The Swamp

A Staten Island woman was arrested for running over one of her neighbor's hens with her car, kicking the dead bird and stuffing a cigarette in its mouth for a series of pictures, according to court documents.

link

h/t

Scientific study showing exactly how vaccines cause autism...

http://www.howdovaccinescauseautism.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A cool article on a fascinating new (to me, at least) way of modifying genes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/healt ... t-dna.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This looks like the start of some serious sci fi abilities in the very near future.

Jerloma wrote:Scientific study showing exactly how vaccines cause autism...

http://www.howdovaccinescauseautism.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In the same vein, a website letting you know if Dr. Dre's long awaited Detox has dropped yet: http://hasdetoxdropped.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Somebody's kid who was not so good is a lawyer. But that being said, the practices sound about right in high pressure, high talent, youth sports. There is big money in that and lots of people trying to make money from parents who have it. Pretty crazy considering on 12.6 scholarships on a D1 team of 40+.
http://watchdog.org/135515/dallas-high- ... onspiracy/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Boy, had I brought a suit like that, would've been a brief defense.

D: The Defense calls coach Les Curry

D: Coach Curry, why did Howard get so little playing time?

Coach Curry: He sucked.

D: Thank you. Your Honor, the defense rests.

Very good summary of Ukrainia situation. He gets a couple of things wrong, but one of the best pieces I've seen.

The Danger of False Narrative

That's the most informative piece I've read. What do you think he gets wrong?

One is flat out fact, the other interpretation/opinion.

He says that Yanukovich signed an agreement with three nations. Not true; three nations arranged and brokered the meeting; the parties that signed the agreement were representing the people in the street protesting, including boxer Klitshko. There are questions as to 1) the authority those negotiators/signers had; 2)their ability to get their people to adhere to the truce agreement; 3) even if the truce was essentially honored until the time that Yanukovich fled, in essence abdicating. But there was no signing of any agreement by foreign nations.

Who was doing the sniping/shooting. This whole part about who pulled the triggers killing 70-80 people is just filled with lies. Frequently, each side will take an isolated 'fact' or quote to overturn the opposite side's narrative, and as proof of their own.

This is the best part of our technological age; there was tons of real time or nearly real time video for everyone to see, and to draw their own conclusions. And I watched plenty.

Parry's conclusion on who was doing the sniping is supported by little, contradicted by much. It may be true; he may sincerely be very confident in its truth, based on his extensive experience as a journalist very familiar with seeing through lies and propaganda. But what he cites is far short of conclusive evidence; it also contradicts what I saw with my own eyes (on the youtube). More importantly, with what I have not seen.

Example-the 10 policemen who were murdered by protesters. The history of this claim predates the day of massive violence and killing that climaxed the Maiden Square story. By two days. But, this claim has been woven into the counter-revolt propaganda narrative to have occurred on that day of 70-80 gunshot deaths. Further, I spent a lot of time reading everything I could, and I have yet to see the bodies of these ten murdered policemen on display. Maybe they have photoshoped them in the interim; but they sure didn't parade them in the few days after the climactic riot.

Another example--much of the sniping came from one tall building. There are all kinds of stories and 'proof' that this building was controlled by the rebellion (which may be true, but I haven't yet been convinced, largely because of the youtube footage of that day.) However, there is confirmed footage of police forces, in uniform, confirmed to be taken that Thursday, firing sniper rifles. Confirmed by multiple photographers from multiple angles. Again, not proof, but also not adequately explained away.

In short, I think it is an open question who did the shooting that day. Presenting this as a closed question is spurious, especially when the conclusion is contrary not just from the opposing narrative, but is contrary to a lot of information. A ton of information. And supported by some snippets of second and third hand info, woven together with a dark-ops, conspiratorial false flag theory. Such things happen (practically every day), but you still need to show info to support that it did happen, not just that it is possible.

From what I saw on that day, and the subsequent events, I am pretty sure it was the Yanukovich government mowing down protesters with sniper rifles. Occams razor plays a big part in my take. I am open minded, and ready to hear the opposite case. Parry does not make a case here, he states it as fact with some very shaky info to back it up, some of it second hand accusation and translated quotes. Those who present contrary conclusions are long on propaganda techniques, short on evidence. I realize big truths in history often take time for what initially seems obvious to be overturned as time passes. But often, the way it looked on day one, holds up decades later.

That said, I think overall what he presents as factual is pretty much legit. Now for the faint praise--his piece stands up because of all the mountains of crap journalism and flat-out propaganda that we must sift through to try to get into the general neighborhood of the truth.

The large truths are pretty clear, at least. Putin sucks; the USA sucks; the EU/IMF/Western Europe suck; the leaders/oligarchs of Ukrainia, past present and future suck; they are all lying their asses off; the people in the street risking and giving their lives in the hope of having some say over their lives and their futures are being used and fucked by multiple parties. And the largest truth--history tells us that evil and idiot leaders can easily stumble into war that is not easily contained or stopped. History doesn't tell us how fast and how bad things can go when there are 16,000 nuclear devices in the world, roughly 15,000 (and the ability to deliver them thousands of miles away) are in the possession of the evil and idiot principals involved. Ain't boring, that's for sure.

That's interesting and helpful. You are good at not taking a leap beyond the evidence and what is most likely.

Thanks. Here is some more. Libby links to a ton of analysis pieces, all over the ideological board. I haven't read all of them, and I don't vouch for any:

‘Always Look on the Bright Side of War’ Part 2 of 2

And my homie Glen has given me a new catch phrase:

“If you want to see fascism built right, get a Black Harvard man to do it.”

That's so hipster.

howard wrote:Thanks. Here is some more. Libby links to a ton of analysis pieces, all over the ideological board. I haven't read all of them, and I don't vouch for any:

‘Always Look on the Bright Side of War’ Part 2 of 2

And my homie Glen has given me a new catch phrase:

“If you want to see fascism built right, get a Black Harvard man to do it.”

Great stuff. And yeah, Glen nails it. Just wait until the Woman from Yale builds on the success of the Black from Harvard. Reaching new highs in making government serve the capitalist elite just goes down so much smoother when you have leaders representing historically oppressed groups fronting for the back room action. I suppose this is the other side of "It took Nixon to go to China." I wonder if even the oh-so-teflon Ronald Reagan could get away with what's happening now?

Cultural production of ignorance provides rich field for study
Robert Proctor is one of the world's leading experts in agnotology, a neologism signifying the study of the cultural production of ignorance.

"Nonsense is nonsense, but the history of nonsense is scholarship." As part of his scholarship, Proctor says he "watches Fox News all the time."

But the the sad truth of my profession:

What has made the modern era so nurturing for ignorance and doubt is the decline of scientific credibility. Norton Wise, a historian of science at UCLA, says scientists deserve a good deal of the blame for that.

"The question is the degree to which the commercialization of academic science is increasing public doubt and destroying the public good at the university and at places like the CDC [Centers for Disease Control]," he says. "Such that they no longer look distinctly different from the tobacco industry or Big Pharma. This is a big problem, given the rampant commercialization at major research universities like UCLA."

Wise cites a 2004 British parliamentary report showing that three-quarters of all randomized trials appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Assn. and the British Journal Lancet are funded by the pharmaceutical industry. "These are the kinds of things emerging that undermine public trust," he said.

This is no more science than what Dr. Mengele performed. Generating data to support a preconceived point of view, and more importantly to support profits. Everything is for sale, everything has a price, everything is financialized. I ain't buying (nor am I selling.)

Not sure if this is a first, but Patrick Mitchell scored a goal for they Sydney Swans this weekend in an AFL (Aussie Rules) match. Patrick is a Yank (Iowa) who was signed after a hoops career at University of North Dakota.



http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-08-04/s ... can-rookie" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
ht: sportsfilter

Stupid, but some of the reasons sports are just fun
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc- ... -exchange/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They should've raced around the bases, going opposite directions. I liked this better:

Kid is smooth
http://www.businessinsider.com/impress- ... ame-2014-5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Where he was sitting, it's entirely possible that he already got a game ball. Are we supposed to think he went to the game with his own ball so that if he got a game ball he could pretend that he gave it to the hot blond behind him while really keeping it?

Jerloma wrote:Where he was sitting, it's entirely possible that he already got a game ball. Are we supposed to think he went to the game with his own ball so that if he got a game ball he could pretend that he gave it to the hot blond behind him while really keeping it?

That was exactly my thought. I don't get the internet love this kid is getting. Their theory is he brought his own ball to the game and kept it in his hand?

Shirley wrote:

Jerloma wrote:Where he was sitting, it's entirely possible that he already got a game ball. Are we supposed to think he went to the game with his own ball so that if he got a game ball he could pretend that he gave it to the hot blond behind him while really keeping it?

That was exactly my thought. I don't get the internet love this kid is getting. Their theory is he brought his own ball to the game and kept it in his hand?

The link I saw said the first base coach gave him a ball earlier, but not a game-used ball.

Don't kids today know anything. Girls like used balls.

degenerasian wrote:Don't kids today know anything. Girls like used balls.

Is this your excuse? Not enough mileage?

http://rapshirtsforwhitepeople.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

RIP Jordan's Akita

"a movable feast"

marv albert's cry for help.

Johnnie wrote:http://rapshirtsforwhitepeople.com

cuz I Uber?

cerrano wrote:"a movable feast"

marv albert's cry for help.

That is too damned funny.

Sabo wrote:"High" elf attacks car in Portland.

“I hopped on her hood and tried to pierce her tires with my master sword,” he says. “I was trying to prove a point. Don’t mess with a dark elf.”

You've got to be really stoned to confuse high elves and dark elves (totally different appearances, alignments, and social institutions).

Arian Foster takes on cat owners on Twitter. It's awesome.

P.D.X. wrote:Pubes back in.

I've spoken English for all but the first year or so of my life. I have a B.A. from the English Department of one of the best universities on the continent. I teach writing...

Yet this sentence makes me seriously doubt my ability to comprehend the language.

“It’s the normcore of pubes,” my friend Megan said over drinks later that night.

Astros Prospect's First Home Run Of Season Caught By His Dad

WATFO?