Are you prepared?

June 12th, 2009


Are Violent Video Games Adequately Preparing Children For The Apocalypse?

Firearms: Source Update

June 7th, 2009

Hey guys,

There as been a recent media release on FA:S which can be found here: http://www.firearms-source.com/

I know its been a long time but it looks like they have Christian Oelund back doing the animations.

So please take a look at their recent work and hopefully we can all play (except anti-steam poet) together in a game again!.

US nuclear ‘treasure map for terrorists’ posted in error on government website

June 3rd, 2009

Obama administration admits mistake, but denies release of information threatens national security

An exhaustive list of America’s nuclear sites – including maps showing the location of fuel for nuclear weapons – has been accidentally posted on a government website, but the Obama administration denied that the leak had jeopardised national security.

The 266-page document, marked “highly confidential”, was removed from the website of the Government Printing Officelast night following media inquiries.

Barack Obama had ordered the report for the International Atomic Energy Agency in the hopes of prodding other countries, such as Iran, to submit similar classified information nuclear activities to the agency.

In his accompanying letter to Congress, Obama described the information as “sensitive but unclassified”. Nearly every page is stamped “highly confidential safeguards sensitive”.

“The enclosed draft declaration lists each site, location, facility, and activity I intend to declare to the IAEA,” he wrote.

It was not immediately clear how the report, with details of hundreds of US nuclear facilities, including reactor sites and confidential sites at weapons labs, ended up on the website of the Government Printing Office.

Its publication was first noted on Monday by Steve Aftergood, who publishes a blog on government secrecy at the Federation of American Scientists.

The report contains information on America’s nuclear weapons labs at Los Alamos in New Mexico, Livermore and Sandia as well as scores of other nuclear sites.

In its potentially most serious breach, the report provides a map showing the exact location of a storage site for highly enriched weapons grade uranium at the heavily guarded Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

The Obama administration admitted the information should never have been released. But Damien LaVera, a spokesman for the National Nuclear Security Administration, said in a statement that the disclosure posed no risk to security.

“The departments of energy, defence and commerce and the [Nuclear Regulatory Commission] all thoroughly reviewed it to ensure that no information of direct national security significance would be compromised.”

Even so, some security analysts today raised concerns that thieves or terrorists could make use of the maps that show where the nuclear fuels are stored.

Kit Bond, the leading Republican on the Senate’s intelligence committee, told reporters it was a “virtual treasure map for terrorists.”

However, military and civilian experts concluded that the document – while offering an extensive account of the US nuclear complex – did not pose a serious danger as much of the information was already in the public realm.

“These screw-ups happen,” John Deutch, a former director of central intelligence and deputy secretary of defence told the New York Times. “It’s going further than I would have gone but doesn’t look like a serious breach.”

President threatens creditors, breaks contract law.

May 4th, 2009

National Bill Seeks to Mislabel Video Games

April 23rd, 2009
take action \ spread the word \ learn more

Stop Your Representative From Sponsoring Federal Bill to Mislabel Video Games

Stop Rep. Joe Baca’s Bill Before it Gains Traction
Rep. Joe Baca of California
Tell Your Representative - Don’t Sponsor Rep. Baca’s bill H.R. 231

As you read this, your Congressperson may be considering co-sponsoring the newest regulatory assault on video games - Rep. Joe Baca’s (D-CA) bill H.R. 231 “The Video Game Health Labeling Act.” Baca’s bill mandates that video games rated Teen or higher receive the following warning label:

“WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior.”

Baca’s bill is misguided, unnecessary, and simply unconstitutional. In a letter seeking co-sponsors of this bill, Rep. Baca points to research claiming a causal link between video games and aggressive behavior, even though this very same research was rejected as faulty by a majority of federal and state courts. Let’s fight back, and stop this political bullying of video games. Check out the bill, and send a letter to warn your representative now. Don’t wait for the courts to put an end to it - let’s stop this bill before it starts. Tell Your Congressperson - “Do Not Sponsor Baca’s Bill” The Reasons Why Your Congressperson Shouldn’t Sponsor H.R. 231:

  • No Causal Link Between Real - Life Violence and Video Games - Rep. Baca is promoting a link between video games and real-life violence that is based on disputed research which was rejected by many federal and state courts as flawed, speculative, and unreliable.
  • It is Unconstitutional - Since 2001, there have been twelve decisions finding that video game regulation statutes were unconstitutional. Video games are entitled to equal treatment. For instance, the government can’t force labels on the video game “The Godfather,” while “The Godfather” movie is unregulated. Also, courts have found it is unconstitutional for the government to adopt the ESRB system.
  • It Misleads by Mislabeling - This bill would mislabel some games rated Teen or higher as violent when they contain no violent content. Under this bill, music-based games would be mischaracterized as violent even though they are rated T for potential objectionable lyrics for younger ages.
  • It is Unnecessary - Self-regulation is already overwhelmingly effective. The Federal Trade Commission’s study showed 87% of parents are aware of the ESRB ratings and are “very” or “somewhat” satisfied with the ratings system. The National Institute on Media and Family (NIMF) gave the ESRB an “A” for its ratings and education efforts in its annual report card last year.
  • Violence is Down, While Use of Video Games is Up - Violent crime, particularly among the young, has decreased dramatically since the early 1990s. During the same period of time, video games have steadily increased in popularity and use, exactly the opposite of what one would expect if there was a causal link.

Help Stop this Bill and Write Your Representative Unless you take a few minutes and send a letter now, video games will continue to be an easy political punching bag. You can make a difference just like the hundreds of VGVN members in Utah, who wrote their governor last month, resulting in the governor’s vetoing of an anti-video game. Thanks for your help, Video Game Voters Network http://www.videogamevoters.org

Why CNN’s numbers are dropping

April 16th, 2009

Reporters should report, not debate.

When I Grow Up

April 8th, 2009

You won’t see this on the mainstream

March 20th, 2009

Tea Party Movement is gaining steam

March 17th, 2009

Timeline shows Bush, McCain warning Dems of financial and housing crisis; meltdown

March 12th, 2009