- Riot Watch! Riot Watch! The Philippines were the scene and better jobs, more inclusive growth and
the protection of human rights were the reason behind massive demonstrations as
thousands of protesters took to the streets to speak out and rise up ahead of
President Benigno Aquino III’s state of the union address. Seeing a large crowd
of people making noise in conjunction with a state of the union speech and not
being the sycophantic ass hats who applaud wildly every five seconds during the
President of the United States’ own speech addressing the current state of his
country’s affairs was refreshing, as was the sight of angry protestors burning
Aquino in effigy and hurling eggs at the police officers blocking the main road
going to the House of Representatives. While a few explosives here or there,
perhaps a Molotov cocktail or 50, would have been a nice addition to the day,
the protest that actually took place was solid enough. The angry masses converged
about two kilometers from the House of Representatives compound and there, they
were met by riot police who set up barricades and braced for the onslaught that
was coming their way. It would be easy to dismiss the uprising as a small
number of malcontents with a grudge against the president, but they did have
the good sense to hang their demonstration on the principles of opposing a
counter-insurgency campaign that rights groups have alleged led to human rights
abuses. Many protestors carried placards with denouncing the campaign, so there
is clearly a wealth of rage going around and that’s reasons enough to hope that
sooner or later, larger and angrier riots will happen. If not in Manila, then
maybe somewhere else in the Philippines, a place where people are just as
pissed off and even more willing to get violent……..
- Is time up for the world’s most endangered feline species? Assuming
that one counts possibly being extinct some time in the next five decades as
time being up, then sure. According to a new report published in the most
recent edition of the journal Nature Climate Change, the Iberian lynx could
become the first cat species in at least 2,000 years to become extinct and that
extinction could happen within 50 years. The big cat is projected to be a
victim of climate change and it has much to do with the dwindling population of
the lynx’s primary dietary staple. That would be the European rabbit, which
makes up 80 percent of the cat’s diet. The study warns that current efforts to
boost population of the distinctive cat may extend the existence of the lynx,
but only for a few decades. For many years, the Iberian Lynx was prevalent in
parts of Spain, Portugal and France. Even though its ranks may not be the
target for hunters on a consistent basis, rabbit populations have drastically
fallen because of overhunting, disease and habitat reduction, leaving the lynx
without its favorite meal. Climate change has played a major role in the
reduction of the rabbit’s habitats and as that has taken place, wild Iberian
lynx populations have dwindled from nine groups in the 1990s to two in 2013. An
estimated total of 250 Iberian Lynxes live in the wild and there is a well-funded
captive breeding program underway with a goal to release genetically diverse
animals into suitable habitats. Unfortunately, this study claims the
conservation strategy is flawed because it fails to take into account climate
change and its influence on prey abundance……..
- A Flock of Seagulls has tormented generations of county
fair visitors, ’80s-themed dance attendees and party goers for years. They have
made everyone with ears to hear want to run…..run so far away….and feel the
need to get away. A very different flock of seagulls are now tormenting the struggling
San Francisco Giants and their intrepid fans. While the Giants linger below
.500 and in fourth place in the National League West, they are also battling an
ever-worsening onslaught of the birds at home games. Team officials are
befuddled by the infestation and are attempting to find humane solution to the
issue. The gulls have been flocking to the park at the end of night games since
the park along San Francisco Bay opened in 2000, but the number of gulls flying
over, landing around the stadium and even defecating on fans has increased
substantially this season. The issue was on display for all to see when a
massive swarm took place in March during the World Baseball Classic semifinal
between the Netherlands and the Dominican Republic, and similar invasions have
occurred throughout the year. Hundreds of gulls have descended on the park at
times, clearly aware of what time night games typically end and the abundance
of leftover food and beverages fans leave behind when they exit the stadium. Having
birds defecate on fans and create cleanup headaches for staff members is
a problem and players are well aware of the birds. "You're focused on the
pitcher," Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford said. "But you definitely
notice them." Even biologists and seagull specialists aren’t sure how the
sea gulls time their arrival for the end of games to feast on discarded hot
dogs, popcorn and other food. There is no easy solution, although the gulls did
disappear for a time late in the 2011 season when a red-tailed hawk nicknamed
"Bruce Lee" began frequenting the park. For a reason known only to
ass hats who write federal laws, shooting seagulls is illegal. Hiring a
falconer to scare them away would cost $8,000 a game, said Jorge Costa, the
Giants' manager of operations. There is also a chance a falcon could gruesomely
kill a sea gull in front of families and a television audience, so the
possibilities for entertainment are virtually endless………
- Tame Impala are not just a trendy indie rock band. The Australian
psych-rockers have had their music be the soundtrack for several recent
commercials and now they are lending their musical talents for a great cause. After
a pregnant friend had her car stolen, Tame Impala decided to put together an
instrumental band they're calling Cam,
cam and kevin's groovy groovy funtime disco funk elevator explosion, aka kevin
spacey, and that new band will play a one-off gig in order to raise
money for their friend. The show came together on short notice and the band
announced the last minute gig on Facebook, writing: "Hey perthian fiends,
our good friend the lovely and evidently pregnant felicity groom had her car
stolen on saturday morning, so we're all going to THE BIRD tonight to raise
money for a new one! playing is Maurice Flavel, Electric Toad and our new band
we made at about 4 o'clock this afternoon cam, cam and kevin's groovy groovy
funtime disco funk elevator explosion, aka kevin spacey, in an elevator. that's
the band name, all of that. in fact this whole post is the band name. including
this. oh yeah and we didn't have time to find a vocalist so it's instrumental,
the best kind of ental. get down there yo's!” As absurd as instrumental jam
band typically are, this one doesn’t sound quite so bad and this is, if nothing
else, a unique case of an band using its talents not to meet and sleep with as
many hot chicks as possible, but to help one in a difficult spot get the money
she needs to replace a stolen car……..
- Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter administration is not making any
friends. Thankfully, the administration’s decision to tax the pathetic, greasy,
lowlife losers who frequent strip clubs and pay coke-addled strippers with
daddy issues and no self-esteem to grind on them for a few minutes is not going
unchallenged. That decision to start taxing lap dances at strip clubs is being
challenged in court by two affected clubs, Club Risque and Cheerleaders. The
clubs’ attorney, George Bochetto, says his clients were suddenly and unfairly
hit with bills for back taxes for back room activities. “Out of the blue, they
then got a bill for $400,000, $500,000,” Bochetto said. “Imposing this
amusement tax on lap dances.” Mayoral spokesman Mark McDonald explained that
city attorneys believe lap dances should be subject to the longstanding city
amusement tax. “It’s the considered opinion of the Law Department and the
Revenue Department that this tax applies appropriately, in this case,” McDonald
explained. “The city views this as a taxable activity.” In other words, there’s
a chance we can get away with this and strip clubs are among the most
despicable places on Earth, so why not take a chance on enforcing the tax and
see if it stands up in court? In response, Borchetto claims the amusement tax
is already imposed on the cover charge to get into strip clubs. “It does not
apply to activities once you’re already in a place of amusement and have
already paid a cover charge and an amusement tax on the cover charge,”
Borchetto argued. He believes this move could set a dangerous precedent for
taxing any skeezy activity once a person is inside a place of amusement. Along with
an attorney for another club, Delilah’s, Borchetto launched his legal challenge
to the tax Tuesday before the city’s tax review board……….
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