Man on Mars?

Russia is doing mock-trips to Mars by locking volunteers in tubes for 105 days, allowing them no contact with the outside world. They will eat dehydrated food and breathe recycled air. This simulation will be followed by a similar 520 day simulation, which is the estimated time of a roundtrip to Mars. I hope those people like each other.

So this rabid bobcat walks into a bar....

No, seriously, a rabid bobcat walked into a bar.

Yikes

The Mexican drug trade has been getting press because of Hillary Clinton's recent remarks. The drug lords do lovely things, such as bringing 5 human heads to a crowded bar as a warning to a rival gang.

Gainesville Votes Against Discrimination

A Gainesville amendment to revoke legal protections for LGBT people was shot down at the polls. Latest reporting has it failing 61% to 39%.

Barney Frank Hates Pink. Heh.

Barney Frank got irritated with the Code Pink ladies who were messing with his financial chat.

Married Gays Apologize

Walken Tweets

I don't get Twitter, but Christopher Walken is funny. (Or someone claiming to be Christopher Walken, but I like to think it's really him.)

UNC System Budget Cuts

Under the possible 7% UNC System budget reduction, here are proposed reductions to some of the schools. (Keep in mind that these proposed reductions are meant to sound horrible and untenable...if there is a 7% budget cut, other things will probably go instead.)

UNC:
Eliminate 267 positions, including 107 faculty positions
372 courses not offered. Reduction in enrollment of 3400 students
Reduction of housecleaning

UNCG:
Eliminate 109 positions, including 59 faculty positions
Reduction of 275 class sections, totaling about 7500 class seats
Limiting advising and tutoring

The Legality of Gayness

U.S. signs the U.N. declaration calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality around the world--which the Bush administration refused to sign.

Go Tar Heels!

Obama picks YOU!

"Corrective" Rape

"Corrective" rape is a growing problem in South Africa, where men rape gay women with the supposed intention of "curing" them of their lesbianism. The Guardian has an upsetting, but important video on the problem, which gets little to no attention from South African authorities. (from DailyDish).

That is bleak.

The housing market is unbelievably bleak in Detroit. In 2008, it was cheaper to buy a car than a house in Detroit. In the first half of the year, the median house price was comparable to a decent new car: $19,448. (The picture below is through June 2008).



In October, it was still headed south: $18,513. (See 4th paragraph.)


For the month of December 2008, the median price of a home sold in Detroit: $7500. There are no missing zeros in that number. It is cheaper to buy a house in Detroit than it is for an in-state student to attend UMich for a year ($10,848, plus fees).

DC & the HIV epidemic

The Washington Post has an article today about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in DC, where 3% of its residents are HIV positive. These rates are higher than those in West Africa, and comparable to Uganda & Kenya. Although rates are rising among all demographic groups, over 70% of the cases are among residents ages 40-49. Almost 1 in 10 -- 1 in 10!! -- DC residents in this age group have the virus. That is insane.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Slog has a great piece on the ethics of embryonic stem cell research. Check it out here. In short, the writer -- Jonathan Golob, a scientist apparently -- walks us through some basics of stem cells and what they mean for science and treatment. He also explains why he doesn't consider pre-implantation embryos to be human beings. Yet, he recognizes people hold strong convictions about this, and argues convincingly about the oversight that should accompany this research and donation -- and how Obama's new rules might be the first step toward that.


An excerpt:

I do not believe human embryonic stem cell research should be a free-for-all. While I do not personally believe that human life starts at the moment when sperm-meets-egg, I do recognize that human blastocysts deserve serious treatment.

I believe that the donation of blastocysts and the distribution of the subsequent embryonic stem cell lines should be strictly decommercialized. The entire process should be like how we handle organ donation from adults—with oversight, and the prohibition of money changing hands in the process.

Obama's easing of the Federal funding restrictions on human embryonic stem cell research opens the door for such a policy in a way that Bush's restrictions never did. By preventing public funding, the destruction of human embryos was forced into the private sector. In a horrifying way, Bush's policies made the destruction of human embryos a matter of private enterprise—a potentially for-profit venture. Anything else would be better.

Liar, liar, pants on fire

Some dillweed anesthesiologist who was a prolific researcher in postoperative pain management has been revealed as a fraud. He made up data for at least 21 articles written over the past decade, some of which underlie a common practice of giving patients aspirin-like medications, rather than narcotics after surgery. If you suck as a researcher, find something else to be good at, don't make up data that affects people's lives.

Andrew Sullivan and I are BFF

I wrote an email to Andrew Sullivan & he posted it on his blog. Sweeeet. (Also, as a side note, you should think about subscribing to The Atlantic. Good stuff.)

Slipping in Earmarks

A bunch of senators who got all high and mighty about the stimulus bill and its "pork" like a little bacon themselves, including Richard Burr (NC). Burr's earmarks reached $1.3 million. In total, 28 Senators who voted No on the stimulus bill added earmarks. See the full list here. (Thanks to Left In Alabama for the tip.)

Nobody reads academic papers

Sixteen years ago, two economists wrote a paper calling "Looting" that explains, and predicted, our current economic crisis. If only someone read those things BEFORE it mattered. Full NYTimes article here.

hahahaha

A bunch of frat boys at the University of Chicago gave a little dance in their underwears to irritate the Westboro Baptist ("God Hates Fags" Church) protest that was going on their street. The sign reads: No tolerance for INtolerance.

When Bad Things Happen

Good post from Slog. If you don't read the whole thing, skip to the bottom about GM declining an additional $2 billion that it no longer needs. Good for them.

Responses to Dire Warnings of Imminent Danger, posted by Jonathan Golob

1. In the best way we can, in the face of no viable alternatives beyond doom.

From NOAA:

NOAA’s National Weather Service has issued a report that analyzes forecasting performance and public response during the second deadliest tornado outbreak in U.S. history. The report, Service Assessment of the Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak of February 5-6, 2008, also addresses a key area of concern: why some people take cover while others ride out severe weather.
....
In reviewing the public response, the team found that two-thirds of the victims were in mobile homes, and 60 percent did not have access to safe shelter (i.e., a basement or storm cellar). The majority of the survivors interviewed for the assessment sought shelter in the best location available to them, but most of them also did not have access to a safe shelter. Some indicated they thought the threat was minimal because February is not within traditional tornado season. Several of those interviewed said they spent time seeking confirmation and went to a safe location only after they saw a tornado. Many people minimized the threat of personal risk through “optimism bias,” the belief that such bad things only happen to other people.

2. Willed ignorance in the face of growing danger, in service of greed.

From the Boston Globe:

The federal agency that insures bank deposits, which is asking for emergency powers to borrow up to $500 billion to take over failed banks, is facing a potential major shortfall in part because it collected no insurance premiums from most banks from 1996 to 2006.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which insures deposits up to $250,000, tried for years to get congressional authority to collect the premiums in case of a looming crisis. But Congress believed that the fund was so well-capitalized - and that bank failures were so infrequent - that there was no need to collect the premiums for a decade, according to banking officials and analysts.

Now with 25 banks having failed last year, 17 so far this year, and many more expected in the coming months, the FDIC has proposed large new premiums for banks at the very time when many can least afford to pay. The agency collected $3 billion in the fees last year and has proposed collecting up to $27 billion this year, prompting an outcry from some banks that say it will force them to raise consumer fees and curtail lending.

3. Manipulate and lie, to temporarily cover your ass.

From NakedCapitalism:

Readers may recall that during Lehman's demise, a pitched battle was underway between some short sellers, epitomized by David Einhorn of Greenlight Capital. Einhorn raised questions about Lehman's financial statements, specifically, inconsistencies and rosy looking valuations. The struggle became weirdly per[s]onalized, as Lehman sought to burnish the image of charmismatic CFO Erin Callen, as contrasted with the presumed to be evil company wrecking Einhorn. Of course, if the real performance (as opposed to what the reports said) was as bad as Einhorn's line of inquiry suggested, it was management that had done the company-wrecking, but that level of detail is often lost on CNBC.

And one of the regular features of the Lehman versus its detractors affair was leaks to the media, leaks of a sort that even if the firm had done it in a way that it had plausible deniability, were clearly intended to reach outside parties, particularly the media.

Now let us turn to Citi. Recall what transpired, per the Wall Street Journal:

Citigroup Inc. was profitable in the first two months of 2009 and is having its best quarter in a year and a half, Chief Executive Vikram Pandit said in an internal memo aimed at boosting employee and investor confidence in his struggling bank.

Yves here. This is simply stunning. The Journal says up front a supposed internal memo was in fact intended to reassure investors.
....
Dunno about you, but this looks to me like a bald faced attempt to manipulate the stock price, and it certainly worked.

Updated:

Well, the Citigroup thing might also be a little pump-and-dump scam! From Bloomberg:

Four Citigroup Inc. executives who bought the bank’s stock last week generated a $2.2 million paper profit within nine days, regulatory filings show.

The executives, including director Roberto Hernandez, benefited as the company’s stock climbed 47 percent from March 10 through yesterday’s close of markets, after Chief Executive Officer Vikram Pandit said in a memo that the bank is having the best quarter since 2007. Their buying spree was the first by bank insiders since Jan. 14, filings show.
...
Pandit wrote in the internal memo March 10 that the company was profitable in January and February, leaving him “encouraged with the strength of our business so far in 2009.” The comments triggered Citigroup’s biggest one-day percentage gain since Nov. 24, spurring global markets.

And, for those of you who bitched about the relatively tiny US automaker bailout:

General Motors, which has borrowed $13.4 billion from the federal government since December to keep itself out of bankruptcy, said on Thursday that it had withdrawn a request for an additional $2 billion that it thought was needed to stay alive through the end of this month.

Brutal

Jon Stewart gives Jim Cramer (see the CNBC back-and-forth here) a piece of his mind. (No yelling on either side! It's like ADULTS talking...how weird is that?) It's refreshing. Jon Stewart is like Toto pulling on the curtains to expose the nonsense going on. And, to his credit, Jim Cramer doesn't yell or act like a whipped dog. Good interview.

Yikes

Stock rally in perspective.


That is bleak.

Sullivan's View from your Recession

Andrew Sullivan has been posting letters from readers about their recession experiences. I felt bad for this couple, who has made a lot of cuts (selling car, using less heat), until I read this:

"We are taking on boarders, renting our downstairs rooms (cutting our living space from 2400 to 1500 sq ft for ourselves and our two children.)" (emphasis mine)

BooHOO. I'm sorry you only have a spacious 1500 sq ft for a small family of four. I will be CERTAIN to cry in my cornflakes over your loss. Seriously, that's great they're cutting corners and being responsible, but don't play violins over 1500 sq ft. That's a lot to a lot of people.

GE is Deliverance?

Andrew Sullivan posted this ad under the title "Cool Ad Watch". I mean, I guess it's cool if you don't know the song being played is famous because of the movie Deliverance. If you do know that, then it's just weird. Do they really want people thinking of "squeal piggy squeal" when they hear about "bold new ideas"?

Jon Stewart takes on CNBC

It begins:

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Economic Crisis

It continues:

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

In Cramer We Trust

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Economic Crisis

It's still funny:

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Basic Cable Personality Clash Skirmish '09

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Economic Crisis

Yay! MORE Grammar!

Wonkette's Jim Newell ALSO loves grammar!

Yay Grammar

Slog contributor Paul Constant just won my heart.

Washington Equality

Look like a bill will pass the Washington state senate & house that gives same-sex domestic partners virtually every legal right that married couples have.

When your bank fails.

An interesting 60 minutes piece on what happens when banks fail. The FDIC swoops in & tries to make you feel good about it.


Watch CBS Videos Online

Tanya Harding is still a nutjob.

How dare Obama speak Tanya Harding's name? WHAT THE HELL IS IMPORTANT IN THIS WORLD TODAY??




via Wonkette.

"Defense" of Marriage

NC is the only southeastern state that hasn't written discrimination into the constitution via a Defense of Marriage Amendment. Well, I guess we don't like being left out. Here's some of the language in the bill:

"Whereas, of the 15 states in the Southeastern U.S., only one has failed to pass constitutional amendments defining marriage as the 'union of one man and one woman.'"

Well, then, by all means, pass it. Also pass something like, "Whereas, North Carolina is one of the only southeastern states to have a decent education system, we should stop educating our children."

(But, News & Observer says Joe Hackney is trying to kill it in committees.)

Scientology Wackiness

Guess what caused 9/11? Psychiatry!!!


Scientologists Try to Explain how Psychiatrists caused 9/11 and the Holocaust from Chris Doyle on Vimeo.

Messed up.

An ultra-orthodox Rabbi has been accused of having sex with minors. His now-27-year-old daughter took the stand to testify that he had abused her since she was 9. That is painful enough, but that alleged-sack-of-shit is representing himself and got to cross-examine her! What in the hell?? He's being assisted by 2 attorneys. Couldn't the judge say, sorry, alleged-ass-wipe, you don't get to ask these questions. Go sit down.

Scary Remix

From slog.

Sleepless in Seattle:




When Harry Met Sally:




Scary Poppins:

Asteroid!

A big ole asteroid went zooming by us recently. Who knew?