Desecration

Desecration

Boy Scouts know it, Girl Scouts know it and members of the military know that to wear the flag of the United States of America as an article of clothing is to show disrespect and contempt for that flag. Until struck down by the U.S. Supreme court there were laws against such activity and the Congress of the United States continues work toward re-establishing flag desecration laws.

Apparently some of the people running for the highest office in the land care less about the flag, one of the most recognized symbols of U.S. unity, than they do about what they believed would be a cute political stunt.

Sarah Palin’s wearing of the U.S. flag in a full page picture in a major news magazine published around the world for all to see is flag desecration. If wearing of the flag was done out of ignorance, then a widely published apology is due the people of the United States. If wearing of the flag was indeed to show disrespect, voters will need to decide how best to deal with that disrespect at polling time.

See United States of America Flag Code, section 8 for reference.

Why Drill in ANWR?

How does drilling in ANWR or offshore contribute to lower fuel prices? There is no apparent connection between what the oil companies are saying and doing (or not doing) and the current, “drill it now mantra”. The American Petrolem Institute (API), a consortium of American petroleum producing companies states that drilling on the continental shelf or ANWR is unlikely to provide Americans with more oil for 7 to 10 years. If they were given permission to drill and they did drill, the anticipated amount of oil would alleviate 2.5 years of U.S. fuel needs 10 years down the road. Then what? Major oil companies already own drilling rights to 68 million acres of Federal land, but refuse to drill. Why not? The United States exported 1.6 million barrels of refined fuel products per day in the first 4 months of 2008. Exports continue, I just can not find figures for the last 3 months. If we are facing a fuel shortage, why are we exporting it? Fuel refining facilities are not being upgraded or expanded. There are no immediately available piplelines or ships to move additional crude oil. If crude oil supplies were to become available we could not move it or refine it. So, how does drilling offshore or ANWR now solve our fuel problem and lower gas prices?

How terribly sad

How terribly sad that the Republicans and their ilk, read Rush Limbaugh and the like, can find so little to campaign about against the Obama run for the President that they need to resort to cheap shots, misquotes and outright untruths about Obama's supportive spouse Michelle.
The Republicans are in serious trouble if they think such garbage will sway thinking Americans.

Mackenzie Janan McEldowney

Jane and Art became proud grand parents on June 12, when their son and daughter-in-law became proud parents of their first born.
She is perfect and displaying a mind of her own.
Grampa.

Spring Snow

Awoke to a half inch of snow this morning. And this is Sring? Actually, the weather forecast is calling for low 70's degree weather by the weekend. We will see.

Jane is at Camp Angelos serving as Camp Nurse for the Multnomah School District's outdoor school program. The program sends all sixth graders in the Portland metro area to a week of outdoor science education. Jane is working with 6th graders, High School students and College students, three of her favorite groups of people. She leaves for Chicago on Thursday for a Camp Nurse meeting, then back to camp.

Art is staying busy with IT work for several organizations, including the American Red Cross in Cross, getting the yard and garden in shape for Spring and fishing as soon as the weather warms up.

We hope that the awakenings to snow will not happen again until Fall.