Odds'nends

Dubai Ports
Too bad. It appears the showdown between Congress and the President won't happen. Dubai Ports World has decided to turn over most operations of the port terminals it bought to an American company. I would have enjoyed seeing how the showdown would have played out. But, really, I never understood all the fuss. From the time I heard a couple of pros explain how the industry works and talk about the issue very early on, I felt that the shrieks about it were Democrats grasping at anything to slam the President. But then Republicans joined in. That was good for the Democrats, because if the Republicans had not been just as myopic, they could have turned the uproar into a weapon against the Democrats. The Democrats dodged the bullet on that one. I'm among the first to proclaim that "if Bush believes it, it's wrong," but in this case, I think Bush had the right position....though I firmly believe he had the wrong reasons for holding it...the man is incapable of rationale thought.

Sark: The End of a Feudal Empire
I heard a snippet on NPR this afternoon about Sark, a tiny island off the coast of England, which has ended its feudal governance in favor of democracy, but not because it wanted to. Read about it.

Kinky Friedman for Governor of Texas
I made it a point not to vote in the primaries this week so I could sign the petition to get Kinky Friedman on the ballot in Texas next November. I don't for a minute look to him as the saving grace for the state, but he is an outside, his political views are based on reason and not so much (or at all) on what's politically correct, and it will just give the Republicans and Democrats fits. All reasons to support him. I may even support him financially. Pass the word: Kinky Friedman for Governor of Texas!

Buying a Home in Mexico...Maybe
I'm hoping to get some more information soon about a Mexican condo that my wife and I are considering buying. We've not seen it, but lots of photos suggest it is a nice place and, if the economy and the market continue on their present path, probably will escalate in value over time. No guarantees, of course, we understand. My brother and his wife live near the place and we may ask them to act on our behalf to make an offer.

I Want to Buy Your Land!
Twice during the past six months to a year, I have received unsolicited mail telling me that someone wants to buy my undeveloped land in Walker County, Texas for cash. I take that to mean someone wants to fleece me out of land at bargain basement prices. So, I have ignored the messages. Maybe I shouldn't, though. Another brother, who lives next to my land, is talking about moving to Mexico, too. But now, I'm thinking I should build a little place on my land and use it as a source of rental income. I think I could build a small, but very decent, place for probably $45-$55K. I could use it as a retirement backup in the event the Mexico plan didn't work out. Maybe. I need to think more about this.

Dubrovnik
Well, I finally bought my tickets to Dubrovnik...at least some of them. I have yet to buy my round-trip tickets to Boston, where my overseas journey will start. But I do have the flights locked in, beginning on May 7 at about 7:00 pm. I fly to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Dubrovnik. I return on May 15, departing Dubrovnik early in the morning. I'm not looking at my tickets (I don't have them in hand yet), but I think I fly from Dubrovnik to Frankfurt, then to Boston, arriving about 8:30 pm. I'm probably going to get a hotel room at the airport and fly back to Dallas the next morning. But, all of it depends on my sister-in-law and her boyfriend. They live in Boston (in Revere Beach, just north). I may fly in early and stay a day with them. I can't make my RT Boston tickets from Dallas until I know. Soon.

Bye-Bye Abu Ghraib
It's appalling that the U.S. has taken so long to finally decide to close Abu Ghraib. It's worse that Guantanamo is still operating at capacity. Would you join me in calling for the impeachment of George Bush and his entire administration?

Chile con Arroz
Michele Bachalet will meet with Evo Morales (Bolivia's new president) on Friday and Condeleesa Rice (the U.S. Secretary of State and Bush lackey) on Saturday. According to The Santiago Times, the Rice visit on Saturday is recognition that the Friday meeting with Morales is more important. Condi Rice is no doubt intelligent...too bad she is a Republican and too bad she values her involvement with the Bush administration more than she values truth, honor, and dignity. I would not vote for her as president even is she were running against a pro-slavery candidate. She is as 'evil' as her boss.

Oh My Cod!
Dinner's in the oven. We're having baked cod tonight. It's really very tasty. Oh my Cod! Food's almost ready! I have to go!