Saturday, October 24, 2009

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)

 

Friday, October 23, 2009

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.

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  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)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

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

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

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

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

A shout out to all you crazy Texans!

Here are five weird Texas laws. Why Texas? All the states have weird laws right? My wife is from there and I like picking on the state of Texas! For a lot more go to weirdfacts

  • It is illegal for children to have unusual haircuts.

  • A recently passed anti-crime law requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and explain to the nature of the crime about to be committed.

  • It is illegal to milk another persons' cow.

  • One must acknowledge a supreme being before being able to hold public office.

  • It is illegal to sell ones eyes.

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Is this what it’s going to come to?

Image via http://mojito.over-blog.net

Try Walking a Mile in Their Shoes

  In 1961 a groundbreaking book titled Black Like Me was written by a white man who posed as a black man in America's Deep South. John ...