GroupThinkTank
Revolutionizing the world, one "I agree" at a time
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Mark Dixon, 10:15 AM:
Abu Ghraib tactics inspire torture in neighbor Egypt
"In what may be the first concrete example of the effects of the Abu Ghraib prison torture scandal in Iraq, lawyers and human rights groups in Egypt, a major U.S. ally in the Middle East, say that local police are increasingly resorting to new torture tactics similar to those used by U.S. soldiers in Iraq. But perhaps most disturbing to domestic human rights groups is the growing use of the name Abu Ghraib by officers to threaten further torture of detainees, and its significance as a 'code term' for applying electricity to the genital area. 'It is clear that the U.S. has now spread the culture of barbaric torture,' said Gamal Tajeldeen Hassan, a lawyer who heads the Sawasya Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Center in Cairo." (Inter Press Service News Agency, Italy)
FDR said in the late 1930s that if Hitler was to prevail in western Europe and the forces of Britain and France were broken, America would find itself in a "barbaric world." How ironic that less than seven decades later, America is the one building that barbaric world.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
David Bernat, 7:36 AM:
Offline Blogging Tool?
Dateline Munich - Here I am in Germany, exploring the rich cultures of the county and the equally rich culture of big ass particle accelerator physics, and I haven't the time to post my adventures online for all you to play out vicariously! (Though surely my ego spans the Atlantic until it tramples the flower gardens at your doorstep.)
I need an offline blogging tool. Why? Because I have text, and pictures, and no internet connection at my residence to integrate them using blogspot's tools. Have any suggestions?
I may resign to using Frontpage to simply craft a web page for uploading, but I'd rather not bother to learn the software.
I hope all is well with you. My head spins from the threads of information pulling at me from all sides (evidently with non-zero curl). It's quite exciting, but I am beginning to miss the familiarity of home. It would be wonderful to hear from each of you, though I won't be able to respond with my frequency.
Bis Bald.
Monday, March 21, 2005
X-Pub, 1:49 AM:
Shiavo
I hate to blog about such an inherintly sad human situation. But is anyone not distressed about congress overriding the Florida state courts so flagrantly again? Can I get some confirmation from law people that this is setting some really bad precedents on checks and balances. Ghah.
CNN Article:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/20/schiavo/index.html
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Mark Dixon, 7:12 PM:
Help, I'm being offshored
I can't recall what all of you do for a living -- am I the only software developer? I'm kind of in crisis mode right now and would appreciate any input/advice.
The channels I normally get my contract programming projects through have basically been taken over by contractors in India who are underbidding everybody by a mile. (Yeah, I know this has already happened in other industries. Stop hitting me with that Economics 101 textbook, this is serious.)
It has finally sunk in that if I don't come up with a good Plan B strategy quick I could be in big trouble. Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I feel like a Pittsburgh steelworker watching his mill close down. The irony is I'm in an occupation a lot of the laid-off steelworkers retrained for.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
David Bernat, 12:40 AM:
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Mike Russo, 5:09 PM:
Oh Jesus
I really hope this post is a tissue of lies.
Really, really hope.
Now I remember why I stopped reading Orcinus; way too depressing, even for me.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Mark Dixon, 9:21 PM:
Concerning absinthe
The laws concerning "true" absinthe (made with wormwood and containing alpha or beta thujone) are complicated. It's my understanding that it's illegal to sell it in the US but not illegal to buy and possess it. This is because it's not a scheduled DEA drug but is regulated by the FDA, which apparently has the authority to prosecute manufacturers and sellers but not consumers.
If imported to the US from, say, Spain (one of the last places "true" absinthe is made), US customs has been known to confiscate it as it is on their prohibited and restricted items list which also says that any other liquors containing Artemisia absinthium are likewise prohibited.
Edgar Allen Poe and his circle of friends were absinthe drinkers (particularly Pernod), likewise Vincent Van Gogh. Do be careful, as it's my understanding alpha thujone is a neurotoxin (Shep, can you fact-check that?)
There's a good article on the whole subject on Wikipedia.
X-Pub, 3:50 PM:
Buying Absinthe
So my interest in absinthe has been peeked. I was wondering if I could get some advise. First of all, legality. I read on this site:
http://www.stargeek.com/buy_absinthe_online.php
That it is in fact legal to import and possess absinthe. Then again, it's not like I trust the internet. I was hoping maybe some lawyer people would know.
Also, which one to buy. I was thinking of buying the "King of Spirits Gold" as it seems to have 10 times the thujone as any other absinthe I can find.
http://www.absinthesupply.net/products/king-of-spirits-gold.html
Does anyone now of any good brands. I am wary of spending $200 for a bottle of jagermeister.
Monday, March 07, 2005
X-Pub, 1:31 AM:
European Vacation
So I am going to be in England/Spain come late June (family trip). Hammy is going to be in Hamburg for a few months (actually he will mostly be in Munich, but that is not nearly as cute sounding).
We remembered previous talk of a possible Eurotrip and were thinking of doing some sightseeing/drinking in exotic languages. Who's with me!? I said who's with me!!!
Anyhoo, we were thinking of doing something modest. Maybe a two city thing. Sightseeing during the day and moderate debauching at night. Anyone interest, please list locations of interest as follows:
Rome - I've always wanted to go to Rome. I like ancient civilations that killed people. It's in the middle of Italy, so probably just about the hardest place to visit.
London - Maybe I am just minimal in my adventurishness, but I think it would be more fun to cruise around drunk if I spoke the language. Tons to see and easy to get around.
Paris - I remember it as being the most jam-packed full of touristy stuff city in Europe.
Munich - frankly, I think the Germans might just be the best people to drink with
Dublin - scratch what I said about the Germans.
Amsterdam - I am just not into it. Maybe its reputation for devilry has just overwhelmed its non-horticultural goodness in my mind, but I just keep thinking "I could get high for a lot less money"
Actually, that was more detail than needed, but if you're inteerested in going to Europe, it might be good to mention what you would want to do.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Tom Fletcher, 8:05 PM:
But I Thought It Was Fair Use!
The individual defendants have participated in preparing and publishing two magazines of cartoons entitled "Air Pirates Funnies." n6 The characters in defendants' magazines bear a marked similarity to those of plaintiff. The names given to defendants' characters are the same names used in plaintiff's copyrighted work. However, the themes of defendants' publications differ markedly from those of Disney. While Disney sought only to foster "an image of innocent delightfulness," defendants supposedly sought to convey an allegorical message of significance. Put politely by one commentator, the "Air Pirates" was "an "underground' comic book which had placed several well-known Disney cartoon characters in incongruous settings where they engaged in activities clearly antithetical to the accepted Mickey Mouse world of scrubbed faces, bright smiles and happy endings." It centered around "a rather bawdy depiction of the Disney characters as active members of a free thinking, promiscuous, drug ingesting counterculture." (internal citations omitted) (Walt Disney Inc. v. Air Pirates, , 581 F.2d 751, 753 (9th Cir. 1978))
Just because I know some of you, at one point or another, had similar thoughts; maybe not about Disney, no; perhaps your opium den/harem was only populated by Barney the Purple Dinosaur and the Grape Kool-Aid Man; but regardless, the law has no sympathy for your brilliant dreams.
So knock it off.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
stephen, 4:40 PM:
Worthwhile
Hey thought I'd pass this along if you haven't seen it. The typical skepticism / media mess toward the end is fairly banal and worth skipping. But the post and response are pretty powerful.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/3/4/151715/5913
stephen
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Andrew, 7:09 PM:
Seatle Bar Association Says Yes To State's Rights (, Drugs).
King County Bar Association tells Washington State to defy Feds and Completely Revolutionize Drug Policy
The King County Bar Association (KCBA), Seattle Washington, has approved a sweeping, comprehensive, and (frankly) amazing Drug Policy Resolution that will be released tomorrow.
They are calling upon the State of Washington to take over the regulation and dispensation of drugs currently under federal prohibition, and have prepared states' rights constitutional arguments in preparation for the inevitable show-down with the feds.
This comprehensive work includes a full detailed history of drug prohibition, an analysis of models in other countries and a section called "States' Rights: Toward a Federalist Drug Policy." (Which includes a fascinating argument that Washington, by acting as a market participant in drugs by controlling their sale could exempt themselves from interstate commerce regulation.)
Mark Dixon, 12:53 AM:
Now, hold on there, Jethro
"When Billy Ray moves from his hometown to a huge city such as Atlanta, he no longer has his Aunt Betty Jo around to introduce him to a Tammy Jo or a Tina Rae. The absence of those fix-ups is a threat to the perpetuation of the redneck culture." - Kevin McIntosh, founder of www.redneckandsingle.com, a dating service for rednecks. (Chicago Tribune, 2/10/05.)
It's advertised as "like an online honky-tonk, but without the drinkin, cussin and fightin."
An apparently typical personal ad: "I am a redneck. Not a trashy, dirty, wife beatin, moonshine drinkin, dog kickin redneck. Just a good ol' boy type redneck. I'm livin in the cement-jungle right now, working on updating my mechanic license so I can get a better job."
Hot dog, uncle Jed! I done found me a mate!
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Mike Russo, 1:25 AM:
One of those things you wonder about at 1:30 AM
Random question on Incident on 57th Street: does it seem to anyone else that Spanish Johnny is a prostitute? I realized I've internalized that idea, but I'm not sure whether it's right or not. Makes that "you wanna make a little easy money tonight?" line at the end more poignant, I think.
Yes, this is really the entire point of this post. I swear.
Oh, all right: secret bonus invisible blogging! It recently struck me that the adjectival form of parable ought to be parabolic, in a just world. The fact that it is not is empirical proof that the world is not in fact just. All attempts at theodicy are therefore wasted effort. You can all go home now.
