Here's some vintage Match Book Art from the 50s

      

thanks to freevintageimages.com

Signs of the Times: Andrea can't compete with ant spray!

The economy is hitting everyone hard these days. This unfortunate anteater can't find food anywhere because everyone is using ant spray these days. This is actually a commercial for SBP (see can in lower right of photo).

Image via darkroastedblend.com

Now Bank of America is in trouble? What's next?

A few months ago, mighty Bank of America Corp. and its chairman and chief executive, Kenneth D. Lewis, looked like the saviors of the financial system.

Now the giant is foundering, and Lewis could be fighting to keep his job.

I've banked with them for 20 years, and in general, I've had no trouble with them. I had a feeling buying Merril Lynch & Company for $50 billion however, was a bad move in troubled times.

That purchase came on the heels of shelling out $21 billion for Chicago-based La Salle Bank Corporation, and the billion takeover of Countryside Financial Mortgage Lender (the nation's largest mortgage lender).

For an in-depth report click here and see what the LA Times has to say about all of this.

Google image of BOA Logo

                           BREAKING NEWS FROM TPM MuckRaker

                 How Theresa Hatt Caused The Financial Crisis

By Zachary Roth - February 6, 2009, 11:23AM

Click here to read about one despicable account, that is a company policy, of how BOA treated the son of one woman who had passed away.

Lakers end Celtics recent win streak with OT victory

Pau Gasol blocked Ray Allen's desperation shot in overtime to preserve the Laker's 110-109 win in Boston Garden.

This is the second time this season the Lakers have stopped a Boston win streak. This time Boston won 12 in a row before falling to the Lakers.

Last time, Boston set a franchise record of 19 straight wins, when the Lakers ruined their Christmas Day by leading all the way.

As a fan since 1962, these are heady days with the Lakers boasting the best record in the NBA.

photo by Mark J. Terril/AP

Obama Picks Porn Lawyer, David Ogden, for #2 at Justice!

CHICAGO, February 4, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - President Obama has made a major mistake and put America's families at risk by selecting David Ogden to become Deputy Attorney General, says Fidelis, a pro-family organization.

"David Ogden is a hired gun from Playboy and ACLU. He can't run from his long record of opposing common sense laws protecting families, women, and children.  The United States Senate has a responsibility to the American people to insure that Mr. Ogden's full record is fully reviewed before any vote on his nomination" said Brian Burch, President of Fidelis.

"Ogden's record is nothing short of obscene. He has represented Playboy Enterprises in multiple cases, Penthouse Magazine, the ACLU, and the largest distributor of hard-core pornography videos.  He has opposed filters on library computers protecting children from Internet smut, and successfully defended the right of pornographers to produce material with underage children."

"David Ogden has collected checks from Playboy and Penthouse to fight any attempts to establish filters on federally-funded public libraries. Ogden even sued the federal government in an attempt to publish Braille versions of Playboy magazine - at taxpayer expense, of course," said Burch.

As a lawyer in private practice, Ogden has argued for an unlimited abortion license, gays in the military, and has urged courts to treat traditional definitions of marriage as a social prejudice.

"A vast majority of Americans support parental notification before a minor's abortion and protecting kids from Internet pornography in our libraries," continued Burch.  "Yet David Ogden has fought tooth and nail against these common sense laws protecting our children from harm. At a time when America's families are under increasing assault, Mr. Ogden is a dangerous choice for a position whose responsibilities include the enforcement of our nation's laws. "

See a full dossier on Ogden compiled by Fidelis here:
http://www.scribd.com/full/11607068?access_key=key-18yr2u50t...
To express concern to Senators regarding the appointment visit:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_c...

AP Photo/Linda Spillers, File

Hands of Art: illusion is in the hand of the artist

It's easy to see why these paintings are quite unique. Guido Daniele is the artist who makes these fantastic fists. To see more)

  

  

(images credit: Guido Daniele)

Have you ever seen an Annular Solar Eclipse?

(image credit: Dennis Mammana)
"An annular eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are exactly in line, but the apparent size of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun. Hence the Sun appears as a very bright ring, or annulus, surrounding the outline of the Moon."

More Heavy Metal Art: Human figures in chrome

There are robots that are more humanlike in shape, having legs and even female curves. Brotron creator Greg Brotherton says that he strives to make "heroic icons", not just sculptures, investing ordinary (found) object with fantastic, sometimes diabolical, function.

You gotta love that robot lady's illuminated corset bra, featuring junked pieces of 1955 DeSoto Fireflite:
see Ladies and Robots for more ideas in this direction.

2008 Most Read Online Story makes 2008 Viewed List Today!

I was surprised to see that a column I wrote last September - "Judge Says Feds Violated 10th Amendment By Subverting State Marijuana Laws" was on the current Times-Standard Most Viewed in the last 12 hours list (as of 8 a.m.).

This is the column that went viral last year and rated number one in the Times-Standard's Most Viewed for 2008. My guess is that another blog picked this column up very recently and new readers are discovering it. Last year over a dozen big political blogs ran my column, which I'm sure contributed to the increased amount of viewers.

I'm deeply honored to have had so many readers last year, and apparently new ones this year, who took the time to read my As It Stands column. Click here if you'd like to read it right now. Peace.

source - Google marijuana image

Just when you thought you heard it all: meet Bartusek

There's all kinds of sickos out there, but this story is about a unique sicko. You'll never guess what he did in public. Here's his sordid story:

Meet George Bartusek. The Florida man, 51, was arrested yesterday after he was spotted fondling and making out with a pair of blow-up dolls in a supermarket parking lot.

Shoppers called cops when they spotted Bartusek getting busy in the front seat of his 1998 Lincoln Town Car outside a Publix in Cape Coral. Bartusek, charged with breach of peace, is pictured below in a Lee County Sheriff's Office mug shot.

One of the blow-up dolls involved in the public clinch is pictured at right. On the positive side, Bartusek was fully dressed while grinding with the plasticized pair.

image and article via thesmokinggun.com

Car 'Chop Shop' furniture can liven up your living space!

  

  

Car parts provide great ideas for interior design. When your old rusty four-wheel monster finally kicks the bucket, you can still salvage some parts for pretty cool furniture pieces. Car Couches is an obvious design combination, which can be quite attractive when used with collectible vehicle parts. At Route66 store you can get many more.

Communist Propaganda in its most ominous form

  

  

The suicidal audacity of North Korean communist regime is simply astonishing. The meaning of text is pretty much the same on every poster:
"Bear this in mind, world. Those who mess with our great undertaking will become our target."

images from darkroastedblend.com archives (January 2007)

FIRE IN THE SKY! Kilauea produces fantastic photo ops!

 

This stunning photo is from National Geographic's recent set of wallpapers, participants of International Photography Contest.

My wife and I went to Kauai in April of 2008, and the Kilauea Volcano was just kinda acting up and sending some ash around the islands. No big deal. It caused what the local's call, "vog."

"This photo was shot at the ocean entry of the Pu`u`O`o vent on the Kilauea Volcano, which is close to Kalapana on the big island of Hawaii in July 2008. The conditions were perfect as the offshore wind blew the smoke, fumes and steam out to sea. The noise was indescribable as the hot lava hit the cold ocean water. At one time, the steam was under so much pressure it resembled a shuttle lift off." - Bob Douglas

image credit: Bob Douglas, National Geographic)

Report states that California farms and vineyards in peril due to global warming

Here we go again. Another report confirming global warming is affecting our world. It's hard for me to understand those people who ignore the science and try to say there's no such thing as global warming.

Those people who deny the truth are like ostriches with their head buried in the soil. Can you imagine California without crops? We're one of the biggest suppliers of food in the nation, but that's slowly changing. Education is the answer according to Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy and a Nobel prize-winning physicist.

"We're looking at a scenario where there's no more agriculture in California," Chu says.

To read the whole story click here and see what LA Times writer, Jim Tankersley, has found out about this looming crisis.

Image via Google

DEA conducts 'smash and grab' operation on 5 medical marijuana dispensaries

 California NORML has confirmed reports of 5 DEA raids in LA yesterday.

Contrary to rumor, no doctor's office was raided.   The raids were all "smash and grab" operations:  agents took medicine and money, destroyed surveillance cameras and grabbed computers,  but did not arrest anyone.   The professionalism of the operations was questionable.

In one case, agents reportedly failed to leave a written receipt for cash that was seized.  No rhyme or reason was apparent in the selection of targets, other than they were in the same neighborhood.     Agents gave no reason for the raids other than that marijuana is still illegal, but apparently suggested that they wanted to act fast before receiving new orders.

   California NORML believes that recent DEA conduct resembles nothing more than legalized piracy, and calls on supporters to remind President Obama of his pledge to end DEA raids.

   Dale Gieringer, Director, California NORML

LA EMERGENCY PROTEST - Feb 5th, NOON,  Los Angeles Federal Building, 255 E. Temple St.,

ASA is holding a MAJOR EMERGENCY PROTEST and we need you there!   Bush
wouldn't listen, but President Obama WILL if we press him!  WE NEED HIM
TO RESPOND!
WHEN: THURSDAY, Feburary 5 at 12 NOON

WHERE:  Los Angeles Federal Building, 255 E. Temple St.,
Bring signs, bullhorns, & posters and a loud voice!  We need you to
stand up and make that voice heard!
For more information contact Don@SafeAccessNow.org
Visit this link for directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=255+e.+temple+street+los+angeles+ca&oe=utf-8&r
ls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&gl=us&e
i=qemISeieIoHwsAOnkOmZBg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title

Obama vetting team has to quit monkeying around!

Naming a trio of tax-dodgers (Daschle, Geither, and Killefer) to fill open government posts sure doesn't give much credence to Obama's vetting team - seen here interviewing another possible nominee for performance czar - during these trying economic times.

Google monkey image

How Hip was This? A 1950s in-your-car Record Player!

The things that you find in cyberspace. I had no idea that the Chrysler Corporation offered such a unique thing back in the day. I know one thing for sure however, these record-players must have had problems.

Think about it. I can recall bumpy roads messing up my eight-track tapes in the sixties, and even some CDs recently.

Can you imagine how a delicate needle must have cut grooves into the pressed vinyl with every little bump in the road?

That had to be a brief blip that no one wants to remember. Still, looking at the illustration, it looked kinda cool. Maybe it was only played when the car was stopped. That must be it!

What kind of idiot would have tried to play the record player while driving? A teenage boy type of idiot would be my first guess.

Someone like me, who went out and bought eight ten-inch Craig Speakers for my 1964 Chevy Impala to impress the girls when I drove by playing "Born To Be Wild!"

What would a smooth player back in the fifties have stocked in his record collection to romance his date? I wonder. Does anyone have any ideas what a young guy back in the fifties would have played to impress and woe his girl?

Hmmmmm....

image via darkroastedblend.com

Nice kitty! Now where's that phone number for PETA?

Wilson was always a socially correct type of guy.

It's too bad the giant cat thought he was a rat and had him for lunch!

image from darkroastedblend.com

What's up with all these tax dodgers being nominated?

President Obama: You better get a more competent "vetting team" or something. It's starting to look like Larry, Moe, and Curly Joe, are the vetting team!

So far, they've selected Geithrer (Mr. Opps I made a mistake and forgot to pay Uncle Sam), and Daschle (Mr. "I'm sorry for not paying over a hundred thousand in back taxes").

Not a good start. Then your pick for first chief performance officer, Nancy Killefer (shown here), has to turn down you down and not take the performance czar position because she has some problems with - GUESS WHAT? - Your right! Taxes! Good grief Mr. President!

This is really getting to look like a double standard, as these questionable selections for office all seem to have problems with their own finances, yet they are getting nominated.

What happening to cleaning up Washington? These selections are all starting to look like political payback time to the Clinton's by hiring people that have previously worked for them to staff the new administration.

Everyone knows how the Clinton's have clout in Washington, and it appears to me that you've gone to bed with them to get elected. Say it ain't so Barack?

As It Stands, just get rid of the stooges who have been recommending these people to you Mr. President, and remember...You won the election. Not the Clintons!

click here to read the Associated Press account of today's news regarding Killefer and why she has withdrawn her candidacy for the performance czar position.

BREAKING NEWS - CNN ANNOUNCED (around noon Eastern time) THAT Tom Daschle HAS WITHDRAWN FROM HIS NOMINATION as Health and Human Services Secretary, stating he didn't want to be a distraction for the Obama administration. This clearly illustrates my point.

Google image

 

 

So what did a Muslim think about my column on khat?

After picking up my column this Southern Arabian web site made the following statement:

 "If anyone knows where I can score some Shami, let me know. Finally a sane point of view on the matter. The govt. propaganda on the substance is laughable. Not saying Qat isn’t dangerous…it is economically dangerous - at least for Yemen.  Coincidence a pro-qat article comes form Eureka? I think not."

Here's a link to the web site. Note: be sure to scroll down a ways, as the front page is blank till you get halfway down.

Also here is a link to the khat/Qat column I wrote: