Good Sex, need I say more?

I happen to be a fan of good sex -- one of it's biggest fans, perhaps so Im glad to see Good Sex is good for something more than anaerobic exercise. :D

Does good sex keep a marriage stable over the long term? - Barking up the wrong tree

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The Matrix Has You

Step 1 - insert computer chip under skin

Step 2 - infect chip with virus

BBC News - First human 'infected with computer virus'

Step 3 - Skynet takes over the world.

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Science and Religion -- It's Not What You Think

Interesting. The fanatical religious pundits always tell us there is no place for religion in science and therefore we must reduce our reliance on science to answer the universe's questions.

Slashdot Science Story | What Scientists Really Think About Religion

It seems, while most scientists aren't evangelical, many of them aren't shedding their belief in something 'else.'

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When in doubt, claim science is false.

We've all seen this, when someone refuses to take scientific evidence as truth, claiming the science is wrong, or it's man-made therefore fallible, or somesuch.

When science clashes with beliefs? Make science impotent

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Picture Gallery Pop-Up

Nature Photography.

There's only 9 images, but they're all amazing!

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Horse -- on Cherry Creek State Park Update

I received this email this morning:

Good morning,

The Bureau of Animal Protection does have agents in that jurisdiction that can follow up with this complaint.  I have attached a link http://www.ddfl.org/invest.htm with contact information.  The phone number for the investigations department is 303-923-0022.  They are familiar with Paint Horse Stables, we get calls from time to time due to the high volume of foot and vehicle traffic. 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns and thank you  for contacting our office.  The obvious discomfort and infection are very concerning.

 

Scot Dutcher

Chief, Bureau of Animal Protection

Colorado Department of Agriculture

303-239-4163

I contacted the DDFL at the above number and spoke with James who informed me there was an active investigation, that the horse was under veterinary care and that the drippage I witnessed on Friday was what the vet wanted to happen in order to get the infection out of the wound.

Very simple and to the point.  Why couldn't anyone from the stables or the park's office have told me that? It would have been over and I wouldn't have had to ruffle as many feathers as I did in order to get an answer. Animal Control couldn't tell me an investigation was under way; the state park wouldn't tell me; the stable owner wouldn't tell me he was being investigated nor could the Arapahoe County Sheriff's office.

All these layers and no one wanted to just explain to me that an open investigation was under way.  A shame.

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Cherry Creek Horse Update

Update 5-24-2010

This morning I decided to follow-up on my call with Ranger Laura by going to the Park's Administrative offices.  When I walked in the staff member behind the front desk asked me how I was and what they could do for me.  I replied that I was there to speak to someone about a horse over in the horse stables.  She started to ask me if I meant the horse... and then she stopped herself, I guess before she said too much regarding a particular animal. The staffer then said she'd get the office administrator, Patti, to give me a hand to which I countered that I would like to speak to someone with authority.  She left and brought back a woman whose name-tag read P. something and I can only assume that was Patti.

I explained to the woman I assumed was Patti my situation and she introduced me to Joe Brand, the Cherry Creek Park Operations Manager, (303 690 1166 x 725, joe.brand@state.co.us.  He asked me to sit and mentioned I looked familiar to which I replied I have been to all their meetings regarding the dog unleashed area.  I then explained how I had witnessed this horse on Friday and called the police and sheriff who then contacted animal control who then explained to me that animal control responds to household pet complaints not large animals.  I continued to explain that I called 911 on Saturday and a ranger, whose name I could not recall, finally called me back and said he would call the stable owner and go out and check on the horse.  He called me during dinner with some friends but I asked that he return my call after viewing the horse and how I never received that call.  I also told him how instead, I received a call from the stable owner threatening me with lawsuit should I pursue this further.  I explained to Joe Brand how I was at the park on Sunday and noticed the horse had gotten worse in my estimation and that the stable owner was there and that I addressed him over the horse's condition.  He told me the horse was under veterinary care to which I asked when: when was the last time a vet had visited the horse and what was the result.  The stable owner replied it was none of my business and threatened me again with lawsuit for slander and how I would have felt physically threatened had the fence not been between us.

Ops. Manager Joe Brand took out a pad of paper and wrote a few lines about threats and the horse's condition and asked me to give him my number which I did.  He said he would call the stable owner but without knowing which ranger responded on Saturday he was unsure if he would be able to follow that lead up.  I was confused.  He was telling me that a ranger responded to a 911 call and there was no record of it?  Really?  When I asked him about that he said rangers weren't required to document every call.  I was dumbfounded -- this was a 911 call for crying out loud.  He then accused me of coming to him with unfounded accusations.  I took that as though if I didn't know the name of the ranger then the call never happened. I explained that spoke with some rancher friends who said it was a known within the ranching community how poorly this stable owner treats his horses and two other horse owners indicated to me that should the horse be under veterinary care the would would have been bandaged or sewn shut, or something; not just left open to the muscle for infection.

Joe then asked me what I wanted to see done.  I told him I wanted someone, in an official capacity, go down and look at that horse and tell me it was receiving medical care.  I even volunteered to walk over there at that moment with him and view the horse.  He told me that wouldn't happen until he's spoken to the ranger who went out on Saturday -- the same ranger who he said didn't exist because I couldn't identify him by name.  I asked him what was so hard about going out there at that moment to which he replied he needed to look into things first, like calling the stable owner.  I then told him calling the stable owner would be useless in that all he was going to tell anyone is that the horse was receiving treatment and they were going to take his word for it instead of having someone go out there and investigate.

He mentioned they go out to the stables all the time on calls and the rangers who respond use their own discretion on whether or not to file a report.  I questioned this as well.  Most government agencies as far as I know have to report everything and the rangers didn't have to report 911 calls?  Really?

I then reiterated how I wanted to see proof, proof that this particular horse was under veterinary care.  He said he couldn't give that information as it's a private venture but he did tell me that when they receive complaints they have animal investigators come out and investigate the conditions to which, he said, the horses were in adequate conditions.  i asked to see those reports.  He told me no, he didn't have them.  I asked him if investigators came out there didn't have reports?  He said no, they might have them at the investigator's offices but the park's office did not.  I was shocked that they did not keep a copy of these reports and told him so.  I then asked if he could give me the name and number of the investigator who is out there the most often.  He said there was a team and he couldn't remember their names.  I then asked him how it is okay for him not to remember names of people his office has worked with fairly routinely, but I'm making information up when I can't remember the name of the ranger whom I only spoke with on the telephone.

He told me to leave and I stood and left.  I reached the car when I remembered something the woman, Debrah, had told me yesterday.  I met Debrah near the stables yesterday overhearing a cellphone conversation she was having about the horse.  I introduced myself and we spoke briefly about what I had seen on Friday evening and she said she noticed it a week earlier and had been submitting written complaints since then with no success.  I decided to go back in and get a complaint form to submit myself hoping to create a paper trail since no one at the state parks service seems to want to create.

I went back into the offices and spoke to the girl behind the counter as king for a complaint form.  She said she didn't know where they were and had to ask.  As she went down the hall I overhear Joe Brand speaking to someone, whether on the phone of in person I couldn't tell.  He was saying something about our talk regarding how I think the park rangers are running a conspiracy not to investigate the horse stables or the stable owner.  I said in a loud voice that I am not a conspiracy theorist I only asked for documented proof that someone had looked into my 911 call and that the horse was under veterinary care.  Suddenly Joe Brand's voice got very quiet and he came out to the lobby area and asked me what I want. I informed him why I was still in his office and accused him of calling me a conspiracy nut which is closer to slander than I ever got.  He pointed to the complaint forms hanging on the wall behind me and I grabbed one.  I then reiterated that all I wanted was evidence that something was happening in response to mine, and other's apparently, complaint.  He told me to leave again this time more forcefully.  I told him this is exactly why I don't respect the park rangers, they're all lazy -- refusing to do the most basic legwork.  I told him as a citizen of the state I have a right to see those reports and why was it such a big issue anyway?  He told me in order to file for a FOIA request I had to contact Tim Metzger's office and request that he pull the files about my complaints I have made.  He gave me Mr. Metzger's card and I left.

I find it very frustrating that when I asked the stable owner for proof of the veterinarian care that's when he blew up at me.  I find it equally frustrating, and possibly more-so, that when I asked a government official, an employee of the state, for a report or written evidence that someone had investigated this horse's condition, I was asked to leave his office.

Why is that?  Since I'm already a conspiracy theorist I need to ask why no one will prove the horse is being cared for?  Why is it that once I ask for evidence I'm either being threatened or told to leave?  Why is that?  And why was park Operations Manager, Joe Brand, refusing to walk out there with me today and take a look in person so I could know that someone has physically seen the wound and the condition of the horse?  Why?  Why does it take a FOIA request to see if a horse has been cared for or if anyone has even investigated this complaint? Why?  Are they covering their butts?  Circling the wagons, so to speak?  

It'll be interesting to see if Joe Brand calls me back after he spoke with the ranger he told me doesn't exist because I couldn't recall his name or am I a crackpot who will be ignored from now on?

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Browncoats turn fan-film makers

How cool is that? I hope it's a good showing as Firefly was a great show and Serenity was a really good sci-fi movie.

Firefly Takes Flight Again With Browncoats: Redemption | Underwire | Wired.com

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Horses on Cherry Creek State Park Update

May 23, 2010  13:30ish

Okay, so I went out to Cherry Creek State Park today and looked at the horse.  The leg looks worse.  I overheard someone else talking about it and spoke with her for a time and she said she's been monitoring this horse from afar for about a week but the park rangers nor the Humane Society seem to want to help the horse out.

Why is everyone looking the other way for this stable owner?

When I came back around from my walk there was a small family looking at the horses and the mother was talking to the little girls about riding them.  The stable owner came over and very congenially explained that the horses sometimes get scratched from rubbing up against the fence line and that they're all okay.   I then asked him what about the one with the gaping hole in his leg to which he replied, again nicely, how the horse was under veterinarian care.  To which I asked when the last time a vet was out there to see the leg's condition.  That's when he turned and started screaming profanities at me and refused to answer the question.  I asked him: a week? a few days? a month?  Anything would have sufficed.  He, still yelling, started claiming I didn't know what I was talking about and that the horse is glad it's not dead.  Needless to say the family with the young girls quickly walked away towards their mini-van.

I explained to the stable owner how I was out there the other day and saw the horse's wound dripping blood and puss and he replied I don't know what I'm talking about.  I explained how his leg was swollen to which he replied I didn't know what I was talking about.  I explained the wound where you could see into the flesh and to the muscle and he replied I didn't know what I was talking about.

Ironically, I had left my cell phone with my friend in case the stable owner attacked me so she could dial 911 and during this exchange PETA called me for a follow-up but I couldn't answer at that time.

The stable owner then said he'd call the cops on me for trespassing.  I'm not sure how, as I was standing on a state park, but he called the rangers directly and gave them my description.  He then told me he could sue for slander and I asked how as all I was doing was asking questions.  Questions, as far as I know cannot be slanderous.  Knowingly making false claims is slanderous.  I told him if he wanted to set the record straight all he had to do was explain how the horse was receiving medical treatment.  He, still screaming profanities so loud my friend could hear it from a hundred yards away, threatened to sue me for slander and libel.  Now, I'm no lawyer, but I think you have to knowingly make false claims to be convicted of slander or libel.  I have yet to knowingly make a false claim.

On the way home I called the PETA rep back and gave her an update.  She asked me to follow up on the 911 call and ranger dispatch of which I did not receive a call back about last evening.  I called Arapahoe Country Sheriff's dispatch (303 795 4711) and asked to have a ranger call me back, explaining to the dispatcher that I have called them numerous times and no one seems to want to address my concerns.

A few minutes later Ranger Laura called me and I told her the story.  She asked if I was just there speaking with the stable owner to which I replied yes and said a ranger was on his was to talk to me, why did I leave?  I replied since the rangers didn't want to be bothered when I called about an injured horse why should I be bothered when the stable owner calls because I was annoying him?

I asked her for a follow-up to the 911 all yesterday and she informed me it would take time to sift through all the reports.  I was a confused.  How many 911 calls do the rangers get on Saturday afternoon/evening?  How many are there to sift through?  I told her the stable owner was belligerent to me and threatened me (with legal suit).  I also informed her that I had already contacted Animal Control and Colorado's Bureau of Animal Protection regarding the condition of the horse and that I would be willing to come by tomorrow and speak with someone at their offices regarding the situation.

As far as I am concerned, I'm being very cordial, but I think somehow I will end up being the bad guy here.  These state park officials seem to like protecting this stable owner more then they like doing the right thing.

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Civil War Hero Gets Medal of Honor : Discovery News

I'm always glad to see a soldier get his just rewards, even if it's 150 years late.

Civil War Hero Gets Medal of Honor : Discovery News

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Jeff Owens -- shining light of the Rightests Christians?

A fairly good blog about a fairly bad person.

Who Is Pastor Jeff Owens? | Slog | The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper

And the author brings up a good point: where are all the christians who say people like this don't speak for them? Why are they "shooting the messenger" so to speak as opposed to contacting the hate filled zealots and demanding they stop their hate filled rants?

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Injured Horse -- No One Seems to Care

May 21, 2010

Approximately 19:25

Disclaimer: sorry for the video quality but all I had on me at the time was my G1 v1.6, which has video as an after thought.
_____________________

I decided this evening to come to Cherry Creek State Park's dog area. This area is situated on the southern end of the Cherry Creek State Park and holds within it a horse paddock, or stables. As my friend and I were completing our walk with our dogs our path took us up along the trail that parallels the western fence line of the horse paddock. I noticed, in the distance along the southern most fence line, a horse standing with it's rear facing the fence. When I saw this I realized the horse was in the same position, or very near it, when we arrived and parked in the southern parking lot off of Orchard and Parker roads.

I walked over to see if the horse was okay, hearing earlier in the day a rumor that one of the horses in the paddock was lame or injured and that the horse stable manager/owner was not properly taking care of the animal.

As soon as I got closer to the horse I saw a liquid streaming down it's right hand side rear leg. I thought at first the horse had urinated on itself and it was just dirt soaked urine coating it's leg. I nearly turned away when I saw an active drip dripping from above that location and I followed where the drip should have come from when I saw a gaping hole in the horse's inner thigh. The hole was about the size of a child's fist or a few inches long a couple of inches wide and deep enough that the thigh muscle was visible from a few feet away.




I immediately called my friend over to verify what I was seeing and then called a rancher friend of mine who suggested calling the stable owner/manager. I notified her that the stable manager doesn't have the best disposition especially when dealing with dog owners and informed her I wanted to use my cellphone's video camera to capture the situation as best I could. We hung up and I recorded the horse's leg as best I could with a small video camera. As I recorded the video, other horses from the paddock came over and the injured animal reacted by turning towards them and backing against the fence as though it were fearful of the other horses' attention while it's leg was injured. I was able to get more video as the injury turned towards the sun and more of the area was illuminated.

Afterwards I called the Arapaho County Sheriff's office which stated they were out for the weekend. I then called Aurora Police Dispatch and explained my location and the injury on the horse. The dispatcher then connected me to Arapaho County Sheriff's dispatch who took my statement and my contact information and said he would try and contact park officials to have a ranger come out and evaluate the animal or have the sheriff's office come out and record the incident.

I called my rancher friend back who advised me to call the Department of Wildlife and file a complaint and I took another video of the horse's leg. A few minutes later received a call from someone claiming he was with animal control. I informed him of the situation and he told me there was nothing he could do. I was dumbfounded. Animal Control couldn't or wouldn't even send out someone to evaluate the situation and call for additional assistance for large animal care? That no one was willing to do anything to help this injured and bleeding animal shocked me. I was watching this poor hurting animal as I was on the phone with this Animal Control gentleman trying to explain to him how the horse actively bleeding right in front of me and how it was streaming down his leg; how the horse could not bend his knee and how the horse was suffering and his response to me was: we deal with cats, dogs and small animals. He informed me that for large animals I had to call the Department of Agriculture's state veterinarian which probably wouldn't respond until Monday.



Could no one, no authoritative official come out and take a look at this animal? No police nor sheriff; no Animal Control nor park ranger; no one? Four levels of government oversight and no one was willing to take a look or take a statement?

At this time I noticed something else dripping from the horse's leg and couldn't quite place the liquid as it wasn't blood when my friend exclaimed it was puss. I took another closer look and it was puss -- puss that was dripping as thick streams of off-white ooze streaming down the horse's leg. I was trying to determine where the puss was coming from when I noticed what looked like a clean (and that it to say, as a knife or cutting instrument) cut in the horse's scrotum area.

The horse walked away and his limp could clearly be seen as he would not put any weight on the leg and could not bend his knee.



As we were leaving I drove over to the small structure at the horse stables hoping to find an emergency contact number or anything that indicated what to do should one of the horses be injured or get loose. There was nothing posted so I called the number on the Trail Rides sign off of Parker Road. I left a message at that number explaining the situation with the horse and hoping they would check the message before Monday citing that I had picture and video evidence and that I would be forwarding that evidence to the state park, to the Colorado Department of Agriculture state veterinarian, the Department of Wildlife and possibly to PETA.





Notable Contacts to voice complaint:

Cherry Creek State Park

Horse Stable Owner (Bill?): 303 690 8235
720 298 1202 is the number he called me from.

______________________________________________________________________

Update 1:

et al for those of you paying attention, after receiving little to no response yesterday, I sent an email to Colorado Department of Agriculture animal investigations group, copying the state senator and house member who cover this area, as well as the state park's regional director and the senior ranger on the park. I also alerted PETA.

Within 20 minutes of notifying PETA they called me and asked me to call the police yet again but this time to request a call back once the officer has evaluated the situation. As it happens,the county sheriff's office called the on duty ranger for Cherry Creek State Park who took more than an hour to get back with me regarding the horse. He hadn't been out to the stables yet, but he did explain that some of the horses at the stables were diseased which shocked me, but I explained the horse in question had a gaping hole in his leg not a sickness I could witness. I then explained to him what the horse looked like (brown and white, painted?) and where it was last seen by me (in the most south west paddock). He said he'd call the stable owner/manager (Bill, I think his name was) and ask him to meet him down there.

I never heard back from the ranger (which I will follow up with tomorrow), but I did receive a call from the stable owner/manager. He asked me why I reported it to the rangers and I explained that the horse was hurt, actively bleeding and some sort of puss streaming down his leg. He told me I didn't know what I was talking about as the horse had been cared for. I disagreed citing there was no evidence of the leg being wrapped or sutured, of any medicine having been applied and you can clearly see the muscle through the hole in the skin. He then told me if I pursued this further he would have a lawyer come after me. I really wish I could have recorded the conversation as he was not friendly in the least bit.

I am extremely glad I took photos and video of the horse's condition as I have a feeling this man (Bill) will try and remove the horse from the stables and take it where the state officials cannot find it easily.

I'll update again with a list of the people I sent the email to earlier today.

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Time Lapsed Imagery from Shuttle Launch

This is really cool. It takes about 4 minutes to get though the 100 or so hours of footage.

DSLR Time Lapse of a Space Shuttle Launch

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May I suggest a "Write a Child a Letter Day?"

I can believe this and I remember being a kid a getting really excited when a letter came for me and not my mother.

A fifth of children have never received a letter | Education | guardian.co.uk

Might I suggest an informal day where you (hand) write a letter to a child you know, preferably not your own, and send it via snail mail?

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Slobs are healthier?

Who knew slobs tended to be healthier than neat freaks? Ha! Aside from the Army, I don't think I ever made a bed except for sheet changing day. W00t!

BBC NEWS | Health | Untidy beds may keep us healthy

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WebDesigning, not just for webdesigners

Got this from another Buzzard and it as funny enough to blogger about.

How a Web Design Goes Straight to Hell - The Oatmeal

End of blog. :D

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In OZ, wearing skinny jeans means you want it

When I was in the military, I remember a few times we were put on lockdown because a woman claimed she was raped by a fellow soldier. Later, after questioning, most of these women admitted to making the false claims because they regretted going out the guy in the first place or to get back on a guy after they perceived a relationship and he (apparently) didn't.

Jury Rules Skinny Jeans Wearing Women Cannot be Raped

Am I saying that these rape claims were not justified or were not valid? Absolutely not. What I am saying is that sometimes when women, especially younger women, regret a sexual adventure sometimes they claim rape. While, no one can adequately reflect the number of false claims, no one doubts these claims exist.

That being said, my personal belief is rape is something horrible to be inflicted on a woman and the perpetrators of rape are the lowest of the low. And by no means is a type of clothing a plausible piece of evidence to absolve the suspected rapist of the act.

However, there are times when women make false claims and the prosecution and the jury have a hard time determining what really occurred. I'm glad I've never been called into jury duty for a case like that.

That all being said, what do you think? Are a woman's clothing reasonable doubt on rape claims? Can a woman wearing skinny jeans or tight pants be raped as this jury seems to doubt? Or, did the jury doubt her story and was just looking for an excuse to let this guy off without appearing soft on crime?

I'm probably going to get a lot of flack for this, and I want you to trust I have no doubt that rape occurs and occurs regularly. I have no doubt women, children and even some men are violated against their will by friends, family and strangers. And while you guys don't really know me, know that I do not condone rape of any kind, but neither do I condone false accusations which can put a man in prison, ruin his career or destroy his family.

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Is FB off the Hook because of Google?

According to this article, scrutiny of FB's privacy policies has diminished due to Google's admissions regarding data-mining.

Did Google Just Kill The Facebook Privacy Fiasco?

Is this valid? Can FB go forward with the catch phrase: "well, at least we're not Google?" Is FB off the hook, so to speak, for doing a complete 180 on their privacy standards and should users start trusting in Zuckerberg more than in Mountain View?

I leave those answers to you, but when Google receives criticism, they usually react by becoming more transparent themselves or by stopping/altering the activities that received the criticism. When FB started getting criticism instead of praise for their about face on privacy issues, their first reaction was to tell users if they don't want to be public, don't get on the net.

Although there are some things I'd like to see the Goog address, I'm willing to place more trust in them than in FB these days.

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Social Networking for the Oil Industry

Does any industry really need it's own social networking site when there's an all-encompassing one called LinkedIN where industry groups are prolific?

Welcome to The Oil Pages

Well, if you're in the oil industry this might be good for you or your career, I guess. Either that or it's just another SN (social networking) site to keep track of going forward.

I only belong to MS (but I don't use it), FB, LI, Buzz and Me.me and that's not including the various messageboards and blogs I follow. I have a hard time keeping updated and track of those -- I couldn't imaging adding more to my plate and still being able to outside or be social in person.

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Food, it's what's for Dinner

By reading the summary of this bill at this website and kept thinking to myself: this bill is designed to kill the family farmer's business; it is designed to raise taxes on food preparation until 2014; and limits the production and delivery of organic and herbalistic foods.

S510, a Senate Bill to change the agricultural indsutry

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for making the food industry healthier and more humane in regards to the ranching industries, but does anyone here remember when they changed the EPA standards for gasoline filling stations that put thousands of mom and pop corner stations out of business because they couldn't afford to keep up with the new regulations? I see the same thing happening here. Small and medium businesses are the backbone of the American economy... why must the layers government always intervene in a manner that impacts these companies negatively?

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Wondering if you're n the right online "e" network?

Here's a friendly flow chart on how to find the right social "e" networking site for you. Yes, Google Buzz is on there.

Where Should I Chat Online? | Magazine

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Government Supported Sex Slavery?

This is severely messed up. Our "judicial" system is flawed to begin with, but people do not, NOT, give up their rights as people when entering the prison system. You think the death penalty is bad? In my opinion prison rape by guards is incredibly far out of line.

Woman Prisoner Sent to Solitary for Reporting Rape by Guard

And that the "system" is trying very hard to turn a blind eye makes this all the worse. It's almost as though we were state sponsoring sex slavery for as a perk for correctional officers.

This is the United States of America -- aren't we better than that?

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Friendly Atheist by @hemantsblog � The Station That Censors Muhammad May Give Jesus His Own Show

Jesus already has entire channels devoted to him as well as the ilk of Pat Robertson, Dobson, FOXNews and Sarah "the Retard" Palin, does he really need a comedy show as well?

Friendly Atheist || The Station That Censors Muhammad May Give Jesus His Own Show

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That's kind of cool. Hit the link!

Flying alligator attacks child in the middle of the street.

images-3D-sans-lunettes-Stereoscopie-4.gif

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Earth, from Space

Amazing imagery of Earth from satellites. You do like Earth, don't you? Then take a look!

60 Stunning Satellite Photos of Earth | Webdesigner Depot

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The Perfect Boat?

I wonder if there's a prototype and how it handles the open sea? Totally awesome idea!

This Boat Is Perfect for Vacation, Living, or Weather Apocalypse - Arkki - Gizmodo

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Spider-Man Saves the Day!

How friggin cool is that? Spider-Man saves the day at a comic book shop in Australia. What he was doing in Australia ... well, I'll leave that for the article to explain.

BBC News - Spider-Man foils comic book thief in Australia

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Gallery of HDR Photos by the HDR Photographer's Community

UI'm kind of tired of HDR at this point but some of these pictures are really good.

HDR Spotting - Gallery of HDR Photos by the HDR Photographers Community

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The Laidoff Ninja

I'm not sure I'll run out and buy this book, but I might be interested in reading someone else's copy... [hint]

Seriously, have you read a book on being unemployed? Was is pseudo-psychobabble or was it good information that helped you out?

Slashdot Book Reviews Story | The Laidoff Ninja

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Who didn't see this coming?

Well, when their shining example of humane treatment of prisoners is Abu Grhaib and the Bush administration trying hard to find legal justification for torture, what did you think would happen?

Torture, rape was norm at illegal Iraq prison: report | Reuters

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Cougars Roar!

Glad to see cougars keeping lingerie companies in business.

Cougar effect boosts lingerie sales | Reuters

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Taking it Back from Facebook

This app gives you the ability to reclaim your data from FB.

Give Me My Data | A Facebook application to reclaim your information

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The fear that drives me

Whenever I hear someone talking about how this (the U.S.A.) is a christian nation with out christian military and our christian morals and our christian founding fathers, this is the sort of world I think of: one where persecution of the minority is not only accepted and applauded but also not punished by the government.

Religious persecution is widespread, report warns - CNN.com

We already have Kansas and Texas with their fight to put _creationsism_ in textbooks and schools; we have Oklahoma weedling christian morals into medical science and we have pharmacists and politicians using their conservative christian values to undermine policy. And many many more examples.

Of course those who urge this nation to move more towards the Bible and further away from the Constitution argue that this would never happen, but doesn't it already? Doesn't it happen in the British Isles, between the RCC and Protestants and between christians and neo-pagan religions?

If you justify persecution by legitimizing it within the confines of government, you're opening a floodgate. Imaging, students being turned away from schools because their parents' are atheists, not being allowed to vote because you're a follower of Islam, or being denied a car or home loan because you're not a registered catholic.

Scary.

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