Jim Goad is nicely dyspeptic today.

Despite the Tawana Brawley rape hoax and the Duke Lacrosse rape hoax and the fact that on any given day you can search the phrase “false rape” on Google News and dredge up countless stories of bitter, scorned, vindictive, psychotic women falsely accusing men of rape, the howling harpies of latter-day feminism and their gelded male worker elves continue to insist that false rape accusations are a patriarchal fiction.

That’s why the nuclear-reactor-level meltdown of that mossy old rancidly flatulent hippie rag Rolling Stone over an at least partially—and perhaps entirely—fraudulent gang-rape story at the University of Virginia is so exquisitely delicious.

We live in a world where a fake rape at UVA gets more press than that (and worse) in entire Muslim countries. Go figure.

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Both good things. At last, a useful piece of ‘wearable’ tech.

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Sustainable-development theorists’ aversion to, and environmental activists’ dislike for, synthetic products, long-distance trade and economies of scale is most unfortunate. True, manufacturing operations are not yet perfect, but the ‘green’ alternatives touted as inherently superior, from organic food to local and smaller-scale productions, are typically much worse.

Natural dyes are a case in point. What well-meaning activists and ‘enviropreneurs’ miss is that their ‘solution’ to a largely non-existent problem would come not only with a hefty price for consumers (in terms of paying a lot more for inferior products), but it would also affect the environment given that many parts of the world that have been allowed to ‘rewilden’ in the past few decades would need to be, once again, put under the plough.

Market processes are not perfect, but they constantly reward the development of more efficient and less problematic alternatives over time. Ignoring the lessons of business and technological history can only deliver a poorer and more environmentally stressed world.

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Our mainstream economic system is oriented towards maximal production and growth. This effectively means that participants are forced to maximize their portions of the cake in order to stay in the game. It is therefore necessary to insert useless and even harmful “tumor material” in one’s own economical portion in order to avoid losing one’s position. This produces an ever-growing global parasite fungus that manifests as things like black boxes, planned obsolescence and artificial creation of needs.

I’m not sure where he’s going with this but it’s an interesting read.

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A fascinating review of the many layers that accrete in an ancient city.

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After a closer examination of a surviving marvel of ancient Greek technology known as the Antikythera Mechanism, scientists have found that the device not only predicted solar eclipses but also organized the calendar in the four-year cycles of the Olympiad, forerunner of the modern Olympic Games.

The new findings, reported Wednesday in the journal Nature, also suggested that the mechanism’s concept originated in the colonies of Corinth, possibly Syracuse, on Sicily. The scientists said this implied a likely connection with Archimedes.

Some of us remember.

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Legend has it that in the 1960s, one Daniel da Silva returned to his native Portugal following a stint in France and Belgium, with a vision of adapting the classic grilled ham and cheese croque-monsieur for local palates.

The result was the Francesinha (“Frenchie”), an example of what happens when you take a simple sarnie, crank it up to 11 with the addition of meaty overdrive and then douse it in alcohol-heavy sauce.

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When you think of bionic exoskeleton suits, images of futuristic high-tech super soldiers often come to mind. Think Tom Cruise in this summer’s sci-fi flick Edge Of Tomorrow, or Ripley taking on the queen xenomorph in Aliens. While militaries across the world are certainly interested in designing weaponized exo-suits for their armies of the future, powered exoskeletons are actually finding a much more benevolent niche right now: patient rehabilitation.

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Leaves … cows … demonstrators … it’s all good.

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They don’t like the police? Fine. Pull the police out of their neighborhood and see how long they survive.

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Gee, I wonder why.

The end is in sight for the meter reader, who each month faithfully tramps through the flower beds or into the basement, flashlight and clipboard in hand, to record electricity use.

They are being phased out because tens of millions of new meters talk directly to the electric company. The meters can record use by the hour, changing the price as the market changes and telling the customer — or maybe even the appliances themselves — the best time to buy energy.

But this is not happening. Although the goal is to shift consumption to off-peak hours when cheaper, cleaner electricity is available, experts say it is still many years away, despite billions in federal subsidies that have helped finance the switch to the so-called smart grid.

Your tax dollars at work.

25 Amazing Life Hacks You Won’t Believe You Didn’t Know.

Edible Greeting Cards. I am not making this up.

Shoulder Bag With Pop-Up Tablet Holder. For those who are insecure with their geek status.

New Pills Make Farts Smell Like Chocolate.

Pressure Oven.

Bubble-Wrap Suit.

‘You Suck at Parking’ Business Cards.

Ring Weeder.

Liquid Plastic Welder.

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News recently emerged that Russia was banning key Islamic scriptures—including Sahih Bukhari—on the charge that they promote “exclusivity [supremacism] of one of the world’s religions,” namely Islam; or, in the words of a senior assistant to the prosecutor of Tatarstan Ruslan Galliev, “a militant Islam” which “arouses ethnic, religious enmity.”

If Sahih Bukhari, a nine-volume hadith collection compiled in the 9^th century and seen by Sunni Muslims as second in importance only to the Koran itself is being banned for inciting hostility, where does that leave the Koran?

Read it. And watch the video.

“My generation of boys is f**ked,” says Rupert, a young German video game enthusiast I’ve been getting to know over the past few months. “Marriage is dead. Divorce means you’re screwed for life. Women have given up on monogamy, which makes them uninteresting to us for any serious relationship or raising a family. That’s just the way it is. Even if we take the risk, chances are the kids won’t be ours. In France, we even have to pay for the kids a wife has through adulterous affairs.

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One of the two men involved pleaded guilty to the attacks in 2012. The other remained at large. Police had a suspect, but they couldn’t pin the crime on him due to a twist of genetic fate: He had an identical twin brother, and DNA from the condom matched both siblings. But now, a decade after the assaults, scientists have developed a genetic test that can distinguish between identical twins, and it may be used in court for the first time in this case.

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Parents are discovering that having government employees responsible for educating their kids is not a recipe for success.

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My, what a surprise! Aren’t you surprised? I’m sure surprised.

Why is this considered ‘news’?

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The group’s preference for pragmatism over ideology makes it a potential ally for any president—even a liberal Democratic one. It has proven it by backing the administration’s position, not that of tea party Republicans, on issues such as comprehensive immigration reform and avoiding government shutdowns and debt crises.

Translation: ‘So long as you stay bought, we don’t care what party you belong to.’

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Villagers call it “Loi Obama” — Obama’s Law.

The legislation compels U.S. companies to audit their supply chains to ensure that they are not using “conflict minerals” — particularly gold, coltan, tin and tungsten from artisanal mines controlled by Congo’s murderous militias. It was championed by influential activists and lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, and tucked into the massive Wall Street reform law known as the Dodd-Frank Act.

…

As it sought to comply with the law, Congo’s government began by shutting down the mining industry for months. Then, a process was launched to certify the country’s minerals as conflict-free. But the process is unfolding at a glacial pace, marred by a lack of political will, corruption and bureaucratic and logistical delays.

That has led foreign companies to avoid buying the minerals, which has driven down prices. Many miners are forced to find other ways to survive, including by joining armed groups. Meanwhile, the militias remain potent threats.

Way to go, Congress.

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Sounds like a win-win to me.

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As McClatchy’s Anita Kumar points out, Obama is known to many Native Americans as “Barack Black Eagle Obama” after receiving an American Indian name in 2008 during his campaign for president.

Wonder what the Crow is for ‘Barack Half-White Turkey Obama’ might be.

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Law abiding, tax paying, responsible citizens need some gesture or symbol of solidarity that is photogenic. I am thinking perhaps, one hand over our back pocket/wallet with the other hand waist high outstretched palm forward, as in “don’t come toward me, don’t rob me, don’t try to assault me.” I’m sure Ramirez could render a model.

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Which is most of us, I think, to be honest.

Consider: When before in human history has it been a laudable thing to be defective?

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For years Muhammad has been racing up the chart of the country’s most popular baby names – and now he has been joined by his sisters Nur and Maryam.

The two girls’ names have been among the most popular of 2014, according to website BabyCentre.

The data shows a surge in Arabic names in the UK this year, with Omar, Ali and Ibrahim all entering the boys’ top 100 for the first time.

Welcome to Londonistan. Be careful not to step in the diversity.

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Early this morning a group of mujahideen from al-Shabaab slaughtered thirty-six non-Muslim quarry workers in northern Kenya. As in other recent attacks, the gunmen demanded that each worker recite verses from the Koran (or possibly the shahada). Those who were unable to do so were identified as non-Muslims, and shot.

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According to the Las Vegas Sun, the man put $20 in the machine and “won $14,282,544.” He was at the casino with an out-of-town guest and had been playing the slot machine for about five minutes when he hit the jackpot.

The church he attends has been holding “services in a high school gymnasium,” and the gentleman is happy that he and his fellow congregants can now build their own building.

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Remind me how this is the business of the Federal government.

In an announcement today, the White House has pledged $263 million in new federal funding for police training and body cameras, set aside by executive order.

So that whole thing about Congress being the body that appropriates tax money for federal spending is out the window, too. Well, that’s at least consistent.

The Other McCain keeps birdwatching.

Just in time for the holidays, feminism is the gift that keeps on giving, and another academic sadist tells us what’s wrong with men….

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With this volume, Ibn Warraq has succeeded in proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Koran is a human document, with a human history. These studies will go a long way toward breaking through the fantastic fairy-tale claims Muslims make about the Koran: as perfect and “uncreated,” revealed by an angel to an illiterate Arab in the Hijaz, memorized and passed down by an unbroken oral tradition, and never edited or altered by human hands.

…

Christmas in the Koran contains a complete, compelling and methodical argument, showcasing the work of sixteen prominent scholars in the field of Koranic philology, which demolishes the standard Islamic narrative.

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And that’s exactly what Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, wanted to happen.

Be careful what you wish for.

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What do you make of the attempt to bar Bill Maher from speaking at Berkeley for his riff on Muslims?

Well, I love Bill, but I stopped playing colleges, and the reason is because they’re way too conservative.

In their political views?

Not in their political views — not like they’re voting Republican — but in their social views and their willingness not to offend anybody. Kids raised on a culture of “We’re not going to keep score in the game because we don’t want anybody to lose.” Or just ignoring race to a fault. You can’t say “the black kid over there.” No, it’s “the guy with the red shoes.” You can’t even be offensive on your way to being inoffensive.

When did you start to notice this?

About eight years ago. Probably a couple of tours ago. It was just like, This is not as much fun as it used to be. I remember talking to George Carlin before he died and him saying the exact same thing.

Steve Sailer keeps trotting out facts that undercut The Narrative.

As you’ll recall, one cause of the rage of the privilege class in the prestige press is that in recent years, Americans have been able to increasingly watch on sites like World Star Hip Hop clips of blacks behaving badly. The national media have responded by turning the volume on the Megaphone up to 11: “Do Not Believe Your Lying Eyes! White Privilege! Black Bodies! Intersectionality! Invisible Knapsacks! Microaggressions!”

The convenience store where Michael Brown began his fatal crime spree had a security camera. The Obama Administration sure didn’t pay attention to that video.

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The discovery adds to the ongoing mystery of Antarctica’s expanding sea ice. According to climate models, the region’s sea ice should be shrinking each year because of global warming. Instead, satellite observations show the ice is expanding, and the continent’s sea ice has set new records for the past three winters. At the same time, Antarctica’s ice sheet (the glacial ice on land) is melting and retreating.

Hey, maybe (just maybe) the climate models are wrong and THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS GLOBAL WARMING. Just maybe.