Daily Blend: Thursday, March 25, 2010

Should be going hat shopping today. Also: anyone know where the ruddy hell to find a decent selection of hats? Even WalMart disappointed me, and I figure if WalMart fails to provide something, it bodes badly.

And now … links, links and moar links!

• Supreme Court postpones the execution of a man convicted of murdering his girlfriend and her two children in the face of (old) DNA evidence that might exonerate him. Might just be the first innocent man in Texas who doesn’t get offed.

• Sore losers: more than nasty words are being hurled at Democratic senators who voted for ObamaCare.

• More Internet companies pull out of China in the wake of Google’s retreat due to concerns about censorship and privacy violations when the rats in the government actually demanded personal information and pictures of their clients.

• And the family keeps growing: DNA reveals entirely new hominid species thanks to a … pinkie bone. Kewl.

• On the subject of the latest update to the Jonathan Ayers case, check out this article on the matter at a police-oriented website. Or, more specifically, check out the comments there. Nothing short of revolting, the sort of victim-shaming these bravado-fueled thugs with badges can partake in in the light of their own fuck-ups.
  (via The Agitator)

• On the subject of asshole cops: two dozen cops invade a home and brutalize a woman into causing a miscarriage on charges of violating a dog ownership ordinance – charges that appear to be false. No word yet on innocent-canine body-count.
  (via The Agitator)

• The US Mint has revealed the design for its new 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters coins. Notice any notorious, McCarthy-era phrase that is conspicuously NOT present?

• Music is no longer a purely human domain. World, meet: Emily Howell, the first AI composer. Take it from a (budding) composer: that’s some hauntingly beautiful music.
  (via The Daily Grail)

• Stunning gallery on National Geographic of the ongoing Iceland volcanic eruption.
  (via The Daily Grail)

• Yet another reason to stay out of China: up to 1 in 10 meals may have been carelessly contaminated by recycled oil sucked out of drains and sewers. Doesn’t THAT sound yummy?
  (via The Daily Grail)

As always, if you have any story suggestions, feel free to send them in.