Monday, March 10, 2008

Dumb-ass of the week: Client No. 9 Governor Spitzer


Silda Spizter stands besides Client No. 9 at a press
conference this morning

With the stunning news this morning that New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has been implicated in a prostitution ring, we can now call him "Client Number 9." Spitzer was one of the johns described in a recently unsealed FBI affidavit detailing the operation of the Emperors Club, a call girl ring. The affidavit describes hooker interactions with ten johns, including one client who paid cash for a February 13 sex session at a Washington, D.C. hotel.

The New York Times identifies the 48-year-old politician as Client-9. Client-9 (clearly a repeat customer) apparently went to great lengths to arrange the illicit Washington encounter, choosing to mail money in advance to the ring, instead of using a credit card. Client-9, whose conversations were recorded by an FBI wiretap, would not do "traditional wire transferring," the FBI affidavit quotes one Emperors Club.

One of the call-girls spoke with a Emperors Club scheduler, who said that she had been told that Client-9 "would ask you to do things that, like, you might not think were safe..." "Kristen" responded saying that she could handle guys like that, like the soon to be Ex-Governor.

Spitzer, was often called Elliott Ness when he was attorney general. He was a corruption fighter--and had several high profile tussles with Wall Street while serving as attorney. He also prosecuted at least one prostitution ring in his tenure. But the corruption he routed out apparently didn't extend to his own conduct.

The Emperors Club VIP web site shows a range of hourly rates, for the women who are ranked on a one diamond to 7 diamond scale. A seven-diamond gal would have set the Governor back $5,500 an hour.

Of course, Spitzer's wife stood by him at the press conference. Most people expect he will resign sometime today or tonight. I wonder what Senator Clinton would say? She can't win either way--she has to really hope this goes away fast!
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Brit Thru-Vision develops T5000 camera that sees through clothing from 80 feet away, allegedly without showing the "naughty bits"



ICU2! According to Reuters, a British company has developed a camera that detects weapons, drugs or explosives hidden under people's clothes from up to 25 meters away in what could be a breakthrough for the security industry. Of course, the company ThruVision claims the camera does not reveal physical body details

The T5000 camera uses a "passive imaging technology" to identify objects by the natural electromagnetic rays -- known as Terahertz or T-rays -- that they emit.



The camera detects hidden objects from up to 80 feet away and is effective even when people are moving. And, of course, "the screening is harmless."

The technology could be used in airports and other large public gathering places, and will be unveiled at a scientific development exhibition sponsored by Britain's Home Office this week.
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The Dusty 45's perform Buddy Holly's "Oh Boy"

Seattle's Duty 45's perform Buddy Holly's classic Oh Boy. I saw the Dusty 45's at The Hideout Thursday night, and had a ball. I regret that I didn't know about them sooner, because I've missed a lot of great shows. For my money, they are one of the most interesting and tuneful bands playing in Seattle today. They are playing this Friday in Seattle, about which, more later.


Sunday, March 09, 2008

Alien Lore. No.125 : The Wow Signal

Thanks to Jeff Clinton for pointing this one out. I'd heard of the Wow signal, but never read about it.






The Wow! signal was a narrowband (and surprisingly robust) radio signal detected by Dr. Jerry R. Ehman on August 15, 1977 while working on a SETI project at the Big Ear radio telescope of Ohio State University. The signal bore expected hallmarks of potential non-terrestrial and non-solar system origin. It lasted for 72 seconds.

The Wow signal has often been considered the most promising, or the most likely, signal SETI has studied to date.

Dr. Ehman circled the signal on the computer printout and wrote the comment "Wow!" on its side. . .ergo the name by which it is still known.
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Long video of some good moments from the film Idiocracy

Here are some YouTube video clips from one of my favorite movies of the last couple of years: Idiocracy.



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Friday, March 07, 2008

Obama camp: Hillary Clinton is a monster!



In what can only be a moment of madness during an interview with The Scotsman, Samantha Power, Obama's normally extremely bright key foreign policy aide, let slip the camp's true feelings about the former First Lady.

Her comments came as Sen. Obama, whose ass-whuppin' in Texas and Ohio were being blamed on the negative attacks on him, vowed to turn up the heat on Sen. Clinton over her claims to be the more experienced candidate, e.g., the person you want answering The Red Phone At 3:00 A.M.

Ms Power told The Scotsman Clinton would stop at nothing to seize the lead from Obama.

"We f***** up in Ohio," she admitted. "In Ohio, they are obsessed and Hillary is going to town on it, because she knows Ohio's the only place they can win. "

"She is a monster, too – that is off the record – she is stooping to anything," Ms Power said, hastily trying to withdraw her remark.

The bogtrotter Powers has really stepped in it this time. Click here to read the entire article in The Scotsman.
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Thursday, March 06, 2008

TSA Gangstaz

Thanks to Doc., who posted this video on his Random Blts blog.

As someone who has been male-assisted and patted down 86 times by the TSA in the last 14 months, I can relate to this vid.


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Namasté, all this is that readers! I bow to you.



When I wrote a long compendium of gestures and signs last year, many of them were pejorative or downright vulgar. The finger, the wanker, the cuckoo sign, the choke sign, rock horns, the shaka sign, and many more did not include such a beautiful and sweet sign as Namasté. It is pronounced, I think, Nahmus Tay.

Namasté in both word and gesture denotes deep respect and is used in Nepal and India by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. Many emigrants still use the words and gesture, wherever they end up. And why shouldn't they? What a sweet thought, and gesture.

In Indian and Nepali culture, the word is spoken at the beginning of written or verbal communication. However, the same hands folded gesture is made wordlessly upon departure. The word comes from the Sanskrit (namas): to bow, and (te): "to you."

When spoken to another person, it is commonly accompanied by a slight bow made with hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointed upwards, in front of the chest. The gesture alone has the same meaning. I guess if you say it as well, you're giving them a double dose.

You have to admit this sure beats the averted eyes walking down the hall in your Office Space or CubeLand, or the quick nod, a microsecond pupil lock-on and the word "hey." Give someone a Namasté today!
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Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Painting: Shadow Man And Women


click to enlarge.

Obama On The Grill: Is the Saturday Night Live skit actually affecting the aggressiveness of reporters?


"You know, I've just about had it with you nosy press c**ksuckers"
OK. He didn's say it. But I bet he was thinking it.


The New York Daily News reported today in an article by Michael Saul on an Obama press conference in San Antonio where the press treated Barack like a panini.

"An exasperated Barack Obama scurried away Monday from the toughest news conference of his campaign, telling reporters who kept shouting questions that he'd spent enough time on the grill."

"Come on! I just answered, like, eight questions," Obamaa looking a little stunned, told shouting reporters as he fled the room. "We're running late."

The Clinton campaign and others have often said [ed's note: we think so too] that The Press regularly puts a blowtorch to Clinton as they lob softballs and creampuffs Obama's way.

First, they grilled him on his secret emissary to Canada, who told Canadian officials to ignore his babbling about NAFTA...the Obama emissaries essentially told the Canadians that all this dissing NAFTA was just to get votes, and that, once elected, it would be business as usual.

Obama last week categorically denied waffling on NAFTA, but after a Canadian official blew the scam, Obama admitted, "well, shucks, I guess we did send someone to Canada, after all." "When I gave you that information, that was the information that I had at the time," he said. [ed note: Richard Nixon moment No. 1].

Next up, the jackals of the press hit him once again on his troubling relationship with the corrupt, and soon to be convicted fun-raiser Tony Rezko, who went on trial in Chicago Monday on corruption charges. I find the issue troubling too, more for Obama's response than and possible crimes and miosdemeanors he committed. He is from Chicago, isn't he?

Onr reporter asked Obama why he was ducking the charges about Rezko?

Obama insisted he had told all at a news conference in Chicago media. "These requests, I think, can just go on forever. ..." and that he had furnished the pertinent information. [ed note: Richard Nixon Moment 2 - I bet I can come up with that exact same quote from Richard Nixon, who often insisted during the throes of Watergate that he had bent over backwards to povide information and that The Senate and reporters were being unreasonable.]

After a few more hardballs, Sen. Obama announced the press conference was finished. And one reporter shouted that he was dodging questions after claiming he wasn't.
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