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June 02, 2006

What a NINCOWPOOOP, what an ULTRA MAROON

New York Daily News - Home - Offensive, moronic, stupid:


State Controller Alan Hevesi issued groveling apologies yesterday - saying it was "remarkably stupid" for him to inexplicably declare Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) "will put a bullet between the President's eyes."
The Democrat made the stunning gaffe at the Queens College commencement as he praised Schumer's work in Washington and the senator's willingness to take on the White House.

Dressed in a ceremonial gown, Hevesi called Schumer "the man who, uh, uh, how do I phrase this diplomatically, will put a bullet between the President's eyes if he could get away with it."

Later at a hastily called news conference, Hevesi ate a huge helping of crow.

"What I intended to say was that Chuck Schumer is incredibly smart, courageous, willing even to stand up to the President of the United States," Hevesi said.

"What came out of my mouth was that Chuck Schumer is smart and brave and capable of putting a bullet between the President's eyes."

Hevesi called his comment "incredibly moronic," "totally offensive" and "remarkably stupid" - assessments his GOP foes echoed.

He apologized publicly to President Bush and also phoned Schumer with a private mea culpa.

So far, the Queens pol said, he hasn't gotten a call from the Secret Service. There was no immediate reaction from the White House.

January 04, 2006

Outsourcing - Author Unknown

Congress today announced that the office of President of the United States of America will be out-sourced to India as of January 12, 2006.

The move is being made to save the President's $400,000 yearly salary, and also a record $521 billion in deficit expenditures and related overhead the office has incurred during the last 5 years.

"We believe this is a wise move financially. The cost savings should be significant," stated Congressman Thomas Reynolds (R-WA). Reynolds, with the aid of the Government Accounting Office, has studied out-Sourcing of American jobs extensively. "We cannot expect to remain competitive on the world stage with the current level of cash outlay," Reynolds noted.

Mr. Bush was informed by email this morning of his termination. Preparations for the job move have been underway for sometime. Gurvinder Singh of Indus Teleservices, Mumbai, India, will be assum ing the office of President as of January 12, 2006.

Mr. Singh was born in the United States while his Indian parents were vacationing at Niagara Falls, thus making him eligible for the position. He will receive a salary of $320 (USD) a month but with no health coverage or other benefits.

It is believed that Mr. Singh will be able to handle his job responsibilities without a support staff. Due to the time difference between the US and India, he will be working primarily at night, when few offices of the US Government will be open. "Working nights will allow me to keep my day job at the American Express call center, "stated Mr. Singh in an exclusive interview. "I am excited about this position. I always hoped I would be President someday."

A Congressional spokesperson noted that while Mr. Singh may not be fully aware of all the issues involved in the office of President, this should not be a problem cause Bush was not familiar w ith the issues either. Mr. Singh will rely upon a script tree that will enable him to respond effectively to most topics of concern. Using these canned responses, he can address common concerns without having to understand the underlying issues at all.

"We know these scripting tools work," stated the spokesperson. "President Bush has used them successfully for years." Mr. Singh may have problems with the Texas drawl, but lately Bush has abandoned the "down home" persona in his effort to appear intelligent and on top of the Katrina situation.

Bush will receive health coverage, expenses, and salary until his final day of employment. Following a two week waiting period, he will be eligible for! $240 a week unemployment for 13 weeks. Unfortunately he will not be eligible for Medicaid, as his unemployment benefits will exceed the allowed limit.

Mr. Bush has been provided the out-placement services of Manpower, Inc. to help him write a re sume and prepare for his upcoming job transition. According to Manpower, Mr. Bush may have difficulties in securing a new position due to limited practical work experience. A Greeter position at Wal-Mart was suggested due to Bush's extensive experience shaking hands and phony smile.

Another possibility is Bush's re-enlistment in the Texas Air National Guard. His prior records are conspicuously vague but should he choose this option, he would likely be stationed in Waco, TX for a month, before being sent to Iraq, a country he has visited. "I've been there, I know all about Iraq," stated Mr. Bush, who gained invaluable knowledge of the country in a visit to the Baghdad Airport's terminal and gift shop.

Sources in Baghdad and Falluja say Mr. Bush would receive a warm reception from local Iraqis. They have asked to be provided with details of his arrival so that they might arrange an appropriate welcome.

May 09, 2005

Hilary Rosen Laments Apple's DRM Strategy (Ernest Miller)

Oh such a lovely illustration of "you reap what you sow." I couldn't have come up with a more apt illustration to shove down the throats of the "let's sue the college students" cabal. It's perfectly ok to have draconian protection schemes when it protects YOUR self interest, but if it protects someone else's, then it's BAD and WRONG. *snort* Yeah, Hilary.... go for it. Keep on whining and proving our points for us.

Hilary Rosen Laments Apple's DRM Strategy (Ernest Miller): "

Hilary Rosen, formerly head of the RIAA, has a most hilarious column on the new Huffington Post. I double checked the date on the post, and it isn't April Fools. Miss Rosen is complaining that she can't buy music for her iPod that doesn't come from iTunes (Steve Jobs, Let my Music Go):

I spent 17 years in the music business the last several of which were all about pushing and prodding the painful development of legitimate on-line music. Now, the music fan is on the cusp of riches in their options - free of the viruses of the pirate sites. There are lots of places you can go for great music at good deals and with a deep catalog of songs from over the last 20 or 30 years. MSN.com, Rhapsody.com, aolmusic.com, even walmart.com. There are little players to make your favorite music even more portable than ever starting at as little as 29 bucks. Most every player device works at every one of these ‘stores’ and it is pretty easy to keep all the songs, no matter where you got them, in a single folder or 'jukebox' on your computer.
Hello? This was and is an obvious consequence of your DRM-ed world, Miss Rosen. Apple is simply doing what comes natural. Having insisted on the means for exclusion being legally protected (i.e. DMCA), Apple is using those means to exclude competitors. The only reason that the other companies mentioned aren't doing the same thing is because they are struggling to gain marketshare. Were they the dominant players in the market, they would be doing the same thing as Apple.
The problem is that the iPod only works with either songs that you buy from the on-line Apple iTunes store or songs that you rip from your own CD’s.
Well, only if you ignore the many smaller companies that sell unencumbered MP3s to their customers.
But those other music sites have lots of music that you can’t get at the iTunes store.
And they haven't licensed to Apple, why? Whose fault is that? Is it Apple's? Or is it the fault of your former clients?
If you are really a geek, you can figure out how to strip the songs you might have bought from another on-line store of all identifying information so that they will go into the iPod. But then you have also degraded the sound quality. How cruel.
Cruel? Miss Rosen is one of the main people who insisted on creating the environment for this cruelty. In any case, if you know what you're doing, you don't have to lose much in the way of sound quality ... unless the systems are designed to make such stripping of information result in poor sound quality. Then, of course, you could always strip the DRM, but that would be a crime, thanks in part to Miss Rosen.
But keeping the iTunes system a proprietary technology to prevent anyone from using multiple (read Microsoft) music systems is the most anti-consumer and user unfriendly thing any god can do. Is this the same Jobs that railed for years about the Microsoft monopoly? Is taking a page out of their playbook the only way to have a successful business? If he isn’t careful Bill Gates might just Betamax him while the crowds cheer him on. Come on Steve - open it up.
Is it the only way to run a successful business? No, but it is a very good way to run one. Jobs isn't going to open up his system until it makes business sense. Unfortunately, Miss Rosen hasn't provided a single argument as to why it makes good business sense for him to do so. Is DRM anti-consumer and user unfriendly? Heck, yes. But that didn't stop Miss Rosen for lobbying on its behalf.
Why am I complaining about this? Why isn’t everyone?
Many of us have been complaining for a long, long time. Of course, our voices may have been drowned out to a certain extent by all the propaganda emanating from the RIAA that music without the encumbrances of DRM is tantamount to piracy.

You can't have it both ways Miss Rosen. If you want DRM, someone is going to have to control that DRM. And if you don't think they won't use that control to their ultimate advantage, you obviously didn't learn anything from your association with the music industry.

"

(Via Copyfight.)

March 08, 2005

vote early, vote often

Wil, Wil, Wil... although I really like your blog, and love reading your stuff, I have to tell you that I bet you aren't going to win in this case. You MUST separate yourself from the "annoying Wesley Crusher" and admit that he WAS the most annoying character, followed closely by Lwaxanna Troi, Alexander Rozhenko and Quark. Get over it, man. Keep writing and appearing on CSI. You'll be fine.

Oh dear.

It appears that TV Guide is holding an online poll about Star Trek, and our dear, sweet young Ensign Crusher is currently leading in the "Most Annoying Character" category.

I know, it's hard to believe it, especially when we consider that Wesley was given lines such as, "We're from Starfleet! We don't lie!" and "I feel strange, but also good!" and the ever-popular "Course laid in, sir." But it's true. And so very, very sad.

Not that I care about this sort of thing . . . but actually, I do. I'm really tired of wearing that "Annoying Character" albatross around my neck, and if Wesley is voted most annoying in TV Guide's big old Farewell to Star Trek issue, I don't think I'll ever hear the end of it.

I'm not suggesting that thousands of WWdN readers go take the poll and stuff the ballot box. I mean, that would just be wrong, right?

Normally, I'd stuff this ballot box entirely on my own, but if some of you WWdN readers want to legitimately and honestly vote for another character, like The Computer Voice for instance — I mean, come on! How many times did the stupid Ship's Computer actually save the crew? Yeah! That's what I thought. She's got nothing on Wesley Crusher — I would be ever so grateful.

Provided, of course, that you truly believe there is a different, more annoying character than Wesley — I'd never suggest taking actions which could call into question the legitimacy of an online Star Trek poll. Oh no, not me.

Never.

Perish the thought.

I'm serious! Start perishing (right after you vote, that is.)

Thank you.

[Wil Wheaton]

December 25, 2003

Happy Ranting Holidays :-)

In the ranting holiday spirit, it has become desirable, nay necessary, to post the lyrics to my favorite xmas song.

2. Merry Fucking Christmas
Performed by Mr Garrison
I heard there is no Christmas,
In the silly Middle East..
No Trees, no Snow, no Santa Claus,
They have Different Religious beliefs..
They Believe in Muhammad,
And not in our Holiday..
And so every December,
I go to the Middle East and say..

Hey there Mr Muslim, Merry Fucking Christmas
Put down that book 'The Koran'
and hear some holiday wishes
Incase you haven't noticed,
it's Jesus's Birthday
So get off you heathen Muslim Ass
And fucking celebrate.

There is no holiday season in india,
i've heard..
They don't hang up their stockings,
and that is just absurd..
They've never read a Christmas Story,
They Don't know what Rudolph is about..
And that's why in December,
I'll go to india and shout..

Hey there Mr Hinduist, Merry Fucking Christmas
Dring some 'nog, and eat some Beef
and pass it to the Missus
Incase you haven't noticed,
It's Jesus's Birthday
So get off your heathen hindu ass,
And fucking celebrate.

Now I heard that in Japan,
Everyone just lives in sin..
They pray to several gods,
And put needles in their skin..
On December twenty-fifth,
all they do is eat a cake..
and that is why i'll go to Japan,
and walk around and say..

Hey there Mr Shintoist, Merry Fucking Christmas
God is gonna kick your ass You infidelic pagan scum.
Incase you haven't noticed,
There's festive things to do
So lets all rejoice for Jesus
and Merry Fucking Christmas to you.

On Christmas Day, I travel round the world and say..
Taoists, Korishnas, Buddists
and all you atheists too..
Merry Fucking Christmas to you.
Thank you, Mr Hat..

December 06, 2003

Beat The Ticket The Electronic Way

Driver registers online at stop


Published in the Home News Tribune 12/05/03
By KEN SERRANO
STAFF WRITER

NORTH BRUNSWICK: When a township patrol officer pulled over Sean Leach yesterday on Route 130, the Jersey City man had a problem: His registration was overdue.

But he also had a cell phone and a friend with a computer he was able to reach.

Using the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission's online registration, Leach, 36, got his car renewed while patrolman Jason Zier was writing him up.

The upshot: Leach got the ticket for having an unregistered vehicle, but he beat the towing bill.

Continue reading "Beat The Ticket The Electronic Way" »

November 26, 2003

Dancing Bin Laden?

A reader tip to the Dark Ranting website produced this lovely missive from our friends at MSNBC . Paul suggests that we change voice chips with Barbie so Osama says "Math is Hard" and Saddam says "Let's go shopping."

JERUSALEM, Nov. 26 — Israeli customs have seized a shipment of 450 singing, dancing Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein dolls under a law banning incitement, an official said on Wednesday.

The battery powered figurines were confiscated at the northern port of Haifa, Customs Authority spokeswoman Idit Lev-Zerahiya said.
     
 An Israeli Arab businessman from the northern village of Qafr Qara admitted under questioning to importing the 400 copies of the al-Qaida leader and 50 of the deposed Iraqi ruler, as a “gimmick” for sale to Jews and Arabs, a customs statement said.

Continue reading "Dancing Bin Laden?" »

November 05, 2003

White House Told To Justify Secrecy

This could be an interesting fight between the judicial and executive branches of our government. It will be quite interesting to watch Ashcroft attempt to wiggle out of this one.

The Supreme Court announced yesterday that it wants the Bush administration to defend the secrecy that enveloped lower federal courts' proceedings involving one of the 1,200 Arab and Muslim men detained by federal authorities after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. [Washington Post: Nation and Politics]

October 21, 2003

Ever Wanted a Weasel Award?

From Slashdot

colinmc151 writes "Well, Dilbert's Way of the Weasel Poll Results are in, with 35,874 people voting. Weaseliest Organization was won by the Recording Industry Association of America. Weaseliest Company was won by Microsoft. The Weaseliest Individual award was won by George W. Bush. Weaseliest Profession went to Politicians. Weaseliest Country went to France. Weaseliest Behavior was 'Blaming fast food restaurants for making you fat.' Congratulations to all the deserving winners."

October 14, 2003

Essential To A Busy Life

Yes, it really does work!! It actually detects methane (fart) gas. When gas is detected, you will hear:

"Warning! Fart detected!
Whoop! Whoop!"

Do you dare to bring it with you the next time you ride an elevator?...

Batteries included

October 10, 2003

Bush Expands Axis of Evil

From Deadbrain

DeadBrain can exclusively reveal today that star 37 Gem – the star most recently determined to have the highest chance of harbouring alien life - has been targeted by US President "Boy" George W Bush as being a key participant in the so-called Axis of Evil.

The star was discovered by Maggie Turnbull of the University of Arizona in Tucson, after many years of searching for a suitable star to research. She eventually homed in on Gem 37 because of a freak similarity between its name and the number of countries President Bush has accused of harbouring terrorists in the last year or so. DeadBrain cornered Secretary of Offence Donald Rumsfeld to find out exactly what prompted the President's claims.

"Yeah, the Pres. had got all the guys together, ya know, and we had a few brewskis and, well, shucks, that damn star was just so damn irritating. I mean, what kind of name is 'Gem 37'. Stupid universe."

Continue reading "Bush Expands Axis of Evil" »