Haboob 2

Nother major storm tonight. Bigger than that last one. Our power is out. I am posting via iphone.

Much more rain. And the wind knocked over our ocotillo, which gives me the sads. But we can replant it tomorrow.

Who knew we bought a house in haboob corridor.

UPDATE: about an hour later, power is back on. Rain is stopped. What a pleasant evening. Aside from the ocotillo (and two umbrellas floating in the pool) everything is generally still intact.

Dust storm

I hadn't realized this storm last Wednesday made such a national impression until I saw it mentioned on other blogs and people were asking about it.

We happened to be in the pool at about 6:30pm when I noticed (what I thought were) clouds developing in the south. That's when I decided it was time to get out.

It was extremely fast moving and when I saw that the "clouds" reached all the way down to the ground, I knew this was going to be a doozy. So I grabbed the camera and started filming.

Ed told me to come inside, so I did about 2 minutes in. But I decided to go back out to capture more of the impact. You'll see how fast it comes in, and it gets so dark the street lights come on.




Oh, it lasted much longer than this seven minute video. And after the dust came the rain!

But amazingly, we did not lose any trees, or umbrellas.

So, this is what July in Phoenix is like.

Hoppy Easter

Hey everyone, happy Easter from your cartoon pals at the C&C compound. We are doing very well. It's a bright and sunny Easter day, perfect for hiding eggs and finding them except we're inside.

We are trying something new today. I am dictating this using Dragon speech recognition software, and actually it works. I am even doing this on my iPad so this might inspire more postings because usually I'm too lazy to write anything. We'll have to see how that goes.

Anyway, hope you're enjoying the kitty pictures, will be sure to post a lot more of them. That's all for now.

Thelma & Louise

I warned him on a previous post that this day would come....








The "only" child now has to share his kingdom with two more.









Actually their names aren't really Thelma & Louise.  I only call them that because the two of them seem to be constantly careening towards disaster. 





Shiraz (grey) & Sequel (Black).

I hope the house and furniture survive!
Pray for us.

Coming soon - Kitty Kapers

The Plan II- Revenge of the Landscape

With Phase 1 "Ye Ole Cemente Ponde"complete,... we return to our intrepid homeowners for their next Catastophe... I mean Caper.

BEHOLD!!
This weed-ridden dust-bowl of a backyard will soon be transformed into a pristine Desert Oasis.

BTW, stay calm... those aren't body outlines on the ground.

Let's hope this stage goes a little more smooth than Phase 1.

Stay Tuned for more

-e

Mom & MIM

While Mom was in town for a long weekend we thought we would check out the "Museum of Musical Instrments". The MIM provides you with a pair of earphones to use as you view the exhibits. You may wander from continent to continent and explore.


There's even a "Petting Zoo" where you can bang, strum & pluck to your heart's content.



For a music geek such as myself it was a real treat.



If this is your cup of tea,... don't miss it.
http://www.themim.org/

-e

Santa was good to us

I got an iPad

Eddie got a 55 inch 3D tv

Rocky got some ribbon to play with

Last night we were in the hot tub. Mainly just so we could say we did. We like to rub it in.

So what did you all get?

Merry Christmas

Posted via my HTC android on I-10 driving west
(I'm not the one driving, relax)

Celebrate National Remote Control Boating Month

...the thing I just now invented.

Anyway, here is Thirsty Howell the Tird taking the ol' SS Mildew out for a three minute spin, a three minute spin.

Me Fail Geography? That's Unpossible

They grow them real smart up there in Laverne and Shirley land

This is Milwaukee County Supervisor Peggy West. Let's all give her a round of applause.

First heard about it from KFYI
Expect this to go viral... I hope

Let's have some fun with demographics

Here's an interesting interactive map from Forbes. It shows graphically the migrating patterns across America, using data from the IRS. (See, they are keeping track of you.)

Here's what the Phoenix area looks like. Black lines are inmigration, red lines are outmigration.

I'm not surprised to see all the black lines from the northeast and upper midwest. We also get more than our fair share of California refugees. I am surprised to see as many red lines. I suspect our 20-year population boom has slowed or ended. Or there could be some snowbird migration showing, particularly to the north.


Oh, here's the map for State College, PA

Hmm, mostly red lines. But I can see a black line moving from Pima County, AZ. Wonder what would have caused that??

Go to the website and have some fun with other counties. If you want a real laugh (or cry), be sure to click on Detroit and Los Angeles. Gives new meaning to the concept of hemorrhaging.

I do want to thank Ace Of Spades HQ for alerting me to this.

Our Attorney General - Eric Holder

Since we don't read Budgets why would we read Bills ??
Student receives a Failing grade.



(Pssst,... here's the Bill, Mr Holder..... you may want to read it.
It's only 16 pgs.)

I Kid You Not

The Phoenix Suns will wear "Los Suns" on their jerseys in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Wednesday night.

Um, the Spanish translation of the suns is los soles.

If I cared at all about the NBA, I would be embarrassed for them. I am in no way embarrased because of them.

You did very good to make all those baskets, Stevie.

Now all you players go back to waving your guns around, driving drunk trolling for oral sex, assaulting chauffeurs. Oh, and beating up your wife.

Stones, glass houses - some assembly required.

I feel smarter already

Shakira is in town today to get herself some learnin from the idiot mayor of Phoenix regarding the new illegal immigration law. She wanted to meet with the governor too, but the governor's schedule was already booked. Imagine that.

Don't know who Shakira is? She's yesterday's Lady Gaga.

"I can see Mexico from my porch"

Arizona

Thank you

I guess this is considered reasoned debate now.
http://www.azfamily.com/home/related/Immigration-debate-sparking-lots-of-vandalism-92153179.html

Note carefully, the reporter states more than once that the vandalism is coming from both sides, but see if you can see both sides in the examples shown.

Fortunately, our conciliatory post-racial president is doing his best to reduce tensions and appeal for calm.

"But now suddenly if you don’t have your papers and you took your kid out to get ice cream, you’re going to be harassed, that’s something that could potentially happen.”

I feel safer now.

You Think You've Got Problems

Closing of Rest Stops Stirs Anger in Arizona (click here for full article )

Next time you drive from Phoenix to Tucson, bring that Mason Jar with you. This economy is a killer.

Funny, though. Seems like all the government cuts come in the areas most visible to the public. There's no cost savings available in overhead or administration or fat union contracts?

Not my job indeed. Guess we're not all in this together.

Guest Post: On the Limits of Multiculturalism

My sister Melanie sent a very thoughtful response to the post below regarding the terrible crime against an eight year old girl here in Phoenix. I was very impressed by it and felt it deserved its own post. There is an update to the situation at the end. Many thanks to her for sending this:


----------
I too was aghast at this story. While not minimizing the personal trauma of this young girl, I don't believe her ordeal was in vain. Let me offer some rays of silver lining which spring directly from the extreme nature of the attack.

First, outrage was sparked here that was felt around the world. It wasn't just a local thing. Because of the details of the crime, especially the family's alleged statement, the story was headlined across the nation and even addressed nationally. That shows we still have a moral limit to what we will accept.

Second, there are so many horrible things that happen to children daily, it is somewhat comforting to know that we can still get outraged. It is important that we never allow ourselves to get so callused that we shrug off abuse, especially of women and children. Sometimes we need to be reminded. We cared about this.

Third, it is heartening to have the President of Liberia publicly address the issue again as she has done since she came to office. She is personally aware of the stigma of rape and publicly shared her own sexual assault story. She immediately ordered the Liberian ambassador here in the US to provide whatever support was needed for this young girl. Again, the immediate, positive, and public support of the Liberian nation is comforting. The rejection of rape victims is not the “culture” of all Liberians. Liberia is actively fighting this evil.

Fourth, while my own years of dealing with the Foster Care System and Child Protective Services were not pleasant, I agree that the young girl is better off in their care. (We cared for a couple of sexual assault victims.) She will receive years of free counseling-- in a case like this, mandated by the courts. She will not only be taught that this was not her fault, but also that she is a valuable human being. She could very well emerge from this with a more positive self image than if she had been raised in her family’s culture. (I base this on the experience of our young foster child.) The family’s shunning of her could be viewed as a blessing in disguise. It was the catalyst that brought the counseling. It assures the state will be cautious about returning her to any relative (which is the state-mandated first choice.) If the family rejects her, it will be far easier to terminate parental rights and move her to a permanent home. Can you imagine if the family had not made the disgusting comment publicly? The girl would have been returned to the family and been lost in the system. She would have been ostracized and probably received no counseling at all.

Fifth, it is also a blessing in disguise that the viciousness of the crime will cause the boys in the case to get attention as well. The oldest one will be tried as an adult, and if found guilty will be labeled a sex offender for life. That protects society. The younger ones will be confronted with the error of their “culture” and hopefully reprogrammed before they do more damage. Can you imagine if these four had not come to the attention of authorities at this age? What damage might they have done as they got older?

Sixth, it is comforting that someone was willing to get involved. She heard the screams, investigated and called the police. What if she had pretended not to hear? What if she had brushed the noise off as children playing? What if she had just taken the girl to the parents instead of calling the police? This woman was a Good Samaritan, and it is comforting to know there are still decent people out there.

It is tragic that something like this would happen to a young girl. Ironically, the very heinousness of the crime may lead to blessings for her. And it lets us know there are still decent people (in Liberia, Phoenix, and across our nation) who are outraged at things that are wrong.

----------

UPDATE: As mentioned, the oldest boy, 14, is being tried as an adult. The Maricopa County Attorney is petitioning to have the 13 year old boy also charged as an adult. The two youngest boys, 8 and 9, were arraigned last Wednesday and ordered to remain in juvenile detention.

The Liberian deputy ambassador has arrived in Phoenix to speak with the girl as well as other members of the local Liberian community, many of whom are worried about the potential backlash they may face resulting from this incident.

There are Limits to Multiculturalism

Sadly, a very horrific crime took place in the Phoenix area this week.
I caution, this is rough.

via KFYI

Four Boys Charged in 8-Year-Old Girl's Rape
PHOENIX (AP) – Maricopa County authorities say four boys ages 9 to 14 have been charged in the sexual assault of an 8-year-old girl whom they had lured to an empty storage shed with chewing gum.
...
Phoenix police Sgt. Andy Hill says the boys held the girl down while they took turns sexually assaulting her.
...
All the children are refugees from the West African nation of Liberia.

But wait, it gets much worse.

via AZCentral

...Police said the girl's parents criticized her after the violence, blaming her for bringing shame on the family. All five children are refugees from the West African nation of Liberia.
...
Authorities said the victim was in the care of Child Protective Services after her parents blamed her for the rapes and bringing shame to the family.

“The father told the case worker and an officer in her presence that he didn't want her back. He said Take her, I don't want her,'” Hill said.

Hill cited the family's background as the reason the family shunned the girl.

In many parts of Africa, women often are blamed for being raped for “enticing” men or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Girls who are raped often are shunned by their families.

You read that right. I wish I could say this was an abberation, but unfortunately it is very common in many parts of the world, particularly Africa and the Middle East. When women are victims of rape and sexual assault, they are held responsible and punished. Oftentimes they are murdered by their own families in what is called an "honor killing."

As difficult as this young girl's life will be in the custody of Child Protective Services, clearly she is not safe anymore with her family.

Allow me to step outside the civilized bounds of Political Correctness, but this is wrong. And any society or culture that condones such abhorrent treatment of women and girls is inferior.

Am I off base here?
I yield back the soapbox.

We Grow Them Big Here

These are lemons. Not grapefruits. We picked these from my backyard on Saturday. As you can see, they are Teh Mutant. But actually they are very tasty, as my mom will attest. Oh, it was 108 degrees here yesterday. Forecast is more of the same. Be happy if you live anywhere other than here. We'll get our revenge in 5 months.

Presidential pass by

I rode the light rail back from downtown Phoenix this afternoon. It was packed packed packed. And dozens more wanting to board at each stop between downtown and ASU campus in Tempe. The president is giving the commencement speech this evening. Give the man his due, he can draw a large crowd. Everyone seemed in good spirits.

I must say, I am pleased at how the new light rail system is being used, especially for events like this as well as baseball games. It's nice to have a viable option to driving downtown. I wish the expansion plans were faster. Anyone living in Mesa or Tempe, give it a try and see if you like it.
http://www.valleymetro.org/metro_light_rail/

The Jacarandas are in Bloom

One of my favorite times of the year in the Phoenix area. And this is my favorite tree during this time. I think the jacaranda tree is the prettiest when it is in bloom. It only blooms in the spring and any other time of the year you would walk right past and not even notice it. But this is its time to shine. These purple blooms are the sign that the triple digit temps are here to stay. So now we grit our teeth, wait for October, and stay inside as much as possible -- except when we are in the pool.