Alrighty Then: Whose Jobs Are Being Taken Away?

I recently visited my dad for Father's Day. He lives in San Antonio, Texas.

During that trip I couldn't help but notice several restaurants that seemed on the verge of shutting down. Dad and I came across a Mexican restaurant sporting a Help Wanted sign (in English, by the way). Granted its a single example - but witnessing this situation first hand, the.. rhetoric.. from those who would say illegal immigrants are taking away their jobs IMMEDIATELY came to mind. Not to mention hasty generalizations about good people with the simple intent to pursue happiness and to improve the quality of their family lives.

I didn't exactly see a mob of those petty people smashing down this door for work.

So tell me: about this immigration problem used as a political wedge issue - exactly whose jobs are being taken away?

Prettiest Senior Prank We Ever Saw!

Funny how when people grow older, they either:
- forget what its like to perform a senior prank, or
- are jealous they never got the opportunity to participate in one.

Recently, seniors pull a prank in Oregon that as my boyfriend put it, "that's probably the prettiest senior prank I ever saw!" The pranksters plant flowers on a high school lawn in the form of a peace sign. The administration in its infinite wisdom seeks to punish the pranksters to restore defaced property. What the fuck! But who's the fool, because community volunteers help with the restoration.

This article has a picture of what's left.

Kudos to the pranksters and to the volunteers. Maybe there is hope for us yet.

Definitely Not An Employer Of Choice

The military is getting so desparate for recruiting these days. Last night Steve and I went to the movies to see Spiderman 3. We're watching the pre-show commercials when one from the marines blasts on the screen. And then in my email this morning, I see a PFLAG alert containing an article about gay linguists getting let go from the military. I've heard of this before, so its nothing new to me.

I have strong feelings about the military in general. That's besides the point. But when I saw the recruitment commercial last night, I was reminded of a show I once saw on HD on gaming. It included what the armed forces, both in the U.S. and the Middle East, have been doing to recruit teens. I digress.

So on the one hand, the U.S. military needs qualified people to translate Arabic during this time of armed conflict. On the other hand, they're letting go of translators just because of their sexual orientation. Although this is a time of petty war, the armed forces need qualified translators.

But these desparate military employers are disposing of that which they need. I just love watching pure ignorance in action. Love how some striving to be employers of choice stupidly believe that sexual orientation directly impacts qualification of employment.

Rep. Marty Meehan, who has sought a repeal, organized the letter (wanting an explanation why specialists are being let go) to Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., asking the (House Armed Services) committee hold a hearing about the Arabic linguists.

"At a time when our military is stretched to the limit and our cultural knowledge of the Middle East is dangerously deficient, I just can't believe that kicking out able, competent Arabic linguists is making our country any safer," Meehan said.

The letter, signed by about 40 House members, says that the military has discharged 58 Arabic linguists under the policy and that Congress should decide whether "don't ask, don't tell" "is serving the nation well."

How's It Lookin' All The Way Up There?

I stumbled upon this article this morning. I love looking over articles and pictures which reflect on Earth itself. Always rather humbling and awe-inspiring. You think we as "the human race" have come so far in some ways, but we're oh so backwards..

I'm always in awe of the beauty of this planet from space. The depictions in science fiction.. the depictions in science fact.. We think this planet is so huge in many ways, but in even more - its oh, so small. I remember the very first time I got to see live television footage of Earth from the International Space Station in HD. It was quite an emotional moment quickly subdued by the reality that we, the human race, don't always know how to take care of it and its inhabitants.

I'm no saint at fully appreciating and caring for the planet, who is these days. I'll confess that when I'm at my worst I've been guilty of littering. We're all individuals with working brains you know.. we're all capable of making our choices and taking control of our habits. And there are things I probably should be doing different anyway, like resume a persistent reminder about this "little thing" called littering..

I can't reflect on the article without interjecting some Star Trek references, too.. :) Some of the many lessons I've learned from it are about appreciating the Earth itself. About casting aside greed, petty differences and petty geographical borders and working towards improving the common good for all.. but I digress..

Two of their movies show the same appreciation for the planet that this article expresses. In Star Trek: The Motion Picture is a moment where Captain Kirk and company leave Earth's orbit and he asks for a rear view of their departure. Its a wonderful moment. Then there's Star Trek: First Contact, where the very first "warp drive" ship blasts off from Earth. The ship distances itself at the speed of light.. it pauses, turns around.. and peeks into the vastness of space in the direction of a rather ordinary-looking yet beautiful blue and white speck. The drive's inventor, piloting the ship, gasps: "its so SMALL."

How true.

Downright Silly!

This article clearly speaks for itself. Hip-swaying is grounds for termination if you're a cop in the Philippines. Downright silly if you ask me.