Racists of the week

Is the U.S. getting frighteningly more racist or is this just a new way for the klan types to express their bigotry?

A new professional basketball league boasting rosters made up exclusively of white Americans has its eyes set on Augusta, but the team isn't receiving a warm welcome.

The All-American Basketball Alliance announced in a news release Sunday evening that it intends to start its inaugural season in June and hopes Augusta will be one of 12 cities with a team.

Ram-Goat Soup

I really like the package design of this soup I just bought at my local newsagent's in South London.

Soup at its best! Real Mannish Water! It dominates any soup!

George Lucas on The Daily Show

I had included this in the previous post, but it deserves it's own:

George Lucas on The Daily Show. This really needs to be an hour long. You get the feeling that George has a slight clue as to the irreparable damage he's caused the Star Wars property, our childhoods, and potential childhoods of our children. Unfortunately he does not quite admit being culpable but if anyone could ask the hard questions to get a confession, it would be Mr. Stewart.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
George Lucas
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

via Geekdad

Today's Internet ephemera

Some of the things on the internets today. Have a good weekend, folks.

A working Star Trek phaser (Geeksaresexy)

Calvin & Hobbes style snowmen (WebUrbanist)

A whole lot of Macallan (Notcot.)

Lastly, and not just for Panic: here is something to consider

Let's hear it for Shaaktiman!

Random video courtesy of DTanji:

Pieces of Things Email Addresses!

Hey, new thing! I've set up custom email addresses for Pieces of Things. So if you'd like your own address ([your_name][at]piecesofthings.net, just let me know! Say "yes" in the comments, or something. The email account will just automatically forward to your email, which I probably have.

I don't know what possible use this could be, but it's easy to do, and I'm happy to do it.

Vote for Barbie's Next Career

Mattel's doing a thing where you can vote for Barbie's next career. You can choose from Environmentalist, Surgeon, Architect, News Anchor, Computer Engineer, or Southeast Asian Dictator. I'm kidding about that last one.

Much has been said about Barbie's inhuman physical proportions, and their (probably) negative impact on the self-images and expectations of children. Although Mattel has tried in the past to change the focus from Barbie's wardrobe to less shallow aspects of Barbie's wardrobe, and focus more on confounding gender stereotypes (going so far as to make her a doctor instead of a nurse!!) it seems that whenever they try to do something positive with the Barbie brand, they kind of step in it.

Does it make sense for Mattel to keep trying this approach, even though most basic flaws in the Barbie product make these attempts seem disingenuous to many? Every time they make a politically correct move like this, it's like they're standing up and yelling, "We're SORRY!"

Or should they give up altogether, embracing what they are (or is that space already taken)?

In the '90s, there was the Happy to be Me Doll, but it still had to hew close enough to the Barbie shape in order to be taken seriously, and quickly disappeared. Also, I'm guessing she couldn't fit into Barbie's clothes, so I bet that was kind of a bummer for people trying to switch. Mattel did widen Barbie's waist (warning: NSFW) in 2000. Are they standing on firmer ground now?

Or do I have it all wrong? Has Mattel successfully expanded the scope of this toy, which was intended to be idealized from the start, to include idealized disabilities, causes, and careers? I mean, the career you can vote on is "news anchor", and not, for example, "journalist".

Interested in what all of you think, especially the ladies. (And the parents of future ladies.)

Also, don't forget to vote! (Thanks to @20tauri for the link.)

Former Chrysler plant equipment up for sale.

Dudes. Duuuuuudes… Anyone live near Delaware?

The Great American Group is auctioning off some former assets of Chrysler and the University of Delaware, including but not limited to: 6-AXIS ROBOTS, golf-carts & fork-lifts, computer-guided mills, welders, metal lathes, compressors… I am beside myself with envy.