In the news

[Amy SF]

You know, we rail against development projects destroying healthy ecosystems, but here's a twist on the story. Did the state destroy Malibu Lagoon in order to save it?

 

[Calliegirl]

It looks like Mountain Dew is trying to offend it's customers with a very tasteless, racist ad.

A new ad by soft drink purveyor Mountain Dew has many condemning it as racist and wholly offensive.
The ad, which is a part of an equally belligerent campaign, features Tyler the Creator and his envelop-pushing rap group, Odd Future. The spot depicts a beaten, bruised, and fearful white woman attempting to identify her attacker amid a lineup full of scary looking black men…and a goat.
How funny! *eye roll*
Though she has the support of the mostly white police officers (there appears to be a black cop in the shadows), the woman is too afraid to pick out her attacker—the goat—who continues to harass and threaten her. At one point, the goat tells the woman, “You betta not snitch on a playa” and “I’ma get outta here and do you up. Keep ya mouth shut.”...

http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2013/04/mountain-dew-tyler-the-creator-team-up-for-racist-ad/

 

[Spang]

 

[Eleven]

It looks like Mountain Dew is trying to offend it's customers with a very tasteless, racist ad.

http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2013/04/mountain-dew-tyler-the-creator-team-up-for-racist-ad/

They shouldn't have exploited the goat.

 

[SuicideBlonde]

http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/state/pa-woman-who-vanished-in-2002-found-in-fla#ixzz2S4HlxZud

Pa. Woman who vanished in 2002 found in Fla.

 

[Calliegirl]

Wow, what a selfish thing to do, especially to her children.

 

[KLS52]

Wondering if anyone has any thoughts regarding Amanda Knox. I always thought she was innocent but now I'm not so sure.

http://abcnews.go.com/m/video?id=19081274

 

[thefadedone]

http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/state/pa-woman-who-vanished-in-2002-found-in-fla#ixzz2S4HlxZud

Pa. Woman who vanished in 2002 found in Fla.

Wow, what a selfish thing to do, especially to her children.

I can't even begin to imagine what her family is thinking and feeling.

 

[Spang]

Seattle Is Overrun With People Who Dress Up Like Superheroes and Cause Trouble:

Seattle, being a somewhat silly place, is the home town of the Rain City Superhero Movement, a group of eccentric citizens who roam the streets wearing homemade superhero costumes, occasionally attempting to stop crime but mostly posing for photographs.

 

[Amy SF]

It looks like Mountain Dew is trying to offend it's customers with a very tasteless, racist ad.

http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2013/04/mountain-dew-tyler-the-creator-team-up-for-racist-ad/

They pulled it. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/...ountain-dew-commercial-pepsico_n_3193650.html

So they got it both ways. They got the publicity they wanted with the ad in the first place, and then they get to pull it and apologize for it.

 

[SuicideBlonde]

http://music.yahoo.com/news/chris-kelly-rap-duo-kris-kross-dies-ga-024137728.html

 

[beanstew]

Parkham WI embarrassed by dressing as pirates for talk by former Somali pirate hostage

Members of a North Devon WI were left embarrassed after a number of them had dressed up as pirates for a talk by a former sea captain who has been held hostage by Somali pirates for several weeks.

 

[yakherder]

Heck why be embarrassed? If I were the captain I would have died laughing. Then again I try to maintain a sense of humor even about the worst things that happen because I figure better to be laughing than not regardless of the reason.

 

[beancounter]

Fake bomb detector conman jailed for 10 years

Only ten years....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/may/02/fake-bomb-detector-conman-jailed

 

[Spang]

Maryland becomes the 18th state to repeal the death penalty:

"This session, Maryland became the 18th state to repeal the death penalty, preserving the option of life without parole for the most serious offenders. With the legislation signed today, Maryland has effectively eliminated a policy that is proven not to work. Evidence shows that the death penalty is not a deterrent, it cannot be administered without racial bias, and it costs three times as much as life in prison without parole. Furthermore, there is no way to reverse a mistake if an innocent person is put to death. Working together with law enforcement partners, Maryland has driven down violent crime and homicides to three decade lows. The Administration will continue to move forward with the things that work to save lives – more effective policing, better technology, information sharing and coordination, and smarter strategies to reduce crime," the governor's office says in a press release.

 

[Amy SF]

Maryland becomes the 18th state to repeal the death penalty:

 

[Spang]

Same-sex couples in Rhode Island will soon be able to get married if they want:

Rhode Island is joining nine other states and the District of Columbia in allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry after the state's General Assembly gave it a final procedural vote on Thursday.

 

[das_nut]

Yahoos implements unequal family leave.

 

[Calliegirl]

Yahoos implements unequal family leave.

I could see giving the women (who are carrying their own babies) an extra 2 weeks before the baby is born, as that is a very exhausting time. But if all the leave time is after the birth, men should be allowed to spend equal time with their babies.

 

[Spang]

Longer New Child Leave: Moms and dads can now take up to eight weeks of paid New Child Leave, with benefits, whenever they welcome a new child to the family. This includes birth, adoption, foster child placement and surrogacy. New mothers can take an additional eight weeks paid leave after pregnancy.

If it's two dudes or two women, who gets the additional eight weeks?