Posted at 11:59 PM in Humor | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

firedoglake asks:

Donate Airline Mileage to Help Tsunami Victims

Feeling a little cash strapped and still want to help?  Got airline miles kicking around? You can donate airline mileage to The Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, OxFam, Unicef and others through links provided below.

C'mon.  You know they're only going to expire.

A full list of airlines and the charities they work with (links to all) at the above address .

Good idea . . .

Posted at 01:43 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

There's something about animals from different species interacting that is simply amusing:

(click for larger photos)

Posted at 08:37 AM in Humor | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Waxy has gathered an amazing collection of first-person videos from the Asian tsunami.

His bandwidth is shot, so use the mirrors linked at site . . .

Posted at 07:54 AM in Science, Travel, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

No, not those falsies -- these are awards given to those "people and players responsible for polluting our information environment"

These new year-end prizes we call the "Falsies Awards" go to the top ten finalists, who will each receive a million bucks worth of free coupons, a lifetime supply of non-fattening ice cream, an expenses-paid vacation in Fallujah, and our promise to respect them in the morning.

There are 10 winners of the Falsies Awards for 2004 are: 

1. I'm Karen Ryan, reporting
2. War Is Sell
3. The Hidden (in Plain Sight) Persuaders
4. Food Industry Foxes Guard the FDA Hen House
5. Shell Game With Human Rights
6. Ghostwriters for Bush
7. Frank Talk
8. Not-So-Democratic Convention
9. Iraq War Supporters Profit From Reconstruction
10. Wal-Mart Gets PR Help From Hill & Knowlton

And plenty more. If you are a media junkie -- or  merely follow the news closely -- this is a must read . . .

Source:
Thanks for the (False) Memories: the 2004 Falsies Awards
Laura Miller
Center for Media and Democracy, Tue, 12/28/2004 - 05:11.
http://www.prwatch.org/node/3144

Posted at 09:25 PM in Finance, Media, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Nice to see that our new wheels made it onto Car & Driver's best list -

The Mazda RX-8:

Car & Driver has a pretty solid description of the ride but overlooks the best aspect of the high revving engine :

The chassis is as stiff as a double shot of Dewar’s, the steering is laser accurate, the suspension hits the sweet spot between firm and punishing, and the weight distribution is about as close to perfect as perfect gets. We’re talking about the ingredients that distinguish automotive athletes from the plodders—traits that make the car an extension of the driver’s will.

Consistent with previous Mazdas wearing RX badges, the RX-8 is propelled by an engine lacking pistons and valves. Mazda put itself on the U.S. sales map with the rotary engine back in 1970, and the RX-8’s 238-hp 1.3-liter twin-rotor Renesis is the latest edition. Like other naturally aspirated rotaries, it’s a little short on torque but long on smooth and a pleasure to live with.

Not only does the RX-8 deliver exceptional sports-car pleasure, but it’s also capable of delivering it to more than two. The rear seats can accommodate two adult-size passengers, in comfort, and the rear demi-doors, à la Saturn quad coupe, make the RX-8 easy to climb into and out of. Wow. A practical sports car. What’ll they think of next?

It takes a bit of experience with the Renesis engine to wring out the full power band -- once you learn how, its a sheer delight. Yes, off the line the car is no match for big V8s. The torque is light at the low end -- but it comes on strong once the tach swings past 5,000. From there, it kicks you back into the seat as it revs towards the 9,000 RPM red line. 0-60 in under 6 seconds is very respectable -- but I'll bet it beats many big blocks in the 30-70mph sprint.

My only complaint about the car -- accurately described as a practical sports car -- is the  lack of a 2 driver memory. If you build the car for practicality, as Mazda did, they should assume there will be more than one RX8 driver per household. Adjusting the side view mirrors and seats each and everytime me or the wife gets behind the wheel is a bit of a pain. Considering that the car has nearly every imaginable electronic gizmo -- Navigation, heated seats, heated sideview mirrors, Xenon headlights, auto dim rear mirror, multi garage opener -- it makes little sense not to offer the memory setting as an option.

By the way, if you are not taking the car from dealer stock (we got our 2004 at a year end sale), then order the  indash multi disc CD player. You'll have less stuff lying around the door pockets.

.

Source:
10 Best Cars
BY CSABA CSERE AND TONY SWAN
January 2005
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=33&article_id=8914

Posted at 07:51 AM in Design | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The ultimate collection of The Best of 2004 lists.

If you can think of it, its here:  Sex, Music, Film, Books, Video Games, Ideas, Science, DVDs, Blogs, Words, Media, Architecture, Dance, People, Art, TV, Tech, Law, Radio, Sports, Automobiles, Comics, Travel and more.

If you can think of a "Best of 2004" list topic, its here.

List junkies will spend a week on this one . . .

.

Source:
Fimoculous "Of the Year" lists
http://www.fimoculous.com/year-review-2004.cfm

Posted at 07:13 AM in Books, Design, Film, Food and Drink, Games, Music, Sports, Television, Travel, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Denis Leary is an asshole

Too funny . . .

Posted at 07:01 AM in Humor | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

We guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why there are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus

But pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgment
For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In a life of hardship and of earthly toil
We have need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure
And I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus

- Jackson Browne, from his song The Rebel Jesus

Posted at 11:38 AM in Philosophy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Mixed CD:   Off the Beaten Path

About half of these songs are available for legal download on iTunes.

I have permission of the band to distribute Buddy Bug, by Joey Miserable and The Worms       

Posted at 11:48 AM in Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack