This post has been a little delayed, but the idea originally came to me while I was in Texas for Christmas. The premise is that within every guy’s group of friends there should be a bartender, a doctor, and a lawyer. Such friends provide unique services and opportunities. These are just a few quick, rough thoughts .
The Three Friends Every Guy Needs
January 18th, 2010 · Random
→ No CommentsTags:Doctors·Drinking·Friends·Gentlemanly adventures·Guys·Lawyers
Yemen says “No” to U.S. Troops
January 11th, 2010 · World News
According to the Wall Street Journal, Yemen’s most influential scholar, Sheik Abdul Majid Al Zindani, has warned his country against allowing foreign troops or an occupying force inside the country in an attempt to pursue suspected al Qaeda terrorists. Zindani however also encouraged his country to accept international aid in stabilizing the country. Zidani said, “We accept any [international security] cooperation in a framework of mutual respect and common interest … But if someone occupies your country … a Muslim has a duty to defend” against such invaders.
The WSJ article also noted, not surprisingly, that “Mr. Zindani’s comments highlight a deep mistrust that Yemenis have toward the U.S. and its recent overseas actions. Many people here believe that U.S. troops, fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, are waging a war against Muslims, not terrorists.”
→ No CommentsTags:Al Qaeda·Sheik Abdul Majid Al Zindani·Terrorism·Yemen
A New Year, Getting Serious about Music
January 10th, 2010 · Music
As a kid I was never terribly interested in paying much attention to music. This is actually something that I find myself constantly reflecting upon and asking myself why I never took the time to explore music. I’m not a believer in New Year resolutions, but I suppose it’s never too late to start doing something different and the New Year is a great time to begin.
Before 2009 was over, I was already thinking about paying more attention to music, especially to help myself understand the various aspects of pop culture I had ignored for nearly 25 years. In a sort of strange coincidence, I received a copy of the latest Spin Magazine courtesy of Lollapalooza last week. I’m not sure how they deemed I was worthy of such a gift, but thank you.
BeautifulPeople.com and iStockPhoto
January 6th, 2010 · Stupidity
Look what I found.
If you’ve visited BeautifulPeople.com, this stock photo from iStockPhoto should look familiar as it is the same photo BeautifulPeople uses on its front page.
BeautifulPeople.com: More like BogusPeople.com
January 5th, 2010 · Stupidity
More like BogusPeople.com, o0ooooh good one.
As an up-and-comer on the global social scene, I figured I needed to be a part of this “exclusive group for beautiful people.” I became especially intrigued after I read “5000 Festive Fatties Expelled From BeautifulPeople.com.” Such a headline made me believe this site is just teeming with beautiful people who like to like to be you know, beautiful and stuff. If you’re wondering who started this, it’s these guys.
I moseyed on over to BeautifulPeople.com and signed up. During a sort of 48-hour trial period, my photo would be voted on and the masses would decided whether or not I’m “beautiful.” This photo should be familiar to my hordes of Twitter followers. If Jersey Shore, Facebook and HotorNot.com had a child, BeautifulPeople.com would be it. I’m praying no one there finds me beautiful.
After signing into my trial period, I figured I would peruse the site, expecting tens, if not hundreds of thousands of beautiful people. It’s not quite what they advertise. The “Browse” section had sixty or so pages of members, and according to my rough calculations this figures out to be 300,000 or so allegedly beautiful people, a far cry from the claims of more than 500,000 members.
Kudos to the founders for royally screwing up. I noticed several messages and chats complaining about the plethora (tens of thousands) of “fake” accounts for the “real” members to rate. Good job. Sure, the press release generated buzz for your site, but by doing so you’ve alienated your paying customers, bogged down the site (it’s terrible) and as a result, your service is a complete joke.
My photo is currently being ranked at 4.92/10. Which translates to 49.2 percent of people think I’m “beautiful.” Just .9 percent more and I declare that a majority of people believe I’m “beautiful.” I’ll be, without a doubt, canceling my account.
I’d like to thank @charlotterunco for alerting me to the glory that is BeautifulPeople.com
Remember:
→ 2 CommentsTags:BeautifulPeople·BeautifulPeople.com·BeautifulPeople.com is a joke
Medvedev and Putin Ring in 2010
January 5th, 2010 · Random, World News
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin celebrate 2010 in digital form. I’m not sure about the origins of this video, but will take a deeper look when I get a chance. The video is in Russian but if you click the grey “CC” button at the bottom right corner, you’ll get subtitles. I can’t guarantee the accuracy of the translation. It’s actually kind of funny.
→ No CommentsTags:Dmitry Medvedev·Medvedev·Medvedev and Putin Youtube·Putin·Russia·Vladimir Putin
Before Joe Lieberman, we had Chandler Bing
December 29th, 2009 · Politics, TV Shows, World News
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) made news a few days ago, suggesting pre-emptive military action could be necessary in Yemen. Well Mr. Senator, Chandler Bing beat us to the “pre-emptive strike” in Yemen! You may recall Chandler, in an attempt to break up with his girlfriend, told her he was being transfered to Yemen.
→ No CommentsTags:Chandler·Flt 253·Friends·Joe Lieberman·Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab·Yemen
Christmas Bomber Allegedly Used PETN-type Substance
December 26th, 2009 · World News
The media is reporting that the would-be Christmas bomber attempted to detonate 80 grams of a substance similar to PETN or pentaerythritol tetranitrate sewn into his underwear. Check out the videos below to get an idea of what this stuff can do.
→ No CommentsTags:80 grams of PETN·Christmas bomber·Flight 253·Pants bomber·Pantsbomber·PETN·Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab·Underwear bomb
Is there a link between Ft. Hood and the Christmas Terror Attempt?
December 26th, 2009 · World News
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) suggests there is. It’s possible, but we should avoid jumping to conclusions and still way too early to know for certain.
Update: Media is reporting the imam and the would-be Christmas bomber could be linked.
“Authorities say they do not yet know if the imam was the same one who was in contact with Maj. Nidal Hasan prior to his alleged attack on soldiers at Fort Hood last month. American-born Anwar Awlaki has lived in Yemen since 2002 and is considered a major recruiter for al Qaeda by U.S. authorities. He survived a U.S.-backed air strike earlier this week.
The suspect in the Northwest Airlines attack told FBI agents he lived with the al Qaeda leader in Yemen for about a month and was not allowed to leave as he was trained in what to do and how to do it, authorities said.”
Via the Politico Playbook and Mediaite:
FORT HOOD LINK? AFP: “Peter Hoekstra, the most senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee and a member of Congress for Detroit’s state of Michigan, told AFP the suspect could have links to US-born Yemeni imam Anwar al-Aulaqi. Aulaqi, who is accused of being a senior Al-Qaeda recruiter, was known to have had emails contacts with US army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan who allegedly gunned down 13 people at a Texas military base last month. ‘He (Abdulmutallab) may have been in contact with the American imam al-Aulaqi,’ Hoekstra said after the bomb suspect apparently tried to blow up a US airliner as it began its descent into Detroit. ‘There are reports that he had contact and that he was recently in Yemen. The question we’ll have to raise is was this imam in Yemen influential enough to get some people to attack the US again,’ Hoekstra said.”
→ No CommentsTags:airplane bomb·Fort Hood·Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab·Yemen·Yemen Airstrike
Yemen Airstrikes Target Imam Allegedly Linked to Ft. Hood Shooter
December 25th, 2009 · World News
Some news you probably missed. It’s currently unclear whether Anwar al-Awlaki was killed.
Yemen said it launched airstrikes Thursday against extremists including Anwar al-Awlaki, the U.S.-born imam whom Fort Hood massacre suspect Nidal Malik Hasan consulted before last month’s shootings in Texas. Story here.
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