Rose Parade 2009 Part III

The Rose Parade continues following the January opening blog piece titledRose Parade 2009 AnticipationthenRose Parade 2009 Part II.

Keep in mind all these colorful float displays consist of a variety of vegetation including fruit, seeds, bark, grasses, and flowers. Many more than the traditional flowers such as roses, marigolds, and mums with which we're quite familiar are used to decorate these floats.

"Bollywood Dreams" salutes the most prolific film industry, the cinema of India, courtesy of the city of Sierra Madre.




"Hats Off To New Mexico – BEEP, BEEP!" from that State was one of my favorites with the Roadrunner zooming down old Route 66 or Foothill Blvd. as the highway is known in many communities east of Los Angeles.


The Grand Marshal of this 120th Anniversary Rose Parade was Emmy- and Oscar winning actress, Cloris Leachman. She is "no spring chicken" as best described by one of my mother's favorite expressions. See a recent photo of her at this link to "The Insider." I was impressed that after Ms. Leachman's two hour ride down the parade route when she reached the final turn just past where we were seated she was still kicking her shapely leg high, but we weren't quick enough to get a picture.


"Natural Entertainers" was a float I wanted to see with its skateboard-riding bulldogs joined by actor Dick Van Patten. Tillman and his pal, Tyson, ran on a 55-foot-long oval track but were out of our sight and I would think exhausted by the time they reached us.


If you haven't seen these dogs here's an earlier YouTube video of Tillman
and Tyson

City of Long Beach paid a colorful flower covered float tribute to "Renaissance Revival."


A tribute to "Broadway's Golden Age" complete with a spiral staircase and a grand piano filling the air with music was this elaborate self-built float by the city of Downey.


"Sharing the Great Outdoors" captured that entertainment venue on this beautiful Kiwanis International float.


"Propel Your Dreams" showcases a fantastic flying machine depicting the active lives of those living a healthy lifestyle.


Pennsylvania State University Blue Band, Cheerleaders generated enthusiasm from the crowd for their Rose Bowl football team playing later in the afternoon. The colorful tall flags in the bands midst represent The Big Ten Conference schools. The University of Michigan is clearly visible as is Ohio State University, several times from different angles.















"Mad Hatter's Tea Party" presented by the City of Torrance was a whimsical eye-catching sight.


"Hooray For Hollywood" celebrated the film industry courtesy of the city of West Covina.


Another band whose appearance attracted our attention as still sounding strong and holding their formation well toward the end of this long tiring parade route was the 56th entry Homewood Patriot Band from Homeward, Alabama whose band director is Ron Pence, making their third Rose Parade appearance.


The Homewood Patriot Band has performed in two Presidential Inaugural parades and have won numerous awards including the "Grand Championship" and "Most Entertaining Band" at 2007's Heart of Dixie Band Competition. Coincidentally, the next day when my family was flying home they discovered they were sharing the flight with these musicians who were also 2006 finalists for Grammys in our Schools.

The Cal Poly Universities float that came into view next was one we most especially wanted to view.


Background information is that a few days before the Rose Parade, for the third time in recent years, my granddaughter and daughter devoted several hours helping decorate the Cal Poly float. Their grandfather/father (my husband) retired from Cal Poly. His relationship to the University when he was still living had attracted them to first volunteer helping with that particular float. A Cal Poly University website explains:

"The Cal Poly float is the only entry in the annual Tournament of Roses parade that is designed, built, and decorated solely by students and volunteers -- a tradition that dates back to 1949. Students at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and California State Polytechnic University Pomona design and build the float each year. Students in the Rose Float programs at each campus build half of the float, which is trucked to the Pomona campus every November. The students spend their weekends assembling the float in Pomona. Students, parents, alumni and volunteers put the finishing touches -- including flowers -- on the float in Pasadena during 'Deco Week' before the New Year's Parade."

The float's theme "Seaside Amusement" won local Los Angeles TV station KTLA's Viewers Choice Award. Pasadena Rose Parade Assoc. announced this was the first time ever they've had this Viewers Choice Award. The Cal Poly news item described the float:
"It featured a working ferris wheel, a roller coaster and a parachute drop. Cal Poly planted more than 2,000 marigolds and asters to use on the float." This 2009 float was the 57th entry in the parade, said Cal Poly Rose Float Club Coordinator Josh D'Acquisto.

I do want to note the little green car and and the little red one perched on the front of the Cal Poly float were the recipients of my family members decorative gluing efforts. My daughter described labor intensive and time consuming hours working in a necessary flower preserving cold environment.

"On the red bumper car, we applied seaweed to the bumper. On the green bumper car, we applied green mums along the back, sides. Your granddaughter applied them above the bumper around the bumper car and I applied oleander leaves along the sides of the car."

The green car proved to be on the right side of the float and we were on the left side of the parade route, so caught only a real time brief glimpse of their handiwork. We were able to view Cal Poly float's red and green bumper cars more clearly on TV later as seen in this YouTube video.


Our 2009 Rose Parade finale will be published next time.

Rose Parade - 2009 - Part II

(Note: Rose Parade and float information that follows includes some wording, partial quotes I want to credit as having originated in the 2009 Official Souvenir Rose Parade Program I purchased at the parade. The Editor is Caryn Eaves; Contributors: Anne Dullagahan, Melissa Flores, Miranda Spradlin, Monique Willis.)


(One other note: I regret in every instance with multiple pictures of a float, they are in the reverse sequence of how I entered them for publication and the order in which they were photographed. Since this Rose Parade series is my first effort with posting photos and videos to my blog I clearly have more to learn about these reverse technical aspects. Actually, this second installment was ready to post the day after the first, but I became over confident with the ease at which I had prepared my first effort and tried to get fancy with picture placement. That post on preview was unpublishable. This is the earliest I could find time to undertake correction since basically, I had to start over. I am again disappointed, but it's viewable. It is too late (early wee hours) and I'm too tired to change the photos order now.

I continue to have a heavy work load in the world outside the blogosphere. Am acquiescing to the fact I can't cut these late hours and work long days, too, as I could only a few years ago. When I can pursue the technical aspects, succeeding Rose Parade posts will be forthcoming since they're already written. Thank you for your patience.)

Appearing after the sky writer, B2 and historic bikes seen in the preceding January piece Rose Parade 2009 Anticipation, the next-generation FCX Clarity hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle 2009 Honda Pace Car came rolling by, the first such vehicle to lead the Tournament of Roses Parade.

The "Hats Off To Entertainment" theme banner came next carried by Eagle Scouts and Gold Award Girl Scout troops.


You can see just a glimpse of the United States Marine Mounted Color Guard followed by The United States Marine Corps West Coast Composite Band. The Mounted Color Guard Marines rode past mounted on Palomino mustangs which have been adopted from the Bureau of Land Managements 'Adopt A Horse' program. These are active-duty marines who volunteer their off-duty time to train their mounts and perform precision color guard movements.


Horse lovers with and without horses might enjoy this Horseyset link.

Excitement prevailed with the appearance of the 49 foot tall, formally clad replica of American Honda's humanoid robot, ASIMO.


ASIMO tipped his hat.



"Saturday Matinee" depicted film strips and entertaining characters moviegoers have enjoyed through cinema's history.



Strikingly attractive was "Mechanical Melodies" self-built by the La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association.


"Hee Haw" from RFD-TV, the nation's first 24-hour television network dedicated to serving the needs and interest of rural America, paid tribute to the 40th anniversary of that television show.


Following along were the "All American Cowgirl Chicks"


"Entertaining Exhibition" was a really lovely entry with outstanding floral design winning the Sweepstakes Trophy.




Another spectacular float "Making A Splash" from Mission Viejo caught our attention.




"Hope Grows" showcased bundles of colorful flowers courtesy of Vera Bradley. A pink ribbon attached to the watering can handle highlights the fight against breast cancer.



Our Hawaiian family members were especially proud of the Hawaii All-State Marching Band Kaneohe, Director: John R. Riggle.









University of Southern California - USC's Spirit Squad, float, Trojan and the Band excited the crowd preparatory to their afternoon Rose Bowl football game.





The enthusiasm of the crowds of people around us was contagious as everyone was constantly cheering some lively individual performers, bands, and floats that continued coming our way.

We were impressed with the 27th entry Royal British Legion Youth Band Brentwood Essex, England – Band Director, John Wyndham. Their performance was accented by their uniforms fashioned from those the British Army wore in 1905, which included black helmets, red tunics and black trousers with a red stripe.



A short time after the band passed out of our sight we became aware of First Aid Station drama at a location diagonally across the street from our bleacher seating. A British band marcher identified by the bright red uniform was spotted being brought in for treatment. We watched with concern hoping one of the ambulances lined up nearby would not have to be utilized. Eventually we noted the helmetless bright red uniform-wearer walking about independently and were greatly relieved, speculating that probably the marcher needed only re-hydration.

Our outdoor temperatures were cool and comfortable as we never removed our jackets. We were seated in the shade, but parade participants were constantly in the sun expending much energy.

"Salute To The USO" from the city of Alhambra had as its backdrop a 45-foot-long Amercian Flag composed of various flowers and carnations.


More photos and videos of our 2009 Rose Parade experience will continue next time.

Rose Parade 2009 Anticipation

Photos and videos of the 120th Rose Parade are appearing on my blog for the first time. Special thanks to my daughter for taking these shots, and experimenting for her first time shooting videos. Later, she taught me skills for adding these features to my blog. I'm pleased with her photography and first video efforts. Unfortunately, I haven't mastered video editing yet, but all in good time.

I learned I probably should carry extra batteries and memory card for such an event. Though we didn't run out of power, we did limit pictures lest we exceed our capability. This resulted in our missing some floats and bands toward the end of the parade. Those of you who have mastered all these skills can empathize with our efforts.

Attending the 120th Rose Parade New Year's Day 2009 in Pasadena, California proved to be a pleasant first time experience for my family, some friends and me. We arose early to board a chartered bus in nearby LaVerne sponsored by their city Recreation Department for the approximately hour freeway drive.

Our bus was only about half occupied. This was surprising to me, especially when I learned some of our passengers were from three other nearby communities who normally chartered buses of their own. Their cities didn't have enough subscribers this year. I speculated as to why the dearth of riders, but I don't really know why for sure. I'm inclined to think the status of our economy contributed to some people having to eliminate this activity from their personal budget.

A couple of younger family groups were on our bus, but the majority of our passengers were elders. The older age group and young families are the ones I think would have filled those other buses and ours. The other possibility for the decrease in chartered bus travelers might have been weather concerns from those caught in a rainy parade day in 2006, the first such disruption in forty years, and their not wanting to risk another such downpour. There was no rain on our parade this year, nor was the temperature unduly warm.

Rose Parade lore is that founders agreed to never have the parade on Sunday, a traditional church day for many, in order to obtain religious city leaders support to allow the parade. The "never on Sunday" agreement has protected the parade from rain reputedly due to Divine Intervention.

When we were finally on the road, snow sprinkled mountains were visible in the distance behind freeway sound walls as our bus drove toward Pasadena.


Traffic slowed as we wound through people massing along the parade route with our bus edging into the parking lot behind our bleacher area. The reserved stands were filling, but with designated numbered seating we did not have to scramble to our place. Our seats were on the north side of the parade route, our backs to the mountains and with the sun facing us for expected clear close views of floats and marchers in front. Large trees offered benefits of shade though preventing our viewing some really tall float extensions like the leading 49 foot tall robot until they passed us to round the street corner heading down Sierra Madre Blvd. toward the parade's end.

Once we were seated in the stands, we began clock-watching for the parade start time at the other end of the route and wondered how long before the parade reached us. Crowd anticipation was high, our senses sharpened for indications the floats and bands would soon be in view. Murmurs grew louder once we saw the sky writing parade welcome message.


Our eyes frequently scanned the sky as we listened also for any sounds indicating the flyover of the Air Force B2 Spirit celebrating 20 years since its first flight. Finally, a wave of "ooh" and "ah" sound waves swept eastward in the parade route stands toward us and we knew instantly to gaze upward. There was that uniquely designed aircraft gliding through the sky so fast the first video effort was a challenge.


I was flooded with the memory of the first time I ever saw a B2 before its existence was publicly known. Our family was driving through the desert toward Los Angeles from a trip to Arizona and Nevada when we were startled to observe what appeared to be a giant boomerang cruising above us to our left through the sky. We had never ever seen any such aircraft before. Excitedly we speculated about space ships, visitors from other planets, but my private pilot husband reasoned that this was likely some sort of experimental aircraft since we weren't too far from a U.S. Air Force base. Months later news photographs announced this plane's existence, confirming his conclusion about this plane we had seen.

Now the 2009 Rose Parade entertainment sky writers and B2 forerunners signaled the marchers were nearby. Contrasting with the modern aircraft we had just seen, next we caught sight of historical bikes once the pride of technology in their time.


Floats, band pictures and videos of our 2009 Rose Parade experience will continue next time.

Trust Suffers with Financial Meltdown

(My Rose Parade 2009 post preparation is in progress in response to those of you who expressed interest in seeing a few pictures and videos despite the elapsed time since the event.)



I wrote the following two paragraphs about trust last year, I recalled after receiving a recent comment from Darlene Costner at Darlene's Hodgepodge. I had omitted them from my December 14th post "Changing Local Economic Picture"

Trust violated on any level causes future apprehension about the veracity and motivation of any individual's or group's action just as is occurring during this financial meltdown. In this instance the lack of trust I experience is and has been centered for too many recent years on our government's administration. I share the perception of many citizens that we have been lied to repeatedly, our personal rights diminished, and other actions taken that benefit only a select few.

Who's opinion on how to act do we trust to resolve the financial debacle our country is experiencing? Originally I thought Treasury Secretary Paulson was that person by default though I was quite repelled by the original bailout plan he proposed. What a power grab to rival that of what the Bush executive branch had been doing these past years. The constant admonitions by officials we needed to rush to action on this bailout raised a cautionary flag this might be a classic sales pressure tactic being used to close a sale. Fear tactics had been government's manipulative norm in preceding years. I was well aware the Treasury Secretary was from Wall St., but surely in this time of national crisis the overall good of the country would take precedence over catering to special groups.

We have a new administration, a legislative branch more capable of progressive change and a daily increasing number of new high level office appointees since I wrote the above thoughts. All these new government officials are expected to provide ideas and facilitate their implementation to bring about effective productive progress toward our nation's healthy recovery.

Day to day the local picture of business declines I reported continues. I expect others are experiencing similar scenarios I described if they look about their community. Perhaps we were able to temporarily overlook the situation ourselves with the brief distractions of Christmas and New Years. We could postpone confronting the business decline, unless we were one of those individuals already impacted with job loss, decreased income, and an uncertain future. Also, we had the prospect of welcoming a new governmental administration, a new direction for our country and a leader unafraid to offer some hard truth for a change while promising hope for our future. Well, the celebrations are over.

I offered my support last year to what has become known as Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP,) or as I tend to think of it 'the assistance recovery plan' (tarp) because I was convinced the state of our economy was critical -- requiring intensive care. My support of that 700 billion economic stimulus plan carried with it a proviso there would be ACCOUNTABILITY. How could there not be with all these financial geniuses in charge?

I was confident the Treasury lenders and those to whom they gave our taxpayer money, my money, should know how to set up accounting sheets with debit and credit columns. These forms have sections specifying where monies go and for what at every level for every lender and recipient. Had I realized the giver and takers either didn't have any of these forms, didn't know how to make any, or didn't know how to document on them, I would have offered my time and assistance. I'm no expert but I'm confident many other able common ordinary citizens along with professionals even more capable than all of us would have provided their expertise, also.

I'm angry and appalled the TARP money to banks was so freely given without accountability. Unequivocally, that is inexcusable. Didn't our legislators include that requirement? Why not? Why didn't our Treasury secretary make accountability a requirement? What have those banks done with the money? Let's start with having Citibank, Bank of America and all other fund recipients provide us their documentation.

Can we expect the new Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, to be more demanding for accountability from all recipients of any monies he disburses? My confidence in him waivers when I consider his tax paying accountability record. Conversely, maybe his experience will motivate him to press for an overhaul of the complex IRS forms we taxpayers have to complete since the rules are so difficult for even an expert like himself to understand. Will our new President come forth and demand accountability not only for funds already dispersed but any new monies loaned?

Meanwhile, local communities like mine are continuing to experience the adverse effects of financial hardships. Nationally, Circuit City is liquidating their products and closing all their stores over the next sixty days. IBM and other major tech companies are letting employees go. Baker's Square, a popular Southern California family restaurant chain abruptly closed their doors since the first of the year. A private restaurant, Green Garden, has taken over that location unlike another prime-located eatery whose doors have been closed for months. The new eating establishment opening is promising indicating that someone has hopes of new business success in the challenging world of restauranting during these difficult times. Otherwise, the list grows for all kinds of business with newly bankrupted and going-out-of-business companies being added. These are only a few troubled companies names I'm providing here.

Overhead costs increase as struggling small businesses in strip malls are seeing excessive rent increases. I was told one two-person beauty shop in business for five years incurred an unreasonable $300 per month rent increase. Owners, lessees, and simple renters, all are not immune to this financial climate's vagaries. I've not even mentioned the housing aspect that is tied in with the bank debacles, creating so much devastation to people of all ages.

What business and housing changes do you observe happening in your community as you go about your daily activities? Are you aware of any new business ventures, however small, such as the new restaurant I described above?

I continue to look forward to resolution of the issues facing our country. I anticipate positive changes in our local, state, national worlds – the world as a whole. I just keep wondering what is going to occur between now and then.

Historical 2009 Presidential Inauguration

(Since returning to work after the first of the year, I have been unusually busy. I've made an effort to keep reasonable hours which means I'm not staying up late or getting up early in order to write new blog posts. I've indulged in relaxing activities in spare moments including seeing a number of current movies. I do have pictures and videos of the Rose Parade New Year's Day that I wrote earlier we would attend, but posting them all now seems quite like old news.)


Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Let's celebrate the hope he brings to each of us and our country for the future. Change we wanted and change to ultimately benefit all of us is what I look forward to happening in these years ahead.

Those who want to view the events as they happen can do so beginning on commercial television as early as 4 A.M. for those of us living on the West Coast. The actual official swearing in ceremony will take place at 12 Noon in Washington, D.C. (9 A.M. in my Pacific Time Zone.) There will be a variety of additional sources for tracking these activities in addition to television, both commercial and public, with all media focused on the event including radio, print and streaming videos from the amateur to the professional.

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies for 2009 provides coverage of this event. Coverage at this site will begin at 11 A.M.(EST)

This is an historical event in that Obama will be the first black President of our country. Given the blood that has been shed for this nation to get to this point we can all be proud of this moment. Personally, from the time I was a child I've always had difficulty understanding why when someone is part of some other race than caucasian we have to go to such lengths as to describe this difference based on skin color or some other distinguishing physical feature. Maybe someday we'll have real equality in this nation and the world -- that such matters will be insignificant.

These are exciting times in which we live. Along with so many others, I believe I have been and am continuing to contribute in some small way to creating a positive environment for our current and future generations. I am proud to be living during this time. The actions we take individually, in our groups, and as a nation will have tremendous influence on our country -- yes, even the world. We all have an opportunity to examine our souls and focus on what unifies us which is the greatness of The United States of America.

New Year -- 2009 Rose Parade

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R !

2 0 0 9

Here's wishing each of you health, happiness and prosperity in the coming year.


The 120th Rose Parade in Pasadena, California is where we'll start our New Years Day. The theme is "Hats Off To Entertainment." We'll watch the colorful flower-covered floats, marching bands, with special Grand Marshall, Cloris Leachman, travel Colorado Blvd. eastward. Near Sierra Madre Blvd. are our bleacher seats located some distance from the prime television coverage area. Quite likely we won't be in the range of any TV cameras, so contrary to my previous comment that you might see us if you watch the parade, that seems quite unlikely now based on new information I've received.

These exotic looking floats are then parked after the parade in a special area for a few days. This is where we viewed them on occasion in earlier years. This will be the first time we've seen the parade other than on television.

My daughter and granddaughter helped decorate a little green car associated with the Cal Poly float.

I can't write more now, 'cause gotta get to sleep for an early morning arousal to be up and on our way to Pasadena.

HOLIDAY GREETINGS !

Greetings and best wishes to everyone during this holiday season.

New Year's Day I'll be seated in the bleachers at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California accompanied by two family members and a couple who are our friends. I'll wave to you if I'm aware the television cameras are panning us.

I'm seeing an increasingly extravagant number of outdoor light and animation displays this year. Subdued light decorations have been my choice especially ever since the energy crisis was announced many years ago. We were encouraged that year to cut back on outdoor light displays. Nothing has changed as far as energy issues are concerned to the best of my knowledge, but that particular energy conservation seems to have become more minimal with the public each succeeding year.

I've enjoyed the colorful lights through the years as have my children, so I defer to the varying attitudes we each have about this matter.

I have chosen to continue a minimalist attitude toward what sort of holiday light display I prefer. I simply place artificial candles in one window that faces the house's front. This year I began by lighting just one candle beginning Sun., Dec. 21st, the night some of my family arrived. I've added a candle each night since and will continue to do so in honor of the various celebratory occasions this time of year.

I just learned last night a couple more family members will arrive for a few days after Christmas, so am looking forward to a lot more unexpected joy and laughter.

Hope everyone has a wonderfully happy holiday!

Holiday '08/Memories/Movie "Australia"

(Computer internet connectivity problems have resurfaced the past several days after several honeymoon weeks when they did not occur for unknown reasons. Has taken me an hour of repeated efforts to publish this post. The future with ease of publishing is a mystery. Thanks for your patience.)

Holiday preparation is upon me and I'm not really doing that much. This preparatory activity is my excuse for not having posted here more frequently this December and I'm sticking to my story. I've been a bit busy with my current part time work. Always when I anticipate my work to be slow the opposite occurs as this month has again confirmed.

This year is calm by comparison when I think of how harried and frantic so many past holidays were. My children and husband were at home contributing their own support, assistance and sometimes frustrating complications. I was helping an ultimately not too well mother living nearby who was striving to remain living independently though she was legally blind, a long term problem to which she had amazingly and successfully adapted. The more recent stroke affecting her balance mechanism thus necessitating she use a walker was more challenging.

An even more unwell mother-in-law was flying across country to be with us. Inevitably she became ill, seriously a couple of times, because she revealed she had eaten a green salad on the plane (remember when they actually served food on planes?) even though she knew she shouldn't because of her gall bladder issues. One year she became immobile in bed partially as a consequence of her morbid obesity. Bless my doctor's heart, he who had long since given up house calls came to our house a few blocks from his office and successfully treated her. Then, when she could get around more she delighted in making homemade noodles, and introducing us to pizzelles – an Italian cookie - all of which we delighted in eating.

Some of those years I was taking classes. All too often classes with needed study preparation had tests scheduled around my busiest at home times with my children's activities. My final graduate school semester I developed compressed neck discs due to wee hour morning studying. I would periodically curl up in an Early American wingback chair deliberately positioned uncomfortably so if I fell asleep in the early A.M. hours I wouldn't drowse long, would arouse and get back to studying. Beginning loss of sensation on my right extremity, certain fingers, arm necessitated long hours daily flat on my back, regular episodes of 'hanging myself' to stretch my neck and some high powered meds that seemed to have some adverse affects. The most challenging aspect was my having to write and type my final thesis standing upright at a draftsman's table.

Other years I was working full time with unpredictable daily changing work sites, especially during my initial supervised work experience year (like a medical internship) to qualify for state licensure and national certification. What seems illogical to me now is that since being by myself I've been less organized personally than I was before. Fortunately, this year I've been making more significant gains in structure than at any time since my husband died. Given the state of the economy, the future uncertainty, the appliance replacements and other expenses I've incurred this year, some of which I've written about in earlier posts, I'm glad to have some work available.

I did take advantage of a regular special "senior" rate and showing of a movie I've anticipated viewing about "the land down under." "Australia," starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. They created credible believable performances of characters who could have been ancestors in their homeland. Awesome colorful film footage featured spectacular views showing the vastness of a country I've often thought I'd like to visit. Excerpts from the movie are seen on the official movie website link above.

The breadth of the film's story compressed a significant historical span integrating social, cultural and political issues indigenous to the nation. The one word that best describes this movie from my perspective is that of extravaganza. This is a film that for me tries to encompass entirely too much in the storytelling.

I was reminded during WWII scenes of how significant the work of our military, especially the U.S. Navy submarine fleet and radiomen were in combating the Japanese onslaught in the South Pacific. Recently, coincidentally, I talked with one of those radiomen who spoke with pride of his service. I've written previously about the men who served then (see Archives May 2008) in reference to Mary Lee Fowler's memoir about her father in her book, Full Fathom Five, that captures details of the WWII South Pacific theatre.

About my holiday preparations -- I am looking forward to some family crossing the country to be with me this year after my having made the trek in the opposite direction last year. At least one of our Southern California activities may be of interest, especially New Year's Day, but I'll share that in a later holiday post. Meanwhile, I do have a few things to do.

Changing Local Economic Picture

FDIC Bank Takeovers

Retroactive Medical Charges to Medicare Patients

State Legislatures "Cuckoo"

Media Convergence

The local economic picture is always changing. Daily in recent months there have been a never-ending number of national and local news stories that tweak my thoughts. FDIC Problem Bank List was one such recent story by Laurie Kulikowski at thestreet.com

I wonder what others observe happening in their communities influencing banking and local business compared to what I'm observing here in Southern California's northeastern Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange Counties?

Only a few months ago our local area was impacted by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation takeover of Indy Bank that had a nearby branch. Rumors had spread prior to that event about the questionable status of a long respected banking institution, Pomona First Federal Savings and Loan, that had successfully first publicly offered stock only a few years ago.

I was told about one PFF depositor so concerned about the institution's rumored financial status that they had transferred all their funds to Indy Bank, where ironically soon after, Indy was taken over by the FDIC renewing that depositor's anxiety. The government's poorly handled takeover triggered lines of depositors frantic to withdraw their funds before officials were finally able to reassure customers most of their money was safe.

Televised L.A. area news scenes reminded me of the seasonally popular Jimmy Stewart movie, "It's A Wonderful Life" in which his character is a banker faced with a run on his bank. Locally, subsequent FDIC takeovers of financial institutions have been handled with more finesse that outwardly has alarmed the public less. Ultimately, our U.S. govt. took steps to increase insured deposit amounts that also alleviated many individuals concerns.

Since then I have observed changes that have affected every bank branch in our city. Bank of America acquired Wall Street financial company Merrill Lynch. The other shoe has dropped however, since the current news is this joining of institutions will result in thousands of jobs lost across our country. Happy Holidays, workers! J. P. Morgan Chase absorbed Washington Mutual which was one giant eating another. Meanwhile, Citibank was reported to be on shaky ground needing more financial support.

Just a few weeks ago another area financial group, Downey Savings and Loan, thought to be careful, conservative and cautious with their investments succumbed to the deterioration of their institution's value. I learned depositors would generally be protected, but those with stock in the institution, many of their own employees, would likely incur loss. For some staff the lost dollars would be a major portion of their retirement funds.

The scenario described to me was that in an FDIC take over the officials would likely walk through the door on a Friday at closing time, then reopen the office the following Monday with little or no disruption in business for customers. A week after learning this, I read in the paper that's exactly what happened at Downey. That same Friday to the surprise of many a similar FDIC takeover occurred at PFF. A Los Angeles bank that had earlier been announced as combining with PFF had their proposed transaction denied by government officials due to that bank's own financial weakness so in stepped the FDIC.

Recently I read U.S. Bank has negotiated purchase of both Downey and PPF. I just can't keep up with who owns what, which name goes with what institution any more, and exactly what financial group I'm doing business with. Perhaps it doesn't really matter since it may all change again next week or next month. I wonder if any of these institutions are borrowing money from me (the taxpayer billions, or is it trillions now, coming from our U.S. Treasury)? I just double-checked and quadrillion comes after trillion, but the information said numbers higher than that are rarely used. Oh, yeah?

I believe I read Citibank was one of the first banks to benefit by borrowing from that initial 700 billion. The Troubled Assets Relief Program, called TARP, will distribute our money. If figures I read earlier still prevail, I think it's been nothing short of criminal Citibank was given the financial deal they received at taxpayers expense – that's your money and mine they received and they're not paying much for it. You can bet if we're borrowing from them they'll have no reservations about what they charge us. They certainly didn't when I returned to college years ago and needed money.

One other change in local business transactions has occurred with my doctor. A few months ago I received a long bill from my medical doctor's billing office suddenly charging me for a litany of services beginning as far back as 2006. Ostensibly these are for amounts over and above what Medicare and my supplemental insurance would allow as payment for my doctor's billing charge. I'm now being charged retroactively for that difference. I wonder if this is happening to others across the country?

The rest of my community shows me two or three closed businesses in each of most small but once busy prosperous strip malls. Once filled storefronts similarly located in surrounding cities showcase a like number of empty shops. Several months ago a large private family restaurant, long a hallmark for many years in a heavily trafficked location, suddenly closed. They were located in a prime spot with ready access to a major freeway and a cross street on a well-traveled boulevard featuring numerous businesses but absent close competing family restaurants. My mother and our family used to enjoy eating there. I guess they could no longer survive despite so many years in business.

I'm not even including here all the newspaper items I see about local retail businesses announcing closing, going out of business sales. Linens 'N Things, Mervyns Department Store readily come to mind. Circuit City is still open locally but nationally they filed for bankruptcy. Then there are the national and local companies, also car dealerships that are shutting down. Obviously in all these instances, there's the human factor. I think of all these people affected whose numbers are continuing to increase. How many are or will be without jobs and money for needed food, clothing, housing and healthcare? Where does help for them come from?

I wonder how many others are seeing similar scenes or observe other scenarios where they live?

I have grave doubts we can expect our California State Government to be in a position to help residents. The last I heard one of their solutions to aid also long-suffering education needs was to alter the payoffs of the State Lottery so there could be more small winners with a reduced single large payout to only one winner. I'm sure every resident looks to that solution to minimize educational shortfalls and for financial security.

Probably, those of you who don't live in California aren't aware of just what dire financial straights this State is in. Some other States are in difficulty, too. There's a tragic-funny article posted by Jane Wells at CNBC that includes a short video clip of public policy expert Joe Kotkin of Chapman University wondering if this is "Cuckoo Land" that "...both parties live in and refuse to leave, no matter what." (short NYT ad at clip's beginning)

More and more I become convinced locally and nationally almost everyone in legislative office should be pitched out on their ear and replaced. Don't any of them realize that if there was ever a time when rigid ideology needed to be set aside with an eye toward compromise for the good of our State and our country, this is that time? They're all a bunch of Neros, fiddling while Rome burns. I hope we're all spared shock one day when we awaken to the realization their stubbornness and ineptitude has resulted in a foreign nation owning our country.

Our State's economy, let alone our national economy and that of the world, gives me motivation to keep working however little or much as I can. Is Wall Street willing or in a position to be able to loan money to any States in financial difficulty? Does the Federal Govt. have loans for these States? Our State Legislature fumbles along busily disagreeing on action of any consequence to rectify our existing problems. Do other States Legislatures demonstrate the same sort of lack of action?

Perhaps the day comes when loans to anyone or any group is out of the question. Perhaps the only solution is the dreaded belt tightening and cutbacks well beyond what many individuals are already doing. We can be assured that those who are least in a position to cut more will likely bear the brunt of most loss.

Traditional news gatherers and writers add to the human element faced with a potential narrowing of employment opportunities. The congruence of print with the Internet is significant on its own, but the timing coinciding with the financial crisis lends its own exacerbation of the problems such workers experience. The most recent newspaper with survival threatened is the Los Angeles Times as the Chicago owner petitions to file for a bankruptcy that also includes his Chicago Sun paper. The Detroit Free Press is reported to be ending most home delivery of their newspaper but will expand their Web Editions.

I do have confidence we will ultimately have universal financial recovery. I wonder if meaningful and accurate distribution of news to the masses will temporarily decrease until everyone readily has inexpensive access to the Internet. Meanwhile, I'm not brooding, but directing my energy elsewhere. Wondering what to expect between now and then does give me pause for thought.

Oven Fiasco

Using my new electric oven on Thanksgiving for the first time was a fiasco. I've been cooking for two years using my stove top, microwave and toaster oven when my regular oven ceased working and they've worked just fine for me. Meanwhile, I've been pondering just what all I might want to do to my kitchen. Pondering some decisions an unduly long time is what I realize I've been doing in the years since my husband died. Besides I kept getting side tracked from oven action this year when so many other replacements, repairs and other personal factors kept demanding my attention.

When I couldn't find anyone locally who could repair my oven, I finally decided I needed other plans. Later, I learned my new neighbor shipped the "innards" of his oven off to a Midwest address that he has since lost. He wanted to maintain his kitchen's '50's look. I considered my change by debating with myself giving up some cabinet shelf space to accommodate some other oven type built-in appliance configurations, ultimately deciding I didn't want those. I really have missed having my husband to exchange ideas with as he usually had a perspective with uniquely different aspects from my own. We didn't always agree, but neither of us ever totally wanted a rubber stamp of our own opinion.

I finally concluded a working full size oven was needed for these holidays. Early Thanksgiving week I had a new oven installed. The young man installer said the oven worked as together we watched all the lights, clock and timer functioning just fine. Neither of us had sense enough to open the oven door to see if it was actually heating. Personally, I prefer to accept no responsibility whatsoever for not having done so. That's right! Blame the installer -- it's all his fault Actually, my oven installer was remiss for not having checked for heat, but I should have checked, too.

Thanksgiving Day, unfortunately, the oven did everything but produce heat after twenty preheating (hah!) minutes. I was befuddled for a few moments as I thought about what to do. The toaster oven was not large enough to be a cooking option, but perhaps the trusty microwave would not let me down. I rescued the stuffed turkey roll from the cold oven and placed it in my microwave. I felt quite smug that I had salvaged the turkey roll, but pride was my downfall. I misjudged how long to cook the roll, did not carefully check it since I didn't have any guidelines. Later when the little bell chimed that the cooking process was complete I was in for a surprise. The bottom of the turkey roll meat strip had actually turned black which I soon noticed when I removed the roasting dish. Fortunately, my tasting revealed the other three quarters of the roll was not tainted by that burned meat. I will confess even though the stuffing was relatively moist, the rest of the turkey was, shall we say, just a bit dry and chewy?

I do wish my husband had been living as we would have had a hilarious time laughing at the Thanksgiving oven event. To make a long story short I checked my circuit breaker the next day (even though I had seen the oven installer turn it on those days earlier, or so he and I thought.) For the first time I learned that my circuit breaker could have one side "on" and the other side of the same breaker "off." The connection took multiple attempts on my part to turn both sides "on" at the same time, possibly because this is a really old circuit breaker system. I quickly checked my oven, have since baked stuffed pork chops and heat is forthcoming. Seems like it takes a long time to preheat, but guess I just need to get used to the oven. I'll get that opportunity in the weeks ahead.

Outsourcing Writing Local News -- Incredible!

Incredibly, local Internet news writing has been outsourced in one Southern California city. I urge you to read Maureen Dowd's "A Penny For My Thoughts" in her New York Times Opinion piece November 30, 2008. She has written some interesting new facts and observations since I first reported her interest in this approach to news reporting. She provides her special unique humorous perspective on the topic as can be expected.

I wrote here earlier about attending Ms Dowd's recent local speaking engagement. (See "An Evening with Maureen Dowd" consecutive posts November 21 & 24, 2008 in Archives.)

I noted that she mentioned as a sidelight that:
"...while here in So. Cal. she met with James Macpherson, editor and publisher of the Pasadena Now website. He has outsourced coverage of the Pasadena City Council to two reporters in India."

Ms Dowd's account of that meeting and related information gathered raises concerns in my mind. Her speculation about the prospect of local city, state and national news being outsourced to inexperienced writers of another country reads like some sort of weird science fiction story. There's only one problem with dismissing this scenario as a bizarre humorous joke -- it's actually happening in Pasadena and has been for a while. I do wonder if the practice could spread?

Just what our country needs in an already shaky U. S. economy is creating even more job losses by outsourcing writing. The information Ms Dowd gathered leads me to think there is also that pesky little problem of outsourced writers having a realistic perspective for credible news interpretation. I realize that can be a problem with our own home grown news people, but somehow I'm not convinced outsourcing lends itself well to being an improvement.

I have to ask again, just how capable of effectively understanding and writing about the intricacies of our city issues are individuals on another continent? They likely have little knowledge of local particulars with no vested interest in the city, our state and country? When you read Ms Dowd's article you'll likely have a few doubts and thoughts of your own.

I wish I could just dismiss the possibility of this latest outsourcing as being limited to Pasadena, but that's one too many instances from my point of view. I hope this isn't the future of Internet news.

Thanksgiving Controversy

Are kindergartners racist when they dress in costumes as Indians or Pilgrims celebrating Thanksgiving? That's been the question at these two Claremont, California public schools.

"It's demeaning," Michelle Raheja, the mother of a kindergartner at Condit Elementary School, wrote to her daughter's teacher. "I'm sure you can appreciate the inappropriateness of asking children to dress up like slaves (and kind slave masters), or Jews (and friendly Nazis), or members of any other racial minority group who has struggled in our nation's history."

That is an excerpt from a recent Los Angeles Times article, "Claremont Parents Clash Over Kindergarten Thanksgiving Costumes." Staff writer Seema Mehta explains the beginnings of this controversy. The article states "Raheja is an English professor at the University of California at Riverside who specializes in Native American literature ... Her mother is a Seneca" – a Native American Indian tribe. (See photos and video on link above.)

A comment from another parent, John Garabedian, whose son is a kindergartner at Mountain View Elementary School, to the cities Claremont Courier local newspaper expressed an opposite view: "This woman compared Thanksgiving festivities to the Holocaust, I am sorry but I just do not see the comparison. However, I am offended by her remarks and her insensitivity by this comparison. I am an Armenian and my relatives were killed during the Armenian Genocide in 1915. How dare you compare the Thanksgiving festivities with the Holocaust!"

I have first hand familiarity with this Thanksgiving tradition since my children participated in the event decades ago. My recollection is that the kindergartners highly anticipated this experience. They had been preparing for many days at school while also discussing the history of our country. Students generally made simple headbands with a few multi-colored feathers from construction paper if they were to be Indians. Those who were to be Pilgrims cut out and glued together classic black hats trimmed in white. They may have created additional paper clothing type items, but that is all I recall after so many years have passed.

Alternating years each schools kindergartners would be either Indians or Pilgrims. One school or the other would provide a real turkey dinner to the visitors. The schools are located on the same street several blocks from each other so this was the trek one classroom group would walk each year for their annual Thanksgiving gathering before the actual holiday.

National Public Radio's program "Air Talk" devoted a portion of their show, Weds., Nov. 26^th to discussion of these issues by phone callers, and e-mailers. One caller reporting to be a full blood Native American Indian from a tribe whose name I was unfamiliar with described her home environment when she was young. She said her Indian parents taught that Thanksgiving was the beginning of "the big lie." The lies persisted in how Pilgrims and others treated the Native American Indian from that day forward in their view. Her school had a similar Indian Pilgrim Thanksgiving celebration and as a Native American Indian she said she felt embarrassed, ashamed and humiliated over how she and her people were portrayed in this pageant. She believes the experience traumatized her for life.

A few calls later a woman identified herself as a kindergarten teacher at Condit School years ago who engaged her students in this Thanksgiving event. I recognized her name and voice, recalling my son had been in her class. I know first hand her teaching skills, compassion and humanity. She has been a highly exceptional teacher. I am confident every child in her classroom, real Indian, pilgrim or pretending, would have experienced this activity feeling great pride. I'm sure she explained the feelings of gratitude the Pilgrims had toward the Indians. Symbolically, she said she had the Indians carry kernels of corn to the Pilgrims, a generous Native American act that actually had been the foundation enabling these newcomers to this continent to survive. Historians studying actual records agree to the significance of planting corn in the Pilgrims lives.

The Thanksgiving costume controversy continued with television news coverage. Subsequent news items in another area newspaper, The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin featured an article with pictures "Thanksgiving feast draws protesters to Condit Elementary School" by Wes Woods II, Staff Writer, published 11/25/08. He noted parent emotions were strong on both sides of this issue with local police called to place the groups on opposite sides of the street. Each could see the others signs and listen to not always calmly stated opposing points of view.

Unsettling rumors had spread a few days before school district officials determined to allow the kindergartners to continue this decades old tradition. The proviso was the students could not wear Indian and Pilgrim costumes. The timing of when this decision was made and whether or not the choice was correct continues to be in question and may well resonate in the community in the future. This is likely to be especially so, come school board election time, and/or whenever consideration of renewal of the current Superintendent's contract occurs.

Maybe we should all give more thought to the real historic facts surrounding the colonization of this continent. Perhaps a little less romanticizing might be appropriate. But just how much, at what age and how do we reveal to our children some of the more brutal facts, some of which we Americans cannot be proud? I think we're long overdue for a little more realism and truth.

I wonder what others think about all this? Meanwhile, I'll celebrate Native Americans and Pilgrims coming together on what we years later designated as Thanksgiving Day. I know their eating fare was probably quite different than what many of us will have. I hope this holiday is enjoyable for all as some will likely have long four day weekends. Many will enjoy family gatherings.