On the Anniversary of Kennedy's Death, Extremism Lives On

Nov 23, 2009 - What I find interesting about this is both how much has changed AND how much hasn't. The Letter:     Tyler, Texas November 24, 1963 President Lyndon B Johnson The White House Washington D.C.   Dear Mr. President: In this time of mourning and appreciating how very busy you are, I still must write about existing conditions here in East Texas, even if you are too busy to read this, because I feel it is my duty to do so. - 1 Comment

Update on "Taking it Slow" r/o

Nov 23, 2009 - Well, I have (had)  been dating Mr. Take it Slow for about a month.  He wanted to take it slow b/c he just got out of a LTR a few months ago.  The last time we went out, things got physical (not all the way, though).  I did hear from him the next day, but nothing but FB posts for 2 weeks after that.  Finally last night he emailed me:  "I just wanted to write you a message to let you know what's going on. I've been kinda quiet because I just don't know what's going on with me. I don't want to lead you on, but I don't want to write you off either.The problem is, I think I'm just not over my ex-gf. - 5 Comments

U.S. Fears Iraq Won't Keep Up Rebuilt Projects

Nov 21, 2009 - BAGHDAD — In its largest reconstruction effort since the Marshall Plan, the United States government has spent $53 billion for relief and reconstruction in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, building tens of thousands of hospitals, water treatment plants, electricity substations, schools and bridges. But there are growing concerns among American officials that Iraq will not be able to adequately maintain the facilities once the Americans have left, potentially wasting hundreds of millions of dollars and jeopardizing Iraq’s ability to provide basic services to its people. The projects run the gamut — from a cutting-edge, $270 million water treatment plant in Nasiriya that works at a fraction of its intended capacity because it is too sophisticated for Iraqi workers to operate, to a farmers’ market that farmers cannot decide how to share, to a large American hospital closed immediately after it was handed over to Iraq because the government was unable to supply it with equipment, a medical staff or electricity. - 11 Comments

Army Corps of Engineers Blamed for Katrina Flooding

Nov 19, 2009 - Corps' operation of MR-GO doomed homes in St. Bernard, Lower 9th Ward, judge rules By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune November 19, 2009, 6:00AM   Source       In a groundbreaking decision, a federal judge ruled late Wednesday that the Army Corps of Engineers' mismanagement of maintenance at the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet was directly responsible for flood damage in St. Bernard Parish and the Lower 9th Ward after Hurricane Katrina. - 12 Comments

Liberal Dems Are Elitists and Fat Cats

Nov 19, 2009 - Sept. 20, 2009 Stein: Democrats Are Elitists and Fat Cats   Says Party's Contempt for Tea Party Protesters is Un-American, and Not Helpful at Polling Booths   Just who are the Democrats now? Ben Stein says they're the party of fat cat elitists who mock elderly, non-minorities with homes in the sticks. - 9 Comments

China Holds Firm on Major Issues in Obama’s Visit

Nov 18, 2009 - President Obama toured the historic Forbidden City in Beijing on Tuesday during a break from meetings with Chinese leaders. Source BEIJING — In six hours of meetings, at two dinners and during a stilted 30-minute news conference in which President Hu Jintao did not allow questions, President Obama was confronted, on his first visit, with a fast-rising China more willing to say no to the United States. On topics like Iran (Mr. - 1 Comment