Air France Email Hoax, Fake Pictures from Cellphone

I received a really terrifying email today with supposed pictures taken by a victim of the Air France crash off of Brazil before he died. Without dignifying the email, or getting spyware on my computer by republishing the photos, suffice it to say that there were two photos showing a plane torn in half, blue sky behind, and people getting sucked into midair to fall to their deaths.

What horrific photos! I was so upset by the thought of it that I did a little research through google news, and I can't find any other media reports of a plane colliding with the Air France plane, nor could I find or reports of any photos being taken before the demise of the plane, which leads me to conclude these are a hoax, which somehow makes me feel better. I had heard that the passengers would have felt like they were "hitting a brick wall at 500 mph" if the plane came apart at a high altitude, which is supported by the pattern of multiple fractures in all the recovered bones.

What kind of sick individual crafts such a hoax? Of course money motivates some people to do just about anything. At the bottom of that email there is a link to "A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps" If you were to click on it, which I don't recommend, you would be taken to freecreditreports.com with a cookie place on your computer that pays the person who created the link some money, either with each click, or with a commission if you buy something. In the structure of the link there is a "personal ID number" that tracks who this person is so they get credit for the referral. Even the terrifying pictures themselves, when clicked on (not recommended), lead to some bullshit website that probably puts spyware on your computer.

Also, I heard the plane crashed in terrible weather, surrounded by thunderclouds and rising equatorial weather storms. This photo has a pretty clear sky behind it.

Additionally, search parties have been combing the ocean for the black box, which emits some sort of signal, and have been unable to find it, much less someone's camera phone.

Finally, I can almost picture this still frame from some movie. Perhaps it was the opening scene of LOST, or Garden State, or something... I can't quite place it.

What assholes!

Hope this makes you feel better that the victims had quick deaths. So that opportunistic hoaxes like this one don't dissuade anyone from taking the measured risk of flying (myself included), I found this crazy headline story:

Woman Missed Fatal Air France Flight, Dies in Car Crash

An Italian woman who arrived late at the airport for the fatal Air France flight 447 has died in a car accident, according to ANSA news agency.
Johanna Ganthaler, a pensioner from the Bolzano-Bozen Province (South Tyrol, Italy) and her husband, Kirk, were on vacation in Brazil and missed flight 447 after arriving at the airport late. They were able to board a later flight and avoided being victims of the horrible crash.
The couple rented a car in Munich, Germany and decided to drive home to Italy. On their way home, while driving through Kufstein, Austria, their car ended up in the opposite lane and they had a head on collision with a truck.
The woman died at the hospital that she was taken to. Her husband is still in critical condition.

There are 9,000+ other articles about this story being true. You can't avoid all risk, even when driving sounds safer than flying these days!!!

Sons of bitches. Someone with more skills than I should track this person down using knowledge of link structures and the personal ID number this person used to credit himself with cookies on your computer when you click on it.

I'm not above making a little cash, as evidenced by my snarky t-shirt business (http://www.cafepress.com/innerlegend), and I'm not above capitalizing on pop culture trends... but to take advantage of fear and sensationalism and tragedy and outright lying in so doing is just SICK.

Pass this on.

Susan Boyle T-shirt

Wow. She just stood and delivered another masterful performance tonight. Susan Boyle is a hero for many reasons. She stands proud and delivers. She is not a perfect beauty, and she refuses to be judged or dismissed because of it. Her voice is a lovely instrument, and she wields it with power and bravery. May she win it all. This t-shirt celebrates the first Susan Boyle breakthrough song "Dream." She has been an inspiration to me.

Bo Obama, White House Dog

To celebrate the excellent choice of Bo, a Portuguese Water Dog, as the First Dog of America, this limited edition design is available on a wide range of t-shirts aimed to appease the teeming masses now demanding Bo propaganda at once.





ALL HAIL
GREAT LEADER
BO OBAMA.

I think it is Morning in America... finally.

Adventureland T-shirts

A now, a Spring movie worthy of the modern day ninja:

Adventureland.
If you haven't yet seen the movie Adventureland, then you should. It's a great flick, perfect for Spring. After seeing the movie you'll surely want one of these Adventureland T-shirts, reading the geeky "Games, games, games, games, games" across the front. Who hasn't had a summer job requiring such cheesy uniformed flair!

From Metacritic:

It's the summer of 1987, and James Brennan , an uptight recent college grad, can't wait to embark on his dream tour of Europe. But when his parents announce they can no longer subsidize his trip, James has little choice but to take a lowly job at a local amusement park. Forget about German beer, world-famous museums and cute French girls -- James' summer will now be populated by belligerent dads, stuffed pandas, and screaming kids high on cotton candy. Lucky for James, what should have been his worst summer ever turns into quite an adventure as he discovers love in the most unlikely place with his captivating co-worker Em, and learns to loosen up. (Miramax Films)

A great comedy, and a must-see!

Ninja Parade

From The Onion News Network comes this fascinating report on the Modesto, California Annual Ninja Parade. Spectators were not disappointed... no ninjas were able to be seen.


Ninja Parade Slips Through Town Unnoticed Once Again

Ninjas in Hawaii

Here is an example of ninjas in the tourism industry of Hawaii:

Ninjas have invaded Honolulu. They're here to fight myths and promote tourism to the Japanese city known for the ancient art of Ninjutsu.

With a soundtrack for their fight scenes, the group known as the Ashura Ninja Clan performed the way we've seen them in the movies.
And clearly the audience from Central Union Preschool was entertained.
Ninjas are highly trained but they don't really walk around in these black outfits.
They prefer to blend in to get information. They're not hired assassins, more like bodyguards for important people like royalty.

Funny T-Shirts

There are so many funny t-shirts out there it becomes impossible to sort them out. I'm starting a new venture in which the best t-shirts will be featured on a blog. Already I've found some great new designs on Cafepress. More to come soon, but if you're looking for a funny t-shirt online, check out this "Find Funny T-shirts" blog!

Michael Phelps Marijuana T-Shirt

Michael Phelps, Olympic Champion, was caught taking hits from a bong. He was then dragged through the media gauntlet, endured the humiliation of apologizing to America, and then lost several million dollar sponsorships.

That's messed up. Let him unwind how he wants, and as long as he's not walking around telling everyone to smoke weed, then all you haters need to chill. Your judgmental overreactions have done more to spread the idea that smoking is cool than if you had just let it go. Let Michael Be Michael, man! This is a free country, and how else is a dude supposed to eat 8,000 calories a day?

Support our homegrown Olympic hero, Wear this shirt with pride to your local party or gathering of enlightened beings.

Hillary Clinton's Ninjas

You know the ninja phenomenon is rampant when an esteemed news source such as The Guardian refers to political operatives in the new Clinton Department of State as "ninjas."

Here's the quote:

Already, some Obama campaign advisers have complained about the number of former Clinton administration insiders Hillary is bringing with her to the state department's offices. Some are political fixers from her "Hillaryland" inner circle ("Her ninjas," quips one foreign policy professional). Others are seasoned diplomats from her husband's administration

This blog will give $100 to Hillary's election campaign in 2012 if she personally uses the term "ninja" in the next year.

Phillies Spring Training

Philly.com has a great article about the Phillies Spring Training in Clearwater, Florida. As the reigning World Champions, and as the only World Phucking Champions on Earth, the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies are sure to have a auspicious start. I'm sure we'll be seeing lots of these WFC t-shirts in sunny Clearwater, worn by diehards still inspired by the team that brought athletic glory to a city sorely in need of it.

When it comes to preseason baseball, Philadelphians are the luckiest of fans.

Clearwater, with its white-sand beaches, its Gulf waters and technicolor sunsets, its drinking and dining options, its golf courses and its proximity to major attractions like Disney World, is unsurpassed as a spring baseball destination.

Since 1948, the Phils have trained here, playing their games first at Jack Russell Stadium and, since 2004, at spiffy Bright House. Only the Detroit Tigers, in Lakeland since 1947, have been in one spot longer.

"Clearwater, boys, is a little like heaven on Earth," the late Richie Ashburn, who came here for 49 winters, used to counsel young players during his annual spring-training address.

This year, the defending world champions figure to lure more supporters than ever. Fans, still glowing from the team's World Series triumph, can watch lazy morning workouts, troll for autographs near the players' parking lots, sunbathe and attend games simultaneously, and maybe even get to talk to a player or two.

(Warning: Don't bother players while they're practicing. That's a surefire way to gain a reputation as a "green fly," baseball talk for a pest, or perhaps even get ejected.)

Trash Talking Arizona Cardinals

<---click image to enlarge

Ninja ornithologists have come across a little-known species of cardinal, cataloged alongside the usual, pretty seed-eaters. This species is considered an invasive kind, feeding on red meat and Miller Genuine Draft. Often seen circling The University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona, this avian mutant has even been known to take down larger birds of prey including Eagles and Falcons. There is even a report in the scientific literature of this species, Cardinalis campeonatus, bringing down a Carolina Panther.

Normally considered a mild-mannered bird, at least in comparison to, say, an Eagle or Falcon, this species of Arizona Cardinal is a bit of an aberration. Only discovered in 2008, scientists are scrambling to track this bird in an effort to better predict its behavior. Apparently large flocks have begun an unusual migration towards the Tampa Bay area.

Seen here in this ornithological sketch, the "Champion Arizona Cardinal" as it is colloquially named, sings gleefully:

*chirp*

What's up now, bitches?

*chirp*

The Champion Arizona Cardinal should never be underestimated nor dismissed, and it is always a potentially aggressive predator. Small children should be kept away from the male variety on Sundays, or at least their ears should be plugged while the cardinal sings its lovely birdsong, coincidentally sounding like an offensive boast to human ears. T-shirts may help mitigate anxiety and bring a sense of well-being.

New Proposal for Stadiums Exit off Route 95 in Philadelphia

Unfortunately, Mayor Nutter is struggling with unpopular cuts across the board in Philadelphia's budget. His meetings have been attended by angry mobs. How can the embroiled Mayor inspire the city once again, and score some political capital?

Easy. All he needs to do is follow in the words of Chase Utley, and restore strong fucking civic pride by changing the Stadium Exit sign off Route 95. It should indicate the direction to the "World Phucking Champions."

Here's how it looks now:


















With some leadership and bold vision, here's how it could look tomorrow (click to enlarge picture):



Subtle, classy, not too strident. Fucking perfect.
Please vote in the poll I've placed on the top right corner of this blog to help persuade Mayor Nutter of his folly in not addressing this point of civic pride immediately.

Please also indulge your family this Christmas with some excellent Phillies WFC gear. You can also find this totally appropriate road sign design among the wildly popular t-shirts soon to be worn all across the land!

Ninja Kittens

It seems that Toyota has picked up on two pop culture themes, namely ninjas and obsession with all things feline. I'm not sure how this ad helps sell the Toyota Corolla in Australia, but it's worth a look anyway. Behold the ninja kittens, episode one:

World Phucking Champions T-shirt

Chase Utley could run for mayor and win.

Though born in California, he became an overnight Philadelphian by blood as he brought home a world fucking championship. These t-shirts, which have been selling quite well, capture his immortal line:

"World Champions...
WORLD FUCKING CHAMPIONS!"

(or World Phucking Champions if you prefer).

There will be no trip to family-friendly Disneyworld for Chase Utley... but there will be a lifelong key to the Rocky heart of this tough town.

WORLD FUCKING CHAMPIONS.

A writer for the Metro perhaps put it best:

With three words, Chase Utley became a Philadelphian. He uttered the unspeakable that spoke for us all. "World f-in' Champions." He said it on live TV in front of -- oh, I don't know, a billion people? -- and he said it as deliberately and magnificently as his fellow California Phillie said it. At the victory celebration in 1980 at JFK Stadium at the end of the biggest parade in this city that anyone had ever seen, Tug McGraw shouted, "New York can take this World Championship and stick it.!" And we cheered each of them immediately -- Tug and Chase -- passionately and forever. Their blood has become our blood.

Utley spoke for us all when he dropped the F bomb to describe the indescribable, a feeling that comes once in a lifetime. Twice if you chose the right century to be born. World f-in' champions. God, that feels good.

Chase Utley World Fucking Champions

In case you missed it, Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley broke with the conventional, family-friendly, Disney approach to professional sports commentary today at the Parade of Champions.

Utley walked up to the mic and said:
"World Champions.
World Fucking Champions."

The t-shirts are already being printed.

The crowd roared, and the ruckus spread to the millions gathered on the streets of Philadelphia, already wildly celebrating the Phillies World Series Victory.

It is a fitting addition to the tough guy lexicon of Philadelphia vocabulary, which already includes such luminary phrases as "Yo, Adrian!"

Now we have claimed the F-bomb for ourselves. This city is going to party tonight. I'll be wearing one of these shortly:



Chase Utley, in touch with his inner ninja for sure.


The clip.