Monday, November 30, 2009
Scientific American :
There is, in fact, a climate conspiracy. It just happens to be one launched by the fossil fuel industry to obscure the truth about climate change and delay any action.Note the massive ad from Shell dominating the ready-to-print page as screencapped below (click to enlarge) :
Sunday, November 29, 2009
A feast for the eyes, the ears and the mind
And two beautiful NASA pics (via Reddit) for dessert.
A shuttle astronaut 100 metres from the craft :
Challenger docked at the International Space Station, opened up for inspection :
You simply have to click those photos for the bigger image.
It's hard to believe sometimes it's still only a little over a century since humans first took (powered) flight.
Damn shame most of us won't be around in another 100 years to see where space exploration has taken us by then.
And two beautiful NASA pics (via Reddit) for dessert.
A shuttle astronaut 100 metres from the craft :
Challenger docked at the International Space Station, opened up for inspection :
You simply have to click those photos for the bigger image.
It's hard to believe sometimes it's still only a little over a century since humans first took (powered) flight.
Damn shame most of us won't be around in another 100 years to see where space exploration has taken us by then.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Tries are there to be scored if you've got the balls to have a go...and the skills to pull it off.
New Zealand will finish 2009 as the world's number-one ranked team thanks to an impressive 39-12 win over France at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille on Saturday.
A lot has been said about the state of the game over the past few days, but I challenge anyone calling for a change in the laws to go back and watch this game and then tell me that running rugby is dead.
Tries are there to be scored if you've got the balls to have a go...and the skills to pull it off.
\This is what Test rugby should be all about. A ding-dong battle in the scrums, creativity amongst the backs and, most of all, a high-paced game that tested the skills of both attackers and defenders rather than just the kicking capabilities of the fly-halves and full-backs.
The All Blacks answered their critics with a wonderful display of positive rugby, and were rewarded with five tries.
While Tri-Nations champions South Africa have looked tired and uninspired on tour in November, New Zealand were full of zip and zest.
Unlike against the Springboks, the French were unable to grab a stranglehold on the game with their powerful forwards as the visitors were eager to take the ball out wide at pace.
In fact both sides should be commended for the positive spirit with which they approached the game - the All Blacks however made the difference with their near flawless execution.
Perhaps most the impressive aspect of New Zealand's tour is the fact that - just like last year - they have yet to concede a try.
Power package: Sitiveni Sivivatu (left)
The French front row looked a like a pack of hungry wolves after winning there side a penalty at the first scrum and Julien Dupuy obliged by slotting the three points to give France the early lead. New Zealand however replied with a brilliant try from Sitiveni Sivivatu who simply blitz Vincent Clerc and Damien Traille, slicing between the two Frenchmen, who could little but watch him sailed by.
Les Bleus kept coming as Dupuy added two more penalties, including a second against the kiwi scrum to take the lead back at 9-7. But not for long.
The All Blacks second try was even better than the first as Sivivatu turned on the gas from his own 22 before finding Mils Muliaina up in support. (photo below)
Dan Carter added the conversion and then a penalty to give the visitors some breathing space before the All Black scrum took their revenge by pushing the Tricolor pack backwards on the French line. Under the pressure Julien Bonnaire fumbled his pick up, allowing Jerome Kaino to dot down the loose ball.Francois Trinh-Duc landed a long distance drop goal shortly before the half-time whistle to make the scores 22-12.
The second half however belonged solely to New Zealand.
When Dupuy missed two early attempts at goal it became clear it wasn't to be France's day.
Cory Jane was next to get on the scoreboard with a classic individual try, collecting his own kick ahead from the touchline to score under the posts.
With France running out of ideas and leaving gaps all over the park, Conrad Smith snuck away down an unattended blindside to rub salt into the wounds.
Man of the match: He's had a tough year and was distinctly out of form during the Tri-Nations but Sitiveni Sivivatu was back to his very best - scoring one try, setting up another and putting in some big hits.
Moment of the match: For half an hour it was anyone's game, but when the All Blacks scrum stepped up and earned Jerome Kaino's try, New Zealand moved out of France's reach. It wasn't the prettiest of tries, but it had a telling effect.
Villain of the match:Planty of handbags were flung about, but there was no clear bad guy.
The Scorers
For France:
Pens: Dupuy 3
Drop: Trinh-Duc
For New Zealand:
Tries:Sivivatu, Muliaina, Kaino, Jane, Smith
Cons: Carter 4
Pens: Carter2
Yellow cards: Franks (NZ - 77th - foul play)
France: 15 Damien Traille, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 David Marty, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Maxime Médard, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Romain Millo-Chluski, 4 Sébastien Chabal, 3 Sylvain Marconnet, 2 William Servat, 1 Fabien Barcella.
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Nicolas Mas, 18 Lionel Nallet, 19 Julien Puricelli, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Yann David, 22 Cédric Heymans.
New Zealand:15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Luke McAlister.
Venue: Stade Vélodrome
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Television match officials: Nigel Whitehouse(Wales)
Assessor: Paul Bridgman (England)
By Ross Hastie, Planet rugby, with permission.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Be All The Terrorist You Can Be
The graphics are incredible, the gameplay intense, but even for a hardened player of violent video games, these uncut scenes of the Airport Mission from Modern Warfare 2 are a bit shocking. You have to wonder what MK-ULTRA could have achieved with this, a roomful of teenagers, some ragey LSD and hardcore brainwashing....
Then again, video games similar to this have been in use across the world for years, to train teenagers how to kill.
A YouTube commenter :
I think I just showed my age there....
NOTE : Being slack, I didn't check my own writing to make sure it sang with clarity.
This is how the above sentence should have read : "Then again, video games similar to this have been in use across the world for years, to train teenagers how to kill for any number of armies and militias."
I thought it was obvious I meant video games being used in military training, but not according to a stream of vitriolic e-mail I received in the past few days.
.
The graphics are incredible, the gameplay intense, but even for a hardened player of violent video games, these uncut scenes of the Airport Mission from Modern Warfare 2 are a bit shocking. You have to wonder what MK-ULTRA could have achieved with this, a roomful of teenagers, some ragey LSD and hardcore brainwashing....
Then again, video games similar to this have been in use across the world for years, to train teenagers how to kill.
A YouTube commenter :
"Give me Pacman over this shit any day. This game is a yawnfest...."Pacman? Pfft. Give me a stand-up Asteroids machine and a handful of coins and I'll show you destruction!
I think I just showed my age there....
NOTE : Being slack, I didn't check my own writing to make sure it sang with clarity.
This is how the above sentence should have read : "Then again, video games similar to this have been in use across the world for years, to train teenagers how to kill for any number of armies and militias."
I thought it was obvious I meant video games being used in military training, but not according to a stream of vitriolic e-mail I received in the past few days.
.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
It's unethical, but it's hard not to admire this successful piece of fakery :
From the New York Post :
A parody of Sarah Palin's book "Going Rogue: An American Life" has been causing huge confusion -- forcing Palin's publishers HarperCollins to take out ads to direct buyers to the official version.The rival book, "Going Rouge: An American Nightmare," was released on the same day as Palin's memoir and features an almost identical cover.
The victims so far?
Thousands of people who wanted to read Sarah Palin's book.
"Numerous media outlets"
Fox News
Harper Collins
CNN's Political Ticker
USA Today
One of those responsible for Going Rouge :
"We are sure that many people who mistakenly bought our book will have been pleasantly surprised. You learn more about the real Palin in our version."
Young Norwegian leaders, mental institutions in Aceh, and earthquake operations in Padang.
You can judge a country by the way it looks after its most vulnerable people and on Tuesday I saw this adage in action when I was at the inauguration of a large mental hospital in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. I got back last night from a trip to Aceh and West Sumatra provinces.
Iyang Sukandar, Berge Brende and Bob McKerrow having dinner in Aceh. Iyang and Berge were enjoyable travelling companions as you see and feel their commitment and passion for their work. They also have a great sense of fun and we were laughing a lot.
Erik Solheim Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Environment (left) and Berge Brende (right) Secretary General Norwegian Red Cross at the site of the Norwegian Red Cross funded emergency relief warehouse in Padang. A large media team accompanied them.
I travelled with Erik Solheim Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Environment from Banda Aceh to Padang and he invited me and Berge to brief him on the humanitarian situation in Aceh and West Sumatra, where we are running a large earthquake relief and recovery operation.
Work this week was a real joy, travelling with two youngish leaders from Norway who hold responsible positions and could rise higher on the international political, humanitarian or environmental stages. I was impressed with their breadth and depth of knowledge and willingness to learn. Their open mindedness was refreshing amongst today's leaders.
They are following in the footsteps other great Norwegian leaders such as Fridtjof Nansen, Thorvald Stoltenberg and Dr. Monika Christensen.
Nansen, left, (10 October 1861 – 13 May 1930) a Norwegian explorer, scientist and diplomat. Nansen was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 for his work as a League of Nations High Commissioner, who founded the United Nations Refugee organisation,
Thorvald Stoltenberg, who I spent time with in 2007 when he came to Jakarta to look at the Norwegian Red Cross Tsunami projects, is an amazing man. His son is currently Prime Minister of Norway.
In his youth Thorvald Stoltenberg became heavily involved in the organization of Hungarian refugees fleeing the invading Soviet Army in 1956. In one particular situation, evacuating refugees by boat in the middle of the night, he jumped into the strong currents, risking his own life to save one of the boats. One of the other rescuers, future famous American journalist Barry Farber called this the greatest act of courage he has ever seen in his life. Stoltenberg himself kept the story a secret, until Farber in December 2006 revealed it on the Norwegian talk-show Først & sist. Monika Christensen is another great Norwegian leader, a glaciologist who almost reached the South Pole via the Axel Heiberg Glacier, in 1987, using Greenland huskies and a sledge. A fine leader with courage, vision and amazing knowledge of environmental issues.
Why am I going on about great leaders ? It is a subject I have written a number of articles on and would like to put a few thoughts down while I have your attention, and while the inspiration I got travelling with Erik and Berge. is still percolating.
Are you a leader or a manager ?.
As Dwight Eisenhower once said: "Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it".
Having had a mixed bag of leaders and managers over the years I try to jot down my observations. So many of us work for companies or organisations that are management driven, and neither promote leadership or recognise it. With B replacing B in the US of A, we are able to compare George Bush's style with Barack's.
Chalk and Cheese and Night and Day are a bit hackneyed: Barack Obama is resuscitating a nation and a world. God, if ever we needed the kiss of life in leadership, that in the last five years has been like Friday's hot meal served up cold and stale on Monday, the time is nigh.
Distinctions between Manager and Leader:
The manager administers; the leader innovates.
The manager is a copy; the leader is an original.
The manager maintains; the leader develops.
The manager accepts reality; the leader investigates it.
The manager focuses on systems and structure; the leader focuses on people.
The manager relies on control; the leader inspires trust.
The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective.
The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why.
The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the leader
has his or her eye on the horizon.
The manager imitates; the leader originates.
The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it.
The manager is the classic good soldier; the leader is his or her own person.
The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing.
Leadership is also about:
Design
Story
Symphony
Empathy
Play
Meaning
Not Just function but design
Not just argument but story
Not just focus but also empathy
Not just logic but empathy
Not just seriousness but also play
Not just accumulation but meaning
Berge Brende Secretary General Norwegian Red Cross (right above) and Erik Solheim Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Environment, Government of Norway (left)were the guests of honour and I had the privilege of spending two days with them in Aceh and Padang, West Sumatra. The Norwegian Red Cross and its Government have given generously to the Tsunami operation in Indonesia and has done some outstanding work in supporting programmes of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).
What I found interesting was that Berge was the former Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Environment, and was travelling with his successor Erik, from different parties at opposite ends of the political spectrum in Norway. They seemed close friends with a high respect for each other.
Iyang Sukandar, Berge Brende and Bob McKerrow having dinner in Aceh. Iyang and Berge were enjoyable travelling companions as you see and feel their commitment and passion for their work. They also have a great sense of fun and we were laughing a lot.
Erik Solheim Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Environment (left) and Berge Brende (right) Secretary General Norwegian Red Cross at the site of the Norwegian Red Cross funded emergency relief warehouse in Padang. A large media team accompanied them.
I travelled with Erik Solheim Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Environment from Banda Aceh to Padang and he invited me and Berge to brief him on the humanitarian situation in Aceh and West Sumatra, where we are running a large earthquake relief and recovery operation.Work this week was a real joy, travelling with two youngish leaders from Norway who hold responsible positions and could rise higher on the international political, humanitarian or environmental stages. I was impressed with their breadth and depth of knowledge and willingness to learn. Their open mindedness was refreshing amongst today's leaders.
They are following in the footsteps other great Norwegian leaders such as Fridtjof Nansen, Thorvald Stoltenberg and Dr. Monika Christensen.
Nansen, left, (10 October 1861 – 13 May 1930) a Norwegian explorer, scientist and diplomat. Nansen was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 for his work as a League of Nations High Commissioner, who founded the United Nations Refugee organisation,
Thorvald Stoltenberg, who I spent time with in 2007 when he came to Jakarta to look at the Norwegian Red Cross Tsunami projects, is an amazing man. His son is currently Prime Minister of Norway.
In his youth Thorvald Stoltenberg became heavily involved in the organization of Hungarian refugees fleeing the invading Soviet Army in 1956. In one particular situation, evacuating refugees by boat in the middle of the night, he jumped into the strong currents, risking his own life to save one of the boats. One of the other rescuers, future famous American journalist Barry Farber called this the greatest act of courage he has ever seen in his life. Stoltenberg himself kept the story a secret, until Farber in December 2006 revealed it on the Norwegian talk-show Først & sist. Monika Christensen is another great Norwegian leader, a glaciologist who almost reached the South Pole via the Axel Heiberg Glacier, in 1987, using Greenland huskies and a sledge. A fine leader with courage, vision and amazing knowledge of environmental issues.
Why am I going on about great leaders ? It is a subject I have written a number of articles on and would like to put a few thoughts down while I have your attention, and while the inspiration I got travelling with Erik and Berge. is still percolating.
Are you a leader or a manager ?.
As Dwight Eisenhower once said: "Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it".
Having had a mixed bag of leaders and managers over the years I try to jot down my observations. So many of us work for companies or organisations that are management driven, and neither promote leadership or recognise it. With B replacing B in the US of A, we are able to compare George Bush's style with Barack's.
Chalk and Cheese and Night and Day are a bit hackneyed: Barack Obama is resuscitating a nation and a world. God, if ever we needed the kiss of life in leadership, that in the last five years has been like Friday's hot meal served up cold and stale on Monday, the time is nigh.
Distinctions between Manager and Leader:
The manager administers; the leader innovates.
The manager is a copy; the leader is an original.
The manager maintains; the leader develops.
The manager accepts reality; the leader investigates it.
The manager focuses on systems and structure; the leader focuses on people.
The manager relies on control; the leader inspires trust.
The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective.
The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why.
The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the leader
has his or her eye on the horizon.
The manager imitates; the leader originates.
The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it.
The manager is the classic good soldier; the leader is his or her own person.
The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing.
Leadership is also about:
Design
Story
Symphony
Empathy
Play
Meaning
Not Just function but design
Not just argument but story
Not just focus but also empathy
Not just logic but empathy
Not just seriousness but also play
Not just accumulation but meaning
Mossad Spy-Training Operations Involves Planting Car Bombs In Tel Aviv
Hmmmm......
Hmmmm......
A trainee spy for Israel's secret service agency Mossad was arrested by Tel Aviv police while taking part in a training operation, media reports say.The young trainee was spotted by a female passer-by as he planted a fake bomb under a vehicle in the city.
The authorities have refused to comment on the story although Israeli media outlets have expressed their surprise.
Are they sure it was fake? And is this an admission that Mossad is still planting car bombs, seeing as this act was apparently part of a training exercise?
Monday, November 23, 2009
Israel Spokesman Confirms No Hamas Rockets Fired During Ceasefire
Perhaps they believed Hamas would keep to the ceasefire, and needed to provoke them back into action in early November? Knowing full well, of course, that massive IDF operations against Palestinian civilians were scheduled to begin within weeks.
Perhaps they believed Hamas would keep to the ceasefire, and needed to provoke them back into action in early November? Knowing full well, of course, that massive IDF operations against Palestinian civilians were scheduled to begin within weeks.
Feed Your Head
Another collection of Twitter posts and links from November. When I read through these, they remind of all the stories I didn't get around to writing up on this blog.
Then again, I do tend to go on a bit when I get into something, and Twitter forces you to ge to the point in 140 characters or less, which seems a handy skill to have in blogging.
Doing these Twitter posts is training me to shut the fuck up. A bit....
I'm on Twitter here :
@DarrylMason
Another collection of Twitter posts and links from November. When I read through these, they remind of all the stories I didn't get around to writing up on this blog.
Then again, I do tend to go on a bit when I get into something, and Twitter forces you to ge to the point in 140 characters or less, which seems a handy skill to have in blogging.
Doing these Twitter posts is training me to shut the fuck up. A bit....
Rupert Murdoch alleges ABC "steals" from his newspapers & he may sue the ABC (and the BBC) for copyright breaches http://tinyurl.com/yf9nnarAs usual, some of these posts were edited to unshorten words and to add clarity where needed.
How The Angels Helped Inspire Grunge - http://tinyurl.com/yejc6qu - Yes, The Angels.
RT @MaxMurrayANovel - Max : Called Sonia to beg her to let me stay there if Murray kicks me out. She blew a rape whistle into the phone.
Eat a bowl of cold fuck you grinning trout // Tony Blair Out Of Running For EU President - http://tinyurl.com/yjg77qw
Murdoch Media Busted Stealing Content Off Blogs http://tinyurl.com/yap56ch Murdoch :"it will be the content plagiarists who triumph"
US Army To Protect Sarah Palin FROM MEDIA At Book Promo Stop - http://twi.cc/WiHF
CIA declares : "CIA Terrorist Interrogation Program Is Over" - http://tinyurl.com/yf93mdd - Obama's war on the CIA continues...
It appears most of those in politics & media railing against NYC 9/11 trials are NeoCons & BushCo. supplicants. Something to hide?
NeoCon gatekeeper Charles Krauthammer claims NYC 9/11 trials will be "greatest spectacle in terror history." http://tinyurl.com/yafbe6j
UK Guardian story http://tinyurl.com/yzw9ex2 with no ****ing of the words "fuck" and "cunt". Can all newspapers drop the *** now please? They're just words.
I asked the young guy in Bunnings if the chainsaw I was buying could take down a zombie, without a pause he replied, "Yes, most definitely."
Brought my first chainsaw. Told partner it was to cut down tree in backyard, but we both know it's also security against zombie attacks.
Drag-racing cop kills two, faces manslaughter charges, on paid leave - video - http://tinyurl.com/ye5udb2
Sarah Palin is Ronald Reagan, with tits (via @IanMartin)
The raw panic about what the NYC Terror Trials will reveal of BushCo. complicity in 9/11 reaches Australia - http://tinyurl.com/ybrh35c
Rupert Murdoch Predicts "All Newspapers Will Go OutOf Business" Unless Public Embraces Kindle-Like DigiReaders - http://tinyurl.com/yzft9pb
It is absolutely delicious to see the raw fear in th eyes of Rudy Guiliani, Karl Rove, Tom Ridge, other NeoCons, over NYC 9/11 terror trials
RT @MaxMurrayANovel : "Today was like accidentally popping your eyeball right out of the socket n then slipping on it. Shithouse"
Please God, please make this weeping presidential run become reality. RT @allahpundit Palin/Beck 2012? http://is.gd/4XAXy
Australian senator smashes Scientology: "a worldwide pattern of abuse and criminality. It is happening by design" http://tinyurl.com/ydy4wst
Obama Bows Before Foreign Tyrants YET AGAIN! http://tinyurl.com/yhr76c6
Obama's War On The CIA Intensifies - http://tinyurl.com/ykjpxzp - CIA Predator Aerial Assassination & "Paramilitary" Ops To Be Reviewed
RT @commentisfree - Muslims leading religious environmentalism movement http://is.gd/4X1XL
60 books for children devoted to Obama released in US so far. http://tinyurl.com/y9xeuuo Bush had about 45 book titles in 8 years.
Stunning. 1 in 6 Americans go hungry http://tinyurl.com/yzbbh99 But, US 'defence' budget for 2010 : $700 billion.
Cormac McCarthy "Anything that doesn't take years of your life and drive you to suicide hardly seems worth doing" - http://tinyurl.com/yfjhxxo
Will Self : "...there aren't enough positive drug rituals...the CoE should introduce Ecstasy communion." http://tinyurl.com/yamhwec
We're going to Mars. So it must be time to torture some monkeys - http://bit.ly/4zc5Mg
Extraordinary view from world's tallest building, 820m The Burj, Dubai http://tinyurl.com/ybwvcj2 almost double the height of WTC 1
Road Runner & Beaker on Meep // School trying to ban the word "Meep" had police lockdown due to "threatening messages" http://tinyurl.com/yz8gh4c
Google claims it drives "about 100,000 clicks a minute" to mainstream media news sites around the world. http://tinyurl.com/yhy3q6m
School principal robocalls parents, threatens suspension, police action, if students continue saying "Meep" http://tinyurl.com/ya56v9m
Beaker, the King of Meep - http://tinyurl.com/5mlcj3 - Power to the Meeple.
After 9/11, Iran helped US capture 200 Al Qaida members - http://tinyurl.com/y95ulaw
UK professor says Pot, LSD, Ecstasy safer than cigarettes and booze gets sacked. So Rupert Murdoch's The Sun goes after his kids - http://tinyurl.com/yjytahv
I'm on Twitter here :
@DarrylMason
Sunday, November 22, 2009
If the makers of this fantastic little piece of fearmongery were going to be completely honest, they would have shown the true results of a 400 kilo polar bear smashing into pavement from a great height. That imagery would certainly be far more shocking :
When I watched this vid, some of the old dyslexia kicked in for a second. I thought the web address was PlanetStupid.com, not PlaneStupid.com.
I prefer PlanetStupid.
When I watched this vid, some of the old dyslexia kicked in for a second. I thought the web address was PlanetStupid.com, not PlaneStupid.com.
I prefer PlanetStupid.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Murdoch Media Busted Stealing Story From Blog
By Darryl Mason
You may recall Rupert Murdoch, and his minions, recent spectacular fury at "plagiarist" bloggers, search engines and aggregators "stealing" Murdoch news empire's content and then republishing it on their own websites without Murdoch's permission, and without payment.
Here's a reminder of Murdoch's words :
Movie director Edgar Wright wrote a beautiful, thoughtful ode to actor Edward Woodward on his blog earlier this week.
On Thursday, he Woodward piece had been brutally re-edited and then published on the London Times website, and also in the print edition. Without his permission. Without linking to his blog. Without payment.
The Full Story Is At The Orstrahyun
By Darryl Mason
You may recall Rupert Murdoch, and his minions, recent spectacular fury at "plagiarist" bloggers, search engines and aggregators "stealing" Murdoch news empire's content and then republishing it on their own websites without Murdoch's permission, and without payment.
Here's a reminder of Murdoch's words :
"The aggregators and plagiarists will soon have to pay a price for the co-opting of our content. ...it will be the content creators who will pay the ultimate price and the content kleptomaniacs who triumph..."And here's an excerpt from one of the dozens of recent 'Rupert Says You Will Pay' stories printed in The London Times, owned by Rupert Murdoch :
Rupert Murdoch opened a new front in his battle to obtain “fair compensation” for content produced by his media companies...
The move follows Mr Murdoch’s repeated calls over the past few months for content providers to charge online distributors and his insistence that media companies cannot continue to produce quality content for free. He has accused Google and other search engines of being “content kleptomaniacs” for taking other people’s content....
Movie director Edgar Wright wrote a beautiful, thoughtful ode to actor Edward Woodward on his blog earlier this week.
On Thursday, he Woodward piece had been brutally re-edited and then published on the London Times website, and also in the print edition. Without his permission. Without linking to his blog. Without payment.
The Full Story Is At The Orstrahyun
Friday, November 20, 2009
Feed Your Head
By Darryl Mason
Another post where I recycle the past few weeks of Twitter posts and links and try to pass them here as fresh, original blog content. But you know better. Hope there's a few stories here you missed, or needed to be reminded of.
These are from the first few weeks of November :
I'm on Twitter here :
@DarrylMason
By Darryl Mason
Another post where I recycle the past few weeks of Twitter posts and links and try to pass them here as fresh, original blog content. But you know better. Hope there's a few stories here you missed, or needed to be reminded of.
These are from the first few weeks of November :
80-90% of all US combat troops have been withdrawn from Iraq since Barack Obama made this promise in Nov. 2007 - http://tinyurl.com/ylle5rv
Murdoch's War On Blogger "Plagiarists" http://tinyurl.com/ylr59hs Shuts down YouTube chans embedding shameful FoxNews clips
Ahh, a new Slayer album & coincidentally new neighbours. They appear to be Slayer fans, they're waving their arms about, shaking their fists.
4500 dead US soldiers later, Fox News Bill O'Reilly announced today "I was wrong about Iraq." He faces no consquences for what he did.
It's not exactly a huge conspiracy, or even a secret (is it?), that bullet & bomb makers supply both sides - http://tinyurl.com/ybb3rhe
It's on quite news weeks like this u realise there are more journos in Australiia than there are news stories worth reporting.
According to my 11 y.o. nephew, Gen Z males learn about love n sex mostly from The Family Guy, which is hilarious, but also kinda terrifying.
No wonder Gen Z are already hooked on vid games, the TV they get dealt out is so box-tickingly PC shit.
Nephew interrupts ABC Breakfast to put on morning cable shows - Suite LIfe On Deck, Wizards Of Waverly Place. Terrible, terrible, terrible
237 Millionaires In US Congress - http://tinyurl.com/ydyxnxe
Obama "Terminates" Airborne Laser, Future Combat Systems http://tinyurl.com/y8gkb93 hammers "no-bid contracts that make contractors rich"
Kurt Russell auditions for the role of Han Solo - http://tinyurl.com/yclu5q5 - awkward.
Obama: Defence Projects With $300 Billion In 'Overruns' Are "An Affront To The American People And To Our Troops" http://tinyurl.com/y8gkb93
Investigative journalist frees men wrongly jailed for murder, commits suicide - http://tinyurl.com/y8bge3f
RT @MaxMurrayANovel "I've worked like a cunt since 16. What have I got to show for it? Fuck all, nothing. All gone on booze n drugs n rock bands."
The original Psycho is pretty much shit today, and not much chop at all without the sawing, shrieking strings on the soundtrack.
Murdoch Journalists Who Claim "Global Warming Is A Scam" Are Too Cowardly To Mention Murdoch Is A "Scam" Profiteer http://tinyurl.com/yks2sab
Look at this vid - http://tinyurl.com/yjlgft3 Murdoch execs seeded global warming fearmongery into The Simpsons, they admit it.
Rupert Murdoch quotes on climate change crisis, why carbon neutrality is good for his business - http://tinyurl.com/yjgu87j
Twitter Lists make it so much easier for the data miners out there. Do you really need to create lists of family members and co-workers?
Blair's Law RIP : 2002 - 2009 http://tinyurl.com/ylb7lcr Tubeynets fame can be so fickle, so fleeting.
Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics....what about the Fkd & Bombd Olympics for drug users and steroid abusers? I'd watch that.
So Tony Blair converted to Catholicism for nothing? Brussels outcry puts Blair presidency in doubt... http://tinyurl.com/ykqwzfk
UK Drugs Chief : Alcohol, Tobacco More Harmful Than Cannabis, LSD, Ecstasy http://tinyurl.com/yfrny7q another crap cannabis photo.
RT @MaxMurrayANovel "He's like a pot junkie the way he hooks in every night. He's always fidgety. i think he's getting The Spiders."
The Larry David/Seinfeld reunion is a big pile of crap. Ooh, edgy, he pisses on a Jesus painting. Let's see him piss on a portrait of Obama.
Man has heart attack, collapses, cattle dog jumps on his chest until he wakes up. Good Dog! http://tinyurl.com/yg6u9lh
Keanu Reeves has to come clean on his time traveling to the 17th century http://tinyurl.com/yzedfat Unless he hasn't started time jumping yet....
Metallica's James Hetfield proud his music used to torture prisoners at Gitmo http://tinyurl.com/6ckecy - get back on the piss, dickhead
Four decades on and the CIA is still a major player (http://tinyurl.com/yjlbj7m) in the global heroin trade -http://bit.ly/25W1WI
If you have to pay your enemies to stop killing you, and they accept, you've lost the fuckking war. It's that simple.
Major Space War Success. Revenge attacks for recent Moon bombing foiled by US Space Force (USSF) http://bit.ly/16JucE
I told you the MSM would move onto covering conspiracy theories as real news. Public appetite for conspiracy is huge: http://tinyurl.com/yf7ecwj
Imagine what it'd be like if tens of thousands were dying, and twittering as they exited.
Fox News chairman Roger Ailes "If I put on some goddamn liberal, I might as well get the dumbest fuck I can find!" http://tinyurl.com/yj6f4k3
"The term conspiracy theory is a conspiracy against ideas or evidence outside the mainstream oft-repeated lies" http://tinyurl.com/yjmckce
Reality nailed. RT @zombiemao: If religion is the opium of the masses, foxnews is the crystal meth.
British police adopt FBI's COINTELPRO pre-crime surveillance tactics http://tinyurl.com/yzltdg2 background on COINTELPRO -http://tinyurl.com/bpbkt
If They Mean 'Flame' As In People Who're On Fire After Being Bombed, Then Yes, Dick Cheney Deserves This Award http://tinyurl.com/yz6qjty
Rejected alt. titles for Mad Max4 : Fury Road // Mad Max: Rage Street, Mad Max: Anger Drive, Mad Max: Ferocity Lane, Mad Max: Disgruntled Alley
Jesus in Ikea http://tinyurl.com/yfmwmrd All images of Jesus (in tacos, ashtrays, grilled cheese) made up of many little Jesus images. Fact.
RT @DMasonIn2018: 'White' chocolate n 'Imperial Leather' products were banned in 2012 for racism n celebrating 20th century imperialism.
War On Terror bcame War On Extremists in 2007, under Bush. Now it's The War On Domestic Extremists - http://tinyurl.com/yzltdg2
'Gen. X' author @DougCoupland on petty theft : "I still can’t believe people pay for pens.Talk about the world’s most shopliftable item."
The best of the Ask Paul McCartney - #askpaul - thread http://tinyurl.com/yhxaod3 He could do a book answering these qs.
Major General Albert Stubbledine, highest ranking US military officer.to dispute official story of 9/11 http://tinyurl.com/yjto7lv (page 3)
Today, Fox News (Nation) promotes Tea Party Express 2 : "Are You On It?" http://tinyurl.co/ygwsmej
The 'E-solated' - 10 Million Brits Don't Have Internet Or Computer Access http://tinyurl.com/ylf6ky4
"Racist" Pentagon At War On Obama White House - http://tinyurl.com/ylfxvvl
I left a Oujia board on the coffee table for five hours and left the house, and nothing unusual happened. At all. #verynormalactivity
According to CurseBird, @MaxMurrayANovel - "swears like an Enthusiastic Porn Star". Max would be proud. http://tinyurl.com/ykgdned
Wikipedia appears to have deleted its page dedicated to 'real conspiracies' http://tinyurl.com/yg2pw4k - Conspiracy!
Afghan Blonde Hash Set To Flood Australian Cannabis Market In 2010 : http://bit.ly/X4Ild
The "Not The Nazis" Party Float Idea Of White Riots Against The "Ethnic Classes" In Britain : http://tinyurl.com/yl5uq4y
"I Can Assure You There Are No Experiments Taking Place On This Base" - 1975 parody on US germ warfare research -http://tinyurl.com/yle6y3a
It's 2:10am and I cannot hear any muffled screaming coming from inside the walls. #verynormalactivity
It's 2:08am and the light in the hall has not turned on by itself. #verynormalactivity
Best. ABC. News. Headline. Ever - Undead Lurch Through Brisbane - http://tinyurl.com/yjwyx5u
Fox News : 24/7 Obama Fearmongery, With News Breaks - http://tinyurl.com/yhovdao
Just noticed NYTimes used "he tweeted" in a recent story. Isn't that like saying "he wroted"? Should it be "he twote"?
A friend told me he overheard two 18-20 year old women talking in a bar Sat. night. One cracked a joke, the other smiled and said "Lol".
"Global Warming Denier" Andrew Bolt draws wave of Holocaust denier comments aftr IDing Robert Manne as Jewish - http://tinyurl.com/yl5uq4y
I'm on Twitter here :
@DarrylMason
Thursday, November 19, 2009
NASA Turn Crowd Sourced Mars Map Making Into A 'Video Game'
If this opportunity was presented to me when I was about 10, I would have tried to drop out of school to spend all waking hours exploring Mars.
You can play it like a game, count craters for points, or you can ignore the game elements and help align maps and note details on the areas you explore.
A downright brilliant idea.
Go Here To Join The NASA Virtual Exploration Of Mars Mission
.
If this opportunity was presented to me when I was about 10, I would have tried to drop out of school to spend all waking hours exploring Mars.
You can play it like a game, count craters for points, or you can ignore the game elements and help align maps and note details on the areas you explore.
A downright brilliant idea.
Go Here To Join The NASA Virtual Exploration Of Mars Mission
.
Magical Obama Of Doomsday
Here's the URL for Fox News story on Obama visiting China's Great Wall :
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/18/magical-obama-tours-chinas-great-wall/
'Magical Obama', eh?
And here's how the photo of Obama at the Great Wall was categorised :
http://www.foxnews.com/static/managed/img/Politics/111809_owall_doomsday_604x341.jpg
O(bama)Wall Doomsday?
While you might instantly think Fox News hypes 'Obama Is Doom' propaganda even in URLs and jpg file names, 'doomsday' appears to be a weird codeword choice for image sizes.
But Magical Obama?
(via Reddit)
Here's the URL for Fox News story on Obama visiting China's Great Wall :
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/18/magical-obama-tours-chinas-great-wall/
'Magical Obama', eh?
And here's how the photo of Obama at the Great Wall was categorised :
http://www.foxnews.com/static/managed/img/Politics/111809_owall_doomsday_604x341.jpg
O(bama)Wall Doomsday?
While you might instantly think Fox News hypes 'Obama Is Doom' propaganda even in URLs and jpg file names, 'doomsday' appears to be a weird codeword choice for image sizes.
But Magical Obama?
(via Reddit)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Remains of Kazakh climber, Irina Yun, found in New Zealand Alps.
It was with a great sense of relief today that I read that Irina Yun's remains were found. This extraordinary Kazakh woman who went missing on December 31, 2008 while attempting to walk the difficult Cascade Saddle track from Mt Aspiring Hut in the West Matukituki Valley, to the Dart Hut on the Dart River. Her back pack was found but at the time their was no sign of her.Today 19 November 2009 Police have reportedly found the remains of a Russian migrant who disappeared while tramping 11 months ago in the Southern Alps. (Irina is actually of Kazakh nationality, who was iving in Auckland with her 4 year old daughter Liann when she went missing)
.An extensive search was made for Irina Yun, 36 when she was first reported missing and it continued some weeks later..
Police say a search and rescue dog handler from Oxford, Dave Krehic returned to the area on last week and conducted a private search with his dog Stig.
They subsequently located a femur and pelvis bone in the river bed wedged in between some rocks approximately three kilometres down stream of the Dart Hut.
A view of Mount Aspiring from near Cascade Saddle, the pass Irina crossed. The Dunedin Coroner, an anthropologist and pathologist have examined the remains and have been able to confirm that the remains are that of Ms Yun.
Her next of kin have been advised.
Missing tramper's daughter Liann, 4, waits for her Mother.When Irina went missing, I was recovering from an operation in Christchurch and got quite involved in the incident. Irina is from Kazakhstan, as is my wife. A sort of solidarity started.
Irina Yun's ex-parttner Oleg corresponded with me. especially when the newspapers got her nationality wrong. He said:
She is not Uzbek - she is what we call a "Russian Korean". Her grandparents were expelled from Korean border into Kazakhi desert in winter by Chairman Stalin 70 years ago. And they survived there - with no shelters at all!
Oleg
(her ex-partner)
Friday 20 November 2009
I include an update i got from the Otago Daily Times written by By Marjorie Cook:
Search dog handler Dave Krehic's determination to find the remains of missing Auckland tramper Irina Yun (36) paid off last weekend, when his privately organised search party, including his German short- haired pointer Stig, found bones in the Dart River, about 3km-4km below the Dart Hut.
Ms Yun had been missing in the Mt Aspiring National Park since late December last year.
Southern region coroner David Crerar yesterday confirmed anthropologists and pathologists Prof John Dennison, Dr Martha Nicholson and Dr Hannah Thorne had examined and ascertained the remains were "those of Irina Yun".
Further tests would be undertaken, but Ms Yun's family had been advised Ms Yun was now considered deceased.
An inquest would be held next year, Mr Crerar said.
Dave Krehic
Ms Yun, an immigrant from Kazakhstan, disappeared in a storm on December 31, while tramping the Cascade Saddle between the Aspiring and Dart Huts.
LandSar Wanaka volunteers spent 350 hours combing the exposed and difficult high country on the route, as well as gullies, river beds and gorges in the immediate area.
A tramping pack positively identified as belonging to Ms Yun was found in a gorge area of the Dart River, below the Dart Hut, on January 5.
Damage to the pack made it clear it had been torn from its wearer with considerable force and had been in the water for some time, Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said yesterday.
The search was called off because it was believed Ms Yun had been subjected to the force of the flooded Dart River and unable to survive it.
Mr Krehic, a Christchurch auto electrician and member of the Oxford search and rescue team, and Stig (8) were involved in the official search in January.
"The family didn't know, but it was of interest to me. I come from that background of being outdoors. And I met her friends at the search and wanted to do something for them," Mr Krehic said.
Mr Krehic, Stig, alpine cliff rescue specialist Masa Sato of Christchurch and Queenstown white water rescue team members Andy Pedley and Mat McLeod began their search last Friday.
They found bones, including a femur and pelvis bone, trapped between large boulders on Saturday, and police retrieved the items on Sunday.
The team also found some shorts, jandals and pieces of a pack cover nearby.
Ownership of those items has not yet been confirmed.
Mr Krehic said he did quite a bit of research before returning to the Dart River.
The rough terrain in the rocky gorge below the Dart Hut contained boulders the size of trucks, and specialist skills were needed to get through it.
The water levels were lower last weekend than in January, but the terrain was still particularly difficult for Stig, who at times had to wear a harness for his safety.
"Without Stig, we wouldn't have found them [Ms Yun's remains]. He showed some interest in an area and I asked Maso and Matt to investigate the area . . .
"He [Stig] was well worn out after two days in the gorge. We were pushing him into cracks and holes and tunnel systems that the river makes its way through in flood . . .
"But we treated him just like any other team member, which was safety first," Mr Krehic said.
On Saturday, the day of the discovery, the team started its search about 7km below Dart Hut and worked its way back up.
Within 2km the team had found the personal items, and Ms Yun's remains were found another 1km up.
Mr Krehic said he and his team-mates were prepared to pay for last weekend's search themselves, but he understood police and LandSar New Zealand were now considering helping out with helicopter expenses.
Ms Yun's ex-husband, Oleg Amiton, of Auckland, said, when contacted yesterday, the discovery provided some closure for him.
A memorial service had been held earlier in the year, he said.
Their 4-year-old daughter Liann was getting a lot of attention from himself, her grandmother and friends, and was doing well, he said.
Now this news is out, my thoughts and prayers are with Irina's daughter Liann and her Dad Oleg. May God comfort you and may Irina rest in peace. I know the area well and couldn't think of a better place for ones spirit to rest in peace.
I salute Dave Krehic, and his dog Stig, for an amazing rescue. Dave is one of those hardy and caring outdoorsmen who deserves the highest praise for helping a grieving familiy find closure, and to solve another NZ alpine mystery.
If you would like to view some of Irina's photography, click on this website:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/palma
A brilliant chart detailing cannabis use in the US, lost tax revenue and the costs of prohibition, from SloshSpot :
(click to enlarge)
More On This Here
(click to enlarge)
"This Is America, Man"
Even if you haven't seen even one of the 60 episodes of the HBO TV series The Wire, this is still a downright entertaining compilation of the 100 Best Quotes from the five seasons of the Baltimore police, local government bureacracy and drug-dealing drama :
It's interesting to see so many claim The Wire is the first TV Novel, meaning it is not just a series of episodes, but a flowing, weaving narrative, closer to a novel in structure than normal TV shows. Have they never heard of the TV novel Roots, from 1977?
The Godfather movies were also re-edited for TV in 1977, and the story was screened in chronological order. It was called The Godfather Saga : A Novel For TV.
Even if you haven't seen even one of the 60 episodes of the HBO TV series The Wire, this is still a downright entertaining compilation of the 100 Best Quotes from the five seasons of the Baltimore police, local government bureacracy and drug-dealing drama :
It's interesting to see so many claim The Wire is the first TV Novel, meaning it is not just a series of episodes, but a flowing, weaving narrative, closer to a novel in structure than normal TV shows. Have they never heard of the TV novel Roots, from 1977?
The Godfather movies were also re-edited for TV in 1977, and the story was screened in chronological order. It was called The Godfather Saga : A Novel For TV.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Obowma Strikes Again!
Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs looks at this photo of President Barack Obama greeting Japanese emperor Akihito....
....and wonders if Obama is now purposely trying to fuck with the minds of American conservatives :
Yes, American conservatives much prefer a president to deal with the Saudis like this :
Just one of the charming comments at Hot Air :
UPDATE : The majority of Americans have no problem with their president bowing to a Japanese emperor :
Okay Obowma, You Can Stop Now
.
Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs looks at this photo of President Barack Obama greeting Japanese emperor Akihito....
....and wonders if Obama is now purposely trying to fuck with the minds of American conservatives :
I have to wonder if Obama was deliberately yanking the right’s chain; he must have known they’d freak out, after all of the silliness over his bow to Saudi King Abdullah.That would be this bow :
Yes, American conservatives much prefer a president to deal with the Saudis like this :
Just one of the charming comments at Hot Air :
But what about thechildren? Will America's enemies be emboldened and the country shamed if the president bows to mere children?Someone needs to give this half white half wit a swift kick in his boney black ass and remind him that Americans, especially Presidents of the United States, bow to no man, woman or beast!
UPDATE : The majority of Americans have no problem with their president bowing to a Japanese emperor :
More HereRespondents were asked: "When the president of the United States is traveling overseas, do you think it is appropriate for him to bow to a foreign leader if that is the country's custom or is it never appropriate for the president to bow to another leader?"
The numbers: Appropriate 67%, Never appropriate 26%. Even a majority of Republican respondents were okay with the bow, by a 53%-40% margin. Democrats weigh in at 84%-9%, and independents 62%-30%.
Okay Obowma, You Can Stop Now
.
The teacher who wants to bring change, climate changes.
Kelimutu volcanoe lake, East Nusa Tenggara
With so much talk and hype about climate change, and of course another global conference coming up soon, it is heart-warming to see what difference one teacher can make to his school and environment.
Hendrikus Nita, principal of an elementary school in Wolodesa hamlet in East Nusa Tenggara, showed off his school with pride.
"It used to be so dry here, now it's green," Hendrikus said.
The modest school, which sits at the foot of a hill 43 kilometers from the capital of Sikka regency, Maumere, has potted plants in front of the classes and banana trees around the area. The hill itself is lush with vegetation; in the 1980s, Hendrikus said, it was dry and barren.
As the school principal and the village facilitator for a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) programme, Hendrikus is an important figure in ensuring the community is aware of the need and measures for disaster preparedness and environmental conservation.
Sikka regency in Flores, which in 1992 was hit by a strong earthquake that triggered a deadly tsunami, is prone to several natural and manmade disasters. Earthquakes, fl oods, landslides, forest fires and typhoons are among the threats to the community's lives and livelihoods.
To ensure the Wolodesa community is prepared in the case of emergencies and to help the next generation adapt to disasters, Hendrikus holds meetings with villagers and students, to raise awareness of how to be prepared when disaster strikes.
In the workshops for students, which include disaster preparedness simulations, Hendrikus asks the children and teens to assess the potential risks of disasters in the area and to locate a safe place for people to run to during a disaster.
Hendrikus said that he tried to make everyone think of the future and, as much as possible, to reduce risks relating to disasters. In one instance, he discussed the importance in conserving the environment to save water.
"If there's no water, we're the ones who will be in trouble," he said.
Water is an issue in the area, which is prone to fl ooding during the wet season and to water shortages in the dry season.
"That's why I took my students to the village's water source and planted trees there," he said. The students hiked for 2 kilometers from the school to the location of the water source.
"That's why it's best to train people who really live in the village, like teachers or the village leaders," he said.
Hendrikus said that not all village facilitators had put their knowledge about disaster risk reduction into practice.
"The hills of the neighboring village are still bald, without many trees there. That can cause flooding," he said.
Hendrikus said that some people also sometimes intentionally set fires in the forest during the dry season.
"That way they can easily spot a wild boar on the hills while they hunt the animal," he said.
"The villagers and the students here know that burning the forest is not right, because of our meetings."
Hendrikus said that he wanted to bring improvements to the village. Having led a very disciplined life since he was a child, he wants to teach his students and other teachers that discipline as well.
"I've always arrived earlier than the others," he said.
Hendrikus, who graduated from a vocational school for teachers said that he was gained his undergraduate degree in an Open University in Maumere. He drives the 43 kilometers three times a week after work.
"Even at Maumere, where people are coming from a lot closer than me, I arrive earlier than the others," he added with a smile.
"Only with discipline and hard work we can make this village better."
Thanks to the Jakarta Post for permission to run this article.
Australian Senator Claims Church Of Scientology Covering Up "Coerced Abortions, Embezzlement, Physical Violence, Blackmail"
By Darryl Mason
Australian Senator Nick Xenophon today, under parliamentary privilege :
Will the Church of Scientology dare to accuse the Australian senator of Xenuphobia?
The Full Story Is Here
By Darryl Mason
Australian Senator Nick Xenophon today, under parliamentary privilege :
Scientology is not a religious organisation. It is a criminal organisation that hides behind its so-called religious beliefs.The Church Of Scientology quickly released a two page statement. Note the precise use of emotional trigger words throughout the statement :
What you believe does not mean you are not accountable for how you behave.
The letters received by me which were written by former followers in Australia contains extensive allegations of crimes and abuses that are truly shocking. Crimes against them and crimes they say they were coerced into committing.
There are allegations of false imprisonment, coerced abortions and embezzlement of church funds; of physical violence and intimidation, blackmail and the widespread and deliberate abuse of information obtained by the organisation.What we are seeing is a worldwide pattern of abuse and criminality. On the body of evidence, this is not happening by accident, it is happening by design.
These victims of Scientology claim it is an abusive, manipulative, violent and criminal organisation, and that criminality is condoned at the highest levels.
"Senator Xenophon is obviously being pressured by former members who use hate speech..."
"Senator Xenophon's attempts to marginalise Scientologists....is fascistic and violates freedom of speech..."
"former members are notoriously unreliable as witnesses"
"this is a propaganda campaign that would suit a totalitarian regime, not Australia"
Will the Church of Scientology dare to accuse the Australian senator of Xenuphobia?
The Full Story Is Here
How To Jump Out Of A Plane Without A Parachute And Survive
Parachutes. How 20th century :
Flying in a wing suit is said to be about as close to the feeling of being a bird as you can get. But the still indispensable parachute gets in the way, it's too big, too heavy.
Apparently, most fliers come to the conclusion after their first wing suit jumps that the parachute simply has to go.
New Scientist explains how, in a few years, wing suit fliers will get their dream :
Parachutes. How 20th century :
Flying in a wing suit is said to be about as close to the feeling of being a bird as you can get. But the still indispensable parachute gets in the way, it's too big, too heavy.
Apparently, most fliers come to the conclusion after their first wing suit jumps that the parachute simply has to go.
New Scientist explains how, in a few years, wing suit fliers will get their dream :
Just before touchdown, parachutists and hang-gliders execute a manoeuvre called a flare: raising the craft's nose to maximise lift from its wings while cutting its speed. Larger aircraft and many birds also flare when landing. Von Egidy is developing a suit she calls the Integrated Glide and Landing System (IGALS) that will allow fliers to do the same. It aims to achieve two things, the first being a much flatter glide angle.The Full Story Is Here
Normal wingsuits have a glide ratio of about 2.5:1- the pilot travels 2.5 metres horizontally for every metre of fall. Von Egidy claims she can achieve 4:1 or better by increasing the suit's wingspan, stabilising the aerofoil and changing the wing's shape.
The most innovative part of the design, though, is that it allows the pilot to drop out of the wing just before landing and hang beneath it, rather like a hang-glider pilot does, making it easier to flare without losing control.
This is the key to achieving the second aim: to slow "smoothly and dramatically" just before touchdown, so that the pilot ends up flying slowly enough to simply run off the excess speed, as in a parachute landing. Von Egidy, who is revealing the concept behind the suit for the first time here, claims it has "proved totally viable" in scale-model tests.
Monday, November 16, 2009
This hideous piece of 'merman' fakery was donated to the British Museum by royalty :
It was donated by HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught (1883 – 1938), grandson of Queen Victoria, and was said to have been 'caught' in Japan during the eighteenth century.More HereThis 'merman' is made up of the dried parts of a monkey, with a fish tail, and is probably mounted together on a wood support or core.
A Very Nazi Christmas
Der Speigel has a photo gallery explaining how the Third Reich tried to take the Christ out of Christmas. Two examples :
Der Speigel has a photo gallery explaining how the Third Reich tried to take the Christ out of Christmas. Two examples :
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