Mahmoud

In a major essay, John Pilger describes a 'Faustian Pact' that allows the suppression of a modern fascism in the West and its reliance on propaganda as news, and the beckoning of a war that rarely speaks its name.

how does a creature do tricks 

because it has a life of its own

TODAYS @DREWTOOTHPASTE: when i was your age

by The Awkward Yeti

…couldn’t drag me away

blottsie writes Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush hasn't even yet formally declared his desire to run for president in 2016, but he's already started what appears to be a major privacy blunder. His new project, the Jeb Emails, a massive, open database of correspondence to and from his jeb@jeb.org email address, publishes the full names, messages, and email addresses of his constituents who emailed him during his eight years in office.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

If you’re looking for something fun, check out the /dev/gibson kernel module which creates a device on your Linux machine that prints out the script to the classic 1995 film Hackers.  Although it’s funny to look back at early internet & cyberpunk films of the 90’s, this kernel module actually has some practical use.  If you’re learning about how to write a kernel module something as simple as /dev/gibson can be a great resource to see how a basic device and module are created.  Hack the planet!

/dev/gibson on Github

According to rather thorough restaurant industry report from PayScale, San Francisco bartenders and servers make more money than their counterparts in 16 other major American cities.

Including tips, bartenders make a total median hourly base of $26.50 per hour in San Francisco, according to PayScale; that’s more than $10 more per hour than New York barmen. San Francisco servers aren’t far behind, at $21.50 per hour, outpacing their Los Angeles and San Diego peers, which clock in at $16.20 and $17.50, respectively.

As you can see in the report (cool interactive data below), it puts some numbers to the refrain has been growing louder in the Bay Area restaurant industry lately, and has spurred several Bay Area restaurants to abandon tipping with the hope of evening out the lopsided scale between front-of-house (servers, bartenders, typically tipped employees) and back of house (cooks, dishwashers et al.).

Cooks make an average of $14.30 in San Francisco, with only 6.99% of that income from tips, per the report. By comparison, 55.3% of local servers’ income stems from tips.

San Francisco doesn’t have a tip credit, like New York and other big cities, which means that servers and bartenders get minimum wage in addition to tips; in cities with a tip credit, tips count toward minimum wage. And don’t forget that the minimum wage of $11.05 is rising again later this year to $12.25 in May, with an eventual destination of $15/hour in 2018.

The PayScale report is based on self-reported stats, from 15,000 workers across the country who took the the PayScale Salary Survey between January 1, 2013 and January 1, 2015. Read more about the methodology over on PayScale; hat-tip to Eater National.

Compare San Francisco restaurant salaries with others from around the country:

· Previously: 5 Bay Area restaurants taking tips off table, adding surcharge [San Francisco Chronicle]
· Previously: CHAT: Tipping Point on Tipping? [San Francisco Chronicle]
· Previously: All Inside Scoop tipping coverage [Inside Scoop]

In what may be one of the most ground-breaking developments in creating artificial sunlight, a group of Italian scientists recently announced CoeLux, a new kind of skylight that perfectly mimics the feel of daylight. The creator’s claim the system is so effective that it tricks unknowing individuals into thinking they are looking up at the actual sun.

The inventors are somewhat tight-lipped about how CoeLux works, but it involves filtering a light source through a layer of nanoparticles that mimic Earth’s atmosphere. Because of this, not only does the color match sunshine but the quality does as well. In the photos above—which CoeLux insists aren’t digitally altered—you can get an idea of how realistic the light is, and see it in action in the video.

The light is currently available in three different configurations that mimic sunlight at different points on the globe including tropical, mediterranean, and nordic environments. Applications for CoeLux might involve anywhere light is scarce, from extreme environments like scientific outposts to underground parking garages or even in hospitals. You can see more on their website. (via PetaPixel)

From NetEase:

Two Cement Trucks in Guangdong Flatten BMW

At 11:46am on February 9th, in Guangdong province Meizhou city, after a cement truck slammed into a BMW due to a brake malfunction, it then pushed it into another cement truck in front of it, flattening the small vehicle, with the two occupants inside unfortunately killed.

Comments from NetEase:

网易北京市手机网友 ip：61.148.*.*

This doesn’t look like a simple traffic accident. You know what I mean.

网易北京市手机网友 ip：117.136.*.*

I don’t think this is a simple traffic accident! The one behind looks like it was intentional!

八涛 [网易浙江省手机网友]：

Large vehicles need to be policed more. The fucking relevant government departments/authorities are all fucking doing nothing.

网易重庆市手机网友 [虎贲甲士]：

Just imagine, if a BMW ends up like that, you know what other domestic or Japanese cars would be like.

逛窑子咯 [网易福建省福州市手机网友]： (responding to above)

With the risk of being the “second floor” [first reply], I just knew some stupid cunt would say this!

旮旯里的尊贵 [网易山东省青岛市手机网友]：

This, actually is a huge plot/conspiracy.

寡人在流浪 [网易浙江省杭州市手机网友]：

Too frightening.

罗伯特王二 [网易北京市顺义区手机网友]：

What a tragedy!! Rest in peace to the departed. Drive safely and stay away from large vehicles!!

宫本武藏君 [网易上海市手机网友]：

So scary, and once again a cement truck!!!

pppppf@163.com [网易北京市手机网友]：

Too scary.

Comments from Phoenix Online:

凤凰网外星网友： Posaiton

Don’t you guys think this way of dying resembles that of a plot/conspiracy?

凤凰网山东省济南市网友： 凤凰网友

You can tell from the strength of impact that the odds are that it was murder.

凤凰网四川省绵阳市网友： 手机用户

Even a brake malfunction wouldn’t result in an crash like this, right?

凤凰网辽宁省沈阳市网友： 手机用户

Looking at the collision, the cement truck seems to have suddenly increased speed. Did the brakes fail? Or? It must be investigated.

凤凰网广西壮族南宁市网友： 悟道观禅

How can this kind of cement truck enter the city? [Large trucks of a certain weight may be restricted from certain routes in some places].

凤凰网湖北省武汉市网友： 3596310540480459a7-aec2-

Cement truck, they fucking the worst! [Always] driving recklessly in the city!

凤凰网四川省成都市网友： 60e1a5ad-7764-4624-8bf8-

The BMW driver, a classic case of being inexperienced, only knowing to step on the brakes. Stay calm, quickly change direction, don’t just stand on the brake, and at most the back of the BMW would impacted. These days, there are too many drivers who only know how to drive but do not know how to handle emergency situations.

凤凰网黑龙江省哈尔滨市网友： 带头大哥

Cement truck accidents should be classified as intentional homicide crimes!

凤凰网贵州省贵阳市网友： 手机用户

So unlucky.

凤凰网辽宁省沈阳市网友： 手机用户

When seeing a large cargo truck or cement tanker, I stay at a distance, salute and let them pass.

From Sina Weibo:

@妖妖小精: What you see below is a husband and wife lion hunting together.

Comments from Sina Weibo:

PaNg_PaNg_2046：

Shang, shang, shang, shang shang… I didn’t say shang me… !!!

[Note: This comment involves a pun on the word 上 shang. The lioness is first telling the lion repeatedly to “join” the hunt and help her. He instead “mounts/fucks” her, which is another meaning of the word. (h/t: Nat)]

Delddden：

A 99999 point critical hit on the bachelor cow/ox. Hunting success.

Meezar：

Working women are the sexiest.

GottaDream：

“Oh hey, my wife is hunting.” “Looks like she’s working quite hard too.” “My wife is the sexiest when she’s working hard.” “Okay, I have to bust a nut now.”

布鲁策就是brochure就是小册子：

husband-takes-naked-wife-in-apron-cooking-breakfast-from-behind.avi

爱清圆滚滚_：

Just how sad the bull must feel.

小猪弈天：

The bachelor cow/ox must be hysterical, to have to see such a demoralizing live broadcast right before death. ⊙﹏⊙

9月Cherry：

“You little minx, I don’t want to eat him, I want to eat you!”

余小磊爱大锅：

The big black ox is dumbfounded: TMD, are you guys going to hunt me or not?!

BaconXXX：

Honey, you’re just too sexy when you’re making food, I simply couldn’t control myself.

赵天齐：

Male Lion: “Thank you, my ox brother! Without your help, I wouldn’t have been able to take this little bitch!”

魔人九九菌：

Hahaha, the love of the young comes when it comes.

天才PG徐放：

What the lioness caused was physical harm, but what the lion caused was emotional/psychological harm.

惘言：

The urge came and couldn’t be held back.

我多么想成为你的_鹿：

It’s just that your pose was so sexy, so I got hard… The male lion’s inner dialogue.

美狄亚的笑：

Early in the morning, the male lion turned to the female lioness and pouted, “I’m hungry and want to eat something…” The lioness laughed, got up, and went to the kitchen, put on an apron, and the kitchen was filled with the sounds of preparing breakfast. However, throughout this, the lion gazed upon the uncovered parts of the lioness’s statuesque body, the hair that fell upon her neck, her faintly discernible breasts, her round and perky buttocks, the repeated movement of her flesh. The lion suddenly wrapped his arms around the lioness from behind, “What I want to eat is you…”

布拉伐格格格子：

Hubby, now! Now… dammit, I didn’t say to get on me. [Involves the same pun as the first translated comment.]

活动小丑：

…The wild ox says: Can you two please take this more seriously?

royalwatcher:

The many jewels and amour once belonging to the one of the most powerful empires in the world, the Ottoman Empire on display at the Topkapi Palace. [x]

from: Priscilla P.
to: "tiangotlost@gmail.com"
date: Sat, Dec 13, 2014 at 10:33 AM
subject: Re: God's Love

Get it at Sharing Machine.

From NetEase:

Xinjiang Herdsman Finds 8kg Gold Nugget, Lawyer: Minerals Are Property of the State

On 2015 January 30, a 7.85kg gold nugget in was found by a Kazakh herdsman in Xinjiang’s Altay prefecture Qinggil county. According to local historians, this is the largest gold nugget ever found in Xinjiang.

When it comes to finding a natural piece of gold, who gets ownership? Shaanxi Qingang Law Firm lawyer Shi Weibin says this herdsman not only cannot keep the piece of gold he found, he also mustn’t sell it on the market.

A marvel

A brilliant yellow object lay exposed on the ground

On the morning of the 4th, this reporter contacted by phone the herdsman who had found the gold nugget. He lives in Qinggil county, and his family has for the past few years made a living raising livestock. In 2014, he and his friends joined together to search for gold, never expecting to accidentally find this gold nugget.

The herdsman excitedly said that around 7pm on 2015 January 30, he was walking around a mining site in Qinggil county as usual when suddenly he say a brilliant yellow object lying exposed on the ground. “When I walked closer, I was dumbfounded. My god, it was a piece of gold! I was so excited that I was jumping up and down.” Afterward, he rushed to call his family, and several of them carefully carried this gold nugget back home.

Because this gold nugget has a characteristic shape and is nearly 8kg in weight, making it very rare, news of it traveled around fast, with many people coming by one after another to admire it. This herdsman half-jokingly said: “My home is like a marketplace every day, with some people bringing cameras to take photographs, some posting it to their WeChat friends circle, and some taking photos with it.”

Gold piece 23 centimeters long, shaped like a large rooster

A Qinggil historical records office worker told this reporter that they rushed over to this herdsman’s home after learning about this matter on the afternoon of February 3rd. This natural piece of gold is 23 centimeters long, about 18 centimeters wide at its widest, and 8 centimeters thick at its thickest. What is even more peculiar is the piece of gold has almost artificial openwork, where it looks different from different angles, like a large footprint, a man sitting on the summit of a mountain, or as some say, even looking like a large rooster.

“While examining it, there was some sandstone and mud, their dirt color barely covering its shiny yellow golden color,” said the Qinggil historical records worker. According to their research, this piece of gold should be the largest gold nugget ever discovered in Xinjiang.

As it is understood, Xinjiang Altay prefecture was once known for its gold, and to this day, the people still pass down the saying “Altay has 72 ravines and every ravine has gold”. Moreover, “Altay” in Turkic means “gold”, and has had large scale gold mining/prospecting in the past.

[…]

Must pieces of natural gold that are found

be handed over to the state/government?

For several days now, numerous friends and family have come to the home of the herdsman who found the exceptionally large 7.85kg piece of gold, to behold this rare marvel. Some netizens have said this herdsman’s life has changed, becoming rich overnight, that he can sell the piece of gold, and improve his life. However, there are also netizens who worry, wondering if the gold will be confiscated by the state/government.

In regards to this, Chongqing Kangyu Law Firm attorney Chen Baoyan believes first an expert needs to appraise the piece of gold, and confirm that it is a natural mineral or cultural relic. If it is a natural mineral or cultural relic, then it must be handed over to the government. Shaanxi Qingang Law Firm attorney Shi Weibin says the herdsman not only cannot keep the piece of gold, he must not sell it on the market either.

“Natural gold is classified as a national precious material, a mineral resource, and according to the regulations of the Mineral Resources Law, it is considered property of the state.” Shi Weibin says if the herdsman keeps it, he may be prosecuted for illegal possession/appropriation. The Mineral resources Law stipulates that mineral resources are considered property of the state, with ownership exercised by the State Council; mineral resources on the surface or below the surface are property of the state, and ownership is not affected by the property rights or usage rights associated with the land; and organizations or individuals are prohibited from appropriating or destroying such mineral resources.

Shi Weibin says if it is appraised that the gold piece is a cultural relic, it too must be handed over to the government. According to the relevant provisions of the Cultural Relic Preservation Law, cultural relics discovered are considered property of the state, not to be violated, looted, privately split, or hidden by any work unit or individual. “The herdsman needs to give the gold piece to the local government, but the state needs to give him a suitable reward or storage fee,” claims Shi Weibin.

As of submission of this report, Xinjiang Qinggil county officials have yet to make a statement about this “gold nugget”.

Comments from NetEase:

vip3888 [网易山东省淄博市网友]：

I found a rock yesterday, over 1kg. I’m inquiring, which government department I should give it to?

弗洛伊德 [网易河南省焦作市手机网友]：

Are these lawyers coming out asking to be scolded? Stupid cunts.

网易吉林省长春市网友 ip：175.31.*.*

This herdsman sure is filial, knowing that government leaders lack a tribute for Chinese New Years.

null [网易广东省广州市手机网友]：

I just want to know where this lawyer lives, who his wife and children are.

north118 [网易天津市网友]：

If I stumble due to a stone on the road, should I also seek compensation from the owner of the stone (a mineral)?

网易江苏省连云港市手机网友 ip：58.223.*.*

Already guessed it.

实心眼250 [网易吉林省四平市网友]：

Hahaha, hilarious.

海事局林局长 [网易北京市网友]：

Motherfuckers. When you’re needed, you’re nowhere to be found, but when there’s profit to be had, you immediately appear!

沉默的记者 [网易加拿大网友]：

Sensationalism! Who can tell me: Is this person a lawyer or a donkey’s shit [a pun in Chinese]?

网易北京市朝阳区网友 ip：175.25.*.*

Is this conclusion unexpected? To whom do the polluted mountains, plains, and rivers belong to?

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, best known for playing Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane in HBO's Game of Thrones adaptation, just broke a 1,000-year old Viking strength record by carrying a 640 kg (~1410 pound) log across his back for five steps. According to Viking legend, the previous record holder was Ormur Stórólfsson, who managed to carry the log (which was actually the mast of a Viking ship) for three steps before breaking his back and being forced to quit. You know, because it's probably not a good idea to keep going with a broken back. With a broken heart? You have to keep going with a broken heart, otherwise the pain will consume you. I read that in a relationship column. Just kidding, I read that above the urinal in a bar bathroom. Also, 'For a good time call your mom and tell her you love her'. Keep going for a video of the record-breaking in action.