AZRainman : Photoshop Satire

Trick or Beef? UK Declares Death to Meat Eaters!

2009-10-26T17:12:00.002-07:00

Perhaps Lord Stern would like a meat bust of himself instead.

Climate chief Lord Stern: give up meat to save the planet UK TImes

People will need to consider turning vegetarian if the world is to conquer climate change, according to a leading authority on global warming.

In an interview with The Times, Lord Stern of Brentford said: “Meat is a wasteful use of water and creates a lot of greenhouse gases. It puts enormous pressure on the world’s resources. A vegetarian diet is better.”

Corn-based meat and ethanol: burning the planet to a crisp Grist Magazine

As for meat, get this: two researchers associated with the World Bank claim in a new World Watch report (PDF) that meat production is responsible for more than half of global greenhouse gas emissions. Previously, the most widely cited estimate came from the FAO, which reckoned meat contributes an already-stunning 18 percent.

I'm a PC and Windows 7 is Vista Reloaded

2009-10-26T15:36:00.012-07:00

From AZRainman Misc Pics

You can change her wrapper, but the kernel still looks the same.

Windows 7 Called Slower than Vista PC World

According to iolo's tests, Windows 7 starts up 42% slower than Vista -- one minute, 34 seconds versus one minute, six seconds -- on a brand new machine when the time trials are run to the point where the machine is usable, at least by iolo's standards.

Does Windows 7 Boost Performance? PCQuest

Win 7 Vs Win Vista
We came across in our test an unexpected fight between the two, while we figured out that the performance of Windows 7 and Windows Vista is actually at par. Windows Vista rather outshone Windows 7 by a couple of percentage points. This is pretty obvious as both Windows 7 and Vista use the same kernel. Microsoft didn't develop a new kernel for Windows 7, rather they have refined the Windows Vista kernel to use in Win 7. However, Windows 7 took less than half the time when compared with Windows vista.

Happy 50th Birthday "Weird Al" Yankovic! Freaking News

E-IPS: New Budget LCD Monitor Tech for Photo Enthusiasts

2009-10-19T23:12:00.003-07:00

In case your wondering what to get the Photoshop enthusiast for Christmas or Hanukkah, then you might want to take a look at the news e-IPS panels. This new LCD technology claims the same excellent 8-bit sRGB true color output and wide 178° viewing angles as the s-IPS panels, but at a fraction of the cost.

DELL UltraSharp 2209WA 22" LCD Monitor
Priced around $300

ViewSonic VP2365wb 23" LCD Monitor
Priced around $300

NEC MultiSync EA231WMi 23” LCD Monitor
Priced around $350

Further reading:
TFT LCD Wikipedia
LCD Panel Technology Explained PCHardwareHelp

Aliens Have Pollution

2009-10-19T18:18:00.001-07:00

From AZRainman: Photoshop Satire

So what else are they hatching?

How to Find Aliens? Look for Pollution on Other Planets Discover Magazine

Scientists have proposed what seems like an obvious solution to finding life on other planets—look for pollution similar to that found on Earth. Light or air pollution would be a dead giveaway to life on another planet, according to a study to appear in the journal Astrobiology.

Freakingnews.com is now King of Photoshop Contest Sites!

2009-10-17T22:27:00.005-07:00

Thanks to all you kind folks for helping put us on the top!

How Freakingnews.com is ranked around the world:
#1,286 Australia
#5,328 Canada
#5,737 India
#5,902 United States
#7,610 United Kingdom
#9,206 Netherlands
#10,066 Italy

Recently Freaking News broke its highest Alexa traffic rank ever and the daily reach is up 100% in the last 3 months. They are now the undisputed KING of all photoshop contest sites, were even the giant image hosting sites pale to get this kind of free exposure for their new and old members. You can even win a daily prize and then actually get paid for a huge global internet presence.

www.freakingnews.com

The Dharma Diet [Flickr]

2009-10-14T07:44:12-07:00

azrainman posted a photo:

Where "Lost" means pounds too...

Windows 7 is Big Brother Watching Your Every Move

2009-10-07T18:10:00.007-07:00

Windows 7 with geo-tracking features offer will allow Microsoft and others to track your every move.

Windows 7 Will Let Microsoft Track Your Every Move WebMonkey

So the short story is Windows 7 has geo-tracking features, but aside from turning them on and off, you have basically no control.

That strikes us as a recipe for disaster and something that will eventually blow up in Microsoft’s face (whether justified or not) because geo-tracking is a very sensitive issue and this implementation seems entirely ham-fisted and ill-conceived. Of course it’s a little better than past attempts by the company, which don’t even offer an on/off switch.

House MD [Flickr]

2009-10-06T20:34:26-07:00

azrainman posted a photo:

An apple a day....

Photosketch and Patchmatch Will Make Anyone a Digital Artist

2009-10-06T17:16:00.012-07:00

Draw a simple sketch, and your computer converts it into a realistic photo.

This Is A Photoshop And It Blew My Mind Gizmodo

PhotoSketch’s blending algorithm analyses each of these images, compares them with each other, and decides which are better for the blending process. It automatically traces and places them into a single photograph, matching the scene, and adding shadows. Of course, the results are less than perfect, but they are good enough:

● PhotoSketch: A sketch based image query and compositing system
● A descriptor for large scale image retrieval based on sketched feature lines
*white papers available in pdf.

...Or draw a container box and modify any image.

PatchMatch: A Randomized Correspondence Algorithm for Structural Image Editing Princeton

Patchmatch is coming to Photoshop CS5, which ships in April 2010.

Who made you?

CDC: The Dark Ages of US Nutrition

2009-10-04T16:59:00.010-07:00

From AZRainman: Photoshop Satire

Maybe the lack of an adequate diet would explain the fascination with medical shows and health care, as an apple a day seems to be lost knowledge.

State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, 2009 CDC

Less than 10 percent of U.S. high school students are eating the combined recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables.

CDC survey of adults: About 27 percent got at least three servings of vegetables a day, and 33 percent got two servings of fruit.

Or is everyone waiting for the combo package?

From AZRainman: Photoshop Satire

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. - Ben Franklin

Google Snail Mail [Flickr]

2009-10-03T12:10:13-07:00

azrainman posted a photo:

Global Zero: World without Nuclear Weapons

2009-10-02T01:04:00.006-07:00

From AZRainman: Photoshop Satire

Join the global campaign for Global Zero - globalzero.org

Osama bin Dead, so Let's Market Him

2009-10-01T23:43:00.005-07:00

From AZRainman: Photoshop Satire

I see in the news there is yet another message from the supposable Osama bin Dead, which is laughable at best without video. Kind of like this beer product and perhaps that's why his kidney's gave out.

Zardari claims Osama bin Laden is dead - Times of India

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden is dead, but has sought more international aid to expand military operations against Taliban, in areas where Americans believe he may be hiding.

Will Obama Blow His Top Over Iran?

2009-10-01T23:25:00.008-07:00

From AZRainman: Photoshop Satire

With Iran's secret nuclear plant revealed in a media blitz of conflicting propaganda and Afghanistan troop level escalation, Obama seems to be fomenting support for war with Iran.

President Obama Warns Iran: 'Our Patience Is Not Unlimited' - ABC

“Our patience is not unlimited,” the president said, alluding to tougher economic sanctions if Iran does not take the necessary steps. “The United States will not continue to negotiate indefinitely, and we are prepared to move towards increased pressure.”

Iran 'has secret nuclear arms plan' - Financial Times

Britain’s intelligence services say that Iran has been secretly designing a nuclear warhead “since late 2004 or early 2005”, an assessment that suggests Tehran has embarked on the final steps towards acquiring nuclear weapons capability.

As world powers prepare to confront Iran on Thursday on its nuclear ambitions, the Financial Times has learnt that the UK now judges that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, ordered the resumption of the country’s weapons programme four years ago.

The Lying Game: Drum-beating for War against Iran
How we are prepared for another war of aggression

The official jargon for this kind of propaganda is “psy-ops”, the military term for psychological operations. In the Pentagon and Whitehall, it has become a critical component of a diplomatic and military campaign to blockade, isolate and weaken Iran by hyping its “nuclear threat”: a phrase now used incessantly by Barack Obama and Gordon Brown, and parroted by the BBC and other broadcasters as objective news. And it is fake.

Obama’s “showdown” with Iran has another agenda. On both sides of the Atlantic the media have been tasked with preparing the public for endless war. The US/Nato commander General Stanley McChrystal says 500,000 troops will be required in Afghanistan over five years, according to America’s NBC. The goal is control of the “strategic prize” of the gas and oilfields of the Caspian Sea, central Asia, the Gulf and Iran – in other words, Eurasia. But the war is opposed by 69 per cent of the British public, 57 per cent of the US public and almost every other human being. Convincing “us” that Iran is the new demon will not be easy. McChrystal’s spurious claim that Iran “is reportedly training fighters for certain Taliban groups” is as desperate as Brown’s pathetic echo of “a line in the sand”.

Obama don't like it, rock the casbah...

Welcome to Obama's Bizarro World

2009-09-15T06:01:00.014-07:00

From AZRainman: Photoshop Satire

When Satire Becomes Reality: Welcome to Bizarro World

As Obama’s base registers growing opposition to yet another fruitless, unwinnable war, the president is coming to rely on support from the neocons to buttress elite opinion in the wake of alarming events on the "Af-Pak" front.

Thousands of downtown DC protesters blast Obama AP

Throngs of people waved U.S. flags and held signs reading "Go Green Recycle Congress" and "Obama Bin Lyin.'" Men wore colonial costumes as they listened to speakers who warned of "judgment day" — Election Day 2010.

Other signs — reflecting the growing intensity of the health care debate — depicted President Barack Obama with the signature mustache of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. Many referred to Obama as a socialist or communist, and another imposed his face on that of the villainous Joker from "Batman."

Poll: Support for Afghan war at all-time low CNN
Obama Is Pushing Israel Toward War Wall Street Journal
US vs. China: Has Trade War Begun? Seeking Alpha

Mexico's war on the United States Renew America
Russian tanks in Latin America RT
Putin warns against Iran attack BBC News
While Europe Sleeps, Bosnia Seethes New York Times

Ooh superman where are you now,
When everythings gone wrong somehow,
The men of steel, the men of power,
Are losing control by the hour.

From misc

America Loves Death?

2009-09-10T22:04:00.007-07:00

U.S. suicidal idealogy might explain the need to see war as a means, the worsening economy, rampant hate and polarization, and the desire to have 47 million uninsured people running around spreading disease.

U.S. is a Suicidal Superpower CNN

I don't know if it's because of our arrogance, our stupidity or maybe both, but I believe that history may one day judge America as the most suicidal superpower of all time. After all, what country that cares about its future would do what America has done to its supply of food and fuel, two of the most critical things that any civilization needs to survive?

Is America Coming Apart? VDare

We seem not only to disagree with each other more than ever, but to have come almost to detest one another. Politically, culturally, racially, we seem ever ready to go for each others' throats.

Who: Suicide Leading Cause of Death Worldwide Voice of America

The World Health Organization says suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, and one of the three leading causes of death for young people under 25. To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, which falls on September 10, the World Health Organization says there are measures people and society can take to save thousands of people from meeting a self-inflicted violent death.

The World Health Organization reports every year, about one million people die by suicide. That comes to around 3,000 deaths a day or one death every 40 seconds.

In the past 45 years, the World Health Organization says suicide rates have increased by 60 percent worldwide and it predicts these deaths will rise to 1.5 million by 2020.

They were all in love with dyin'
They were drinking from a fountain
That was pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain

Happy Labor Day

2009-09-07T08:57:00.026-07:00

America needs more opportunities

It used to be that 40 percent of American wage workers in the private sector were union members, when all that was needed was a good union job for one parent in a household was enough to win a place in the middle class.

Today, 7 percent of salaried private employees are union members nationally. It takes two working parents to makes ends meet, while 46 million people are without health insurance, 35 million are on food stamps, and 4 million are homeless.

Surge in Homeless Pupils Strains Schools NYTimes

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — In Asheville, N.C., the family of Charity Crowell, 9, became homeless in the spring when her parents lost their jobs and car, and were evicted from their home. After staying with friends and in a motel, they found a trailer to rent for the summer, but faced eviction again.

Estimated One Million Students Homeless AllGov

1 in 8 Americans, hunger is a reality - Feedingamerica.org

“No American is ever made better off by pulling a fellow American down, and every American is made better off whenever any one of us is made better off. A rising tide raises all boats.” ~JFK

Going Hog Wild for Swine Flu

2009-08-30T23:04:00.007-07:00

Swine flu media hype is reaching a climax. Time cue the sow, err fat lady.

Swine Flu Could Infect Half of US Washington Post
Officials may recommend 3 flu shots Los Angeles Times
WHO: Swine flu spreading at 'unbelievable' rate AFP
Ron Paul on Swine Flu: "Scare the People to Death" CNN
Historical facts about the dangers (and failures) of vaccines Global Research

Obama says WHO flu vaccine is NOT mandatory

From the Rose Garden today, President Barack Obama promised that the swine flu vaccine “will be completely voluntary.” He took no questions and spoke for only four minutes. Top policymakers from the various alphabet agencies whose bailiwick includes the WHO flu (H1N1) flanked him.

Japan Rocks World with Election Earthquake

2009-08-30T13:23:00.009-07:00

The DPJ has won 300 seats in the 480-seat lower house, ending 54 years of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.

Japan DPJ Election Win Brings ‘Bloodless Revolution’ Bloomberg

The Democratic Party of Japan swept to power for the first time as the nation’s voters turned their backs on half a century of single-party government that failed to reverse economic stagnation and spiraling welfare costs.

DPJ’s Nakagawa Says Japan Should Diversify Reserves Bloomberg

Japan’s opposition party, leading in polls ahead of next month’s election, said the nation should consider shifting its $1 trillion of foreign reserves away from the dollar and buying International Monetary Fund bonds.

Watch the Yen versus the Dollar.

Yen flies on election; China stocks drop Reuters

Meanwhile in the Euro zone:

Bankers watch as Swedish interest rates goes subzero CNN

The Swedish Riksbank entered uncharted territory when it became the world's first central bank to introduce negative interest rates on bank deposits.

Mervyn King, the Bank of England governor, has hinted he may follow the Swedish example as the danger of a so-called liquidity trap...

Cell Phones Nuke Your Skull

2009-08-29T03:32:00.006-07:00

Senate Hearing On Brain Cancer Risks From Cell Phone Use Nears As New Study Is Released News Junkie Post

The study, “Cellphones and Brain Tumors: 15 Reasons for Concern, Science, Spin and the Truth Behind Interphone” was released by the International EMF Collaborative this week to counter another study funded by cell phone industry giants (The Interphone study), which minimizes the risk of cell phone use.

“Bottom line is, cell phones are causing brain tumors. If you look at the independent research, it’s absolutely clear. If you look at the telecom industry-funded research, it’s spun such that it would appear that there are no risks,” Morgan told PNS.

The Environmental Working Group lists over 1,000 cellular devices in terms of radiation output at www.ewg.org.

Seems to go along with the rising tide of mind meds...

Drugs for All: China Wants In on Afghanistan

2009-08-27T22:29:00.027-07:00

Chinese troops offer an Afghan solution Asia Times

With its latest exercises, China could be winking at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United States - both of which are presently engaged in Afghanistan - saying, we have troops, they are trained, and we could send them over.

Heroin Use Replacing Prescription Drug Abuse for Many Young Users ABC News

While heroin is produced in Afghanistan and Myanmar, most of the heroin sold in the US is cultivated in Mexico and South America and is typically known as "black tar" because of its stickiness, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). But, the agency says, a more potent form of powdered heroin is becoming more prevalent.

Mexico's New Drug Law May Set an Example Time

Quietly and with little ado, Mexico last week enacted a law to decriminalize possession of small amounts of all major narcotics, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and crystal meth.

Flashback: Washington's Hidden Agenda - Restore the Drug Trade Global Research

Heroin is a multibillion dollar business supported by powerful interests, which requires a steady and secure commodity flow. One of the "hidden" objectives of the war was precisely to restore the CIA sponsored drug trade to its historical levels and exert direct control over the drug routes.

Immediately following the October 2001 invasion, opium markets were restored. Opium prices spiraled. By early 2002, the opium price (in dollars/kg) was almost 10 times higher than in 2000.

At the time these UN figures were first brought out (1994), the (estimated) global trade in drugs was of the same order of magnitude as the global trade in oil.

"There's always soma to calm your anger, to reconcile you to your enemies, to make you patient and long-suffering. In the past you could only accomplish these things by making a great effort and after years of hard moral training. Now, you swallow two or three half-gram tablets, and there you are. Anybody can be virtuous now. You can carry at least half your morality about in a bottle. Christianity without tears, that's what soma is." - Aldous Huxley 1931

Comin down the world turned over,
And angels fall without you there,
And I go on as you get colder,
Or are you someone's prayer?

Welcome to the brave new world...

Video: Jacko is Alive

2009-08-25T16:35:00.009-07:00

Michael Jackson Still Alive At Coroner's Office? Chicago Tribune

Sounds Whacko But Vid Shows Jacko Backo Sky News

The continuing fantasy of Michael Jackson's future in Vegas LA Times

Next week: Jacko spotted at Chicago pizzeria with Elvis ordering double pepperoni with valium.

Ready for the Global Reboot?

2009-08-22T08:41:00.014-07:00

The technology wave is set to eclipse the financial crisis. Shall it be sink or swim?

The key to managing crises, is to keep an eye on the long term while you’re dancing in the flames. ~Juan Enriques

The scientist who claims he is about to create life in the lab Times Online

Artificial life will be created within four months, a controversial scientist has predicted. Craig Venter, who led a private project to sequence the human genome, told The Times that his team had cleared a critical hurdle to creating man-made organisms in a laboratory.

5 Terrific Ted Talks on Future Technologies Mashable.com

Google Wave: Just another ripple or science communication tsunami? Science Online

Kline Tells Business Group, ‘It’s Time to Push the Reset Button’ Roll Call

Learn to swim, I'll see you down in Arizona bay...

Vacation Time!

2009-08-12T15:40:00.002-07:00

Everyone needs a holiday....

Hogmania: Swine Flu Hype Pushes Health Care Act

2009-07-24T12:49:00.006-07:00

From AZRainman: Photoshop Satire

The health propaganda game is getting rather transparent and is starting to smell like barnyard desperation. So here's a global hog horror image to go with the mandatory vaccination rumors and creating some more fear driven momentum towards the Health Care Act....oink.

Military planning for possible H1N1 outbreak CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. military wants to establish regional teams of military personnel to assist civilian authorities in the event of a significant outbreak of the H1N1 virus this fall, according to Defense Department officials.

The Fairy Tale Service Economy

2009-07-21T09:54:00.005-07:00

From AZRainman: Photoshop Satire

All hail the king, the king is bankrupt...

Can The Economy Recover? by Paul Craig Roberts

There is no economy left to recover. The US manufacturing economy was lost to offshoring and free trade ideology. It was replaced by a mythical “New Economy.”

The “New Economy” was based on services. Its artificial life was fed by the Federal Reserve’s artificially low interest rates, which produced a real estate bubble, and by “free market” financial deregulation, which unleashed financial gangsters to new heights of debt leverage and fraudulent financial products.

The real economy was traded away for a make-believe economy. When the make-believe economy collapsed, Americans’ wealth in their real estate, pensions, and savings collapsed dramatically while their jobs disappeared.

Financial bailout aid total: $23.7 trillion -- if all goes wrong LA Times

"Although large in its own right, TARP is only a part of the combined efforts of the federal government to address the financial crisis," Barofsky writes in his latest quarterly report to Congress. "Approximately 50 initiatives or programs have been created by various federal agencies since 2007 to provide potential support totaling more than $23.7 trillion."

The idea that the economy isn't already "all going wrong" after spending over $3 trillion dollars on war and TARP seems to elude many a media mind....got gold?

Cheney's Death Squads to Operate Inside the USA

2009-07-16T22:34:00.011-07:00

Cheney's initiation into the CIA assassin club: shooting Harry Whittington.

Report: ‘No geographical limitations’ on CIA assassination program RawStory

The Central Intelligence Agency’s secret assassination squad was allowed to operate anywhere in the world, including the United States, according to a Thursday report in The Washington Post.

Obama: Time for Your Procto Exam America!

2009-07-16T12:18:00.007-07:00

From AZRainman: Photoshop Satire

So what have you been hiding up there all these years with no insurance?

Obama, Democrats to Ram $1.5 Trillion Healthcare Bill Through Congress by August NewsMax