And as if the usual Fox ‘n’ Friends histrionics aren’t amusement enough, the show’s producers decided to Photoshop the pictures of the two offending NYT employees before splashing them on the screen (photos linked here and here). As NYT describes it,

“Mr. Reddicliffe looked like the wicked witch after a hard night of drinking, but it was the photo of Mr. Steinberg that stopped traffic when it appeared on the Web at Media Matters side by side with his actual photo. In a technique familiar to students of vintage German propaganda, his ears were pulled out, his teeth splayed apart, his forehead lowered and his nose was widened and enlarged in a way that made him look more like Fagin than the guy I work with. “

But here’s the cake-taker: Fox News doesn’t deny that they doctored the pictures. “A spokeswoman said … that altering photos for humorous effect is a common practice on cable news stations.”

The article describes a new theory that there may be genes, not for homosexuality, but for “androphilia” that affect both sexes. By making their owners more attracted to men, “… the importance of the genes lies in what they do not to men but to women, by increasing reproductive output so powerfully that these women compensate for the reduced output among their male relatives.” The theory has testable predictions: most notably that the female relatives of gay men should have above average reproductive success. So far these predictions have been confirmed by existing data.

A genetic explanation of homosexuality could go a long way to help it’s perception in society. Homosexuality could come to be seen as part of a natural process that benefits the species as a whole, the theory could calm fears that “gay teachers or television characters will “convert” hordes of boys,” etc. Also, it seems to me that it would be much harder to think of homosexuality a sin if it’s inherited rather than chosen.

The article raises another possible effect that wouldn’t have occurred to me:

…the word consequence suggests a … less happy implication: How would gay men see themselves and be regarded in a society that understood their condition as a side effect of female evolution? Would male androphilia be treated like sickle-cell anemia—the unfortunate cost of a genetic mutation that’s beneficial in other people? We medicate sickle-cell anemia. Would we medicate homosexuality?

I always thought a genetic understanding of homosexuality would do a lot to help it’s acceptance, but maybe a theory like this would leave enough room for people to persist in the beliefs they already hold. Tell us what you think in the comments.

Here’s the gist:

Let’s say you own a Lamborghini that gets 5 m.p.g. and a Hummer that gets 10 m.p.g. You’d like to replace one of your cars so that you’re spending less money on gas. Your two options are: (A) trade in your Lamborghini (5 m.p.g.) for a Ferrari that gets 10 m.p.g.; (B) to trade in your Hummer (10 m.p.g.) for a hybrid one-seater that gets an amazing 100 m.p.g..

The “obvious choice” seems to be (B), but some simple division will show us that we’re stupid.

Let’s assume that you drive each car 100 miles per week:
Option (A): Instead of using 20 gallons (100/5 = 20) a week in your Lamborghini, you’d only be using 10 gallons (100/10 = 10) in your Ferrari, thus you would save 10 gallons a week.
Option (B): Instead of using 10 gallons a week in your Hummer, you’d only be using 1 gallon in your fancy new solo-man hybrid, thus saving 9 gallons a week.

Conclusion: You will save more gas/money by replacing your Lamborghini with a Ferrari rather than replacing your Hummer with a single-seater super hybrid.

Now let’s tell the story with “gallons per 100 miles.”
Option (A): Replace your Lamborghini that uses 20 g.p.100 miles with a Ferrari that uses 10 g.p.100 miles.
Option (B): Replace your Hummer that uses 10 g.p.100 miles with a hybrid that uses 1 g.p.100 miles.

Isn’t this phrasing much better?

Fleet Foxes are here to save us from a so-far-dismal year in music. Their recipe: 3 cups of Band of Horses, 1 cup of Ryan Adams, 1 cup of Wilco, 1 cup of Animal Collective, 1 cup of Led Zepplin, 1 cup of the Eagles, 1/2 a cup of Beach Boys, and 2 tablespoons of Magically-Fresh pixy powder. Or if you don’t like to conjure up bands in your kitchen, you can just buy their Sun Giant EP and their self-titled debut LP, both 2008 releases. My only complaint is that they should have combined all of their songs on the two discs into a single album (it would still be under an hour). Still though, Fleet Foxes will be challenging Bon Iver for this year’s prestigious Daniel’s-Album-of-the-Year Award.

Start With:
Fleet Foxes: White Winter Hymnal; Ragged Wood; Your Protector; Blue Ridge Mountains
Sun Giant EP: Drops in the River; Mykonos; Innocent Son

I had to replace the hard drive in my Powerbook G4. I did it myself, and I believe the hardware install went fine. The problem I’m now having is installing Leopard on a blank drive. I know that sounds fishy, but each time I try to install, it either freezes up or says that the “Essentials” package from the installation DVD can’t be accessed. I’ve already formatted the drive with no problem using the built-in Disc Utility application. I’m also reading, when not working, the articles I find online.

If any of you have advice other than making sure the DVD is clean, etc, I’d appreciate it. If all else fails, I suppose I’ll have to go to the Apple store :(

Here’s one thing you can say about journalists: Surely no one loves us as much as we love ourselves.

That’s one lesson of the Tim Russert coverage.

A friend told me Sunday: “I now know more about Tim Russert than I do many members of my family.”

The affection that Russert stirred in millions was testament to his skill. But the coverage of his death was often overblown, self-congratulatory and self-indulgent. It was no way to treat a news icon.

Updated 9.25 PM… No surprise, my boy Jack Shafer also takes the media to task:

I wonder whether the media grievers gave a moment of thought to how this Russert torrent they produced played with viewers and readers. Did the grievers really think Russert was so important, so vital to the nation’s course, and such an elevated human being that he deserved hour upon hour of tribute? I wonder whether any the responsible journalists paused to think, Hey, this is really weird. We’re using our unchecked editorial power to soak the nation with our tears about our friend, and that’s unseemly!

On days like this, I, too, hate the press.

He also notes that MSNBC will air live coverage of Russert’s private memorial service.

Their failsafe method for when knowing when the rapture will happen?

…when 3 of our 5 team members scattered around the U.S fail to log in over a 3 day period.

what are you waiting for? It’s only $40 a year.

[via DownloadSquad]

Well, turns out it’s not Christian Bale but Bale-doppelgänger/Argentine-polo-star (get it, polo) Nacho Somethingsexymo. Unlike Bale, Somethingsexymo has no credibility to protect, so good for him.

Felix Jones can’t have any regrets about playing second fiddle to McFadden after his favorite NFL team drafted him in the first round. He is the first running back the Cowboys have drafted that early since they picked up Emmitt Smith a long time ago. The Cowboys actually drafted two running backs this year - Felix and Tashard Choice. When Coach Wade Phillips was asked by a reporter to compare Marion Barber (the Cowboys starting running back) to rookie Tashard Choice, he turned the question away and said that it’s tough to compare a rookie with a pro bowler. Less than a minute later the same interviewer asked the coach what he thinks of Felix Jones… and Phillips starts comparing Felix to Hall-of-Famer Thurman Thomas. Jerry Jones, the team’s owner, commented that he likes how smooth and elusive Felix is, and that he loves his “bubble-butt.” In other words, the Cowboys love Felix. They expect him to contribute immediately as the primary complement to Marion Barber’s power running game, and to return kickoffs with Pacman Jones or Mike Jenkins. Felix’s job requirements are almost identical to his role at Arkansas, but now he’s doing it for “America’s team.” Jones hasn’t signed a contract yet, but Emmitt Smith is giving him pointers, so the day will come.