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

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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.

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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.

Medical Calendar: X-ray pinups stripped to the bone

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Miss September" wears stiletto heels as she strikes a pose for the Eizo X-ray pinup calendar

One of the year's most provocative pinup calendars features pictures that would be X-rated ... except that they're shot using X-rays.

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Coming Soon: Veterans Night with the Humboldt Crabs!

A message from Kim Hall at HSU:

Tuesday, June 29^th, $2 bucks to get in (if you’re a vet, bring some type of ID – Daniel suggests a cool tattoo!) 

Crabs play the Southern Oregon River Dawgs……  at 1900!

I would love to see you all, it’s awfully quiet up here this summer!!

As It Stands: U.S. schools lead industrial world in violence against children, lawmaker says

Dave Stancliff/For the Times-Standard

Posted: 06/22/2010 01:30:17 AM PDT

When I went to school in the fifties and early sixties, paddling was a common form of punishment. I know this because I became acquainted with the practice by fourth grade. Teachers nationwide served up that dreaded “Board of Education” routinely in those days.

After I grew up, and got married and had three sons, the subject of paddling in school never came up. Not that my boys were goodie two-shoes who never got in trouble. They just never went to a school where paddling was permitted.

The state of California, where they went to school, outlawed corporal punishment in schools back in 1986. To my surprise, I recently learned there are still 20 states where it's legal for teachers to paddle their students.

Further research revealed that we are one of the few countries in the world to allow such treatment. Over 100 countries, including Canada, Australia, the countries of Western Europe and the U.K. outlawed corporal punishment decades ago.

It's not like we don't have organizations that oppose corporal punishment in schools. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the American Civil Liberties Union have all fought for years to get the practice banned nationwide.

For the first time in nearly two decades, Congress held hearings in April on the use of corporal punishment in schools. As a result of those hearings, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) will introduce a bill in the House this month to deny federal funding to schools that allow corporal punishment.

GO HERE TO READ THE REST

UPDATE:

From: Nadine A. Block, Executive Director, Center for Effective Discipline and co-chair of EPOCH-USA

Thanks for the nice article informing the public that the “board of education” is still a problem in the U.S.    Representative McCarthy’s aide says the bill will be going to the Education and Labor Committee shortly!

Nadine

155 W Main Street #1603, Columbus, OH 43215

Tel:  (614)221-8829     Fax:  (614)221-2110

www.stophitting.org

The students are gone, schools out, reduced readership

Statistics don’t lie.

Since school let out everywhere, I’ve lost nearly 500 viewers a day. My stats show that the majority of visitors that I’m getting now (about 550 daily) are foreign.

While worldwide viewing remains the same on this blog, my national visitors have practically disappeared. I guess it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that my blog is student- driven, a fact that I find entertaining.

image source

First Day of Summer: How the ancients celebrated the solstice

Stonehenge is best-known, but not only, place to fete the sun.

At sunrise on the Northern Hemisphere's longest day of the year — the summer solstice thousands of modern-day druids, pagans and partiers gather in the countryside near Salisbury, England, to cheer as the first rays of light stream over a circular arrangement of stones called Stonehenge. The original purpose of the ancient monument remains a source of academic debate. The large stones erected about 4,000 years ago are aligned with the summer solstice sunrise, leading scholars to suggest a link to an ancient sun-worshipping culture.

New Jersey naval base was briefly under 'lockdown'

This is a breaking news story…

Several incidents had been reported earlier today at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division.

"We are no longer on lockdown," the public affairs office told NBC News. A press release with more details would be released later in the day, a spokesman said.”

 

There’s a technical problem why ‘As It Stands’ didn’t appear in the T-S today

It seems there were computer problems at the Times-Standard last night and they couldn’t access my column.

It will run during the week and my regular column will appear next Sunday.

While disappointed, I’m not  going to let it ruin my Father’s Day. Mistakes do happen. Instead, I’m going to have a great day with my wife and enjoy the beautiful weather. 

Father’s Day: Dads empower kids to take chances

Happy Father’s Day to all you dad’s out there!

Enjoy your day. It’s the one day of the year where Dad’s are always right!

Roughhousing with Dad can teach life lessons, studies find

Pirate cook saves hostages, faces life on the run

The pirate cook smuggled food to the terrified hostages held by his gang off the Somali coast.

When the pirates started talking about harvesting their organs for cash, he sneaked them guns.

The hostages killed the pirates and escaped. But now the life of the Somali cook, known only as Ahmed, is in danger.

For Good ‘ol Dad - Meet the 'Mother of Father's Day'

Sonora Smart Dodd spent more than six decades fighting for the holiday she started

Father's Day turns 100 this year, thanks to the tireless efforts of Sonora Smart Dodd (pictured at right). She spent 62 years drumming up support for the holiday until President Nixon finally made it an official national observance in 1972.

Related story:

Father’s Day marks evolution of Dad

SBX6 – 16: NORML says it’s ‘ill-considered, premature’

A bill to tax medical marijuana like tobacco is scheduled for hearings by the State Senate Revenue & Taxation Comittee next Wednesday, June 23rd.

 The bill,  SBX6 -16 by Sen. Ronald Calderon of Montebello, would tax all sales of cannabis (except wholesale-level distribution to collectives or cooperatives) at a rate equal to the tobacco products tax rate.

Sen. Calderon's office has been evasive about discussing the bill and has not returned phone calls from medical marijuana proponents.

 Patient advocates strongly oppose taxing medical marijuana.  "We cannot support taxes on medical marijuana at present inflated black-market prices," stated California NORML in opposition to the bill.  "Many patients are poor and living on disability.   Until current laws are changed to clearly recognize the legality of cannabis sales, any tax proposals are highly premature and unwarranted. "

The provisions of SBX6 16 lack basic understanding of  cannabis, which is dissimilar to tobacco both in its health effects and how it is marketed.   Tobacco is taxed by the cigarette, while cannabis is sold by weight, making it difficult to make sense of the bill's mandate that they be taxed "at the same rate."

 Because SBX6 -16 is a tax bill, it requires a 2/3 majority for passage.   Opponents are hopeful that they can defeat the bill in committee.   Medical marijuana supporters are urged to contact the committee in opposition to SBX6-16.

   Committee Chair: Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis).   Members: Sen. Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose); Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Niguel);  Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield);  and Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima).

                      Cal NORML letter of opposition:

Dear Sen. Wolk:

As co-sponsors of Prop. 215, we wish to state our objections to SBX6 16, the proposed "Cannabis Tax Law" (Sen. Calderon).

Until current laws are modified to clarify the legality of sale of medical cannabis, any such proposal is premature. At present, the legal status of medical marijuana sales and distribution remains hazy and disputed.  Whereas some localities have recognized legal sales of medical marijuana through licensed dispensaries, others have not.  Some legal authorities, including the city attorney and D.A. of Los Angeles, insist that such sales are flatly illegal, and many distributors continue to experience raids and arrest by local police.  Until this uncertainty is resolved and conditions for legal sale firmly established in state law, the state lacks clear authority to demand taxes.  In addition, the voters will be considering a "Tax and Regulate" initiative this November that could substantially change state laws on marijuana.

We cannot support taxes on medical marijuana at present inflated black-market prices. Many patients are poor and living on disability.  It is hard to justify a special tax on one kind of medicine but not on others.  SBX6 16 would create a two-tier system, in which lawful marijuana for medical use would be taxed, but illicit non-medical marijuana would not. The effect of this would be to encourage illegal, non-medical production.

SBX6 16 fails to set forth a coherent taxation scheme for cannabis.  The scheme for tobacco taxation set forth in Revenue & Taxation Code Sections 31001ff does not work for marijuana.  Tobacco is taxed by the cigarette, whereas marijuana is sold by weight.  Logically, any taxation system for marijuana should also be scaled to the weight content of its major active ingredient, THC.   Because of its minimal production costs, any taxes on marijuana should be established at a fixed excise rate, not as a percentage of price or revenues, since the latter could easily plummet by an order of magnitude in a true legal market.  For in-depth analysis, see my paper on the "Economics of Cannabis Legalization," at www.canorml.org/ background/mjeconomics.html.

We urge the committee to reject SBX6 16 as ill-considered and premature.

Sincerely, Dale Gieringer,  Director, California NORML

Lakers beat Celtics for their 16th Championship!

BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONSHIPS - As a Laker fan since they moved to LA, this is one of the sweetest playoff games I ever saw them win! Beating the hated Boston Celtics in a Game 7 has never happened before. Up till now all four Game 7’s between the two storied franchises in their history, had gone to the Celtics. The real MVPs of the game were Ron Artest and Pau Gasol, but Kobe got the award based upon the whole series.

Winning this series against the Celtics makes up for the Finals two years ago when the Celtics beat the Lakers. This time, the Lakers weren’t bullied by the Bean Town Boys, and actually roughed them up in a decidedly ugly game.

PHOTO - Kobe Bryant runs up the court as the Lakers win their second consecutive NBA title in an 83-79 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times / June 17, 2010)

Republican-on-Republican rage - Republican forced to apologize for BP apology

The Democrats are are sure to make hay in November with remarks like what Texas Rep. Joe Barton said when he called the deal with Obama and BP ($20 Billion for restitution) a “shakedown.”

He isn't alone in the GOP. There’s more than one Republican who wants to stay cozy with Big Oil and keep the rewards rolling. Barton (photo right) managed to piss off influential Republican leaders concerned about the November elections and was forced to backtrack from his own stupid statement.

What disgusts me is how these cheesy politicians try to put a spin on BP being a good business partner! What a laugh! The corrupt, and incestuous relationship between BP (and other big oil companies) with our lawmakers is like a cancer that keeps spreading. But how to stop it? Look at their gall. They’re already playing “poor me” because a private industry has to pay for it’s destruction of the Mexican Gulf Coast.

Before we know it they’ll be back drilling in deep waters. All we can do is watch our fragile coastlines deteriorate while the fat cats line their pockets with black gold from the blue sea. Or we could start voting the dumb shits out of office! Now there’s a thought…but where can an honest politician be found to replace them?

As It Stands, we all know there’s no such creature. 

 

Odd News for Thursday: Southwest seizes dozens of human heads

                 HEADS UP!

In case you weren’t aware there’s a thriving black market for body parts in this country. In this case it looks like the heads were shipped legally.

Nevertheless, authorities are being careful and checking out all the paper work involved in the shipment of skulls.

Ark. officials now investigating… whether body parts were legally obtained

The end of the childhood best friend?

I just don’t agree with the idea that having a best friend isn’t a positive thing. I think educators are going over the top in getting involved in children’s everyday function –

Concern over cliques means some schools discourage kids from having best friends.

Photo: Margaret Guest, center, in striped shirt, often has groups of friends at her home in Dunwoody, Ga.