The DrsC spent the last two days driving north through Oregon east of the Cascade Mountains, from Klamath Falls through Bend and Madras past Mt. Hood to hook up with I-84 and thence to I-5 north. This is attractive country, which doesn't feel at all like part of a coastal state. It has the "mountain West" feeling: conifers and sage and snow on the peaks. The city of Bend is growing rapidly, and is the regional center for trade and transportation, probably medical services too.
There are lots of RV parks in the area, being used, and lots of RV dealers too. I'd guess the latter are wishing they were in another business in this era of sky-high fuel prices. In the short to medium term people will be put off by the poor fuel mileage RVs or their pullers get. In the longer term, people will adjust their notions of what constitutes a high fuel price and probably start buying RVs again. The question for RV dealers is if they can stay in business long enough to see that happen ... many dealers won't make it. The marketplace is a fickle mistress, your sweetheart one day and gone the next. Success lies in guessing her whims before she experiences them, as well as providing good value for money to your customers.
South of Bend there is a very shiny (in the Firefly sense) development called Sun River, actually the former site of a WW II Army Engineers training base. The only thing that remains from that era is the officer's club, which is now called The Great Hall, and it is pretty darn great, too. Its architecture is national park rustic, not unlike the grand old hotel at Old Faithful in Yellowstone. The Sun River development looks like a very nice place to call home, or summer home, whichever works for you. The downside is that the homes look to be at considerable risk for forest fire. Highly combustible fir trees grow right next to the houses and if there are firebreaks I couldn't see them. I wouldn't want to write the fire insurance here.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
"Spengler" on Iran
The pundit who writes as "Spengler" in the Asia Times of Hong Kong has some interesting things to say about the precarious state of the Iranian economy and the likelihood that this will push the country into imperial adventures, attempts to control or conquer adjacent countries. See his recent article for a full statement of the argument. His conclusion is sobering:
An old piece of diplomatic wisdom states that one always should give one's enemy a way out. But I see no way out for the pocket empire of Persia. Ahmadinejad and his generation of Revolutionary Guards will fight, and cautious old men like Rafsanjani will not be able to stop them.
Travel Blogging Alert
The DrsC will be traveling for the next couple of weeks. Driving to and from Seattle, cruising to and from Alaska. The other DrC will be lecturing aboard on digital photography - how to take better vacation pix.
We've driven to Alaska, perhaps 20 years ago. You see the inland part of the state plus Anchorage when you drive. This way we'll see the southern coastal "panhandle" along with the capital, Juneau.
As we approach the longest day of the year, and go ever farther north, we should experience what they call in St. Petersburg "the white nights." I remember reading a newspaper outdoors at 1 a.m. without artificial light in Fairbanks on June 21. I'll blog some impressions as we get the chance.
We've driven to Alaska, perhaps 20 years ago. You see the inland part of the state plus Anchorage when you drive. This way we'll see the southern coastal "panhandle" along with the capital, Juneau.
As we approach the longest day of the year, and go ever farther north, we should experience what they call in St. Petersburg "the white nights." I remember reading a newspaper outdoors at 1 a.m. without artificial light in Fairbanks on June 21. I'll blog some impressions as we get the chance.
The Company He Keeps, Part II
On May 25, 2008, we wrote about the number of unfortunate endorsements that Barack Hussein Obama has received from America haters. Sure enough, now he has one more: Fidel Castro, the godfather of anti-Americanism in the Western Hemisphere.
Fox News reports here that Fidel, writing in the government newspaper Granma, was very positive about Obama:
I wonder which enemy of the U.S. will endorse Obama next? Maybe Kim Jong-Il? How about Osama ben Laden?
Fox News reports here that Fidel, writing in the government newspaper Granma, was very positive about Obama:
(C)alling Obama “progressive,” and praising his “great intelligence” and “debating skills” and “work ethic.”
I wonder which enemy of the U.S. will endorse Obama next? Maybe Kim Jong-Il? How about Osama ben Laden?
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Indiana Jones Not Factual
This Agence France Presse article complains that many aspects of Peru shown in the latest Indiana Jones movie, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," are incorrect. Ya think?
AFP reports Peruvians are upset about misconceptions like finding Mayan ruins in the Peruvian rain forest, and the Nazca lines shown being too close to Cuzco. For that matter, why couldn't a bilingual speaker of Spanish and Quechua be riding with Pancho Villa? Do Peruvian Indians never travel or emigrate?
My view: the Peruvians should lighten up. The entire Indiana Jones oeuvre exists in a parallel universe where the U.S. government quietly rounds up magical items and warehouses them in Fort Knox (first film) or in Area 51 in the Nevada desert (film four).
In the Indy universe, magic "works." The ark of the covenant melts the faces of various Nazi goons in film one. A shaman tears out a human heart with his bare hand in film two. Water from the holy grail saves the life of Indy's gut shot father in film three. And in film four ... oops, I almost included a spoiler here.
To complain about inaccuracies in Indiana Jones films is like carping that the curses and spells in Jo Rowling's Harry Potter series don't actually work. Like Potter, Indiana Jones is fantasy and should be enjoyed as such.
AFP reports Peruvians are upset about misconceptions like finding Mayan ruins in the Peruvian rain forest, and the Nazca lines shown being too close to Cuzco. For that matter, why couldn't a bilingual speaker of Spanish and Quechua be riding with Pancho Villa? Do Peruvian Indians never travel or emigrate?
My view: the Peruvians should lighten up. The entire Indiana Jones oeuvre exists in a parallel universe where the U.S. government quietly rounds up magical items and warehouses them in Fort Knox (first film) or in Area 51 in the Nevada desert (film four).
In the Indy universe, magic "works." The ark of the covenant melts the faces of various Nazi goons in film one. A shaman tears out a human heart with his bare hand in film two. Water from the holy grail saves the life of Indy's gut shot father in film three. And in film four ... oops, I almost included a spoiler here.
To complain about inaccuracies in Indiana Jones films is like carping that the curses and spells in Jo Rowling's Harry Potter series don't actually work. Like Potter, Indiana Jones is fantasy and should be enjoyed as such.
Iran: Nation State or Revolutionary Cause?
Here is a very thoughtful Wall Street Journal article about the problems in dealing with Iran. As the article points out, when Iran acts like a nation state, it can negotiate reasonable deals with others. However, when it acts like the headquarters of a world-wide Shia-led revolution, it is not amenable to negotiated deals.
The bottom line here is that Obama is wrong; you really cannot talk to Iran about the major things that matter to the U.S.
Mr. Ahmadinejad is talking about changing the destiny of mankind, while Mr. Obama and his foreign policy experts offer spare parts for Boeings or membership in the World Trade Organization.
The bottom line here is that Obama is wrong; you really cannot talk to Iran about the major things that matter to the U.S.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Trouble in South Africa
Black-on-black violence in South Africa is the subject of this Wall Street Journal article. The author, who is the southern Africa correspondent for the Sunday Times of London, says the government of South Africa totally misunderstands the nature of the problem.
As is often the case, the misunderstanding arises out of a conflict between ideology and the facts on the ground. Here is a key graf:
The unemployment rate in South Africa is 58%, and the government wonders why their citizens resent millions of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi? It would appear that world travelers should add South Africa to their list of places where it is safer not to travel at this time.
As is often the case, the misunderstanding arises out of a conflict between ideology and the facts on the ground. Here is a key graf:
ANC leaders have preferred to give homilies, from a safe distance, about how when the ANC was in exile they received hospitality from many African countries and everyone must accordingly treat other Africans as brothers now. This fails to understand the difference between a country hosting a few thousand ANC exiles and the competitive impact in the labor, housing and other markets of millions of illegal immigrants.
The unemployment rate in South Africa is 58%, and the government wonders why their citizens resent millions of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi? It would appear that world travelers should add South Africa to their list of places where it is safer not to travel at this time.
Coburn's Rx for the GOP
Senator Tom Coburn (R, OK) writes a Wall Street Journal opinion piece concerning what went wrong with the GOP and what is needed to set it right. His view of what went wrong: big spending. His view of what is needed to set it right: cut the big spending, big borrowing, expansive government actions.
Who knows if he is right? I'd guess we won't get a chance to find out if 'Doctor' Coburn has the right Rx for the GOP, since the incumbents seem to be trying to be Democrats light.
Who knows if he is right? I'd guess we won't get a chance to find out if 'Doctor' Coburn has the right Rx for the GOP, since the incumbents seem to be trying to be Democrats light.
Economic Migrants a Worldwide Phenomenon
Ralph Peters, who writes for the New York Post, often has interesting things to say. See this article about the worldwide nature of illegal immigration for economic reasons. Peters takes a balanced view of the issue.
Peters points out that illegal immigration is a problem for places as different as South Africa and France, as well as the United States. He may be more sanguine about the future of the 12 million illegals now in the U.S. than I am, but he proposes what might be workable policy.
One of his recommendations I can heartily endorse:
Peters points out that illegal immigration is a problem for places as different as South Africa and France, as well as the United States. He may be more sanguine about the future of the 12 million illegals now in the U.S. than I am, but he proposes what might be workable policy.
One of his recommendations I can heartily endorse:
What's the worst thing we could do about the new global migration? Ignore it. Postpone solutions. Pretend - as we did 20 years ago - that illegal immigration is a temporary phenomenon curable with a "one-time" amnesty.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Pres. Ortega Praises Terrorist
See this brief Associated Press article which shows Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega praising the recently deceased FARC Colombian terrorist leader Manuel Marulanda as "our brother" in the fight against free markets and capitalism. If Ortega isn't careful, he might find his government dealing with, and losing to, the contras again.
Counterterrorism 101
This article in the journal Foreign Policy lays out some highly successful counterterrorism efforts in nations as different as France, Russia, Egypt, Jordan and Singapore. It is a quick read and serves as a decent primer on fighting terrorism.
The common thread in all of the efforts is that civil liberties are often infringed upon in the process. At some point, people have to decide the extent to which they are willing to compromise civil liberties to squelch terrorism.
The common thread in all of the efforts is that civil liberties are often infringed upon in the process. At some point, people have to decide the extent to which they are willing to compromise civil liberties to squelch terrorism.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The other DrC and I viewed the new Indiana Jones film this afternoon. Since you may not have seen it, I will avoid including "spoilers" here.
The new film has all of the features we've come to expect from an Indy movie. The action is non-stop, the settings are exotic, the villains are bizarre, the sidekicks are interesting, and a willingness to suspend disbelief is required. The plot "works," it doesn't have too many holes.
I give nothing important away to say that the overseas settings are in Peru. This setting made the film particularly interesting to us since we were in Peru for a couple of weeks earlier this spring. We'd seen some of the settings used in the film.
The bottom line is the film was fun and we'll probably see it again when the DVDs become available.
The new film has all of the features we've come to expect from an Indy movie. The action is non-stop, the settings are exotic, the villains are bizarre, the sidekicks are interesting, and a willingness to suspend disbelief is required. The plot "works," it doesn't have too many holes.
I give nothing important away to say that the overseas settings are in Peru. This setting made the film particularly interesting to us since we were in Peru for a couple of weeks earlier this spring. We'd seen some of the settings used in the film.
The bottom line is the film was fun and we'll probably see it again when the DVDs become available.
The Company He Keeps
In this article the Los Angeles Times states categorically that Iran, surely no friend of the United States, hopes Barack Obama wins the U.S. Presidency. In earlier posts we've linked to articles which say the Palestinians hope BO wins. And he started his political career in the home of a convicted terrorist. And posters of Che Guevara tend to show up in his campaign headquarters, and his pastor of 20 years is a crazy black liberationist, and Hamas seems to like him, and, and, and....
Clearly the evidence mounts that Barack Hussein Obama is very comfortable in the company of, and is congenial in the eyes of, people who do not wish the United States well. At some point the fact that Obama does not endorse these enemies of the United States, who nevertheless endorse him, becomes irrelevant. A person is often known by the company he keeps, and Barack Hussein Obama looks good to too many people who hate the United States.
It is the belief of this blogger that the United States needs a president who is feared by our enemies, not one they feel good about. In this context, let me repeat here a quote from Dean Acheson that we posted on May 21, 2008:
Clearly the evidence mounts that Barack Hussein Obama is very comfortable in the company of, and is congenial in the eyes of, people who do not wish the United States well. At some point the fact that Obama does not endorse these enemies of the United States, who nevertheless endorse him, becomes irrelevant. A person is often known by the company he keeps, and Barack Hussein Obama looks good to too many people who hate the United States.
It is the belief of this blogger that the United States needs a president who is feared by our enemies, not one they feel good about. In this context, let me repeat here a quote from Dean Acheson that we posted on May 21, 2008:
No people in history have ever survived, who thought they could protect their freedom by making themselves inoffensive to their enemies.
Heads Up
This story in The Scotsman implies strongly that Israel will attack Iran's nuclear weapon development sites within the next 18 months. If it happens, that attack is likely to precipitate all sorts of violent reactions by players on all sides, and the United States will get drawn into it, albeit reluctantly.
Presumably, the first reaction would be attacks on Israel by Hamas and Hezbollah, both clients of Iran. Another possible outcome could be an oil crisis of the sort we had during the Nixon and Carter eras. This could happen if the Islamic oil producers, furious over our likely support of Israel, decided to turn off the oil spigot.
We live in interesting times....
Presumably, the first reaction would be attacks on Israel by Hamas and Hezbollah, both clients of Iran. Another possible outcome could be an oil crisis of the sort we had during the Nixon and Carter eras. This could happen if the Islamic oil producers, furious over our likely support of Israel, decided to turn off the oil spigot.
We live in interesting times....
Memorial Day Musings
Take a moment this Memorial Day weekend to remember the sacrifices made on our behalf by the nation's men and women in the military. For over two hundred years they have stood between us and our enemies abroad.
Don't forget in your meditations the service of our first responders: law enforcement, fire fighters, and EMTs. They stand between us and the threats here at home.
Finally, for those of us whose parents are gone, remember their love and labor that provided our 'launching pad.' So much of what we are, we owe to them.
Don't forget in your meditations the service of our first responders: law enforcement, fire fighters, and EMTs. They stand between us and the threats here at home.
Finally, for those of us whose parents are gone, remember their love and labor that provided our 'launching pad.' So much of what we are, we owe to them.
Quote of the Day
Former senator and presidential candidate Fred Thompson writes in The Wall Street Journal an article entitled "The Death of Conservatism Is Greatly Exaggerated." The entire article is worth your time; I particularly resonated with the following:
That pretty much sums up what is wrong with the President's well-intentioned No Child Left Behind initiative. Holding teachers responsible for the poor outcomes of children from dysfunctional homes in ruined neighborhoods is like blaming the Salvation Army for homelessness.
An education system cannot overcome the breakdown of the family, and the social fabric that surrounds children daily.
That pretty much sums up what is wrong with the President's well-intentioned No Child Left Behind initiative. Holding teachers responsible for the poor outcomes of children from dysfunctional homes in ruined neighborhoods is like blaming the Salvation Army for homelessness.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Foreign Students: Good or Bad?
The conventional wisdom has been that foreign students who come to the U.S. to study develop an appreciation for our finer qualities. If they go home (many never do) they are believed to go home as U.S. allies.
The evidence that there is little correlation between studying in the U.S. and liking the U.S. is becoming too strong to ignore. For example, see this Associated Press story about Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador and recent graduate student in Illinois. He is a strong supporter of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, leader of the anti-American movement in Latin America. Correa's recent years as a doctoral student at the University of Illinois apparently did not convince him of our benign goodness.
The implications of a reevaluation of foreign student policy are relatively clear. Spending U.S. tax dollars on subsidizing foreign students at U.S. universities may not be a good investment, unless the intent is to keep the graduate here as part of the "brain gain." Even this can be problematic, as we have found with several Chinese students who came here, studied, got technical work, and were later nailed by the FBI for espionage - sending secrets home.
The bottom line: at minimum, the policy of opening our doors to tens of thousands of foreign students should be reexamined by officials who, unlike universities, don't stand to gain (or lose) from their presence.
The evidence that there is little correlation between studying in the U.S. and liking the U.S. is becoming too strong to ignore. For example, see this Associated Press story about Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador and recent graduate student in Illinois. He is a strong supporter of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, leader of the anti-American movement in Latin America. Correa's recent years as a doctoral student at the University of Illinois apparently did not convince him of our benign goodness.
The implications of a reevaluation of foreign student policy are relatively clear. Spending U.S. tax dollars on subsidizing foreign students at U.S. universities may not be a good investment, unless the intent is to keep the graduate here as part of the "brain gain." Even this can be problematic, as we have found with several Chinese students who came here, studied, got technical work, and were later nailed by the FBI for espionage - sending secrets home.
The bottom line: at minimum, the policy of opening our doors to tens of thousands of foreign students should be reexamined by officials who, unlike universities, don't stand to gain (or lose) from their presence.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Coulter: Obama = Appeasement
Ann Coulter's current article at HumanEvents.com is absolutely dead accurate about the futility of talking to tyrants. And of course she manages to be fun to read at the same time that she is historically accurate, that is a nice combination. She concludes:
Liberals refuse to learn from history because they put their hands over their ears and tell themselves over and over again: "Hitler was different.
Quotes of the Day
Secretary of State Dean Acheson, cited by Sen. Joe Lieberman here, discussing the limitations of diplomacy:
Then Lieberman opines:
No people in history have ever survived, who thought they could protect their freedom by making themselves inoffensive to their enemies.
Then Lieberman opines:
This is a lesson that today's Democratic Party leaders need to relearn.
Smokin' Joe
In a Wall Street Journal article, Sen. Joe Lieberman says some things about the Democratic Party that seriously need to be said. It has become defeatist, and sees the United States as the main threat to world peace.
To be sure, he is too quick to defend Bill Clinton as a New Democrat. Clinton allowed provocations like the bombing of the USS Cole to go essentially unchallenged.
Even so, Lieberman understands that there are real enemies out there, folks who wish us dead. He is the only Democrat on the national stage today who has any courage vis-a-vis our enemies. I wonder if he could be convinced to become a Republican?
To be sure, he is too quick to defend Bill Clinton as a New Democrat. Clinton allowed provocations like the bombing of the USS Cole to go essentially unchallenged.
Even so, Lieberman understands that there are real enemies out there, folks who wish us dead. He is the only Democrat on the national stage today who has any courage vis-a-vis our enemies. I wonder if he could be convinced to become a Republican?
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