Ooops ... Guess Shutting Down Megaupload Has Other Consequences For Our Government

You know, if any of you out there really still believes that America is a democratically run country/government, I swear I will sell you the Brooklyn Bridge, damn it.

US prosecutors have said that data belonging to Megaupload users and stored by third parties could be deleted as soon as Thursday.

Users have been unable to access data since the file-sharing service was raided.

The warning was made in a letter filed by the US Attorney's Office.

Megaupload's lawyer Ira Rothken told the Associated Press that at least 50 million users had data which could be deleted.

This is data that has absolutely zero to do with any DCMA infringement. After the internet blackout to oppose the tyranny of the bills that were being bandied about in trying to stifle/control the internet, the American government shuts down a site, in New Zealand that affects millions of users, with probably only a small percentage of them subject to a real DCMA take down (as I have already had one on my blog, so I know what they can do).

China is looking awfully good as a new place to live.

Lego's In Outer Space!!!

How cool is THAT?

OK, technically, Lego Man didn't get into space.

But that doesn't make this $400 science project by two Canadian teens any less cool.

Mathew Ho and Asad Muhammad, a couple of 17-year olds, sent their Canadian flag-toting Lego figure aloft beneath a weather balloon they bought online for $85.

The packed a Styrofoam box with some gel hand warmers to keep three point-and-shoot cameras and a video camera (bought used on Craigslist) functioning at the below -4 F (-20 C) temperatures. They also put a cellphone with GPS aboard to track it. And they stitched together a parachute (on Muhammad's mom's sewing machine) to bring their Legonaut and their cameras safely back to Earth.

Click on the link on the heading and go view the video and everything else. Way fucking cool. And Lego, to boot! Love me some Legos.

Want Viagra? Get A Rectal Exam First, Damn It!

The level of assault on women's reproductive rights is so substantial (see this piece on how a high level cancer organization Susan G. Komen known primarily for the Race for the Cure, the best-funded breast cancer organization and known internationally for the pink ribbon, and their choice to now defund Planned Parenthood's breast cancer screenings) I thought that it was funny in Virginia, with the ultra Republican bill making women hear fetal sounds, etc. before having an abortion, that state Sen. Janet Howell (D) has decided to "level the playing field."

On Monday Howell expressed her disdain for legislation requiring the ultrasound by proposing an amendment she described as a simple matter of fairness. Her amendment said that before being treated for erectile dysfunction, a man would have to undergo a digital rectal exam and a cardiac stress test.

“We should just have a little gender equity here,” Howell said.

High five, sista!!!! It's about time the men start having to take responsibility for their impregnation of women, voluntarily or not.

Even Castro Thinks Repugs Are Idiots!

AP:

"The selection of a Republican candidate for the presidency of this globalized and expansive empire is — and I mean this seriously — the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been."

Shit like this just comes naturally, know what I mean? Republican odor is detectable most anywhere !!!!

H/T AMERICAblog

UC Prez Checking Out My Site! Is That Cool ... Or Not?

Ok, not the clearest screen capture, but hey, what is someone from the "office of the president" of the "University of California" doing looking at my blog?

Yeah, Rix, call me paranoid? Not.

I'm Not Dead Politically

First off, I AM curious as to how many of you that belong to Move On, got their e-mail about the possibility of YOU running for an office in in your city/county/state, etc.? If I did not have a "history" that would "out me" in more ways than Gingrich has been BBQ'd in this primary, I would have given the e-mail consideration.

With many of the bigger blogs covering the stupidity that has become to be known as Republican Debates, one can only hope that in the end, it's Gingrich. He's such a stupid man that even if half of the Democrats in this country don't show up at the polls, Obama still wins. I find that creepily eerie. And a reason I don't expand on the regular big blogs' views. At the moment, with stupidity abundant, it is redundant of me to repeat what has already been opined.

This interesting statement from David Atkins at Digby's site:

The part of me that wants to see an easier win in November desperately wants Gingrich to win the nomination.

But the fighter in me wants to see Romney win this nomination so that we can have the tax the rich conversation undistracted all through November. Sadly, I don't get to choose. That's for the crazies on the other side to decide.

I didn't watch the SOTU address this evening. I haven't watched this Prez on TV in about two years, as he creates in me the same desires to smash my television and throw shit at it like Dubya used to bring out in me!

I thought this ad was funny. Courtesy of Romney Gekko 2012.



Another tidbit, worthy of its own post, but I might not get to it, is one of the nominations as Best Actor Nominee (Oscar) in a major motion picture, Demián Bichir. His role is a day laborer in the film A Better Life.

Now, the take down of the Mega whatever site (which, personally, I actually have to say I have never heard of it, yet alone use it ... but then again, I'm not a big fan of having the very first viewing of anything, be it sports, television, movies or music). But found this interesting link to what is supposedly behind the whole shebang and the DOJ's long arm. I will do a separate post about my feelings, though. Some other MPAA and Hollywood shenanigans. Didn't take long for the "pinko, commie leftist hippies" in Hollywood to figure out how to use Citizens United like tactics to move along their agenda. Nothing talks as much as bullshit walks ... but when there is money, hey, you know the "line!"

Well, when I have some more time ... I'll write something relevant. For now, work, family and "you know what" is still Occupying ME! LOL!

Gong Xi Fa Ca

First off -- HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

It's the year of the Dragon, the water dragon to be more specific. I was born under the sign of the water dragon.

Water has a calming effect on the Dragon's fearless temperament. Water allows the Dragon to re-direct its enthusiasm, and makes him more perceptive of others. These Dragons are better equipped to take a step back to re-evaluate a situation because they understand the art of patience and do not desire the spotlight like other Dragons. Therefore, they make smart decisions and are able to see eye-to-eye with other people. However, their actions can go wrong if they do not research or if they do not finish one project before starting another.

[snip]

ARIES DRAGON
Aries Dragons tend to have good luck. With a passionate drive they fill their days to the brim with activity. They are upwardly mobile people so they usually get what they want.

This is a great site about Chinese astrology. Lot's of good information.

Happy New Year!

(A pix of one of my own dragon tattoo's, this one was done around 1989). Although one can see it as either being on my leg or my arm, it is actually on my left forearm, and I am taking the picture with my arm stretched upward.

Giants YAY!

My second favorite NFL team are the Giants, which is weird considering the fact that Eli was initially drafted by the Chargers but refused to play for them on the advice of his father. That begat the Chargers Philip Rivers, who is my FAVE at the moment! So, I am glad for the trade. However, the Chargers still just do not quite get there, year after year ...

Anyway, Super Bowl match up -- Giants vs. New England.

RIP Etta James

This song seems to be jammed for some reason and won't play past 20 seconds. I am working on it. Until I can get the live version up, this You Tube should do for now.



Riffing off of a DJ Rix post about Etta James, the song above is entitled "Baby, What You Want Me To Do?" and is from a live album recorded in 1964 called Etta James Rocks The House. The song is hilarious to me, and one of my absolute favorite. The sexual innuendo was palatable!

I have 65 song titles by Etta, so, obviously, I do not fall into the category that Rick describes in his post. I believe I first became familiar with Etta when I was a teenager, and she had a tune that was playing on the radio, both the soul station and the pop station, entitled "Tell Mama."



Another song that had sexual overtones that I liked, "Roll With Me Henry" actually later on had the name changed to "Dance With Me Henry" to avoid censors. She recorded this song in 1955, but co-authored it in 1954 with Johnny Otis (who passed away three days before Etta died).



The B side to the 1961 single "At Last" had this memorable song"I Just Want To Make Love To You."



Obviously, I could put up a lot more songs given the large catalog I have of her tunes, but I will close out the evening on Etta with the song she has been mostly associated with her entire life, as a fitting tribute, "At Last."



UPDATE: Since Rix gave me a shout out for a "small but choice tribute," I am adding some more songs! Can't stick with small, but choice works for me.

"A Sunday Kind Of Love"
"Money"
"Hoochie Coochie Gal"
"Trust In Me"

You and Otis ... what were the chances, eh? Make some good music up there.

The Bar Is Open Again

I did my part!

Carrie's Bar Will Be Closed Tomorrow In Solidarity With Others Against SOPA And PIPA

ALL SITES AND PEOPLE TO GO OUT AGAINST SOPA AND PIPA RIGHT NOW FOR 150 SECONDS

Internet Goes On Strike

ALL SITES AND PEOPLE TO GO OUT

Major sites all over the internet have gone on strike due to SOPA and PIPA, the hot-button anti-piracy legislation. Experts expect strike to last 150 seconds, and agree this is a "near eternity" in internet time. Congress is about to pass what has been called the internet censorship bill, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed. The Senate is scheduled to vote on its version of the internet censorship bill on Tuesday, January 24th, and unless there are 41 senators to voice their opposition to allowing the bill to proceed, it is expected to pass. Legislation called the PROTECT-IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House are purported to be a way to crack down on online copyright infringement. In reality the bill is much broader. It would empower governments and corporations to take down virtually any website, create new liabilities and uncertainties for web innovators, and make the web less safe. According to the varied and multitudinous reasons large numbers of sites and individuals are opposed to the bill, it betrays basic American tenets, such as free speech, prosperity, and national security. On top of all that, cybersecurity experts say it wouldn't stop copyright infringement. The legislation is backed and largely written by the MPAA, as they have said in media reports. They have also spent millions in lobbying dollars to pass this legislation.

http://is.gd/wuZp2S and http://maplight.org/content/72896

To see the bills, go here: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s968/show http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3261/show

THIS SITE IS ON STRIKE TO STOP SOPA.

NOW, IT'S YOUR TURN TO TELL CONGRESS NO TO WEB CENSORSHIP:

CALL (202) 224-3121

WHAT'S WRONG WITH SOPA / PIPA?

Free Speech

Takes down hosts of content and legitimate free speech. The legislation is overly broad and could block some of our favorite websites to Americans only over just one claim to an infringing link posted by users.

The Economy

Creates massive new legal uncertainties and liabilities for web startups, stifling job creation in our most vibrant sector. As 54 leading tech venture capitalists wrote to Congress, the censorship bills would, "stifle investments in internet services, throttle innovation, and hurt American competitiveness."

Security / Privacy

A web security initiative that has been in development for more than a decade and is just beginning to be implemented, DNSSEC, would be illegal under

the bill. The DNS filtering and anti-circumvention provisions in the bill would force a huge step backwards for securing critical national infrastructure from cyberattacks, preventing online identity theft, and stopping the spread of malware.

Copyright Infringement

People that want to share copyrighted content online would still be able to. To get around DNS blocking, all you have to do is enter the IP address of a website into your browser's url bar.

Learn more:

americancensorship.org is supported by Public Knowledge, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Free Press, Wikipedia, Creative Commons, Fight for the Future, Participatory Politics Foundation / Open Congress, Center for Democracy and Technology,

MoveOn, Cato Institute, Don't Censor the Net, Urban Dictionary, 4chan, Wikimedia Foundation, Mozilla, Demand Progress, Free Software Foundation, and see more at americancensorship.org/supporters.html

The bill is opposed by:

CEO's of Huffington Post, Google, Twitter, and thousands and thousands more. To see a full list, go here: https://www.cdt.org/report/list-organizations-and-individuals-opposing-sopa

Sites participating in strike:

• reddit
• MoveOn
• Mozilla
• Wordpress
• icanhascheezburger
• Fight for the Future
• Public Knowledge
• Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Demand Progress

SOPA becoming election liability for backers

To the ranks of same-sex marriage, tax cuts and illegal immigration, add this to the list of polarizing political issues of Election 2012: the Stop Online Piracy Act.

The hot-button anti-piracy legislation that sparked a revolt online is starting to become a political liability for some of SOPA’s major backers. Fueled by Web activists and online fundraising tools, challengers are using the bill to tag its congressional supporters as backers of Big Government — and raise campaign cash while they’re at it.

Among the fattest targets: SOPA’s lead author, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), and two of its most vocal co-sponsors, Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has also felt the wrath of SOPA opponents.

Even GOP presidential contenders Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum were asked by voters recently to weigh in on the bill (neither gave definitive answers, though activists have interpreted Santorum’s response as more sympathetic to SOPA than Romney’s).

KEY POINTS ABOUT SOPA / PIPA

1. Leading constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe and internet law expert Marvin Ammori have argued that the bill violates the First Amendment because they would restrict considerable speech by people who are not engaging in infringement, either directly or indirectly.

2. 54 leading internet venture capitalists have signed a letter stating that legal uncertainties under PROTECT-IP would "stifle investment in Internet services, throttle innovation, and hurt American competitiveness."

3. Contrary to its supporters' claims, the bill will affect domestic websites. Any site that can be shown to enable circumvention of website blocking under the bill would face penalties. This could include sites where users have posted links to IP addresses or new domains for sites that have been blocked.

4. The bill would use DNS filtering to block sites, which is the same technique used for web censorship in China and Iran. The U.S. will no longer have a moral high ground when talking about protecting internet freedom globally.

5. An internet security initiative that has been in the works for more than a decade and is just starting to be implement, DNSSEC, would be considered an illegal circumvention tool under the bill. The DNS filtering and anti-circumvention provisions in the bill would force a huge step backwards for securing critical infrastructure, preventing identity theft, and stopping malware.

6. The bill has not received sufficient committee work and is not ready for floor action. The bill did not receive a single hearing and the mark-up session held by the Judiciary Committee on May 26th lasted less than 8 minutes and featured no amendments and no substantial debate.

Published by internet sites around the world. to get more involved see americancensorship.org and sopacountdown.org

See Ya Tebow, Stone Cold Steve Austin Can Keep His 3:16

FINALLY, no more Tebow! It was bad enough when last week he threw for 316 yards with an average completion of 31.6 yards, given his favorite Bible verse is John 3:16. Take that, Steve Austin! And here's what Austin had to say about Tebow:

However, after the win over Pittsburgh, Austin talked about Tebow and the Bible verse. See, not only did Tebow win the game in overtime, but he threw for 316 yards in the game. Since he only completed ten passes on the day, his average per completion was 3.16 yards. Did I mention that Tebow's favorite receiver, Demaryius Thomas was born on Christmas Day?

How about the fact that the overtime television rating was 31.6? Or the fact that the only interception Ben Roethlisberger threw in the game was on 3rd-and-16?

All that is freaky enough but it all is probably just coincidence. Austin is betting his cash cow on that as well.

"I'm no football analyst or a real religious person, but I think he's a great role model for young kids and I wish him the best," Austin said. "So yeah, if he can throw for another 316 yards and beat the New England Patriots, the '3:16' is all his."

See ya!!! I guess "god" did not want you to win this week. :(

“Who gives a crap about some imbecile?" Home Depot Founder's Comment On The Occupy Movement

Some of the 1%'s opinion of the Occupy movement:

– HOME DEPOT CO-FOUNDER BERNIE MARCUS: “Who gives a crap about some imbecile? Are you kidding me?”

– HOME DEPOT CO-FOUNDER KEN LANGONE: “I am a fat cat, I’m not ashamed…If you mean by fat cat that I’ve succeeded, yeah, then I’m a fat cat. I stand guilty of being a fat cat.”

– FORMER BB&T BANK CEO JOHN ALLISON: “Instead of an attack on the 1 percent, let’s call it an attack on the very productive. This attack is destructive.”

– PAYCHECX INC. FOUNDER TOM GOLISANO: “If I hear a politician use the term ‘paying your fair share’ one more time, I’m going to vomit.“

Courtesy of Think Progress. It's a good thing I don't do my own home repairs. I already won't patronize Lowe's and now I have a reason not to patronize Home Depot.

Now Cupcakes Are A Terrorist Threat!

A Massachusetts woman who flew home from Las Vegas this week says an airport security officer took her frosted cupcake because he thought its vanilla-bourbon icing could be a “security risk.”

Rebecca Hains told ABCNews.com today that a Transportation Security Administration agent at Las Vegas- McCarran International Airport confiscated her cupcake, saying the frosting sitting atop the red velvet cake was gel-like enough to violate regulations.

How about we just be allowed to fly, but can't take anything with us? Will that work? Sheesh. Frosting. Terrorist threat. I've stopped banging my head on the keyboard a year ago. Things in this country are so totally bullshit and batshit crazy that it's not worth the headache.

Sing The National Anthem "Wrong" Get A Fine!

Ok, who does not find this not only funny, but totally ridiculous?

INDIANAPOLIS — Oh, say can you . . . sing?

And, more importantly, can you sing it the "right" way -- the way one Indiana lawmaker thinks the national anthem should be sung?

Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville, has introduced a bill that would set specific "performance standards" for singing and playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at any event sponsored by public schools and state universities.

The law also would cover private schools receiving state or local scholarship funds, including vouchers.

Performers would have to sign a contract agreeing to follow the guidelines. Musicians -- whether amateur or professional -- would be fined $25 if it were deemed they failed to meet the appropriate standards.

As if there weren't more important things for this country to focus on, like JOBS? Who the hell gives a fucking god damn shit whether one sings the anthem "correctly?" And, more to the point, who decides what is correct? Would Jimi Hendrix's version qualify as not correct, despite it being one of the classics? How about Marvin Gaye's famous version? Would that be correct?

You decide!

Jimi Hendrix

Marvin Gaye

Labor News

Just going to give the link to Crooks and Liars, as they have linked to many articles relating to labor news this past year. I believe it's worth a look. Some very interesting stuff, like the story about the outsourcing of the music by Lionsgate for the movie, The Hunger Games, despite having received $2 billion in OUR government subsidies.

Money, money, money, greed, greed, greed. Sad, sad, sad state of affairs. The world is collapsing, and America is just fine with going along for the ride. Step right up and join us in taking taxpayer money and fucking the taxpayer. I am so sick of this shit.

What Is Up With All This Sports Violence By Fans?

I have been a sports pig since the 1960's when as a teenager I was very much into the Los Angeles Dodgers. As I got older, and lived for a few years in San Diego, I also became a Charger football fan, and my secondary baseball team became the Padres (thanks to the work of Dick Williams as the manager, who took the Padres to their only World Series). Then, after I bought season tickets to the Kings hockey team, my girlfriends and I used to travel all across the States and Canada to go to games. Sometimes we'd wear our home jerseys, sometimes we'd wear a different team jersey. We did not always go to see the Kings play. For example, every October we would go to New York and see the Rangers, the Devils and the Islanders. It did not matter who they were playing. And it never really mattered what jersey we would wear to the games.

After the beatdown on the Giants fan at the opening season of last year's Dodger game, I thought perhaps this type of thing would lessen given all the attention to the poor guy that was thugged. But now, there's this:

It turns out that the Rangers fan who was pummeled by Flyers fans after Monday's NHL Winter Classic game in Philadelphia was an off-duty police officer and a decorated veteran of the Iraq War.

NBC New York reports that Neal Auricchio, 30, was beaten so badly he was hospitalized with a concussion. He is a former Marine who earned a Purple Heart in Iraq, and then returned for a second tour of duty. Auricchio currently is a police officer in New Jersey with the Woodbridge Police Department.

In 20 years of being a hockey fan, I have never ever witnessed a real "fight" between fans. Yeah, a lot of heckling, yelling and taunting, but nothing close to a beatdown of a fan of the other team.

More reminders of the state of decay this country is in.

Facing Life In Jail For Protesting OC Your City

The threat of life imprisonment looms for Occupy Oakland activist Marcel Johnson - better known by his alias, Khali - after a third-strike arrest during the demonstration.

Read the rest. It's like the guy in Cali that was facing his third strike for stealing a slice of pizza. The third strike felony law was supposed to be for those that are a danger to society and commit a third DANGEROUS felony, like armed robbery, murder, etc. Not for some misdemeanor like protesting or stealing a slice of pizza.

Don't blink. If you do, you might not realize you are still living in the United States and not some third world dictatorship. Oh, my bad, we are living in a third world dictatorship!

H/T to Crooks and Liars.

More Posts To Come Soon, I Promise!

I have not posted much politically during this holiday season, despite the plethora of comical (as in Republican debates, etc.) and interesting (as in new laws in effect as of 1/1/12) and stupid (as in Republican debates, etc. -- oops, does that count twice?) to actually post on.

However, now that the holidays are over, tree ready to be tossed this weekend, Christmas decorations ready to be put away and regular stuff put back into place, I will resume my regular posting.

One funny thing that happened over the holidays, though, was this ad site (that was real, trust me) singling out my blog and offering to pay me for the right to put some advertisements on. Now I have already seen this company's work with placement of ads on some really big blogs, so to say I was somewhat impressed they thought enough of my content to want to place adverts on my site and pay me per advert is an understatement! However, as we discussed further, and I indicated I did not use Pay Pal for payments (and never would), that I did not have a bank account, and that I hated WalMart so if they put a WalMart ad on my site, I might have to make fun of it ... suddenly NO MORE contact from the company.

Ha, ha. Well ... it's not like I was going to get rich off of this, what with my 25 regular readers (although I sometimes get more hits from the googlebot that still has not finished hashing my blog).

Anyway, it's FOOTBALL playoff time. So, tell me who you think is going forward after Sunday, and/or who is going all the way?