[Robo]

Originally Posted by Brad tftfy, right?

Man, Idaho is wild. I mean, I always thought I was into some crazy shit, what with the leather and chains and wax...and leather...but this one guy I met, from Boise? He was into women. I shit you not! He said he was in a monogamous relationship with only one woman who was about his age. I was creeped. out. And he never tied her up or anything! I say oh, so she's the domme, and he looked at me like he didn't even know what that was. Appalling, right?

I tell you, people in Idaho are going to corupt us all with their scandalous lifestyles. It's a good thing there's nothing at all in Idaho, so no one has any reason to go there.

[RowdyScot]

Originally Posted by Robo Man, Idaho is wild. I mean, I always thought I was into some crazy shit, what with the leather and chains and wax...and leather...but this one guy I met, from Boise? He was into women. I shit you not! He said he was in a monogamous relationship with only one woman who was about his age. I was creeped. out. And he never tied her up or anything! I say oh, so she's the domme, and he looked at me like he didn't even know what that was. Appalling, right? I tell you, people in Idaho are going to corupt us all with their scandalous lifestyles. It's a good thing there's nothing at all in Idaho, so no one has any reason to go there.

LOVE it!

[Robo]

In all seriousness, knowing what I do about small towns, I would wager Idaho was actually secretly a hotbed for crazy sex fiends. I mean, what else are you going to do?

"Honey, I'm bored."

"Let's fuck."

"But we've already done that twenty-three times today."

"Uh, let's fuck...with rope?"

"Hmm...okay."

Three weeks later, thanks to the magic of mail order, they put the finishing touches on their dungeon of pleasure. *sniff* Ain't America grand?

[tomoe]

Somehow missed out on seeing the Empire State Building in rainbow colorway...and I can even see it from my apartment window. Oh wells.

[kscherer]

Supreme Court rules video games are "free speech".

And good for them. Why does the gubmint think it is so much better at raising our kids?

I'm pretty sure that the only thing California's "law" was going to do was create a black market for "mature" video games. I can see this happening: 14-year-old kid goes to his 21-year-old brother, "Hey, Joe, can you you pick me up some beer, some porn, and Mortal Kombat 34? Please, please, please! My eighth-grade party is tonight, and I'm supposed to supply the entertainment!"

[Robo]

Originally Posted by kscherer Supreme Court rules video games are "free speech". And good for them. Why does the gubmint think it is so much better at raising our kids? I'm pretty sure that the only thing California's "law" was going to do was create a black market for "mature" video games. I can see this happening: 14-year-old kid goes to his 21-year-old brother, "Hey, Joe, can you you pick me up some beer, some porn, and Mortal Kombat 34? Please, please, please! My eighth-grade party is tonight, and I'm supposed to supply the entertainment!"

^ Perhaps the only time I will ever agree with you, kscherer.*

Parents should be fucking parents. The video game industry self-regulates just fine: there is a recognized,** consistent rating system, and basically every retailer treats it as the law anyways. (At GameStop, selling an M-rated game to a kid is grounds for instant termination.) What the "problem" is, and what making more laws would do absolutely nothing to prevent, is this:

*holds up game* Ma'am, just so you know, this game is rated M for adults, and contains realistic violence, blood and gore, strong language, strong sexual content, nudity, gambling, and..."

"Oh, that's fine. He's seen worse!"

"Ma'am, I really don't think so."

I'm not sure what the proposed law would have actually done, other than set a weird precedent, like equating games to drugs or something. Again, every store I've ever shopped at or worked at treats the rating system as law already; I don't think that's where things are "breaking down." If the moral guardians really want to keep "bad" games out of kids' hands, they should focus on maybe educating the stupid fucking parents who are buying the games. Kids getting M-rated games unassisted is not the problem.

*)Though using Mortal Kombat as your example of a violent video game made you tragically unhip. (At least you didn't say Doom.)

**) As a design nerd I think the current rating system could certainly be clearer, I mean E, E 10+, T, M isn't exactly the most self-explanatory scheme out there. "Everyone 10+" in particular makes little sense; how is that any different at all from just "10+"? I'd just have the ratings be E, 10+, 13+, 17+, and I'd clean up the icons. No four rows of text on the rating symbol, and no more cutesy tilted letters. You could make the icons half the size and more readable just by getting rid of the cruft, and the more sensical naming wouldn't hurt, either.

[bassplayinMacFiend]

Yea, I gotta say, M is starting to get very M. I mean, remember the outrage over the "hot coffee" mod for Grand Theft Auto? That was about a pixelated nipple? Anyone here play LA Noire? They've got nekked murdered wimmens in it. Quite a change from the "OMG! A nipple!" from a few years ago.

[Robo]

Originally Posted by bassplayinMacFiend Yea, I gotta say, M is starting to get very M. I mean, remember the outrage over the "hot coffee" mod for Grand Theft Auto? That was about a pixelated nipple? Anyone here play LA Noire? They've got nekked murdered wimmens in it. Quite a change from the "OMG! A nipple!" from a few years ago.

And "Hot Coffee" wasn't even accessible without modding the game, which was just bananas.

Rockstar Games has grown up, and I mean that in a good way. Remember State of Emergency? And now, less than a decade later, they're making Red Dead Redemption and L.A. Noire.

It's like comparing Jackass to The Godfather.

[kscherer]

Originally Posted by Robo ^ Perhaps the only time I will ever agree with you, kscherer.*

There's magic in the air…

Originally Posted by Robo Parents should be fucking parents. The video game industry self-regulates just fine: there is a recognized,** consistent rating system, and basically every retailer treats it as the law anyways. (At GameStop, selling an M-rated game to a kid is grounds for instant termination.) What the "problem" is, and what making more laws would do absolutely nothing to prevent, is this: *holds up game* Ma'am, just so you know, this game is rated M for adults, and contains realistic violence, blood and gore, strong language, strong sexual content, nudity, gambling, and..." "Oh, that's fine. He's seen worse!" "Ma'am, I really don't think so." I'm not sure what the proposed law would have actually done, other than set a weird precedent, like equating games to drugs or something. Again, every store I've ever shopped at or worked at treats the rating system as law already; I don't think that's where things are "breaking down." If the moral guardians really want to keep "bad" games out of kids' hands, they should focus on maybe educating the stupid fucking parents who are buying the games. Kids getting M-rated games unassisted is not the problem.

Couldn't agree more. The gubmint just has no place dictating people's morality (or lack thereof)—morality is for the parents to teach, not a federal bureaucracy. Video games, porn, weed, whatever. They need to stay the hell out and permit people to live their lives. At the same time, there should be no gubment money for "the study of video game-related addictions". If your kids turn out to be little turds because of video games, well, sounds like a personal problem to me. If said kid grows up to be a criminal, then I say punish him for his evil deeds, but don't punish the rest of us for them!

And, yeah, the video game industry is one of the best examples of self-regulation*. Leave them alone.

Originally Posted by Robo *)Though using Mortal Kombat as your example of a violent video game made you tragically unhip. (At least you didn't say Doom.)

Well…you know…oh, screw it!

*Makes me wonder if the Cal gubmint's idea on this is some sort of hidden tax on "mature" video games—kind of like liquor and cigarette taxes? If that were the case, I'm sure it would be just a matter of time before "Care Bears: Jungle Jam" is listed as "M".

[curiousuburb]

New anti-microbial spray treatment 'permanently kills germs' on clothing/fabric/carpets/plastics/...

Chemical impregnated materials already exist, but have to be added during the manufacturing process. The new solution can be applied to natural and synthetic textiles including clothes, home carpets, shoes and even plastics. In a paper published in the American Chemical Society journal Applied Materials and Interfaces, Dr Jason Locklin and his colleagues state that the treatment kills a wide range of dangerous pathogens, including staph, strep, E. coli, pseudomonas and acetinobacter. The inventor (centre) says the product can be useful in the medical field Many of these can cause disease, break down fabrics, create stains and produce odours. When the scientists tested the product, they found that a single application was enough to stop all further bacterial growth at up to 37 degrees Celsius. And the solution did not degrade even after multiple hot water laundry cycles. ... continues ...

Hopefully that signals the end for MRSA and other superbugs. If not, certainly puts a dent in potential the stinky sweat sock world domination plan.

[Brave Ulysses]

One of the saddest things I have seen/read in a while...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...SPUU1K7LAV.DTL

the video is on youTube if you want to see it.... his son is right there to watch him fall :-(

[curiousuburb]

Secret Service bust Apple Store webcam artist

Kyle McDonald is said to have installed software that photographed people looking at laptops then uploaded the pictures to a website. Mr McDonald said he had obtained permission from a security guard to take photos inside the store. Apple declined to comment. However, the Secret Service confirmed that its electronic crime division was involved. A spokesperson told the BBC that the investigation was taking place under US Code Title 18 /1030 which relates to "Fraud and related activity in connection with computers." Offences covered by the legislation carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. ... In the description of People Staring at Computers, the project is described as: "A photographic intervention. Custom app installed around NYC, taking a picture every minute and uploading it if a face is found in the image. "Exhibited on site with a remotely triggered app that displayed the photos full screen on every available computer." The site features a video and series of photographs, apparently showing shoppers trying-out computers. Comments on the individuals by visitors to the site are also attached to the images. ... continues ...

[murbot]

[Sauvblanc]

All Hail the FSM!

Although I had to make sure it was Austria and not Australia...either way getting away with wearing a colander on your head is cool...

[addison]

So it looks like the prosecution in the Casey Anthony trial may have been withholding information. All too common in the US today. Yet another reason to oppose the death penalty.

The designer, John Bradley, said Ms. Anthony had visited what the prosecution said was a crucial Web site only once, not 84 times, as prosecutors had asserted. He came to that conclusion after redesigning his software, and immediately alerted prosecutors and the police about the mistake, he said. The finding of 84 visits was used repeatedly during the trial to suggest that Ms. Anthony had planned to murder her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, who was found dead in 2008. Ms. Anthony, who could have faced the death penalty, was acquitted of the killing on July 5. According to Mr. Bradley, chief software developer of CacheBack, used by the police to verify the computer searches, the term “chloroform” was searched once through Google. The Google search then led to a Web site, sci-spot.com, that was visited only once, Mr. Bradley added. The Web site offered information on the use of chloroform in the 1800s.

[kieran]

There is a webcam set up on the corner of center city Philadelphia today over an iced tea company's "kiosk."

They set up shelves of their product on the street and just left them unguarded (except for the webcam) and suggested that people pay $1 for
the bottle.

The company name? Honest Tea.

Here's a link to the feed. I was watching it for 20 minutes at work before realizing how much time had gone by. It's fascinating.

Seen 3 people just take a bottle and walk away so far.

[kscherer]

Originally Posted by AWM Yet another reason to oppose the death penalty.

The real solution is to apply whatever penalty back to the liars. In other words, if a five-year prison penalty is on the table, and the prosecutor/defense/witness is found to be lying, then the prosecutor/defense/witness should be sentenced to that same five years in prison.

The reason these people continue to lie in court is because there is no serious penalty for them. Make it serious, and the problem will go away. Either that or the problem-causers will simply be eliminated from the game.

[addison]

Originally Posted by kscherer The real solution is to apply whatever penalty back to the liars. In other words, if a five-year prison penalty is on the table, and the prosecutor/defense/witness is found to be lying, then the prosecutor/defense/witness should be sentenced to that same five years in prison.

Not a bad idea. It be nice to make it illegal for police to lie to you as well. One can dream!

[kscherer]

Originally Posted by AWM Not a bad idea. It be nice to make it illegal for police to lie to you as well. One can dream!

One might think twice about lying when the death penalty is a possibility, don't you think?

Edit: And I would include corrupt judges in that, as well.

[tomoe]

Aftermath of yesterday's attacks in Norway.

[Eugene]

Shocking news: Amy Winehouse is dead.

[Elysium]

In Karmic News: Lightning strike burns down vacant house of former Bills player Jason Peters.

Couldn't have happened to a better guy.

In short:

- worked his way onto the team beating out higher draft picks
- was rewarded with a 5 year $15 million contract extension in 2007
- was selected to the Pro-Bowl as a starter after the 2007 season and promptly held out of camp to renegotiate his contract for $8-10 million a year (starting year 2 of his 5 year deal).
- Bills brass told him to report and they would negotiate, he refused demanding the new contract before reporting.
- He was eventually traded to Philly, and for some reason didn't bother to sell his house.

[pscates2.0]

Xbox addict dies from blood clot after "marathon" gaming session.



There are some stupid, unnecessary and avoidable ways to be taken out of this world, but this one might take the cake.

Staniforth's distraught father said his son would spend up to 12 hours playing on his Xbox. "He got sucked in playing Halo online against people from all over the world." ... In 2005, a South Korean gamer died after playing online games for three days without taking a break.

[curiousuburb]

Strange symbiosis example # 893: Plants with 'radar dish' shaped leaves attract more bats

A rainforest vine has evolved dish-shaped leaves to attract the bats that pollinate it, scientists have found. Tests revealed that the leaves were supremely efficient at bouncing back the sound pulses the flying mammals used to navigate. The dish-shaped leaves emit a powerful echo that helps the bat locate the plant* When the leaves were present the bats located the plant twice as quickly as when these echoing leaves were removed. ... continues ...

*Nit pick... emit an echo? No science/grammar points for you!

Otherwise, an interesting evolutionary quirk.

[_Ω_]

Originally Posted by tomoe Aftermath of yesterday's attacks in Norway.

Complete twat here.

"Naturally I finished my set"

[kscherer]

BAM!

An odd coincidence, but I was reading an article in NatGeo about this type of problem in the Middle East and India, where these child-brides (some as young as 5 or 6) are forced to marry men sometimes three, four and five times their age.

What is really sad for me is that I am Judeo-Christian by faith, and I am so infuriated when these assholes distort their "religious teaching" in order to justify the torment and destruction of others. Yet another case of the blatant hypocrite bringing a bad name on the rest of us.

Why can't these assholes just read the instructions!

At any rate, I hate prisons, but this schmuck is certainly worthy of a long visit.

[turtle]

I was wondering what was going to happen in his case. That's good news.

[murbot]

At one point, the man says, "Take your clothes off. Do it right now," followed by the sounds of crying. "Just don't think about the pain; you're going to heaven," the man says.

I hope his bunk mate reads this article and quotes this shit every fucking night before Extreme Hardcore Sodomizing every night for the next 20 years.

[kscherer]

Originally Posted by murbot I hope his bunk mate reads this article and quotes this shit every fucking night before Extreme Hardcore Sodomizing every night for the next 20 years.

I was going for "a blade in the liver", but whatever soaks your sponge!

[curiousuburb]

Hardcore extremist t-shirt reveals anti-extremist message after first wash

Rightwing rock fans at a nationalist music festival in eastern Germany were taken by surprise when souvenir T-shirts they were given were emblazoned with a secret anti-extremist message. The slogan on the shirts first read "hardcore rebels" along with a skull and nationalist flags. But once the T-shirts were washed, the tagline turned into a message from a group offering to help far-right extremists break away from the neo-Nazi scene. "If your T-shirt can do it, you can do it too – we'll help you get away from right-wing extremism," reads the slogan on the shirts after their first washing. ... continues ...

Sweet idea!

Some skinheads probably never wash... but discovering the secret message in the rain at the same festival (while surrounded by other mouthbreathers) might have led to hilarity