Drool Over this Chart of All the Glorious Superpowers You'll Never Have

I don't have any superpowers. Neither do you. But we can both salivate with envy at all the marvelous flavors of superpowers we could have, if they were real. And to aid us in that noble pursuit, Pop Chart has put out their Giant-Size Omnibus of Superpowers, a (fairly) comprehensive menu of powers and their associated owners.

This isn't Pop Chart's first attempt at that righteous goal, but it's definitely the most involved so far. The powers?gathered from decades upon decades of superhero fiction mainstream and indie alike?are broken down into seven distinct families: powers of the body, animal powers, force control, mastery, object manipulation, weapons-based, and powers of the mind. It's intense.

The 24" x 36" poster boasts 200 superpowers belonging to 600 superheroes/villians, and can be yours for the modest price of $32. It's a far cry from being able to buy your favorite superpower, but hey, let's take what we can get. You can hop over to Pop Chart to see the whole thing up close and personal. [Pop Chart via Wired]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/drool-at-this-chart-of-all-the-glorious-superpowers-you-620964276

Jabari Parker 2012 australia

Senegalese president defends anti-gay law

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) ? Senegalese President Macky Sall has defended his refusal to decriminalize homosexuality one day after publicly clashing with President Barack Obama on the issue at a joint press conference.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Sall said it was important for other countries to refrain from imposing their values beyond their borders. He compared his position on homosexuality to other countries' positions on polygamy, which is widely practiced in Senegal.

"We don't ask the Europeans to be polygamists," Sall said. "We like polygamy in our country, but we can't impose it in yours. Because the people won't understand it, they won't accept it. It's the same thing."

Senegal's penal code calls for prison sentences of up to five years and fines of up to $3,000 for committing "an improper or unnatural act with a person of the same sex."

Despite the law, Sall maintained that gays were not persecuted in Senegal, and were prosecuted only if they violated the law. He also said the population, while opposed to homosexuality, was not actively intolerant.

"I think in Senegal people are very quiet. They are not very violent, even for the homosexuals," he said.

Local activists strongly disagree, pointing out that more than a dozen homosexuals are currently in jail for no other reason than their sexual orientation, with guilty verdicts having been handed down despite a lack of evidence. They also say extortion and other forms of discrimination are rampant.

In February 2008, police rounded up men suspected of being homosexuals after a Senegalese tabloid published photographs of a clandestine gay wedding in a suburb of Dakar. Gays went into hiding or fled to neighboring countries, but they were pushed out of Gambia by the president's threat of decapitation.

A report released this week by Amnesty International says 38 African countries ? about 70 percent of the continent ? criminalize homosexual activity.

In four of those ? Mauritania, northern Nigeria, southern Somalia and Sudan ? the punishment is death.

These laws appear to have broad public support. A June 4 Pew Research Center survey found at least nine of 10 respondents in Senegal, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Nigeria believe homosexuality should not be accepted by society.

Sall warned that because of these views, public advocacy on behalf of gay rights could prompt a strong negative reaction. "We need to be careful, because in Africa and in certain Muslim societies, these are subjects that can provoke fundamentalism," he said.

In a December 2011 memorandum, Obama instructed federal agencies to promote gay rights overseas, drawing strong protests from some African officials and many of his African fans. But while experts say the U.S. has forcefully pushed for gay rights behind closed doors, the public positioning has been discreet, with officials often citing concerns about putting local activists in danger.

Prior to this week's Africa trip, Obama's second since becoming president, some advocates had pushed for him to vocally advocate for gay rights, saying the respect he commands in much of Africa could help sway public opinion.

At Thursday's press conference in Dakar, Obama said everyone should be equal under the law regardless of cultural differences. "When it comes to how the state treats people, how the law treats people, I believe that everybody has to be treated equally," he said.

In response, Sall said Senegal was "still not ready" to decriminalize homosexuality. He said the country was "very tolerant" but needed more time to address the issue.

Though Obama's visit was seen as an opportunity to showcase Senegal's stability and history of peaceful democratic transition, the front pages of local newspapers on Friday were dominated by talk of the exchange on homosexuality. The newspaper Liberation, for example, praised Sall for his "courageous" stance and, alongside a photo of Obama and Sall, ran a banner headline that played on Obama's famous campaign slogan: "No, we can't."

Sall said Friday that he was not disappointed that the issue of homosexuality had received so much attention. He said he welcomed the opportunity to contrast his views with Obama's.

"I'm not disappointed, because I'm a democrat and I can understand very well the position of President Obama on this topic," Sall said. "We are friends. We are partners."

Asked Friday if he thought the day might come when gays are accepted in Senegal and throughout Africa, Sall said it was impossible to predict.

"I don't know what will happen in 10 years, because the world changes," he said. "It depends on each culture or each civilization. We have to take time. Because people need time to absorb. It's not something you can have in one day."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senegalese-president-defends-anti-gay-law-165212208.html

Rex Ryan tattoo Alaska earthquake houston texans houston texans green bay packers Joe Webb Fiesta Bowl

Middle School History Teacher Travels to Turkey on Training Trip

Middle School History Teacher Travels to Turkey on Training Trip

By Debbie Cohen | Jun. 27, 2013

This article was originally published in the summer 2013 Harker Quarterly.

Middle school history teacher Andrea?Milius loves spending her days?speaking about events from the past.?Last month the inspiring instructor?made a little history of her own after?being selected as the first Harker?faculty member to travel to Turkey on?an impressive two-week historic and?culturally-based teacher training trip.

Milius heard about ?this wonderful?opportunity? through a resource?she had been working with for?professional development called?ORIAS (The Office of Resources for?International and Area Studies).?Sponsored by the University of?California, Berkeley, ORIAS provides?scholarly resources and professional?development for K-12 and community?college educators.

Her application to be considered for?the trip consisted of a series of essay?questions focused on the incorporation?of global education and international?perspectives into her curriculum,?especially in reference to the Middle?East and Islam.

The unique travel program was offered?through the Middle Eastern Studies?Center at Ohio State University, which?strives to peacefully bridge gaps?dividing people along cultural, ethnic?and religious lines.

Aided by a Turkish guide named?Serkand, Milius and nine other lucky?trip recipients (including teachers,?curriculum writers, librarians and?even an international lawyer) gained?firsthand knowledge of the Middle?East, its past and current economic,?social and political developments.

The goal of the trip was to enable?participants to return to their work in?the United States better equipped to?promote teaching, learning, research?and public awareness of the diverse?array of Middle Eastern languages,?cultures and peoples.

?The trip achieved its objectives. I feel?honored to have participated, and I?am so thankful that Harker supported?me in this endeavor. I learned so much?about Turkish daily life and culture?as well as the many intricate details?about the actual practice of Islam,?even though this was one of my major?areas of research in?graduate school,??reported Milius.

Source: http://news.harker.org/middle-school-history-teacher-travels-to-turkey-on-training-trip/

Amish Mafia Dave Grohl 121212 Cal State Fullerton Pacific Rim Ravi Shankar Geminid meteor shower

Kate Middleton: Inside the Dramatic Non-Delivery!!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/06/kate-middleton-inside-the-dramatic-non-delivery/

Stephanie Rice Meet the Pyro Karen Klein Colorado fires Summer Solstice 2012 Waldo Canyon fire K Michelle

Pioneer's SC-79 uses HDBaseT to feed HDMI video throughout the ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PIONEER ELITE SC RECEIVERS
ENTERTAIN CONSUMERS ANYWHERE IN THE HOME
Flagship SC Model First to Feature HDBaseT Compatibility

CEA Line Show ? New York (June 26, 2013) ? Offering the highest quality entertainment anywhere in the home, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today completed its line of ultra high-end Elite? SC receivers with the introduction of the SC-75, SC-77 and SC-79 THX Certified 9.2-channel audio video receivers. The new models offer best-in-class performance utilizing Pioneer's renowned Class D3 amplification technology that can simultaneously drive each channel at extremely high volume levels without loss of power and audio quality. The receivers are also integrated with additional technologies and convenience features including HDBaseT? (SC-79 only), high-resolution audio playback, multi-room and multi-source setup and playback configurations, 4K Ultra HD upscaling, ESS SABRE32 Ultra DAC? (digital-to-analog converter), 192 kHz/32-bit audio scaler, iControlAV2013 App compatibility and more.

"We're continuing to integrate the newest and most advanced technologies available into our products, including being the first manufacturer to incorporate the new HDBaseT high definition multi-zone standard," said Chris Walker, director of AV marketing and product planning for the Home Electronics Division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "Through our Class D3 technology, each one of these receivers is built to produce an enormous amount of power efficiently without sacrificing performance, whether it's powering an advanced 9.2-channel home theater set up or spreading the task to various rooms of the house."

Performance and Control
? HDBaseT (SC-79 only) ? The SC-79 model is the first receiver in the industry to use the HDBaseT standard for a one wire multi-zone connection. It enables the delivery of uncompressed high definition video and audio, over a single cat5e/6 cable to make setup and control of even the most complex home theater systems faster and easier.

? Class D3 Amplification ? Pioneer's Class D3 amplifier technology delivers incredible sonic performance and ultra-low distortion making the SC line of receivers the world's only Class D amplifiers to achieve THX Certification. Pioneer Elite receivers are engineered to operate at extremely high output levels with virtually no background noise or loss in performance, even when all channels are simultaneously driven at full volume. The amp technology delivers the true audio potential of high-resolution audio content as well as other high-definition uncompressed sources such as Blu-ray Disc? titles.

? Multi-Zone Network Capabilities ? The SC-75, SC-77 and SC-79 are built for maximum installation flexibility offering a variety of multi-zone set-up configurations. All nine speaker channels can be reconfigured 11 different ways (12 with SC-77 and SC-79), all controllable from the receiver and/or user's portable device via the iControlAV2013 App (available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and Android? OS devices). In addition to a true 9.2-channel speaker setup, each amplifier can produce a 5.1-channel configuration, with the extra outputs utilized for powering different zones that can be independently controlled.

All three models offer simultaneous entertainment from different sources in up to four zones ? a main zone, a powered Zone 2 (two speakers in a second room), a powered Zone 3 (two speakers in a third room) and HDZONE (additional HDMI source to a fourth room). In these setup configurations, users have the ability to adjust tone (treble and bass), volume and balance (left and right), and the option to incorporate a subwoofer to create a more powerful 2.1-channel system (for Zone 2).

? ESS SABRE32 Ultra DAC ? Each SC receiver uses nine SABRE32 Ultra DACs to process information for each individual output channel, resulting in outstanding sound quality. The SABRE32 Ultra DAC produces warm, more natural audio as well as a linear response so audio changes are more subtle with less jitter.

? USB 32-Bit Asynchronous Audio DAC (SC-79 only) ? The SC-79 incorporates a USB 32-Bit Asynchronous Audio DAC allowing direct connection to both Windows? and MAC computers. Music played from the computer utilizes the highly accurate audio optimized clock within the receiver, resulting in less jitter, studio-like audio reproduction. Additionally, the SC-79's USB DAC supports DSD Native playback (DSD over PCM transfer) via MAC and Windows computers.

? THX Certification ? All three new SC receivers feature THX Certification signifying they passed over 2,000 laboratory tests to ensure that each receiver delivers the highest standard of quality and cinematic performance right out-of-the-box. Each THX Certified model contains THX Loudness Plus? which automatically rebalances audio levels as the volume is lowered, allowing listeners to hear critical sound details and effects at any volume.

? Air Studios Monitor Certified (SC-77 & SC-79 Only) ? For over 10 years, Pioneer has worked closely with the legendary Air Studios Recording facility in London to develop technologies that authentically translate the musical experience and bring studio-level entertainment to today's home audiences. Both the SC-77 and SC-79 have achieved the highest level of certification, ensuring a level of performance and sound quality above and beyond previous Pioneer AV receivers that were certified last year.

? Custom Installation ? For advanced home theater control, the receivers are certified for compatibility with the most popular custom control companies including Crestron? and Control4?, and offer custom installation features including full two-way RS-232-over-IP control.

? Simple Control and Set Up ? Pioneer's proprietary iControlAV2013 App, available for free from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.AppStore.com, or Google? Play (www.GooglePlay.com) for Android devices, offers wireless control over the features and functionalities of all three SC models from the convenience of the user's mobile digital devices. Pioneer's AVNavigator (now available for Windows? on the bundled CD-ROM, for Mac on the Pioneer website, and for iPad on the App Store) is a two-way interactive owner's manual that can be used with the receivers to walk users through the entire setup process including speaker arrangement, sound optimization and firmware updates.

More Entertainment Sources
? 4K Ultra HD Upscaling ? The new SC receivers support the next generation 4K Ultra HD resolution standard to provide the highest quality video image available, with the ability to pass through 4K video signals to compatible displays. The models also have the ability to upscale lower resolution analog and HDMI video signals for viewing in 4K Ultra HD resolution when used with the latest 4K displays.

? Expanded Music Options ? All three SC receivers enable playback of high resolution FLAC, WAV, AIFF, Apple Lossless and for the first time DSD files in both 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz files from a networked computer or connected USB drive. Lower quality MP3, WMA, and AAC files are also supported. Users can also enjoy gapless playback for AIFF, FLAC, WAV and Apple Lossless files as well as DSD file music playback. All receivers are Windows 8 certified and feature DLNA? 1.5 certification for music content playback from a networked DLNA server or a DLNA application being used on a Windows PC, Mac, or smartphone connected on a home network, either through a wired Ethernet connection or wirelessly by adding the optional AS-WL300 wireless adapter.

The receivers offer a wide range of music options including access to today's most popular Internet radio music services including PANDORA? and vTuner?. Pioneer's PUSH PLAYER, a feature on the iControlAV2013 App designed for the new Elite receivers, enables users to access the music libraries stored on their devices and create playlists for wireless streaming.

? Music Streaming
Users of iOS devices can take advantage of Apple's AirPlay to stream music to the receivers from their iTunes music library, whether it's coming from a Mac or PC, as well as music stored on their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch1. All three receivers also support Android OS devices and compatible HTC? smartphones (including the new HTC One) through HTC Connect2, to stream music for the ultimate convenience.

? MHL 2.0 Connectivity
All three SC receivers include built-in MHL 2.0 connectivity for playback of audio and video content (including high-definition 3D content) and faster charging from many popular phones.

The Pioneer Elite SC-75, SC-77 and SC-79 receivers will be available in July with suggested retail prices of $1600, $2000 and $3000 respectively.

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., and its U.S. Web address is www.pioneerelectronics.com. Its parent company, Pioneer Corporation, is a preeminent manufacturer of high-performance audio, video and computer equipment for the home, car and business markets and is celebrating 75 years of innovation in the consumer electronics industry.

1AirPlay requires iTunes 10.1 or later and iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iOS 4.2 or later. A home Wi-Fi network is required.
2 HTC Connect is defined as interoperability testing of music streaming performed between compatible smartphones and Home AV products using the HTC Connect Music Application. Third party music applications, meaning apps other than the HTC Connect-compatible smartphone's native music player, may not work with HTC Connect.

PIONEER, ELITE and the PIONEER and ELITE logos are registered trademarks of Pioneer Corporation.
HDBaseT is trademark of the HDBaseT Alliance.
MHL, the MHL Logo, and Mobile High-Definition Link are trademarks or registered trademarks of MHL LLC in the United States and other countries.
HTC, the HTC logo, and HTC Connect are registered trademarks or trademarks of HTC Corporation.
PANDORA is a registered trademark of Pandora Media, Inc.
Air Studios is registered trademarks of Air Studios, Inc.
Android is a registered trademark of Google Inc.
SABRE32 DAC is a registered trademark of ESS Technology, Inc.
DLNA, the DLNA Logo and DLNA CERTIFIED? are trademarks, service marks, or certification marks of the Digital Living Network Alliance.
vTuner is a registered trademark of Nothing Else Matters Software, Ltd.
Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
Control4 is a registered trademark of Control4 Corporation.
Crestron is a registered trademark of Crestron Electronics, Inc.
THX and THX Loudness Plus are trademarks of THX Ltd. THX is registered in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. All rights reserved.
WINDOWS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
# # #

Contacts:
Katherine Harbeston, 310.952.2388, Katherine.harbeston@pioneer-usa.com
Jaed Arzadon, 310.952.2451, Jaed.arzadon@pioneer-usa.com
Dana Block, 310.496.4460, Dana@allisonpr.com

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/26/pioneer-sc-79-receiver-hands-on/

obama dog doug hutchison larry brown thomas kinkade pat summit brewers matt cain

CNN bringing 'Crossfire' back on the air

FILE - In this March 16, 2013 file photo, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich apears during the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md. CNN is bringing its political show "Crossfire" back on the air this fall with Newt Gingrich as one of the combatants. The original political talk show on cable news aired on CNN from 1982 until 2005. The new version will air on weekdays, although CNN said Wednesday, June 26, that the show has no time slot yet. Gingrich, the former House speaker and presidential candidate, is one of two hosts "from the right" matched against two liberal voices. Conservative commentator S. E. Cupp, who also works at The Blaze, is Gingrich's conservative partner. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, file)

FILE - In this March 16, 2013 file photo, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich apears during the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md. CNN is bringing its political show "Crossfire" back on the air this fall with Newt Gingrich as one of the combatants. The original political talk show on cable news aired on CNN from 1982 until 2005. The new version will air on weekdays, although CNN said Wednesday, June 26, that the show has no time slot yet. Gingrich, the former House speaker and presidential candidate, is one of two hosts "from the right" matched against two liberal voices. Conservative commentator S. E. Cupp, who also works at The Blaze, is Gingrich's conservative partner. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, file)

NEW YORK (AP) ? CNN said Wednesday that it is bringing the political debate show "Crossfire" back on the air this fall with Newt Gingrich as one of the combatants.

The former House speaker and Republican presidential candidate will be one of the four regular hosts of the program, taking the conservative side along with commentator S.E. Cupp of The Blaze. Stephanie Cutter, a former campaign spokeswoman for President Barack Obama, and Van Jones, a Yale-educated attorney and advocate for green projects, will speak from the left.

"It just feels like the right time for 'Crossfire' to be coming back," said Sam Feist, CNN's senior vice president and Washington bureau chief. The show will air weekdays but no time slot has been set.

The original aired on CNN from 1982 until 2005, and its alumni list reads like a Washington who's who ? Pat Buchanan, Robert Novak, Geraldine Ferraro, Lynn Cheney, James Carville, Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson among them. It was essentially killed by Jon Stewart.

"The Daily Show" host appeared on "Crossfire" in 2004 and got into a bitter fight with Carlson, with Stewart calling the show "partisan hackery" that did little to advance the cause of democracy. When then-CNN U.S. President Jon Klein cancelled it a few months later, he said he was essentially siding with Stewart.

But with Fox News Channel tilting right and MSNBC leaning left, there really isn't a debate program on cable TV now that is a fair fight, Feist said.

"CNN is really the only network that can have a bipartisan debate show with some level of authenticity," he said.

Each show will have a single topic and feature two of the four regular hosts, joined by two guests who are experts on the particular issue being discussed, Feist said. It will be a studio show without the audience that was used in a later incarnation of "Crossfire," he said.

New CNN chief Jeff Zucker began pushing for the show's resurrection almost since taking over this winter, saying he had long been a fan of it, Feist said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-06-26-TV-CNN-Crossfire/id-45dba2501935457d8bd9dbc3b03cc021

Splash Ncaa Basketball Tournament NCAA Bracket 2013 Robert Morris spring lululemon jon hamm

Marathon speech helps Democrats block Texas abortion bill (reuters)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/315321529?client_source=feed&format=rss

russell westbrook NFL Draft Grades 2013 living social pnc Pain and Gain Eddie Lacy Justin Pugh

Judge in Trayvon Martin case weighs police calls

SANFORD, Fla. (AP) ? Several times in six months, neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman called police to report suspicious characters in the gated townhouse community where he lived. Each time, he pointed out that the suspects were black males.

On Tuesday, the judge at Zimmerman's murder trial in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin listened to the five calls and weighed whether to let the jury hear them, too.

Prosecutors want to use them to bolster their argument that Zimmerman was increasingly frustrated with repeated burglaries and had reached his breaking point the night he shot Martin.

The recordings show Zimmerman's "ill will," prosecutor Richard Mantei told Judge Debra Nelson.

"It shows the context in which the defendant sought out his encounter with Trayvon Martin," Mantei said.

Defense attorney Mark O'Mara argued that the calls were irrelevant and that nothing matters but the seven or eight minutes before Zimmerman fired the deadly shot into Martin's chest.

The prosecution is "going to ask the jury to make a leap from a good, responsible, citizen behavior to seething behavior," O'Mara said.

Prosecutors played the calls with the jurors out of the courtroom at the beginning of a day in which the state presented graphic photos of Martin's body, a police officer described trying to revive Martin as bubbling sounds came from his chest, and a police manager described how she helped Zimmerman set up the neighborhood watch.

In the calls, Zimmerman identifies himself as a neighborhood watch volunteer and recounts that his neighborhood has had a rash of recent break-ins. In one call, he asks that officers respond quickly since the suspects "typically get away quickly."

In another, he describes suspicious black men hanging around a garage and mentions his neighborhood had a recent garage break-in.

Zimmerman, 29, could get life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder for gunning down Martin as the young man walked from a convenience store. Zimmerman followed him in his truck and called a police dispatch number before he and the teen got into a fight.

Zimmerman has claimed self-defense, saying he opened fire after the teenager jumped him and began slamming his head against the concrete sidewalk.

Zimmerman, whose father is white and whose mother is Hispanic, has denied the confrontation with the black teenager had anything to do with race, as Martin's family and its supporters have charged.

On Tuesday, Day 2 of testimony, prosecutors called to the stand a Sanford police sergeant who was the second officer to arrive on the scene. Sgt. Tony Raimondo testified that he tried to seal a bullet wound in Martin's chest with a plastic bag and attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Bubbling sounds indicated air was escaping the teen's chest, Raimondo said. Martin was pronounced dead a short time later.

During Raimondo's testimony, prosecutors showed jurors a photo of a dead Martin face-down in the grass, another of Martin's body face up with his eyes slightly open, and a third of the bullet wound. Martin's father, Tracy Martin, walked out of the courtroom during the testimony.

Wendy Dorival, former coordinator of the Sanford Police Department's neighborhood watch program, testified how she had worked with Zimmerman to set up a watch in his neighborhood.

When asked by prosecutor John Guy if neighborhood watch participants should follow or engage with suspicious people, she said no.

"They are the eyes and ears of law enforcement," Dorival said. "They're not supposed to take matters into their own hands."

Similarly, Donald O'Brien, president of Zimmerman's homeowners association, said it was his understanding that neighborhood watch members are supposed to "stay at a safe distance" and "let the police handle it."

But Dorival said she was impressed with Zimmerman's professionalism and dedication to his community.

"He seemed like he really wanted to make changes in his community, to make it better," she said.

___

Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KHightower

Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/judge-trayvon-martin-case-weighs-police-calls-193729208.html

titanic After Earth storm chasers killed Mookie Blaylock Alexis Wright knaidel amelia earhart

BitTorrent Would Really Like Everyone To Stop Suggesting It's Being Used For Piracy

At this point, you've probably read about how popular Game of Thrones is on BitTorrent ? and there's at least one article calling the show "the once and future king of BitTorrent." Well, it sounds like BitTorrent, the company developing the open source file-sharing protocol of the same name, is getting a bit tired of the coverage. In a just-published blog post, the company's vice president of marketing Matt Mason argues that it's inaccurate to talk about a BitTorrent piracy record, because "piracy happens outside the BitTorrent ecosystem":

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Dq7h2_PS1EA/

gary johnson where do i vote dixville notch Remember Remember The 5th Of November African painted dogs What Time Do Polls Open Krysten Ritter

Bad trip: Man removes chunk of his penis at middle school after eating shrooms

Hey kids: Ever wonder what happens at your school during summer vacation and also why it?s generally a good idea to avoid hallucinogenic drugs? The Daily Caller is here to help.

Late one night last week, police found a naked 41-year-old man wailing in agony outside Ypsilanti Middle School in Ypsilanti, Mich. During what had to have been a particularly bad magic mushroom trip, the man had ripped off parts of his own penis, reports the Lansing State Journal.

The man was kneeling. He was covered in blood from the waist down. He was near death, presumably from massive blood loss.

Police officers, who had responded to a burglar alarm, restrained the man and called an ambulance.

?He really wasn?t saying much at all ? a lot of yelling and screaming,? Sgt. Geoff Fox told the State Journal. ?He wasn?t making sense. They couldn?t really communicate with him in terms of constructive conversation.?

Fox added that at least some of the parts the man lost in the incident had been delivered with him to a nearby hospital.

It?s been a long, strange trip for the unidentified man who remains hospitalized in an also unidentified facility. He has since explained to investigators that he had obtained the shrooms earlier the same day. He had come to Ypsilanti to visit friends.

Sgt. Fox noted that the man has no history of drug abuse or mental disorders.

Fox told the State Journal that toxicology tests could provide more information about what happened.

?We?ve sent his blood off for further analysis to see if there was anything else, if the mushrooms could have been laced with something,? he said.

According to a faculty page created by Eric H. Chudler at the University of Washington?s website, the many physiological effects of hallucinogenic mushrooms include an inability to concentrate and, most famously, visual and auditory hallucinations. The effects typically last about four hours.

The website also cites a wise, old Croatian proverb: ?All mushrooms are edible, but some only once.?

Follow Eric on Twitter?and send education-related story tips to?erico@dailycaller.com.
Join the conversation on The Daily Caller

Read more stories from The Daily Caller

FAU professor in Jesus-stomping controversy reinstated, will teach online courses

Bad trip: Man removes chunk of his penis at middle school after eating shrooms

Seventh-grade boy allegedly raped during gym class at Barack Obama Prep

Obama's new climate plan relies on unilateral executive power

Top 10: Worst infomercials of all time [SLIDESHOW]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bad-trip-man-removes-chunk-115427257.html

axl rose google earnings pat burrell hilary rosen grilled cheese allen west north korea missile

Paula Deen Thanks Food Network Following Firing, Issues Second Apology

Source:

Eric Idle rory mcilroy Fatboy Slim Rio de Janeiro Shark Week London 2012 closing ceremony Shark Week 2012

Australia takes the hint, postpones plans for PRISM-style snooping

Here's some good news for anyone who considers Australia a haven from pernicious surveillance laws. The antipodean government has decided to postpone plans to force phone and internet companies to retain two years' worth of personal data after a scrutiny committee demanded changes. While it's not a total win for privacy fans, the legislation will now be re-examined after elections scheduled for September 14th -- with the Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus saying that the government will now "await further advice," before amending the prospective law.

Filed under: Internet

Comments

Source: Reuters

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/24/australia-postpones-snooping-legislation/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Innocence of Muslims Clara Schumann Jael Strauss Alison Pill Sam Bacile sprint britney spears

Rdio updates family plan, bumps the limit to five users for $32.99 a month

On its blog today, Rdio announced that it will now support up to five people on its family plan. Previously, only three customers were able to buddy up on the music-streaming service, with monthly pricing set at $17.99 for two users and $22.99 for three. Fees for two and three users will remain the same, while four members cost $27.99 and maxing out with five listeners will set you back $32.99 per month. If you already have an account and want to get your sibs in on the actions, head to your Rdio settings and select "Unlimited Family." From there, you can invite the family to sign on.

Filed under: Internet

Comments

Via: The Next Web

Source: Rdio Blog

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/24/rdio-updates-family-plan-five-users/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Columbus Day 2012 carlina white Sam Champion Engaged Infield fly rule Taken 2 Venezuela Elections Skyfall

Martin Truex Jr. snaps 218-race losing streak

Martin Truex Jr. celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race on Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Martin Truex Jr. celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race on Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Martin Truex Jr. sprays his team after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race on Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Martin Truex Jr. holds up his trophy after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race on Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Juan Pablo Montoya, of Colombia, leaves his car after it ran out of gas on the finish line at the end of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race on Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Juan Pablo Montoya, of Colombia, crawls across the finish line after running out of gas at the end of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race on Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

SONOMA, Calif. (AP) ? The post-race party was a blur after Martin Truex Jr.'s first win in 2007. The celebratory cool-down lap, the burnouts, the drive to Victory Lane all happened so fast.

So he planned to savor every minute of his next win.

He just didn't think it would take six years.

Truex snapped a 218-race winless streak Sunday with an easy victory on the road course at Sonoma Raceway. It was only the second win of Truex's career, but it put Michael Waltrip Racing in Victory Lane for the second year in a row after Clint Bowyer won here last season.

Overwhelmed with emotion as he crossed the finish line, Truex made the celebration count.

"I was a freaking mess. It was terrible," he said. "I had to stop and start doing donuts because I couldn't think about what I was doing. I tried to key the radio once and I couldn't even talk. So I thought, 'OK, I'm going to do some donuts and wave to the fans.' But after I stopped the first time and did that, I calmed down a little bit and I just wanted to make sure I took my time coming back, because I remember at Dover it all happens way too fast. You never know when you're going to get that opportunity again."

Truex blew out his rear tires, tried to wave to every single fan he saw, and took a slow drive around the picturesque road course on his way to Victory Lane, where the MWR crew was waiting to drink from the winner's enormous wine glass.

"I told them on the radio, if they're waiting on me, too bad. I'm taking my time," he said. "You can't explain the feeling. When it's been that long and you worked so hard and you've been so close ... when you think at times, 'Man, is this ever going to happen again?' You can't explain the feeling. It's pretty surreal."

Truex worked his way to the front and used strategy to stay with the leaders. He then pulled away after the final restart and built a healthy lead of more than six seconds over Juan Pablo Montoya, who was running second until he ran out of gas on the final lap.

"I'm ecstatic. But I'm not exactly sure how that happened," said Truex, who admitted he wasn't pleased with his car following Friday's practices. "The car was just phenomenal all day long and once I was near the front and didn't have to run the car 110 percent, it just would stay with me on the long runs and I was able to drive away from everyone."

Montoya, who came into the weekend knowing if he didn't win he would at least have a huge points day, dropped all the way to 34th after having to coast to the finish. He took a shortcut to skip the final turn, drifted to the finish line and parked. He then walked back to the garage, annoyed his Chip Ganassi Racing team never told him to save fuel.

"We've got tools to prevent things like that from happening," Montoya said.

"I don't know if all the fuel didn't go," Montoya said. "This is what we've been doing all year. We all work together and we're all trying to do the best we can. Half the reason we're 20-something in points ? we're not 20-something in points because we're not running fast. We're 20-something in points because we had a lot of mechanical problems and days like this we throw them away."

Crew chief Chris Heroy was perplexed about the shortage.

"We don't know what happened ? we were on the same strategy as (Truex)," Heroy said through a team spokeswoman. "We're going to go back to the shop and figure it out."

Montoya got little sympathy from Kyle Busch, who was spun by Montoya early in the race when Montoya drove too deep into a corner and wheel-hopped over a curb.

"Awww. My heart melts for @jpmontoya who ran out of gas," Busch tweeted moments after the race.

Jeff Gordon finished second a week after he was wrecked six laps into the race at Michigan, but felt like he might have had a chance to win if he had not already committed to pit seconds before a caution came out early in the race.

"I mean, I really do think we had a shot winning this race. We had a tremendous car," Gordon said. "I knew we were screwed. There was nothing I could do; I was hard on the brakes, fully committed. I couldn't turn away from it, I just knew we had to eat it and go on, and that's what we did."

Carl Edwards was third, followed by Kurt Busch, who climbed back from a pair of speeding penalties.

"Yeah, we were fast, even on pit road. Twice," Busch laughed. "I messed-up, flat-out. I didn't hit my tachometer right and I was speeding both times. It was one of those where I'm like, how does that happen? I just put myself in a position that was poor trying to get too much on pit road."

Bowyer wound up fifth in a strong day for the MWR Toyotas.

Kasey Kahne was sixth and followed by Marcos Ambrose, who was extremely disappointed he didn't win a race in which he was heavily favored.

"It's OK. We got a top-10 out of it," Ambrose said. "I wanted to win. Of course I wanted to win, but that's the way it goes."

Greg Biffle was eighth and followed by Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick in the top 10.

The race got off to an inauspicious start before it even began with a pit road accident, a mechanical issue for Jacques Villeneuve and an oil line failure for Bobby Labonte.

The accident occurred as the cars were headed onto the track and David Reutimann stopped his car on pit road. Alex Kennedy stopped behind Reutimann, and Paulie Harraka slammed into the back of Kennedy.

The damage wasn't significant enough to prevent Harraka from making his Sprint Cup Series debut. But it was a short-lived race for the first driver to advance from NASCAR's diversity program into a Cup race ? Harraka spun and crashed his car six laps later.

Meanwhile, a parts failure caused Labonte to dump oil all over pit road before the race and he was forced to take his car to the garage for a quick repair. Labonte made it onto the track for the green flag, but his engine failed on the first lap.

"It blew up, dude," Labonte said on his radio. "Something in the bottom engine because it had no oil pressure."

Villeneuve had an issue shifting his gears and had to stay on pit road for a quick repair before trying to catch up to the field at the start of the race. He made it, but the problem wasn't completely corrected and he was back on pit road after 19 laps for more repairs.

Busch had back-to-back speeding penalties in yet another race that slipped away. He led 15 laps, lost the lead to former teammate Brad Keselowski, then was flagged for speeding when he went in for a scheduled pit stop. He had to return to pit road for a stop-and-go penalty and was flagged for speeding again.

It dropped Busch to 38th in the running order, from where he had to climb back to steal his strong finish.

His brother also had his share of problems. Kyle Busch was spun early in the race by Montoya to lose a ton of track position, then gave up everything he made up when he was caught speeding on pit road. He also spun at least two more times during the race.

Danica Patrick, thought to be a contender based on her strong runs in Nationwide Series road races, struggled all weekend to find speed and was done in by a flat rear tire just past the halfway point. The tire issue caused her to spin into a barrier and make multiple pit stops for repairs.

"It was a long day, a long weekend," Patrick said. "We just couldn't get the car to the point where I was comfortable with it. We just couldn't get much to go our way this weekend. Having the cut tire and going into the tire barrier was just sort of salt in the wound."

Pole-sitter Jamie McMurray never even led a lap under green as he was passed at the start by Ambrose, and his race took a big hit when he later ran off course with a tire problem and lost a lap.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-06-23-NASCAR-Sonoma/id-8cb8565d8c9d4e0dbb1ace6f5c068456

womens final four josh hutcherson google april fools office space shell houston open mega millions winners anthony davis

The Most Badass Truck in the US Army Is Straight Out of Thunderdome

Keeping Afghanistan's roads free of improvised explosive devices is no easy feat when important routes are re-mined within hours of EOD teams clearing them. That's why US Army has deployed the Buffalo: a six-wheeled, 38-ton, armor-plated supertruck designed to demolish roadside bombs with abandon.

The Buffalo, built by Force Protection, is classified as a mine-protected clearance vehicle (MPCV) and is based on South Africa's Casspir APC (armored personnel carrier). It measures 27 feet long, 13 feet tall, and nine feet wide, and it has room for six. It's outfitted with a 440 HP CAT C13 12.5l engine that provides a 55 MPH top speed while the 85 gallon fuel tank delivers a range of 300 miles.

Like its namesake, the Buffalo MPCV is built tough. The vehicle is wrapped in layers of BAE Systems L-ROD aluminium armor and has a V-shaped undercarriage that directs IED blasts outwards from the centerline, away from the crew. All six of its steel wheels are equipped with Michelin 16 R 20 XZL aluminium-rim run-flat tires. In all, the Buffalo can shrug off small arms fire (up to NATO 7.62) and RPGs from the sides and top as well as withstand up to a 45-pound landmine to its wheels and 30 pounds of explosives to its underbelly.

Of course, the route clearance engineers would prefer to dispose of IEDs before they're sitting on top of them. That's why these vehicles are also equipped with a 30-foot robotic claw arm (complete with attached camera, sensor suite, and iron manipulator). In addition, the Buffalo can lower a set of disc rollers like a steamroller to run over and detonate bombs planted in the roadway.

The US Army Corps of Engineers deployed its first Buffalo to Afghanistan in 2003 for use in demining, route clearance, and convoy protection operations. Five years later, that number had swollen to 200 as the vehicles proved their usefulness and reliability. Many other European and Asian nations, such as the Italians above, have adopted them as well. "There are no RCPs [route clearance procedures] that are 100 percent," said Sgt. Daniel Martin, a heavy equipment operator in 535th Engineering Support Company, to the Army Times. "It what's working the best and when the enemy changes we have to change our tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs)."

And when it isn't hunting for roadside IEDs, the Buffalo can even be re-equipped as a standard APC or as a heavily armored medical transport. Eat your heart out, Tango and Cash's truck. [Army Technology - Defense Update - US Army - Global Security - Strategy Page - Top Image: US Army, Second Image: Squadra IEDD]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/the-most-badass-truck-in-the-us-army-is-straight-out-of-514162022

marshawn lynch earthquake bay area deron williams clear channel drexel dale george will

What GOP Racism? Illinois GOP Chairman Emails Ugly Racist Attack (Little green footballs)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/314126606?client_source=feed&format=rss

Jeanie Buss NFL playoff schedule 2013 Bronson Pelletier andy reid redskins sugar bowl downton abbey season 3

Massachusetts law could be a problem for the first UFC on Fox Sports 1 show

Red tape and paperwork may get in the way of the UFC's plans for their first fight on the new station, Fox Sports 1. The card is slated for Boston, but a law requiring certain documentation for foreign-born fighters could complicate things.

The Boston Herald reports that when Massachusetts legalized MMA, it required that foreign-born fighters to get Social Security numbers.

?This law has been in existence since we legalized mixed martial arts in the commonwealth of Mass?achusetts,? said Terrell Harris, spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety. ?It?s been brought to the attention of the UFC more than a few times since we legalized the fighting here. But they?ve chosen basically to ignore the law and hope that they could skirt it somehow."

According to Harris, the Social Security Administration allows for numbers with temporary work visas. But Shu Hirata, a manager who works with international fighters, said it's not that simple.

He tweeted the U.S. only gives tax identification numbers, not social security numbers. The officials in Massachusetts need to accept tax I.D. numbers for the foreign-born fighters. The process also involves the fighters sending in their passports to the IRS, which understandably would make anyone nervous.

Main eventer Mauricio "Shogun" Rua is Brazilian-born. Nick Ring is Canadian. Connor McGregor is from Ireland. Four other fighters from the card live and train outside the U.S. Thiago Alves is Brazilian, Brad Pickett is British, and Alistair Overeem is from the Netherlands. However, they live and train in the United States. Turning over their passport and dealing with the IRS is not quite as big of an ordeal as it is for the fighters who live outside the country.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/massachusetts-law-could-problem-first-ufc-fox-sports-150231850.html

champs calvin johnson calvin johnson sound of music Peter Billingsley festivus festivus

Safety review of bone growth product ushers in new era of data sharing

Public release date: 17-Jun-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Karen N. Peart
karen.peart@yale.edu
203-432-1326
Yale University

A Yale project involving the independent review of a bone growth product's safety has yielded results*, which are published in the June 18 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The findings are part of the Yale University Open Data Access (YODA) Project's novel partnership with Medtronic, Inc., to study and release all of the company's clinical trial research data on recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2).

"This marks the completion of YODA's first initiative and ushers in a new standard of transparency in clinical research," said team leader Harlan M. Krumholz, M.D., the Harold H. Hines Professor of Medicine (cardiology) and director of the Yale Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation. Krumholz and his colleagues co-authored an editorial on the project in the same issue of Annals of Internal Medicine containing the results.

The YODA Project seeks to address the problem of unpublished and selectively published clinical evidence. Medtronic is the first drug or medical device company to contract with YODA and allow access to all of its clinical trial data for independent reanalysis.

As part of this project, YODA is releasing two independent reviews of all clinical studies of Medtronic's rhBMP-2 and making the Medtronic data available to people pursuing scientific questions. The YODA team selected the Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon, and the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York, United Kingdom to conduct the reviews after an open competition.

These review organizations are also publishing academic papers on their findings in the Annals of Internal Medicine. An editorial in the same issue by the YODA team expresses the hope that this project marks a major step toward a cultural shift in thinking about data sharing. According to the YODA team, publication of the rhBMP-2 reviews is "an historic moment in the emerging era of open science."

"This project demonstrates what is possible when industry and academia work together for the common good, seeking to change assumptions about what is possible and to reset expectations about how best to serve society's interests," said Krumholz, who is also a professor of investigative medicine and public health, and is director of the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program.

"Open science and data sharing will create scientific enterprise that is better able to meet the needs of the public and is a sign of a company that is willing to compete in science rather than marketing," Krumholz added. "Let's hope that others adopt a similar approach."

###

Other authors on the YODA editorial include Joseph S. Ross, M.D., Cary P. Gross, M.D., Ezekiel J. Emanuel, M.D., Beth Hodshon, Jessica D. Ritchie, Jeffrey B. Low, and Richard Lehman, M.D.

*To obtain results of the independent studies please contact Angela Collom at Annals of Internal Medicine: ACollom@mail.acponline.org Office: 215-351-2653.

Citation: Annals of Internal Medicine

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 17-Jun-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Karen N. Peart
karen.peart@yale.edu
203-432-1326
Yale University

A Yale project involving the independent review of a bone growth product's safety has yielded results*, which are published in the June 18 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The findings are part of the Yale University Open Data Access (YODA) Project's novel partnership with Medtronic, Inc., to study and release all of the company's clinical trial research data on recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2).

"This marks the completion of YODA's first initiative and ushers in a new standard of transparency in clinical research," said team leader Harlan M. Krumholz, M.D., the Harold H. Hines Professor of Medicine (cardiology) and director of the Yale Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation. Krumholz and his colleagues co-authored an editorial on the project in the same issue of Annals of Internal Medicine containing the results.

The YODA Project seeks to address the problem of unpublished and selectively published clinical evidence. Medtronic is the first drug or medical device company to contract with YODA and allow access to all of its clinical trial data for independent reanalysis.

As part of this project, YODA is releasing two independent reviews of all clinical studies of Medtronic's rhBMP-2 and making the Medtronic data available to people pursuing scientific questions. The YODA team selected the Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon, and the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York, United Kingdom to conduct the reviews after an open competition.

These review organizations are also publishing academic papers on their findings in the Annals of Internal Medicine. An editorial in the same issue by the YODA team expresses the hope that this project marks a major step toward a cultural shift in thinking about data sharing. According to the YODA team, publication of the rhBMP-2 reviews is "an historic moment in the emerging era of open science."

"This project demonstrates what is possible when industry and academia work together for the common good, seeking to change assumptions about what is possible and to reset expectations about how best to serve society's interests," said Krumholz, who is also a professor of investigative medicine and public health, and is director of the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program.

"Open science and data sharing will create scientific enterprise that is better able to meet the needs of the public and is a sign of a company that is willing to compete in science rather than marketing," Krumholz added. "Let's hope that others adopt a similar approach."

###

Other authors on the YODA editorial include Joseph S. Ross, M.D., Cary P. Gross, M.D., Ezekiel J. Emanuel, M.D., Beth Hodshon, Jessica D. Ritchie, Jeffrey B. Low, and Richard Lehman, M.D.

*To obtain results of the independent studies please contact Angela Collom at Annals of Internal Medicine: ACollom@mail.acponline.org Office: 215-351-2653.

Citation: Annals of Internal Medicine

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-06/yu-sro061113.php

tony stewart kurt busch kurt busch nba dunk contest 2012 act of valor woody guthrie benson henderson

Stop Saying ?Sexual Preference?

A protester dressed as a devil who said his name is "Queen" stands with another demonstrator outside of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, March 26, 2013.

Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

There are some phrases that should just be done away with, but over time they are used and heard so routinely that we develop a sort of soft spot for them and can?t bear the thought of chopping off their heads. The term ?sexual preference??at least when it?s used interchangeably with ?sexual orientation??is one of these seemingly harmless phrases whose cultural execution, I?d say in this month of pride, is long overdue.

This is more than a matter of pedantics, and it?s definitely not one of political correctness. You?re more than entitled to continue using ?sexual preference? right alongside ?the gay lifestyle? or ?avowed homosexual? or whatever term you?d like to broadcast just how dense you really are. Just know that it?s simply flat-out incorrect to refer to a person?s sexual orientation as a ?preference.? More than that, it?s dangerous.

Having said that, sexual preference is unlike other terms in this particular social arena in that most people use it without any bad intentions. Naivet? is their only offense, and that?s far easier to fix than willful ignorance. There?s a certain breeziness to sexual preference, and I have no doubt that?s precisely why it?s so often used: People think they won?t offend gays and lesbians because of the lightness of tone. ?Well, another person?s sexual preference is none of my business,? we often hear good-hearted people say. ?So long as nobody?s getting hurt, to each his own.?

Still, it?s a quietly toxic expression. That?s because the very construct of a preference, or the verb ?to prefer,? implies that the individual has a choice, that there are options available and yet, all else being equal and as a matter of taste, really, the person would rather ?this one? over ?that one.? Think how bizarre it would sound if we were to apply the same language to any other unalterable biological trait. ?Suit yourself, and to each his own,? we might reason, ?but my preference is to have hands this size, not that size.? Or perhaps, ?It?s perfectly fine to go with a darker birthmark on your leg, I just preferred to get mine on my arm, and in this lighter shade of brown, too.? In fact, while we?re on skin color, this flawed logic would, of course, also extend to a person?s opting to be black, white, Asian, or any other race or ethnicity as a preference.

If there?s anything that the science of sexuality has taught us over the past few decades, it?s that human beings have little?if any?conscious control over what arouses them. That?s the case for men and women, gay, straight, or bi. Therefore, to say that one has a preference for males over females, or females over males, makes little sense, since it gives the impression that one had every opportunity to choose what to be turned on by. A straight man who is aroused by beautiful women may wonder how gay men could possibly ?prefer? men instead, but from a gay man?s perspective, those beautiful women aren?t even an option?they?re in an entirely different, non-erotic category altogether.

One can speak of sexual preferences correctly, perhaps, when it comes to people of the same sexual orientation having different tastes or being attracted to different types, such as a straight woman who prefers men with beards while another is more into the clean-shaven look, or a gay man who prefers more masculine partners while another is into campy characters. It?s also logical enough to use ?sexual preference? in the sense of sexual activities?a lesbian who prefers to give rather than to receive oral sex, for instance, or a straight man who prefers sex while standing up rather than lying in bed.

And perhaps it?s justifiable to use ?sexual preference? in some limited sense with bisexuals, who really are equally (or at least notably) aroused by both sexes. A bisexual person might have a hankering for one or the other at any given time and prefer to be with a man or a woman in the same way that, while we like them both, tonight we?re more in the mood for Chinese than Mexican food. Even here, though, it can quickly become problematic to adopt the sexual preference language, since it insinuates that bisexuals have the option of being gay or straight like everyone else, they just can?t make up their minds whether it?s males or females that they?d prefer to have sex with.

By contrast, the language of ?sexual orientation? avoids these types of conceptual pitfalls altogether, because it correctly conveys the scientifically accurate view that being gay, bi, or straight is a matter only of what our brains?and our genitals??orient? to sexually. We?re given no options in that process. Whichever way our erotic antennae point isn?t for us to decide.

For most of us, our brains were tuned to be gay or straight before we were born. Once we became sexually mature, we realized that the world was carved up for us into erotic and non-erotic categories. There?s nothing ?out there? that?s objectively sexual. Instead, our minds sexualize the scene before us, and the very same target in two people?s direct line of sight can be seen as two very different things. Where you see a chocolate cake (or Kate Upton), I see, say, a pencil; where I see a chocolate cake (or Anderson Cooper), you see a pencil. (Don?t get me wrong. Upton is a beautiful designer pencil made of handcrafted olive wood and embellished with rare sparkling gems, definitely pleasing to the eye. But functionally, she?s still a pencil to me, not something to savor with a glass of milk. Anderson, on the other hand ? well, never mind.)

All of this logic goes for the sexual paraphilias, too, which are primary patterns of arousal that lie outside the norm. The paraphilias, of course, are less tolerated as a whole than simply being gay, straight, or bi, and we argue over which groups get to use the term sexual orientation, but I see no rational reason not to regard the paraphilias as their own distinct sexual orientations. They?re notoriously difficult to study, but most scientists believe that paraphilias arise through a process of early childhood ?sexual imprinting,? especially in males. The point is that whether it happens in the womb or in the first several years of life, a person?s sexual orientation, whatever it is, isn?t an option that he or she preferred over another. It?s a lens forged upon our brains that sexualizes the world for us in a distinctive way. It just is. There?s no moralizing in this scenario. Zero.

I?m happy to moralize until I?m blue in the face, though, when it comes to those who?d continue proselytizing by using the embarrassing ?choice? and ?lifestyle? rhetoric. And I think it?s time to throw ?preference? into the vernacular trash with these venomous terms.

It?s become fashionable among social conservatives, I?ve noticed, to object to the use of the word ?bigot? because their ?personal beliefs? about homosexuality are simply different from another person?s. ?I don?t ?hate? gay people,? they say. ?I just disagree with them, that?s all.? By ?disagreeing,? either you?re willfully ignoring the obvious fact that sexual orientation is not a choice (which indeed makes you a bigot), or you?re simply unable to grasp the obvious fact that sexual orientation is not a choice (which makes you stupid).

So ? which of the two do you prefer?

Source: http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/06/sexual_preference_is_wrong_say_sexual_orientation_instead.html

kat dennings Steve Sabol Yom Kippur 2012 Aaron Paul packers Dancing With The Stars All Stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt