Crap Chocolate

The FDA is considering letting the word "chocolate" go on stuff that doesn't contain chocolate. Corporations want to be able to make "chocolate" more cheaply. Consumers want their food to be accurately labeled. Oddly, I expect corporations to lose this one. But if it were "juice" or "cheese" that were at stake, I bet some random vegetable powder substitute would be completely acceptable to our government today.

Take that, Red Cross!

So, I previously wrote about the Red Cross trying to keep anyone from using a red cross on their products.

Well, now Johnson & Johnson is suing the Red Cross. Seems J&J used a red cross first aid emblem before The Red Cross used a red cross.

It's definitely dickishness karma. A truly universal symbol, probably pre-dating any particular corporate use, should be available to all. If Johnson&Johnson get control of the red cross as their own logo, that'd be dumb. But if they free it for all to use, I see nothing wrong with that.

Of course, the actual facts are that J&J want to be the only ones who sell first aid supplies, and don't want The Red Cross horning in on their market share. It's just greed meeting greed. Sigh.

Disney propaganda

This clip is a short cartoon about how reasonable America is and how manipulative Hitler is. I think it's interesting how emotional the cartoon is, when claiming that reason is the superior tool. I think it's the nature of video - an emotional medium can't help but make emotional appeals. The "argument" against Hitler is quite emotional.

Not that I'm arguing for Hitler. I'm just enjoying a paradox in an argument for something I actually believe in.

Levitation made possible?

This story just broke today.

It claims some scientists have figured out how to reverse a quantum mechanical force to get objects to repel each other. Not magnets, but something way more fundamental. It could lead to hoverboards, or it could be a load of crap.

I hope we get hoverboards.

Impeach Gonzales Already

Finally!

When I read that Congressmen Blumenauer, DeFazio and others were proposing impeaching Attorney General Gonzales, I felt relief. At last someone will be held accountable.

We have waited for too long, as the President hands out medals to incompetents, for someone to be held responsible for failure. From Katrina to Iraq, from spying on Americans to torturing prisoners, it is time for us to say "Enough!"

Thank goodness for a Congress that might finally act.

This got printed by the Oregonian. In its original form.

Cartoon Censorship

I read an interesting article today on censorship in cartoons.

For me, the most shocking examples are the "curse" words of "heck", "darn" and "furnace".

Big Boom

Once upon a time, there was a rocket fuel factory. Then it caught fire. There are two explosions.



For lots more information on the Pepcon explosion, you can search for Henderson, Nevada.

And other big booms.