The WTF News Files

[Colin Parkinson]

25 million surplus males at last count

 

[Loachman]

Maybe somebody there could start a business for mail-order North American brides.

 

[jollyjacktar]

No, Syrian women...

EXCLUSIVE - 'I want a husband who can satisfy me in bed': Syrian war has left cities full of single women... but given lesbians freedom to have relationships

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3622204/I-want-husband-satisfy-bed-Syrian-war-left-cities-single-women-given-lesbians-freedom-relationships.html#ixzz4CFZ13lkm
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 

[a_majoor]

Microsoft really crossed the line this time, but you too could be entitled to compensation:

https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2016/06/29/woman-sues-microsoft-for-windows-10-upgrade/?singlepage=true

Woman Sues Microsoft for Windows 10 Upgrade
BY STEPHEN GREEN JUNE 29, 2016 CHAT 78 COMMENTS

Do you know how to protect your computer against Microsoft's stealth upgrade process to Windows 10? I'll get to that in greater detail shortly, but one California woman didn't, but her frustration turned into a $10,000 payday:

Teri Goldstein of Sausalito, California, said a few days after Microsoft released Windows 10 publicly in July 2015, the computer at her travel agency business tried to download it without her consent. The update failed and her computer "slowed to a crawl," crashing at times and becoming "unusable for days at a time."

"I had never heard of Windows 10," Goldstein said. "Nobody ever asked me if I wanted to update."

Goldstein attempted to reach Microsoft's customer support department to fix the problem, but that apparently didn't work, so she decided to take Microsoft to court. She sought compensation for lost wages and to cover the cost of a new computer.

As it would happen, Goldstein won the case, earning a $10,000 judgement, after Microsoft decided not to appeal. A Microsoft representative said the company didn't want to take the legal battle any further to "avoid the expense of further litigation," according to The Times.

Microsoft denied any wrongdoing.

Microsoft was so, so wrong -- and that's why they settled the suit so quickly. Personally, I don't have any strong feelings about Windows 10 one way or the other. I switched to Mac ten years ago after Redmond pushed back a WinXP upgrade once again, and Apple finally switched to Intel chips. And I reserve the right to switch platforms yet again (Hello, Linux!) if and when Apple ever loses its way. But I am so, so against anyone taking over my computer for their purposes.

With that in mind, here's more about that "stealth upgrade" thing I mentioned in the lede...

Redmond is so desperate to get people onto the Windows 10 platform that the company is breaking its own established interface rules to trick people into making the switch. It's so bad that even Windows-friendly Computerworld magazine published a piece called "How Windows 10 became malware."

If software from any other company behaved the way the Windows 10 upgrade does, would it be considered malware?
To find out, I delved into how the controversial upgrade works. Microsoft has been aggressive in its attempts to get as many people as possible to upgrade to Windows 10 in advance of the company’s self-imposed July 29 deadline for free upgrades from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

Last year Microsoft installed its Get Windows 10 app on millions of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 PCs. It alerted people that they could “reserve” the free upgrade if they wanted. When the app popped up on people’s PCs, they could close its window and block any action it might take in the time-honored way of clicking on the X in the upper right of the dialog box.

Since then Microsoft has gotten increasingly aggressive in getting people to upgrade to Windows 10. It began stealthily downloading the bits required for the upgrade to PCs automatically without telling people. And then this spring Microsoft sprung a trap. When the upgrade app appeared, if someone clicked the X in its dialog box in order to close it and cancel an upgrade, Windows did the exact opposite of what the person intended to do: It upgraded that person’s PC to Windows 10. Microsoft did that even though the app always behaved in the opposite way before then, which is pretty much the way any legitimate app behaves — closing a dialog box and canceling any actions.

Stealing gigabytes from your hard drive or SSD, tricking you into installing unwanted software...

Yeah, Windows 10 sounds an awful lot like malware, or at least the installer app does. And Microsoft seems to agree, quickly settling on a big cash award rather than risk having the case drawn out and being forced to admit to some kind wrongdoing.

So if you get that Windows 10 upgrade dialog and you don't want it, remember not to click the X. And if you still manage to get tricked into an unwanted install, you might just have a nice payday in your near future.

 

[OldSolduer]

May 3, 2016

First baby drop-off boxes for unwanted infants installed in firehouses in Indiana.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/baby-drop-off-boxes-unwanted-infants-installed-ind-article-1.2623613

Presumably, the babies placed in the safe haven box will be tended to much quicker than if new parents discard of them in a different manner.

c

I find this incredibly sad. I have two grandkids as y'all know, and to even hear of people abandoning babies when there are other ways of ensuring their care, it's just bloody sad.

What are we? I thought this sort of thing went out when Sparta ceased to exist,,,,,

 

[mariomike]

I thought this sort of thing went out when Sparta ceased to exist,,,,,

Years ago, a nurse at Sick Kids told me the police once brought them a baby found in a coin locker at Union Station.

 

[ModlrMike]

c

I find this incredibly sad. I have two grandkids as y'all know, and to even hear of people abandoning babies when there are other ways of ensuring their care, it's just bloody sad.

What are we? I thought this sort of thing went out when Sparta ceased to exist,,,,,

Rather the drop box at the fire hall than the dumpster behind the KFC. And from a history geek point of view, the Spartans would have left them in the woods for nature to take care of. That being said, I agree with your sentiment.

 

[Remius]

Rather the drop box at the fire hall than the dumpster behind the KFC. And from a history geek point of view, the Spartans would have left them in the woods for nature to take care of. That being said, I agree with your sentiment.

I'm pretty sure they threw them off cliffs to ensure nature didn't accidentally screw it up.

Edit to add:  That is actually a myth perpetuated by the Romans.  But just the same...

 

[The Bread Guy]

Rather the drop box at the fire hall than the dumpster behind the KFC.

Sad, but true ...

 

[jollyjacktar]

When it would have been nice to have an air rifle in your hands instead of a camera, the bitch. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3670487/Picture-emerges-woman-URINATING-war-memorial-nation-marks-centenary-bloodiest-day-British-military-history.html

 

[mariomike]

Bizarre blast in New York City’s Central Park
http://nypost.com/2016/07/03/man-loses-foot-after-stepping-on-possible-firework-in-central-park/
The bizarre accident forced the amputation of 18-year-old Connor Golden’s left leg below the knee and set the nation’s most-populous city on edge a day before the July 4 holiday was expected to draw thousands to watch the city’s annual fireworks display.

Might as well add this too,

Black Lives Matter Parade Protest Brings Sweeping Changes To Toronto Pride
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/07/03/black-lives-matter-toronto-pride-parade-changes_n_10798402.html
Canada’s largest LGBTQ event agreed to major changes Sunday after the Black Lives Matter movement staged a sit-in during the annual parade.

Pride Toronto agreed to exclude floats from police next year.

 

[mariomike]

New Brunswick woman drove her ailing husband right up to the ER doors. Needs help getting inside. ER says call 9-1-1.
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/new-brunswick-woman-says-she-drove-ill-husband-to-er-doors-but-hospital-told-her-to-call-ambulance
She says when they arrived at the hospital, she went inside to find help but was told by a nurse and security guard that she needed to call 911 so paramedics could bring Macdonald into the hospital.

I bet they sent her husband a bill too! That's when the complaints usually come in. 

Looks like they did get billed,
"Price also said she has no plans to pay the $130 ambulance fee."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/moncton-hospital-complaints-emergency-room-response-1.3683428

We used to get sent to a lot of those "courtesy calls". Sometimes even inside  the hospitals. They seemed to usually come in around 0400. 

 

[a_majoor]

Well it didn't take Facebook long to take this down:

 

[OrganishChemiker]

Thucydidles,

According to this news article, the poster removed it, not Facebook.

<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/lesbians-are-hot-facebook-apology-1.3695390">Lesbians are 'hot' pro-oilsands Facebook post removed, apology made</a>

From the article:

<blockquote>After a storm of backlash, a gay Métis Albertan has removed the pro-oilsands ad he posted to his Facebook page that says lesbians are "hot" and questions why Canada buys oil from countries that mistreat LGBTQ people.</blockquote>

The person who said he was disgusted doesn't really explain what bothers him.  Just saying that it "sexualizes" doesn't really explain.  The ad's subject matter is sexual. I think women who viewed this ad would take the implicit message as, "If you are a lesbian, then you should be hot because your function is to please the men who look at you."  I think that's what bothers people about the ad.

From what I've seen, Facebook is inconsistent in its removal of pages.  I belong to a group on Facebook that refutes anti-GMO and anti-vaccine claims and it was shut down when a pro-organic food/anti-GMO group coordinated their efforts and all complained about "harassment" at once.  All we were doing was criticizing and satirizing the most vocal members of the anit-GMOs or anti-vaccine movement.  They got so upset by our logic and science that they all complained to Facebook in order to silence us.  It's pretty clear to me that Facebook didn't really examine whether what we were doing was unacceptable or was within the terms of service.

mariomike,

That kind of inefficiency really pisses me off.  They're at the door of the emergency department as told to call 911.  The only upside I can think of is that people brought in by an ambulance are usually admitted right away.  I think the paramedic are also unable to leave the patient until an MD comes to see them, so it would waste paramedics' time because the patient's wife was present. What a shame.

 

[ModlrMike]

After a storm of backlash, a gay Métis Albertan has removed the pro-oilsands ad he posted to his Facebook page that says lesbians are "hot" and questions why Canada buys oil from countries that mistreat LGBTQ people.

I think women who viewed this ad would take the implicit message as, "If you are a lesbian, then you should be hot because your function is to please the men who look at you."

So a gay man makes an ad that features a lesbian couple, and said ad caters to heterosexual males' ideal fantasies?  The mind boggles...

 

[cupper]

So a gay man makes an ad that features a lesbian couple, and said ad caters to heterosexual males' ideal fantasies?  The mind boggles...

Well, when fishing, you need the right kind of bait. ;D

 

[mariomike]

Saw a job call for City of Flint ( Michigan ) Firefighter,
https://www.applitrack.com/fgahrc/onlineapp/1BrowseFile.aspx?id=13442
DATE POSTED: 7/20/2016

Comes with a very nice recruiting poster,
https://www.cityofflint.com/wp-content/uploads/Find-out-about-Becoming-a-Flint-Firefighter.pdf

"The fire department is reaching out to the Flint Community to assist in our recruitment efforts. Please take this informational flyer to your local schools, churches, and community meetings. Encourage friends and family to join our team of highly trained Firefighters and EMS professionals as we continue to serve and protect our community."

This is a city job, on a career department. Not volunteering in the township.

Starting pay is $9.22 per/hour. If you work hard, in 4 years you will earn $12.59 .

Meanwhile in Flint, protesters are calling for a $15 per hour minimum wage for fast-food workers.

 

[cupper]

Saw a job call for City of Flint ( Michigan ) Firefighter,
https://www.applitrack.com/fgahrc/onlineapp/1BrowseFile.aspx?id=13442
DATE POSTED: 7/20/2016

Even comes with a very nice recruiting poster,

"The fire department is reaching out to the Flint Community to assist in our recruitment efforts. Please take this informational flyer to your local schools, churches, and community meetings. Encourage friends and family to join our team of highly trained Firefighters and EMS professionals as we continue to serve and protect our community."

This is a city job, on a career department. Not volunteering in the township.

Starting pay is $9.22 per/hour. If you work hard, in 4 years you will earn $12.59 .

Meanwhile in Flint, protesters are calling for a $15 per hour minimum wage for fast-food workers.

Do they get a subsidty for purchasing bottled water?

And can you use lead tainted water to fight fires?

 

[mariomike]

And can you use lead tainted water to fight fires?

I suppose you can, but...

The water in Flint is so bad it is corroding the fire engine pumps,
http://www.abc12.com/home/headlines/Flint-Fire-Chief-Water-corroding-fire-engine-pumps-368271731.html

"Some disturbing news today from the Genesee County Health Department. It announced the rat population in Flint has now surpassed the human population by 50,000. Health officials says that's due to the massive numbers of people leaving Flint, and the City cutting back to twice monthly garbage collection due to budget constraints."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sPrDTI21RM

Garbage collection in Flint has been suspended....until further notice.
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2016/07/mayor_says_there_will_be_no_tr.html

With the temperatures as high as they are this time of year, it must stink to High Heaven.

 

[jollyjacktar]

Those poor citizens of Flint.  I feel for them.