More Senseless Brutality

Again?

This is getting really repetitive. I guess something had to displace robots at some point...

God Strikes Back

Earlier this week, we told you about the lawsuit against God. In a move destined to rock the judeo-religious community, "He Who Watches You In The Shower" has responded to the lawsuit.

Although no burning bushes were sighted, two responses were filed in the Douglas County District Court in Omaha, NE. And when the Big Guy shows up in Omaha to fight this lawsuit, I can only imagine the media circus that will result. It'll probably get almost as much coverage as The Juice's latest legal debacle.

And if he doesn't show, will the judge hold him in contempt? If you win a default judgment against the Creator, who do you collect from? And what if the wrong God shows up? How embarassing would it be to have to explain to Brahma that you are suing Jehovah?

Hitting the Nail on the Head

The Onion is well known for their biting, relevant, and sarcastic commentary on a variety of issues. That being said, they really hit the nail on the head with this one, a frightneningly accurate portrayal of the single male in isolation.

I'm gonna go make myself a hot-dog quesadilla and try to shake the existential funk that this frank examination of my life-style has lead to.

Kids Nation, or Lord of the Flies Gone Horribly Wrong

Our good friends at Slate have taken a long, hard look at Kids Nation.

It seems to me that this show could benefit from more William Golding and fewer gold stars; while the concept of a bunch of kids running wild for 40 days is entertaining, watching 40 would-be starlets competing for the praise and adulation of their parents and a few TV execs sounds awful. As Slate points out, however, the kids that were chosen for this show fit squarely in the second category. There's not a Nelson Muntz in sight, which is a shame. A few young ruffians would add a great dynamic to the show, and provide a little chaos; these young parent-pleasers would have to learn how to deal with these bullies; maybe even recruit one or two to keep the others off. Or maybe the young toughs would take over and force all the little goodie-two shoes to do their bidding. The possibilities are truly limitless.

My fear is that without a few elementary school bullies present, this show will never reach what I like to call the "Stop Hitting Yourself Horizon", that magical point where senseless, childlike violence and sub-standard living conditions blossom into something much more.

Jailed from God

Not too sure, but this seems like a bad idea.

"The Bureau of Prisons [has] order[ed] to chaplains to do a major purge of religious materials in libraries that inmates may use. It’s to ensure there is nothing that can be used to give them skills for violence or terrorism or spur them to hateful thoughts. . . The 'Standardized Chapel Library Project,' make[s] sure there is no access to whatever might 'discriminate, disparage, advocate violence or radicalize.'"

Ok, so political and religious unrest in prison = Bad. But it seems that this effort is designed to be discriminatory toward one specific religion in favor of another, though I can't really put my finger on which ones these are. . .

R.I.P. The Last Somewhat Private, Public Space in New York City

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority annouced that it reached an agreement on Wednesday with Transit Wireless to wire all the subway stations in New York City for cellphone use.

Though the subway tunnels themselves won't be wired, commuters can continue their conversations on subway platforms. New York isn't the first major city to work on getting public transport wired; D.C. has already started wiring its stations for cell use.

While my first instinct is to think that it's sad that commuters can't wait fifteen minutes to receive that valuable text message, the linked NYTimes Article mentions potential national security implications for having public transport wired, specifically: "Security experts have said that there are greater advantages in wiring stations so that people can call the authorities in an emergency or to report suspicious activity."

That may be true, but isn't it slightly more likely that enabling cell phone use will finally kill the last quiet space in the city? MTA, you suck.

Crime Pays, Indeed, But Not for John Edwards

William Lerach, one of the nation's foremost class action litigators, plead guilty this week to making false statements under oath and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Lerach and fellow attorneys at top NY firm Milberg Weiss were accused of paying persons to sign on as plaintiffs in class action shareholder suits. By getting more plaintiffs faster than other firms, Lerach and Milberg Weiss could file suit quickly, get the coveted "lead counsel" spots for these big shareholder class action suits, and get a bigger share of the settlement booty. CNNMoney has a short, detailed piece on the kickback scheme here.

The Wall Street Journal also has an amazing editorial about Lerach's plea agreement. Unlike Andrew Fastow (Enron's CFO) who had to rat out his buddies to get a plea, Lerach's plea agreement does not force him to cooperate with federal authorities in their conspiracy charges against Milberg Weiss's partners. He can, quite literally, just serve his time, pay a fine, and move on. Speaking of the fine, while Lerach will pay $8M to the government in addition to his two years in minimum security country club prison, he doesn't have to pay back any of the shareholders of the corporations that he sued over the past 20 years, though his strike suits against their companies lost them millions.

How does this all tie in to John Edwards, you ask? Lerach donated over $78K to Edwards' 2008 presidential campaign, and at the beginning of this year, Edwards used his speeches to support Lerach's campaign to get the SEC not to block one of his shareholder suits on its way to the Supreme Court. Get the skinny on Lerach's tie to Edwards, now becoming a bit of a political fiasco, here, courtesy of CBS News and the Washington Post.

Important Announcement: Come See My Band

The Pasty Quail is not above shameless self-promotion, and if you are in Athens on Monday night, September 24, you must take some time out of your evening to come to the Georgia Theater, where my band, That's What She Said, is hosting a unique event by covering Radiohead's album OK Computer in its entirety.

So, covering popular bands is not terribly original these days, especially in these parts. But since we're all big Radiohead fans, and it's the 10-year anniversary of this incredible album's release, we figured why not?

In addition, I will be supporting my own band as the opening act. Check out my myspace page to hear some of my songs.

The show starts at 9:30, so get there early. Enjoy!

Saving Sports Media From Themselves

Let's be honest here. I know about as much about sports as most people know about regression analysis. Hell, I don't even know much about regression analysis either, thereby making me real winner.

But Chuck Klosterman's article on Four Ways to Save Sports Media in this month's "Esquire" is beautiful. While I can't critique it from a substantive standpoint, it's an incredibly well-written and convincing article from a man who clearly loves sports and the people that cover it.

And who is the "Kevin Kolb" person anyway?

Tramps Have Babies?

And now for your regular dose of Friday Fear-Mongering.

Got a tramp stamp? Not only are you a sucker for trends, but you might not be able to get an epidural in Canada if you ever get around to spawning.

A group of Canadian anesthesiologists published a 2002 report regarding the potential permanent spinal damage that can result from sticking an epidural needle through a lower back tattoo.

This report was based on a study of three women, none of whom had any negative effects from getting the shot through their tatts. Nonetheless, Vancouver hospitals are changing procedures for when tramp stampers have their little ones.

Maybe It Will Sell In Peoria, But It's Called "LipoDissolve!"

The newest trend in cosmetic procedures, anti-fat injections, are a huge hit in the Midwest. Patients get injections of a drug cocktail/compound that allegedly breaks down fat cells underneath the skin, thereby finally removing the need for that pesky fresh air, exercise, and a nutritious diet.

Three potential problems with LipoDissolve:
1) It's not approved by the FDA.
2) The content of the injections--the compound drug itself--isn't standardized.
3) There's a risk that instead of dissolving fat cells, LipoDissolve actually "liquefies fat so that it shifts around in the body, raising the possibility of long-term consequences such as the aggravation of heart disease."

Liquefied fat? Sexy.

Georgia Lawyers For The Arts Ft/ Deerhunter

On Thursday night, the Georgia Lawyers for the Arts put on a benefit concert at the 40 Watt in Athens, Ga. The headliner of the night was the Atlanta-based Deerhunter, which was a great pull by the organizers.

Deerhunter put on an excellent show, but unfortunately they didn't take the stage till 1 AM (well after most of the lawyers in attendance had taken off). For those of you who missed the main act, I will be posting a few videos of their performance as soon as I figure out how the hell you upload videos on Youtube. Sorry, the videos were too big to be uploaded on Youtube, I'll try to figure something else out.

The Four Day Work Week

Well, I'm sold.

Here's one that this guy missed; employees waste an average of 1.7 hours a day on the internet. Over a five day work week, that averages out to 8.5 hours; roughly equivalent to one work day.

In the spirit of contributing to raising that average:
Dan Rather Sues CBS.
Progressive attitudes about women prevail in the Far East.
US Government Develops Ray Gun; Reporter makes ridiculous face.
News For Creation Scientists.
The Seven Year Itch.

A Disturbing Video From The Left Coast

This is the second absurd police brutality story in three days. The young victim here has been identified as Senior Airman Elio Carrion, 21, a member of the US Air Force. He is listed in good condition at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton after being shot three times in the chest, shoulder and leg.

The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an Internal Affairs investigation.

Introspection is a Dangerous Business

This does not apply to us.

Canadian Dollar Checks Greenback into Boards

$1 US is now approximately equal to $1 CAN. This represents a thirty year low for the US dollar against the neighbors to the north. The dollar is sliding against the euro as well; our good buddies the Saudis are bailing on us.

We're still holding strong against the yen and the swiss franc.

Learn A Foreign Language For Free

For those of you who keep saying that its time to learn a new language, but haven't been willing to pony up the cash, Lifehacker has information on a new webapp called Mango. The service offers 11 free language courses, all presented in easy to use online lessons.

Pakistani Government Under Fire

Bin Laden is using his power as the voice of radical Islam to incite unrest in Pakistan (also see here).

The country has been teetering at the brink of chaos for a while now, and events this summer have only exacerbated the problem. In July, there was a bloody standoff between fundamentalist Islamic students and government forces at the Red Mosque. Also, the former Prime Minister Bhutto (who was deposed in a milatary coup by the current leader Musharaff) has begun to make noise that she will return to the country this fall.

On the bright side, the conflict with India over Kashmir has been quiet. Although, I'm not sure if this is a function of poor media coverage or an actual reduction of tension between the two sides.

A Public Service Announcement

Ladies and Gentlemen,

You may have noticed the recent appearance of some new buttons below the posts here on The Pasty Quail. Allow me to explain.

The first button, the yellow one, is for Digg. The second one is for Reddit.

Both Digg and Reddit are link aggregators; basically, one creates an account on the site, and then posts links to articles, pictures, video, etc. Once the links are up, everyone in the community can vote the material up or down. The most popular posts float to the top.

We have included these buttons so that we can share The Pasty Quail with the world. So, if you see an article you like, click the button. Creating an account is easy, and you'll be helping us to get the word out about what's going on here at the site. Click away, and thanks for your help.

EDIT: We are having some technical problems with the Digg button; don't worry, it'll be back soon. Reddit seems to be working fine for the time being. If you have any other technical problems, please don't hesitate to let us know.

EDIT #2: The Digg button is back. Having tried nothing, and succeeded, I feel content.

NBC Plans To Offer Popular Shows For Download

Following its public break with Itunes earlier this year, NBC has announced plans to offer its shows for free online.

I have been watching tv online for the last couple of years at tv-links, and I am happy to see that the major networks seem to be embracing the internet as a platform for delivering their content instead of running around prosecuting people.

CIA 'Shut-Down' In Iraq

Pajamas Media is reporting that the Iraqi government's revocation of Blackwater's license to operate as a private contractor inside the country is having a major effect on US forces. From the article:

"What caused the shut down? Following a firefight between Iraqi insurgents and a Blackwater USA protection detail on Sunday (12:08 PM Baghdad time), Iraqi officials suspended the operating license of the North Carolina-based government contractor. While the Iraqi government is yet to hold a formal hearing on the matter, Blackwater and all it protects remain frozen."

Blackwater's services are provided to a huge number of US interests in the area, including: oil companies, construction crews, shipping convoys, intelligence officials, diplomats, and dignataries. Find more on Black water here and here.

Last Chance To Join The UGA Light The Night Team

Tomorrow (Thursday Sept. 20) is the last day to join the law school team walking in Friday's Light the Night to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

To Donate or make a donation go to: teams.lightthenight.org/UGALawDawgs

Schedule for Friday:
5:30 Registration and Activities begin at the Classic Center
6:30 Rememberance Ceremony
7:30 Walk

If you have any questions or want to make a cash/check donation contact Jessica Nix at jcnix@uga.edu

Meteorite Hits Peruvian Village, May Be The Cause of Mystery Illness

In a story straight out of my nerdy sci-fi dreams, a meteorite crashed to earth outside of a remote Peruvian village and 200 people promptly became ill. No word yet on the official cause of the illness, but I'm placing my bets on an unstoppable space virus that will doom us all.

Learn more about the terrifying events in Peru here. (Thanks Hunt)

Electronic Resurgence

Slate has an article on the reemergence of electronic dance music in the modern American music scene. In the piece, the writer recounts a time when electronic music was supposedly set to overtake rock as the most important form of pop musical expression. From the article:

"Circa 1997—a year during which Prodigy went platinum, the Chemical Brothers achieved stateside success, and Daft Punk released their well-received debut—it seemed that change was around the corner, a finger hovering above the reset key."

I was 16 at the time, and at a key formative period in the development of my musical tastes (this is unfortunate, since the mid-90's were a wasteland for quality music). MTV launched a massive marketing campaign to bring electronic music, which was already very popular in Europe, to the US. As I'm sure you are aware, the campaign failed miserably when everybody went the exact opposite direction and started listening to ska music instead. Whoops.

The article nails all of this, so you are probably better off just reading it instead of my nostalgia trip. However, I would like to take up one thing with the writer. He seems to assume that electronic music simply disappeared into the ether, only to return now in the form of LCD Soundsystem, Junior Boys, and the Klaxons. I would like to posit that all those 'beeps' and 'snaps' we have been listening to in Hip-Hop over the last few years are a direct result of the electronic movement of the mid-90's.

Anyone with a better knowledge of Hip-Hop and Electronica care to weigh in here?

Shameless promotion works again

So, more record sales impressiveness (see Barry Manilow earlier today). Kanye's new album almost went platinum its first week out, destroying 50 Cent's sales, which were still impressive as far as I'm concerned.

I wish 50 Cent really was serious about retiring (as he said he would do if Kanye outsold him), because that would be hilarious, but I imagine he got what he wanted by selling 600,000 records in a week in this day and age.

Apparently Notre Dame really is that bad

ESPN, for once, NOT showing phenomenal hyperbole regarding Notre Dame’s status (i.e. always laudatory at the slightest sign of strength, and defaming when the smallest thing goes awry), as they really are arguably the worst team in Division 1-A at this point of the season.

“Does Notre Dame deserve the No. 1 spot [in the Bottom 10 rankings]? Well, the Irish rank 119th [last] in points per game, total yards per game, rushing yards per game and sacks allowed. Notre Dame is the only I-A team with no offensive touchdowns.”

I think their decision to build up their stadium so as to block Touchdown Jesus is directly correlated to their demise in the last 10 years. God is pissed.

Breaking the Game

Not only does this guy invoke one of the most obscure Nintendo games of all time — which myself and my roommates from college also happened to play constantly (and is pictured here) — he makes a good point about the deplorable state of political campaigns. It's a two for one!

It's a long article (though it's very entertaining), and if you've never played Bad News Baseball, it probably won't mean too much to you. But the point is that you can get so good at a lot of Nintendo games it's just not fun anymore. The writer ties this in (very surprisingly) well with his political idea, one with which I also happen to agree completely. To quote him:

"Today, we see that politics are a broken game -- with the debates and the conventions as the prime displays of this fact. As voters, we would much prefer an exchange of ideas, in which candidates argued points of fact and principles. As a democracy, we would be well served by sincere, engaging debates. But the candidates are not out there to stimulate our intellect or to serve well the Democracy -- they are out there to win."

I've long said (read: for about 3 years) that politics are a game that I don't want to play. The Presidential Elections are fun because they're hyped like the Super Bowl, and ultimately, I have about the same amount to do with the outcome. But that's about all the value they have to me right now.

A tip of the hat to Matt, for the tip. Nintendo competition is never the same without your sanity hanging in the balance on every play.

UGA's Richt Concerned About Spies

In the wake of the Bill Belichick spying scandal, UGA has put its practices into full lockdown mode. It appears to be no coincidence that this act coincides with the team's upcoming trip to Tuscaloosa, where former NFL coach (and Belichick assistant) Nick Saban is now at the helm. The AJC has some coverage of the unprecedented move from the UGA coaching staff, and also hints that a failed 4th and 2 play against South Carolina was the result of spying.

Google Takes Down Microsoft, Again

In its continuing assault on Microsoft products, Google has released its new online powerpoint application to the world. Its free, and its easy to use. Its called Google Presentation, and it is part of the Google Docs Online package. Check it out here (you'll need firefox or camino to get into the program). Also, get a review of the product here.

Barry Manilow has sold 75 million albums

Yeah, I was pretty surprised, too.

Here's a glowing review of the man, the myth, the legend, as his five-DVD set is ready to hit stores.

I've never been really for or against Manilow, just blissfully ignorant. But either way, apparently he's a wildly successful recording artist.

The Jena 6

The AJC has coverage of the Atlanta University protests in support of the 'Jena 6'. In case you are unfamiliar with the issue, here is a short explanation from the article:

"The saga began in December, when six black teens were initially charged with attempted murder for assaulting a white classmate at Jena High School. The white student who was knocked unconscious was hospitalized, but he attended a party the same evening. The local district attorney, Lee Walters, argued the six attacked the boy with a deadly weapon — their shoes."

"The December beating came after months of simmering racial tensions in Jena. White students at the high school hung nooses on a tree after a black student and his cousin stood under the tree. The school board briefly suspended the students who hung the nooses, but many black families felt the punishment was not severe enough. Police were called to the school because of subsequent fights between black and white students."

Nothing like a fresh dose of idiocy to start the day

Yep, a man in Nebraska is suing God. Um, what?

Ok, I get it. You're trying to make a point about frivolous lawsuits. But aren't you just perpetuating the issue? Is adding another really pointless case to the court's agenda going to prove anything? Or is it just going to make you look like an idiot?

On an unrelated side note, the blogger here takes a relatively cheap shot at our friend, Ole Hitch.

The Pasty Quail Might Be Having Some Technical Difficulties

Our apologies if you had any trouble with the site today. We are in the process of trying some new things, and hopefully they will make the site better in the future.

Public Service Announcement: Don't Buy AA Batteries

6 Volt Battery Hack! You'll Be Amazed! - The funniest bloopers are right here

Something random, and excellent

"René Descartes is in a bar at closing time. The bartender asks him if he'd like another drink. Descartes says, "I think not," and he disappears."

Really, I just needed an excuse to post this joke; I'm always a sucker for a good Descartes gag. (for more on Rene Descartes, look here. I am more than willing to discuss the merits and foibles of his philosophy at any given time)

Anyhow, here's a link to 35 more "guy walks into a bar" jokes. Most of them range from kind of funny to not at all, but hell, it's worth a waste of 15 minutes, and maybe you'll find a gem that suits you as well as this one did me. Enjoy your Tuesday!

It's official: I don't like Dane Cook

So, the Sports Guy has drawn a lot of ire in the last couple years by sports bloggers, particularly because he can be a smarmy douche, and mostly because he refuses to acknowledge the existence of any other sports teams aside from the Red Sox and Patriots.

I will stand and defend him on one account — that he writes mostly good columns about the NBA, and though he's not as fun to read as he used to be, I chalk that up much more to ESPN's treatment of sports coverage, his subsequent large paycheck from them, and the fact that he's 15 years older than the people who are making fun of him. We often seem to forget that people change when they get older and have kids.

Anyhow, this post is not about Bill Simmons directly, but more about the massively moronic exploits of Dane Cook, pictured here:



He's a dreamboat, no? Anyhow, as most of you know, Mr. Cook is a wildly successful comedian, and recently Greg and myself were discussing his relative merits, as both of us were largely ambivalent toward him at the time. His humor is sophomoric, but there's nothing inherently bad about that. We watched a piece of his stand-up special, and even though I don't particularly like stand-up comedy, I understand that it's an extremely difficult medium to undertake, and I enjoyed a laugh here and there. This is more than I can say for most of your run-of-the-mill stand-up comics, so I decided that Dane Cook would remain underneath my "indifferent" category.

Ah yes, the point. It appears that on an ESPN chat just a few days ago (don't bother to ask why Dane Cook was administering a chat on ESPN), he publicly bashes Bill Simmons. Now, I don't know, but wouldn't someone who was good at his job be able to come up with a clever or funny insult? I mean, the guy is a fucking comedian.

UF Student Tasered At Kerry Event

The Gainesville Police department might have gone a little overboard this morning at a John Kerry 'Town Hall Forum' (please don't tell me this means he is considering running for President again) when they tasered a UF student who, um, well I'm not really sure what he did.



Granted, he appears to ask the Senator several dumb questions, but that hardly justifies the reaction from the cops. Seriously guys, non-lethal doesn't equal non-painful. (Thanks Matt)

Update: Here is a roundup of blogger reactions to the incident from Pajamas Media.

Tensions Rise In Middle East

Its hard to believe, but tensions reached new heights between the West and the Iranian government over the weekend. The French have warned the world that an Iranian bomb will mean war, and it appears that the Germans are supporting this rhetoric. The two European nations are currently working on economic sanctions; a quote from the French foreign minister:

"We have decided that while negotiations are continuing ... to prepare eventual sanctions outside the ambit of UN sanctions. Our good friends, the Germans, suggested that"

Some commentators have noted that the Iranians are already at war with the US, but are hamstrung by domestic politics and the threat of a massive response from the Americans.

What about that massive repsonse by the Americans? Oh, the plans have been drawn up at the Pentagon, and are simply waiting for implementation.

There is still room for diplomacy here, so I'm not going to say that war is imminent. I really don't think the Iranians have any choice here but to suspend their nuke program. An American airstrike would likely wipe out all of the regime's power and would effectively end their control of the country. Threats from the Iranian leadership to shut down oil shipments from the region and strike targets abroad are mostly implausible. For the West, the aftermath of an airstrike will not be pretty (as we have found in Iraq, lots of people with no government and no infrastructure doesn't work very well). Clearly diplomacy is the best route, but its not clear how much longer this will be an option.

An Opinion on Terrorists and the Judicial System by the New Nominee For Attorney General

Last month, the nominee for Attorney General, Michael Mukasey, wrote an Op-Ed piece in the Wall Street Journal about the trial of Jose Padilla. He writes:

"It may be claimed that Padilla's odyssey is a triumph for due process and the rule of law in wartime. Instead, when it is examined closely, this case shows why current institutions and statutes are not well suited to even the limited task of supplementing what became, after Sept. 11, 2001, principally a military effort to combat Islamic terrorism."

He goes on to urge the Congress and the American public to carefully consider the option of creating a new adjudicary framework to deal with terror suspects and enemy combatants. I can't imagine that the judiciary will be willing to just roll over and let this happen. Even if they did, who would be in charge of setting up this new framework? Who would be subject to the system that would result? How do we prevent it from becoming a bottomless hole where 'dangerous' people are refused due process and simply dissappear?

Mukasey's piece can be found here.

Buddy Holly would be proud

Remember when this was the epitome of the devil's dance?


Well, neither do I, because the argument about rock 'n' roll being evil began here 25 years before I was born. But, now that hip-hop has infiltrated the white upper-middle class, there's a new Public Enemy #1 in town (with all due respect to Public Enemy).

I understand the teachers' statements that "it's a school dance, not a night club." But what do they expect? If they want to have a school dance, it should reflect the kind of dancing and music that the kids enjoy. If not, I just don't see the point of having a school dance.

**Full Disclosure: My brother and sister went to Naperville North High School, mentioned in the article, before we moved to Georgia.**

Hillary Unveils Her New Health Care Plan

The Clinton campaign has drafted its plans for a universal health care program. How does the plan achieve its claim to be truly 'universal' and provide coverage to everyone? By requiring every American to purchase insurance:

"The New York senator said her plan would require every American to purchase insurance, either through their jobs or through a program modeled on Medicare or the federal employee health plan. Businesses would be required to offer insurance or contribute to a pool that would expand coverage. Individuals and small businesses would be offered tax credits to make insurance more affordable."

The key here is how much the government will offer in tax credits and who will have access to them. Otherwise, all that is happening here is that the government will force the 45 million uninsured to buy insurance. Hurray, problem solved!

Insurance Companies: thinking of EVERYTHING

Where were you the last time you suffered an at-home, church-related injury? Well, GuideOne Insurance has the plan for you.


I'm all for playing the niche markets, which is a fundamental of capitalistic success, so really I can't say too much. This, however, is one thing I will say: Wow, this seems exploitative.

Aren't people already covered for accidents regardless of where they're going? With the incentive of having the deductible waved, does this encourage reckless driving on the way to and from church?

E-coli, at it again

Q: How many outbreaks of E-coli does it take to get people to stop buying bagged lettuce?

A: More than three in the past year, according to this article. . .

Tear Down This Wall

Tonight at midnight, the New York Times will end its subscription-only access plan (aka Times Select) for its columns and editorials. From the article:

"The move comes two years to the day after The Times began the subscription program, TimesSelect, which has charged $49.95 a year, or $7.95 a month, for online access to the work of its columnists and to the newspaper’s archives."

I'm surprised that this system was able to last even 2 years, given the rapid decline in newspaper circulations and the basic structure of the internet. Making people pay for something that can be easily found for free elsewhere seems like a bad business move these days.

Check out the whole article here.

A Chin-Up Attitude...

would probably help Northern Rock, the beleageured UK Bank. Last week, they lost 8% (about £2 Billion of their deposits as fears of collapse feuled a bank run. Things have not gotten better over the weekend.

This is why Wii suggests you take a break

I always laugh when I'm into the second hour of a Wii Sports marathon and I'm prompted with the option to take a quick breather. But, now I know to heed this warning much more seriously.

Christian protagonists, knocking back the booze

Apparently, alcohol is breaking down the barriers of Christian fiction, at least according to this piece.

I am all for this. I think many Christians (as well as many other people in general) need to understand that drinking alcohol moderately (or even occasionally to excess) does not automatically make you a drunkard. In fact, showing a good Christian protagonist drinking (as many good Christian people do) might possibly help people realize that they don't have to choose between Jack Daniels and Jesus Christ. A healthy portion of each is probably good for everyone.

Oh, OJ, you just couldn't stay out of trouble

The Dallas Morning News' religion blog cleverly hits this nail on the head.

But Who Will Commit the Atrocities?

Everyone's favorite paramilitary mercenary "security" group is getting kicked out of Iraq.

What effect this will have on the troop cuts announced last week is unclear, but the removal of the estimated 1,000 Blackwater troops in Iraq will certainly leave some holes in security over there.

A Moment of Reflection

A father's touching tribute to his daughter.

It's in French, so I have done my best to translate it here:

Tuesday the 28th of August. 4 young girls holding hands ar crossing the street at mirabel to go see some chicks. Three of them were hit. They saw nothing, and heard nothing.

Arriving quickly at the scene, I see Claudie, my daughter, her eyes closed. She is breathing. Her face is not bloody. She is taken to St. Jerome's Hospital, and then to St. Justine's because of the severity of her condition. Social workers came and comforted us. We discussed, reflected, hoped, comforted and consulted with one another. Everything was thoroughly thought through and done with the greatest respect for my daughter.

Sunday, September 1st. Everything that could be done had been. Since Claudie was born at 10:45 AM, we let her go, symbolically, at the same time.

Her liver is now found in the abdomen of a 2-month old girl in grave condition at St. Justine. Her heart beats at the Hotel-Dieu in Quebec. Her lungs breathe in and out in Toronto. Her kidneys were grafted into two different people in Montreal. Her pancreas was also transplanted.

Claudie lives now in 5 different people; she has changed each of their lives. She will be with us for a long time to come.

Dear Claudie, we will never see you again getting ready to leave for school, we won't see you ferreting away at the computer, nor closing the door to your room, nor bathing. We won't see you addressing the steps of adolescence, that magical 10 years, with all your friends, who love you so much, so precious and vital.

Don't worry, we love them as much as you did. They still send you news, writing you cards like Chloe, Alexandra, Fred, Audree, Laurie, Felicia, Maude and others, comforting one another, like jewels in the light.

Thank you for humbling us so with joy. Thirteen unforgettable years of a life like any other, neither more nor less, simply unique. We will forever remind ourselves of all of the joy and all of the pain, all the parties and all of your childhood with Laurence. And the beuatiful young woman, who you are and who you were.

It was a great run, albeit too short. We will remember your elegance, and keep the memory of your name alive.

I was proud and humbled to be your father. Thank you, and now, I embrace you, and give you a hug. I look into your big eyes, so green, so soft, so delicate. Good night, and until tomorrow.

Youthless Indiscretions

When will those old farts grow up?

In Other News from the Fed

Down, down, down go the interest rates. Normally, we stay away from syllogisms here at the Paty Quail, and I'm by no means an economist, but let's take a look here:

dropping interest rates + huge cash injections = "??"

"??" =:
a) massive inflation.
b) some inflation.
c) a sign that the old credit market isn't doing so good.
d) nothing of consequence. Move Along.

Seriously folks, the sub-prime mortgage crisis isn't going anywhere, and neither is the concurrent credit market turndown. A little inflation should help everyone out, right? Come to think of it, since I have no assets and I'm loaded with debt, this could work out in my favor...

Oh, and if you chose "d", don't worry. Everything will be just fine.

EDIT: CNN Money says it is only a matter of how much they will cut.

Never Let It Be Said...

that "US Americans" don't love a good tourist trap.

Now for the lighter side of the news

This isn't really news at all, but just another great article from our dear friends at Slate. (if you haven't gotten the message already, we kind of like them)

In the midst of my current infatuation with the American Northwest as well as most of the indie rock musicians described in this article, my already festering desire to move to Portland has only been heightened.

China Holds First-Ever "No Car Day"...

coincides with 3,564th follow this government edict or we'll bash your head in day.

Beijing '08: 1st Class Athletic Competition meets 3rd World Hospitality.

Not only secular doctors hate poor people

Really not sure what this proves, but apparently "religious" doctors are no more likely to care for poor patients than "non-religious" ones.

"This came as both a surprise and a disappointment. The Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist scriptures all urge physicians to care for the poor, and the great majority of religious physicians describe their practice of medicine as a calling. Yet we found that religious physicians were not more likely to report practice among the underserved than their secular colleagues."

If people want to judge adherents to their specific faiths, that's one thing; not that I agree with religious in-fighting, but at least they are on the same playing field. But what does this say about "secular" people? Do they need God to care about the poor?

Study just in: Liberals Smarter

See? I can make really broad statements as well.

A quick excerpt: “Previous psychological studies have found that conservatives tend to be more structured and persistent in their judgments whereas liberals are more open to new experiences.” Hmmm. . . really?

Slate’s William Saletan dissects this study a little more in depth, and explains that many of the blanket statements issued by the scientists involved are positively directed toward liberal inclinations of mind.

I have no problem with this on some level. Stubbornly minded people might be less likely to change their perceptions in any given situation. With so many influences coming at us at once, it’s nearly (if not totally) impossible to remain exactly the same, and trying can drive someone insane. Yet, always wanting to change causes severe identity problems, leading to further insanity.

Regardless, I see the inevitable fallout from this study, which is directed from pigeon-holing people into exactly two political sides, always perceived in direct controversy. In most political conversations, every Democrat is a “liberal” and a Republican a “conservative.” Therefore, when information like this is released, most people in America are thinking “Democrats are smarter than Republicans.” The Democrats stick their noses up and the Republicans grab their guns.

It’s not nearly this simple. Most people harbor both conservative and liberal sensibilities, because understanding when it’s appropriate to either change or stay the same is probably useful for that whole survival thing. Personally, I'd argue that anyone who falls completely to one side OR the other in this way of thinking is missing something.

Greenspan Criticizes Republicans

Former Fed Chief Alan Greenspan has written his memoir. And in a move that was surprising to almost no-one at all, he throws the blame around everywhere.

Alan Greenspan, age 8.

For those of you that read reviews, here's the New York Times and the Washington Post.

Greenspan criticizes the modern Republican party, including Bush and his administration, for developing tendencies towards limitless spending, regardless of the deepening deficit. But Greenspan saves the harshest criticism of all for good ol' W, and gives his honest opinion about the war in Iraq. Whether or not this is a war for oil (and disregarding the question of whether going to war for oil is morally defensible) this is a solid credibility shot by Greenspan. Call it kicking a dead horse if you want, but I like the old fella's spunk.

Of course, Alan and George the 1st weren't the best of friends; I don't imagine W and Greenspan will be sharing a cuppa anytime soon either.

THIS JUST IN: Bush Lackey Says "Nuh-uh".

ANOTHER EDIT: Greenspan says more, doesn't really clarify what he meant.