Final image (gif) of the day.

For those who are not aware, this is the man that stood up during the Mandela Memorial the other day, that was attended by dignitaries from around the world, including our current and two former Presidents, and provided sign language interpretation.

Except that he was apparently NOT a sign language interpreter, and clearly did NOT know sign language.

This from CNN:

To those outside the deaf community, the sign language interpreter for Nelson Mandela's memorial may have looked like he was working hard, translating the spoken words into gestures for four hours. 

But he has been dubbed "a fake," and his actions outraged deaf people, according to an association for the deaf community in South Africa. 

The service to commemorate the revered statesman, who died last week at the age of 95, was broadcast to millions of viewers around the world. 

While dignitaries addressed the crowd Tuesday at Johannesburg's FNB stadium, the unidentified suited man with a security pass produced a series of hand signals that experts say meant nothing. 

The Deaf Federation of South Africa (DeafSA) said the "interpreter" was not a recognized professional, nor was he known by the deaf community in the country. 

"The so-called 'interpreter' who interpreted at the official memorial service for late former president Nelson Mandela at FNB stadium has been dubbed the 'fake interpreter' and the deaf community is in outrage," Bruno Druchen, national director of DeafSA, said in a statement. 

"He is not known by the Deaf Community in South Africa nor by the South African Sign Language interpreters working in the field." 

The man did not use facial expressions, which in South African sign language are an important part of communication, and the hand signals he used were meaningless, Druchen said. 

"The signs (self-invented signs) the interpreter used are not used in South African Sign Language and it is a total mockery of the language," he said.

Okay at this point I am torn between very impressed that anybody had the balls to pull off such a daring prank, at such a  highly publicized event, and horrified that anybody could get that close to dignitaries without a background check and screening.

If this guy had been a terrorist this could have been a very bad situation indeed.

But as a prank, this guy has really set the bar to a new high.

However he had better steer well clear of the deaf community for awhile, because if they see his ass he might get a completely silent beat down, with an actual deaf interpreter standing nearby signing curses and insults in his direction.

Those on the invite list to Margaret Thatcher's funeral. President Obama and Hillary Clinton? Yes. Sarah Palin? Absolutely not!

Courtesy of The Guardian: 

More than 2,000 politicians, dignitaries and celebrities – from Hillary Clinton to Tony Blair, from Jeremy Clarkson to FW de Klerk, and from Jeffrey Archer to Shirley Bassey – have been invited to attend the funeral of Lady Thatcher at St Paul's Cathedral next week. 

The guest list, which includes all surviving former British prime ministers, all surviving former US presidents and a representative of the former South African president Nelson Mandela, has been drawn up by Thatcher's family with help from the government and the Conservative party. 

Downing Street said the invitations were being printed on Thursday and would be sent out on Friday by first-class post. 

A No 10 spokeswoman said: "Those invited include family and friends of Lady Thatcher, those who worked with her over the years, including all surviving members of her cabinets, former chiefs of staff, Conservative associates, peers and MPs, members of the cabinet, peers and MPs, members of the Order of the Garter, members of the Order of Merit, foreign associates and dignitaries and representatives from the wide range of groups she was associated with." 

She said 200 states, territories and international organisations would be invited to send a representative to the service. 

"We have invited those countries and institutions with whom we have normal diplomatic relations," she said. "In addition, there are invitations being made in a personal capacity to some current and former world leaders as well as others from overseas who had a close connection to Baroness Thatcher."

Over 2,000 politicians, dignitaries, and celebrities invited, with help in the choosing from the CONSERVATIVE party in Britain, and Sarah Palin STILL cannot wrangle an invite?

Don't these people realize that SHE is the obvious successor to the conservative crown of Baroness Thatcher?

Don't they realize that she has "still" spine which is kind of like being an "Iron Lady?"

Do they not realize that ever since Palin first heard about the Thatcher, from McCain's people while they were trying to cram a lifetime's worth of facts in her head before she met the press, that she has wanted NOTHING more in life than to have the opportunity stand next to her (Dead or alive), and get her picture taken to help further her conservative credentials?

Oh, well maybe they DO know that.

Wow! It is one thing to get rejected by a living woman, but to be rejected by her corpse? Ouch!

I guess they did not read this impassioned plea over at the Sea O'Pee earlier today:

But as an invited guest of the Thatcher family!! Sarah going would end once and for all the LIE that Thatcher did not want to meet her!! So I implore Thatcher's family and official representatives to PLEASE invite Sarah Palin to the memorial!! She would be a dignified and most appropriate person to TRULY represent the United States.....or at least that part of this nation that most reveres Lady Thatcher!!

Ah! And just when I thought this could not be more satisfying!