You?
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Open Thread
Hosted by Madeleine Albright.
This week's Open Threads have been hosted by cool ladies with the initials M.A.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
SADIA: Very One Dimensional
Intern: Darn. Does that head look funny to you?
Designer: Nah, looks just fine to me.
Intern: I'm not so sure...
Designer: I've done far worse and nobody visits the site anyway.
Thanks Elson for the catch. You can see the original on the Sadia site. I don't really understand why or how they ever thought that this looked good enough to publish. If you can't see the PSD, you can check out our red image gallery.
Designer: Nah, looks just fine to me.
Intern: I'm not so sure...
Designer: I've done far worse and nobody visits the site anyway.
Thanks Elson for the catch. You can see the original on the Sadia site. I don't really understand why or how they ever thought that this looked good enough to publish. If you can't see the PSD, you can check out our red image gallery.
Friday, December 16, 2011
3D Street Art Illusions by Eduardo Relero
The 3D street artist Eduardo Relero from Argentina has created optical illusions around the globe. There's a certain life-like quality to the visuals he produces, because of their three-dimensional appearance, yet he maintains an illustrative aesthetic.
The unusual illusions are even more interesting as real people and animals interact with them, breathing life into the pieces. The balance between surreal imagery and realism that Rolero has attained is really noteworthy.
Source: mymodernmet
The unusual illusions are even more interesting as real people and animals interact with them, breathing life into the pieces. The balance between surreal imagery and realism that Rolero has attained is really noteworthy.
Source: mymodernmet
Disadvantages of Flash in Web site Design and style
Photo: f-source.com
Flash websites search impressive because of fairly and neat vector graphics, grandiose animations and awesome audio effects. But in conditions of advantages, constructing Flash-powered web sites are confused by the down sides. When it will come to storing content material and site navigation, Flash won't impress you that much.http://marvelous74.xanga.com, http://suochao98.blog.com, http://linjie96.busythumbs.com/
Limitations to People Who Do not have Flash Assist
For sites these kinds of as small accommodations or restaurants in a tourist area where people may possibly just happen to perhaps use their cellular phones to visit your web site, not utilizing Flash is very sensible and very suggested. I'm not saying to never use flash, but for specified web sites, specifically nearly anything involved in the multimedia sector, Flash is almost a necessity currently.
Longer Loading Time period
Flash files, particularly those using sound results, embedded videos or bitmap pictures are huge in measurement and can get a while to load. Hence, if it requires way too prolonged to open up your page, visitors will no more time wait around and transfer to the website who's loading more rapidly. Also, analog users will surely have a difficulty in loading of Flash webpages and will most likely drop curiosity and discontinue getting into the Flash web site. But for hello-speed DSL customers, Flash will have no loading dilemma.
So, for maximum marketability, designing a pure HTML created webpage (which is dial-up pleasant) fairly than a pure Flash web site (which is DSL helpful) is the best option, given that 80% of most web end users are nonetheless analog customers.
Flash Could Often Ignore Consumer Requirements
Even though it is the standard rule of advertising and marketing to reiterate on the users' requirements, Flash websites disregard them. For instance, the sound results can be inappropriate when you are searching the internet from a cubicle in a peaceful workplace or frustrating in the late hrs at home.
Back again Button is Disabled
"The Again Button is the 2nd most critical navigation aspect following hyperlinks" states Jacob Nielsen, the famous skilled of world wide web usability. In most instances, PPC advertising or advertising due to the fact Google AdWords would disapprove your pages.
Difficulties with Modification & Modifying
Some developers code their projects in these a way that only them can modify or edit your Flash web site. So you will have to retain them yet again everytime you will want to set some modifications to your website. The issue right here is that web developers can consider edge of their top secret code, cost you for further expense when in reality, is brought on only by their incompetence.
Search engine optimisation Google Unfriendly
Flash material does not rank as properly as HTML content. The principal difficulty research engines have with flash subject material is identifying how will its contents show up in a browser. With flash, it's much more hard for search engines to detect it because the subject material may be concealed for a good purpose, like being portion of the 2nd "page" of a one flash file, or it may just be spam.
Google will often prefer HTML sites because they know what you do with your HTML content and trust it much more than flash material. Google also acknowledges that people tend to link to HTML material since they can get a direct URL to the page they want, for that reason passing website link juice that Google loves. Most of the time, you can't get a direct website link to the subject material you are intrigued in with a flash internet site and do not website link to it.
Flash Videos Easily Grow to be Obsolete
Thomas Fuchs states, that no matter whether we like it or not, Flash is a engineering that had its employs but is really quickly grow to be obsolete." He noted that Flash video assist only appeared in 2002.
Daniel Eran Dilger posted a remark by Morgan Adams (a developer who knows a good deal about constructing apps in Flash), suggesting that the real dilemma with Flash is that it does not operate - and cannot easily be produced to operate - with the iPad (or for that matter the iPhone) simply because of the "hover and mouseover" problem
Although Flash may well not be the best alternative for your organization web site, it's nonetheless the very best tool we have for creating graphics-intensive dynamic apps like banners, on-line video games and video clips. The internet site can be a good piece of art, or it can be informational. Even though usually not the two at the same time, we need to recognize that HTML is for content material and Flash is for decoration and innovative enhancement
No matter whether to use or not to use Flash in your web site, my opinion is that you use not what you like most, but what is best for your company. For most companies, that would be to have a site created with no Flash, but if it is a necessity for your organization, then use it.
Limitations to People Who Do not have Flash Assist
For sites these kinds of as small accommodations or restaurants in a tourist area where people may possibly just happen to perhaps use their cellular phones to visit your web site, not utilizing Flash is very sensible and very suggested. I'm not saying to never use flash, but for specified web sites, specifically nearly anything involved in the multimedia sector, Flash is almost a necessity currently.
Longer Loading Time period
Flash files, particularly those using sound results, embedded videos or bitmap pictures are huge in measurement and can get a while to load. Hence, if it requires way too prolonged to open up your page, visitors will no more time wait around and transfer to the website who's loading more rapidly. Also, analog users will surely have a difficulty in loading of Flash webpages and will most likely drop curiosity and discontinue getting into the Flash web site. But for hello-speed DSL customers, Flash will have no loading dilemma.
So, for maximum marketability, designing a pure HTML created webpage (which is dial-up pleasant) fairly than a pure Flash web site (which is DSL helpful) is the best option, given that 80% of most web end users are nonetheless analog customers.
Flash Could Often Ignore Consumer Requirements
Even though it is the standard rule of advertising and marketing to reiterate on the users' requirements, Flash websites disregard them. For instance, the sound results can be inappropriate when you are searching the internet from a cubicle in a peaceful workplace or frustrating in the late hrs at home.
Back again Button is Disabled
"The Again Button is the 2nd most critical navigation aspect following hyperlinks" states Jacob Nielsen, the famous skilled of world wide web usability. In most instances, PPC advertising or advertising due to the fact Google AdWords would disapprove your pages.
Difficulties with Modification & Modifying
Some developers code their projects in these a way that only them can modify or edit your Flash web site. So you will have to retain them yet again everytime you will want to set some modifications to your website. The issue right here is that web developers can consider edge of their top secret code, cost you for further expense when in reality, is brought on only by their incompetence.
Search engine optimisation Google Unfriendly
Flash material does not rank as properly as HTML content. The principal difficulty research engines have with flash subject material is identifying how will its contents show up in a browser. With flash, it's much more hard for search engines to detect it because the subject material may be concealed for a good purpose, like being portion of the 2nd "page" of a one flash file, or it may just be spam.
Google will often prefer HTML sites because they know what you do with your HTML content and trust it much more than flash material. Google also acknowledges that people tend to link to HTML material since they can get a direct URL to the page they want, for that reason passing website link juice that Google loves. Most of the time, you can't get a direct website link to the subject material you are intrigued in with a flash internet site and do not website link to it.
Flash Videos Easily Grow to be Obsolete
Thomas Fuchs states, that no matter whether we like it or not, Flash is a engineering that had its employs but is really quickly grow to be obsolete." He noted that Flash video assist only appeared in 2002.
Daniel Eran Dilger posted a remark by Morgan Adams (a developer who knows a good deal about constructing apps in Flash), suggesting that the real dilemma with Flash is that it does not operate - and cannot easily be produced to operate - with the iPad (or for that matter the iPhone) simply because of the "hover and mouseover" problem
Although Flash may well not be the best alternative for your organization web site, it's nonetheless the very best tool we have for creating graphics-intensive dynamic apps like banners, on-line video games and video clips. The internet site can be a good piece of art, or it can be informational. Even though usually not the two at the same time, we need to recognize that HTML is for content material and Flash is for decoration and innovative enhancement
No matter whether to use or not to use Flash in your web site, my opinion is that you use not what you like most, but what is best for your company. For most companies, that would be to have a site created with no Flash, but if it is a necessity for your organization, then use it.
| -- |
Flash banners can be found in an extended variety. They can be divided into two groups web site banners and advertising banners. Advertising banners can be found on publishing internet sites in large numbers.
http://www.leapconverter.com/products/dvd-to-avi-divx-mpeg-wmv-ripper.htm, http://www.auausoft.com/dvd.htm#dvd-to-3pg
http://www.leapconverter.com/products/dvd-to-avi-divx-mpeg-wmv-ripper.htm, http://www.auausoft.com/dvd.htm#dvd-to-3pg
Source: ArticleTrader.com
The Virtual Pub Is Open
[Explanations: lol your fat. pathetic anger bread. hey your gay.]
TFIF, Shakers!
Belly up to the bar,
and name your poison!
And don't forget to tip your bartender!
Film Corner!
Below, the trailer for Jack the Giant Killer, which is not a movie about a dude named Jack of enormous proportions who kills people, but a dude named Jack who kills giants. Or a giant. Many giants? At least one giant.
Here is the movie's synopsis, which should help with this whole conundrum: "Jack the Giant Killer tells the story of an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend—and gets the chance to become a legend himself."
Hmm, that didn't really help at all, in terms of determining how many giants are actually murdered at the hand of this young farmboy. ("As you wish!") Well, whatever. What's important is that we definitely know this is based on a classic Western hemisphere fable (that was probably ripped off from some classic Eastern hemisphere fable), which means that it stars lots and lots of white men, which is the important thing, obviously.
Nicholas Hoult, who is definitely 22 now, I checked Wikipedia and everything, has turned into a very attractive man after being a very awkward little dude in About a Boy. In his short career, he has been in a lot of movies I like and/or like a lot—About a Boy, A Single Man, Clash of the Titans, X-Men: First Class—and I will probably like this movie, too, even though I'm totally going to make fun of this trailer.
Anyway! Nicholas Hoult is handsome and he is a farmhand named Jack. There is Ominous Music. He is given a handful of beans, which are, according to an urgently whispering fellow with monk-hair, "holy relics from a very special place far, far away." Ha ha sure they are. "They are born of dark magic." Holy AND magical, you say? Why, these ARE special beans. "They have the power to change the world as we know it." By revealing that god is a wizard? "Don't lose them." KEEP THEM SECRET! KEEP THEM SAFE! THEY ARE THE ONE BEANS! "Whatever you do, don't get them wet." Uh-oh! I already put them in the toilet!
Ominous Music gets ominouser. There's a rainstorm. A princess with boobs walks down a castle hall. Them beans is getting wet, yo. A cat meows. Someone says in voiceover, "Once darkness gets a taste for light, it will not stop." Stop what? Eating light? Do these giants eat lightbulbs? Is this an allegory about energy conservation? Hmm, maybe not, since a giant and evil green plant (I bet it's a beanstalk!) just crashed through the floor of Jack's garbage hovel. Maybe this is an allegory about how stupid nature is. It's like Al Gore and Ayn Rand are having a capoeira fight on top of a moving train in my head.
The king wants to know where the princess is, Jack. Jack looks up the beanstalk. I guess she's up there? What was the princess doing in his shitshack? Never mind that. SOMETHING GIANT IS COMING! What is it?! Oh, it's a giant. And the giant has grabbed the princess. Horses. Run! Unsheathe your swords and get ready to fight! Flaming trees over the castle wall. Damn, you really don't want to fight giants. This is why we told you not to get thosemagui beans wet, son!
Rain. Running. Grabby giant! Swarthy giant eyeball. Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikes.
Jack the Giant Killer, coming to a theater near you in June 2012, just about the time we'll be looking for anything to lift our spirits and distract our minds from contemplating the possibility that Newt Gingrich could be our next president.
Here is the movie's synopsis, which should help with this whole conundrum: "Jack the Giant Killer tells the story of an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend—and gets the chance to become a legend himself."
Hmm, that didn't really help at all, in terms of determining how many giants are actually murdered at the hand of this young farmboy. ("As you wish!") Well, whatever. What's important is that we definitely know this is based on a classic Western hemisphere fable (that was probably ripped off from some classic Eastern hemisphere fable), which means that it stars lots and lots of white men, which is the important thing, obviously.
Nicholas Hoult, who is definitely 22 now, I checked Wikipedia and everything, has turned into a very attractive man after being a very awkward little dude in About a Boy. In his short career, he has been in a lot of movies I like and/or like a lot—About a Boy, A Single Man, Clash of the Titans, X-Men: First Class—and I will probably like this movie, too, even though I'm totally going to make fun of this trailer.
Anyway! Nicholas Hoult is handsome and he is a farmhand named Jack. There is Ominous Music. He is given a handful of beans, which are, according to an urgently whispering fellow with monk-hair, "holy relics from a very special place far, far away." Ha ha sure they are. "They are born of dark magic." Holy AND magical, you say? Why, these ARE special beans. "They have the power to change the world as we know it." By revealing that god is a wizard? "Don't lose them." KEEP THEM SECRET! KEEP THEM SAFE! THEY ARE THE ONE BEANS! "Whatever you do, don't get them wet." Uh-oh! I already put them in the toilet!
Ominous Music gets ominouser. There's a rainstorm. A princess with boobs walks down a castle hall. Them beans is getting wet, yo. A cat meows. Someone says in voiceover, "Once darkness gets a taste for light, it will not stop." Stop what? Eating light? Do these giants eat lightbulbs? Is this an allegory about energy conservation? Hmm, maybe not, since a giant and evil green plant (I bet it's a beanstalk!) just crashed through the floor of Jack's garbage hovel. Maybe this is an allegory about how stupid nature is. It's like Al Gore and Ayn Rand are having a capoeira fight on top of a moving train in my head.
The king wants to know where the princess is, Jack. Jack looks up the beanstalk. I guess she's up there? What was the princess doing in his shitshack? Never mind that. SOMETHING GIANT IS COMING! What is it?! Oh, it's a giant. And the giant has grabbed the princess. Horses. Run! Unsheathe your swords and get ready to fight! Flaming trees over the castle wall. Damn, you really don't want to fight giants. This is why we told you not to get those
Rain. Running. Grabby giant! Swarthy giant eyeball. Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikes.
Jack the Giant Killer, coming to a theater near you in June 2012, just about the time we'll be looking for anything to lift our spirits and distract our minds from contemplating the possibility that Newt Gingrich could be our next president.
Friday Blogaround
This blogaround brought to you by thistles.
Recommended Reading:
Pam: [TW for homophobia] Romney Proposes Bullshit Three-Tier Marriage System
The Rejectionist: [TW for rape; abuse; misogyny] Eleven Thoughts about Lisbeth Salander
Resistance: [TW for racism; victim-blaming] In Need of a History Lesson
Arturo: [TW for racism] #MARKSWATCH: The Response and The Meme
Brian: [TW for fat hatred] There is a reason my picture is at the top of the page.
Andy: 'Someday' We'll Know if Tom Vilsack Supports Marriage Equality for All (I get the feeling there are a lot of cabinet members trying not to get a step ahead of the boss these days. Sigh.)
Stephanie: 2012 Golden Globe Nominations (With linked feminist reviews, where possible.)
Leave your links and recommendations in comments...
Recommended Reading:
Pam: [TW for homophobia] Romney Proposes Bullshit Three-Tier Marriage System
The Rejectionist: [TW for rape; abuse; misogyny] Eleven Thoughts about Lisbeth Salander
Resistance: [TW for racism; victim-blaming] In Need of a History Lesson
Arturo: [TW for racism] #MARKSWATCH: The Response and The Meme
Brian: [TW for fat hatred] There is a reason my picture is at the top of the page.
Andy: 'Someday' We'll Know if Tom Vilsack Supports Marriage Equality for All (I get the feeling there are a lot of cabinet members trying not to get a step ahead of the boss these days. Sigh.)
Stephanie: 2012 Golden Globe Nominations (With linked feminist reviews, where possible.)
Leave your links and recommendations in comments...
Paranoël Activity
I'm pretty damn pleased with our agency Christmas card this year. Written and Directed by Acart Copywriter/Videographer Christopher Redmond, it takes a different perspective on that supernatural old guy who breaks into your house once a year while you and your children are asleep:
Thanks to DOP Karl Roeder for helping out.
And some of you may recognize the scary little boy. He has certainly kept me up on many a night.
Whoooooooops Your Kyriarchal Assumptions
Actress Gabourey Sidibe arrives for the premiere of the film "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" in New York, December 15, 2011. [Reuters Pictures]Earlier today, I saw this picture of Gabby Sidibe on the red carpet last night, looking gorgeous as always, and I was reminded of a popular media meme about Sidibe when she was nominated for an Oscar for her breakthrough performance in Precious. It was said in a lot of different ways, by a lot of different reviewers, reporters, and assorted film industry experts, some of whom were more circumspect and some of whom were more blunt, but the gist was always that Sidibe would not—could not—have a sustainable career, because she is fat, because she is a fat woman, because she is a fat woman of color, because she is a fat woman of color with very dark skin, because she is a fat woman of color with very dark skin who played a survivor of sexual violence in her career-launching role.
Since then, Sidibe has starred in Victoria Mahoney's Yelling to the Sky, had a major supporting role in a cable series (Showtime's The Big C), done voice work on two different animated series, played a key supporting role in the recently-released Brett Ratner film Tower Heist, and is currently filming Martin McDonagh's Seven Psychopaths, which has an A-list cast.
Not too shabby. I imagine there are a lot of actors who would be thrilled to have such a non-career.
I would say that I'm looking forward to reading all the follow-up pieces in which the Very Important Knowledgeable Prognosticators of the Entertainment Industry admit that perhaps they were a little quick to judge, to mistake the prejudiced habits of the film industry with some immutable truth about its nature. I would say that except ha ha I'm not stupid and it will never happen.
I hope Gabby Sidibe keeps getting opportunities, and that her career is exactly as long as she wants it to be.
Daily Dose of Cute
[Please note that Dudley and Zelda bare their teeth at each other in this video. They're just playing, but if seeing dogs bare their teeth is triggering or otherwise problematic for you, you should skip this video.]
Dudley and Zelda lie on the floor facing each other, their paws crossed, squeaking a plush snake toy between them. They stop and look at me. "Get it," I tell them. "Get it, puppies!" They sniff at it, sniff each other, look back at me. "Where's the snake? Where is it?" I ask. They look at me. "Where's the snake?" They look at me. "Dudley, get it. Get it!" I whisper. "Zelly Belly, get that snake!" I reach down for it. "What is this?" I hold it up and they take it back for more squeaking. Zelly throws me a quick "Thanks, Two-Legs!" look. Squeak squeak squeak.
Suddenly Zelda hops backwards and sits up with her back against the settee. (This is her cue for: "It's time for the Bitey Game!") "Oh my goodness!" I exclaim to Dudley. "What was that?!" He looks at me. "Oh my goodness!" He squeaks the snake while Zelly waits patiently, then finally catches on. He stands up and sniffs the camera, then goes and offers his neck to Zelda. They snort and huff and play-bite each other. Zelda bats him with her paw. He play-bites her leg. She punches him. "You tell him, Zelly," I tell her. "You tell him."
Dudley sits down beside her, then lowers himself so now Zelly is the taller one. More biteyness. Zelly punches him with both front paws, then falls over. I laugh. Bitey bitey bitey. Iain makes a noise in the loft; the dogs stop and look up, a pair of ridiculous cuteness. Fin.
Dudley and Zelda lie on the floor facing each other, their paws crossed, squeaking a plush snake toy between them. They stop and look at me. "Get it," I tell them. "Get it, puppies!" They sniff at it, sniff each other, look back at me. "Where's the snake? Where is it?" I ask. They look at me. "Where's the snake?" They look at me. "Dudley, get it. Get it!" I whisper. "Zelly Belly, get that snake!" I reach down for it. "What is this?" I hold it up and they take it back for more squeaking. Zelly throws me a quick "Thanks, Two-Legs!" look. Squeak squeak squeak.
Suddenly Zelda hops backwards and sits up with her back against the settee. (This is her cue for: "It's time for the Bitey Game!") "Oh my goodness!" I exclaim to Dudley. "What was that?!" He looks at me. "Oh my goodness!" He squeaks the snake while Zelly waits patiently, then finally catches on. He stands up and sniffs the camera, then goes and offers his neck to Zelda. They snort and huff and play-bite each other. Zelda bats him with her paw. He play-bites her leg. She punches him. "You tell him, Zelly," I tell her. "You tell him."
Dudley sits down beside her, then lowers himself so now Zelly is the taller one. More biteyness. Zelly punches him with both front paws, then falls over. I laugh. Bitey bitey bitey. Iain makes a noise in the loft; the dogs stop and look up, a pair of ridiculous cuteness. Fin.
F'd Ad Fridays: Stalking the friendly skies with KLM
 |
| Image via Skyscanner |
Now, according to AdFreak, KLM is planning to launch a socially-enabled booking service service that will let solo travellers choose their seat mate by creeping that person in advance on Twitter or Facebook.
What could possibly go wrong?
F'd Ad Fridays: Effing Student Work
Redditor Jo3 posted some of his student work:
My advice to you, Jo3: There's enough commoditization of women's sexuality out there already, and it doesn't help to compare their vaginas to hot pockets. You are a clever creative with bold ideas. You can do much better than this.
My advice to you, Jo3: There's enough commoditization of women's sexuality out there already, and it doesn't help to compare their vaginas to hot pockets. You are a clever creative with bold ideas. You can do much better than this.
F'd Ad Fridays: Ham and WHAT sandwich?!?
 |
| Via Ads of The World |
The naughty little microbe in the Brazilain public health ad is sorta cute.
I'm more disturbed by my fear that some guy seems to have mistaken this innocent ham sandwich for a sex toy. If the food's that "good looking" you've probably spent too much time without female company.
Important End-of-Year Fundraiser
This is, for those who have requested it, your bi-monthly reminder* to donate to Shakesville and/or to make sure to renew subscriptions that have lapsed.
It is also an important fundraiser to keep Shakesville going.
I'm going to be really honest, here: Donations are way down. Part of the reality of running this space on donations rather than corporate advertising is that my ability to keep it going depends on your support.
You can donate once by clicking the "Make a Donation" button in the righthand sidebar, or set up a monthly subscription using the "Subscribe" button just below it, which has a dropdown menu of subscription options—or visit the Subscribe to Shakesville page, for even more options. 2012 Calendars are available for purchase here.
If you value the content and/or community in this space, can afford it, and want to see Shakesville continue to be managed** as a safe space, please consider setting up a subscription or making a one-time contribution.
If you have recently appreciated getting distilled news about the economy; being able to discuss pranks in a space interested in dismantling the rape culture; finding out where to direct your teaspoon in support of social justice or in opposition to inequality; getting election news about candidates who are discussed on the basis on their policies alone, I hope you will, if you are able, contribute to support this space and make sure it continues to flourish.
I hope you will also consider the value of whatever else you appreciate at Shakesville, whether it's the moderation, Film Corner, the community in Open Threads, video transcripts, the blogarounds, Butch Pornstache, the Daily Dose of Cute, your blogmistress' penchant for inventing new words, or anything else you enjoy.
Let me reiterate, once again, that I don't want anyone to feel obliged to contribute financially, especially if money is tight. Aside from valuing feminist work, the other goal of fundraising is so Iain and I don't have to struggle on behalf of the blog, and I don't want anyone else to struggle themselves in exchange. There is a big enough readership that neither should have to happen.
I also want say thank you, so very much, to each of you who donates or has donated, whether monthly or as a one-off. I am profoundly grateful—and I don't take a single cent for granted. I've not the words to express the depth of my appreciation, besides these: This community couldn't exist without that support, truly. Thank you.
My thanks as well to everyone who contributes to the space in other ways, whether as a regular contributor, a moderator, a guest contributor, a transcriber, and/or as someone who takes the time to send me the occasional note of support and encouragement. This community couldn't exist without you, either.
---------------------
* I know there are people who resent these reminders, but there are also people who appreciate them, so I've now taken to doing them every other month, in the hopes that will make a good compromise.
** Managing Shakesville as a safe space requires, in addition to the time of our volunteer mods, my full-time commitment, and my salary is drawn exclusively from donations. I do not raise funds by corporate or content-generated advertising, as past attempts have resulted in ads served that violated the safe space, and I do not raise funds by required subscription, i.e. locking content behind a pay wall, as I want Shakesville to be accessible as possible irrespective of one's financial situation.
I cannot afford to do this full-time for free, but, even if I could, fundraising is also one of the most feminist acts I do here. I ask to be paid for my work because progressive feminist advocacy has value.
[Please Note: I am not seeking suggestions on how to raise revenue; I am asking for donations in exchange for the work of providing valued content in as safe and accessible a space as possible.]
It is also an important fundraiser to keep Shakesville going.
I'm going to be really honest, here: Donations are way down. Part of the reality of running this space on donations rather than corporate advertising is that my ability to keep it going depends on your support.
You can donate once by clicking the "Make a Donation" button in the righthand sidebar, or set up a monthly subscription using the "Subscribe" button just below it, which has a dropdown menu of subscription options—or visit the Subscribe to Shakesville page, for even more options. 2012 Calendars are available for purchase here.
If you value the content and/or community in this space, can afford it, and want to see Shakesville continue to be managed** as a safe space, please consider setting up a subscription or making a one-time contribution.
If you have recently appreciated getting distilled news about the economy; being able to discuss pranks in a space interested in dismantling the rape culture; finding out where to direct your teaspoon in support of social justice or in opposition to inequality; getting election news about candidates who are discussed on the basis on their policies alone, I hope you will, if you are able, contribute to support this space and make sure it continues to flourish.
I hope you will also consider the value of whatever else you appreciate at Shakesville, whether it's the moderation, Film Corner, the community in Open Threads, video transcripts, the blogarounds, Butch Pornstache, the Daily Dose of Cute, your blogmistress' penchant for inventing new words, or anything else you enjoy.
Let me reiterate, once again, that I don't want anyone to feel obliged to contribute financially, especially if money is tight. Aside from valuing feminist work, the other goal of fundraising is so Iain and I don't have to struggle on behalf of the blog, and I don't want anyone else to struggle themselves in exchange. There is a big enough readership that neither should have to happen.
I also want say thank you, so very much, to each of you who donates or has donated, whether monthly or as a one-off. I am profoundly grateful—and I don't take a single cent for granted. I've not the words to express the depth of my appreciation, besides these: This community couldn't exist without that support, truly. Thank you.
My thanks as well to everyone who contributes to the space in other ways, whether as a regular contributor, a moderator, a guest contributor, a transcriber, and/or as someone who takes the time to send me the occasional note of support and encouragement. This community couldn't exist without you, either.
---------------------
* I know there are people who resent these reminders, but there are also people who appreciate them, so I've now taken to doing them every other month, in the hopes that will make a good compromise.
** Managing Shakesville as a safe space requires, in addition to the time of our volunteer mods, my full-time commitment, and my salary is drawn exclusively from donations. I do not raise funds by corporate or content-generated advertising, as past attempts have resulted in ads served that violated the safe space, and I do not raise funds by required subscription, i.e. locking content behind a pay wall, as I want Shakesville to be accessible as possible irrespective of one's financial situation.
I cannot afford to do this full-time for free, but, even if I could, fundraising is also one of the most feminist acts I do here. I ask to be paid for my work because progressive feminist advocacy has value.
[Please Note: I am not seeking suggestions on how to raise revenue; I am asking for donations in exchange for the work of providing valued content in as safe and accessible a space as possible.]
F'd Ad Fridays: The real story of Elf on the Shelf
The Elf on the Shelf phenomenon is disturbing enough for some people, but the good folks at Taiwan's Next Media Animation take it to the next level:
Can't sleep. Elf will eat me.
F'd Ad Fridays: Norte Photoblocker keeps you safe from being busted on Facebook
A recent study determined that British Facebook users are visibly intoxicated in 76% of the photos they get tagged in on the social network.
This campaign, from Argentina's Norte beer, promotes an individual beer cooler that senses when a smartphone picture is being taken of you and sends a counterflash to destroy the shot with glare.
It's a photo jamming tactic that has been popular with people who want to evade photo radar speed traps. So it is theoretically possible, even if this "innovation" is a gag.
Here's another ad:
Via Ads of The World
This campaign, from Argentina's Norte beer, promotes an individual beer cooler that senses when a smartphone picture is being taken of you and sends a counterflash to destroy the shot with glare.
It's a photo jamming tactic that has been popular with people who want to evade photo radar speed traps. So it is theoretically possible, even if this "innovation" is a gag.
Here's another ad:
Via Ads of The World
F'd Ad Fridays: Bottle-feeding in Vietnam
Okay, it's not an ad. But it is effed:
Jeez, dudes, breast is best!
Don't even ask how I found this. YouTube can be a scary place.
Jeez, dudes, breast is best!
Don't even ask how I found this. YouTube can be a scary place.
Pranks and the Rape Culture
[Trigger warning for bullying/child abuse, incest, sexual violence.]
Yesterday, I wrote about a school-sanctioned parental prank at a high school in Minnesota, in which sports captains were blindfolded and promised a special kiss from a classmate, but were instead kissed by their parents. In the video of the incident, parents can be seen planting big smooches on their kids; one parent-child couple rolls around on the floor, and one mom grabs her son's hand and puts it on her butt. The entire scene is played for huge laughs.
Shaker Demivierge dropped into comments the link to an editorial in the local newspaper, which runs interference on behalf of the school and parents. There's a lot of minimizing and excuse-making and finger-wagging at anyone who takes issue with the "prank," and then there's this pathetic admonishment not to believe your lying eyes:
Some of those children who were raped by someone they knew were raped by their parents. And many more will have been subjected to inappropriate sexual contact that doesn't meet the technical definition of rape.
Do the editors of the Rosemount TownPages believe that a parent who sexually abuses hir child will self-select out of a public event at which they have been given license to make out with hir kid? Because that's not how abusers work. That there was even a chance that a parent who's sexually abused hir kid just got an official stamp of approval from mandated reporters to go for it should underline how incredibly inappropriate this incident was, irrespective of what it "looked like," or what we might like to assume.
And, listen, I'm not a parent (but I am a daughter), and it's my impression that most parents, even the best ones, sometimes forget what it's like to be a kid. That's not a function of parenting; it's a function of human nature. I forget sometimes what it's like to be a kid, inclined as are we all to cast our minds backwards and look out through the eyes of memory with perspectives and instincts formed in the intervening years.
But I suspect that what constitutes a not-passionate kiss to me now, as an adult woman, would be very different than what constituted a not-passionate kiss to me as a teenage girl. A standard good-night kiss with my husband would have turned my legs to jelly when I was an unsophisticated kid, so new to the world of sexuality that when the math teacher on whom I had a crush gave me an entirely appropriate kiss on the cheek at the end of the year, I nearly fainted. (Or jizzed in my pants. Or both.)
I guess I'm just not sure that what feels not-passionate to a parent who knows zie's kissing hir kid definitely feels the same way to the kid who doesn't know zie's kissing hir parent. And that's is, suffice it to say, a problem.
Yesterday, I wrote about a school-sanctioned parental prank at a high school in Minnesota, in which sports captains were blindfolded and promised a special kiss from a classmate, but were instead kissed by their parents. In the video of the incident, parents can be seen planting big smooches on their kids; one parent-child couple rolls around on the floor, and one mom grabs her son's hand and puts it on her butt. The entire scene is played for huge laughs.
Shaker Demivierge dropped into comments the link to an editorial in the local newspaper, which runs interference on behalf of the school and parents. There's a lot of minimizing and excuse-making and finger-wagging at anyone who takes issue with the "prank," and then there's this pathetic admonishment not to believe your lying eyes:
The parents hammed it up as they played their part. At least, we assume nobody was making out as intensely as the video seems to show. [Rosemount High School principal John Wollersheim] and others who were there say they weren't, and we tend to believe them. Parents have taken the opportunity at many other RHS pep fests to make their kids a little uncomfortable, but we suspect they'd all draw the line at the kind of passionate kisses the video seemed to show.Just casually assuming that every parent would "draw the line" at sexual intimacy with hir own child is absurd. I also wrote yesterday about the CDC survey which found that "Nearly 1 in 5 women (18.3%) and 1 in 71 men (1.4%) in the United States have been raped at some time in their lives," and, of those survivors, 42.2% of female victims experienced their first completed rape before age 18, and 27.8% of male victims experienced their first rape when they were 10 years of age or younger. Over half of all survivors reported being raped by someone they knew.
Some of those children who were raped by someone they knew were raped by their parents. And many more will have been subjected to inappropriate sexual contact that doesn't meet the technical definition of rape.
Do the editors of the Rosemount TownPages believe that a parent who sexually abuses hir child will self-select out of a public event at which they have been given license to make out with hir kid? Because that's not how abusers work. That there was even a chance that a parent who's sexually abused hir kid just got an official stamp of approval from mandated reporters to go for it should underline how incredibly inappropriate this incident was, irrespective of what it "looked like," or what we might like to assume.
And, listen, I'm not a parent (but I am a daughter), and it's my impression that most parents, even the best ones, sometimes forget what it's like to be a kid. That's not a function of parenting; it's a function of human nature. I forget sometimes what it's like to be a kid, inclined as are we all to cast our minds backwards and look out through the eyes of memory with perspectives and instincts formed in the intervening years.
But I suspect that what constitutes a not-passionate kiss to me now, as an adult woman, would be very different than what constituted a not-passionate kiss to me as a teenage girl. A standard good-night kiss with my husband would have turned my legs to jelly when I was an unsophisticated kid, so new to the world of sexuality that when the math teacher on whom I had a crush gave me an entirely appropriate kiss on the cheek at the end of the year, I nearly fainted. (Or jizzed in my pants. Or both.)
I guess I'm just not sure that what feels not-passionate to a parent who knows zie's kissing hir kid definitely feels the same way to the kid who doesn't know zie's kissing hir parent. And that's is, suffice it to say, a problem.
So the Republicans Had a Debate Last Night
Yay! Another debate! It had been almost twelve seconds without a Republican Primary debate. I was beginning to go through withdrawal! (Please note that you may be in the throes of Republican Primary debate withdrawal if you experience any of the following symptoms: Joy, smiling, a creeping sense of hope for the nation's future.)
I'm sure there's a transcript somewhere, but who cares, amirite? Official Shakeville Transcript: Taxes, Reagan, illegals, Jesus, bootstraps, taxes, Obama stinks.
The most exciting thing about last night's debate was that Rick Perry, who is definitely still IN IT TO WIN IT, promised to get back in the game. He's gonna go big or go home, because he didn't come here to make friends. True Fact: Rick Perry believes he's on a reality show.
Some other highlights from (I hope you're sitting down) the last (definitely totally for sure) Republican Primary debate of 2011 (sob!):
Mitt Romney tells Newt Gingrich he's rich and zany RIGHT TO HIS FACE! Oh snap!
Newt Gingrich leads everyone in a rousing singalong of "Funkytown."
"Raise your hand if you are a paternalistic fuckbrained bigot whose name rhymes with Zanblorum."
I'm sure there's a transcript somewhere, but who cares, amirite? Official Shakeville Transcript: Taxes, Reagan, illegals, Jesus, bootstraps, taxes, Obama stinks.
The most exciting thing about last night's debate was that Rick Perry, who is definitely still IN IT TO WIN IT, promised to get back in the game. He's gonna go big or go home, because he didn't come here to make friends. True Fact: Rick Perry believes he's on a reality show.
Some other highlights from (I hope you're sitting down) the last (definitely totally for sure) Republican Primary debate of 2011 (sob!):
Newt Gingrich leads everyone in a rousing singalong of "Funkytown."
"Raise your hand if you are a paternalistic fuckbrained bigot whose name rhymes with Zanblorum."
RIP Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens didn't think I was funny. He didn't know me, but he was certain that I was not funny, because I'm a woman.
That was only one of many things that Christopher Hitchens was sure he knew about me, and other women, and lots of other people who belonged to groups outside his tribe: Male, white, straight, cisgender, Western, educated, wealthy, atheist.
It was his certainty that he knew things about me, without ever being obliged to consider my existence, that always kept me at an arm's length from his work. And his work was good. Sometimes it was genuinely great. Even when I disagreed vehemently with him, I never failed to appreciate the confidence and competency of his craft. He was a superb writer.
One of the finest aspects of his writing was how it told us something about him, even when he was not his subject—though he usually was, even when he was ostensibly writing about the Iraq War, or women's capacity to be his equal, or godlessness. His work invited people to know him.
Even as it belligerently asserted, I don't need to know you.
He was called, and regarded himself as, a contrarian, which is one of those words, like "traditionalist," which is frequently used to mask the small-mindedness of a big mind. I didn't know Christopher Hitchens, beyond what he let all of us see, and I don't know why he could conceive and articulate complicated cultural ideas, but so often fail to embrace simple concepts, like the value of acknowledging the individual beyond the borders of self.
I won't presume to guess. I didn't know him, and he didn't know me.
RIP Mr. Hitchens.
That was only one of many things that Christopher Hitchens was sure he knew about me, and other women, and lots of other people who belonged to groups outside his tribe: Male, white, straight, cisgender, Western, educated, wealthy, atheist.
It was his certainty that he knew things about me, without ever being obliged to consider my existence, that always kept me at an arm's length from his work. And his work was good. Sometimes it was genuinely great. Even when I disagreed vehemently with him, I never failed to appreciate the confidence and competency of his craft. He was a superb writer.
One of the finest aspects of his writing was how it told us something about him, even when he was not his subject—though he usually was, even when he was ostensibly writing about the Iraq War, or women's capacity to be his equal, or godlessness. His work invited people to know him.
Even as it belligerently asserted, I don't need to know you.
He was called, and regarded himself as, a contrarian, which is one of those words, like "traditionalist," which is frequently used to mask the small-mindedness of a big mind. I didn't know Christopher Hitchens, beyond what he let all of us see, and I don't know why he could conceive and articulate complicated cultural ideas, but so often fail to embrace simple concepts, like the value of acknowledging the individual beyond the borders of self.
I won't presume to guess. I didn't know him, and he didn't know me.
RIP Mr. Hitchens.
F'd Ad Fridays: Jello Green Grotto Salad
No, this is not an Urban Dictionary euphemism for an unspeakable sexual act. But perhaps it should be.
Via Sociological Images.
F'd Ad Fridays: Faux commando panties
Apparently this is a real thing:
An anonymous reviewer from Brides wrote:
An anonymous reviewer from Brides wrote:
"The pube panty tour of the office elicited equal parts horror and delight, so I took them home for a real trial. Once my husband realized what he was looking at (it took a while for his brain to register these were panties, not my actual flesh) he laughed for quite a while. I turned to the full-length mirror, and without my contacts in, I swear I couldn't see the difference between these panties and the real deal. Consider me oddly impressed."Okay, then.
F'd Ad Fridays: Dirty Sign Language PSAs
It's well-known that the first thing anyone learns about a new language is how to curse.
I guess it's the same with American Sign Language. "Dirty Signs with Kristin" is a hilarious YouTube Channel in which the super cute hostess teaches us the ASL versions of phrases such as:
See the rest here.
Tip via Buzzfeed.
I guess it's the same with American Sign Language. "Dirty Signs with Kristin" is a hilarious YouTube Channel in which the super cute hostess teaches us the ASL versions of phrases such as:
See the rest here.
Tip via Buzzfeed.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Joe McNally: Knee-to-Groin Injury
Dexter had never actually seen a female crotch before, and was once again forced to default to a ‘best guess’ and hide everything with inky-black shadow.
Thanks OldBean. When we original received this PSD and found out it was from Joe we ran it by a bunch of photographers to make sure there wasn't any strange photography magic happening. This PSD was found in Joe's latest book "Sketching Light".
I thought the tag "What do you mean you've already printed it" was very fitting for the occasion. If you can't see the PSD, you can check out our red circle image.
Thanks OldBean. When we original received this PSD and found out it was from Joe we ran it by a bunch of photographers to make sure there wasn't any strange photography magic happening. This PSD was found in Joe's latest book "Sketching Light".
I thought the tag "What do you mean you've already printed it" was very fitting for the occasion. If you can't see the PSD, you can check out our red circle image.
Choosing the Right Bar Code Printer
By Carl Shackelford
Photo: rightertrack.com
Choosing the right barcode printer is much harder than most people think. Label and barcode printers are devised to improve business processes and to print a label or tag that is part of a product identification system. This could be a file, an asset, a library book, a warehouse shelf face, a blood or DNA sample or even a patient in hospital. Label and bar code printers can be Industrial or Tabletop, Desktop and Portable.
While choosing bar code printers, a business needs to consider its current as well as future label requirements. There can be companies that need a printer with modest output features for now, but their requirements may increase in the future. It is here that superior quality and efficiency of a printer matters. There are bar code label printers that reliably operate well for long duty cycles. The barcode printer can print at low resolution of 200 or higher resolution at 300 and 600 DPI. It is important to understand DPI-Dots Per Inch, when choosing a printer. Apart from a wide range of printing resolution options, a good printing technology also ensures high degree of accuracy on multiple media.
Barcode printers can be thermal transfer based or direct thermal based. In TT-thermal transfer printing, the heat from the print-head is applied to the ribbon. The material on the ribbon is then transferred to the label media. This technique is easier on print-head, as the back of the ribbon is very smooth and protects print-head from friction of the media. As TT printing uses a ribbon, it also opens up other options for types of ribbon and label media. Thermal transfer printing is high resolution and flexible, and allows printing on a wide variety of surfaces.
In DT-direct thermal printing, the print-head comes in contact with the label media directly. There is a coating on the label media that turns black as heat is applied to it. Due to this, no ribbon is required. DT printers are good for shipping labels, and temporary printing needs.
While planning for label needs, businesses need to consider the label volume capacity of printers. Light duty printers produce 1,000-5,000 labels per day, medium duty can produce 2,000-7,000 labels per day and heavy-duty printers can produce between 5,000 and 10,000 labels per day.
In terms of functionality, other key components in good printers include:
* User selectable printer languages ZPL, DPL
* Stand alone printer applications, eliminating the need for PCs if desired
* Mutiple Interfaces Ethernet/USB/and other options
* Multi lingual capability
An ideal bar code printer also has competitive pricing, extended warranties, sizeable and varied media inventory, and ease of maintenance.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Shackelford 
Photo: rightertrack.com
Choosing the right barcode printer is much harder than most people think. Label and barcode printers are devised to improve business processes and to print a label or tag that is part of a product identification system. This could be a file, an asset, a library book, a warehouse shelf face, a blood or DNA sample or even a patient in hospital. Label and bar code printers can be Industrial or Tabletop, Desktop and Portable.
While choosing bar code printers, a business needs to consider its current as well as future label requirements. There can be companies that need a printer with modest output features for now, but their requirements may increase in the future. It is here that superior quality and efficiency of a printer matters. There are bar code label printers that reliably operate well for long duty cycles. The barcode printer can print at low resolution of 200 or higher resolution at 300 and 600 DPI. It is important to understand DPI-Dots Per Inch, when choosing a printer. Apart from a wide range of printing resolution options, a good printing technology also ensures high degree of accuracy on multiple media.
Barcode printers can be thermal transfer based or direct thermal based. In TT-thermal transfer printing, the heat from the print-head is applied to the ribbon. The material on the ribbon is then transferred to the label media. This technique is easier on print-head, as the back of the ribbon is very smooth and protects print-head from friction of the media. As TT printing uses a ribbon, it also opens up other options for types of ribbon and label media. Thermal transfer printing is high resolution and flexible, and allows printing on a wide variety of surfaces.
In DT-direct thermal printing, the print-head comes in contact with the label media directly. There is a coating on the label media that turns black as heat is applied to it. Due to this, no ribbon is required. DT printers are good for shipping labels, and temporary printing needs.
While planning for label needs, businesses need to consider the label volume capacity of printers. Light duty printers produce 1,000-5,000 labels per day, medium duty can produce 2,000-7,000 labels per day and heavy-duty printers can produce between 5,000 and 10,000 labels per day.
In terms of functionality, other key components in good printers include:
* User selectable printer languages ZPL, DPL
* Stand alone printer applications, eliminating the need for PCs if desired
* Mutiple Interfaces Ethernet/USB/and other options
* Multi lingual capability
An ideal bar code printer also has competitive pricing, extended warranties, sizeable and varied media inventory, and ease of maintenance.
How to Choose a Wireless Mouse?
By Donnie M Seely
Photo: thewindowsclub.com
The use of wireless mouse for the PCs and laptops has been growing in popularity over the past few years. There are numerous benefits connected with the use of these gadgets but the fact of the matter is that getting the best of them will help to reap more benefits than the others.
Generally, there are different types of wireless inspired mouse that one can get in the market. The use of this wireless technology has helped in bringing a lot of convenience in the computer industry not to mention that it also helps in giving flexibility and mobility. This kind of a mouse as aforementioned has a number of benefits and especially where people have to multi-task. This means that a number of people can be able to work with this one gadget without the fear of inconveniencing each other as far as space is concerned.
Normally, the wireless mouse comes with batteries which can be replaced in case they are exhausted. It is will therefore be advisable to buy some good batteries and if possible go for the rechargeable as they will give you prolonged services. It is also good to know that there are others mouse that are rechargeable and these allows you to save on cost especially as the world goes green. If you have a mouse that is rechargeable you will be able to use without fear of damage that is caused by the regular connection and disconnection.
One of the things that you may need to know is that there are varieties of brands in the market. This means that one is spoiled for choice and can easily make a choice depending with their preference and the cost of each brand. It will, however, be important to go for the tested and approved brands if you are looking for something that will serve you for a longer time.
The use of the wireless mouse has also become a great thing for the gamers who found this option to be amazing. Choosing the best mouse however should be informed by the way you feel comfortable when using it since it is not a showy affair. The gadget should be convenient for you to use while still offering your great functionality. Below are some of the things you should consider when buying a good wireless mouse for your use:
Photo: thewindowsclub.com
The use of wireless mouse for the PCs and laptops has been growing in popularity over the past few years. There are numerous benefits connected with the use of these gadgets but the fact of the matter is that getting the best of them will help to reap more benefits than the others.
Generally, there are different types of wireless inspired mouse that one can get in the market. The use of this wireless technology has helped in bringing a lot of convenience in the computer industry not to mention that it also helps in giving flexibility and mobility. This kind of a mouse as aforementioned has a number of benefits and especially where people have to multi-task. This means that a number of people can be able to work with this one gadget without the fear of inconveniencing each other as far as space is concerned.
Normally, the wireless mouse comes with batteries which can be replaced in case they are exhausted. It is will therefore be advisable to buy some good batteries and if possible go for the rechargeable as they will give you prolonged services. It is also good to know that there are others mouse that are rechargeable and these allows you to save on cost especially as the world goes green. If you have a mouse that is rechargeable you will be able to use without fear of damage that is caused by the regular connection and disconnection.
One of the things that you may need to know is that there are varieties of brands in the market. This means that one is spoiled for choice and can easily make a choice depending with their preference and the cost of each brand. It will, however, be important to go for the tested and approved brands if you are looking for something that will serve you for a longer time.
The use of the wireless mouse has also become a great thing for the gamers who found this option to be amazing. Choosing the best mouse however should be informed by the way you feel comfortable when using it since it is not a showy affair. The gadget should be convenient for you to use while still offering your great functionality. Below are some of the things you should consider when buying a good wireless mouse for your use:
- Ask yourself whether the mouse is comfortable and if you have not used it before, check out on the customer reviews and especially those who have used it in the past. This will help you get some information that you can use to get the best wireless mouse in the market.
- Consider the number of buttons in the mouse you want. This will help you to accomplish a number of things faster if there are numerous buttons in the mouse.
- Consider the kind of power source that the mouse requires. As aforementioned, some require recharging while others will use disposable batteries. These are the options that you will need to consider and see which one works well for you.
- With the different types of mice, you will need to choose between optical and laser. Many people consider the laser one when looking for precision.
- Finally, consider your budget and go for what you can afford but make sure it is compatible with your machine.
About Author:
For all kind of exclusive computer accessories like Wireless Mouse and 1gb flash drive visit at at TMart.com. Choose the best one and ensure that you get right one.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donnie_M_Seely For all kind of exclusive computer accessories like Wireless Mouse and 1gb flash drive visit at at TMart.com. Choose the best one and ensure that you get right one.
Question of the Day
We've done this before, but this is always a good one to vent about: What film trope needs to go away forever?
[TW] The groin trauma/speaking or singing in a very high voice thing needs to be put to rest and never spoken of again. It's so ancient it farts dust, and it's never, ever funny.
[TW] The groin trauma/speaking or singing in a very high voice thing needs to be put to rest and never spoken of again. It's so ancient it farts dust, and it's never, ever funny.
More Parental Prankery
[Trigger warning for bullying/child abuse and incest.]
If you thought the Jimmy Kimmel Christmas prank was bad (it was! it was sooooo terrible!), get a load of the cool parents at Rosemount High in Minnesota who pranked their kids by blindfolding them and then making out with them: "And these are not just innocent pecks on the lips. The parents are intimately lip-locking their children for several seconds. One even progresses to rolling around on the gym floor. In another instance, a mother moves her son's hand south so he's grasping her butt."
To be clear: The kids were blindfolded. The parents were not. They knew they were kissing their kids, and they laughed uproariously as the kids were further embarrassed by being interviewed about what they thought of the kiss. "Luscious lips," answers one young man, before it is revealed he kissed his mother. My god.
There is video at the link, which I am not going to embed here, and I was pretty skeeved out watching it (to put it mildly). It's terrible enough that these kids were obliged into accepting "a kiss" while blindfolded in the first place, no less that they were "pranked" into kissing their own parents (some of whom might have previously sexually abused their kids). What a horror.
I quite honestly cannot begin to imagine why any parent would participate in this activity.
Now that the video is getting attention, the school has apparently apologized for the prank. Except: Schools who are made aware of the abuse of their students are obliged by law to report it. An apology is not enough. The students of Rosemount High should have some assurance that their school won't help orchestrate their abuse. Remedial mandated reporting for everyone, please.
If you thought the Jimmy Kimmel Christmas prank was bad (it was! it was sooooo terrible!), get a load of the cool parents at Rosemount High in Minnesota who pranked their kids by blindfolding them and then making out with them: "And these are not just innocent pecks on the lips. The parents are intimately lip-locking their children for several seconds. One even progresses to rolling around on the gym floor. In another instance, a mother moves her son's hand south so he's grasping her butt."
To be clear: The kids were blindfolded. The parents were not. They knew they were kissing their kids, and they laughed uproariously as the kids were further embarrassed by being interviewed about what they thought of the kiss. "Luscious lips," answers one young man, before it is revealed he kissed his mother. My god.
There is video at the link, which I am not going to embed here, and I was pretty skeeved out watching it (to put it mildly). It's terrible enough that these kids were obliged into accepting "a kiss" while blindfolded in the first place, no less that they were "pranked" into kissing their own parents (some of whom might have previously sexually abused their kids). What a horror.
I quite honestly cannot begin to imagine why any parent would participate in this activity.
Now that the video is getting attention, the school has apparently apologized for the prank. Except: Schools who are made aware of the abuse of their students are obliged by law to report it. An apology is not enough. The students of Rosemount High should have some assurance that their school won't help orchestrate their abuse. Remedial mandated reporting for everyone, please.
Iraq War Officially Over
I've been trying to figure out what I want to say about the end of the Iraq War all day. It seems simultaneously enormously important and curiously small, the final bulletpoint in an eight-year war that was supposed to last six months.
I did not support the war, in which than 1.5 million US troops eventually served, more than 30,000 of whom were injured, many of them catastrophically, and more than 4,500 of whom died, but I appreciate the service of the people who fought it, [TW] most of whom did the jobs asked of them with decency.
The numbers of injured, dead, and displaced Iraqis are not so certain. To the people of Iraq, most of whom also comported themselves with decency, even in circumstances that would challenge anyone's will to be decent, I hardly know what to say, except that I'm sorry.
I just don't know that there's anything I could write, nothing that isn't some trite bit of partisan opportunism. No one wonders who I blame for this mess. I don't need to say it again.
So here is a picture of President Obama, at Fort Bragg, celebrating with the troops that he brought home.
There are still 15,000 troops in Iraq, and US foreign policy is still a garbage disaster, but, right now, in this moment, I just want to enjoy the image of our President, welcoming the troops home.
I did not support the war, in which than 1.5 million US troops eventually served, more than 30,000 of whom were injured, many of them catastrophically, and more than 4,500 of whom died, but I appreciate the service of the people who fought it, [TW] most of whom did the jobs asked of them with decency.
The numbers of injured, dead, and displaced Iraqis are not so certain. To the people of Iraq, most of whom also comported themselves with decency, even in circumstances that would challenge anyone's will to be decent, I hardly know what to say, except that I'm sorry.
I just don't know that there's anything I could write, nothing that isn't some trite bit of partisan opportunism. No one wonders who I blame for this mess. I don't need to say it again.
So here is a picture of President Obama, at Fort Bragg, celebrating with the troops that he brought home.
There are still 15,000 troops in Iraq, and US foreign policy is still a garbage disaster, but, right now, in this moment, I just want to enjoy the image of our President, welcoming the troops home.
Quote of the Day
"The greatest victories in the battle for life are not going to be won in the halls of government. It's going to be won in the hearts of men."—Rick Perry, who is definitely still running for president, at Mike Huckabee's Anti-Choice Hoedown last night.
File Under: Sometimes the use of "men" as a synonym for "humankind" is even more obnoxious than usual.
File Under: Sometimes the use of "men" as a synonym for "humankind" is even more obnoxious than usual.
Number of the Day
by Shaker BrianWS, who may or may not become a full-time contributor someday based on a variety of circumstances and considerations and planetary alignments, which is sooooo myseterious and let's all enjoy the mystery!
$20,000: The amount of pocket change you'll need to follow Gwyneth Paltrow's awesome recommendations for an "authentic" trip around New York City, via her new iPhone app, "City Guides by goop."
Yeah.
Now there's an on-the-go companion to her regular goop newsletter, equally steeped in privilege, aspirational consumerism, and body policing, but with the added bonus of reminding you that you're poor while you're standing directly outside the window of a shop featuring goop-approved wares that you cannot afford to buy!
It's City Guides by goop: New York Edition. ("London, Los Angeles....and many more" coming soon!) From the app's description:
"A resource for first-time visitors and city dwellers alike," this new app gives you a new, easy way out for all of those times when you're sitting at home thinking about taking a shower and then making Red King Crab for dinner, but realizing there just aren't enough hours in the day to blow dry your own hair and still make it to the local fishmonger before closing.
Of course, as we know from past editions, you're already a fool if you're not having your favorite fishmonger make deliveries to your home, no doy. But let's say you're just now catching up with goop's lifestyle suggestions and you're still stuck retrieving your own fish, at least now you can save time by calling someone to come over and blow dry your hair for you.
I do understand that a ton of time goes into doing hair for red carpet events where hundreds of photographs will be taken of her, and the least-flattering ones used to drag her down, and I also understand that not everyone is physically able to blow dry hir own hair. But this isn't an app designed for famous actresses, or people with disabilities; it's an app designed ostensibly for a general audience.
And that's the problem: Paltrow offers this app as a resource for tourists and residents, without any caveat that many of the residents of New York City—like those quirky characters who frequent "undiscovered" establishments—are impoverished. As Liss observed when we were talking about this: "There's a long and unfortunate history of treating 'Manhattan' and 'New York City' as synonymous entities, which is not merely a clueless expression of profound privilege and wealth, but a perpetuation of that ugly history which disappears entire boroughs of people, many of whom are poor, many of whom are people of color, and many of whose 'classic New Yorkery'—their accents, their culture—are used to deny them access to the halls of power in the city that trades on their 'colorfulness'."
I don't begrudge Gwyneth Paltrow (or Mitt Romney, or anyone with a shitload of money, regardless of how they wound up with it) their right to go spend that money in whatever manner they see fit, as long as it's legal and consensual. But I do have a problem with someone who is as privileged as Paltrow disappearing the real-life struggles of people who don't have her money and means, without so much as a nod to the classes for whom her app is really applicable. The result is the implication that we could just all eat better, shop better, and live better if we did it a bit more like her.
Yep, Paltrow shares her tips with us because her life is so perfect and she wants ours to be better. And of course, her life is so amazing because she simply discovered the time-saving, smart-shopping, golden secrets to life. It's definitely not because she's white, able-bodied, famous, conventionally beautiful, straight, cisgender, and totally fucking rich. Nope, it's definitely that the rest of us are just too lazy or stupid to get with the program.
Same old story. Rinse and repeat. Now call for a blow dry.
$20,000: The amount of pocket change you'll need to follow Gwyneth Paltrow's awesome recommendations for an "authentic" trip around New York City, via her new iPhone app, "City Guides by goop."
Yeah.
Now there's an on-the-go companion to her regular goop newsletter, equally steeped in privilege, aspirational consumerism, and body policing, but with the added bonus of reminding you that you're poor while you're standing directly outside the window of a shop featuring goop-approved wares that you cannot afford to buy!
It's City Guides by goop: New York Edition. ("London, Los Angeles....and many more" coming soon!) From the app's description:
Built off the success of Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle website, goop.com, this app is the first of a series of goop City Guides, bringing you an in-depth and authentic guide to New York City. Taking the site's popular series of "GO" newsletters to the next level, this city guide sends you to even more of goop's much-loved and often undiscovered spots. This is goop's take on New York. goop finds you the ultimate nail salon, the most fantastic food cart for a quick snack, the best boutique to find a unique piece for your wardrobe, a beautiful salon where you can get your makeup done, the coolest playground to take your kids to, and the person to call for an at-home blow dry. A resource for first-time visitors and city dwellers alike, the app is filled with all the new and under the radar places that goop has discovered over the years. This is the city as you'd never known it before.Starting with the fact that "undiscovered" tends to mean great, affordable, neighborhood holes-in-the-wall that local people regularly enjoy but aren't "discovered" until A Person of Importance broadcasts their existence via, say, their pretentious iPhone app, this is just an amazing display of privilege and classism.
"A resource for first-time visitors and city dwellers alike," this new app gives you a new, easy way out for all of those times when you're sitting at home thinking about taking a shower and then making Red King Crab for dinner, but realizing there just aren't enough hours in the day to blow dry your own hair and still make it to the local fishmonger before closing.
Of course, as we know from past editions, you're already a fool if you're not having your favorite fishmonger make deliveries to your home, no doy. But let's say you're just now catching up with goop's lifestyle suggestions and you're still stuck retrieving your own fish, at least now you can save time by calling someone to come over and blow dry your hair for you.
I do understand that a ton of time goes into doing hair for red carpet events where hundreds of photographs will be taken of her, and the least-flattering ones used to drag her down, and I also understand that not everyone is physically able to blow dry hir own hair. But this isn't an app designed for famous actresses, or people with disabilities; it's an app designed ostensibly for a general audience.
And that's the problem: Paltrow offers this app as a resource for tourists and residents, without any caveat that many of the residents of New York City—like those quirky characters who frequent "undiscovered" establishments—are impoverished. As Liss observed when we were talking about this: "There's a long and unfortunate history of treating 'Manhattan' and 'New York City' as synonymous entities, which is not merely a clueless expression of profound privilege and wealth, but a perpetuation of that ugly history which disappears entire boroughs of people, many of whom are poor, many of whom are people of color, and many of whose 'classic New Yorkery'—their accents, their culture—are used to deny them access to the halls of power in the city that trades on their 'colorfulness'."
I don't begrudge Gwyneth Paltrow (or Mitt Romney, or anyone with a shitload of money, regardless of how they wound up with it) their right to go spend that money in whatever manner they see fit, as long as it's legal and consensual. But I do have a problem with someone who is as privileged as Paltrow disappearing the real-life struggles of people who don't have her money and means, without so much as a nod to the classes for whom her app is really applicable. The result is the implication that we could just all eat better, shop better, and live better if we did it a bit more like her.
Yep, Paltrow shares her tips with us because her life is so perfect and she wants ours to be better. And of course, her life is so amazing because she simply discovered the time-saving, smart-shopping, golden secrets to life. It's definitely not because she's white, able-bodied, famous, conventionally beautiful, straight, cisgender, and totally fucking rich. Nope, it's definitely that the rest of us are just too lazy or stupid to get with the program.
Same old story. Rinse and repeat. Now call for a blow dry.
Horrible Governor Does Horrible Thing
Back in 2010, now-Governor Scott Walker campaigned on a pledge to keep the federal government from giving Wisconsin money to improve its rail infrastructure. The government shouldn't be in the train business, or some such nonsense.
This morning, the Walker administration decided that Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin can't use mostly federal monies to screen poor, uninsured women for cancer. The government shouldn't be in the keeping women from dying of cancer business, or some such nonsense.
From the Appleton Post Crescent:
In other news, today the PAC United Wisconsin announced that it has gathered over 500,000 signatures towards recalling Walker.
This morning, the Walker administration decided that Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin can't use mostly federal monies to screen poor, uninsured women for cancer. The government shouldn't be in the keeping women from dying of cancer business, or some such nonsense.
From the Appleton Post Crescent:
Since 1995, Planned Parenthood has coordinated a breast and cervical cancer screening program for low-income and underinsured women ages 45 to 64 in Outagamie, Winnebago, Fond du Lac and Sheboygan counties.
Though funded primarily with federal dollars, the $1.8 million program — known as Wisconsin Well Woman — is a state and federal partnership.
Tanya Atkinson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, said state officials informed the group by phone earlier this month that the state Department of Health Services would not renew the $130,000 contract at the end of the year.
State law already prohibits the use of state and federal funds to cover abortions, except in cases of rape or incest, or if the life or long-term health of the mother is at risk.
The state budget further prohibited organizations that provide abortions, refer women to abortion services or have "affiliates" that do the same from accessing "women's health funds."
In 2010, two full-time coordinators from Planned Parenthood served 1,260 women in the four counties, according to [its advocates].
In other news, today the PAC United Wisconsin announced that it has gathered over 500,000 signatures towards recalling Walker.
Dare to Compete
I have been privileged to travel extensively. I've seen the many different ways women contribute. I've met activists working to advance human rights from Belarus to Uzbekistan. I've met with young women standing up for representative government in Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. I've watched entrepreneurs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America working to improve their lives, the lives of their children, their employees, and local economies. And today, we are addressing another way that women can make a great contribution through public service.—From Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remarks to the Women in Public Service Colloquium in Washington DC today.
I have been fortunate to serve in different capacities in my life, and have had the support of so many people. But even with all that support, I remember the trepidation that I felt when I was being pushed to consider running for a Senate seat in New York. I had never run for elected office. I wasn't sure it was the right thing to do. And one day, I would wake up and say absolutely not going to do it. The next day, I'd wake up and say, well, so-and-so called me, maybe I should reconsider. And I was on this rollercoaster of emotions until I got what I chose to take as a sign.
I was at an event promoting a documentary about women in sports, in a gymnasium in a high school in New York City. And we were gathered under a giant banner that happened to be the name of the documentary, which was Dare to Compete. (Laughter.) And—you know where this is going, right? (Laughter.)
So just as I stepped forward, having been introduced by this very incredibly dynamic young and tall woman, who happened to be the captain of the high school basketball team, I went up to shake her hand to thank her, and she leaned over to me and whispered in my ear, "Dare to compete, Mrs. Clinton. Dare to compete." (Laughter.)
So, soon after that, I decided to enter the race, and it was one of the best decisions of my life.
You can watch the speech and read the entire transcript here. Clinton's speech begins at about minute 25 in the video.
"Occupy" violence fetishized by Tyler Shields
Okay, so this is weird.
Shields says, "It’s easy to be the bully but it’s not so fun when you’re the one being bullied. Stand up and fight for what you believe in a dream can only die if you let it…"
More pics here.
Fashion photog Tyler Shields made an artistic statement against police abuse of Occupy protestors in the United States and Great Britain by having models abuse guys dressed like cops while the media watches. Francesca Eastwood and her friend even got out the pepper spray.
More pics here.
Is McDonald's upcoming "Farm to Fork" campaign just empty calories?
Burger Business shared the address of this "unlisted" ad on the McDonald's USA YouTube channel:
Apparently, McDonald's Tweeted it last week.
Nothing too exciting, but the it's a sneak peak into how McD's new "Farm-to-fork" approach to supply chain accountability will play out.
Here's a report about a McDonald's presentation given to an Iowa farming group:
The food retailer known for its wide variety of menu choices and a willingness to explore new marketing frontiers said connecting patrons with the people who provide their food is important.
Debbie Roberts, vice president and general manager of McDonald’s Midwest Region, told a gathering of Nebraska farmers that linking the farm to fork matters as people become more “comfortable” with their food.
She said McDonald’s will present an ad campaign in 2012 that will feature farmers and growers that supply the products.
“We will bring to the consumer, the folks who are actually producing the product,” Roberts says. “They will have the opportunity to meet those folks, see them on TV…put the face with the product.”
She points out that consumers have become increasingly savvy, and they want to know more about the source of their food.
“For us to be relevant as a brand, we constantly talk with consumers, and we listen,” Roberts adds. “That’s been the success of McDonald’s; to make sure we have a brand that responds to consumers.”But is it more than window dressing? It feels like they're trying to copy Chipotle's message of family farmer support without offering any tangible action to back it up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)