I would if I could, but I can't!

My apologies.

Sadly Google aka Blogger have decided that if I 'Follow' a blog then it automatically reappears in Google Reader. I already use Google Reader daily (if not hourly!) to read all of the 250+ blogs I follow. Their interference now means that all of my files, folders and divisions get confused.

In short - I'm taking down the 85 blogs I had under 'Blogs I'm Following' on the Jumblerant site so that I can use Google Reader without interference from Big Brother.

I wouldn't be so annoyed except I have spent the last 30 minutes trying to find a button to press or line of HTML to insert to get rid of this nonsense - BUT THEY DON"T ALLOW IT!!

So again, my apologies to other Bloggers out there who now have 1 less 'Follower' on their site. I would if I could, but I can't!

kthanxbai!

5 Ways People Are Trying to Save the World (That Don't Work)

Are those hippies just getting you down? That recycling bag too annoying to schlep all the way to the recycling center? Organic vegetables cutting into your beer money?
 
Well EE over at Backboards and Band-Aids has found an interesting article:

5 Ways People Are Trying to Save the World (That Don't Work)

True or false? I'd love to hear your thoughts...


kthanxbai!

There ain't no mouse in this darn house

Over at Munchkin Wrangler there's an interesting short story. Probably the shortest story I've ever giggled at.

kthanxbai!

When the going gets tough

It appears that the unionized scumbags at the Employment Bureau in Israel are now on strike. This means that newly unemployed, current workers looking for work and benefits and even employers looking for new workers have to wait. I guess that the Workers' Union really know when to turn the screws, but not garner public sympathy.

As job losses increase, employment bureaus close

I still can't believe that the scumbags went on strike just after Israel reported an unprecedented high in new unemployed workers - 19,719 in January.

kthanxbai!

Libraries put Bible on top shelf

And you thought that the British government couldn't pander any more to the Muslim minority?

Libraries told to put Bible on top shelf to avoid offending Muslims | Mail Online

Pull the other one, it's got bells on.

kthanxbai!

Oops - I did it again

It looks like there was another major fraud going on recently. A mini-Madoff if you will. He only embezzled / defrauded / outright stole $8 billion so it took the SEC a while to catch the guy.

The Wall Street Journal has on it's front page - SEC Accuses Texas Financier of 'Massive' $8 Billion Fraud

I guess the normal news outlets (not 'outputs' as I wrote yesterday - DOH!) have more important news to report at this hour:

CNN - Facebook returns to its old Terms of Service
Fox - I don't know why I added this one but I did anyway...
BBC - still harking on about car makers - at least they're not bashing Israel right now
New York Times - also still harking on about car makers, but with different numbers to BBC
USA Today - new security measures at airports. Very uninteresting article - and I'm involved in airport security!

The Futility of Operation Cast Lead

I found Professor Cohen's perspective to be very interesting indeed.

Now that the dust of combat has begun to settle, it is time to consider what Israel might have gained – and lost – by launching Operation Cast Lead. To that end, this paper addresses four dimensions of the Israeli action: strategic, operational, societal and diplomatic.

It is good reading and really made me think about how I felt about Op Cast Lead.

'The Futility of Operation Cast Lead' by Stuart A Cohen, Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, Bar Ilan University


kthanxbai!

I'm a religious bigot

Over at Corn, Beans, Spent Brass an Empty Page and a Deadline Frank pretty much sums up my thoughts on this murder.

As sad as any murder is, this one seems to have been on the books for a while.

I guess it just goes to show that, for the time being, there should not or can not, be a bridge between certain religions.

From a quick Google search it looks like this story has gone around the Blogosphere much faster than the regular news outputs. I imagine that a beheading just isn't grizzly enough for them these days.

Google News report, Islamic TV founder charged with beheading wife

The Buffalo News, Prominent Orchard Park man charged with beheading his wife


UPDATE: Having mentioned that the Blogosphere is faster than regular news outputs - CNN came back with: Founder of Islamic TV station accused of beheading wife as their lead story on CNN AM quicknews.

Flight 1549 crash cause confirmed

The Smithsonian Institution’s Feather Identification Laboratory has identified DNA matter found in both CFM56-5B/P engines of US Airways Flight 1549 as belonging to the Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis), which generally weigh 5.8 to 8.7 lb.—larger than the bird ingestion standard for the engine.

Alternatively, I found these photos on-line of possible suspects:

Hudson River landing

Thanks to today's 'black box' technology we can actually see a reenactment of the landing;

http://www.passur.com/flash/Hudson_River_Landing_Simulation.html

O fall the data available I was amazed at the timings. The speed with which a decision had to be made, confirmed to be viable and then put into effect is amazing.

kthanxbai!

What I wanted for V day

Above is what I wanted for valentine's day - I only got a mug though....

Not even a cool mug

Bishop: 'There was not one Jew killed in the gas chambers'

I was sent a link this morning (hola Ian H.!) to an article about the reinstate Holocaust denying bishop in the Jerusalem Post .

Normally I wouldn't trust the spelling in the JPost, let alone their articles but this one seems to be witty, to the point and interesting.

Dear Bishop Williamson

kthanxbai!

These internet stars are viral

We Didn't Start The Viral · Snapped Shot

Over at Snapped Shot they're showing a bit of internet nostalgia. The lyrics, and links to the relevant YouTube clips are over there too.

Enjoy!!

The Internet Stars Are Viral

New email scam for US citizens

ReadWriteWeb reports on a new email scam that offers an easy way for US citizens to receive their stimulus payment - but when you open the attachment, instead of a PDF form you will probably be downloading a virus.

So 'bad boy' to the nasty scammers but a 'huzzah' for at least keeping up to date!

Watch out, there are even more thieves about....

Stimulus Package Stimulates New Creative Scam - ReadWriteWeb

It's just unbelievable

A hat tip to Drawn Cutlass for his take on the Holocaust denying British bishop pardoned by the Pope...

A Roman Catholic bishop who is at the center of controversy for denying the Holocaust wants to examine the historical evidence.

He must be taking his cue from St. Thomas the Apostle.

Funny
how Bishop Williamson is willing to believe such things as the
Resurrection, Virgin Birth, Immaculate Conception and miracles but
isn't willing to believe in the Holocaust.

Medic Three has a new addition

Congrats to Medic Three on the birth of his first son, Asher. Why not go over there and say nice things to the new parents?

Medic Three: Baby Asher

kthanxbai!!

Marketing blurb

it is my humble opinion that Seth Godin is a Marketing genius.

In one of his blogs today he really gets to the crux of the problem that all of us 'Marketing People' face on a very frequent basis.

 Seth's Blog: Which comes first, the product or the marketing?

When I started my Marketing degree back in the '90s it was explained to us that Marketing is what happens from before the product is made until AFTER IT IS SOLD.

Just remember that when you next confuse Marketing and advertising!

UN - untrustworhty, unethical and under investigation

I guess the UN isn't as trustworthy, upstanding and helpful as they think.

BBC NEWS | Special Reports | Peacekeepers 'abusing children'

UN SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDALS

2003 - Nepalese troops accused of sexual abuse while serving in DR Congo. Six are later jailed

2004 - Two UN peacekeepers repatriated after being accused of abuse in Burundi

2005 - UN troops accused of rape and sexual abuse in Sudan

2006 - UN personnel accused of rape and exploitation on missions in Haiti and Liberia

2007 - UN launches probe into sexual abuse claims in Ivory Coast

Our mistake, sorry for any inconvenience

So here we go. Finally.

In a total and utter surprise UNWRA admitted that the much publicized missiles that hit the UNWRA school in Gaza, well they didn't. They hit outside.

This incorrectly reported (my, aren't I diplomatic today) incident inflamed the anti-semitic parades and riots throughout the world.

Whats that I hear you say? Yes, I too didn't see it on CNN, read it in The Times or hear it on BBC World.

So here is the text for you, and the original document link below it;

Clarification: While correctly reported on 6 January that Israeli
shells landed outside an UNRWA school in Jabalia, resulting in an
initial estimate of 30 fatalities, the Situation Report of 7 January
referred to 'the shelling of the UNRWA school in Jabalia.' The
Humanitarian Coordinator would like to clarify that the shelling, and
all of the fatalities, took place outside rather than inside the
school. According to UNRWA, the number of fatalities is over 40, many
of them among the 1,368 people who had taken refuge in the school.


ReliefWeb » Document » OPT: Field Update on Gaza from the Humanitarian Coordinator 30 Jan - 02 Feb 2009 as of 17:00

Experts know double naff-all

Not everyone got burnt in our current recession / depression. The UK's host of The Apprentice, Sir Alan Sugar, explains how he avoided losing money this time round.


SIR ALAN SUGAR: The so-called experts know double naff-all | Mail Online

So what do you think? Is his hindsight is 20/20 or is he talking the truth?
Either way he is a Chigwell boy*, Spurs* fan and all round 'geezer'*.



* Please feel free to look up these phrases from London, England