Generating Stripes

Occasionally, we all need to generate some stripes. When that need arises, you won't do better than Stripe Generator 2.0 (beta).

Believe it or not, it took me less than a minute to generate these stripes:

Universal Health Care

There are lots of arguments, pro and con, about government-funded universal health care. Mark Creech discusses one of them: Universal health care -- Unbiblical socialism.

The prospect of government-funded universal health care, however, is another example of America's departure from its strong Judeo-Christian roots and its love affair with socialism. Most Americans are completely unfamiliar with what the Bible teaches about economics. And progressive churches have, unfortunately, dominated the scene by espousing a form of economics that is essentially socialistic principles with a religious veneer.

One might even argue the church's loss of influence today is due in part to its support and advancement of the welfare state, which by government pre-emption has siphoned away the church's energy and resources for charitable purposes.

Karl Rove As Dennis The Menace

Here's a fun video from 1972: A Young Karl Rove plots for College Republicans.

At the end of this 1972 Dan Rather newscast on the Nixon Republican machine, we see a young Karl Rove talking about bringing the youth into the GOP fold.

As many have pointed out, Rove was already knee-deep in the dirty politics that would become his signature all these years later.

In 1970, he stole some letterhead and printed fake fliers. What does Rove have to say?

"It was a youthful prank at the age of 19 and I regret it."

Airport Security

There was a similar story last year, and things aren't getting any better: Undercover agents slip bombs past DIA screeners.

Checkpoint security screeners at Denver International Airport last month failed to find liquid explosives packed in carry-on luggage and also improvised explosive devices, or IED's, worn by undercover agents sources told 9NEWS.

"It really is concerning considering that we're paying millions of dollars out of our budget to be secure in the airline industry," said passenger Mark Butler who has had two Army Swiss knives confiscated by screeners in the past. "Yet, we're not any safer than we were before 9/11, in my opinion."

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners failed most of the covert tests because of human error, sources told 9NEWS. Alarms went off on the machines, but sources said screeners violated TSA standard operating procedures and did not hand-search suspicious luggage, wand, or pat down the undercover agents.

But, apparently, failing the test is expected:

The security chief says he expects screeners to fail the Red Team tests because they are difficult.

"We could put these tests together so that we have a 100 percent success rate every single time," said Morris. "Then, they wouldn't be challenging, they wouldn't be realistic and they really wouldn't be stretching the limits and the imagination of the Transportation Security Officer."

It's a good thing the terrorists are too dumb to figure out how to get explosives on an airplane.

Travolta On Global Warming

Scientology spokesman news: With five private jets, Travolta still lectures on global warming.

His serious aviation habit means he is hardly the best person to lecture others on the environment. But John Travolta went ahead and did it anyway. The 53-year-old actor, a passionate pilot, encouraged his fans to "do their bit" to tackle global warming.

But although he readily admitted: "I fly jets", he failed to mention he actually owns five, along with his own private runway. Clocking up at least 30,000 flying miles in the past 12 months means he has produced an estimated 800 tons of carbon emissions - nearly 100 times the average Briton's tally.

But he does have some good ideas:

It [global warming] is a very valid issue. I'm wondering if we need to think about other planets and dome cities."

Wearing Jeans Voids Car Warranty?

In California: Acura Dealer Refuses To Fix Torn Leather Seats Because Driver Wears "Wrong Kind of Pants".

Leather seats aren't supposed to break apart on your two-year-old Acura TSX. So a conscientious owner with miles left on the warranty does what any sensible consumer would do: Take it to a dealership for warranty repair. Not so easy.

At Acura of Pleasanton, California, one owner was treated to a chastising, a handy lesson in how to enter a parked car, and some fashion tips. To wit: He refused to fix a split in the stitching on the driver's side because he claims:

1. I get into the car "wrong" (whatever that means)
2. I wear the wrong kind of pants. Yes, you read that right. The guy told me that blue jeans tend to scuff the leather, and that I might not have this problem if I wore slacks. Apparently getting into the car with Levis is not considered "normal use" under the terms of the warrantee.

It’s Friday Open Mic

This week's Open Mic is dedicated to Phillip Cairns.

• Webmaster of Mud Songs
• Popular recording artist
• Founding member of the Phillip Cairns Club
• Proprietor of Mud Radio
• A man with good musical taste
• Occasional Whole Wheat Radio listener
• Composer/performer of the J-Walk Blog Theme Song
• Missing since 1986

And if he'd do something with that hair, shave off the beard, move out of Canada, lose the glasses, and stop blinking, he'd be a Ze Frank look-alike.

eMusic Downloads

This month's eMusic downloads:

• Skunkmello - Guy Davis
  One of six Guy Davis albums on eMusic. This one features "Shaky Pudding."
• The Evening Call - Greg Brown
  His latest
• Affordable Art - Steve Goodman
  Another Steve Goodman album that I didn't already have.
• The Next Small Thing - This Big String Band
  Old-time tunes for banjo play-along
• The Very Best of Asleep At The Wheel
  Just five songs that I didn't have already

Not an eMusic member?

• Click here to join eMusic or get a free 25-song trial

Sizzling Succulent Suit

Not bad... Not bad at all: Bacon Scented Bacon Print Tuxedo.

There's a theory that everything is better with bacon. We believe that theory with all of our heart. To that end, we are introducing our line of bacon formal wear with Uncle Oinker's Bacon Scented Bacon Print Tuxedo. You can get married in bacon, get confirmed in bacon or go to the Oscars in bacon! Wait until Joan Rivers gets a whiff of you. Each Tuxedo is tailored from chemically treated latex print fabric in one of four different sizes. Best of all, it smells just like bacon sizzling in the pan. Dry clean only.

I wonder if you could use a piece of real bacon for the bowtie?

Golf Anyone?

Lots of people like to play golf. I've never played golf -- except for miniature golf, but that's probably not the same. One thing I've noticed is that once somebody starts playing golf, it's all over. They become addicted, and golf dominates their life.

One thing about golf that I don't care for is overly-manicured golf courses. Like this one at the Lake Las Vegas Resort.

If I were going to play golf, I'd prefer to do it on a course that looks at least half-way natural. I'm sure they exist. Well, maybe not. And I'd never use a golf cart. Isn't the point of a sport to get some exercise?

Obviously, I know nothing about golf. But I'm sure many readers do. How many?

He’s Not A Nazi

Here's the "I'm not a Nazi" Swastika Gallery.

Swastikas can be found all over the world once you start looking for them. I find them fascinating for some reason. Most people in this part of the world (United States) think of Nazis when they see swastikas and the subject ends there. People forget the swastika was a good luck symbol in the years just before Hitler rose to power.

The Swastikas in this gallery are related to Buddhists, Hindus, Native Americans, Boy Scouts, street gangs, Nazis, homosexuals, and more... This is the only gallery I know of that puts ideology aside and displays the full range of Swastikas in one place.

Here's an old photo of the Hotel Swastika, in Raton, New Mexico. It was built in 1929. During WWII, the hotel changed its name to the Yucca Hotel.

It Keeps On Ticking

Odd story: Wristwatch travels 1,800 miles south with polar ice.

A wristwatch buried in the ice at the North Pole three years ago was found by a boy more than 1,800 miles away after it floated ashore on the Faroe Islands.

Niels Jakup Mortensen, 11, spotted a black box near his home on Suduroy, the southernmost Faroe island, his mother Anna Jacobsen said. Inside, she said, was a watch that had been buried at the North Pole by Joergen Amundsen, a descendant of Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen.

Jacobsen said the watch discovered by her son this month was still working, and was accompanied by a letter from Joergen Amundsen. "It was so unbelievable," she said. "It had been buried in the North Pole."

The image of Amundsen and his watch is from here.

Regent University Trivia

Q. How many graduates of Pat Robertson's Regent University are currently serving in the Bush administration?

A. 150

Source

Prom Photos

Lots of beautiful prom photos. What makes them worth viewing, is that the clothes are all made from duct tape: Stuck at Prom.

My Sweet Lord

Candy news: Outrage at Naked Chocolate Jesus in New York Gallery.

Catholics across the US have been left bewildered by a New York art gallery, which has decided to exhibit a sculpture of Jesus Christ - made entirely of chocolate.

The sculpture will be part of the galleries Easter exhibition and has been given the title My Sweet Lord'. The chocolate figure stands at 6ft tall (1.8m) and shows Jesus naked hanging on the cross. Unlike usual images of Jesus hanging on the cross, the chocolate sculpture depicts Jesus without a loincloth.

In the US, the Catholic League has been left outraged by the plans. The organisation's head has described the sculpture as one of the "worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever".