Jump right into the political fray

I was going to start out with some easy get-to-know-me posts (or describe the black mold we found in the bedroom this weekend and my subsequent sinus infection, but quickly decided that snot stories do not make for good blogging,) instead, this recent news story has me thinking.

After a bit of looking around at who would be building these 28 new high-tech helicopters, and where. First, I do think that 28 is a bit excessive, even if they do need a couple of decoys plus a couple hot spares a third of that number sounds better. Second, the company tasked to provide these whirlybirds is Lockheed Martin, based out of Maryland and the production plant is in New York state. I like that the work would go to a US-based company and be produced in the US. Third, most of the news reports, and McCain's comments make it seem like the new fleet of 'copters is an expense Obama is indulging in. In fact, Bush awarded the contract over 4 years ago. I found these press releases.

Finally, that news release mentions that some of the major components in the new helicopter are not US-made, which is not as good for US jobs. But we also have to consider that if countries that buy from the US or supply the US probably need a boost to their economy to continue to trade. If the government does not purchase at least some of these new Marine One helicopters, Lockheed Martin will be yet another employer looking to slash jobs. We could look at a portion of the purchase price as a part of the stimulus bill.

On the topic of President Obama and Marine One, I enjoyed the story of him first saluting the marine at the foot of the helicopter stairs, and then shaking the Corporal's hand. The president asked Williams' name and said it was an honor and he appreciated the service. Since that young marine is from Eastern Missouri, it was covered in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. While finding the link, I saw a blogger getting getting the story wrong, thinking that the president did not salute and therefore disrespecting the armed forces. I also found this photo of our lanky prez bumping his head on Marine One just a few days later.

(AP photo / February 9, 2009)

Headline: Obama bumps head when boarding Marine One
The solution for the 6-foot-1 president? Duck!
(Baltimore Sun / February 10, 2009)

Inaugural Blog Post

I've been thinking of starting a blog for a while, but had the thoughts of what will I have to talk about? and who will actually take the time to read it? and who will find it? I have a handful of blogs I read faithfully and post on occasionally, but now I find I have some of my own things to say.

The straw that broke the camel's back straw was that I had a dream last night about having a wildly successful blog (not that the blogs success is important to me, however that is measured.) This lazy Saturday morning I woke up and made my coffee (made strong, with plenty of 1/2 & 1/2 and dark brown sugar), read a book (and finished it) while my cat sat on my feet (that may be because of the heating pad I had keeping my toes arm) and mulled it over. I've been seeing the "You are not an author on any blogs yet, create one now to start posting!" message on the Blogger Dashboard I use to follow my favorite bloggers and realized how easy it could be to set up. So here I am!

Just writing this intro, I've come up with ideas for posts, but I will warn you that I do not anticipate being an every-single-day poster. I won't always have something profound to say, and I won't always use perfect sentence structure or grammar (is that even the same thing?) though I will try to spell correctly and use proper capitalization. It is more important to me to convey the feeling behind the words and letters to my (as yet mythical) readers.

So those of you that stop by: welcome! Stay a while, feel free to comment--I won't judge on grammar and punctuation--but I would ask for civility and that you respect that this is my blog with my opinions and thoughts, though I am willing to hear people that do not agree with me 100%. I am not trying to sell anything or convert anybody to my way of thought, or change the world, just to share a bit of my life.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Warmest regards,
Laura