Adult service for lonely gamers

There is a new service coming that will allow gamers to pay for female gamers to 'play' with them online. So now, gamers can have the 'friend' experience as long as they are willing to pay. Its not that cheap of a service and the girls keep 40% of the fees for putting up with the gamers. I think what surprises me about this is that it hasn't been done before. Full story.

Barstool Swinging Hero

Guy stops a shooting, called a hero. I think this is great that there are still people who will stand up to help others rather than pulling out their cellphone to get a vid of the action. My only issue now is how long until someone sues him for something...destruction of property or assault comes to mind.
Full Story

Man almost left handcuffed in a room for a four day weekend

At some point this guy was left in a locked room with no food, water, or bathroom facilities. If it hadn't been for a janitor, he would have been in there for the four day weekend. If I were his attorney I might ask for a suspended sentance for the rest of the time he were to serve. Full story.

Even dirt is a commodity

Anything can be for sale, even dirt. I really wonder how easy it is to steal beaches worth of sand at a time. I also wonder if diamonds would be easier to steal and smuggle. Although, this must give a lot of people jobs.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/singapore/7221987/Singapore-accused-of-launching-Sand-Wars.html

More Pirate News

Some upity Somalia Pirates tried taking over a ship recently. However this ship was part of a protected convoy and was able to get help to repel the boarders. Maybe we should rethink the rules governing armed crew on board shipping vessels. Full story here: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=9755598

New source of life

One of the things that so fascinates me about western science is the idea that even those things which are assumed facts can be overturned by better explanations. A new theory on the origin of life has been published. Gone is the primordial soup, instead thermal vents is the new course http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2010/02/primal-soup-theory-nixed-earths-chemical-energy-jumpstarted-life.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheDailyGalaxyNewsFromPlanetEarthBeyond+%28The+Daily+Galaxy%3A+News+from+Planet+Earth+%26+Beyond%29

Anti-vaccine movement's leader

Antivaxxer movement leader found to have acted unethically: For those who have worries about vaccines, look at where this 'fear' started.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/01/28/antivaxxer-movement-leader-found-to-have-acted-unethically/

Homoeopathy sceptics plan mass 'overdose'

In a move to show how 'effective' the tincture can be a group plans on downing an entire bottle (each) of homeopathic pills. This is in protest of these products being sold next to science backed medicine. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/homoeopathy-sceptics-plan-mass-overdose-1875453.html

Dr. Kiki on Homepathy in Haiti

I am a big fan of doing what feels right for you. I also believe most people generally have good intentions about helping others. However, sometimes good intentions do hurt others. Dr. Kiki (who I am a big fan of) has a little rant about the problem of good intentions. http://www.kirstensanford.com/2010/01/20/could-homeopathy-hurt-haiti/

Exxon oil still on the beaches

Oil from the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill was expected to be completely gone by now, according to the original calculations. However, about 20000 barrels of oil remain in the environment. At the current price of oil $78 (so about 1.5 million US) I wonder how much of the oil would need to be recovered to make it profitable. Obviously it wasn't feasible at the time, but oil recovery methods and technology has come a long way in twenty years. Maybe some enterprising company 9or student group) could get a grant or two to use this area as a real world testing environment.

Giuliani, typical politician

As pointed out by this article, former mayor Giuliani is out an about criticism others (in this case, President Obama). As is typical he makes wild statements and then sits back and act like he has ever actually practiced what he is now preaching. Does no one in politics understand that their statements, votes, and actions are all a matter of public record.
My first action if I ever get into politics, appoint a continuity enforcer to make sure I am consistent and actually know what I am talking about over the years.

Stupid pirates are at it again.

So apparently the term money launder is pretty loose over in Africa. But, the pirates in Somalia are no longer using the shell of a country that is Somalia to work in. They moved into Kenya and in a big way. It is 'suspected' that they are buying up real estate and expanding the Somali population there. If they are not stopped soon they are going to end up being a legitimate enterprise. If this was a group in Mexico, buying up real estate in the US, we would be all over it (maybe not effectively, but at least not ignoring it). I guess will have to wait until more US persons are taken hostage before we get involved.
Original story from io9.com

Fresh and Easy Rant

Went by Fresh & Easy with the wife today. Its a new-ish chain of grocery stores that has a rather large (and good) fruits and veggies section with lots of neat meats and cheeses. All the check-out isles are self-checkout but seem a little better done than you see in Home Depot or Albertsons (no stupid scales). So the inside of the store is done well.
My problem with the store is the parking lot. I understand that those with handicaps have problems with mobilities so I have no problem setting aside parking spaces for them. I also like to see it when a store has more than the minimum required slots. What pissed me off were the slots Fresh & Easy has set aside for two other categories.
The first one I noticed was "Hybrid Cars". This is freaken ridiculous. Because someone paid for a car that may or may not have better fuel efficiency they get to park closer. What about all the gasoline or even diesel vehicle that get great or better than a Prius mpg? What about the next generation of fuel economy cars that will be better but aren't hybrids. Setting aside spots for something like this is such a Political Correct move as to almost make a joke about the Political Correct movement.
The second sign doesn't morally offend me like the first, but I was still bothered by it. This sign was for a few other close to the door parking spots. This sign said those spots were reserved for cars with children. You know what, you brought you're children with you to the store. I understand you may not have a choice, but why am I being punished? Why do I have to walk the extra. This isn't the 1300's. It doesn't 'take a village' to raise your kids and get out of your way because you have those kids.
Now, as it happens, the parking lot is rather small (I think the bank parking lot next to it is bigger). So I understand that it is not that much of an inconvenience, its just the principal of the thing. Children aren't a handicap, grow up and be a parent, don't make me one. Buying a hybrid doesn't make you special and I am sick of policies that cater to you.
http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/103216/?autoplay=false