October 19, 2004

Follow the flu

The National Flu Surveillance Network maps flu threats at the state and zipcode levels. They also have an animated map of previous seasons. The CDC also has a map of activity included in the weekly updates at their flu site.
posted by euphorb at 11:54 PM PST - 18 comments

Iran endorses Bush

Iranian regime endorses Bush, saying democrats have historically "harmed Iran." Head of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Hassan Rowhani, is very close to the hardline leader, Ali Khamanei. But the truth is Republicans have always helped dictators in Iran,. Biggest example: 1953 coup that toppled Mossadeq, the extremely popular elected official prime minister of Iran and brought back the tyrant Shaah.
posted by hoder at 11:28 PM PST - 20 comments

I made it quick, because it wasn't personal, it's just business.

It didn't have to go down this way.
posted by limitedpie at 8:45 PM PST - 23 comments

What's at stake?

Fans of Joss Whedon are being asked to shell out thirty-five bucks a piece to hear Buffy's creator answer questions over a speaker phone, and remind them to vote for Kerry. Meanwhile "Buffy" herself is known to pose for the other guys. One might wish people really tune out celebrity opinions on politics. Does it change minds or are they already made up? Even when the facts are fiction. Should celebrities shut up or do they have the right to speak out? What, or rather who, influences you?
posted by ZachsMind at 6:10 PM PST - 26 comments

ABC News is predicting that John Kerry is the next President ... and Susan Johnson has just won $10 million!

An Election Lottery?
We've had decades of handwringing and civics lectures while voting continues to plunge. This is America, dammit. If everything else pays, why shouldn't voting?
posted by amberglow at 3:28 PM PST - 23 comments

Vietnam Veterans for George W. Bush?

Vietnam Veterans for George W. Bush? "This web site was created and personally paid for by a Vietnam combat veteran as a service to his country and has no financial connection with any political party or campaign organization." ...and he does not pussy foot around!
posted by Postroad at 3:12 PM PST - 14 comments

Whither American Empire

Dreams of Empire, by Tony Judt. Via the indispensable Arts and Letters Daily, an excellent liberal-left critique of current American thought on foreign policy. In the past I've not been a huge fan of Judt, but events have proven him right more often than not, and these days I take him very seriously indeed. And he's an excellent writer.
posted by mojohand at 2:08 PM PST - 6 comments

Why yes, there are chicks there. Roll to see if you can do them.

Dunegon Majesty! In what must be an accomplishment worthy of The Gygax himself, this guy found four girls willing to not only play D&D, but brave enough to be filmed while doing so. The fact that they're also willing to dress up as their characters is just icing on the cake. Be sure to check out the teaser video and learn a little something about courage!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 12:51 PM PST - 27 comments

MY NEW MONSTER-FIGHTING TECHNIQUE IS UNSTOPPABLE

INCREDIBLE, UNSTOPPABLE TITAN OF TERROR! He's attacked other monsters and terrorized Japan for decades. Now Godzilla is confronting academics who want to wrestle with his legacy. The University of Kansas plans to pay homage to the giant lizard later this month, organizing a three-day scholarly conference for the 50th anniversary of his first film. Planners want to provoke discussion of globalization, Japanese pop culture and Japanese-American relations after World War II. "I would like people to take Godzilla more seriously," said Bill Tsutsui, a history professor at the University of Kansas and author of the book "Godzilla on My Mind". (more inside)
posted by matteo at 11:05 AM PST - 10 comments

Integrity 1, Sinclair Broadcasting 0

Sinclair Fires DC Bureau Chief for Speaking out Against Airing "Stolen Honor" (Baltimore Sun link, reg. req)
Sinclair Broadcasting, as has been discussed before, wants to air "Stolen Honor" (quite the appropriate title in regards to Jon Leiberman, the DC bureau chief) during primetime in a bold faced move to sway the election to Bush's favor.
Says Mr. Leiberman, "It's biased political propaganda, with clear intentions to sway this election."
The Washington Post and NY Times (both reg.req.) are also running the story.

First brought to my attention via our own Oliver Willis.
posted by fenriq at 10:50 AM PST - 26 comments

It's pronounced Zed

Zed: Open Source Television. From the CBC. Though this site has been referenced on Mefi a couple of times through links to individual short films or pieces (1, 2, 3, 4), I have yet to find an FPP about the site as a whole; and I think it deserves one. Every weeknight at 11:30 p.m. the CBC broadcasts a half hour of experimental short films, video, animation, or band performances; these are then posted as streaming video on the website. You can submit films to them through the site, and participation is international. From the site: On the Web, ZeD is where over 18,000 global members meet, collaborate and upload their creative work-currently, over 16,000 genre-expanding pieces. A lot of what you see on TV five nights a week is drawn from the best content on the Web site, while most of what's original to TV (like our live performances) can be seen afterward on the Web site. Wonderful archives to explore; and tonight the Raveonettes perform.
posted by jokeefe at 10:34 AM PST - 6 comments

Election 2004: Step Right Up and Win Some Crap

Two weeks from today, John Kerry will win the popular vote by "23% or more" over George W. Bush, according to 5 Star Psychic Advice. See if you can do better than the spirit world by predicting the electoral and popular vote totals in the second quadrennial MetaFilter Presidential Contest ...
posted by rcade at 9:56 AM PST - 129 comments

LITERAL Truth? No, in context! No....

Same Sex Relationships in The Bible "The Bible describes three emotionally close relationships between two people of the same gender. They appear to have progressed well beyond a casual friendship."
posted by troutfishing at 9:46 AM PST - 21 comments

101 words, and yet I cannot think of a clever title...

101 years in 101 words
posted by Orange Goblin at 9:33 AM PST - 14 comments

I searched and searched but I still suspect this is a double.

I have no idea how these people got their scissors jammed into their crotches, or why.
posted by kenko at 8:32 AM PST - 14 comments

Shirt happens

Looking for a good dress shirt? A funny, informative (and slightly old) article about what to look for in a dress shirt.
posted by Outlawyr at 8:22 AM PST - 8 comments

ticks and tones may break my 'phones...

gameboyzz orchestra project, live @ paris. Don't be put off by the first track of the Paris set - that's just a warm up.
posted by nthdegx at 6:50 AM PST - 4 comments

CBCMondayReport

Rick Mercer's Monday Report on CBC. Canada's Daily Show.
posted by srboisvert at 6:03 AM PST - 15 comments

Hog Heaven

Pork Farmers in Hog Heaven! Atkins and skyrocketing beef prices result in pork producers "experiencing demand far in excess of anything [they]'ve seen historically." Pork prices are very high on the spot and futures market but still a value relative to meat. Perhaps this will increase the demand for tasty Berkshire hog pork, the kind that pre-dates the breeding which produced the "other white meat."
posted by MattD at 5:21 AM PST - 9 comments

Çatalhöyük

Çatalhöyük, a site for kids devoted to the archeological excavations of the remains of a Neolithic town in central Turkey. A great introduction for all ages to this important city, with activities, quicktime tours and links to more in depth resources.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 2:46 AM PST - 4 comments

A Political Circle

Art rock/metal band A Perfect Circle are releasing a new album consisting of mostly politically orientated covers, including John Lennon's Imagine. With so many bands pumping out the politics recently why is this strange? Because for so many years the band, and frontman Maynard James Keenan (also the lead singer for Tool) have usually kept right out of politics, opting for a more mysterious and individualistic approach to their music. Interesting to read what some of their fans think?
posted by Jase_B at 2:43 AM PST - 16 comments

Dolls with dingalings and other stuff

Boris Hoppek's bizarre "bimbosculptures", "pictures", and posters. {Possibly not safe for work. I'm a poor judge.}
posted by dobbs at 12:21 AM PST - 5 comments

Gay-baiting in Ohio

During a question-and-answer period, someone says they'd once heard Johnston call for the execution of gays and lesbians. He vigorously denies the charge. Later, he tells me that the decision to put gays to death is a matter best left up to the states.
Ohio's precedent-shattering new ballot initiative and the people behind it. (Salon, ad req'd.)
posted by Tlogmer at 12:20 AM PST - 76 comments

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