http://www.blogolution.com/ 144 29 http://www.blogolution.com http://www.blogolution.com/images/commentbanner.jpg guerilla journalism. freelance thought. en-us http://www.blogolution.com/#1341 You read it here first: Local outlets will soon report that Tom Capano's death sentence has been over-turned. Unfortunately, Ann Marie Fahey is still dead. http://www.blogolution.com/#1340 This may have been around for a while, but I just found it. It had me laughing for hours. Random Chuck Norris Facts Here are the Top 30. http://www.blogolution.com/#1339 NPR sweats the growing gap between rich and poor--in the "synthetic economies" of Massively Multi-Player Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs). Communism doesn't work in the real world, but that won't stop egghead academics from dreaming of a Marxist revolution in the World of Warcraft. Of course they want "regulation." What's a virtual economy without a virtual IRS to tax that level 42 broadsword your dorky roommate bought on Ebay? The worrisome thing here isn't the economic disparity--it's the committment of the nerds involved. No matter. Expect a certain crusading Senator to introduce socialized health upgrades soon. Some peope just don't trust the invisible hand, even with a keyboard. http://www.blogolution.com/#1338 The Dallas Cowboys just aren't what they used to be: Michael Irvin will not make his scheduled appearances on the Sunday and Monday Night NFL Countdown shows on Dec. 4 and 5, ESPN announced Thursday. The former Cowboys wide receiver, who is in his third year as an analyst for the network, will resume his regular role on Sunday, Dec. 11. Irvin was stopped for speeding on Friday, Nov. 25, in Plano, Texas, and arrested on an outstanding warrant for a previous speeding violation. His car was searched, revealing a pipe and plastic bags with marijuana residue. He was then charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken into custody by the Plano police, and released later that evening. A bowl and some "residue"? Is that even against the law? I expected more from Michael Irvin--maybe a couple kilos of Afghan heroine and a trunk full of dead hookers. http://www.blogolution.com/#1337 Al Mascitti is too starved for column ideas to help the local economy this holiday season, but he will shell out in support of an anti-American dictator's public relations stunt. I knew I was late, but I headed over to Christiana Mall on Monday to buy nothing. Anyone who read the newspaper knows Friday was "Buy Nothing Day," and that a half-dozen people caught in the mall dispensing nothing and wearing "Buy Nothing" shirts were handcuffed and hauled away. ...In the end I was able to fulfill my mission and leave with nothing, but on the way home I filled the gas tank at a Citgo station because that company is controlled by Hugo Chavez, the socialist president of Venezuela who is undermining free enterprise by selling poor Americans heating oil at below-market rates. But that's another story. While Hugo the tin-pot Castro-wannabe charms our local columnists by selling oil at below market prices, perhaps he'll offer them a discount on his bulk supply of Venezuelan child prostitutes as well. http://www.blogolution.com/#1336 A new book paints Mao as (shock! gasp!) an evil tyrant who killed 10 time more innocents than Hitler. The authors interviewed over 150 of his lieutenants and others who actually lived through his awful rule. Evidently all that fact finding is being used only to taint Mao's awesome campus image say Berkley hippies. What gets me is that these Commies can forgive their fearless leader for killing untold millions but they can't forgive Dick Cheney for making a few Gitmo prisoners wear panties on their head. (Hat tip to James) http://www.blogolution.com/#1335 No surprise here. Sex sells...especially to horny gynecologists: Anyone who has seen the parade of sales representatives through a doctor's waiting room has probably noticed that they are frequently female and invariably good looking. Less recognized is the fact that a good many are recruited from the cheerleading ranks. Known for their athleticism, postage-stamp skirts and persuasive enthusiasm, cheerleaders have many qualities the drug industry looks for in its sales force. Some keep their pompoms active, like Onya, a sculptured former college cheerleader. On Sundays she works the sidelines for the Washington Redskins. But weekdays find her urging gynecologists to prescribe a treatment for vaginal yeast infection. Nice to know your herpes medication has more to do with the size of Miss Alabama's human resources than your actual health. ..."Generally, discriminating in favor of attractive people is not against the law in the United States," said James J. McDonald Jr., a lawyer with Fisher and Phillips. But that might be changing, he said, citing a recent ruling by the California Supreme Court, which agreed to hear an employment lawsuit brought by a former L'Oreal manager who ignored a supervisor's order to fire a cosmetics saleswoman and hire someone more attractive. As an experienced sales professional, I can vouch that not all industries are so committed to an attractive work force. If you look like this: there's an opening for you in the newspaper business. http://www.blogolution.com/#1334 This seems even more appropriate now that the Eagles' Super Bowl hopes have gone up in smoke: An Arizona man identified by police as Christopher Noteboom, 44, of Tempe, was arrested after charging onto Lincoln Financial Field with a bag of ashes during Sunday's Eagles game. As Noteboom ran across the field about 6:10 p.m., chased by authorities, the ashes formed a grayish cloud. The ashes were his mother's remains, police said. She was a dedicated Eagles fan, even after the family moved to Arizona, Noteboom told police. After releasing the ashes, Noteboom made the sign of the cross and dropped to the ground, face down. He was taken into custody and charged with misdemeanor trespassing, police said. He was released and is scheduled to appear before a judge two days after Christmas, authorities said. Inspector William Colarulo said Noteboom's mother was from Doylestown and died earlier this year. We'll all sleep better knowing Mother Noteboom is under foot the next time Donovan McNabb throws an interception. Her son is lucky he wasn't shot dead on suspicion of an anthrax attack. http://www.blogolution.com/#1333 Inner-city Wilmington's convenience stores sure are convenient. Where else can you buy a cheesey nicknack that doubles as a crack pipe. It's the perfect stocking stuffer for the meth whore on your Christmas list: With a nudge and a wink, some clerks at mini-markets in Delaware reach under the counters and sell customers all the gear they need to smoke crack cocaine and marijuana. For about a dollar, anyone can buy a miniature "love rose" packaged inside a little glass tube -- then dump the fake flower and use the tube as a crack pipe. For another 50 cents, he can buy a tiny piece of scouring pad. Just a corner of a regular-size pad, it is far too small to scrub dishes, but it's the perfect size to stick into the pipe as a screen and filter. Residents who live near stores that sell such makeshift drug paraphernalia say the shops attract drug-addled loiterers who, at best, are loud and unruly. Worse yet, the people who come to buy the drug gear could be armed and violent, making the variety stores dangerous places for families or children stopping in for drinks and snacks. Advertisement Some merchants feign ignorance. The roses could be purchased for a lover or friend and the bits of cut-up scouring pad could be used by people getting ready to wash dishes, they say. Who wholesales this crap? A designer collection of Courtney Love brand glass flower tubes can't be far behind. ...Wilmington City Council members pressured Mohammed Chowdhury to stop selling the paraphernalia at Bill's Meat Market, his store at 10th and Pine streets, near where 45-year-old Sharon Blake was gunned down on her doorstep last year by a man with a drug history. Chowdhury did what the council asked -- and was honored at a council meeting for his decision. He said he has not gone back to selling the items, even though his competitors nearby do. A visit to his store this week showed that the market was one of the few in Wilmington without flavored cigars for sale. He said the decision might cost him his business, however. "The recognition from the council was nice, but people now go to other stores to buy their milk and juice because they can get their blunts there, too," he said. Isn't it great how even the "drug-addled" are fans of one-stop shopping. http://www.blogolution.com/#1332 Why pay $8 to see George Clooney's latest celluloid diatribe when you can watch a clever short film about the French riots made entirely within a studio sim computer game. I'd say the digital thesping is an improvement over Clooney's bloated star turn in Syriana. Luckily for George, it apears simulated Hollywood is still paranoid about Halliburton.