When Will Obama Get Us Out Of Iraq?

The Iraqis have come up with a plan to have US troops out of their country in three years. However, I'm hoping that Obama gets us out of there sooner. Like in 18 months. The puppy below is sleeping under a US serviceman's hat in Baquba 40 miles northeast of Baghdad.

The New 'Terrorist Release Program' is Off to a Good Start!

This person has just been released by the US Navy under the recently adopted "Terrorist Release Program."

Today 12 foreign & 18 national visitors

There's 6 more hours left in the day but I'm going to list the foreign and national visitors today thus far:

Foreign:
APO, Armed Forces, Europe (good to see you); Stockholm, Stockholm Lans, Sweden; Ingolstadt, Bayern, Germany; Budapest, Hungary; Szeged, Hungary; Stockport, United Kingdom; Paris Ile-de-france, France; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela; Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada; Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; and London, United Kingdom.

National:
Franklin, Tennessee; Athens, Georgia; Twin Falls, Idaho; Cincinnati, Ohio; Lodi, New Jersey; Fresh Meadows, New York; Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Irving, Texas; Urbana, Illinois; Minneopolis, Minnesota; Enumclaw, Washington; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Okemos, Michigan.

I do get visitors from throughout California too, but I like to highlight the national and international ones.

What Fun the Wasilla Hillbillies had BEFORE The Party ENDED!

          

Looks like Alaska Gov. Palin and family's mad spending spree while she was in the Big City appalled McCain staffers who hid the shopping splurge from McCain because they knew it would piss him off!

 CLICK HERE for more details about those fun-loving Wasilla Hillbillies, who came close to moving to Washington on sled dog pack trains!

    

Pooh Sketch fetches $50,000

An original drawing of A.A. Milne's popular children's characters Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger and Piglet fetched $50,000 in a London auction recently. The artist was E.H. Shepard, the famous children's book illustrator. The winning bid came via the phone as a German man bought it for his wife who is a big Pooh fan.

I remember reading about the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh 50 years ago, and find it fun to see my grandchildren reading Winnie today! It's an ageless collection of fun-loving talking animals. My other favorite children's series was the Doctor Doolittle books.

LAKERS SPOIL CLIPPERS HOME OPENER

After thrashing the Clippers a week ago by 38 points, the Lakers were back at it again last night, as they won by 20 points. Baron Davis (looking at Kobe above) promised fans this year that the Clippers would be winners. It looks like it's going to be hard to follow up on that promise. The Lakers are still undefeated and looking very much like the Western Conference champs that they are.

National & International visitor's in the last 48 hours

I want to thank my visitors for stopping by (some of you numerous times) in just the last 48 hours.

From Other Countries:
Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada; Legaspi, Philippines; Stockport, United Kingdom; Winsor, Ontario, Canada; Singapore, Singapore; Middlesbrough, United Kingdom; Athens, Attiki, Greece; Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada; Berwick, Nova Scotia, Canada; London, United Kingdom; Budapest, Hungry; Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom; Cairo, Al Qahirah, Egypt; Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico; Bratislava, Slovakia; and Lipany, Presov, Slovakia.

Four from Canada and four from the United Kingdom. My family, the Stancliff's, are direct descendents of James Stancliff of England, who came to the new world in the late 1690's.

I've never met any of my British cousins. Perhaps now, I will discover some through this wonderous internet!

Meanwhile here's a big hello to all of you Americans from around the country:

Charlotte, North Carolina; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Argyle, Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada; Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia; Florence, Alabama; Chandle, Arizonia; Boston, Massachusetts; Ogden, Utah; Alvin, Texas; Lugoff, South Carolina; High Point, North Carolina; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Elizabethton, Tennessee; Umpire, Arkansas; Flagstaff, Arizonia; Denver, Colorado; Marietta, Georgia; Midlothian, Texas; North Branford, Connecticut; Columbia Falls, Montana; Brevard, North Carolina; and North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

Four from North Carolina. You are the state leading the way to this blog: AS IT STANDS! See you all again God willing...

TALK ABOUT HARD TIMES IN THIS ECONOMY: EVEN SEX DOESN'T SELL WELL!

At Donna's Ranch, a brothel in Wells, Nevada, most of the customers are long-haul truckers. High fuel prices and food prices have drained most of them of 'play money' and the world's oldest profession is feeling the pinch of this depression we're currently in.

Nevada's 25 legal brothels are fighting to stay open with the decline in profits. I can't think of any luxury retailers who are not touched by the disappearing consumer.

The owner of Donna's Ranch has been talking about putting cattle on his acreage and making it a real ranch! How's that for irony?

He plan's on raising and providing meat for the business as another way to save money in these hard times.

The LA TIMES has an interesting feature regarding these women who sell sex to make a living. CLICK HERE to read more. 

Gay Marriage Ban Looks Like it's Going to Pass in California

With the numbers still being counted, it looks like Prop 8 is going to pass sometime today. If it does, it's going to set back any progress Gays and Lesbians have made for equality. There's also all the marriages that were preformed the last year. What happens now?

In this year of historic change - where we elected a black President - voters have turned by the clock in California when it comes to equal rights for all. It amazes me how intolerant people can be. 

Changing of the Guard: Obama and Biden Head for the White House

In a landslide victory, Barrack Obama made history. This time Ohio and Florida went to the Democrats. America is in for a new era as the world watched us elect the first African-American to the presidency. Obama's message was CHANGE. Now we have to hope that positive changes do take place. A daunting task lies ahead for the new administration.

It's 7:50 p.m. California Time: I say Obama Wins!

It's way to early to know for sure, but I feel like history is being made tonight.

So far, I don't know who will get Florida. If Obama gets it's 27 votes the race is won. California and the West Coast will take him over the top!

It's going to be close, but Obama will win!

You heard it here...

RECORD NUMBER OF VOTERS EXPECTED TO TURN OUT TODAY!

The day has finally arrived. Now it's time to put up, or shut up. Get out there and vote. This is an historical election and we need to have as many Americans as possible voting. Let's hope we don't end up with a tight Electoral College victory like the last two elections.

Voting problems have already surfaced this morning along the Eastern seaboard and Mid-Atlantic states.

People are already experiencing long waiting lines of up to several hours. My wife and I got to the local polling place when it opened at 7 a.m. this morning, and there were only about 10 people there. We were in and out in less than 15 minutes!

To read about more Election Day news CLICK HERE.

Graffiti Art Stretches Across America's Ghettos...

              

       

     

Graffiti Art is really an expression of pride among many of the gang-bangers and taggers. In the world of art this form of self expression tells a story. I've seen this art form evolve from the days I lived in the barrios (50's & early 60s), until the present, and it has become considerably richer in form and detail. I'm often amazed how talented these ghetto artists really are. Many of them go on to be professional tattoo artists and their style is much sought after by tattoo enthusiasts. It's easy to see why, as the free forms flow across the walls of barrios and alleys from East LA to Bangor, Maine. 

National & International visitor's in last 12 hours

Good to see Norcross, Georgia back again today. I hope you liked the post - "Political Mudslinging reaches new low."

And, a curious Ketchikan, Alaska returned to check out yesterday's "Visitor's in the Last 48 Hours." You were there too Ketchikan. I wonder, are you a Palin supporter? Just curious.

Ward Cove, Alaska, stopped in to check that visitor list from yesterday too. How about you Ward Cove? Are you a Palin supporter?

Washington DC, checked in today ("12-year-old killed Trick-or-Treating."), along with Rochester, New York, who read the same post, "12-year-old killed Trick-or-Treating."

From overseas this morning, we have Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (read "12-Year-old killed Trick-or-Treating."); Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (scanned site); and someone in Jaipur Ragasthan, India stopped by to read the post, "No Economic Downfall for Beer."

Nice to see you all and keep on coming. I try to have something for everyone.

Prayers Go Up for Both Parties the Day Before Election

Americans everywhere today are praying for their party as the candidates scoot about the states in a last-minute campaigning frenzy. In less than 24 hours all of the mudslinging will stop as one candidate celebrates victory and the other goes down in the agony of defeat.

I'm so ready for this circus to end! Just think, then we'll all be able to look at what else is happening in the world...

like the current depression we're in and what to do about it! CLICK HERE for last minute campaign news.

Here's a vehicle for the person whose always 'On the Go!'

This clever mode of transportation is powered by waste. Human waste that is! This energy efficient scooter should solve the country's energy problems in short order.

Notice the ice chest, it's full of food so that the driver

always has plenty of fuel!

Billionaire-Backed Measures

Voters should be aware that five of the measures that are being proposed tomorrow are backed by four billionaires. Props 5,6,7,9,and 10 have a lot of money behind them, but are they really worth Californian's time? For more details on these measures CLICK HERE.

Hello to my National Visitors in the last 48 Hours!

A big hello to you all. I'm starting to see that many of you are repeaters (that's great!) and it's fun to see the cities and states you come from!

Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Curtis Bay, Maryland; Norcross, Georgia; Beaufort, South Carolina; New Orleans, Louisiana; Saginaw, Michigan; Buffalo, New York; Weston, Massachusetts; Las Vegas, Nevada; Marion, Illinois; Bingen, Washington; Evansville, Indiana; Topeka, Kansas; Owesso, Michigan; Northfield, Minnesota; Collingville, Illinois; Center Ossipee, New Hampshire; Jonesboro, Georgia; Rockland, Maine; Augusta, Maine; Hillsboro, Oregon; Simpsonville, South Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennesylvania; Neptune Beach, Florida; Lexington, Kentucky; and last, but not least, Ketchikan, Alaska!

Thanks for stopping by, and don't be shy....ya all come back now ya hear!

Hello My 14 Overseas Visitors in the Last 48 hours!

I just wanted to say hello to all of you for coming so far!

Hello: Karlshamm Blekinge Lan, Sweden; Ogre, Ogres, Latvia; New Malden Surrey, United Kingdom; Konya, Turkey; Duntermline Fife, United Kingdom; Koln, Nordrhein-westfalen, Germany; Nelson Lancashire, United Kingdom; Mosco, Mosco City, Russian Federation; Mathenay, Franche-comte, France; Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Haifa, Hefa, Israel; and last, but not least, Nottingham, United Kingdom.

It looks like those British are leading the way again. Tally ho!

Will Electoral College Victory Cause Riots?

Hello fellow bloggers and visitors!

Today's AS IT STANDS questions the worth of having an Electoral College. If you'll look over to the right-hand column of this blog you'll see a LINK TO THIS COLUMN listed under the TIMES-STANDARD. Let me know what you think okay?