Brontoforumus Archive

Discussion Boards => Thaddeus Boyd's Panel of Death => Topic started by: Zaratustra on June 19, 2008, 06:26:43 PM

Title: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on June 19, 2008, 06:26:43 PM
I read the news lately and frankly it just makes me want to jump on a sword. This thread will be for news that make people want to wake up the next day.

For example: Scientists claim to have cured a cancer with the patient's own immune cells, cloned to immense numbers, for the first time. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7460743.stm)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: sei on June 19, 2008, 10:25:55 PM
Less news, more a phrase from an article:
Quote from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7464263.stm
Uniquely among most Western countries, America tend to mistrust its government and believe it is more likely to be part of the problem, rather than part of the solution, to the country's economic problems.

I guess that wasn't that cheerful.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on June 20, 2008, 04:01:18 AM
I don't think they quite understand how things have gone over here these days.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on June 27, 2008, 01:26:35 PM
Lebanese music charts dominated by Israeli transsexual (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1214492517628&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull)

:gay4:  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Kazz on June 27, 2008, 01:46:54 PM
Mars suitable for growing asparagus (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/27/phoenix_wet_chemistry/)

Millions of children suddenly give up on their lifelong dream of visiting Mars
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on June 27, 2008, 03:52:04 PM
Pretty fucking amazing.  When Neil DeGrasse Tyson was on Colbert the other night, he could barely contain his excitement; it's great seeing an astrophysicist show that kind of enthusiasm.

Now, I'm not planning on packing my bags and moving to Mars tomorrow, but this IS some pretty serious science fiction territory we've just entered into.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Kazz on June 27, 2008, 03:54:28 PM
I recall in Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, the vast asparagus fields contained psychic worms that killed you with terror lasers.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Shinra on June 27, 2008, 04:01:09 PM
and once you got the right technology you could enslave them

but if you used them to take a city it counted as an atrocity. :(
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on June 27, 2008, 04:02:33 PM
Wow, Mars's soil is good for growing crops!


If only the atmosphere would follow suit.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Shinra on June 27, 2008, 04:12:23 PM
blah blah blah terraform blah blah blah colony blah blah blah. Not happening until NASA gets funding and interest from the government. Which I don't suspect will be any time in the next few years.

Taking bets on how long it'll be before Virgin Space lands Richard Branson on mars and he claims it for himself
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on June 27, 2008, 04:53:04 PM
Start a rumor that there's oil on Mars and watch the people of Earth start slaughtering each other over who gets to go eat grody vegetables there first.

Not that there's any damned way there could be petroleum on Mars.  Not unless you start growing crops there.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on June 27, 2008, 04:54:23 PM
So we could have oil on Mars in a few million years?  Good deal.  Problem solved!


Seriously, I find the revelation that crops could grow on Mars to be good news, but you have to put the whole thing in perspective.  We still have the problem of getting people to Mars without radiation poisoning or their muscles atrophying to uselessness.  Then we have to get goods and materials there for it it be inhabitable.  So basically it's neat, but there are other things to focus on.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on June 27, 2008, 04:59:33 PM
Well I suppose we could set it up so that the next intelligent race that emerges after we all zot ourselves out could have something out there to screw themselves over with.  In a couple hundred eons or so we could maybe spread out over the whole solar system.  And then our maximum-great descendants on Pluto could mock us for our inability to buy auto insurance.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on June 27, 2008, 05:01:00 PM
So... we'd be the ancient civilization in an RPG?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Shinra on June 27, 2008, 05:11:15 PM
Well I suppose we could set it up so that the next intelligent race that emerges after we all zot ourselves out could have something out there to screw themselves over with.  In a couple hundred eons or so we could maybe spread out over the whole solar system.  And then our maximum-great descendants on Pluto could mock us for our inability to buy auto insurance.

I'm picturing two cavemen getting into an accident in a stone version of the space shuttle, scratching their heads and reaching for clubs. Afterwards one of them hits his club on a rock a few times until a hologram of esurcogressive's website pulls up. 'So easy, even an earthling can do it!'
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on June 27, 2008, 05:48:35 PM
Dinosaur Mummy!  DINOSAUR MUMMY! (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080627-mummy-video-ap.html)

I actually debated whether the terrifying strength and ferocity of a dinosaur combined with the unlimited power of a mummy's curse could be considered "cheerful news", but then I realized DINOSAUR MUMMY
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: François on June 27, 2008, 06:30:32 PM
Wow, this sure beats the wrappings off
(http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5815/weirdmummyinsectsjv4.jpg)
in the contest for best mummy ever.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on June 27, 2008, 07:31:12 PM
But can the Dinosaur Mummy grow on Mars?

It is so awesome that they named him Leonardo.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Niku on June 28, 2008, 06:15:45 AM
Holy shit, there is a dinosaur mummy like 10 minutes from my house.

And I don't just mean Robert Bakker!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on June 28, 2008, 12:45:31 PM
Everyone, Niku is already dead.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Niku on June 28, 2008, 03:39:42 PM
Holy shit, there is a party like at my house!

Bring your brains and meat.

Now.

cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurse
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on June 28, 2008, 04:56:10 PM
There's a dinosaur mummy in my pants.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Kashan on June 28, 2008, 09:56:10 PM
I actually understand that in part because it has a much much weaker electro-magnetic field, and in part because it is smaller than earth, Mars can't support a thick enough atmosphere for terraforming.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on June 28, 2008, 10:27:21 PM
That doesn't answer my question.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on June 29, 2008, 05:56:14 AM
Brentai,


Dinosaur Mummies can grow anywhere your heart can imagine.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on June 29, 2008, 09:07:58 AM
 :imagination:

(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd145/Brentai/imagiOHMYGOD.gif)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Sharkey on June 30, 2008, 12:26:23 PM
Auto-replace is Awesome. (http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2008/06/the_dangers_of_1.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on June 30, 2008, 12:35:30 PM
Quote
"It means a lot to me," the 25-year-old Homosexual said. "I'm glad my body could do it, because now I know I have it in me." [...] After the race, Homosexual and Dix looked at each other and slapped palms, then hugged.

Okay, somebody's doing that on purpose.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on June 30, 2008, 12:42:04 PM
Auto-replace is Awesome. (http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2008/06/the_dangers_of_1.html)

Am both :humpf: and :smile: that I was beaten to posting this.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on June 30, 2008, 02:09:12 PM
Quote
"It means a lot to me," the 25-year-old Homosexual said. "I'm glad my body could do it, because now I know I have it in me." [...] After the race, Homosexual and Dix looked at each other and slapped palms, then hugged.

Okay, somebody's doing that on purpose.

Quote from: http://www.onenewsnow.com/AP/Search/Sports/Default.aspx?id=156718
Memphis Grizzlies backers hit the hay hoping that Kevin Love would open things up for Rudy Homosexual in the frontcourt.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Shinra on June 30, 2008, 03:44:36 PM
apparently the news site filters every instance of the word 'gay' to 'homosexual'. hence, rudy homosexual.

Homosexual and Dix looking at each other and slapping palms, glad their bodies could do it, however, is basically the funniest thing ever.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on June 30, 2008, 06:02:34 PM
apparently the news site filters every instance of the word 'gay' to 'homosexual'. hence, rudy homosexual.

Shinra.  4 posts behind the conversation since 2004.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on June 30, 2008, 07:30:24 PM
Come on, Thad.  Making fun of Shinra is a bit trite at this point.  Don't be cliche.  Just look at all the wonderful contributions Shinra makes to post, and think of all the people who wouldn't have someone to make snappy comebacks at without him.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on July 01, 2008, 05:58:02 AM
T-cells can be genetically modified to resist entry by HIV. (http://feeds.wired.com/~r/wired/index/~3/323636863/gene-editing-co.html)

For HIV positives, you'd modify a few of their T-cells, put them back, and they'd thrive while the others succumb to HIV. With a good anti-AIDS cocktail, I'm betting this could actually get a few cures.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Fortinbras on July 01, 2008, 01:09:14 PM
I was floating for hours after I read that one.  Very cool stuff.  And I could be misremembering my Gibson, but isn't that eerily similar to the AIDS vaccine in Virtual Light?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on July 01, 2008, 02:14:55 PM
Well, the basic concept is pretty obvious -- it's something that occurred to me when I first heard how AIDS functioned at age 12 -- it's the "making it actually WORK" part that's taken this long.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Kazz on July 01, 2008, 02:34:00 PM
Well, the basic concept is pretty obvious -- it's something that occurred to me when I first heard how AIDS functioned at age 12 -- it's the "making it actually WORK" part that's taken this long.

I, and pretty much every other little kid, thought that you could make floating cars just by making the roads and the bottoms of cars out of positive magnets.  Of course, I now know that that would do nothing but kill a lot of people in horrible ways.

Which, granted, is something cars already do, but they also get us from place to place sometimes.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Catloaf on July 01, 2008, 02:59:09 PM
I, and pretty much every other little kid, thought that you could make floating cars just by making the roads and the bottoms of cars out of positive magnets.

I never thought that would work even as a kid.  Ever try getting a magnetic object to just sit there hovering without shooting off in a random direction?  Hard to do without anchoring it in some way.  Also, I was informed of maglev trains within 5 minutes of the thought.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on July 01, 2008, 03:47:33 PM
I, and pretty much every other little kid, thought that you could make floating cars just by making the roads and the bottoms of cars out of positive magnets.

Which is, basically, what maglev (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev) is.  Yes, SCIENCE! has refined the hell out of your basic, uninformed childhood conceptualization, but...well, that's pretty much exactly what the hell I just said, isn't it.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on July 01, 2008, 03:48:15 PM
Or what catloaf said, but whatever.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Sharkey on July 01, 2008, 03:56:22 PM
Inspiration, perspiration, etc.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on July 01, 2008, 05:22:05 PM
And a one... (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080701.wscifair0701/BNStory/Science/home)

And a two... (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080701.wglasses0701/BNStory/Science/home)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: JDigital on July 02, 2008, 07:14:25 AM
I think I saw that glasses thing on Tomorrow's World ten years ago.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on July 02, 2008, 03:35:39 PM
Well they're actually supposed to be manufactured now, so... see three posts up?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: MadMAxJr on July 03, 2008, 11:00:15 AM
BTW, I am a spy. (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/07/03/hostage.drama/index.html)  (Yes, I know CNN is awful.)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on July 03, 2008, 11:08:25 AM
I bet they stole TONS of health, too.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Detonator on July 09, 2008, 08:28:50 PM
The majority of Michael Vick's fighting dogs are being successfully rehabilitated and adopted. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/06/AR2008070602351.html)  It's a shame however that most rescued dogs are not taken from multi-millionaires who are court-ordered to finance their rehabilitation.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on July 09, 2008, 08:33:37 PM
in b4 barbaric
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on July 14, 2008, 03:53:48 PM
Excellent. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080714.wboreal0714/BNStory/Science/home)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Detonator on July 14, 2008, 04:28:34 PM
Excellent. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080714.wboreal0714/BNStory/Science/home)

 :thad: I will throttle you.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on July 14, 2008, 04:50:27 PM
He's doing it on purpose.  In his last post he did that AND misused a fucking spoiler tag.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on July 14, 2008, 05:52:58 PM
Well, the spoiler tag thing was a little experiment with formatting, but whatever, not planning on trying that one again.

I admit to total mystification as to what's wrong with this one though.

Editor's note: I am paying absolutely zero attention to the HTML/Hyperlink angst thread. So if this stems from that, then  :shrug:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on July 14, 2008, 07:49:07 PM
I'm just gonna have to pass on the smarmy comment here.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on July 17, 2008, 08:19:07 PM
Too Good. (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/17/presidential.putdown.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview)

The best part is that the renaming actually seeks to REVERSE the normal trend toward euphemising everything and is instead going for a blunt return to calling a spade a spade.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on July 17, 2008, 08:31:58 PM
San Francisco's finally gotten so PC that it's wrapped right around back to outright rude.

...

Okay, well, in an official capacity now.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Norondor on July 17, 2008, 09:21:16 PM
Nothin' PC about that, mate.

My sister actually was out gathering signatures for this and said it was a pretty easy sell, which i absolutely believe!
Title: Re: What the fuck?
Post by: Guild on July 18, 2008, 10:43:46 AM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25735046/

<[sean]> it's cute, but rather childish
<[sean]> the presidency should be afforded more respect than that
<Captain_Tylor> The president should be more respectable than he is
<[sean]> even if you think bush is a dope, presidents shouldn't be slapped down like this... it is possible to highlight the mistakes of a president without being a five-year-old about it
<Captain_Tylor> I think Bush has done things to ruin this country that will take decades to fix...  I think he should be put on trial, but as that is not going to happen, this is a start
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on July 18, 2008, 11:19:23 AM
Split-merged into thread where we were already talking about that.  Please do try not to throw a fit over it.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on July 18, 2008, 03:13:13 PM
I dunno about a fit. If it gets voted in, I might throw a party though.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Guild on July 18, 2008, 08:43:24 PM
Split-merged into thread where we were already talking about that.  Please do try not to throw a fit over it.

You know, being snarky fits you much more than being rude. You've got the knack for the former and it is a thing of grace and beauty in your hands.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on July 18, 2008, 09:11:16 PM
...And which one are you saying I'm being, Mr. High-Bullshit?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on July 21, 2008, 08:26:55 AM
Quote
Local Republicans say the plan stinks

 :whoops:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on December 31, 2008, 10:06:08 AM
 :victory:

That's Sir Pratchett to you. (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24858964-12377,00.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on January 16, 2009, 04:48:23 PM
Another hero steps forward (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/17/new-york-plane-crash)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on January 16, 2009, 05:20:10 PM
Yeah, it was nice to read that for a change the right guy was in the right place at the right time. AND he got to showboat like a motherfucker in the process.

:happy:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on January 16, 2009, 05:31:56 PM
Bob Harris (http://www.bobharris.com/content/view/1669/) has an actual map of the flight path.

Quote
This isn't a commercial pilot. This isn't just a regular hero. This is John McClane at the end of a Die Hard movie, pulling off a ludicrous, insanely impossible move that people in the real world wouldn't even dream up, much less accomplish.

The Reg (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/16/brace_for_impact/) weighs in.

Quote
I am certainly glad that pilot Chesley Sullenberger was at the helm. Like so many pilots at American Airlines, he's an ex-fighter pilot. He's also a consultant in aircraft and airline safety and the former safety chairman for the Airline Pilots Association. And, perhaps most importantly, he's a glider pilot in his private life.

The fact that he was an expert pilot with gliding skills was key, as was having a great co-pilot, Jeff Skiles (a 23-year US Airways veteran) and a fast-acting flight attendant crew. (You have to exit one passenger per second, and in the case of the one passenger on Flight 1549 who refused to leave without her luggage, you have to grab them and push them out the door).

There's a lot of misery in the headlines these days, so it's pretty swell to see a story like this now and again.  The human race is pretty great sometimes.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on January 16, 2009, 07:55:09 PM
Quote
This is John McClane at the end of a Die Hard movie, pulling off a ludicrous, insanely impossible move that people in the real world wouldn't even dream up, much less accomplish.

Pilots included.


Quote
Sullenberger... now gives speeches on aviation safety. His interests include studying the psychology of how teams cope in an emergency, media reports said yesterday.

:khaaan: You rigged a bomb to appear as flight damage? We'll stop you!
:asplanned: I did it thirty-five minutes ago. I can hear the speaking fees coming in even now.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Saturn on January 16, 2009, 08:00:51 PM
the engines were either knocked off on impact with the water or on impact with that explosive laden bird.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: TA on January 16, 2009, 11:56:57 PM
You're totally giving credit to the wrong guy.  The pilot's skill had nothing to do with it. (http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/16/passenger.accounts/index.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on January 17, 2009, 07:32:18 AM
Ask him if he'd care to repeat it, then.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on January 20, 2009, 10:21:57 PM
http://www.isgeorgewbushstillpresident.com/
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Norondor on January 20, 2009, 10:53:26 PM
honest to god, breathed a huge sigh of relief upon loading that page
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on January 21, 2009, 04:48:30 PM
:lol:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on February 03, 2009, 11:54:33 PM
Remember SCHIP expansion? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCHIP) The legislation that Democrats could have used to further crush Republicans two years ago?

It passed in the Senate on Friday with zero fanfare. (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h3-r4-QX2sJIwxAkeLfY3zUOHgQAD961LT900)

:facepalm:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on February 04, 2009, 10:49:08 PM
Obama signs SCHIP to overlooked fanfare. (http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/02/obama-signs-sch.html)

In addition, the Republican amendment to make it harder for children of legal immigrants to receive health care failed. (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h3-r4-QX2sJIwxAkeLfY3zUOHgQAD95VQE1O0)

Along with every last one of their Stimulus amendments. (http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/2/4/211217/6755/325/693271)

The party has been in disarray since their convention, yet their barking only grows louder.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on February 04, 2009, 11:05:24 PM
In addition, the Republican amendment to make it harder for children of legal immigrants to receive health care failed. (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h3-r4-QX2sJIwxAkeLfY3zUOHgQAD95VQE1O0)

Oh that's fantastic.  Take the current state of the War on Piracy (wherein the only way to avoid being run down by the law is to actively break it) and apply it to Immigration Reform.

...wait, that's nothing new.  I just manage to somehow be surprised every time it happens.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on February 24, 2009, 08:11:06 PM
After sixty-six, grueling, hard fought days...

THE SOLIS HAS COME BACK TO D.C.! (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-solis25-2009feb25,0,6633058.story)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on February 27, 2009, 05:06:47 PM
Obama Set to Undo ‘Conscience’ Rule for Health Workers:
 (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/us/politics/28web-abort.html?_r=1&hp)
Quote from: NYT
The Obama administration moved on Friday to undo a last-minute Bush administration rule granting broad protections to health workers who refuse to take part in abortions or provide other health care that goes against their consciences.

:victory: I'll never be denied care again due to my lava piss! USA! USA! USA!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: The Artist Formerly Known As Yoji on March 02, 2009, 11:45:52 AM
Not sure if it's exactly cheerful, but it's not bad (http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090302/sc_livescience/kidspreferveggieswithcoolnames).

Now I'm wondering why we didn't think of this sooner.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on March 02, 2009, 12:24:00 PM
Captain Falcon Cauliflower!

 :perfect:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on March 09, 2009, 11:28:28 AM
President Obama sends Bush's embryonic stem cell ban swirling down the drain. (http://www.bostonherald.com/jobfind/news/healthcare/view/2009_03_09_Mass__life_sciences_backers_cheer_Obama_stem_cell_policy/srvc=home&position=also)

:want: Science has never been so tasty.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Cthulhu-chan on March 09, 2009, 12:50:53 PM
Well now, that IS cheerful news!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on March 09, 2009, 03:15:27 PM
It's not saying much, but that may turn out to have more long-term impact than anything else he's done so far.

America's last chances to stay on top remain perilously close to your edge in R&D and the latest tech. This is actually where places like China have a crippling achilles heel that belies their apparent strengths.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on March 09, 2009, 03:16:17 PM
The topic icon is especially fitting now.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Fredward on March 09, 2009, 03:34:25 PM
America's last chances to remain on top remain perilously close to your edge in R&D and the latest tech. This is actually where places like China have a crippling achilles heel that belies their apparent strengths.

The fact that reality is edging ever closer to being a generic RTS is beginning to bother me.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on March 09, 2009, 05:21:10 PM
It may help to think of it as the other way around.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on March 09, 2009, 06:38:33 PM
NUCLEAR LAUNCH DETECTED!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on March 09, 2009, 06:40:59 PM
(http://brontoforum.us/Themes/default/images/post/scary.gif) kekekekekekekekekekeke
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on March 09, 2009, 09:18:42 PM
Where other countries' reluctance to use dead babies for science weakens them, WE WILL TRIUMPH
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Classic on March 09, 2009, 11:45:18 PM
To be fair, I'm pretty sure China is ready and willing to use dead babies for science. I don't know where they're at on using proto-babies, but I'm sure it's not out of a lack of willingness.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on March 09, 2009, 11:49:10 PM
I'm pretty sure they'd sooner use live babies.  Two birds with one stone and all.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on March 10, 2009, 07:59:44 PM
Sheriff Joe under federal investigation. (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,508586,00.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Cthulhu-chan on March 10, 2009, 08:09:55 PM
 :wuv: :perfect:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on March 10, 2009, 08:13:07 PM
Quote
about over 59,000 outstanding, unserved felony warrants

 :mikey: :over9000:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Doom on March 10, 2009, 09:28:04 PM
:cake:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: The Artist Formerly Known As Yoji on March 10, 2009, 10:39:47 PM
Well, chop me in half and call me a Munchkin, 'cause ding dong, the witch is dead!

...sometime soon, I hope.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Defenestration on March 12, 2009, 06:05:02 PM
Man literally wrestles with shark for survival, wins. (http://www.nypost.com/seven/03122009/news/nationalnews/moment_of_tooth_159201.htm)

Pics included.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on March 12, 2009, 06:46:24 PM
...here, I'll just go ahead and post it so you guys don't have to hold back the urge.

(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd145/Brentai/HaggarSharkPink.jpg)

You're welcome.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on March 12, 2009, 09:00:35 PM
HRUP!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Pacobird on March 14, 2009, 11:45:19 AM
America's last chances to remain on top remain perilously close to your edge in R&D and the latest tech. This is actually where places like China have a crippling achilles heel that belies their apparent strengths.

The fact that reality is edging ever closer to being a generic RTS is beginning to bother me.

Funny, I've been saying the Front Mission franchise represents the future for years.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: The Artist Formerly Known As Yoji on March 24, 2009, 01:15:57 PM
Spiderman in the Bangkok fire department!? (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090324/od_afp/thailandchildrenoffbeat)

Funny, I've been saying the Front Mission franchise represents the future for years.
You mean how we'll be forced to make web pages without Flash or Java?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on March 24, 2009, 01:22:14 PM
Somewhere an editor for the AFP is overjoyed that he could finally attach the picture of a surfing Spiderman he had hanging around to an article.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: on March 27, 2009, 04:14:05 AM
Doctor has a heart attack in the middle of surgery. Patient will die of he stops. Solution: Finish surgery, then treat his own.  (http://www.abc2news.com/entertainment/weirdnews/story/Walk-it-off-its-only-a-heart-attack/P0JFQIIQ_0WH5a9uOIh2rA.cspx)

Both Doctor & Patient are fine.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on March 27, 2009, 05:45:51 AM
That's hardcore.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on March 27, 2009, 06:56:42 AM
:dead: Next time, Gadget! Next time!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Disposable Ninja on March 27, 2009, 07:17:12 AM
Doctor has a heart attack in the middle of BRAIN surgery. Patient will die of he stops. Solution: Finish surgery, then treat his own.  (http://www.abc2news.com/entertainment/weirdnews/story/Walk-it-off-its-only-a-heart-attack/P0JFQIIQ_0WH5a9uOIh2rA.cspx)

Both Doctor & Patient are fine.

Fix'd.

Talk about a badass.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: on March 29, 2009, 10:36:39 PM
Shamwow guy is fighting the good fight (http://skepchick.org/blog/?p=5490)

Couldn't decide if this goes here or in wtf.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on March 29, 2009, 10:41:35 PM
So this is what it would be like if Ed Wood punched out Hitler.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Niku on March 29, 2009, 10:43:18 PM
Shamwow guy is fighting the good fight (http://skepchick.org/blog/?p=5490)

I uh.  I don't think anyone told Lyrai. (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0327092sham1.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on March 29, 2009, 10:45:12 PM
Saw that, but it's kind of funny when every official bio of an Scientoloy target shows up with PS He beats prostitutes snuck at the end.

Of course, he never denied it, so, PS He beats prostitutes I guess.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: on March 29, 2009, 10:52:56 PM
Shamwow guy is fighting the good fight (http://skepchick.org/blog/?p=5490)

I uh.  I don't think anyone told Lyrai. (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0327092sham1.html)

I knew about it.

Just because a man punches a woman who sells her body for sex because she bit his tongue and they were both completely drunk doesn't mean anything.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on March 29, 2009, 10:55:54 PM
Um.

You mean in this particular case, and not in general, right?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: on March 29, 2009, 11:09:21 PM
Yes.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Dooly on March 30, 2009, 04:11:21 PM
That article said that he got ahold of Slash through the church.  Does that mean Slash is a Scientologist?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on March 30, 2009, 05:18:16 PM
Shamwow guy is fighting the good fight (http://skepchick.org/blog/?p=5490)

I uh.  I don't think anyone told Lyrai. (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0327092sham1.html)

He shouldn't have touched Sasha.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Alex on April 02, 2009, 10:53:48 PM
I wonder what the statistics were for people who actually stayed on the line. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090403/ap_on_fe_st/odd_cereal_phone_sex_3)

(http://www.boomspeed.com/kieran/1211062732907.png)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on April 07, 2009, 10:11:19 AM
Dog falls off boat in stomy weather, swam 5 knots to the nearest island, recovered by rangers in good health (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7987863.stm)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on April 07, 2009, 04:52:30 PM
...a knot is a measurement of speed.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on April 07, 2009, 05:08:03 PM
And possibly time, if you're talking about dogs.

(You have to admit that's a pretty impressive swim.)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Classic on April 07, 2009, 05:40:42 PM
:nyoro~n: I'd always thought that knot was short for both nautical miles and those per hour.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on April 07, 2009, 05:47:17 PM
Well, the dog also made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on April 07, 2009, 06:00:42 PM
:nyoro~n: I'd always thought that knot was short for both nautical miles and those per hour.

It's one of the few things that knot is short for.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on April 07, 2009, 11:53:06 PM
Well it turns out that Thad is correct.  Knot is a term for nautical miles per hour, I stand corrected.
 :nyoro~n:

Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on April 08, 2009, 08:13:58 AM
Guys, please stop talking about knots in the context of dogs. (http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=595909)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on April 08, 2009, 08:16:46 AM
Hmm, we need a :shh: emote.  Possibly featuring a particularly dirty Santa.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Cthulhu-chan on April 08, 2009, 08:25:08 AM
 Is :negative: not good enough?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on April 08, 2009, 08:29:43 AM
Well I'm really going more for a :slow:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on April 13, 2009, 12:06:02 PM
Stimulus ahead of schedule, under budget, rocks fall: (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/4/13/719600/-Oh-Noes!-Wingnuts-Aint-Gonna-Like-This...Stimulus-Projects-UNDER-Budget)

Quote from: Obama
And that's why I'm pleased to hear that in state after state across America, competition for these projects is so fierce, and contractors are doing such a good job cutting costs, that projects are consistently coming in under budget.  The final bid for one road project in Connecticut was $8.4 million less than the state budgeted for.  Another one in Louisiana was $4.7 million less.  A project at BWI Airport will be completed for $8 million less than expected.  Bids for projects in North Carolina have been 19 percent under budget.  Colorado is reporting bids up to 30 percent less than they expected.  And the officials in California have seen bids that are close to half as much as they had projected.

Obama Puppy frowns upon no-bid contracts.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Bal on April 13, 2009, 12:15:28 PM
I totally could have cut those prices in half if I'd just handed this job off to one of my insider buddies.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on April 13, 2009, 04:08:44 PM
Franken officially declared winner.  Finally. (http://kstp.com/news/stories/S877958.shtml?cat=1)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on April 14, 2009, 07:17:08 AM
So does that mean the election is over?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: MadMAxJr on April 14, 2009, 07:28:58 AM
I am very curious to see what Franken will do for his state.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on April 14, 2009, 09:03:55 AM
Instead of Fireside Chats there will be Daily Affirmations.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Catloaf on April 14, 2009, 09:48:33 AM
Because he's good enough, smart enough, and goshdarn it! People like him.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on April 14, 2009, 11:40:56 PM
Obama Puppy frowns upon no-bid contracts.

This just makes me think we need LOLdogs, presidential-style  :itsmagic:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on April 15, 2009, 06:49:18 AM
Blagojevich on reality show (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/15/blagojevich-hoping-to-appear-in-nbc-reality-show/)

Quote
The upcoming show, called I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!, pits 10 celebrities in a Costa Rican village for a month while they battle each other in competitions and put their survival skills to the test. The show will air nightly and viewers will have the final say on which celebrities have to go home early.

 :victory:

As a politician, Blagojevich is corrupt and scheming.  But that makes him the perfect reality show contestant.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on April 19, 2009, 09:03:51 AM
Happy Birthday, Tim Curry!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: TA on April 19, 2009, 09:05:32 AM
Blagojevich on reality show (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/15/blagojevich-hoping-to-appear-in-nbc-reality-show/)

Quote
The upcoming show, called I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!, pits 10 celebrities in a Costa Rican village for a month while they battle each other in competitions and put their survival skills to the test. The show will air nightly and viewers will have the final say on which celebrities have to go home early.

 :victory:

As a politician, Blagojevich is corrupt and scheming.  But that makes him the perfect reality show contestant.

Wait, what happened to that whole "federal corruption charges" thing?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Norondor on April 19, 2009, 12:51:18 PM
yeah isn't he in prison?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Doom on April 19, 2009, 12:54:36 PM
I'm pretty sure the American system of law somehow allows politicians and CEOs to be forcefully retired or resigned from their positions while "settling" for being paid as consultants, appearing on reality TV shows and basically getting kickbacks for the rest of their lives.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on April 19, 2009, 01:05:40 PM
I'm pretty sure the American system of law somehow allows politicians and CEOs to be forcefully retired or resigned from their positions while "settling" for being paid as consultants, appearing on reality TV shows and basically getting kickbacks for the rest of their lives.

(http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo22/driftycity/tom-delay-mugshot.jpg)

'Sup.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: TA on April 19, 2009, 04:07:33 PM
On further investigation he's under indictment but not in jail awaiting his trial.  So it might take a while, and in the meantime he's trying to accumulate assets I guess.  Possibly to pay for lawyers.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on April 20, 2009, 01:16:01 PM
Over the weekend, we cured:

Blindness. (http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/04/19/Anti-blindness-stem-cell-therapy-perfected/UPI-82961240165626/)

Deafness. (http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/04/20/Study-promises-new-treatments-for-deafness/UPI-25171240250435/)

And the parasitic fungus that was killing all those bees. (http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/04/a-cure-for-colony-collapse.ars)

Next weekend, the true challenge. The Big C.

Canadians.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on April 20, 2009, 01:24:12 PM
Over the weekend, we cured:

Blindness. (http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/04/19/Anti-blindness-stem-cell-therapy-perfected/UPI-82961240165626/)

Deafness. (http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/04/20/Study-promises-new-treatments-for-deafness/UPI-25171240250435/)

:holy: You guys are finally catching up.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on April 20, 2009, 02:38:28 PM
Over the weekend, we cured:

Next weekend, the true challenge. The Big C.

Canadians.

You know, I would be offended, but it's a nice day out and I think I'd rather sit on the porch with a brewski...
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on April 20, 2009, 02:39:38 PM
(http://kazz.rooms.cwal.net/rapperhuge.jpg)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on April 21, 2009, 09:12:50 PM
Supreme Court makes it way easier to smuggle things. (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-scotus-carsearch22-2009apr22,0,1967319.story)

Would have been excellent if they had managed to pass this one on yesterday's date, but I guess justice can't always be poetic.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on April 24, 2009, 07:49:59 PM
Quote
The lineup behind Stevens was unusual. Justices Antonin Scalia, David H. Souter, Clarence Thomas and Ruth Bader Ginsburg formed the majority.

Talk about strange bedfellows.

Of course, I WOULD kinda expect Thomas to fall in the "personal privacy" camp.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on April 28, 2009, 09:01:39 AM
 Literary cat makes Library visits (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/8021407.stm)


And this time, it's not a LOLcat.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on April 28, 2009, 09:12:37 AM
Arlen Specter, D-PA (http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/Lxn37SJB784/-Specter-switches-to-Democratic-Party)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on April 28, 2009, 09:19:56 AM
Quote from: BBC
Fidel

:gasp:

Meanwhile, performing acts more eventful than breathing or shitting in Kent could likely get you mentioned in a story on the BBC. Such as if you perform both at the same time!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on April 28, 2009, 06:45:29 PM
And your laugh for the day: Conservatives more likely to miss the fact that Colbert is a big joke. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090428.wcolbert0428/BNStory/International/home)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on May 09, 2009, 06:45:33 AM
Take that, Abstinence-Only Education. (http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0509/An_end_to_abstinence_only_in_black_and_white.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on May 14, 2009, 04:05:35 PM
Americans are sickening optimists. (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/14/fox-news-poll-americas-best-days-ahead-obama-approval-remains-steady/)

Dunno if they're talking about "best days evar" or "better days than in recent memory" there.  Personally with the mood whiplash this country tends to undergo I'm almost terrified of the U.S. flying as high as it did in the 90s again, but that may just be the pussy emo bitch in me talking.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Catloaf on May 14, 2009, 04:14:51 PM
Quote
Voters also think it is time for the Obama administration to stop blaming the Bush administration for mistakes and start taking responsibility.

Stopped reading at that point.  How can Obama's administration be considered responsible for shit that happened before they were in power and literally is the direct result of the Bush administration!?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Doom on May 14, 2009, 04:22:39 PM
If you had read a sentence further, you'd see the part where it was conducted by FOX news.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Catloaf on May 14, 2009, 04:25:12 PM
I knew it was FOX from the url.  I don't know why I bothered to read beyond the headline.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on May 14, 2009, 04:40:38 PM
I find that even better.  Even with the pro-conservative OHMYFUCKINGGODTERRORISTS Fox News slant, the results are overwhelmingly feelgood.  On the other hand...

Quote
When asked who would get a muzzle first -- Biden or the Obama's new dog Bo -- by 45 percent to 28 percent Americans think it will be Biden.

OF COURSE THEY GAVE A FUCKING JOKE ANSWER TO A FUCKING JOKE QUESTION, YOU FUCKING JOKE.

Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on May 14, 2009, 06:04:06 PM
Americans are sickening optimists. (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/14/fox-news-poll-americas-best-days-ahead-obama-approval-remains-steady/)

Dunno if they're talking about "best days evar" or "better days than in recent memory" there.  Personally with the mood whiplash this country tends to undergo I'm almost terrified of the U.S. flying as high as it did in the 90s again, but that may just be the pussy emo bitch in me talking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woLQI8X2R6Y
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Transportation on May 15, 2009, 12:23:35 PM
If you had read a sentence further, you'd see the part where it was conducted by FOX news.

Read harder.

Quote
Opinion Dynamics Corp. conducted the national telephone poll of 900 registered voters for FOX News from May 12 to May 13. The poll has a 3-point error margin.

:facepalm:

What do you have against Opinion Dynamics, now? The serious questions have decent wording so I don't really see any reason to complain.

Stopped reading at that point.  How can Obama's administration be considered responsible for shit that happened before they were in power and literally is the direct result of the Bush administration!?

Obama is going to have to take responsibility for not fixing the economy at some point, you know. Yes, it is mostly the GOP's fault (a decent number of Democrats voted for the deregulation) and McCain would've made it worse, but that doesn't really matter when it comes to responsibility.

For example, the whole bail out idea is just delaying the inevitable. If he doesn't come up with some other method of getting lending to resume, I'd say breaking down the current banking oligopoly, then the economy stagnating for N years is his fault.

We'll probably have to wait until 2010 to get a decent perspective on the consequences of his policies at any rate. So, we'll see.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on May 15, 2009, 02:24:10 PM
You can't blame him for everything in the universe not crapping magic rainbows and puppies after he's barely been there more than a fiscal quarter though.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Transportation on May 15, 2009, 02:43:54 PM
Right. Any such judgments will require a decent amount of hindsight and a year or two to work with.

Given the wording of the question, it just seems like a general feel good 'responsibility'. And no one really likes people who 'blame' others. That might bias things a bit.

A better poll question would ask if Bush or Obama is more at fault for problem X.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Arc on May 15, 2009, 02:53:58 PM
foxnews.com

:negative: No, I don't care if it appears on Google News or not.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on May 22, 2009, 05:27:53 PM
This is for those parents who believe that Bob the Builder will do no harm.. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8063769.stm)

good times...
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on May 22, 2009, 06:05:31 PM
:happy:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on May 24, 2009, 01:18:27 PM
Pakistan pushes the Taliban back a bit. (http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/05/24/Pakistan-takes-key-areas-from-Taliban/UPI-81741243167560/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on May 24, 2009, 02:33:07 PM
Pushing back Islamic insurgents from locations is a temporary victory at best, and will come at the cost of some public support.  I hope the soldiers keep garrisons, camps, and patrol bases in Swat as well as the other major centers of the FATA for the long haul.  We are nowhere near the cheerful stage just yet.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on July 04, 2009, 06:29:38 AM
The geography of why USA will come out of the recession on top of the world (http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20090602_geography_recession?ip_auth_redirect=1).

And this has nothing to do with the decline of birth rates in the civilized world elsewhere..
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on July 04, 2009, 08:08:02 AM
Ahem. It seems they forgot one country that hasn't been heavily affected by the recession.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on July 04, 2009, 08:27:13 AM
Brazil?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on July 04, 2009, 10:44:20 AM
Expert opinion seems to be "Brazil hasn't been affected by the recession... yet."

And might be able to duck it completely, maybe.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on July 04, 2009, 07:43:26 PM
Ahem. It seems they forgot one country that hasn't been heavily affected by the recession.

Come on Zara, people have been largely ignoring South America for over 200 years now.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Catloaf on July 04, 2009, 10:01:38 PM
Ahem. It seems they forgot one country that hasn't been heavily affected by the recession.

Come on Zara, people have been largely ignoring South America ever since it was conquered by Europeans.

'Course, no one gave a damn about anywhere at all back then, as long as they could exploit the natives or the slaves they brought there to labor instead of exploiting the natives.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on July 06, 2009, 04:32:28 AM
Despite this, Lula is an aspiring politician, in that he seems like the least scummy of the lot.  The use of microcredit to foster innovation is something that might deal with the slum problems in more of a meaningful way than socialist handouts could ever do. 

Meanwhile, the condition up north in Venezuela continues to deteriorate due to falling oil revenues - state-controlled staple grocery stores are going out of business, or stocking insufficient quantities and inflation is starting to take a hit.

This is an indication.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on July 07, 2009, 04:55:54 PM
Gmail goes gold. (http://www.reuters.com/article/bigMoney/idUS428885852120090707)

Thanks for testing it, everyone!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Classic on August 03, 2009, 02:09:04 PM
Oh, this was a BBC article that made me happy.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8176448.stm
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on August 04, 2009, 11:49:34 AM
Slick Willie saves imprisoned US journalists. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/kim-jong-il-pardons-us-journalists/article1240357/)

We need a photoshop of Bill as Rambo. STAT.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: The Artist Formerly Known As Yoji on August 04, 2009, 12:03:37 PM
(http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m78/yoji_00/th_spittake.jpg)

As awesome of news this is, I can't wait to hear their side of the story. I especially wanna hear what these so-called "hostile acts" were that they supposedly commited.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on August 04, 2009, 02:25:58 PM
Slick Willie saves imprisoned US journalists. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/kim-jong-il-pardons-us-journalists/article1240357/)

We need a photoshop of Bill as Rambo. STAT.

Done and DONE.  I had this in one of my old backups.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on August 04, 2009, 02:32:53 PM
:hi5:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Saturn on August 04, 2009, 02:53:51 PM
(http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m78/yoji_00/th_spittake.jpg)

As awesome of news this is, I can't wait to hear their side of the story. I especially wanna hear what these so-called "hostile acts" were that they supposedly commited.
It was for allegedly crossing the chinese/north korean border
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on August 04, 2009, 03:01:32 PM
Quote
(http://hundredcoins.org/brentai/images/sexualtyrannosaurus.jpg)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ25aDQ_pqw
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: The Artist Formerly Known As Yoji on August 04, 2009, 03:12:30 PM
Right, however hostile a merry band of journalists screwing around at the Tumen River can be. I've heard of situations where soldiers from the North have crossed over the border themselves to arrest people for "illegal entry."

That always cracks me up about these dictatorships/whatever that arrest journalists on allegations of espionage ('sup, Roxana Saberi?) Because when you aim to inconspicuously enter a hostile country, discretely gather information, and report back to your superior before anyone notices, a profession that involves making as many contacts and sources as possible is the perfect cover. And the international community will be pleased to have such evil-doers rounded up!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on August 04, 2009, 03:15:55 PM
Bill may be reckless, but he gets results!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: sei on August 06, 2009, 03:26:27 PM
Douche-baggery actually costs Glenn Beck sponsors. (http://mediamatters.org/blog/200908060011)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on August 06, 2009, 06:17:18 PM
Back on Bill for a second, I'd just like to say I love this picture.

(http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/00160/dip11b-freed_160704gm-e.jpg)

The "Aw shucks" look on Bill's face is priceless.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: François on August 06, 2009, 10:45:45 PM
I'd like to admire Clinton, but every time I see him I remember Général Dallaire's account of the Rwanda genocide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shake_Hands_with_the_Devil_(book)) and I can't help but think of him as the good man who did nothing.

It doesn't negate his accomplishments, of course. It's just... well... you know.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on August 07, 2009, 03:05:22 AM
Well, Clinton made his share of mistakes, certainly.

I just like watching a masterful play.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on August 07, 2009, 03:53:29 AM
I don't think clinton's forgot about his hand in Rwanda either.  I believe that he did mention it well after the fact with the words "mea culpa". 

However, as accomplishments go for drama of the day, the "Clinton Tag Team", the power of marriage, etc etc... 

It was fun to watch.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: sei on August 18, 2009, 12:00:14 AM
Douche-baggery actually costs Glenn Beck sponsors. (http://mediamatters.org/blog/200908060011)
Again. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-rucker/wal-mart-cvs-best-buy-dit_b_261424.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on September 23, 2009, 06:49:00 AM
Anti-ACORN bill accidentally defunds Lockheed-Martin, Northrop Gumman, and every other government contractor who's facing corruption charges. (http://www.someguywithawebsite.com/blogarchive/week_2009_09_20.html#002844)

Of course, the sad part is that the government is going to backpedal on this so fast and so hard it'll give us whiplash, and of course the larger problem that Congress will only go after corrupt military contractors by accident while trying to score cheap political points.  But still...this is fun.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on September 23, 2009, 06:50:27 AM
Oh yeah, my wife showed me that last night and I forgot to post it here. :glee:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on September 27, 2009, 01:56:45 PM
Roman Polanski finally arrested (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090927/ap_on_en_mo/eu_switzerland_polanski).  About fucking time.  Maybe they can also throw in some extra punishment for The Ninth Gate.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Alex on October 05, 2009, 01:06:46 PM
Dude makes a home out of a missile silo. (http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2009/10/missile-base-2/all/1)

After reading the whole article and looking at the photos, it does have a really cool kind of feel to it.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on October 05, 2009, 01:28:31 PM
He's lucky he got it before the deep crows nested there.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: The Artist Formerly Known As Yoji on October 05, 2009, 01:39:15 PM
I've heard of people diving in flooded silos, which must make you look weird carrying around diving gear in Nebraska or wherever.

Bonus points(??) in my book if he dubs it White Forest.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on October 16, 2009, 03:00:01 AM
In a scene right out of a movie baby survives being run over by train. (http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Baby+survives+being+over+train/2110195/story.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Alex on October 26, 2009, 03:04:27 AM
Holy shit!  That is the craziest thing I've seen someone use a trampoline for. (http://www.geekologie.com/2009/10/im_a_ninja_i_can_do_that_crazy.php)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on October 27, 2009, 09:39:58 AM
Church of Scientology convicted of organized fraud and fined $900,000 in France. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/church-of-scientology-convicted-of-fraud/article1339793/)

:goodnews:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on October 27, 2009, 12:56:19 PM
A cheerful Colonel adds dignity to the UN General Assembly (http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/10/27/steven-edwards-sneaking-into-the-un-is-finger-lickin-easy.aspx)

My, this piece of news was finger-licking good! :whoops:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on October 27, 2009, 05:43:04 PM
A cheerful Colonel adds dignity to the UN General Assembly (http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/10/27/steven-edwards-sneaking-into-the-un-is-finger-lickin-easy.aspx)

My, this piece of news was finger-licking good! :whoops:

That was awesome in every possible way, but I especially enjoyed this nugget:

Quote
No word on whether the guard who let  him in will be fried or grilled.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on November 13, 2009, 06:40:25 PM
First Trans Fashion Magazine printed (http://sf.carnalnation.com/content/38473/4/candy-first-trans-fashion-magazine-launched)

Hot Crackers! Where do I sign up?

Wait a sec.... only 1000 issues?

Little help, anyone? (http://www.byluisvenegas.com/shops.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: yyler on December 15, 2009, 05:41:47 AM
The first example of an octopus using tools (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8408809.stm) (a video !!)

This is pretty amazing/cool.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Frocto on December 15, 2009, 06:21:16 AM
Actually, octopi have used tools for quite a while. For example, they can unscrew jar lids and open doors.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: yyler on December 15, 2009, 06:25:17 AM
thats not building a house anyway the article says so and you cant argue the bbc
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on December 15, 2009, 06:34:16 AM
Note: In the last 20 seconds that video goes from adorable to terrifying.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Miss Cat Ears on December 15, 2009, 06:53:59 AM

This is not cheerful news.  They are now a danger to our dominance and must be destroyed.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: yyler on December 15, 2009, 06:56:48 AM
We can't fight them. Not anymore. They have coconut houses now. We can't do anything against those.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: King Klown on December 15, 2009, 07:28:10 AM
Don't worry guys, as long as we have hammers and night visions go--

Actually, octopi have used tools for quite a while. For example, they can unscrew jar lids and open doors.

 :HUGE:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Catloaf on December 15, 2009, 08:15:59 AM
I think they mean tool use as figuring out a new creative use for an object, rather than simple-to-complex object manipulation.

Leaning how to enter a certain area with a switch or figure out the best way to rip open a shelled prey, or screw-top jar, is one thing, but taking two coconut halves, and using them to make a shelter/ambush opportunity in the sand is another.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on December 15, 2009, 09:01:45 AM
We're safe as long as we stay on land.



...right? :oh:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Classic on December 15, 2009, 09:05:04 AM
I think we're still OK so long as octopi don't start teaching things to their young. So long as they can only build off of one lifetime's worth of knowledge we're still doing OK.

It's the fucking crows that scare me. They're dinosaurs. They're like, two or three atavisms from being velociraptors!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Kashan on December 15, 2009, 04:35:38 PM
I heard about this on NPR earlier today, it's interesting to see the video.

It's funny, I'd actually heard about Octopuses being really intelligent before, but only because the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal church was a doctor of oceanography before and she became a priest, and every now and then talks about how smart Octopuses are in a letter to the church or a sermon or whatever.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on January 23, 2010, 04:27:51 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtIv8hR5f7E
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on February 01, 2010, 04:15:56 PM
Westboro Baptists trolled in Frisco (http://laughingsquid.com/san-franciscos-answer-to-westboro-baptist-church/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on February 25, 2010, 10:29:00 AM
I  :wuv: Lady Gaga (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2865456/Lady-Gaga-talks-about-hermaphrodite-rumours.html?OTC-RSS&ATTR=Bizarre)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on February 25, 2010, 11:17:26 AM
So she's trying to pull the female 00's version of what David Bowie pulled in the 70's?

I'd kind of rather have David Bowie.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on March 02, 2010, 12:40:15 PM
This is the second time in a month's time that kids from my home island have exposed and prevented American school shootings (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/port-alberni-tips-expose-two-school-shooting-plots/article1485932/).

Seriously yanks,  you're being beaten by a buncha hippies here..
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on March 29, 2010, 01:33:08 PM
Ricky Martin comes out of the closet (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/29/ricky-martin-comes-out-im_n_517625.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on March 29, 2010, 10:03:46 PM
Limbaugh said he'd move to Costa Rica if healthcare passed (I assume he is well aware that Costa Rica has universal healthcare but knows his audience isn't).

A liberal website is raising money to send him there (http://www.aticketforrush.com/).  If he refuses, they will give it to Planned Parenthood instead.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on March 30, 2010, 07:57:17 AM
Oh yeah, I remember hearing him say that on his show.

TIME TO PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS, LIMBAUGH! :whoops:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on March 30, 2010, 08:14:51 AM
Man, if someone offered to pay to move me to Costa Rica, I'd be on that so fast, you'd have to change my name to Rush.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on March 30, 2010, 08:35:30 AM
What you say about his company is what you say about society.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Catloaf on March 30, 2010, 09:34:44 AM
What you say about his company is what you say about society.

Fat, stupid, and angry?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Joxam on March 30, 2010, 09:36:37 AM
Catloaf doesn't get a Rush reference. Yay!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Catloaf on March 30, 2010, 09:49:23 AM
No I did, it's just that "Fat, stupid and angry" fits what many would say about American society.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: R^2 on March 30, 2010, 11:44:22 AM
I get what they're pointing out that Limbaugh can be a douchebag, it's not like his reason for not moving away is going to be "Sorry folks I couldn't afford it!"
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on March 30, 2010, 02:12:39 PM
Obviously, he claims he was misunderstood. (http://www.politicususa.com/en/limbaugh-costa-rica)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on March 30, 2010, 02:26:02 PM
OH COME ON YOU GUYS DUN UNDERSTAND

HE'S LEAVING FOREVER
 :wakka:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on March 30, 2010, 06:24:26 PM
Quote
Limbaugh said, “It’s funny. I can’t tell you how many invitations I am getting to go to Costa Rica today who thought that I said I would move to Costa Rica if we got health care passed. No, no, no once all this implemented I am going there for my health care. They’re asking me to go ahead and move.”

Costa Rican health care which was already socialized.

But, sure, we can play this game.  It's Rush fucking Limbaugh.  It's gonna be... *checks watch* Like five more minutes tops before he needs some drugs.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on May 19, 2010, 03:30:50 AM
Lifelock CEO's identity stolen at least 13 times. (http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/05/lifelock-identity-theft)

 :whoops:

Reminds me of the time TopGear fellow put up his bank account number.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on May 21, 2010, 05:24:21 AM
Man rescued by ninjas (http://www.theage.com.au/national/battered-mugged-student-recounts-ninja-rescue-20100520-vowi.html?autostart=1)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on June 29, 2010, 09:23:58 AM
Two war veterans get married. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/24/AR2010062406743.html?sub=AR)

To each other.

And the war was World War II.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Shinra on June 29, 2010, 12:49:41 PM
That's a terribly cute story.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on June 30, 2010, 10:06:48 PM
What God has joined together let no man put asunder.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on July 04, 2010, 07:34:41 AM
Iceland's Prime Minister marries her partner on the day gay marriage becomes legal. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37980907/ns/world_news-europe/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on July 24, 2010, 06:10:29 PM
India to market $35 ipad knockoff/rival (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/indias-ipad-rival-to-cost-35/article1649376/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: JDigital on July 24, 2010, 08:06:37 PM
I'm still waiting on my $1,000 air-powered car.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on August 09, 2010, 05:01:31 PM
I'm sure we've all got our fantasies of how we'd quit our jobs, but they're probably less awesome than this, via BoingBoing (http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/09/jetblue-flight-atten.html):

Quote
Slater got on the plane’s public address system and yelled:

"To the passenger who called me a (expletive), (expletive) you. I've been in the business 28 years. I’ve had it. That’s it."

Sources said Slater then grabbed some beer from the plane, deployed the inflatable emergency slide, and took off in his car parked in an employee lot.

(He got arrested for it.  But...worth it!)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on August 09, 2010, 05:14:02 PM
Totally worth it.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on August 09, 2010, 06:00:55 PM
Also,
Quote
Slater was later arrested at his home in Belle Harbor, Queens by Port Authority officials.  Police sources said that when authorities found Slater he seemed to be in the midst having sexual relations.

After quitting his job in the most awesome way possible, he immediately went home and got straight to doin' it. This guy is my new hero.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on August 09, 2010, 06:03:27 PM
Heh, all the more to make room for more "manly, albiet old (http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2010/08/jetblue-police-attendants/104401/1)" attendants that can kick ass and take names. 

Feel sorry for the guy.  I hope the judge finds leniency and slaps him on the wrist.  At least he had a good day...
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on August 09, 2010, 06:48:40 PM
But still, that is pretty close to a real life RAGEQUIT.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Catloaf on August 09, 2010, 06:57:17 PM
But still, that is pretty close to a real life RAGEQUIT.

But it's ragequitting immediately after revenge backstabbing the entire other team in less than 30 seconds.  Still awesome.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on August 10, 2010, 03:27:08 AM
Strippers hang out outside church to protest being protested (http://consumerist.com/2010/08/strippers-show-up-to-church-to-protest-being-protested.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Disposable Ninja on August 10, 2010, 04:28:45 AM
Quote
The New Beginnings pastor counters that he and the other protesters aren't there to condemn the dancers, but to offer them a way out. "I tell them, 'I will put a roof over your heads, and your bills will be paid, and your children's bellies will be full,'" he explains.

Oh, wow. That's awfully charitable of him.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on August 10, 2010, 06:09:12 AM
Regarding the Airline ragequit guy, I am laughing my ass off for a second day. Why? Because my usual paper decided to go to the trouble of adding a CGI simulation of the ragequit to their copy of the article (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/americas/jetblue-passengers-say-flight-attendant-looked-relieved-after-temper-tantrum/article1667814/). This is the first time I've EVER seen them do this for such a pedestrian article (or for almost any article, really).

I think someone may be indulging vicariously.

:glee:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on August 10, 2010, 08:55:31 AM
Quote
The New Beginnings pastor counters that he and the other protesters aren't there to condemn the dancers, but to offer them a way out. "I tell them, 'I will put a roof over your heads, and your bills will be paid, and your children's bellies will be full,'" he explains.

Oh, wow. That's awfully charitable of him.

There's a term for that. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_daddy)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: clutch on August 10, 2010, 09:45:04 AM
Quote
The New Beginnings pastor counters that he and the other protesters aren't there to condemn the dancers, but to offer them a way out. "I tell them, 'I will put a roof over your heads, and your bills will be paid, and your children's bellies will be full,'" he explains.

Oh, wow. That's awfully charitable of him.

Well, do keep in mind that in exchange for his charity, the ex-strippers will have to carry the pastor's bags. (http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/08/05/pastor-who-hates-homosexuality-but-is-attracted-to-men-returns-t/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on August 10, 2010, 10:11:11 AM
This ragequit isn't beer-fuelled inflatable-slide cool, but it's still pretty awesome (http://thechive.com/2010/08/10/girl-quits-her-job-on-dry-erase-board-emails-entire-office-33-photos/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on August 10, 2010, 10:25:17 AM
Someday I'm gonna marry that girl.  :smile:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Niku on August 10, 2010, 03:17:58 PM
in her awful manager's defense, he was kinda right
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on August 10, 2010, 03:26:58 PM
Disagree:  No one, in any sober state of mind can condone the playing of Farmville.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on August 10, 2010, 03:48:29 PM
Yeah it was fake (http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgawker.com%2F5609650%2Fthe-quitting-tale-that-suckered-the-whole-internet&h=65a4b)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on August 10, 2010, 07:55:45 PM
Ah well.

The story had its redeeming qualities.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on August 11, 2010, 02:59:18 AM
Eh.. at least they're honest about it (http://thechive.com/2010/08/11/a-word-from-jenny-16-photos/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on August 24, 2010, 11:31:00 AM
TEAL, a group dedicated to eliminating typos on the streets does their thing (http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/letters/Word+Nerds+make+mission+eradicating+typos/3432115/story.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on August 24, 2010, 01:34:13 PM
[rul=http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/letters/Word+Nerds+make+mission+eradicating+typos/3432115/story.html]TEAL, a group dedicated to eliminating typos on the streets does their thing[/url]

Do they do online work too?

(sorry, way too easy)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on August 24, 2010, 02:40:04 PM
Those guys are obnoxious.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: teg on August 24, 2010, 06:52:44 PM
Well, do keep in mind that in exchange for his charity, the ex-strippers will have to carry the pastor's bags. (http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/08/05/pastor-who-hates-homosexuality-but-is-attracted-to-men-returns-t/)
GAY PASTOR IS SECRETLY BRUCE WILLIS

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/CX-Neo/secretlybrucewillis.png)

FILM AT ELEVEN
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: James Edward Smith on August 31, 2010, 09:45:27 AM
The memory game for adults (http://www.molleindustria.org/memory/memory_reloaded.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Shinra on August 31, 2010, 09:39:34 PM
Is it because the longer something goes on the more the media distorts the reality? I don't really get what they're trying to say with this. It's cute, but really.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on August 31, 2010, 09:59:59 PM
There's a message here of "This is how things get spun - one person enforces his own viewpoint until the other is finally forced to agree."

Every fucking inch of the message is then so fucking saturated with socio-liberalist propaganda that even though I agree with every single viewpoint expressed I still walk away wanting to club a Muslim to death with a baby seal.

The absolute bitch here is that the artist is simultaneously condemning and employing the principal illustrated, and is probably too fucking busy thinking up new ways to be smug to realize what a hypocrite he's being.  Which has really gotten to be a real goddam serious problem with the heavy liberals lately and I wish somebody would stand up and say "If you don't stop congratulating yourselves for being so clever and start fixing shit, we're going to have another eight years of hell."

...

Also he's Italian which makes me wonder what the fuck he's doing worrying about our government.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on September 01, 2010, 08:49:59 AM
these are not cheerful news at all D:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Niku on September 01, 2010, 09:13:34 AM
I like how it still bitches at you when you get all of them right before anything can change.  Thanks a lot, buzzkill mcgee.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Joxam on September 01, 2010, 08:12:14 PM
They named a Hurricane Gaston. We're fucked... D:

Beauty and The Beast - Gaston (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhG9hKiplfQ#)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: SCD on September 10, 2010, 11:16:31 AM
So funny thing about the Castro interview that no one here is talking about where Fidel admits that the Cuban economic model no longer works (remember boys and girls:  Socialism only works until you run out of rich people to pay for it)

But what really made me wag my tail was that during the interview, Castro was wearing New Balance sneakers - American design (Part 1 of the interview here) (http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2010/09/fidel-to-ahmadinejad-stop-slandering-the-jews/62566/).  It's one thing that he explicitly denounces his own system, but it's another joyous occasion that he endorses concepts such as globalization and capitalism through his choice of footwear. 

Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: R^2 on September 20, 2010, 08:10:25 AM
Upon being knighted, Terry Pratchett forges his own sword. Out of meteorites. (http://www.news.com.au/technology/terry-pratchett-creates-a-sword-with-meteorites/story-e6frfro0-1225926584339)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Classic on September 20, 2010, 08:49:43 AM
They're an easy source of a variety of steel!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: clutch on September 20, 2010, 10:54:19 AM
Did "Cheerful News" just intersect with the Avatar thread?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on September 20, 2010, 04:41:05 PM
Clearly, when the terrorists attack in force, Terry Pratchett is going to be one of the brave warriors who saves the world.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mothra on September 20, 2010, 05:58:10 PM
This is basically the coolest thing I have ever heard.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on September 20, 2010, 06:11:26 PM
If this is what slightly senile Terry Pratchett looks like, god knows what amazing shit awaits us later.

Also: I wonder if he hid it in a stone :mystery:

Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on September 21, 2010, 12:59:48 PM
Remember Antoine of "They rapin' everybody!" fame? Well, here's some geniunely good news for a change (http://www.urlesque.com/2010/09/20/antoine-dodson-buys-house/).

Let's hope that stays on track. It's not often that stories of "poor guy gets whack of money" follows with "Buys home for family, spends rest on education".
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on October 06, 2010, 11:23:46 AM
Quote
DAYTON, Minn. -- Vice President Joe Biden has told Democrats at a Minnesota fundraiser that he'll "strangle" members of the GOP who complain about the federal budget.

According to a pool report from Tuesday's event in Dayton, Biden was telling the crowd that Democrats know how to balance the budget. He said, "If I hear one more Republican tell me about balancing the budget, I am going to strangle them."

He quickly added: "To the press, that's a figure of speech."
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Classic on October 06, 2010, 12:26:59 PM
The figure of speech means he will contract professionals to do it!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: clutch on October 06, 2010, 01:47:56 PM
BUT SOMEBODY SHOULD BE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BUDGET

I mean, have you seen this thing? It looks like that egg-sac woman in Slither.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Detonator on October 06, 2010, 03:16:59 PM
BUT SOMEBODY SHOULD BE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BUDGET

I mean, have you seen this thing? It looks like that egg-sac woman in Slither.

I'm not sure how serious you're being here, but I think Biden's point is that someone shouldn't complain about balancing the budget if their party's current plan is to add trillions to the deficit by keeping all of the tax cuts that were made when the budget WAS balanced.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on October 06, 2010, 04:57:47 PM
And it's a better tactic than telling the people who got him elected to stop whining.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Classic on October 06, 2010, 08:24:17 PM
Because we're continuing to whine that he and his entire party have no balls?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on October 11, 2010, 08:04:49 PM
Upon being knighted, Terry Pratchett forges his own sword. Out of meteorites. (http://www.news.com.au/technology/terry-pratchett-creates-a-sword-with-meteorites/story-e6frfro0-1225926584339)

And he has his own coat of arms! (http://college-of-arms.gov.uk/Newsletter/026.htm)

The best part? The motto.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Shinra on October 11, 2010, 08:16:04 PM
Remember Antoine of "They rapin' everybody!" fame? Well, here's some geniunely good news for a change (http://www.urlesque.com/2010/09/20/antoine-dodson-buys-house/).

Let's hope that stays on track. It's not often that stories of "poor guy gets whack of money" follows with "Buys home for family, spends rest on education".

Well, he's a gay hairdresser, so he's not exactly the standard black stereotype anyway.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on October 29, 2010, 05:56:50 AM
Giant Gravel Batteries? (http://www.innovationtoronto.com/2010/05/giant-gravel-batteries-could-make-renewable-energy-more-reliable/)

It sounds like a bit of a long-shot, but it's very cool, in a low-tech sci-fi kind of way.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: JDigital on October 29, 2010, 09:10:45 AM
The current technology uses the electricity to pump water uphill, which can be used to generate hydroelectric later.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on October 29, 2010, 09:21:15 AM
Beats the way they harness nuclear energy: They use the heat of atomic fission to... heat water.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Misha on October 29, 2010, 09:36:24 AM
Nuclear power is the height of steampunk.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Classic on October 29, 2010, 09:41:03 AM
Hot water has basically been our favorite means of directing large quantities of energy since forever.
Probably because we also think turbines are super awesome, and water gets reasonable rates of energy transfer going through them.

Actually, I did hear of one plasma based energy collection model where they just strip the freed electrons from off of the cloud. But... I heard that from Roast Beef while he still didn't know anything, so it's possible he was misinterpreting what the paper was saying.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Cthulhu-chan on October 29, 2010, 11:50:10 AM
Steam driven turbines remain one of the best methods of turning non-electrical energy into electricity.  Turning various forms of energy directly into heat is easy, turning them directly into electricity is generally difficult, inefficient, or not currently possible.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Esperath on October 29, 2010, 09:11:50 PM
US Government finally takes a stance against gene patenting (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/30/business/30drug.html).
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Cthulhu-chan on October 30, 2010, 02:45:21 AM
Not the stance I would have expected, but I hope it takes root.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on November 11, 2010, 12:36:15 PM
Dick Van Dyke falls asleep on surfboard, is rescued by porpoises. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/nov/11/dick-van-dyke-porpoises-rescue)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on November 11, 2010, 12:44:04 PM
Couldn't have happened to a nicer chimney-sweep.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: TA on November 11, 2010, 01:08:45 PM
I am honestly surprised that he's still alive.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on November 11, 2010, 01:13:45 PM
So's he.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on November 11, 2010, 02:14:15 PM
Now THAT is some real Disney shit.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on November 11, 2010, 05:08:46 PM
Shortly after recovering, he tripped over a coconut.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: François on November 24, 2010, 07:07:24 AM
Quote from: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/female-sex-workers-can-use-condoms-too-says-pope-2142133.html
Pope Benedict XVI was quoted at the weekend saying condom use by male prostitutes could be a good thing, indicating the user's intention to protect others from a deadly infection, apparently condoning the use of contraceptives for the first time. The Vatican yesterday confirmed that the same message applied to women sex workers.

Not exactly "contraceptives for everyone! knock yourselves out, not up!", and the stance is really more of a "they're still going to hell but maybe they could try not to spread AIDS too much before then"... but it's still kind of a medium deal, or at least a step in the right direction.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on November 24, 2010, 07:23:25 AM
The Catholic Church wouldn't be The Catholic Church if it didn't move a little slower than most.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on November 24, 2010, 07:58:32 AM
It's worth noting that the Catholic Church accepts evolution.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on November 24, 2010, 08:25:31 AM
Yeah, because they're still kinda embarrassed about that whole Galileo thing.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Classic on November 24, 2010, 03:46:59 PM
Didn't you know Thad? He recanted heliocentrism on his deathbed, so it's not true
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on January 04, 2011, 09:27:21 PM
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/01/03/neil-gaiman-and-amanda-palmers-wedding-in-twitpics/ (http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/01/03/neil-gaiman-and-amanda-palmers-wedding-in-twitpics/)

Awwwww
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on January 18, 2011, 09:22:26 PM
Lieberman won't seek another term. (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/nyregion/19lieberman.html?partner=rss&emc=rss)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on January 19, 2011, 06:09:43 AM
On the one hand, yay no Lieberman.  On the other, it's kind of sad because I wanted to seem him lose so bad in 2012.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Norondor on January 19, 2011, 08:38:49 AM
it's not as good news as it could be
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Beat Bandit on January 19, 2011, 09:19:51 AM
Lieberman goes back in time; drops out of politics in '89.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on January 19, 2011, 11:18:53 AM
On the one hand, yay no Lieberman.  On the other, it's kind of sad because I wanted to seem him lose so bad in 2012.

Yeah, and this way the media's going to spin it as "He is a beloved moderate and Democrats were so so mean to him" instead of "He is retiring because everybody fucking hates him and he has no shot at reelection."
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Norondor on January 19, 2011, 08:54:21 PM
Lieberman goes back in time; drops out of politics in '89.

Lieberman falls over dead, false skin bursts open, writhing horde of pestilential insects scurries forth into the dark places of the world
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on February 28, 2011, 02:36:52 AM
No more 'conscience clause.' (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/18/AR2011021807443.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on April 07, 2011, 05:46:41 AM
Glenn Beck is cancelled.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on April 07, 2011, 06:04:06 AM
Source?


Some are saying that he's still going to be working with FNC to develop content, while others are saying he's outright departing.


It says nothing about his radio show, which can be heard on Sirius/XM radio on Sirius XM Patriot, the conservative talk radio station, in the mornings.  I'm sure that's sticking around, if nothing's being said about it.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on April 07, 2011, 06:04:38 AM
Every major news outlet, crowing about it.

Saw that. I think the funniest part is that one of the main reasons is he was canned is that no sponsors would place ads with him, in spite of what were at one point frighteningly high ratings.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on April 07, 2011, 04:38:58 PM
Every major news outlet, crowing about it.

Yeah, pretty much; I figured there wasn't much point in going with a single source since it's everywhere.

Saw that. I think the funniest part is that one of the main reasons is he was canned is that no sponsors would place ads with him, in spite of what were at one point frighteningly high ratings.

NPR suggested it was really the trifecta -- controversy, sponsor boycotts, AND a precipitous ratings drop.  One or two of those might not have sunk him (in fact the first one is kinda the whole point of Fox News), but he had all three.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on April 07, 2011, 05:30:49 PM
Not that any of us expect him to stop stirring up trouble, of course.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on April 07, 2011, 06:38:35 PM
It certainly hadn't stopped Dr. Laura or Rush Limbaugh.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on April 07, 2011, 06:54:03 PM
Also he said bad things about Donald Trump.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Friday on April 07, 2011, 07:02:18 PM
Quote
Beck falls over dead, false skin bursts open, confetti sprays in a high pressure jet for seven months nonstop
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Shinra on April 08, 2011, 05:02:33 AM
Every major news outlet, crowing about it.

Yeah, pretty much; I figured there wasn't much point in going with a single source since it's everywhere.

Saw that. I think the funniest part is that one of the main reasons is he was canned is that no sponsors would place ads with him, in spite of what were at one point frighteningly high ratings.

NPR suggested it was really the trifecta -- controversy, sponsor boycotts, AND a precipitous ratings drop.  One or two of those might not have sunk him (in fact the first one is kinda the whole point of Fox News), but he had all three.

but thad, npr is the mouthpiece of the elitist sociliast commie pinko agenda!

Really, though, at one point Fox dropped below CNN in the ratings (I don't know if this is still the case) and Fox had to have realized the jig was up and must be trying to pare down the crazy. Going after white middle-class blue collar workers like they have in the last few months was kind of dumb, considerig, you know, that that's their entire fucking viewing demographic. Having a one hour show about a guy who thinks the 1 dollar bill predicted 9/11 isn't exactly helping their image.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Niku on April 08, 2011, 05:04:07 AM
BUT IF YOU FOLD IT
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on April 08, 2011, 06:02:40 AM
It's the twenty.  But yeah, the conspiracy theory stuff is unsustainable.  Glenn realized people were watching his show for crazy blackboard conspiracy hour, but he kept upping the ante until it got to the point where Bill O'Reilly was pretty much openly criticizing him on-air.  BILL O'REILLY was asking him what the basis for his claims was.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Pacobird on April 08, 2011, 06:18:32 AM
I remember reading this AV Club review of GB as television comparing it to Lost: an interactive experience where viewers get on forums and try to parse the story as it unfolds.  CBF to find it right now but if you read the AV Club (and you should!) it was a pretty interesting take.

And the media's going to spin this any number of ways because it IS news, but the real reason Fox dropped him is that they could no longer cover up how Glenn Beck raped and murdered a young girl in 1990.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Norondor on April 08, 2011, 07:52:55 AM
mike i love you
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on April 10, 2011, 11:26:16 AM
Dana Milbank (http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2011/04/06/AFNEgnqC_story.html) adds that Beck's ratings have declined as unemployment has, and adds that his conspiracy theories became less palatable to his higher-ups as they increasingly blamed The Jews.

Some stuff in there I didn't know about -- I knew about his full episode of Soros hate, but didn't know he also hosted a guy who publicly argues in support of Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

All while comparing anyone who disagrees with him to Nazis, of course.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Shinra on April 12, 2011, 10:26:37 AM
The best is when he compares jewish people to Nazis, or implies collaboration.

 :whoops: Hilarious.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Beat Bandit on April 12, 2011, 01:57:49 PM
his conspiracy theories became less palatable to his higher-ups as they increasingly blamed The Jews.
:oic:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on May 05, 2011, 08:00:00 AM
Gay Dads adopt and raise 12 children. (http://www.azcentral.com/news/azliving/articles/2011/05/02/20110502gay-dads-ham-family-12-adopted-kids.html?page=1)

... In Arizona.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Cait on May 05, 2011, 10:21:43 PM
Judge rules that IP addresses are insufficient description for a John Doe lawsuit. (http://torrentfreak.com/ip-address-not-a-person-bittorrent-case-judge-says-110503/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Shinra on May 11, 2011, 10:00:15 AM
I would like to hear the rationale for that ruling, and hope it would go beyond something as simple as "the judge did not understand how the internet works", because I can't think of any better way to identify someone over the internet than their IP address.

I don't want to side with the assholes throwing lawsuits around, I would just like to know the logic behind this.

It is probably explained in the article but I am at work and don't want to click torrentfreak.com. Is there an alternative source for this?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: sei on May 11, 2011, 10:38:51 AM
I would like to hear the rationale for that ruling, and hope it would go beyond something as simple as "the judge did not understand how the internet works", because I can't think of any better way to identify someone over the internet than their IP address.
Some problems.

Dial-up services with changing IPs (though history can fix this one).
Multiple users of one cloud service.
Multiple users of one gateway IP (for an intranet).
Multiple users of one proxy.
Open/insecure WiFi.

I'm sure I missed a few.

Those go to a person's IP, which is more general than a computer or account. If you snoop cookies/SLOs, you can sometimes narrow it down to a computer or account, but there's no real guarantee that the owner of the computer/account was responsible for the transgression. E.g. your asshole relative visits and installs Limewire, and if you're especially naive, you don't know what Limewire is and don't really notice anything different on your rig other than a new green icon on your desktop.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Classic on May 11, 2011, 10:58:25 AM
Even without all of those, it's also possible to just have a computer perform activities without the real consent of its user. See bot-nets.

An IP might be usable to narrow down the offender to a machine, but until we're legally responsible for the actions of our accounts and the security thereof, we can't criminalize the failure to keep an account secure. Also I'd like to think we only punish or blame the victim if they're a woman.

Well, I just kicked that shit out of the cheerful news category. I need some coffee.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on May 11, 2011, 03:53:05 PM
There's also the extortion issue.  In cases where porn publishers threaten to sue alleged infringers, merely the act of naming someone as a defendant in such a case can cause irreparable harm to his reputation, even if he's ultimately found innocent.  Even if you win, you still lose, and John Does would in many cases rather settle than be named publicly.

In cases where a person's reputation is at stake, burden of proof MUST be stronger than an IP.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Shinra on May 11, 2011, 07:31:10 PM
That's a solid argument, Thad. Makes sense to me.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on June 24, 2011, 08:49:53 PM
(http://a.yfrog.com/img734/4303/d8jqr.jpg)

New York governor signs same-sex marriage bill into law (http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/06/25/new.york.gay.marriage/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on June 24, 2011, 08:58:45 PM
Whereas here in Toronto, a rainbow flag appears to actually serve as "Mayor repellent". (http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/local/article/899120--mayor-s-stance-a-puzzle)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on July 21, 2011, 06:02:08 PM
Al Franken still a Senator; still Al Franken.

Franken Destroys Focus On The Family Witness (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyAueltLsa4#)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on July 21, 2011, 08:07:32 PM
 :victory:
FUCK YES YOU ARE THE BEST FRANKEN EVER
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: LaserBeing on July 22, 2011, 07:12:08 PM
uh excuse me

(http://anotherdimension.pyoko.org/frankenfran.jpg)

second best, maybe
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: JDigital on July 22, 2011, 09:08:54 PM
If she can do all these medical miracles, why can't she get rid of all those unsightly stitchmarks huh
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on July 22, 2011, 09:31:54 PM
Why would she want to?  They're clearly bringing the boys to the yard.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on July 30, 2011, 04:37:40 PM
Woman goes into labour during bar exam, finishes bar exam and THEN goes to give birth (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2020434/Woman-FINISHES-bar-exam-labour--baby-hours-later.html?ITO=1490)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Beat Bandit on July 30, 2011, 05:09:49 PM
Welcome to the raised bar, women. Don't disappoint.

edit: oh god wait that's a pun aaaaaauuuuuuuuuggggghhhh
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Friday on July 30, 2011, 05:16:18 PM
I'm afraid you will have to be murdered for that
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Lottel on July 30, 2011, 11:51:19 PM
By law, that baby is now also a lawyer.

I can't wait for the TV adventures of Lawyer Baby.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on July 31, 2011, 04:54:12 AM
"Your Honor, we move to recess.  Council...*mug for camera* had an accident."  *laughtrack*
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: TA on July 31, 2011, 09:38:21 AM
Eh, just because she took the bar doesn't mean she passed it.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Joxam on July 31, 2011, 09:55:43 AM
Jesus Christ, you really are no fucking fun.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Lottel on July 31, 2011, 01:23:38 PM
LAWYER BABY, TA.

LAWYER BABY.


I DON'T GO AROUND DEFLATING YOUR DREAM BALLOON.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on August 01, 2011, 05:25:58 PM
Gabrielle Giffords returns to Capitol Hill to vote on the debt ceiling issue.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on August 09, 2011, 11:22:49 AM
http://io9.com/5828986/school-bans-vonneguts-slaughterhouse+5-so-vonnegut-library-gives-copies-to-students-for-free (http://io9.com/5828986/school-bans-vonneguts-slaughterhouse+5-so-vonnegut-library-gives-copies-to-students-for-free)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on August 09, 2011, 07:12:13 PM
In a hilarious coincidence, there was a sidebar story that led to GenCon pics, and they had a picture of WotC's Ken Nagle in his Phyrexian costume (http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/8/2011/08/medium_morecostumes2_01.jpg).
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on August 12, 2011, 07:25:43 AM
Getting back to the conversation a few months ago about why John Doe suits based on IP addresses should not be legally recognized:

There's also the extortion issue.  In cases where porn publishers threaten to sue alleged infringers, merely the act of naming someone as a defendant in such a case can cause irreparable harm to his reputation, even if he's ultimately found innocent.  Even if you win, you still lose, and John Does would in many cases rather settle than be named publicly.

In cases where a person's reputation is at stake, burden of proof MUST be stronger than an IP.

Guess who one of the guys being sued for downloading porn is?

A blind man. (http://boingboing.net/2011/08/11/porn-privacy-and-bittorrent-seattle-weekly-on-case-of-blind-man-accused-of-viewing-pilfered-adult-flicks.html)

So yeah, IP addresses aren't really a very good form of evidence.




(OTOH, a guy who can't secure his own damn router should probably not be working in network security.)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on October 06, 2011, 08:59:14 AM
Phoenix Zoo takes the lead in reviving oryx (http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2011/10/06/20111006phoenix-zoo-oryx-takes-lead-reviving.html)

Quote
Fifty years after the start of Operation Oryx - an international mission to save the Arabian oryx, previously declared extinct in the wild - the species has come back from the brink of extinction thanks to the Phoenix Zoo.

This summer, the oryx, an antelope species native to the Arabian Peninsula, became the first species ever to improve three full categories on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species.

The species is now classified as "vulnerable."
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: R^2 on October 06, 2011, 10:35:51 AM
Oh! Phoenix Zoo. I get it!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on November 11, 2011, 11:53:33 AM
After woman has her bike stolen, finds guy selling it on Craigslist, asks for test ride, steals it back (http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/woman-uses-test-ride-to-take-back-stolen-bike-32330)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Norondor on November 11, 2011, 05:33:28 PM
the best thing i've ever heard
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on December 08, 2011, 02:01:22 PM
Let's bump this thread.

Carjacker makes unfortunate choice of target (http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/crime/anthony-miranda-mugging-attempt-ultimate-fighting-champion-black-eyes-20111205)

That's quite a mugshot.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Classic on December 08, 2011, 03:41:37 PM
In uncheerful news, "myfoxchicago.com" uses pop-under ads and evidently I need a new adblocker.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on December 08, 2011, 05:00:53 PM
Euh, sorry about that. I have NoScript, so I tend not to notice that stuff.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: JDigital on December 08, 2011, 08:36:39 PM
That's about as good as the time someone tried to rob a van, and it was full of special forces troops on an urban training exercise.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on December 08, 2011, 08:46:36 PM
Or the guy who tried to rob a gun store with a squad car parked out front (http://www.darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin1993-06.html).
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: François on December 08, 2011, 08:50:08 PM
That one counts as a suicide, come on.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on December 21, 2011, 10:08:36 PM
Navy first: Same-sex couple share first homecoming kiss (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_tmig8PxAw#ws)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: on December 21, 2011, 10:24:38 PM
I have a 99% chance of not having cancer.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on December 21, 2011, 10:26:42 PM
That's great news! Wait... that means...

Lyrai is the 1%!

 :gasp:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Classic on December 21, 2011, 11:27:43 PM
Let's not Jynx anything here.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on February 21, 2012, 09:11:51 PM
Rhode Island teen takes a stand for freedom from religion, gets $40,000 scholarship (http://abcnews.go.com/US/rhode-island-teen-atheist-40k-scholarship/story?id=15751701#.T0R5VYf2Z5a)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on February 22, 2012, 12:12:18 PM
Giffords joins National Institute for Civil Discourse board (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-02-22/giffords-civil-discourse/53208628/1)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on June 03, 2012, 05:23:32 PM
Quote from: Rooser
Okay, so if this guy (http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7986979/redemption-brian-banks) makes it on an NFL team I will seriously consider becoming a football fan and rooting for his team.

What the quote says.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on June 26, 2012, 12:34:48 PM
Rhode Island passes Homeless Bill of Rights into law. (http://www.indypendent.org/2012/06/24/rhode-island-governor-signs-first-homeless-bill-rights)

See, politicians CAN do good things, when they put their minds to it!
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on July 06, 2012, 02:49:26 PM
Child tells Make-a-Wish Foundation he'd like to meet Hellboy; Ron Perlman obliges (http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/07/06/ron-perlman-is-hellboy-again-for-make-a-wish/).
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on July 06, 2012, 04:38:06 PM
I hope that kid got pancakes (http://dailycomic.livejournal.com/509.html).
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: James Edward Smith on July 06, 2012, 05:32:40 PM
Giffords joins National Institute for Civil Discourse board (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-02-22/giffords-civil-discourse/53208628/1)

Comment on the page

Quote
Oh goody! We get another "nonpartisan" institute. "Civil Discourse" means one side gets to talk and the other side gets to shut up and stay up.

Every successful dictatorship survives by enforcing "Civil Discourse."
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: James Edward Smith on July 16, 2012, 02:10:42 PM
http://arcticready.com/social/gallery (http://arcticready.com/social/gallery)

Shell creates a community competition to create and ad for their planned Arctic oil drilling and hilarity ensues. Just check out one page of those.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on July 16, 2012, 02:20:55 PM
That site is either getting DDOSed, pulled down, or simply swamped right now. Not a thing loads, not even on the homepage.

:/
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ocksi on July 16, 2012, 02:36:57 PM
Loads just fine for me.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on July 16, 2012, 02:38:56 PM
Pretty sure the whole thing is fake.

EDIT: Because it is fake.

http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/07/16/yes-men-take-on-shell-in-ad-campaign-hoax/ (http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/07/16/yes-men-take-on-shell-in-ad-campaign-hoax/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: on July 16, 2012, 03:19:50 PM
It's fake, and part of an elaborate stunt by the Yes Men (http://www.treehugger.com/energy-disasters/shell-arctic-oil-drilling-launch-party-disaster.html)

The following events are all fake, part of the same stunt by the Yes Men:
 Fake Shell has a media party to celebrate the success of spending $4b to be able to drill in the arctic, a bunch of fake faux pauxs happen, a fake reporter is fake kicked out.
 Fake Shell starts this advertising and opens it up to the public for the purpose of lulz
 4chan, SomethingAwful et al find it
 Fake Shell issues a Fake Lawsuit to the Yes Men

Started back in June or so.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on July 22, 2012, 08:44:49 AM
South Sudanese refugee athlete allowed to compete in Olympics without a country. (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/refugee-without-country-compete-under-olympic-flag-london-202757479--oly.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Smiler on July 23, 2012, 02:48:48 PM
http://www.azcentral.com/news/azliving/articles/2012/07/13/20120713bikers-against-child-abuse-make-abuse-victims-feel-safe.html?page=1 (http://www.azcentral.com/news/azliving/articles/2012/07/13/20120713bikers-against-child-abuse-make-abuse-victims-feel-safe.html?page=1)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Shinra on August 28, 2012, 03:22:15 AM
Mark Sanford joins the ranks of real human beings who are much happier outside of politics (http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/south/view/20120826former_sc_gov_mark_sanford_engaged_to_ex-mistress/srvc=home&position=recent), proposes to his argentinian girlfriend.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on August 28, 2012, 02:21:10 PM
This guy (http://www.buzzfeed.com/rsultan/this-dads-superhero-cape-is-a-skirt) is the Best Dad.

Quote
Nils Pickert's five-year-old son likes to wear dresses, and given how closed-minded people can be, Nils wanted to make sure that he grows up with a strong, positive role model. So he did what any mind-bogglingly incredible dad would do: he started wearing skirts himself.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on August 28, 2012, 03:14:51 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/buge/reaction/single_tear.jpg)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Shinra on August 28, 2012, 04:56:04 PM
This guy (http://www.buzzfeed.com/rsultan/this-dads-superhero-cape-is-a-skirt) is the Best Dad.

Quote
Nils Pickert's five-year-old son likes to wear dresses, and given how closed-minded people can be, Nils wanted to make sure that he grows up with a strong, positive role model. So he did what any mind-bogglingly incredible dad would do: he started wearing skirts himself.


(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xHQgaqFbFvE/SY223gogdtI/AAAAAAAACtk/Eqgbi8ctnfU/s400/phelps.jpg)

Just proof that bein' a fag is genetic.

Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on August 28, 2012, 08:59:46 PM
Welp, Ben Quayle's a one-termer (http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/20120828cd-schweikert-leads-quayle-closely-watched-race.html).
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on September 12, 2012, 06:45:35 AM
Retiring Michigan car dealership owner thanks his employees. In cash. (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/retiring-michigan-car-dealership-owner-thanks-employees-cash-150906700.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Joxam on September 14, 2012, 08:41:57 PM
Judge strikes down Wisconsin law limiting union rights (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81241.html?hp=l1). Yay! Perhaps a bit of a premature yay, as they are going to appeal it, but a yay none the less.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: TA on September 29, 2012, 09:59:33 AM
Judge rules that child abuse and endangerment is not protected religious expression! (http://www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php/court-decides-parents-refusal-vaccinate-kids-free-exercise-religion/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on September 29, 2012, 10:46:58 AM
Which is pretty much the necessary slippery-slope argument to explain why we can't just let Catholic organizations say they won't pay for birth control.  (Standard disclaimer about how slippery-slope arguments are usually bullshit but when we're talking about interpreting the First Amendment they're pretty much necessary.)  You tell one religion it's okay to deny coverage for a form of medicine it doesn't like, well, you've either introduced a some-more-equal-than-others proposition among religions, a some-more-equal-than-others proposition among medicine, or you have to allow any religion to refuse coverage for anything.

(And yes we do in fact have some-more-equal-than-others situations with both religions and drugs in this country, but that's multiple whole separate conversations.)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on October 24, 2012, 05:31:05 PM
Coulter, trying to stave off the oblivion of irrelevance, calls Obama a retard during the debates, only to be called out in grand and classy style by one such gentleman (http://specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/an-open-letter-to-ann-coulter/). Now who's the dumb one?

:happy:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Smiler on November 01, 2012, 07:20:20 AM
Ethiopian kids given tablets with no instructions, learn how to hack it in 5 months. (http://dvice.com/archives/2012/10/ethiopian-kids.php)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on November 01, 2012, 08:06:30 AM
Quote
They just left the boxes there, sealed up, containing one tablet for every kid in each of the villages (nearly a thousand tablets in total), pre-loaded with a custom English-language operating system and SD cards with tracking software on them to record how the tablets were used.

Jeez, they make it sound like the kind of social experiments they'd pull on chimpanzees.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Classic on November 01, 2012, 09:30:56 AM
... It does sound like the kind of social experiments we pull on chimpanzees.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Defenestration on December 04, 2012, 12:19:36 PM
Why LEGO is the BEST Company in the World (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xGU-5KVS_g#ws)

Lego still cares about their consumers.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on December 04, 2012, 12:29:36 PM
(http://i.imgur.com/czl38.gif)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on December 05, 2012, 06:38:53 AM
Lego still cares about their consumers.

They also gave solid-gold 2x4 bricks to their 25-year employees. (http://kotaku.com/5965016/the-worlds-most-expensive-lego-brick-costs-14000/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on April 05, 2013, 08:30:54 AM
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/06/health/judge-orders-fda-to-make-morning-after-pill-available-over-the-counter-for-all-ages.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/06/health/judge-orders-fda-to-make-morning-after-pill-available-over-the-counter-for-all-ages.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on April 15, 2013, 02:33:57 AM
Have we talked about the douchebag Tennessee state Senator who was trying to push a bill that would link families' welfare payments to their childrens' academic performance?

Because he's dropped the bill, after an 8 year old publicly shamed him by following him around the capitol. (http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/12/8-year-old-follows-tenn-lawmaker-around-capitol-until-he-drops-welfare-bill/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on May 04, 2013, 06:09:44 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TzBInt4zljQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TzBInt4zljQ)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on May 09, 2013, 12:55:18 AM
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_23203248/colorado-man-reunited-lego-builder-he-says-helped (http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_23203248/colorado-man-reunited-lego-builder-he-says-helped)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on May 29, 2013, 03:16:10 AM
Michelle Bachmann isn't running for re-election. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/minn-rep-michele-bachmann-says-she-wont-run-for-re-election-in-2014/2013/05/29/da55ae62-c83a-11e2-9cd9-3b9a22a4000a_story.html)

She will be missed.

(http://i.imgur.com/L2aIWeG.jpg)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on May 29, 2013, 03:26:15 AM
Pity.  She was a reminder of a much simpler time when one conservative could seem nuttier than the rest.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on June 11, 2013, 04:18:36 AM
One of the better things to donate an old smartphone to (http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/07/android-rainforest-connection/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on June 26, 2013, 01:58:41 AM
DOMA struck down as unconstitutional, Prop 8 remanded to the circuit court with instructions to dismiss.

Today's a good day for gay rights.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on June 26, 2013, 02:37:28 AM
Fantastic.  I got up to hear the rulings were forthcoming and now I'm on my way out the door for work; I expect I'll hear more on NPR on the way.

Interesting to see Kennedy as tie-breaker.  I half-expected Roberts to do it, not because he believes in gay rights but because he has the good sense to know how a ruling in favor of DOMA would have looked in the history books a couple of decades from now.

So there's a scary possibility that Roberts does not give a damn about how history remembers him.  Or it could be something more cynical -- he knew the anti-DOMA side had the votes it needed so he was comfortable voting the way he actually felt.

Neither one speaks very highly of him.

Quote from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court/2013/06/26/f0039814-d9ab-11e2-a016-92547bf094cc_story.html
“DOMA instructs all federal officials, and indeed all persons with whom same-sex couples interact, including their own children, that their marriage is less worthy than the marriages of others,” Kennedy wrote.

“The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity.”

Wow -- go Kennedy.

Okay, I really need to go.  But that is indeed some :goodnews:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Caithness on June 26, 2013, 02:54:51 AM
-- he knew the anti-DOMA side had the votes it needed so he was comfortable voting the way he actually felt.

I think it's this one. From the stories I've heard about how the Supreme Court works, it's an extremely cynical institution.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: TA on June 26, 2013, 03:12:40 AM
Two things stand out to me:
1) Not just Kennedy in the majority, but Kennedy opinion.
2) "Subject to certain constitutional guarantees, see , e.g., Loving  v. Virginia , 388 U. S. 1, “regulation of domestic relations” is “an area that has long been regarded as a virtually exclusive province of the States,” Sosna v. Iowa , 419 U. S. 393, 404."  Emphasis mine.

This tells me that Kennedy is receptive to a challenge to state laws and constitutions that outlaw same-sex marriage, which means that the Court as a whole is receptive to that challenge.  Between this and the Prop 8 ruling, I think they're basically saying how they're gonna rule when the issue comes before them, and inviting it to be brought.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on June 26, 2013, 04:04:30 AM
I do have some questions about this ruling, though. What exactly does it mean? From what I read, I got the feeling that the federal government will recognize all same-sex marriages equally, but that it does nothing to actually make it possible for same-sex couples to marry. Or is that now any judge can, and must, perform a same-sex marriage?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on June 26, 2013, 05:18:29 AM
The way my gut says is that only DOMA's provision about denying the benefits of marriage to same-sex couples was found unconstitutional.  Only the states in which same-sex marriage is legal still stands, it's just that the federal government can't prohibit a legally married couple in Washington DC or any of the states in which same-sex marriage is legal from doing things like jointly filing taxes.  This will probably pave the way for future challenges, such as recognizing out-of-state same sex marriages under the Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution.

Example: I get married to a boyfriend in New York, does Texas have to recognize that marriage?

One comment on the SCOTUS liveblog I saw gave me a chuckle.  "For the first time in history, people are going to be happy about filing their taxes on April 15th."
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: TA on June 26, 2013, 05:37:28 AM
I do have some questions about this ruling, though. What exactly does it mean? From what I read, I got the feeling that the federal government will recognize all same-sex marriages equally, but that it does nothing to actually make it possible for same-sex couples to marry. Or is that now any judge can, and must, perform a same-sex marriage?

The ruling does two things.

1) Forces the federal government to recognize marriages that are legal in the state.  So, taxes, immigration, all sorts of things - the list of laws this impacts is more than a thousand statues long.  This is a big deal for the people it impacts - couples where one partner can't enter the country, or as in the case from which this ruling arose, $360k inheritance issues - but not much so for the people it doesn't.

2) Exists as an equal protection ruling on sexual orientation from the Supreme Court.  This is New.  This establishes sexual orientation as a protected class, and forces discriminatory legislation to adhere to a higher level of scrutiny than Rational Basis.  This is the precedent from which everything else will draw.  This is the precedent you need to shut down gay marriage bans, this is the precedent you need to prohibit firing on the basis of orientation, this is the Supreme Court saying that having different rules for straight people and gay people is a fifth amendment violation.  This is the part of the ruling that is a big fuckin' deal.

Quote
The power the Constitution grants it also restrains. And though Congress has great authority to design laws to fit its own conception of sound national policy, it cannot deny the liberty protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.

What has been explained to this point should more than suffice to establish that the principal purpose and the necessary effect of this law are to demean those persons who are in a lawful same-sex marriage. This requires the Court to hold, as it now does, that DOMA is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the liberty of the person protected by the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.

This is the moneyshot.

What the ruling does not do:

Force Texas to recognize a New York marriage.  Yet.  Because that wasn't an issue before the court here, but with this precedent, the court can't uphold that part when it comes before them either.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on June 26, 2013, 06:25:32 AM
This is also going to have a big impact on same-sex couples in the military; last year, after DADT was struck down, the DoD made it clear that as long as the language in DOMA denying federal benefits to same-sex marriages was still being enforced, military spouses in same-sex couples would NOT receive benefits. Now that that’s no longer the case, all military spouses will be able to receive the same healthcare, housing, education, insurance, and other benefits, regardless of sexual orientation.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: TA on June 26, 2013, 06:43:51 AM
In point of fact,

Quote from: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
The Department of Defense welcomes the Supreme Court's decision today on the Defense of Marriage Act. The Department will immediately begin the process of implementing the Supreme Court's decision in consultation with the Department of Justice and other executive branch agencies. The Department of Defense intends to make the same benefits available to all military spouses - regardless of sexual orientation - as soon as possible. That is now the law, and it is the right thing to do.

"Every person who serves our nation in uniform stepped forward with courage and commitment. All that matters is their patriotism, their willingness to serve their country and their qualifications to do so. Today's ruling helps ensure that all men and women who serve this country can be treated fairly and equally, with the full dignity and respect they so richly deserve."
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Ted Belmont on June 27, 2013, 03:30:24 PM
And then there was that time a 12 year old girl used the power of SHAME to scare away an armed pedophile who broke into her house. (http://www.komu.com/news/12-year-old-uses-tv-knowledge-to-scare-off-gunman/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on June 27, 2013, 10:22:37 PM
And then there was that time a 12 year old girl used the power of SHAME to scare away an armed pedophile who broke into her house. (http://www.komu.com/news/12-year-old-uses-tv-knowledge-to-scare-off-gunman/)

Quote
Wildflower said the man turned to leave and she told him he should be ashamed of himself. The man then lowered his head and left.

I didn't think people actually DID that.  :glee:
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on June 28, 2013, 03:57:02 AM
I'm strictly theorizing here, but I wouldn't think a man that sneaks into 12-year-old girl's bedrooms at night would be the assertive type.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on July 11, 2013, 04:45:56 PM
Ed Kramer ousted from Dragon*Con; Nancy Collins declares boycott over. (http://comicsworthreading.com/2013/07/08/its-safe-to-go-to-dragoncon-again/)

If the name doesn't ring any bells, here's what I had to say about it a few months back:

So, uh, anybody been keeping up with the story of Ed Kramer, the Dragon*Con co-founder who's spent the past 13 years stalling a trial on child molestation charges?

An article from last September in Atlanta Magazine (http://www.atlantamagazine.com/features/story.aspx?ID=1764014) has a pretty thorough breakdown of everything that's happened -- the original charges, the variety of ways Kramer managed to wear down authorities until they let him go from jail and put him under house arrest, and then let him out once a week, and eventually agreed to take off his ankle bracelet -- and how he eventually got caught violating his parole following a 16-year-old boy around in Connecticut in 2009.  He spent the ensuing three years fighting to keep from being extradited back to Georgia, but as of last week (http://www.ajc.com/news/news/dragoncon-co-founder-back-in-gwinnett-county-jail/nT3b2/) he's finally back in a Georgia jail and will hopefully actually get tried now.

As for how he's been able to play this game for so long: part of it is that he's got some legitimate and serious health problems (and possibly some less legitimate and serious ones that he's exaggerated, too), and part of it is that he's still got plenty of money coming in from Dragon*Con (he's still a 34% owner).

It looks like he's been bought out (against his wishes, of course, and he's threatening to sue).  Which means, yes, he'll get a sizable one-time payout, but he's got plenty of creditors at his door and now his income has been cut off.

So uh you might want to share that if you know anybody who wants to go to Dragon*Con.

And now you can share THIS with anyone who wanted to go to Dragon*Con but was planning on boycotting.  And thank them, because this happened because of them.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on July 13, 2013, 10:01:01 AM
PA teen saves girl from kidnapping (http://news.yahoo.com/video/pa-teen-saves-girl-kidnapping-135857501.html)
and
Teenager jailed over ‘sarcastic’ Facebook post out on bail (http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/07/09/texas-19-year-old-in-prison-for-sarcastic-facebook-post/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on July 17, 2013, 02:01:19 PM
A woman is robbed and calls the thief's mother on the cellphone he left behind (http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2021351214_cellphonevigilantexml.html)

spoilers: there's a happy ending.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on July 17, 2013, 04:03:31 PM
There was a story in the New Times the other week about how one of the Granite Mountain Hotshots who died in the Yarnell fire had been arrested as a teenager -- I think it was a similar story, stealing stuff out of a car.

My first thought was that this was pretty disgusting, digging up the arrest record of someone who'd just died.  But on reading it I changed my mind -- the story was about how the arrest record noted that he had been contrite, seemed to legitimately regret what he'd done, and hoped that his mistake wouldn't hurt his chances of becoming a firefighter.

People make mistakes.  Teenagers, in particular, do stupid shit.

(And sometimes, as in the case of the husband in the story, people do intelligent and responsible shit that just so happens to result in them being caught doing something illegal, and have a felony conviction chase them around for the rest of their fucking lives.)

At any rate, good on her for giving the kid an opportunity to do the right thing without getting The Man involved.

May he use this opportunity he has been given to not fuck up again.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on July 17, 2013, 04:10:28 PM
Having just watched the Lower Decks episode of TNG I find this whole conversation to be bizarrely resonant.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Niku on July 18, 2013, 03:29:22 AM
There was a story in the New Times the other week about how one of the Granite Mountain Hotshots who died in the Yarnell fire had been arrested as a teenager -- I think it was a similar story, stealing stuff out of a car.

My first thought was that this was pretty disgusting, digging up the arrest record of someone who'd just died.  But on reading it I changed my mind -- the story was about how the arrest record noted that he had been contrite, seemed to legitimately regret what he'd done, and hoped that his mistake wouldn't hurt his chances of becoming a firefighter.

People make mistakes.  Teenagers, in particular, do stupid shit.

(And sometimes, as in the case of the husband in the story, people do intelligent and responsible shit that just so happens to result in them being caught doing something illegal, and have a felony conviction chase them around for the rest of their fucking lives.)

At any rate, good on her for giving the kid an opportunity to do the right thing without getting The Man involved.

May he use this opportunity he has been given to not fuck up again.

My brother had a drug record as a teenager, so he was denied every chance to become a city firefighter.  He still works as a volunteer one, and has for over a decade.  Systems can't completely stop people from doing what they're passionate about, but it is a crock of shit that stuff that happens as a teenager essentially goes on the permanent record.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on August 09, 2013, 01:17:37 PM
Drones deliver beer instead of bombs at South African Music festival (http://www.france24.com/en/20130808-drone-delivers-beer-not-bombs-safrica-music-festival)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on August 14, 2013, 12:26:50 AM
Ghanaian anti-corruption fighter fights the good fight (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/ghanas-legendary-corruption-fighter-keeps-citizens-in-line/article13749860/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Smiler on September 12, 2013, 05:15:31 AM
Study cube a hit with Korean parents. (http://iamkoream.com/study-cube-a-hit-with-korean-parents/)

(http://i.imgur.com/DcY2svNl.jpg)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on September 12, 2013, 05:43:47 AM
More like TARD-IS, amirite?
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on September 17, 2013, 10:50:35 AM
Filipino Police Chief capured by armed rebels, talks said rebels into surrendering (http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/09/17/philippines_rebels_police_chief_hostage_persuades_captors_to_surrender.html)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on October 04, 2013, 02:28:22 AM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/03/wendy-davis-texas-governor_n_4039113.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/03/wendy-davis-texas-governor_n_4039113.html)

Quote
“I had no real idea what the future looked like. Today, I see it pretty clearly. It’s looking right at me. It’s you. It’s all of you. And all of you deserve to have your voices heard. Because our future is brightest when it’s lit by everyone’s star. And that’s why, today, I’m proud to announce my candidacy to be the 48th governor of this great state.”
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on October 04, 2013, 02:33:55 AM
Also:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/kkk-rally-canceled_n_4024192.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/kkk-rally-canceled_n_4024192.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular)

(I know it's HuffPo, but this is a relatively minor story).
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Friday on October 04, 2013, 04:08:28 AM
can you make it to the rally

no sorry i'm busy

kkk
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on November 04, 2013, 03:13:44 AM
A billion euros in art once thought destroyed has been found in Munich. (http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/11/04/vast-1-4-billion-stash-of-art-thought-destroyed-in-nazi-germany-found-in-munich-apartment/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on November 11, 2013, 04:53:13 PM
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/family/2013/11/families_dealing_with_mental_illness_need_support_too.2.html (http://www.slate.com/articles/life/family/2013/11/families_dealing_with_mental_illness_need_support_too.2.html)

This is not news per se, but a very nice little editorial nonetheless.

(Thad, you can move this somewhere else if appropriate).
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: TA on November 21, 2013, 05:41:57 AM
The Filibuster is gone. (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/21/harry-reid-likely-to-go-nuclear-today/?hpt=hp_t1)

Well, as far as appointments anyway.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Zaratustra on November 21, 2013, 07:59:23 AM
The Filibuster is gone. (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/21/harry-reid-likely-to-go-nuclear-today/?hpt=hp_t1)

Well, as far as appointments anyway.

(http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3923260/testicles.jpg)

I don't know what the women find. An attack womb or something.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Royal☭ on November 21, 2013, 08:13:48 AM
If It Happened There: U.S. Restores Majority Rule in Legislature (http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_world_/2013/11/21/if_it_happened_there_how_would_we_cover_the_nuclear_option_if_it_happened.html)

Quote
WASHINGTON, United States—In what analysts are calling a landmark step on the country’s path toward representative democracy, the U.S. government agreed today to allow most appointments to high offices to be approved by a majority vote. However, opposition lawmakers are crying foul, arguing that the change will allow the country’s embattled leader to seize more power.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on November 25, 2013, 07:02:57 AM
http://www.newstaco.com/2013/11/21/catch-an-illegal-protest-at-u-t-austin-totally-backfires/ (http://www.newstaco.com/2013/11/21/catch-an-illegal-protest-at-u-t-austin-totally-backfires/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on November 26, 2013, 06:06:31 PM
Black musician has spent years befriending multiple KKK members, causes collapse of Maryland KKK (http://guardianlv.com/2013/11/kkk-member-walks-up-to-black-musician-in-bar-but-its-not-a-joke-and-what-happens-next-will-astound-you/)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: McDohl on November 26, 2013, 10:53:51 PM
Cheerful...until you get to the comments section.

Fuck an internet.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on December 03, 2013, 12:30:06 PM
http://www.alternet.org/sex-amp-relationships/i-took-down-man-who-posted-hacked-topless-photo-my-daughter-internet?page=0%2C0&paging=off&current_page=1#bookmark (http://www.alternet.org/sex-amp-relationships/i-took-down-man-who-posted-hacked-topless-photo-my-daughter-internet?page=0%2C0&paging=off&current_page=1#bookmark)

Proving once again that this stuff only works until you run into people who are smarter than you. Which tends to be a lower bar for folks like Moore than is imagined.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on December 03, 2013, 04:46:33 PM
Doesn't even need to be somebody smart (though it clearly was in this case), just somebody who's got the time, resources, and stubbornness to fight back.

Tactics like Moore's rely on his victims being too ashamed and scared to fight back.  That's how predators operate.

Laws has done more than take down the most notorious revenge porn site on the web.  She's created a roadmap.  She's made it easier for other people to do the same.  Mark Randazza (whose name you might recognize from the story) made quick work of Is Anybody Down? (http://www.popehat.com/2012/10/30/the-takedown-lawyer-lets-help-marc-randazza-investigate-a-scammer-shall-we/), a copycat site that added the interesting twist of extorting its victims to pay to have their photos removed.  (You gotta figure Moore is kicking himself for not thinking of that.)

There's also the turnabout element of the story.  People who make a habit of posting their enemies' names and home addresses on popular websites cry the loudest when it happens to them.

If you think "Most Hated Man on the Internet" is something you actually WANT to be, then you have not thought things through.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: François on December 23, 2013, 07:34:27 AM
Cops nab paedophile after tip-off from thief (http://www.thelocal.es/20131219/cops-nab-paedophile-after-tip-off-from-thief)
Quote
The suspect had reported a burglary at his home nine days earlier, listing several appliances as stolen but making no mention of his missing video camera and tapes, police said.
I don't know what the moral of the story is here. Err, other than "don't be a pedophile", I suppose.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on December 26, 2013, 09:20:41 AM
Alan Turing has been granted a pardon for liking dudes, nearly 60 years after his death (and more than 60 years after his chemical castration).
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Mongrel on December 26, 2013, 09:24:02 AM
Alan Turing has been granted a pardon for liking dudes, nearly 60 years after his death (and more than 60 years after his castration).

I may be a straight man, but I have always maintained that if either Freddie Mercury or Alan Turing had ever propositioned me, there's no way I'd have ever been able to say no.

(sorry Freddie, no bareback for you though)
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on December 26, 2013, 01:58:17 PM
It seemed more or less token when I posted it but after considering the circumstances, this is pretty major turn for GB.  3 years ago the official response boiled down to "We may disagree with the laws of the time but they were the laws of the time and Turing broke them."  Now we've got a document straight from Her Freaking Majesty Herself (who may not be an actual lawmaker per se but whose opinions are probably worth more, culturally) saying no, this never should have happened.  So that's the word.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Thad on December 26, 2013, 03:49:19 PM
But have they pardoned everybody ELSE convicted of sodomy?

Because Alan Turing is my fucking hero, but there are people who are still alive who were subjected to the same treatment he was.  It'd be a lot easier for me to get excited about a symbolic gesture if it were accompanied by extending the same courtesy to people for whom it might actually still matter.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on December 26, 2013, 03:56:04 PM
Dead men don't reject apologies.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Brentai on December 26, 2013, 04:28:28 PM
I assume it's coming.  You can't really kowtow to public opinion and then set a precedent that it's only okay if you happen to be a war hero.
Title: Re: Cheerful News
Post by: Büge on December 28, 2013, 06:10:31 AM
Alan Turing has been granted a pardon for liking dudes, nearly 60 years after his death (and more than 60 years after his chemical castration).

Quote from: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/dec/24/enigma-codebreaker-alan-turing-royal-pardon
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Sharkey, who introduced the private member's bill in the House of Lords, said: "This has demonstrated wisdom and compassion. It has recognised a very great British hero and made some amends for the cruelty and injustice with which Turing was treated.

"It's a wonderful thing, but we are not quite finished yet. I will continue to campaign for all those convicted as Turing was, simply for being gay, to have their convictions disregarded. That will be a proper and fitting and final end to the Turing story."

 :mystery: