This should make you angry: With Iraq still raging, and bullets still raining in Afghanistan, the Bush Administration, along with some compliant Democratic Senators, have been funding covert operations against Iran, conducted by the CIA and Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), according to American Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author, Seymour M. Hersh, in his latest New Yorker article, “Preparing The Battlefield.” And the rabbit hole just gets deeper from there…

From the New Yorker:

Late last year, Congress agreed to a request from President Bush to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran, according to current and former military, intelligence, and congressional sources. These operations, for which the President sought up to four hundred million dollars, were described in a Presidential Finding signed by Bush, and are designed to destabilize the country’s religious leadership. The covert activities involve support of the minority Ahwazi Arab and Baluchi groups and other dissident organizations. They also include gathering intelligence about Iran’s suspected nuclear-weapons program.

 Check out the rest of Seymour Hersh’s “Preparing The Battlefield” here!

(Image source: NationalGeographic.com)

The experts who have helped establish a global reliance on oil and wasted billions of dollars trying to turn corn into gas, have now turned their attention to nature’s biggest natural power generators. Volcanoes and hot springs could supply up to 25-percent of America’s power needs–and as fuel prices soar, Alaskan officials announced the exploration of the state’s volcanoes.

Companies are being invited to lease the rights to explore geothermal resources beneath Mount Spurr, a snowcapped 11,070-foot volcano that most recently erupted in 1992, showering much of Anchorage with volcanic ash. The state Division of Oil and Gas hopes the lease sale, due to go ahead in August, will be the first of many. It is also considering allowing exploration of the 4,134-foot Augustine Volcano, 171 miles southwest of Anchorage. (more…)

I need to say this. Jewelry sucks. And I hate buying it for women and I think I’m done buying it forever–at least until I decide to get engaged. Honestly, is there a more useless thing on this planet then jewelry?

Completely ignoring the entire system of imbalance that permeates men/women romantic relationships when it comes to gift-giving and buying dinner etc, could I please get you something else? Something worthwhile. Something that doesn’t cost a fucking arm and leg to prove to you that I’m into you as a person?

Here’s some reasons why jewelry is stupid. (more…)

For all you recent college graduates entering the workforce, I realize that “Start Thinking About Your Savings” might be the lamest piece of advice uttered to you since, “Wow! There Is No Way You’re OK To Drive Right Now”. But I promise you, in both instances you’ll be very happy in the pants that you heeded both warnings.

First off, let’s take a little look-see at the financial future of our country. The way things are going, the idea of ‘Social Security benefits’ will be non-existent in the year 2041. Whoopsies! Therefore, if you’re 21 years-old right now, you’ll be royally screwed with a good few years to go before retirement age.

With medical advancements going the way they are, Super-Future-Year-2041-Viagra will be alarmingly good. And hot cougar retirees will be friskier and hotter than ever. Better have a little something put aside, if you want a piece of that ‘retired and ready to bang’ tail.

But forget about that for a second (if the imagery isn’t permanently burned into your brain already). The real point here is how saving just a little now, as I’ll demonstrate, gets you a lot more in the long run.

Check out the full article at Wall $treet Fighter

Despite Poor Economy, Coaches Still Making Bank

Gas is $4 a gallon—and rising. The economy is struggling. Some believe the worst is yet to come.

But you can’t tell it by college football coaches’ salaries. They’re breaking the bank.

In 1995, Bobby Bowden became the first $1 million coach in college football. Now, the average salary for head coaches at major college football programs exceeds $1 million a year. [Tennessean]

 Victoria’s Secret Plans Clothing Line For 33 Schools

Starting July 1, University of Minnesota students and fans can get a little more intimate with Goldy Gopher.

The University’s mascot and other school logos will appear on apparel from Victoria’s Secret’s PINK Collegiate Collection clothing line next month.

The line will consist of nine types of apparel, including panties, fleece pants and T-shirts. It will include licensed products from 33 colleges and universities to be sold in select stores, online and in catalogues.

Big Ten rivals Michigan and Wisconsin will also have PINK merchandise sold. [Minnesota Daily]

Fads In Football: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Football fans are a curious bunch. We are creatures of habit. We complain about concession prices, but shovel out eight dollars for a beer and six bucks for a dog the minute the second quarter ends. We are like sheep on an open range.

Our adherence to tradition and rituals, however, is something that makes us unique.

Most of our traditions, such as Army and Navy standing together, side-by-side after the game, are sacred. But this isn’t about traditions—it’s about fads, and while some of them need to be permanent traditions, others need to be dumped forever.

A look at some of the fads in football that have made “The good, the bad, and the ugly” list.

Charges Dropped Against Gator Bandits

Five students from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University who tried stealing a baby alligator from a miniature-golf course in Daytona Beach will get the charges dropped.

Prosecutors say as part of the plea agreement announced Monday, the students must do a year of community service. They will also have to do an anti-theft course, take random drug tests, pay fees to the city and they can’t visit the golf course.[Fort Mill Times]

When the Queen of Mean, Leona Helmsley, died recently at the age of 87 she left behind a will, like most knocking on death’s door do. But in the billion-dollar world of Helmsley (hotel owner, real-estate mogul and dead-ringer for The Joker) no request was too wild.

Leaving the majority of her blood ties with nary a nickel Helmsley left her dog, Trouble, with $12 million dollars in her passing. That’s right – a furry little pooch by the name of “Troubleâ€? has more money than you will ever see in your lifetime. Kibbles n’ Bits indeed.

I love animals; I just don’t give them millions of dollars to sustain a posh lifestyle that’s completely out-of-touch with reality. (more…)