This week in ballsy mayors

This is a few weeks old, but according to multiple sources and reported in the City Paper, Pittsburgh's Boy Mayor had some choice words for his G20 critics at the ACLU - and he did it all ironically donning riot gear. This is genius:

It's not every day you hear about Mayor Luke Ravenstahl appearing in police riot gear, taunting the head of the local American Civil Liberties Union and dropping the f-bomb in front of the city's media elite.
...
Ravenstahl used his moment on stage to send a message to ACLU state legal director Vic Walczak, who has sharply criticized the city's handling of G-20 protesters. According to multiple sources, Ravenstahl said something like this: "I heard we're going to face a free-speech lawsuit. Well, I have some free speech for you -- fuck you, Vic Walczak."

What a beast. We knew there was a reason why we liked the guy. Go get 'em, Luke. Just be home before the streetlights come on, or Onorato's going to get all "goosey" on you.

There are plants out there that will eat your children

And rodents. Turns out there is this bastard carnivorous plant in the Philippines that is big enough to trap a rat or other small rodents inside and slowly digest it via flesh-eating enzymes. Nepenthes attenboroughii, named after Brit naturalist Sir David Attenborough, is the newest undiscovered species of pitcher plants.

Mmm. Manflesh...

Which brings me to my next question: how long until we finally discover a Sarlacc? Because, if we remember correctly, what that evil plant from Hell mentioned above does to its prey is pretty much exactly what happened to Boba Fett:

"In his belly you will find a new definition of pain and suffering as you are slowly digested over a thousand years."

For now, when vacationing in the Philippines, keep little Timmy within eyeshot. These plants eat people.

Best fire that destroyed an 1600's-era Pirate ship replica ever

These are not action shots of the new Pirates of the Carribbean film, which we have been told is going to be titled Redundan-sea. They are pictures of a circa-1650's replica merchant ship from the Dutch East India Company totally engulfed in fire. It was docked in Den Helder, the Netherlands. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Courtesy of BBC's day in pictures:

Of course this chick in the Netherlands has dreds.
Damned pot-smokin' hippies...

RIP Prins Willim. Say hi to Saint Pete in pirate ship Heaven.

Keeping the (green)peace by causing some unrest

ACTIVISTS ARRESTED FOR BANNER.

(headline should read "activists arrested for trying to make a difference and caring about our world" but that would be too long.)

Greenpeace proves once again to be one of the most badass environmentalist groups out there! (except this guy... he was so badass he got booted out of Greenpeace, but don't worry he is making a huge effort to defend the earth from assbag japanese whalers!) These activists climbed the mountain (don't worry they did so by using the existing anchors placed by the NPS for cleaning, so there should be no damage [interesting that it is a concern when the site is essentially a completely destroyed mountain side to begin with]) and unfurled a banner beside good old Abe's giant visage urging Obama to get his shit together on Global Climate Change. The banner read "America Honors leaders, not politicians. Stop global warming!" and had a picture of President Obama.

I give them a well deserved salute. Way to get out there and not leave the problem to just stew. True they broke a law by trespassing and hanging a banner... but ya know.. once the environment is gone, there will be no need to go to Mount Rushmore, cuz we'll all be dead. Besides, I've been there and pictures are good enough, not worth the trip so much. However, South Dakota in general is pretty excellent. (hello Black Footed Ferret!)

So way to go Greenpeace, please keep up the good work. I also encourage a little civil disobedience from our dedicated (5) followers. Get out there and shake up the system for a cause!

And if you don't believe this stuff is happening... well then you're a republican... enough said.