The Largest Minority

April 5th, 2008 by Manila Ryce

• The Cassini spacecraft has detected a high density of water vapor, warmth, and organic chemicals on Saturn’s small moon, Enceladus. Scientists are excited by this discovery, which brings them one step closer to eventually finding sexy alien girlfriends. Correction: scientists and bloggers are excited.
• A Texas scientist is getting an annual yield of 100,000 gallons of bio-fuel per acre from algae cultivated in long rows of vertically hanging plastic bags which look like otter pops. Bio-fuel is hardly a clean energy and is worse than gasoline in many respects, but it is increasingly profitable and trendy so who the fuck cares? My distaste for scams aside, I wonder if the corn farmers of America will break this guy’s legs for cutting in on their bio-diesel territory, or if they’ll just get their genetically-modified sentient crops to do it for them.
• Brasscheck TV posted a video featuring old man Gravel and investigative journalist Allan Nairn, who both cut through the bullshit. I can only imagine that this kind of information will kill the Clinton and Obama campaigns since Americans undoubtedly care more about disastrous imperialist policy and corporate backers than how much you cry or what your preacher said, right?
• When General Petraeus faces Congress next week, he’ll be questioned by presidential candidates McCain, Clinton, and Obama. Who thinks there’s a chance that the two Democrats who haven’t been able to say that all troops will be out of Iraq by the end of their first term, or that nuclear war against Iran is off the table will actually risk their political aspirations by challenging Petraeus on an unpopular war which has killed over 1 million people? I say a confrontation is unlikely, but I’ve been accused of being low on hope.
• Ecuador’s popular assembly has approved a law banning foreign military bases, which means that the US will likely lose one of its most important strategic bases in the region in 2009. Earlier this year, President Correa said he would consider renewing the US lease on the Manta military base in exchange for an Ecuadorian military base in Florida. I think I’ve got a man crush on the big brass balls of leftist South American leaders. I’ll take defiance over hope any day.

April 1st, 2008 by Manila Ryce

• The first Carnival of Politics is up, and I’m honored to be participating in it with something completely awesome that I did. Check ‘em out.
• The private right-wing media companies in Venezuela, which were instrumental in the coup that temporarily removed Chavez from power by playing doctored footage and telling flat out lies, are accusing Hugo of stifling the freedom of the press. The law they’re bitching about now is one passed in 2005 which requires all news to actually have a verifiable source. That tyrant! All Western democracies know that the right of corporations to report fake news should never be infringed upon by the people.
• Barney Jones, also known as Jedi Master Jonba Hehol and co-founder of the original Jedi church in the UK, was attacked by a man in a Darth Vader costume while giving a media interview in his backyard. Jones’ girlfriend also suffered injuries. Okay, I made up that last part. Girlfriend? C’mon, that’s unbelievable.
• Japanese scientists have found that Liver Cirrhosis can be reversed in rats by packaging artificial inhibitor molecules with Vitamin A, which allows liver stellate cells to absorb the molecules and cease production of the collagen which causes liver deterioration. Good news for rats with drinking problems. Maybe someday Americans will have health care equal to rodent care.
• Researchers have found that malaria parasites can be killed in 24 hours by a suppository derived from sweet wormwood. While the suppository works better than the conventional drug quinine, patients say the treatment is a pain in the ass.

February 29th, 2008 by Manila Ryce

• Blue Gal has presented me with the most recent Don’t Sugarcoat It Award, and boy it feels good to be rewarded for being bitter. Speaking of miss BG, she recently posted this social critique regarding immigration, which I thought was great in a similar “don’t sugarcoat it”, “down with whitey” kinda way.
• ModernMusings has the first part of an excellent post dispelling the myth that Ralph Nader is responsible for everything wrong which has happened since 2000. For example, Ralph did not eat the last of your Lucky Charms in May of 2005 and leave the empty box in the pantry.
• After a heavy week of indiscriminant violence, the Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned of a ground invasion of Gaza, telling US Secretary of State Condi Rice and the British foreign minister that a “major ground operation is real and tangible.” I wonder if any major American politician will be able to denounce this without being linked to Farrakhan.
• We’ve been #1 for awhile when it comes to incarceration, but a milestone was recently passed which warrants some recognition. More than 1 in 100 US adults are now locked up! No longer must I write that “nearly” 1 in 100 Americans are in jail. I can now say “over” 1 in 100 Americans are in jail! I’d like to thank the authoritarian policies of the government and privatization of the prison system which has made this police state possible.
• Nearly 300 pages recently obtained from the FBI through the Freedom of Information Act indicate more involvement from officials within the Saudi government than was reported in the 9/11 Report. Inconsistencies suggest that the Commission altered information to obscure official Saudi ties to the hijackers. Former CIA case officer Robert Baer says that there are enough “discrepancies and unanswered questions” to warrant a re-opening of the 9/11 investigation. Your move Bill Maher.
• The “Encyclopedia of Life”, an online database designed to house details of all 1.8 million species on Earth, has unveiled it’s first 30,000 pages this week. This “ultimate field guide” is an online resource which will encompass all six kingdoms with the addition of viruses. The encyclopedia is due to be complete by 2017, which means the majority of entries will be extinct by the time it’s finished.

February 19th, 2008 by Manila Ryce

Like Jay-Z, President of Cuba Fidel Castro is saying goodbye at the peak of his career at the tender age of 81. Will he be able to leave the game alone, or is he destined to come out of retirement after a couple years? Stay tuned.

President Musharraf’s supporters conceded defeat after a landmark parliamentary election to restore democracy in Pakistan.

Ben & Jerry’s have introduced a new Barack Obama-inspired ice cream flavor called “Cherries for Change”. Yeah, I don’t really care either. I think “Ba-Rocky Road” would’ve been a better name though.

A gay Iranian teenager, whose student visa expired in the UK, has fled to the Netherlands and is now facing deportation back to Iran. He risks execution in Iran for being homosexual. Not surprisingly, the authorities don’t care. Break the law and get executed. Sounds fair. See how much better we are than Iran?

Researchers say that car exhaust can increase long-term risks of heart disease, but also induce heart attacks within hours of exposure to high concentrations in urban areas. Previously overlooked PAH particles in car exhaust have now been shown to be toxic to the heart. Living in a big city is equivalent to smoking 3-4 cigarettes a day. Logically, shouldn’t car exhaust be outlawed just as smoking is?

February 14th, 2008 by Manila Ryce

Google Earth is facing legal action from the Israeli village of Kiryat Yam, which is demanding it remove information about the town being constructed over the ruins of an Arab village. The villagers deny the historical fact that their town was built on the site following the displacement of the Arab population. Apparently, the plight of Arab refugees must be wiped from the Google world as well. Embrace the truthiness.

You may have missed this story from several days ago: Peace Corps volunteers have been asked by US officials to risk their safety and violate the espionage laws of their host countries by spying on Venezuelans and Cubans. You’re next Boy Scouts.

Researchers have developed a microfiber that can generate enough power to run a cell phone thanks to the semiconductive properties of zinc oxide nanowires. Movement of the wearer causes the fabric to produce an electrical current. This advancement could really change the world. It’s just a shame that their first test subject was electrocuted to death after she entered a wet t-shirt contest.

Edward Markey, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, has a fucking long title. He’s also introduced a bill to further Net neutrality, despite the difficulty in protecting such a large series of tubes from clogs. Me thinks a dump truck model would be much more practical.

January 22nd, 2008 by Manila Ryce

A massive new oil field has been found off the coast of Brazil. Next to be found in Brazil? Weapons of mass destruction.

It’s thought that the ruins of Paititi, the lost “city of gold”, have been found in Peru. Don’t be fooled by city slogans though. They also said what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but my urine tests beg to differ (just kidding ladies).

If you haven’t read it yet, Chris Hedges interviewed Dennis Kucinich on a variety of topics. In the interview, Dennis reveals his plan to win the nomination: Rip out Wolf Blitzer’s still-beating heart and eat it on national television.

When British MP Ronnie Campbell was asked if he approved of National Fetish Day, he not only said yes but confessed to having a horse fetish of his own. Campbell apparently didn’t know what a fetish was. When voting later on whether to recognize Fetish Day, Campbell said “Nay”, which can really be interpreted either way.

January 18th, 2008 by Manila Ryce

As Israel reiterated that “all options” are on the table in regards to Iran existing, Israel Defense Forces have confirmed a successful test of a long range missile capable of carrying an “unconventional payload”. I think that’s code for a teddy bear delivery system, but I’m no military expert.

Despite a Japanese whaling ship denying charges that they seized and tied two whaling protesters to their mast for three hours in freezing weather, the wonders of photography prove otherwise.

A recent probe shows that half of the casualties caused by the IDF’s extrajudicial killings in occupied Gaza are innocent civilians. Yup, those extra measures we’re told Israel takes to reduce civilian casualties as they target armed organizations are about as precise as a coin toss.

UK researchers have identified a certain type of cell as the cause for childhood leukemia. About 1% of children are thought to be born with this pre-leukemia cell which, after being triggered by an additional genetic mutation affecting just 1% of that population, can cause leukemia.

Canada has put Guantanamo Bay on a torture watch list after a Canadian was held at the camp and tortured under US custody. The United States responded to their placement on Canada’s list with the following comment: “Aw, that’s cute.”

January 7th, 2008 by Manila Ryce

• New research by The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) confirms my suspicions that my mother was indeed trying to kill me with disgusting sliced turkey sandwiches in grade school. The WCRF says that all processed meat is unsafe for human consumption because it contains a carcinogenic ingredient known as sodium nitrite, which give the meat a fresh color. Thanks USDA and FDA for looking out for us. Oh, and thanks mom for those slices of death (she doesn’t read my blog).
• Lawyers for Jose Padilla, who was tortured and detained for 3 ½ years, have filed suit against John Yoo, a UC Berkley lawyer whose assistance with the Attorney General on the new definition of torture was “central to the creation of the torture system,” according to Padilla’s lawyers. Padilla is only seeking a statement that Yoo’s actions were illegal, along with token damages of $1, to show that this isn’t about money. Damn, torture really does drive you insane. In a related story, John McCain opened his mouth again.
• A report from an Israeli human rights group says that Israel’s military trial system of detained Palestinians in the West Bank “does not meet the standards of international law and does not provide due process to those it adjudicates“. The group also reports that most trials are carried out hastily, not lasting more than two minutes, and that lawyers defending Palestinians often agree to plea bargains due to “threats and physical measures”. As expected, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman was quick to denounce the report. Duh, Israel doesn’t torture either.
• While we’re talking about our second favorite terrorist state (guess who’s first), Aisha Al Jamal became the 63rd Palestinian to die of a chronic illness since Israel placed occupied Gaza under a total siege in June. Jamal was denied passage to get cancer treatment on Saturday morning. Another cancer patient, Mohamed Abu Taha, died on Friday after being denied passage. When they reach 100 Palestinians I think the Israeli Army has a party with a balloon drop, except they replace the balloons with bombs and the word “party” with “war”.
• Having trouble installing Linux on a dead badger? Strange Horizons breaks it down with some simple user notes. Installing Linux on a live badger is much more difficult, and not recommended if you have a Roomba. They’ll fight to the death.