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Barney Frank completely pwns hapless CNS reporter attempting ‘gotcha’ DADT question

Click here to view this media You can tell that all these reporters for right-wing propaganda organs like the Media Research Center spend waaaay too much time watching Fox News and their army of would-be ambush journalists. Because they often try to imitate their betters only to discover that it can seriously backfire on them. Especially when the intended victim is a seriously smart person like Barney Frank. This happened yesterday to a young reporter for CNS (an MRC outlet), as Terry Krepel at Media Matters reports : Apparently feeling confident (and sufficiently homophobic), CNS decided to target Rep. Barney Frank with a question about the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – specifically, whether he thought gay and straight soldiers should shower together. This was based on a statement calling for a ban on separate showers from the Pentagon’s report on the impact of repealing DADT that CNS had previously singled out. Frank saw this coming from a mile away. As CNS reporter Nicholas Ballasy slowly got out the words “shower with homosexuals,” Frank let out an exaggerated gasp and responded, “What do you think happens in gyms all over America?” After calling it a “silly issue,” Frank added, “What do you think goes wrong with people showering with homosexuals? Do you think it’s the spray makes it catching? … We don’t get ourselves dry-cleaned.” Frank then turned the tables on his interviewer by quizzing Ballasy: “I know you’re looking for some way to kind of discredit the policy. Do you think that gyms should have separate showers for gay and straight people? I’m asking you the question because that’s the logic of what you’re telling me. You seem to think that there’s something extraordinary about gay men showering together. Do you think gyms should have separate showers for gay people and straight people?” Ballasy wouldn’t answer, insisting that he was “just quoting the recommendation.” Frank responded: “Don’t be disingenuous. You’re quoting those you think may cause us some problems. You’re entitled to do that, but you shouldn’t hide behind your views.” Frank again asked the question of Ballasy, who again wouldn’t answer, trying to change the subject: “So that’s the question you would pose to people who have an issue with that part of the report, the recommendation?” Frank made his point one more time, and that’s where the CNS ends the video. As is often the case with Barney Frank, it is a delightfully thorough humiliation.

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Dell lowers Streak price to $400, but will make you wait until January to get it

Good news: Dell’s unlocked Streak has just plunged down the pricing charts with a neat $180 discount taking it to a palatable $400 level. Bad news: you won’t get yours shipped until the 10th of January, according to Round Rock’s web outlet. Android 2.2 won’t come preloaded, you’ll have to snag the OTA update , though you do get a wide palette of colors to choose from, including black, noir, nero, preto, and schwarz — pick wisely! [Thanks, Xelaenil] Dell lowers Streak price to $400, but will make you wait until January to get it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Greenpeace Unveils Gulf Spill-Themed Board Game

Just in time for Christmas, everyone’s favorite radical environmental activist group has whipped up a Gulf spill -themed board game that pits Greenpeace against the “evil” oil companies. There’s no word whether Greenpeace’s game, Deep Sea Desperation, was inspired by BP’s own dubiously-designed 1970′s board game … … Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Panasonic’s Sanyo and PEW buyout official: subsidiaries for life

Congratulations, Panasonic , you’re now the adoptive father of two companies, Sanyo and Panasonic Electric Works. We know, the plan’s been all but confirmed since July , but it’s nice to see the deal go through and all the necessary paperwork signed. Both now-wholly-owned subsidiaries (through a share exchange that commenced today) are scheduled to be de-listed from the Tokyo Stock Exchange on March 29th, 2011, and after that… well, independence was fun while it lasted, eh chaps? Panasonic’s Sanyo and PEW buyout official: subsidiaries for life originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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The Year in Celebrities: The Biggest Green Hits and Misses (Slideshow)

Photo: Jun Sato/WireImage/Getty Images From sexy Leo’s mega donation to tigers to Kevin Costner’s surprise knowledge of oil clean-up technology, celebrities were on fire this year. There were a few mistakes, however….such as NBC’s “Tonight Show” debacle, which sent a barely used set to landfill. Here’s a look back at the year in green hits and misses when it comes to Hollywood’s A-listers.

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Pucker Up: New Mistletoe Species Discovered in Africa

Image: Kew It looks like there’s yet another reason for some holiday cheer this season: Scientists have discovered a new, exotic species of mistletoe in Mozambique. The new mistletoe is rather striking looking — folks might hesitate before pecking beneath this plant, at least before the third or fourth round at the office Christmas party…. Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Mikael of Copenhagenize on Why We Should NOT Wear Bike Helmets

Mikael Colville-Anderson is as entertaining in video as he is at Copenhagenize.com. He explains in this TED talk why he thinks bicycle helmets promote a culture of fear, that pedestrians and drivers have far higher rates of head injuries but nobody tells them to wear helmets, and that cycle helmets are a conspiracy by the auto makers to scare people off bikes and into cars. … Read the full story on TreeHugger

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iKlip iPad microphone stand is now shipping, flute solos sold separately

Hard to say if it’ll arrive in time for your Christmas Jam Session this Saturday, but IK Multimedia’s iKlip is now shipping. For those who can’t tell by the incredible image above (and below, for that matter), it’s a microphone clip for your iPad. Plain and simple, simple and plain. Hit the source link to cut $39.99 (or €29.99) from your budget, and inject untold amounts of joy into your life. Gallery: IK Multimedia’s iKlip: universal microphone stand adapter for iPad Continue reading iKlip iPad microphone stand is now shipping, flute solos sold separately iKlip iPad microphone stand is now shipping, flute solos sold separately originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Chinese Environmental Group Builds Chopstick Tree, Chops It Down in Central Shanghai

Image: China Environmental Protection Foundation With various ” bring your own chopsticks ” movements making little headway against the 45 billion pairs of disposable wooden utensils used each year in China alone, a clever Chinese environmental group has brought a dramatic visible representation of the environmental impact to the streets of downtown

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Green Overload: 5 Green Products We Don’t Need More of

Photo: annnie via flickr. At TreeHugger, it seems every week there’s a press release for a new line of reusable bags or organic body care . Don’t get us wrong, we love reusable bags in snappy colors and organic skin cream promising miracle results — but at times it’s a bit discouraging that we wait in vain for other less marketable advances — like green packing tape, for example. Here are five green products we probably d… Read the full story on TreeHugger

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