Obama's Reversal on GITMO

After all the blogging I've done on GITMO I'd be remiss if I didn't note Obama's reversal of policy on the facility:

President Obama on Monday reversed his two-year-old order halting new military charges against detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, permitting military trials to resume with revamped procedures but implicitly admitting the failure of his pledge to close the prison camp. 

Team Obama won't go so far as to vindicate Bush policies, however, and have tried to appease the left by explaining that this isn't exactly Bush's GITMO.  There is supposedly a new periodic review process in place.  The WSJ notes that this was actually tweaked in 2006:

By executive order, a new panel will now also conduct a "periodic review" of detentions. But the bipartisan Military Commissions Act of 2006, or MCA, had already included "administrative review boards" dedicated to the same goal.

The Wall Street Journal has some concerns with Protocol 1:

The other note of trouble is Mr. Obama's decision, also announced yesterday, to seek Senate ratification of a radical 1977 revision to the 1949 Geneva Conventions known as Additional Protocol 1. President Reagan repudiated Protocol 1 in 1987 because it vitiated the distinction between lawful and unlawful enemy combatants. Terrorists fight out of uniform and target civilians and thus do not deserve traditional prisoner-of-war protections. This was the two-decade political consensus until the Bush Presidency. Both the New York Times and the Washington Post editorialized in favor of Reagan's Protocol 1 decision.

Our guess is that Mr. Obama has adopted Protocol 1 to appease the domestic left and especially the "international community" that will be dismayed by his new embrace of Gitmo and George W. Bush's policies. Remember the moralizing Europeans? (See below.) Mr. Obama is nonetheless complicating the task of U.S. terror fighters, and encouraging further barbarism, by extending the laws of war to terrorists who hold combat restrictions in contempt.

It may all be political posturing in preparation for 2012, but however it comes, I'm glad the administration is now at least making gestures to return to military tribunals and keep GITMO open.   Take it with a grain of salt, though.  See how it unfolds. 

I don't think George W. Bush should look for his apology note in the mail anytime soon.  Even though Obama bashed Bush relentlessly on this issue, and even though he's now adopted many of Bush's policies, he'll never admit that Bush was right.  He'll stand by the old, "but we've tweaked it and made it BETTER" argument.  That's okay.  Whatever keeps America safe.

Take a Trip to Shreveport's Mardi Gras

Fat Tuesday is still a couple of days away but Mardi Gras 2011 is in the books for us.  Steve and I went to the Highland Parade today which is really our favorite parade.

North Louisiana has been doing Mardi Gras for a couple of decades now with a couple of "big" parades and some smaller parades.  I'd venture to say that the Highland Parade is our third "big" parade even though the media still acts like Gemini and Centaur is all there is.

The parade route for both Gemini and Centaur is the same.  People stake out their spots and usually return to the same spots each year.  The parade starts downtown, travels along the Red River along Clyde Fant Parkway, comes up Shreveport/Barksdale, then makes the turn along the bayou (aka the "duck pond") and ends in the Broadmoor neighborhood.

If you're reading this from somewhere other than the south, the whole concept of Mardi Gras might be baffling to you.  And with good reason when you think about it.  Why would anyone stand alongside the road for hours waiting for a bunch of floats blaring rock music to pass by?  Why would you stand on the side of the road and scream like a maniac, wave your hands, wear funny hats, and yell for cheap plastic beads made in China that will live in your garage for the rest of eternity?

Last weekend we had gorgeous weather - 70 degrees and clear blue sky.  I live within walking distance from the parade route and as soon as I stepped outside onto my deck last weekend I could smell the woodsmoke and the BBQ pits.  People gathered along the bayou all day getting their grills fired up and parade sites organized - putting out chairs, tables, flags, tents, music systems, all nestled amongst the city supplied porta potties.  Steve and I based ourselves at a friend's house along the route, across from the bayou, where there were three fire pits (even though it wasn't cold it helped with the mosquitoes!) and two grills going full time.  All along the route people were cooking boudin, burgers, hot dogs, red beans and rice, jambalaya, crawfish, and shrimp on a stick.  At the Centaur parade a church group with a U-Haul filled with bottled water was tossing water out to passers by.

Vendors with push carts move up and down the entire parade route selling novelty beads, scarves, feather boas, crazy hats, colorful plastic horns, and those nasty foil bags you stomp on and it smells like a stink bomb.

And the people - they're everywhere, walking, milling about, looking at each other and being seen.  People taking pictures, throwing footballs and frisbees, walking dogs, eating, drinking, listening to music, dancing...everywhere along the route there is music.  Not far from where we based ourselves there was a party with a live band in the front yard.  They were serving jello shots in plastic syringes.

By the time the parade gets to our end it's 7:30 and has been dark for an hour.  The parade announces itself with blaring sirens and the firetrucks blowing their horns.  You have to cover your ears or risk a busted eardrum.  The honor guard and flag comes through and people salute and are respectful as it passes, usually.  Then the floats and other parade units come through.  There are horse patrols, marching bands, hot rods, tow trucks, hay trailers with live bands performing, and the floats...

The floats are awesome!  Loud music blaring, loaded with dancing krewe members, lots of lights and color, the floats pass by while you yell and scream trying to get some poor krewe member who is busy untangling beads to notice you.  There are anywhere from 20 to 50 members on a float and with some 30 floats in a parade there are plenty of opportunities to catch things.

At the Centaur parade some guy leaned over the side of his float and handed Steve some beads with a medallion honoring policemen which was cool since Steve is in law enforcement.  We caught nerf balls and footballs in purple, gold and green Mardi Gras colors, lots of beads and cups and a few stuffed animals.  The real "treasures" are the beads with medallions on them.  The medallions depict certain float themes or krewes.

We have a friend that was on one of the floats who saw us and said, "You like Jimmy Buffet beads?!" and tossed us some beads with margaritas and parrots in them.  We got beads denoting the various branches of the military.  Some of the beads are huge and heavy; I've known people to get a black eye by getting hit in the face with beads while not looking! One year a float was throwing CDs until they figured out how dangerous that was - a friend of mine had to go get stitches after getting cut under the eye by a flying jewel case.

Because the Highland Parade is in the daylight you can really see everything.  We love the Krewe of BBQ; they throw hot dogs.  I have a friend in that krewe and she hits me every year!  When my kids were little, years ago, she leaned over the side of her float and handed us a long bamboo spear with purple and gold feathers on it.  What a treasure!  She gets at least one or two hot dogs to us each year.  I'd have take a picture of it for you this year, but Steve ate it before I could!  The hot dogs are in foil pouches with a mustard and relish packet tucked inside!

Other floats throw, besides beads, moon pies, yo-yo's, cups, stuffed animals, candy, and other trinkets.  We got a Highland Jazz & Blues Fest poster!

During the Highland Parade today Steve and I were up front catching stuff (and passing most of it off to the kids around us) but once the hot dog float came through we moved to the back just to watch.  I opened a beer and he ate his hot dog and we just watched the last half of the parade but even still we were pelted with beads.  There was this cute older man near us  and he and his wife were racking up!  Almost every float threw something at him!  They were having a great time!

As I was sipping on my beer, looking up at a float, a handful of tangled beads came sailing toward me but they caught on the power line, whipped around and stuck, balled up on the line forever.

The parades last about an hour on average and when its over the trash along the route is incredible.  Just incredible.  Bottles, cans, plastic bottles, broken beads sparkling in the headlights, various wrappers, broken glass, crawfish heads, broken plastic cups, etc.  By midnight, it's gone.  The cleanup brigade comes through and the route is pristine by the next morning.

We came home, I leaned over the table and pulled my beads over my head and emptied my plastic bag.  We'll keep the cool medallion beads and give the regular ones to Milly who gives them to her customers.  Steve will eat his Moon Pie. I caught a big container of mini-Tootise Rolls which I'll eat and I caught some Skittles for the Teenager!

And so, for us, Mardi Gras 2011 is in the books.  We skipped the Dog & Cat parade, i.e. Barkus and Meoux, because the weather was dicey and we were worn out from the Centaur Parade the night before.  And what is one to do with all these beads, really?  I've tried for years to be creative and think of something to do with them.  One guy told me today he hangs them on his ficus tree.  Another said he covers the dirt of his houseplants with them.  Some people make wreaths out of them.  I once saw a joke that said, "You know you're from the South when you have to reinforce the floor in your attic to store Mardi Gras beads."  This is not far from the truth.  I have boxes and boxes of them in my garage.  Surely there's a good use for them?  I just don't know what it is.  It sure is fun when you make eye contact with someone on a float, they point at you and throw, and you snag them out of the air while he looks back and gives you a big thumbs up!

Until next year, laissez les bon temps rouler!

Fishwrap of Record Targets the Supriya Jindal Foundation for Louisiana's Children

The New York Times has a piece today targeting Supriya Jindal's Foundation for Louisiana's Children.  The NYT finds it a "troubling phenomenon" that corporations would give donations to Mrs. Jindal's Foundation, especially since that corporation may or may not be doing business in Louisiana.

Mrs. Jindal's foundation places those high tech Promethean boards in schools - the majority in low income areas.  The Foundation's mission statement:

The Supriya Jindal Foundation for Louisiana’s Children seeks to aid Louisiana’s children in all aspects of education, with special emphasis on mathematics and the sciences, giving teachers new tools that will foster an innovative and enriching learning environment.  Initially, the foundation is providing interactive whiteboard technology to schools across Louisiana. Studies show that such technology gives students the opportunity to learn by combining visual representations, sounds, and the ability to interact with the whiteboard and their fellow students. With varying styles of learning, these interactive whiteboards allow teachers to cater to all of our students.

To date, the Foundation has installed the Promethean Boards in some 50 schools across the state.  

If you buy into the NYTimes perspective, the primary reason companies such as Marathon Oil, Northrop Grumman, and Dow Chemical, among others, has given to the foundation is to encourage a favorable disposition from Governor Jindal on issues that benefit their individual companies.  Never mind that corporations regularly make it a practice to donate to charities.  Why not donate to a cause that would benefit the area in which you do business?

Louisiana political blogger and associate professor of political science at LSUS Jeff Sadow writes:

Of course, several pertinent pieces of information that provide context also get conveniently left out in this mini-Watergate saga. For one, the reason why these paragons of public integrity could find out if any donors had business with state government was because of, well … that fiend Bobby Jindal, who made the state put all that information online. And it’s very common for corporations to donate money because their bylaws have these “social responsibility” requirements that make them have to give away a certain portion of their revenues to charities, so why not in their own backyards where they have business? And if this all was so nefarious, being as the state gives out billions of dollars a year in state contracts (few that Jindal ever himself reviews personally), why aren’t those with similar, bigger, and far bigger amounts ponying up as well in response to Gov. Jindal’s virtual bite?

What is Mrs. Jindal's organization to do?  Refuse donations from anyone who does business in Louisiana?  That would rule out a lot of folks.  


There has been full and open disclosure about the donations and there has been no proof offered by the Times, other than allegations, that the corporations who donated received any special favors.  


It's the appearance of things that offends the Times:  "it creates the appearance he is being bribed," says Anne Rolfes, founding director of a Louisiana environmental group.  There is no evidence of this, or even evidence that Jindal is in anyway involved except for possibly the fact that he appears in a photo with his wife on the Foundation's donation page.

As "proof" of impropriety the Times offers AT&T who donated $250,000 because they wanted "to sell cable television services without having to negotiate with individual parishes."  Would Jindal have refused to sign off on that had the donation not been given?  No proof offered.

Marathon Oil's gift of $250,000 was supposedly to increase the amount of oil it can refine in Louisiana.  That's good for the economy and for Louisiana.  Don't we need that right now?  Would Jindal have refused approval without the donation?  Doubtful.

To the NYT, I say if you have proof that someone gained favor by donating to the Supriya Jindal Foundation, give it up.  If not, keep your insinuations and allegations in your back pocket until you can actually prove something.

Bristol Palin is Writing a Memoir

Seriously?  She's how old?  Twenty?   A memoir?  Well, okay, I guess.

I guess if you're interested in what's it's like to be on Dancing With the Stars, this is the book for you:

HarperCollins Publishers' William Morrow imprint has announced they will publish Not Afraid of Life, Palin memoir in which the former Dancing with the Stars contestant will share her life's story with readers and give them an inside perspective on the time she spent rehearsing and performing for the ABC reality dance competition last fall.  

Yeah, I think I'm going to take a pass on this one. It's got nothing to do with Bristol, per se, or Sarah Palin.  I didn't read Meggie Mac's book, either.  I'm not convinced either young lady has any insight I'd find particularly valuable or interesting at this point in their lives.

On the Reading Table

A quick update on my reading table reveals my continuing obsession with the Pacific War.  I've just finished The Twilight Warriors by Robert Gant which follows a group of "tail end Charlies."  The "tail end Charlies" are those guys that got into the war later than some others and often fly those tail end missions.  Gant focuses on the battle for Okinawa primarily and I was especially engrossed in the chapter on the sinking of the Yamoto.

I get on these tangents when I just immerse myself in whatever it is that has piqued my interest at the time.  It's probably the OCD in me.  I eventually wear myself out and move on to something else.  for a while I read everything about John Adams and Thomas Jefferson I could get my hands on, including John's diary and his letters with Abigail. 

At any rate, right now it's the Pacific War.  I even went and bought this wonderful atlas of World War II with maps and diagrams of hundreds of battles.  Steve's read a lot about the European theater and I guess my fascination with the Pacific now balances us out.  The stories of these young men, though, continue to amaze me; when you stop and think that many of them enlisted at 17 and 18 and were doing such heroic things, well, it's just amazing.  The memoirs is what has me engrossed right now rather than the overall histories.

I read Cutthroats; it's about a tank driver in the Pacific.  Author Robert Dick was in both Leyte and Okinawa.  It gave a different perspective than the primarily Marine accounts I'd read so far.

After I finished The Twilight Warriors I picked up Sledge's With the Old Breed again.  It's such a classic and now that I've read so much more than the first time I went through Eugene's book, I think I'll appreciate it even more.  After that, well, I guess it's back to Barnes and Noble or Amazon.  I've got a list of Pacific memoirs to get through and I might be ready to scope out new spring/summer reading.

One thing I'm NOT interested in?  Donald Rumsfeld's book.  Can't gin up the interest.

What are YOU reading?

What About the Unions?

As the battle in Wisconsin continues and even spreads throughout the nation to other states, I'm wondering what your experience or opinion is of unions.

As a teacher, I'm a member of a union, except they're usually euphemistically referred to as "professional organizations" around here.  When I first started teaching fifteen years ago I was told by mentors, "It's for your own protection!  If you get sued, they'll provide a lawyer for you!"  As a naive new teacher, this sounded pretty reassuring and I signed up.

Through the years I've only called upon the union one time.  My first teaching job was with a strict micro-manager who oversaw every detail of your day and felt the need to comment on it all.  One time she called us into faculty meeting and told us that kids were not to be allowed out of class to go to the restroom; those issues should be handled between classes.

The very next day a student runs into my room between classes, tosses his books on his desk, and runs back out saying, "I have to go to the bathroom!"  He did not return before the tardy bell and as procedure directed, I put his name on my tardy slip report for the day and turned it in.   The next day I had a note in my box that a letter had been placed in my personnel file that I was insubordinate and had allowed a student to leave class when previously directed not to do so.

Obviously this is not what happened.  Long story short, I had to call upon my union rep to help me get the letter removed from my file and get the matter straightened out.

Politically, I seldom agree with my union - er, professional organization.  I've had very little dealings with them.  I know my father loathed the unions and swore that they were ruining the country.  I do know I pay a hefty amount in dues to belong to this professional organization.  Is it worth it?  I don't know, really.

So, as the battle in Wisconsin spreads, as it seems to be doing, I'm wondering what your thoughts are on unions and what experience you've had with them.

Fulll Metal Jacket Reach Around: Parade Day Edition

The FMJRA has taken a couple of weeks off but let's take a stab at one this week.  Today is parade day: the first of our "big" parades is this evening and we are blessed today with glorious spring-like weather.  The parade route has been lined for two days with RVs and tents as people stake out their spots.  Steve and I drove through there last night and people were out in front of their RVs with fires going, hanging out with friends, drinking beer, and enjoying the mild evening.   I have a friend with a house along the route and it's within walking distance from my house, so Steve and I always base ourselves there.  Because I'm still battling the cough left over from my Winter Crud, we probably won't do as much walking as we usually do, but we'll have a good time nonetheless! 

I have some things to do before we head out, however, so let's see what's up on SIGIS's favorite blogs this week:

Legal Insurrection notes that Obama's doing nothing is actually something in and of itself!

On a related note, Pundette explains What Leadership Means to Obama.

Paco reveals that thanks to Iowa, today is Bacon Day!  (I've had mine today, have you?)

Ed Driscoll wonders if the MSM can be sued for whiplash?

Pirates Cove takes a closer look at the Weekly Address.

Doug Ross graphs gas prices over the past two years.

The Other McCain is blogging from ... Marion, Ohio?

Mind Numbed Robot has concluded Obama hates America.

Wyblog shares some delusions from liberals.

Bride of Rove has had it with "chenille bedspread wearing" Michelle.

I know this is woefully short, but I've got some errands to run before they close the streets I need to be on.  Have a lovely Saturday, have some bacon in honor of bacon day, and I'll catch you later!

A Mystery

What in the world is wrong with this picture? 

Here we are, in America, literally sitting on vast oil reserves in just ANWR and in the Gulf alone and all it takes to make the price of gasoline skyrocket overnight is one crazier-than-a-run-over-dog dictator in Libya shooting his own people and threatening to burn his own oil fields.

Yet the liberals won't let us drill in ANWR and Obama won't let us drill in the Gulf. 

What is wrong with this picture?

2,200 Posts

I just noticed I'm at the nice, round number of 2,200 posts today which is rather incredible given the slow rate of posting lately. 

I'll be back to posting more often soon; I'm still battling Spring Crud.  I came home yesterday and went straight to bed and still feel bleh this morning.  But, I'm on meds and it will all be good soon. 

Besides, it looks like the world is going to hell in a hand basket.  I might be better off escaping to my bed and my books, after all.

Lest there be any doubt, civility is dead.

Take a Trip to Minden's Fasching Celebration and Karneval!

This past Saturday Steve and I went to Minden for their Fasching Karneval celebration, which is the German version of Mardi Gras.  I was coming down with my semi-annual crud when we set out but I was determined to persevere, crud or no crud.  And to pay THAT piper, I've been sicker than a dog the past two days and made my semi-annual trip to the doctor for my crud meds yesterday. 

Anyway, health nonsense aside, the Fasching was wonderful!  We had a great day!  I didn't take many pictures inside Milly's shop this time because she was sooooo busy and there were so many people in and out that it was difficult to lurk around taking pictures.  My objective for the day was to video the first floor for you and I only half accomplished that.  I got the front half of the first floor (and you get a little Milly song about halfway through that).  The parade was coming right about that time and we had to lock up and go watch.  When you watch it you'll get an idea just HOW MUCH stuff she has in there! 



Earlier in the day we watched a couple of the bands at the bandstand:  the Matthew Davidson Band was performing when we walked up.  I'd never heard this kid before but good golly, he's only 13!  Phenom!  You'll definitely be hearing more about this kid. 

Buddy Flett came up next, and that's who I really wanted to see.  I've followed Buddy's music for years and as most good Shreveport groupies know, Buddy has recovered from a serious bout of encephalitis which he contracted in 2008.  He awoke from a medically induced coma and was unable to walk or talk, and that included playing the guitar.  He had to relearn all those skills.  There's no doubt that he's back and indeed, he's just returned from LA where he attended the Grammys as a nominee.  You won't meet a nicer guy than Buddy.

Here is his performance of Grammy nominated Dance For Me Girl which he wrote:



After that we went back to the shop and while there I met a couple of folks who read my blog and introduced themselves - very nice people and I was thrilled to meet them!  It's always fun to meet your internet buddies!

 Later in the afternoon we went next door to the 507 Grill where a friend of Milly's was playing guitar and singing; plus they had free beer and that's all I needed!  We had lunch there earlier in the day and again with that praline cheesecake - OMG.  Wonderful!  This time I had the broccoli/cheese soup in a bread bowl for lunch and it was good.  Steve had a hamburger. 

The parade was really nice - just the right length, nobody was crazy, everyone had fun.  Milly danced in the streets with the music from the floats and it was all very festive. 

But by the time we headed home, I was exhausted!  The crud got me.

I'm glad I went, though and we'll be sure to go back next year. 

Buddy Flett at Minden Fasching

On the Spring Crud and School Evaluations

When I last saw my ENT guy with my "winter crud" he said, "See you in March!" when we parted.  I didn't quite make it to March before the "spring crud" hit, but I haven't been to the doctor yet, either.  I've just had too much going on this week to get there.

One of the new laws passed by our state legislature mandates schools receive a performance score in the form of a letter grade to "make it easier to understand" what caliber school your children are attending.  The previous system of a school report card which compiled various bits of data was deemed too complicated.  This link from the local station is pretty vague, but you get the idea.

The controversy is, of course, that you just can't always weigh schools evenly; there are too many variables that go into the mix.  Is it really fair to judge the brand new million dollar school with the latest technology and equipment to the inner city school where the AC works on a part time basis?  To give just a blanket letter grade without considering the myriad variables that go into the mix is misleading.  I'll get more into this in another post. 

The school where I teach is an "inner city," neighborhood school and has drawn a fairly low "letter grade" score.  To that end, we have multiple observers coming into our school today and tomorrow to help us figure out how to improve.  So, I've been working late to get things in order and requested documents on top of my regular planning, grading and posting in the gradebook.  I'm not overly stressed about it - I'm of the mind that it's pointless to put on a "dog and pony show" for observers.  I'm going to do my best, which I do every day, and let them see what happens in the classroom daily.  This is what they NEED to see and what they want to see in order to provide accurate feedback.  But still, things out of the routine are kind of stressful.

Really, it's like all you had to do was tell me observers were coming in and I need to be on top of my game for the "spring crud" to come visit. 

Once things settle, if I'm still cruddy, I'll go to the doctor.  Meanwhile, I'm off to work early to thwart any technological bugs or mishaps that are sure to occur today.  Wish me luck.

Minden Fasching Karneval and Parade

Steve and I are in for a string of busy weekends.  It's Mardi Gras season and we have parades and parties one after the other to attend and then in March we have tickets to a Dallas Stars game, so we are about to be very busy!

The fun starts this weekend with a trip to Minden and their version of Mardi Gras:  a German Fasching celebration.  Milly Rose invited us several weeks back to come over for "the Fasching" and I've been hard pressed to find many details other than that they have a parade at "dusk" - around 5:30 or 6.

After a search again today I found where there's been a Facebook page created, and a website, even though there isn't much there.  The schedule of events says "Coming Soon."

There does appear to be a photo of an ad on the Facebook page with a lineup of bands, and I was tickled to see Buddy Flett on the schedule from 2:00 to 3:00.  There will be "Food, Entertainment, and Fun" the ad says.

I'm in!

I talked to Milly today and she says they've been busy all week setting up rides and food booths, much of it right across the street from her shop.  She's right there in the thick of it all!  Even better, her shop will be open for business Saturday so I'll be taking lots of new pictures and a video of the first floor this time.  If you thought that attic of a third floor was something, just WAIT until you see the first floor!  I'll need a bigger video card.

I'm hoping Sandy might pop in here and chime in something about the Fasching.  I'm wondering if the food will have a German flair since this festival is supposed to celebrate Minden's German heritage. Sandy usually rides a float but isn't planning on it this year.

Budget

I'm not ignoring the story on Obama's budget, I'm just still sputtering. 

Another American Manufacturing Plant Shuts Down

In an article published yesterday in the New York Times, it seems that concern is suddenly growing that Amercian made goods is in decline:

Concern is increasing that this decline has gone too far. “I think there is a growing recognition that a diminished manufacturing sector will undermine our economy,” says Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody's Analytics. 

I find this statement to be incredible.  A "chief economist" is just now recognizing this?  

I posted back in September about the closing of the last American GE plant to make incandescent light bulbs.  Those jobs went overseas as we transfer over by 2014 to mercury filled "energy efficient" light bulbs which are supposedly "better for the planet." 

Meanwhile, Americans continue losing jobs.

The Times article notes:

An accurate count would reduce manufacturing’s share of the gross domestic product, or total national output, to less than the 11.2 percent that the Bureau of Economic Analysis has reported through 2009, the latest figure available.

That 11.2 percent would be closer to 10.5 percent, if all of the imported components were counted as imported instead of domestically made. Even the 11.2 percent figure is down sharply from the 14.2 percent share of just a decade earlier, and the nearly 30 percent of the heyday 1950s, when almost every product bought by Americans was also made here. 

As much as the Obama administration touts their success in "jobs created" by their stimulus plan, most of those "green dollars" went overseas:

A report by the Investigative Reporting Workshop and ABC News, found that $8 of every $10 spent on wind energy projects through the stimulus package went to a foreign company. Total recovery funds spent on wind energy projects total nearly $2 billion.

The report estimates stimulus funding for wind projects have created roughly 6,000 manufacturing jobs overseas and just hundreds in America. Thus far, the Recovery Act has paid to create 1,807 wind turbines to fuel American homes, businesses, schools and other buildings. Just 588 of those were manufactured domestically, according to the report.

It's not just energy dollars or light bulbs going overseas.  Auto manufacturing has moved that way for years, partly to avoid the high union costs here in America.

The Times article highlights the last metal flatware manufacturing company closing down because it's cheaper to manufacture overseas.   In 2006, Whirlpool bought out Maytag and practically shut down Newton, Iowa as it moved most of those manufacturing jobs to Mexico.  Rockwell Collins is shutting down operations in Irvine, CA and moving part of its manufacturing to Mexico.

There are still plenty of things manufactured in the US, but many of those plants close down in one state to consolidate operations in another, such as the closing of the Avondale shipyard in south Louisiana, or the Morrell plant in Sioux City.

The bottom line seems to be, to me, if economic recovery stands any kind of chance at all we must find a way to support manufacturing and innovation in America once again.  As the NYT article noted, innovation is also in decline: even though the Apple iPhone and iPad were conceived here, their manufacture is in Japan and that's likely where the next innovation will originate.   Not here. 

We can't survive as simply a service economy.  We're awash in restaurants, hotels, casinos, nail salons, hair salons, bars, and other service related industries.  We must re-energize manufacturing in this country to survive. 

Second Hand Rose Comes to Facebook

Be sure to check out Second Hand Rose on Facebook!

We'll be making a trip over on February 19 for the German Fasching celebration and I'll be sure to post new pictures of Milly's treasures.  The Fasching is the German version of Mardi Gras and celebrates Minden's German heritage.

Sounds fun!

This World Has Left Me Behind...

What in the world is wrong with Lindsay Lohan?  Felony grand theft?  REALLY?!  Somebody help this girl, please.

An unprecedented THIRD snow day from Bossier Parish Schools!  Are you serious?  I mean, I'll take it, but I know my Iowa relatives are laughing at us.

Obama says he "hasn't raised taxes" once?!  Are you freakin' CRAZY man?  OMG.

In Bangladesh they've exhumed the body of a 15 year old girl who died after being lashed to death; "no external injuries" didn't fly so NOW they're going to investigate.  Right.

If you're a witch in Romania it might be time to find a new job.  If your predictions "don't come true" you might end up in jail. 

Enough of the weird world!

People are NUTS.  I could totally be a hermit.  Seriously.  As long as hermits are allowed to have computers and beer.  And dogs.

If you're shut in somewhere and getting cabin fever, take another look at Second Hand Rose and help a lady out.  Buy something!  Call Milly (318.371.9830) and buy yourself something fun!  But, I'll tell you, the inkwell is off the table, as are the lamps.  There's still lots of cool stuff, though!  LOVE the ashtray!   Instead of hitting my tip jar this month, help Milly out!  SIGIS appreciates you; she's a nice lady.

Meanwhile, I'll be playing hermit until spring comes.  Well, actually, we're going back to Milly's on the 19th for the German Fasching celebration, but I'll be a hermit until then.

AOL Acquires HuffPo

From today's NYT on AOL's acquisition of the Huffington Post:

By handing so much control over to Ms. Huffington and making her a public face of the company, AOL, which has been seen as apolitical, risks losing its nonpartisan image. Ms. Huffington said her politics would have no bearing on how she ran the new business. 

I'm not sure which is funnier:  that AOL is apolitical or that Arianna will leave her politics out of it.  Bwahahahahahaa!

Okay.

A Father's Tribute

I posted last week on the passing of our blog buddy snaggletoothie, or as his father knew him - Chris Monson.

His dad wrote yesterday to let me know he's posted a tribute to Chris with lots of pictures and the story of Chris's life.  It's a lovely piece.  I can't imagine the pain of losing a child, no matter what age.

I know we've missed Chris's voice in the blogosphere and his absence will be felt for a long time. 

I hope he's at peace now.

(Photo courtesy of Prune Picker.)

I Get Hate Mail

Since Bill Hall from Northern California didn't have the balls to address his comments in an open forum where it was intended, I'll go ahead and share it with you.  I received his email this morning:

A friend sent me a link to pictures of the snow in Bossier City and I happened on your blog in regards to President Obama, Britain and Russia.

  What a comedy, that you simpletons think that they did not know he was going to do it, that just goes to show how idiotic you radical right wingers are.  President Obama would not turn coat on our greatest alley, so stop with the sniveling.  You and the rest of the goofs that watch that comedy show Fox news, have had your brains turned to mush from all the fear, lies and nonsense.

  Why don't you leave federal policy to the people in the know, and deal with that worthless state of yours.  I grew up in Bossier City lived and worked in New Orleans for many years.  I left because of the totally corrupt ineffective Government you guys vote into office.

  You can start with that idiot Jindal, I got so sick of hearing him cry for help with building berms in the marshes, that eventually collapsed and at the same time he is crying because President Obama put a moratorium on deep water drilling while millions of gallons of oil was spilling into the Gulf. 

  You allowed your levy board to build inadequate levees thus the waters came during Katrina.   

  If your going to governing irresponsibly and make bad decisions, when something goes wrong then handle it, because the rest of the country is tired of bailing you irresponsible people out. 

  Louisiana is a prime example of what is wrong with the rest of this country, so clean up your state figure out what is reality, thin maybe your voice on a national level may be heard.

  The problem is not our President, it's the right wing who insist on keeping us back in the dark ages and not moving this country forward.

You're a joke, Jindal is a joke and your state is a drag on this country.

So you Hicks get your shit together and maybe, you can have the luxury of the rest of the Nation taking you seriously.

Bill Hall

Northern California, where the weather is great and the people care about their state and this country.

As a policy I don't engage with haters in email discourse but feel free to engage Mr. Hall in this open forum if you wish.

Obama Sells Out the Brits

Every time I think Obama can't shock me anymore, BAM!

The new Wikileaks drop and today's Telegraph revelation that Obama agreed to throw the U.K. under the bus to get his START treaty is giving me flashbacks to Clinton's ChinaGate.  It's not exactly the same thing, but exactly what diplomatic advantage is gained by giving our enemies defense secrets?  Ours or anyone else's?

According to the Telegraph report:

Information about every Trident missile the US supplies to Britain will be given to Russia as part of an arms control deal signed by President Barack Obama next week. Defence analysts claim the agreement risks undermining Britain’s policy of refusing to confirm the exact size of its nuclear arsenal.

The fact that the Americans used British nuclear secrets as a bargaining chip also sheds new light on the so-called “special relationship”, which is shown often to be a one-sided affair by US diplomatic communications obtained by the WikiLeaks website.

Ace suggests we give this one 24 hours and keep in mind:

One thing: WikiLeaks doesn't have all the diplomatic cables. It might be the case (in fact, I'd bet hope it is the case) that the US and UK had a side-deal where the UK blessed this exchange.

Even if that's the case, it seems to me that any allies we have left might be reluctant to trust us in the future.  That is assuming that they still do, which is questionable.

Nice Deb suggests that this might also violate Article 3 of the NATO treaty.

I'm waiting for the spin to begin so we can sift through and find the real story.  Surely this can't be IT.  But if it is, hearings should begin immediately and as Ed Morrissey says:

Regardless of what Obama thinks of American nuclear deterrents and policy, he has no right to undermine the policies of our closest ally and stalwart friend, especially as they fight with us in Afghanistan.  Congress should immediately investigate this, and if possible the Senate should revoke its ratification of START.

What a disgrace.  Again.

(H/T:  Memeorandum)

Snow Day 2011

It's a snow day in Shreveport!  I dared fate and got into the car to go take a few pictures.  Here's the duck pond on East Kings Highway:

The ducks seemed to be enjoying it:

There weren't too many folks out:

So I went over to Centenary College to see what was happening over there:

Pretty quiet.  I walked over to the band shell; it's always neat looking when it snows:

But, all in all, it was pretty quiet there, too.

There weren't any die hards out at Querbes Golf Course, either:

There were lots of folks out driving around.  Everyone looked to be driving pretty carefully.  I stopped by McDonalds for the Teenager and into the grocery store for me and headed home.  I filled the bird feeder and the birds are swarming around it!

One thing about the snow...my Lab absolutely loves it.  I can hardly get him to come inside!

Now I'm going to make a cup of hazelnut coffee and settle in with my book.  Stay warm!

Today's Must Reads on Obamacare

Karl Rove's WSJ column this week is a friendly reminder of all that is wrong with Obamacare:

*  Consider "700,000 seniors whose private Medicare Advantage insurance policy was not renewed last year because her insurance provider quit the business."

*  There will be more nonrenewals in 2011. This year's funding cuts to Medicare Advantage will be $2 billion; next year's will be $6 billion. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) estimate that half of those with Medicare Advantage policies—seven million seniors—will lose their coverage eventually. And 60% the doctors surveyed by the nonprofit Physicians Foundation said health-care reform would "compel them to close or significantly restrict" the number of patients in their practices, especially those on Medicare or Medicaid.

*  Providers such as Guardian Life and the Principal Financial Group are dropping their health-insurance businesses.

*  Last week Richard Foster, CMS's chief actuary, confirmed to Congress that ObamaCare's Medicare cuts couldn't be used to reduce both Medicare's unfunded liability and to pay for ObamaCare's expense.

And that's just for starters.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are in total denial, dismissing the court's decision on the unconstitutionality of Obamacare this week and continuing to insist that he nation loves Obamacare and is against repeal.  Total denial.

Read Rove's column and don't miss Peter Ferrara's piece in today's American Spectator, "The Legal Furture of Obamacare."

Must reads!

Pacific War Memoirs

I finally finished Hugh Ambrose's The Pacific.  The book is meant to parallel, or to serve as a companion, to the HBO mini-series, which it does.  The same characters are there:  Eugene Sledge, Sid Phillips, John Basilone, and to a much smaller extent than in the film, Bob Leckie.  This book introduces a couple of other characters that weren't in the series,Austin "Shifty" Shofner, and Vernon "Mike" Micheel.

If you're looking for an in depth analysis and history of the Pacific war, this book isn't for you.  The purpose of this book is, just as the film did, provide a certain perspective of the war through the eyes of these characters who lived it.  Here's a link to the book's website.

There are so many books on the war in the Pacific and yet each serves a purpose.  You have the overall histories, the analytical perspectives, some concentrate on single battles, some on certain divisions or regiments...yet each has its place.  I'm trying to learn more about the Pacific war but for now I'm really fascinated by the personal memoirs.  You'll remember me raving about how much I loved Eugene Sledge's books, With the Old Breed and China Marine.

Now I'm reading the new Sid Phillips's memoir, You'll Be Sor-ree!  I just love this one.  It's so different from Eugene Sledge's book, which was so detailed and introspective.  Phillips reads as if he's just talking to his grand kids.  It's wonderful.  I absolutely loved this passage in which Phillips describes his feelings upon leaving boot camp at Parris Island:

"A strange feeling frequently came over me that was to return repeatedly during the war.  It is very difficult to express in words.  It was a feeling of safety in the power of armed might.  I would get it often when marching in step in ranks as though I were a leg on an invincible centipede or some such idea.  I would feel secure because of the trained warriors surrounding me.  I would feel it in a large convoy or in a landing craft under full power headed for the beach.  There was danger all around, but also a sensation of safety in what you were a part of.  I imagine this sensation only would occur during wartime.  It as, of course, associated with deep national pride with an element of 'Look out, here comes Uncle. Sam.'"

I love that!

This book is going to be a quick read at some 250 pages.  The font is fairly widely spaced compared to The Pacific and will go quickly.  Too quickly, I'm afraid.

Add this one to your reading list!

Cold!

Yeah, so I was outside doing yard work Saturday because it was 79% and sunny.  I popped open a Noble Pils and prematurely celebrated the imminent arrival of spring.

Bam!

We're warming up to 33 degrees today.  Wind chill is zero.  ZERO!

This southern girl can't take much of this.  Bah!