Jan 25, 2015
Posted by AAfterwit on Jan 25, 2015 | 0 comments
From the files of the “Mind Blowing, Head Shaking, WTF?” comes this from the Washington Post:
Over 80 percent of Americans support “mandatory labels on foods containing DNA”
A recent survey by the Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Economics finds that over 80 percent of Americans support “mandatory labels on foods
containing DNA,” about the same number as support mandatory labeling of GMO foods “produced with genetic engineering.” Oklahoma State economist Jayson Lusk has some additional details on the survey. If the government does impose mandatory labeling on foods containing DNA, perhaps the label might look something like this:
WARNING: This product contains deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The Surgeon General has determined that DNA is linked to a variety of diseases in both animals and humans. In some configurations, it is a risk factor for cancer and heart disease. Pregnant women are at very high risk of passing on DNA to their children.
(more…)
Jan 24, 2015
Posted by AAfterwit on Jan 24, 2015 | 0 comments
Classic George W.
Former president George W. Bush and wife Laura Bush bring humor to the unveiling of their official White House portraits.
Jan 24, 2015
Posted by AAfterwit on Jan 24, 2015 | 0 comments
With “Deflategate” in the news, the irrelevant and insufferable NFL Pro Bowl this weekend, and the Super Bowl a week away, we all need a laugh.
“…and then you invented dirt lumps.” More of what COULD have been said in the NFL.
Who comes up with these things?
Jan 23, 2015
Posted by AAfterwit on Jan 23, 2015 | 0 comments
Once again, A.F. Branco is on the mark with this cartoon:
(image courtesy of A.F. Branco at Comically Incorrect.)
Jan 22, 2015
Posted by AAfterwit on Jan 22, 2015 | 0 comments
Twenty year old Brian Ferguson has autism. The autism means he has difficulty speaking, but still communicates. Like many people with special needs, Brian is a hugger – a tall hugger in that Brian tops out at 6′ 5″ tall.
Ferguson was attending one of Navarro College’s satellite campuses in Waxahachie, Texas when he thought he saw a friend of his. He went up to the female and hugged her, giving her a kiss on the head as well.
Unfortunately, the young woman named Taylor Bruton did not know Ferguson. He had mistaken her for his friend.
After Burton appeared startled, several teachers approached her and said she should write up the incident and turn in into college administrators.
“They asked me about the incident,” she said Wednesday. “I explained what happened and I told them, ‘It’s not a big deal. I don’t want anyone to get in trouble and I don’t feel the need to report this.’ And they asked me for a written statement, just in case.”
The school labeled the incident as an assault and because of what Bruton described as a “peck on the head,” the school said Ferguson had sexually assaulted Bruton.
Without a hearing, or any attempt to listen to the Bruton or Ferguson, the school dismissed Ferguson from the special needs program at the college and told him he could not return.
Ferguson’s mother said a college dean informed her that he was suspended indefinitely and no longer welcome back.
“He cried the whole next day,” she said. “He got up for school, waited for the bus. I told him it wasn’t coming.”
Ferguson’s sister, who also attended Navarro College, criticized the decision in widely-circulated posts on Facebook.
“To completely kick him out of school and alter his whole course of life, it’s just completely ridiculous,” Justine Colquitt said.
Furthermore, Bruton did not learn of the decision to kick Ferguson out of the college until she saw a report on a local news station.
(more…)
Jan 21, 2015
Posted by AAfterwit on Jan 21, 2015 | 3 comments
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The last graphic we ran announcing a City Council meeting was a comment on civil forfeiture and taxing at the point of the government sword. A few people missed that point even after it was explained to them. We have put the Satellite Beach logo on many things in images such as coffee cups, bottles, signs, sand, walls, space, boats, t-shirts, badges, surfboards and countless other items. So in order not to offend some people we like the image to the left as it should not offend anyone.)
The City of Satellite Beach City Council will meet tonight in a regular meeting starting at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers.
Despite assurances that the budget was under control, that all projects were paid for, and that the City was meeting financial goals, the City is looking to raise the utility tax from 6% to 10% – an increase of over 66%. The additional money will seek to fund a new debt of $2.5 million dollars.
This increase request follows the City not using the roll back rate for property taxes which means the City took in more from property taxes as well.
Add to that the President’s proposal to increase taxes on people, plus increases in health care this year and one wonders if the moniker of “tax and spend” doesn’t fit this Council and City Administration to a tee.
The agenda for the meeting can be found here. The agenda support packet can be found here.
Hope to see you at the meeting.
Jan 21, 2015
Posted by AAfterwit on Jan 21, 2015 | 0 comments
From the World Science Festival:
You probably have a lot to look forward to in 2015: Getting to work on some of those resolutions (which hopefully won’t fall by the wayside in early March), reevaluating the direction of your life, and in general becoming a better and more fulfilled you. But no matter how productive or transformative the next year is for your career or art or love life, your body will be chugging merrily along for those 365 days doing what it does best: growing, processing, and generally keeping you alive. Here’s a snapshot of some of the visceral changes you’ll experience in the next year:
(Image courtesy of World Science Festival.)
Cool information, but kind of creepy when you think about it.
Jan 20, 2015
Posted by AAfterwit on Jan 20, 2015 | 0 comments
One of the pieces of equipment from the Marvel Avengers universe is the helicarrier.
The Helicarrier, an aircraft carrier specifically designed to be itself capable of independent powered flight in addition to the standard functions of aircraft carriers, is the world headquarters and signature capital ship of the extra-governmental intelligence/defense agency S.H.I.E.L.D..
Built by Stark Industries and designed by Tony Stark, Dr. Reed Richards, and former X-Man Forge. In addition to housing wings of fighters and other aircraft, the Helicarrier bristles with advanced weaponry, including an intercontinental ballistic missile.
The idea of a massive flying aircraft carrier is so intriguing that people have written scientific papers and posts on the subject. (Yes, some people have way too much time on their hands.)
Instead of doing theoretical work, the gang over at flitetest.com decided to build a scale flying model of a helicarrier.
They then went out and merrily tried to land radio control aircraft on it.
The result is a great video with lots of laughs and the sheer pleasure of watching people do what the love doing.
