Disbelief

U.S. Rep. hangs up on Obama — ...twice! Pol in disbelief that President-elect would call her office?... [Tags: disbelief, president elect]

Tales of a teenage Christian robot — John Brownlee at BBG has written one of the most compelling posts of the past forty five minutes to an hour. His essay, essentially recounting his starring role as a Christian robot in a school play and the heart-stoppingly horrible explanation he received from his teacher regarding sentient robots is well worth the read. I just saw Hell House and the robot in John’s story, Colby, seems to be a direct extension of the mindset of Christian apotheosizing - fear and titillation are the best tools to turn on the non-believer. Anything else, including rationality, is suspect and, worse,... [Tags: bbg, best tools, colby, disbelief, fear]

In October 2007, while most tech media attention was focused on the OiNK raid, another large site got police attention. TV-Links, which linked to videos on YouTube-like sites was raided and shutdown, with the admin arrested. A year later, we catch up with the ex-admin of TV-Links for the entire story. When it became apparent that TV-Links.co.uk had been raided by police and the admin arrested, the news was met with some disbelief. TV-Links was a site that linked to videos that were hosted on video sharing sites like YouTube. It carried absolutely no illicit video content of its own.... [Tags: anti piracy, bust, civil offense, conviction, copyright infringement]

Google continues to ignore its Chrome browser — I like Google’s Chrome browser, maybe more than Google does.  I use Chrome on my Windows computer and am impatiently waiting for a version for the Mac. It’s a frustrating wait because Chrome was developed using WebKit, the system framework version of the engine that’s used by Safari.  While ads for Google Chrome have been spotted on YouTube and Linked In, I think the excitement for Chrome as dimished. Could part of that be because Google itself is doing such a poor job of supporting its own product? The Internets are all abuzz about the new GMail Themes and Colors.... [Tags: annoyances, beta testing, colors, disbelief, excitement]

Movember — Image via WikipediaNever really been one for facial hair, this month though something inside me has woken and it wants to be noticed. After going without shaving for just over a week, I have now taken a razor to my face and carefully sculpted a masterpiece. Referring to images of Josh Hartnett and Johnny Depp as a template I have now shaped a moustache and goatee. The reason behind this bold statement is to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues, such as prostate cancer and depression.Movember (a portmanteau of the words 'Moustache' and 'November') is an annual month-long... [Tags: australian men, bold statement, disbelief, facial hair, goatee]

The so-called “Motrin Moms” a small group of vocal Twitter users protesting against an online ad released for Motrin pain killers has scored a win, with the company forced to withdraw the ad and apologize to the group. If you missed our coverage yesterday, the small group were upset at a viral tongue in cheek video because among a few things, it dared suggest that wearing your baby in a sling was in fashion…despite the fact that the statement any way you approach it is a statement of fact. It’s sad really to think that in this day and age... [Tags: australian prime minister, disbelief, fashion, fire hose, layoffs]

CELEBRITY MATH: There’s a Reason Kids Paid Me 25 Cents To Dance the Roger Rabbit as a Child — The first time I watched the above AMAZING performance by Beyonce on SNL, I found myself watching the white dancer more than Beyonce or the other dancer... and I figured I was doing this because she was really, really good. Then, I spoke to a friend who is also a dancer, who said that the white girl, in fact, sucked, and that's why I staring -- in disbelief. She was certainly stiffer than the other two girls, but now I don't know what to believe. It almost looks like she won some sort of "Bounce Behind Beyonce!" contest at... [Tags: beyonce, bounce, celebrity, disbelief, kohls]

Is It Logical To Believe In God? — Do skeptics, agnostics and atheists have anything in common with people of faith? The recent popularity of books on both sides shows many opinions but not much evidence of similarities. Theologian Michael Novak, author of No One Sees God, argues that believers and nonbelievers often share experiences, including times of doubt. Does doubt lead to disbelief? Does faith always involve leaving reason behind? In this Beliefnet Blogalogue, skeptic and journalist Heather MacDonald, takes on Michael Novak in a lively discussion. Join this conversation about faith and doubt, belief and reason, and whether there is common ground for believers and nonbelievers.... [Tags: agnostics, atheists, belief, beliefnet, common ground]

Robert Koehler: Hope and Vision — I hope it's time, if nothing else, to retire cynical bumper stickers, such as: If elections could change anything, they'd be illegal. The air remains thick with a sense of history and change, if not mandate. People are still buying last Wednesday's newspaper, as though to prolong a moment that has already passed. But we know the significance of this election is still to come, right? We know that the forces of business as usual are closing ranks around the rock-star president-elect, and that the young idealist from Illinois we voted for could turn into a purely pragmatic centrist in... [Tags: articulation, barack obama, bumper stickers, campaign rhetoric, citizens groups]

Does Palin Even Understand Alaska's Oil Industry? — In her latest embarrassment, Sarah Palin has sparked new disbelief among Alaskans about her basic grasp of rudimentary facts about her own state. From Alaska Dispatch's Tony Hopfinger: In an interview with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren this week, Palin attempted to explain how oil development works in Alaska compared to other parts of the country. The governor claims Alaska is unique because it owns the oil, as opposed to oil companies holding sole claim to the crude on the North Slope. She’s wrong. We tried to find an example elsewhere in the country where a company owns the oil,... [Tags: alaska, alaskans, disbelief, embarrassment, fox news greta]

Jennifer Aniston’s Double Standard Comes Out in Vogue — The internet is abuzz like it’s 2005 again about Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie. Jen’s interview in December’s issue of Vogue has been leaked and now, let the fascination begin anew. Perez Hilton compiled a list of all the revisionist history that’s come about in the yet-to-be-published interview, from Jen now saying she was unaware of the burgeoning attraction between Brad and Angelina in 2005 to talking about her relationship with Vince Vaughn. The real double standard, though, is comparing how she describes Brad Pitt versus how she talks about Angelina Jolie. To wit, about Brad: “I mean,... [Tags: angelina jolie, brad and angelina, brad pitt, brad pitt and angelina, brad pitt and angelina jolie]

Stefan Sirucek: Born In The U.S.A. - Expats Look Back — BERLIN An excited, anxious mix of Americans and Germans crowded into the Babylon Theatre in Berlin last Tuesday to watch the election results roll in live on the big screen. It was an eight-hour nocturnal marathon, with people switching between beer and coffee to calm their nerves and stay awake, respectively. As soon as the contest was called there was a storm of cheering, crying and dancing. It was 6 AM German time when Obama gave his acceptance speech. A new day was literally dawning. "I want to apologize for using the word 'damn' earlier", said the MC, a slim... [Tags: acceptance speech, bakery, black man, californian, disbelief]

When you're done with the floor, the bathtub needs it — [Pup voice, laughing in disbelief] You really let that bathtub GO this week, didn't you! And I'd like dinner right after that. [Gets off mop, trots over to T.V.] Beauregard the Schipperke likes to help out where he can, right Christopher G.?... [Tags: bathtub, beauregard, disbelief, pup, schipperke]

Leaving it all on the road — I've been hearing a lot of stories like this one, from Heather in North Carolina: Dear Kos. I imagine that this email must join the many others in your inbox, each congratulatory, hopeful, ecstatic, amazed. What a ride, what a journey, what an a-fucking-mazing outcome. I have been a Kos reader since sometime before the 2004 election, back when I was a comfortable resident of a big blue state (California). I have since moved to a smaller red state (North Carolina), where I nearly died of shock when I realized that Elizabeth Dole was one of my Senators (*was*). I... [Tags: chunk, disbelief, ecstatic, elizabeth dole, email]

Adam Hanft: Hillary Clinton As Our Chekovian Role Model — Hillary Clinton didn't get what she wanted. Neither do most Americans. As I watched Tuesday night's overflow of ecstasy and disbelief, I couldn't help but think of her -- in that intensely lonely and painful moment. If president-elect Obama re-animated the American mythology that anything is possible here, Hillary Clinton's difficult year has been a theatrical reminder that most of us need to live with, and through, dashed dreams. She has become an embodiment of the ennobling virtues of disappointment. It's not the Obama role model, and it's not what she envisioned for life -- starting with her speech at... [Tags: adam hanft, admirable qualities, air force one, american mythology, campaign appearances]

Rapist Who Acted As His Own Lawyer Found Guilty — Serial rapist John Hamlett's strategy to act as his own lawyer and cross-examine one of his victims has backfired, surprising no one except Hamlett himself. The Daily News reports that he "shook his head in disbelief" when a jury found him guilty yesterday on all 12 counts of sexual abuse, criminal sexual acts, robbery, burglary, and criminal impersonation of a police officer. In 2006, Hamlett broke into the same building on East Third Street and Avenue B three times. On the first visit, he pushed into a woman's apartment with a 10-inch knife and sexually assaulted her. Thirteen days later,... [Tags: burglary, checkbook, criminal impersonation, cross examination, detective]

Getting the hang of this winning thing ... — ... is hard work. Just ask Andy Borowitz: Failure to Blow Election Stuns Democrats Party Faithful Mourn End to Losing Tradition Just minutes after their party's longstanding losing tradition lay in tatters on the ground, millions of shell-shocked Democrats stared at their television screens in disbelief, asking themselves what went right. For Democrats, who have become accustomed to their party blowing an election even when it seemed like a sure thing, Tuesday night's results were a bitter pill to swallow. Wrestling with our new positive reality, though, is getting easier by the hour, I must say.... [Tags: andy borowitz, bitter pill, democrats, disbelief, failure]

Darin Murphy: American Beauty — It's nearly impossible to grasp the sheer gravity of this moment. All watched with gaping mouths, transfixed by a numbing mixture of pride and disbelief as Barack Obama appeared in public for the first time as the next President. All newly elected presidents have a different demeanor once clearly elected, displaying a strong sense of confidence and authority. But for Barack it was different. He seemed in disbelief himself, a bit overwhelmed by both victory and grief. A bittersweet moment for him, indeed, but also one of keen awareness, for he knows as well as anyone, and more than some,... [Tags: american beauty, barack obama, beautiful america, beautiful today, bittersweet moment]

Bob Franken: "Power Concedes Nothing — It is hard to know which was more moving: Was it the crowds erupting after the results were known, people of all colors, hugging in mutual congratulation? Perhaps it was the close-ups of the older black faces, with tears of disbelief streaming, as they witnessed a young African-American family realize a possibility that most didn't even bother to dream. Equally memorable were the long, long lines at the polling places, as citizens patiently insisted with their votes that we couldn't go on the way we have been. It was a celebration of our country's best instincts, a release of... [Tags: american dream, barack obama, bob franken, cautionary note, close ups]

Ralph Nader Calls Barack Obama “Uncle Tom” In Bold Attempt To Nail Own Coffin Shut — Yes, Ralph Nader, we know every politician takes money from corporations and that turns them into literal parrots, but did you really mean to use the term "Uncle Tom" in reference to Barack Obama? Oh, you did? And you're still using it and attempting to justify it? Gotcha. This video of Fox's Shepard Smith confronting Nader in disbelief is a lot more sad than funny, but I couldn't help but laugh at two parts -- 0:39 - Smith's initial frozen reaction to the quote, which is basically the phrase "Are you f***ing serious??" in different words. 2:42 - While Nader... [Tags: barack obama, bold attempt, choice of words, coffin, corporations]