Washing Machines to be as Safe as Airliners?

Electrolux announced Friday that it is going to close down its production facilities in Iowa and move the operation to Mexico. It represents about 850 workers in two small towns (Webster City and Jefferson). While moving jobs from Americans that bother companies with stuff like healthcare, vacations, living wages, sick pay, maternity leaves, etc. to locations that don't have to screw around with these distractions is nothing new, it deserves to be mentioned when ever it happens. On a side note, my brother tipped me off to the following NPR radio article that seems to match well with the Electrolux story.

Something A Little Different

Nice A Capella medley of Michael Jackson's stuff I ran across. I've always liked his music all the way from "1-2-3" days to his new stuff. Yep, he was a little strange but that's not what this post is about.




Speaking of MJ. Do ya think he invented the "moonwalk". I did, but it ain't so......

Geesh willis, almost a month without a post and this is all ya got!?! .....Yep!

An Award, Really, An Award for willis!

.....From my good blogging friend Annette. What can I say, the lady obviously knows scrap when she sees it. She has a wonderful blog, is a very talented writer, posts frequently and if she isn't one of your "favorites", she should be. I'm flattered by this award and her recognition of me and this little blog. The first thing I did was go to the other sites awarded by Annette and I'm also more than a little flattered to be named amongst them! Great blogs all (no surprise from Annette's "Just My Little Piece Of The World") and I'm ashamed to admit 5 out 6 were not on my blog roll...but they are now! Being lazy and an infrequent poster it took me a while to get to this post accepting this fine award. It is a pretty high honor for willis and I don't take it lightly!

Honest Scrap Award Rules (yep, there are some!):

1. You must brag about the award.

2. You must include the name of the blogger who gave you the award and link back to that blogger.

3. You must choose a minimum of seven blogs that you find brilliant in content or design (not sure how I fell through the cracks on this one!)

4. Show their names and links and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with this award.

5. List at least ten honest things about yourself.

.........then pass it on with the instructions!

I'll claim 1 & 2 done with the first paragraph of this post and will now list seven blogs to pass the award to. Difficult to do for several reasons. I have a set of blogs I visit pretty regularly and I link to their blogrolls as well as items in their post that expose me to more blogs than I can remember or stuff into one bag called "favorites"...so I don't. But from this I know there are good blogs out there far beyond the ones I know and to pull seven blogs out of my hat for recognition (willis' "recognition".....yea, well I'll get to that in a minute) is difficult. If you want to know which blogs I think deserve any award from me, just look at my blog roll and whom I follow! These certainly aren't in any order of preference as each of these blogs are unique and terrific in their own right (willis' clever disclaimer). Okay, an award from willis.....one might say who cares and that's okay and probably appropriate. None of these blogs need any recognition from me to be the great sites they are. This is really only the "willis edition" of this award and If I could add a rule to those listed above, I would say that none should feel obligated to do anything and willis is down with that.....word up!

First is "Field" at The Field Negro. Field's blog holds a bunch of blog awards and for good reason. He stirs it up just fine on issues of life, sports, politics and people in general and he does it with honesty, wit, humor and just plain talented writing ability. I really can't say enough about this blog, there's is just so much there you have to look and its very worthwhile. The Field Negro is a very powerful blog with frequent well researched post and has always been one of my favorite stops.

Second is Bill at Tome Of The Unknown Writer. I linked to the Tome Of The Unknown Writer from one of the other sites I frequent and once there, I never left. Bill can write, and like any of the other sites I'm "honoring" here, he could be paid columnist at any venue. Bill is different in that he should be. Bill does some wonderful stuff on his blog and is definitely worth the read.

Third is Madam Miaow at Madam Miaow Says... Madam Miaow hails from across the pond and keeps my love of all things English (Fawlty Towers, the irreverent decorum of the House of Commons, The Beatles, Eddie Izzard, etc) intact. She post with a beautiful blend of wisdom, wit, humor and honesty that you will enjoy immensely. She's bloody awesome!

Fourth is Doug at When Will I Use This?. Doug is a math teacher dealing with adolescents which should carry an award all by itself. I know he's not in it for the money. "mathman6293" (Doug's handle) writes about education, family, history, politics,the sciences and baseball. He's honest above all, the man pulls no punches and I love his post and displays of dry humor that show up in his and his lovely wife's blog. I have yet to be able to answer the question his blog title ask but a new question with every post works for me!

Fifth is Rachel at Art Of The Possible.....now with cupcakes! Rachel writes about her life experiences, her Mary Kay goodies, politics and feminist issues. She does it very well and is a joy to read. She always seem to provide me with a new perspective on something I thought I knew everything about.

Sixth is Tengrain's blog Mock Paper Scissors. Shouldn't be much intro required here. Tengrain along with several others are part of the reason I started blogging. Yes, you have him to partially blame for Old & N The Way. Tengrain is a master of "snark" and a true artist of display on a webpage. And lest I forget, he can write as well. One of the masters!

Seventh is John Coby at Bay Area Houston. There is so much stupidity down here in The Republic of East Texas that "Bay Area" never lacks for material. If ya think Texas politicians are only about the national stage, visit here for all the insanity on a local level. If you can't find it here, you can find a link to it. Every state should have a site like this one!

Ten honest things about willis.......you are allowed to go to any of the above sites at this time as I'm about to bore the pants off you ( me, I'd rather go with you but I have to do this instead):

1. I was in the Navy between `68-72 and I enlisted to keep from hiking around in rice paddies in Viet Nam. Another wonderful war that solved nothing.

2. I was stationed on a troop carrier ship (USS Duluth) and the first place I went after enlistment was Viet Nam. I spent all 4 years on this ship and while Navy duty did keep me away from rice paddies we did get some mortar rounds lobbed at us from the beach occasionally.

3. I taught myself to play guitar, bass and keyboard while on the Duluth generally out of boredom. The option was playing cards. While on the ship, I and others formed a band that played on the ships flight deck for the crew from time to time and when visiting ports in various countries we would "sit in" and play. As a result, I've played clubs in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, The Philippines, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. That was a blast!

4. I call this lovely lady my "first wife" and you may see her comments here from time to time but know that she is my first and only as well. She's a character and keeps willis honest about himself which has always been a problem for some reason!

5. I have one child; a wonderful, beautiful daughter who is an adult now and still lives with the first wife and I....and we love it. She's is just a beautiful person regardless how much I did to screw her up!

6. We have one dog and a parrot for pets although we had three cats, two birds, and a dog at one time. The current pooch is "Buddy", a black russian terrier which translates to about 150 pounds of black fuzzy dog. The Parrot is "Tiffin" (named for Merlin's owl.... she is so wise!?) and she's a goffin cockatoo. I used to think it was a male bird as it always humped the mirror (mine's mounted very high for a reason it seems....who knew?) but the color of the eye iris is the determinate.....they can live 65 years!

7. I current play bass guitar in three music groups. Two church venues and a regular band.

8. I have mostly republican friends. It is east Texas ya know. Over all I find them very good folks and otherwise very intelligent people. I'm not sure what happened along the way but I know I can't correct it by arguing with them and they are sure aren't gonna change me! I don't hide my opinions and I let them think of me what they will.

9. I drive a 2007 VolksWagon GTI. It can handle anything I need to play a gig or golf!

10. I've thought some about giving this blogging thing up. It turned out to be more effort than I thought although I do enjoy it! This award is an inspiration and I feel I do have some people to offend yet so I'm in!

My apologies to each of these folks I've blessed!

willis

Crackin That "Acorn" Nut.

I'm completely on board shutting down "Acorn's" public funding for the actions of some of their employees. This should mean that "Blackwater" (Xe, as it is now called) will finally be on the ropes for federal dollars as well for the actions of some of their employees getting a little out of hand by killing 17 civilians in Iraq. If nothing else, "Acorn" should at least be forced to change its name.

Willis Has $.02 and He's Blowing it Here...

Kinda looks like my checkbook.... This whole thing about Joe Wilson (R, Scumbag) being dragged through the streets to apologize before Congress pisses me off. I know, the guy is a miserable right wing tool and he's proved he's dumber than a warm box of sand by the content of his comment during Obama's speech more so than its timing, but that's not the point. He apologized (half-assed, under duress, etc.) to Obama, the President accepted it and now it's over. For Congress to waste time on a display of indignation for an idiot's fuck up by a body whose members are famous for fuckin up accomplishes nothing...NOTHING! People need health care, wars to end, jobs, etc. .........Get after it dammit!

Town Hall Meetings

Rick Casey (columnist for the Houston Chronicle) wrote a piece today titled "How to Hold a Civil Town Hall Meeting" that I had to read at least three times to appreciate. I hope you'll look at least once. What I find telling is that in congressional districts that are staunch anti-Obama on any level and have a republican representative (redundant in Montgomery County, Texas but I hold hope for all others), the representatives need to put forth no effort to hold a town hall meeting. Just show up (late, drunk, hungover, in golf attire from an outing with the Pharm-guys,......it doesn't matter) and parrot Limbaugh lines. Otherwise, you have to work at it and this is how you do it.

Something About This Idiot....

Makes me miss the quiet, reasoned, intelligence of Katherine Harris.

Here's a tune that may explain it, but I could be wrong....

The Montgomery County Texas Watch!

There's a new blog started here in the Republic of East Texas and from what I've read, It's a very good one. I've welcomed it to my blog roll, give it a look!

Considering SCOTUS Nominee? 1st Consideration, The Very 1st Thing to Weigh is Protect the Guns!

Of our two Texas senators, Kay sucks slightly less than the other one. However, the other one being John Cornyn doesn't leave much for Kay as Big John pegs out the suck-o-meter on the vacuum side of zero. Trying to push the envelope for worse, Kay vows to vote against the confirmation of Judge Sotomayer due to Kay's perception of how the judge will handle gun ownership rulings should one come up.

Sixteen years ago, Hutchinson took the stand that she "would only vote against a Supreme Court nominee if there was a question of character, if the person was unfit for office, or unqualified for office". Sorry, gotta ditch that stand now, gun ownership is at risk!

For the record, willis doesn't own a gun but I'm not against the rights others to do so. The 2nd Amendment isn't at issue here. My problem is that one of my senator's is about to vote against a SCOTUS nominee over one issue for a perceived notion. My opinion of Kay's vote is that she is throwing up a 2nd amendment scare to pander to the flock of idiots that keep voting for her so she won't have to own up to the real reason which she can't support, i.e.; Sotomayor is too liberal.

Miserable hack!

Update: I guess George Sodini's 2nd amendment rights trumps the right to life for the three people he murdered. Heidi Obermier (46), Elizabeth Gannon (49), and Jody Billingsley (39), their families and friends, and the rest of us lose. Look, I don't know if this guy broke any laws to get his weapons but at the very least he was legal as hell but a lunatic and the NRA fundamentalist will fight ANY additional controls on gun ownership anywhere which makes them stupid, in my opinion, if not compliant when events like this occur. They own a piece of this, you judge the size but any is too much. Nice to see Kay use guns as her reason to take a stand....idiot.

Hannity's Hate Show is Coming to Houston!

Yep, this Saturday, August 1st Sean himself will open the floodgates to shower hate and discontent among thousands that I'm sure will make it to The Woodlands Pavilion. Texas is still reeling from the election of a black president and the local purveyors of hate and stupidity must need the reinforcements. I wonder how many people of the non-Caucasian persuasion or those afflicted with "teh gay" will be there?

"Africa", Humpday Music

Something we could use a little of here in Texas. Never thought I'd say that from the Houston Metro area. The folks out west of us are even worse off as their drought is labeled "extreme" by the NWS. Anyway, this is great tune. This is Toto recorded line in Amsterdam in 2003 in support of their album "Through the Looking Glass". I think this was their last album and tour together. "Africa" was a number 1 hit back in `82/83. These are the same guys except the drummer, Jeff Porcaro who died at 38 in 1992 due to an allergic reaction to some pesticides he was using at home. Simon Phillips took his place as they were fans of each other as drummers.

Govenor Race Where Nobody Wins

Sea hag, former prom date of Karl Rove, and part time Senator for us poor slobs in Texas, Kay Bailey Hutchinson (She's the one on the left, next to the ethically void, feckless flaming pustule) announces she'll resign her senate seat this fall to run for Texas Governor. She vows to stay in the senate until this fall so she can fuck up any one's chance of getting decent health care unless you're rich enough to deserve it. Her main adversary in the gubernatorial (where the hell did that term come from anyway?) race is secessionist and current "goberist", Rick Perry.

I only hope that Perry will be able to find another reptile to replace her that will continue maintaining Texas' trend of being just about last in anything except importing cheap labor from Mexico. At least Oklahoma still likes us. Mark my words here, you haven't seen the last of Kay on the national stage....be very afraid.

Rain, Too Cool

I'm Gonna Miss Her

Bah Bye, Ya useless twit. As much as I'd like to see you disappear, I hope you remain a mainstay in the republican plans for years to come. Stupidity like yours, when coupled with the hair brained logic that allowed you to think you were wonderful without having any facts to support you is more rare than the recent solar eclipse (Newt Gingrinch, not withstanding). The beauty of your irrationality will stand the test of time.....not really, but who cares.

I Got Your "End Pin" Right Here!

Willis has a new project. Beyond my current endeavours of solving my unemployment, C-Span, Maury, employment websites, learning church and secular music, maintaining a daytime neighborhood watch (I'm on it if anyone breaks into her house), golf, etc. and I still find time for the arts. Yes, willis acquired a cello. Pronounced "chello" (not "sello", dammit...I figured it out the hard way...don't ask, he's a liar if you already heard about it).

I figured since I've already excelled beyond belief on bass, I can't get into much trouble with another 4 stringed instrument. This is the way willis thinks and years of therapy after parole have confirmed it, so here I am, and you could too!

The 1st pic is my bass next to the cello (that's me in the background with the fedora..kinda pale). The second shot are those from a cello instruction site that I found for you folks....willis doesn't need no stinkin' instructions after all its just a fuckin bass without frets, rotated 90 degrees, tuned completely different that you play with a bow........what could be easier?!

I'll let you know how well the sello floats, burns or plays.

Republican Roy Blunt on Health Care, Idiot!

Annette has a great post up on Republican Roy Blunt's history, his valued contributions for the bettering of society and his efforts toward health care. She has a wonderful blog (much better than the one you're reading) and nails this one......go read!

Lovely Display of Wingnut Hate over at Tengrain's

Egads!

Fighting The Good Fight, Awesome!

Continuing the fight to control who is allowed to marry, the city of Ft Myers florida voted to fire their city manager because his wife is in the adult entertainment industry. Guess he should have just lived with her instead of degrading everyone elses marraige by tying the knot. "Don't ask, don't tell" aparently needs to be expanded to civilians and their spouses incase someone is working at something that isn't "acceptable". So much for my thriving dildo business (I was just about to go "green" with a solar powered unit too)!

willis, On Stage

I've always loved how my blog-friend Lisa (whom I've never met but totally adore) does personal pictures on her blog (I just like her blog, period). With that inspiration, I'll add some of my own pics here (taken by my "first wife"(and recent follower), and lovely daughter). I play bass guitar in three different groups. These shots are from one of these groups when we played at a local community 4th of July fest just before the fireworks this year. This group is a pops/jazz ensemble that gigs about once a month in local establishments (that don't have "drive thrus" or do massages), private parties and anywhere else that pays us (particularly if they have "drive thrus" or do massages)! We do some pretty diverse stuff from the likes of Van Morrison, Sinatra, Queen, Billy Holiday, Bacharach, etc...all the way from the 30's to recent (currently working on waltzes on accordion and polkas but ya gotta build first donchakno). The band includes Me, guitar, drums, trumpet, sax, percussionist, keyboards, and two vocalist. I love to play live which is why I'm involved in three groups...it is addicting. I'll likely never have pics of the other two as they are church venues....we'll see. I don't have (and didn't ask for) the permission of the other players in this gig and feel like I should before I post their pictures so all ya get is "willis". What, willis ain't enough for ya!? Who else do ya know that has his own tower?

Anyway, this post is not near as prolific as Lisa's in either prose or photos, but it's a start. How about that shirt, eh? Somewhere there's a house without a shower curtain!

Cardinals

A friend of mine has a nest of cardinals right outside his bedroom window which provided a very cool opportunity to watch Mom feed her single hatchling. The little bastard is still hungry after having that fat worm shoved down its throat! Cardinals mate for life and have two broods per year. Dad must be out with the boys...