If I was a cartoon:

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I updated pictures - click the Photos tab at the top-right for a preview. One that I’m very proud of is Jenny’s ceramic cake topper. She made this free-hand from clay to kiln. The inside is hollow and she etched our names there before she fired it.

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The Machinists Union asked all strikers at Hawker Beechcraft to show up today at 4:30am to have a special “Hands Across Hawker” demonstration. In previous days, a court order limited 30 strikers per gate in an attempt to improve safety at the Hawker entrances. For “Hands Across Hawker,” many strikers had to walk across Greenwich road - which is a very busy 5-lane street - to join the rally. Not only did strikers jaywalk across a busy street to join the rally, but they had to do it before the sun came up. As the strikers arrived, anyone driving down Greenwich had their attention naturally drawn to the strikers at Hawker’s entraces, thus removing their attention to anyone walking in the street.

One striker was struck by a vehicle driving on Greenwich and killed as he crossed the busy street to join his fellow strikers.

In my opinion, Union leaders at Local 733 and District 70 should resign for their inability to comprehend or provide rudimentary safety for their members. Their narrow vision resulted in a highly preventable death.

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“In the 21st century nations don’t invade other nations.”

McCain has gone senile.

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Dear Strikers,

I recall reading from history class about coal miners being harassed and beaten by hired thugs any time they complained of poor working conditions. Unions were born, won the fight, and brought with them many concepts that all workers take for granted: the 40-hour work week, overtime pay, and benefits.

That’s right: you won.

But Union leaders fight on, demanding more of what they already have: raises, benefits, and secure jobs. And that is why, first, most non-Union people in the community are apathetic or even hostile towards Union leaders; and second, why Union membership and effectiveness is at an all-time low.

The average non-Union worker in our community is perplexed as to why you aren’t happy with a contract that gives pay and benefits better than most other local companies. We also don’t understand why you would risk permanently losing your jobs, in the middle of recession, while needing to feed your families and pay your mortgages.

Furthermore, the global market didn’t exist when Unions were gaining strength in the early 20th century. But there is nothing to prevent HBC from taking your jobs to Mexico or another country. Unions operating with 20th century principles and leadership are ineffective.

Your Union is obsolete.

Obsolete Unions are going to die altogether if you can’t re-invent the concept of Union. I do not harbor any bad thoughts or ill will to you, but I strongly believe that what you are doing is only hurting yourselves and your families.

Categories: Miscellaneous
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I’m in Panera, working on my final paper for my Leadership class, and I overhear from the table next to me, “A professor cannot mention intelligent design in the classroom without being ostracized and fired unless they have tenure.” Have they forgotten that we are in Kansas? Luckily, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has given us hope with informative yet inspiring pictographs:

Then a group of hotties wearing almost nothing sat down at a table across from me and I forgot what I was typing. I’m pretty sure they’re at least 18.

Categories: Entertainment, Kansas, Rant
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I created a free livestrong.com account to help me improve my fitness. Their “The Daily Plate” database has tons of food including restaurant items to help you track your eating. They also have a ton of fitness activities to help you track exercise and calories burned. Me and Jenny have been using it for about a week so far, but it says I need to eat 1,610 calories per day to lose 2 pounds per week. As it turns out, before I started to watch my diet I would usually eat 1,600 calories by lunch.

In addition to this, for almost a month now I have been using the company gym to exercise before work. It’s a brand new gym, including totally private bathrooms/showers. My routine has been pretty effective: wake up, go to work (all of 1 minute away from my house), work out for an hour, shower, start my day in my office. Ta-da!

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