Iraq holds off agreeing to new UN mandate until conditions are met

Things are getting a bit dicey again between Iraq and American officials as they try to hammer out some conditions

that the Iraqis are demanding before signing a new UN Security Council Mandate.

 

Iraq's Planning Minister Ali Baban, a Sunni, also stressed that the Iraqis want jurisdiction over all US soldiers and contractors unless they are carrying out a joint military operation approved by the Iraqis. They also don't want any possibility of Americans staying in their country beyond 2011.

For more details

CLICK HERE.

The sooner we get out of this mess the better. Too many good men and women have died fighting for oil!

OBAMA and McCain Concentrate on Swing States

As the Republicans become more desperate every day, John McCain continues to rally the faithful and to tell them to ignore the polls that show Barrack Obama ahead.

Obama meanwhile, continues to address massive gatherings of people and to get his message of change across. At a rally today he reminded listeners that they are five days away from making history when they vote for him.

Both candidates are running (okay McCain's walking) from one swing state to another trying to win over any undecided voters who may still be lurking around the American landscape. Despite the pundits pointing at the Democrats, who are leading in nearly every major poll, the argument that McCain could still win via the Electoral College is still out there today.

This is one of my concerns. We need to get rid of the Electoral College.

Make sure to see this Sunday's Times-Standard when As It Stands takes on the legitimacy of a relic from the past - the Electoral College! 

To read more about the possible combinations of swing states benefiting the candidates CLICK HERE.

THE REAL SPIDERMAN IS RETIRED FROM CRIME FIGHTING!

Billy Joe Parker, aka the real Spider Man, is slowing down these days. Now, well into his sixties, he's given up swinging from building to building and just stands at street corners passing out money to people.

"It's tuff giving up crime fighting," Billy Joe said in a recent interview with this blog.

He made it clear that it wasn't just his health that was causing him to retire from all the action. "I was getting tired of people not even saying 'thank you' after I risked my life to save their asses. There's a lot of rude victims out there," he claimed.

If you think Billy Joe looks bad these days you should see some of his old adversaries. Doctor Octopus spends his day in an indoor pool and looks like a walking prune with eight arms.

The Sandman can't even stay awake long enough to cause trouble these days, and arch-rival Dr. Doom is in a wheelchair and drools a lot.

For all of you Spider Man fans there's good news; Billy Joe doesn't charge for his autograph...he does, however, request that you never kill a spider as it could be one of his relatives!

LAKERS LOOK UNSTOPPABLE!

The Lakers blew out the Clippers 117-79 last night. While it's still early in the season this version of the Lakers is going to surprise teams with their aggressive defense and offense.

The team is so deep that the 2nd team probably could hold it's own with 80 percent of the teams in the NBA. It's going to be an exciting year for the purple and gold.

Something Fishy in the Pumpkin Patch!

Here's a Halloween treat for the Zombies in your life

Take this melon and peel off the outer skin. Then carve channels into it to make it look like a brain!

 

A tasty treat for all to eat!

My visitors in the last 24 hours ...

It was a busy day (yesterday) for this blog and I thought I'd share some of the places that visitors hailed from:

Foreign visitors: CapeTown, Western Cape, South Africa; Manchester, United Kingdom; Tel Aviv-yafo, Tel Aviv, Israel; Berlin, Germany, and Rawalpindi,Punjab, Pakistan.

National visitors: Boise, Idaho; San Antonio, Texas; Signal Mountain, Tennessee; Morton Grove, Illinois; Kalispell, Montana; Minneopolis, Minnesota; Quantico, Virginia; Littleton, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; Alpharetta, Georgia; Butler, New Jersey; Chicago, Illinois, Ketchikan, Alaska; Montgomery, Alabama; and Starkville, Mississippi.

California visitors: San Ramon; San Francisco; San Jose; Marina; Redwood City; Los Angeles; Arcata; Eureka; McKinleyville; Sunnyvale; Fortuna; San Bernadino; Diamond Bar; and Riverside.

I've noticed a growing trend of national visitors outnumbering California visitors. I'm not sure why, but it's interesting to note.Thanks to all of you for stopping by. You all come back now...ya hear?

Schwarzenegger Warns California Educators that Big Cuts are Coming

Shocked California educators are bracing for cuts of $2 billion to $4 billion in the state's schools. Schwarzenegger is also

looking to push for a tax hike to close the state's budget gap. Educators are saying cuts this large will be catastrophic.

To read more about these drastic measures CLICK HERE.

Take Notice Active Military Personnel: Obama urges counting of military votes

A 2002 Virginia law threatened to toss some absentee ballots but was stopped by Virginia's attorney general who stepped in Monday and said all the ballots had to be counted under federal law, which trumps state law.

For more on this latest election news and further explanation CLICK HERE

DOW JUMPS NEARLY 900!

In an astounding advance today the Dow Jones industrials soared nearly 900 points in their second-largest point gain ever as late-day bargain hunters stormed into the market. CLICK HERE to read more.

PRAYING FOR THE APOCALYPSE: Southern Baptists Prepare for End Times

Truthdig author Chris Hedges talks about the guru of the End Times Movement. He is Timothy LaHaye, a Southern Baptist minister and the co-author (along with Jerry Jenkins) of the popular book series "Left Behind"

The series of apocalyptic thrillers provides a graphic depiction of mayhem and cruelty that God unleashes on all of the

non-believers when Christ returns and raptures Christians into Heaven. 

For more information on this movement CLICK HERE.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    HELL ON EARTH:The Christian video game Left Behind: Eternal Forces" uses graphics to depict a battle between Good and Evil.