Iraqi Refugees and “Survival Sex”?

I just read a Reuter’s report about how young Iraqi women refugees in Syria are turning to the world’s oldest profession to survive, or at least that is what the article suggests. It starts off describing a club near Damascus with “a score” of Iraqi women on the stage in “in tight, shimmering gowns” and then sitting at tables with Arab men – the “hungry eyed” variety.

Except for the tight gowns not coming off it sounds like a “Genleman’s Club” in almost any US city. The article says these women have no other options. Well, they could go home to Iraq – now that most of it is safe, at least as safe as most of the middle east. Certainly safer than Pakistan.

But really, these young women are doing nothing that American women also do, many not out of desperation and poverty but to pay for college. Many of the dancers in gentlemen’s clubs are co-eds who find that dancing at night pays much better than flopping burgers. They are still free to quit and seek other employment but there is no shortage of young women who will take these jobs. How is that any different than Syria?

Certainly there is prostitution going on in some of these situations, both here and in Syria. That is as they say the oldest profession. As long as men are willing to pay for sex there will be women who will be paid for sex.

The article also talks about arraigned marriages and sham marriages that are little more than prostitution. Again, is this different that a silicone enhanced woman marrying an 80 year old millionaire? Or a Hollywood “starlet” marrying a producer in hopes of monetary gain?

Yes there is poverty, in Syria among the Iraqi refugees as in many other parts of the world and yes in those places women turn to the “sex business” to make a living. But, it is not just poverty that drives them.

Certainly it is not just the war that has caused this, it was going on long before the Iraq War started and will continue long after we are all dead.

Global Warming snow job

I’m sure that the global warming crowd will somehow try to tie the recent winter extremes in the mid-west to CO2. The ice storms in Oklahoma and Kansas. The blizzards in Kansas. These are not “normal” and to the disciples of Algore and the Global Warming zealots anything out of the ordinary must be caused by the burning of carbon based fuels for energy production.

The city of Wichita KS has already spent their entire snow removal budget. Having spent over 20 winters in NH and seen snow removal for real, then comparing it to what I saw in Wichita last week, I have to wonder if they budgeted anything at all. But, the fact remains, cold, ice and snow are not what I would expect as a result of Global Warming!

Alternative? Energy

My recent drive across Kansas let me think some abot energy and that is of course a wide spectrum.

The Governor there has weighed in on the idea of building more wind mills and is stopping new coal fired electric generation. She also is in favor of turning more of the state’s fertile farm land to the growing os biofuel crops instead of food. She even signed bills giving tax credits to bio and wind generation facilities.

The University of Kansas is studying construction of sodium cooled nuclear plants and the Kansas House of Representatives passed a bill easing taxes on new nuclear plants.(Did not see whether that ever passed the Senate or was signed by their liberal Governor but I suspect it did not proceed).

So it seems there is a dichotomy of thought on energy in that “flyover” state.

The state also produces considerable oil and natural gas. The drive across the state on I-70 (the only east -west route through the state) finds numerous of the “grasshopper” pumps.

Now I was struck by the huge array of wind mills being constructed at the top of one of the very few ridges in the state. I haven’t found the details of how many of them are being built but do recall reading that they will make enough electricity to run a small city (30,000 people is the number that stuck). Well, the amount of land being dedicated to these monsters – had to be 200 feet tall – has to be more than enough to build that size city and in fact you could probably build Manhattan (NY not KS) on less acreage. I wonder how the flocks of Canada geese that migrate through that area will fare when these “bird Cuisinarts” start turning?

Now Kansas is rightly proud of their agriculture and of course the Governor is very willing to pander to the farm vote by offering credits and incentives for farmers to grow bio fuel crops. And the incentives for building wind mills in the middle of farms, with the cash flowing from the ground leases on thousands of acres, must appeal to the farm voters as well.

Now, having seen the actual foot print of the nuclear plant at Seabrook and comparing it to the footprint of the windmill array and also to the land needed to grow bio fuel crops compared to the small space taken up by each producing oil well. Those grasshoppers sit on maybe 400 square feet in the middle of an also producing farm.

My thoughts also wandered to the ANWR in Alaska with all the oil it would produce (reducing out dependence on foreign oil) and how little real impact there would be on the millions of acres there. And to the Gulf of Mexico where Cuba and China are drilling for oil while Americans are prohibited. If we were really concerned about our dependence on foreign energy, we would not be sitting on huge reserves of oil, gas and coal – untapped.

Growing crops for bio fuels reduces the crops for food, driving up prices of the food and the fuel, it is not a long term viable source. Wind is not a viable answer either. Even in the best of sites, the wind is not constant – it can only supplement other sources, sources not subject to the whims of nature. Solar is likewise not a viable constant source. Hydro power is fairly constant but no one seems to want to dam any more rivers to tap it. Oil and coal are not dependent on weather and neither are on the verge of depletion, particularly coal. Nuclear, as seen around the world, particularly France and Japan, is a safe, constant and economical source of energy.

The real crisis we face in energy is the Nimby, regulatory, environmental nightmare facing the real production of energy. My drive across Kansas helped me clarify in my mind the real challenge we face.

Traveling after 500 miles

Cleared 3 inches of snow and an eighth inch of ice from the cars and trucks and left Wichita just before noon today. The roads in Wichita were sloppy (they barely understand the concept of snow removal and seem to rely upon the solar method). Once on the Interstate it was cleared but wet, with a stiff, slightly above zero wind which immediately froze the spray onto the windsheilds of the trucks, even though they had warmed up for over half an hour.

The first twenty miles revealed that the previous owner of the ’07 suv they just bought felt that straight water was OK for the windshield washer. The older suv also turned out to be out of fluid (even after the local Jiffy Lube had done an oil change with the instructions to check and top off all the fluids – they seemed much more interested in convincing us that unless the trans fluid and the grease in both differentials was changed that disaster was imminent).

About 30 miles out of Wichita, after three stops to deal with the washer fluids we decided to stop at a WalMart /Subway for the bottomless pits (the boys). We also filled the washer fluid on both trucks.

Was then uneventful until we were on I70 west of Salina and decided to fill the trucks. I was enjoying listening to the Audio Book (Double Cross by James Patterson). Neither of the boys wanted to ride with me – which was probably for the best since it was prone to more motion than they probably are used to. So no one got car sick. The dogs also made it through the trip without incident.

Stopped in Colby, Ks for fuel – a little ahead of schedule because they had a Starbucks in the Petro2 Truck Stop.

Took C 86 from just north of Limon to Kiowa and Franktown, saved about 35 miles and who knows how much in tolls by ignoring the GPS suggested rout of I-70 to E-470 toll road.

Considering all the snow that has fallen between Denver and Wichita in the last few days the roads were all pretty good. The first few miles of C 86 showed evidence of previously drifted snow and some areas that were close to black ice but no slipping was evidenced but we did hold significantly below the posted 65 limit in that area (the old motor home towing small suv with no lights obviously felt need for extra caution as he went past me at about the 65 limit over a double yellow and barely cleared my truck before crossing back in front of me).

Granite State Taxpayers expose Dems’ Tax and Spend Ways

AS SECOND HALF OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS GRANITE STATE TAXPAYERS CALLS FOR BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS TO SPENDING CRISIS

The current legislative majority and Gov. Lynch are proving to be the worst custodians of state government in New Hampshire’s history. They not only have raised the state’s operating budget by 17.4%, the largest increase in New Hampshire history, they also have failed to address critical problems, such as educational funding and our deteriorating highways.

Instead of this new majority being responsible stewards of the public trust, they have concentrated their efforts on the frivolous, such as bills to outlaw helium balloons and resolutions recommending the impeachment of the vice president to the Congress. Where they have acted substantively, they have done so on strictly partisan grounds and we find legislative disasters, such as the unfunded mandate for kindergartens and House Bill 471, a new law intended to put small contractors at a disadvantage to union labor by expanding expensive worker’s compensation insurance coverage to self-employed construction workers.

The result is that, according to the Josiah Bartlett Center for Social Policy, the New Hampshire state budget likely will be $75.5 million in the red, and perhaps even up to $137.6 million, for the fiscal year ending June 2008. Moreover, the failure of this biennium’s legislative and executive branches to limit judicial intrusion into educational policies will result in, again according to the Bartlett Center, a ” huge spending obligation of $620 – $840 million [that] will push the size of the hole in the budget over a billion dollars.” In response Chairman Roy Stewart of Granite State Taxpayers noted, “This looming deficit and spending crisis requires that the Legislature put aside its harsh, partisan goals and work with those who in the past have shown how to bring prosperity to the New Hampshire through controlled spending and low taxes.”

We have seen a multitude of new “under the radar” state fees and taxes from this legislative session, such as increased taxes on the ever unpopular smokers and tobacco retailers, increased real estate transfer taxes, increased turnpike tolls, a $6 new charge per motorist that was calculated to create no great outcry, and a fee of as much as $200 per truck that would hurt the less numerous members of the trucking industry. Despite these efforts, only broad-based and economically disastrous taxes will fill the present and looming budget deficits unless both the Legislature acts responsibly during the upcoming second half of this session and Gov. Lynch gives up his “triangulation” approach of trying to please everyone in favor of true leadership.

As Granite State Taxpayers’ Vice Chairman and press spokesperson Bill O’Brien was quoted as saying, “In more sensible times Gov. Mel Thomson adopted, and New Hampshire lived by, the slogan that ‘Low taxes are the result of low spending.’ Gov. Lynch and his legislative majority need to return to that confirmed wisdom or the New Hampshire Advantage of low taxes and prosperity will be forever lost.”

The second year deliberations of the current legislative session begin on January 2, 2008. Granite State Taxpayers calls on Gov. Lynch and the current legislative majority to turn to those in the minority party who brought this state years of balanced budgets and low taxes and work with them to avoid runaway spending and save the New Hampshire Advantage. Bipartisanship is called for; this state deserves better than a partisan legislature pursuing a spendthrift agenda.

Granite State Taxpayers was founded in 1990 by Governor Mel Thomson and State Senator George Lovejoy. It is a non-partisan, non-sectarian, and non-profit organization of New Hampshire citizens. For more information

blogging on the road again

Vicky (my other half) and I have spent the past week helping her son’s family prepare to move from Wichita, KS to Denver. Christmas morning saw the presents opened (mostly by the 7 and 10 year olds) and then about an hour later the Tree and ornaments were in a box.

The 26th the two rented trucks were picked up (two 26 footers) and a trailer for one car. The plan, up until a couple days before Christmas was to trailer the car and drive the SUV. That changed when they had a problem with the 9 year old, 150k miles, suv. They bought a slightly used ’07 suv as a replacement but then found the repair was minor and rather than trade it for only $1000, they are keeping it. So now we are waiting to hit the road later today with 4 drivers, two suv’s, two trucks, two kids and two dogs for the roughly 500 mile trip.

They decided about a month ago to move back to Denver (job related) and just mentioned it to friends in Wichita. One friend said “We have a friend, a banker, moving from KC and needs a house and really likes your neighbohood – should I have him come see?”

The come see resulted in an offer of several thousand above the price they had paid 18 months ago when they moved from Utah. (They have said if they end up moving again within 5 years they are going to seek therapy – an average of about 18 months between moves during their 12 years of marriage).

We have been dodging the weather – snowed Christmas Eve and Christmas while we were packing indoors. The 26th it was supposed to be flurries until 10am – turned out to be flurries Starting at 10 am. But the two professional loaders had no trouble with it. They were very efficient and well worth the money. My back is very thankfull for them.

Last night an ice and snow storm hit here in Wichita and heavy snow in Denver. Fox news just reported about all the flight cancellations there. The weather forecasts accross Kansas and into Colorado all look good from about 10am on.

The closing is going on now, the new owners actually took a walk thru of the mini mansion (two stories, 4 bedrooms – what had originally was a 5th had been converted to a HUGE walk in closet in the Master BR).

The boys are with their grandma down at the motel’s swimming pool. As soon as their folks return we will head out. The boys each got a portable DVD player with headphones and have been squabbling about where they are going to ride – the big trucks got first dibs, but then riding with Grandma has its appeal too.

We will hopefully be no difficulties on the highway and be in the new neighborhood tonight. Tomorrow there are three unloaders scheduled to help empty the trucks and the plan is to maybe sleep there tomorrow night.

My next post will probably be from the Motel there tonight or tomorrow morning.

Maybe the Courts will understand crime and punishment when it is one of their own who is punished

Just found this Press release relating to Judge Coffey – the NH judge who helped shelter from a Civil suit the loot her hubby stole as a lawyer from one of his clients. And judges and lawyers are mystified that the people do not trust or respect them. They lie and steal and then the courts issue paid leave as a punishment?

House Republican Alliance initiates legislative action against Judge Patricia Coffey

The leadership of the New Hampshire House Republican Alliance (HRA) announced today that they have initiated a bill of address and initiated impeachment proceedings against Judge Patricia C. Coffey in the wake of the recommendation by the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) that she be censured and suspended.

“This action is necessary to preserve the reputation of absolute integrity of our judiciary in the eyes of the public. A judge must be held to the highest standards. Unfortunately, Judge Coffey’s admitted actions are not of the highest standards and could damage the judiciary’s reputation,” said Co-chairman Rep. Andy Renzullo (R-Hudson).

In November of 2007, Coffey admitted that she had violated judicial ethics rules by helping shield her husband’s assets from creditors as he was being disbarred in 2005. On Friday, December 21, after months of investigation, the JCC recommended that Coffey be censured and suspended for three months without pay.

“For the sake of judicial integrity, the HRA calls for the House Rules committee to allow these proposals to move forward,” said Rep. D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem), “We second the sentiment expressed by Governor John Lynch that Judge Coffee resign. This matter concerns the loss of an individual’s livelihood and therefore is being taken seriously, but the integrity of the judiciary is more important than a single judge.

The purpose of the House Republican Alliance is to preserve and strengthen the traditional principles and values of the Republican Party through the NH House of Representatives and throughout the state of NH, including fiscal restraint, personal freedom and responsibility, small government, free enterprise and strong families. For more information, please log onto http://www.nhhouserepublicanalliance.org

A message from Thompson to the Fred Heads about hats

My favorite uncle, now passed on, always had a label in his Stetson hats that read – Like Hell it’s yours, now put it back!

Fred has a similar and appropriate message for people about hats (and raising hands).

Now as to the raising of hands – when someone is wearing a hat like Fred’s, if they tell you to raise your hands – it may not be an idle request!

Evidence of voter fraud

It is clear that the Democrat Party wants to defeat all voter ID laws and thanks to a reporter that seems to have read the inside memo but forgot it was marked Top Secret has let the cat out of the bag:

Choosing a 2008 presidential candidate might be confusing enough, but some voters will face an additional challenge next year — remembering to bring the right identification to the polls.

[Emphasis mine]

The difficulty for Democrat voters in places where an ID is required is not to bring their own, official, valid government issued ID to the polls. No, their problem is in remembering which bring the right ID to the right polling place. When they register under several names in different precincts, they would have to make sure that they had the ID that matched the name they were supposed to use there. I mean it would be very bad form to show up with an ID for Tom Brady of Manchester, NH when voting in Nashua as Brett Favre.

No, I don’t wonder at all why Democrats like Gov. John Lynch would oppose voter ID bills (He vetoed it). All Democrat candidates need to be called to task by the legal live voters to answer for wanting to allow people to vote who should not. Every illegal vote negates the vote of an honest, law abiding citizen. Vote fraud is theft of a citizen’s constitutionally protected right to vote!

Cracking down on Illegals “by all appearances, it’s starting to work.”

In Arizona, it seems that cracking down on illegal aliens and their employers has been having a startling effect – it is working to reduce the number of illegal aliens in the state. They are going back home or to other more friendly states.

Surprise surprise. Treat illegal aliens as illegal aliens and they leave. What an amazing concept! Too bad Congress can’t do something like that. I know one future Congressman who understands – Will Breazeale running for the NC-7th district. He would vote to crack down on illegal immigrants!