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Generation Opportunity, one of America’s largest organizations connecting with young adults through a strategy of social media outreach coupled with on-the-ground grassroots organizing, has just released the non-seasonally adjusted (NSA) 18-29 unemployment rate data for May:
The youth unemployment rate for 18-29 year olds specifically (NSA) for May 2012 is 12.1 percent.
The declining labor participation rate has created an additional 1.7 million young adults that are not counted as “unemployed” by BLS because they are not in the labor force, meaning that those young people have given up looking for work due to the lack of jobs.
If the labor force participation rate were factored into the overall 18-29 youth unemployment calculation, the actual 18-29-unemployment rate would rise to 16.9 percent (NSA).
Generation Opportunity President Paul T. Conway, former Chief of Staff of the United States Department of Labor, where the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is housed, and the former Chief of Staff of the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) responds to the May 2012 jobs numbers:
“The young adult unemployment rate, now at 12.1 percent for those 18-29 years old, represents yet another chapter in the indefensible saga of how a great generation is being denied economic opportunity, jobs, critical skills, and the ability to pursue their dreams.
“As summer begins, the ranks of all those frustrated by the lack of opportunities are joined by recent high school and college graduates whose enthusiasm to join the work force has been slammed by the same harsh economic status quo their brothers and sisters have been experiencing for the past few years – one marked by record high unemployment, a patchwork of part-time jobs, or jobs outside their chosen profession.
“Through no fault of their own, an increasing number of young Americans have begun to lose hope and have dropped out of the workforce entirely, disillusioned by the lack of jobs and dismayed at a White House that attacks America’s job creators and employers, while simultaneously putting Americans and their futures into deeper debt.
“Today, we are calling on young Americans across the nation – all those who are unemployed, those who are working multiple part-time jobs, and those concerned about friends and family members who are themselves in this situation – to call the White House in the coming days and tell President Obama the time is now for real change. America can do better.”
Generation Opportunity is today encouraging its Facebook fans, as well as its thousands of grassroots supporters across the nation, to call the White House at (202) 456-1414 and demand that the policies of the last three and a half years, which have stifled job creation, be reversed in favor of policies that free up Americans to create jobs, to hire, and to restore the American tradition of access to opportunity for all.
To see our Facebook call to action, go to: https://www.facebook.com/BeingAmericanByGO
Generation Opportunity is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c)(4) organization that seeks to engage everyone from young adults, to early career professionals, college students, young mothers and fathers, construction workers, current service men and women, veterans, entrepreneurs, and all Americans who find themselves dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to create a better tomorrow.
Generation Opportunity operates on a strategy that combines advanced social media tactics with proven field tactics to reach Americans 18-29. The organization’s social media platforms – “Being American by GO,” “The Constitution by GO,” “Gas Prices Are Too Damn High,” and “Keep Texas Awesome” on Facebook – have amassed a total fan base of more than 3.4 million. All four pages post links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Young Adult Unemployment Rate Soars
Piss In The Pool? Yes, At Record Rates
People are peeing in that pool you're wading or swimming in.
And as summer approaches, you'd better be damned careful.
In fact, some reports say you might want to think twice before taking a dip in a public pool this summer.
According to a recent survey in when roughly 1,000 American adults were asked whether they urinate in pools, one in five admitted to doing so. Remember: this reflects only the number of people who admitted to peeing in pools.
Yes, chlorine kills most waterborne germs.
But pesky germs and infections can develop antibodies to the disinfectant and spread rapidly. Additional bacteria carried on human skin, including sweat and fecal matter, raises the risk of E. coli or salmonella contaminating pools. The chances of getting sick are said to be highest at crowded recreational water parks, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Sadly, the CDC has seen a significant increase in gastrointestinal illnesses caused by swimming in dirty pools across the U.S.
More Images from Alaska
Enjoy these just captured shots of Holland America's Statendam and Alaska's Mendenhall Glacier!
Sphere: Related Content
Runyan Amendment Protects McGuire, Other Bases
On Thursday May 31st, Congressman Jon Runyan (R-NJ) introduced an amendment to H.R. 5854 that would prohibit funds from being used to modify any military installations outside of the normal Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. H.R. 5854 is the Appropriations Bill to set funding for Military Construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies for Fiscal Year 2013. Congressman Runyan’s amendment was passed by a voice vote.
“This amendment is yet another victory in our fight to protect the jobs and mission of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst” said Runyan. “However, it is imperative that we remain vigilant and stay one step ahead of any efforts to impose a back-door BRAC through informal channels. I will continue to work with our community in South Jersey and my colleagues in Congress to defend JB-MDL.”
Congressman Runyan is a Member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Veterans Affairs Committee. He serves as the Chairman of the Veteran Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Inside 1600: An Embattled, Weary Presidency
Our sources in Washington tell us that the White House is dispirited, embattled and hopelessly frustrated.
And today's dismal job figures are doing nothing to alleviate the pain.
White House pollsters and Democrat strategists have delivered bad news to the president: His numbers are slipping and the situation looks precarious at best.
States that weren't supposed to be in play (like Iowa and Wisconsin) are now not only in play but they're teetering.
Even the president's personal popularity (long considered a mainstay) is now on shaky ground.
The American people are developing Obama fatigue. And they are less and less confident every day that we are headed in the right direction.
In truth, the New York Times itself has admitted that the president's operatives and long-time Chicago loyalists are at wits end as to what to do or how to react.
Obama has gotten a free pass for so long that he and his cohorts don't know which way to turn in the face of such adversity. They should have seen it coming but they miscalculated from the start.
They thought the GOP presidential hopefuls would destroy one another. They never expected Romney to nail down the nomination quite so early. They thought Mitt would be so badly wounded by months of party infighting that he would enter the race a mere ghost of his former self. They thought they could easily out fundraise Romney and the GOP. They were wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong.
The president is said to be depressed. By some accounts he is often uncommunicative and holed up in the White House study on on the second floor private quarters.
More than one report has identified the Svegali figure of Valerie Jarrett as the de-facto president. Jarrett has reportedly bullied White House staffers, dressed down leading Democrat senators and House members, run roughshod over cabinet
officials and is pictured as giving marching orders to the president himself. She's been called an "elbows up" personality who takes no prisoners. Scary!
She has also been called "the most powerful woman in America." And she continues to have the ear of the president and the First Lady. Supposedly NOTHING reaches the president's desk and no one gets in to see the president without Jarrett's approval.
Some say the president is alternately despondent and angry.
They say he wants to lash out but his options are limited. He can't jettison the Chicago gang because he owes everything to them and he's still tied to the hometown regime: ward-healers, union bosses, bare-knuckled political operatives and 1960s style social deconstructionists.
And maybe he's simply not seasoned enough, not experienced enough to break free or to even know that he needs to break free to have any chance at all of surviving.
So Obama & Co. are flailing.
Attacking corporate America didn't work.
Neither did charging Republicans with launching a "war on women."
Neither did the attack on Bain.
And the assault on religious freedom roused a sleeping giant: the Catholic Church and its prelates.
Now the attack on Romney's record as governor has fizzled and the new jobs reports have put the focus back where the Obamatons don't want it: the economy.
No place to hide.
Suddenly, Mr. Cool is on the hot seat.
Mitt: Jobs Report Shows Obama Has Failed
“Today’s weak jobs report is devastating news for American workers and American families. This week has seen a cascade of one bad piece of economic news after another. Slowing GDP growth, plunging consumer confidence, an increase in unemployment claims, and now another dismal jobs report all stand as a harsh indictment of the President’s handling of the economy.
"It is now clear to everyone that President Obama’s policies have failed to achieve their goals and that the Obama economy is crushing America’s middle class. The President's re-election slogan may be ‘forward,’ but it seems like we've been moving backward. We can do so much better in America. That's why I'm running for president.” –Mitt Romney
The Nation’s Job Climate “Dimmed” Last Month After Another “Bleak” Unemployment Report:
Last Month, “The Nation’s Jobs Picture Dimmed” With Unemployment Increasing To 8.2%. “The nation's jobs picture dimmed in May as employers added just 69,000 jobs and the unemployment rate ticked up to 8.2 percent, a continuation of a long, slow employment recovery that began 33 months ago.” (Susanna Kim, “May Unemployment Rises To 8.2 Pct.,” ABC News, 6/1/12)
“The Economy Added Only 69,000 Jobs In May, A Result Much Worse Than Expected That Will Heighten Fears The Economy Is Sliding Back.” (Vicki Needham and Ian Swanson, “Bleak Labor Report Finds Economy Added 69,000 Jobs In May,” The Hill, 6/1/12)
“Economists Had Expected 150,000 New Jobs And The Jobless Rate To Stay At 8.1 Percent…” “Economists had expected 150,000 new jobs and the jobless rate to stay at 8.1 percent, according to Bloomberg. Stocks, which had their worst month in two years in May, fell on the news with the Dow Jones industrials set to open down nearly 190 points.” (Susanna Kim, “May Unemployment Rises To 8.2 Pct.,” ABC News, 6/1/12)
The Labor Department Also Revised Down April’s Unemployment Report. “Last month, the Labor Department reported 77,000 jobs were added in April, revised down today from 115,000 for an unemployment rate of 8.1 percent, a drop of one-tenth of a point from the previous month.” (Susanna Kim, “May Unemployment Rises To 8.2 Pct.,” ABC News, 6/1/12)
FLASHBACK: President Obama’s Advisors Predicted The Stimulus Would Lower Unemployment To 6% Today – But It Has Remained Above 8% For 40 Straight Months. (Christina Romer and Jared Bernstein, "The Job Impact Of The American Recovery And Reinvestment Plan," 1/9/09)
The May Employment Picture Was “Uniformly Bad” And Further Evidence The “Labor-Market Recovery Is Stalling”:
The Wall Street Journal’s Steven Russolillo: “This Is Bad. Real Bad.” (Steven Russolillo, “Bad All Around,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/1/12)
The Wall Street Journal’s Kathleen Madigan: “The May Jobs Report Looks Uniformly Bad … A Labor Market In Deep Trouble Through The Spring.” “The May jobs report looks uniformly bad, and with March and April jobs gains both revised lower, the numbers show a labor market in deep trouble through the spring.” (Kathleen Madigan, “Can't Put Lipstick On This Pig,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/1/12)
The Associated Press: “The Dismal Jobs Figures Could Fan Fears That The Economy Is Sputtering.” “U.S. employers created 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest in a year, and the unemployment rate ticked up. The dismal jobs figures could fan fears that the economy is sputtering.” (Christopher Rugaber, “U.S. Employers Added 69,000 Jobs In May As The Unemployment Rate Rose To 8.2 Percent,” The Associated Press, 6/1/12)
Bloomberg, On The Jobs Report: “Further Evidence That The Labor-Market Recovery Is Stalling.” “American employers in may added the smallest number of workers in a year and the unemployment rate unexpectedly increased as job-seekers re-entered the workforce, further evidence that the labor-market recovery is stalling.” (Timothy R. Homan, “Employment In U.S. Increased 69,000 In May,” Bloomberg, 6/1/12)
Economist Mark Zandi: “There's Nowhere To Hide On This One.” (Jordan Fabian, Twitter.com, 6/1/12)
And The Jobs Report Is The Latest Disappointing News After A Weak GDP Report, Sharp Decline In Consumer Confidence, And A Jump In Unemployment Claims:
The Nation’s GDP “Grew At A Slower Pace Than Previous Reported” In The First Quarter Of 2012 – 1.9% – Which Is “Widely Considered To Be Weak” Economic Growth. “The nation's economy grew at a slower pace than previously reported in the first three months of this year, raising new concerns about economic weakness. Gross domestic product, the broadest measure of the nation's economic health, grew at an annual rate of 1.9% in the first quarter, the Commerce Department said Thursday. The rate was lowered from the 2.2% growth rate originally reported in April, and significantly slower than the 3% growth rate in the final three months of last year. The current growth rate is widely considered to be weak.” (Chris Isidore, “U.S. GDP Grows At 1.9% Annual Rate In 1st Quarter,” CNN Money, 5/31/12)
“A Growth Rate Of About 3% Is What Economists Typically Expect Will Lead Employers To Engage In The Kind Of Significant Hiring Needed To Make A Dent In Unemployment.” (Chris Isidore, “U.S. GDP Grows At 1.9% Annual Rate In 1st Quarter,” CNN Money, 5/31/12)
“New Unemployment Claims Jumped Unexpectedly Last Week, Indicating A Pickup In Layoffs…” “New unemployment claims jumped unexpectedly last week, indicating a pickup in layoffs, a worrisome sign ahead of Friday's jobs report for May. Adding to the dreary economic news, the government said in a separate report Thursday that U.S. gross domestic product grew at a slower pace in the first quarter than previously thought.” (Don Lee, “Unemployment Claims Rise, GDP Growth Is Revised Downward,” Los Angeles Times, 6/1/12)
“Americans Confidence In The Economy Fell The Most In Eight Months As Worries About The Weak Jobs, Housing And Stock Markets Continue To Rattle Them.” (“Consumer Confidence In The Economy Plunged In May,” The Associated Press, 5/29/12)
The Consumer Confidence Index Suffered “The Biggest Drop Since October 2011.” “The Conference Board, a private research group, said on Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index now stands at 64.9, down from a revised 68.7 in April. The May figure, which represents the biggest drop since October 2011 when the measure fell about 6 points, shows that consumers need more encouraging news before their concerns start to dissipate.” (“Consumer Confidence In The Economy Plunged In May,” The Associated Press, 5/29/12)
Thursday, May 31, 2012
South Philly Beer Festival Debuts June 8
The first-ever South Philly Beer Festival will be held as part of Philly Beer Week at XFINITY Live!, the new entertainment and dining district built on the former site of the Spectrum, on Friday, June 8 from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tickets are available now for $30 via facebook.com/XFINITYLive or missiontix.com/phillybeerfest.
Ticketed guests will be able to sample brews from various local, regional and national breweries in the outdoor plaza of XFINITY Live! from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. Food pairing for each of the brews will be provided by XFINITY Live! Executive Chef Chris Stevens. In addition, each ticketed guest will receive a limited edition mug, allowing patrons to select specially-priced beverages throughout XFINITY Live! all day. Free and convenient parking is available at the Wells Fargo Complex for the event.
Among the breweries to be featured at the South Philadelphia Beer Festival:
- Harpoon Brewery
- Twin Lakes Brewery
- Great Lakes Brewing Company
- Spaten-Franziskaner
- Sly Fox Brewing Company
- Flying Fish Brewing Company
- Woodchuck
XFINITY Live! will donate $5 of every ticket purchased to the Lemon Society of Philadelphia benefiting Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and the battle against childhood cancer.
XFINITY Live! Philadelphia (xfinitylive.com) is a dining and entertainment district centered in the heart of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. XFINITY Live! is home to over a dozen restaurant and entertainment choices, including six main venues: Victory Beer Hall, Spectrum Grill, Broad Street Bullies Pub, PBR Bar & Grill (Professional Bull Riders), Philly Market Place, and the first-ever NBC Sports Arena. XFINITY Live! Philadelphia is joint partnership between Philadelphia-based Comcast-Spectacor and Baltimore-based The Cordish Companies.
Obama's Legacy: Lost Jobs, Wasteful Schemes
“While President Obama has spent the last three years punishing job creators, he’s been busy showering taxpayer dollars on his political allies and donors, like those involved in the Solyndra fiasco. After job losses and billions of dollars wasted, the results are clear – President Obama’s allies won while job creators and millions of struggling Americans have lost.” –Andrea Saul, Romney Campaign Spokesperson
President Obama’s Poster Child Of Failed Energy Investments – Solyndra – Was Backed By Obama Donors And Advisors:
“One Of Solyndra’s Major Investors Was George Kaiser, An Oklahoma Billionaire Who Raised Between $50,000 And $100,000 For Obama During The 2008 Election.” (Ronnie Greene and Matthew Mosk, “Obama-Backed Solar Firm Collapses After Big Federal Loan Guarantee,” iWatch, 8/31/11)
“Through His Corporate Affiliates, Kaiser Has Long Stood As Solyndra’s Single Largest Investor.” (Ronnie Greene, “Recurring Red Flags Failed To Slow Obama Administration’s Race To Help Solyndra,” iWatch, 9/13/11)
“Kaiser Made 16 Visits To The President’s Aides Since 2009, According To White House Visitor Logs.” (Jim Snyder, “FBI Raids Bankrupt Solyndra As Lawmakers Question Panel Maker’s Finances,” Bloomberg, 9/9/11)
Steve Westly – Another Obama Bundler – Is Linked To The Solyndra Scandal. “The list also includes two bundlers linked to Solyndra, the controversial solar company that received a $528 million federal loan and later declared bankruptcy — Steven Spiner and Steve Westley. The White House decision to approve the loan triggered a congressional probe on whether the deal smacked of political favoritism.” (Carle Campanile, “Obama’s ‘Bundled’ Up With Corzine,” New York Post, 2/1/12)
Steve Spinner – “An Elite Obama Fundraiser” – Presided Over The Energy Investment Program And “Pushed And Prodded” For Solyndra Loan Approval While His Wife’s Law Firm Represented The Company. “An elite Obama fundraiser hired to help oversee the administration’s energy loan program pushed and prodded career Department of Energy officials to move faster in approving a loan guarantee for Solyndra, even as his wife’s law firm was representing the California solar company, according to internal emails made public late Friday.” (Matthew Mosk, “Obama Fundraiser Pushed Solyndra Deal From Inside,” ABC News, 10/7/11)
But President Obama’s Cronyism Didn’t Stop With Solyndra – The Obama Administration Showered Taxpayer Dollars On “Friends And Family”:
The Washington Post: “You Can Call It Crony Capitalism Or Venture Socialism — But By Whatever Name, The Energy Department’s Loan Guarantee Program Privatizes Profits And Socializes Losses.” (Editorial, “The Energy Department’s Loan Guarantee Program Is The Real Solyndra Scandal,” The Washington Post, 11/17/11)
“$16.4 Billion Of The $20.5 Billion In Loans Granted As Of Sept. 15 Went To Companies Either Run By Or Primarily Owned By Obama Financial Backers.” “In the 1705 government-backed-loan program, for example, $16.4 billion of the $20.5 billion in loans granted as of Sept. 15 went to companies either run by or primarily owned by Obama financial backers-individuals who were bundlers, members of Obama’s National Finance Committee, or large donors to the Democratic Party.” (Peter Schweizer, “Obama Campaign Backers And Bundlers Rewarded With Green Grants And Loans,” Newsweek, 11/12/11)
The Energy Department’s Inspector General Found That Contracts Were Steered To “Friends And Family.” “The Department of Energy’s inspector general, Gregory Friedman, who was not a political appointee, chastised the alternative-energy loan and grant programs for their absence of ‘sufficient transparency and accountability.’ He has testified that contracts have been steered to ‘friends and family.’” (Peter Schweizer, “Obama Campaign Backers And Bundlers Rewarded With Green Grants And Loans,” Newsweek, 11/12/11)
Obama Bundlers Worked In His Department Of Energy “As It Showered Billions In Taxpayer-Backed Stimulus Money On Alternative Energy Firms.” “Several of Barack Obama’s top campaign supporters went from soliciting political contributions to working from within the Energy Department as it showered billions in taxpayer-backed stimulus money on alternative energy firms, iWatch News and ABC News have learned.” (Ronnie Green and Matthew Mosk, “Bundlers On The Inside,” iWatch, 9/29/11)
That Palin Russia Quote Is Bogus!
Even before we left for Alaska people started joking with us about Sarah Palin.
And now that we're here in Alaska people keep asking us if we've been to Wasilla (yes, we rode through it) or if we've seen Palin (no) or -- and this is the big one -- if we can see Russia from here.
So now, it's time to get this straightened out once and for all:
1) Bette Davis never said "What a dump!"
2) Greta Garbo never said "I vant to be alone."
3) Cary Grant never said "Judy, Judy, Judy!"
4) And finally, Sarah Palin never said "You can see Russia from . . .
These are all myths.
How did the Palin misquote get started?
Palin actually said that you could see Russia from parts of Alaska and that is indeed true as portions of Alaska are so close to Russia that Russia once owned Alaska and as late as the 1960s Russia still tried to lay claim to parts of the state.
But when Tina Fey played Palin on Saturday Night Live she said "You can see Alaska from my house" -- and that quote stuck.
Liberals jumped on this right away and linked the quote to Palin herself.
And to this day people believe that this is what Palin actually said.
But she didn't.
She never said it.
And she never would have said such a thing because it is preposterous.
That doesn't matter to liberals and the dominant liberal media. They never let the truth get on their way.
Alaska Whale Watching: What To Expect
The average age of a humpback whale is about 45 years.
In the winter these whales migrate from Alaska to Hawaii to have their young.
But they always have to come back to the cooler northern waters because this is where their food is.
Some whales (who are no longer of breeding or child-bearing age) actually stay in Alaskan waters year round.
These whales are not necessarily lonely because whales do not
necessarily hang out in groups, though we did spot three of them together today.
Whale watching will teach you patience You have to wait -- and concentrate -- to see the whales. The first thing you look for is something that seems like a spout of steam coming off the surface of the ocean. That's the whale's "blow."
This is the way the whale breaths.
A whale's lungs are as big as a small automobile. Think Toyota.
Soon after the blow you will begin to see the whale. It's almost as of the whale is showing itself off. If you're lucky, after a few moments you will see the whale's magnificent tale as it dives back into the water.
That's the grand finale -- the big, dramatic moment.
Positively thrilling!
How Alaska Epitomizes American Spirit
A trip through Alaska's vast frontier reminds us that our nation was founded and settled by rugged individuals.
The bedrock of America is a frontier spirit -- a spirit of big dreams, fearless adventure and relentless determination. This spirit stems not from a collectivist mentality but from the boundless aspirations and hard work of individuals -- individuals free to pursue their dreams.
And often these dreams were tied to commerce and the pursuit of a better life. That is especially true in Alaska, America's 49th state.
Gold helped to fuel the dreams of those who came to Alaska and it was also important in the settling and development of this land and much of the west.
In fact, one of the gold seekers in Alaska was Frederick Drump. We're told that Drump established a hotel here in Alaska not far fom the Skagway River and did quite well providing accommodations for those who made their way here. The name Drump eventually became Trump. Sound familiar? Frederick Drump was Donald Trump's grandfather,
This may explain why not just Trump but so many others remain avowed champions of America's rugged, individualistic, can-do spirit.
God bless America!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Obama Insults Poles, Poland: Shame On Him!
President Obama's description of a Nazi German Holocaust site as a "Polish death camp" has rightly shocked Poland, whose leaders insist the record be set straight 67 years after World War II.
Yesterday, Obama labeled the Nazi facility used to process Jews for extermination as a "Polish death camp." The White House later said the president "misspoke" and simply expressed "regret".
What's needed here is an outright and complete apology to Poland and the Polish people.
There were no "Polish death camps." These were German camps -- Nazi camps.
Obama's inexcusable faux pas was all the worse because it overshadowed a posthumous award of the highest US civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to Jan Karski, a former Polish underground officer who provided early eyewitness accounts of Nazi Germany's genocide of European Jews.
So now Obama has messed up once again and this latest incident is already having international repercussions.
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Wednesday Obama's words had hurt all Poles and he expected more from Washington than just "regret".how true!
"I am convinced that our American friends can today allow themselves a stronger reaction than a simple expression of regret from the White House spokesman -- a reaction more inclined to eliminate once and for all these kinds of errors," Tusk told reporters in Warsaw.
"Today, this is a problem for the reputation of the United States," the prime minister said.
These are serious words and they demand a response -- an apology -- from the president himself.
Here are the facts:Between 1939 and 1945, nearly six million Polish citizens perished under Nazi Germany's brutal World War II occupation of their country.
More than half of Poland's victims were of Jewish origin and they, in turn, accounted for half of the six million European Jews who perished during the Holocaust.
Many were killed in death camps set up by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland -- including the most notorious, Auschwitz-Birkenau.
It's about time President Obama and the people on his staff learned a bit of history.
Shame on them!
Cruise, Travel Tips: What You Need To Know
Are you thinking of going on a cruise?
Please know that if you decide to cruise the glacial waters of Alaska (and cruising is the only way you will gain access to some of the best sights and most remote areas) you need to be prepared to dress warmly -- even in the summer months.
To begin with travel in Alaska runs from mid-May to mid-September. That's it.
For must of the rest of the year travel is climate prohibitive.
And if you plan to visit Alaska you will have to plan far in advance as the trains and ships that will take you where you need to go book up and sell out early.
So we recommend you visit a cruise expert who will plan your trip for and with you. This will not cost you any more and it will save you lots of time and trouble. Your cruise expert can take care of all of the details and give you the invaluable tips and pointers that you need; even answering your questions before you ask them.
Here are some things you need to know:
--Weather is unpredictable in Alaska and conditions change frequently. The area is subject to a lot of moisture -- not actual downpours but frequent showers and spritzes. If you're the type of person who wants to see sun every day of your vacation (or even every other day) Alaska is not necessarily the place for you.
--Alaska is rustic. Yes, you will have the opportunity to stay in "first class" hotels but don't expect five-star accommodations wherever you go. For example, Westmark is a major hotel chain in Alaska. It handles plenty of tourists and lots of group travel. And the accommodations are fine. But this is an independent chain that is not affiliated with the major operations such as Marriott, Hilton or Hyatt. Your accommodations will be fine, but this is not the Ritz.
--You will not find a lot of color. In the summer things will be green; and brown and gray and white and blue. But you're not gonna find big splashes of vivid color. Even the wildlife that you see will blend in with the browns, tans, blacks and whites. And that will make it that much harder to spot. Spring, summer and fall are compressed into one quick season. If you blink, you'll miss it.
--Natural wonders abound. Vast mountain ranges, towering snowy peaks, breathtaking valleys, winding rivers, patches of inspiring blue skies, lean, huge glaciers, hearty pines and fluffy clouds that link the sky and the mountains -- these are everywhere. If you like natural wonders, this is the place for you. If you're looking for man-made wonders, forget about it unless you're into wonders of engineering.
--Since Alaska is paradise for the rugged outdoorsy set expect to see lots of sports, boating, hiking, hunting, camping and fishing enthusiasts. And these people are are thrown together Alaska-style where they are expected to co-exist harmoniously and indeed they do. Of course, that's not so difficult here as there is more than enough room for everyone.
--If you're not prepared to deal with the National Park Service and its vast bureaucracy, don't visit Alaska. Huge portions of the state are either owned by or under the control of the federal government. Denali National Park itself comprises more than six million acres and access is strictly limited and controlled. The park rangers are for the most part pleasant and helpful but there are rules that must be followed and you can and may be removed even for the slightest infractions. Be forewarned.
--If you're looking for fine shopping, you might be surprised to discover that there is a Nordstrom store in Anchorage. But this is not Chicago or Denver or Minneapolis or Kansas City or even Park City or Vail. Cities and more populated areas (such as they are in Alaska) are hardly cosmopolitan or even bustling. Also, beyond the halibut and the king crab and the salmon, do not come to Alaska for fine dining. No celebrity chefs. No tres chic restaurants. And be prepared to try some of the gamier dishes such as reindeer sausage.
--If you like trains and training, you'll be in heaven. The Alaska Railroad runs a magnificent glass-domed train up and down the state throughout the tourist season. From the upper passenger level the views are magnificent. And on the lower level the white tablecloth dining fulfills a fantasy nurtured by so many old movies. You can enjoy a full breakfast, lunch or dinner as the world passes by through big, panoramic windows. Your cruise line (Holland America and Princess are the largest and best known in Alaska) will have its own railroad cars that will take you to port. Just for the record, Holland America claims it has the largest and tallest cars.
--Don't visit Alaska (or expect to see it the way you should see it) unless you are prepared to traverse vast expanses. Denali National Park itself is bigger than Massachusetts and Alaska is more than twice as big as Texas. So if you want to see much of what there is to see you'll have to be on the move via train, plane, bus or ship much of the time. For example, some areas are only accessible via train. Some are only accessible via watercraft. And some are only accessible by air. Be adaptable, be ready to live out of a suitcase and plan on a two-week visit (or more) to cover much of it.
--One final note: Internet access is often limited or totally unavailable in many parts of Alaska. Ditto cell phone service. Check with your provider and expect to have to pay more for satellite access (when and where available) and for roaming.Limited cable TV service is available in hotels and on board ship.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas
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| Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas luxury cruise ship. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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| English: The Flowrider aboard the Royal Caribbean cruiseliner Freedom of the Seas (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The Freedom is an enormous ship which is part of the reason we chose it - the sheer number of activities and entertainment options appealed to us, in fact during our 7 day cruise we didn't have enough time to try everything that interested us. Options include a rock climbing wall (didn't try), Flowrider (did try), ice skating ring (didn't try) and more classes than a community college (well not really, but sometimes it felt that way)!
At 160,000 tons and 1,112 feet long the Freedom is a floating village with 4 pools, a full sized basketball court, Johnny Rockets, Ben and Jerry's, and a 10,000 foot + Vegas-style casino! It promises something to suit every taste from a martini bar to a parade of DreamWorks movie characters and most of it is included in the price of the cruise.
But the fun we had on the ship was just the beginning as we realized when we visited Haiti, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Mexico and enjoyed shore-side excursions. More on that to come!
More Images from Alaska!
Alaska continues to amaze and inspire! Here are just a few recently captured images!
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Monday, May 28, 2012
Summer and Ice Cream
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| 18.BrustersIceCream.Hollywood.MD.15jun07 (Photo credit: Elvert Barnes) |
I prefer the old fashioned hard stuff to frozen yogurt or swirly soft serve so I hit Bruster's Real Ice Cream this weekend. The name says it all, it is real ice cream! Started in PA but now stretching across the Mid-Atlantic Bruster's prices itself on authentic ice cream in amazing flavors, including my favorite: chocolate raspberry truffle! I enjoyed a cup -- and even the smallest cups at Bruster's include two hearty scoops! More than enough to satisfy my sweet tooth!
It may not be summer yet... but no one will stop you from enjoying the treats of the season just a few weeks early!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
First Lady As Equestrian? Well, Yes!
Remember Jacqueline Kennedy?
Even if you did not live through the Kennedy years (as many of us did) you know that Jackie was the penultimate definition of chic.
She was heralded by the media and (in part because of that) she came to be admired the world over.
And you may recall that she was also an accomplished equestrian. She loved horses and was often pictured in her patrician riding gear. As First Lady she kept horses at a farm in nearby Virginia and even had a pony (named "Macaroni") for First Daughter Caroline.
Later, after she moved to Manhattan she had a farm and house in northwestern New Jersey where she kept horses and also went to ride. She lived among the upper crust of the New York social set.
Nobody begrudged her this. Nobody.
People thought it was glamorous and healthy and just plain wonderful.
And so it went.
But what was grand and marvelous for Jackie, well -- that's not OK for Ann Romney; not at all.
So now the New York Times is out with a big story about Mrs. Romney's passion for riding and the money she and Mitt spend so she can be an equestrian. No matter what Jackie and the Kennedys may or may not have spent on the same pursuit; now it's suddenly open season on the idea as an equestrian as First Lady.
Mind you, this is happening even though Ann Romney has MS and her riding is arguably a legitimate part of her therapy.
This is the vicious and disgraceful double standard of the elitist liberal media. Indeed, the Times itself is owned by a very wealthy family known to hobnob with the rich and famous -- the very same kind of people who often make up the top layer of the world of equestrians.
That's fine.
But Mrs. Romney.
Ohhhh no, my dear.
That just won't do.
Anyone who falls for this line from the New York Times and other liberal pontificators is a fool!
The Boomers Are Seeing The World
We're traveling with a buncha baby boomers. Well, it's mostly baby boomers, anyway.
And here's my prediction: baby boomers are gonna make (indeed, are making for) very demanding travelers. This should surprise no one.
From the start, baby boomers have been high maintenance.
Why?
Because many of them were indulged as children. And they learned to want what they want when they wanted it and to get what they want. They're accustomed to getting what they want. And they can be very impatient -- and now, at their age -- cranky about it.
They're not a horrid generation or anything like that.
They're just not a very accomplished generation.
Most or them have faced no great hardships or huge national crises during their lifetimes. It's not like they lived through the Great Depression or fought World War II or anything like that. There not after all the greatest generation. Hardly.
And now they're headed into the final phase of their lives.
So, those baby boomers who've planned well are now at the age where they can spend a good part of the remainder of their lives pursuing leisure and travel.
I presume that the travel industry is ready for this and has planned accordingly.
These boomers are hitting the road and they expect to be treated with attentiveness and due deference.
Not because they've done anything great for society or the nation or the world or anything like that.
No -- not for any of those reasons.
But just because they're special.*
Very, very special.
And they know it.
*Let's put it this way: It's not like they've DONE anything special; it's simply that they ARE special.
The Secrets To Successful Travel?
What are some of the secrets to successful travel?
Above all, we think one has to have a sense of adventure. You need to be curious about many things and open to new places, new people and new experiences -- unless of course you simply want to travel to the same places over and over again. That's not very adventurous.
Still, we all have our favorite places that we love to return to. These are the places that renew you, restore you, awaken your faith in life and perhaps leave you feeling invigorated.
You may also find places that always seem new to you no matter how many times you've visited -- places that always leave you wanting to explore more. No matter how many times you've been there, you feel there's just one more thing that you want to see or maybe one more thing that you've missed and want to go back for.
But travel should also be about discovering new places -- maybe even going to a place you never considered at first blush and discovering something wonderful about it.
Above all, we advise that you do not over schedule or over program yourself. Take the time to discover things on your own. Leave time for serendipitous experiences. And pack lightly. Stay nimble.
And we've already learned on this trip that it pays to keep your eyes and ears open, always. Had we not done that, we would never have experienced the wonders of nature and spotted all the wildlife along the way.
And we're hardly finished.
Today we'll be boarding a luxury liner to see and do more.
Because we will be at sea our blogging may be spotty at best during the next week but we ask you to bear with us. We'll try our best to keep you up to date on our travels, our adventures and the rest of the world every step of the way.
It's gonna be an adventure.
Avanti!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Denali Village: It Comes And Goes
Dinali Village near Mt. McKinley in Alaska is situated between Fairbanks and Anchorage.
But if you want to visit here -- or stay here -- you can only come between May and mid September.
The rest of the year the whole place is locked up tight as a drum and closed down. The buildings are shuttered and the electricity is shut off.
This is basically a five-month town. It either thrives or it's desolate.
And when it's open it really, really thrives. For example, I'm just five months the Subway sandwich place here does more business than any other Sunway in the country.
