3/28    "Dude!  I've totally just had this kick ass idea dude! <bong rip>
        After college, let's you and me be DEFENSE CONTRACTORS!  DUDE!
        THAT WILL RULE DUDE!"
        http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/world/asia/27ammo.html
        \_ Only if you also have a 22-yr-old licensed male masseur as the VP,
           unless you're willing to perform all the dick massages to the
           Pentagon officials yourself in order to get your company into the
           market.

3/28    "Parents pick prayer over docs; girl dies"
        http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080328/ap_on_re_us/daughter_s_death_prayer
        \_ "Obviously, they didn't pray hard enough"    -Religious Conservative
           \_ Ummm.. since you just made that up, why are there quote marks
              around it?  More to the point, don't you mean "Christian
              Scientist?"
        \_ They should have prayed for brains instead

3/27    What are they fighting about in Basra?
        'The fighting in Basra, which has spread to parts of Baghdad, is not a
        clash between good and evil or between a legitimate government and an
        outlaw insurgency. Rather, as Anthony Cordesman, military analyst for
        the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies,
        writes, it is "a power struggle" between rival "Shiite party mafias"
        for control of the oil-rich south and other Shiite sections of the
        country.'
        http://www.slate.com/id/2187564

3/27    Turducken is just so wrong:
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turducken
        \_ I brought it to my in-laws three Christmas' in a row now. We
           think it is great. The oil in the duck helps keep the rest moist.
        \_ What's wrong with it?  It's just cooking poultry together.
           \_ It's wrong because duck is greasy and it makes it very very
              unhealthy. And the idea of stuffing one animal into another
              sickens me.       -op
              \_ In Japan there is a dish called, lierally, "mother and child".
                 It's chicken and egg cooked together.  That's more sickening
                 than Turducken to me.
                 \_ That's just because you are in denial about where your
                    food comes from.
                    \_ "My food bigotry is better than your food bigotry."
                       Awesome. -!pp
        \_ heh, yeah.  I ate it once in Texas.  It was good but I could feel
           myself getting fatter.

3/27    These Shao Lin monks are getting more action than most sodans!
        http://club.cn.yahoo.com/photo/view/100004207_134194_0_.html?source=1CE
        (Click on a picture to go to the next one.)
        \_ Those girls look kinda cold.

3/28    The only way the democrats are going to win this November is if
        they join forces. But both candidates are too arrogant to
        accept that. This country is not ready for a black candidate,
        nor a woman president, but both of them, together, will hold
        those democratic votes that may otherwise shift to McCain.
        This is just sad. Personally I will vote for McCain if Obama
        wins. I am not ready for a black kid president, regardless of
        how good his speech skill is. -ray
        \_ His "speech skill" is clearly better than yours.
           \_ Though he seems to have learned from the Shatner school of
              speaking.
           \_ Well, I am not voting for a fucking black president,
              because all black knows how to do is the play the racist
              card when they commit a crime. I've seen plenty of them in
              Oakland and San Francisco, wearing extra large T-shirts and
              pants dropped down. They belong in jail. -asian
        \_ This has to be a troll.  You argument is logically inconsistant.
           \_ Yours too, troll-boy, so what? -jrleek
        \_ I don't think I combined ticket would actually make any sense.
           Why would Obama want to be vice-president to Hillary? He'd
           just end up playing second fiddle to Bill.
           Why would he want to have Hillary as his vice-president?  It would
           be impossible to get her to tow the party line.  -jrleek
                                       \_toe
           \_ Obama fiddles Bill.  Hmm ...

3/28    Google Maps is lame.
        From    34643 Allegheny Ct, Fremont, CA
        To      1309 Elmer St., Unit A, Belmont, CA
        Yahoo Maps: via Dumbarton Br, 18.3 miles
        Google Maps: via San Mateo Br, 23.2 miles
        \_ Yeah, google maps really hates the dumbarton for some reason.

3/28    HA HA HA
        "Bush sees Opportunity for Renewed Platitudes in Iraq."

3/28    Woof.  Woman with nipple piercings in the airport.
        http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8VM3DT00&show_article=1&image=large

3/28    Top 10 Surprising Results of Global Warming | LiveScience:
        http://www.csua.org/u/l5c
        Check out #4 Speddier Satellites

3/28    Political debates on NPR are worthless.  They really need a ref with
        fact verification powers or something.  I was listening to one this
        morning talking about the Cow Palace, and the debators couldn't even
        agree on basic facts, like if the Cow Palace operates in the black or
        not. It's impossible to draw any kind of conclusions from two lists
        of completely contradictory "facts."

3/28    So, has there been any report on how CNN and a lot of western
        media manipulated the image they posted on the Web about the
        Tibet riot? On the 17th CNN posted an image showing a Chinese
        army truck driving forward while 2 "innocent people" watched
        on the side. The right half of the image was cut. It had lots
        of looters throwing rocks at the truck. WTF? There were
        countless other examples. My dad mentioned this to me, he saw
        it on one of the local Chinese newspapers. I was suspicious at
        first, but then saw it on my local Chinese news last night.
        CNN's official response: we have to cut the image to fit the
        available space on the web page. If killing, looting, burning,
        and rioting can be justified, then nothing is illegal. Our
        balanced media would have you believe that invading a country
        looking for WMD which didn't exist, killing tens of thousands
        of innocent people in the process while pocketing billions,
        torturing, is all good, while enforcing law and getting rid of
        rioters is bad just because it's a communist government and
        it's just fashionable to bash against them, no matter what
        they do. In fact, if you don't bash against them, you will be
        in trouble.

        This is clearly an organized and orchestrated event. I asked
        myself why aren't the demonstrations peaceful. 2 explanations,
        either the Chinese police/army did something which enraged the
        protesters, nothing I've seen seems to suggest that, or the
        protesters rioted for a reason. They rioted because they know
        that peaceful demonstration will not trigger much response
        from the Chinese government, and hence cannot show how evil
        they are. They must riot, and ANY response from the Chinese
        government will be viewed negatively, because of the Olympics
        and the world's eyes are on China. Tell me that the oppressed
        and backward monk in Tibet know about this without any outside
        help? Was there any report that some rioters confessed that
        they were paid to riot? I wonder where the money came from.

        Let's face it, bashing China is the safe thing to do. Because
        it is a communist government, anything and everything they do
        is evil. Because we are a democratic government, then
        everything we do is right.
                                - pissed off sodan
        \_ http://observers.france24.com/en/content/20080317-cnn-accused-propaganda-tibet-riots
        \_ Yawn.

3/28    'Pastor's Page' of Barack's church bulletin says the Jews were working
        on 'ethnic bomb' that kills Blacks and Arabs.  Oh, and this was last
        year.
        (link to PDF)
        http://tucc.org/upload/tuccbulletin_june10.pdf
        \_ Your url is broken.  I see no evidence of this anywhere.  The URL
           is also very suspicious.  "upload?"
           \_ So you think someone made up this pdf and hacked the site and
              put it in the upload directory to smear an otherwise loving and
              open minded pastor?  Uh huh....
           \_ Works fine for me.  Sorry they have a suspicious website.
              \_ Working now for me too.  -pp
        \_ "Israel planning 'ethnic' bomb as Saddam caves in Sunday Times
           (London) November 15, 1998, Sunday"
           This artlce was a hoax:
           http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_bioweapon
           So this one sentence in the pdf is the equivalent of a stupid
           email forwarded from yermom.  OMG SMOKING GUN!!!!!1!!
        \_ Thanks for sharing this. It is an interesting insight into the
           workings of Obama's church. I had wondered whether I should give
           money to his campaign or not, but I realize now what a great
           community he is part of.

3/28    You guys gonna see 21 the Movie about MIT kids?
        Support your fellow nerds?
        \_ Apparently the movie makes a mash of the real story, which is
           (as is typically the case) much more interesting than the
           fictionalized version.
        \_ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23785878
        \_ I'm not planning to see it. This morning's merc review said
           the movie had almost nothing in common with the real story.
           Based on the trailers I've seen it looks like boring knock
           off of a Hustle eps or a George Clooney movie.
        \_ Sounded pretty boring.  With movie prices so high these days I only
           see the flash and bang fx flicks at the movies.  For everyting else
           there is netflix, cable, and free play-anytime movies on cable.

3/28    Anti-Emo Riots in Mexico!
        http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/03/anti-emo-riots.html
        \_ Is Emo the new word for Goth?
           \_ I thought it was the new word for hipster.
              \_ Emo mights might be hipsters, but not all hipsters are emo.

3/28    I like this quote the best

        "If the Chinese are wrong to hold on to their province of
        Tibet, then Lincoln was wrong to insist that the South stay in
        the Union. and we ought to immediately either grant the
        American Southwest (and California) independence, or else give
        it all back to the Mexicans.

        The same goes for Taiwan. China's rulers are no more likely to
        give up their claim to that island than Lincoln was inclined
        to let the Confederacy hold on in, say, Key West, Fla.

        http://www.antiwar.com/justin/j032608b.html
        \_ We can't change history.  But for the present, if most people
           in the American Southwest and CA want independence, sure, let those
           people (and *only* those people) vote for it.  (Cf. Quebec.)  It's
           nonsense to say Tibet needs to stay because "it's the will of 1.2
           billion Chinese people" most of which are not Tibetans.  Personally,
           I don't know about Tibet, but I do want Taiwan to unify with
           Mainland China.  However, since I have no ties with Taiwan, I should
           have no say in this matter.  -- Chinese
           \_ Oddly enough, quite a few young Taiwanese-Americans seem to
              favor "reunification." It's the terms of such that tend to be
              the sticking point.
              \_ How many is "quite a few"?  You can find "quite a few" young
                 Americans who awant to bring back slavery if you look hard
                 enough.  There are always "quite a few" stupid people in any
                 "sufficiently large" group.
                 \_ An unscientific number used to represent anecdote rather
                    than research; I spoke to my coworkers and some of their
                    friends, many of them Taiwanese-American, and I reached
                    the conclusion above. If you want real numbers, pay me
                    money, and I'll conduct an actual survey (with MoE and
                    all worked out).
                    \_ Why not just say, "Some of my Taiwanese friends ..."?
                       \_ 'How many is "some"?  You can find "some" young
                          Americans who awant [sic] to bring back slavery if
                          you look hard enough ... blah blah blah.'  -- !PP
        \_ This guy's arguments are fairly weak.  For example, if Puerto Rico
           demanded independence, the US would probably let them go.  The
           Puerto Ricans don't seem to be all the interested in either
           independence or statehood.
           Furthermore, Taiwan has been independent for 50 years now. It
           doesn't really compare well with the US civil war. Especially since
           Taiwan doesn't have the same vital economic importance that the
           South had (has) for the Union.  The Mississippi is a big deal.
           \_ Also, China invaded and annexed Tibet in the 50s. There is no
              comparison here to be made with the South.
        \_ Unlike the south, tibet did not join the union freely.
        \_ Another weird one: The US govt. is MORE hostile to China than in
           the past?  Wha?  Korean War? Vietnam war? Nixon? 'Yellow Menace?'
           There's a lot of lame populism around right now, but I don't think
           it approaches past tensions with China.
           \_ Also, we fall over backwards making accomodations based on their
              economic power/potential. First sign that things are back to
              any sense of normalcy, let alone anti-PRC sentiment, will be
              revocation of Most Favored Nation.
              \_ After they shoot a few olympic athletes, maybe.

3/28    motd nuked!!!!

3/28    Once again, the NYT does a leem article on Berkeley:
        http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/travel/30hours.html
        To wit: "students running off hangovers along the steep hills."
        \_ Why is this lame? I have done the same thing, when I was
           an undergrad. I thought the gratitous fraternity pot shot was kind
           an undergrad. I thought the gratuitous fraternity pot shot was kind
           of weak though: "But first, make sure it's not sorority or
           fraternity night, unless your idea of fun is watching college
           kids pound shots and scream at the top of their lungs."
        \_ Thanks for the article! After reading this 95% of you are
           probably nalstalgic on the stuff they talked about and wished
           that you're in the good 'ol days again. I for one am glad to
           get out of that place, esp. after reading the article. Good
           bye and good riddens. PS. I never understood the Asian fetish
           thing. Asian women look like little boys. Go Jackie Johnson!
           \_ And for every miserable illiterate putz like you who leaves,
              Cal is that much more attractive.
        \_ "College Avenue, the town's main drag"  - uh WHAT?  Since when?

3/28    Irish+German women = SUPER HOT.
        \_ Asian women = little boy figures = satisfy my long awaited but
           socially unacceptable yearning for petite underaged lovers.
           That is why I think Asian women = SUPER HOT, and I'm sure
           many of you closet Asian lovers at Cal feel the same way.
           \_ What makes you think we are in the closet about it? I have
              a skinny flat-chested wife with braces and that makes me happy.
              What is wrong with that?
              \_ you need to be closet about the UNDERAGED part or else
                 the society will frown upon it.
                 \_ Yes, I do get scowls from white women my age, but I
                    am just amused by it. I don't really prefer underaged
                    women, just young adults, though my brother teases me
                    and calls me a pedophile.
        \_ Maybe at the high end of the spectrum, but both Irish and German
           women in general tend to be rather homely. Maybe two negatives
           equal a positive? I think on average Latin American women are
           the most attractive, but YMMV. Note that I am not saying there
           aren't hot Irish or German women. There absolutely are. I am
           speaking in general terms.
           \_ So sometimes there may or may not be in certain cases certain
              combinations that could or could result in a woman that is or
              is not attractive depending on yours or others personal
              preferences in some cases where upon each would have to decide
              on their own if someone was or was not possibly attractive in
              their view, sometimes, maybe?  YMMV.  IANAL.
              \_ I think there are accepted standards of beauty and my comment
                 was based on those. You can have your own preferences, just
                 like you can choose your own editor even though ED is the
                 standard.
                 \_ I think there are actually a few different standards of
                    beauty. Fertility is considered attractive cross-culturally
                    but that can be represented in quite a few different ways.
                 \_ Average people look... average.  What population do you
                    sample? For example, younger populations tend to look
                    better.
           \_ Different flowers blossom and wither at a different rate.
              Latina women blossom at around 14-15 years old, but they
              tend to balloon up and look like Jaba the Hut by the time
              they're 24 years old. There's something about the early
              release of growth hormones. Like fireworks: great sparkle,
              but only for a short period.
              \_ You think Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Alba, Adriana Lima, or
                 Alessandra Ambrosio look like Jabba?
                 \_ Don't blame their Jaba the Hut genes. Latina blood has
                    superior digestive systems. Before the Conquistadores
                    came they ate grass and grain and looked beautiful.
                    But when they changed their diet to corn and other
                    starchy materials they started to balloon up. If there's
                    ever going to be WW3, skinny people will start to die from
                    the lack of starch while the Latinas will be the ones who
                    will survive by eating grass and grains. They will look
                    beautiful again. Latinas on grain diet rule!!!
                 \_ Jessica Alba is half Danish.
                    Alessandra Ambrosio is Italian/Polish.
                    Maybe they need some non-Latina blood to prevent
                    ballooning.
                    \_ Most Latinas do have mixed blood and I think it is
                       why they are so beautiful. They have the best
                       features of many races.
                    \_ Maybe you are full of shit.  Who knows!
                       \_ lol
                    \_ Salma Hayek and Sofia Vergara are my Latina goddess.
                       Both are silicone free.  Odalys Garcia is good too.
                       --- !PP
                       \_ Eva Mendes
                       \_ Salma Hayek is possibly the hottest 41 year old ever.
                          \_ That would be yermom.

3/28    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23727879
        Don't use the middle stall in the bathroom!
        \_ It doesn't mention that the average office computer keyboard has
           more germs per sq-in than the average toilet seat.  I read this
           somewhere else.
        \_ Re: "The worst place to cool leftovers: in the refrigerator"  This
           doesn't make sense.  Sure, It can take a long time for the
           temperature in the middle of a big container to drop.  But doesn't
           it take even longer if you leave it on the counter?  If the writer
           is thinking about the timer that the food at the middle stays in
           the warm temperature range which bacteria grows, well, after you
           leave the food on the counter for initial cooling, you either have
           to leave it on the counter forever or put it in the fridge.  In
           both cases the total time that the food at the middle stays in the
           warm temperature range should still be longer than if you just put
           the food in the fridge at the beginning.
           \_ Writer may be talking about how a warm dish tends to heat the
              food surrounding it in the fridge. If you put your still-hot
              leftovers next to your eggs, you might as well leave your eggs
              on the counter.
              \_ For a few minutes, yes.  Guess what.  Keeping your eggs out
                 for a few minutes every week won't change a hill of beans.
                 Think for a second.  You go to the store.  You put the eggs
                 in your basket.  You wait in line.  You drive home.  All
                 that time the eggs stay out.  This article is filled with
                 "OH MY GOD GERMS!" fear that is just silly.
                 \_ Worrying about eggs going bad is pretty funny, considering
                    on the farm, we used to only collect them once a day. They
                    have built in antibiotic resistance, which should be
                    obvious if you think about it for a second. You can even
                    leave them out for a couple of days, but you risk getting
                    "blood spot" eggs if you have a rooster around.
                    \_ Yup.  Supermarkets in Hong Kong display eggs on
                       shelves, not in refrigerators.

3/28    Consumer confidence lowest in 16 years but BUSH'S TAX CUTS
        AND REBATES will rescue us!!!
        http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23843931

3/28    The good thing about Obama is that he can use the race card
        to get us out of trouble, like war, recession, immigration, etc.