Trader Joe's is a fascinating place.

Overheard Everywhere | It's Almost Like You're Blaming the Victim Here:

"Guy, carrying basket: It's just hard to know that I did so much for her, I did everything right in our marriage and now she is intentionally trying to hurt me.
Girl, pushing cart: Seriously? You did everything right?
Guy: Yes, I did.
Girl: Um, you slept with me.
Guy: Yeah, but that was a long time ago and I didn't do it to hurt her.

Trader Joe's
Hillcrest, California"

Patton Oswalt on the absence of GWBush on comedy.

Funny, because it's true.

Patton Oswalt:

"“Man, you’re really going to miss Bush. You comedians are going to be hurting.”

Tell you what, worry-warts. I’ll happily give back the 15 minutes of “our president’s a sociopath who can’t speak and believes in angels” material I wrote if we WEREN’T TORTURING PEOPLE ANYMORE. I know everyone thinks Bush was some sort of comedic Everlasting Gobstopper but believe me, history’s going to look at these last eight years and think, “I don’t know if teetering that close to the brink was worth the funny YouTube impressions.”"

A great mixed martial arts [MMA] Highlight video.

This was awesome.



Via Fightlinker

Geek trailer joy - "Star Trek" and "Watchmen."

The Star Trek trailer makes the new film look a lot more interesting than I would have expected.



I didn't dig this trailer as much as the first one, but it's still pretty good. I'm really digging on the guy who plays the Comedian [Jeffrey Dean Morgan.]

Hitler on the real estate bubble.

In the same vein as Hitler Plans Burning Man and Hitler as Hillary Clinton.

Pretty damn funny.

"Der Untergang" clip used as real estate downfall video - Boing Boing:

"Some joker used a clip of Der Untergang to portray Hitler as a real estate sucker."

The homosexual agenda.

Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » They’re Coming To Your Town!!:

"...from the American Family Association, but you can also order this handy DVD that let’s you in on a secret that we homosexuals are sworn to never reveal – that we have covert plans to take over every small town in America and implement the homosexual agenda**



**Homosexual agenda:

1. Get up at 6
2. Drink 2 cups of coffee
3. Get stuck in traffic on way to work
4. Work
5. Lunch
6. Work
7. Gym
8. Dinner
9. TV
10. Bed
11. Get up at 6"

The essence of Asian culture - "South Koreans visit North Korea to complain about Japan | Japan Probe."

South Koreans visit North Korea to complain about Japan | Japan Probe:

"Reuters reports that a South Korean group that visited Pyongyang last week and met with North Korean officials for the “”Inter-Korean forum to oppose Japan’s distorted history and Japan’s manoeuvre to rob Dokdo”"

Awesome - "Woman receives windpipe built from her stem cells."

Good thing our government stopped such research. Because, you know, it made the baby Jesus sad.

Woman receives windpipe built from her stem cells - health - 19 November 2008 - New Scientist:

"A Colombian woman has become the world's first recipient of windpipe tissue constructed from a combination of donated tissue and her own cells.

Stem cells harvested from the woman's bone marrow were used to populate a stripped-down section of windpipe received from a donor, which was then transplanted into her body in June."

Maybe the best book title ever: "Debt is Slavery."

Indeed. I'm going to pick this up. The full review over at the Simple Dollar is worth a read as well.

The Simple Dollar » Review: Debt is Slavery

"Chapter 1 - Debt is Slavery
Mihalik opens the book with what I’ve started to call the “Dave Ramsey argument.” Debt is Slavery makes the case that all debt is bad because it restricts your freedom. Even if you’re borrowing to put yourself in a better position long term, you’re still restricted by having that debt load hanging over you - the monthly debt payments and so on. Mihalik’s solution? No debt of any kind, not even debt that you could pay off if you wanted to.

Chapter 2 - Time May Not Be Money, But Money Definitely Is Time...
Remember, what you’re really working for is time - time to enjoy the aspects of your life that bring you happiness and pleasure.

Chapter 3 - Possessions Are a Prison
The third chapter brings another stern point - that the most valuable parts of your life aren’t things, but experiences. Thus, the stuff you buy is effectively paid for by lost experiences...

Chapter 4 - Be Aware of the Ongoing Campaign to Separate You from Your Money
Chapter 5 - Money Buys Freedom
Chapter 6 - Don’t Sell Your Soul For A Salary
Chapter 7 - Own
Chapter 8 - Spend Less Than You Earn By Controlling Your Expenses
Chapter 9 - Save 50 Percent of Your Salary
Chapter 10 - Control Your Money or Your Money Will Control You
Chapter 11 - A Bonus
You’re never as young again as you are right now, so why not get started?"

Sometimes, the awesome finds you.

Via riotclitshave

Government lies! Shocking! - "New Report: CIA Lied About Missionary Plane Shot Down Over Peru - Reason Magazine."

Hit & Run > New Report: CIA Lied About Missionary Plane Shot Down Over Peru - Reason Magazine:

"In 2001, the Peruvian Air Force shot down a plane flying over the Amazon after receiving information from the CIA that the plane was trafficking in narcotics. It wasn't. It was filled with Christian missionaries. The attack resulted in the death of 35-year-old Veronica Bowers and her infant daughter Charity. The CIA was working with the government of Peru as part of a program to intercept drug planes en route—another part of our disastrous drug interdiction efforts in Latin America.

Seven years later, CIA Inspector General John Helgerson has issued a blistering report finding that the CIA repeatedly lied and covered up details about the intercept program, about the downing of Bowers' plane, and about other incidents that never made the news.

...In other words, the risk of the loss of innocent life was acceptable if it meant more efficient ways of inhibiting the delivery of narcotics. Lying to Congress and the executive? All worth it. Because it's all about stopping people from getting high."

Not doing something because of the possible consequences is not the way I want to live. Safety is not a virtue.

Of course - "Report to Congress: Gulf War syndrome is real - Los Angeles Times."

Of course, the lying bastards in government will find ways to continue to deny...

Report to Congress: Gulf War syndrome is real - Los Angeles Times:

"Contradicting nearly two decades of government denials, a congressionally mandated scientific panel has concluded that Gulf War syndrome is real and still afflicts nearly a quarter of the 700,000 U.S. troops who served in the 1991 conflict.

The report cited two chemical exposures consistently associated with the disorder: the drug pyridostigmine bromide, given to troops to protect against nerve gas, and pesticides that were widely used – and often overused – to protect against sand flies and other pests.

“The extensive body of scientific research now available consistently indicates that Gulf War illness is real, that it is a result of neurotoxic exposures during Gulf War deployment, and that few veterans have recovered or substantially improved with time,” according to the report presented today to Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake.

The report vindicates hundreds of thousands of U.S. and allied veterans who have been reporting a variety of neurological problems – even as the government maintained that their symptoms were largely due to stress or other unknown causes.

“Recognition of the full extent of the illnesses suffered by these veterans of the conflict and the obligation owed them is long overdue,” said Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord David Craig, chief of the British defense staff during the war. “They are victims of the war as much as anyone struck by a bullet or shell.”"

Warren Ellis on Ted Haggard.

The man writes in ways that makes me weep with joy.

Warren Ellis » Your Doomed World:

"Pastor Ted Haggard, famous for losing his shit with Richard Dawkins before sucking cocks while crying and doing meth and then lying about the whole thing and then doing it all again, now claims his 'problems' stem from being sexually abused at the age of seven. The idea appears to be that if Pastor Ted — quite happily, by all accounts — can convince everyone that copping the bad touch from some mystery kiddie-fiddler made him gay, a tweaker and a pathological liar, then he can go back to preaching the bullshit and running his church and filling the heads of the credulous with poison. For added hilarity: Pastor Ted’s day job is as an insurance salesman."

Gina Carano wins over Dana White.

Dana White sees the light - Fightlinker - MMA, UFC, and other funny fight crap:

"Right now, the devil is trying to make sure his balls don’t freeze off. Why? Well, maybe it has something to do with the fact that Dana White is actually talking about trying out female MMA in the WEC. Hell is about to freeze over, mother fuckers."

Dana White willing to try Gina Carano, women's MMA in the WEC | MMAjunkie.com:

"UFC President Dana White, who until only recently gave a bleak outlet for the possibility of women's MMA in the UFC, may be softening his stance.

And EliteXC star Gina Carano is to thank.

During the UFC's recent stop in Toronto on the UFC 94 press tour, White said he's willing to put Carano in the WEC to 'test the waters' of women's MMA.

'Gina Carano is a star, and I think she's talented,' White said. 'I think she has all the tools, so what I'm willing to do is bring Gina into the WEC. We could do fights whenever there's a challenge for Gina. That's how I'll test the waters and see how it goes.'"

“I want to grab these people by the throat and scream at them ‘HOW DO YOU LIKE IT FUCKER?! YOU LOST! YOU FAIL! YOU GO HOME NOW!’”

Well said. Not the yelling and the cursing bit... the rest of it. But the angry bit wasn't all that bad, to be honest.

Wil Wheaton's turned into a hell of a writer.

WWdN: In Exile: "...or else we didn't win anything at all.":

"“I guess we’re supposed to be gracious in victory,” I said, “but I’m profoundly offended to hear ‘we need to look forward and not backward’ and ‘we need to stop being so partisan’ from the very same fucking motherfuckers who have been telling us that we hate our country and love terrorists for the last eight years... These are the same people who worked really hard to make sure that I and everyone who didn’t agree with their blind support of Bush and Bush policies didn’t feel welcome in our own fucking country for eight years!”

I looked down at my hands, which had involuntarily clenched into fists. I felt a frightening and unexpected, uncharacteristic fury rise in my chest.

“I want to grab these people by the throat and scream at them ‘HOW DO YOU LIKE IT FUCKER?! YOU LOST! YOU FAIL! YOU GO HOME NOW!’”

I kept my voice low, but was really worked up, shocked and horrified at the level of anger I was feeling.

We looked at each other for a moment. I was embarrassed by my outburst. This really isn’t like me. Fortunately, my friend is incredibly cool and unflappable. She is also incredibly wise. She put her sandwich down and wiped the corners of her mouth with a paper napkin.

She pointed out at the different people in the park and said, “They are home. We share this country, all of us, whether we like it or not.

“We voted against intolerance for people that don’t share ‘the right’ views because we and people we respect and admire have been the victims of intolerance for too long. We voted against hypocrisy and fear and hate. We voted for a chance to change.”

I unclenched my fists and looked at little half-moons in the palms of my hands. “I should feel celebratory. I should feel happy and relieved. Why in the world do I suddenly feel so angry?”

“Seething quietly and privately is understandable and totally warranted. Just, every time you want to grab someone by the throat, try to remember how both Obama and McCain have always reacted to boos from their audiences. One man said ‘we don’t need any more of that’ – and that’s the administration we voted for. Because we don’t need any more of that. We need to chip away at the havens of hate in this country until there is nothing left for the haters to fight with. Because that is going to be the biggest payback of all.

...

“We don’t need to take any shit from anyone, but we can not become the bullies we’ve hated. Or else we didn’t win anything at all.”"

Training 226/BFL 79.

20m cardio/5 meals/2L water

Signs of hope - "Net Neutrality fighters to head Obama's FCC transition team."

Net Neutrality fighters to head Obama's FCC transition team - Boing Boing:

"Obama's FCC transition team is to be headed up by two of the smartest, hardest-fighting Net Neutrality advocates I know: Susan Crawford and Kevin Werbach. This bodes very very well indeed for American telcoms policy..."

What is Net Neutrality, you ask?

Here you go: Network neutrality - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"Absolute Non-Discrimination: Columbia Law School professor Tim Wu: 'Network neutrality is best defined as a network design principle. The idea is that a maximally useful public information network aspires to treat all content, sites, and platforms equally.'

Google's 'Guide to Net Neutrality': 'Network neutrality is the principle that Internet users should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use on the Internet. The Internet has operated according to this neutrality principle since its earliest days... Fundamentally, net neutrality is about equal access to the Internet. In our view, the broadband carriers should not be permitted to use their market power to discriminate against competing applications or content. Just as telephone companies are not permitted to tell consumers who they can call or what they can say, broadband carriers should not be allowed to use their market power to control activity online.'"

Of course - "TSA "behavior detection" is wrong more than 99 percent of the time."

TSA "behavior detection" is wrong more than 99 percent of the time - Boing Boing:

"Remember when the TSA rolled out its 'behavior detection' system whereby slack-jawed, water-confiscating security officers would be trained to recognize your 'micro expressions' and single you out on the basis of a twitchy eyelid or a sweaty upper lip? Turns out that over 99 percent of the IDs generated by the system are false positives -- less than one percent lead to arrests (and the article doesn't say how many convictions come out of those)."

Too. Funny.

You know, you want to assume ignorance instead of retarded, racist hatred... but they make it hard.

Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » Pig Ignorant Religious Nuts:

"Yes, thanks to the AFA [the American Family Association - Rob] Christians everywhere can have their very own burning cross in their front yard for a mere $81.85, plus shipping and handling. Oddly enough, this does not seem to be a big seller in African American communities.

In all seriousness, I guess you can’t expect people who reject evolution, who think the world was created 6,000 years ago, and who think Adam and Eve roamed the world with dinosaurs to know anything about basic American history, can you?"

HA! - “Jesus had two daddies.” [Now that's clever.]

Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » You Should Love Ashton Kutcher:

"Best sign at the rally...Runner up: “Jesus had two daddies.”"

Training 221-224/BFL 74-77.

221/74 - 20m cardio/6 meals/2L water
222/75 - upper body wkout/5 meals/2L water
223/76 - free/rest day
224/77 - 20m cardio, 5 meals/3L water

Inspiration: Bodybuilding.com - Female Transformation Of The Week - Female Transformation Of The Week - Tiffany Forni!:

"Name: Tiffany Forni
Website: http://www.tiffanyforni.com

Before:
Age: 22
Height: 5'6'
Weight: 235 lbs
Body Fat: 39%
Pants Size: 22

After:
Age: 23
Height: 5'6'
Weight: 142 lbs
Body Fat: 6%
Pants Size: 3"