Deutsche: It was known that I, uh, was an undergrad when I was with the Bush campaign. It was known that I was an undergrad when I worked for the inaugural committee. When NASA hired me, they knew that I was an undergrad. The only real, uh, the only room here for misinterpretation could be my resume. And I, you know, if there, if my resume is misleading, I take responsibility for that, no question, I do. Um, and I didn't never mean for that to happen. But I have never ever lied about my status, I have never tried to misrepresent that to anyone. If my resume was misleading, I take, I take responsibility, but that's not it, it's not about my resume. It's about this larger issue, it's about the agenda of global warming, and how these people are willing to resort to smearing a 24 year old junior appointee in an effort to just get one step ahead in their agenda, to get a little bit more face time in the media.

"I take responsibility, only, it was really the fault of these loonies who think that we're harming the environment... they're out to get me because I dared to tell the truth about the fact that there's no such thing as global warming. The fact that I totally lied on my resume is irrelevant."

Gimme a break, you lying sack of shit. Just because 75% of your bosses get away with lies doesn't make it guaranteed. If that shit happened to me, I'd have gotten fired. Fuck resignation... FIRED. And I'd be working at some monkey tech support job, more than likely, because no one wants to hire an uneducated liar. Or maybe I'm wrong... I guess Deutsche's situation proves that some people actually do hire uneducated liars.

And, while I'm at it, why is it that we allow people to use the word "agenda" and immediately discount the promoters of said agenda? Fuck yeah, they have an agenda... establishing the primacy of scientific logic over political bullshit is an agenda, and it's one that I have no problem getting behind. Fucking infuriating punkass kid.

Dispatches from the Culture Wars

The BBC has learned of a major corruption scandal in Kenya, through evidence provided by the country's former anti-corruption chief John Githongo.

When I first met him he was one of a new breed of African campaigners - highly articulate, politically savvy and very brave.

sounds to me like the story of a real hero

BBC NEWS | World | Africa | A fearless Kenyan whistle-blower

Lost amid the ashes of torched embassies and the senseless deaths of Muslim protestors is the fact that the cartoon controversy is as much about freedom of expression in the Muslim world as it is about freedom of expression in Europe.

The violence and the bitter words exchanged over the past few days have little to do with Islam but everything to do with those who want to be its sole guardians and spokespeople.
...
I am a Muslim who fully supports Jyllands-Posten's right to publish the cartoons of Prophet Mohammed, as I defend the rights of Muslims to be offended. But I find the daily human rights violations by our dictators to be more offensive to the memory of the prophet's life than a few cartoons ever could be.

Don't yield to extremists - Editorials & Commentary - International Herald Tribune

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran has done more to ensure that the green revolution moves forward than a dozen presidential speeches or a score of low-carbon targets.

Oil's nasty surprises: Thanks, Iran, for the reminder - Editorials & Commentary - International Herald Tribune

The Bush administration's support for Iran's proposal to bar two gay rights groups from a voice at the United Nations sparked a demand from U.S. legislators on Tuesday that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice repudiate the action.

US legislators press Rice on UN vote against gays - Yahoo! News UK

Holy Fuck I want one.

YouTube - Model Fighter Jet

Astronomers have for the first time put some real numbers on the physical characteristics of dark matter.

This strange material that dominates the Universe but which is invisible to current telescope technology is one of the great enigmas of modern science.

That it exists is one of the few things on which researchers have been certain.

But now an Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, team has at last been able to place limits on how it is packed in space and measure its "temperature".

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Dark matter comes out of the cold

Look, let's have a true debate about the future of our society. Muslims have to understand there is free speech in Europe, and that is that. On the other side, there needs to be an understanding that sensitive issues must be addressed with wisdom and prudence, not provocation. Just because you have the legal right to do something doesn't mean you have to do it. You have to understand the people around you. Do I go around insulting people just because I'm free to do it? No. It's called civic responsibility.

a clever argument and this whole issue makes me feel like some sort of fundamentalist
i believe in free speech and democracy and i feel calls to be responsible challenges something basic. Whatever happened to the argument i grew up with that although i may not agree with u i'll fight to the death for your right to say it (provided i think u are being reasonable or demonstrating civic responsibility was never added)
it may not be wise to provoke people but that is the job of satire

Free speech and civic responsibility - Editorials & Commentary - International Herald Tribune

Freedom of expression is one of the cornerstones of our democratic systems and we shall never relinquish it. But there are no rights without responsibility and respect for different sensibilities. The publication of these caricatures may be perfectly legal, but it is not indifferent and thus ought to be rejected from a moral and political standpoint.

that's appeasement

A call for respect and calm - Editorials & Commentary - International Herald Tribune

freedom of speech has to be responsible.

This is a point of view coming from western governments and a few moderate Muslims, in an attempt to be conciliatory
there are limits to freedom of speech
advocating violence and murder are illegal under British law quite rightly but freedom of speech does not have to be responsible
What's next? Saying that Hamas are murderers and killers of innocent women and children is irresponsible because they don't like hearing my point of view.
it is nice when i agree with a point of view and view it as responsible but the essence of freedom of speech is to say things which may not be viewed as responsible even by a jury. It is the right to be controversial and to say things which the majority don't agree with. Even advocating breaking the law has a fine pedigree in terms of civil disobedience.
So I've said it in another post and I'll say it again. Fuck their religious sensitivites.
I am an infidel. I don't accept Mohammed as a prophet. I don't accept sharia law.
Get some tolerance. I don't expect u to conform to my values, although I would like to persuade u of their worth, and don't expect me to conform to your ideas of blasphemy, although in a reasoned way u can try and persuade me of their worth.
This is a fundamental clash of value systems and western politicians who don't argue that freedom of speech is a fundamental cornerstone of our civilisation are being craven or obtuse.
It is good to understand Muslim concerns and sensibilities, that is part of being a good neighbour or friend but I refuse to be dictated to by those concerns. I believe in the freedom of Muslims to practice their religion. I believe in my right to criticize their religion or Christianity or the government.
Satire has a long and rightly undignified history. It doesn't need to be responsible or constructive. It has an obligation to bite the hand that feeds it, to be unruly, uncivilized and attack vested interests and pomposity wherever they are found. Satire should attack Senators, Congressmen, and all politicians with their nose in the trough; bigots, racists and hypocrits. It should be cynical and beholden to no-one, be they editor or politician.
Hogarth would have been proud of the Danish satirists.

BBC NEWS | UK | Tories condemn Muslim protesters