Is it possible to be an all-American company?

California flashlight maker is close, but it's still a rough road

Anthony Maglica has lived the American Dream – arriving in booming post-war United States as a penniless young man, he made his way to California in a rusty Studebaker, worked hard and saved just enough money to start his own business. He parlayed the humble sum of $125 into a business empire.

Maglica’s company, Mag Instruments, has sold 420 million of its aluminum-encased flashlights since 1979. Its Maglite brand is known worldwide as a high-quality American product. But the company’s story illustrates just how difficult it is to be all-American. Not only does it face a flood of cheap imports, but Mag is in perpetual legal battle to protect itself from copycats

Volunteers needed to smoke cannabis regularly for science – one hitch – you have to live in the UK

Do you use cannabis regularly?
Does cannabis stimulate your creativity?
If so, we are interested in hearing from you…

Pioneer Film and Television Productions are producing a new 3 part series about drugs for the BBC and are looking for people to take part in the series as contributors that we follow over a relevant period of time.
The use of recreational drugs is widespread and growing, this series is an honest and non judgmental look at drugs and the impact they have on the human body. Combining the testimony of cannabis users, medical experts and cutting edge CGI we will explain how drugs create the effects they do.
Please only contact if you are over 18 and based in the UK.
Please contact Matt or Lisa at research@pioneertv.com
Or call: 01753 785 486

Tea partiers search Constitution for parts that support their beliefs

I’m reminded of those evangelist preachers who take parts of the Bible and quote it out of context to support their personal agendas. They try to take the high road by associating themselves with a mainstream religion, but in fact are just greedy people using the belief in a higher power to their advantage.  

Not much difference here. Read this article and note Tea Partiers reject certain parts of the Constitution because they’re only interested in the parts that fit into their narrow world view. Their just using the Constitution the way rogue religious leaders use the Bible.

Crazed preachers and Tea Partiers have a lot in common. How many examples can you think of? While you’re buried in deep thought, take a look at this story:  

'Tea party' goes back to school on Fourth of July

Tea Party activists across the nation tried to put the "independence" back in Independence Day this weekend with festivals and other gatherings focused on the Constitution — and how to use it for political gain.

No surprise corner: Companies find ways to bypass ban on earmarks

Congressional whores have pimps just like any other streetwalker. They’re called Lobbyists.

They're using nonprofits — some they've created — to funnel money now…

Just one day after leaders of the House of Representatives announced a ban on earmarks to profit-making companies, Victoria Kurtz, the vice president for marketing of a small Ohio defense contracting firm, hit on a creative way around it.

End game: Chess icon Fischer exhumed for DNA test

Back when I belonged to a chess club, Fischer was my idol. I studied his games for hours. I copied his strongest opening moves, and end game moves.

The guy had no personality and was kinda of a nut job, especially towards the end of his life. However, he established himself as one of the greatest Grandmasters of all time.

'Professional and dignified' procedure aims to establish paternity of girl, 9

Authorities in Iceland have exhumed the body of American chess champion Bobby Fischer to determine whether he is the father of a 9-year-old girl from the Philippines.

As It Stands: The Pug Zone: An approach to politics and life

Dave Stancliff/For the Times-Standard

Posted: 07/04/2010 01:27:17 AM PDT

Wouldn't it be nice to see all our elected officials as loyal to us as pug dogs are to their owners? Pugs were bred to be cheerful and friendly companions. Pugs don't lie. They're great watchdogs and clowns.

The men and women we vote into office are supposed to be watchdogs we can trust to promote our interests. They're always supposed to tell us the truth. We like it when they're friendly and cheerful and sometimes that's enough to make us vote for them. However, we often end up with career politicians who are devoid of pug-like attributes, with one exception; being clowns.

Don't be alarmed if I'm not writing about one of the major disasters going on in our world. I know they're happening. You know where to go if you want to read, see, or hear about them. This week I've decided to defiantly write about all things pug.

You're now in the pug zone. Pull up a chair, sit back and relax while I tell you some interesting things about these wonderful canines.

Latin scholars thought a pug's head looked like a clenched fist, thus the word “pugnus,” and one possible origin of the name. The other is the marmoset “pug” monkeys kept as pets. The dogs looked somewhat like them. They're one of the oldest breeds of dogs, originating somewhere in Asia prior to 400 B.C.

My pug, Millie, can expect to live 12-15 years. She's 5 years old now and we take walks every day to help her keep her “girlish” figure. She's our second pug.

READ THE REST HERE.  PHOTO: Millie relaxing in my Laker room/Den.

UPDATE:

Here’s a cool site called netvibes that picked up todays column. Look under Prince Google News on right.

From Colorado Springs we have this blog that picked up today’s piece on pugs (July 4th).

Another site called WoPular picked up the column Monday morning.

What’s next ? Russian spy ring in jail, but no one knows what they were looking for

In an upcoming As It Stands column (July 11th) readers are asked to channel their inner Ian Flemings…

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Beware of ‘Qwerty Tummy’ - your keyboard can give you food poisoning

Keyboards can be up to five times dirtier than toilet seats, study found

As if there aren’t already enough ways to contact germs, I found another “hot zone” that could ruin your day.

Stomach sicknesses caught from computer equipment have been dubbed "qwerty tummy" after the "Q-W-E-R-T-Y" keys on a keyboard.

“The major culprits for this grodiness are people not washing their hands after using the restroom and eating food at their desks. In the latter case, sticky fingers transfer sauces and edible particles onto and between the keys.”

Great balls of fire! Grill injuries can ruin your cookout

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18,000 people head to the ER each year with burns and blisters

As the Fourth of July holiday shifts barbecue season into high gear, doctors and fire officials warn that grilling accidents can have serious, even deadly, consequences.

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GOP chair Steele makes stupid Afghan war remark, stirs firestorm

Steele called Afghanistan 'a war of Obama's choosing'

I can’t believe how stupid Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele is.

This guy is setting a standard for moronic remarks that eerily reminds me of George Bush. What world does he live in? Afghanistan is Bush and Cheney’s other war. Obama inherited the hot potato and is having problems dealing with it.

But to say this is “Obama’s war,” that’s just downright moronic. Just think, this clown is the head of the Republican Party. I don’t see the Republicans going anywhere in 2012 with such uninspired leadership. Maybe that’s a good thing when you look at some of the people the GOP are considering as presidential candidates. Mike Huckabee anyone?  

Believe it or Not: Ripley's reopens in S.F. with Mirror Maze

After $5 million renovation, Believe it or Not! Odditorium unveiled

A figure of Grace McDaniels, who once complained about a publicist calling her "the ugliest woman in the world," is shown on display at the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium in San Francisco.