Random Crap from Zeno Izen

Bits and pieces from the whirlwind of life, selected by a rabid skeptic.

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    Thu Nov 12
    “ The Root Cause Fallacy was designed to deflect attention away from Islam, in effect to exonerate Islam, which, we are told, is never to blame for acts of violence. CFI Releases Statement from Ibn Warraq in Response to Fort Hood Tragedy | Center for Inquiry
    Wed Nov 11
    Caricature Map of Europe 1914

    Caricature Map of Europe 1914

    Tue Nov 10
    via 9.media.tumblr.com

    via 9.media.tumblr.com

    Google News

    Mon Nov 9
    “ A McDonald’s employee said Monday the problem was caused when someone put pepper spray on a hand dryer in the men’s restroom. After turning the dryer on, the pepper spray spread throughout the restaurant. Pepper spray prank sickens 31 at McDonald’s | BlueRidgeNow.com | Times-News Online | Hendersonville, NC
    Thu Nov 5
    “ Bear with me here. Imagine “Ghostbusters” is based on a true story. Imagine the Dude from “The Big Lebowski” as a real-life U.S. Army general. All factual, right? That’s what “The Men Who Stare at Goats” sort of wants us to believe. I think I sort of do — to a small degree, sort of. “More of this is true than you would believe,” the movie announces in an opening title. I’m waiting for the review of this one in Skeptic magazine. The Men Who Stare at Goats :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews
    Wed Nov 4
    “ Iran’s opposition has come out in force to mount some of the biggest street protests since June’s disputed elections in a bid to overshadow official rallies marking the 30th anniversary of the storming of the US embassy in Tehran. Iran protesters hijack 30th anniversary of US embassy seizure | World news | guardian.co.uk
    Revolutionary Road… Wed. Nov. 4— protests of the Iranian elections are happening at this moment.

    Revolutionary Road…

    Wed. Nov. 4— protests of the Iranian elections are happening at this moment.

    “ Details are sketchy, but numerous witnesses report that veteran feature editor Henry Allen punched out feature writer Manuel Roig-Franzia on Friday. The fracas took place in sight of Post executive editor Marcus Brauchli’s office. Brauchli rushed to separate the two. Fists Fly After Post Editor Tells Writer, “It’s the Second Worst Story I Have Seen in Style in 43 Years” - Capital Comment Blog (washingtonian.com)
    Tue Nov 3
    “ LOS ANGELES — A Southern California man who aimed a laser beam at two airliners as they approached an airport has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for disrupting the flights. The Associated Press: Calif. man gets prison for aiming laser at planes
    Mon Nov 2
    From Reuters.com » Blog Archive » Graphic: Space hotel | Blogs |

    From Reuters.com » Blog Archive » Graphic: Space hotel | Blogs |

    Fri Oct 30
    “ While naked short-selling was the weapon used to bring down both Bear and Lehman, it would be preposterous to argue that the practice caused the financial crisis. The most serious problems in this economy were the result of other, broader classes of financial misdeed: corruption of the ratings agencies, the use of smoke-and-mirrors like derivatives, an epidemic tulipomania called the housing boom and the overall decline of American industry, which pushed Wall Street to synthesize growth where none existed. Wall Street’s Naked Swindle : Rolling Stone
    “ which was, like Bear, a giant bursting sausage of deadly subprime deals that didn’t need much of a push off the cliff

    Wall Street’s Naked Swindle : Rolling Stone

    Awesome mixed metaphor, Taibbi.  Still, intriguing article.
    Wed Oct 28
    “ Islam: Nothing quite like having your top prophet marry a 6-year-old to get you to pray five times a day. Seriously folks, have a BLT and a beer and chill the fuck out. William K. Wolfrum Chronicles » Blog Archive » Getting blasphemous before the UN, United States declare it a “misused freedom”
    Sun Oct 25
    “ MIAMI, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Palm Beach billionaire Jeffry Picower, described as the biggest beneficiary of Bernard Madoff’s fraud, died on Sunday after he was found lying at the bottom of the pool at his home, police said. UPDATE 1-Madoff friend Picower dead, found in pool | Funds | News | Reuters