Daily Blend: 05/08/13

Sylvia Browne

In case you needed more evidence that “psychics” ^[pictured] are bullshit-peddling vultures.

Vox Day says the whole idea of “warrior women” is totes ridiculous ’cause what woman would stand a chance against a dude, anyway? (Pay absolutely no attention to all these real-life warrior women who became legends for kicking [mostly dude] ass.)

Here’s a collection of 154 common global warming denialist claims and their easy refutations.
(via Pharyngula)

Oh, noes! The awesome Eugenie Scott, scourge of Creationists everywhere as the head of the National Center for Science Education, retires.

And finally, here’s a dog who tries so hard to make that branch into his stick:
(via @radleybalko)

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Easter Bunny: Origins

Researchers have finally identified the birthplace of the Easter Bunny:

(What? A slow blogging day, you say? How dare you.)

(via @EmergencyPuppy)

Daily Blend: Monday, March 11, 2013

Duane Gish

Win for liberty: New York Supreme Court blocks New York City’s ban on large sugary drinks, which was to enter effect tomorrow.
(via @BuzzFeedAndrew)

Condescending asshole tries so desperately hard to make the case that the skeptical movement is actually a religion-in-disguise for condescending assholes. It was less annoyingly tedious to sit through Al Stefanelli’s “atheist cult” tirade.
(via The Daily Grail)

There’s a special irony to seeing Vox Day, who’s spent the last several months smearing John Scalzi as “McRapey” over his own bizarre misunderstanding, accuse Scalzi of exhibiting “juvenile behavior”.

Duane Gish ^[pictured], shameless Creationist liar famous for the popularizing the “Gish Gallop” style of “debating”, has died at 92.

And finally, just the thing to top off a Monday:
(via @EmergencyPuppy)

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Daily Blend: Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Pres. Barack Obama

The blogging vibe has forsaken me today, so here’s a quick link dump for y’all.

President Obama ^[pictured] enacts whistleblower protection law – then adds signing statement that he’ll ignore any protections that prevent him from targeting whistleblowers. You can’t make this shit up.

Creeping Creationism in Colorado.

Meanwhile, the ugly and pseudo-historical Creationist branch of racism contaminates Texas schools.

Oh, look, it’s a new report about the Catholic Church covering up clerical child abuse for Bill Donohue to splutter in denial about.
(via Friendly Atheist)

Today’s argument against banning assault rifles^*: There aren’t that many people being slaughtered by them, and besides, we already tried it once and it really didn’t work, so fuck it, amirite?
(via The Agitator)

Proof that there is an Intelligent Designer, and that it’s totally wasted.
(via @radleybalko)

And finally, random adorable photo time:
(via @EmergencyPuppy)

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

* Because the linguistic pedant in me refuses to use the term “assault weapons”.

Daily Blend: Friday, January 11, 2013

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg

The War on (certain people who use certain kinds of) Drugs gets even worse, thanks to NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s ^[pictured] nanny-statist bullshit. Only politicians have ego to think they can dictate medical policy better than actual doctors.

The fact that he actually said something like, “[S]upposing it is really true so you didn’t get enough painkillers and you did have to suffer a little bit. The other side of the coin is people are dying and there’s nothing perfect,” really tells you all you need to know about the man.
(via @radleybalko)

At least some Republicans still haven’t learned to STFU about rape.
(via @BuzzFeedAndrew)

Salon’s Alex Seitz-Wald effectively destroys the Right’s myth that gun-toting commoners somehow prevent militarized takeovers.
(via RT: @mmfa)

And finally, here’s today’s edition of “I want a dog, dammit”:
(via @MelanieKV; RT: @ggreenwald)

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Daily Blend: Friday, December 14, 2012

Laurie Penny

My sincerest wishes for any Connecticut readers and their families’ safety.

The Onion voices my thoughts on today’s horrors. (But remember, folks: NOW IS TOTALLY NOT THE TIME TO TALK ABOUT GUNS NO NEVER.)

Meanwhile, noted policy expert Vox Day proposes the “meaningful action” of banning public schools. And movie theaters, shopping centers and public rallies, of course.

I’m sure Laurie Penny ^[pictured] is just making it all up, too, ’cause we all know misogyny isn’t a real problem on the Internets. (Oldie but goodie.)
(via @BadAstronomer)

And finally, here’s a much-needed chaser for the day:

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Daily Blend: Thursday, December 13, 2012

PZ Myers

If crap like this doesn’t convince you that the U.S. criminal justice system is an absolutely hideous farce, nothing will.
(via @ggreenwald)

I can’t wait for the usual dolts to quote-mine PZ Myers’s ^[pictured] (discomforting but incontrovertible) assertion that “[i]f you’re white, you’re racist”.

Meanwhile, the man must be damn near a saint if harmless, sex-positive jokes are the blackest dirt the anti-Freethought Blogs ilk can dig up on him.

And finally, here’s your amazing wildlife video of the day:
(via @DiscoveryCanada)

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Remedial cuteness for a dreary day

It’s another tired and uninspired day for me spent trudging through revisions for my novel, so no blogging for now. Instead, have some cute cuddly foxies:

Doesn’t that make everything better?

(via @EmergencyPuppy)

Daily Blend: Thursday, December 06, 2012

Anita Sarkeesian

My quest to reestablish a halfway-functional sleep schedule continues, so for now, enjoy these remedial links.

Awesome quote of the day: “The police department believes that, under state law, you may responsibly get baked, order some pizzas and enjoy a 'Lord of the Rings' marathon in the privacy of your own home, if you want to.”

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) walks back on his previous confusion about the Earth’s age, says “there is no scientific debate” that “it’s at least 4.5 billion years old”. He then blathers about reconciling science and theology, but then, that he’s said this much is already extraordinary.

Anita Sarkeesian ^[pictured] talks about overcoming the massive campaign of sexist hatred she received for wanting to talk about the portrayal of women in videogames. Good on her for making more asshatty heads explode.
(via Pharyngula)

And finally, here’s a trenchant representation of the archetypal sibling relationship as reenacted by puppies:
(via @EmergencyPuppy)

[full size (600×657)]

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Daily Blend: Sunday, November 25, 2012

Ac Tah

PZ Myers explains why evolutionary psychology fails to explain behavioral differences between men and women (it mangles genetics and doesn’t consider cultural upbringing).

Could it be that this Mayan elder ^[pictured] is deliberately trolling in order to undermine “Doomsday 2012” believers? The idea that he might be serious is almost too painful to bear.

And finally, for free hugs, go to kitty:
(via @BuzzFeedAndrew)

[full size (500×375)]

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Little octopus is a big braggart

Those annoying cephalopods – you give ’em a pinky and they suddenly think they’re your lord and master:

Pictured: Not Foamy

Sorry, but I’m just not impressed. (I am a fair bit mollified, though.)

(via Pharyngula)

Daily Blend: Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Bill Donohue

Boy Scouts loses UPS grants due to anti-gay policies. More of this from other sponsors, please.
(via Joe. My. God.)

Clusterfuck of assholery: Dumbass parents accuse (straight) high school teacher of turning their 18-year-old daughter into a lesbian; in return, principal destroys teacher’s career.
(via Wonkette)

Is it just me, or does Bill Donohue ^[pictured] sound even more childishly petulant than usual?

The American Family Association is all verklempt that a Pennsylvania high school hockey league is no longer “promoting patriotism and love of country” by eliminating the National Anthem over budgeting issues.

What If: a 100-foot-wide diamond meteor hit the Earth at the speed of light? (Prognosis: Even worse than I guessed.)

Be sure to watch Pixar’s beautiful, Oscar-nominated short film La Luna right here. I knew astronomers had it wrong, somehow …
(via @BadAstronomer)

And finally, here’s a lilliputian Leporidae enjoying some Daucus carota:
(via @BadAstronomer)

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Daily Blend: Tuesday, November 06, 2012 – National Turn Off Your TV Day

“The lesser evil!”

Voted yet?

Cracked shines some light on eight popular election myths and explain why the situation isn’t quite as dour as some make it out to be.

And finally, here’s a nice little tension-breaker for this evening:
(via Bad Astronomy)

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Daily Blend: Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Scenes from the Prison State of America. Keep in mind that more than half were convicted of nonviolent offenses, in large part thanks to the Drug War.
(via @radleybalko)

Lawsuit: Santa Fe, NM cop Tasers 10-year-old boy who refused to clean his patrol car.
(via @radleybalko)

The only honest answer to whether global warming helped create Frankenstorm Sandy: “We don’t know, but it’s somewhat likely.”
(via @BadAstronomer)

And finally, have a marshmallow-loving fox:
(via @KyellGold)

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Daily Blend: Monday, October 29, 2012 – Frankenstorm edition

Rev. John McTernan

Looks like we have a new Storm of the Century on our hands, though my area will escape the brunt of it. Be smart and stay safe, everyone.

I wonder if there’ll ever be a day when we look back and wonder why the hell we thought sponsoring educational institutions to encourage teenagers to destroy themselves for the public’s entertainment was okay.
(via Pharyngula)

Alternate headline: Religious fruitcake John McTernan ^[pictured] still thinks blaming gays for bad weather is à la mode.

And finally, here’s a dog with spaghetti (because why not):
(via @radleybalko)

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Daily Blend: Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Pres. Barack Obama

Quick notes: Firstly, in correspondence with both popular (or so) demand and my increasing weariness, I shall henceforth relegate most doggycide incidents to Daily Blend mentions and reserve individual posts to only the more brazen gob-smacking cases. Secondly, I’m retiring my “Fail Quote” tag as it’s become largely redundant.

Obama administration fights to keep the right to indefinite detention (that Obama ^[pictured] said he’d never use because it’s totally wrong).

Boy Scouts takes a leaf from the Catholic Church’s book, tries to cover up hundreds of cases of child molestation.
(via Dispatches from the Culture Wars)

Doggycide in Bennington County, Vermont: Deputy resigns during an investigation into the shooting death of his neighbor’s escaped pitbull. Details are mostly anecdotal for now.
(via Dogs Shot by Police | Facebook)

Doggycide in Elyria, Ohio: Police kill an “extremely aggressive” “pitbull” by shooting it eight times with a rifle. So many questions that this one-sided police release fails to address.
(via Dogs Shot by Police | Facebook)

It seems New York State has some of the worst sex ed classes ever. (At least they’re illustrated!)
(via @pzmyers)

Conservative wingnuts whine about how the media doesn’t treat the Romney “47%” video with the same suspicion they reserve for serial hoaxer James O’Keefe’s bogus “stings”.

And finally, here are some awesome, touching and generally badass photos of military dogs.
(via @ebertchicago)

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Tags: Barack Obama • Obama administration • National Defense Authorization Act • indefinite detention • Department of Justice • Boy Scouts of America • child molestation • Bennington County Sheriff's Department • Chad Schmidt • Donald Loveland • Melissa Kilbride • pitbulls • Elyria Police Department • June Ross • New York State • New York Civil Liberties Union • James O'Keefe • David Corn • Mitt Romney • John Fund • dogs • military dogs • army dogs

Daily Blend: Monday, August 27, 2012

Reince Priebus

Wow: All nine bystanders who were injured during the recent Empire State Building shooting were hit by police. (But I’m sure random nobodies with conceal carry licenses would do much better!)

This year marks a new all-time record low for Arctic sea ice extent. But I’m sure it’s totally just a fluke, of course.

Very satisfying: MSNBC’s Chris Matthews unloads on Republican toady Reince Priebus ^[pictured] about the GOP’s playing of the “ethnic card” with Mitt Romney’s recent Birther joke.
(via @BilgeEbiri)

Biologists hook up a deceased squid’s tissue to an electrical current timed with ‘Insane in the Membrane’. SCIENCE! ensues.
(via Pharyngula)

And finally, here’s a little duckling offering its food to some hungry fish:
(via Cracked.com)

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Tags: Empire State Building shooting • Jeffrey Johnson • NYPD • mass shootings • sea ice extent • global warming • climate change • Chris Matthews • Reince Priebus • Mitt Romney • Barack Obama • race card • racism • squid • chromatophores • Insane in the Membrane • Woods Hole squid • ducks • ducklings • fish • altruism

Daily Blend: Thursday, August 23, 2012 [2/2]

Eric Bolling

(Part 2/2. Part 1 here.)

Another irony meter bites the dust: Same homophobes who cried “blacklist!” when GLAAD chronicled their anti-gay activity now want to ban LGBT rights activist from Fox News.

Fox News’s Eric Bolling ^[pictured] takes a break from accusing President Obama of “chugging 40's” during tornado outbreaks, bringing “hoodlums in the hizzouse” and usurping the office to complain that Obama officials refuse to appear on his network.

Vox Day sees research concluding that older men are more likely to father autistic/schizoid children and naturally claims it supports his fantasy that atheists have “daddy issues”. (For the record: I’m an atheist with clinically diagnosed Asperger’s (and Tourette’s), my father was 29 at my birth, and I’ve had an excellent relationship with him all my life, no matter how many times I call him an old schnock.)

And finally, here’s a sea otter stacking some cups like a pro:
(via @radleybalko)

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Tags: GLAAD • Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation • Commentator Accountability Project • Peter LaBarbera • Matt Barber • homophobes • • hypocrites • Fox News • Wayne Besen • Truth Wins Out • The O'Reilly Factor • blacklists • Eric Bolling • Barack Obama • White House • Obama administration • atheists • Vox Day • Theodore Beale • autism • schizophrenia • sea otters • otters • Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium • Nellie the sea otter

Daily Blend: Monday, August 13, 2012

Stephen Baldwin

The Catholic League’s Bill Donohue truly is a pathetic spectacle.

Failed actor’s ^[pictured] publicist praises his “heroism” for praying at seizing epileptic woman’s side while trained medical professional revived her.
(via Mommiest)

And finally, Cracked.com presents OMG I WANT ALL OF THESE PETS RIGHT NOW (starting with these domesticated Russian foxes):

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Tags: Stephen Baldwin • The Catholic League • Bill Donohue • Latin • corpus delicti • Vatican • Catholic Church • epilepsy • seizures • Brad Taylor • Peninsula Hotel • foxes • silver foxes • savannah cat • Pixie-bob • Legend Cats • Dmitry Belyaev • Siberian Fox • zonkey • camas • Saarloos Wolfhound

A man is an old dog’s best friend

I really, really wish I had a larger version of this to use as a wallpaper, as it captures the relationship between people and their animal companions so perfectly:

John Unger, lulling his sick 19-year-old dog Schoep to sleep in Lake Superior. Schoep has arthritis and has trouble sleeping, so every night John cradles the dog in his arms because he found that water helps ease the pooch’s pain. John rescued Schoep as an 8 month old puppy, and he’s been by his side through many adventures. Stonehouse Hudson posted the picture and the story to Facebook on August 1. To date it has more than 260,000 likes and over 150,000 shares. You can buy prints of the image here. Proceeds go toward Schoep’s vet bills.

A surprisingly large number of Survey respondents inform me of their dislike for “cute animal pictures”. How about “moving” photos?

(via @Maggie_McNeill; RT: @radleybalko)

Edit (08/10/12 4:12 PM ET) – Replaced Blogger-uploaded image with larger version.

Tags: John Unger • Schoep the dog • dogs