December 14, 2011

Never been to The Smithsonian? 47 Panoramic Virtual Tours

There are 47 virtual panoramas of the exhibits. They can be viewed from small to large images.

http://www.mnh.si.edu/panoramas/htmlVersion/index.html

Fun!




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December 13, 2011

Jerry Sandusky waives preliminary hearing. Lawyer says it's a tactical maneuver.

BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- Jerry Sandusky's lawyer said he waived his preliminary hearing this morning on child sexual assault charges

The waiver means there will be no testimony today and the case will proceed to Common Pleas court.
<snip>
BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- Jerry Sandusky's lawyer said he waived his preliminary hearing this morning on child sexual assault charges

The waiver means there will be no testimony today and the case will proceed to Common Pleas court.

Michael Janet, an attorney for Victim 6, after Jerry Sandusky waived his preliminary hearing on charges he sexually abused 10 boys.

The hearing began at 8:30 a.m., and Sandusky, 67, waived immediately. He said in a press conference afterward that he intends to fight the charges, but today wasn't the day to do so. There has been no talk of a plea agreement, his lawyer said.

Lawyer Joe Amendola, addressing the media this morning outside the Centre County Courthouse, said he believes that Penn State assistant coach and grand jury witness Mike McQueary is the "centerpiece" of the prosecution's case. McQueary testified that he saw Sandusky in a Penn State shower raping a child in 2002, but that story has differed. Sandusky says he has showered with children, but never in a sexual way.

"Having realized McQueary's credibility was already in grave issue, we decided it made more sense to waive this hearing, work on defense," he said. "... If we destroy McQueary's credibility, then we put the credibility of all others involved into question."
<snip>

Amendola said that accusers are after money. "Many of alleged victims already have civil attorneys. "What greater motivation could there be to say 'I'm a victim' than money?" he said.

He said he thinks more accusers could come forward. "How do you decipher credibility when there could be a payday? The Commonwealth has a big job to do," he said.
<snip>
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/12/jerry_sanduskys_lawyer_says_he_1.html

McQueary's story has changed, but that won't affect the other witnesses. If they are found to be credible, then Sandusky is screwn.

In addition, 11 of the victims were going to testify. His lawyer could have judged how effective they are and other things.

This makes no sense to me. Even if more nasty stories hit the news, it would get them out before the trial which might dilute their potency a little. Drop all that shite at once and it will explode.

December 13, 2011

Mayor Of San Juan, Baffles Public With Astoundingly Strange Christmas Photo

Rejected photo:


Rejected photo:

<snip>
The caption under the astoundingly strange photo is equally as puzzling:

“That you may illuminate your dream this Christmas,” it reads in Spanish. We’re not quite sure what the Mayor’s dream is, but the hunt scene was chosen to embody the mayor's holiday spirits over a few other creepy options -- including an unconvincing penguin figure staring into a young man's ear in an frosty wonderland and a giant bird swooping over the Mayor’s head as a black bear poses nearby.

While some political rivals have interpreted the picture as Santini’s understated warning for opponents in the upcoming election, the Mayor insists that he was promoting the San Juan Wildlife Museum.

Whatever Santini's motivations may be, here at HuffPost LatinoVoices, we wish you a holiday filled with sassy seven year olds and taxidermied jungle
<snip>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/12/jorge-santini-mayor-of-san-juan-strange-christmas-photo_n_1143265.html

Alrighty then!
This sure says Christmas to me!
I didn't realize Jeebus was born in a zoo.


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December 12, 2011

If Joseph and Mary set off to Bethlehem today..... (point of order!)

Shannyn Moore (@shannynmoore)
12/12/11 5:15 PM
RT @earthtonadine:
If Joseph & Mary set off 2 Bethlehem from Nazareth 2day-they'd cross 11 Israeli checkpoints-security check & a 30 ft wall

They would also probably end up in custody Somwhere.

'Tis the season.....


(POO - There seems to be a quibble over the mission of the messiah?)

December 12, 2011

If those 2 smug toads Scalia and Thomas do not

have to recuse themselves from cases where there is a blatant conflict of interest if not possible reasons to impeach, nobody else on the Supreme Court should recuse themselves from anything.

Kagan should sit right where she is and the Dems should keep up a LOUD and STEADY drumbeat about the shenanigans those two Injustices have pulled.

I know. The Dems don't want to rock the boat. Hell, the GOPeas have run it aground. I say rock and roll away. The court is bent on turning back the clock so shaking the hell out for it can't hurt.

December 12, 2011

Alabama politician Bill Johnson caught in sperm donation scandal in New Zealand

Bill Johnson, a former top state official who made a failed bid for governor in 2010, has been living a secret life in New Zealand as a sperm donor for lesbian couples, a New Zealand newspaper reported today.

Johnson, a Republican from Prattville, has spent much of the past year in Christchurch, New Zealand, as a contractor working on the recovery effort from a deadly earthquake that struck the city in February.

The New Zealand Herald reported in its Sunday edition that Johnson, who is married, has been using an alias to meet women who want help getting pregnant. The newspaper said it confirmed at least nine women had received sperm donations from Johnson, and at least three were pregnant.

The newspaper cited fertility medicine specialists in New Zealand who said that donors should not make sperm available to more than four families, to prevent accidental incest and lessen the stress donors and children face if they meet.
<snip>
More: http://blog.al.com/live/2011/12/alabama_politician_caught_in_s.html

The headline should have been 'Onan, The Barbarian.'

Boggles the mind it does.
His wife is apparently very hurt. I suppose this is a form of cheating on their marriage to her.
I'm sure the Alabama legislature will pass a law against something.

December 12, 2011

DO NOT donate to The Salvation Army

There was a thread not long ago about this topic. The SA do help the needy and, the person leading the organization takes a minimal salary compared to other charities. That is all well and good.

However, they are and have been actively involved in assaulting LGBT rights. For a summary of their involvement, please read this article:
http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/12/the-salvation-army-ringing-anti-gay-bells-this-holiday-season/

When giving to the SA, you are not just helping the needy. You are supporting a virulently bigoted organization, and your money is considered by them to be a act of approval of all their missions. They don't sit around and separate their funds that they use for those that need help and those that are used to fund hateful causes. When you put money into that red kettle, you are supporting both sides.

As a member of the LGBT community I find this disgraceful and dangerous. In this country, there is still a long way to go in passing gay rights. Every day there is another story about some kid being bullied about being gay or about some gay person being brutally beaten.

Any support given to the SA and other openly anti-LGBT groups only strengthens their resolve. This isn't a zero sum situation. Their good works do not cancel out their hate. If you support one side by giving money for the needy, you support the less admirable side.

There are many charitable organizations that aren't working against LGBT rights. The article that is linked to provides a list of these. Helping bearding hating is unacceptable.

You may think this is an extreme position. However, if you drop money into that kettle, think of those LGBT people who have been hurt in many ways. Think of those you know in the LGBT community. Think of the many other ways there are to help those that need it without hurting anybody else.

(I wrote this because I was so stunned by the number of people on DU who seemed to consider their anti-LGBT rights stance a minor issue compared to their work for the needy)

February 14, 2021

I would

they never found the murderers who killed Officer Sicknick or harmed the other Officers.

February 14, 2021

Qrump had being an Amfibbinagain down to an art form

Love your new word.

December 11, 2011

Which holiday movie are you?

1st question: 1.
Every Christmas movie should end:

With the main character finding new appreciation for life.

With the protagonist getting his first book published.

With a child happily receiving the gift he or she always wanted.

With at least one person getting swiftly kicked in the crotch.

9 more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/conversations/which-holiday-movie-are-you/2011/12/09/gIQAUenwhO_page.html?hpid=z10

I was 'A Christmas Story'.




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