Friday, November 12, 2010

Better Than Nothing: Sculpture Generates Minimum Wage

Minimum Wage Machine

The Minimum Wage Machine is an artwork made by Blake Fall-Conroy. Anyone who interacts with the machine can “work” for a minimum wage.

Turning the crank by hand will yield one penny every five seconds, adding up to $7.15 an hour, which is New York State’s current minimum wage.

I’m curious to know who fills the Wage Machine up when the box is empty!

World's strongest liquors: Spirits make their way into upscale cocktails, but you may need to travel to find them

Image: Balkan 176

Grain alcohol may bring back memories — or flashbacks — of college dorms.

But Gilardi’s, a sleek Italian bistro in Springfield, Mo., offers a house-made Limoncello with lemon zest, sugar, and the 190-proof grain alcohol Everclear. It’s served straight up in a sugar-rimmed cordial glass — hardly a means to a sloppy end.

Slideshow: World's strongest liquors

The drink is no anomaly. In the last few years, exceedingly potent alcohols have moved beyond the frat house and into the mainstream palate, thanks to the revival of pre-Prohibition cocktails and our unending thirst for the latest and greatest. “There’s this new level of connoisseurship among drinkers in search of novelty,” says Noah Rothbaum, editor in chief of liquor.com. “It’s not about flavor; it’s about the experience.”

Thursday, November 11, 2010

I get a kick out of R.Lee Ermey–in both Full Metal Jacket and his current commercial about being an unsympathetic psychiatrist

This scene is a great portrayal of the iconic Marine drill instructor.

I think this commercial is hilarious! Guess I’m a R. Lee Ermey fan. My Dad was a Marine and served in the Pacific during WW II. He’s just as crusty as Ermey!

Vietnam Veterans receive the homecoming they never had at Fort Campbell

This video is touching. Tears ran down my eyes when I viewed it. These men are my brothers. We gave up our youth and left part of our souls in the steaming jungles of Southeast Asia. Our shameful return home greetings scarred us. Now, we need to embrace those who are welcoming us Home…and to be at Peace at last.

Sounds of Healing: combat veterans trade M-16s for guitars

A new Band of Brothers – Soldiers and Marines find guitar music healing. Good Veteran Day vibes

Museum Fundraising Campaign Underway for Navajo Code Talkers

Frank Chee Willetto, pictured at the Gallup Cultural Center in New Mexico, is working to raise funds for a Code Talkers museum.

It’s never too late to honor these heroes:

“Keith Little and Frank Chee Willetto know time is no longer on their side.

That's why the men, World War II veterans who used a code based on the Navajo language to stump the Japanese in battles, spend their days reminding the world of their contribution to ending the war.

As the numbers dwindle — fewer than 100 Code Talkers of the 400 trained by the U.S. military are believed to be alive — the Navajo veterans are being recognized. Today, Veterans Day, a group of them will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. New Mexico dedicated a 16-mile stretch of highway to them on Wednesday.

HONORED: N.M. exhibit honors Navajo Code Talkers

Now, 65 years after serving mostly in the Pacific, the men are trying to establish their legacy on the Navajo reservation in Arizona. Through a foundation, they are about to launch a $42 million fundraising campaign for a museum and veterans center.”

PHOTO - Frank Chee Willetto, pictured at the Gallup Cultural Center in New Mexico, is working to raise funds for a Code Talkers museum.

Profile: America’s Wars and the Veterans who served in them

U.S. Marines leave the flaming village of Cam Ne after setting fire to 100 homes during the Vietnam War in 1965 (© AP)

Today, we honor the men and women who have fought under America's flag. Veterans Day marks a historic armistice and salutes all U.S. veterans, many of whom served during our country's wars and conflicts.

VIETNAM WAR

The communist leader of Vietnam sought to claim control of South Vietnam, a move the United States fought to prevent. (Who was the U.S. president?) The war was met with much protest in the States. (Who was the U.S. commander?)

Although the dates and scope are debatable, historians consider the Vietnam War one of America's longest and costliest.

(How long did the war last?) More Vietnam War facts: Number of Americans who served, American casualties, Total casualties, How did it end?, Veterans today

GO HERE TO VIEW THE REST OF THE WARS.

Veterans Day: Rifle squad honors vets with 57,000 goodbyes

Image: Jim McGee, a member of the Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad

The volunteer squad ensures veterans get a proper final salute

“The bus stops on the cemetery path and the silver-haired men file out, sober-faced and silent amid a sea of white marble tombstones. Some carry rifles, some flags, a few hold bugles. They've all come to say goodbye — to a stranger.

This is their eighth funeral of the day. They have five more to go.

The men are members of a special fraternity of veterans. Two generations. Three wars. Survivors of places such as Khe Sanh, Chu Lai, Tokyo Bay, the Chosin Reservoir. Recipients of Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars. Now all together, offering a final salute to those who, like them, served long ago.”

PHOTO - Jim McGee, a member of the Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad, salutes during a veteran's funeral at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Bloomington, Minn

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Corpses and coffins? FDA proposes graphic cigarette labels

The best thing I ever did for my health was quit smoking in 2000.

The feds are gung ho with their new initiative to reduce smoking

“The federal government hopes new larger, graphic warning labels for cigarettes that include images of corpses, cancer patients, and diseased lungs and teeth will help snuff out tobacco use.

The images are part of a new push announced by the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday to reduce tobacco use, which is responsible for about 443,000 deaths per year.”

Read more here.

Koch Industries: Bankrolling the Big Oil climate denial movement

Koch Industries spent more than $1 million trying to sabotage California's clean energy future with Proposition 23 -- but you've probably never even heard their name before.
As co-owner David Koch brags, Koch Industries is "
the largest company that you've never heard of."
Koch has been very effective in spending tens of millions to bankroll the climate denial movement -- and until recently, they've stayed out of the headlines.

But now you should know the threat they pose to our planet.
Check out the facts on Koch Industries and share them with your friends and family.

It's time to shine a spotlight on this shadowy corporation. America needs to know that Koch Industries spends millions of dollars each year to misrepresent the science of climate change, lobby against clean energy legislation and keep us addicted to fossil fuels.


The web of funding from Koch Industries to climate denialists, anti-regulation think tanks and oil industry front groups is so complicated that we've made this site to share some of their worst offenses:
www.KochIndustriesFacts.com
Until now, the misdeeds of this key player in the oil sector have remained a secret. Now you know. What you do about it is your own business. Pass this information on or ignore it. At least you’re aware of it now.

image source

Omega the Chimp stops smoking but continues eating magic mushrooms every day!

Omega the smoking Chimp kicks the habit with a little help from friends.

At one time Omega the Chimp packed hookas for people until he pissed the management off and they sold him.

He was sold to someone in Beirut who kept him in a tiny cage and provided him with cigarettes and magic mushrooms. I can’t imagine Omega’s state of mind. He’s been “rescued” by some folks who took him to a sanctuary in Brazil where they proceeded to get him to stop smoking. The mushrooms however, appear to be another story!

Humanity Test: Would You Kill Your Puppy if You Were Mad at It?

A top contender to be Trump's running mate in this year's election is bragging about killing a stubborn puppy. South Dakota  GOP Go...