Notice I’m not putting this under “Axis of Donks” for a reason…
US Representative Tom Lantos (D-CA), the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to Congress, has passed away at the age of 80 from esophagal cancer. He came to the United States by way of Raoul Wallenberg, and considered himself an “American By Choice.” His background as a Holocaust survivor helped him speak out on issues which brought him into conflict with his fellow members of Congress...and sometimes with the police.
Nevertheless, he always remained grateful to the country which took him in:

“Throughout my adult life I have sought to be a voice for human rights, civil liberties and social justice ... I will never be able to express fully my profoundly felt gratitude to this great country.”

He gave back to America...and that’s a statement in and of itself.

Looks like the WGA and WGA-East are about to urge their members to ratify a new three-year agreement with the producers, which will end the three-month strike. Man I sure hope so. The strike has already cost the LA economy about $2 billion, and so many shows (including BSG) were put in limbo.
I hope Ron & Co. have the stuff ready to go. But hold onto your hats, folks...hopefully, the producers can conclude successful negotiations with the Screen Actors’ Guild before their contract expires in June!

Note to Taco Bell: This time, let this hit anywhere in the US and give us all a Free Taco!

U.S. official confirmed that the spy satellite is designated by the military as US 193. It was launched in December 2006 but almost immediately lost power and cannot be controlled. It carried a sophisticated and secret imaging sensor but the satellite’s central computer failed shortly after launch. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret.

And you know who’ll go apes**t over that secret information!

Now here’s something which doesn’t surprise me at all...there is a member of my family who has used this word in the past, in the same manner as described in this story. To be fair, the story goes on to say that it is possible for Canadians to sit on a US jury...if they have dual citizenship, eh.

It’s nice to have a built-in RSS reader now in Mac Mail under Leopard; it makes hunting for interesting news stories a whole lot easier. Here’s what’s on tap for today....

DANNY GLOVER CONVICTED IN CANADA: Alas, the charge was only Trespassing. I’m sure Comrade Chavez will be proud.

BFE CROWD CONTROL IN GAZA: ONLY after Hamas blows holes in the border wall and allows thousands of its subjects to flow through and get “necessities”...including weapons of course!

ANOTHER ITALIAN ELECTION? Looks like one’s waiting in the wings, as Prime Minister Prodi resigns after losing a Vote of No Confidence. Gee I wonder why....

There hasn’t been that much of a rate cut since 1984. It’s going to be a very interesting day on the market, considering how the rest of the world did when we were off.

One of Gerald Ford’s failed assassins, Sara Jane Moore, was recently freed from prison after serving 32 years in the Federal Slammer for her attempt on President Ford, which came just 17 days after one of Charles Manson’s groupies, Lynette ”Squeaky” Fromme, also tried to murder him.
Wrong Move, Feds. Presidential would-be assassins, much less actual ones, should NEVER see the light of day. NEVER.

...Be sure and don’t build a fireplace there (with apologies to Scott McKenzie)....

Do I feel sorry for the guy who produced Girls Gone Wild, who had to spend some time in the slammer while awaiting trial on Federal charges of Income Tax Evasion?

Guards at the Grady County Law Enforcement Center denied Joe Francis food and blankets and threatened to strap him naked to a chair for 48 hours, Francis’ attorneys alleged last month in court papers seeking his release on bail in a Florida case, The Oklahoman reported.
Francis, 34, was held at the jail from May 17 to June 4 while being moved from a Florida jail to a federal facility in Reno, Nev., where he is awaiting trial next year on a tax evasion charge.
Grady County officials denied the accusations, telling the newspaper that guards never threatened to strap Francis to a chair, that Francis had an extra blanket he shouldn’t have had confiscated and that his transfer was delayed because his family had somehow found out when he was to have been moved, creating a potential security risk.
“Mr. Francis was treated like every inmate that comes through the Grady County Law Enforcement Center,” jail administrator Shane Wyatt told the newspaper.

Would you like the short answer?
No.
There. See how easy that was?

Granted this was the first year where it happened...but Daylight Saving Time from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November seems way too long for me. If you agree, be sure to write/email/call/fax your Congressional Representative and both your US Senators!
Thank you. We now return you to your regular programming.

...yesterday at work that the fires in Southern California had been deliberately set. In one case, that is what has been determined.

Now the next questions are: who set them, and were there more than one individual involved? I don’t care who they are...just get them!

After my recent hospital visit, I’m taking a serious...and I mean, absolutely serious look at changing my diet. My new Official Roommate will help me do this. He’s the close support I’ve needed for a long time, and it’s not going to be easy either.
Then I run across this monstrosity for a breakfast burrito, courtesy of Hardee’s back East:

And before you readers Out West raise the question, yes, Carl’s Jr. has something pretty darn close, called the Loaded Breakfast Burrito; only a couple of ingredients are different. I hate to even think about looking at that nutrition label.

You know what the el cubos will say about this....

To find it on Google Earth, plot the following coordinates:
32.675483, -117.157736.

Now that your Union Leaders have tentatively reached a deal to end the 2-day walkout against GM, you better start keeping real good track of where $51 billion of your health care costs go. Because if you don’t, your Union Leaders will try and funnel some of that money over to help get Democrats elected in future election cycles...as if they don’t already do that?
Pay attention! Stay informed! Don’t take anything for granted! Your Union Leaders are not God!
Thank you. We now return you to your regular programming.

Now this is a fine prospect to look forward to: a Strike by UAW workers if no tentative agreement is reached with GM by 1100 hours Eastern Time. Actually, the GM contract expired September 14, but they kept talking, and at least it’s a good sign...for now; we’ll know in a few hours.
If you ever wonder from time to time why US autos are so expensive, look no further than the contracts with GM, Ford, and Chrysler. I’m no longer averse to look at foreign cars/trucks/SUVs built in the USA as my next set of wheels.