Tomb raiders hit Iraqi sites as U.S. troops leave

'No guards, no fences, nothing' to protect oldest treasures of civilization

Obama’s Hypocrisy Highlighted By Dealings With Lobbyists

President Obama may be a nice guy, but he’s proving to be a phony in many ways. This collusion with lobbyists leads back to Day One when you look at how many lobbyists he appointed to prime positions in his government. 

Coffee shops used for discreet lobbyist meetings

Meetings outside the White House avoid official visitor registration

Here’s how business is really done in the Obama administration:

“Here at the Caribou on Pennsylvania Avenue, and a few other nearby coffee shops, White House officials have met hundreds of times over the last 18 months with prominent K Street lobbyists — members of the same industry that President Obama has derided for what he calls its “outsized influence” in the capital.”

Here’s what’s happening:

“But because the discussions are not taking place at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, they are not subject to disclosure on the visitors’ log that the White House releases as part of its pledge to be the “most transparent presidential administration in history.”

Obama’s disconnect with the public:

“The off-site meetings, lobbyists say, reveal a disconnect between the Obama administration’s public rhetoric — with Mr. Obama himself frequently thrashing big industries’ “battalions” of lobbyists as enemies of reform — and the administration’s continuing, private dealings with them.

Obama: Reform will hold Wall St. ‘accountable’

This ought to be interesting. We’ve been hearing about financial reform for over a year now.

The question now is, what are the details? Is it really something that’s going to change the way business is done on Wall Street? Color me suspicious:

The Bill represents biggest rewrite of Wall Street rules since Great Depression

Photo: Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-CT), center, and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), right, talk during a recess from a committee conference on Wall Street reform to hammer out sweeping changes in financial regulation legislation on Capitol Hill, in Washington, on Thursday.

Warning: this sign is really funny

 

 

 

 

_________________

You have to read the whole sign to see how clever it is. Found in a Canadian campground. 

_________________

Doctor aka ‘Candy Man’ tied to 68 overdose deaths is found guilty

A federal jury on Thursday found Dr. Stephen Schneider and his wife guilty of illegally prescribing painkillers to dozens of patients who later died.

If you lived in Wichita, Kansas and wanted prescription painkillers all you had to do was see the “Candy Man,” Dr. Stephen Schneider (shown here).

He was known as the “Candy Man” on the streets because it was so easy to get powerful painkillers from him with practically no questions asked – other than cursory on-the-spot examinations. Now, he and his wife, are paying the piper for their scheming that has caused dozens of deaths.

 

Bizarre comic books going back over 6 decades

HANSI The Girl Who Loved The Swastica is a classic (1938) bizarre comic.

There’s more to see if you go here.

______________

PREVENTIVE MAINTAINCE, 1951

______________

The 10 silliest things ever said by politicians

Comedians would probably not exist without politicians, whose speeches have always been full of splendidly stupid quotes:

Go here for a list of the top 10 moronic mutterings from politicians worldwide.

My favorite is the following from George W. Bush (pictured here trying to concentrate while someone asks him a question!):

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." – Washington, D.C., August 5, 2004 – George W. Bush.

The Big Eye is ready to fly over the skies of Texas

Holy drones Batman! Robots are patrolling the Tex-Mex border!

Unmanned drone set to patrol Texas border

PHOTO: An unmanned Predator drone taxis in El Mirage, Calif., after a test flight over the Mojave Desert. The Federal Aviation Administration has approved the use of unmanned aircraft to patrol the Texas-Mexico border. 

Here’s some famous people's final words – what wisdom have they left behind?

Famous people's final words should be, well, famous. But since most people don't know which words will be their last, those final utterances can be revealing, touching or just odd.

Here’s the reported last words of some memorable people, from George Washington to Bob Marley to Princess Diana.

I suspect my last words will be similar to this old goat’s!         

             Winston Churchhill

Claim to fame: Considered one of history's greatest wartime leaders and statesmen as Britain's Prime Minister during World War II. (See photos) (Read some of his quotes)

Last words: "I'm bored with it all."

(d. Jan. 24, 1965)

How did he die?

Trapped drunk driver opens another beer as awaits rescue

_______________________________

There’s nothing funny about drunk drivers…

Pathetic perhaps, like the drunk driver in this story who was trapped after overturning his car and cracked open another can of beer while waiting for emergency crews to rescue him, according to New Zealand authorities.

_____________________________________________

Stupid Move of the Year Award: Obama relieves McChrystal of command

Gen. David Petraeus named to take over troubled Afghan war

America’s most competent military commander, Gen. McChrytstal, was forced out because he bruised Obama’s (and his buddies) egos. The truth hurts someday, and this is a perfect example.

Yes, McChrystal questioned some moves by Obama and his Pentagon parrots. So what? The “chain-of-command” crap, is just that. Crap. The fact is, Obama got rid of a critic, and the troops lost the best commander they’ve ever had.