Re-crafting the United States as Disunited Duchies

I highly recommend this article to people who are interested in understanding what is really happening with race relations in America today. It’s a troubling read, but one that will give you insights you may not have had before.

Authors of two recent books, "Whitopia" and "The Big Sort," see Americans as disuniting based on politics, race and culture.

WRITTEN BY:LEWIS BEALE

Lewis Beale is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Newsday and many other publications.

SNIPPET FROM HIS ARTICLE:

“In Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where 95 percent of the population is white, Rich Benjamin saw more Confederate flags than black people. Not that Benjamin was looking for suggestions of racism, but in his forthcoming book,Searching for Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America (Hyperion, Oct. 6), he was trying to discover why some of the fastest-growing areas in America are also the most Caucasian.”

Read the rest at Miller-McCune

Technorati Tags: lewis beale,racism,united states,caucasians,minorities,white america

In drug trafficking hub, artist is in demand

“Between mansions for the living and mausoleums for the dead, there is work to be had in the Sinaloa capital for painter and sculptor Jose Espinoza, who says of his patrons: 'I don't probe.'”

Story at LA Times

Jose Espinoza pauses in the Santa Ines church in Culiacan where he carved the altar and produced five stained glass windows and three murals. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Technorati Tags: LA Times,artist,Culiacan Mexico

 

Go on a hike with As It Stands this Sunday

Coming this Sunday, Nov.25th in

The Times-Standard

    AS IT STANDS:

Surviving a deadly hike on a trail with no name

A cautionary column on hiking. It can make your life richer, and it can take your life if you aren’t careful.

Technorati Tags: opinion column

  image via www.wausaukee.com

 

Comedian Soupy Sales dies at 83

 I loved the Soupy Sales program growing up. I really got a kick out of White Fang and Black Tooth, his two crazy dogs who spoke in grunts that he translated for viewers.

Then there was that famous (I think last episode) show where he flipped off the producers! With his demise, slapstick is officially gone. RIP…

“Soupy Sales, he of the crumpled hat and droopy bowtie, whose raucous in-your-face daily kids show was an iconic hit of the '50s and '60s, died Thursday at the age of 83.”

See full story at USA Today (Photo by Scott Gries, Getty Images)

Technorati Tags: soupy sales,slapstick comedian

Beast(s) of burden…

Cartoon by Randy Bish, Pittsburgh, PA -- the Tribune-Review
Visit the Tribune-Review E-Mail Randy

Technorati Tags: editorial cartoons

An accident waiting to happen…

Photo and more signs at www.slightlywarped.com

Technorati Tags: humorous road signs

The adventures of H.P. Lovecraft to be featured in a new Ron Howard film

One of my favorite authors is H.P.Lovecraft. That guy could set a mood like no one’s business. His dark and unholy subjects made for a fascinating read.

Looks like his works are making a comeback…

Adam Byrne conjures up the dark magic of 'H.P. Lovecraft'

H.P. Lovecraft and Hollywood, an unholy alliance?

EXCLUSIVE: Ron Howard and his plans for "Lovecraft"

Guillermo del Toro and his impassioned Lovecraft project

Links & Image via LA Times

Technorati Tags: h.p.lovecraft,author,movie

Sad News: Child’s body found in search for missing girl

Somer Thompson disappeared on way home from school on Monday.

Her body has been located in a landfill. Police are interviewing 75 known sex offenders in a five-mile-radius of where Somer lived.

 That’s just known sex offenders. It’s scary to think how many were in just the small area by where she lived. What is it lately with all these children being kidnapped and killed? It sure seems to be happening an awful lot. Just another sign of decay in our society.

Read the story here at MSNBC Photo via Today/MSNBC

Technorati Tags: sex offenders,missing children,children murdered by predators

Money to perserve monuments best spent on live veterans

The Associated Press recently ran the following news story and it got me to thinking.

What’s more important? To preserve and protect national monuments to wars, or helping live veterans today?

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the private organization that built the memorial, is in the process of raising funds to take care of the monument’s needs because the federal funding is drying up.

My challenge to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is to consider the live veterans that need help in this country and to start fundraising for them along with their other efforts.

As a Vietnam veteran I think symbols are fine, but I also believe veterans are better served while their still alive and have needs right now. 

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: 

“Repair work was underway Wednesday at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall as a private memorial fund took over landscaping and maintenance of 13 acres from the National Park Service.” Click here to read the whole article.

Photo by By J. David Ake, AP

Technorati Tags: vietnam veterans memorial fund,monuments to war

Other female cartoon characters competed with Marge Simpson for Playboy gig

By now you might've heard of (or maybe even seen) the photos of Marge Simpson'sPlayboy spread. Yes... THAT Marge Simpson "posed" for THAT Playboy.

Well, the folks at the always funny site Holy Taco have actually uncovered that there were several other female cartoon characters who posed for Playboy's cover, such as 101 Dalmations' Cruella de Vil, Popeye's Olive Oyl andSouth Park's Mr. Garrison. Yes, he's a girl. Unfortunately, none of them made the cut.

P.S. These are fake. Just making sure you knew that. Except that Marge Simpson REALLY posed for Playboy. I know, I know.

photo courtesy of Holy Taco

Rejected Playboy Cartoon Cover Girls originally appeared on About.com Web Humor on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Technorati Tags: playboy magazine,cartoon characters