The Carpal Tunnel Blues

Watch bassist Marshall Grant’s “boom-chicka-boom” technique with his right hand

Try doing that for nearly three minutes.

(thanks to Dan for starting me down the road that led to this)

Community Activism AT ITS FINEST

A GANG RAPE, with EIGHTEEN individuals between 14 and 27 years old, charged thus far.

…On Thursday, Quanell X, a community activist, traveled from Houston to help stage a town hall meeting called to address rising concerns — especially in Cleveland’s African-American community — about the case.

Among other issues, he said that the girl didn’t do enough to stop the alleged assailants.

The victim who “didn’t do enough” was 11 years old.

UPDATE: And the ALWAYS impartial New York Times seems to have fanned the “blame the victim” flames with the tenor of their “reporting”:

CLEVELAND, Tex. — The police investigation began shortly after Thanksgiving, when an elementary school student alerted a teacher to a lurid cellphone video that included one of her classmates.

The video led the police to an abandoned trailer, more evidence and, eventually, to a roundup over the last month of 18 young men and teenage boys on charges of participating in the gang rape of an 11-year-old girl in the abandoned trailer home, the authorities said.

Five suspects are students at Cleveland High School, including two members of the basketball team. Another is the 21-year-old son of a school board member. A few of the others have criminal records, from selling drugs to robbery and, in one case, manslaughter. The suspects range in age from middle schoolers to a 27-year-old.

The case has rocked this East Texas community to its core and left many residents in the working-class neighborhood where the attack took place with unanswered questions.

Among them is, if the allegations are proved, how could their young men have been drawn into such an act?

And it gets worse. The eleven year old little hussy dressed “like a woman in her 20’s” and hung out by the railroad tracks and had the nerve to accept a ride from one of these choir boys.

She’s Hispanic. Her accused attackers are black.

The New York Times apparently thinks that a Hispanic victim can excuse a lot as far as those impressionable lads are concerned, “drawn” into the situation by the wiles of an 11 year old, Carmen-like seductress.

And the Old Grey Mare says their coverage is “still developing”. (Like 11 year olds tend to do, if given a chance, eh? Assholes. Only imagine how fast the coverage would develop if it had been 18 young white males…) (Don’t imagine. Ask the Duke lacrosse team. And their cameras EXONERATED them!)

And now she’s in foster care thanks to threats. (Stars from the high school basketball team are on the assault tape, as well as the 21 year old son of a school board member, just to name a few.)

But contrary to the New York Times defense motion, maybe she wasn’t Carmen.

Maybe she was just…11.

…Cleveland police say the 11-year-old was sexually assaulted inside that trailer and a small blue house with white trim around the corner.

The assaults happened Nov. 28 after a 19-year-old with prior drug convictions persuaded the young girl to leave her house and go “riding around” with him and two other young men, according to a Cleveland police officer’s sworn statement.

They first went to the blue house, where she was ordered to disrobe. If she refused, the statement said, she was warned other girls would beat her up and she would never get a ride back home.

Soon she was having sex with multiple young men there, the statement said. Someone used a phone to invite four more men, who soon arrived.

Not long afterward, the group fled through a back window when they heard a relative of one of the teens arriving at the blue house. The 11-year-old left behind her bra and panties as the group moved to the nearby abandoned trailer, where the assaults continued. As the men had sex with the girl, others used their cell phones to take photographs and video, police said.

Fine, upstanding citizens.

Great school you got there.

UPDATE: I see Ace was all over the Old Grey Mare on Sunday.

UPDATE: As of Saturday, the townsfolk were still clamoring for justice for innocence lost blaming an 11 year old for putting the moves on their menfolk. Oh, yes they were.

CLEVELAND, Texas — A meeting Thursday night that was billed as a way to discuss concerns some have about the investigation into a series of alleged sexual assaults on an 11-year-old girl turned into a forum that many used to blame the girl police contend is the victim of heinous attacks.

Many who attended the meeting said they supported the group of men and boys who have been charged in the case.

Supporters didn’t claim that the men and boys did not have sex with the young girl; instead they blamed the girl for the way she dressed or claimed she must have lied about her age

— accusations that have drawn strong responses from those who note an 11-year-old cannot consent to sex and that it doesn’t matter how she was dressed.

President Present?

Not so much.

Asshole.

Oh God: 6.1 Quake Just West of Tokyo

And it was right on the surface.

Live in FEAR No Longer! A Quality of Life Issue

…brought to you as a public service announcement.

…Fart Without Fear (FWF) provides regular recipes and FWF versions which provide substitutions for methionine- and cystine-packed ingredients. They rate each recipe on an odor index scale they created using a Boston Baked Beans recipe as a control. A small graphic of a rear-end indicates a food’s odor rating. Each recipe is given between one (least offensive) and five butts (most offensive).

Recipes of six butts or more are represented by a mushroom cloud.

Now when co-workers darkly threaten “somebody need to sew his ass shut“, you’ll know they have someone else in mind, and stay focused on the projects at hand.

That’s a real comfort in this age of downsizing.

Let Them Eat iPads

The Ancien Reserve proves once again that they haven’t got a damned clue.

Understatement Of The Week

The Year? The Century?

The authors believe psychologists have underestimated the effects of a woman’s obsessing

Everything’s Melting Down

It’s getting bad when “the light at the end of the tunnel is the train” may in fact be the best-case scenario

SOMA, Japan – Japan’s nuclear crisis deepened dramatically Tuesday. As safety officials sought desperately to avert catastrophe, the government said radioactive material leaking from reactors was enough to “impact human health” and the risk of more leaks was “very high.”

In a nationally televised statement, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said that radiation has spread from four reactors of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Fukushima province that was one of the hardest-hit in Friday’s 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami.

…A cascade of three explosions at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex was set in motion when last Friday’s quake and tsunami knocked out power, crippling the cooling systems needed to keep nuclear fuel from going into full meltdown.

Japanese markets are getting pummeled

Asian shares tumbled Tuesday as Tokyo’s stock benchmark plunged 10.6% on panic selling amid worries that a possible nuclear catastrophe in Japan would further complicate and endanger the nation’s recovery from its worst earthquake on record.

The Nikkei Stock Average finished 10.6% lower at 8,605.15 after sliding more than 14% earlier in the day, pressured by news of explosions at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant’s No. 2 and No. 4 reactors, on top of previous blasts at the Nos. 1 and 3 reactors.

and that is wiping out dearly needed capital for the rebuilding efforts to come. This is naturally spilling into our markets as well

* U.S. stock index futures dropped sharply on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500 SPc2 down 2.8 percent, Dow Jones DJc2 futures down 2.5 percent and Nasdaq 100 NDc2 futures down 2.6 percent at 0935 GMT, on mounting fears over Japan’s nuclear crisis.

But don’t worry. Our Enlightened Betters in Congress have a BOLD and INNOVATIVE plan to rescue the world economy by cutting somewhere between $6 and $60 billion dollars from our nearly $1.4 trillion annual deficit.

While our President goes golfing.

Leadership.

Heady stuff, folks.

What AFLACking JERK

(Not that he had much to say as the duck anyway.)

Gilbert Gottfried canned as Aflac Duck voice

Aflac Inc. has fired comedian Gilbert Gottfried, the voice of the Aflac Duck, for insensitive remarks he tweeted about Japan after the major earthquake and tsunami.

Oh, that Twitter…

And the Award for “Biggest Balls Shown in a Natural Disaster” Goes to…

…The People’s Republic of China!

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A Chinese official said Monday that New Zealand should consider special compensation to parents of Chinese students killed in an earthquake last month because their loss was magnified under the country’s one-child policy.

Seven students from China have been identified among the 166 confirmed deaths in the quake that devastated Christchurch city on Feb. 22, and as many as 20 others are still missing.

Chinese Embassy official Cheng Lei said Monday that Chinese quake victims had lost not just their only child, but also a future breadwinner.

And here you thought it would be, like, some heroic rescuer or something. (They’ve been watching too much American TV ~ all those lawyer commercials are bad for your brain.)

I Can’t Imagine The Horror

As the world goes crazy

More here.

The Procession to Honor Airman Zachary Ryan Cuddeback

Murdered in Germany, but much loved by his hometown.

Crusader was there in the gloaming Friday ~ with SO MANY others ~ to raise a flag, a prayer and a thank you.

I Need A Feckin’ Laugh Right Now

Oh Shit

It’s only getting worse

(Reuters) – Radiation leaked from a damaged Japanese nuclear reactor north of Tokyo on Saturday, the government said, after an explosion blew the roof off the facility in the wake of a massive earthquake.

The developments raised fears of a meltdown at the plant as officials scrambled to contain what could be the worst nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl explosion in 1986 that shocked the world.

That “roof” was on the reactor building

TOKYO – Japan’s government spokesman says the metal container sheltering a nuclear reactor was not affected by an explosion that destroyed the building it’s in.

Yukio Edano says the radiation around the plant did not rise after the blast but instead is decreasing. He added that pressure in the reactor was also decreasing.

Pressure and heat have been building at the nuclear reactor since an earthquake and tsunami Friday caused its cooling system to fail.

An explosion Saturday blew out the walls of the building housing the reactor. The government has ordered people within a 12-mile (20-kilometer) radius of the plant in Fukushima to evacuate the area.

The title of this post is about to go from “Oh Shit” to “Oh Fuck”.

How Does the United States ARMY

…reprimand a LIEUTENANT for “leadership failures” in the case of their murderous Muslim MAJOR?

Army reprimands 9 officers in Fort Hood shooting

WASHINGTON – Nine Army officers are being reprimanded for leadership failures in connection with the shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, and their failure to detect and report problems with the accused shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, as he moved along in his medical career.

Saying that although no single event directly led to the tragedy, Army Secretary John McHugh found that certain officers failed to meet expected standards, an Army statement said Thursday. The officers — all lieutenant or above — will receive punishments ranging from an oral reprimand to the far more serious written letter of censure that is considered a career-ender.

That sentence makes no sense at all. Of course, punishing officers for not nailing Hasan when they most certainly would have been punished FOR nailing Hasan is classic CYA bullshit.

A Present For Lent

“The Last Breakfast” would be a great gift

Ittttt’s Great!

Obama’s Presser

The guy’s amazing. I just listened to a little bit where he was talking about the budget, and he said that the “American People” had sent a clear message in the last election that they wanted a government that “lives within its means” and “that’s what” his budget proposal does.

His definition of “living within our means” is to spend $1.50 for every $1 in revenue.

Unbelievable.

They Lowered Her Ensign Today for the Last Time

HMS Ark Royal

God speed. We salute her valiant service and her fighting crew.
Thank you, our good, stalwart, magnificent friend.

In a sorry, sorry side note to her decommissioning…

…The Navy will now not have the capibility to to fly fixed-wing aircraft from sea for about 10 years until the first of the next generation of aircraft carriers come into service.

UPDATE: Pictures from the ceremony here.

This Must Be Like Dean Wormer’s DOUBLE Secret Probation

Right?

And not just any old injuction will do. It has to be…well…SUPER, when you’re stopping someone from calling a banker a…BANKER. **GASP**

Concerns about the increasing use of super-injunctions by the wealthy to bar reporting of their activities have been raised by an MP as it emerged that Sir Fred Goodwin, the former chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, has obtained one.

…Speaking at Business Questions in the Commons, Mr Hemming [John Hemming, Liberal Democrat MP] said:

“In a secret hearing, Fred Goodwin has obtained a super-injunction preventing him being identified as a banker.”

SECRET INJUNCTIONS declaring you can’t CALL the rich WHAT they really ARE?

Where do we go from here?
The CEO of a bank Dead is not…a ‘banker’ ‘DEAD‘?

“Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue.“

Futures Getting Hit

The Dow’s due to open 260 points lower at this point.

Update: they’re coming back a little.

Japan Gets Pounded

A massive massive quake has hit Japan. Look at what has hit them in the last five hours (newest first) after this 8.9 monster struck. They’ve had 6.8 and 7.1 aftershocks.

Keep them in your prayers and I’ll post relief info as I get it.

ths adds: Sweet Mary, mother of God.

Nice Little Business You Got There, Fella

Be a shame if anything…you know…should happen to it.

March 10, 2011
Mr. Tom Ellis, President
Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
770 N. Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
SENT VIA FASCIMILE AND REGULAR MAIL
Dear Mr. Ellis:
As you undoubtedly know, Governor Walker recently proposed a “budget adjustment bill” to eviscerate public employees’ right to collectively bargain in Wisconsin. ..

As you also know, Scott Walker did not campaign on this issue when he ran for office. If he had, we are confident that you would not be listed among his largest contributors. As such, we are contacting you now to request your support.

The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this request, we ask for your response by March 17.

In the event that you do not respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters, and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities.

In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership in the fight to preserve the right of public employees to be heard at the bargaining table…

Have a nice day.

Hubris

I don’t know what else to call it. Well, ‘farce’ works, I guess.

I’m watching some of the livestream of the Wisconsin Assembly and the Democrats have got the brass ones to complain that they haven’t been allowed to debate these issues.

Unbelievable.

Who Knew?

Evidently transvestites don’t like tacos

HILLCREST (KTLA) — A group of transvestites got into a fight at a taco shop in San Diego, and the whole thing was caught on video.

…Witnesses say a group of men dressed as women began arguing over whose bodies were better.

Then, in very unladylike fashion, tables and chairs, along with wigs and high heels, started to fly.

Jesse Jackson to Megyn Kelly Just a Second Ago

…when she asked what the difference was between procedures used to pass ObamaCare and the vote last night in Wisconsin, since they were both apparently legal and virtually identical.

“More healthcare for more Americans wasn’t as hurtful as less education.“

What a worthless piece of shit that individual is.

I’d call him a “man”, but that implies something else entirely and he’s no longer worthy.