Yes, I’m still off but I saw this....
California is up the creek. Without a paddle.
All of Governor Schwarzenegger’s ballot propsals went down to defeat. What will he do now? California is such a wonderful place to visit...but I sure wouldn’t want to live there. This sucks.

“She was a black-haired beauty with big dark eyes
And points all her own sitting way up high
Way up firm and high”

Bob Seger - ”Night Moves”

This is going to be a difficult post for me to keep a straight face while I write this...especially on a Sunday morning!
The Skipper over at BMEWS points out (no pun intended!) the importance for women to have a good bra on hand to support their breasts, especially since they seem to be growing larger. And bra manufacuturers are using high-technology to help solve the problem that nearly every man knows for himself in the first place! Remember: Force equals mass times acceleration!

Yes, Amy Fisher has actually done something with her life! Atoned for her crime against society, moved on, became a successful writer and columnist.
Unlike the guy who started the whole thing...he can’t stay out of trouble. What the hell does his name really mean anyways?

“Now all restaurants are Taco Bell.”
—Sandra Bullock, Demolition Man

Well this one comes close. I found out about this recently remodeled McDonald’s in Scottsdale from Scott of Speed of Thought (a Tucson-based blog). So I promised him some exclusive pix. Click on the thumbnails for the larger pictures.
When I was there, the managers asked me why I was taking photos. I told them the truth...that there was a story about it on the web but no pictures. Well, they weren’t too paranoid about it, thank goodness.
So there it is. I personally like it because McDonald’s usually feels artificial and this makeover gives it a truly Southwestern environment. Nice going!

Now that Lewis Libby, the Vice President’s Chief of Staff, has resigned, it remains to be seen whether a jury of his peers will convict him on the five counts he is charged with. Let’s allow this upcoming trial, whenever that will be scheduled, to unfold whatever truth there is.
Remember folks, the standard is: “Innocent until proven Guilty in a Court of Law, beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Guess who’s becoming a United States Citizen? Believe it or not, Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in four of the six Star Wars films, will take the Oath of Citizenship on Monday at a naturalization ceremony in Arlington, Texas:

“I know that I have the best of both worlds with the dual nationality,” said Mayhew.
“Whatever people say about America, it is still one of the most wonderful countries in the world, despite the politics, religion and everything else that goes on.”

His wife is a Texan and he has lived in this country for 3 years, and so has met the naturalization requirement. And he did so LEGALLY!
Welcome, Peter, to the United States of America!

What I liked about Columbus Day yesterday was the fact that I got the day off! Anyway, here are a few tidbits about some up-and-coming stories:

SHENZHOU VI LAUNCHES WEDNESDAY: Almost one year after China launched its first taikonaut, they will send up two more on a multi-day mission lasting several days. Good Luck!
IRAQ STAKES RAISED: As expected, with the Iraqi Constitution vote coming up on October 15, followed by the start of Saddam’s trial four days later, the Islamofascists have stepped up their attacks on Iraqi civilians. Remember the purple fingers guys!
And now, the obligatory STOOOOPID story…
ULTIMATE ARBY’S RUN: You’ve heard of the Beer Run, now check out the results of this stunt!

NOTE to Boy George: Next time you call the Cops to report a burglary...make sure you get rid of your stash first!

Looks like Alexander Hamilton will remain on the new $10 bill. But at least it’s becoming more colorful to combat counterfeiting. The next scheduled currency redesign will be the $100 bill in 2007.
I am a little disappointed, but not overly so. One day I’d still like to see Ronald Reagan on some of our currency.

Hey Macker, I clicked on your website and read about the “no Reagan on the $10” etc.  I am glad the gov’t is doing more to make currency more difficult to counterfeit, but I must say, I saw a really, really, good fake $20 the other day.  To look at it, there was really no way to tell it wasn’t the real thing.  Little gold 20’s on the back, all the colors good.  Weight of the paper felt right and everything.  I was working at my cousin’s store when the police chief came in and tossed me 2 20’s.  Now, this guy and I have known each other for years, and I thought he wanted lottery tickets.  But, he just wanted to share with me and my cousin that there were some fakes going around.  The only thing missing was the “metal” strip in it.
I made sure to check for that strip, and mark each 20 I rec’d the rest of the day with that yellow pen thing.
*shrugs* Just thought I’d share that.

They’re certainly getting better and better at it, aren’t they! Thanks Will!

And now, the Saddam New York Times has walled off its content from all the regular Joe Schmoes on the web, like myself. From the FAQ file:

How much does it cost?
TimesSelect is available for purchase as an annual or monthly subscription. The monthly subscription is $7.95 per month and automatically renews each month. The annual subscription is $49.95 per year and automatically renews each year. Home Delivery subscribers to The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune (at least 3 days delivery) are eligible to get TimesSelect for free as part of their newspaper subscriptions.

So is TimesSelect going to save the online beating the NYT is taking? Not really. Drudge (yes, I’m accessing him again, I’ve got better plugins this time!) has already given them the finger with another link to a Times columnist who’s supposedly protected by TimesSelect, so there is more than one way to skin a cat. I sure ain’t gonna pay the $50/year they want for it. Besides I usually went to them for BS articles, I can go elsewhere for that!

When the hell is Indiana going to WAKE UP and fully get on board with Daylight Saving Time?

Gov. Mitch Daniels and businesses argued for a fix, saying the time warp was more than embarrassing because it cost the state money and jobs and created mix-ups over airline flights, delivery times and conference calls.
A law enacted in April required observation of daylight-saving time and compelled Daniels to ask federal officials to determine if time boundaries should be changed.
Daniels did so, but he did not state a time zone preference, something the Department of Transportation - which regulates time zones - said was unprecedented. The department said individual counties had to apply for time zone changes on their own.
A potential checkerboard emerged. St. Joseph County, which includes Notre Dame University and the 106,000 residents of South Bend, wants to shift from Eastern to Central time. The shift would align it with Chicago, about 75 miles to the west, but put it out of sync with Niles, Mich., an Eastern time zone city 11 miles to the north.

This shouldn’t surprise someone like myself who lived for over 30 years in the Midwest. Many of us slammed Indiana for their previously screwy time zones, but if the Feds allow these petitions to go through, it will foul it up even more! Eastern or Central: pick one zone and stay with it!

No, not Commander Apollo...the “fat naked guy” from Survivor didn’t want to pay taxes on the million bucks he won:

The indictment said Hatch had two accountants prepare tax returns that included his “Survivor” winnings but did not file them when he learned he would owe hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes. In 2002, he had one of the accountants prepare a second return that did not include his TV show winnings. He filed that one, which called for a $4,500 refund, the indictment said.
Hatch was also accused of misusing $36,500 from a nonprofit camp he set up, Horizon Bound. For example, he allegedly kept for himself a $10,000 donation made in return for his appearance on the NBC game show “Weakest Link.” He spent the money from the game show on a construction project at his house, the indictment said.
Hatch faces a maximum of 75 years in prison if found guilty on all charges. He also could face millions of dollars in fines.

All that, just so he could keep the cool million? WHAT AN IDIOT! Commander Apollo, put this man on the Prison Barge!

Last night when I drove home, nearly every station along the way, except for one, were at the $3/gallon mark (I don’t count Arco am/pm because they’re el cheapo gas, and not just in price either). Even the Citgo station (owned by the neo-Communists) was at $3. But the QuikTrip across the street from where I live was still at $2.899.
So I got up this morning and took my camera with me just to see. Sure enough, it did:

Here’s how the prices rose over the last few days at this particular station:
Sat 08/27 - 2.599
Tues 08/30 - 2.739
Wed 08/31 AM - 2.799
Wed 08/31 PM - 2.899
Thu 09/01 - 2.999
One of these days I’ll have to go online and figure out why that extra 9/10 of a cent is always stuck onto the price. Who are they kidding with that...it’s 3 bucks a gallon!
While Arizona gets 90% of its gas from California and the rest from elsewhere, this price rise in our part of the country is definitely speculative because there has been no disruption in supply, so I’m willing to make the adjustments necessary and ride it out.

This is the most recent image from the NOAA web site of Hurricane Katrina, taken at 1415 GMT (0715 MST). Katrina is now rated at Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, with sustained winds of 175 mph.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has ordered a total evacuation of the city. Since it is mainly located below sea level, one can only imagine what a Cat 4 or Cat 5 hurricane would do to this city, and it isn’t pretty.
That is why I’m praying for the City and People of New Orleans. I ask you to do the same.

This is one way to Thank A Soldier that will bring tears, even to my eyes!

HAT TIP: Ranting Right Wing Howler