Oct 18, 2008

Man eats 15-pound burger in less than 5 hours

Brad Sciullo is a 21 year-old 5-foot-11, 180-pound chef from western Pennsylvania.

Sciullo is the first person to eat a monstrosity called the Beer Barrel Belly Bruiser -- the product of Denny's Beer Barrel Pub in western Pennsylvania. It is a 15-pound burger with toppings and a bun that brought the total weight to 20.2 pounds.

The burger included a bun, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onions, mild banana peppers and a cup each of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and relish.

What did Sciullo get for his 4 hour and 39 minute eating marathon?

For completing the challenge in the under-five-hour time limit, Sciullo won $400, three T-shirts, a certificate and a “burger hangover.”

Link

Palin attracts 20,000 in Noblesville Indiana

Local media reported that a crowd of about 20,000 rallied for Sarah Palin (upper picture) in Noblesville, Indiana.

After watching Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin from afar for months, nearly 20,000 Hoosiers got their first glimpse of the stylish and feisty vice presidential nominee at the Verizon Wireless Music Center.

Rallies like this for Governor Palin are almost never acknowledged by the national media. They must be too busy bashing Joe the plumber or reporting appearances by Senator Biden talking to 2,500 people in a Little League baseball park somewhere.

The atmosphere was more rock concert than political rally, as students from Ball State University painted "Maverick" on their bare chests and supporters bought pretzels and nachos from the concession stands.

Country music artist Aaron Tippin (lower picture) entertained the crowd with a few songs, including "Kiss This," which he dedicated to Obama.

Link

Are you a communifaker?

Have you ever taken out your phone and pretended to make a call when you see somebody you want to avoid speaking with? If not, you are in the minority.

According to new research … the deceit is particularly used -- or abused -- by younger people. It found that 74 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 24 admit to communifaking.

It is widespread among the general population with 42 percent of women and 32 percent of men conceding they fake phone calls.

The most common reason, the study says, is that it's something to do while waiting for friends. But using the phone to avoid speaking with someone is the second most popular reason for some more merciless communifakers.

I admit to using my phone to find my location using Verizon’s satellite navigator feature. It’s fun to zoom in and out on a map of my location just to kill time while waiting for an appointment. Proves I am easily amused. Besides, it’s more interesting than perusing stale news in a 4-month-old issue of Time Magazine.

I have not been guilty of communifaking. Well, not yet anyway.

Link

Judge tosses lawsuit against God

Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers (pictured) filed a lawsuit against God in September 2007.

The suit sought a permanent injunction to prevent God from committing acts of violence such as tornadoes and earthquakes.

A Douglas County District Court judge has tossed out Chambers lawsuit against God.

Judge Marlon Polk says Chambers can't sue God if he can't serve papers on him.

Chambers, a Democrat (sometimes claims to be an Independent) representing the 11th District in north Omaha, is an atheist who is angry at being “pushed out of the Legislature” because of term limits.

Maybe Chambers thinks his lawsuit gets back at the Nebraska legislature as well as a God he does not believe in.

Link

Oct 17, 2008

Fall colors



Fall colors are reflected on Big Pond, Woodford State Park near Woodford, Vermont.

…Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

Vote stolen from mentally challenged man

The family of a mentally challenged relative say his vote was stolen.

They say the adult day rehab program where Jack Justice attends took him to vote, without the family's permission. What's worse is Justice says the person helping him wouldn't cast the ballot for his choice for President.

Jack Justice has been voting since he turned 18. Typically his family takes him to their neighborhood precinct.

This time Primus Industries, his adult day rehab program, took him to vote.

His family was shocked, but what shocked them more was that Jack claims that his aide commandeered his vote.

"They told me to vote for Obama, I said no I wanted to vote for McCain," said Jack Justice.

They marked his ballet for him - it was a vote for Obama when he wanted to vote for McCain.

They forced a mentally challenged man to vote against his will. How much lower can Obama operatives go?

Link

The old Don McNeill Breakfast Club radio show

Don McNeill (pictured) hosted the Breakfast Club radio show from 1933, when he was only 25, until the final broadcast on December 27, 1968.

Two years into the show, McNeill brought in live audiences. At the same time he threw away the stiff and stuffy scripts and from then on everything on the program was adlib.

People appearing on the show over the years included Jim and Marian Jordan, later known as "Fibber McGee and Molly, "Fran Allison, who later starred in the "Kukla, Fran, and Ollie" puppet show, appeared regularly as the gossipy character, "Aunt Fanny."

In 1949, singer Johnny Desmond debuted on "The Breakfast Club."

In McNeills absence, guest emcee’s included Jack Paar and Don Amichi.

Sam Cowling was the longtime show clown. Ladies in the audience lined up to take turns in the “dance with Sam” segment.

Bob Hope, Danny Kaye, Gary Cooper, Ginger Rogers, and James Stewart were featured guests.

One of the shows most popular features was "calls to breakfast" every 15 minutes—wake-up calls when the audience marched around the table.

McNeill didn’t resent that his humor was called "corny." He had a special ability to talk to anyone, from foreign heads of state to humble day laborers.

The show's success stemmed from McNeil's ability to project a folksy personality. The broadcast began with a singing welcome: “Good morning Breakfast Clubbers, good morning to ya, we woke up bright and early just to howdy-do ya.”

Link here and here.

Obama autographs anti-Palin sign

A laughing Barack Obama with pen-in-hand getting ready to autograph the anti-Palin sign.

Biden rewrites McGuffey’s Reader

‘Hoof in mouth’ Biden (pictured) may be just getting his second wind.

Speaking at a rally Joe Biden was talking against John McCain’s economic plan.

He told his audience, “John's last-minute economic plan does nothing to tackle the number one job facing the middle class, and it happens to be, as Barack says, a three-letter word: jobs. J-O-B-S."

Didn’t his first grade teacher point out to him that the word jobs has more than three letters?

But then, his running mate said he had visited 57 states with 2 left to go.

They both use creative math.

This will be hushed up quickly while they still bring up how Dan Quayle spelled potato.

Link

National media mostly silent on vote fraud

The national media has mostly remained silent on the ACORN voter irregularities that have show up in several states from Nevada to Florida.

The YouTube video below mostly addresses ACORN voter fraud in Philadelphia but also mentions dead people voting in Gary Indiana which is near Chicago where dead people voting got its start during the time when Richard J. Daley was mayor. That probably hasn’t changed now that his son Richard M. Daley is running Chicago.

(click on picture to see video)

Oct 16, 2008

Gallup: Obama leads by only 2 points among likely voters

A new Gallup Poll of likely voters has Democrat Barack Obama with a 49 percent to 47 percent lead over Arizona Sen. John McCain.

That puts McCain closer in the presidential race than other polls, which have Obama with leads of between 3 and 14 percentage points, according to Real Clear Politics.

Some of the polls that have Obama up by double digits are conducted by Newsweek, ABC, Washington Post and others that have more Democrats or more blacks in their sampling base.

What does this dramatic tightening of the race mean and what will happen next?

Look for even more voter fraud by ACORN and other Obama operatives. Also, look for even more negative news reports by the main stream media directed against John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Link here for the Gallup poll data.

New cell phone scare: ear and cheek rash

This new cell phone scare comes from the UK. That’s where most of the cancer scare warnings originated.

Just as most of the cell phone cancer scares came from England, most of them were later shown to be either greatly overblown or completely debunked.

This alert warns of a rash on the ear and cheeks. The malady has been named, “mobile phone dermatitis” and is said to be an allergic reaction to the nickel surface on mobile phones.

They have cried “wolf” so often we wonder if anyone pays much attention anymore.

Link to the latest cell phone scare here.

Girl with Down syndrome is Homecoming Queen

The Homecoming Queen at Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas is a very special 18-year-old. She was born with Down syndrome.

Homecoming Queen Kristin Pass is shown above proudly wearing her crown and a smile as big as Texas.

More of the story here.

A good representation of media values

(click on cartoon to enlarge)

This cartoon fairly portrays liberal media values. It’s also a pretty good likeness of Andrea Mitchell don’t you think?

Virginia Beach rally for McCain - Palin





Photos taken at a political rally in Virginia Beach Virginia for Senator McCain and Governor Palin.

Hank Williams, Jr. is singin’ for the folks in upper photo.

The truth about the Employee Free Choice Act

The title of the Employee Free Choice Act is a misnomer meant to deceive voters.

At the first link below John Hinderaker has some thoughtful and accurate comments about the Barack Obama (pictured) backed Employee Free Choice Act.

Far from promoting employee free choice, this legislation would enable a union to be certified as the bargaining representative of employees merely by presenting to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) cards executed by a majority of employees in the bargaining unit.

This would mean there would be no election and rather than a secret ballot, employees could be subjected to all manner of coercion to sign a card - right in front of Union thugs in some cases.

The Employee Free Choice Act actually will take away employee rights.

Abolishing elections deprives workers of a fundamental democratic right. Elections guarantee that all workers can express their views on whether they want to belong to a union.

Under card check, however, workers who have not been contacted by union organizers have no say in whether their workplace organizes. If organizers collect cards from a majority of workers, all workers must join the union without a vote!

Under the Employee Free Choice Act there could be punitive damages and penalties for employers (but not for unions).

Obama's low regard for free elections in this case can be attributed to his desire to appease organized labor and organized labor will not rest until all companies, except the very smallest, have been organized by a Labor Union. This is sure to happen with the help of Barack Obama.

Link here and here.

Oct 15, 2008

NY Hillary Clinton supporters aid Sarah Palin

A group of former supporters of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (upper picture) came to the financial aid of Governor Sarah Palin (lower picture).

The reception, which organizers said brought in more than $500,000, was part of an extended evening of fund-raising for Ms. Palin and Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign at the Grand Hyatt in New York that officials estimated raised more than $8 million.

More than 1,000 people paid $1,000 each for tickets to the main fund-raiser.

Nearly 250 people who contributed $25,000 got dinner beforehand with Mr. McCain.

Other prominent former Clinton supporters in attendance included John Coale, a former Hillraiser, Washington lawyer and husband of Fox News television host Greta Van Susteren.

Hillary has asked her former supporters to back Senator Barack Obama. However, some still harbor ill will towards him and this is a way for them to give their “vote of disapproval.”

Link

Internet use increases brain function

A study found that, for middle aged and older people at least, using the Internet helps boost brainpower.

A UCLA study found that a simple, everyday task like searching the web appears to enhance brain circuitry in older adults.

Does this mean we should rush out and buy computers for granny and great-uncle Mort?

Typing in URL’s is not exactly an aerobic exercise.

As the brain ages, a number of changes occur, including shrinkage and reductions in cell activity, which can impact on performance.

It has long been thought that activities which keep the brain active, such as crossword puzzles, may help minimize the impact - and the latest study suggests that surfing the web can.

We doubt if this applies to folks who hang out in social networking chat rooms. Also, we can think of some web sites that are probably brain draining.

Link

Two men nabbed for DUI in same vehicle

Two men in Fargo North Dakota were arrested for drunken driving in the same vehicle.

Police Lt. Pat Claus said an officer pulled over a 23-year-old man.

Claus said while that man was taking a sobriety test, a 24-year-old passenger got behind the wheel and tried to drive off.

Claus said the passenger was also arrested for drunken driving. Both men were taken to the Cass County jail.

Claus called the case “unique.”

Link

Is Hofstra a neutral site for presidential debate?

Hofstra University will spend $3.5 million hosting the final presidential debate. The festivities include several re-enactments.

There will be Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, a mock-slavery auction, women's rights activists and civil rights speakers -- all intended to “engage debate.”

A mock slavery auction? Really?

The slavery auction was no doubt prompted by Whoopi Goldberg (upper picture) when she asked John McCain, if he would bring back slavery during a McCain appearance on The View.

Barack Obama has already given the media his “talking points” for the debate.

Was this intended to be a message to debate moderator Bob Schieffer (lower picture) to guide the debate Obama’s way?

Link

Monkeys used as tavern waiters in Japan

A tavern in Japan is using two monkeys to serve its customers.

The owner says he realized his pets could be used as waiters when the older of the pair started aping him at work.

The monkeys, Yat-chan and Fuku-chan, are only allowed to work in shifts of up to two hours a day due to Japanese animal rights regulations.

Appreciative customers tip them with boiled soya-beans to enjoy during their down time.

(click on picture to see video)

Obama hints at a communistic presidency

Karl Marx (upper picture), the founder of Communism, set out to change the “inequalities in the distribution of wealth” by saying that “wealth must be redistributed from the rich-and-evil wealthy to the poor-and-downtrodden.

Communism—the ultimate goal of liberalism—affords everything to and for the power elite and little to nothing for everyone else.

It also does away with the concept of meritocracy—unless of course one is a member of the aforementioned power elite. However, more and more this is what Democrat presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama seems to be proposing.

On Monday 13 October, Barack Obama (lower picture) was asked by an Ohio plumber: “Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn’t it?”

Obama answered him with: “It’s not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they’ve got a chance for success too. My attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna be good for everybody.”

“I think when you spread the wealth around [AKA wealth redistribution], it’s good for everybody.”

We have to imagine that Karl Marx would be extremely proud.

Democrats have been wanting to begin the takeover of large corporation. This was intensified after the Enron scandal.

Does anyone out there still remember California Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters’ threat to take over US oil companies?

Black Liberation Theology—as taught by Barack Obama’s over 20-year mentor Jeremiah Wright—has its roots in Marxist philosophy.

The CFP article concludes with this:

Electing Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States of America will pretty much finish the Democrats’ job.

Link

Oct 14, 2008

Fisher Price doll may promote Islam

Bloggers are buzzing about a talking doll by Fisher Price called Little Mommy Cuddle & Coo. The doll allegedly says Islam is the Light.

(click on picture to see video)

Listen to the video and see what you think.

Some stores have removed the doll from shelves after complaints from customers.

We wonder if all Fisher Price Little Mommy Cuddle & Coo dolls have this troubling problem?

Testing artificial intelligence

An annual test of artificial intelligence was carried out at the University of Reading in Reading England.

During the test computers argued, cracked jokes and parried trick questions.

Typing away at split-screen terminals, a dozen volunteers carried out two conversations at once: one with a chat program, the other with a human. After five minutes, they were asked to say which was which. Some were not sure who — or what — they were talking to.

"There was one time when I was speaking to the two, and there was an element of humor in both conversations. That's the one that stumped me more than others," said Ian Andrews, one of the judges in Reading, just west of London.

More of the story here.

Divorced couple literally split the house

The house shown below was sawed in half by a Cambodian couple as they were hoping to avoid the country's convoluted divorce process in Prey Veng province near Phnom Penh Cambodia.



The husband brought his relatives and used saws to cut the house in half and left the other half standing.

His former wife now owns the half that is still standing. The house is made from wood with a tile roof and propped up on wooden pillars, a typical style for a Cambodian country home.

The husband and his relatives ripped apart half of the house and carried all the materials to his parents house nearby.

Link

Sarah Palin rallies in Richmond Virginia

Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin (pictured) spoke to a crowd of between 20,000 and 25,000 at Richmond International Raceway.

“You all know something about close races” she told the crowd.

As Palin took the stage at Richmond International Raceway, she thanked the crowd for waiting in long lines. She introduced Hank Williams Jr., who asked, “Are you ready for some Sarah?” a play on his intro to Monday Night Football games.

She resonates with “the folks.”

Local media reported this story. The main stream media must have been too busy covering a Biden appearance in front of 2,500 at a high school gymnasium somewhere.

Link

Oct 13, 2008

Yale University to honor 250th Birthday of Noah Webster

Through the promotion of education, laws, human rights, and language, Noah Webster helped to create a national identity for a young nation. At the time, however, Webster was mocked and scorned for challenging the King's English.

About 60 percent of the country spoke English at the time, while others spoke German, Swedish and Dutch. Even among English speakers, regional dialects were strong.

A teacher after the Revolutionary War, Webster believed that Americans should have their own textbooks rather than rely on English books.

He created a speller that taught students to read, spell and pronounce words and traveled around the country to promote the book.

The language of the new nation was in a state of flux when Webster said “we're going to speak American English.”

Webster's speller made it easier for children to learn English by spelling words more like they sounded.

The French version of words like “centre” became “center” and he dropped the British “u” in words like “colour” and the redundant “k” in “musick” and other words.



This image is an early portrait of Noah Webster circa 1798 provided by Yale University.

The announcement of his first dictionary came in 1800. It was in the back of a Connecticut newspaper just above a farmer's reward for a stray cow. A man named Noah Webster was proposing the first comprehensive “dictionary of the American language.”

His dictionary, and earlier spellers and readers widely used in schools, would help a new nation achieve unity and cultural independence at a time when most were focused on political freedom.

Though he accomplished much more during his life, Webster is best remembered for authoring two of America’s most influential books, the Blue Back Speller and the American Dictionary.

These books helped children grow up to be Americans as opposed to British subjects.

Link

GM ponders Chrysler acquisition

Over the weekend it was announced that GM was pondering the acquisition of Chrysler.

With both automakers struggling to survive amid slumping sales, a slowing global economy and an unprecedented credit crunch, it's unclear whether Chrysler's majority owner, Cerberus Capital Management LP, would be willing to pay up, or whether the federal government might even get involved to save one or both struggling automakers.

The stark reality is that if you put two automakers together that are both losing money and both losing market share, you end up with an automaker that is losing more money and losing market share faster.

More of the story here.

Obama poll lead narrows

ABC News proudly claims Obama has a double-digit lead over McCain. ABC cites the results of a Washington Post/ABC News poll.

This is in conflict with a Gallup Daily poll (found here) that showing that the Obama lead is down to a 7%.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday (found here) shows the Barack Obama lead down to 5%.

A Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released today (found here) shows the Obama lead down to 4%.

The Washington Post/ABC News poll showing Obama with a double-digit lead is suspect because both the Washington Post and ABC News are solidly “in the tank” for Barack Obama.

With the Obama lead narrowing, look for heightened attacks on John McCain and Sarah Palin by ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and especially CNBC.

Boise Idaho: earliest snow on record

According to National Weather Service statistics, the 1.7 inches of snow that fell around Boise on Friday was the earliest measurable snowfall since record keeping began in 1898.

Previously, the earliest recorded snowfall was on Oct. 12, 1969, when a little more than an inch fell.



The snow caught most people of guard like this bicyclist heading

photo credit: Shawn Raecke/Idaho Statesman

Link

McCain 2006 letter demanded action on Fannie and Freddie

Sen. John McCain's 2006 demand for regulatory action on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could have prevented current financial crisis.

McCain's letter -- signed by nineteen other senators -- said that it was “...vitally important that Congress take the necessary steps to ensure that [Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac]...operate in a safe and sound manner.[and]..More importantly, Congress must ensure that the American taxpayer is protected in the event that either...should fail.”

The letter was dated May 5, 2006.

Sen. Obama did not sign the letter, nor did any other Democrat.

Click here to see the letter.

Castro: racism will keep millions from voting Obama

If Fidel Castro (pictured) could vote it would be for Barack Hussein Obama.

Castro claims “profound racism” in the United States will keep millions of voters away from voting for Obama.

The ailing, 82-year-old former Cuban president says it is “a miracle that the Democratic candidate hasn't suffered the same luck as (assassinated leaders) Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and others who harbored dreams of equality and justice.”

Malcolm X harbored dreams of justice? Interesting statement.

The “profound racism” charge is an exaggeration. However, there may well be millions of voters just not willing to pull the lever for a black man on election day. Especially a black man with a questionable past. A past that powerful people, with the aid of the media, have attempted to keep hidden.

Link

Oct 12, 2008

Alaska “first dude” to visit northern Minnesota

Todd Palin (pictured), the husband of Alaska Governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, plans to visit northern Minnesota this week.

John McCain's Minnesota campaign says Todd Palin is expected to speak with voters and outdoors enthusiasts in Duluth, Grand Rapids and Bemidji on Thursday. He'll then visit Thief River Falls and Moorhead on Friday.

The McCain campaign has been trying to gain ground in northeastern Minnesota, which has traditionally supported Democrats. The campaign has held several "Sportsmen for McCain-Palin" events in the area to appeal to outdoors enthusiasts

Palin will tour the state with his snowmobile racing partner Scott Davis, who's a native of Grand Rapids.

Link

Raiders owner Davis: winner or out-of-touch meddler?

A USA Today report at the link below says that the Al Davis (pictured) legacy is shifting from winner to out-of-touch meddler.

Mr. Davis fired Raider head coach Lane Kiffin last week after a record of 5-14. Kiffin was fired without pay and it was done over the phone.

Firing a head coach without honoring the remainder of his contract is nothing new to Davis.

Davis fired Raider head coach Mike Shanahan in 1989 without pay. Davis still has not paid Shanahan for the remainder of his contract. Shanahan had a record of 8-12 with the Raiders.

The USA Today report briefly chronicles the storied career of Al Davis from his meager beginning to three Super Bowl wins.

Now, as the Raiders have fallen on hard times, Mr. Davis may well have become an out-of-touch meddler.

As the article says, it's easy to overlook the many contributions Al Davis has made to the NFL.

Besides three Super Bowl wins, they include moves that led to the AFL-NFL merger, making the league into the multibillion dollar corporation it is today.

They also include the hiring of the first black coach of the modern era — Shanahan's successor, Art Shell — and the first female CEO, Amy Trask, who unfortunately seems to have been left out of the decision-making process in the latest fiasco [the Kiffin firing]. She's one of the few levelheaded people currently in Oakland's front office.

To repeat a cliché: how far the mighty have fallen.

Link

UV radiation from energy saving bulbs

There is a report at the link below titled: The energy-saving light bulbs that could leave you red-faced ... from UV radiation.

Congress passed and energy bill last year phases out Edison’s invention by 2014. Incandescent bulbs (upper picture) will go the way of the dodo bird in six years in the United States. The phase out date in the UK is 2011.

When energy-saving fluorescent bulbs become the only light bulbs available for household use, we may face some serious problems.

Experts warn that UV radiation from unencapsulated energy-saving bulbs (lower picture) can damage the skin if used closer than 12 inches to the body.

The Health Protection Agency said the UV threat could affect those who use reading lamps on their bedside tables.

Thousands of workers such as jewelry makers who work with their hands and use lamps at close quarters could also be affected.

Encapsulated fluorescent light bulbs, which are surrounded by a glass cover and look like traditional bulbs, do not emit high levels of UV.

Unencapsulated fluorescent light bulbs where the shape of the coil is clearly visible (lower picture) are the bulbs that emit UV rays.

Link

Train dumps 21,600 Xboxes: Microsoft sues DHL

Microsoft shipped 21,600 Xboxes from a Microsoft office in McAllen, Texas, to Long Beach, California, for eventual delivery to Hong Kong.

The Xboxes were dumped during a train derailment on one year ago.

Microsoft said it is seeking more than $2 million in damages from cargo-delivery service DHL as a result of the loss.

Link