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[Thursday,
March 18th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
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LJ is SO slow lately.
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[Thursday,
March 18th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
Say there's a political commentator out there who has called women's rights activists Nazis, called Michelle Obama a "Marxist harpy wife," said that President Obama only won his Nobel Peace Prize because of "affirmative action," and called the U.S. Department of Education's Safe Schools Czar "profoundly sick and immoral" because of his sexual orientation. Should this guy be rewarded with a promotion?
Well, if you're CNN, the answer is yes. They've just hired Erick Erickson, an editor over at redstate.com, to be a political contributor on John King's new CNN show -- "John King, USA." Erickson is responsible for all of those comments above, and a whole host of other inflammatory comments that are bound to make John King's new show sound a lot more like Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck. Is this really what CNN wants?
( Read more... )
source.
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| FORMER FED CHAIRMAN: "FREE MARKET" = ALWAYS SUCCESS, EVEN WHEN FAILURE |
[Thursday,
March 18th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
Greenspan Concedes that the Fed Failed to Gauge the Bubble
WASHINGTON — In his most detailed examination of the causes of the financial crisis, Alan Greenspan, the former Federal Reserve chairman, acknowledges that the Fed failed to grasp the magnitude of the housing bubble but argued that its policy of low interest rates from 2002 to 2005 did not cause the bubble.
In a 48-page paper that he is to present on Friday at the Brookings Institution, Mr. Greenspan, who stepped down as Fed chairman in January 2006, expressed some remorse but stood by his conviction that little can be done to identify a bubble before it bursts, much less pop it.
“We had been lulled into a sense of complacency by the only modestly negative economic aftermaths of the stock market crash of 1987 and the dot-com boom,” Mr. Greenspan wrote. “Given history, we believed that any declines in home prices would be gradual. Destabilizing debt problems were not perceived to arise under those conditions.”
Mr. Greenspan added that raising capital requirements and liquidity ratios was the most effective response to blunting the impact of future crises. He suggested that discussions underway in the United States to watch out for systemic risks to the financial system would be of limited use.
“Unless there is a societal choice to abandon dynamic markets and leverage for some form of central planning, I fear that preventing bubbles will in the end turn out to be infeasible,” Mr. Greenspan wrote. “Assuaging their aftermath seems the best we can hope for.”
Mr. Greenspan has defended his once-celebrated tenure as Fed chairman on previous occasions: notably in testimony before Congress in 2008, a new foreword to his 2007 autobiography that year and a speech to the Economic Club of New York last year. But the Brookings paper was his most extensive response yet.
( Read more... )
My take: Essentially, the free-market apologist who got us into this deregulation mess in the first place has responded with, "WELL, THAT'S THE FREE MARKET, NYAH NYAH." While he has some good points about why the mortgage crisis happened, he completely absolves himself of responsibility when it comes to regulation. Which is why the Fed should be the LAST place anyone should look to for consumer protection.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/business/economy/19fed.html
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Women's History Month with ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) soapinha Day Eighteen |
[Friday,
March 19th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
When White Males Attack:
Larry Flynt, Racism and The Left
By Jennifer McLune
There are a lot of issues toward which he [Larry Flynt] has progressive attitudes (Black women were naked and spread-eagled in Hustler long before they were in Playboy.)" --"Carly-Sue”
The above quote, taken from the message board of a young hip feminist magazine, reveals how effective Flynt has been at becoming in the minds of many progressive folk an anti-racist. This image of him as progressive on race appears in spite of Hustler's long history of racist caricatures of Black people, people of color, and Jews.
( Read more... )
Source has NSFW and possibly triggering images
Whilst mswyrr didn't link me to the specific article - I would like to thank her for linking to the website.
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| Attorney-General Backtracks on Gender Ruling |
[Friday,
March 19th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
This is an update to this post about the first person in NSW to be registered as no specific gender.
THE case of the state's first genderless citizen has forced the equivalent of a bureaucratic sex change on the government.
It has revoked an official document issued last month to an androgynous Sydneysider called Norrie whose sex was listed as genderless.
( Read more... )
Source
There is a short video interview with Norrie at the source that is worth watching.
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| Goddess Christiane Amanpour to be the new host of 'This Week' |
[Thursday,
March 18th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
After days of speculation, ABC News announced on Thursday that CNN veteran Christiane Amanpour will be the new anchor of "This Week."
She will also serve as an foreign affairs analyst on other ABC News programs and will be anchoring primetime documentaries on international subjects.
"A highly respected journalist recognized around the world for her reporting, she brings to her new position a wealth of experience and knowledge, as well as a deep commitment to bringing news of the world to the American people," ABC News president David Westin said in an internal email.
"This Week" has been without a permanent anchor since George Stephanopoulos left in December to anchor "Good Morning America."
Amanpour will take over the anchor chair in August. Until then, Jake Tapper will serve as interim anchor. Ian Cameron will continue as executive producer.
With Amanpour on board, the Sunday political talk show is expected to shift its focus towards international matters that are Amanpour's domain.
Amanpour spent 27 years at CNN where she most recently served as chief international correspondent and anchor of "Amanpour."
She is the latest in a series of defections from the once venerable CNN. "Anderson Cooper 360's" Erica Hill left in January to join CBS' "Early Show," while Cooper himself is rumored as the possible new anchor of "CBS Evening News."
www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i3f537aa843496fbbac80d47fa397f59a
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| Miss University Protest - Beauty is not skin deep |
[Thursday,
March 18th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
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Feminists filled the street outside central London club Movida last night to protest against the Miss London University final.
Forty years since the Miss World pageants began in the US, the protesters marched from universities across London to challenge the narrow standards of beauty such contests uphold.
The demonstration remained energetic until late in the evening, prompting a bouncer to observe that the protest looked more fun than the pageant inside.
Unlike the contentious and prolonged university-based rounds last year, the contest this year went straight to the final event.
Clare Solomon, recently elected president of the University of London Union, said "They haven't been able to hold their rounds this year because we protested outside every event in 2009. We will demonstrate outside every event until they can't hold them any more."
The entertainment company 121 has been running the events since 2006. The contests have enjoyed less campus publicity this year after successful campaigning by feminist groups to win motions in students' unions not to endorse the event.
Christian Emile, the founder of 121 claims that the events are 'empowering' for the women who take part.
But Laura Harvey, a student from London said "We're not attacking the women taking part in the event, but beauty pageants aren't just a bit of 'harmless fun' - they teach women to judge ourselves as a selection of 'assets' which are in need of constant improvement"
Echoing the chants of the first feminists who stormed the Miss World contests in the 1960s, blogger Laurie Penny said "We're not here because we're beautiful, we're not here because we're ugly, we're here because we're angry!" Source: Counterfire
Also: Laurie Penny (Penny Red)'s account of the protest
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| US imposes sanctions on Hamas bank and TV station |
[Thursday,
March 18th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
Al-Aqsa Tv is accused of being the media wing of Hamas
The US Treasury has imposed sanctions against two companies it says are closely linked to the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
The US says it will freeze any assets held by the Gaza-based Islamic National Bank and broadcaster al-Aqsa Television in places under their jurisdiction.
INB provides banking to Hamas's military wing, and the broadcaster is financed by Hamas, the US say.
The US government has listed Hamas as a "terrorist organisation".
According to the US Treasury, the Hamas finance office in Gaza moved 1.1m euros ($1.5m) into the Islamic National Bank in May 2009 and used the funds to pay salaries of Hamas military wing members who held accounts at the bank.
'Indoctrinating'
The statement said INB was not operating under Palestinian Authority Banking regulations.
Al-Aqsa television has been accused of broadcasting programmes aimed at indoctrinating children to become armed fighters and suicide bombers.
They are Hamas' primary media outlet, the US treasury said.
"Treasury will continue to expose Hamas's efforts to create institutions with the trappings of legitimacy that are in fact controlled by and used to support a terrorist organisation," said Stuart Levey, Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
Although designated a terrorist organisation by Israel, the US and the EU, it is seen by its supporters as a legitimate fighting force defending Palestinians from a brutal military occupation.
Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, following elections in 2006, and chased out their rival for control of the Palestinian Territories - the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in control of the West Bank.
Hamas and their military wing have launched hundreds of rocket attacks and sent suicide bombers into Israel.
Source.
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[Thursday,
March 18th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
Someone (who I know happens to be my sister's husband) put sugar in my gas tank.
Seriously. $850 to fix it. Fuck you. If you want to get back at my sister then punch her in the fucking head or something. Leave me out of this, you white trash motherfucker.
I'm filing a police report the second I get up tomorrow. How is this my fucking life.
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[Thursday,
March 18th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
i am going to my junior prom alone. :(
i understand it isn't the end of the world, it just would have been nice to have a date and do all that cute stuff like take pictures with other couples at someone's house etc etc.
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[Thursday,
March 18th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
this lady had a seizure at a chinese restaurant everyone was eating at.
everyone kept staring, thankfully the paramedics were actually EATING there when it happened,
which has gotta suck because I mean, they barely touched their plates(I understand it's their job and that lady didn't think "well, shit, here goes my seizure")
I can't look at someone having a seizure, I'll literally barf.
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| FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUU |
[Thursday,
March 18th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
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mood |
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 enraged |
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Personhood Colorado has enough signatures for "Zygotes are People Too 2.0: Electric Boogaloo"
A controversial ballot initiative that would define life as beginning at the moment of fertilization may be on the ballot in Colorado after all. Personhood USA, the organization behind the effort to put the initiative on the ballot, says they have cleared the 76,000-signature hurdle, and their amendment should be placed on the ballot. This comes after the Secretary of State's office rejected the organization's original submission a few weeks ago. On February 15, the Personhood USA submitted nearly 80,000 signatures--significantly fewer than the number submitted for a similar amendment in 2008. The Secretary of State's office later declared several thousand of the signatures invalid, and established a new deadline for the group to collect enough new valid signatures to clear the 76,000 benchmark.
On Thursday, Personhood USA announced they had collected the necessary signatures. If the measure makes the ballot and is approved by voters in November, it would effectively ban abortion in the state.
The 2008 'personhood' initiative was trounced at the polls.
Sauce
FUCK. Amendment 48 was defeated THREE TO ONE in 2008. Welp, looks like the boyfriend and I are booked up through November working to defeat this regressive bullshit. Any fellow Coloradoans who oppose this idiocy, I urge you to volunteer to defeat this mess. Planned Parenthood of the Rockies will need a lot of help!
Also, there are not enough gifs in the world to express my disdain for this.
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| I’VE FINALLY FOUND MY WEDDING SONG: T-Pain’s “Reverse Cowgirl” |
[Thursday,
March 18th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
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http://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-03-18/ive-finally-found-my-wedding-song-t-pains-reverse-cowgirl/ http://www.bestweekever.tv/?p=56038 
Before today, I often wondered what my perfect wedding song would be. But at 4:30 PM on March 18, I got my answer…
T-Pain’s “Reverse Cowgirl.”
I can just imagine the train of my dress gliding across the hardwood floors as my arms are wrapped around my husband’s neck, while our in-laws sway in time with the following lyrics:
Welcome to my rodeo/ Hold on to meeeeee/ Baby Imma take it slow/ How you ride.. is the key…
I see my old friends from college cry as the photographer snaps a photo of us in marital bliss:
Giddy up Giddy up Pump it up Girl/ Set it up set it up/ I like how you do it/ Just put it in reverse cowgirl
Even the waiters are crying:
Just put your hands in the air/ Wave em round and go Ewwww..Ahhh. Yeeee.. Hawwww/ Put your hands in the air/ Wave em round and go Ewwww..Ahhh. Yeeee.. Hawwww
What can I say? I’ve always dreamed big. Here is the brand new music video, featuring the woman lucky enough to find Lady Gaga’s wardrobe at a fire sale and lots and lots of cherries:
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| A Braille Rubik’s Cube! Finally? Sure, Finally! |
[Thursday,
March 18th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
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http://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-03-18/a-braille-rubiks-cube-finally-sure-finally/ http://www.bestweekever.tv/?p=56004 
Anytime somebody thinks of a way to make something accessible to a group of people that would otherwise not be able to enjoy it, it is a wonderful thing. The idea of a braille Rubik’s Cube is a very good idea. Nobody is denying that. But there is something about the braille Rubik’s Cube that is not a good idea. And that is this: it is all white. Just because it’s meant for blind people doesn’t mean it has to be colorless.
You can have colors and braille together. Colors and braille are not in opposition. They are total nonoverlapping magisteria. Having colors on the braille Rubik’s Cube can only serve to help. If the cube is braille-ed and colored, a blind Rubik’s Cube solver can get all the same instantaneous credit a sighted Rubik’s Cube solver would get. He can just hold it up and go, “Done!” and everybody can be like, “Indeed, brilliant blind man! I can tell immediately that you have, in fact, solved this Rubik’s Cube. A million genius points to you.” But if it’s just an all white cube with bumps, it’s a much more complicated process. “Come feel what I did!” doesn’t have the same cache. It sounds gross.
Thanks for the picture, boingboing!
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[Thursday,
March 18th, 2010FRIENDS_TALK_READLINK=>[Reply] ] |
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mood |
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 defeated |
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Dear Uterus,
I give up. You win. Please stop bleeding now. I know how much fun it must be for you, but bleeding through an overnight pad in less than an hour is NOT fun for me.
In Surrender,
Me
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