HUSBAND OF THE YEAR AWARDS

The honorable mention goes to

The United Kingdom

 

followed closely by...

The United States of America

 

and then...

Poland

 

but, 3rd Place must go to...

Greece

 

it was very close but the runner up prize

was awarded to....

Serbia

 

but the winner of the husband/partner of the year is...

Ireland, ya gotta love the Irish

The Irish are true romantics. Look, he's even

holding her hand....

 

My readers will hear a good deal about the oil spill in the near future, and I'm quite concerned about what will be, indeed is already, a tragedy of huge proportions, but I needed a humor break, and thanks to Ann, here is my offering.

"SUDDENLY EVERYTHING CHANGED"

From The Huffington Post:

WASHINGTON — Suddenly, everything changed.

For days, as an oil spill spread in the Gulf of Mexico, BP assured the government the plume was manageable, not catastrophic. Federal authorities were content to let the company handle the mess while keeping an eye on the operation.

But then government scientists realized the leak was five times larger than they had been led to believe, and days of lulling statistics and reassuring words gave way Thursday to an all-hands-on-deck emergency response. Now questions are sure to be raised about a self-policing system that trusted a commercial operator to take care of its own mishap even as it grew into a menace imperiling Gulf Coast nature and livelihoods from Florida to Texas.

The pivot point had come Wednesday night, at a news conference at an oil research center in the tiny community of Robert, La. That's when the nation learned the earlier estimates were way off, and an additional leak had been found.

On Thursday, President Barack Obama set in motion a larger federal mobilization, pledging to deploy "every single available resource" to the area and ordering his disaster and environmental leaders to get down there in person. Only a few days after the Coast Guard assured the country there was "ample time" to protect the coast if oil came ashore, warnings from the government were newly alarming.
....

Throughout last week and into this one, the government was deferring to BP on what was being done at the site and on assessments of progress.

The Coast Guard was not doing its own independent, firsthand assessment of the seabed rupture. Landry repeatedly asserted that BP was the responsible party and would shoulder the costs and organizational duties associated with the cleanup effort while the Coast Guard monitored things and approved the numbers of vessels working the scene and the methods of control.

On Monday, Landry offered assurances that the Gulf Coast should be safe. "This is ample time to protect sensitive areas and prepare for cleanup should the oil impact this area," she said. And at sea, BP officials were "doing their best."

That the government agencies deferred to BP to assess the situation on their own is quite troublesome. Perhaps the federal agencies would have come to the same conclusion at the time, but to rely only on the investigation and reports by the oil company seems far from wise. Is it possible that the president and the federal agencies learned a lesson about trusting oil companies?

President Obama said that the Interior Department would be sending SWAT teams to inspect all 30 deepwater rigs in the Gulf, and the inspections would be completed within a week. That seems rather fast for a thorough inspection, but what do I know?

LOCAL FISHERMEN WANT TO HELP

From WWL-TV:

SHELL BEACH, La. – British Petroleum workers are heading out on boats with oil booms and taking them into sensitive marsh and coastal areas in an effort to protect the area from a huge oil slick headed towards the coast, but some fishermen say they are frustrated they aren’t being used more.

Many of the parish's 330 commercial fishermen said Thursday they were ready to fight the spread of the oil spill, and help clean up the damage. Over 200 offered their boats, docks and other aid. Gov. Bobby Jindal showed support for the initiative, saying the fishermen know the marshes better than anyone.

But while St. Bernard officials say they turned over the list of volunteers over to BP, they say their hands are tied, since BP is the company handling the oil spill and it’s up to them to decide whether or not they want to use the volunteers.

“People around here, they know the marsh. This is what they do here every day,” said Kevin Heier, a fisherman in St. Bernard. “They know how to get from one place to another using the safest route with the weather condition. Why waste your time with people who don’t know the area trying to do the work, while we can get you there and back without a problem?

“We have all these boats available, people will be out of work – the fishing industry I’m sure is going to go to hell – we just don’t understand why they’re going to get outside contractors to do the work.”

Nor do I understand why the local fisherman are denied the opportunity to help and, at least, work with the outside contractors. The fishermen are out of business for now and perhaps for a long time because of the failure of BP equipment, so the least BP can do is put the local folks to work and pay them for their efforts.

OIL SPILL MAY HAVE REACHED LOUISIANA COAST

From WWL-TV:

VENICE, La. -- Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser said based on his observations from a Coast Guard helicopter just a short while ago, the spill could be hitting the Mississippi River Delta now.

Responders played beat the clock Thursday, trying to get as much containment boom out in the marsh before the oil hits the Louisiana coast.
According to the Coast Guard, all of the oil spill fighting equipment they could muster is now on the Gulf Coast being deployed as soon as it hits the dock.

Read more at the link.

DISASTER LOOMS FOR LOUISIANA COAST

From the Advocate:

Louisiana agencies are preparing for the worst from an oil slick steadily heading toward the state’s shoreline and marshlands.

Some experts estimate it could reach Pass a Loutre wildlife management area as early as Friday and Breton Sound on Saturday, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Wednesday.

“Just like we do in a hurricane, we are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best,” Jindal said at an afternoon news conference.

Earlier in the day, Jindal said he had been briefed by the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and BP who are involved in the cleanup and containment of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

About 42,000 gallons of oil a day are leaking into the Gulf from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig which exploded April 20, burned and then sank two days later. Eleven workers are missing and presumed dead.

Jindal said federal and state officials are scrambling to do what they can to prevent the oil from reaching the state’s fishing and wildlife areas, but on Wednesday predictions had the oil headed toward the state.

“It’s still early and these tracks could change,” Jindal said. “We will know more tomorrow.”

Pass a Loutre and Breton Sound where the oil slick could hit are home to concentrations of wildlife, especially nesting birds, Jindal said.

Yesterday, I wrote about the restaurant industry rebound in New Orleans after Katrina and the federal flood. A major disaster for the Louisiana coast looms with the approach of the oil slick. What about the oysters, shrimp, crabs, and fish in the coastal waters and marshlands? What about the birds and animals? What about those who make their livings from fishing and harvesting seafood?

We can point fingers at the oil companies and the oil supply companies. We can blame the federal and state governments for permitting offshore drilling. But, in the end, we must point to ourselves, and our greed for energy, and our failure to seriously address conservation and demand that our government do the same, and our failure to pressure our leaders to implement policies to find and subsidize the development of safer alternative sources of energy.

JESUS AND MO AND BOOB-QUAKE

From Paul (A.):

I don't know if you have been following this story over the last week or so,
but . . .

An Iranian cleric announced that immodestly dressed women caused
earthquakes: ABC News."

"Many women who do not dress modestly ... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes," Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi was quoted as saying by Iranian media. Sedighi is Tehran's acting Friday prayer leader.

....

A student, Jennifer McCreight, decided to test this by experiment on Monday of this week, promulgated via her blog Blag Hag (several entries).

It was picked up on by the news media: (e.g.) ABC News.

To test an Iranian cleric's claim that immodestly dressed women are responsible for earthquakes, tens of thousands of women around the country plan to show off an extra bit of skin todayTo test an Iranian cleric's claim that immodestly dressed women are responsible for earthquakes, tens of thousands of women around the country plan to show off an extra bit of skin today.

But not much resulted.

An earlier study (inspired by Pat Robertson's association of gay people and
hurricanes) used statistics to undermine the thesis Christians Gays.

Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition, recently warned Orlando, Florida, that it was courting natural disaster by allowing gay pride flags to be flown along its streets. "A condition like this will bring about ... earthquakes, tornadoes, and possibly a meteor," he said, apparently referring to his belief that the presence of openly gay people incurs divine wrath and that God acts through geological and meteorological events to destroy municipalities that permit gay people the same civil liberties as others. (Robertson also warned Orlando about terrorist bombs, suggesting the possibility that God may also employ terrorists.)

Food for thought.


More food for thought from Jesus and Mo.

"JUSTICE, JUSTICE YOU SHALL PURSUE"

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network: "Stories From the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama".

Below is a portion of a letter from a chaplain who serves in the military to President Obama on the present DADT policy. Because of active service, the name of the writer is withheld.

Over the years some of us have buried our closest friends -- officers and enlisted, African American, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians, Whites, rich, poor, Protestants, Catholics, Muslims and Jews. They had the courage to make the supreme sacrifice in order for us to reap the bounties of freedom. We owe them a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid.

What is remarkable about these Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Coastguardsmen is they understood the personal risk when they answered the highest calling of our nation. What could be a nobler act then to give one’s life to one’s country, knowing that in their lives many freedoms would be denied them?

And when their story is told a significant piece of their life would be missing.

As they sleep under the crosses, the stars of David and the crescents there is no bigotry. There is no prejudice. There is no hatred. And within the sacred confines of their resting place there is no law of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” There is only purest democracy.

When the final cross has been placed in the last cemetery, will it only be then that we as a nation acknowledge our gay brothers and sisters who took the risks of life and truth to answer their nation’s highest calling? How many of these brave men and women lie in military graves and still hide in death?

They are among the unknown soldiers.

There are only a few who know the truth of those who lie in these graves. There are only a few who know the suffering and sorrow of those who mourn them in silence and fear. The nation remains silent and owes no allegiance to who they truly were nor does it honor their loved ones. What does that say of our sacred values?

If one gay person was killed in defense of America, issues such as the destruction of unit morale or the fear of people not wanting to join the military devalue their sacrifice. This is not about appeasing the uncomfortable feelings of a minority; this is a universal and transcendent matter of justice. America was built on the common Jewish and Christian heritage of justice when the Bible commands: “Justice, justice you shall pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20).

I have nothing to add to the chaplain's eloquent testimony.

H/T to Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin.

A BAD DAY AT HALLMARK

Ever wondered what happens when Hallmark writers are having a bad day....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking back over the years

That we've been together,

I can't help but wonder...

'What the hell was I thinking?'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Congratulations on your wedding day!

Too bad no one likes your husband.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've always wanted to have

Someone to hold,

Someone to love.

After having met you...

I've changed my mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I must admit, you brought Religion into my life.

I never believed in Hell until I met you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the days go by, I think of how lucky I am...

That you're not here to ruin it for me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Congratulations on your promotion.

Before you go...

Would you like to take this knife out of my back?

You'll probably need it again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy birthday! You look great for your age.

Almost Lifelike!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When we were together,

you always said you'd die for me.

Now that we've broken up,

I think it's time you kept your promise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have been friends for a very long time.

Let's say we stop?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm so miserable without you

It's almost like you're here.

============================================

Thanks to Ann.

DAMNED IF WE DO AND DAMNED IF WE DON'T

Below is part of a discussion between Pima County Arizona Sheriff Clarence Dupnik and Keith Olbermann on Countdown:

DUPNIK: But my objection to the state law that was enacted by the governor and the legislator is twofold.

One, I believe it's unconstitutional.

I don't think, as you pointed out earlier in this show, that the states have the authority to pre-empt federal government when it comes to immigration issues.

And second of all, I think it's going to be held unconstitutional on the basis of the key phrase in the bill that says we can stop them and ask them for papers and so forth on reasonable suspicion.

Now, I've been a cop for 52 years.

I'm not sure what reasonable suspicion means, and I suspect that's going to be constitutionally vague.

The third thing is, why would I take the hundreds of people that we arrest regularly and put them in the local jail and subject them to the local criminal justice system and then send the local taxpayers a huge bill for doing this when I -- all we have to do is what we've been doing all along and turn them over to the border patrol?


OLBERMANN: Why was this bill enacted in Arizona?


DUPNIK: I think it was enacted in Arizona to make the legislature feel good, possibly to deflect some of the attention they get on the poor management, especially of financial issues in this state.

They've done a horrible job, and second of all, I think it's just racist.


OLBERMANN: To that point, the governor and state Senator Pearce both say the law is written specifically to prevent racial profiling and will not lead to racism.

I gather from your last statement that you have reasons to believe that's not true.

What are they?


DUPNIK: Let me tell you, they say that the law that they crafted mirrors the federal law, and in a lot of respects it does.

With the couple of exceptions.

One is this reasonable suspicion business, and the other, they have set up the police in an impossible situation.

On one hand, we get sued by people whom we stop who we would stop, this happens a great deal in another county north of here.

For racial profiling.

They have put a clause in this bill that I don't think anybody has looked at that says any citizen in this state can file a lawsuit against any law enforcement official that doesn't enforce this law.

So now we're damned if we do and we're damned if we don't....

.
Sheriff Dupnik speaks good sense. He and his employees will have to do the actual work, and he knows what the law will bring on for him and his officers and for the citizens of Arizona who, by the way, approve the law by 70% percentage points.

GREAT FOOD IN NEW ORLEANS IS BACK WITH A BANG

From the New York Times:

IT is the siren call of a magnificent, broken city: “This, here, is the real New Orleans.”

Spend any time sweating through a shirt and walking slow and purposeful along Magazine Street toward a Sazerac before dinner, and you’ll hear the cry, in this bar or that one. You’ll hear it on the radio, driving the high-rise bridge over the Industrial Canal, someone spinning funk on WWOZ and talking about New Orleans soul. You’ll see it in the defiant eyes of a man lurching out of a second line in Pigeon Town.
....

I walked through crowds in the French Quarter to a meal of oysters Rockefeller and crab Yvonne at Galatoire’s, and along the barren streets south of Lake Pontchartrain to another of po’ boys amid crowds at the Parkway Bakery.

There was plenty to sample — there are roughly 1,000 restaurants in New Orleans now, up a cool couple of hundred from before the storm, according to The New Orleans Menu, a Web site dedicated to the subject that is run by Tom Fitzmorris.
....

And for a critic on the prowl for an authentic taste of the city in full springtime bloom, surprises abounded. One of the most purely joyful and purely New Orleans restaurants of the moment is Emeril’s, a place run by a television chef who was born in Fall River, Mass., and lives mostly in New York City. Another, Cochon, is devoted not to the Creole cosmopolitanism of the city center, but to the Cajun traditions of the bayous and backwaters outside of town, in the tidal soup of southern Louisiana.

And a third group of genuine, true-to-type New Orleans restaurants that sit near this city’s culinary heart is not Southern at all, but Vietnamese.

Read the rest of the article at the NYT, and you'll be salivating. Great food in New Orleans is back with a bang, back better than ever. I've never sampled Vietnamese food, but I've dined at a good many of the restaurants mentioned in the article, although I've not been to the new Emeril's yet.