In 1994 Mitt Romney challenged Ted Kennedy for Kennedy’s Senate seat. Kennedy’s campaign produced an eerily prescient ad which highlights Romney’s collusion in slashing jobs and accepting millions of dollars in federal bail out money, when he accepted control of Bain and Co. The ad also demonstrates that Romney, like the highly scorned Wall Street fat cats of today, made obscene amounts of profit as a result of the bail out deal and firings.

Also let’s not forget he’s a Mormon, and believes this nonsensical horseshit.

Over the past couple of weeks, damning evidence has emerged that News Corp assets perpetrated severe privacy violations where, among other things, News Corp employees hacked into private phones. Included among those targeted are the British royal family, a missing, later murdered, girl, the British Prime Minister and even victims of 9/11 and their family.

In outrage, boycotts of News Corporation have been gaining steam, and in light of this, the idea of starting a list of all known News Corp online properties, including ones even partially owned, seemed useful.

Included are all the local FOX and myNetworkTV affiliates that are actually owned by News Corp. Although one might choose to boycott all local Fox and mNTV affiliates, they’re not actually owned by News Corp, making its impact minimal. Note that hulu.com (a joint venture—a third is owned by News Corp) is included. There are a few others that News Corp also has a minority share in, too.

How to make use of the list depends on one’s browser and OS, of course, but here are Chrome and Firefox extensions to block specified sites. Alternatively a host file may be used to similar effect.
This list covers almost all major (and many minor) online properties, but any additions to the list would be greatly appreciated:

foxnews.com
foxnewsinsider.com
fox.com
foxconnect.com
newscorp.com
foxinternational.com
foxbusiness.com
dowjones.com
fins.com
marketwatch.com
smartmoney.com
wsj.com
wsjclassroomedition.com
thedaily.com
4kids.tv
myspace.com
hulu.com
realestate.com
allthingsd.com
bigcharts.com
foxsports.com
foxsports.com.au
bigtennetwork.com
espnstar.com
fxnetworks.com
nationalgeographic.com
natgeotv.com
golfchannel.com
speedtv.com
tvguide.com
foxsportsradio.com
weeklystandard.com
nypost.com
newsinternational.co.uk
thetimes.co.uk
thesun.co.uk
newsoftheworld.co.uk
thesundaytimes.co.uk
theaustralian.com.au
thedaily.com
news.com.au
truelocal.com.au
heraldsun.com
adelaidenow.com.au
dailytelegraph.com.au
couriermail.com.au
weeklytimesnow.com.au
perthnow.com.au
mxnet.com.au
alphamagazine.com.au
newsspace.com.au
careerone.com.au
carsguide.com.au
sky.com
skysports.com
sky.de
sky.it
skytv.co.nz
thestreet.com
webmd.com
foxmovies.com
foxstudios.com
foxsearchlight.com
blueskystudios.com
foxinternationalchannels.com
canalfox.com
mundofox.com
biensimple.com
foxlife.tv
foxlife.com.br
vedomosti.ru
harpercollins.com
harpercollins.co.uk
harpercollinschildrens.com
harperteen.com
harpercollinscatalogs.com
avonromance.com
thegarden.com
msg.com
staplescenter.com
smartsource.com
myfoxny.com
my9tv.com
myfoxla.com
myfoxchicago.com
my50chicago.com
myfoxphilly.com
myfoxdfw.com
kdfi27.com
myfoxboston.com
myfoxatlanta.com
myfoxdc.com
my20dc.com
myfoxhouston.com
my20houston.com
myfoxdetroit.com
myfoxphoenix.com
my45.com
myfoxtampabay.com
myfox9.com
my29tv.com
myfoxorlando.com
my65orlando.com
my24wutb.com
myfoxaustin.com
myfoxmemphis.com
wogx.com

Please see this Reddit post for potential updates to the list.

Obtuseness is overwhelmingly the tactic of choice for people with strong points of view, and too frequently debate results in most unparliamentary language. Often one can only hope to plant the seeds of a different perspective, rather than reach a meeting of the minds. For me a primer on intellectual honesty is an almost essential prerequisite for debate.

I was fortunate enough to come across this piece of genius by the science/tech blog The Design Matrix and I cannot overstate both how valuable it has been to me personally and how important it is that these principles become more broadly understood:

1. Do not overstate the power of your argument. One’s sense of conviction should be in proportion to the level of clear evidence assessable by most. If someone portrays their opponents as being either stupid or dishonest for disagreeing, intellectual dishonesty is probably in play. Intellectual honesty is most often associated with humility, not arrogance.

2. Show a willingness to publicly acknowledge that reasonable alternative viewpoints exist. The alternative views do not have to be treated as equally valid or powerful, but rarely is it the case that one and only one viewpoint has a complete monopoly on reason and evidence.

3. Be willing to publicly acknowledge and question one’s own assumptions and biases. All of us rely on assumptions when applying our world view to make sense of the data about the world. And all of us bring various biases to the table.

4. Be willing to publicly acknowledge where your argument is weak. Almost all arguments have weak spots, but those who are trying to sell an ideology will have great difficulty with this point and would rather obscure or downplay any weak points.

5. Be willing to publicly acknowledge when you are wrong. Those selling an ideology likewise have great difficulty admitting to being wrong, as this undercuts the rhetoric and image that is being sold. You get small points for admitting to being wrong on trivial matters and big points for admitting to being wrong on substantive points. You lose big points for failing to admit being wrong on something trivial.

6. Demonstrate consistency. A clear sign of intellectual dishonesty is when someone extensively relies on double standards. Typically, an excessively high standard is applied to the perceived opponent(s), while a very low standard is applied to the ideologues’ allies.

7. Address the argument instead of attacking the person making the argument. Ad hominem arguments are a clear sign of intellectual dishonesty. However, often times, the dishonesty is more subtle. For example, someone might make a token effort at debunking an argument and then turn significant attention to the person making the argument, relying on stereotypes, guilt-by-association, and innocent-sounding gotcha questions.

8. When addressing an argument, do not misrepresent it. A common tactic of the intellectually dishonest is to portray their opponent’s argument in straw man terms. In politics, this is called spin. Typically, such tactics eschew quoting the person in context, but instead rely heavily on out-of-context quotes, paraphrasing and impression. When addressing an argument, one should shows signs of having made a serious effort to first understand the argument and then accurately represent it in its strongest form.

9. Show a commitment to critical thinking. ‘Nuff said.

10. Be willing to publicly acknowledge when a point or criticism is good. If someone is unable or unwilling to admit when their opponent raises a good point or makes a good criticism, it demonstrates an unwillingness to participate in the give-and-take that characterizes an honest exchange.

While no one is perfect, and even those who strive for intellectual honesty can have a bad day, simply be on the look out for how many and how often these criteria apply to someone. In the arena of public discourse, it is not intelligence or knowledge that matters most – it is whether you can trust the intelligence or knowledge of another. After all, intelligence and knowledge can sometimes be the best tools of an intellectually dishonest approach.

The Godfather of absurd rap, and perhaps the genre’s defining member, is R. Kelly. Already infamous for his micturition foibles (perhaps best portrayed in Dave Chappelle’s satirical masterpiece), R Kelly secured a place of unparalleled prominence with his 2005 release of “Trapped in the Closet”, R. Kelly’s 22 chapter Hip-Hopera, replete with philandering midgets hidden in kitchen cabinets.

Lesser known but still outstanding among Kelly’s hilarious repertoire are “Pregnant” and “Real Talk”, featured below for your enjoyment. The question has been posed of whether or not R. Kelly is trying to be funny. I think it’s evident that he knows what he’s doing, and is generous enough to produce videos that his audience can laugh at with him.

R. Kelly’s genius, production quality, and success earns him a category unto his own, but in considering the wealth of lulzrap on the internet another group emerges; one with less popularity and resources, and where the comedic intent is less clear.

“Smell Yo Dick” by Riskay is a little ditty that firmly establishes how street-forensics can help answer questions of fidelity through dick stank.

“Walmart” by Mr. Ghetto illuminates how Americans largest business has become increasingly a cultural center. Please enjoy:

My personal favorite is “Facebook” by my main man Bangs. “Facebook” dropped on August 3, 2010 and is an epic ballad of love blossoming over the internet.

Opening the realm of slightly uncomfortable ridiculousness is “Tickle My Vagina” by Queen of Vagina… it’s the dance move that’s the real problem here. As with many the others, this degenerate has many other similarly themed youtube videos for your consideration.

“Street Anthem” by Laz D is one that I debated whether or not to put up. Basically he’s the first downie rapper.

Sarah Palin getting on the other side of childhood obesity prevention is, I think, among the most compelling arguments that her political identity is no less than a marketing scheme, cleverly designed to appeal to the segment of society that has been left behind by a world rapidly advancing towards a future in which they don’t speak the language.

Her political persona, seems to be part of a broader Republican political strategy based, less on honest approaches to policy, and more on consoling the weaknesses of the undereducated fringes of society; those in America that have trouble integrating into a world where honest political efficacy requires a growing depth of understanding that they are increasingly estranged to, and fearful of.

A series of metaphors to help paint the picture:

•Sarah Palin is a cartoon on a cereal box awarding exciting “Nice try” ribbons to Americans who didnt place in the contest of political efficacy.

•Shes the lady of the night who doesn’t care what you look like, but asks you to leave your vote on the bedside table.

•Shes, almost literally, the ring leader of a table of fat kids, who resent the merits of popular kids, and are tired of being marginalize.

Why I Don’t Have a Facebook

Bursting flocks reveal that cool
buys tempered casts of the eye,
but how the old hat
begs debonair.
He knows a tattered feather will soon tempt.
They’ll ask why.

Curious
where his mystery casts long shadows,
they say, by bread crumbs of a sort,
“The vendors don’t accept greenbacks
though you may trade for my knickknacks”

Lit cigarettes dwindle towards the morrow’s taboo.
Another?
Bells of a distant scene, echo,
and my eyes follow.

The intrigue of moss-topped relics
is a vice that will suffice.
He decides ground creature instead of nets
for her lips,
so long as the company’s not into it.

It appears that Comcast Cable and Verizon FIOS have blocked the DNS entry for the English version of Hamas’ news site.

With the Middle East Peace Talks getting underway, I thought it would be interesting to see how Hamas is characterizing the events surrounding the negotiations; so I tried accessing their semi-official news agency http://palestine-info.info/

The first thing that appears is a flash-based, language selection page, which displays fine. However, it seems that if one clicks “English” while using Verizon FIOS or Comcast Cable, a “page cannot be displayed” message appears.

Pinging/tracerting attempts are unable to resolve. Users on other ISPs trying to access the English page, have been successful. I got the IP address and was able to view the page using that.

The French language section also appears to be blocked.

Update: Qwest DSL may also be blocking the domain.

Update: While the ISPs were responsible for the improper DNS handling, it appears that the issue may have been caused by simple error, where the DNS records of the ISPs were not updated properly, which apparently is typical of the the laziness of large ISP’s. Therefore, it is prudent not to jump to any conclusions about the DNS issues possibly being the result of deliberate action or political motivation on the part of the ISPs in question. I apologize for the confusion that this may have caused. Thanks to all who helped.

Heartbreak

Though it has been somewhat lost to our generation, as some distant relic of the past, humans are today, as they have ever been, caught in a struggle between classes of people. Such tumult is the inspiration of vicious cultural supremacy and nowhere is it as insipid as between the superrich and the struggling people of the world.

The equality and individual empowerment that makes democracy the purest political system, is marginalized in the vastness of the American condition. Even more defeating to democratic ideals is how obscene amounts of wealth can so utterly overshadow the generally good-natured instincts of the people.

Recently, the corporate instruments of unconscionable economic stratification have been granted new and indecent power over our political system. Already advantaged with control over mainstream media and unmatched governmental influence, corporate dollars now have legal sanction to engulf the political process as never before, leaving the voice of the people lost in a current of political manipulations undoubtedly to favor the narrow, hoarding interests of insatiable economic gain.

Sung and re-sung are the lullabies that put to rest discontent for the callous externalities of greed, with ideas of the American dream. It is a spell of nightingale syndrome which deceives the well intentioned into believing it is purely honest work, and not the disease of corruption, which leads to “success”. It is a spell that foments blindness and submission to an economic pyramid scheme where the usurious and supremacist economic elite maintain control at the expense of the tired masses.

Optimism After Heartbreak.

Despite concerted efforts to mollify economic unrest–despite efforts to direct popular culture and conventional wisdom away from populist inclinations—despite near monolithic control by the economic elite’s uniquely cold outlook—we are deeply fortunate. We have this moment.

Even with so much of the game rigged—we are not without means to change. We are privileged to live in an age where the openness of technology gives legitimacy to hope. Technology provides an incredibly powerful vehicle for the free exchange of ideas—ideas that are untempered by corrupting centralized authority. It is this, more than anything else that has breathed new life into democracy.

And still, there are no easy answers…

Problems with no clear solutions are unique in their ability to entangle the soul with sullen myopia. Our fiery passion to fight the good fight is quickly doused by complications. I am left sure only that peace and human dignity are the objectives. We’ll start there.