Dozens of words in the German language, from "degenerate" to "final solution," have become taboo because of their use by the Nazis. A new dictionary of Third Reich terms provides a guide through the linguistic minefield.

The Nazis carried out a hate campaign against 'degenerate' music -- now the word itself has become taboo.
Zoom
DPA

The Nazis carried out a hate campaign against 'degenerate' music -- now the word itself has become taboo.
As if German weren't hard enough. Three genders, endlessly long words, verbs coming at the end of impossibly rambling sentences.

But there is another, more subtle, linguistic trap which both Germans and non-Germans can easily fall into -- and which is far worse a faux pas than a mere slip of the article. Mention that you've found the "Endl�sung" ("final solution") to a problem you've been grappling with, or that you've made a "Selektion" ("selection") from a number of possible alternatives, and you will quickly find yourself the target of disapproving stares.

The Nazi's would make a dictionary just like this. Will the Germans never learn?

From 'Anschluss' to 'Zyklon B': New Dictionary Highlights Nazi Words to Avoid - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

Leaked UK gov't doc reveals plan to "coerce" Brits into national ID register -- MIRROR THIS FILE!
Posted by Cory Doctorow, January 29, 2008 3:01 AM | permalink

Phil from the UK anti-ID-register group NO2ID sends in this nugget -- note the call to action there. We've got a sensitive government document revealing the British government's plan to trick us into a database state and we need as many copies as possible, as quickly as possible!

If you mirror this document, please add a link to it in the comments for the post.

UK campaigners NO2ID this morning enlisted the help of bloggers across the world to spread a leaked government document describing how the British government intends to go about "coercing" its citizens onto a National Identity Register. The 'ID card' is revealed as little more than a cover to create a official dossier and trackable ID for every UK resident - creating what NO2ID calls 'the database state'.

NO2ID's national coordinator, Phil Booth, exhorted bloggers, freedom lovers and anyone who gives a damn about personal privacy to mirror the annotated document on their site.

"The charade is over. While ministers try to bamboozle the British public with fairytales about fingerprints, officials are plotting how to dupe and bully the population into surrendering control of their own identities."

"Biometric ID cards are a sham; a magician's flourish to cover the biggest identity fraud there has ever been."

1.2MB PDF Link (mirror this file!)

Leaked UK gov't doc reveals plan to "coerce" Brits into national ID register -- MIRROR THIS FILE! - Boing Boing

Starting bid: US $500.00

Description
A crunchy Cheeto aoubt 1.25 inches long shaped like a penis with testicles

Penis Shaped Crunchy Cheeto - eBay (item 320210475613 end time Jan-28-08 13:26:05 PST)

This might be the wrong way to look at it. The concise list would be to list the ways in which America is better because of the Bush administration. Anyone have an mp3 of crickets chirping?

RE: The Legacy of George W Bush's Presidency

The bumps and ridges on this vase are created from a real human fingerprint. Made with rapid-prototyping tech that "reads" your prints and converts them into a 3D object, the vase is designed by Kris Lovett and called "Embossed." The process for creating it is actually fairly simple, and you can get Lovett to make one out of your own fingerprint too.

Design: Flower Vase Made of Human Fingerprints

NEW YORK A study released by Northwestern University reports that teenagers find online news troubling and a reminder of the world's dangers. Meanwhile, time spent on YouTube or social networking and music downloading sites as a treat.

Memestreams: News without worries.

Report: Teenagers Find Online News Stressful

Social isolation makes people stressed out and forgetful, but soon a drug could cure this problem. Late last year, scientists isolated a brain enzyme that triggers the "loneliness" feelings during periods of solitude. Replenishing that enzyme in the brain could enhance memory and relieve stress when you're spending a lot of time by yourself working (or space traveling).

People don't need people. People need drugs.

I can't wait to see that hallmark.

Mad Science: A Chemical That Improves Memory (and Cures Loneliness)

Presenting the latest in Japanese technology. If you thought that Candy Girls were realistic then you are in for a big surprise.

Cutie Doll is a brand of companion dolls with a difference. While Candy Girls cost about 600,000 yen (5,641 USD), Cutie Dolls cost only 50,000 yen (470 USD) - not bad for an incredibly realistic companion loaded with the latest technology from the land of the rising sun.

Below: Cutie Doll is designed with the fickle master in mind - if you get bored of her face, you can just rip it off and wrap another one over her head.

Cutie Doll

The LAPD bought four of the $2,500 devices, which at first glance look like Palm Pilots on steroids, and stored 35 crowd control and other commands: "You must immediately leave the area," "Get down from the pole" and "This area has been declared an unlawful assembly..."

Why doesn't it surprise my that translation tech like this will first be used to boss people around.

Translation Gizmos for L.A. Cops | Danger Room from Wired.com

Sweden, considered a world leader in gender equality, should ban all advertising that could be considered sexist, according to a government-commissioned report published on Tuesday.

* Swedish advertisers drawn online (20 Jan 08)
* Internet wins advertising battle (28 Nov 07)
* Internet advertising now bigger than TV (7 Nov 07)

In the report, special government rapporteur Eva-Maria Svensson suggested the creation of a law "banning advertising containing sexist content."

Right, because everybody knows repression=equality. If you can't create a world that doesnt think about sex, you can hide it with censorship.

The Local - Sweden mulls ban on sexist ads