Libya Teeters on the Verge, Gadhafi Moved to Desperate Measures

This video from Anderson Cooper 360 last night is very good.  One of the most telling comments by the woman reporting is that Libyans are disappointed that Obama hasn't been more strident against Gadhafi.

Comet Fly-by Audio and Video - Amazing!

Last week NASA held a press conference about the Stardust NExT mission to comet Temple1.  The video and audio of the fly-by is awesome. When you consider how many miles the mission fly and how close to the comet it got, it's amazing. Kudos to the team at NASA for a great mission and wonderful images.

Obama DOJ Won't Defend DOMA!

Just moments ago the Obama Administration announced it believes that Section 3 of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) — which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages — is unconstitutional. This means the Department of Justice will no longer mount defenses of this bill.

More on Think Progress.

Amazing Video from Chinese World's Fair Closing Ceremonies

The following link shows the closing ceremonies at the Shanghai World's Expo in China.  Really nice pageantry and some pretty slick magic tricks as well.  Enjoy!

Wikileaks Confirms African Dictator Threatened Gays with Decapitation

Ah, what fun it must be to live in Africa!  I say that with a giant dose of irony.

Recently the Wikileaks cache of diplomatic cables have exposed Gambian President Jammeh as saying he would "cut off the head" of any homosexual caught in his country.  Though the President now says that was a rhetorical statement, he also confirmed the country's rigid anti-gay stance.

And remember this is the same dictatorial president who claims he has a cure for AIDS.  It involves bananas and herbs and  there are videos of him applying it to "cure" AIDS patients. 

At the risk of being insensitive, this is where the stereotypes of African's being "savages" comes from. Maybe it's time the Facebook revolution reached Gambia as well?

Westboro vs Hackers - A Hoax

OK, I was taken in by it as well.  Looks like there will be no battle of the internet nerds after all.  According to an anonymous press release about Anonymous the whole thing was a WBC fake.  Who knows?  With all the anonymity going around how can you tell?  Here is thelatest release fromthe Hackers:

Dear Phred Phelps and WBC Phriends,
So we've been hearing a lot about some letter that we supposedly sent you this morning. Problem is, we're a bit groggy and don't remember sending it. Our best guess is that you heard about us on that newfangled TV of yours and thought we might be some good money for your little church. You thought you could play with Anonymous. You observed our rising notoriety and thought you would exploit our paradigm for your own gain. And then, you thought you could lure some idiots into a honeypot for more IPs to sue.

This is not so foreign to us; as you may have heard, we trade in Lulz. You just do not have enough to offer right now.

While Anonymous thanks you for your interest, and would certainly like to take a break and have some fun with you guys, we have more pressing matters to deal with at the moment.
But, we will keep this application on file, and will certainly contact you if any openings become
available in future.
Next time, don't call us. We'll call you.
Additionally, as your "Press Release" failed to understand: When Anonymous says we support free speech, we mean it. We count Beatrice Hall among our Anonymous forebears: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
Do some among our number hate you and your cynical exploitation of your human rights for monetary gain? Of course. But the MoralFags are also the first to admit that they are, in fact, your rights to exploit.

In closing, let us assure you: We are not BAWWWING sissies, nor are we afraid of your false god; we're just really busy. Stay tuned, and we'll come back to play another day.
We promise.

To the Media: Just because it was posted on AnonNews doesn't mean every single Anon is in
agreement, in fact in this case it doesn't even mean a single Anon is in agreement. Next time, if you could give us a few minutes to put all our paperwork in order, we'll be sure to let you know what we're up to. (LOL)

To Anonymous: It's a trap. They've got their ports wide open to harvest IPs to sue. Don't DDoS, and boycott Operation Westboro. If you really want to continue messing with them, just send them a few male prostitutes and faxes of goatse. Nothing more.

(Note: This letter was written by more than 20 Anons, at the same time, and none of them were inbred family members. Unlike that other, shitty "Press Release".)

We are Anonymous.
We are legion.
We do not forgive.
We do not forget.
Expect us.

Hackers and Westboro Baptist Church Square Off!

The Westboro Baptist Church, better known as the Fred Phelps family cult, never fails to raise ire in anyone who has even a cursory understanding of Jesus message of love, inclusion and compassion.  Fortunately, most of the folks I know whose blood pressure automatically rises when they see the utter crap these sad folks spew have learned to ignore them.  The Phelps cult thrives on publicity and deprived of it, they look exactly like what they really are, as sad little group of disturbed hate-filled people.

My friends and myself, though we have encountered the WBC folks on several occasions, now give them a wide berth.  Their whole trick seems to be to aggravate people to the point of assault and then sue for damages.  To seriously consider them in any way representing God's message makes me glad it is not a God that I believe in.

Meanwhile, their hateful web site has been hacked by a group calling itself "Anonymous".  It may or may not be the same group that disabled Hosni Mubarak's websites during the Egyptian revolt as they claim, but now they have chosen the Phelps cult as their latest target.  They temporarily disabled the WBC website and issued a letter which follows:

TO THE CONGREGANTS OF WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH:

    We, the collective super-consciousness known as ANONYMOUS - the Voice of Free Speech & the Advocate of the People - have long heard you issue your venomous statements of hatred, and we have witnessed your flagrant and absurd displays of inimitable bigotry and intolerant fanaticism. We have always regarded you and your ilk as an assembly of graceless sociopaths and maniacal chauvinists & religious zealots, however benign, who act out for the sake of attention & in the name of religion.
    Being such aggressive proponents for the Freedom of Speech & Freedom of Information as we are, we have hitherto allowed you to continue preaching your benighted gospel of hatred and your theatrical exhibitions of, not only your fascist views, but your utter lack of Christ-like attributes. You have condemned the men and women who serve, fight, and perish in the armed forces of your nation; you have prayed for and celebrated the deaths of young children, who are without fault; you have stood outside the United States National Holocaust Museum, condemning the men, women, and children who, despite their innocence, were annihilated by a tyrannical embodiment of fascism and unsubstantiated repugnance. Rather than allowing the deceased some degree of peace and respect, you instead choose to torment, harass, and assault those who grieve.
    Your demonstrations and your unrelenting cascade of disparaging slurs, unfounded judgments, and prejudicial innuendos, which apparently apply to every individual numbered amongst the race of Man - except for yourselves - has frequently crossed the line which separates Freedom of Speech from deliberately utilizing the same tactics and methods of intimidation and mental & emotional abuse that have been previously exploited and employed by tyrants and dictators, fascists and terrorist organizations throughout history.

    ANONYMOUS cannot abide this behavior any longer. The time for us to be idle spectators in your inhumane treatment of fellow Man has reached its apex, and we shall now be moved to action. Thus, we give you a warning: Cease & desist your protest campaign in the year 2011, return to your homes in Kansas, & close your public Web sites.
    Should you ignore this warning, you will meet with the vicious retaliatory arm of ANONYMOUS: We will target your public Websites, and the propaganda & detestable doctrine that you promote will be eradicated; the damage incurred will be irreversible, and neither your institution nor your congregation will ever be able to fully recover. It is in your best interest to comply now, while the option to do so is still being offered, because we will not relent until you cease the conduction & promotion of all your bigoted operations & doctrines.

    The warning has been given. What happens from here shall be determined by you.

 Well as I expected, Westboro Baptist Church will not be denied the added publicity this gives them.  Their response begins:

"Open Letter from Westboro Baptist Servants of God to Anonymous Coward Crybaby 'Hackers'             BRING IT!"

 So to those who follow this stuff, it should be interesting as the folks living in their mom's basement square off against the trailer park wackos with the storefront church.  Stay tuned.

Me, I am not taking sides, but if WBC disappeared from the web, it wouldn't upset me at all.