AS IT STANDS

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Young children are not always excited to see Santa Clause!

Especially if he's not real!

Conservative media is lying about auto workers wages

United Auto Workers president Ron Gettelfinger (right), said the UAW is willing to renegotiate and change its contracts with U.S. Auto makers.

He said the union would accept payments of billions of dollars to a union-run health care trust to do its part to help the struggling companies secure $34 billion in government loans.

The House passed the Big Three's request for $34 billion dollar loan but the Senate killed it.

Meanwhile, the conservative media is circulating lies about what the auto workers really make. They keep using a number of $70-per hour, which is inaccurate.

How did the misinformation start about what the workers got? I'll tell you who, what, and when, the lies started in this Sunday's AS IT STANDS in the Times-Standard.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Gates Memo Announces Final Assimilation of National Guard and Reserve

The Gates memo declares that it will make changes with state governors and representatives "as appropriate" which is code for including only those persons who are amenable to federal control, and naturally exclude any governor or representative who truly asserts their rights and those of the People.

Last October's AS IT STANDS column, "American In Crisis: Are We Preparing For Martial Law" is still moving through cyberspace and I noticed it came up on the Times-Standard Topix Forum this afternoon.

I still get emails from people around the country in response to this column.

Now, as the Gates memo is examined, you can see what I'm talking about. What's really going on? Alex Jones' Inforwar blog has this interesting article on the subject. Just click here and see for yourself.

Meditations on Millie My Pug...

The graphite drawing to the right is not Millie. She doesn't want her cute little face spread around, so I had to settle for this drawing of an unknown Pug. Millie is going on five-years-young and is a vital, full of life, little character.

She is my daily companion. If it wasn't for Millie I wouldn't take long walks everyday, because I'm basically lazy! But when she starts pawing at me (usually around noon), I don't have the heart to turn her down. She loves her walks!

When we first started walking together I only took her short distances, thinking that I didn't want to wear her little legs to nubbins. It wasn't long however, before I realized that she could out walk me any day of the week!

Needless to say, she is in good shape, and all the male dogs on our walks howl with delight when she prances by. And she does prance! You should see her take on for those mutts! She has a habit of speed walking, that I still haven't got slowed down to a casual stroll yet. She takes me for a walk.

I realize that at her age, some things aren't going to change. And she is very pugnacious. If she wants to act stupid, she does it very well, like a clown you might say. She turns her head one way then another regarding you with those bulging brown eyes, when you ask her to do something.

One of the many things I love about Millie is how she seems to sense my moods, and acts accordingly. If I'm sad she snuggles me and licks my face. When I'm happy her little tail is curled tight and she's happy. When she's bummed-out her corkscrew tail hangs straight down. A sure sign. I usually give her a treat, or pet her a lot, and she perks right up.

They say dogs are man's best friend. I have to agree. Their absolute love and loyalty to you, is without bounds. I can talk to her and she never judges me. At times, I swear she understands me when I ramble on. Kinda like I'm doing right now....

It took nine years and 24 generations to get these little pigs

Pennywell miniature pigs are bred by Pennywell farms in Buckfastleigh, Devon, England. The spotted pigs grow no bigger than a Cocker Spaniel. Most are sold as pets. It took Chris Murray 9 years and 24 generations to create these mini pigs. These pictures are the smallest the farm has produced. Thanks to fuzztime for these photos.

Photos taken at just the right moment can be very deceiving

Coincidence Photography gives being in the right place at the right time new meaning!
These pictures are not photoshopped, instead relying on clever angels, waiting for just the right moment, or perhaps a bit of luck.
Thanks to million place for showing us these.

Lifting the moon is a big job... I can't see you, but I know you're there...

Hairstyles changed while you wait... Ssssshhhhh! I think someone is listening.

Senate Republicans kill auto bailout bill: Now What?

Sens. Christopher Bond (R-Mo.), left, George Voinovich (R- Ohio), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) speak with reporters following the Senate's rejection of an emergency $14 billion loan bailout for US auto companies. Photo by Haraz N. Ghanbari

Bettie Pages Dies at 85, 1960s Pinup Queen Was a Cult Figure

Historians say that Bettie Page played a key role in the sexual revolution of the 1960s, and later on she became a cult figure.

Over 20,000 saucy photos of her were taken by a slew of amateur photographers.

Most of the popular 4-by-5 inch black and white photos were taken between 1949 and 1957, and featured her in high heels, bikinis, negligees, bondage apparel, and even nude.

Her popularity has inspired biographers, comic books, fan clubs, websites, commercial products, playing cards, action figures, Zippo lighters with her image, and naughty shot glasses.

In 2005 a film of her life came out called "The Notorious Bettie Page."

Goodbye Bettie. You have certainly made your mark!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

How many times have 'you been there' without one?

I can't tell you how many times I've been up that creek without a paddle in my adventuresome life. It's sure nice to know that there is a place where you can get a paddle when you need one!