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Oliver North's advance publicity for a US war on Iran : Over 25 years have passed since the takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention. Now, accusations that the organization fosters a Theology of War, call attention to SBC head Bobby Welch's new campaign to "baptize a million people in one year and develop “warrior leaders”. This conflation of Christian faith with military terminology is - some feel - quite intentional. Will "Christian soldiers" once more go into battle with Bibles in hand ? And, is faith best advanced by the bayonette point of "discipleship" ?
posted by troutfishing at 9:24 PM PST - 46 comments

During his early years, eminent civil engineer Octave Chanute invented the process of preserving railroad ties and telephone poles with creosote in the 1860s. But more importantly, he was instrumental to the invention of the aeroplane. Working with an improved Otto Lilienthal glider, a German who died from spinal injuries sustained on a test flight, Chanute’s team experimented extensively with a seven-wing glider dubbed the Katydid, the famous Aerocurve, and the disastrous Albatross on the shores of Lake Michigan (described by a Chicago Times-Herald reporter). But most importantly, his book, Progress in Flying Machines, inspired the Wright Brothers, with whom he frequently visited. Sadly, Chanute never flew, citing his advanced age as reason enough to stay grounded.
posted by luckypozzo at 6:50 PM PST - 7 comments

The Million Dollar Homepage. Sure, you could buy gigabytes of online storage for a year with $100, but wouldn't you much rather have 10x10 pixels here? Is it stupid? Yes, but havn't you always wanted to make hundreds of thousands of dolars without doing anything?
posted by delmoi at 3:58 PM PST - 73 comments

ViolinMP3 [Violins; MP3s]
posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:52 PM PST - 23 comments

Greek as it was spoke. Mrs. Jones thinks they sound like a cross between French and Chinese. You decide. Alternatively, Latin wav files, mostly poetry. Or, for those into the bestseller circuit, there’s this (narrator rolls the r’s a bit - Jim Dale he ain’t).
posted by IndigoJones at 11:32 AM PST - 34 comments

Did anyone at Boeing really think this ad through? Boeing/Bell Helicopters recently put out a print advert showing US soldiers rappelling from an Osprey helicopter onto the roof of a mosque.

Predictably, Muslim groups are not too happy with the ad. It ran twice in the National Journal and Armed Forces Journal. coincidentally, the United States is also trying to repair its image in the Muslim world... with a campaign led by Karen Hughes.
posted by huskerdont at 10:32 AM PST - 80 comments

More bombs and newsagencies. It looks like this is not going to be a destination for some time. Fuck. [via]
posted by tellurian at 10:25 AM PST - 25 comments

Submitted for your approval: Operation Iron Fist which is different from Iron Resolve, Iron Grip, and Iron Hammer. If Eisenhammer isn't creepy enough for you, let's not forget Infinite Justice, which is surprisingly close to Infinite Reach. There's quite a bit of repetition. My personal favorites are this one and this one. What's your favorite? What does it mean when we have so many ongoing operations that we run out of original names?
posted by allen.spaulding at 9:16 AM PST - 52 comments

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month - at a time when eugenics was socially sanctioned, John Langdon Down pioneered many of the techniques that are considered best practice today for encouraging the development of children with Down syndrome. Not long ago, standard practice in the United States was institutionlization from birth, which led to short, unhappy lives. Only in the past generation, have we rediscovered that with care and medical treatment, people with Trisomy 21 can and do flourish. Find a local Buddy Walk near you and get educated.
posted by plinth at 8:53 AM PST - 27 comments

"If you must see this movie, do yourself a favor and wait until it's in the bargain bin at the video store. If there's any justice in the film industry, one of the main actors will be there to rent it to you." A quote from a review of Alone in the Dark. Dr. Uwe Boll is developing quite a reputation as a terrible film director; and ruiner of valuable intellectual property with his videogame adaptations. Something Awful's look behind the scenes of Alone in the Dark makes for grim reading: "I know English is not his first language, but Jesus Christ, I'm not even sure this man has a first language", but for many the trailer was enough to put people off. According to Wikipedia, "he is currently in a bidding war for rights to Half-Life and Metal Gear Solid, and ... may be after the rights to Fallout and Castlevania as well". Before legions of gamers collapse under the strain, you should know it isn't all bad news. He isn't without fans; and Boll is apparently an active member of online discussion forums including imdb and IGN; so it is possible to tell him that he sucks directly; not that doing so has had any effect thus far.
posted by nthdegx at 3:08 AM PST - 55 comments

"I bet you look good on the dancefloor" is the new single by a hitherto unknown Sheffield band called the Arctic Monkeys. [warning direct QT link] Media hype has meant demand for their London gig is so high they have moved from playing a pub to playing the London Astoria. Their observations on northern culture have drawn comparisons with Oasis and Kaiser Chiefs - or will they go the way of other bands picked up then dumped by the media? (anyone remember Gay Dad?) Whether or not they last, you will probably be hearing them quite a lot in the next few months.
posted by greycap at 1:25 AM PST - 46 comments

boobiethon 2005 - 4th annual & All for a great cause
posted by growabrain at 1:09 AM PST - 35 comments