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SanDisk’s 32GB microSDHC card falls below $100, is actually in stock

Holding out on upgrading that paltry 2GB microSD card that shipped in your Android device of choice? Hold no longer. Amazon is now stocking SanDisk’s oh-so-capacious 32GB microSDHC card for just $89.73, which is notably lower than what it retailed for at launch. It’s also readily available elsewhere on the web for around the same amount, with the “readily available” part equally as impressive as the “for really cheap” part. Of course, it’s slower than molasses crawling uphill on a winter day (read: Class 2), but it’s not like you’ll be throwing this in your D3S and firing off 11 shots per second. Right ? SanDisk’s 32GB microSDHC card falls below $100, is actually in stock originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Newsweek Whacks O’Donnell: ‘Why Masturbation Helps Procreation’

Liberal media people have been amusing themselves endlessly with clips of Republican Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell’s video clip from 1996 saying the Bible says masturbation is wrong. Newsweek’s Sharon Begley is taking this to a whole new realm with a silly article with a link titled “Why Masturbation Helps Procreation.” This is the same “scientific” writer who diagnosed from afar that George W. Bush had a dangerous alcoholic’s “pathological certainty” in sticking to the war in Iraq; and the same writer who saw psychological problems in ObamaCare opponents . Begley began by responding to fellow liberals who might insist you can’t hold this poor woman to an intellectual standard: Since Christine “I’m Not a Witch” O’Donnell is campaigning for the U.S. Senate and not the directorship of the Kinsey Institute, maybe we should give her a pass when it comes to her views on sex and, specifically, masturbation. But that would be a mistake: the stakes are simply too high, going all the way up the very survival of our species…. Evidence from elephants to rodents to humans shows that masturbating is—counterintuitively—an excellent way to make healthy babies, and lots of them. No one who believes in the “family” part of family values can let her claims stand. Newsweek’s list of arguments against O’Donnell is simply too bizarre to believe: 1. Masturbation might remove old, worn-out, broken sperm from the reproductive tract. That would increase the fraction of healthy, speedy sperm, improving a male’s chance of becoming a father. “In humans, masturbation increases sperm quality (by promoting younger sperm) without affecting sperm numbers in the female reproductive tract,” notes biologist Jane Waterman of the University of Central Florida… 2. Masturbation might be a form of advertising. According to this idea, males that engage in autoeroticism signal to possible mates as well as competitors how much they have to offer… 3. Masturbation might be a sort of victory lap. Some animals masturbate after they mate. Since other members of a group know this, then masturbation signifies that the male engaging in this behavior was the chosen partner of other females. Females who are still shopping for a mate might be inspired by that information to copy their choice, as in, “if he was good enough for her …” Result: more mating, more babies. 4. Masturbation can serve a hygiene function. According to this idea, males engage in autoeroticism because it cleans the reproductive tract and reduces the chance of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease from a female that he mated with and who had other recent partners. Result: a lower incidence of STDs, better sexual hygiene, more mating, more babies. Begley concluded with tongue in cheek: “All in all, and across species great and small, autoeroticism (at least among males) is a cornerstone of procreation and thus the formation of families. Were O’Donnell’s unscientific views of the practice to spread, it would be a worrisome threat to family values.” This entire bash-O’Donnell exercise is talking beyond the reality that the young activist on MTV wasn’t making a scientific argument (or an argument for more procreation). She was making a religious argument about staying pure and avoiding sin and selfishness. But Begley has made it a habit to employ “science” like a negative political ad maker. Many humans believe the human race should be more deliberate in its sexual behavior than bonobo monkeys or the “Cape ground squirrels of Namibia,” to use Newsweek’s examples. “Family values” of the human kind are not the laws of the jungle, and it would be entertaining to see Begley go on MTV to explain to young people how “Masturbation is a form of advertising” or “a victory lap.” [Hat tip on image: The Other McCain blog]

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MTV Stacks the Deck for Pre-Election Obama Townhall?

So MTV is holding a “townhall” for President Obama on Oct. 14, at 4 p.m. in Washington, D.C. In this case, a town hall is short-hand for “an event where annoying questions are asked by unemployed hipsters with vintage t-shirts and edgy eyewear.” But a casting call has surfaced, and this is what it says: Seeking-Audience Members: males & females, 18+. To ensure that the audience represents diverse interests and political views, include your name…and what issues, if any, you are interested in or passionate about. Also, provide a recent photo and short description of your political views. So what’s the point of this pre-screening process? Well, it serves three purposes: One:  to make sure the audience reflects America – which, coming from MTV – means it will look like something a Benetton ad might vomit, if it could vomit. Get ready for every nationality you can think of, plus of few you’ve never heard of – along with some amusing piercings and Asian lettered tattoos. My prediction:  there will be a transgendered Eskimo with ADHD there to ask Obama to get her harp seal recognized as an assistant animal. Two:  to make sure the questions asked will reflect the MTV’s earnest concerns. The environment. Health care. Amnesty. Hermaphrodite bathroom rights. The central strategy: to avoid coming down too hard on Obama, and instead placing the criticism on us, for expecting too much from Captain Delicious. And three:  a smattering of hot chicks and some wistful emo dudes, who will fawn over Obama like he’s Justin Bieber with a tan. Me, I can’t wait to watch – I find projectile vomiting is ten times better than the Stairmaster when it comes to losing weight. And if you disagree with me, you’re a racist, homophobic paraphobe. Crossposted at Big Hollywood  

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The nanny state is after your cellphone : U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he believes motorists are distracted by any use of mobile phones while driving, including hands-free calls, as his department begins research that may lead him to push for a ban. LaHood, whose campaign against texting and making calls while driving has led to restrictions in 30 states, says his concerns extend to vehicle information and entertainment systems such as Ford Motor Co.’s Sync and General Motors Co.’s OnStar. “I don’t want people talking on phones, having them up to their ear or texting while they’re driving,” LaHood said in an interview this week. “We need a lot better research on other distractions,” including Bluetooth-enabled hands-free calls and the in-car systems, he said. If we’re going to eliminate everything that poses a potential distraction for drivers, here some of the other things that the feds will have to ban: Car radios or stereo systems Speedometers and engine instruments Passengers Children Make-up All printed material The outside world Each driver can be issued blinders which restrict his vision to the road ahead and special earphones that play Ray LaHood’s soothing words of wisdom to help them focus on their driving.

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ABC Promotes Nation Attack on ‘American Hypocrite’ Lou Dobbs, Skips ID of Lefty Magazine

Good Morning America on Friday promoted an attack piece by the liberal magazine The Nation against Lou Dobbs. In the two segments devoted to whether or not the populist host hired illegal immigrants, the show’s hosts never identified the left-wing agenda of the publication. Instead, an ABC graphic speculated, “American Hypocrite?” (This is also the title of The Nation’s article.) Isabel MacDonald, the reporter who filed the story for the magazine, appeared with Dobbs to debate the issue. Co-host George Stephanopoulos teased, ” One of America’s loudest opponents of illegal immigration is called a hypocrite. ” During the four references to The Nation on Friday’s program, none of the show’s journalists labeled the magazine  left-wing or liberal. Instead, reporter David Muir would neutrally begin sentences by asserting, “The Nation magazine says…” Additionally, Good Morning America does not treat scoops in the conservative National Review or Weekly Standard as the basis for eight minute segments. Appearing on the show, Dobbs dismissed The Nation as a “left-wing, activist, advocacy publication.” He then directly took on supposedly neutral journalists: “My disappointment is with the national media that has just gone along with this as if it were somehow valid, without doing any reporting. And, by the way, not a single one of the organizations contacted me for a statement, other than CBS News.” The Evening News actually covered the story on Thursday night. Host Katie Couric explained, “Dobbs called the story a political assault and the reporter who wrote it admitted that a contractor had hired the illegal workers, not Dobbs.” However, Couric, too, failed to note the liberal agenda of The Nation. On GMA, Roberts put the responsibility on the ex-CNN host: “But knowing now what you do, will you change how you go about with your contractor? Have you looked into people that are now working for you on your properties?” A transcript of the first segment, which aired at 7:13am EDT, follows: 7am tease ABC GRAPHIC: American Hypocrite? GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Immigration firestorm. One of America’s loudest opponents of illegal immigration is called a hypocrite. Lou Dobbs joins us live to answers to the reporter who charged his contractors employed undocumented workers for years. 7:13 ROBIN ROBERTS: Former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs is under fire this morning for allegedly hiring contractors who employed undocumented workers, people in this country illegally. Dobbs, of course, has long spoken out against illegal immigration. And now he is defending himself against charges he is a hypocrite. We’re going to speak to him live in just a moment. He’s there at his home in New Jersey. And also the journalist who broke the story, she’s here in the studio. But, first, David Muir has more on the story. MUIR: In a new report, The Nation magazine says radio host and former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs- LOU DOBBS: Illegal immigration is costing this country and you as a taxpayer, hundreds of billions of dollars. MUIR: -long outspoken on immigration and undocumented workers and the people who hire them, has himself relied on undocumented workers. ISABEL MACDONALD (The Nation Magazine): There were undocumented workers caring for his million-dollar show jumping horses. And undocumented workers caring for the grounds of his estate in West Palm Beach. MUIR: Dobbs, who has not ruled out a run for political office, took on the claims and the reporter, inviting the reporter on his radio show. LOU DOBBS: A young lady, by the name of Isabel MacDonald, a reporter for the Nation has put together a fairly typical hit piece, smear piece. Did you say that I hired, or my firm hired, illegal immigrants? MACDONALD: I am saying that for years undocumented immigrants looked after your show jumping horses. And, for years, they look after the grounds of your estate in West Palm Beach, Florida. MUIR: The Nation magazine released video of what they say are the reporter’s interviews with some of those undocumented workers. “I’m an immigrant who doesn’t have papers. But I worked for him because he is a very important person.” Dobbs has called the reporting a political assault. And is adamant he nor his company have ever hired undocumented workers. For Good Morning America David Muir, ABC News, New York.

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This changes the 2/3 vote requirement for the state budget to a simple majority – a reform I have long supported. Experience has shown that the current 2/3 vote requirement for the budget does not restrain spending and it utterly blurs … Jerry Brown Caught on Tape Calling Meg Whitman a “Whore ”. Will the mainstream media ignore this story?……. Jerry Brown Caught on Tape Calling Meg Whitman a “Whore ” Jerry Brown Caught on Tape Calling Meg Whitman a “Whore ” …

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In a private conversation that was inadvertently taped by a voicemail machine, an associate of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown can be heard referring to his Republican opponent Meg Whitman as a “ whore ” for cutting a deal … Months earlier, Whitman had agreed to exempt public safety officials from key parts of her pension reform plan. “Do we want to put an ad out? … That I have been warned if I crack down on pensions, I will be – that they’ll go to Whitman, …

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Weekday Vegetarian: Vegan Napa Cabbage and Sesame Slaw

Photo: Kelly Rossiter This is one of those super quick and easy recipes to make as a side dish to a grilled or fried tofu , or tofu with a sauce , or even the braised squash with black beans that I wrote about yesterday. The recipe says to pulse the dressing ingredients in a blender, but really, you can do this by hand. Just put the ingredients into a jar, put the lid on and give it a good s… Read the full story on TreeHugger

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The Week in Pictures: Toxic Industrial Sludge Covers Hungarian Villages, White House Will Install Solar Panels, and More (Slideshow)

A state of emergency has been declared in Hungary where four people are dead, 120 injured and six missing as torrents of red toxic sludge, the byproduct of bauxite refining for aluminum, burst from a containment pond and poured through six villages in three counties. In other environmental news this week, the White House has announced that solar panels will be installed on the White House living quarters by spring 2011; A Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion has recently set a new Guinness World Record for the “longest distance traveled by a standard production passenger car on a single tank of fuel”; and in Pap… Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Phosphor’s latest watch can E Ink its way through 24 time zones

Tired of waiting for Seiko to produce an E Ink watch that mere mortals can touch , much less afford? A little company by the name of Art Technology has been delivering mass-market wearables using the technology since 2007 — and its latest model dials up the functionality factor just a smidge by adding support for twenty-four time zones, two of which can be displayed simultaneously. Granted, it’s using a segmented display, not dot matrix — which means it bears a closer resemblance to that Timex you owned in the late ’80s than Seiko’s wild active matrix model — but again, like we said, this one’s actually quite affordable and it’s available right this second. Depending on your choice of band style, you’ll pay anywhere from $150 to $195; follow the break for the full press release. Continue reading Phosphor’s latest watch can E Ink its way through 24 time zones Phosphor’s latest watch can E Ink its way through 24 time zones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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