Clipmarks |

The Hell in Information: a warning

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:32:43 GMT

clipped by: abailart
clipper's remarks: A powerful article. A long read but sometimes good to reflect on just one thing rather than try to know everything

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

I have been alone in a room for almost 24 hours with 6 TVs, a laptop and two radios, listening to and watching and reading only political shows and pundits and blogs, sometimes monitoring four or five things at the same time. Just to see if it can be done.

I'll tell you it can be, but I cannot tell you how horrible it is. It rattles the very center of your being. If you care about the state of humankind, it fills you with despair. We are as a people bleak and hostile and suspicious, filled with senseless partisanship and willing to believe anything and everything about anyone. We are full of ourselves and we hate. And we do it 24-7.

"Information is not knowledge." -- Albert Einstein.

"KNOWLEDGE IS NOT INTELLIGENCE." -- Heraclitus of Ephesos.

". . . the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as though it had an underlying truth." -- Umberto Eco.

Tags: knowledge, information, truth

Study: 93% Of People Talked About Once They Leave Room

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:01:10 GMT

clipped by: dakotayii
clipper's remarks: "As well as their breath, body odor, speech patterns, and the way they walked, not to mention general discussion based on the perception that the participant who had left the room was most likely a world-class prick."
According to the data, 89 percent of volunteers appeared to listen attentively to the subject's receding footsteps, 47 percent raised their eyebrows and smirked as the subject left, and 23 percent mouthed the words "what the fuck" to others in the room as the door was closing, which usually triggered bouts of stifled giggling
Perhaps most exciting was the 9 percent of volunteers who silently flipped the subject off as they left the room,
Phillips said the lower-order cognitive functions responsible for knee-jerk gossiping may have played an ancient role in survival by encouraging those in proximity to band together.

Clip Source: www.theonion.com

"Our findings will come as a great shock to the millions of Americans who have assumed people do not speak derisively about them as soon as they are out of earshot," said Dr. Edward Phillips, a professor of sociology at Utah State University and lead author of the study. "This phenomenon affects nearly everyone. If you have ever feared that people whom you considered to be good friends were mercilessly mocking and insulting you shortly after you left their presence, your fears are almost certainly 100 percent correct."

"It seems that the only people immune to this are the 7 percent of the population simply too dull and boring to even make fun of," Phillips added.

63 percent of the trials, one or more volunteers performed exaggerated—though often accurate and extremely amusing—impressions of the person who had left

Amazingly, even if the volunteers knew nothing about the exiting subject, they could still engage in lengthy derision of that person's weight, hairstyle, and clothing choices

Tags: news

Sunrise, Happy Easter Clipmarkonians!

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 01:25:18 GMT

clipped by: carrerinyes
clipper's remarks: Wishing you all a very happy easter

Clip Source: images.google.ie

Apollo Sunrise
640 x 480 - 13k - jpg
apod.nasa.gov

World's First Full-Face Transplant

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 16:53:26 GMT

clipped by: reimers

Clip Source: www.newsoftheworld.co.uk

THESE incredible pictures reveal the breathtaking miracle of the world's first full-face transplant on a modern-day Elephant Man.

Published for the first time, they show in astonishing detail how the skill and dedication of a team of pioneering surgeons transformed the horribly disfigured features of tumour-ravaged Pascal Coler.

Medical miracle: Watch Elephant man's story

And Pascal tells his moving story to the News of the World through normal lips he once thought he would never have...

He talks about his escape from a nightmare of deformity—and his hope of finding LOVE for the first time at the age of 30.

Pascal says: "The operation has revolutionised my life. I can live as a normal human being for the first time. People in the street look at me very differently. They no longer stop and stare or shout cruel words.

"Instead I am accepted. I even dream of myself in my new face—and now I would love to find a wife, settle down and have children."

Possible Blood Test for Depression

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 02:03:17 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

Protein discovery could lead to depression test

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Changes in the location of a single protein in the brain could be used to tell whether a person with depression is responding to an antidepressant within days of taking the drug, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

People with depression now must wait weeks before they learn whether the drug they are taking will bring relief.

But researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have discovered that a single protein in the brain changes its location within a cell membrane when an antidepressant is working, and this change could be identified with a simple blood test.

In people with depression, this protein is trapped in what Rasenick called a "lipid raft" inside the cell membrane. While stuck in this thick, gluey area of the cell, the signaling protein seemed less effective at directing the action of message-carrying chemicals.

Buying A Human Being for 50 Bucks

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:11:38 GMT

clipped by: debbyski
clipper's remarks: "It's one thing when you are planning an effort like this, this is a work of journalism — I'm not going to interfere with my subjects. It's another thing when you are in an underground brothel in Bucharest, who has this girl with Down Syndrome, who you know is undergoing rape several times a day. When this girl is offered to me in trade for a used car ... I walk away ... it's not an easy thing to do," he says."

Clip Source: www.npr.org

With $50 and a plane ticket to Haiti, one can buy a slave.

Today you can go to Haiti and buy a 9-year-old girl to use as a sexual and domestic slave for $50. The devaluation of human life is incredibly pronounced."

Though the country was in a time of political chaos, the street where he met the trafficker was clean and relatively quiet. A tape of the conversation reveals a calm, concise transaction. He was initially told he could get a 9-year-old sex partner/house slave for $100, but he bargained it down to $50.

"The thing that struck me more than anything afterwards was how incredibly banal the transaction was. It was as if I was negotiating on the street for a used stereo."

"When I was talking to traffickers, I had a principle that I wouldn't pay for human life," he says.

5 Jail Hotels (Where You Pay to Be In Prison)

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:37:20 GMT

clipped by: alanocu
clipper's remarks: From plush cells to nighmarish slammers. A prison is probably the last place on Earth most of us would want to spend the night. Well, for some of these converted prison hotels that still holds true: in Latvia, for example, ‘guests’ who pay to stay at a former KGB jail complex are subjected to humiliation and emotional torture. In other cases, however, notoriously terrifying prisons have since become luxurious 4-star hotels where you can cozily enjoy a stay in a former prison library or even the director’s office! Here are 5 such prison hotels from around the world that range from luxurious to downright frightening.

Clip Source: weburbanist.com

Liepaja, Latvia: This is one prison hotel where there is no messing around.

This former brutal KGB jail has no bells and whistles

a fully-functioning detention and torture center

You are treated like an actual prisoner throughout, complete with threats and warning gunfire

Mt. Gambier, Australia: The Mount Gambier Jail experience is anything but luxurious.

budget accommodations for cheapskates and backpackers

Boston, Massachusetts: The infamous Charles Street Jail was originally a model prison in the 1800s

it has reopened its doors as an amazingly luxurious four-star jail hotel

Luzern, Switzerland: A prison from the middle of the 19th century until just a decade ago

the library is still full of old prison books for you to peruse on your stay!

Oxford, England: The core of Oxford Castle is nearly 1,000 years old but most of its structures (old and new) were converted into a prison in the 1800s.

Much of the prison infrastructure is still legible to visitors and overnight guests

Tags: travel, accomodations, prison

GlassGiant: Make your custom blog images

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 22:28:18 GMT

clipped by: invictus
clipper's remarks: A really fun site; you can design your own gadgets/gizmos/graphics to place on your blog or to send to friends. I loved the neon sign generator and the custom snowglobes.

Clip Source: www.glassgiant.com

Make Pictures

St. Patrick's Day
Show some Irish spirit with the St. Patrick's Day button maker!

Easter Eggs
Decorate your own Easter Eggs with your picture or message.

Jumbotron
Put your picture and message on a Jumbotron!

Custom Snowglobes
Put your picture into a custom snowglobe!

Chocolate Bar
Make your own Chocolate Bar!

Rocket
Put your name on a rocket ship!

Back to School
Put your own back-to-school message on the chalkboard!

Keyboard Mods
Want to trick out your system? Make your own keyboard!

Hollywood Sign
Make your own Hollywood Sign!

Giant Cookies
Make a personalized round- or heart-shaped giant cookie and ice it with your message!

Jack 'o Lantern
Like those silhouette pumpkin carvings? Make your own!

Neon Sign UPDATED!
Make your own neon sign! Choose from lots of colors and backgrounds!

Lightning Messages
Spell out a message in lightning bolts.

Romance Novel Cover
Turn your picture into a Harlequin-like romance novel cover!

Family Guy Chart
Make your own Family Guy IQ test result chart.

Tags: images, gizmos, fun, easter eggs, neon signs, snowglobes, graphics, free tools, web, internet

It's Okay To Be Afraid

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:18:18 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks:

Don't let such fear rule your life.

If I did, I would never ever be able to get on an aeroplane. To say I feel fear every single time I travel by air, would an understatement. I hope the desensitizing bit kicks in soon, because it never seems to be get any easier, "flooding" or not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mX9-2xuyP8

Clip Source: www.paulstips.com

It's okay to be afraid

We all get scared sometimes. It's just part of us to feel a little fear from time to time. Even silly things that we feel adults shouldn't be afraid of sometimes just get us all anxious. This is perfectly normal.

In fact, it can even be healthy. Prisons are filled with people who have less fear than average. It's the lack of fear that puts many people in jail.

After all, fear is really worrying about possible negative consequences.

But sometimes, our fear circuits haven't adapted to the modern world.

Realise that you're going to be scared in many situations, even if it's irrational to be so.

Rather than avoiding such situations, or running away from them, try to distance yourself from the emotional reaction you have. Feel the fear and do it anyway

I think such anxiety never completely disappears, no matter how many times you experience the situation.

Force yourself to act even though your emotions may be screaming at you to run away.

It's okay to be afraid.

it's natural.

Tags: ugh

Funny dog

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:28:54 GMT

clipped by: efink009
clipper's remarks: Just play along!

Clip Source: www.generallyawesome.com

Tags: dog, cute, funny, drugs

No One iz purfekt

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:05:00 GMT

clipped by: NonStatQuo

Clip Source: www.google.com

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
- Leo Tolstoy

4,000 GI's Dead - I Ain't No Senators Son, Son

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 04:45:58 GMT

clipped by: BobbyRutan
clipper's remarks: Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, theyre red, white and blue.
And when the band plays hail to the chief,
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no senators son, son.
It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no,

Yeah!
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, dont they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no millionaires son, no.
It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, lord,
And when you ask them, how much should we give?
Ooh, they only answer more! more! more! yoh,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no military son, son.
It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, one.

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no fortunate one, no no no,
It aint me, it aint me, I aint no fortunate son, no no no,

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

US army deaths in Iraq hit 4,000

The number of United States military personnel killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion five years ago has passed the 4,000 mark

The latest to die were four soldiers whose patrol vehicle was blown up by a bomb in southern Baghdad on Sunday

The deaths bring the total to 4,000, according to the US military and independent monitoring groups

In other violence, Baghdad's Green Zone came under fire, and a suicide bomber killed 13 Iraqi soldiers in Mosul

In Baghdad, the heavily-fortified Green Zone suffered sustained mortar and rocket fire, which killed at least 15 civilians.

Sunday's violence underlines the fragile, reversible nature of the apparent improvements in security, say correspondents.

Clip Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

There have been about 15 soldiers wounded for every fatality in Iraq

"We are always quick to note that the progress is tenuous and that it is reversible," said the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, "and that there are innumerable challenges out there."

Clip Source: www.schwimmerlegal.com

Tags: the bush legacy