Lucky

...yes,Andy Rooney. Hmmm, is that a compliment? You know, it always bothers me when someone says that I remind them of a person who is dead. Sure, they mean well. But I can't help but think that death is what comes to them when they think of me, not so much the person I am supposed to resemble. So, thanks, but no thanks. I don't need that compliment. I think I will stay around a while. (my best imitation, at least, without thinking about it more.)

I see the pix are back! If they disappear again, Perez Hilton is holding firm. Not that we need to see them, of course.

Now here's a story from the Times about how easy it is to infect your computer without your knowledge. These guys were able to redirect your advertising on your computer to an ad that made money for them. Clever, huh? From the Times: Six men, all in their 20s and early 30s, are under arrest in Estonia for what the United States attorney’s office in New York called “a massive and sophisticated Internet fraud scheme.” A Russian suspect in the case remains at large. The malicious software infected four million computers, including 500,000 in the United States, the prosecutors said. The software was so subtle that most people using an infected computer were probably unaware of it. It was a two-pronged scheme, prosecutors said. One component involved redirecting clicks on search results to sites that were controlled by the defendants. A search for “I.R.S.,” for instance, would lead a user to the Web site of the tax preparer H&R Block. The sites to which users were directed would pay the swindlers a referral fee, prosecutors said. The more traffic they could redirect, the more fees they collected. The other way the group made money, according to the indictment, was to swap legitimate online advertisements on certain Web sites with others that would generate payments for the defendants. Prosecutors said that Web sites for ESPN and The Wall Street Journal were affected — but only when viewed on the infected computers. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/technology/us-indicts-7-in-online-ad-fraud-scheme.html?ref=business

Well, it occurs to me that I post a lot. One reason is that each morning I read a slew of newspapers, all set up on my toolbar. Then, when something interests me, I want to pass it on to you. But, a lot of things interest me, so there ends up a lot of posts. Take this picture, for example: I saw it in the NY Times today, but it doesn't deserve its own thread. So, I was thinking that maybe I could do one thread a day that has my newspaper interests in it. What do you think? Here's another pic to help you mull it over: Both pics from the Times.

This was a case of you had to look fast! Groff said he wan't so concerned about the pix being on the net, but his lawyers must have been as they have disappeared.

A blurb in the Washington Post, supposedly saying how many people recommended the article, came out like this: Remains of war dead dumped in landfill 4,556 people recommend this

"We'll probably have to move this to the Politics Forum after it gets a little more visibility here." Yes, the Politics Forum, that sacred place where lofty topics are buried, where few dare to tread. We must leave the Pub for those more important topics such as Billy's dick size. (This has been a lighthearted editorial comment posted only to encourage people to visit the remote corners of the web site!)

Did you see this on the news? Scientists say they have been able to communicate with comatose patients who heretofore were though to be unable to communicate because they were totally unaware. These brain dead patients, as they have been called, showed signs of brain activity when the doctors asked them to clench a fist or wiggle their toes. Not too much in the way of communication. After all, who would settle for that? But scientists of course are not done: “Can you imagine spending years without being able to interact with anyone around you?” Cruse said. “We can ask them what it’s like to be in this condition. Do they know where they are? Do they know who is around them? What do they need?’ This will lead to very profound implications.” Other experts, while praising the research, cautioned that much more work is needed to confirm the findings and refine the technology. “Laypeople will interpret these experimental results as a clinical test, and they are not ready to be used that way,” said Nicholas D. Schiff, a neurologist at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. As many as 20,000 Americans are in a vegetative state, meaning they are alive and awake but without any apparent sense of awareness, and 100,000 to 300,000 are in a related condition known as a minimally conscious state, in which they exhibit impaired or intermittent awareness. A growing body of evidence in recent years has indicated that a significant proportion might have more awareness than had been thought. (Washingtonpost.com) Ask them what it is like? To be aware that your family surrounds you, worried sick and you cannot communicate with them? What is it like to be locked in this prison called your mind? They have to ask? What this may result in is many more families being unwilling to pull the plug because they now have the faint hope that their loved one is alive and may someday be able to communicate. If it were me, I'd say pull away.

What in the world is this country coming to? Dumping the body parts of deceased soldiers in the dump? No respect at all? All of this ceremony with the flags and the salutes is all a charade? They really just want to dump the bodies in the trash? I am aghast.

The president of Penn State has been forced out of his $620,000 a year job, and Joe Paterno denied his wish to finish out the season. His players gave him a standing ovation as he announced his departure. Wonder how big the severance packages will be.

"I read first couple of chapters of the book..." This is where I got confused. Given what you wrote, I assume that you went on to finish the book? In another thread, you mentioned how you didn't have the time to watch the Glee sex episode, but if you have time to read a book by Condi, then your priorities might be askew!

Okay, so maybe I was distracted by the nudity! Here's what I really read: Jonathan Groff is back, Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy has a date with Barry Manilow and Pete Townshend is a fan. These were among the tidbits on offer as executives, cast and crew celebrated the show's 300th musical performance on Wednesday. (October 26, 2011...I forget where I saw it now.)

At the Gay Pride parade on Sunday, in the area where I was watching, not a single person clapped as the gay mayor passed by. Palm Springs voters also voted to increase the regressive sales tax.

Actually, he revealed it two years ago as these clips are from a film he did which has not been released. In Spring Awakening he only showed his butt, in Hair he was one of the few cast members who did not get nude. He returns to Glee for its 300th episode.

Jonathan Groff, openly gay star of Broadway's Spring Awakening and many off-Broadway shows, revealed today that he does, in fact, have a penis. To prove it, he is displaying it all over the internet:

Another mystery in the case" The prosecutor who decided to not pursue sex abuse charges against former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky more than a decade ago, despite an alleged confession, is at the center of a missing persons mystery that has enraptured middle Pennsylvania for years. Ray Gricar served as the district attorney for Pennsylvania's Centre County in 1998 when Sandusky was accused of sexually abusing several boys. After an extensive investigation, which included testimony by two law enforcement officers that they had overheard Sandusky admitting to showering with multiple young boys, Gricar decided no criminal charges would be filed, according to recent court documents. Sandusky retired the next year. Then, in April 2005, Gricar disappeared. More: D.A. Disappears

Oh, I plan to read paper books until they stop printing them. Just trying to keep all options open here.

Wow. I liked the first one- what a butt!- but the second one was good too, and just a tad cuter. Both are great dancers. Thanks, Mr. Tomcal, Sir!

Geez, this place is dead tonight. Is everyone still contemplating the success possibility of the Cain campaign?

Just don't want to be my congressman, do you?

Whining? Oh gosh, I sure hope it comes across as the expression of a strong desire not to miss a drop of the juicy details. And speaking of juicy, I too like the chicken at Galito. Since we usually go in their wintertime, the speedo boys are not there. But I can see how it would be a great spot to watch from. Thanks for spacing, but don't do it if it drives you crazy. I will manage!

No, I know you like to obfuscate, but being a good congressman is not the same as being able to take both sides of an argument. It is being able to see the merit in the opposing side. Are you saying you can't do that, cuz you just did with your tuna comment.

With the new NOOK going against the Kindle Fire, it seems to me that the Ipad2 is still best. Yes, it is more expensive, but it does more things. What bothers me about the Kindle is that you are tied into Amazon for its products. Reviews today say the NOOK is not much better. Some e-books cost as much as $14.99, almost what the hardcover is available for online. But, what about a cheaper tablet? I saw the Iconia Tab A 100 advertised for $329. It is Android based, with a 7" screen. Shows movies, photos, is a book reader, a planner and can connect to social networks. Seems to me that is what the Ipad2 does, but this is cheaper. Ideally the Ipad2 is probably better, but what if this one does what you want? What are the drawbacks? Thanks for the advice. I don't know that much about tablets.

I saw another version of that last shot, and this one had his nice butt more evident. I'd say 10-1 he is gay.