No veteran who has served and risked their life for this great nation should have to worry about their personal safety when receiving much needed healthcare services from a Veterans Administration hospital."
4. “Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges the country has ever faced, and troubling disparities exist based on race, ethnicity, region, and income.”

Senate Candidate: What's Rape Got To Do With It?

Via Think Progress, an exchange with a the radio host Bill Manders and GOP hopeful Sharron Angle:

MANDERS: Is there any reason at all for an abortion?

ANGLE: Not in my book.

MANDERS: So, in other words, rape and incest would not be something?

ANGLE: You know, I’m a Christian, and I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for each one of our lives and that he can intercede in all kinds of situations and we need to have a little faith in many things.

I just love when yahoos like this try the "God's Plan" rationale. So, Ms. Angle: was 9/11 part of God's Plan? How about Hurricane Katrina? The BP Oil Spill? AIDS?

And as far as interceding, I wonder what the ratio is of actual rapes and incest versus the times it almost happened, if not for divine intervention.

While I consider myself a believer, I understand that there are many people who either (1) don't believe or (b) believe in something completely foreign to my beliefs. In either case, rape or incest can be justified. So to just paint a coat of "God's Plan" over someone's sin in order to prevent the person who was sinned against from sinning reeks of ignorance.

And let's not even go into the different interpretations of God here: apparently Angle believes in the "Superman God;" the hero who swoops in just in time to stop the Bad Guy. Of course, to believe this you have to accept that those who aren't "saved" may not have done anything to deserve it. Personally, that's not the God I was raised to believe in.

All this being said, this is why I've always believed that the choice should be with the woman and (hopefully) her doctor's council. Angle's clearly hasn't seen or experienced too many areas of gray, otherwise she wouldn't have dismissed the rape/incest scenario as something for God to handle. But few people have, so why not let them be the judge?

Sometimes Super-Pairings Are More Trouble Than They Are Worth

Charley Rosen goes over some of the rumored combos that might come out of this summer's NBA free agency.

No Main Topic

1. “Europe is in a tough bind. If you want to escape default, the Irish path is the only way to go. But the Ireland experience points to the profound challenges that the current strategy implies.”
2. "People with ulterior motives may make use of the soldiers' personal information and pose a threat to the safety of the army."
3. "The supplemental is about the people we have on the ground now, who are at risk, who need resources. As long as they are there, we ought to give them the resources they need."
4. “I’m absolutely floored. He’s a good person. He’s lived in the United States for a long time. We’re just completely shocked.’’

Steve Carell To Leave "The Office"

It's good for both sides: he gets to do more projects, and the show gets a chance to prove that they can survive without his character.

No Main Topic

1. R.I.P., Sen. Robert Byrd.
2. Like Robocop, only it's a cat.
3. Surprise, surprise: Kagan's nomination to the US Supreme Court may get political.
4. Who knew Mena Suvari was a cougar?
5. He would have been better off going to eBay.
6. Ah; nothing like the DC Metro.
7. Bullies + Technology = Ruh-roh.
8. Robert L. Johnson is still making moves.
   

Around the Internets

(pic via)

1. You know it's over when the crazy cannibal decides to bite off his on hands to get at you.
2. Funny how the anti-global warming crowd shuts up when summer hits.
3. What ever happened to Sam Bowie?
   
4. At this rate, Disney should have done a Watchmen movie (assuming WB would have let them).
5. There's such a thing as too much of a good thing, even with your job.
6. Be part of Scott Pilgrim's world.
7. Talk about dodging a bullet.
8. The Al Gore Grouping Report looks like an abridged version of the Ken Star Report. So we're to believe that Gore is as much a horndog as Bill Clinton? Gore?
   

"Boondocks" Mocks Tyler Perry; Tyler Perry Fires Staff?

It's officially labeled as a rumor here, but if it turns out to be true, than I'd classify it as "cause and effect."

I saw the episode on Twitter; they burned TP something awful. In short, the Tyler Perry character runs a quasi-cult that's one part Scientology (cuts you off from family and friends) one part fanatical Christian (every edict comes from Jesus to the Perry character) and one part Captain Sunshine from the Venture Bros. (if you saw the episode where Captain Sunshine adopted Hank, you know of what I speak), only with more shirtless men and some body oil.

But here's the thing: Perry could have given up the Madea character a long time ago; it wasn't necessary to put her in every damn flick and play. By doing so, and by using familiar casting and storylines (Boondocks was right that just about every story involves a dark-skinned jerk who abuses his sassy, educated, Jesus-loving woman to the point where she meets and falls for the working-class light-skinned "savior") he left himself open to this type of criticism.

I don't care if Perry himself is gay. What does concern me is that his fortune may have been based on him playing to the emotions of his core audience (heavy on the Jesus, the jokes and the sassy characters) because if he is gay, he has to know that the most God-fearing people who support him will be pissed if even a fraction of what was portrayed on the Boondocks episode is true.

They Don't Waste Any Time, Do They?

(via Media Matters)

Don't Blame Megan Fox, Revisted

The great thing about the Internet is that you can find someone somewhere writing about the same thing you did, only in a more convincing (read: better) way.

I previous mentioned that young Ms. Fox was not to blame for the horrid financial results regarding the Jonah Hex movie.


Borys Kit from Heat Vision adds to this comment giving more solid examples as what needs to be done to make a proper comic book movie, namely:

1. Acknowledge the comic's genre;
   
2. Respect the comic's fanbase;
3. Understand of your competition;
4. Properly evaluate whether a movie is the best medium (as opposed to say, a TV miniseries).
   

Bernie Sanders Sent Me An Email Asking Me To Give Cash To Democrats

Considering the guy's and Independent (a real one, as opposed to Joe Lieberman, who became one after being kicked out of his Democratic primary a few years back) that's kind of a big deal.

Here's what he had to say:

Why is the longest-serving Independent in congressional history writing to you on behalf of Democrats? Like you, I'm angry. I'm frustrated. And I want action. I've had my differences with both sides of the aisle, but I have never seen tactics as dangerous as the ones Republicans are using.

Republicans have said "No" to the very changes Americans elected President Obama to make. No to health care reform. Jobs. Clean energy. Regulations so big banks can't wreck our economy and get rich in the process.

They're saying "No" for one explicit reason - to make President Obama fail.

That's why I'm asking you to support the DSCC. The DSCC has the skills and experience to combat the Republican political machine and right-wing lies. If you give today, your gift will be matched, doubling your impact. Even $5 today will make a big difference in November!

He makes a good point, and the message reads like something he would say (you can always catch him on Fridays on the Thom Hartmann Program for proof). That being said, the fact that the Democrats had to go to their left-leaning Independent colleague says a lot. One, the Democrats rarely go left unless they need the votes/money; as I've said before they fear their opponent's base more than their own. Two, this is still relatively early in the 2010 mid-terms to be going to the well; I can see tapping Sanders help in August, but now?

Jack Adramoff Is Working At a Pizza Joint

I wonder why Republicans don't use him as an example of someone who was unemployed yet still managed to find work?

No Main Topic

1. "The fact that nearly one of five women does not have a child of her own -- that's an enormous transformation from the past."
2. "Only in my dreams have I been able to have a catfight with Debbie Gibson...until now! This is soo MEGA Cool!"
3. “They know this creates a bigger breach between us and Karzai.”
4. "It's exceptional to see a psychologically disturbed person say: I have to be treated."
5. “If parents are that upset, and we have to revise it to fifth- and sixth-graders, then that would be fine with me.’’
6. "I feel like I had pressure since I became number one in high school and was one of the top players. I always got there hungry, wanting to fight hard and compete in every game. So when I step on the court, I'm going to take on any challenge there."

"Dick Whiskey: Drunk Cop" by Cracked.com's Seanbaby

Oh; just read it. We could all use a laugh.

No Main Topic

1. "She looked stunning, she's just amazing. It's a shame she hasn't been for so long, but I'm so glad she has decided to come back."
2. “I welcome debate among my team, but I won’t tolerate division.’’
3. “I was scared mute. Only when they raped me did I scream. It hurt.”
4. "He had nothing else to do at that point, so he had another beer."
5. "While the approval process should not have taken this long, I'm pleased to see the FAA moving forward. The FAA needs to implement a system that will reflect the great importance of border security as well as the growing significance of UAVs in homeland security and national defense."

I May Have To Start Collecting Comics Again...

...at least for one-shots and storylines if not full-time. There's a comic coming out called "7 Psychopaths" about, well, seven psychopaths. It's the middle of WWII and they're being recruited to kill Hitler (who wasn't being recruited to kill Hitler during WWII?).

Anyway the guy doing the recruiting lays it down like this:

Sir, the colonel and I are enlisting lunatics to assassinate Adolf Hitler. In short, we plan to fight evil with evil. Are you in?

Now what crazy person would turn that offer down?

Don't Blame Megan Fox

Whatever others may think, it's not her fault. Jonah Hex played to the wrong crowd. Instead of being the new Wild Wild West, it should have tried to be more like Tombstone. From my admitted limitted knowledge of the character, what appealed to me was his "I gotta job to do and I'm going to do it, whether my boss is an angel or The Devil" attitude. He's a western character in a comic book world, but that doesn't phase him; he doesn't suddenly go out to buy a crazy spandex costume or try to get superpowers...he just presses on, world be damned.

But when all your movie pushes is a hot Megan Fox, some quasi-steampunk science, and a vague hint of the character you're trying to highlight, don't be shocked when the flick turns out to be the next Glitter.

No Main Topic

1. "It's absolutely humbling that he has so much support from fans."
2. "It's always hard to put a percentage on those things, but I know we're having as many conversations as any team in the league about trying to move up and acquire another pick, but a lot of teams are trying to do the same thing."
3. At the least he can be charged with negligence. If we make (a pornography product), we are aware that at one point it could be circulated to the public."
4. “I commute 72 miles each way to the State House, and people are reading textbooks, putting eyeliner on, slapping their kids in the backseat, eating Big Macs, and a myriad of other things, while driving cars, usually with their knees. This is a significant step forward.’’
5. “The tragic explosion, the unstopped gushing of oil, and resulting damage to fishing and tourism industries, cultures, wildlife and the whole Gulf Coast should be more than enough cause for pausing risky deep-water activities until safety and environmental protection is assured. Unfortunately, today’s court decision allows short-term profit for some to trump safety, lives and the environmental health of the Gulf Coast upon which so many depend.”

Here's The Thing...

I really don't care that Miley Cyrus has decided to get skimpy with her outfits (although she could have waited until she was friggin' 18, but whatever). To me the whole Disney-Image-vs-Personal-Freedom thing is just for publicity.

What ticks me off is that she references other artists in her songs than goes on interviews saying she doesn't really listen to those artists. WTF?!? Then don't mention them!

Besides; she has chipmunk/beaver face; she needs to stay small.

No Main Topic

1. "The students developed a research project focused on finding the most common locations of lava tubes on Mars. Do they occur most often near the summit of a volcano, on its flanks, or the plains surrounding it?"
2. I want to plead guilty, and I’m going to plead guilty 100 times over because until the hour the U.S. pulls its forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, and stops the drone strikes in Somalia and Yemen and in Pakistan, and stops the occupation of Muslim lands, and stops killing the Muslims, and stops reporting the Muslims to its government, we will be attacking U.S., and I plead guilty to that.”
3. "It's unfortunate that the majority of voters didn't understand that we really don't have an illegal immigration problem in Fremont."
4. “You and the mayor have a choice: close the branches and lose the state funding; keep the branches open and keep the state funding.’’
5. "By putting an end to our marriage, we wanted to give ourselves fresh starts and give our lives a sense of renewal."
6. "Our message to them is to work with this law, not against it; don't try and take advantage of it or we will work with state authorities and gather the authority we have to stop rate gouging."

10 Things That Scare Conservatives...

...in an electoral sense, that is.

No Main Topic

1. “He said, ‘No, I want to watch soccer.’ That is when the argument came about.”
2. "The food industry spends $1.6 billion on youth-targeted marketing and, of that, 13 percent is dedicated to character licensing and cross-promoting. For the most part, these foods are of poor nutritional quality."
3. “All the institutions around the table are facing various financial challenges. They had to convince us that this is the fairest thing to do. It’s in the hospitals’ interest to support the medical school’s mission and vise versa.’’
4. "Celebrities aren't banned. If Michael Jordan showed up here he would have access (to the clubhouse), but not after a loss.''
5. "It's like an amber alert, the longer it lasts the less likely you are to get the animals back."
6. “A delirious patient happens almost every day...People don’t talk about it, because it’s embarrassing,” Dr. Pacheco said. “They’re having sheer terror, like their worst nightmare.”

Around The Internets

1. Professor X really is an a-hole when you think about it.
2. Building a better resume.
   
3. Lightsaber? Check. Now all I need is the armor from Iron Man and the hoverboard from Back To The Future and my new alter ego will be set.
4. Just because it's not a comic book movie doesn't mean comics can't be mentioned.
5. Yeah; time travel would actually suck.
   
6. Another way to do a series finale of your favorite TV shows.
   
7. Another reason I've never been a big Superman fan: "he's for everyone."
8. What if the LOST finale had a little more Jedi?
   

The Map of The Island From LOST

COOL.

P.S.: The link above is broken, but there are more maps to found here. For example.

No Main Topic

1. “We had so much adversity. That’s why putting ourselves in a position to do this would have been miraculous for us. It would have been wonderful.’’
2. "I am committed to the restoration of fiscal sustainability, but it is critical that the timing and pace of consolidation in each economy suit the needs of the global economy, the momentum of private sector demand, and national circumstances."
3. "I don't know that it's ever been enforced. It's just always been there."
4. "I don't agree with what he done or what they done but I'm relieved he's free. He's had a rough life. He's been incarcerated and in chains his whole damn life, now he's free. I'm happy he's free, just sad the way he went."
5. “The patients, they are happy, even the partial successes. We have a couple of patients who were blind in both eyes. Can you imagine for these patients the change in their quality of life?”
6. "They say it sounds like a freight train. It does."
7. “He’s walking a very fine line here. He is taking each case on the merits as he sees it, but he runs the risk of sowing a level of mistrust about all big companies. And it’s those companies — not small businesses — that he will need to invest and innovate for the kind of recovery he wants.”

If You Don't Know What's Wrong Here, You're Not That Familiar With Superman Or Superheroes

No Main Topic

1. Ally McBeal and Han Solo finally get hitched.
2. As the doc says, they do it because that's the one thing they can control.
3. IBM University.
4. 60% of the time, it works every time.
5. “We see buyers who must have learned their moves from the World Wrestling Federation,” said Glenn Kelman, chief executive of the online broker Redfin. “They think the final smack-down occurs at the inspection, where the seller will be reluctant to refuse any demand because the alternative is putting the house back on the market as damaged goods.”

More Smurf Stuff

They got a pic of the new Smurfs movie: looks like a cross between the live-action Scooby-Doo and Enchanted.

The Best Way To Handle Comic Book Deaths/Resurrections

I'm all for it. I've always yawned at deaths in the comic world because I knew somewhere down the line another writer would just bring someone back. Personally, I've never understood why writers just didn't retire characters in some way. Death is supposed to be finite, and constant resurrection undermines that concept.

Besides: we all know some day, years from now, some writer's going to get the "brilliant" idea of bring Ben Parker or Thomas Wayne back to life. So let's short-circuit those plans now.

The Last "Little Orphan Annie" Strip

Probably didn't know she fought smugglers and drug-dealers, huh? Well, not anymore.

Tom Izzo Has a Brain

After not being able to even speak to LeBron James directly, the Michigan State coach decides to stay where it's safe.

No Main Topic

1. “I thought we’d play better, obviously. I thought we played an individual game tonight on both ends. We never gave ourselves an opportunity offensively. Everybody was trying to make their own plays. When we’ve done that this year, we’ve lost games. We’ve been blown out in some of those games. If you do that against a team like the Lakers, who are really ready to play and play desperate, you’re going to lose.’’
2. "There will be a thorough investigation into this incident."
3. “I am so disappointed. To all the devoted fans that came out I wish you could have seen what I had planned! Until next time.”
4. "What motivated him to throw a puppy at the Hell's Angels is currently unclear."
5. “Today, as we look to the gulf, we see an entire way of life being threatened by a menacing cloud of black crude. We cannot consign our children to this future. The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now.”
6. "Excluding individuals of the same sex from the institution of marriage harms plaintiffs, their children, and hundreds of thousands of other gay men and lesbians (and their families) throughout California."
7. "We have had the same dietary recommendations for 30 years and every year, we update the science but our diets are the same.”

A Mecha Worth Its Metal

Via the Chive. Hands down better than the debacle know as Transformers 2.

Blue-Collar Scholars

Looks like some college-educated students have decided to go into trades:

They started out studying aerospace engineering, creative writing and urban planning. But somewhere on the path to accumulating academic credentials, they decided that working with their hands sounded more pleasant -- and lucrative -- than a lot of white-collar work. So bye-bye to term papers and graduate theses, and hello to apprenticeships to become plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics and carpenters.

For Osielski, the attraction was natural. After graduating from Notre Dame, he spent two years in Haiti working with a charity building schools, but he wasn't allowed to do the one task that seemed most intriguing: wiring the electricity.

When he returned from Haiti, he began working as a furniture mover in the District to pay the bills and discovered the satisfaction that comes with an empty truck at the end of a day. A legal career seemed too much like drudgery.

"I have friends my age who are just deciding to go to graduate school," said Osielski, who graduated this month from an apprenticeship program run by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 26 in Lanham. "I'm glad to be already working and developing a career."

I have to wonder if this is a fad or a growing trend, and if it's the latter what that means for trade workers who don't have a degree...not to mention unions.

New Attempt To Reboot Mortal Kombat Looks Promising

Very promising.

Death By Rice

Yikes.

When it comes to what type of rice is best to eat if one wants to reduce diabetes risk it appears that eating brown rice is the way to go.

New research has found that people who eat white rice are at a higher risk of developing diabetes than those who eat the brown stuff.

Researchers from Boston analyzed health records for up to 197,000 people spanning a 20 year period, looking at their diets and associated risks for various health conditions.

Rest In Peace, Classical Video Games

Cracked.com's David Wong breaks the sad news.

28 Smurfs Later

Inspired by this classic episode, of course.

No Main Topic

1. “Please make sure that Ted Kennedy gets all the protection he needs. We are down to one Kennedy. . .’’
2. "We initially laughed when he told us that he wanted to kill Osama bin Laden."
3. “If anybody thinks Kandahar will be solved this year they are kidding themselves.”
4. "What we do know is that when you properly design wells for the range of risk anticipated; follow established procedures; build in layers of redundancy; properly inspect and maintain equipment; train personnel; conduct tests and drills; and focus on safe operations and risk management, tragic incidents like the one in the Gulf of Mexico today should not occur."

Carolina Wars Over At TPM

Not That it was Josh Marhsall's or TPM's fault, but in war "who started it" tends to get lost in all the back-and-forth.

It started with on reader's comments (read: disdain) with the lifestyle and politics in both Carolinas.

Then there was the We may not be perfect, but you sure ain't a true Carolinian response.

Then, of course there's the Hey, there's a real difference between North Carolina and South Carolina, guys post.

Fun times.

Say It Ain't So...

...The "Michael Bay may screw up the next Transformers Movie" edition.

Teacher Fired For Having Sex Out Of Wedlock

Sure it's a private school, but she missed it by about a month (has been married 16 months, child is 8 months old). I'm really hoping they didn't this for financial or personnel reasons, because it's just sad to think they fired a good teacher because of "boom-chicka-wha-wha."

Barack Obama Still Needs Bill Clinton

Because Clinton can go to locales where Obama isn't well-liked and get Democrats votes. Why can't Obama go to these areas? Well, that's another story.

No Main Topic

1. R.I.P., Jimmy Dean.
2. The "Please Just Confirm Me Already" Tour continues.
3. Bostocalypse.
4. Guess we're not leaving Afghanistan.
5. Yet another conservative gets flack for not adhering to The Checklist.
6. Your choice: high blood pressure or cancer.
7. U.S. soccer team blocked by elephant; Department of Foreshadowing on high alert.
   

Around The Internets

(pic via)

1. It must be good to be rich.
2. The benefits of being fat (yet not rich).
3. Used things you shouldn't buy.
   
4. Still wanna catch 'em all?
   
5. Yep, this is how Hollywood sees Black People.
6. Secrets of Marriage.
7. Joe Quesada talks about his new gig.
8. Sure they used to do all sorts of naughty, nasty things in front of a camera, but now their lives belong to God.
9. Songwriter likens the music industry to being in high school.
   

About The Big "O"

Via: Medical Insurance

Not Gonna Happen

Look: I think JLH is a nice person, a decent actor and, yes, very attractive. But she's 5'2"; way too short to be Wonder Woman (assuming it's true she wants the role).

Wonder Woman is an Amazon. Amazons are tall. That's why I made height a criteria in my list of potentials for a possible Wonder Woman movie.

Hispanics Are Leaving Arizona

The GOP Arizonians' plan to decrease their state's population and income has worked. Well, at least they can still use the now-defunct 2010 Census information to bolster their make-up. Then again, someone's bound to notice if 29% percent of your state is migrating to other states.

But hey: the point is to show the rest of the country how to take the immigration issue by the throat!

If You Think Today's Video Games Aren't Sexist...

...you are horribly mistaken.

No Main Topic

1. "I grew up watching 'The A-Team.' 'A-Team' was my favorite show as a kid."
2. “It’s gotten completely out of hand. Ironically, by being extremely strong financially, BP has become a target.”
3. "When I learned that this gentleman, Mr. Greene, was accused of a felony, I just felt this was 1990 all over again."
4. “When you’re in the moment, you’re in the moment.’’
5. "The aircraft (crew) spoke to her. They told her help was on the way and she sounds like she's in good health."
6. Caffeine is considered "one of the most effective anti-diabetic compounds in coffee."

For The Record

Stan Lee doesn't believe that there shouldn't be a black Spider-Man. Read carefully:

"Here's the point: We've already had the Kingpin in 'Daredevil' portrayed by a black man, where he was white in the comics, [and] we've had Nick Fury portrayed by a black man where he was white in the comics," said Lee. "But not that many people had seen these characters — not that many moviegoers are familiar with them."

"Everybody seems to be familiar with Spider-Man, so I say that it isn't that it's a racial issue — it's just that it might be confusing to people," he explained. "But that's a matter for the people at Marvel to take into consideration. I certainly don't want to weigh in on it in any way, except to say I think [Glover] is a fine actor."

In other words: characters like Kingpin and Fury aren't as well known as Peter Parker, and as far as the general public is concerned, Parker's always been white. And what Lee didn't mention it that Kingpin has been portrayed as black in other media (like the MTV version of Spider-Man) and Fury was first portrayed as a black man in the Marvel Ultimate (aka, let's reboot iconic character without the 30+ year backstory) Universe.

The Fantastic Four and Original X-Men notwithstanding, it wouldn't be that difficult to make any of Lee's early Marvel characters something other than white. But the fact is Tobey McGuire was introduced to the movie world as Spider-Man, and he's white. To reboot Spidey as another race could be confusing in a "Why are they doing this? To get minorities to watch more movies?" kinda way. And considering how their rival DC has been essentially whitewashing their own headliners, the last thing Marvel wants to be accused of is playing any kind of race card.

And one more thing: I'm sure this discussion is dealing with the movie world; after all, even the Punisher was turned into a black guy in the comics.

Quote of the Day

Yes, in about five years, real-life Japan will look exactly like a Final Fantasy cutscene.

-- Cracked.com's Geoff Shakespeare, making a not-so-bold prediction.

If You Want Something Done Right

C&L has an interesting post about non-incompetent people trying to solve the BP oil spill.

After 52 days of frustrating helplessness, it's nice to see people reach out, pool creative and technical resources, and find a solution that might actually work to plug the damn hole.

Shoq* initiated an effort to brainstorm ideas around ways to redirect the oil rather than stop the flow on June 6th. He was soon joined by Justin Grindal, an engineer who was present during the "top kill" effort last month. They worked together and with others to develop an idea to enclose the well with a wide duct anchored to the sea floor which would corral the oil within and force it up to the surface to be caught by waiting tankers.

It's really as simple as the drawing at the top depicts. Yes, there are specific materials that would have to be obtained, and there is some expertise needed to set the anchors, but it appears to be an elegant solution.

No Main Topic

1. “When it went in, I don’t think too many people knew what happened. But it made a funny, strange sound when it hit the net.’’
2. "Once I got past the fact that there's a whole new generation, it was more about, 'OK, you can retell this story because it's a beautiful story. It's a testament to the legacy that we created that we didn't even know we were creating. I don't look at it as the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. It's not the passing of the torch as much as it is the celebration of a great story."
3. “Whether or not there should be a move toward a breakout capacity or toward weapons, there is a lot of debate within the leadership.”
4. "The bigger your butt is, the bigger belly you have, the sexier you are."

Flag Translations

Heh.

They May Have Catchy Songs...

...but that doesn't excuse the mind-warping that Disney characters perform on the kiddies.

No Main Topic

1. “Do YOU know anything about Alvin Greene? Do you have any photos of him?”
2. “He won the game for them. Derek Fisher was the difference in the game.’’
3. “We proved that this senator’s vote is not for sale and neither is yours. We took on the outside groups seeking to manipulate our votes.”
4. "The time has come to modernize the FDA's food safety program focusing on the development of an integrated, risk-based system."
5. "Getting down there and initiating the kill process by August shouldn't be a problem. BP will be able to get this under control."

In The TV Universe, The News Is Always...

...exactly the same.

80-Yr-Old Lady Beaten To Death WIth Cross At Church

Is there no such thing as "a safe place" anymore?

"It's just unbelievable," said one church member who wanted to remain anonymous. "We hear it in other places but it doesn't happen here."

Wilson was at the church Sunday to pick up disaster relief buckets to take to another church, said church members. A person or persons came in, beat her to death and took her car, a silver Grand Marquis.

"She would have given them her car and the money she had and told them to go with it," said a friend of Wilson's. "All they had to do was ask her for it. They didn't have to do this to her."

Worse Than Charlie Brown?

If only because these characters live in a comic book world where life is supposedly better.

Democrats Fear Their Opponents Base More Then Their Own, Revisited

When a Democrat doesn't vote the way progressives/liberals want, they typically don't get more than a curse-laden blog post, or maybe an angry phone call. But as Bart Stupak has discovered, the GOP's base is another story.

Obama: They're Still Not That Into You

Doesn't matter how angry you get or what words you use, the people who don't like you will always find fault with you.

No Main Topic

1. “It would actually kill everything the stimulus has done. It would be enormously destructive.”
2. “I don’t have as big a burden on me offensively on my team as Kobe [Bryant] does. When I’m not making buckets I’m out here trying to rebound, defend, make plays for other guys. I didn’t try to do everything.’’
3. "They were off Gaza's Nuseirath beach and more than 28 miles from Ashdod when the Israeli troops fired."
4. ''Contrary to assertions from people opposed to same-sex parenting, we found that the 17-year-olds scored higher in psychological adjustment in areas of competency and lower in problem behaviors than the normative age-matched sample of kids raised in traditional families with a mom and a dad."
5. "He's confessed to this one, and I'd like for him to tell everyone what happened."
6. “These are human beings. These are children that are suffering, that need help. That’s what moved me to come, to do this, to continue to provide help as much as I can and continue to reach out to others, so others can be made aware that they, too, can play a part.”

Classic

Now that's something I'd expect to see in a stand-up routine.

Calvin & Hobbes...Minus Hobbes

Kinda makes comics most popular spikey-haired blond egomaniac look, well, insane.

No Main Topic

1. "Radiation is an indispensable element in the treatment of patients with high-risk prostate cancer."
2. They all want to make sure they go to Mikey's house, do the Shuffle. It's just something that clicks with people."
3. “The problem we have, this is not a large, monolithic spill anymore. It is an aggregation of thousands of smaller spills that could come ashore at any particular time based on wind and current.”
4. "I put on a big show. I create sets, costumes. There's major choreography and dance numbers. All of that goes along with a huge production. And I started to feel this is not the right time. It'll be a much better and bigger show when I have time to properly plan."
5. "It's a whorehouse. I honestly don't feel as safe here as what I did. And the name they gave it — that is unbelievable. There's nobody in there learning anything, I guarantee you."
6. “The employee has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. There are no indications that the alleged crime involves any Fresno Unified students.”

Around The Internets

1. Let's just say Christina Aguilera likes to flatter other artists.
2. Israel could have handled this differently.
   
3. A non-white Spider-Man? Sure, why not?
4. Some reasons why we really needed some kind of health care reform.
5. Yes, bloggers do get paid.
   
6. Introducing "Malboro Earth."
7. Botcon 2010 is coming.
   

Talk About Rare

The Onion covers a once-in-a-lifetime marriage between an actress and a musician.

File This Under...

"...People Who Need To Take The Stick Out Of Their Ass." Protesting a spelling bee? You fucking serious?

No Main Topic

1. You have your choice between: a cross between The Fly and Species, a Hangover/Forgetting Sarah Marshall-type comedy starring Jonah Hill, or a watered-down Mr. and Ms. Smith with a little True Lies added in.
2. I'm loving it.
3. About that solar energy track...
4. Confident Gasol + healthy Bynum + determined Bryant = Lakers victory.
5. Talk about durable.
6. Kill, Baby, Kill.
7. The second alleged affair must be the breaking point.
8. How dare NYC show the physical effects of smoking?
   

And All It Took Was A National Disaster Of Epic Proportions

World Bank cancels Haiti's debt.

Never Let It Be Said That Fans Can't Make Good Movies

No Main Topic

1. So the guy who was afraid of computers and didn't know what Google was when he was running the country has a Facebook account? What-the-fuck-ever.
2. Now the jerk BP CEO wants his comments back.
3. Not exactly teacher-friendly, are we Mr Mayor?
4. Today in "Sexually Repressed Republican News..."
5. For the Celtics, it's all about the details.
   
6. I can understand forgetting the actual date, but how the hell can you not remember how your parents actually died?
7. I guess the price of condoms is too high?
   

Two Can Play That Game

House Democrats strike back at the Republican's porn-inspired legislative jujitsu.

America Makes The Worse Cigarettes

As in, American cigarettes are more deadly than non-American cigarettes.

TUESDAY, June 1 (HealthDay News) -- American cigarettes could pack a more toxic punch than foreign brands, say researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In one of the first studies of its kind, researchers compared the levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines -- a main carcinogenic component of tobacco -- in cigarette butts and in smokers from several countries.

The result: "All cigarettes are not the same, and cigarettes across countries do not deliver the same amount of carcinogens to people," said Dr. Jim Pirkle, deputy director for science at the CDC's National Center for Environmental Health's Division of Laboratory Sciences.

In fact, the amount of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in U.S. brands is about triple that of brands from Australia, Canada or the United Kingdom, he said.

Some much for that "we don't want our customers to die" bullshit that the cigarette companies used to shovel around.

Marvel's Joe Quesada Moves Up

Following Disney's purchase of Marvel, the comic's Editor-in-Chief is now Chief Creative Officer.

And The Conspiracy World Rejoiced

Turns out that there is a picture of Marilyn Monroe and JFK.

No Main Topic

1. "This money has energized coalitions around plans. Some have succeeded amazingly, some have succeeded modestly, and some did not succeed. But the people that want change are a lot better leveraged now in the public debate."
2. "You see old footage of us from the Bookmobile, and weird old performances and stuff no one's looked at in almost twenty years."
3. “We are doing this because we believe the community can play a role in making the individuals who are responsible for the execution of a 14-year-old boy outcasts in their own neighborhood.’’
4. "There's not much he can say right now. He needs to block out the noise. If he stays in Cleveland, fans will forgive him and a lot of it will go away."
5. “It’s an interesting disaster because it’s one that doesn’t stop — it’s as if Katrina sat on top of New Orleans for six weeks without going away.”

Didn't See That One Coming

Al and Tipper Gore, not Bill and Hillary Clinton, are calling it quits.

No Main Topic

1. “We can repair these injuries and get them back up and playing . . . but we don’t have evidence of what they will be like 20 years from now.’’
2. "We're not a team that's that far away, so I can't sit here and say, 'Yeah, we're going to make all these drastic changes because we're miles away.' We're not miles away. We're not at the bottom third of our league. We're at the top of our league."
3. "A state may take action to enforce a blockade. Any vessel that violates or attempts to violate a maritime blockade may be captured or even attacked under international law.''
4. "We need to offer more smoking cessation support to adults and parents to help those who wish to stop smoking stay stopped."
5. “Safety first.”