09 Jun 2009
Gingrich urges GOP inclusion at fundraiser

Well, as long as it don't include no pagans!:

GINGRICH: I am not a citizen of the world. I am a citizen of the United States because only in the United States does citizenship start with our creator. [...] I think this is one of the most critical moments in American history. We are living in a period where we are surrounded by paganism.

Surrounded by pagans, eh? We should get so lucky. It's becoming patently obvious that the Republican Party has become naught but an oversized PAC for the Baptists, AoG and other assorted theocrats. It's obvious they don't want my vote, or my support, so by the gods, I'll make sure they get neither.

AP - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Monday urged some 2,000 Republican party loyalists to stand up for GOP principles but to be inclusive as the party tries to retake the majority.

(link) [Yahoo! News: Top Stories]

08:05 /Politics | 1 comment | permanent link

Dell heading to court over Tennessee factory?

Perfect example of corporate welfare - I wonder how many billions are spent every year on largess for companies like Dell, as opposed to the "above board" expenses in the TARP funds and other overt bailouts? I'd wager it's considerably more ...

Residents of Lebanon, Tennessee are apparently none too happy with PC and server maker Dell.

(link) [The Register]

07:48 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link

Is this the beginning of the end of plant breeding?

Talk about monoculture! I wonder if the authors thought about the phrase "beginning of the end" very carefully....

Clonal reproduction of crop species took a step closer to being realized with new research published in PLoS Biology this week. The advantage of clonal reproduction is that it produces an individual exactly like an existing one -- very useful for farmers who could replicate the best of their animals or crops without the lottery of sexual reproduction.

(link) [EurekAlert!]

07:29 /Agriculture | 0 comments | permanent link

Woman's toilet planters create stink in Ill. town

OK, so a toilet planter with red geraniums is a classic redneck motif, but I'd still like to see pictures! And even though I've had to file this under Humor, there is a larger question here: who owns the house? Ms. Asmus, or the local constabulary?

Private property, indeed.

AP - The planters in Tina Asmus' front yard aren't too pleasing to some of her neighbors, and village officials in Lakemoor have told her to remove them, or face a fine. Asmus, who likes to recycle discarded items, created the planters out of two old toilets and a pedestal sink. Mayor Todd Weihoffen, who is a plumber by trade, said he stands behind police who have given Asmus 30 days to remove the toilets.

(link) [Yahoo! News: Top Stories]

07:25 /Humor | 0 comments | permanent link