"Now you know why they call it 'fast food' Larry told Leo during a power lunch the other day...

Image via Stumble

How smart is this cat? He's just inches from becoming bird food!

Clarence thought that his lucky day had arrived, as he stealthy approached the biggest birdie he had ever seen! Little did he know that he was about to use up eight of his nine lives!

Photo via I'm am bored

History shows there's hope for struggling newspapers today!

From the ALL VIEWS web site  today:

By Dave Stancliff
My first job as an editor of a weekly newspaper, The Desert Trail in Twentynine Palms, gave me the opportunity to meet Bill Underhill, an old-time newspaper publisher, and one of the first homesteaders in the area in1928.

Bill Underhill established The Desert Trail in 1935 and sold it many years later when he retired. It’s now owned by Brehm Communications, Inc. Bill still lived in Twentynine Palms when I arrived in 1981.

I got to talk with him and his wonderful wife Prudie, who was still very active in the community, many times.
Their mom-and-pop business thrived for so many years that they became a rich part of the town’s history. Read the rest here.

image via Getty Images

Signs of the Times? Homeland Security preparations parodied

•      
• Left - If you are trapped under falling debris, conserve oxygen by not farting. Middle - If your intended destination is suddenly vaporized, consider pulling over and watching the cool light show. Right - If your building collapses, climb under your table and practice yoga postures.
• To see more signs go to this parody site

Step right up and scope out Scott Wade's Dirty Car Art Gallery!

   TITLE: American Gothic

 DESCRIPTION: A little Grant Wood action. American   Gothic has always been one of my favorite paintings, but I was surprised at how much is in the painting I hadn't noticed. Nothing like trying to copy a master's work to reveal its subtleties.

 CREDITS: Scott Wade

 Click here to visit Scott's site that displays a whole lot more of his fantastic dirty car art. Be prepared to be impressed.

Marijuana: The herb that keeps on giving....

SexPot: Want to Have Great Sex? Smoke a Joint

By Josey Vogels, My Messy Bedroom. Posted April 18, 2009.

Marijuana has been used as an aphrodisiac for thousands of years.

So what exactly is it about weed that turns people on?

 Click here to see article in AlterNet.

Here are some weird laws that are on the books in Ohio...

In Akron - It is illegal to display colored chickens for sale.

I think you'll find the following laundry list of weird laws in Ohio interesting.

Here they are at Weird Facts          Photo via Smashz's Photostream

Perry had a creepy feeling that someone was watching him!

photo via stumble

Reality TV: When do producers go too far for good ratings?

This is my first article with ALL VIEWS online publication. I hope you enjoy it.

STEP RIGHT UP FOLKS AND MAKE FOOLS OF YOURSELVES!

By Dave Stancliff
Popular reality shows on television are about as real as the tooth fairy.

I hope this doesn’t come as too harsh a shock to hardcore fans seeking escape from their own reality. It’s just an uneasy fact.

Read the whole column here

Blogger Blather: A few notes and some surprises this morning...

I was surprised to see my column from last September (14th) Judge says Feds violated 10th Amendment by subverting State Marijuana Laws - on the Times-Standard 10 Most Read list this morning (#3 at 9 a.m.)

Last year this column was the Most Read Online story. It went viral instantly.

To see this same column pop up again today tells me there's currently a blog, or blogs, that are featuring the column. Like the Energizer Bunny, it just keeps going and going.

I'd like to thank my most recent Follower, Ginabobina, for picking this blog to read.

I also was surprised to see national Opinion columnist and chief mergers and acquisitions reporter for The New York Times, Andrew Ross Sorkin, is following my blog via Twitter. I got an email this morning to that effect. Now,I just have to figure out what this Twitter stuff is all about. My ignorance is boundless, when it comes to new technology! 

Image via www.tenthamendment.com

KUDO FOR THE DAY: there's a good opinion piece by James Faulk in today's Times-Standard on Page A-4 A Day Without Reporters - that talks about the importance of newspapers and reporters in our society. I've been working on a column about newspapers, and how they are going to survive in today's fierce media competition, so I read Faulk's column with great interest. His points about reporters in the trenches is right-on. For those of you who enjoy attacking newspapers and reporters, I suggest you read this article. You might have a change of mind. If not, you'll at least be aware of a reality in the reporting world of newspapers, blogs, television, and radio.

HOW POPULAR IS MY COLUMN - As It Stands - IN THE T-S THIS YEAR? LAST YEAR? LAST MONTH? WHAT'S HOT? WHAT'S CONTROVERSIAL? TOP SCORING? Click here to get the answers from the Times-Standard's own files.

ONE FINAL NOTE: I got this email a little while ago, and it just seems to be the theme of the day for me:

Hi ,
I came across your blog  at Blogger.com. It is very well written and interesting. I like how you have explored the topic. If you are interested, I would like to extend an invitation to join All Voices. It's a citizen journalist site. We discuss, debate and write about everything under the sun here.The site has a lot of people who are passionate about writing and use this as a tool to make a difference.
All Voices also has an incentive program for writers who can earn up to $10,000 cash. You can visit http://www.allvoices.com/journalism for more details and do register if you are interested.
Thanks,
Tara

Children and Video Games: Experts look at possibility of addiction!

I've watched my grandchildren play with video games and have been amazed at their dexterity and comprehension of the games intricacies.

This morning I ran across an article on the subject that I'm going to share with you.

From the Washington Post:

Video-game addiction a real problem, study finds

By Donna St. George | The Washington Post

April 21, 2009

"A new study concludes that children can become addicted to playing video games, with some youths skimping on homework, lying about how much they play and struggling, without success, when they try to cut back.
In what is described as the first nationally representative study in the U.S. on the subject, researcher Douglas Gentile of Iowa State University found that 8.5 percent of American youths ages 8 to 18 who play video games show multiple signs of behavioral addiction.
"For some kids, they play in such a way that it becomes out of balance. And they're damaging other areas of their lives, and it isn't just one area, it's many areas," said Gentile, a psychologist and assistant professor whose study was posted online Monday by the journal Psychological Science."

Read the whole story here.

photo via Tim Boyle / Getty Images

When is shaking hands inappropriate? When Conservatives say so!

The latest Conservative outcry over President Obama shaking hands with President Chavez, is so stupid that I can't believe people are really getting upset over it. Blogs are having a banner day with this latest obstructionist tactic.

Newt Gingrich, one of many carnival barkers for the Republican Party, was on CNN this morning whining and claiming that Obama shouldn't go around shaking hands with other world leaders who are not in lock-step with America. I guess he's forgotten about President Nixon's visit to China, when they were our open enemy, or President Reagan going to Communist occupied Berlin to thaw out relations between the two countries.

Short-term memory, and no recollections, seem to plague those Conservatives that are making this world goodwill tour by Obama seem to be a negative thing.

Apparently history means nothing to a party that is looking for any way to attack Obama. Their efforts are pathetic and only encourage more polarization in this country.

THE NEW YORK TIMES  has an article this morning about Obama meeting with Western Hemisphere Leaders, and talks about his encounter with Chavez.

MEDIA MATTERS FOR AMERICA has a video of Fox New's response to the now controversial handshake.

FOREIGN POLICY BLOG has this take on Obama's visit.

photo via The New Yorks Times  

Lakers Win game 1 vs Jazz, 113-100 - 'Momma who was that man?'

Trevor Ariza baffles Ronnie Brewer on the way to scoring a career high 21 points in playoff action.

Ariza was a force the Jazz just couldn't contain, shooting 8-18 from the field, 2 assists, and 4 rebounds in 33 minutes of play. Kobe was "the Man" as usual with 24 points, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 4 rebounds in 39 minutes of play.

I'm not counting the Jazz out however. Any team coached by Jerry Sloan is going to be competitive. The Lakers have to be careful of letting their guard down with big leads. I expect Game Two will be even more physical as the Jazz try to make this a series. THE LA TIMES describes the game in more detail.

Why am I posting all this info about the LA LAKERS? It's quit simple. I've been a fan since they moved to LA for the 1960-61 season with their star Elgin Baylor! When they drafted Jerry West that season I became an immediate fan of his tough, and clutch, play. His likeness being used as the NBA Logo is no mistake.

So....fair warning. There will be future posts on my favorite team since I was eleven!

Photo via Chris Carlson/Associated Press

Today's As It Stands: Somali thugs need to answer for their crimes!

 The world needs to quit enabling Somali pirates (criminals) in their ransom business.

It's hard to believe that the entire world can be held hostage by a bunch of youthful Somali criminals, but it's been happening now for nearly two decades!

Today's "As It Stands" column in The Times-Standard deals with the issue head-on.

Forget coddling these criminals! They need to reap the whirlwind for the seeds they sowed. All countries have to have accountability for the action of their inhabitants, and Somali is no exception.

IT'S TIME TO STOP SOMALI CRIMINALS FROM HOLDING THE WORLD'S SHIPPING HOSTAGE

By Dave Stancliff

The crimes will continue until someone gets proactive.

Without any warning your house is filled with angry bees!

You run outside to escape the sudden influx of buzzing insects. Something needs to be done about them, or you will to have to move! What to do?

Get an expert on beekeeping. This expert will go right to the source -- the beehive -- and either move it or destroy it so you can safely go back into your house.

Sounds simple and reasonable don't you think? Then why is the whole world unable to deal with the Somali criminals (pirates sounds too romantic) who attack the ships of every nation and hold the crews for ransom?

TO READ THE REST

OF THIS COLUMN

CLICK HERE.

Graphic via www.whiteafrican.com