Pirate some videogame consoles – spend a decade in jail

I hope anyone who read the post title, realizing it's not a joke, are literally going "What the hell!?" right now. 'Cause that's my reaction, and I do think it's the appropriate way to respond to this ridiculous story.

LOS ANGELES—A Southern California college student has been arrested on federal charges that he illegally modified video game consoles to enable the machines to play pirated video games.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says 27-year-old Matthew Crippen was released Monday night after posting $5,000 bond.

The California State University, Fullerton student who lives in Anaheim is accused of modifying Xbox, PlayStation and Wii consoles in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents got a tip from the Entertainment Software Association and searched Crippen's home in May.

He was indicted on two counts by a federal grand jury. Crippen faces 10 years in prison if convicted and is scheduled for arraignment on Aug. 10.

Any legal or judicial system that is in favor of throwing a young man into a prison cell for an whole fucking decade just for pirating a few games or gaming consoles – GAMES – is not a system I have any intention to follow, and much less to respect. If pirating is, amongst other things, a sign of rebellion against corrupt and horribly unjust criminal systems like this – then it's my moral obligation to rip off as many games – and anything else I want or need – as I possibly can. It's that simple.

In the spirit of things: get started.

All the usual hallmarks of Maryland cop raids

An elderly couple in Columbia, Maryland were recently the victims of a police drug raid. It's definitely got all the defining characteristics of a drug raid as we've come to expect:

• Wrong address: check
• Cops didn't offer proper explanations for why they were there: check
• Victims were elderly/disabled/just about helpless: check
• Cops were crude, thuggish, borderline fucking assholes: check
• Cops shot & killed their beloved and innocent dog: check
• No drugs were present and the victims were innocent of any wrongdoing: check
• Victims are now suing the fuckers' pants off: check

Some picture that paints.

According to court papers, the Howard County police SWAT team entered the home unannounced through the front door, which was unlocked. When Grunt the family dog started barking, court documents indicated one of the officers enticed the dog to coming running and shot him point blank.

"I lost my best friend. He helped me when I needed him to help without being told or trained," said Kevin Henderson.

The couple said when Kevin Henderson tried to explain to police he was disabled and unable to move quickly, they responded by stepping on his feet and legs. He told the officers he couldn't put his arms behind his back because of surgery he had on his left shoulder, but they cuffed him anyway.

Lisa Henderson said police pointed a gun to her face and threatened to blow her head off, then picked her up by her shirt and pushed her into a chair so hard that she bit the inside of her mouth.

The reason for the faulty warrant? Cops arrested a guy who was apparently headed to the Hendersons' and who was equipped with drug paraphernalia. Because Lord knows whenever a druggie heads somewhere, it's a sure sign their destination is also a drug den.

Just another fine example of cops doing what they do best: act like criminals.

I'd be tempted to mention, however casually, that one will notice the Hendersons were both Black ... but of course that's silly. Racism is dead in America, right?

(via The Agitator)

Oh dear, Obama's the Antichrist again ... *sigh*

Whilst that's shocking, earth-shattering news in itself – as is the fact that it's now being plastered over the walls of WorldNutDaily, and that he's being hailed as an "American Christian" (a title equal to hero-worship for the WND) – what's actually interesting is how the nutjob in question, an anonymous YouTuber, arrived at such a conclusion. It's really quite amusing, in its own way.

His 4-minute video focuses on the direct quote: "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (Luke 10:18)

[YouTube vid]

"When I started doing a little research, I found the Greek word for 'lightning' is 'astrape', and the Hebrew equivalent is 'Baraq,'" said YouTube contributor "ppsimmons," a self-described Christian with a theological education and many years in the ministry, who spoke to WND under condition of anonymity out of concern for members of his local church. "I thought that was fascinating."

As he continued looking into the rest of the words in the phrase, he focused on "heaven," and found that it can refer not just to God's dwelling place, but also "the heights" or "high places."

He then recalled Isaiah 14:14, where Lucifer, another name for Satan, is quoted as saying, "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."

"I wondered what the word 'heights' is," said ppsimmons, "and I looked it up in the dictionary, and it's 'Bamah.'"

Thus, on the video, the announcer notes, "If spoken by a Jewish rabbi today, influenced by the poetry of Isaiah, He (Jesus) would say these words in Hebrew ... 'I saw Satan as Baraq Ubamah.'"

"Gosh, was Jesus giving us a clue or was this just a freak coincidence?" thought the filmmaker at the time of his research.

... Or, allow me to condense that into a three-sentence-long, court version:

Prosecution: Well, Mr. the Defendant, what is your evidence for President Obama being the Antichrist?

ppsimmons: Uh ... some archaic words that sorta sound a bit similar to his name, taken from a random Biblical phrase that doesn't really mean anything ...?

Prosecution: *Stares* ... then *headdesk*

Seriously, if you're gonna indict Obama with being the Antichrist, you might wanna come up with some stronger evidence than words with loose resemblances to someone's name, taken from some random Biblical sentence. Hmm.

PS – Why the Céline Dion hate, Ed Brayton? =( I bet you're just jellin'!

(via Dispatches from the Culture Wars)

Cherry-picking what Bible truths you believe and act on – on camera

Well here we are, ladies and gents: more proof, live and on film this time, that even the most devoted of Bible-thumpers willfully and knowingly pluck out the parts of the Bible they prefer to follow and ignore others:

Though, I suppose refusing to kill someone should go to their credit rather than against them in this case.

(via Pharyngula)

Mariano (and other idiots) can't read, take 82

It's funny how a blogger can show such complete lack of understanding in what he reads. I am, of course, talking about the perpetually-dim operator of Atheism is Dead (who else?), who truly needs to read what he sees and not just skim and skip every few words and totally miss the friggin' point.

For example, Dawkins has said that Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and Dinesh D'Souza scream in a manner reminiscent of Hitler's screeching rants, and even added specifically that's the only way they are alike:

It occurs to me that people like Boteach and D'Souza may be honestly unaware that they shriek and yell in such an unbecoming way. Maybe this is just what preachers of a certain kind DO. [...] They have become so inured to the preaching style of yelling that the resemblance to Hitler passes them by. They just can't hear it. [...] they don't hear, and literally and honestly don't understand, the strong resemblance to the hideous vocal style of Hitler. Once again, I need to emphasize that the comparison with Hitler is limited to vocal style. OF COURSE nobody is suggesting that either Boteach or D'Souza have similar opinions to Hitler, or resemble him in any other way at all. But imagine listening to a Boteach speech or a D'Souza speech or a Hitler speech with no knowledge of English or German. I suspect that you'd hardly notice the difference. Contrast it with a speech by Christopher Hitchens. The voice is strong, even a little thrilling. But there's no hysteria there. The words match the content: measured, thoughtful, strong and powerful but never hysterical.

[Emphasis mine]

And it goes on still. He states, again and again (and again), that "OF COURSE" he isn't comparing D'Souza and Boteach to Hitler in terms of their views or opinions of people, but merely, only and solely in their knack of expressing themselves in screams and amplifying decibels rather than forceful but measured tones. Only insane twits, or illiterate ones, would use this as an example of "reductio ad Hitlerum", ie. comparing the opponent (such as in a debate) to Hitler as a personal attack.

Which brings us to Mariano, of course.

In one of his top indiscretions with regards to the reductio ad Hitlerum Richard Dawkins compared Rabbi Shmuley Boteach to Adolf Hitler—and threw in Dinesh D'Souza for bad measure:

[Quote of Dawkins comparing Boteach and D'Souza's yelling to Hitler's]

What would you prefer: someone who yells “Love your neighbor” or someone who calmly likens to virtually everyone with whom he disagrees, including a Rabbi, to Hitler?

Saying one screams like a demented murderer is not the same as calling one, a demented murderer. It means they vocalize in the same manner. Dear God, can he read? Or is he just so fundamentally twisted and blinded by his irrational view and hatred of atheists that he'd go to any lengths, including the most ridiculous ones, to vilify them?

And of course, that's not all. Just a few lines below ...

Needless to say that Rabbi Shmuley Boteach took offense yet, Richard Dawkins was kind enough to alleviate any misunderstandings:

I did not say you think like Hitler, or hold the same opinions as Hitler, or do terrible things to people like Hitler. Obviously and most emphatically you don't. I said you shriek like Hitler. That is the only point of resemblance, and it is true. You shriek and yell and rant like Hitler. Not all the time, of course. You also tell very good jokes, and tell them brilliantly. You deservedly get lots of laughs, as a good comedian should. But throughout your speeches you periodically rise to climaxes of shrieking rant, and that is just like Hitler.

That certainly clarified matters: Rabbi Boteach is only somewhat like Hitler yet, more like a clown. Such, apparently, is the stunningly shallow level of Dawkins’ empathy, sympathy and repentance.

And such is the stunningly absent comprehension of basic English Mariano keeps showcasing again and again. Dawkins said that Boteach, whilst often screaming and ranting like Hitler, does have the ability to tell jokes "brilliantly" and get lots of well-deserved laughs for them. Nowhere did he call Boteach a "clown". That's Mariano making shit up.

I think a certain someone needs to take more English classes, pronto. At least until he can understand what he reads without making a complete and utter ass of himself. It's just sad. (Though unwittingly hilarious.)

Ray Comfort's take on believing whether something exists, and if it actually does

The buffoon's latest post touches on how not believing in something means it doesn't exist, along with the usual cringe-inducingly bad illustration. Most of it is unworthy of attention, but in this little bit we see Comfort's true potential for stupid examples shine through:

If you are an atheist try an experiment. Go outside at midday on a clear day, look at the sun and say, "I see no evidence that suns exist." You will notice that the sun doesn’t go away. An old Chinese proverb says, "He who gazes upon the sun need not debate its brilliance."

The sun exists despite whatever you do or don’t believe about it. It’s intellectually embarrassing to have to explain this, but unbelief or belief doesn’t negate reality.

If you think that's "intellectually embarrassing", imagine the mental anguish I'm going through right now, having read something so completely stupid. Atheists believe in the Sun because it's right there, high in the sky for all to see at will. We feel its heat, we see thanks to its light, we've sent countless probes to explore it and we've meticulously studied it for decades (and that's just with the advent of modern scientific equipment; we've been studying it without modern technology for far longer still). We know its there because we can prove it in many, many, maaany ways, all of them scientific.

Whereas, we cannot prove God's existence in any way imaginable. How can we, when he cannot be seen, heard, felt, tasted, smelled, or anything at all, and his effects are intangible?

Good grief, Ray, are you intentionally trying to outdo yourself with every new post you make? Are you really that desperate for attention or something?

Glenn Beck: Obama's a racist towards white people ... yet doesn't "not like them"

Of all the dumbass, ridiculous and downright hilarious things Beck's said over the years, this one may just take the cake. Not for his stupid allegation, but for his astounding cognitive dissonance barely a minute later.

Beck: This president, I think, has exposed himself as a guy, over and over and over again, who has a deep-seated hatred for White people, or the White culture; I dunno what it is.

[Cut to roughly a minute later; someone else details how much of Obama's staff are White folks]

Beck: I'm not – I'm not saying that he doesn't like White people; I'm saying he has a problem. He has a – this guy is, I believe, a racist.

... So Obama has a "deep-seated hatred" of White folks, yet he doesn't "not like" them ... He's doesn't hate White people, but he's a racist ...

I'm not sure this guy has any idea what he's saying anymore. He's been spewing the same ridiculous tripe for too long, methinks. The speech center of his brain seems to have rotted out.

Stupid Quote of the Day: Dumbass wants his Medicare free of gov't control

From a Paul Krugman column at the NY Times in which he demonstrates how people are totally fucking clueless in general about the upcoming healthcare reform:

At a recent town hall meeting, a man stood up and told Representative Bob Inglis to "keep your government hands off my Medicare." The congressman, a Republican from South Carolina, tried to explain that Medicare is already a government program -- but the voter, Mr. Inglis said, "wasn't having any of it."

They really should start imposing regulatory IQ testing at the entrance to such meetings.

(via Dispatches from the Culture Wars)

Kara Neumann avenged in court

You may remember the tragic story of little Kara Neumann, who died last year when her religiot parents refused her one single, simple insulin injection that would've saved her from the clutches of her terrible (and highly preventable) form of diabetes. Her parents chose to do nothing and pray (which still counts as "doing nothing") rather than administer actual medical help, and for that, an innocent young girl suffered through a horrible demise.

Thankfully, the lights of justice seem to be shining in Wisconsin today as the courts have convicted the Neumanns of second-degree reckless homicide.

Dale Neumann, 47, was convicted in the March 23, 2008, death of his daughter, Madeline, from undiagnosed diabetes. Prosecutors contended he should have rushed the girl to a hospital because she couldn't walk, talk, eat or drink. Instead, Madeline died on the floor of the family's rural Weston home as people surrounded her and prayed. Someone called 911 when she stopped breathing.

Now, here is the father's testimony, which certainly didn't help his case much:

Neumann, who once studied to be a Pentecostal minister, testified Thursday that he believed God would heal his daughter and he never expected her to die. God promises in the Bible to heal, he said.

"If I go to the doctor, I am putting the doctor before God," Neumann testified. "I am not believing what he said he would do."

Typical words from the deluded. And now, compare his testimony to that of the prosecution's:

Assistant District Attorney LaMont Jacobson told jurors in closing arguments Friday that Neumann was "overwhelmed by pride" in his interpretation of the Bible and selfishly let Madeline die as a test of faith.

Neumann knew he should have taken his daughter to a doctor and minimized her illness when speaking with investigators, Jacobson said, calling Neumann no different than a drunken driver who remarks he only had a couple of beers.

Actually, this I think is a little too harsh. Yes, he's a deluded fool who let his daughter die needlessly, but he certainly didn't act in a way he knew would result in her death. I do believe he honestly thought God would heal his daughter; he was not intentionally letting her die as a test of faith, or acting like a drunken driver, who know they're drunk and that driving in such a condition is dangerous at best. He is not a bad man ... just mislead by his silly faith, and this deception tragically resulted in loss of life.

But that does not absolve him or his wife of what they did. An innocent child did die, and for that, they need to pay. Law of life.

(via Pharyngula)

More peace between religions in Pakistan

There've been deadly riots in the Middle-Eastern wasteland as an extremist group of Muslims launched attacks against the tiny minority of Christians in the area. And why (other than them being bloodthirsty savages)?

Because the Christians are being accused of "desecrating pages from Islam's holy book", the Koran. A charge that is apparently false to boot. The result? Hundreds of homes burned down and six dead (so far), including one child.

Television footage from the scene showed houses burning and streets strewn with debris and blackened furniture as mobs ran at each other. Local media also reported gunfights had broken out between Christian and Muslim communities and that rioters had blocked the local railway line.

But Islam is a religion of ... (Oh, fuck it, I'm sick of saying it, even sarcastically. Every time I hear "Islam" and "peace" in the same sentence, a strange bilious lump forms in my throat and threatens to coat my screen in ... well, whatever foul substance it's made of. 'Tis what happens when I hear the same patently and demonstrably false bullshit over and over again by fucking apologists.)

Craig Ferguson has figured out why everything sucks these days

And his answer is much the same as mine: youths, and how youths are stupid, and how youths and stupidity are sanctified by society and pop culture these days. Guy's got brainz.

That last line about the Jonas Brothers deserves a Nobel prize of its own.

(via Dispatches from the Culture Wars)

Film Review: 'Coraline' – 7.5/10

Coraline (2009)
Written by Joé McKen on Saturday, August 01, 2009

Coraline (Dakota Fanning) finds a strange tunnel leading to an even stranger alternate world in Henry Selick’s Coraline.

Coraline Jones (Dakota Fanning) (and not Caroline!) is not a happy girl. She’s cute with her blue hair and imaginative nature, she’s brave and adventurous, yet that is not enough to attract the attention of her eternally busy and distracted parents, Mel and Charlie Jones (Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman), who are far too busy working on a gardening magazine (of all things) to pay any attention to her or what she has to say. So, as with all children in such a scenario, she wanders off.