(OMG!) Oh My Google!

In a slam against open-source lovers around the globe, Google is creating an Alliance to regulate the programming content of social networking sites, and today, Myspace and Bebo, the most-popular network in Britain, signed on.

The alliance now presents a powerful counterweight to Facebook, which, after opening up its site to developers last spring, has persuaded thousands of them to create programs for its users. The addition of MySpace, the world’s largest social network, and Bebo, the No.1 site in Britain, could also put pressure on Facebook to drop its own standard and join the alliance, called OpenSocial.

Facebook is refusing to join the alliance, but has not yet offered an explanation why.

Why don't they call it the United Federation of Players for all of the people that have degraded the concept of online social networks to meet markets or perhaps an ode to all the people that understand what these sites are really for - fun -, and adopt a flag bearing a planetary symbol to represent the global reach of social networks? That would certainly appeal to the Star Trek-loving tech geeks out there, and perhaps it would make a statement about the futility of such a merger. I mean really, the only real benefit here is to Google as it will grow its outlets for advertising sales.

When free speech costs too much

A Kansas-based fundamentalist group was ordered to pay nearly $11 million in damages to a mourning father for picketing at a military funeral and claiming that American deaths in Iraq are punishment for U.S. tolerance of homosexuality.

Albert Snyder sued Westboro Baptist church after a protest last year at the funeral of his son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq. He claimed the protests invaded and violated the sanctity of what was supposed to be a private ceremony.

The Associated Press reports that a jury agreed. On Wednesday, the church and three of its leaders — Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Phelps-Roper and Rebekah Phelps-Davis — were found liable for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress. Jurors awarded Snyder $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $8 million in punitive damages.

Snyder, of York, Pa., said he hoped other families would consider suing.

"The goal wasn't about the money, it was to set a precedent so other people could do the same thing," he said.

There is a point when any freedom goes too far, and although this is neither hate speech, nor is it speech intended to insight violence, treason or coup, it is blatantly disrespectful to, well, just about everyone.

The media is qualifying this group as right wing, but face it, they are challenging the boundaries of free speech, that is not a very right-winged thing to do. They are also doing so in the face of mourning survivors of dead Iraq War soldiers - ummm, hello McFly, that is no way to gain support with the right, or to be aligned with conservatives. It's no way to be aligned with anyone for that matter.

IN truth though, the Westboro Baptist church is not political, but rather they are fundamentalists, and the politicized label holds no water here anyway. But political labels, alignments and support are not what this group seeks.

The Christian Post report read:
Westboro Baptist, which is not affiliated with any Baptist denomination, holds an unorthodox view on predestination, the idea that God determined at the time of one's creation whether they were bound for heaven or hell.

While the belief, stemming from the teachings of John Calvin, is also taught in mainstream churches, members of Westboro Baptist particularly emphasize God’s hatred in spreading their message.

The members of the church, made up of mainly Pastor Fred Phelps and his relatives, also believe that they must alert the condemned of their fate even though such people have no chance of going to heaven. According to past media reports, the congregation prays that all of God’s chosen people will come to this church. When the last person comes, they believe, Christ will return and the world will end.

Given their background, it is not a surprise that most members of the church seemed pleased with the ruling. The Associated Press reported that they left the court room with tight-lipped smiles.

Rev. Phelps was confident an appeal would rule in their favor.

“Oh, it will take about five minutes to get that thing reversed,” he said.

Jonathan Phelps, son of Fred Phelps Sr, said the national media attention will just give church members another platform to preach their message.

Singapour Airlines offers private memberships to the Mile-High Club

Want to become a member of the Mile-High Club without concern over falling in to the toilet? Not is Singapore Airlines has anything to say about it.

Singapour Airlines made a public announcement today requesting that its passangers not to engage in sexual acts onboard its planes as it has begun flying its new A380 Airbus which are complete with 12 first-class private cabins. Though the cabins are not much more spacious than the standard airplane port-a-potty, they are more private. The airline released its statement according to BBC News upon learning that the cabins are not sound proof.

"All we ask of customers, wherever they are on our aircraft, is to observe standards that don't cause offence to other customers and crew," the airline said in a statement.

"Nothing different applies for our Singapore Airlines Suites customers."

Singapore Airlines took delivery of its first A380 earlier this month, with the first services between Singapore and Sydney starting on Oct. 25.

It is now set to take delivery of a further five A380s in 2008, out of its order of 19.

Can I cheer for my Lakers again?

The day the seemingly-indomitable franchise of the early 21st century announced that it would trade my main man Shaq and keep ball hog (and by hog I do mean pig) Kobe Bryant, I vowed not to cheer for the Lakers.

But just as time heals everything and the tides will always change, LA's devotion to the overrated NBA star has finally come full circle. These days, they hate him and like a bad McDonald's commercial: "I'm Lovin' It!"

Sports Illustrated reports that Kobe is being greated to Boo's in the Staples Center. Though that might be a bit extreme, considering that the guys has played in LA since 1996... that's eleven seasons people. And he has helped take the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships. He still holds the record for the most points scored in a game, 81 - which feeds into the whole ball hog thing, but let's not linger on that. He is a nine-time NBA All-Star. And he still averages 24.8 points per game.

Sure, he has had his fair share of scandal, and he whines like a girl when he doesn't get his way, but we the people created this monster.

What do you expect from a guy that came into the NBA at 17-years-old and has been told since childhood that he IS the next Michael Jordan?

But perhaps the Lakers will get lucky. I understand that the 76ers are looking for a sound franchise player, and their so-called cornerstone guard Andre Iguodala leaves much to be desired. Send Kobe home, and pick up Ben Gordan from Chicago. Gordan can't seem to get a start because he has been labled as a weak defensive player, but last time I checked, Kobe isn't much to write home about in the defensive end either. Gordan also averages about 22 points per game, and he even has the LA look about him. Pick him up while you can Lakers, cause Kobe isn't going to last long.

And the thumpa-thumpa rages on

Center City Philadelphia, the heart of gritty, urban social-life, became the scene of a "24-esque" pursuit last night. Apparently, an SUV pulled up alongside a car parked on the side of Sansom St. near 15th and dispute broke out between a three people in the car, and the man inside the SUV.

Shots were fired.

One man in the car was hit in the shoulder, the other in the arm and the woman was wounded, but not severely. All of them were taken to Jefferson University Hospital. The SUV sped off, but was pursued by police and caught at 22nd and Sansom streets, only seven blocks from the shooting. The suspect crashed the SUV, fired at the police car hitting it twice, and the police officer in the vehicle was shot in the shoulder.

The suspect then abandoned the vehicle and jumped into the Schuylkill river.

Read more from the story we dropped at midnight in Metro or get a more updated story in the Daily News.

What was amazing to me was walking around the scene of the shooting at 15th and Sansom streets less and an hour after it occured, there was no sign of anything abnormal. Partiers dressed in Halloween customes were slinking in and out of bars, panhandlers were doing there deed and the mood in the air was jovial, festive and, well, party!

This morning, there were the usual signs of a hard-party night in the city. A few broken bottles, puke stained sidewalks and confetti strewn in the streets.

Four shot, including an officer... Just another night in Philadelphia.