AS IT STANDS My name is Dave Stancliff. I'm a retired newspaper editor/publisher; husband/father, Vietnam vet, Laker fan for 63 years. All opinions are mine unless otherwise noted. I also share original short stories.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
School Cancels Prom Rather Than Let Lesbians Attend
Homophobia is still rampant in Jackson, Mississippi. Just ask 18-year old high school senior Constance McMillen.
Rather than let her wear a tuxedo and bring her girlfriend to the high school prom school authorities cancelled the prom!
Here’s what they had to say:
"However, at this time, we feel that it is (cancelling the prom) in the best interest of the Itawamba County School District, after taking into consideration the education, safety and well being of our students."
Whose safety are they worried about? McMillen and friend, or the entire student body? It’s a point to ponder after reading the whole story here:
VA looks at new effort to reach homeless veterans
I know that news from the 41st Congressional District – and not ours – doesn’t interest a lot of people here. Perhaps it should. Look at what Congressman Lewis is doing for veterans.
Comments by Jerry Lewis:
“On any given night, 131,000 veterans can be found sleeping on the streets and in homeless shelters across America. These former men and women of uniform now represent one-third of the nations homeless population. In our own Inland Empire community, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates there are nearly 2,000 homeless veterans who struggle every day to find a place to sleep and to eat a decent meal.
Under the leadership of my good friend, Secretary Eric Shinseki, the VA has pledged to end homelessness amongst our nations veterans in five years. This ambitious goal will provide nearly $4.7 billion a year in healthcare, housing, job training, education, and other services targeted at not only helping veterans exit homelessness, but also at preventing veterans from becoming homeless in the first place.
On March 4th, 2010 at the FY2011 Budget Hearing for the VA, I spoke with Secretary Shinseki about this important issue. In our conversation I pledged to support the VA in its efforts and I challenged my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to also support this national imperative. As we proceed with the work of Congress in the months ahead, the House Appropriations Committee on Veterans Affairs will now make ending homelessness amongst our nations veterans a top priority.
With this investment, our country will seek to ensure that no man or woman who serves our nation is forgotten.” Photo source
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Vigilant Pug Helps Save Drowning Cat
Chloe the Pug saved her sister Willow, a Siamese cat, recently. Forget about fighting like cats and dogs. These two are best friends.
New Jersey raid nets biggest illegal indoor grow in state’s history
This bust kinda reminds me of the French Connection, but it’s the Vietnamese Connection in this case! Arrested were:Thu N. Nguyen, 44, Tuan A. Dang, 35, and Ngoc H. Bui.
Excerpt:
“Along with a vast array of indoor cultivation equipment, 3,370 growing plants, 115 pounds of harvested marijuana and $65,000 cash was seized in the raids on five different large homes, which one law-enforcement official described as "mansions."
Go here for the full story.
Looks like robbers are hitting hard times like the rest of us
Our Great Recession has taken it’s toll on all professions. That includes robbers. It’s becoming more of a crap shoot than ever for thieves who gamble on their illicit earnings.
The woman in the following story is a good example of what I’m talking about. These are indeed hard times.
Are you ready for the toilet of the future?
The heated seat sounds like a good idea to me. The rest of this toilets gadgets are just a little to “Buck Rogers” though.
“Amenities include heated seats, sound effects, lids that raise automatically.
Dr. Michael Sykes, a San Diego molecular biologist who runs the International Center for Bathroom Etiquette blog says he’s surprised at how long it’s taken for high-tech toilets to hit the U.S.”
Photo by Kim Terca / Page One PR
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
VA to automate its Agent Orange claims process
This is BIG NEWS for veterans. An alert reader sent me this story: VA to automate its Agent Orange claims process
“The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today that it will fully automate how it pays claims for illnesses related to exposure to the chemical Agent Orange to keep an overburdened system from collapse.
It is the department's first effort at automating claims processing in its 80-year history, says VA chief technology officer Peter Levin. It comes as the agency struggles to cut a backlog of more than 1 million disability claims, appeals and other cases.”
Terrorists come in all colors and countries
Pa. woman accused of recruiting jihadists
What does a terrorist look like? They’re dark-skinned and are Muslims right? Wrong! It’s time we understand that the enemy comes in all colors and from all countries. Even right here in America.
I’m not talking about terrorist cells. I’m talking about a person like Colleen R. LaRose who carries on her own jihad against the USA and other Western countries like Ireland and Sweden.
Indictment alleges American used Internet to spark terror overseas
- She went by the name “Jihad Jane.” It reminds me of another traitor to our country during the Vietnam war – Jane Fonda aka “Hanoi Jane,” who has never been tried for her collaboration with the enemy because she was a movie star with a lot of money and political connections.
Ireland arrests linked to the above case
Authorities in Ireland on Tuesday arrested seven people accused of joining a plot to kill the Swedish cartoonist, and U.S. officials said the two cases were linked.
Safety advocates say product can cause infant suffocating
I’m somewhat skeptical about this style of baby sling (see photo) being branded as dangerous.
This same basic design for carrying babies goes back hundreds of years in numerous cultures. All of a sudden it’s a death trap? What do you think?
Is it an over-reaction? Are American men and women just so stupid that they wouldn’t notice if their child was suffocating in a sling like this?
The concern: infants can suffocate, and at least a few have.
Whose Justice? The Interruption Changes from State to State
It just depends on what state you're in these days whether you have a chance of getting justice in the courts. If you are in Texas, it...
-
It's hard to believe that so many people viewed this column ( There's a monopoly on marijuana growing & research in America. &q...
-
It was a bad day for democracy. The voting rights bill never had a chance. Trump Republicans were in lockstep, like zombies mindlessly and...