FRISTED!!!

I know I am being petty, but the debate over at the Freep, sparked by Frist's flip flop on stem cells, is just too funny for words.

So this is what it looks like when you throw a side of beef into a shark tank.

JUST TOO MUCH! Made my whole weekend:

Watch the 'intellectual' scat fight at:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1453072/posts

I Was Searched By A NYC Cop on the Subway

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Ok, so it was bound to happen. I was going to work to Manhattan and I had to transfer to the second subway to continue the trip. I arrived at the Canal Street Station in Manhattan and proceeded to go up the stairs and continue on my way to work by catching the #6 Uptown train. As I proceeded towards the platform, there were 2 cops standing about 30 feet away from the edge of the train platform. One of them came up to me and announced, "Ma'am could you please open your bag. We need to search it." At first, I thought he was kidding. I really wanted to tell him, "You know thisw isn't going to do a damn bit of good. I mean, you can be searching me and the passenger who is walking by smirking might have 15 lbs of C4 strapped to his body and is about to blow us all to smithereens. But that's ok, as long as you searched me!" "What's next? Random body searches?"

I mean, I know the cops are doing what they are told. And believe me, the cops in this city put up with a lot. But I just don't see how this will make anyone feel safer. When your time is up, it's up. Whether it is in a car wreck or natural causes, there is NOTHING you are going to be able to do about it. I mean do I have the problem with cops searching me because it is an inrtrusion of my personal right, damn straight! However, in this day and age (and administration) there is little that can be done. For now. Hopefully, everyone will make up in 3 years and realize this.

Anyway, back to the cops. They were both friendly and courteous. They did not take long and they did not keep me away from my train and make me late for work.

However, I have one suggestion for the NYPD. If you had more cops looking like the below mentioned picture, you might have LOADS of people opening their bags and giving you god knows what. Ok, maybe bad idea. Heck, you might even have would be terrorists realizing the error of their ways. Ok, back to political discussion.

Reality Rewrites.

What the Republican Party would like you to believe:

Paul Hackett was a "file clerk" in Iraq

Valerie Plame was a "desk jockey" in the CIA

John Kerry and Max Clelland caused their own wounds in Vietnam.

BUT

Lindy Englund and CO. were criminal masterminds who were acting without orders from the DOD?

Thank the gods its Friday!

Oh Hillary, Why? Why? Why?

I write this essay reluctantly. I do not want to say, what I am about to say.

No, Kkkarl Rove is not behind me holding a nude picture of Gannon/Guckert to intimidate me. This is hard because I had faith in you, Hill, I really did, but I have to tell you I do not like the crowd you are hanging around with lately.

My Progressive heart cracked when I saw your graphic dissolve in and out of view at the DLC (Republican Lite) homepage. How could you hang around with those people.

Don't you know they were the one's who assisted in the smackdown of you and your husband?

Oh yes they tried to grab the credit when things were good Hill but your smart enough to see through there vapid deception. Let's face it, the DLC are DiNO's, did we miss something about you?

Worse yet you have taken up Sen Lieberman's mantle of Republican Lite and censorship heavy.

How can you even stand being in the same room as Jack Thompson? I have sincerely tried to follow your logic on the whole issue, but unfortunately that pesky thing we call reality stepped up and smacked some sense into me:

From Kotaku:

The senator took the opportunity to lambast what she called the ineffectual enforcement of the ratings system, saying that 50 percent of boys ages 7 to 14 were able to buy M-rated video games.

"Parents who rely on the ratings to make decisions to shield their children from influences that they believe could be harmful should be informed right away if the system is broken."

'Kay Hill now here come the bitch that is reality:

Patricia Vance, president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board, defended the industry’s rating system.

"Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was rated Mature, for ages 17 and older, with five content descriptors: intense violence, blood and gore, strong sexual content, strong language and use of drugs, she said. “It'’s hard to call that inaccurate. It's been appropriately rated."

So Hill what's the problem?

Either the store sold it to them or an ADULT BOUGHT IT FOR THEM. It does not take a great deal of thought or imagination to read the title OR look at the game box to realize this is not for children.

Hmmm... picture of a drive- by, blonde licking her lips seductively, and a big assed M rating on the back. Wow! Let me buy this for little Jimmy instead of that Wiggles video ( I have my own theories on these Australian anti-christs but that's a whole different essay.) Any adult who CHOSE to notice could have made that leap of logic.

Maybe you and Jack Thompson should take a look at this troubling trend:

"American parents seeking to compensate for their neglect by buying their kids stuff."

A second, follow- up, study could tackle this:

"Why do neglectful parents seek to prosecute/ litigate against music, games, etc when little Jimmy goes "Ho-Ha" in the school cafeteria or blows his brains out because their parent's buying them shit was no substitute for the parents attention."

Until I see those studies keep my tax dollars out of your cheap politcal grandstanding.

You have Dobson, Gamers have Thompson

People who follow the video game industry are usually familiar with the name Jack Thompson. His name has more recently has come to some national prominence with the unfortunate idiocy that is the "Hot Coffee Affair."

If you have not been following this let me summarize. Hidden within the game code for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an Easter Egg of sorts, with a fair bit of work, a mini game opens up allowing for the main character to have virtual sex with his prostitute girlfriend.

The actual scene is pretty laughable as the guy is full clothed while she is only topless. Now I have no problem with dry humping in general but it shouldn't look this bad. Especially when we know this particular act is always more pleasurable when both parties are standing....

I digress.

I find most of the lawsuits instigated by Thompson to be the judicial equivalent of a dry hump: vigorous, tiring, and ultimately not the real thing. Anyway now "Bulls-eye" Thompson has his steely eyes targeted on the ultimate evil, the bane of moralistic society, "The Sims 2".

Don't have to go back and read it again. You read right the first time "The Sims 2".

You can read Jack's impassioned, unsubstantiated, wild, and borderline libelous claims at his web site Stop Kill.

Check this out:

"The nudity placed there by the publisher/maker, Electronic Arts, is accessed by the use of a simple code that removes what is called 'the blur' which obscures the genital areas. In other words, the game was released to the public by the manufacturer knowing that the full frontal nudity was resident on the game and would be accessed by use of a simple code widely provided on the Internet."

Now let’s get this straight folks. There is a simple code that can remove the blur but, and this is a big but.

NOT A GENITAL TO BE SEEN!
GOT THAT JACK NO GENITALLIA!

What you see is the equivalent of a Barbie doll sans clothes. K' folks this has never held any sexual undertones for me. I don't know about Jack though.

"The sex and the nudity are in the game. That's the point. The blur is an admission that even the 'Ken and Barbie' features should not be displayed. The blur can be disarmed. This is no different than what is in San Andreas, although worse."

He's kidding right? The sex or as it is referred to in the game 'Woo Hoo' is harmless. the only thing you see are shuffling cover or big splashes of water if the are in the hot tub. Maybe it’s the sound effects of fireworks that are getting Jack aroused?

You can download from fan created sites new content including clothes, houses, etc. You can also bring in "skins" that allow for nude Sims with genitallia. These are fan created and exist primarily on adult oriented web sites that show lots of naughty bits.

Jack has of course updated his comments to reflect this startling revelation. Because EA is not prosecuting or persecuting the mod community Electronic Arts (the game's manufacturer) are "cooperating, gleefully, with the mod community to turn Sims 2 into a porn offering."

There will be more on the Quixotic assaults of Jack Thompson but...... since he is so nice to provide it on his website maybe we of the Progressive community could drop Jack a line to tell him how we feel about censorship.

Jack Thompson
1172 South Dixie Hwy.
Suite 111
Coral Gables, FL 33146

jackpeace@comcast.net

Somebody Let Loose the Stupid Dogs Down at RNC Headquarters

5 Officials Pull Names From Proclamation
Thursday, July 21, 2005
(07-21) 05:36 PDT Chicago (AP)

The five Republicans on the county board withdrew their names from a routine proclamation welcoming the 2006 Gay Games to Chicago.

The Illinois Family Institute is urging Democratic commissioners to do the same.

I'll get the obligatory "I am not gay, although I have been merry several times, out of the way, right now. Why do the righties feel the need to attack this group whose only crime I can even fathom is that they do not fit neatly into the christo-fascist world?

Ok now listen up my little righto zombies

THERE ARE GAY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT!

There are people in this world who like to be with members of the same gender. You know what get over it. I am so freaking tired of the same tired pseudo-moralistic bullshit that your end of the political spectrum spews I could puke.

So now the dying Illinois Repugs have decided to make their final stand by playing the "Gay Card". It was disgusting enough when you used the "Southern Strategy" time and time again, but you folks just can't help it can you.
You live to make life more difficult than it has to be.
I'll admit it growing up I had many of the same disgusting opinions you now hold, but you know what I grew up and (heavens to Betsy!)

I met gay people.

It was amazing they laugh, get eat lunch, have the same crappy relationships we ALL have and for the same reasons.

And now we return you to as the Fascists Burn.

"There's a big difference between tolerating and celebrating homosexuality," said Peter LaBarbera of the group. "For governments to be using taxpayer money and big corporations spending money to sponsor this, we think the average Joe sees that as being just a little bit off...."
Commissioner Mike Quigley, who sponsored the proclamation, plans to play hockey in the games and said the Republicans' move stemmed from "blinding bias and animosity."

RWJOTW: Frank Lo Beyondo

Now presenting the newest in my ongoing examination of political idiots:
Frank LoBiondo (NJ-R)

I can't believe he freaking said this. However given the current political climate, I guess I should expect just about anything.


From Newsday:

"Hitler, in his philosophy, was, you know, he hated Jews, he was murdering Jews, and there were some people he liked. But he never went to the level that these people are going to," LoBiondo said.

A caller from Margate objected to the statement only a few minutes later.

"You're right. You're right. I was wrong. I should not have used that and I apologize," LoBiondo responded.

It is good to see that the Republican party is following through on its pledge to support real family values.

From Gambling Magazine:

U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R., N.J.) "strongly supports sports wagering" in Atlantic City and has volunteered to lobby in Washington. The New Jersey Hospital Association and the state's 12 casinos also have pledged support.

Top 4 Contributors from Open Secrets (2004 cycle)

1 Caesars Entertainment $28,750
2 Galaxy Scientific Corp 26,750
3 Lockheed Martin 19,500
4 Harrah's Entertainment 15,200

Surprising for some, but not for those from the North East, Mr. LoBiondo has substatial union support. Based on the amount of development in the Atlantic City area it is little surprise that the labor movement spreads its influence across party lines.

Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $10,000
Laborers Union 10,000
Teamsters 10,000
Air Line Pilots Assn 10,000


Mr LoBiondo record is typical for Blue State Republican whose districts encompass urban districts. While he has certainly taken up the neo-conservative banner of "value" issues his record on labor and immigration certainly rub against the Republican grain.

From Issues 2000:

Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 13% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
Rated 70% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 30% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes. (Dec 2000)
Rated 42% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education. (Dec 2003)
Rated 85% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 92% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated A- by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 22% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration. (Dec 2003)
Rated 53% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a mixed record on labor issues. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 57% by NTU, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)

Congressman we dub thee Frank Lo-Beyondo our Right-wing Jackass of the Week!
Congratulations!

You Yuan Our Oil Company?

From the New York Times:
July 22, 2005
China's Opaque Currency Policy

China has abandoned one of the world's clearest currency policies, a tightly managed peg of the yuan to the dollar that had endured since 1997. China has chosen instead to adopt one of the world's most opaque currency policies, with a secret mechanism to reset the yuan's value each night.

Seeing how this fits into American Policy so well....

From the New York Times:

WASHINGTON, July 21 - The Bush administration welcomed China's move toward a more flexible currency on Thursday, but the cautious shift may not be enough to cool the anti-China sentiments boiling up in Congress.
Treasury Secretary John W. Snow called it "the start of an awfully important process" that might resolve one of the biggest economic disputes between the United States and China.
"It is very positive," Mr. Snow told reporters on Thursday morning. "I am particularly struck by the commitment of the Chinese government to get their currency into alignment with market forces."
But the ambiguity of the Chinese announcement, in which it said it would uncouple the value of the yuan and the dollar, made it impossible for administration officials to say whether it amounted to a real change or a token gesture.

It makes it hard to believe that it is not connected to this:

From Reuters U.S. senator vows to try to stop China-Unocal deal

Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:02 PM ET By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Democratic senator said on Friday he would try to get the Senate to pass legislation blocking the sale of Unocal to Chinese oil company CNOOC as it was against U.S. national interests.
The U.S. House of Representatives already has approved such legislation.
Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota said he was considering attaching his proposal to a foreign operations spending bill being debated by the Senate on Friday and next week or to another bill.
"Our strategic and economic national interest is not served by allowing this to happen," Dorgan said of the attempt by CNOOC Ltd to acquire Unocal Corp

The Unocal deal has support from the White House but a recent House vote was a landslide for the opposition. Much of that support is nativist but the currency issue is linked to how much of our debt (in the form of US securities) is owned by China.

From Bloomberg:
U.S. Treasuries Fall on Speculation China to Reduce Purchases

July 21 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Treasury notes dropped, pushing the 10-year yield to the highest since May, after China's revaluation of its currency boosted speculation that the country will reduce its purchases of U.S. government debt.

At this point there is little reason to believe that this will affect retail (ie Wal-Mart type) stores as the 2% increase it the yuan's value is small. However, China's double secret probation method of valuing their currency may help make the yuan solid enough for China to purchase more oil and energy products.

An Open Letter To Mayor Bloomberg.

Hello from the Police State of New York City. Our esteemed accidental mayor Bloomie has decided to further co-op the constitution by enabling the police to initiate random searches at NYC and other rail systems. The MSM will play this up as a simple inconvenience but once again they have missed the essential point.
The continuing pissing on the Constitution of this great country.
To better help Bloomie to understand the precarious legal position he has placed himself in I wrote a letter to his office and am now posting the contents here for posterity.


Dear Mr. Mayor, In this time of continuing encroachment of government authority, I feel it necessary to introduce to you a document that your studies must have missed, the:
Bill of Rights.

Many members of our founding generation fought hard for this document and your recent pronouncement soundly kicks it in the shins. I direct you to the following:

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The full document should you choose to introduce yourself to it can be found at: http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html

Introduction of sorts

Let me state simply that my posts will mainly be concerned with us at play, what we do with our leisure. In particular I’ll be focusing on video games partly because I’ve had a lifelong love affair with them but mainly because they’ve become the most obvious example of political imbecility and shameful pandering.
But that’s another post entirely.
“So, what’s an entertainment poster doing on a social commentary blog?” you may ask yourself.
What better way to view a society than through their leisure actions? When meeting a new person our conversations always drift to common interests.
“What movies do you like?”
“What music do you listen to?”
and on some dates you might even use
“So, bondage or flasher porn?” (ed note: ANIME TENTACLE SEX!)
It stands to reason that if we gauge individuals by their interests, then what a society as a whole does for fun should give us some inkling as to what the collective mentality is like.
The romans, for example, would cheer and roar whilst enjoying a fine calm Sunday at the blood soaked arena watching those heathen Christians get fed to the lions.
During plague days Londoners would throw damn near a carnival while men were hanged.
In Texas they fry people for laughs on Saturday nights.
It is with a sad air then that I must inform you that one of the most popular sports in this country is NASCAR.
What was that? Did I hear the sound of a snap judgment?
When most people think of NASCAR fans they get images of hootin’ and hollerin’ good ‘ol boys with beer guts and whisky breath. And yeah, a good many of the fans do fit that description. But there are also many blue staters (maybe even some on this very site) who wholly enjoy stock cars and the oval beast.
It’s easy to see why. This country has had a love affair with automobiles for decades.
Just like it’s hard for people to dismiss their first impressions on individuals, it’s even harder to dismiss notions about whole societies. My point, I guess, is that we need to view things with an eye of doubtful reason, don’t just immediately play the party line. Look a little deeper and learn about the other side so that you’ll be better equipped to attack intelligently and cut deeper.

Graphing the War

Found this over at White Rose Society. Its home site is over at Washington Western U and posted by a gentleman named Ed Stephens. The actual graphic contains hyperlinks to various websites that give faces to the dead and exposure to the lies that caused them. Very well done Ed and we all thank you for your work.

This Guy Sits in Paul Wellstone's Seat????

Norm Coleman (MN-R)

“There is no doubt Coleman is part of that neo-con assault on the United Nations and on those he perceives have betrayed the United States over Iraq and war.”

"I know that standards have slipped in Washington in recent years, but for a lawyer, you're remarkably cavalier with any idea of justice,"

"I gave my heart and soul to stop you committing the disaster that you did commit in invading Iraq ... senator, in everything I said about Iraq, I turned out to be right and you turned out to be wrong,"
George Galloway- MP for Bethnal Green and Bow

Salon in November of 2002 published this little missive by Minnesotan Public Radio Host Garrison Keillor, about our friend Minnesota Tooth.

At Bushboy they mix the sad truth about this political hack with the sheer joy of satire

From Issues 2000

Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 91% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 45% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education. (Dec 2003)
Rated 21% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated A by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-labor voting record. (Dec 2000)
Rated 0% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 69% by NTU, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes. (Dec 2003

Top 10 Contributors (Election Cycle 2004)

1 Target Corp $119,100
2 3M Co $50,700
3 Wells Fargo $37,850
4 US Bancorp $31,100
5 General Mills $30,000
6 UnitedHealth Group $29,915
7 Blue Cross/Blue Shield $26,280
8 Cargill Inc $25,450
9 Qwest Communications $24,000
10 Dorsey & Whitney $23,950

From the Incestuous World of Bushco

From the Washington Post:
Bush Adviser Helped Law Firm Land Job Lobbying for CNOOC

President Bush's top independent intelligence adviser met last winter with investment bankers in China to help secure his law firm's role in lobbying for a state-run Chinese energy firm and its bid for the U.S. oil company Unocal Corp., according to his law firm, Akin Gump.

The involvement of James C. Langdon Jr., chairman of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and a major Bush fundraiser, underscores the tangled Washington connections beneath CNOOC Ltd.'s bid. Both CNOOC and its rival for Unocal, Chevron Corp., have enlisted lobbyists and public relations professionals with deep ties to the Bush White House and Republican leaders in Congress. Wayne L. Berman, a principal lobbyist for Chevron, is a Bush "Ranger," having raised at least $200,000 for the president's campaign. His wife, Lea, is the White House social secretary. Langdon's involvement, given his dual role as Bush intelligence adviser and energy lawyer at the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, may prove politically problematic, some security experts said. Members of the intelligence board, known as PFIAB, are granted the highest security clearance and develop top-secret advisories and reports for the president, most of which are not even available to members of Congress.

Curt Weldon (7th dost PA-R) certainly not a liberal , "vowed to raise questions of Langdon's involvement, saying, "Unfortunately, corporate dollars often transcend national security."
The China-hawk want on to say that, "Unfortunately, corporate dollars often transcend national security."

The questions of how far Langdon influenced the deal will remain a volatile issue as the deal progresses further. To be fair he did recuse himself from further negotiations and the approval process, however the outstanding questions are:

How much influence did Langdon exert in bringing the deal to the table in the
first place?
How much input came from the increasingly besieged and ethically challenged
White House?

A further issue, with even entrenched and devout conservatives breaking ranks with the White House it calls into question the amount of "political capital" the President has with his own party, let alone with the rest of the country.

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Genocide Is News, Let the Media Know It!

Short but powerful video from Be A witness

Is America more concerned with non-news than real news or do we just have it shoved down our throat. Well before CeeNoNews, Faux, and the rest of the corporate media stick one more missing white girl in front of our evening dinner take a look at the link above.

Then if you are so inclined, sign their letter and let the MSM know that this tragedy must be covered so it can be stopped.

Is Nothing Sacred!!!

From Gamespot:

Christian gamers getting Left Behind
Real-time strategy game based on the Left Behind novels is descending on the PC.
Left Behind Games today announced that it will be publishing a real-time strategy PC game based on the Left Behind novels. Left Behind: Eternal Forces is appropriately scheduled for release "between Christmas 2005 and Easter 2006." Left Behind Games was established in 2001, and it aims to bring morally just and family-friendly games to the masses.

Oh yes folks you are reading right, the Rapture Right Zombie Brigades are coming to a PC near you. Taking place after "Da Raptya" you will control the forces of good in the apocalyptic battle for New York. I remember my first contact with the Left Behind series. My family and I were shopping in (dum dum duuum!) Wal-Mart out on Long Island. Admittedly I am a fan of Apocalyptic stories, the Omen being my favorite, I was drawn to the title. That is where the affair ended. Like a woman you see across a bar who looks fine, once you get through the smoke and haze, you find the definition of "coyote ugly."
Two chapters of this third rate prose and one-dimensional characters (yes we are talking string theory here) and I was ready to call Harlan Ellison and the ghost of Asimov to strike down these hacks.

My favorite good (parody obviously) review from Amazon:

Lousy book but think of the poor!, June 25, 2005

Reviewer:

Free Thinker (USA) - See all my reviews

This book, and its sequels, is simplistic, poorly written and has as much depth as a penny that's been squashed by a train. Nonetheless, I give it 5 stars, for no other reason than I'm sure that LaHaye and Jenkins have spent the millions they've gotten for these books exclusively on helping the poor, sick and lame. At most I'm sure they've kept only enough to live a modest life on, just as Jesus would have done. Right?
Take a look around the site and you will find that they even made movies of this drivel, starring (dear gods) Kirk Cameron. Yes that's right folks Kirk is now, not only a C-class former teen star, but now a Divine rightist. Check out this unintentional comedy called Way of the Master.

I found clicking "NO" to be funnier.

The other side of Bush-it's trip to WV

Props to RHA!

Linking to a real display of patriotism:

What's in a Domain Name Anyway?

From E-Week:

Feds Won't Let Go of Internet DNS By David Morgenstern
July 1, 2005

Citing national security and business concerns, officials of the U.S. Department of Commerce Thursday said the federal agency will retain control of the Internet's domain naming system, rather than hand over complete responsibility to the international nonprofit currently running the operation....

However turning over extensive information about American citizens to a for-profit company is okay?

While the agency recognizes that other governments have "public policy and sovereignty concerns" relating to the Internet and domain services, Gallagher said, those interests should be focused on the ccTDL (country code top level domains). He said that the United States is "committed to working with the international community to address these concerns, bearing in mind the fundamental need to ensure stability and security of the Internet's DNS..." (Domain Name System)

This statement flies in the face of an MOU (memorandum of understanding) between the Dept. of Commerce and ICANN, which would have transferred control over to the international body in September 2006....

And why???

Michael Froomkin, a law professor at the University of Miami School of Law and critic of ICANN, views the Commerce Department's move more as an attempt to impact the upcoming meeting of the United Nation's World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) than a specific snub against ICANN. Through WSIS, the UN has been trying to play a larger role in Internet governance...

"The real big question right now is how is the EU going to deal with this?" Froomkin said. "The EU has supported ICANN through thick and thin from the sense that it was the best way to get the U.S. [government] out of this."

This is a put your manhood on the table challange from the US to the UN and more importantly to the EU. The meeting in Luxembourg takes place on July 11th. Europe's reaction should be most interesting. This is big $$ folks.

Cute Dog + Eye Candy = Post for Friday

Cute Dog + Eye Candy = Post For Friday

So, here it is, Friday of a 3 day weekend. Everone loves their pets, and here is a reminder from our friends at PETA. Also, it helps that Goran Visnjic is in the picture. Remember the noble ideas that PETA represents and hug your pet today!

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