A remembrance of Edward Abbey [Front Porch Republic]

Cosmopolitan's 44 Most Ridiculous Sex Tips [Nerve]

White working-class voters don’t think Obama cares about people like them [Michael Barone]

Who is destroying the American middle class? [Zero Hedge]

The disadvantages of being too smart [Satoshi Kanzawa]

Act of war: U.S., Israel developed Flame computer virus to slow Iranian nuclear efforts, officials say [Washington Post]

Why 'Nigerian Scammers' Say They're From Nigeria [Computer World]

"Selfish genes" indeed [Jared Taylor]

Untreatable Tuberculosis Reported In India [Medical News Today]

**

As Orwell said about the goose-step march of totalitarian armies: yes, it looks ridiculous, but you dare not laugh.

Weblog

Killer’s return unnerves west Michigan residents
But he's okay as long as he stays on his meds though, so no worries.
Bankrupt Hollywood Video still out to collect late fees on video rentals
One guy had his $2 late return fee snowball into $125 by additional fees added by a collection agency.
Motown legend and ex-Detroit City Council member Martha Reeves admits she's no politician
True enough on several levels.
The fading appeal of Glen Beck
I never could see what his appeal was.
Libya: inside the SAS operation that went FUBAR
Yet another justification for a MYOB foreign policy.
 The Actual Reasons the BATF Smuggled Guns Into Mexico
Incompetence and corruption head the list.
Californian Democrats face the reality of class warfare 
Government employees live, work and retire better than the taxpayers.
Is there a such a thing as a "thug gene"?
That would sure would explain a lot.

Ann Arbor school children played for suckers by Pepsi Co fundraising scheme: "

"...[T]hey put out flyers, talked to businesses, e-mailed, Facebooked, and Tweeted. They even partnered in recruiting online votes with the Saline school district, which was seeking a $25,000 grant for a greenhouse. Their efforts brought in enough votes to finish in twentieth place in December's balloting--but not enough to win any cash."

But the "good news" is that Pepsi automatically re-entered them into it's January contest. Sheesh. Hey kids! The bottom line on this kinda scam to is to always (always!) ask: "Who benefits?" If, after careful consideration, you conclude it ain't you, politely decline such dubious offers and move on to something more realistic.

Sign of the times...

An interesting story about an Ann Arbor couple who were evicted due to their landlord's failure to pay co-op association fees was posted on Ann Arbor.com today. This is one of the reasons that these property owner's association are such a bitch. The couple who are the subject of the AA.com story were only renting from the owner of the townhouse but their predicament got me thinking.

In modern America a person does not truly ever own their own home even if they owe no mortgage on it because it can still be foreclosed on for unpaid taxes and it seems unpaid association fees as well. In America you are permanently a wage slave no matter what; pay a bill and you "owe" it again next year. So you in fact only own your own home if you can keep feeding the beasts (governments & POAs) that have legal claims against it. You just have to love the American establishment's notion of an Ownership Society, eh?

Sign of the times...

I was skimming through Slashdot.org's posts this AM and found a seemingly funny one about a "free mobile phone game" that calls phones in Antarctica without the users knowledge and giving them a nasty surprise when their phone bill arrives. Funny huh? No, and that's a sign of the times. Things that should be a fun or entertaining are used for stupid or criminal (or stupidly criminal) purposes. And of course the FUD factor enters into it all.

weblog

Swiss artist catalogs & paints mutant insects found around nuclear plants - Wired
Facebook and Mozilla have contrasting visions for the future of your online identity - Technology Review

Private Equity Funds: The 1980's LBO scam is back - The American Prospect (Robert Kuttner)

Ever notice how incompetent people are often incredibly confident? - BoingBoing

Indian IT outsourcing firm finds and even cheaper workforce: Prison inmates - Slashdot

First and foremost capitalism is a race to the bottom for labor.

weblog

Portrait of a professional scam artist. - Wall Street Journal on-line
Since 1966 this guy has stolen nearly $500 mil yet it's only cost him 60 months total prison time spread out over forty years. And most of that was house arrest at his mansion in France.
Why Paying For Code Doesn't Mean You Own It - PC Pro (Kevin Partner)
California To Create Public Animal Abuser Registry - Time on-line (Alison Stateman)
What would you do for five bucks? - TechCrunch (Leena Rao)
"...a marketplace for gigs that are priced at $5. Essentially, you can sell and buy tasks for $5. So anyone can create a gig for small service on the site, and visitors can accept gigs as well. Gig prices are fixed at $5. "
Earth's robust magnetic field protects the planet and its inhabitants from the full brunt of the solar wind. - Scientific American on-line (John Matson)