Mindsay News Team's MindSay Blog

I Am Legend Trailer

news — 2007-11-03T01:11:34-05:00

"I Am Legend" looks like one of the potentially more interesting films this holiday season. It's sort of the same premise as "Cast Away" - one man by himself on screen most of the time. The difference is that in this case, the man is Will Smith, and he's in New York City. Here's a peek:

The movie has actually been in the works since all the way back in 1994. It's based on the novel "The Last Man on Earth," which might have been a more appropriate title for the film. It hits theatres on December 14th.

The F*ck Index: How Much A$$ Are You Getting this Week?

news — 2007-11-03T02:11:27-05:00

A new Facebook application looks to predict, as the creator so eloquently puts it:

"Your answers [to their quiz] can be calibrated to predict with awesome accuracy, number one, how much as you're going to be getting in the coming week. Number two, how soon you're going be getting that ass. Number three, how attractive that ass is going to be."

We kid you not. Here's a link to the application and one of the more bizarre and awkward marketing pitches I've ever heard:

"Dog" Chapman Gets the Boot; Good Riddance!

news — 2007-11-03T02:11:35-05:00

Duane “Dog” Chapman’s reality show has been pulled from A&E indefinitely, following audio of his racist rant being posted online earlier in the week. According to A&E:

"In evaluating the circumstances of the last few days, A&E has decided to take 'Dog The Bounty Hunter' off the network's schedule for the foreseeable future. We hope that Mr. Chapman continues the healing process that he has begun"

The healing process? Give me a break. The only thing he’ll be healing from is the bitter feeling of getting fired, and maybe some anger over his son ruining his 15 minutes of fame by posting the tape. The guy is a racist shmuck and I’m glad to see A&E swiftly get rid of him.

[link]

Giuliani: "September 12th Happened One Day After September 11th"

news — 2007-11-03T03:11:12-05:00

At a town hall meeting in Iowa on Friday, Rudy Giuliani did not have much to offer in response to a question from an audience member. Smurfy reports:

But the tone of the event changed abruptly when one audience member, Tracy Klujian of Cedar Rapids, asked the GOP frontrunner, "Can you name one thing that happened on September 12?"

Mr. Giuliani seemed taken aback by the question, clearing his throat and drinking from a glass of water as if to buy time before responding.

"That's a good question," Mr. Giuliani said. "September 12 happened one day after September 11 -- and we must never forget the lessons of September 11."

As with any Rudy post, the mandatory picture of America's Mayor in drag on SNL many years back:

[link]

Reminder: Clocks Roll Back One Hour Tonight

news — 2007-11-03T07:11:26-05:00

Tonight marks daylight saving time for most of the United States, with clocks rolling back one hour at 2am. Daylight Saving Time used to be a week ago, but it was changed with the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Many devices updated incorrectly last week based on the old date, including DirecTV’s channel guide!

[link]

NFL’s Game of the Century: Pats vs Colts

news — 2007-11-04T12:11:02-05:00

Today’s game between the New England Patriots (8-0) and Indianapolis Colts (7-0) is a historic one for the NFL. It’s the first time two teams with records better than 6-0 have ever met during the regular season. Given how dominant the two teams have been this year, the winner will have a fair shot becoming only the second team in NFL history to go undefeated.

The game is also a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game, which the Colts won 38-34. Despite having won last year’s match-up and being in their own stadium, the Colts are 6.5 point underdogs in the game.

So, with a few hours to go until kickoff, who are you picking, Colts or Pats?

Is Pakistan Falling Apart?

news — 2007-11-04T01:11:41-05:00

Apparently things aren't so hot in Pakistan either. Cosina reports:

"Did you know that things were this bad in Pakistan?

In a dramatic move that made explicit his desperation to preserve near-absolute power, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency Saturday, effectively eliminating the opposition that has built against him in recent months...

Despite his assertions to the contrary, his decision has little to do with terrorism... With the Supreme Court threatening to declare his presidency illegal in a ruling this week, Musharraf has struck preemptively against his foes...

[H]e has sacked more than half of the Supreme Court, jailed up to 500 opposition party leaders, and shut down the independent media – assuming that the United States has invested too much in him and the war on terror to withdraw its patronage. The order may also delay parliamentary elections, which had been scheduled to take place before Jan. 15.

Looks like he was right about the US: Condoleezza Rice called the move "highly regrettable." It's hard to be more lukewarm than that. Bush hasn't said a word."

Writers Guild of America Goes on Strike

news — 2007-11-05T08:11:31-05:00

The headquarters of the Writers Guild of America West became the command center for strike preparations Saturday as guild members met there to finalize plans for the walkout set to begin at midnight tonight.

About 300 strike captains -- guild members who will serve as leaders on the picket lines -- streamed into the building in Los Angeles' Fairfax district to get their marching orders from guild leaders.

Their cars crammed the parking lot of the Writers Guild, and when it was full, the captains parked in nearby lots meant for customers of Kmart and Ross Dress for Less.

"People were pretty united," said Steve Skrovan, a writer for " 'Til Death." "This is it. This is the time in history that a stand has to be made."

The strike preparations came three days after contract talks between writers and their employers broke down amid disputes over the amount of money writers should receive from DVDs and from shows distributed online. The writers' three-year contract expired Wednesday.

Saturday's high turnout gave a glimpse of what is expected to be well-organized and widespread picketing Monday. It is the culmination of a months-long strategy by chief negotiator David Young to mobilize the union's rank and file and prepare them for a possible strike.

[submitted by pimpmunk]

Remember Remember the 5th of November

news — 2007-11-05T01:11:56-05:00

novemberraine17 reminds us that today is Guy Fawkes Night in the UK. From Wikipedia:

"Guy Fawkes Night (more commonly known as Bonfire Night) is an annual celebration on the evening of the 5th of November. It celebrates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot of the 5th of November 1605 in which a number of Roman Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

It is primarily marked in the United Kingdom, but also in former British colonies including New Zealand, parts of Canada, and parts of the British Caribbean.[citation needed] Bonfire Night was also common in Australia until the 1980s[citation needed], but it was held on the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June.

Festivities are centered around the use of fireworks and the lighting of bonfires."

Colbert Ends Presidential Run

news — 2007-11-05T09:11:01-05:00

Stephen Colbert, host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central, has ended his parody of a Presidential campaign. South Carolina legislators voted to keep him off the state’s primary ballot by a count of 13-3.

After hearing the news, Colbert said: "Although I lost by the slimmest margin in presidential election history—only 10 votes—I have chosen not to put the country through another agonizing Supreme Court battle. It is time for this nation to heal."

Meanwhile, Colbert is not doing a show tonight due to the previously mentioned Hollywood writers strike.

Jerry Seinfeld Makes Larry King Look Like a Fool

news — 2007-11-06T10:11:37-05:00

Larry King has often been accused of making a career out of asking celebrities complete softball questions. On a recent episode of Larry King Live, Jerry Seinfeld takes him to task and calls him out, making fun of him asking the most basic of questions such as “how long were you on the air?” and “you canceled them right?”

Seinfeld comes off as a bit of a jerk, but does a good job of creating an awkward situation and making Larry King look like a fool.

From the Land of Oops

news — 2007-11-06T01:11:31-05:00

As someone who reports the news, I can relate to making the occasional mistake. But this one is pretty egregious. From The Hill:

Last week a Congressional Quarterly reporter put in a ticket in the Speaker’s Lobby to interview Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.). But he was a little late.

The congresswoman died earlier this month after a long bout of breast cancer. The reporter, who will remain unnamed, handled his embarrassment well. When told that Davis was in fact deceased, his face turned red as he replied sheepishly, “Is that a no?”

Last week a Congressional Quarterly reporter put in a ticket in the Speaker’s Lobby to interview Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.).

Ron Paul Sets One-Day Fundraising Record

news — 2007-11-06T01:11:32-05:00

The Interwebs love Ron Paul. Thus, it’s not all that shocking that the Republican candidate has set the single-day political fundraising record. Justjames reports:

"Ron Paul ended up smashing the record for money raised in one day by a Republican presidential hopeful. Through an ambitious online push on Monday, his campaign brought in more than $4 million, surpassing the $3.1 million that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney raised on Jan. 8.

As of 10 a.m. today, Paul's website reported that he had collected nearly $7.3 million of the $12 million goal he has set for the last three months of this year to help him compete in Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, and South Carolina, the first four nominating contests."

Bush Hits a New Low (In the Polls)

news — 2007-11-07T09:11:45-05:00

President Bush is officially the most disliked President in history, since the Gallop polling system began. captainamerica reports:

According to a recently released gallop poll, sixty-four percent of Americans now disapprove of the job Bush is doing. For “the first time in the history of the Gallup Poll, 50% say they ’strongly disapprove’ of the president. Richard Nixon had reached the previous high, 48%, just before an impeachment inquiry was launched in 1974.”

Bush is now officially the most disliked President in the history of our country and the Gallop polling system.

Like, OMG! Stacy Changed Her Profile Picture?

news — 2007-11-07T11:11:34-05:00

A sketch comedy group put together this amusing video for the "Facebook News Network," which makes fun of the often pointless updates of friend activities that the social network keeps you abreast of. Enjoy!

Suicidal Cow Plunges 200 Feet Off Cliff; Hits Car

news — 2007-11-07T01:11:19-05:00

This would be pretty scary. In Washington state, a Cow fell 200 feet to land on a moving car. From the Associated Press:

Charles and Linda Everson were driving back to their hotel when their minivan was struck by a falling object — a 600-pound cow. The Eversons were unhurt but the cow, which had fallen off a cliff, had to be euthanized.

What a miracle that the couple wasn't hurt!

[link]

China to Ban Bibles at 2008 Olympics

news — 2007-11-07T05:11:45-05:00

Bibles have found their way onto the "prohibited items" list that the organizers of the 2008 Olympic in Beijing have provided to participating athletes. While the organizers plan to offer religious services during the Games, personal religious items have been banned. From CBN:

"The ban seems to undermine comments released by the country's top religious affairs official. Last month, Ye Xiaowen acknowledged that he expected large numbers of religious faithful among the athletes, coaches and tourists ..."

China, under its Communist regime, is an official atheist nation.

Fox News Casserole Dinner

news — 2007-11-07T10:11:17-05:00

From eyesthebye:

Ingredients:

2 Large Shovels Bullshit
1 Hungry Couch Potato
1 (10.5 oz) Mushroom Cloud Soup
1(10.5 oz) Presidential Vietnamese Duck Soup
1 Massive Lack of Own Opinion or Imagination

Stir with Rifle Butt, over heat from global
warming

Guaranteed to rest your brain for another 4 years.

Serve at Half-Time in the Super Bowl

MindSay News Has Launched!

news — 2007-11-08T01:11:23-05:00

Over the past few days we’ve been putting the finishing touches on our new homepage, which we call MindSay News (for you old timers, think of it as MindSay v3.5). The idea is to allow users to submit their favorite blog entries, photos, videos, and links, and we’ll feature the best stuff here on our homepage for the world to see.

We’ve added a lot of new features since we first launched MindSay in 2003, but at our core, we’re still a blogging service, so we think putting a blog at the front and center of our site that showcases the best that our 150,000+ users have to offer makes a lot of sense.

On the blog update page, you will notice a “Submit to News” checkbox. If you would like your entry to be considered for the homepage, simply check it off. Alternately, if you would just like to submit something you think is cool but don’t have time to blog about, use the “Submit News” link at the top of the new homepage or in your Inbox.

Anyways, we’re excited about this new feature and look forward to lots of cool submissions from users. And, just in case you miss the old homepage, we’ve added a “Classic Home” link to the top so you can still access all of those features.

As always, your feedback is welcome and we thank you for your support.

- Adam & Brian

The Rocky Anthology in 24 Seconds

news — 2007-11-08T10:11:11-05:00

In case you don’t want to sit through roughly 15 hours of cinematic brilliance, a YouTube user has attempted to explain all six Rocky movies in a 24 second video:

Hot Topics on MindSay Forums

news — 2007-11-08T12:11:06-05:00

Every week or so we’ll post about some of the hotter / more controversial discussions going on in MindSay Forums. Let’s try and keep the discussion civil though

Dell Dude Re-Surfaces as Bartender

news — 2007-11-08T01:11:08-05:00

Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, why is the bartender of this place the Dell Dude? The infamous star of the "Dude you're getting a Dell" commercials - real name Ben Curtis - has re-surfaced as a bartender at a restauraunt called Tortilla Flats, and given an interview to New York Magazine.

Curtis' gig with Dell came to an abrupt end in 2003 when he was busted for marijuana possession.

FAKE PLASTiC RADiO Returns to MindSay

news — 2007-11-09T10:11:17-05:00

One of MindSay's user-produced radio shows is coming back! Check out the fakeplastcradio blog for the details.

Stripper Performs for British High Schoolers

news — 2007-11-09T11:11:42-05:00

From captainamerica, via news.com.au:

"A STRIPPER performed for a classroom full of British teenagers, spanked a birthday boy and asked him to rub cream all over her after a booking error by the teen's mother.

It is believed the mother thought she had booked a gorillagram to rush into her 16-year-old son’s classroom for a birthday surprise - but a stripper turned up instead ... Instead of a gorilla, an adult performer showed up at Arnold High School in Nottingham dressed as a policewoman and spanked the boy 16 times in front of his classmates ..."

If only things like that had happened back when I was in high school ...

A Match Made on MindSay: Two Users Getting Married

news — 2007-11-09T02:11:00-05:00

We just got some really exciting news in our inbox. Two MindSay users who met each other through the site are getting married! From tattooedjen:

"It's kind of exciting because as most of you know, Justin (Intrepid28) and I met on MindSay! He lived in California, I lived in Chicago. I ended up moving to California, we've moved a couple times since but are still in northern Cali, and almost three years later, here we are getting married! I don't know if it'll be a MindSay first or not, but it wouldn't have happened if it weren't for MindSay!"

We’re not explicitly a dating site, but I guess we are an enabler of such things. In any event, it’s awesome to see our service having a positive impact on at least a few people’s lives.

This is the first MindSay wedding we’ve heard of – have we missed previous ones?

The Golden Compass: The Holy War of Films?

news — 2007-11-09T09:11:04-05:00

The Golden Compass promises to be one of the more controversial films this holiday season. From lostsanity:

"There will be a new Children’s movie out in December called THE GOLDEN COMPASS. It is written by Phillip Pullman, a proud athiest who belongs to a secular humanist societies. He hates C. S. Lewis’s Chronicle’s of Narnia and has written a trilogy to show the other side. The movie has been numbed down to fool kids and their parentrs in the hope that they will buy his trilogy where in the end the children kill God and everyone can do as they please. Nichole Kidman stars in the movie so it will probably be advertised a lot.

Phillip Pullman is an atheist and his objective is to bash Christianity and promote atheism. …he has made remarks that he wants to kill God in the minds of children, and that’s what his books are all about.

An article was written about him sad “this is the most dangerous author in Britain” and that Pullman would be the writer “the atheists would be praying for, if atheists prayed." [Pullman] is hoping that unsuspecting parents will take their children to see the movie, that they will enjoy the movie and then the children will want to the books for Christmas. That’s the hook. Pullman says he want the children to read the books and decide against God and the kingdom of heaven."

The Catholic League has called for a boycott of the film, which is being released December 7th from New Line Cinema. Supposedly the movie has toned down the author's atheist overtones, but it nonetheless promises to create a lot of controversey when it hits theaters.

The Writer's Strike Explained

news — 2007-11-11T10:11:28-05:00

askjesse points us to one of the better explanations of why The Writers Guild of America is currently on strike, thus preventing many TV shows from airing new episodes. Check out this interview with Kevin Smith on the Opie and Anthony Show to get some idea of why these folks aren't working.

The Top Ten Film Phrases

news — 2007-11-11T10:11:52-05:00

A recent survey by myfilms.com asked users which phrases from movies they use in every day conversation. Here's the top ten:

“I’ll be back.” from the ‘The Terminator’
“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” from ‘Gone With The Wind’
“Beam me up, Scotty.” from ‘Star Trek’
“May the force be with you.” from ‘Star Wars’
“Life is like a box of chocolates.” from ‘Forrest Gump’
“You talking to me?” from ‘Taxi Driver’
“Show me the money.” from ‘Jerry Maguire’
“Do you feel lucky, punk?” from ‘Dirty Harry’
“Here’s looking at you, kid.” from ‘Casablanca’
“Nobody puts Baby in the corner.” from ‘Dirty Dancing’

Do you use any of these? What other lines from films do you often use?

[link]

MindSay Commemorates Veteran's Day

news — 2007-11-11T11:11:47-05:00

Today is Veteran's Day in the US. From Wikipedia:

"Veterans Day is an American holiday honoring military veterans. Both a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, it is celebrated on the same day as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, falling on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I."

To see some posts from MindSay users commemorating the day, click here and here.

Woman Says Yes to Marriage Proposal on Halo 3

news — 2007-11-12T01:11:22-05:00

jedirevan alerts us to one of the more bizarre wedding proposals we've heard of. From xbox.com:

"On November 3, 2007 Moviesign made a Forge map in Halo® 3, and set up what his girlfriend of over two years (furtive penguin) thought was going to be a two-on-two match with his friends. They started the game and Moviesign led furtive penguin to a spot where he claimed he'd put an energy sword. Instead there was a nice top-down view where he had spelled out a proposal in weapons. He then asked her to be his teammate for life."

And we thought we were nerds ...

Corruption Exposed at Charities for Veterans

news — 2007-11-13T12:11:23-05:00

Americans have stepped up to the plate in terms of helping wounded war veterans, donating $464 million to charities that aim to assist them over the last two years. Unfortunately, a lot of that money isn't reaching its intended recipients. Some particularly egregius examples include one charity where only 2 percent of funds actually reached veterans. From ABC News:

"Those failing charities include the National Veterans Services Fund, of Darien, Conn., which took in more than $6 million in contributions last year supposedly to help veterans' families.

It got a report grade of F from the American Institute of Philanthropy, which says the charity gave out only two percent of its money for charity...

Of the 27 military and veterans' charities reviewed by Borochoff's group, 13 were rated F, including the Amvets National Service Foundation, the Army Emergency Relief Fund, Freedom Alliance, the National Veterans Services Fund, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Services Foundation and the Paralyzed Veterans of America."

Where is all that money going? Apparently, much of it is going to the top executives at these charities who are paying themselves handsome salaries. Pretty disgusting.

Is America Headed Towards Becoming a Big Brother State?

news — 2007-11-13T11:11:42-05:00

redwoodpecker is concerned about the potential consequences of too few news outlets in the American media. From his blog:

"The FCC chairman is currently having a hearing to try and further deregulate the media and allow for further consolidation. Of course this is a horrible idea, at least for the public as a whole, which is why they gave 5 days notice for preparation, and are trying to push this through by next month. If this succeeds, we'll see the same thing happen now that happened in the mid 90's when Clinton helped deregulate the media industry ...

... What worries me most about this, besides the rush to get it pushed through as quickly as possible, is the thought of martial law being declared here, and us having one source of news to tell the American public why. This is ju st one more step, whether deliberate or not, towards the complete loss of open society and descent into dictatorship that we're heading for. The big brother state gets closer every day, and this is just one of rungs on the ladder to complete control."

Paranoia, or valid concerns? Discuss!

YouTube: Welcome to Canada!

news — 2007-11-13T11:11:08-05:00

YouTube recently launched a version of its site targetting Canadian users. mschristina decided to celebrate the occassion by creating a video showcasing some of the "inventions" we can credit our neighbors to the north with:

What's the Best Album of 2007?

news — 2007-11-14T01:11:31-05:00

commntyblackman is once again running MindSay's "album of the year" voting. Right now he's looking for members to nominate albums, and in a couple weeks will narrow down the list to the 10 most popular, at which point you'll be able to vote on your favorite.

For all the details and to make nominations, check out his post in the forums.

Natural Justice: Alligator Eats Robbery Suspect

news — 2007-11-14T06:11:10-05:00

A man suspected of breaking into cars in Florida dove into a pond in an effort to evade pursuing police. Unfortunately for him, the pond was filled with alligators, and nature delivered justice in a rather swift and horrifying fashion.

captainamerica shares the following video from Channel 4 explaining the details:

Variety: We Hate the Wii, Because Sony Pays Us To

news — 2007-11-14T07:11:01-05:00

A reviewer at Variety was pretty critical of the Nintendo Wii in a recent review of the new Super Mario Galaxy game with comments like “As good as the game is, though, it’s evidence of how bad the Wii is for third person action games …” and “… Super Mario Galaxy is, in fact, it’s one of the worst two-player experiences ever seen in a videogame.”

However, smurfy had a sharp eye and was able to find a clear conflict of interest Variety has in writing this review. Check out the “sponsored by Sony” (makers of Playstation) logo in the top right:

Busted!

Barry Bonds Indicted on Perjury Charges

news — 2007-11-15T05:11:46-05:00

fiveacez alerts us to breaking news from CNN:

"Barry Bonds was indicted Thursday on perjury and obstruction of justice charges, the culmination of a four-year federal investigation into whether he lied under oath to a grand jury looking into steroid use by elite athletes."

If he's being indicted on perjury charges, it means the grand jury is finally confident in the evidence they have against him. As fiveacez puts it: "I can't believe it. Not that he didn't do it, but that he's been caught. "

Send President Bush a Constitution

news — 2007-11-16T01:11:37-05:00

smurfy reports on an interesting holiday initiative. From democracyinaction:

"With your help, CCR will flood the Oval Office with copies of the Constitution this holiday season. If you sign this letter, CCR will send it along with a copy of the Constitution to the White House as a seasonal reminder that the Constitution needs to be upheld ; not destroyed. We hope to send President Bush more than 5,000 copies of the Constitution by January 2008."

Apparently more than 3,000 folks have already signed up.

Thanksgiving Week on MindSay

news — 2007-11-18T01:11:39-05:00

It will probably be a fairly quiet week here on MindSay as we prepare to enjoy some time off for Thanksgiving. However, people are already starting to post about the holiday, so be sure to add the "thanksgiving" tag to your posts if you'd like to share your plans and thoughts with others.

As always, we're thankful for all of our users. Happy Holidays!

Participate in the CNN/YouTube Debates

news — 2007-11-18T02:11:44-05:00

The Republicans get their turn at the CNN/YouTube debates on November 28th. If you would like to submit your video question to the candidates, you can do so by going here. Let us know if you decide to submit one so we can feature it!

When Rules are Wrong: Border Patrol Stops Ambulance

news — 2007-11-18T10:11:30-05:00

cas shares news of government rules and regulations rum amuck at the US-Canada border:

"An ambulance rushing a heart attack victim to Detroit from a Windsor (Ontario) hospital ill-equipped to perform life-saving surgery was stopped for secondary inspection Monday by U.S. Customs, despite the fact it carried a man fighting for his life.

Rick Laporte, 49 -- who twice had been brought back to life with defibrillators -- was being rushed across the border when a U.S. border guard ignored protocol at the Detroit portion of the tunnel and forced the ambulance -- with siren and lights flashing -- to pull over."

This reminds me of a story a few months back here in Virginia where a husband was pulled over and issued a reckless driving ticket for going over 80mph. The catch: he was taking his wife, who was in labor, to the hospital. It's these people's jobs to uphold the law, but come on, have half a brain and make exceptions for special circumstances!

Celebrity Junk: Louis Vuitton Sues Britney Spears

news — 2007-11-19T10:11:48-05:00

Usually brands pay for celebrities to endorse their products, whether it be a full blown commercial or a passive plug in a song. Not the case for the train wreck that is Britney Spears. Louis Vuitton is suing Spears for $117,600 for using the company’s logo in the video “Do Something.” Vuitton has also had the video pulled from television stations across Europe.

The interesting thing is that the video first appeared in 2005. If the lawsuit is successful, it would set a precedent for brands to go back and sue their unauthorized celebrity endorsers that they no longer want to be associated with.

[link]

November is American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month

news — 2007-11-20T12:11:28-05:00

Several users reminded us that November is American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month. For some good information, check out some historical landmarks at the National Parks Service web site, or learn more about the celebration at IHS.gov.

Bill Nye the Science Guy ... Has a Crazy Ex

news — 2007-11-20T05:11:20-05:00

Bill Nye, who hosted the popular children's show "Bill Nye the Science Guy" during the mid-90s, has requested a restraining order against his former fiancée. People.com explains:

"On Sept. 3 at 11:30 p.m., Tindal, who was dressed in black, "emerged from my backyard ... carrying two plastic bottles filled with some sort of solvent. Apparently she was trying to poison my plants including some vegetable(s)," say the documents. "She fled on foot and then a car sped away from the scene."

And you thought you had a crazy ex! Do you have some stories that can top that one?

MindSay: 5,000,000 (Comments) Served

news — 2007-11-21T11:11:34-05:00

Sometime in the next month or two MindSay will pass a pretty significant milestone – more than 5 million comments posted by members! Since we launched, there have been more than 1.5 million blog posts made on the site, which means each post gets an average of more than 3 comments. It’s pretty awesome and satisfying that our site enables so much conversation between people.

Anyways, once comment number 5,000,000 happens, we’ll announce it here and maybe even throw the user who posts it a t-shirt commemorating the event or something.

Hope everyone is enjoying the easiest workday of the year – Thanksgiving Eve!

Santa's "Ho, Ho, Ho" Offensive to Women?

news — 2007-11-23T04:11:43-05:00

decisiontime alerts us to political correctness to the extreme in Australia. From AFP:

"Santas in Australia's largest city have been told not to use Father Christmas's traditional "ho ho ho" greeting because it may be offensive to women ... Sydney's Santa Clauses have instead been instructed to say "ha ha ha" instead.

... A local spokesman for the US-based Westaff recruitment firm said it was "misleading" to say the company had banned Santa's traditional greeting and it was being left up to the discretion of the individual Santa himself."

I can sort of understand how people get offended when rappers use "ho" in a derogatory way, but Santa Clause's catch phrase? Aren't there more important things to worry about?

Robbery Victim Loses Finger in Purse Snatch Gone Wrong

news — 2007-11-24T10:11:05-05:00

blogging reports on a Black Friday robbery gone horribly wrong:

"A man is being held in the Gwinnett County [GA] Jail without bond after he was accused of tearing a finger off a woman's hand during a purse snatching ... Gwinnett Police Corporal Illana Spellman said the incident took place about 2 p.m. on Wednesday in the parking lot of a Kroger store in Lilburn, a suburb about 25 miles northeast of Atlanta. She said Pinkins drove by the victim -- a 55-year-old woman -- swiped the purse and stepped on the gas. As the suspect drove away, one of the victim's fingers was pulled off."

Fortunately, the suspect was captured a few hours later, and is now being charged with both burglary and assault. Unfortunately, surgeons were unable to re-attach the victim's finger. Pretty lousy way to spend your holiday.

Pregnancy Bad for the Planet?

news — 2007-11-26T09:11:56-05:00

A woman in the UK had both an abortion and surgery to make her sterile, claiming that pregnancy is bad for the environment. Toni Vernelli tells The Daily Mail:

"Having children is selfish. It's all about maintaining your genetic line at the expense of the planet ... Every person who is born uses more food, more water, more land, more fossil fuels, more trees and produces more rubbish, more pollution, more greenhouse gases, and adds to the problem of over-population."

I suppose the last part is technically accurate, but is she advocating that humans simply cease to exist after this generation? Perhaps it's not such a bad thing that this woman isn't having kids

Introducing the Hello Kitty Electronic Toilet Paper Dispenser

news — 2007-11-26T01:11:42-05:00

It can be yours for only $220. Only in Japan ...

[link]

Miss Universe Contestant Sabotaged with Pepper Spray

news — 2007-11-27T07:11:30-05:00

During a competition to determine Puerto Rico’s representative in the Miss Universe competition, one contestant broke out in hives. Apparently, it was not an accident. Johnndepp reports via AP:

“Beauty pageant organizers were investigating Sunday who doused a contestant's evening gowns with pepper spray and spiked her makeup … Rivera was composed while appearing before cameras and judges throughout the competition. But once backstage, she had to strip off her clothes and apply ice bags to her face and body, which swelled and broke out in hives twice.”

How evil! Is there any part of our society left where someone doesn’t try to cheat?

Redskins Star Sean Taylor Dies from Gunshot Wound

news — 2007-11-27T08:11:57-05:00

A very sad story out of Miami this morning. Redskins All-Pro Safety Sean Taylor has died, a day after being shot in an apparent break-in at his home. Taylor was just 24 years old and had an 18-month-old daughter.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Sean's family and friends.

More at WashingtonPost.com.

Shooting Death Impacts MindSay User

news — 2007-11-27T11:11:10-05:00

Wow, what a sad day all around. This morning, we reported on the death of NFL star Sean Taylor, and this afternoon, news in our inbox from bandgeek24 about a friend that was killed in a hunting accident with his father. From The Daily Chief-Union:

"Hunter Troxel died Monday evening at Children's Hospital in Columbus. According to a release from the Wyandot County Sheriff's Office, around 3 p.m. Monday, Troxel was hunting with his father, Craig Troxel, from a deer blind near their residence at 3097 CH 62. Hunter fired a .410 deer slug at a deer and his father fired a 12-gauge slug from his shotgun. Craig noticed his son had collapsed and immediately administered first aid and called 911."

bandgeek24 is hoping this tragedy can serve as a way to remind people about the dangers of recreational firearm use and to be thankful for what we've got. We couldn't agree more and send our thoughts and prayers out to Hunter's family.

Helio Castroneves Wins Dancing with the Stars

news — 2007-11-28T10:11:48-05:00

Apparently racecar driver Helio Castroneves won "Dancing with the Stars" last night. I say "apparently" because there is no way on earth I'd ever watch this show.

However, I've also learned that I'm in the minority and the show is one of the more popular in America.

Do MindSay users watch this show? If so, what's the appeal that I'm missing?

Carson Daly = Benedict Arnold

news — 2007-11-28T10:11:18-05:00

Carson Daly doesn't care about the writer's strike, he wants to get paid! The former TRL host will be going back to production on "Last Call with Carson Daly," which airs sometime in the middle of the night on NBC we're told. Granted, Daly isn't a member of the Writer's Guild, but he is the first late night host to go back to work, and certainly won't gain many fans for breaking ranks.

[link]

Hey A$$hole, Turn Your Cell Phone Off!

news — 2007-11-29T12:11:35-05:00

cas reports on a judge who used his power to the max to punish someone who didn't turn their cell phone off in court:

"Apparently, a US Judge was so angered by a cell phone ringing in his courtroom that he threatened to send 46 people to jail if no one would own up to it. Security officers did a quick search, but weren't able to find it, so Judge Robert Restaino sent every last one of them to prison, with $1,500 set as their bail.

One man, according to the report, told the judge: "This is not fair to the rest of us." To which the judge replied: "I know it isn't."

He was later removed from his bench and the hearing was put to a hiatus."

Take that!

Rap Lyrics Explained with Charts and Graphs

news — 2007-11-30T11:11:43-05:00

Someone sent me a link to this morning and I had to post. The Clever Cookie blog has put together a bunch of hilarious charts explaining rap lyrics through charts and graphs. Here are a couple of my favorites:

More here. What songs would you like to see explained in chart format?

Evel Knievel Dies

news — 2007-11-30T07:11:16-05:00

johnndepp alerts us to breaking news, via the Associated Press:

"Evel Knievel, the hard-living motorcycle daredevil whose exploits made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69 ...

... Immortalized in the Washington's Smithsonian Institution as "America's Legendary Daredevil," Knievel was best known for a failed 1974 attempt to jump an Idaho canyon on a rocket-powered cycle and a spectacular crash at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. He suffered nearly 40 broken bones before he retired in 1980 ...

... Knievel lived with his longtime partner, Krystal Kennedy-Knievel, splitting his time between their Clearwater condo and his Butte hometown. They married in 1999 and divorced a few years later but remained together. Knievel had 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild."

Here's video of one of his famous jumps:

Sperm Donor Ordered to Pay Child Support

news — 2007-12-03T08:12:26-05:00

This story serves as a warning to sperm donors that try and get involved in the lives of the kids they help produce. A man who helped a lesbian couple conceive a child has been ordered to pay child support for his son, who is now 18 years old.

How did this happen? According to the New York Post:

“The Nassau County man donated his sperm to a work colleague, and included his name on the child's birth certificate, saying it would give the boy an identity, courts documents revealed.

He then blurred the lines between donor and full-time father by sending money, presents and cards signed "Dad" and "Daddy," and having phone chats with the now college-bound teen.”

The vast majority of sperm donors remain anonymous, but in this case, the man’s goodwill seems to have backfired. What do you think, should he have to pay child support?

Australian Hip Hop? Sure, Why Not

news — 2007-12-03T06:12:41-05:00

More at mushrecords. Not sure I get it, but ... thoughts?

People Love a Good Celebrity Tail Spin: Top Search Terms of 2007 Released

news — 2007-12-04T06:12:06-05:00

Yahoo has released a list of popular search trends for the year. Amazingly, each of the top 10 celebrities is one who had a crisis of some sort this year! Check it out:

Meanwhile, here were the top news-related searches:

At least the news stories are all related to fairly important stories. Meanwhile, are you guilty of searching for Britney and Paris?

“Pork Chop” Deemed Politically Incorrect as Baseball Mascot

news — 2007-12-04T06:12:19-05:00

A new minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies had selected “PorkChop” as the name for their mascot after taking suggestions from fans. However, as it turns out “PorkChop” was once derogatory to Latin Americans, and thus, the team is going with “Ferrous” instead.

I’d personally never heard PorkChop used in a derogatory way, or as a nickname of any kind actually. Any ideas what it means?

[link]

The Newest Way to Break Up: Facebook Status Messages

news — 2007-12-04T07:12:26-05:00

I'd been noticing friends of mine communicating with each other in a public, sometimes really sappy way over Facebook Status Message, but now, apparently it has also been used for swiftly ending a relationship:

[link]

If You’re Worth $20 Billion, What Does Your Wedding Look Like?

news — 2007-12-05T11:12:10-05:00

Private islands, private planes, a guest appearance by Bono. Those are just a part of the plans when Larry Page, one of the co-founders of Google, gets married this weekend.

There are 600 guests expected, meaning there aren’t enough rooms on Richard Branson’s Necker Island to accommodate. What to do? Rent out another island of course, neighboring Virgin Gorda.

More details of the extravagant wedding can be found on the New York Post’s Page Six.

Meanwhile, if money weren’t an object, what would your wedding look like?

Under the Moonlight ...

news — 2007-12-05T06:12:21-05:00

blueyeedtawni sent us some kinda cool but weird news: a contraption a couple in Arizona has put together that allows people to "bask in the moonlight." From MSNBC:

"The Chapins built the large, one-of-a-kind contraption that stands in the desert some 15 miles west of Tucson, Arizona, in the belief that moonlight might have applications for medicine, industry and agriculture.|

"So much work has focused on the sun. We have just forgotten about this great object that has been here for billions of years, has affected us in all forms of our evolution," said Chapin, who paid for the project with his own money."

More than 1,000 people have visited the location. Seems a bit loony to me, but who knows ...

8 Months Old, 41 Pounds!

news — 2007-12-06T12:12:04-05:00

An 8-month-old baby in China is already tipping the scales at 41 pounds! The child's enormous appetite requires the baby to be breast fed around 20 times per day.

No word on whether or not the child has any kind of medical condition that's causing the massive weight gain. He looks pretty happy and healthy in the pictures, other than for his immense size.

Future NFL draft pick perhaps?

[link]

Eva Mendes Gets Naked for PETA

news — 2007-12-06T08:12:06-05:00

The often controversial animal rights group PETA is at it again, this time using movie star Eva Mendes nude in a series of new ads that protest fur coats. Eva's thoughts on the issue can be found in a Q&A with PETA, but the real question here is do ads like this cross the line in raising awareness for their issue?

We had second thoughts about publishing the picture, but PETA will be publishing it in plenty of magazines and newspapers in coming weeks, so we figured we might as well show what we're talking about here. Plus, Eva is incredibly hot

NYPD Cop: "My Wife Spiked My Meatballs with Weed!"

news — 2007-12-07T07:12:26-05:00

A NYPD officer is suing to get his job back, after being dismissed in 2005 when he failed a drug test. Counter-terrorism officer Anthony Chiofalo claims that his wife spiked his meatballs with marijuana, and, she admits to it. Apparently, she did so in hopes of getting her husband to retire after 20+ years with the NYPD.

While the story sounds pretty far-fetched, both of the Chiofalo's have passed lie detector tests.

[link]

Today is Pearl Harbor Day

news — 2007-12-07T10:12:32-05:00

saikotikgunman reminds us that today is the 66th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Here is a video featuring FDR's address to Congress the day after, along with pictures relating to the event.

Additional good coverage in The Baltimore Sun.

Michael Vick Sentenced to 23 Months in Jail

news — 2007-12-10T02:12:38-05:00

Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has received a 23-month prison sentence from a federal judge for his role in financing a dog fighting operation. Vick still faces charges from the state of Virginia, where the crimes took place. The one-time #1 draft pick also agreed to pay nearly $1 million to care for dogs found on his property.

Now the question becomes, is the sentence too much, too little, or just right? Further, should the NFL permanently suspend Vick, or allow him to re-enter the league once his sentence is up?

Irony: Racist Scientist has Black Ancestry

news — 2007-12-10T06:12:02-05:00

A few months ago James Watson, the scientist credited with discovering the structure of DNA, got himself into some hot water over saying that black people are genetically inferior to white people. Now, as cosina has found, the discovery that Watson in fact has black ancestry:

"There is a wonderful irony and cosmic justice in the recent news that James Watson has Black ancestry.

Watson is the man who received the Nobel Prize in 1953 for discovering the structure of DNA. He was more recently in the news for declaring that by reason of genetics, Blacks are less intelligent than Whites.

Because of his announcement, his tour of England (to promote his new book) was canceled. When he returned to the US, he found that he'd been fired from his job as director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a job he held for forty years.

THEN, the analysis of his own DNA reveals that his ancestry is 16% Black. This indicates that he must have had a Black great-grandfather."

More information can be found in The Times Online. Given there is little dispute that at one point Watson was a pretty smart guy, it's incredibly ironic that his own genetics basically disprove his recent outlandish statements.

Is Jennifer Love Hewitt Fat?

news — 2007-12-12T11:12:12-05:00

For some reason, this story about Jennifer Love Hewitt won't go away. A couple weeks ago, one of the celebrity tracking blogs posted some less than flattering photos of the actress, who has since been on The Today Show and other media outlets defending herself and women everywhere who have "problem areas."

Now, word that the "I Know What You Did Last Summer" star is launching a "plus size clothing line," which, sounds pretty ridiculous given the fact she is supposedly only a size 2.

All of the tabloid gossip seems pretty unfair to Hewitt, but on the other hand, she gets paid huge amounts of money to maintain a certain image. Plus, she now seems poised to exploit the fact that some people think she's overweight for monetary gain. What to make of all this? As a man, I'm utterly confused.

"w00t" is Word of the Year

news — 2007-12-12T08:12:54-05:00

Dictionary-maker Merriam-Webster has declared "w00t" as its word of the year. The term originated with video gamers, but is now used all over the Web (including here on MindSay), typically to express excitement about something. We hereby expect many comments on this post that simply say "w00t."
Or, maybe not ...

Previous words of the year include "truthiness" and "blog."

[link]

A New Type of Advertising that Really, Really Sucks

news — 2007-12-13T10:12:29-05:00

cas has stumbled upon news of what sounds like perhaps the most annoying and intrusive form of advertising yet. From AdAge:

"New Yorker Alison Wilson was walking down Prince Street in SoHo last week when she heard a woman's voice right in her ear asking, "Who's there? Who's there?" She looked around to find no one in her immediate surroundings. Then the voice said, "It's not your imagination."

Indeed it isn't. It's an ad for "Paranormal State," a ghost-themed series premiering on A&E this week. The billboard uses technology manufactured by Holosonic that transmits an "audio spotlight" from a rooftop speaker so that the sound is contained within your cranium ... For random passersby and residents who have to walk unwittingly through the area where the voice will penetrate their inner peace, it's another story."

And you thought the American Apparel ads on MindSay were annoying! As cas pointed out in her post, this could be really freaky for people who already hear voices, and just flat out weird for the rest of us.

The Hills is Fake? Get Out!

news — 2007-12-14T11:12:58-05:00

The truth is slowly unraveling and could prove damaging to other reality shows.

Page Six reiterated today previous reports that "The Hills" is nothing more than a staged production that includes reenactments, scheduled run-ins, and orchestrated love interests. The most recent report of fraud suggests that Lauren’s boy toy in Paris (episodes yet to be aired) was hand selected by the shows producers. This allegation is nothing more than a bullet point added to the laundry list of previously noted editing mishaps caught by celebrity obsessed watchdogs.

The intense coverage and scrutiny of the show has even forced The Hills' main character to come clean. In a recent Q&A session with Entertainment Weekly, Conrad admitted to doing re-shoots of incidences that occurred while the cameras weren’t rolling. She said:

“I went home and called someone [Brody], and the next day talked about it. [MTV] was like, Okay, well, we need to get that on tape, and since they're trying to tell a story the right way, I basically had to go and call [Brody] again, have the exact same conversation on camera”.

Most watching reality shows know that they are fake – audiences simply don’t want to be reminded of it. Pointing out the fraud behind the show takes away the glamour of the characters and the excitement of the storylines.

If reality shows were anything close to our own reality, wouldn’t we all be disinterested?

The Top 5 Albums of the Year; Plus Your Nominations

news — 2007-12-14T05:12:20-05:00

Billboard has released its list of the top 5 selling albums for 2007. The list:

Daughtry, Daughtry - 3.2 million

Akon, Konvicted - 2.7 million

Fergie, The Dutchess - 2.4 million

The Hannah Montana soundtrack - 2.5 million

Carrie Underwood, Some Hearts - 2.3 million

Also, as a reminder, today is your last chance to make nominations for your favorite albums in "Best Album of 2007 - MindSay Edition."

Santa Tells Canadian Youth: "Your Dad is Gay"

news — 2007-12-14T06:12:27-05:00

A while back, we reported on a group that was trying to get mall Santas to stop using "ho ho ho" because it was derogatory to women. If that story was an example of political correctness run amok, this one that neonite submits to us from Canada is the opposite. Apparently, whoever is responding to the letters received in a "Write to Santa" campaign is adding some rather offensive post scripts to their replies. For example:

"PS - This letter is too long, you dumb shit."

and

"PS - Your mom s**** d**** and your Dad is gay."

Talk about a Grinch! Advice to those that might be receiving candid replies from Santa soon: open the letter before showing your kids.

[link]

Report: One in Seven Dumped via Text Message

news — 2007-12-16T06:12:56-05:00

A new survey reports that 1 in 7 people have experienced being dumped over text message. Meanwhile, 1 percent say they have been dumped via a social network, although that trend may be increasing after all the buzz over the story of the girl who used a status update to end her relationship.

Has this happened to any of you MindSayers? So far the only big relationship news into our Inbox was two members getting married!

[link]

What Do You Do if You Find Someone Else's Wallet?

news — 2007-12-17T09:12:15-05:00

I read two related stories in the past few days about lost/found items on the New York transit system and around town...

First there was this from The New York Times:

Summary: The NYPD have been executing "Operation Lucky Bag" for almost a year. Undercover police officers "absent-mindedly" leave purses, wallets and bags in public places, looking to see what happens when passers-by come across them. Will they turn it in to an officer or a transit employee? Will they rummage through the bag to find any identification to call the rightful owner? Will they steal the cash first? But since a police officer is watching, s/he can see what the finder is doing -- and make an arrest for theft. Hundreds of arrests have been made, including many with no prior arrests or convictions.

In one case, a man and his wife found a Verizon bag with a phone and an iPod in it. They boarded their train, taking the bag along with them. They claimed that they were going to search for a receipt or any other identifying information so they could return the bag to the rightful owner. The husband, who was the one who grabbed the bag, was arrested on the train.

It's a tough call -- I know that the mission of Operation Lucky Bag is to smoke out the criminal element and deter people from taking what is theirs. But doesn't this also deter potential good Samaritans whose intent is to find the true owner and return the items "lost?" The police say that they're going after the ones who simply pick up the wallets and immediately take the cash. That's fine. But there's so much gray area here that could lead to potential entrapment.

If you see a wallet on a train platform, what do you do? Do you call attention to the fact that you have a found wallet by yelling out "Hey! who dropped this wallet?" Do you just leave it there, hoping that the true owner will pick it up before someone with lesser intentions that you will? Do you look for a transit employee to hand it to, so the ownership of the found item is on that person?

Which leads to story #2, also from the Times:

Summary: Investigators turned in 26 items to bus and subway workers last year, claiming that they were items found on buses and trains in the system.

Only 3 of the 26 items ultimately found their way to the New York Transit Lost and Found office.

“Obviously, the results are disturbing,” said the inspector general, Barry L. Kluger. He added that the investigation was not meant “as a sting operation” and that it was not possible to know if the missing items were stolen by transit employees or simply “wound up in the bottom of a drawer or in a wastebasket.”

The story also tells of a found earring that mysteriously left the enevlope it was placed in by a bus driver turning it in to the Lost Property office. Or of the $735 in cash that mysteriously made its way to a bus depot safe. Mystery is afoot in New York Transit.

But all of this brings up a good question: What do you do when you see something of value which was lost? What have you done in the past? Do you feel it was the best decision?

PS - Thanks shiny for this post.

Predictions: 2008

news — 2007-12-17T11:12:00-05:00

It's that time of year again: "best of 2007 / predictions for 2008" stories. But, this is the MindSay edition, so it's really special, and saves us the effort of searching for some real news to report . So, in the comments, discuss your predictions for the new year.

Who will win the Presidency?
Which bands will explode on the scene?
What movies will be huge?
Who will win the Super Bowl?
How many more kids will Britney have?
Any other predictions you've got

Have fun and see you in the New Year!

A Day of Progress For Current and Soon-To-Be New Jersey Criminals

news — 2007-12-17T11:12:42-05:00

No appeal. No protest. No pardon issued a minute before midnight.

Today 8 death row inmates in the state of New Jersey played spectators to the sport of politics as Governor Jon S. Corzine signed legislation and made law, the abolishment of Capital Punishment. At the mercy of no jurors or judge, the 8 convicted criminals were given a new verdict of life in prison without parole.

According to Newsday, Gov. Corzine said:

“This is a day of progress for us and for the millions of people across our nation and around the globe who reject the death penalty as a moral or practical response to the grievous, even heinous, crime of murder”.

No wonder the Statue of Liberty’s ass faces that state.

NJ Inmates Make Shawshank-style Escape

news — 2007-12-18T11:12:08-05:00

tobefree alerts us to real-life news, straight out of the movie "The Shawshank Redemption," from a prison in Elizabeth, NJ:

"Two jail inmates used photos of bikini-clad women to hide holes they used to escape and left behind a thank-you note, signed with a smiley face, for a guard they claimed helped them ...

... Jose Espinosa, 20, and Otis Blunt, 32, squeezed through the openings sometime before dawn Saturday in a high-security unit of the Union County jail, jumped onto a rooftop below, and made it over a 25-foot-high fence topped with razor wire."

Unlike in the "The Shawshank Redemption," where Tim Robbins character spends 19 years building a tunnel to escape the prison, it took the New Jersey pair only a few weeks to make their escape. As of the latest report, authorities are still searching for the fugitives.

Which Celebrities are the Biggest A-Holes?

news — 2007-12-18T04:12:00-05:00

Despite being arguably the biggest movie star on the planet, Johnny Depp still makes time for his fans, as he is the most approachable autograph signer according to Autograph Magazine. Meanwhile, Will Ferrell seems to have let fame get to his head, as he is listed as the worst when it comes to signing stuff for fans. Here are the top 10 best and worst:

While most of us have probably never met any of these folks, I've always thought autograph approachability is a good sign of a celebrity's true colors. Any of you had encounters good/bad when going for an autograph?

Jail to be Painted Pink

news — 2007-12-18T11:12:00-05:00

How do you soften up a bunch of prison inmates? Paint the walls pink, at least according to a jail administrator in Miami County, Ohio, as raerae45 reports:

"Inmates at the Miami County Jail are putting color on the jail's once cream-colored walls after Sheriff Charles Cox entered the academic debate over the color pink's calming abilities ...

... Researchers have documented the ability of certain colors to evoke emotional and physical responses, and many jails around the nation have been painted pink as a pacifying measure."

What's next, ballet classes? I suppose anything that might help calm down a bunch of criminals is a good thing, but, I'd prefer my tax dollars be spent on catching and prosecuting criminals versus interior decorating their jail cells.

[link]

A Toothbrush That Doesn't Require Toothpaste

news — 2007-12-19T03:12:16-05:00

rockmom reports, via CanWest:

"What's so special about that goo you squirt on your toothbrush twice a day? Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (Motto: We know teeth!) are looking into whether a light-powered toothbrush developed by a Japanese company is as effective as conventional methods.
The toothbrush uses a titanium dioxide rod that releases electrons when it is exposed to light and water. Those electrons reportedly react with acids in your mouth to break down plaque and banish the Cavity Creeps to Toothcatraz.

The study is just getting underway, but developer Kunio Komiyama says it has been effective in "completely destroying" bacterial cultures in lab tests. A dental conference also gave the toothbrush a recent acknowledgment, too."

I'm already seeing a fantastic opportunity in using this technology (if it really works) in toothbrushes for kids. My children just suck the toothpaste off then chew on the toothbrush bristles for a while, leaving me to try ultimately to do the job for them. It makes me wonder how clean their choppers are really getting. A model that required no toothpaste might actually help in a strange way to get kids' teeth substantially cleaner.

Would any of you even try this?

Don't Bet Against Ron Paul, You Could Lose Your House

news — 2007-12-19T09:12:04-05:00

cas found a forum thread where a user bet his house that Ron Paul wouldn't raise more than $6 million in one day. Unfortunately for the user, Paul beat the mark in route to setting a single day fundraising record. Here was the original posting, from a Mike Huckabee forum:

"I just bet $10000 on Ron Paul to raise under $6 million dollar!!! OMG! what a lock. If and when my bet hits I will donate $2000 to the Mike Huckabee campaign. If he miraculously goes over, I lose my house. Let's just say I am not the least bit worried."

The interwebs love their Ron Paul! Betting against him, at least when it comes to anything involving the Web, is probably a bad idea. Any one else made a reckless bet before and had to eat their words? Even worse, did you have to pay up?

"Don't Tase Me Bro" Tops List of Quotes from '07

news — 2007-12-20T03:12:26-05:00

The Yale Book of Quotations has put out its list of the most memorable quotations for 2007. Topping the list is "Don't Tase Me Bro," a line screamed repeatedly by a Florida college student while being escorted out and tasered at a John Kerry speech he was disturbing.

The phrase inspired many parodies and even a variety of apparel, with Fox News pundit Bill O'Reilly selling "Don't Tase Me Bro" bumper stickers on his Web site and reportedly selling out.

The other most notable quote on the list was Don Imus' "nappy headed hoes" comment that lead to widespread media coverage and the shock-jock being booted off the air, though he has since returned on ABC Radio.

For the 3 of you who might have no idea what I'm talking about, here's the original "Don't Tase Me Bro" video that started it all:

Any other quotes you found memorable this year? Add them in the comments!

[link]

Man Finds $5200 in Box of New Sneakers

news — 2007-12-21T05:12:47-05:00

raerae45 alerts us to news of an interesting find in a shoebox for some Reebok sneakers a customer had just purchased, via the AP:

"A customer looking for a size 10 pair of sneakers at the Indian River Mall ended up with much more than he expected. The unidentified man found more than $5,200 in cash inside a black Reebok shoe he was trying on Tuesday, according to an Indian River County Sheriff's Office report.
The store's accounting department did not find money missing from its safe. Employees believe the shoes had been purchased and returned, The Stuart News reported."

What would you do if you randomly found a pile of cash? Spend it? Hand it over to the police? Donate it to MindSay?

Don’t Open Your Presents Early; You Might Get Stabbed

news — 2007-12-24T11:12:49-05:00

It’s a mere couple of hours until Christmas in the US, so you’re probably safe, but it has been learned that last week a woman stabbed her husband after she discovered that he had opened his presents too early. According to police reports, Misty Johnson of Rock Springs, Wyoming stabbed her husband Shawn after his early opening of a Christmas present lead to an argument.

Fortunately, Shawn was treated and released from a hospital a few hours after the incident.

So, the moral of the story is not to sneak a peek at your gifts if you have a potentially psychotic spouse.

[link]

Jessica Simpson's Latest Film: $1200 Opening Weekend

news — 2007-12-26T10:12:08-05:00

"Blonde Ambition," a new movie that debuted this past weekend starring Jessica Simpson and Luke Wilson, grossed $1,190 in ticket sales. Yes, you read that correctly: one thousand, one hundred, and ninety dollars.

The film was only shown in 8 theaters in Texas, but nonetheless, it means that each screening attracted around 6 customers.

Can someone remind me why this girl is still famous?

[link]

Native American Tribe Secedes from the United States

news — 2007-12-27T11:12:57-05:00

The Lakota Indians have declared sovereignty from the United States, reports quddus . The tribe, whose land includes parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming told the State Department:

“We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five-state area that encompasses our country are free to join us.”

It's unclear how the US Government will respond to the move, if at all. Should the Native Americans be able to secede completely from the US, or should there be boundaries?

[link]

Harold & Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay Official Trailer

news — 2007-12-28T12:12:46-05:00

The official trailer for one of the most anticipated sequels ... ever .... has arrived. Here's a look at the upcoming "Harold & Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay:"

The movie is of course the follow-up to the 2004 "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle," which grossed a modest $23 million at the box office, but became a cult classic and sold more than $30 million in DVDs.

Wal-Mart Sells Video MP3 Player Pre-loaded with Porn

news — 2007-12-28T10:12:00-05:00

A Christmas present turned horribly wrong (or horribly right depending on your perspective) for a 10-year old recipient of a video MP3 player in Knoxville, TN, hometown of blueeyedtawni. According to WBIR:

"Daryl Hill's daughter was thrilled to find that Santa had left an MP3 player under the tree, until she turned it on ...
There were video clips of XXX rated sex scenes ...

... It turns out one of the MP3 players had been returned to the store from a previous owner who loaded sex clips, graphic war scenes and lyrics about using drugs ...

... [The family have] already bought their daughter a new one and are hanging onto the controversial one until they talk to a lawyer."

There were certainly a lot of stories of deviant behavior this Christmas. From offensive letters from Santa Clause to some people finding "ho ho ho" offensive, it seems like there are still plenty of Grinches out there.

The State of MindSay and Our New Year's Resolutions

news — 2007-12-31T12:12:20-05:00

In parts of the world, it’s already 2008, but for the MindSay team, we still have a few hours to go, so we figured we’d publish some of our own “resolutions” for the new year, as well as update everyone on "the state of MindSay."

OUR 2008 RESOLUTIONS

1. Better Responsiveness

A few recent blog posts that came to my attention gave me the impression that a lot of people don’t really know how to get in touch with us about issues on the site. Whatever the reason, I just thought I’d take this opportunity to remind you that you can always email us, but to get an even quicker response, just send me (Adam) an IM. It’s publicly posted on my blog/profile for a reason. Most of our best ideas come from conversations with members, so we really do want you to get in touch with us.

2. Continue a “Hands Off” Approach to Moderating Content

One thing that I think sets MindSay apart from other blogging communities is that we’ve always been very hands-off in terms of moderating content. Short of blatant pornography, hate speech, or situations in which we’ve been forced to take down content due to copyright infringement, we pretty much let anything go here, which is why we’re called “MindSay” (say what’s on your mind). We’re not a big corporate entity that answers to advertisers or investors – just two guys that enjoy running a fun and open blogging community, that make some beer money in the process if we’re lucky.

3. Expand News Coverage

In our opinion, MindSay News has been one of our better product launches in the last year or two. While it’s relatively simple compared to some other undertakings, it has been a great way to start new conversations and get more contributions from the community at-large. In 2008, we’ll hopefully expand our coverage (a wider array of topics that will hopefully interest more users) and perhaps even bring on a couple writers to help keep things fresh.

4. Keep it Simple, Stupid

Since launching “version 3” all the way back in 2004 (wow, time flies), changes to the site have been very gradual and measured, and we’ve kept our interface relatively clutter-free. I think that’s part of the reason we have so many users that have stuck with us for our nearly full 5 years of existence. While other sites might offer a few more features or sexier designs, our objective is to keep people in touch and foster new relationships, which, I think the site still does a great job of doing.

5. Play a More Active Role in User Participation

This is kind of a vague idea, but I think we should try and become more engaged in organizing user events – online or off. A lot of users already do this on their own – from voting on “album of the year” to “secret Santa” activities and lots of other things we’ve seen going on around the site. But, since we run the place, we have the ability to drop a plug on the homepage, in a newsletter, or on our blogs and help get people more involved in these types of activities. Along the lines of resolution #1, if you have ideas, please get in touch and we’ll do what we can to help!

THE STATE OF MINDSAY

In one of the recent posts I saw, the user implied that they really had no idea who was behind MindSay, how stable it was, or whether or not we’d be around one week, one month, or one decade from now. To address those issues, a few comments:

1. MindSay was co-founded by Adam Ostrow (aostrow) and Brian Klug (dustball) in 2003, with the help of Brian’s talented girlfriend Jen (jen). As we enter 2008, it’s still the same exact team. In addition to MindSay, we all work full-time jobs.

2. MindSay is profitable and at no risk of going out of business. Through advertisements, we make enough money to cover our server costs and then some.

3. If we were ever on the verge of shutting down (.000001% chance this happens in 2008), we would give everyone an option to download their blogs and do whatever else possible to keep people in touch. I hate to even mention this because it’s so unlikely, but people ask, and I just want to re-assure people we’re not insensitive a-holes. We know how much time you’ve invested with us in building your blogs and friend networks, and there is no way we’d ever let that simply disappear.

4. Some people are curious as to the size of MindSay. At last check, we have around 160,000 registered users, and as we noted recently, we’re quickly approaching a total of 5 million comments, which is pretty cool. There are something like 1.5 million blog posts!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We thank you for continuing to use MindSay and wish you, your family, and friends a healthy and happy new year. Comments welcome.

Sincerely,

Adam, Brian, Jen, and the cats …

Introducing "The Tiddy Bear"

news — 2008-01-01T08:01:00-05:00

smurfy alerts us to quite possibly the funniest commercial for a REAL product ever. The "tiddy bear," which, when attached to your shoulder or smack in the middle of your boobs helps prevent seat belt irritation, is available for purchase at tiddybearcomfortstrap.com.

"In Rainbows" is MindSay's Favorite Album of 2007

news — 2008-01-02T09:01:11-05:00

"In Rainbows," the Internet-only, name your own price album from Radiohead has been voted "Best Album of 2007" by MindSay users. Radiohead decided to issue this album themselves without a music label, potentially changing the way music will be distributed in the future. So, even if "In Rainbows" wasn't your favorite album musically from last year, it may ultimately have the biggest impact.

To see the runners up, check out bestalbumof2007

Jamie Lynn Spears is Pregnant, and Unemployed

news — 2008-01-03T08:01:10-05:00

So, we had refrained from commenting on the biggest pop gossip story in months (since some users told us they aren't fond of such news), but now it's just too juicy. After being impregnated at the age of 16, Jamie Lynn Spears (yes, the sister of pop wreck Britney) has had her show "Zoey 101" canceled by Nickelodeon.

Beyond the celebrity angle of it, I think there are a few interesting discussion issues here. Is Nickelodeon sending the right message by canceling the show? Is this actually a good thing that gives parents an opportunity to educate their kids on safe sex practices? Discuss!

[link]

States Move to Abolish Electoral College

news — 2008-01-04T05:01:49-05:00

New Jersey’s state Senate has approved a bill that will award the state’s 15 electoral votes to the candidate receiving the most votes in the national election for President. The same measure has also been approved in Maryland, with several other states also likely to pass similar bills prior to the 2008 election.

In order for the electoral votes to actually be cast based on popular vote, a majority of the Electoral College must approve similar bills (meaning, states representing more than 270 electoral votes must pass it), according to an article from USA Today sent to us by tobefree.

Of course, many have argued for the abolishment of the Electoral College system since Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the election in 2000.

What do you think: Is it time to get rid of the Electoral College, or is it still necessary to give smaller states adequate representation?

Big Girls Don’t Cry … Especially When Campaigning

news — 2008-01-08T11:01:30-05:00

Yesterday Senator Hilary Clinton reminded us that she is a woman. Bad move.

Clinton’s emotionally charged response to a Portsmouth, New Hampshire audience member question caused her to become teary eyed when replying, “You know, this is very personal for me. It’s not just political it’s not just public. I see what’s happening, and we have to reverse it.”

For many, Clinton’s behavior reinforced the hesitation of electing a female Commander-in-chief. Her red eyes and shaky voice stripped her of the ‘tough guy’ image she regularly portrays and reminded voters that she is as feminine as Jessica Simpson.

Perhaps Clinton’s reaction was strategic and staged – but in a time of great uncertainty and change, Americans are searching for a leader not a crier. And although the ramifications of her tears have yet to be determined, this much is sure – On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, Clinton became a ‘typical woman’.

From the start to the end – her campaign may be a trail of tears.

What do you think? Did Hilary show she was more human, or will the perceived weakness end her campaign?

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison

Big Eaters Banned from Buffet

news — 2008-01-08T09:01:00-05:00

Back in college, during finals, occasionally I would sit myself down at a local buffet and consume all three meals (and then some) there while I studied. While I was probably not a profitable customer for the restaurant, I always assumed that my over-consumption was made up for by light eaters who pay for the buffet but only have one serving, and thus, I never got kicked out.

Unfortunately, a big-eating couple in Louisiana wasn’t as fortunate. Featherdawn alerts us to a story from the AP:

"… Ricky Labit, a disabled offshore worker, said he had been a regular for eight months at the Manchuria Restaurant in Houma, eating there as often as three times a week. On his most recent visit, he said, a waitress gave him and his wife's cousin, 44-year-old Michael Borrelli, a bill for $46.40, roughly double the buffet price for two adults …

… Houma accountant Thomas Campo said the men were charged an extra $10 each on Dec. 21 because they made a habit of dining exclusively on the more expensive seafood dishes, including crab legs and frog legs … The argument grew heated, and police were called. … Labit … was told not to come back.”

As someone who enjoys the buffet experience, it seems a bit like discrimination here against everything a buffet should stand for. On the other hand, the restaurant understands their economics better than I do, so, perhaps they have a point in charging heartier eaters more. Thoughts?

Mayor's Racy MySpace Pictures Discovered

news — 2008-01-09T11:01:14-05:00

We’ve all probably posted a picture or two on a social networking site that we’ve later regretted. If you’ve been really unlucky, one of these pictures might have cost you a job or messed something up at school.

However, in the latest case of over-exposure, racy pictures of the mayor of Arlington, Oregon were discovered via her MySpace page. Mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist, age 42, says the pics have nothing to do with her job and were taken before she was elected.

On one hand, I sort of feel bad for her. It seems like 99.999% of us our going to be ineligible for public office someday if pictures posted online are used against us. On the other, if you plan to run for public office one day, shouldn’t you be a little more vigilant?

[link] [img]

New Feature: Blogs of the Week

news — 2008-01-14T10:01:21-05:00

In an effort to help users further promote their blogs and draw attention to interesting things going on in the community, we'd like to announce a new feature: "blogs of the week."

Our new homepage gives us a great tool for this, so, that's what we're gonna do Basically, each week we'll feature up to 3 different blogs with a brief description and link. Then, in the comments, users can nominate other blogs to be featured the following week. There is really no criteria for being selected, other than being someone that posts frequently and offers interesting content. It will be open to both new bloggers and old-timers, though, since the goal is to draw attention to "undiscovered" blogs we'll probably have a slight preference for those that are new and only have a few followers versus the bloggers that most people already know.

Anyways, to kick things off I'd like to announce sirrunsalot (Rob Caracciolo), a personal friend of mine who is currently training to make the 2008 Olympic Games as a distance runner. If you've been around a long time, you may remember that Rob blogged with us leading up to and during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. We're excited to have him back, and his blog should be a must-read in the months leading up to the games.

Check out Rob's blog, and feel free add your nominations for blogs to feature next week in the comments. We'll aim to have a post out every Monday morning featuring the Blogs of the Week.

Steroid Scandal Now Includes Rappers

news — 2008-01-14T02:01:00-05:00

The Times Union of Albany (New York) is reporting that 50 Cent, Timbaland, Wyclef Jean, and Mary J. Blige have been cited in a steroid investigation by Albany’s District Attorney. From the AP:

“Records shared with the Times Union and information from several cooperating witnesses on Long Island indicate the celebrities received prescribed human growth hormone or steroids. In some cases aliases were used for their delivery.”

Similar to pro sports, it’s not surprising to see celebrities getting caught up in the steroid game. With videos continuing to get racier, they are under pressure to look better and keep up with the competition.

Of the stars cited in the report, I have to say Timbaland is probably the one with the most visible changes. I remember him as being a little bit pudgy, but at the VMAs this year, the dude was jacked up, as this photo comparison above illustrates.

What do you think, are rappers juicing too?

Inflatable Beer Pong Table: Best Idea Ever?

news — 2008-01-15T04:01:16-05:00

While we’re typically not ones to plug products, the “port-o-pong” is truly one of those “why didn’t I think of that?” ideas (for those of us that regularly play beer pong anyhow).

Yup, an inflatable beer pong table. Six feet long, with 10 holes in triangular form, perfect size to hold plastic red party cups. Take the party with you – to the game, to the living room, or to the pool (it floats).

The Port-o-Pong is on sale for $49.99. Remember, there are no losers in beer pong, only winners. Just when I thought I was getting too old for beer pong ...

Tom Cruise Talks Scientology

news — 2008-01-16T05:01:48-05:00

A video of Tom Cruise discussing Scientology has leaked onto the Internet. The video was pulled by a number of outlets, but is now being hosted by Gawker, who has indicated they will not take it down.

Is Gawker right for keeping the video up? Further, after watching it, what do you think of Cruise/Scientology?

Say “I’m Sorry” with Five Foot Tall Roses

news — 2008-01-17T07:01:45-05:00

In preparation for Valentine’s Day (or, a seasonal surge in lying, cheating bastards), Organic Bouquet is selling roses that measure more than 5 feet tall. The actual heads of the flowers are a whopping 3-4” in diameter.

At the moment, the retailer is completely sold out of the giant roses for any delivery date prior to Valentine’s Day, despite the $249 price tag. Are guys simply following a “bigger is better” philosophy, or, is this just the new ultimate way to say “I’m sorry?”

[link]

Martin Luther King Day

news — 2008-01-21T10:01:53-05:00

Today is Martin Luter King Day in the United States. Above is video of his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

King, who would be 79 years old if he were still alive, would surely see this year's US Presidential election as a sign of how far things have come since he lead the civil rights movement. Among the leading candidates this year: a black man, a woman, and a Morman.

Study: Mac Users “More Assured of their Own Superiority”

news — 2008-01-21T12:01:14-05:00

Apparently the “PC versus Mac” ads play true to their real world stereotypes. According to a study from Mindset Media, Mac users are:

More liberal
Less modest
More assured of their own superiority

The results were based on a study of more than 7,500 Mac users. Are they really that surprising given the company calls its in-store tech support area the “genius bar”?

[link]

"Cloverfield" Rides Hype to $40 Million Opening Weekend

news — 2008-01-21T03:01:42-05:00

Despite a virtually unknown cast, the movie "Cloverfield" topped the weekend box office with more than $40 million in ticket sales, a record for a January opening.

The films' mysterious trailers have appeared in previews of other movies for months, while also being heavily promoted and spread around the Internet. It sort of reminds me of "The Blair Witch Project," which was a similar type of film that was one of the first to make widespread use of the Web for low-cost marketing exposure.

So, I've gotta assume at least a few of you saw the movie over the weekend. Did it live up to the hype?

Day Trader Throws Tirade as Stock Market Crashes

news — 2008-01-21T06:01:39-05:00

In case you've missed it, the stock market is having a fairly awful year, down more than 10% already. All signs point to a potential crash tomorrow, which is giving the trader in the above video fits.

If you're in a hurry, fast forward to around 3:15 and 4:30 for one of the more epic tirades ever caught on tape (or webcam in this case).

Nine Months of Another No: Drinking Coffee Leads to Miscarriage Risk

news — 2008-01-22T02:01:30-05:00

No alcohol. No tobacco. And now expecting mothers can add to that list – No caffeine.

Findings published in Monday’s Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that pregnant woman who consume two or more cups of coffee a day increase their chance of having a miscarriage. The most alarming number:

“25.5 percent of women who consumed more than 200 mg of caffeine a day miscarried”

Potbellied women everywhere are going to be in a rush to trade in their Venti Wet Extra Hot One-Pump Mochaccino for a boring bottle of water. What's harder to quit though? Drinking booze or that triple-shot of espresso?

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison.

Oscar Nominees Announced

news — 2008-01-22T03:01:23-05:00

The nominees for the 80th Annual Academy Awards (“The Oscars”) were announced this morning. Here are the nominees in the biggest categories (in other words, the people you’re most likely to have heard of …):

Best Picture
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country For Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Best Actress
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie, Away From Her
Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose
Laura Linney, The Savages
Ellen Page, Juno

Best Actor
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Daniel Day Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Tommy Lee Jones, In The Valley of Elah
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises

The full list of nominees is available here. Reactions? Your picks to win?

Heath Ledger Dies

news — 2008-01-22T05:01:52-05:00

commntyblackman alerts us to some shocking news: actor Heath Ledger has died. He was found dead this afternoon in his New York apartment according to TMZ. Reportedly there were bottles of prescription medicine found near his body.

Ledger was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in "Brokeback Mountain" in 2005 and plays The Joker in the upcoming Batman movie.

Wow, this is really sad

Jerry O'Connell Spoofs Tom Cruise Scientology Video

news — 2008-01-23T02:01:45-05:00

Last week, we reported on the bizarre video of Tom Cruise discussing Scientology that had leaked onto the Web. Today, a spoof from Jerry O'Connell has emerged on Will Ferrell's "Funny or Die" web site. I can't think of anything else of significance that Jerry O'Connell has contributed to the world, but this is pretty amusing. Enjoy

One For All and All For None?

news — 2008-01-24T06:01:16-05:00

The Oscar nominations have been released with the presentation of awards set to take place on-air February 28.

Hopefully the writers will have completed their negotiations by this date in order to ensure that the Oscars will go on…

Many stars such as Best Actor nominee Viggo Mortensen's (Eastern Promises) and Tony Gilroy, Best Director nominee (Michael Clayton) have already stated that if the strike has not been resolved they will not cross the picket line.

Besides the wants and needs of the writers has anyone stopped to think of the impact that this strike has had on all those who work for and are connected to the entertainment business?

Make-up artists, stylists, crew members, production assistants, secretaries – the list is never ending of those who have been forced to stop work and lose wages since November 5, 2007. Unfortunately, these staff members will more than likely not be better compensated once negotiations are reached nor will they be likely to recoup their lost wages.

As reported on the January 13, 2008 edition of NBC Nightly News, “…the strike has cost the industry $1 billion so far”.

And what about the actors such as twenty-year-old Ellen Page who received her first ever nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role? She may not have the opportunity to be in front of her peers with her parents clapping with pride while being honored for her professional accomplishment. Don’t all parents wait for such a moment?

The cost and impact of this strike requires us to reflect on whether or not society has lost sight of what is the greatest good for the greatest number?

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison.

Terrorists Latest Target: Hannah Montana

news — 2008-01-25T02:01:21-05:00

A teenager smuggled rope, tape, and handcuffs onto a plane headed from Los Angeles to Nashville. While authorities were quickly alerted to the plot and the plane safely found its way to Nashville, the wannabe 16 year old terrorists’ target was apparently Hannah Montana. News Channel 5 in Nashville reports:

“Investigators said he planned to hijack the plane and order the pilots to divert the course from Nashville to Lafayette, La. The teenager wanted to crash the airliner into a Hannah Montana concert.”

Over the holidays, I visited a family with a young daughter who played Hannah Montana on loop, so I can see where such feelings might come from. Needless to say, it’s one thing to think about flying a plane into a Hannah Montana concert, but another to actually try and go through with it!

Apparently the kid didn’t even attempt his hijacking on the right day – the concert he was targeting actually doesn’t take place until tonight.

Enjoy your trip to juvi!

On Bended Knee – The Tradition Survives

news — 2008-01-28T04:01:49-05:00

Matchmaking websites, premarital sex, and cohabitation before marriage are just a few of the common trends that society has in some ways, come to expect when discussing modern romance.

Both the X and Y generations are far removed from the days of formal dates that consisted of meeting the parents, opening doors, bringing flowers, lip locking with no tongue, and adhering to 9 pm curfews.

However, a recent survey suggests that 50% of men still resort to the old fashion tradition of getting on bended knee when asking for their significant others hand in marriage.

Did your fiancé or husband stick to tradition and ask you to marry him on bended knee?

Do you think that the act of proposing will change over time and become more reflective of modern dating and relationships?

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison, whose husband's marriage proposal you can read about here.

Countrywide’s CEO Gives Up Severance Pay: How Will He Afford His Grandkids Education?

news — 2008-01-28T08:01:43-05:00

The CEO of Countrywide Financial, Angelo Mozilo, has agreed to give up a $37.5 “severance package” – money he would get simply for deciding to retire. On CNBC this morning, the always impecably tanned CEO told the network “it was the right thing to do” and that he needs to start thinking about paying for his grandkids college education.

Can I get a giant FUCK YOU for this guy? Over the past four years, he has sold nearly $500 million of Countrywide stock as his company profited from ripping off consumers with shady home mortgages. Due to such practices, Countrywide is near bankruptcy, though it’s about to be bailed out by Bank of America.

Does this guy really think people are naïve enough to treat him like a saint for giving up his severance pay after already abusing the system to the tune of half a billion dollars? The fact he always looks like he just got back from vacation in Cabo while his company is in shambles and homeowners are going broke also doesn’t help his cause.

Ugh, some people just suck

Say It Aint So: New Kids On The Block Re-Uniting

news — 2008-01-29T12:01:52-05:00

An emailer has tipped us off to news that The New Kids on the Block (or "nkotb" as the cool kids call them), the biggest boy band of the early 90s, are getting back together. People.com confirms this:

"After months of speculation and rumor, the Kids are coming back. A well-placed source tells PEOPLE exclusively that New Kids On The Block are indeed getting back together.

The band's Web site, www.nkotb.com, which had been dormant, is now back up and running in anticipation of the official announcement, which the source says will be made in the next few weeks."

I'm probably dating myself with this entry, but I certainly remember when New Kids were all the rage in 5th grade or so, with most people in my school owning at least a lunchbox or backpack with the bands' logo.

Just when I was really hoping we could finally put the 90s behind us ...

The Controversy Over Vaccines, Autism, and a Television Show

news — 2008-01-29T11:01:20-05:00

andieland alerts us to a controversy brewing over an episode of the show "Eli Stone" that ABC has decided to air. A report from Reuters explains:

" ... The debut episode features the show's title character and hero, a trial lawyer for big corporations who decides to fight for the little guy, convincing a jury that a mercury-based preservative in a vaccine caused a child's autism.

On the show, a jury awards the boy's mother $5.2 million in damages after it is revealed the CEO of the vaccine maker kept his own daughter from getting the company's vaccine because of autism concerns.

... Major health authorities, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), cite numerous studies that rule out any scientific link between autism and vaccines."

The concern is that the show will lead parents to stop getting their children vaccinated for fear that they will become autistic. Who's correct medically speaking is something that's above my pay grade, but my guess is that most people won't stop getting their children vaccinated because of a television show. On the other hand, Chuck Norris has convinced a fair amount of people to vote for Mike Huckabee, so maybe the state of humanity isn't as good as I'd like to think.

What do you think, should ABC air the episode?

McCain Still Calls Asians "Gooks." Do You Care?

news — 2008-01-31T04:01:44-05:00

This is old news, but it has re-appeared thanks to the social news web site Digg where users voted it to the front page 8 years later. According to a 2000 article from The San Francisco Chronicle, Republican Presidential candidate John McCain still refers to Asians with the racial slur "gook," and intends to do so for the rest of his life. From the article:

"I was referring to my prison guards and I will continue to refer to them in language that might offend some people because of the beating and torture of my friends."

Of course, McCain, a former Navy pilot, was held captive in a Vietnamese prison for 5 years, so he has plenty of reason to be upset. But, is it appropriate for a Presidential candidate to still use a racial slur so publicly?

Super Sunday: Chris Berman Meltdown

news — 2008-02-01T11:02:43-05:00

I'm not sure when exactly the above video was shot, but it's priceless. Fabled ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman, who generally I think is thought of as a pretty nice guy, having a total meltdown and throwing a tantrum at his staff. Brilliant timing too, with the Super Bowl just days away.

Ah, payback must be sweet for the cameraman that leaked this off-air video onto the Web.

Giants Win Super Bowl XLII. Biggest Upset of All-Time?

news — 2008-02-04T11:02:37-05:00

In one of the biggest surprises in sports history, the Giants beat the previously undefeated Patriots 17-14 to win Super Bowl XLII last night. Is it the biggest upset of all-time, or that you can remember anyhow?

Also, here’s a few links to view the commercials from last night for those of you more interested in those than the game:

AOL Sports

YouTube

Yahoo Video

Which were your favs?

[img via newsday]

Does MySpace Delete Atheists?

news — 2008-02-04T05:02:34-05:00

andreux shares news with us about the deletion of a group called “Atheist and Agnostic” on MySpace. Apparently this is the second time that the group, which had more than 35,000 members, has been deleted since November.

While there is no clear evidence that the group was deleted purely on the moral discretion of MySpace/News Corp, the group’s creator notes that MySpace has previously restored Christian groups that had been hacked on the site, but are irresponsive to requests to restore the atheists group.

So is MySpace discriminating, or is this simply an oversight?

Holloway Case Closed?

news — 2008-02-05T02:02:04-05:00

Well, it is for Natalee Holloway’s mother, Beth Twitty, who has spent countless days and nights over the past three years looking for her daughter who went missing in Aruba during a high school graduation trip in May 2005.

Yesterday evening, 20/20 ran a segment airing video footage of the initial and main suspect in this case, Joran van der Sloot, confessing to having had the body of Natalee Holloway dumped into the ocean after she started shaking and appeared unconscious while hooking up on the local Aruban beach.

Van der Sloot confessed, to Patrick van der Eem, a pseudo gangster who intentionally befriended van der Sloot in the hopes of attaining a confession, that:

“I know what happened to that girl…We're on the beach…Suddenly, she wasn't moving any more…She'll never be found… ".

On hidden camera, van der Sloot proceeded to describe how rather then calling an ambulance he went into protection mode – for himself. From a pay phone, he called a friend who owned a boat which was used to load and dump Natalee Holloway’s body out into the endless sea.

Van der Sloot not only stated he was unsure that Natalee was dead or simply in a coma, but that the same evening in which Natalee was pushed into the ocean, he “…didn't lose a night of sleep over it”.

Van der Sloot has since responded to the footage aired world wide saying that he lied to Patrick van der Eeem in order to impress him and tell him “…what he wanted to hear.”

Whether or not a court will be able to find van der Sloot guilty without physical evidence, one thing is for sure – the world has now condemned him and that is enough for many – to simply know the truth, have answers, and be able to put to rest the anxiety, wonder, and hope that Natalee is still alive.

What are your thoughts and impression of Joran van der Sloot after watching the video? Do you believe his confession was sincere or an act to be cool and impressive?

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison

Drunk Mom Puts Seatbelt on Beer Instead of Baby

news — 2008-02-06T10:02:00-05:00

A woman was arrested in St. Augustine, Florida for DUI on Super Bowl Sunday. Stupid, but not unusual, given it's one of the biggest party days of the year.

However, according to NBC12, Tina Williams wasn't only driving drunk, but had a case of beer strapped into the passenger seat with a seatbelt, while a one-year-old baby sat without restraint in the back seat (though the baby's mother was also in the back). Fortunately Williams was arrested and charged with a laundry list of crimes before any harm was done.

This reminds me, sadly, of parents who kill their children by "accidentally" leaving them locked in the car for hours in stifling summer heat, in that it seems so impossibly stupid that it couldn't be an honest mistake.

Are people really this ignorant and irresponsible, or has our society simply lost all sense of what responsible behavior is?

Pedro Martinez Caught Cockfighting on Tape

news — 2008-02-07T07:02:29-05:00

New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez has been caught cockfighting by way of a video posted to YouTube, according to The New York Post. The video, which has since been taken down, shows Martinez along with Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal throwing two roosters into a cockfighting ring.

However, don't expect another Michael Vick-like fiasco to emerge over this. The cockfight took place in the two pitchers' native country, The Dominican Republic, where cockfighting is completely legal.

Nonetheless, given Vick is serving 23-months in jail for dogfighting and has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL, should Major League Baseball punish Martinez in some way?

Chicago Voters Cast Ballots with "Invisible Ink"

news — 2008-02-08T01:02:30-05:00

shiny alerts us to news from the Chicago Sun-Times about some Super Tuesday shenanigans:

"Twenty voters at a Far North Side precinct who found their ink pens not working were told by election judges not to worry. It's invisible ink, officials said. The scanner will count it."

As it turns out, twenty votes wasn't a huge difference in the Illinois primary - Obama won by a landslide in his home state for the Dems, while McCain won big on the Republican side. Nonetheless, it sounds like a few election judges need to be relieved of duty, no?

Amy Winehouse Dominates Grammy Awards. Really?

news — 2008-02-11T11:02:46-05:00

British pop singer Amy Winehouse won 5 Grammy Awards last night, including record of the year, song of the year, and best new artist. Which, leaves me with one question: why?

I'll admit that I haven't listened to Ms. Winehouse's whole album. The only song I know of hers is "Rehab" which was one of the most overplayed and overrated songs of the year on the radio, in my humble opinion.

In fact, thanks to our media, I know more about her bizarre behavior and substance abuse problem than I do her music. Perhaps the voters like the irony of her hit single? Who knows.

Beyond Winehouse, a few folks with actual talent picked up awards as well, including Alicia Keys, Kanye West, and Justin Timberlake. The full list of winners is available on MTV.com, whose web site still covers music, even if their TV station doesn't.

/end monday morning rant

Oscar Mayer Weinermobile Crashes. Lets the Puns Begin.

news — 2008-02-11T06:02:11-05:00

saikotikgunman brings us news from his neck of the woods in Pennsylvania about the crash of one of Oscar Mayer’s 12 “weinermobiles” – a 7,000 pound hot dog on wheels that promotes goodwill for the company across the country. A few of the funnier quotes from the Gannett News Service story:

“Let's be frank: motor vehicle accidents aren't much fun for anyone.”

“Although they didn't relish the experience…”

“Johnson, the trooper, grilled the women briefly and concluded that a routine and sober spinout was all he had on his plate.”

“… that's the first wiener I've ever pulled out."

"Usually we try to keep from scratching our buns …"

This story just begs for more sexual innuendo in the comments

How Much Is a Lost Computer Worth? $54 Million According to Lawsuit

news — 2008-02-12T09:02:56-05:00

Raelyn Campbell of Washington DC has filed a lawsuit for $54 million against Best Buy after the retailer lost a laptop she brought in for repairs. According to MSNBC:

“After several more weeks of fruitless phone calls, she received an offer she calls insulting: $900 for her trouble -- in the form of a store gift card … Campbell rejected the offer, instead demanding $2,100 in cash. She said her request went unanswered.”

It sounds like Campbell made an honest effort to resolve the issue with Best Buy. Beyond the negotiations that went nowhere, it took three months for Best Buy to even admit they lost the laptop, and another three months of fruitlessly trying to work something out with the company.

Now, the question is, how much is a lost laptop worth? Beyond the physical hardware, which in this case was reportedly around $1,100, the computer had purchased music, personal photos, and perhaps most important – the plaintiffs tax returns, meaning she is now at risk of identity theft.

Hillary and Bill Clinton: For Love or Politics?

news — 2008-02-13T04:02:19-05:00

If not for his presidency and his wife’s upcoming potential to also be Commander-In-Chief, do you believe this power pair would have remained married?

Two separate books not yet published, but leaked to The Washington Post earlier this week, suggest that The Clinton’s remain together for their love of politics rather then their love of each other.

The Daily Mail article states that both books, A Woman In Charge by Carl Bernstein and Her Way by Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta, “…document her husband's many affairs when he was governor of Arkansas.”

Gerth and Van Natta also write that, “…the Clintons made a "secret plan" when they were in Arkansas in which they would each have two terms as president.”

Having lost eight consecutive contests, the delegate count lead, and both her campaign manager and deputy campaign manager in just a matter of days – could Hillary also loose her marriage if not declared the Democratic presidential nominee?
Perhaps Hillary stood by her man so he would later stand by his woman – not for moral support, but for a misleading perception of forgiveness and family strength tied to the popular and well-liked former President that gave this country hope.

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison

Australia Says Sorry

news — 2008-02-14T01:02:10-05:00

Yesterday, Australia’s parliament unanimously approved an apology to the country’s indigenous population, often referred to as Aborigines. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd read the motion in a nationally telecast session of parliament.

I’m not entirely familiar with the history, but I'm well aware of the many reports that Aborigines have been seriously discriminated against in the past, so, a public apology for their treatment seems like a very admirable move by the Australian government (though, way too late for some I’m sure). As the Wall Street Journal points out, similar apologies have been made to Canada’s natives, South Africa over apartheid, and the US in relation to its treatment of Japanese-Americans in WWII.

For more background, check out:

Indigenous Australians (Wikipedia)
Aborigines (Survival International)
Aborigines (How Stuff Works)

Thanks littleblue for bringing the news to our attention.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Sends 10,000+ Angst Text Messages

news — 2008-02-14T05:02:00-05:00

Here's some Valentine's Day cheer (or not):

Sometimes you makeup and other times you breakup - Timothy Mortimore, 37, choose the latter never predicting that his actions would result in regular harassment from the far-from-accepting-the-couple- were-over ex-girlfriend.

For two months following the immediate break in their relationship, Mortimore’s ex-girlfriend sent him 10,000 text messages – “an average of one every eight minutes” as reported by Fox News.

The harassment did not stop with the abundant texting. Lee Amor also, “…followed him…approached him at work demanding they talk, and sent a piece of glass she had used to cut herself and tried to convince him he was the father of her unborn child”.

Mortimore took Amor to court in which a restraining order was executed to help cease the harassment.

I’m not sure which is more crazy – the 10,000 text messages or the piece of glass mailed to Mortimore.

Even if you think your girlfriend/wife is crazy, just remember she probably isn’t this nuts!

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison

10 Years of "V-Day" to Stop Violence Against Women

news — 2008-02-14T07:02:36-05:00

nocrystalstare alerts us that today is not only Valentine's Day, but also the 10th anniversary of a group called V-Day, which aims to end violence against women. From the organization's web site:

"V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual slavery."

In any event, figured we'd spread the word. More more info and to find out what you can do to help, visit the V-Day site.

US to Engage Broken Satellite with Missile

news — 2008-02-14T09:02:00-05:00

It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but apparently in the name of national security, the US is set to shoot down a satellite by firing a missile into space. According to a report from the Associated Press (via MSNBC), President Bush has ordered the Navy to shoot down a broken spy satellite before it re-enters the earth’s atmosphere in an effort to minimize risk to humans. From the report:

“Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the same briefing that the "window of opportunity" for such a shootdown, presumably to be launched from a Navy ship, will open in the next three or four days and last for seven or eight days. He did not say whether the Pentagon has decided on an exact launch date.
Cartwright said this will be an unprecedented effort; he would not say exactly what are the odds of success.
"This is the first time we've used a tactical missile to engage a spacecraft," Cartwright said.”

If the mission is unsuccessful, it doesn’t sound like the government will keep firing. Nonetheless, it’s a pretty neat first-time occurrence given the number of movies themed around battling spacecraft.

Mississippi to Vote on Bill to Ban the Obese from Restaurants

news — 2008-02-15T03:02:56-05:00

I heard this story on the news a couple weeks ago and forgot about it, but thanks to a reminder from alfewi, here's some very controversial news out of Mississippi. A trio of legislators (2 Republicans, 1 Democrat) have introduced a bill that would make it illegal for state-licensed restaurants to serve obese customers.

While obesity is certainly a huge problem in the US, it seems like something the government really can't regulate, at least in this way. First, there would need to be standards as to how to classify someone as obese. Second, restaurants would need some way to measure people (would they put a scale or fat % calculator in every restaurant?) against those standards. Third, and perhaps most difficult - how would they enforce such a bill? "Fat Marshalls" in every restaurant?

I can see where legislators are coming from - obesity is both a health crisis and something that inflates everyone's healthcare costs. But, having the state tell us who can and can't eat out seems a bit extreme, and impossible.

Today is International Kilt Day

news — 2008-02-15T07:02:08-05:00

valentinaxxx informs us that today is International Kilt Day. trilliann has details and many more pictures of men in kilts. Me? I have nothing to say for this one

A Real Life Juno

news — 2008-02-16T10:02:00-05:00

Emily Prigge, 23, from Lake City Minnesota, was dammed if she did and dammed if she didn’t. Prigge, an unmarried and recently pregnant fifth grade teacher, informed her employer St. Felix Catholic School, that she was pregnant.

The school responded by asking Prigge to resign from her position because when hired she signed a, “…Catholic Christian Witness Statement where she agreed to be a good example as a Christian in her personal and academic life.” The school argued that Prigge’s actions were in direct violation of the Catholic Christian Witness Statement. On the other hand, St. Fleix could have easily spun Prigge’s situation by denouncing premarital sex while endorsing their Pro-Life position.

As a private institution, do you feel the schools actions were correct? Or do you believe that in keeping with the schools core values and beliefs they must also adhere to modern laws, policies, and real life situations?

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison

[link]

Did Obama Plagiarize?

news — 2008-02-18T07:02:14-05:00

One of the day's big stories is an allegation that Barack Obama lifted part of a recent speech from Deval Patrick, the Governor of Massachusetts. For Obama's part, he admits that some of the lines were inspired from Patrick, with whom he says he speaks to and exchanges ideas with frequently. Meanwhile, the Clinton camp is accusing Obama of blatant plagiarism. A video above allows you to compare the two speeches side-by-side and decide for yourself.

Meanwhile, some of you might remember that Joe Biden was the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in 1988 when a plagiarism incident derailed his campaign.

Total Lunar Eclipse Tonight

news — 2008-02-20T11:02:12-05:00

tattooedjen alerts us that tonight is a total lunar eclipse, visible through much of the world. The best time to view it will be 10:26pm ET (the "mid eclipse"). Details on what exactly is happening and what time you can best view it in your location are available on NASA's site.

Let us know if you end up seeing it

Britain Introduces Legislation to Require Immigrants to Speak English

news — 2008-02-20T03:02:02-05:00

Legislators in Great Britain are proposing some new requirements for immigrants seeking citizenship. According to a report from Reuters sent to us by brandre:

"Aspiring British citizens will be put on probation for at least one year to show they can speak English, pay their taxes, abide by the law and have integrated into local life ...

... The proposals also seek to encourage migrants to integrate locally, rather than living in segregated areas and speaking their own languages -- a trend that can lead to intolerance ...

... Aspiring citizens will face stricter English-language tests and those applying for a visa through marriage must demonstrate English language skills, under the proposals ...

... Those who do not pass the probationary tests will be asked to leave the country, the government said ..."

Immigration has been a hot issue in this year's election in the US as well. In fact, one of the reasons that John McCain is often dubbed "not conservative enough" by fellow Republicans is because of his opinions on the issue. I haven't heard of any formal legislation introduced in the US yet with a similar approach to that being proposed in Britain, but what do you think of the idea?

Australian Artist Takes Phallic Symbols to a Whole New Level

news — 2008-02-21T03:02:09-05:00

andieland reports some news from the land "down under," where an artist named Tim Patch is using … his manhood … to make paintings. Here’s how Reuters describes it:

“In a unique painting style, Patch does not use paint brushes, but his penis to apply paint to the canvas ...

"I had to use my bum to paint in the background, because you have to have the occasional break," Patch told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Wednesday.

Patch entered a painting of a plastic surgeon in last year's Archibald Prize, but failed to impress the judges. This year's entry depicts a nude Patch, wearing only a hat, holding a blank canvas to hide his ‘brush’.”

This certainly takes “modern art” to a whole new level!

Bob's Not Smiling Now: Enzyte is a Fraud

news — 2008-02-23T03:02:36-05:00

From rogueleader: If your BS detector doesn't already go off when you watch commercials for Enzyte "Natural Male Enhancement," then listen to what a former vice president of the company that manufactured the product had to say about it (courtesy of The Consumerist):

James Teegarden Jr., the former vice president of operations at Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals, explained Tuesday in U.S. District Court how he and others at the company made up much of the content that appeared in Enzyte ads.

He said employees of the Forest Park company created fictitious doctors to endorse the pills, fabricated a customer satisfaction survey and made up numbers to back up claims about Enzyte's effectiveness.

"So all this is a fiction?" Judge S. Arthur Spiegel aske! d about some of the claims.

"That's correct, your honor," Teegarden said.

The company's founder, Steve Warshak, is on trial, facing 20 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines if convicted. More goodness from the VP:

When customers ordered a product, the company's goal was to keep charging their credit cards for as long as possible, Teegarden said.

He said first-time customers were automatically enrolled in a "continuity program" that sent Enzyte to their homes every month and charged their credit cards without authorization.

"Without continuity, the company wouldn't exist," Teegarden said. "It was the sole profit of the business."

If customers complained, he said, employees were instructed to "make it as difficult as possible" for them to get their money back. In some cases, Teegarden said, Warshak required customers to produce a notarized statement from a doctor certifying Enzyte did not work.

"He said it was extremely unlikely someone would get anything notarized saying they had a small penis," Teegarden said.

What a jackass. Here's the worst part. In order to keep the company from losing its ability to accept credit card payments, they would make small unauthorized charges on their customer's credit cards. This made it appear to Visa and Mastercard that a smaller percentage of their transactions were resulting in charge backs, and allowed them to keep accepting new customers. Evil.

Did the Academy Awards Snub Brad Renfro?

news — 2008-02-25T08:02:53-05:00

We won’t bother to list out the Academy Award winners since you’ve probably seen them already (if you care …), but one controversy stemming from the event is that actor Brad Renfro, who died in January, was left out of the Oscar’s “in memoriam” segment, where the Academy pays tribute to those in the industry that have passed.

While hardly a household name, the actor appeared in several popular movies including The Client and Sleepers, and, the Academy isn’t exactly over-selective in deciding who it features in the segment, paying tribute to more than 50 people last night. Of course, Renfro has the advantage of being a younger star that more people were aware of, versus actors that starred in movies decades ago.

Anyways, what do you think, should Renfro have been included?

Google Puts Health Records Online

news — 2008-02-26T06:02:27-05:00

Well, not exactly your health records. But several thousand current patients with an Ohio medical facility - The Cleveland Clinic, are volunteering to assist with the pilot of this idea by allowing, “…information on prescriptions, allergies and laboratory test results” to be stored online in a password protected Google account.

Implementing the use of Electronic Health Records would allow patients easy access to their medical records while also giving doctors instantaneous access to viewing patients previous conditions, prescriptions, and treatments.

Some also argue that Electronic Health Records would allow doctors to have a greater depth and understanding of each patient’s individual medical history resulting in less errors and more effective and quicker treatment of patients medical conditions and concerns.

But many remain skeptical that the highly sensitive information contained in medical records can be kept private on a very public internet system.

Do you believe that a secure system can be developed to properly protect health records online? More importantly, are you concerned about having your health information in Google’s hands?

[link]

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison

Johnny Depp to Star as John Dillinger

news — 2008-02-26T11:02:00-05:00

Cool story from valentinaxxx:

Little known fact: John Dillinger was friends with my family. While my father was growing up in the late 20's/early 30's, Dillinger often chose to "hide out" on the Menominee reservation. He respected the American Indian better than he did the U.S. government. One of the safe houses he stayed at was the Kaquatosh's place. In our prayers to the ancestors, we still count Dillinger as one of the family and we burn tabacco in his honor.

My father has often told me tall tales about the gangster who lived for a short while on the res, and I have even dreamed about him over the years, it's like he's more than just some gangster out of 1930's history, he's sort of a family legend, a "dirty angel" looking down on us.

Now, guess what? Johnny Depp is going to star as Dillinger in the upcoming movie, "Public Enemies" which will be filmed close to where real life Dillinger hung out with my family here in north central Wisconsin. Co-starring Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis and Channing Tatum as Pretty Boy Floyd, plus many other young hunks, the picture promises to be positively star filled.

I've always thought that it was about time Hollywood turned it eye on where I live as a good location for an old fashioned gangster flick based on Dillinger's life. There have been other films about Dillinger, but not with Johnny Depp starring in them!

Big Brother Contestant Fired from Day Job Over “Retard” Comment

news — 2008-02-27T07:02:50-05:00

Big Brother Season 9 contestant Adam Jasinski has a surprise waiting for him when he returns to the real world: he’s been fired from his job at the United Autism Foundation. Jasinski was captured on camera calling autistic children “retards,” a comment that has drawn criticism from autism groups and has some people even calling for the show to be pulled from CBS.

Jasinski won’t find out about being dismissed until he leaves the Big Brother house, since all contestants are forbidden to make contact with the outside world per the rules of the 24x7 reality show.

On one hand, it kind of sucks that every word you say is on camera, but on the other, what kind of d-bag calls autistic children – especially one’s they work with – retards? I don’t think Jasinski’s employer had much of a choice other than to fire him and renounce his remarks.

[link]

February 29th is a Rip-Off for Salaried Employees

news — 2008-02-29T05:02:08-05:00

Every four years we have the Summer Olympics. We also have a leap year, and today is a product of that: February 29th. But, if you're a salaried employee, February 29th screws you over big time, as blogger Louis Gray points out:

"... To make the math easy, let's pretend your salary is such that you take home exactly $73,000 a year. Under this scenario, in 2007, you would take home $200.00 even per day, but in 2008, for the same amount of work, you'd only be taking home $199.45. And those 55 cents can add up. Over the 366-day calendar, your employer has taken away a full day's pay from you. If instead you take home $109,500, that number jumps to $300 in lost pay for similar productivity!"

To correct this inequity, I suggest getting rid of February 29th and instead tacking on an extra day to December since most people are on vacation then anyhow. Although, I imagine the folks celebrating their once-every-four-years birthday today wouldn't be so happy about that plan

Vermont Considers Lower Drinking Age

news — 2008-03-02T10:03:38-05:00

The state of Vermont is considering lowering the legal drinking age to 18. Currently, all 50 states have a drinking age of 21, and it has been this way since 1984. Here’s how the Winnipeg Sun describes the two sides of the issue:

"Proponents of the measure say the current law doesn’t work and forces young people to binge drink outside of the public eye.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving and others claim a lower drinking age would be foolish to consider. They say the 21-year-old age limit has saved thousands of lives since it was enacted in 1984."

It seems like there is definitely some credence to both sides of the argument. Which side do you take?

Study Says: Less TV = Less Fat

news — 2008-03-04T03:03:09-05:00

A study published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine and sent to us by quddus concludes the obvious: kids who watch more TV tend to be more overweight. According to one of the doctor’s who published the study:

"Television viewing is related to consumption of fast food and foods and beverages that are advertised on television. Viewing cartoons with embedded food commercials can increase choice of the advertised item in pre-schoolers, and television commercials may prompt eating.”

In the study, a test group that watched less TV consumed 300 less calories per day on average.

Childhood obesity has been on the rise in the US, with some 13 percent of children now considered obese. Turning off the TV seems easy enough, and now there are some numbers behind the obvious. So why aren’t more parents doing it?

Tonight @ 9pm ET: Talk to MindSay Co-Creator Adam Ostrow on Blog Talk Radio

news — 2008-03-04T06:03:38-05:00

Re-blogged from shiny :

When: Tonight! (Tuesday night) at 9:00pm EST
Where: At http://www.blogtalkradio.com/shiny -- we'll post a direct link closer to the show.

Join me tonight as I speak with my special guest: Adam Ostrow, co-creator of MindSay and Editor-in-Chief of Mashable, a collaborative blog which covers the latest in social media. We'll discuss how the internet and social collaboration has changed the voice of community.

And you can participate! Reply right here in the comments and let me know what questions I should ask Adam, or ask them yourselves!

You can call in to the show -- live! -- at (646) 478-4857 starting @ 9pm EST, or you can join the chat on the BlogTalkRadio page (free registration required).

Thanks -- hope to see you there!

Two Towns in Vermont Vote to Arrest Bush and Cheney

news — 2008-03-06T01:03:36-05:00

askjesse reports via Reuters:

"The nonbinding, symbolic measure, passed in Brattleboro and Marlboro in a state known for taking liberal positions on national issues, instructs town police to "extradite them to other authorities that may reasonably contend to prosecute them."

Vermont, home to maple syrup and picture-postcard views, is known for its liberal politics.

State lawmakers have passed nonbinding resolutions to end the war in Iraq and impeach Bush and Cheney, and several towns have also passed resolutions of impeachment. None of them have caught on in Washington."

Maybe it's time for Vermont to secede from the US? Earlier this week, we learned the state is also considering lowering the drinking age to 18.

French Mayor: Don't Die Or We'll Punish You

news — 2008-03-07T04:03:00-05:00

Since the only thing guaranteed in life are death and taxes, the problem of cemetery overcrowding is inevitable. But that isn't stopping a mayor in France from trying to solve the problem, according to a bizarre story sent to us by sarcasmsvoice:

"In an ordinance posted in the council offices, Mayor Gerard Lalanne told the 260 residents of the village of Sarpourenx that "all persons not having a plot in the cemetery and wishing to be buried in Sarpourenx are forbidden from dying in the parish ...

"It may be a laughing matter for some, but not for me," he said."

I wonder what type of punishment awaits those that die in Sarpourenx and how it will be enforced

[link]

Did USC Choose Money and Fame Over Fairness?

news — 2008-03-08T03:03:43-05:00

A story in The Wall Street Journal sent to us by sirrunsalot tells the tale of Romeo Miller – better known as Lil’ Romeo, son of hip-hop mogul Master P – and how he’s leveraged stardom and money to earn a basketball scholarship to the University of Southern California.

By most accounts, Miller is an average high school basketball player, averaging 8.6 points per game with a relatively small stature – 5 foot 10 inches and 160 pounds. But he has been awarded one of the 13 scholarships that the basketball program is allowed to offer; over what the WSJ describes as many more qualified and underprivileged prospects.

USC’s coach Tim Floyd makes no frills about why Miller is getting a scholarship. He said, "We may have more 11- to 17-year-old girls in the stands than we've had in the past."

While Romeo may indeed sell more tickets, the decision could certainly paint USC in a very negative light. On the other hand, it is a private institution, so, they’re not using public funds to seek stardom at the expense of an opportunity that could be offered to someone more deserving.

Is this just more proof that life isn’t always fair, or is USC setting a horrible precedent?

Eliot Spitzer. WTF?

news — 2008-03-11T05:03:32-05:00

So, as I’m sure you know by now, the holier-than-thou Governor of New York and father of three daughters, Eliot Spitzer, aka “Client 9,” has been busted for his involvement in a prostitution ring.

Of course, this follows the other insanely hypocritical scandal from the other side of the aisle, that of Idaho Senator Larry "wide stance" Craig.

The most recent coverage from elsewhere has state officials in New York calling for Spitzer’s resignation.

The only way I can describe all of this is “unbelievable,” but, share your own thoughts in the comments.

Doctor Death to Run for Congress

news — 2008-03-13T04:03:22-05:00

Jack Kevorkian, who rose to fame in the nineties for helping at least 130 people in assisted suicides, is planning to run for Congress in Michigan. According to a report from the Associated Press sent in by daenarys:

"Kevorkian told The Oakland Press of Pontiac, Mich., which first reported his plans on Wednesday, that his campaign was in a "formative stage" and that he was running because "we need some honesty and sincerity instead of corrupt government in Washington.
… Oakland County Prosecutor Dave Gorcyca, whose office was responsible for sending Kevorkian to prison, said it was "probably more of a publicity stunt."

"To call attention to himself is standard protocol for Jack when he doesn't have the limelight focused on him. I would not consider his candidacy to be a legitimate one," said Gorcyca.”

As part of his parole, Kevorkian is not allowed to conduct assisted suicides, so, it would seem that running for Congress is one way to keep a spotlight on the highly controversial issue. What do you think – is it a publicity stunt or is Kevorkian a true agent of change?

Happy St. Patricks Day!

news — 2008-03-17T10:03:25-05:00

valentinaxxx reminds us (yes, we needed a reminder, we're working today ) that today's is St. Patricks Day and shares some facts about the holiday:

"How well do you know your Irish history? Have you kissed any Irish today? Anyone care for some green beer? Today is St. Patrick's Day. First begun to celebrate the saint's feast day, it turned into the modern celebration of all things Irish when Irish immigrants in 1737 held the first St. Pat's parade in Boston. Ever since then it's been a tradition for more than just the Irish, it's a fun time to welcome Spring and to honor our country's Irish immigrants by wearing green!"

What's everyone doing for St. Patrick's Day?

Couple Celebrates 83 Years of Marriage

news — 2008-03-18T10:03:53-05:00

In an era where half of all marriages in the US end in divorce, 10, 20, or 30 years of commitment seem like a fairly big achievement. But as niassa reports, a couple featured on The Today Show blows all of those anniversaries out of the water, as they celebrated 83 years of kinship this week. For Clarence and Mayme Vail, this year’s anniversary also puts them in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-married couple on earth.

The longevity of both their lives and their marriage has led to quite a few descendents according to Today:

“Their six children — three have been married for 50 years or longer — begat 39 grandchildren, who begat 101 great-grandchildren, who have so far begotten 40 great-great-grandchildren. If you’re keeping score at home, that’s 186 descendants.”

So, kudos to the Vails, and if you have tips on staying together for more than a few weeks, feel free to share

TV Just Got Worse

news — 2008-03-20T05:03:33-05:00

For a long while now TV has consisted of an abundant amount of reality shows, Law and Order repeats, and a few new pilot series that disappear before titles and character names can even be remembered. With both the writers and actors back to work many have hoped that their favorite pastime would again produce some entertaining and quality shows. Unfortunately, TV has just gotten worse thanks to Miss Hilton.

Paris Hilton is coming back to TV in order to find a new best friend – I guess Nicole Richie doesn’t qualify anymore as she gave birth to a daughter and her wild nights and hard partying have appeared to cease. So what is a girl to do? Clearly the answer is to host a reality show in order to find her replacement.

How ridiculous! Even worse is the language used in the press release stating, “The contestants will live together in a house — drama! — and try to prove themselves worthy in the areas of loyalty, endurance and girl politics."

The only thing correct and reflective of Paris in that sentence is the word drama!

Will you watch Paris find a new BFF? Perhaps you are intrigued by her peculiar celebrity?

Or do you wish you never have to see, hear, or watch this wanna-be heiress again?

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison

Will Some Countries Boycott the Beijing Olympics?

news — 2008-03-25T12:03:03-05:00

A brewing conflict in China has spurred French President Nicolas Sarkozy to imply that his country would consider a boycott of the Summer Olympics in Beijing. According to the BBC:

“When asked about a possible boycott on a visit to the south-western Pyrenees region, Mr Sarkozy said: "All options are open and I appeal to the Chinese leaders' sense of responsibility …

… China says 19 people were killed by rioters and accuses the Dalai Lama of inciting the violence.

The Tibetan government-in-exile says at least 130 people have died in a crackdown by Chinese troops and deny any role in the protests.

Robert Menard, the director of the media rights group Reporters Without Borders, said he had asked Mr Sarkozy for a meeting where he will press for a boycott of the opening ceremony, though not a boycott of sports events.”

The conflict with Tibet adds to other concerns about China hosting the games – such as how they might censor media, including bloggers, in their coverage. Do you think anyone will step up and boycott the Olympics? Should anyone?

Lebron James, The Media, and Black Stereotypes

news — 2008-03-27T07:03:03-05:00

NBA superstar LeBron James is set to become the first African American to grace the cover of Vogue in April, sharing it with model Gisele Bundchen. However, the photo that will be used is stirring up controversy, as some are arguing that it perpetuates stereotypes, with James striking an angry pose that “some have likened to "King Kong" and Fay Wray,” according to the AP’s report.

The picture is above for you to judge – is it perpetuating a stereotype, or are we becoming overly sensitive to race issues?

A Modern Scarlett Letter

news — 2008-03-28T01:03:11-05:00

Leroy Schad, 72, from central Kansas, received a punishment for the public – rather than quietly be convicted of a sex offense against a minor, the judge overseeing the case ordered Schad “…to five years of probation and house arrest…” in addition to “…posted signs around his house and a decal on his car proclaiming that he is a sex offender”.

Schad, unhappy with the enforced posting rule stated, “"I know that I deserve something for that, but I don't think I deserve what I got”.

Perhaps if more criminals were forced to wear a symbol of their sin public shame itself could be a deterrent to committing future crimes.

Do you think that the Judge’s ruling is unfair or that a badge of shame should be applied to other type of criminals publicly announcing their crime?

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison

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John Mayer Buys MindSay; To Re-Launch as Blog Network for Fans

news — 2008-04-01T07:04:31-05:00

Grammy Award winning artist John Mayer has announced that he has acquired the popular blogging network MindSay, a subsidiary of MindSay Interactive LLC. In a statement, the musician said, “The users of MindSay seem to love me even more than I love myself. Having a whole community of people dedicated to blogging about me is something I’ve always wanted, and, I’m happy to announce today that I’ve reached a deal to buy MindSay in exchange for three autographed guitars and an ‘awesome’ photo with Adam and Brian.”

MindSay co-founders Adam Ostrow and Brian Klug are expected to leave the company, effective immediately, so Mayer’s new team can step in and launch what the artist is calling “v4.” While he wasn’t clear on specifics, he told reporters outside his home in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico that the first change would be replacing all blog designs with 150 pre-made John Mayer templates, representing each one of the songs he has recorded since signing with a major label.

Asked for comment, Ostrow said “we had to stop waiting for the world to change - the time was simply right to sell the company.” Klug was not as enthusiastic, saying only “Why Georgia? Why oh why?”

A conference call has been scheduled for 4PM PST this afternoon to discuss the news and will be broadcast live on MySpace, since most MindSay users are expected to have terminated their accounts by that time and switched services.

Woody Allen Sues American Apparel; MindSay Screwed

news — 2008-04-02T10:04:19-05:00

corneliusdurden sends us news via Reuters that American Apparel, one of MindSay’s primary sponsors and beloved by users for their provocative advertising, is being sued by movie director Woody Allen:

"Woody Allen on Monday sued American Apparel Inc, claiming the U.S. clothing company used his image in advertising on billboards and the Internet without his consent.

The billboard ads, which depict Allen dressed as a rabbi, appeared in New York and California, according to the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan."

Upon hearing the news of turmoil with MindSay’s biggest sponsor, John Mayer nixed his plans to acquire the blogging site, first announced yesterday. When reached by reporters for comment, Mayer simply said, “I have nothing to ‘Say.’”

Meanwhile, MindSay co-founders Adam Ostrow and Brian Klug were stopped by airport security in San Diego, reportedly attempting to flee the country with their signed Mayer memorabilia. More on this developing story later.

Pregnant Man?

news — 2008-04-04T05:04:28-05:00

katmanndoo sent this story in a few days ago, and in the midst of our extended April fool's joke (though the American Apparel story was real, in part), I saw it receive national headlines. So, here it is, just in time for the weekend:

"Well, sort of. I came across this article on AOL. This man is transgendered. Born a woman, but took measures to become a man. He is legally male, and legally married to a woman. The wife could not become pregnant because of a hysterectomy years earlier. So the man stopped taking his hormone injections, and got his period back in order to get pregnant himself.

I have a few unanswered questions. Does he have a penis? I would think he does since he is legally a man, and legally married to a woman. So if he has a penis, how does he have a period? I realize that he opted to keep his reproductive organs, so that is why it is possible, but how? And the article also says that the first insemenation attempt was done at home. By what means? Obviously the baby will be delivered via c-section, but that doesn't answer everything.

I do support them, and I hope they have a happy, healthy baby. But what are your thoughts?"

As Mike Myers used to say on SNL, "discuss amongst yourselves!"

Absolut Insanity?

news — 2008-04-08T11:04:46-05:00

Absolut Vodka, long known for their edgy ads in newspapers and magazines around the world, is under fire for an advertisement (above) featuring a map that shows part of the modern-day United States under Mexican control. The ad was run in Mexico, and, was actually an accurate map at one point … in the early-mid 1800s.

The company has pulled the ad, but many are calling for a boycott of the company. Absolut probably didn’t gain many fans from the anti-immigration coalition by issuing the statement “[the ad] hearkens to a time which the population of Mexico may feel was more ideal," according to Reuters.

Of course, it wasn’t long ago that some of us in the US were calling French fries “freedom fries” because of our political differences with France.

So, was the ad simply an amusing way to woo Mexican consumers, or something that Americans should be offended by?

Co-Ed Dorm Rooms: If Only They Had This When I Was in College ...

news — 2008-04-11T11:04:07-05:00

No parental guidance, raging hormones, access to beer and fake id’s, anytime you come home curfews and now add to that already dangerous mix – colleges allowing boys and girls to share dorm rooms.

I know what you are thinking – college kids are going to hook up and have “slumber parties” anyhow, so permitting this living arrangement is simply implementing what is already informally taking place.

"It's definitely a growing movement on campuses across the country," said Clark University Dean of Students Denise Darrigrand. "It's a new world, and gender has taken on all kinds of new definitions. It's about being more inclusive, and it's about keeping pace with the times."

People speed when driving but does that mean we should make it legal?

Does allowing baby-faced, barely-legal, young adults to live with the opposite sex in a university endorsed facility promote sex, STDs, and promiscuity? Or are the universities simply being realistic and supporting the already occurring actions of college students?

This report was contributed by Daneille Morrison ... The headline was contributed by aostrow

MindSay Gossip: Jakerad and boo04 Now Dating

news — 2008-04-16T08:04:35-05:00

We report on our fair share of Hollywood gossip at MindSay News, but today, we get to bring you some MindSay gossip instead! A few months ago, we told you about two users who first met on MindSay that were getting married. Today, the news is that long-time users jakerad and boo04 are now dating . The pair met through MindSay!

While once again I would say it’s pretty damn cool that people are establishing real world relationships through MindSay (not including myself ), I’m wondering, in 2008, what stigmas, if any, are attached to romantic relationships that are first established online?

Psychology Experiment or Unpatriotic?

news — 2008-04-17T07:04:29-05:00

A student at the University of Maine is at the center of controversy after laying American flags all over the floor of one of the school’s main buildings. According to FOX New s:

“Susan Crane … placed hundreds of flags on the floor of the school's student center Tuesday for an art class assignment. She set down the flags in a maze-like pattern to document whether students and staff would step on them.”

The plan was to keep the flags on the floor for 24 hours to document how people would react, but they were removed after 10 at the request of a fire marshal.

Veterans and others are calling the experiment unpatriotic, while Crane contests that it did its job by starting conversation about how people feel about the American flag. Your thoughts?

John Marzano: 1963-2008

news — 2008-04-22T11:04:38-05:00

It is with a very heavy heart that we mourn the loss of one of MindSay's own, John Marzano.

"Johnny Marz" was a passionate fellow. Best known for his love of the Phillies, (as well as the rest of teams surrounding his Philadelphia neighborhood) Marz was a catcher for the Boston RedSox, the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners. He also was an Olympic Gold Medal winner in 1984.

Marz brought his love of sports via Marz.Mindsay.com. To the rest of the world he showed his love on TV's Comcast SportsNet, Radio's WIP-AM (610) and the Internet's MLB.com with witty insights and experienced fandom.

Marz died after falling down a flight of stairs (after suffering a heart attack) in his home in Philadelphia. He was 45. He leaves behind his wife, Terri, his daughters, Dominique and Danielle, and two grandchildren, Jayden and Ariana.

Donations in Marzano's memory (for his grandkids college education) can be made to the Jayden Brady and Ariana Marzano College Fund, c/o PNC Bank, 1544 Packer Ave., Philadelphia, Pa., 19145.

A viewing is scheduled for Thursday, April 24th, 5-9 p.m., and Friday April 25th, 8:15 to 9:15 a.m., at Baldi Funeral Home, 1331 S. Broad Street. A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, April 25th, at 10 a.m. at Annunciation BVM Church, 10th and Dickinson streets. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.

Several great tributes have run in Newspapers and Baseball websites. Please check out: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/news/tributes/obit_john_marzano.jsp. Especially the video segments. Also go to http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/sports/17965649.html

Johnny loved talking baseball and sports. He was opinionated but always respectful (even if you were a Mets or Braves fan). He was a tremendous guy who loved the game deelply and made everyone around him smile. He once remarked that he was proud that he was only caught stealing twice in his ML career. "Of course," he added, "Those were the only two bases I tried to swipe."

MindSay expresses its heartfelt sympathies to John's family and friends at this very difficult time.

tribute from tootboy

Wendy's And Arby's Merge: I'll Take Some Curly Fries With My Classic Double

news — 2008-04-25T11:04:14-05:00

swanginbajingo alerts us to news of the merger of Wendy’s and Arby’s. While you can read all of the juicy (pun intended) financial details in USA Today, we’re more curious as to what your dream Wendy’s-Arby’s combo meal would consist of.

Personally, I want a Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Cup of Chili from Wendy’s, with Curly Fries from Arby’s. And, maybe a Diet Coke from Wendy’s, since Arby’s serves Pepsi products.

What is your dream Wendy’s-Arby’s combo meal?

College Counseling At Twelve Years Old?

news — 2008-04-28T03:04:33-05:00

When walking through DC this past weekend I saw a group of middle school children wearing shirts that read “I am college bound”. I instinctively thought the shirt was a bit odd as these kids are yet a decade away from having to decide where and what college they will attend. Then I thought “AH HA!” these shirts are for those who may never consider going to college – following unfortunate family trends or lacking financial resources – these shirts were sending a powerful message to not only those children wearing them, but to society and all others who may eventually impact their educational future.

So it is with no surprise that today in the paper, an article highlighted the measures being taken in Boston, Massachusetts to introduce college concepts, choices, dorm room life, and financial aid assistance to middle school children. The program is targeted amongst low income, minority schools where parents and grandparents were not college graduates:

”Seventh-graders learn about types of colleges -- junior, undergraduate and graduate -- and how much schooling they would need for different careers…In eighth grade, students learn about how they can finance their education, about dorm life and how to manage money and time. They make campus visits to colleges…”.

Do you think this program will impact children at such an early age when higher education choices and decisions are made further down the road at ages 17 and 18? Will the information and helpful assistance that they gain early on, be lost by the time it matters?

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison

Hannah Montana, What Have You Done?

news — 2008-04-29T01:04:00-05:00

It began with the suggestive pictures of her at a friends sleepover. Then she showed up on the red carpet with jet-black-hair and heavy make-up. Her outfits became shorter and her tops appeared more low cut. Recently racier photos surfaced on the web of her laying in a boys lap, showing off her green bra, and then the final shocker hit the press of 15 year-old Disney star, Miley Cyrus, posing almost nude for an upcoming Vanity Fair Edition.

In trying to mitigate against the steady media circus attacking Miley’s once portrayed good-girl imagine, the pop-idol promptly released a statement to People declaring, “My goal in my music and my acting is always to make people happy. For Vanity Fair, I was so honored and thrilled to work with Annie [Leibovitz]. I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed”.

In Miley’s defense Disney responded by supporting their star and pointing the finger at the irresponsibleness of the magazine stating, "Unfortunately, as the article suggests, a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines”.

Vanity Fair quickly rebutted Disney and Miley’s comments by making the public aware of the presence of both her parents, grandparent, and teacher on set during the shoot.

So who is to blame? Is Miley old enough to be responsible for her actions and decision to pose a certain way with or without clothing?

Do you think Miley is just a few short years behind becoming the next has- been pop idol disaster?

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison

West Point Football Star Plays His Way Out of Iraq Duty

news — 2008-05-05T12:05:06-05:00

Traditionally, students who enroll at Army, Navy, and Air Force spend at least their first two years after college in the armed services. However, a new rule makes an exception for students with an opportunity to play professional sports, as they can now postpone their service instead of serving immediately after graduation.

Last week, the policy received its first test, as Caleb Campbell, a football player from Army, was drafted by the Detroit Lions. Hence, instead of heading to Iraq as a platoon leader, he will be headed to mini-camp to try and earn a spot on the Lions’ roster. Under the program, Campbell will still be on active duty for the Army, as a recruiter, presumably using his star power to help promote goodwill with the Detroit community.

However, he’ll be out of harm’s way and not fulfilling the same obligations as 99%+ of his classmates. Do you think that’s fair? Is the benefit of Campbell playing in the NFL a bigger win for the Army than having a well-educated and trained soldier in Iraq?

Celebrity Justice? Nick Hogan Gets 8 Months In Jail

news — 2008-05-09T05:05:18-05:00

Nick Bollea (aka Nick Hogan, son of Hulk Hogan) was sentenced to 8 months in jail for reckless driving that left his friend in a coma. Hogan will also be on probation for 5 years as part of his “no contest” plea.

The charges stem from an accident in August 2007 where Hogan totaled his Toyota Supra after losing control at a reported 100mph and slamming into a palm tree.

With his friend now likely to spend the rest of his life in a nursing home, do you think the sentence is harsh enough? Or should the post-crash circumstances not play a role in the judge's decision?

Mushy Mischa Barton

news — 2008-05-14T06:05:29-05:00

You remember her right? Perhaps not from this angle – but that is the backside of the former teen lead, Marissa, from The OC. Yes, celebrities too have cellulite, but for some reason after looking at this picture I for once, am happy to not be a celebrity!

But in all seriousness, similar to the Jennifer Love Hewitt’s unflattering photos that caused the media to label her fat – Miss Barton is now fighting a war against the paparazzi and her own body image that is, well, maybe not as flattering when not covered up.

Perhaps the exposure of celebrities body flaws are necessary at a time when “42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner.” Or should celebrities know their limits of what they should and should not bare for all to see?

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison

Bill O'Reilly Vintage Flip Out

news — 2008-05-14T06:05:55-05:00

You might have already seen this, but just in case you haven't, it's video that has been leaked on YouTube (of course) from Bill O'Reilly's days on Inside Edition. In it, he goes ballistic at crew members for apparent issues with the teleprompter.

You may remember the similar leak a couple months ago of ESPN analyst Chris Berman going off on his Monday Night Football crew.

Ah, how TV personalities act when the cameras aren't rolling (or, when they think they aren't anyhow ...)

Gay Marriage: Now Legal in California

news — 2008-05-15T05:05:29-05:00

andreux sends us some breaking news from California, where the State Supreme Court has overturned the state's ban on gay marriage. Same-sex couples were previously only allowed to marry in Massachusetts, while 27 other states have bans specifically on such unions.

California is of course the most populous state in the US, and as the LA Times indicates, more than 100,000 same-sex couples are effected by the ruling.

Do you think this opens the gates for other states to move to legalize gay marriage? Or will it have the reverse effect and lead more states to ban it, and Washington politicians to demand a new amendment to the Constitution to override the state's decisions?

Freedom of Speech: Not Quite Alive and Well in The Netherlands

news — 2008-05-21T02:05:24-05:00

Gregorius Nekschot is a controversial cartoonist in The Netherlands who “is known primarily for cartoons mocking Muslims and leftists” according to an MSNBC report sent to us by niassa. Last week, he was arrested by Dutch police for violating hate speech laws. A spokesperson for the police said “We suspect him of insulting people on the basis of their race or belief, and possibly also of inciting hate.”

While Nekschot’s cartoons are non-English, you can probably tell from the one posted above why he may draw the ire of some. But, his cartoons are posted primarily to his personal web site. That seems like a big departure from the freedom of speech laws we have in the media here, where at most, controversial language and topics are relegated to cable, or outside of prime time hours.

Do you think the US should be more like The Netherlands, or is arresting people based on what they publish to the Web a case of the government really overstepping its bounds?

Google Skips Memorial Day, Celebrates 125th Birthday of Walter Gropius?

news — 2008-05-26T05:05:33-05:00

If you're a user of the Google search engine, you've probably noticed the custom logos the company often displays for holidays and notable events. However, as several bloggers have noticed today - Memorial Day in the US - the company has its standard logo up, while other search engines like Yahoo and Ask.com have decorated their logos and homepages to pay tribute to American servicemen and women.

If it weren't for the fact that Google so often customizes its logo (examples here) - including for obscurities such as the recent 125th Birthday of Walter Gropius and the 50th Anniversary of the Lego Brick - no one would probably be making a big deal out of it, but since the company has become so widely known for it, not doing anything special today certainly seems a bit odd.

What do you think, did Google drop the ball here, or is it possible for a company with 15,000+ employees simply to "forget"?

Meanwhile, MindSay wishes you a Happy Memorial Day and certainly appreciates the sacrifices of all those who have served and are currently serving in our armed forces.

The Golden Rule?

news — 2008-05-28T12:05:32-05:00

Has a priest in Minnesota forgotten the Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you? Or has he in fact, upheld the Golden Rule in the interest of many rather than one?

The Reverend Daniel Walz sought and was awarded, a temporary restraining order barring a 13 year-old autistic boy (Adam Race) and his parents from attending the mass services offered at the Church of St. Joseph in Bertha.

In court documents, Rev. Daniel Walz claimed that Adam was “…disruptive and dangerous…”. He added that “…Adam spits, urinates and once struck a child during Mass”. Adam’s mother, Carol Race, argued that she, “..can't discipline him out of his autism…”. The family also added that they, “…typically sat in either the church's cry room or in the back pew to avoid disrupting other parishioners”.

Should a religious figure such as the Reverend, have been more tolerable, or did Reverend Walz act appropriately by protecting the interests of the greater good, ensuring that the other parishioners were not distracted or endangered while at Church?

How would you have liked your child to be treated in similar circumstances?

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison

MindSay Video: Now Powered by YouTube

news — 2008-06-04T01:06:56-05:00

As you may have noticed, we’ve updated the way we do video at MindSay. If you’d like to share a video on MindSay’s “Videos & Photos” page, all you need to do now is upload it to YouTube and tag it “MindSay.” This will give you all of the great options that come with YouTube, like the ability to embed your video everywhere, while still allowing you to share it with the MindSay community.

Meanwhile, if you would like to convert the videos you previously uploaded to MindSay to YouTube, we’ve setup a way you can do just that by going here.

Let us know what you think or if you have any issues getting the new YouTube features to work. We look forward to seeing more of your videos!

Dunkin Donuts: A Terrorist Organization with Rachel Ray as its Martyr

news — 2008-06-05T05:06:23-05:00

Over the past week, the popular chain Dunkin' Donuts and celebrity chef Rachael Ray have been under fire for a poorly thought out advertisement. Ray, who posed for the ad wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional headdress of Arab men, has been pulled from the ad due to the alleged portrayal of Muslim extremism and terrorism.

Those of Palestinian descent claim the outburst caused by this ad is a complete form of prejudice. Both a fashion trend and a symbol of nationalism, the people of Palestine look to the keffiyeh in the same respect one would look to their flag, however, when worn it is no different than sporting a baseball hat in Western culture.

Regarding the gaffe, Dunkin' Donuts has released the following statement: "Absolutely no symbolism was intended. However, given the possibility of misperception, we are no longer using the commercial.”

Across the Internet, reactions have been both in support and against this recently released and quickly removed ad. Was this is a blatant focus on Muslim extremism or a simple error in judgment? Are we being safe in removing the ad, or is there not enough evidence to make such claims?

This post was contributed by cas

Dublin Welcomes First Baby Rhino in 14 Years

news — 2008-06-06T12:06:33-05:00

Shadeofgray brings us news that for the first time in fourteen years, a baby rhino has been born at the Dublin Zoo.

The white rhinoceros is a species that was near extinction due to an abundance of hunting, however this little miracle is a sign of hope in rekindling the species.

The rhino calf is a female weighing in at 70kg (154lbs) and has yet to be given a name, though it is speculated that a public contest will be held for that purpose.

White rhinos are fully mature and ready to mate at around 6-years-old. Hopefully in another six years, this young calf will be bear her own young and help to revive the endangered species.

"Emo Hair" is Not Natural -- Really!

news — 2008-06-06T01:06:00-05:00

Some deem them outlandish, while others have devoted websites to the current popular trend known as "emo" or "scene" hair. Reminiscent of 80's fashion, the most typical emo hair style is an androgynous lopsided cut with highlights to create an asymmetrical effect.

Though these hairstyles are considered trends of teenage culture, they can be known to be very elegant looks such as on former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and popstar Rihanna. What is so unnatural about these two beautiful ladies? Science says symmetry.

Studies have been done since the early 90's proving that symmetry is what makes a person attractive, and now Professor Marcus du Sautoy of Oxford University is speaking out about the particular hairstyle, which began nearly three decades ago.

He plans to argue his case at the upcoming Cheltenham Science Festival, based on the facts that in nature, diseased mothers often bear asymmetrical young, making their health an issue when it comes to choosing the right mate.

Is beauty really skin deep or do these facts hold truth? Do humans still reserve primordial instincts when it comes to who they love? Or can we really judge a book by its cover?

This post was contributed by cas

All You Beautiful Blue Eyed People Might Just Be Inbred

news — 2008-06-09T06:06:35-05:00

Researchers in Denmark are working on proving a new theory that is a real eye opener. Studies have found that it is very likely if you have blue eyes, you could be related to every other person in the world who also possesses this attribute.

It has been found that this trait was apparent in one single ancestor whose genes had mutated about 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. 155 blue-eyed people had been tested, all of which revealing a very similar DNA sequence regarding that gene.

Eye color is determined by both the mother and father's genes, though brown eyes are dominant. This means if one parent has blue eyes and the other has brown eyes, the child will more than likely be born with a set of brown eyes.

What color are your eyes? Maybe you have some long lost family on MindSay.

News submitted by Shadeofgray

It's Gonna be $200 If You Ever Want to See Your Dog Again

news — 2008-06-11T09:06:55-05:00

A family in Sacremento, California lost their dog as it wandered off onto the street last Saturday. Tinkerbell, the tiny chihuahua, took off down the road chasing a car, where a neighbor saw a stranger snatch her up.

A few days ago, the owner received a call with great news: Tinkerbell was fine! When she thanked the stranger and offered the $50 reward, the stranger refused -- and demanded $200.

After being worried for the safety of the dog and unable to afford the requested amount of cash, the owner called the Sheriff's Department. They told her it was a civil matter. No news has yet to be reported on the matter of the small pup being held for ransom.

If stealing is crime, then should the police have done more to help this family and man's best friend? Or are the police right in leaving this a civil matter?

This news was contributed by cas

Your Classmates Are Dead ... Just Kidding!

news — 2008-06-13T10:06:23-05:00

captainamerica reports on a school in Oceanside, California where patrol officers visited 20 classrooms to release devastating news: several classmates passed away in an alcohol-related car crash. As expected, the students became terribly upset and hysterical about the information -- until they learned it was a hoax.

With graduation parties nearing closer and closer, school officials decided it was time to use a dramatization in order to effectively scare the students into realizing the consequences of drinking and driving. An assembly was held later that day in order to clarify why the students were told false information. Though some students understood the message, many opposed this tactic, and held signs that said, "Death is real. Don't play with our emotions."

Superintendent Larry Perondi claimed to have only received a few phone calls from perturbed parents. He also claimed that the program would be revised but did not explain how, although he was glad that the students seemed to get the message.

"We did this in earnest," he said. "This was not done to be a prankster."

Do you think this was a safe or cruel method of increasing alcohol awareness in these young teenagers lives? If you are a parent, how would you feel if your child was subjected to this?

Put Down the Rice or We'll Call The Cops

news — 2008-06-16T10:06:06-05:00

Tattooedjen reports of a strange and personal new health requirement in Japan. In a country we would hardly deem at risk for obesity due to their healthy diets, the government is working on a required method that will reduce obesity, or "metabo" by 25% in 7 years.

Citizens of Japan are being called upon to have their waistlines measured. The new prescribed limit for a male's waistline is 33.5 inches. For women, it is 35.4. The targeted group for measuring are those of ages 40 to 74, which is a little less than half of their population. If after 3 months they are unable to lose the inches, they will be given dietary guidance. For those who cannot lose the inches in 6 months, they will be given "further re-education."

In America, the average waistline for men is 39 inches, and for women it is 36.5. How would you feel if such a law were enforced in your country? Is the government overstepping its boundaries? Do you think this will have a positive or negative effect on body image in the Asian country?

Welcome to Pillsbury, Where Your Non-Vote Counts!

news — 2008-06-19T06:06:16-05:00

What would happen if absolutely no one voted in an election, not even the candidates? A small town in North Dakota is about to find out.

Though this seems highly unlikely, when learning exactly how many people lived in this tiny town, the picture becomes much clearer. Mayor Darrel Brudevold claimed that there was usually a high turnout of voters, "a half-dozen people usually make it to the polls." That's slightly more than half of the 11 people who populate Pillsbury, North Dakota.

The former mayor was running unopposed and therefore felt he had nothing to lose, however when one candidate gets absolutely no votes, they are not considered elected. The small farming community was too busy tending their crops to bother to make it out to the polls. Even Brudevold's wife couldn't make it!

The county auditor ruled that those in office may either stay in office or appoint others to the jobs until the next upcoming election. Looks like his position is safe!

Dropping the "Google Bomb"

news — 2008-06-22T09:06:48-05:00

"Google bombing" is a relatively new term, used to describe a technique bloggers use in order to get other bloggers like themselves to post links to specific web pages or articles that increase their page rank in the Google system. This is done so that when certain keywords are searched, the results will likely show up within the first 50 results. This strategy is used by bloggers when they have an opinion and they want it heard fast. The more links they can get people to post, the closer that article will be to the top of the search results.

With that being said, right before election season, bloggers are working hard to get information about candidates known to the public, whether this strategy is considered "fair" or not. Chris Bowers, the managing editor of political blog OpenLeft has been launching Google bombs with the help of his readers by encouraging bloggers to post links to nine news stories about John McCain that could possibly hurt his chances of becoming the next president.

The articles being linked refer to McCain "voting to filibuster a minimum wage hike" and "the Senate passing an expanded GI bill despite opposition from McCain." Within five days, the first story had risen eight slots, making it the 42nd result while the second story had risen 16 slots, making it the 35th result for search term "John McCain."

Bowers is not campaigning for Obama, however he is obviously campaigning against McCain. He plans to have at least three of the nine articles appear within the top 10 search results for "John McCain" by Labor Day.

Strategies such as this one have been used during campaigning in the past. Is this a fair and free way to advertise or should Google do something to keep this under control? After learning about this strategy to make ideas more known, do you trust your results as facts or opinions?

Contributed by cas

Comedy Loses its Edge: George Carlin Dies at age 71

news — 2008-06-24T01:06:45-05:00

As many bloggers have posted and mourned, we've lost a comedic genius on Sunday. George Carlin, best known for "Seven Words You Can Never Use on Television," died in Los Angeles, at the age of 71. According to his publicist, the cause of death was heart failure.

Carlin became a stand-up comic in the late 50's, and debuted his first solo guest appearance on "The Merv Griffin Show" in 1965. By the 70's, he was a well-known comedian, and had made more than 80 major television appearances, while regularly being featured in nightclubs in New York and Las Vegas, however he felt his clean-cut image was a lie. It was at this time Carlin reinvented himself to become the comedian we all grew to love; a man who wasn't afraid of words or honesty.

The Associated Press released the above news clip summing up details of his life and death. Carlin will be greatly missed, though his humor and inspiration will live on.

This report was contributed by cas

UK Says "No" to Gay Men Who Use Mayo

news — 2008-06-24T07:06:51-05:00

It looks like the wonderful world of advertising has taken another blow. This time, it is the condiments company Heinz that aired a "gay-themed" commercial in the UK, which apparently drew in over 200 consumer complaints.

In advertising for Heinz Deli Mayo, the 30 second commercial depicts a family scene, with two children referring to a stereotypical New York Deli man as "Mum," before "Dad" walks out and gives him a kiss as he is leaving for work.

Regarding the decision to pull the ad, Nigel Dickie of Heinz UK, said: 'It is our policy to listen to consumers. We recognize that some consumers raised concerns over the content of the ad and this prompted our decision to withdraw it. The advertisement, part of a short-run campaign, was intended to be humorous and we apologize to anyone who felt offended."

The viewers complained that the material was "offensive," "inappropriate," and "unsuitable to be seen by children," while other viewers were perturbed that they had to explain homosexual relationships to their children who didn't understand the ad.

Perhaps at a glance, the ad simply depicts two gay men sharing a kiss, however when seeing the humor in it, it just seems to say that Heinz Deli Mayo is so good, mom would approve -- and be transformed into a Deli man just by using it.

Did you enjoy this ad, or do you believe that Heinz UK was right in removing it early? Would you be offended if your children saw this?

Irony: Truck Carrying Fire Safety Equipment Catches Fire

news — 2008-06-29T10:06:48-05:00

Today's news is brought to you by Smurfy and the word "irony." In Lancaster, PA, a truck full of fire extinguishers and safety equipment caught on fire last week.

Firefighters arrived at the scene to find that the '91 Ford f-350 Super Duty truck was experiencing an engine fire. The truck was parked at a house near Hershey Village Apartments, close to civilization. It resulted in the burning of some branches, as well as minor damage to a nearby parked car.

The truck belonged to the Lancaster Safety Technologies company. The company's specialization is "fire extinguisher inspections, recharges and sales." Though none of the safety equipment was damaged, the company lost their truck and had about $25,000 in total damages.

The fire was determined as accidental.

25 "Cherry Bombs" Take Florida Man's Life

news — 2008-07-02T04:07:49-05:00

On Tuesday, Eric Morris of Florida died after consuming more than two dozen cherry vodka shots within a half hour. Witnesses provided evidence that he had taken 23 to 25 "cherry bomb" shots in a 30 minute duration. A Cherry Bomb is made by combining cherry vodka with the Red Bull energy drink.

The 26-year-old male was said to be participating in a drinking game with another patron at Angel's Show Bar in Seffner Florida hours before he died. While his drinking buddy stopped after just a few shots, for some reason the bartender kept serving Morris and "decided at shot glass 24 or 25 that she wasn't going to serve him anymore." Just moments after being declined more alcohol, Morris "staggered away from the bar where he had been drinking and collapsed."

Unable to resuscitate him, patrons at the bar called 911. Morris was transported to a local hospital and then died about two hours after the party had begun. The odd thing about this is that he used to work in a bar himself, as a bouncer. Seeing people test their limits with alcohol, one would think he would have learned not to outdo himself, however his sister thinks he kept taking the shots to try to prove his endurance, which was valued in their family.

There is currently no legal limit as to how much liquor a bar can serve a patron. Do you think a law like this should be enforced? Many bartenders know when it is time to "cut someone off," however when it comes down to making money, is this really a consideration while serving someone who is severely impaired in making decisions? It seems a large misjudgment caused this man his life, and also a reminder to others when enough is too much.

Berlin's Wax Museum Loses a Notorious Head

news — 2008-07-08T10:07:53-05:00

Madame Tussauds opened a new branch in Berlin this month to be welcomed by an abrupt protest. The second man to enter the wax museum allegedly tore the head off of an Adolf Hitler figurine on its opening day. German police arrested the 41-year-old man after two employees at the museum unsuccessfully tried to prevent him from jumping over a table that was in front of the wax figurine.

Within a matter of seconds, the man had tore off the head of the controversial figure. The man claimed that he was protesting against the display, but he has been arrested and is now facing "investigation on suspicion of causing damage to property and bodily harm," said a police spokesman.

The Hitler figure has been removed from the new museum, however it won't be decided until Monday what to do about the display. Though its presence causes a controversy and much criticism, Hitler's role in German history will not be forgotten. The museum aimed to portray the former German leader in a way that would not glorify him, going through such extremes as not allowing visitors to "touch, photograph, or pose with" it, however it is clear that including this display in the museum was upsetting to some.

Would it upset you to see a lifelike sculpture of a notorious leader or would you just consider it a part of history? Was this a poor mistake made by the museum or did the visitor go too far with his actions? Where do we draw the line between the truth and what people prefer to hear?

When a Fire Breaks Out, It's All Hands On Deck!

news — 2008-07-13T09:07:41-05:00

smurfy alerts us to comical news that happened in Berlin this weekend. After getting an alert for a fire in an apartment building in a southern German town, the firefighters didn't notice they had a new recruit on their squad as they prepared to put the fire out.

Hearing the alarm go off, a 38-year-old man who had been drinking found his way to the fire station, where he was helped into protective gear. During all of the rush, no one saw that he was an imposter. It wasn't until they arrived at the scene that they noticed the "new" firefighter and they proceeded to call the police.

The man was placed in a police cell to sober up. Regarding his motives, the man explained, "When fire breaks out, it's all hands on deck!" He was released without charge.

One Girl's Hair is Another Woman's Treasure

news — 2008-07-18T04:07:35-05:00

Sarcasmsvoice submitted a daunting editorial by Pop Star Jamelia, regarding the truth about hair extensions. For some women, buying or applying hair extensions is a necessary part of their day, and as habitual as waking up in the morning to brush your own hair.

In the UK alone, recent figures have shown that British women spend about £65 million a year on lengthening their hair, which is five times more than what the amount was four years ago. Have you ever taken into consideration where this hair came from?

In Russia, girls as young as 13-years-old cut off their hair just to sell it for a a couple pounds, while purchasing the fine quality European hair would cost the consumer 2,000.

In Moscow, Jamelia visits a man named Alexander, who is a hair dealer. He tells her that the hair is provided to him from "collectors" who go around small towns, persuading women and girls into selling their hair. Then she asks him if the hair ever comes from dead people.

"He is cagey and evasive. He says that he knows the hair doesn't come from the dead, but he won't elaborate further. But when I press him, he finally confesses that he doesn't know exactly where the hair he is buying comes from."

Traveling Europe, learning the findings of this investigation, Jamelia says, "As the women who drive the market in hair extensions, we also have a moral responsibility to the women who have cut off their hair or shaved their heads for our benefit.

"Their hair may be helping to make us more attractive, but thanks to their sacrifice many of them must now be anything but."

Having the hair from her own extensions analyzed, it was found that it traced back to India, where women sacrifice their hair in the name of god. The hair is then collected, and auctioned off. After finding such truths, Jamelia vowed that she would never buy extensions again and hopes that many women will follow in her footsteps.

Young Boy Gets Final Wish of Marrying His Love

news — 2008-07-25T11:07:46-05:00

Reece Fleming, an 8-year-old boy suffering from leukemia, "married" his school sweetheart, fulfilling his last dream before his death.

He had created a list of ambitions he wanted to achieve before the end of his life, which included taking a ride in a Ferrari, spending a day at a fire station, and having a pirate-themed birthday party. The last thing on his list was saying "I do" to the girl he admired, Elleanor Pursglove.

Reece had proposed to Elleanor several times, and she finally answered yes after learning he only had a few weeks left to live. The plan was to have a vicar present for their vows, however with Reece's condition worsening, the mock ceremony was held at his home. Reece got to wear his favorite shirt, while Elleanor wore a wedding gown.

"You can't really describe in words what it was like. Reece and Elleanor were both very quiet, but there was a lot of feeling in the room," said Reece’s mother, Lorraine.

The young couple exchanged vows, rings, and were even given a marriage certificate. At the end of the ceremony, Reece told his mother, "Mum, I can go now."

After battling the cancer for four years of his life, Reece died the following day.

"Elleanor is missing him a lot. They were both really pleased with the ceremony. It was very special - he just kept smiling at her," said the girl's mother.

This report was contributed by cas

MindSay Celebrates its 5th Birthday!

news — 2008-07-29T12:07:09-05:00

A few members recently reminded us of the fact that MindSay is now more than five years old! We actually couldn't remember the exact date we launched, but here are a few important dates in MindSay history:

April 12, 2003: We register the domain name MindSay.com.
May 3, 2003: Adam makes the first test entry on MindSay from a computer lab at The University of Maryland. Brian follows up with his first post on June 21st.
June 25, 2003: The first press mention we can find of MindSay, on The Blog Herald. Adam is convinced we launched on June 23rd, but cannot verify that fact, so June 25th it is.

Five short years later, here are some numbers representing how far MindSay has come:

1.9 million blog posts
5.2 million comments
170,000 users
200,000 different tags
23,142 gallons of coffee consumed by Adam and Brian

Thanks to everyone who has been with us from the beginning, or joined us along the way. It's really cool to know that some people have been users for more than five years and can go all the way back to 2003 to see what they were blogging about way back when. All remains well in MindSay land, and we hope to be celebrating another five years in 2013, when we'll be older than 30! (*gasp*)

Adam & Brian

Does the Anthrax Suspect have a Right to Privacy Post-Mortem?

news — 2008-08-04T08:08:06-05:00

In case you missed it, last week the FBI’s lead suspect in the Anthrax scare that followed September 11th – Bruce Ivins – committed suicide.

Now, as more information comes out about Ivins, questions are being asked about the role that pressure from the FBI applied towards suspect played in his demise. And, now that he’s gone, shadeofgray (who submitted the news) asks another good question:

“Should government put out this info about a man who cannot defend himself?”

The Anthrax case is still open – seven years after the incident - and Ivins was never officially charged. Unless the government has a case they would feel comfortable taking to jury to convict Ivins if he was still alive, should they keep quiet about their evidence? Should a trial be held post-mortem if the FBI wants to make the case that Ivins was the perpetrator?

Comedian Bernie Mac Dies at Age 50

news — 2008-08-09T09:08:22-05:00

K10 reports that Hollywood lost another talented entertainer on Saturday, August 9th. Comic actor Bernie Mac died earlier today of complications from pneumonia, according to his publicist and a member of his family.

Mac was only 50 years-old and had been hospitalized in his hometown of Chicago for more than a week with the lung infection. On Thursday, Mac's publicist had released that his condition was "stable." The illness wasn't related to sarcoidosis, a lung disease that Mac had which was in remission since 2005.

"When I got the call this morning, it was just devastating news," said Chicago Sun-Times columnist Stella Foster. "Let's face it: Bernie Mac was one of a kind. He was the best of the best in terms of giving you a good laugh."

Mac -- born Bernard Jeffrey McCollough -- starred in the Fox television series "The Bernie Mac Show." Some recent film roles include the "Ocean's Eleven" series, "Friday," "Get on the Bus," "Transformers" and "Bad Santa."

MindSay User Survives Explosion

news — 2008-08-11T08:08:44-05:00

A scary story out of Canada, reported to us by valentinaxxx. A propane tank exploded in North York (near Toronto), destroying the home of longtime MindSay user msdania.

We are very saddened by the news, but very relieved to hear she's alright. Be sure to drop by and send her your best wishes if you have a moment. More details about the news are available here.

- Adam & Brian

HIV Wife May Hold Secret to AIDS Vaccine

news — 2008-08-14T12:08:49-05:00

A woman who was infected with the AIDS virus at least 10 years ago is somehow naturally able to control the deadly virus, Sarcasmsvoice reports.

Researchers think she just may hold the secret to the AIDS vaccine. A team at John Hopkins University say this elite suppressor's immune cells have begun to offer clues to how her body is winning the fight against the virus. This breakthrough could help to save the lives of millions.

"This is the best evidence to date that elite suppressors can have fully pathogenic virus," said Dr. Joel Blankson, leader of the study. The woman caught the disease through her husband, and it was thought that they had defective virus, however the couple has been monogamous for at least 17 years.

Studies have shown that they are both infected with the exact same strain of virus, though the husband must take medication on a daily basis to control it.

If such a vaccine is discovered, it would not prevent infection but it could be used to treat the 33 million people around the world who live with this virus.

Do You Care About the Fakeness of the Beijing Olympics?

news — 2008-08-20T01:08:48-05:00

There have been some pretty amazing events at the Olympics over the past week and a half, ranging from the huge opening ceremony to Michael Phelps swimming records and the incredible speed of Usain Bolt.

But, each day more news seems to leak out about shadiness on the part of the organizers. First, it was acknowledged that the girl singing the national anthem of China during the Opening Ceremonies was lip synching, because the girl actually singing wasn’t cute enough.

Then it was learned that the incredible fireworks display was actually 3D computer graphics (in part) and now, word that the supposed ethnic minorities represented by China during the ceremony were actually all Han Chinese (the dominant ethnic group in China).

As far as the athletics go, the biggest controversy so far has been the rumor that some of the Chinese gymnasts may be younger than the minimum age of 16 required to compete.

The question is, does anyone really care, or did we all basically accept that China would do some image manipulation going into the Games?

Little Leaguer Suspended for Being Too Good

news — 2008-08-26T07:08:13-05:00

A little league pitcher named Jericho Scott in New Haven, CT was told he could no longer pitch for his little league team because he throws too hard, according to a report sent to us by myspacebarbroke. According to the article from the AP:

"The right-hander Jericho has a fastball that tops out at about 40 mph. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that the boy could not pitch any more. When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, his coach said."

While on the surface, that sounds like it might be a valid safety concern – if not an over protective one – apparently there may be some politics involved:

"Jericho's coach and parents say the boy is being unfairly targeted because he turned down an invitation to join the defending league champion, which is sponsored by an employer of one of the league's administrators."

Either way, it seems like a bit much to not let a child play because he’s essentially too talented for his age group. On the other hand, it would seem that the Scott could simply play with older children – similar how to talented students often skip grades. What do you think is the right thing to do in this case?

The Most Famous Voiceover Guy Passes Away

news — 2008-09-02T04:09:14-05:00

The video above features a voice you've almost undoubtedly heard in countless TV commercials and movie trailers. And sadly, as zenagain reports, the man behind that voice - Don LaFontaine - has passed away:

"Don LaFontaine died today from a collapsed lung at Ceaders-Sinai Hospital in L.A., he was 68.

Known world wide for such famous catch phrases like "In a world..." and "A one man army" LaFontaine had done voice overs for over 5,000 films and 350,000 TV shows including The Godfather part 2, Kung Fu Panda, HEROS and The Simpsons.

He leaves behind his wife singer/actress Nina Whitaker and 3 children.

Rest in peace Mr. LaFontaine. Movie ad TV trailers will never sound quite the same."

Sick of Your Web Browser? Google Has a New Alternative

news — 2008-09-03T01:09:24-05:00

Most of MindSay's members use either Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox to browse the Web. But this week Google has rolled out a Web browser of its own - Google Chrome - that offers a fairly different approach to surfing the Web, and it's getting a lot of good reviews, including one from yours truly (aostrow)

One of the more interesting features of Chrome is the way it prevents crashes. Each tab works independently, so if something goes wrong, only that tab closes versus the entire browser crashing. Chrome also makes much more efficient use of space, showing you more of Web pages without having to scroll. The URL bar is also different than a traditional browser - you can type in either a Web address or a search term, which, will naturally search Google. In my tests so far, all of this leads to a much faster browsing experience that also makes the Web much prettier.

As cosina pointed out, Google first announced the project through a comic they leaked to the media drawn up by famed illustrator Scott McCloud.

You can download the new browser here. Have you tried it out yet? Let us know what you think.

If You Could Know ...

news — 2008-09-10T12:09:14-05:00

For lack of much news to report, I figured I'd throw out a good philosophical question. If you could find out the exact date and time of your death, would you want to know? Once you knew, how would it change your behavior, one way or another? Discuss!

UVA Bans All Signs from Athletics Facilities

news — 2008-09-11T03:09:44-05:00

Sports fans can be vicious. Occasionally, so much so that referees have penalized the home team to try and get the fans under control. But the University of Virginia is taking things a step further, banning all signs from its sporting venues.

According to the story that jakerad sent us, it all started last year when a student held up a sign suggesting the football team should fire its head coach. At the time, the school’s policy was to prohibit signs containing “derogatory comments, profanity, impede another guest’s view of the field or cover any stadium signage.”

But now that policy has expanded to ban all signage from stadiums. Of course, some think this is trampling on freedom of speech rights. But the counter point, as argued in this article says that:

“The new policy banning all signs is also straightforward. As Josh Wheeler of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression said, it’s actually friendlier to the First Amendment than the old policy, because it is “content neutral” — it does not discriminate against certain viewpoints.”

UVA is obviously free to do whatever it wants, but do you agree with the decision to ban all signs from sporting events?

Woman Steals Daughter’s Identity to Go Back to High School

news — 2008-09-17T02:09:25-05:00

A lot of us probably wish we could get a second chance at high school, but a Wisconsin woman has taken it to the extreme, stealing her daughter’s identity so she could re-enter high school and pursue a spot on the cheerleading team. According to the AP:

"Wendy Brown, of Green Bay, faces a felony identity theft charge after enrolling in Ashwaubenon High School as her 15-year-old daughter, who lives in Nevada with Brown's mother.

According to the complaint, Brown wanted to get her high school degree and become a cheerleader because she didn't have a childhood and wanted to regain a part of her life that she'd missed …

… If convicted, she could face up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine."

Really, this story is pretty sad, but it does raise a fun question: if you could go back to high school (if you’re not still in it … legally!) what would you do differently?

PETA Wants Your Milk - Not Cow's Milk - In Ice Cream

news — 2008-09-26T05:09:59-05:00

The animal rights group PETA thinks enough is enough. Instead of using cows for the milk that makes ice cream, the group is urging Ben & Jerry’s to use nursing moms for milk … really. According to an article sent to us by blueeyedtawni :

“People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is asking the ice cream maker to begin using breast milk in its products instead of cow's milk, saying it would reduce the suffering of cows and calves and give ice cream lovers a healthier product.

The idea got a cool reception Thursday from Ben & Jerry's officials, the company's customers and even La Leche League International, the world's oldest breast-feeding support organization, which promotes the practice — for babies, anyway …

…Ashley Byrne, a campaign coordinator for PETA, acknowledged the implausibility of substituting breast milk for cow's milk, but said it's no stranger than humans consuming the milk of another species.”

Implausible is right. According to the article, it takes 1 and a half gallons of milk to make one gallon of ice cream. The ethical treatment of animals is generally a good cause, but, proposing silly moves that obviously won’t happen just makes PETA look like it isn’t a serious organization.

National Debt Clock Runs Out of Digits

news — 2008-10-09T06:10:00-05:00

In perhaps the ultimate sign of symbolism for the state of the US economy, the iconic national debt clock in New York City has run out of digits, as the total now surpasses $10 trillion ($10,000,000,000,000). From the Newsday article sent to us by daenarys:

"The Times Square-area ticker needs two additional digits to track a national debt 100 times larger than the current $10.2 trillion.

As a short-term fix the digital dollar sign on the billboard-style clock has been switched to a number one - the "1" in $10 trillion. The Durst Organization says it plans to update the sign next year.

The late Manhattan real estate developer Seymour Durst put the sign up in 1989 to call attention to the then-national debt of $2.7 trillion. The clock was turned off during the 1990's when the debt decreased."

Will the US ever get back to a point where the clock can start removing digits?

I’ll Have a 60 Quarter Pounder with Cheese Please

news — 2008-10-18T11:10:40-05:00

Competitive eating has a new gold standard. A Pennsylvania man put down a 15 pound burger last week in a promotion for a new restaurant. According to the AP story sent to us by masivemaple:

“It took Brad Sciullo 4 hours and 39 minutes to finish a marathon. A meat marathon, that is. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound western Pennsylvania chef is the first person to eat a monstrosity called the Beer Barrel Belly Bruiser: a 15-pound burger with toppings and a bun that brought the total weight to 20.2 pounds …

… When asked what possessed him to eat a burger that big, Sciullo said: "I wanted to see if I could…”

... The burger included a bun, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onions, mild banana peppers and a cup each of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and relish, pub owner Dennis Liegey said.”

That should be enough calories for a year or two. If you had to enter a competitive eating event, what type of food would you feast on?

E-Cards Becoming a Popular Method for Informing Your Partner of an STD

news — 2008-10-28T03:10:10-05:00

Getting the mail usually sucks. It’s mostly bills, junk, and more bills. But it could be worse. A new website lets people send out anonymous letters informing sexual partners that they have an STD. According to an ABC News article sent to us by daenarys :

“A public health Web site called Inspot.org has put the trend of e-cards, e-mail, and e-vites to a unique purpose: the e-postcard that notifies you that a past sexual partner came down with a sexually transmitted disease or infection.

The sender can choose the STD, and whether to disclose their name, while Inspot.org will automatically send a list of local health resources to the recipient.”

It’s actually all electronic, but the idea of physically opening the mail paints a better picture. Do you think this is a good way to spread STD awareness, or is it just a cop-out for people that are irresponsible?

Barack Obama Wins the Presidency

news — 2008-11-05T01:11:38-05:00

As you certainly know by now, Barack Obama has been elected as the 44th President of the United States. Above, the Senator from Illinois' acceptance speech from Chicago last night. What are your thoughts on the election? Sound off in the comments :)

A Cure For AIDS? Maybe.

news — 2008-11-13T03:11:09-05:00

A 42-year-old in Germany, previously suffering from AIDS, has not had the disease detected in his system for nearly two years following a bone marrow transplant. According to an article in The Wall Street Journal sent to us by fiveacez :

“… The breakthrough appears to be that Dr. Hütter, a soft-spoken hematologist who isn't an AIDS specialist, deliberately replaced the patient's bone marrow cells with those from a donor who has a naturally occurring genetic mutation that renders his cells immune to almost all strains of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.”

The mutation is rare, but not exceedingly so. According to the report, about 1% of Europeans have a natural immunity to most strains of HIV. On the downside, the transplant itself is also risky, with a mortality rate of 30%.

Nonetheless, it’s an interesting potential breakthrough in the search for a cure to one of the world’s most deadly diseases. Definitely give the WSJ article a read for some more details about it.

Palin Pardons Turkey as Turkey's Brother Gets Slaughtered

news — 2008-11-21T12:11:07-05:00

Former Vice Presidential candidate and Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin certainly has a way with the media. The latest: Palin showed up at a local turkey farm to "pardon" a turkey (a tradition at The White House as well). Afterwards, in an interview with reporters, another turkey is clearly seen getting slaughtered in the background.

Of course, we know that our Thanksgiving dinner has to come from somewhere, but, this is a bit bizarre to say the least, if not downright gruesome. A video showing the incident is embedded above.

Black Friday Fatalities: The Same Old Sad Story

news — 2008-11-28T11:11:46-05:00

Unfortunately this seems to happen just about every year on Black Friday – overzealous shoppers either hurt themselves or someone else in the process of trying to secure the best deals. From Fox News:

“Black Friday took a grim turn when a Walmart employee in New York died after bargain hunters broke down the doors to the store.

The 34-year-old male employee was pronounced dead one hour after shoppers broke down the doors to the shopping center in Valley Stream, N.Y., and knocked him down at around 5 a.m. Friday, police said.

A 28-year-old pregnant woman was also taken in for observation and three other shoppers suffered minor injuries during the incident, police said.”

It’s not clear what if any security presence might have been on the scene, but this seems to be the same old story. Since people can’t seem to help themselves, perhaps it’s time to make sure there is some sort of law enforcement presence at these Black Friday events to keep everyone orderly?

What Was Your Favorite Album of 2008?

news — 2008-12-05T01:12:16-05:00

One of MindSay's traditions is the annual, completely user-driven "Best Album of the Year" where users select their favorite new music from the past 365 days. The 2008 edition is here, and all the details are available on the bestalbumof2008 blog.

For some ideas of what to nominate, check out iTunes list of most popular downloads, as well as this year's Grammy Nominations.

Once a winner has been selected, we'll post it here on the homepage for everyone to argue about

McDonald's Launches Attack Ads Against Starbucks

news — 2008-12-12T04:12:15-05:00

Much has been made of Starbucks being one company that could be in trouble in a bad economy, with the theory being that people won't be as willing to spend $4 or $5 on a cup of coffee when money is tight. McDonald's is looking to capitalize on this concept, and is launching a new ad campaign directly attacking Starbucks in hopes of improving their own coffee sales.

And, they're taking it right to Starbucks' backyard in Seattle. From Fox News:

"Among the accusations the fast food chain is lobbing: "Four bucks is dumb" and "Large is the new grande," the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported ...

... In all, about 140 billboards that insult Starbucks have gone up in western Washington state."

While the Starbucks haters will probably be amused by the campaign, the real question is: are you drinking less Starbucks these days? Or, more McDonald's for that matter?

Happy Holidays

news — 2008-12-24T11:12:32-05:00

Just wanted to wish everyone on MindSay a Happy Holidays and wonderful New Year! Above, video from NORAD of Santa's journey around the world.

Cheers,

Adam & Brian

Four of These Twits Belong Together, Four of These Twits are Kinda the Same

news — 2009-01-08T11:01:54-05:00

Yesterday, all five living US Presidents met at The White House for lunch, creating the historic photo-opp seen here. In the comments, post your own caption for the photo. We'll pick the best one and insert it into the headline

Update (1/15): We've updated the caption with one submitted by decisiontime. Not sure if it was the best, but they submitted at least 30 different captions in the comments so we figured they should get at least one featured! Here are a few honorable mentions:

"Who said there were only Three Stooges?" rv1501
"Fail, FTW, Epic Fail, Epic Win, Meh" Padresmokey
"how many presidents does it take to screw in a light bulb" blueeyedtawni
"Jim Henson's predecessors are so talented...you'd never see the strings..." underground1986
"3 Wise Men and 2 Donkeys Try to Save the World" jksheppard

Weird Talents: The Obama Etch A Sketch Guy

news — 2009-01-15T12:01:58-05:00

Above, the world's self-proclaimed most talented Etch a Sketch artist creates an incredibly realistic looking portrait of Barack Obama. It uses time lapse photography and is set to some pretty awful music, so you might want to mute the video when watching. But it's a damn impressive, albeit probably not moneitzable talent.

Do you or anyone you know have really bizarre talents? Do share in the comments!

Barack Obama's Inaugural Address

news — 2009-01-20T08:01:20-05:00

Today was Inauguration Day in the US, with the swearing in of Barack Obama as the 44th President. Above, his inaugural address.

What did you think? Where did you watch it? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Girl Scouts Make Thinner Thin Mints as Economy Tanks

news — 2009-01-30T05:01:41-05:00

Girl Scout cookies, the popular annual fundraiser for the organization, are getting downsized this year due to economic pressures. According to CNN, the rising costs of the materials needed to make cookies, as well as the costs of transporting them, has forced them to downsize each box by 2-4 cookies. However, the Girl Scouts will not be increasing prices.

Of course, the cookies are as much about the charity as it is about the deliciousness, but nonetheless, another sign of the tough economic times we're in.

Sportsmanship

news — 2009-02-20T10:02:19-05:00

In an age where one high school basketball team runs up the score to 100-0, you might think sportsmanship is dead. But then you see a story like the one sent to us by underground1986. Here’s the gist of it, as reported by the AP:

“…Hours earlier, the mother of Milwaukee Madison senior captain Johntel Franklin died at a local hospital. Carlitha Franklin had been in remission after a five-year fight with cervical cancer, but she began to hemorrhage that morning while Johntel was taking his college ACT exam.

Her son and several of his teammates were at the hospital late that afternoon when the decision was made to turn off the life-support system. Carlitha Franklin was just 39”

In the second quarter, Franklin showed up at the gym. However, inserting him into the game meant a technical foul for his team. Here’s what happened next:

“Over on the other bench, though, Rohlman [the opposing coach] wasn't so willing to take them. He told the referees to forget the technical and just let Franklin play …

That's when Rohlman asked for volunteers, and [Darius] McNeal's hand went up.He went alone to the free throw line, dribbled the ball a couple of times, and looked at the rim.

His first attempt went about two feet, bouncing a couple of times as it rolled toward the end line. The second barely left his hand.

It didn't take long for the Milwaukee players to figure out what was going on.”

In other words, the opposing team simply let Franklin back in the game, rather than take the free points they could’ve had for the rule violation. It’s a simple act of sportsmanship, but one everyone involved will surely remember.