Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson under fire over his use of the N-word

Jeremy Clarkson has released a video "begging for forgiveness" over allegations he used the N-word during filming of Top Gear.

Lemon Roasted Chicken with Wild Mushrooms

I love to cook. I love to cook much more than I actually cook these days, but in the meantime I am saving recipes. This picture and recipe from the Crepes of Wrath blog makes my mouth water.

"YOU GUYS ARE RUINING MY BEARD FETISH"

"Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved a man with a beard. To me, they meant strength, power, MANLINESS. Someone who could protect me. Unfortunately, you guys have turned it into a fashion statement. The beard has turned into the padded bra of masculinity. Sure it looks sexy, but whatcha got under there? There's a whole generation running around looking like lumberjacks, and most of you can't change a f**king tire."

"Look, I get it. I really do. I understand the motivation behind your beardedness. In fact, I even pity you. Thousands of years of evolution priming you guys to kill stuff, and chase stuff, and f**k stuff....and now what? You're stuck at a desk all day. No battles to fight. No wars to wage. So you assert your masculinity the only way you know how. You brew beer. You grow some hair on your face." (read more)

NYT: "we must finally acknowledge that altruism isn’t enough"

"THE national transplant list just passed a morbid milestone: More than 100,000 people now wait for kidneys.

We are at this point largely because even though demand is growing, donations from living and deceased donors have remained flat, between 16,500 and 17,000 annually, for the past decade. Between now and this time tomorrow, 14 people will die, many after languishing on dialysis for 5 to 10 years, while their names slowly crawled up the queue.

The problem lies in the requirement that all organs be given altruistically... Federal law is widely interpreted as forbidding donors to receive anything of tangible value in return for their lifesaving deeds. (read more)

Batman

U-2 spy plane shuts down LAX

Leading to delays and cancellations of hundreds of flights across the country.

NBC News.

How odd. And yet another reason among hundreds of reasons to avoid flying whenever possible. At this point if you still enjoy flying around then you are a straight up masochist, time and self-respect just not your bag.

The LAX computers overloaded attempting to track the plane passing through miles above regular air traffic. U-2 flies at 60,000 ft., regular air traffic 30,000. Backup computers also failed.

Fail, fail, fail, three fails in one.

The problem lasted an hour and affected thousands of passengers (that had already been abused). 27 cancellations of arriving flights, 23 departures, 212 delays, and 27 diversions. Also delays at Burbank, Ontario and Orange County and other airports (too minor to mention apparently) across the Southwestern U.S.

Edwards AFB is 30 miles north of L.A. Center. A spokesman for  Edwards AFB denies U-2 planes are assigned to Edwards, answering a question that nobody asked.

E15 gasoline

Turning speakers to low is recommended for the video if you care to watch otherwise the soft feminine intonations might very well work as icepick in the hands of a maniac upon them and on your eardrums. (I listened three times and still recovering)

tl:dr 

Good for new and for flex-fuel vehicles, not good otherwise.

Snopes rates the alarm email (urgent, send to friends) mix of true/false green, with a red outline   

Popular Mechanics will have you know four things. 

EPA will have you dazzled with their own regulation history and their various waivers.

Choose Ethanol will have you use it to support 383,000 jobs in the United States, because it burns cleaner and cooler in engines which helps performance and extend life of vehicle and can be used by over 75% of light duty vehicles on the road today. And because there is always room to grow! Made from renewable resources, and that is not going to change.

In fact, the number of available resources increases each year. Ethanol is not going to be limited by corn, or other grains, it is simply going to be limited by acceptance. You can start the change. Let’s work together to break our century plus addiction to oil.

"Addiction," ugh, way to loose your audience, Hippy. That is so last century.

Green Car Reports says Automaker groups say E15 damages cars and that EPA approval was rushed. This appears to be a balanced report of pros and cons.

This post is NOT about UFO’s, rather, about the hope that "someday everybody will come together and make nice"

I came across this video yesterday and I was tempted to post it. I say tempted because UFO is sort of a taboo subject among us enlighten few. You know, we are not looking for titillation, we are very serious people. (If you want that kind of thing you can contribute to some other blog ;-) ---> that usually means I'm kidding.

So I thought, how Am I going to post this and get away with it?

Then it dawn on me, like a turning signal on a messenger bike; I know what to do. I’ll say the post is about something else. Body language, look over here, this post is NOT about UFO’s.

Well, it is about UFO's, truth be told, but it is also about Bill Clinton appearing like he is hiding, concealing something.  I did not have sexual relations… hold it; I was going off on a tangent there. That was close call.  

Back to the subject at hand.

The guy, who put the video together, sounds like he knows what he is talking about, I learned a lot, although he claims not to be a body language expert.  I sat through the whole video, not even pausing to go to the bathroom, as I do during a Netflix.

Please watch the video and share what you think.

A New Idea Is Born

Suppose we consider a new life to be like a new invention, which under our laws must be both new and useful.* The novelty of a new life (identical twins aside) is self-evident in its genetic code. Inventions occur (again under our law) following conception and reduction to practice.  The two events may be connascent or sequential. Conception is the fixed and permanent idea of the invention, while reduction to practice is the embodiment of the idea. Like parenting, only an inventor can contribute to conception.

Suppose that new life indeed does begin at conception, but it's not fully embodied until some indefinite point in time. Is it not imperative to dehumanize that new life?
_________________________
*As for the usefulness of a newly conceived life or idea -- that requires time. The following anecdote may apply.  Sometime in the 19th century, a delegation of government dignitaries visited Michael Faraday to view his electric motors and other inventions. One said "This is all very interesting, but of what possible use are these toys?" Faraday responded: "I cannot say what use they may be, but I can confidently predict that one day you will be able to tax them."

Video: She's a witch!

NYT: Obama Orders Policy Review on Executions

"President Obama declared this week’s botched execution in Oklahoma “deeply disturbing” and directed the attorney general on Friday to review how the death penalty is applied in the United States at a time when it has become increasingly debated."

"Weighing in on a polarizing issue that he rarely discusses, Mr. Obama said the Oklahoma episode, in which a prisoner remained groaning in pain after sedatives were apparently not fully delivered, underscored concerns with capital punishment as it is carried out in America today. While reiterating his support for the death penalty in certain cases, Mr. Obama said Americans should “ask ourselves some difficult and profound questions” about its use." (read more)

So, what do you think?

Should we reconsider the death penalty?

Is it too barbaric for the 21st century?

Or do you hold fast that some crimes are so gruesome that the only penalty commensurate is death.

Compliance with a subpoena for documents is not a game

"Because your Department is failing to meet its legal obligations, I am issuing a new subpoena to compel you to appear before the Committee to answer questions about your agency's response to the congressional investigation of the Benghazi attack."

Subpoena from Issa to Kerry. cc: Elijah E. Cummings, nice touch, that. His name is already on top, and Cummings is sitting right next to Issa. POW right in the kisser.

This is the single mention I heard on the news tonight while scanning the networks. It was described thus, "Republicans are bypassing the usual 'invitation' to testify" suggesting that Republicans are just being vindictive disruptive meany-pants as usual.

PDF letter to John Kerry that accompanies a subpoena.  The most interesting letter I've read all year. It is short and to the point. The longest thing about it is the list of all the names at top. Linked on Drudge who leads with "Disturbing disregard for legal obligations..."  And I suppose that makes me a drudgebot according to the lights of dismissive liberal commentariat.

This is separate from Boehner's Select Committee.

Select Committee is different from regular investigative committee. It will be comprised of heads of other committees. They do the full-on testimonies under oath and not the regular five minute question and answer sessions we've seen so far. More akin to inquisition. I believe it is the point were things start getting real.

KLEM FM

Hey bud!

Tomato, jalapeño.  Plants grown from seeds born of grocery store vegetables.