You can do drugs and bang pornstars, but don't insult their fevered egos.

CBS axes Two and a Half Men after Sheen insults | Reuters:

"Television network CBS on Thursday canceled production of its top-rated comedy "Two and A Half Men" for the rest of the season after star Charlie Sheen unleashed an expletive-filled attack on the show's producer.

The decision came days before Sheen, the highest-paid actor on U.S. television, was due to return to the set following his third stint in rehab in 12 months.

Production of "Two and a Half Men" was suspended in January when Sheen, 45, was persuaded to seek help after a wild 36-hour party at his home that ended with him being hospitalized.

In an interview on a syndicated radio program and in remarks to celebrity website TMZ.com, on Thursday Sheen called "Two and A Half Men" producer and co-creator Chuck Lorre a "charlatan (who) chose not to do his job," a "piece of s***" and a "stupid, stupid little man...""

WTF is wrong with these people? - "Army Deploys Psy-Ops on U.S. Senators."

The retaliation against the one guy with any integrity in the story is infuriating.

Another Runaway General: Army Deploys Psy-Ops on U.S. Senators | Rolling Stone Politics:

"The U.S. Army illegally ordered a team of soldiers specializing in 'psychological operations' to manipulate visiting American senators into providing more troops and funding for the war, Rolling Stone has learned – and when an officer tried to stop the operation, he was railroaded by military investigators..."

"Revenge is a poison meant for others that we swallow ourselves." - Charlie Crews

The main thing that convinces me JFK's assassination was a conspiracy.

I've read and watched JFK assassination and conspiracy stuff for years, back to high school at least. And there's a lot of wonky stuff in there where the official narrative makes no sense, imho. Adding to the fact that the older I get the more I'm certain that the "official" narrative in almost any situation is not to be trusted [through the mix of both conspiracy & incompetence.]

But the thing that convinced me a few years ago that they were definitely lying about something was visiting Dallas for a friend's wedding and going to the Texas Book Depository/Sniper's Nest/Museum itself.  I distinctly recall looking at the layout and the view and thinking "Oh, this is bullshit."

And here's why.  The sniper's nest is on the upper left side of the Texas Schoolbook Depository, facing down Houston St.  Kennedy is shot after the turn onto Elm St is made and proceeding away from the Depository.  Even with my minimal firearms training at the Academy and in the Marines, the story doesn't add up. No, the supposed shot that Oswald made isn't an impossible one [though I can't speak to the "X number of shots in Y number of seconds" theories] but here's what makes absolutely no sense at all - and you can see it on the map above.

From a shooter's perspective, to wait until he's driven past you, moving away... when you've got a perfect headshot/killshot as the car makes the slow right turn onto and proceeds down Houston St makes no sense whatsover. Waiting till he's gone past you only makes sense if you're coordinating fire with other shooters and moving the target into a killzone - the 'triangulation of fire' theory you hear about from folks who posit another shooter on the Grassy Knoll or elsewhere.

Maybe it was Oswald acting alone, maybe it was Oswald with others, maybe it wasn't even Oswald at all... but more than one shooter makes more so much more sense.  And one shooter, acting alone, who has any kind of military training or experience or tactical awareness - choosing the shot they claim he did - doesn't seem plausible at all to me.  So, more than one shooter, then.  And that equals a conspiracy.  The nature of, or the conspirators involved, no one will ever know with any degree of certainty I don't think - and there is a wealth of theories - but that's my two cents.

In the immortal words of Bill Hicks -

"I was just down in Dallas, Texas... and you can actually go to the 6th floor of the Schoolbook Depository...  they have the window set up to look exactly like it did on that day, and it's really accurate.  Cause Oswald's not in it...  It's glassed in, it's got the boxes sitting there and you can't actually get to the window itself.  And the reason they did that, of course, is they didn't wan't thousands of American tourists getting there each year going - 'No fucking way...  Shit, they're lying to us!'"

When you die in your dreams you do not, in fact, die in the real world.

We can blame "Nightmare on Elm Street," I think, for the perpetuation of this urban myth/old wives' tale.

I've had the 'falling and wake up before you land' dreams, but can't recall ever actually dying in a dream - until last night.  Some variation of a drug deal gone bad scenario ended with a gun being put to my head and getting shot point blank in the left temple [weird what you remember.]  In the dream there was the immediate fade to black/death and a quick cut into a completely different dreamscape.  At which point I woke up and said "Hey, that's new."

Dream Moods Dictionary: Words That Begin With D:

"To dream that you die in your dream, symbolizes inner changes, transformation, self-discovery and positive development that is happening within you or your life. You are undergoing a transitional phase and are becoming more enlightened or spiritual. Although such a dream may bring about feelings of fear and anxiety, it is no cause for alarm as it is often considered a positive symbol. Dreams of experiencing your own death usually means that big changes are ahead for you. You are moving on to new beginnings and leaving the past behind. These changes does not necessarily imply a negative turn of events. Metaphorically, dying can be seen as an end or a termination to your old ways and habits. So, dying does not always mean a physical death, but an ending of something.meanings by DreamMoods.com

On a negative note, to dream that you die may represent involvement in deeply painful relationships or unhealthy, destructive behaviors. You may feeling depressed or feel strangled by a situation or person in your waking life. Perhaps your mind is preoccupied with someone who is terminally ill or dying. Alternatively, you may be trying to get out of some obligation, responsibility or other situation. You are desperately trying to escape from the demands of your daily life."

Power Corrupts - "Injustice Everywhere" on Police Corruption.

Ten minutes reading Injustice Everywhere makes me want to punch the face of humanity and drink heavily.

About « Injustice Everywhere:

"Did you know that the last time the US government bothered to gather any information about the problem of police misconduct in the United States was in 2002?

Even then, the study they did only covered 5% of the police departments in the US and, on top of that, participation was only voluntary and relied on what police departments were willing to report about misconduct within their own ranks.

One of the biggest obstacles in the way towards solving the problem of police brutality and misconduct is a fundamental lack of information about police misconduct.

The National Police Misconduct Statistics and Reporting Project (NPMSRP), established in April of 2009, is a non-partisan, non-governmental project devoted to help resolve that problem. The NPMSRP gathers data on police misconduct through reports of misconduct made available through the media and generates statistical and trending information based on those reports."

"Never forget that life isn't fair and you don't deserve anything. Remember that and you will be fine."

Via the "Dog Brother #1: Urban Legend" story by Rick Spears in the Immortal Weapons TPB - the excellent, if slightly uneven, follow up to The Immortal Iron Fist.

"'I'm offended' does not equal 'It's offensive.'" Yes, this. So much.

I wish I had "Senile Agitation."

Mmmm... thorazine.

Birth of a Super Villain - "It's simple. Kill the Batman."

Training.

Simplefit L1W2 - 5 rounds for time - 2 pullups/6 pushups/10 prisoner squats - 3:29 [level up]
Waterbury C - 24 pushups, 44 chins/neutral grip pullups, 54 lunges

Makes me miss teaching - "Bad Teacher" Trailer.

Dwayne McDuffie, RIP.

Extremely talented writer and producer.  Really enjoyed his work.

Remembering Dwayne McDuffie - Comic Book Resources:

"...comic writer, animation producer and respected industry veteran Dwayne McDuffie passed away due to complications following a surgical procedure he underwent Monday evening.

The Detroit native began his career as an editor for Marvel comics in the late '80s, but left the editorial ranks to pursue writing full-time. McDuffie was a longtime advocate for diversity in comics and this led to his co-founding Milestone Media, a character and diversity-driven superhero line of comics, along with Denys Cowan, Michael Davis and Derek T. Dingle. McDuffie's more recent work saw him splitting time between comics and animation, where he wrote or produced such series as 'Justice League Unlimited' and 'Ben 10,' as well as a number of DC's recent direct-to-DVD animated films including the just-released 'All-Star Superman.'"

Training.

Rutten MMA wkout - thai boxing - 10x2m rounds

2/21
SFL1W1 - WC 52 - 20m max rounds - 1 pullup/2 pushups/3 prisoner squats - 35 rounds
+ 52 lunges, 17 chinups

2/20
Active Rest - beach walk

2/19
Rutten MMA wkout - boxing - 2x2m rounds, 3x3m rounds
Dips, bw rows, neck nods/rotations, hyperx
Light swimming

All in your head. Everything. - "The Strange Powers of the Placebo Effect."

It's not what you believe, it's just belief.

Stunningly awesome: "Fast Food Sushi - Epic Meal Time."

Weekend in Robertsport, Liberia.

Headed up to Robertsport for a couple days over the long weekend.  Sandy's been wanting to go, both to there specifically and to anywhere out of Monrovia on a non-work related trip.  Funny, when we first got the Liberia posting, and I showed the map to some Japanese teachers at school, they noticed Robertsport on the map - which is, actually, you know, "Robert's port" - so they were amused that it was "my" port.  Meant to be, clearly.  Robertsport has a rep in Liberia, at least amongst the expat/diplomat type folks, as a nice beach getaway.  And it's apparently developing a small but solid rep amongst the surfing community as an up and coming place to be.  I'd checked out the doc Sliding Liberia before I got here, so it was kinda cool to see it, just for that.

About a 2.5 hour drive, an hour and a half or so of which was on [surprisingly] good asphalt and concrete.  I'd imagined it worse, from the stories I'd heard, but I guess dry season is a much better time to go than rainy season.

But that last hour or so is on hard packed, potholed, dirt.  Which was... interesting.

50 kmph is a generous speed limit.  Though we did hit it once or twice.  But never for long.

This, too, is Liberia.

Rolling into Robertsport.

Can't really tell from the pics, but that's some serious caked on red clay and dirt.  Such is the life of the 'follow car.'  For a 2WD car built on a minivan base that only looks like an SUV, it handled damn well, I thought. 

Pot luck style lunch.  Tasty goodness.

The week in food.

Nutrition/food log & culinary whatnots.

Okay, for the most part.  Till the weekend and heading to the beach where I indulged in oh-too-easily-available-defeating-my-discipline wines and beers.

The Mrs, otoh, was up country for work for 2-3 days or so, limiting any food prep I did for her to a couple big salads she seems to like and some fish and saffron rice. 

America's much needed withdrawal plan - "OK, on the plane. Now."

Curmudgeonly common-sense with a dash of brilliance. So, of course, will never happen.

Fred On Everything:

"...My first step will be to discard strategic imbecility as national policy, thus unemploying a great many strategic imbeciles. Henceforth the armed forces will concern themselves with defending the United States—not Korea, Japan, Afghanist-freaking-stan for god’s sake, nor Europe nor the back side of the moon nor the nether reaches of the Crab Nebula. Just America. You know, that place between Canada and Mexico.

Now, how much military to we need to defend America, as distinct from remote galaxies and places no one in his right mind can spell? Very little...

Afghanistan: I would apply the exit strategy enunciated by the great James P. Coyne, who taught Clausewitz everything the old Kraut knew. The strategy is, “OK, on the plane. Now.” The simplicity is breathtaking, its effectiveness certain. We’ve got no business being there, we’re killing people who don’t need killing, and nothing good can come of it.

Iraq: See above. Further, I will withdraw from South Korea, Japan, and NATO, on the grounds that they either have no enemies or can defend themselves perfectly well. NATO in particular only involves us in disaster, or we involve it in disaster, and I see no point in continuing to breast feed it.

Next, I will give the Navy three months to get anything it profoundly values out of Guantanamo, where we have no business being, and then lift the embargo, which is an expression of adolescent temper. I will then treat Cuba as what it is, an island of people no worse than any other, who do not need stupid mistreatment by a large bratty neighbor. This would improve relations with Latin America, a good idea since we are decreasingly able to behave with normal meddlesomeness.

Next, I will essay the unthinkable for American diplomacy, if it be such, namely cultivating some slight understanding of how others see things instead of always sending the Marines. I know, I know: I risk being called a commie homo prevert, and accused of hating America, and not being brainlessly truculent in the name of endocrine patriotism. But I will make this sacrifice for my country.

For example, Iran, which mysteriously seems not to like us. Why might Iranians not appreciate our enthusiasms for democracy and human rights? In 1953 the wretched CIA, always making trouble for us, overthrew the elected ruler and installed the Shah, a brutal bastard. What did we care? We were surfing at Malibu. Then we supported our good ally Saddam Hussein against Iran in a bloody war started for us by Saddam, and now we freeze Iran’s assets and threaten to bomb it, and we wreck its perfectly legal atomic program with funny viruses. How could that upset them? Baffling...

Latin America: Here I will adopt another revolutionary principle, namely Don’t get in their faces if you don’t have to. More bluntly, under my rule we will keep our long intrusive noses out of other people’s shorts. Stop telling Bolivians they can’t chew coca leaves, which they have done forever, since it’s none of our damn business what Bolivians chew. Rocks, grass, hog entrails, it’s their call.

...I shall take my rightful power soon. As soon as I finish this bottle of Padre Kino."

Police dogs are nonsense and send innocents to jail.

And the fault lies not with them, but as usual, with us. Click over for the the in-full detailed article.

The Mind of a Police Dog - Reason Magazine:

"...When we think dogs are using their well-honed noses to sniff out drugs or criminal suspects, they may actually be displaying a more recently evolved trait: an urgent desire to please their masters, coupled with the ability to read their cues.

Several studies and tests have shown that drug-sniffing dogs, scent hounds, and even explosive-detecting dogs are not nearly as accurate as they have been portrayed in court. A recent Chicago Tribune survey of traffic stops by suburban police departments from 2007 to 2009, for example, found that searches turned up contraband in just 44 percent of the cases where police dogs alerted to the presence of narcotics. (An alert is a signal, such as barking or sitting, that dogs are trained to display when they detect the target scent.) In stops involving Hispanic drivers, the dogs' success rate was just 27 percent. The two largest departments the Tribune surveyed—the Chicago Police Department and the Illinois State Police—said they don't even keep track of such information.

...The problem is our confusion about when dogs are picking up a scent and when they are responding to cues from their handlers. The Economist's "Babbage" blog summarizes a recent study led by Lisa Lit, a neurologist (and former dog handler) at the University of California-Davis...

The results? Dog/handler teams correctly completed a search with no alerts in just 21 of the 144 walk-throughs. The other 123 searches produced an astounding 225 alerts, every one of them false.

...the U.S. Supreme Court says a dog sniff is not invasive enough to qualify as a "search" under the Fourth Amendment, so police do not need a warrant or probable cause to have a dog smell your luggage or your car. At the same time, however, the courts treat an alert by a drug-sniffing dog as probable cause for an actual, no-question-about-it search, the kind that involves going through your pockets, opening your luggage, looking in your trunk, and perusing your personal belongings. The problem is that a dog barking or sitting may be responding not to a smell but to his handler's hunch about a suspect's guilt. The reason we have a Fourth Amendment is precisely to prevent searches based on hunches.

The consequences of misusing police dogs go well beyond unconstitutional searches. A drug dog's alert can help establish a connection between a suspect's property and drug activity, allowing police to seize the property for possible forfeiture...

...In 2006 University of North Carolina law professor Richard Myers conducted a statistical analysis of police dog accuracy tests and concluded that the animals were not reliable enough to produce probable cause for a search, let alone serve as the cornerstone of a conviction. At least five states have banned or restricted the use of scent lineups in criminal cases, but they are still frequently used in courtrooms across the country..."

Chilean Miners Trapped Underground Selfishly Bogarted Their Pot Stash.

That's just funny.

Trapped Chilean Miners Smoked Pot Underground Sent in Family Letters | Disinformation:

"...after rescue workers made contact with the miners and were able to send items down the shaft, the miners’ dark thoughts turned to more base desires to help pass the time.

Family members smuggled pot to the miners in their letters, and small groups of the miners would sneak off to smoke it, leaving others out of the loop.

They “never even offered me one,” miner Samuel Avalos is quoted."