DO NOT PASS GO

Doc the Bass sent over following and very disturbing report from Yahoo News that tells how the USA – the supposed land of the free – has more of its citizens in the slammer than any other nation in the world. Reason’s cited are mandatory minimum sentencing, and three-strikes laws, but does not mention the savagely high number of those doing time are related to the never ending War on Drugs.

"For the first time in U.S. history, more than one of every 100 adults is in jail or prison, according to a new report documenting America's rank as the world's No. 1 incarcerator. It urges states to curtail corrections spending by placing fewer low-risk offenders behind bars.
Using state-by-state data, the report says 2,319,258 Americans were in jail or prison at the start of 2008 — one out of every 99.1 adults. Whether per capita or in raw numbers, it's more than any other nation.
The report, released Thursday by the Pew Center on the States, said the 50 states spent more than $49 billion on corrections last year, up from less than $11 billion 20 years earlier. The rate of increase for prison costs was six times greater than for higher education spending, the report said." (Click for the whole shameful tale.)

The secret word is Greybar

THE TESLA 'FRO

Every wonder how I get my hair the way it is? (Thanks Valerie)

THE ROBOT WARS ARE ALMOST HERE

The folLowing was sent by Valerie, culled from the New Scientist. It would seems that the military really knows no bounds.

"Governments around the world are rushing to develop military robots capable of killing autonomously without considering the legal and moral implications, warns a leading roboticist. But another robotics expert argues that robotic soldiers could perhaps be made more ethical than human ones.
Noel Sharkey of Sheffield University, UK, says he became "really scared" after researching plans outlined by the US and other nations to roboticise their military forces. He will outline his concerns to at a one day conderence held in London, UK, on Wednesday.
Over 4000 semi-autonomous robots are already deployed by the US in Iraq, says Sharkey, and other countries – including several European nations, Canada, South Korea, South Africa, Singapore and Israel – are developing similar technologies
Governments around the world are rushing to develop military robots capable of killing autonomously without considering the legal and moral implications, warns a leading roboticist. But another robotics expert argues that robotic soldiers could perhaps be made more ethical than human ones." (Click for the full story.)

The secret word is Gort

QUE?

This make no sense unless one is a Fawlty Towers afficianodao.

GIMME THAT BRAND NEW RELIGION

Jettboy, a regular reader and commentator on Doc40, and a definite veteran member of our funhouse, emails me that he has co-founded a new religion. He calls it The Church Of The Volcano God, and states “I'm not sure if it's a joke or not anymore; the emails keep pouring in.” But promises “rum, cigars and samba for ALL!” So, if you feel the need for a new faith, just click here and check it out. Jett doesn't say if it has tax exempt status. Or involves human sacrifice.

The secret word is Theocratic

RALPH NADER DOES IT AGAIN

Once upon a time Ralph Nader was a revered figure, the defender of the consumer, but now he has degenerated into an egomaniac who would rather be in the spotlight than think through the results of his actions. After seven hideous years of having the country made increasingly uninhabitable for all but the wealthy, Nader will happily risk throwing a close run presidential election to the Republicans so they can keep driving their bus down the road to war, crippling debt, a neocon police state, and unlimited corporate welfare for the corporations he once challenged. Or as one blogger put it “he's a delusional self-involved prick who is destroying his own legacy with these vanity runs.”
(Click for the full story)

The secret word is Fool