[scifinoir2] American Greed: Enzite
This week's American Greed show did a segment on the Enzite company and their huge scam ripping people off. (still doing it) On CNBC. -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
[scifinoir2] Feel good moment: The National Society of Black Engineers annual bash
Pics from the convention: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=211098id=18493706927 -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
Re: [scifinoir2] American Greed: Enzite
Missed it last night, Mr Worf. I'll have to catch it this weekend. On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 2:29 AM, Mr. Worf hellomahog...@gmail.com wrote: This week's American Greed show did a segment on the Enzite company and their huge scam ripping people off. (still doing it) On CNBC. -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
Re: [scifinoir2] Dororo
I long for them as well, rave. Saw it the other night on IFC, but I nodded before the end. Hoping it'll cycle back soon. On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 11:16 PM, Kelwyn ravena...@yahoo.com wrote: http://www.nipponcinema.com/trailers/dororo/ I just saw the movie Dororo based on the manga comics of the same name. The movie is an epic, odd and moving mishmash of Frankenstein, Pinocchio, Edward Scissorhands, the Karate Kid, and the story of Moses, if all those stories had taken place in feudal Japan during the age of Samurais. At the heart of Dororo is an incredibly silly and wondrously irresistible premise: the warlord Kagemitsu Daigo has made a pact with demons - in exchange for giving him the wherewithal to rule the world, he will allow the demons to take 48 body parts from his unborn son (the demons need the human body parts so they can deceive men and wreck mayhem). Daigo knows his deal has been sealed when his son is born without arms, legs, mouth, nose, eyes, ears, liver, heart and forty other undisclosed body parts. Daigo wants to kill his newborn son who, sans heart and other vital organs, still lives and breathes (or a facimile thereof since he doesn't have a mouth or lungs). Daigo's wife intervenes, places the baby in a woven basket and sets it adrift on the river. The baby is found by Jukai, an alchemist-healer who proceeds to turn our hero into a real boy via miraculous prosthetic limbs and organs. The death, dumb, blind kid (who will wield a mean set of demon-slaying swords/hands) is also given a clockwork heart that allows him to see and hear (How does he see? With his heart!). When Jukai dies, Hyakkimaru sets out in the world to kill demons and retrieve his body parts. Every time he discovers and dispatches a demon his prosthetic parts are replaced by his real parts. Hyakkimaru is joined on his quest by the feral girl-thief, Dororo, who is masquerading as a boy. Dororo's father is killed by Daigo's dark army and she has vowed to stay a boy until she has avenged her dead parents. Satoshi Tsumabuki as Hyakkimaru and Ko Shibasaki as Dororo, an alleged couple in real life, are fetching and compelling as the stars of this movie. Filmed in New Zealand by director Akihiko Shiota (with the beautifully acrobatic sword fights choreographed by Hong Kong master Siu-Tung Ching), Dororo rises above its hokey and unconvincing demons, a mishmash of bad special effects and worse CGI, to wring actual emotion out its outlandish premise. Improbably, it make you care and long for parts two and three, the promised sequels. ~rave!
Re: [scifinoir2] Last US Sardine Cannery closes
rave, I love sardines as well, and have had to give them up for exactly the reasons you state. If anyone needs evidence of how nasty they've become, I can get them for 69 cents a tin, if I so desired. They used to price out at $1.49 per tin. On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 12:54 PM, Kelwyn ravena...@yahoo.com wrote: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100414/ap_on_bi_ge/us_so_long_sardines I used to love sardines as a kid. I would consider it a treat whenever my mother packed a tin in my lunch bag (along with a sleeve of saltine crackers). A can of sardines was a source of infinite fascination. How, pray tell, did they squeeze all those tiny fish in that little can? One of the thrills, for me, was using the tiny metal key to carefully unroll the thin metal seal. The goal was to achieve a perfect wheel of narrow cage metal - without cutting yourself - and, with much trial and error, I mastered it. About ten years ago, feeling nostalgic and not having eaten a sardine in at least two decades, I bought a tin. First of all the key and the thin metal seal were gone, replaced by a ubiquitous pull tab, convenient and absolutely devoid of charm. Once I popped the top, I was confronted with a briny squash of indeterminate fish parts. Salty and slimy, I found the mess both unpalatable and uneatable. My children are 18 and 21 and doubt if either of them has ever eaten a sardine. Funny how times change. ~rave?
[scifinoir2] Re: Dororo
The Sundance channel is showing it on Saturday 4/24 from 1:35 am - 3:55 am on Saturday 4/24. Practically prime time! ~rave! --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin Baxter martinbaxt...@... wrote: I long for them as well, rave. Saw it the other night on IFC, but I nodded before the end. Hoping it'll cycle back soon. On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 11:16 PM, Kelwyn ravena...@... wrote: http://www.nipponcinema.com/trailers/dororo/ I just saw the movie Dororo based on the manga comics of the same name. The movie is an epic, odd and moving mishmash of Frankenstein, Pinocchio, Edward Scissorhands, the Karate Kid, and the story of Moses, if all those stories had taken place in feudal Japan during the age of Samurais. At the heart of Dororo is an incredibly silly and wondrously irresistible premise: the warlord Kagemitsu Daigo has made a pact with demons - in exchange for giving him the wherewithal to rule the world, he will allow the demons to take 48 body parts from his unborn son (the demons need the human body parts so they can deceive men and wreck mayhem). Daigo knows his deal has been sealed when his son is born without arms, legs, mouth, nose, eyes, ears, liver, heart and forty other undisclosed body parts. Daigo wants to kill his newborn son who, sans heart and other vital organs, still lives and breathes (or a facimile thereof since he doesn't have a mouth or lungs). Daigo's wife intervenes, places the baby in a woven basket and sets it adrift on the river. The baby is found by Jukai, an alchemist-healer who proceeds to turn our hero into a real boy via miraculous prosthetic limbs and organs. The death, dumb, blind kid (who will wield a mean set of demon-slaying swords/hands) is also given a clockwork heart that allows him to see and hear (How does he see? With his heart!). When Jukai dies, Hyakkimaru sets out in the world to kill demons and retrieve his body parts. Every time he discovers and dispatches a demon his prosthetic parts are replaced by his real parts. Hyakkimaru is joined on his quest by the feral girl-thief, Dororo, who is masquerading as a boy. Dororo's father is killed by Daigo's dark army and she has vowed to stay a boy until she has avenged her dead parents. Satoshi Tsumabuki as Hyakkimaru and Ko Shibasaki as Dororo, an alleged couple in real life, are fetching and compelling as the stars of this movie. Filmed in New Zealand by director Akihiko Shiota (with the beautifully acrobatic sword fights choreographed by Hong Kong master Siu-Tung Ching), Dororo rises above its hokey and unconvincing demons, a mishmash of bad special effects and worse CGI, to wring actual emotion out its outlandish premise. Improbably, it make you care and long for parts two and three, the promised sequels. ~rave!
Re: [scifinoir2] World Science: Newfound species dubbed 'T. rex' of leeches
I love that unknown (at least to western scientists) large species keep being found. But I am really paranoid about parasites. This is nightmare inducing. On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 11:27 PM, Amy Harlib ahar...@earthlink.net wrote: ahar...@earthlink.net Cool science stuff. - Original Message - *From:* World Science emailn...@world-science.net *To:* emailn...@world-science.net *Sent:* Wednesday, April 14, 2010 11:46 PM *Subject:* World Science: Newfound species dubbed 'T. rex' of leeches * *You may still have to avoid T. rex*http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100414_rex : A leech that turned up in a girl's nose has been dubbed the T. rex of its kind by scientists. They say its ancestors might have tormented the old *T. rex* in a like fashion. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100414_rex * *New evidence cited that rocky, watery planets are common* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100413_planets: Vaporized remnants of rocky, and possibly watery, bodies hang around many dead stars, astronomers say. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100413_planets * *Possible new human ancestor revealed*http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100408_australo : Two partial skeletons unearthed in South Africa are from a previously unknown species, according to scientists. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100408_australo * *Life on Titan? Stand far back and hold your nose!* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100412_titan If life has evolved on Saturn's frigid moon, Titan, it would be strange, smelly -- and potentially explosive, new research suggests. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100412_titan * *Artificial leaves could help power machines of future* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100326_leaf: Researchers are presenting a design strategy that they say could harness Mother Nature's ability to produce energy from sunlight and water. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100326_leaf * *Another species of extinct humans ID'd?*http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100325_hominin A previously unknown lineage of humans has been identified based on genes extracted from a bit of bone, scientists say, though it is not believed to be a direct ancestor of modern people. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100325_hominin ADDITIONAL NEWS * *Family tree research can open Pandora's Box* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100409_familytree: http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100409_familytree * *Brain cells shout in unison to get message through* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100401_neurons: http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100401_neurons * *Eye-operated video game developed for the disabled* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100326_planning: http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100326_planning * *Power prompts less accurate time predictions, research finds* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100326_planning: http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100326_planning *World Science homepage* Don't forget to visit our homepage for Science In Images; links to top science news from other publi- cations; and other recent World Science stories! http://www.world-science.net *World Science archives* To new readers especially: you need not miss our ex- citing past stories, though they won't appear in future newsletters. See archives for any year by typing that year after the homepage address: for example, http://www.world-science.net/2007 *Invite friends to join World Science!* Click here to open an invitation email you can send friends and colleagues so they can join you in sub- scribing to World Science at no charge. Feel free to change the email text (although you might want to leave the subscription instructions unchanged.) * More information* This is the World Science newsletter. *To cancel* your subscription, please reply to this email address with cancel in the subject line. *To subscribe*, write to this email address with subscribe in the subject line. *To change* the address where you receive the newsletter, simply subscribe the new address and cancel the old one. Any World Science article may be reproduced on another website, on condition that it is reproduced along with a link to the World Science homepage, http://www.world-science.net. Linking to the page of the original article is optional. http://www.world-science.net -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.801 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2810 - Release Date: 04/14/10 02:31:00
[scifinoir2] Re: Pandorum
Far from it. But Card's criticisms of Obama come straight from the Faux News playbook. He's a Dick Morris democrat. A supposed moderate that opposed everything about Obama from the moment he entered the race and in whose eyes Obama can do no right. There are plenty of other things in his columns that are troubling as well. Plus his recent writings are going into right wing fantasy land in a big way. Here's a review of his novel Empire: Right-wing rhetoric trumps the logic of story and character in this near-future political thriller about a red-state vs. blue-state American civil war, an implausibly plotted departure from Card's bestselling science fiction (Ender's Game, etc.). When the president and vice-president are killed by domestic terrorists (of unknown political identity), a radical leftist army calling itself the Progressive Restoration takes over New York City and declares itself the rightful government of the United States. Other blue states officially recognize the legitimacy of the group, thus starting a second civil war. Card's heroic red-state protagonists, Maj. Reuben Rube Malek and Capt. Bartholomew Cole Coleman, draw on their Special Ops training to take down the extremist leftists and restore peace to the nation. The action is overshadowed by the novel's polemical message, which Card tops off with an afterword decrying his own politically-motivated exclusion from various conventions and campuses, the national media elite and the divisive excesses of both the right and the left. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Omari Confer clockwork...@... wrote: You cant be a Democrat and be critical of Obama? That is new to me. On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 7:14 PM, B Smith daikaij...@... wrote: All of the above and more. He's written some very homophobic things and his take on President Obama is pretty interesting. He claims that he's a Democrat but has been hyper-critical of Obama from the very beginning and been very alarmist about all of the actions he's taken since he became president. Very Tea Partyish in some ways. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com, Keith Johnson KeithBJohnson@ wrote: I haven't read a Card book in twenty years. But, why is he on the avoided list? Is there something about his Mormon (?) background and how it influences his writings? Disrespect for people of color or other non-whites? - Original Message - From: B Smith daikaiju66@ To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 2:48:23 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: Pandorum That makes me remember when I used to like OSC. He's another author on the to be avoided list. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com , Keith Johnson KeithBJohnson@ wrote: I've heard mixed views, but never a good synopsis, thanks. What you presented made it sound like a great premise. I love the idea of hypersleep causing such problems. I may check it out. How does it compare to another scifi film I really love, Event Horizon? I know that latter is much more of a horror-focused scifi film. As for hypersleep, I remember reading a book by Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game, among many others). It postulated a fascinating world in which people who were deemed absolutely critical to humanity (great politicians, wealthy financiers, brilliant scientists, etc.) would skip generations. A person of sufficient means would live among humanity for a few years, doing whatever he or she did for a living. Then, that person would go into suspended animation for a time. As an example, Steve Jobs might run Apple for three years, set its future course, then go into suspended animation for twenty or thirty years. He'd wake up, get the lay of the land, do some more work, then back into the routine. If you think about it, it's a cool way to be granted a sort of immortality, as you can skip across the centuries, experiencing and influencing human development. The only problem is that the sleeper's mind is bubbled into a storage device before the body is put under. If something happened to that device, the sleeper would be rendered little more than a body with no mind, akin to a newborn babe, albeit in an adult's body. In one story, that very thing happens with a colony ship to another planet. There's an accident, all the crew's bubbles are destroyed, and the one guy who was awake is left with trying to retrain and re-educate all the now completely blank people. - Original Message - From: B Smith daikaiju66@ To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 12:52:40 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: [scifinoir2] Pandorum Has anyone seen this movie? I was pleasantly surprised.
[scifinoir2] Today is 20th Anniversary of In Living Color
http://www.theroot.com/views/living-color-you-better-recognize In Living Color took things where you wanted things to be taken--past Oh-No-He-Didn't! and straight through to Oh-Snap-Yes-He-Did. This was black sketch comedy created by and for black folks. Which meant that it was real. And real funny. Plus, it had a beat that you could dance to. It was Heavy D and the Boyz--How ya livin? What?! How ya livin? In Living Color!--rapping on the theme song. And it was the Fly Girls breaking it on down, b-girls swirling and twirling between commercial breaks. And it was T'Keyah Crystal Keymah playing a little girl rhapsodizing what life would be like in Black World. Because, ultimately, that's what In Living Color was: Black World.
[scifinoir2] Mixed-race most beautiful and successful?
http://www.stylelist.com/2010/04/15/mixed-race-most-beautiful-and-successful-study-says/ The British regard people of mixed race as the most attractive and successful, say psychologists. Celebrities such as formula one champion Lewis Hamilton, footballer Ryan Giggs and X Factor star Leona Lewis have helped boost the image of mixed race people, according to a new study. Psychological testing found they outstrip people who are white or black in terms of perceived attractiveness, with a rating that far exceeds their representation in British society. He says a `fusion' of black, white and mixed races would lead to `Mr and Mrs Average' being mixed race, resulting in people more readily identifying with them. But there could also be a Darwinian explanation, with cross-breeding between diverse genetic backgrounds naturally leading to more genetically `fit' people who tend to be more attractive. Overall, there was a 55 per cent chance that mixed-race faces were perceived as being more attractive than either black or white faces. But the `extremely attractive' ratings were dominated by mixed race faces, who made up one in 10 of them. This is a much greater proportion than would be expected based on their representation in British society of around three per cent, said Dr Lewis. Dr Lewis said `Previous, small scale, studies have suggested that people of mixed race are perceived as being more attractive than non-mixed-race people. This study was an attempt to put this to the wider test. Now we have the answer to: What Can Brown Do For You?
Re: [scifinoir2] Mixed-race most beautiful and successful?
(LMNAATWO, while thanking Granpa Duncan for being from northern Wales) On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 12:15 PM, Kelwyn ravena...@yahoo.com wrote: http://www.stylelist.com/2010/04/15/mixed-race-most-beautiful-and-successful-study-says/ The British regard people of mixed race as the most attractive and successful, say psychologists. Celebrities such as formula one champion Lewis Hamilton, footballer Ryan Giggs and X Factor star Leona Lewis have helped boost the image of mixed race people, according to a new study. Psychological testing found they outstrip people who are white or black in terms of perceived attractiveness, with a rating that far exceeds their representation in British society. He says a `fusion' of black, white and mixed races would lead to `Mr and Mrs Average' being mixed race, resulting in people more readily identifying with them. But there could also be a Darwinian explanation, with cross-breeding between diverse genetic backgrounds naturally leading to more genetically `fit' people who tend to be more attractive. Overall, there was a 55 per cent chance that mixed-race faces were perceived as being more attractive than either black or white faces. But the `extremely attractive' ratings were dominated by mixed race faces, who made up one in 10 of them. This is a much greater proportion than would be expected based on their representation in British society of around three per cent, said Dr Lewis. Dr Lewis said `Previous, small scale, studies have suggested that people of mixed race are perceived as being more attractive than non-mixed-race people. This study was an attempt to put this to the wider test. Now we have the answer to: What Can Brown Do For You?
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Pandorum
B, I've never read (or even heard of) that book by Card. Knowing that now, I'm shocked that the Tea Party hasn't had him on a few posters. Sounds like their kinda guy. On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 9:18 AM, B Smith daikaij...@yahoo.com wrote: Far from it. But Card's criticisms of Obama come straight from the Faux News playbook. He's a Dick Morris democrat. A supposed moderate that opposed everything about Obama from the moment he entered the race and in whose eyes Obama can do no right. There are plenty of other things in his columns that are troubling as well. Plus his recent writings are going into right wing fantasy land in a big way. Here's a review of his novel Empire: Right-wing rhetoric trumps the logic of story and character in this near-future political thriller about a red-state vs. blue-state American civil war, an implausibly plotted departure from Card's bestselling science fiction (Ender's Game, etc.). When the president and vice-president are killed by domestic terrorists (of unknown political identity), a radical leftist army calling itself the Progressive Restoration takes over New York City and declares itself the rightful government of the United States. Other blue states officially recognize the legitimacy of the group, thus starting a second civil war. Card's heroic red-state protagonists, Maj. Reuben Rube Malek and Capt. Bartholomew Cole Coleman, draw on their Special Ops training to take down the extremist leftists and restore peace to the nation. The action is overshadowed by the novel's polemical message, which Card tops off with an afterword decrying his own politically-motivated exclusion from various conventions and campuses, the national media elite and the divisive excesses of both the right and the left. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com, Omari Confer clockwork...@... wrote: You cant be a Democrat and be critical of Obama? That is new to me. On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 7:14 PM, B Smith daikaij...@... wrote: All of the above and more. He's written some very homophobic things and his take on President Obama is pretty interesting. He claims that he's a Democrat but has been hyper-critical of Obama from the very beginning and been very alarmist about all of the actions he's taken since he became president. Very Tea Partyish in some ways. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.comscifinoir2% 40yahoogroups.com, Keith Johnson KeithBJohnson@ wrote: I haven't read a Card book in twenty years. But, why is he on the avoided list? Is there something about his Mormon (?) background and how it influences his writings? Disrespect for people of color or other non-whites? - Original Message - From: B Smith daikaiju66@ To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.comscifinoir2% 40yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 2:48:23 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: Pandorum That makes me remember when I used to like OSC. He's another author on the to be avoided list. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.comscifinoir2% 40yahoogroups.com , Keith Johnson KeithBJohnson@ wrote: I've heard mixed views, but never a good synopsis, thanks. What you presented made it sound like a great premise. I love the idea of hypersleep causing such problems. I may check it out. How does it compare to another scifi film I really love, Event Horizon? I know that latter is much more of a horror-focused scifi film. As for hypersleep, I remember reading a book by Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game, among many others). It postulated a fascinating world in which people who were deemed absolutely critical to humanity (great politicians, wealthy financiers, brilliant scientists, etc.) would skip generations. A person of sufficient means would live among humanity for a few years, doing whatever he or she did for a living. Then, that person would go into suspended animation for a time. As an example, Steve Jobs might run Apple for three years, set its future course, then go into suspended animation for twenty or thirty years. He'd wake up, get the lay of the land, do some more work, then back into the routine. If you think about it, it's a cool way to be granted a sort of immortality, as you can skip across the centuries, experiencing and influencing human development. The only problem is that the sleeper's mind is bubbled into a storage device before the body is put under. If something happened to that device, the sleeper would be rendered little more than a body with no mind, akin to a newborn babe, albeit in an adult's body. In one story, that very thing happens with a colony ship to another planet. There's an accident, all the crew's
Re: [scifinoir2] World Science: Newfound species dubbed 'T. rex' of leeches
It is, Tracy. After reading that, I had my hand over my nose for a full five minutes. On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 9:19 AM, Tracy Curtis tlcurti...@gmail.com wrote: I love that unknown (at least to western scientists) large species keep being found. But I am really paranoid about parasites. This is nightmare inducing. On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 11:27 PM, Amy Harlib ahar...@earthlink.netwrote: ahar...@earthlink.net Cool science stuff. - Original Message - *From:* World Science emailn...@world-science.net *To:* emailn...@world-science.net *Sent:* Wednesday, April 14, 2010 11:46 PM *Subject:* World Science: Newfound species dubbed 'T. rex' of leeches * *You may still have to avoid T. rex*http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100414_rex : A leech that turned up in a girl's nose has been dubbed the T. rex of its kind by scientists. They say its ancestors might have tormented the old *T. rex* in a like fashion. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100414_rex * *New evidence cited that rocky, watery planets are common* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100413_planets: Vaporized remnants of rocky, and possibly watery, bodies hang around many dead stars, astronomers say. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100413_planets * *Possible new human ancestor revealed*http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100408_australo : Two partial skeletons unearthed in South Africa are from a previously unknown species, according to scientists. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100408_australo * *Life on Titan? Stand far back and hold your nose!* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100412_titan If life has evolved on Saturn's frigid moon, Titan, it would be strange, smelly -- and potentially explosive, new research suggests. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100412_titan * *Artificial leaves could help power machines of future* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100326_leaf: Researchers are presenting a design strategy that they say could harness Mother Nature's ability to produce energy from sunlight and water. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100326_leaf * *Another species of extinct humans ID'd?*http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100325_hominin A previously unknown lineage of humans has been identified based on genes extracted from a bit of bone, scientists say, though it is not believed to be a direct ancestor of modern people. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100325_hominin ADDITIONAL NEWS * *Family tree research can open Pandora's Box* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100409_familytree: http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100409_familytree * *Brain cells shout in unison to get message through* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100401_neurons: http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100401_neurons * *Eye-operated video game developed for the disabled* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100326_planning: http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100326_planning * *Power prompts less accurate time predictions, research finds* http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100326_planning: http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100326_planning *World Science homepage* Don't forget to visit our homepage for Science In Images; links to top science news from other publi- cations; and other recent World Science stories! http://www.world-science.net *World Science archives* To new readers especially: you need not miss our ex- citing past stories, though they won't appear in future newsletters. See archives for any year by typing that year after the homepage address: for example, http://www.world-science.net/2007 *Invite friends to join World Science!* Click here to open an invitation email you can send friends and colleagues so they can join you in sub- scribing to World Science at no charge. Feel free to change the email text (although you might want to leave the subscription instructions unchanged.) * More information* This is the World Science newsletter. *To cancel* your subscription, please reply to this email address with cancel in the subject line. *To subscribe*, write to this email address with subscribe in the subject line. *To change* the address where you receive the newsletter, simply subscribe the new address and cancel the old one. Any World Science article may be reproduced on another website, on condition that it is reproduced along with a link to the World Science homepage, http://www.world-science.net. Linking to the page of the original article is optional. http://www.world-science.net -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.801 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2810 - Release Date: 04/14/10 02:31:00
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Dororo
Early nap, and set the alarm. Thanks, rave! On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 8:27 AM, Kelwyn ravena...@yahoo.com wrote: The Sundance channel is showing it on Saturday 4/24 from 1:35 am - 3:55 am on Saturday 4/24. Practically prime time! ~rave! --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com, Martin Baxter martinbaxt...@... wrote: I long for them as well, rave. Saw it the other night on IFC, but I nodded before the end. Hoping it'll cycle back soon. On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 11:16 PM, Kelwyn ravena...@... wrote: http://www.nipponcinema.com/trailers/dororo/ I just saw the movie Dororo based on the manga comics of the same name. The movie is an epic, odd and moving mishmash of Frankenstein, Pinocchio, Edward Scissorhands, the Karate Kid, and the story of Moses, if all those stories had taken place in feudal Japan during the age of Samurais. At the heart of Dororo is an incredibly silly and wondrously irresistible premise: the warlord Kagemitsu Daigo has made a pact with demons - in exchange for giving him the wherewithal to rule the world, he will allow the demons to take 48 body parts from his unborn son (the demons need the human body parts so they can deceive men and wreck mayhem). Daigo knows his deal has been sealed when his son is born without arms, legs, mouth, nose, eyes, ears, liver, heart and forty other undisclosed body parts. Daigo wants to kill his newborn son who, sans heart and other vital organs, still lives and breathes (or a facimile thereof since he doesn't have a mouth or lungs). Daigo's wife intervenes, places the baby in a woven basket and sets it adrift on the river. The baby is found by Jukai, an alchemist-healer who proceeds to turn our hero into a real boy via miraculous prosthetic limbs and organs. The death, dumb, blind kid (who will wield a mean set of demon-slaying swords/hands) is also given a clockwork heart that allows him to see and hear (How does he see? With his heart!). When Jukai dies, Hyakkimaru sets out in the world to kill demons and retrieve his body parts. Every time he discovers and dispatches a demon his prosthetic parts are replaced by his real parts. Hyakkimaru is joined on his quest by the feral girl-thief, Dororo, who is masquerading as a boy. Dororo's father is killed by Daigo's dark army and she has vowed to stay a boy until she has avenged her dead parents. Satoshi Tsumabuki as Hyakkimaru and Ko Shibasaki as Dororo, an alleged couple in real life, are fetching and compelling as the stars of this movie. Filmed in New Zealand by director Akihiko Shiota (with the beautifully acrobatic sword fights choreographed by Hong Kong master Siu-Tung Ching), Dororo rises above its hokey and unconvincing demons, a mishmash of bad special effects and worse CGI, to wring actual emotion out its outlandish premise. Improbably, it make you care and long for parts two and three, the promised sequels. ~rave!
Re: [scifinoir2] American Greed: Enzite
What kind of scam are they running? Justin On 2010-04-15, at 2:29 AM, Mr. Worf hellomahog...@gmail.com wrote: This week's American Greed show did a segment on the Enzite company and their huge scam ripping people off. (still doing it) On CNBC. -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
Re: [scifinoir2] Mixed-race most beautiful and successful?
I dunno about this study. Most of the celebrities were picked because they were attractive. Lewis Hamilton is basically the Tiger Woods of F1 racing. He started racing when he was 8. I have seen some butt ugly mixed folks. So it isn't a rule across the board. Its more of a hit and miss situation. On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 9:15 AM, Kelwyn ravena...@yahoo.com wrote: http://www.stylelist.com/2010/04/15/mixed-race-most-beautiful-and-successful-study-says/ The British regard people of mixed race as the most attractive and successful, say psychologists. Celebrities such as formula one champion Lewis Hamilton, footballer Ryan Giggs and X Factor star Leona Lewis have helped boost the image of mixed race people, according to a new study. Psychological testing found they outstrip people who are white or black in terms of perceived attractiveness, with a rating that far exceeds their representation in British society. He says a `fusion' of black, white and mixed races would lead to `Mr and Mrs Average' being mixed race, resulting in people more readily identifying with them. But there could also be a Darwinian explanation, with cross-breeding between diverse genetic backgrounds naturally leading to more genetically `fit' people who tend to be more attractive. Overall, there was a 55 per cent chance that mixed-race faces were perceived as being more attractive than either black or white faces. But the `extremely attractive' ratings were dominated by mixed race faces, who made up one in 10 of them. This is a much greater proportion than would be expected based on their representation in British society of around three per cent, said Dr Lewis. Dr Lewis said `Previous, small scale, studies have suggested that people of mixed race are perceived as being more attractive than non-mixed-race people. This study was an attempt to put this to the wider test. Now we have the answer to: What Can Brown Do For You? Post your SciFiNoir Profile at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYahoo! Groups Links -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
[scifinoir2] See out the apocalypse in luxury: Vivos Underground Survival Shelter Network
http://www.gizmag.com/vivos-underground-survival-shelter-network/14815/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribersutm_campaign=19c19124bc-UA-2235360-4utm_medium=email See out the apocalypse in luxury: Vivos Underground Survival Shelter Network By Darren Quick http://www.gizmag.com/author/darren-quick/ *00:49 April 15, 2010* [image: The Vivos Underground Survival Shelter will accommodate up to 200 people in post apocalypt...]http://www.gizmag.com/vivos-underground-survival-shelter-network/14815/picture/113441/ The Vivos Underground Survival Shelter will accommodate up to 200 people in post apocalyptic luxury *Image Galleryhttp://www.gizmag.com/vivos-underground-survival-shelter-network/14815/gallery/(8 images) * Buy Survival Kits $6.95+http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=lai=B560F32XHS7fgHIPGqgP01JnRD9i0kbABvqOE5hHAjbcBwP1oEAEYASCz3PoBKAQ4AFDKj-id-v8BYMnGzYbIo6AZoAH08o__A7IBDnd3dy5naXptYWcuY29tugEKMzAweDI1MF9qc8gBAdoBmwFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmdpem1hZy5jb20vdml2b3MtdW5kZXJncm91bmQtc3Vydml2YWwtc2hlbHRlci1uZXR3b3JrLzE0ODE1Lz91dG1fc291cmNlPUdpem1hZytTdWJzY3JpYmVycyZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249MTljMTkxMjRiYy1VQS0yMjM1MzYwLTQmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbIACAagDAegDqAHoA-AG6AOzAegDngT1AwAAAEQnum=1sig=AGiWqtwn-RYQkcmSqFEl6JszbLEARi620Qclient=ca-pub-1607124478120364adurl=http://www.quakekare.com/index.asp%3FPageAction%3DVIEWCATS%26Category%3D1- www.QuakeKare.comhttp://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=lai=B560F32XHS7fgHIPGqgP01JnRD9i0kbABvqOE5hHAjbcBwP1oEAEYASCz3PoBKAQ4AFDKj-id-v8BYMnGzYbIo6AZoAH08o__A7IBDnd3dy5naXptYWcuY29tugEKMzAweDI1MF9qc8gBAdoBmwFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmdpem1hZy5jb20vdml2b3MtdW5kZXJncm91bmQtc3Vydml2YWwtc2hlbHRlci1uZXR3b3JrLzE0ODE1Lz91dG1fc291cmNlPUdpem1hZytTdWJzY3JpYmVycyZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249MTljMTkxMjRiYy1VQS0yMjM1MzYwLTQmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbIACAagDAegDqAHoA-AG6AOzAegDngT1AwAAAEQnum=1sig=AGiWqtwn-RYQkcmSqFEl6JszbLEARi620Qclient=ca-pub-1607124478120364adurl=http://www.quakekare.com/index.asp%3FPageAction%3DVIEWCATS%26Category%3D1 Buy Top Quality Survival Kits Good for 5 Years. Buy Direct Save A 9mm is False Protectionhttp://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=lai=BZrN232XHS7fgHIPGqgP01JnRD5H2xnTfi6_9DMCNtwGg4BQQAhgCILPc-gEoBDgAUMn5kuABYMnGzYbIo6AZoAG2i6z_A7IBDnd3dy5naXptYWcuY29tugEKMzAweDI1MF9qc8gBAdoBmwFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmdpem1hZy5jb20vdml2b3MtdW5kZXJncm91bmQtc3Vydml2YWwtc2hlbHRlci1uZXR3b3JrLzE0ODE1Lz91dG1fc291cmNlPUdpem1hZytTdWJzY3JpYmVycyZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249MTljMTkxMjRiYy1VQS0yMjM1MzYwLTQmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbIACAagDAegDqAHoA-AG6AOzAegDngT1AwAAAEQnum=2sig=AGiWqtyZFdl7KF8fSy6azmHuGd9jqB8C3wclient=ca-pub-1607124478120364adurl=http://www.closecombattraining.com/cctraining/start.php- www.CloseCombatTraining.comhttp://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=lai=BZrN232XHS7fgHIPGqgP01JnRD5H2xnTfi6_9DMCNtwGg4BQQAhgCILPc-gEoBDgAUMn5kuABYMnGzYbIo6AZoAG2i6z_A7IBDnd3dy5naXptYWcuY29tugEKMzAweDI1MF9qc8gBAdoBmwFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmdpem1hZy5jb20vdml2b3MtdW5kZXJncm91bmQtc3Vydml2YWwtc2hlbHRlci1uZXR3b3JrLzE0ODE1Lz91dG1fc291cmNlPUdpem1hZytTdWJzY3JpYmVycyZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249MTljMTkxMjRiYy1VQS0yMjM1MzYwLTQmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbIACAagDAegDqAHoA-AG6AOzAegDngT1AwAAAEQnum=2sig=AGiWqtyZFdl7KF8fSy6azmHuGd9jqB8C3wclient=ca-pub-1607124478120364adurl=http://www.closecombattraining.com/cctraining/start.php Discover What Survivalist Masters The Army Don't Want You To Know Must Have Survival Gearhttp://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=lai=BsTs632XHS7fgHIPGqgP01JnRD46gzawB5rXVuRHAjbcBwIxkEAMYAyCz3PoBKAQ4AFCNgafZBGDJxs2GyKOgGbIBDnd3dy5naXptYWcuY29tugEKMzAweDI1MF9qc8gBAdoBmwFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmdpem1hZy5jb20vdml2b3MtdW5kZXJncm91bmQtc3Vydml2YWwtc2hlbHRlci1uZXR3b3JrLzE0ODE1Lz91dG1fc291cmNlPUdpem1hZytTdWJzY3JpYmVycyZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249MTljMTkxMjRiYy1VQS0yMjM1MzYwLTQmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbIACAagDAegDqAHoA-AG6AOzAegDngT1AwAAAEQnum=3sig=AGiWqty2OBdITZ8cp_c5iJrLTxiZAs9jbgclient=ca-pub-1607124478120364adurl=http://www.steripen.com/- www.SteriPEN.comhttp://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=lai=BsTs632XHS7fgHIPGqgP01JnRD46gzawB5rXVuRHAjbcBwIxkEAMYAyCz3PoBKAQ4AFCNgafZBGDJxs2GyKOgGbIBDnd3dy5naXptYWcuY29tugEKMzAweDI1MF9qc8gBAdoBmwFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmdpem1hZy5jb20vdml2b3MtdW5kZXJncm91bmQtc3Vydml2YWwtc2hlbHRlci1uZXR3b3JrLzE0ODE1Lz91dG1fc291cmNlPUdpem1hZytTdWJzY3JpYmVycyZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249MTljMTkxMjRiYy1VQS0yMjM1MzYwLTQmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbIACAagDAegDqAHoA-AG6AOzAegDngT1AwAAAEQnum=3sig=AGiWqty2OBdITZ8cp_c5iJrLTxiZAs9jbgclient=ca-pub-1607124478120364adurl=http://www.steripen.com/ Handheld UV Water Purification System. Get Instant Drinking Water. MineARC Systemshttp://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=lai=ByIGE32XHS7fgHIPGqgP01JnRD4TklmbOu-u6AsCNtwGAgVMQBBgEILPc-gEoBDgAUMmlq4QCYMnGzYbIo6AZsgEOd3d3Lmdpem1hZy5jb226AQozMDB4MjUwX2pzyAEB2gGbAWh0dHA6Ly93d3cuZ2l6bWFnLmNvbS92aXZvcy11bmRlcmdyb3VuZC1zdXJ2aXZhbC1zaGVsdGVyLW5ldHdvcmsvMTQ4MTUvP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9R2l6bWFnK1N1YnNjcmliZXJzJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj0xOWMxOTEyNGJjLVVBLTIyMzUzNjAtNCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsqQL1O4HqR1WvPqgDAegDqAHoA-AG6AOzAegDngT1AwAAAEQnum=4sig=AGiWqtzwHQ5k2KG1ErejDSUQLg-0uAvnDQclient=ca-pub-1607124478120364adurl=http://www.minearc.com-
[scifinoir2] How close did Conan O'Brien come to your XBox?
Apparently Max Headroom-close... Short and sweet...http://fidgit.com/archives/2010/04/how_close_did_conan_obrian_com.php
Re: [scifinoir2] Mixed-race most beautiful and successful?
Truth in that, Mr Worf. On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 2:49 PM, Mr. Worf hellomahog...@gmail.com wrote: I dunno about this study. Most of the celebrities were picked because they were attractive. Lewis Hamilton is basically the Tiger Woods of F1 racing. He started racing when he was 8. I have seen some butt ugly mixed folks. So it isn't a rule across the board. Its more of a hit and miss situation. On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 9:15 AM, Kelwyn ravena...@yahoo.com wrote: http://www.stylelist.com/2010/04/15/mixed-race-most-beautiful-and-successful-study-says/ The British regard people of mixed race as the most attractive and successful, say psychologists. Celebrities such as formula one champion Lewis Hamilton, footballer Ryan Giggs and X Factor star Leona Lewis have helped boost the image of mixed race people, according to a new study. Psychological testing found they outstrip people who are white or black in terms of perceived attractiveness, with a rating that far exceeds their representation in British society. He says a `fusion' of black, white and mixed races would lead to `Mr and Mrs Average' being mixed race, resulting in people more readily identifying with them. But there could also be a Darwinian explanation, with cross-breeding between diverse genetic backgrounds naturally leading to more genetically `fit' people who tend to be more attractive. Overall, there was a 55 per cent chance that mixed-race faces were perceived as being more attractive than either black or white faces. But the `extremely attractive' ratings were dominated by mixed race faces, who made up one in 10 of them. This is a much greater proportion than would be expected based on their representation in British society of around three per cent, said Dr Lewis. Dr Lewis said `Previous, small scale, studies have suggested that people of mixed race are perceived as being more attractive than non-mixed-race people. This study was an attempt to put this to the wider test. Now we have the answer to: What Can Brown Do For You? Post your SciFiNoir Profile at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYahoo! Groups Links -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
[scifinoir2] Did anyone see this?? Texan accused of disabling 100 cars over Internet
I didn't know that this had already been implemented! This technology is not good especially for folks that are having rough times. Texan accused of disabling 100 cars over Internet By JEFF CARLTON (AP) – Mar 17, 2010 DALLAS — A man fired from a Texas auto dealership used an Internet service to remotely disable ignitions and set off car horns of more than 100 vehicles sold at his old workplace, police said Wednesday. Austin police arrested Omar Ramos-Lopez, 20, on Wednesday, charging him with felony breach of computer security. Ramos-Lopez used a former colleague's password to deactivate starters and set off car horns, police said. Several car owners said they had to call tow trucks and were left stranded at work or home. He caused these customers, now victims, to miss work, Austin police spokeswoman Veneza Aguinaga said. They didn't get paid. They had to get tow trucks. They didn't know what was going on with their vehicles. Ramos-Lopez was in the Travis County Jail on Wednesday with bond set at $3,000. The Associated Press could not find a working phone number for his family. The Texas Auto Center dealership in Austin installs GPS devices that can prevent cars from starting. The system is used to repossess cars when buyers are overdue on payments, said Jeremy Norton, a controller at the dealership where Ramos-Lopez worked. Car horns can be activated when repo agents go to collect vehicles and believe the owners are hiding them. We are taking extra measures to make sure this never happens again, Norton said. Starting in mid-February, dealership employees noticed unusual changes to their business records. Someone was going into the system and changing customers' names, such as having dead rapper Tupac Shakur buying a 2009 vehicle, Norton said. Soon, customers began calling saying their cars wouldn't start, or that their horns were going off incessantly, forcing them to disengage the battery. Norton said the dealership originally thought the cars had mechanical problems. Then employees noticed someone had ordered $130,000 in parts and equipment from the company that makes the GPS devices. Police said they were able to trace the sabotage to Ramos-Lopez's computer, leading to his arrest. Norton said Ramos-Lopez didn't seem unusually upset about being fired. I think he thought what he was doing was a harmless prank, Norton said. He didn't see the ramifications of it. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
Re: [scifinoir2] Did anyone see this?? Texan accused of disabling 100 cars over Internet
I heard about this somewhere, Mr Worf. More proof that, IMO, too many children have Internet access. On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 5:12 PM, Mr. Worf hellomahog...@gmail.com wrote: I didn't know that this had already been implemented! This technology is not good especially for folks that are having rough times. Texan accused of disabling 100 cars over Internet By JEFF CARLTON (AP) – Mar 17, 2010 DALLAS — A man fired from a Texas auto dealership used an Internet service to remotely disable ignitions and set off car horns of more than 100 vehicles sold at his old workplace, police said Wednesday. Austin police arrested Omar Ramos-Lopez, 20, on Wednesday, charging him with felony breach of computer security. Ramos-Lopez used a former colleague's password to deactivate starters and set off car horns, police said. Several car owners said they had to call tow trucks and were left stranded at work or home. He caused these customers, now victims, to miss work, Austin police spokeswoman Veneza Aguinaga said. They didn't get paid. They had to get tow trucks. They didn't know what was going on with their vehicles. Ramos-Lopez was in the Travis County Jail on Wednesday with bond set at $3,000. The Associated Press could not find a working phone number for his family. The Texas Auto Center dealership in Austin installs GPS devices that can prevent cars from starting. The system is used to repossess cars when buyers are overdue on payments, said Jeremy Norton, a controller at the dealership where Ramos-Lopez worked. Car horns can be activated when repo agents go to collect vehicles and believe the owners are hiding them. We are taking extra measures to make sure this never happens again, Norton said. Starting in mid-February, dealership employees noticed unusual changes to their business records. Someone was going into the system and changing customers' names, such as having dead rapper Tupac Shakur buying a 2009 vehicle, Norton said. Soon, customers began calling saying their cars wouldn't start, or that their horns were going off incessantly, forcing them to disengage the battery. Norton said the dealership originally thought the cars had mechanical problems. Then employees noticed someone had ordered $130,000 in parts and equipment from the company that makes the GPS devices. Police said they were able to trace the sabotage to Ramos-Lopez's computer, leading to his arrest. Norton said Ramos-Lopez didn't seem unusually upset about being fired. I think he thought what he was doing was a harmless prank, Norton said. He didn't see the ramifications of it. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
Re: [scifinoir2] Did anyone see this?? Texan accused of disabling 100 cars over Internet
Yea, but he was an employee there. I'm just concerned that it will open up the door for abuse. The car I bought previously than the one I have now was from a dealer that turned out to be shady. If he had technology like this in his hands no telling what would have happen. On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 3:44 PM, Martin Baxter martinbaxt...@gmail.comwrote: I heard about this somewhere, Mr Worf. More proof that, IMO, too many children have Internet access. On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 5:12 PM, Mr. Worf hellomahog...@gmail.com wrote: I didn't know that this had already been implemented! This technology is not good especially for folks that are having rough times. Texan accused of disabling 100 cars over Internet By JEFF CARLTON (AP) – Mar 17, 2010 DALLAS — A man fired from a Texas auto dealership used an Internet service to remotely disable ignitions and set off car horns of more than 100 vehicles sold at his old workplace, police said Wednesday. Austin police arrested Omar Ramos-Lopez, 20, on Wednesday, charging him with felony breach of computer security. Ramos-Lopez used a former colleague's password to deactivate starters and set off car horns, police said. Several car owners said they had to call tow trucks and were left stranded at work or home. He caused these customers, now victims, to miss work, Austin police spokeswoman Veneza Aguinaga said. They didn't get paid. They had to get tow trucks. They didn't know what was going on with their vehicles. Ramos-Lopez was in the Travis County Jail on Wednesday with bond set at $3,000. The Associated Press could not find a working phone number for his family. The Texas Auto Center dealership in Austin installs GPS devices that can prevent cars from starting. The system is used to repossess cars when buyers are overdue on payments, said Jeremy Norton, a controller at the dealership where Ramos-Lopez worked. Car horns can be activated when repo agents go to collect vehicles and believe the owners are hiding them. We are taking extra measures to make sure this never happens again, Norton said. Starting in mid-February, dealership employees noticed unusual changes to their business records. Someone was going into the system and changing customers' names, such as having dead rapper Tupac Shakur buying a 2009 vehicle, Norton said. Soon, customers began calling saying their cars wouldn't start, or that their horns were going off incessantly, forcing them to disengage the battery. Norton said the dealership originally thought the cars had mechanical problems. Then employees noticed someone had ordered $130,000 in parts and equipment from the company that makes the GPS devices. Police said they were able to trace the sabotage to Ramos-Lopez's computer, leading to his arrest. Norton said Ramos-Lopez didn't seem unusually upset about being fired. I think he thought what he was doing was a harmless prank, Norton said. He didn't see the ramifications of it. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/ -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
Re: [scifinoir2] Did anyone see this?? Texan accused of disabling 100 cars over Internet
Lets not also forget that it is just a little bit funny Perhaps not a spectacular idea but there is some level of excellently fun pranksterism going on here. Perhaps I'm just a bad bad man Bosco --- On Thu, 4/15/10, Mr. Worf hellomahog...@gmail.com wrote: From: Mr. Worf hellomahog...@gmail.com Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Did anyone see this?? Texan accused of disabling 100 cars over Internet To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, April 15, 2010, 5:49 PM Yea, but he was an employee there. I'm just concerned that it will open up the door for abuse. The car I bought previously than the one I have now was from a dealer that turned out to be shady. If he had technology like this in his hands no telling what would have happen. On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 3:44 PM, Martin Baxter martinbaxter7@ gmail.com wrote: I heard about this somewhere, Mr Worf. More proof that, IMO, too many children have Internet access. On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 5:12 PM, Mr. Worf HelloMahogany@ gmail.com wrote: I didn't know that this had already been implemented! This technology is not good especially for folks that are having rough times. Texan accused of disabling 100 cars over Internet By JEFF CARLTON (AP) – Mar 17, 2010 DALLAS — A man fired from a Texas auto dealership used an Internet service to remotely disable ignitions and set off car horns of more than 100 vehicles sold at his old workplace, police said Wednesday.Austin police arrested Omar Ramos-Lopez, 20, on Wednesday, charging him with felony breach of computer security.Ramos-Lopez used a former colleague's password to deactivate starters and set off car horns, police said. Several car owners said they had to call tow trucks and were left stranded at work or home.He caused these customers, now victims, to miss work, Austin police spokeswoman Veneza Aguinaga said. They didn't get paid. They had to get tow trucks. They didn't know what was going on with their vehicles.Ramos-Lopez was in the Travis County Jail on Wednesday with bond set at $3,000. The Associated Press could not find a working phone number for his family.The Texas Auto Center dealership in Austin installs GPS devices that can prevent cars from starting. The system is used to repossess cars when buyers are overdue on payments, said Jeremy Norton, a controller at the dealership where Ramos-Lopez worked. Car horns can be activated when repo agents go to collect vehicles and believe the owners are hiding them.We are taking extra measures to make sure this never happens again, Norton said.Starting in mid-February, dealership employees noticed unusual changes to their business records. Someone was going into the system and changing customers' names, such as having dead rapper Tupac Shakur buying a 2009 vehicle, Norton said.Soon, customers began calling saying their cars wouldn't start, or that their horns were going off incessantly, forcing them to disengage the battery. Norton said the dealership originally thought the cars had mechanical problems.Then employees noticed someone had ordered $130,000 in parts and equipment from the company that makes the GPS devices.Police said they were able to trace the sabotage to Ramos-Lopez's computer, leading to his arrest.Norton said Ramos-Lopez didn't seem unusually upset about being fired.I think he thought what he was doing was a harmless prank, Norton said. He didn't see the ramifications of it. Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/mahogany_ pleasures_ of_darkness/ -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/mahogany_ pleasures_ of_darkness/
[scifinoir2] New Study Questions Donner Party Cannibalism
Interesting. I'm not surprised that the press of the day--which could put The National Enquirer and Fox News to shame for sensationalism--might have played up a story that might be untrue. I clearly remember reading about this as a child, and reading one story which asserted that a diary had been found kept by one of the party. Not sure which it was, but the story gave graphic details of how this man supposedly recorded he'd come to like the taste of human flesh, and had even written down recipes for how he cooked certain organs! *** http://news.discovery.com/history/donner-party-cannibalism.html Donner Party Ate Family Dog, Maybe Not People Did ethnic prejudice spur the now infamous legend of the Donner Party's cannibalism By Jennifer Viegas | Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:01 PM ET Donner Party James F. Reed and his wife, Margret W. Keyes Reed, seen in this file photo taken in the 1850s, were survivors of the tragic Donner Party. AP Photo THE GIST: • Analysis of bones discovered at the Donner Party campsite found no evidence for cannibalism. • The members did resort to consuming the family dog, cattle, deer and horses. • Slate pieces and china shards reveal the members tried to live with dignity. The Donner Party, a group of 19th century American pioneers who became snowbound in the Sierra Nevada and supposedly resorted to cannibalism, may not have eaten each other after all, suggests a new study on bones found at the Donner's Alder Creek campsite hearth in California. Detailed analysis of the bones instead found that the 84 Donner Party members consumed a family dog, Uno, along with cattle, deer and horses. Cattle, likely eaten after the animals themselves died of starvation, appear to have been their mainstay. The study is the first to show that the Donner members successfully hunted deer, despite the approximately 30 feet of snow on the ground during the winter of 1846-1847. The horses are thought to have come from relief parties that arrived in February and could have left a few of their animals behind. The paper, which will be published in the July issue of the journal American Antiquity , is also the first to prove the theory that the stranded individuals ate their pet dog. They were boiling hides, chewing on leather and trying desperately to survive, project leader Gwen Robbins told Discovery News. We can see that the bones were processed so heavily -- boiled and crushed down in order to extract any kind of nutrients from them. Robbins, an assistant professor of biological anthropology at Appalachian State University, and her team produced thin sections from the hearth bones and examined them under high magnification in order to measure each basic structural unit and link the bones to particular animals. No human bones were identified. What we have demonstrated is that there is no evidence for cannibalism, said Robbins. If the Donner Party did resort to cannibalism, the bones were treated in a different way (such as buried), or they were placed on the hearth last and could have since eroded. Victorian Era journalists, who embellished the accounts provided by the 47 survivors, largely fueled the legend of the Donner Party cannibalism. The survivors, 11 men and 36 women and children, fiercely denied the allegations. Although one man, Louis Keseberg, filed and won a defamation suit, he was still forever known as Keseberg the Cannibal. Racism might have played a part, Robbins said. Keseberg was an immigrant, and negative sentiment existed toward some recent immigrants then. The trash and debris left around the Donner Party hearth in the spring of 1847 show that, in spite of their very difficult circumstances, the members tried to maintain a sense of decorum and normalcy. Slates suggest they had the children sitting and doing their lessons, while shards of china indicate they were eating off of plates, retaining some dignity and hoping for the future, Robbins explained. University of Montana anthropologist Kelly Dixon worked on the initial study that first documented the hearth and bones. The tale of the Donner Party has focused on the tragedy of survival cannibalism, said Dixon, yet the archaeological remains inspire us to consider more significant implications, such as what it was like to be human, doing whatever possible to survive in one of the snowbound camps. Robbins and her colleagues are currently writing a book about the Donner Party for the University of Oklahoma Press. It is scheduled for release next year.
