DYSPEPSIA GENERATION

We have seen the future, and it sucks.

Archive for July, 2008

Never Too Late

31st July 2008

Read it.

Brian May, guitarist for rock band Queen, completes Ph.D. thesis following 30-year hiatus

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on Never Too Late

US farmers put sunscreen on their fruit

31st July 2008

Read it.

Posted in Is this a great country, or what? | Comments Off on US farmers put sunscreen on their fruit

Broadband offers bright future to Welsh monks

31st July 2008

Read it.

Cistercians were always a bunch of slackers.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on Broadband offers bright future to Welsh monks

The Church Of Obama

31st July 2008

Read it.

Keeping you informed about the important trends of the day.

*Universalist Unitarian Obamaists: This denomination believes there are other politicians besides Obama, but they enjoy the fellowship of the weekly campaign events.  They are the least reliable Obamaists, as they aren’t certain if they will vote for Obama, or if he even exists at all.

Posted in Is this a great country, or what? | Comments Off on The Church Of Obama

Stuff White People Like #106 Facebook

31st July 2008

Read it.

For a brief period of time, MySpace was the site where everyone kept their profile and managed their friendships. But soon, the service began to attract fake profiles, the wrong kind of white people, and struggling musicians. In real world terms, these three developments would be equivalent to a check cashing store, a TGIFridays, and a housing project. All which strike fear in the hearts of white people.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on Stuff White People Like #106 Facebook

Dems attack Sen. Coburn for delivering babies for free

31st July 2008

Read it.

The only principles in the Democrat party are tactical.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on Dems attack Sen. Coburn for delivering babies for free

HAMAS v FATAH: FUZZ WAR!

31st July 2008

Read it.

Perhaps we could do that with the guys down in Gitmo. Shave ’em bare. For health reasons, of course.

Posted in Living with Islam. | Comments Off on HAMAS v FATAH: FUZZ WAR!

Carrier Officers Relieved of Duty

31st July 2008

Read it.

Compare and contrast those in political office. Why is Ted Stevens still in office? Why is William “Cold Cash” Jefferson not only in office but filling important committe slots?

Would we really be worse off if the military ran the country?

Posted in Think about it. | Comments Off on Carrier Officers Relieved of Duty

Ridemaster Pro is world’s most advanced rocking horse

31st July 2008

Read it.

Just in case you were wondering. I know I was.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on Ridemaster Pro is world’s most advanced rocking horse

A Very Distorted Vision of Humanity

31st July 2008

Yaacov ben Moshe is always worth reading.

Tyranny- It Always Quickens the Progressive Pulse

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on A Very Distorted Vision of Humanity

FireWire 1600 and 3200 approved by IEEE

31st July 2008

Read it.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on FireWire 1600 and 3200 approved by IEEE

GDP: A few pictures are worth a book

31st July 2008

Megan McArdle gives us some very interesting graphs about who’s producing and who’s not.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on GDP: A few pictures are worth a book

Mary Rose ‘sank because Spanish crew did not understand orders’

31st July 2008

Read it.

Forensic examination of the crew’s skulls, which were found next the 16th century wreck in The Solent, has revealed that Henry VIII’s flagship was mainly crewed by foreign sailors, thought to be either mercenaries or Spanish prisoners of war.

More info here.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on Mary Rose ‘sank because Spanish crew did not understand orders’

Morality and animal welfare

31st July 2008

Megan McArdle is really a girl after all.

Is it possible to be a vegan without judging other people?

Possible, yes; likely, no. Most vegans are like anti-smokers and atheists — it’s not enough that they’re living on a higher moral plane than you are, it’s required that you be forced to admit it. They’re a lot like Muslims that way.

And somebody ought to reveal to them that “vegan” is somebody from the star Vega. People who only eat vegetables are herbivores. You know, like cows.

Posted in Axis of Drivel -- Adventures in Narrative Media | Comments Off on Morality and animal welfare

Annals of polemicism

31st July 2008

Megan McArdle fisks a bunch of lefty professors at Chicago whose undies are in a wad over possibly being associated with such a heinous figure as Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman.

Translated, “when we go to fashionable lefty cocktail parties in Venezuela, it’s embarrassing to admit who signs our paychecks.”

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on Annals of polemicism

10 Things to Scratch From Your Worry List

31st July 2008

John Tierney is on the case.

For most of the year, it is the duty of the press to scour the known universe looking for ways to ruin your day. The more fear, guilt or angst a news story induces, the better. But with August upon us, perhaps you’re in the mood for a break, so I’ve rounded up a list of 10 things not to worry about on your vacation.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on 10 Things to Scratch From Your Worry List

Arms and the Man

31st July 2008

Read it.

It all started with Herodotus.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on Arms and the Man

Yes, Reading Online Is Still Reading

31st July 2008

Read it.

A lot of people don’t seem to realize that.

Posted in News You Can Use. | 1 Comment »

“Intolerant” villagers stop “tolerance” festival

30th July 2008

Read it.

Amazing how that works. Guess the Kumbaya juice has lost it’s magic power.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on “Intolerant” villagers stop “tolerance” festival

Rights Group Reports Torture by Palestinian Security Forces

30th July 2008

Read it.

I’m shocked, I tell you, shocked.

Posted in Axis of Drivel -- Adventures in Narrative Media | Comments Off on Rights Group Reports Torture by Palestinian Security Forces

Unique medieval astrolabe saved by the British Museum

30th July 2008

Read it.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on Unique medieval astrolabe saved by the British Museum

Northrop Grumman’s aircraft-mounted laser moves forward in testing

30th July 2008

Read it.

And there was much rejoicing. Break out the jiffy-pop.

Posted in Is this a great country, or what? | Comments Off on Northrop Grumman’s aircraft-mounted laser moves forward in testing

New X-ray technique reveals colour of hidden van Gogh

30th July 2008

Read it.

We have the technology.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on New X-ray technique reveals colour of hidden van Gogh

Hitachi Starboard FX 77 Duo white board gets demoed on video

30th July 2008

Read it.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on Hitachi Starboard FX 77 Duo white board gets demoed on video

David Brooks as the Kinder, Gentler Steve Sailer

30th July 2008

Read it.

It’s all about Steve. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

As you know, my basic shtick is that, increasingly, specific government policies tend to matter less than the quantities and qualities of various populations. For example, Hong Kong became prosperous under free trade and laissez-faire, while Singapore became prosperous under protectionism and paternalism.

Thus, immigration policy is more central to the future of America than most of the controversies more welcome in the pages of the New York Times.

And he makes a good case for it. I’ve always said that there’s nothing wrong with New York that about a million ethnic Chinese wouldn’t cure.

Posted in Think about it. | Comments Off on David Brooks as the Kinder, Gentler Steve Sailer

Ballooning priest’s body found in ocean off Brazil

30th July 2008

Read it.

Darwin Award.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on Ballooning priest’s body found in ocean off Brazil

Jet pack unveiled by New Zealand inventor

30th July 2008

Read it.

Cool, yeah, but would you trust your life to one?

Posted in News You Can Use. | 1 Comment »

Antigua honeymoon murder: Wife pleaded for help as husband was beaten

30th July 2008

Read it.

I guess that means “stay away from Antigua”.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on Antigua honeymoon murder: Wife pleaded for help as husband was beaten

Inside Professor Obama’s Classroom

30th July 2008

Read it.

Obama is really a rather garden-variety liberal. Makes one wonder what all the shouting is about.

Posted in Axis of Drivel -- Adventures in Narrative Media | Comments Off on Inside Professor Obama’s Classroom

Letting Students Drop a Question: A Big Mistake

30th July 2008

Read it.

An interesting perspective. The whole question of how to create a fair and effective examination is one which doesn’t appear to get a lot of serious thought.

Posted in Think about it. | 1 Comment »

PETA Targets Military’s Use of Animals

30th July 2008

Read it.

Wouldn’t they be astonished if the military targeted them back?

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on PETA Targets Military’s Use of Animals

Research Journals Make It As Difficult As Possible To Openly Publish Gov’t Funded Research

30th July 2008

Read it.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on Research Journals Make It As Difficult As Possible To Openly Publish Gov’t Funded Research

Dyslexic student challenges multiple choice exams

30th July 2008

Read it.

Of course. “I’m not defective. Your test is defective for being geared toward NORMAL PEOPLE.”

If someone were to shoot him, it would solve the whole problem.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on Dyslexic student challenges multiple choice exams

Missing gold-hunter survived on termites for days in Australian bush

30th July 2008

Read it.

Words fail me.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on Missing gold-hunter survived on termites for days in Australian bush

Alaska Sen. Stevens Accused Of Making False Statements

29th July 2008

The Wall Street Journal is just full of happy news today.

Sen. Stevens, 86 years old, has been dogged by a federal investigation into whether he pushed for fishing legislation that also benefited his son, an Alaska lobbyist. Authorities have also scrutinized his ties to a corrupt oil contractor who paid employees to renovate the senator’s home.

Unfortunately there isn’t any way to get back any of the billions of taxpayer dollars he’s wasted over the years. But at least we may see him go to jail. I’d pay money for that.

Posted in Your tax dollars at work - and play. | Comments Off on Alaska Sen. Stevens Accused Of Making False Statements

Did Edwards’ VP chances take tabloid hit?

29th July 2008

Read it.

Well, I suppose I should be happy that Edwards got caught a la Clinton, but I’m not. People ought to behave themselves.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on Did Edwards’ VP chances take tabloid hit?

The Numbers Are In, Again – The Rich Pay More Than Their “Fair Share”

29th July 2008

Read it.

Not really news to anybody who pays attention, but that still leaves a lot of people.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on The Numbers Are In, Again – The Rich Pay More Than Their “Fair Share”

Gorillas hand-reared in Kent returned to wild in Africa

29th July 2008

Read it.

Wonder whether they asked the gorilla whether it wanted to go back to Africa. Probably not.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on Gorillas hand-reared in Kent returned to wild in Africa

Man blows up garage trying to make biodiesel

29th July 2008

Read it.

Good thing he wasn’t in Parliament. Then he could have blown up the economy trying to make biodiesel.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on Man blows up garage trying to make biodiesel

Salinas the Californian town fighting gangs by fasting

29th July 2008

Read it.

Unfortunately, it would seem that they neglected the “and prayer” part.

It had never been designed to “take the place” of law enforcement but had served to “bring people together and raise consciousness,” he added.

Will all of the attempts to “raise consciousness” since that vile phrase was originated in the 60s, you’d think that there wasn’t any higher it could go.

Posted in You can't make this stuff up. | Comments Off on Salinas the Californian town fighting gangs by fasting

British professionals taught Indian etiquette

29th July 2008

Read it.

Apparently the problem is that they were behaving too much like Americans.

I can see the difficulty.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on British professionals taught Indian etiquette

McCain is a man of good character but no brains

29th July 2008

Read it.

And that, I think, about sums it up.

I wonder if I could have some bumper-stickers made up with that phrase. I bet I could sell a lot of them.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on McCain is a man of good character but no brains

Iranian hostage Royal Navy captain sacked

29th July 2008

Read it.

A pity they don’t still have keel-hauling.

But the Navy insisted that the dismissal was “absolutely not” related to the capture of 15 sailors and Royal Marines last year or to any personnel issues on board.

Too bad. He ought to have been dragged from his bridge in irons.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on Iranian hostage Royal Navy captain sacked

Mystery hairs ‘may have come from a Yeti’

28th July 2008

Read it.

No doubt a “special needs Yeti” who requires protection from exploitation by an unfeeling populace. Oh, the horror.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on Mystery hairs ‘may have come from a Yeti’

Heathrow expansion protestors may disrupt airport

27th July 2008

Read it.

And the Luddite program to cancel the Industrial Revolution proceeds apace.

Posted in Dystopia Watch | Comments Off on Heathrow expansion protestors may disrupt airport

Adventurer Steve Fossett ‘may have faked his own death’

27th July 2008

Read it.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on Adventurer Steve Fossett ‘may have faked his own death’

Saudis Face Soaring Blood-Money Sums

27th July 2008

Read it.

MECCA, Saudi Arabia — Badr al-Hasnani was 18 when he got into a fight with a soccer rival and fatally stabbed him. He confessed and was sentenced to death by beheading, as prescribed by sharia, or Islamic law.

For more than two years, Hasnani has been in a juvenile detention center awaiting execution while his family has tried to save him.

The parents of the victim, Majid al-Mahmoudi, have three options under sharia: to demand punishment, to spare Hasnani’s life to receive blessings from God, or to grant clemency in exchange for diyah, or blood money.

When I was a kid, I always wondered what it would be like to go back to the Middle Ages, only taking modern technology with me. Little did I know that I could do that today, by visiting Saudi Arabia. It’s the 7th century, with AK-47s.

The Mahmoudis agreed to accept diyah, setting the sum at $2 million in cash, much more than Hasnani’s family can afford.

I guess “blessings from God” don’t compare to cold cash in Muslim lands. Perhaps they aren’t so medieval after all.

Posted in Living with Islam. | Comments Off on Saudis Face Soaring Blood-Money Sums

Extremist Steve Sailer is Source for CNN’s ‘Black in America’ Series

26th July 2008

Read it.

Steve must be doing something right if the “Southern Poverty Law Center” (a name that is the oxymoronic equal of “Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea”) doesn’t like him.

Posted in Is this a great country, or what? | Comments Off on Extremist Steve Sailer is Source for CNN’s ‘Black in America’ Series

Pantel readies trio of weatherproof Mirror TVs

26th July 2008

Read it.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on Pantel readies trio of weatherproof Mirror TVs

Brando’s Solar Mini Clip Fan ruins your shot at picking up friends

26th July 2008

Read it.

I’d rather be comfortable than have friends. But that’s me.

Posted in News You Can Use. | Comments Off on Brando’s Solar Mini Clip Fan ruins your shot at picking up friends