62 Replies to “Reader Tips”

  2. “A mother pregnant with her tenth child has demanded a bigger council house in the countryside, despite raking in almost £30,000 a year ($47,000 CAD) in state handouts. Iona Heaton, 43, said her four-bedroom home in Blackburn is too small for her enormous family and complained that the property is cold, damp and festering with mould.”
    (…)
    “The house has a wide flat-screen TV, computers, Ninendo Wii, digital camera and iPhone and the family take a two-week holiday to Pontins in Southport each year.”

    “Paul and I argue all the time because it’s so stressful living in a house like this.”

    Paul is her boyfriend.

  8. Starting up a business in Greece:

    Antonopoulos and his partners spent hours collecting papers from tax offices, the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the municipal service where the company is based, the health inspector’s office, the fire department and banks. At the health department, they were told that all the shareholders of the company would have to provide chest X-rays, and, in the most surreal demand of all, stool samples.
    Once they climbed the crazy mountain of Greek bureaucracy and reached the summit, they faced the quagmire of the bank, where the issue of how to confirm the credit card details of customers ended in the bank demanding that the entire website be in Greek only, including the names of the products.
    “They completely ignored us, however much we explained that our products are aimed at foreign markets and everything has to be written in English as well….”

    h/t

  9. EBD nice selection, I love the old slang.
    Funny that the word “nertz” went to “nerd” went to “pathetic effeminate jerkoff”
    And then “politically correct silence police”
    Yipes, who cops the cops?

  14. I thank God I don’t know anyone stupid enough to be a Pat Martin supporter … and I’m not even religious.

  16. Fridge Logic, WHY would somebody willingly fork over his or her personal information to Collusion, which appears to be linked to the FORD FOUNDATION?
    Timothy Geithner’s father worked for the Ford Foundation and Barack Obama’s MOTHER was associated with Timothy Geithner’s father.
    “Telling the global tracking story
    Your data can be part of the larger story. When we launch the full version of Collusion, it will allow you to opt-in to sharing your anonymous data in a global database of web tracker data. We’ll combine all that information and make it available to help researchers, journalists, and others analyze and explain how data is tracked on the web.
    Building user awareness
    Through our work with the Ford Foundation, we’ll be building outreach campaigns to help people understand online data tracking — both the benefits and the issues — so they can make their own choices about how they want to be tracked (or choose not to be tracked at all).”
    Now I’m wondering why Firefox would be linked to the Ford Foundation.

  17. EBD – Again with Cantor. Jeez he’s odd looking. And sounding. He’s what – Al Jolson’s freaky cousin?
    (Is this why Frank kept saying “nertz” in M*A*S*H? I always kinda liked Frank. Someone once said you could tell you were a conservative when you watched an episode of M*A*S*H and realized Frank was the only character making any damn sense. Kinda like Archie Bunker, only less so. Nertz.)

  18. Black Mamba,
    Yikes. Riddle me this:
    What do Loretta Swit and Jane Fonda have in common?
    The number 74.

  19. She said “I can’t believe I burned down a tree older than Jesus.”
    Posted by: EBD at March 2, 2012 10:15 PM
    3500 years old is pretty old, but not older than Jesus:
    John 1:1-2 (KJV)
    1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
    2 The same was in the beginning with God.
    Revelation 1:8 (KJV)
    “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
    Jesus existed as the Word of God before the beginning of time and will still be after time ends.

  20. Resubmitting this because my deathless prose is lost in the filter:
    Chutzpahticular – Thank you for this information – I don’t know what the Ford Foundation is, and I’m not very Internet savvy. I don’t worry much about what I put on the Internet, except as it relates to f1nancial information. My experience in research leads me to believe that that human beings are not very successful at interpreting large, complex data sets.

  21. Posted by: ok at March 2, 2012 11:45 PM
    We used to beat the shit out of city police back in the ’90s.
    Real hard to beat up one drunk woman; way harder when her boyfriend is a hockey player with me on his team.

  23. Black Mamba,
    to=do?
    I can’t. However, this is how my brain was synopsing (if that’s a word) Frank Burns -> Hot Lips -> Lorreta Swit -> A different thread with Ted Turner -> Jane Fonda -> Lorreta Swit -> 74.
    When I has 17 both of them were twice as old as I was. Hope that helps.

  25. Black Mamba, they were both born in 1937 making them 74 years old. And ∞² would be 57.

  26. interesting…the dems and the latest incarnation of acorn are pushing electronic voting too….
    http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-news-explains-how-futuramas-bender-won-an-election-to-head-dcs-school-board/
    On Friday’s Fox & Friends, host Steve Doocy introduced a story about how Bender — a cartoon robot from Comedy Central’s Futurama — was voted in as the head of the Washington, D.C., School Board. The election, Doocy explained, wasn’t real — it was a trial run for electronic voting systems and how secure they are. A team from the University of Michigan hacked in and made Bender the winner.
    “If you think electronic voting systems are secure,” Doocy explained, “try explaining how the guy you’re about to see won an election.” He then showed a clip of Bender’s arms falling off.
    The full story behind the hack is even more interesting. Teams from around the world were invited to try and crack in to the system. University of Michigan Professor Alex Halderman, along with two graduate students, were the first to break in, according to The Guardian‘s Iain Thomson. Halderman’s team set up protocols that would disallow other potential hackers from getting in, and — along with crowning Bender winner of the school board election — inserted the word “owned” on the final signoff screen and set up the University of Michigan fight song to play after 15 seconds. According to Thomson:
    It took two days before the authorities discovered they’d been pwned, and they were only alerted to that fact when another tester told them the system was secure, but that they should lose the music on the sign-off screen, as it was rather annoying.

  27. GM blames media for ‘negative press’ hurting sales…of course, overpriced ‘cars’ that dont’ work and burst into flames had nothing to do with it…..
    http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/automobiles/213889-gm-halting-production-of-chevy-volt
    GM temporarily halts production of Volt
    By Keith Laing – 03/02/12 03:39 PM ET
    General Motors has temporarily suspended production of its Volt electric car, the company announced Friday.
    GM, which is based in Detroit, announced to employees at one of its facilities that it was halting production of the beleaguered electric car for five weeks and temporarily laying off 1,300 employees.

  28. Neo-AGW Progress Report.
    Featuring: “A cold front from Canada” & Old King Coal.
    …-
    “Spring HASN’T sprung: Winter returns this weekend with -5C temperatures and snow on the way”
    “After enjoying a sunny and mild end to February, the UK is set to be plunged into freezing temperatures this weekend which could hit as low as -5C and even bring snow to some areas.
    A cold front from Canada will see temperatures struggle to get above freezing in the daytime and go below that overnight.”
    “January and early February saw repeated snowfalls in the Uk”.
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2109645/Thought-Spring-come-Winter-returns-UK-weekend-5C-temperatures-way.html
    …-
    “Giant new plant shows coal power isn’t going away”
    “WASHINGTON — The Prairie State power plant, set amid farm fields and woods in southwestern Illinois, will start producing power soon, beginning a life of burning local coal that’s expected to last until at least the 2040s.
    Prairie State is the largest coal-fired power plant built in the United States in the last 30 years. The company’s website says it represents “a new roadmap for coal.” It will produce commercial power at a time when the shale gas boom is making the nation’s power companies look to natural gas instead of coal for most new plants.”
    http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/03/01/140544/giant-new-plant-shows-coal-power.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy

  31. Robo-Mao Stlong*.
    Notice the words: “often try”.
    “China has allowed village elections for nearly three decades but local Communist party leaders, who hold the real power, often try to manipulate the results.”
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/03/wukan-villagers-elections-protests
    *Liberal leader Rae’s uncle Maurice Strong, c/o Red China.
    …-
    *Mao’s nephew Rae:
    “We’re now in uncharted waters as far as the history of the country is concerned,” Mr. Rae told reporters on Friday. “I don’t think any of us ever …”.
    (NP)

  32. Prairie State is the largest coal-fired power plant built in the United States in the last 30 years. The company’s website says it represents “a new roadmap for coal.” It will produce commercial power at a time when the shale gas boom is making the nation’s power companies look to natural gas instead of coal for most new plants.”
    Its pretty easy to convert a coal plant to a gas plant. On a plant that should have a 50 to 100 year life, I am sure they thought about that possibility when thy built it.

  33. General Grant’s EV Report.
    Exciting concept includes: “£14,000 post-government grant,”.
    …-
    “The Fluence ZE family car was formally launched on Thursday and, after qualifying for a £5,000 government grant, starts at a not unreasonable £17,495. However, that price does not include the rechargeable battery pack which must be leased, from £76 per month, or almost £1,000 a year. The genuinely unique, thoroughly entertaining, car-like Twizy quadricycle hits UK showrooms next month, is not eligible for a grant, but will retail at only £6,690, plus battery hire charges of £45 a month. It’s already one of my vehicles of the year. And the Clio-sized Zoe supermini, which arrives late autumn, is expected to cost about £14,000 post-government grant, plus battery pack hire charges which have yet to be announced, although they shouldn’t be more than about £60 a month/£720 a year.”
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/columnists/mike-rutherford/9111627/Mr-Money-electric-shock-from-Renault.html

  35. Is anyone familiar with the Ontario Health Study?
    https://ontariohealthstudy.ca/
    I got an invitation to participate in the mail the other day. It’s an online questionnaire, from what I can gather, ” … an exciting opportunity to learn how our lifestyle, our environment and our family history interact to affect our health over time. By participating in this online study, you can help researchers as they investigate common risk factors for diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease, among others. This is your chance to help prevent disease and improve strategies for the early detection and treatment of illnesses.”
    It’s not clear to me who is initiating this study, which also asks for the names and particulars of two “contacts,” should you move and the Study needs to contact you at a later date. This seems odd to me. If someone participates in this study and moves, surely it’s up to them to provide their pertinent information, not a third party.
    This study smacks to me of more Big Brother. At a time when our health resources are being rationed, how could this medical/health information be used? Of course the disclaimers say that this information is completely private (uh huh) but I’m thinking, “hey, not so fast.” I’ve shredded my invitation with my name and address on it and have no intention of going online to answer “their” questions.
    Can anyone enlighten me as to who “they” are?

  36. Soccermom…the Whittle vid is excellent. As a health care worker in the Cardiology field I agree 100% with Whittle.

  37. Of Liberal Ad$cam MartinJr, Dead Duck, SNC/Lavalin, Our CBC, and Liberal-socialist McGuinty/Ontario Power Generation .
    …-
    “SNC-Lavalin: When Did the Moral Compass Break?”
    “As engineering giant SNC-Lavalin Group (SNC) struggles to contain a growing scandal about its links to Libya’s Qaddafi family, it’s fascinating to consider the tipping points. Investors have long accepted the fact that SNC made good money under the Qaddafi regime–some 6 percent of sales or C$440 million ($445 million) came from Libyan projects in 2010. That meant SNC’s decision in 2011 to suspend those projects amid the revolt that led to dictator Muammar Qaddafi’s death in October was bound to affect its bottom line.”
    http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-03-02/snc-lavalin-when-did-the-moral-compass-break
    …-
    “My moment with Moammar”
    “Of course, Martin was also there representing Canadian interests in the region. SNC Lavalin …”.
    http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2011/02/my-moment-with-moammar.html
    …-
    “For $600-million, SNC-Lavalin Group SNC-T and will spend the next three years on “planning and preparation” for a single crucial aspect of refurbishing Darlington’s four reactors”.
    “Ontario Power Generation inks $600-million initial deal for nuclear refurbish plan”
    (G-M) urlm.in/lkks

  39. [Of Liberal Ad$cam MartinJr, Dead Duck, SNC/Lavalin, Our CBC, and Liberal-socialist McGuinty/Ontario Power Generation .] maz2
    Says it all.

  40. -foobert
    At first I thought it laughable that the swearing in of Obama compared to these other events… but then again, the more I think about it, this is mainly about the major damage, destruction, dictators, and killers over the last 100 years. Obama’s swearing in actually fits.

  41. batb.
    I too tossed the letter out after noting that I would have to give my name and address in order to qualify for the $10.”gift”. My health records are personal as they are for everyone else.
    Although this study is sponsored in part by the Cancer Society or somesuch, the whole thing smelled fishy. They even ask for your health card number.

  42. Batb – bizarre – the fact they asked for your health care card number is a red flag – good on you for not participating, unfortunately, others will.
    Speaking of health care -it’s up and running – rec’d approval, this was only a proposal a few months back.
    Dutch mobile euthanasia units to make house calls:
    “A controversial system of mobile euthanasia units that will travel around the country to respond to the wishes of sick people who wish to end their lives has been launched in the Netherlands.
    The scheme, which started on Thursday , will send teams of specially trained doctors and nurses to the homes of people whose own doctors have refused to carry out patients’ requests to end their lives.”
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/01/dutch-mobile-euthanasia-units

  46. Clive, that poll is from December, and unfortunately it’s long dead.
    I did enjoy this comment from Marjannahar @9:56 AM (emphases mine):
    “Some Muslim living here in Canada as citizen for long period of time and contributing in the Canadian society. Why not say it is your Canada too. About the veil, It is not issue of personal likes and dislikes or emotion & desire. It is a religious issue; so it is question of how much you are obedient to the Creator of the universe and to his laws; Islam is such beautiful religion, we need to take more time to learn it that creator of world made us complete human from drop of sperm and gave us brain, feeding us with air, food & drinks continuously; even though people disobeying his laws. Islam distributed the responsibility between men & women in such a manner that women folk do not need to go to strangers for fulfilling their needs.The religion Islam does not approve the wanton display and unveiling. Reward is with the Creator of universe for eternity in paradise for the believer and devil is an open enemy for children of Adam who whisper in the heart of mankind. When world was in the darkness of ignorance and women didn’t have much value, the Islam came to the world by giving right and honor to women. Today’s modern civilization is the product of Islam only, which has started from Adam and ended with last prophet Mohammad (SAW). It is a universal religion for not only mankind, but also for Jinn’s. This Islam didn’t come to this world for any particular nation or community.This worldly life will be over soon like the summer season over and become dead leaves & straw in fall; Our return to the lord of the world after this short journey. Key to paradise is Islam. To learn more about Islam, there’s lots of websites, Lectures available on web about comparative religion, Quran & Science etc. Some converted Muslim who were Christian might impress you to discover the truth.”
    (Jinns, in case you don’t know, are genies; supernatural beings who may or may not be Muslim.)

  48. batb – assuming you’re serious – The Ontario Health Study is part of the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project (CPTP). The director is Lyle Palmer. Ethics review was conducted by the University of Toronto, and you can contact them to ask about it. I suppose you could also email Health Canada if you are really concerned.
    The Ontario Health Study has been referenced by The Globe and Mail, CTV, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, York University, Newswire, etc.
    You do not have to provide your health card number to participate. However, they request that you submit it for reasons given on the website.
    I would not worry about the health care system in Ontario turning into some sort of Big Brother organization. They are nowhere nearly organized enough to pull that off.

  49. LAS @ 12:34 p.m.:
    I read the article at reason.com. The two points you note conform to its content, although the second was a matter of evidence not being conclusive rather than “weak”.
    However, the judge told the alleged victim of the assault that dressing up as a zombie Mohammed was “outside his bounds on First Amendment rights”, which is false.
    And, a quote from the article: “Indeed, he specifically drew a distinction between ‘how Americans practice Christianity’ and how Muslims practice Islam: ‘Islam is not just a religion, it’s their culture … it’s their very essence, their very being.'”
    This too is dangerous thinking that will lead to the erosion of freedom of expression and of religion, and probably all other freedoms as well.

  50. Fridge Logic: “batb – assuming you’re serious …”
    I’m very serious. Why shouldn’t I be? Giving out personal information online to organizations and individuals I don’t know is risky, so I’ve decided not to do it.
    Thanks for listing some of the organizations involved: Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project sounds Utopian to me, so as long as I still have a choice in these matters, I choose not to participate.
    I’ve just watched a 16-minute interview Steve Paikin did with Dr. Lyle Palmer, the director of this “big vision” project, which is “the biggest cohort study in the world.”
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XPqr5wHGuE
    Palmer seems like a bright, idealistic, and enthusiastic chap and in answer to Paikin’s questions about online security (at the 5:24 mark), Palmer says that the Ontario Privacy Commissioner, Ann Cavoukian (Raffi’s sister, BTW), has been on-board since the beginning.
    It all sounds wonderful. However, we all know that no matter how “secure” data we share is purported to be by those collecting that data, there is always the capacity by devilishly clever hackers to break into the system.
    I’ve always been a Luddite. I like computers and the Internet, both of which I use all the time. But, I don’t like the opportunities they provide for fraud and the stealing of personal information.
    So, I guess the Ontario Health Study is going to have to move on without me and my various health problems and pathologies. The Ontario Health Study, however, will probably benefit from NOW readers. In the interview, Dr. Palmer enthusiastically exclaims, “We’re in the NOW magazine this week!”

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