Local Hispanic Group protest

"The March 17 Alliance of Georgia a coalition of Hispanic clergy, business owners and activists called on Hispanics to not buy anything Friday as a way of signaling the Latino community's importance to the state's economy. They also asked Hispanic workers to stay home if they could do so without jeopardizing their jobs. That piece of the partial boycott appeared to be getting less compliance.
Manuel Garcia said he and his 15-man landscaping crew were told they'd be fired if they didn't show for work today. That's why they were busily sprinkling pine straw around bushes and flower beds at warehouses along Best Friend Road in Norcross. 'We have families to support,' Garcia said.
The workers went out of their way to buy water yesterday, however, and brought their own lunches to avoid having to make purchases.
Ali Mesghali, owner of Rumi's Kitchen on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, said two of his cooks approached him to tell him about the boycott.
With a staff that's a good mix of Hispanic and American workers, Mesghali closed the Persian eatery for lunch Friday, choosing instead to open for the day at 5 p.m. for dinner.
'We wanted to support the Spanish people,' Mesghali said. 'I told them that if this is what you believe, I'm supporting you guys.'"

The Republicans do not know how bad the backlash is going to be.

Some local history of Buford

"'American Made,' the 9 1/2-foot tribute to this former leather capital's history, was moved from McCallum's Tannery Row studio into a small park across the street last Saturday, ringed by six hitching posts and six benches made of granite and iron and a surround of engraved pavers.
The life-size portrait of cowboy movie star Roy Rogers, his faithful steed Trigger and saddlemaker John Johnson representing the hundreds of leather workers who came before him freezes a moment in time.
Rogers, his Western scarf uplifted by wind, looks as if he's trying to calm his horse, who's reared up on two legs. Johnson holds the Western saddle aloft, ready to place it on Trigger's back the minute he touches back down on all fours.
No matter if it ever actually happened this way: The action trio tells Buford's story writ small."

Interesting what small towns are known for.

Another Georgia manufacturing plant closes

Fruit Of The Loom Shuts Down Georgia Plant: "Fruit of the Loom is shutting down its plant in Rabun County in north Georgia laying off 900 workers.
Owners of Rabun Apparel notified workers that the plant in Rabun Gap will shut down on August 26.
Layoffs will begin on March 27.
The owners blamed competition from imports from China for the shutdown.
Rabun Apparel is the largest employer in Rabun County. "

This is going to be tragic for this rural community. According to the US Census Bureau the poplulation of Rabun county was 16,011 in 2004.

CDC Budget cuts......

"Budget documents submitted to Congress last month by the White House suggest overall spending at the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would remain essentially flat in fiscal year 2007, which begins Oct. 1. However, a nonprofit organization established to advocate increases in the CDC's budget said the White House proposal conceals 'major cuts' in the agency's core budget.
Karl Moeller, executive director of the Campaign for Public Health, said the administration has used emergency influenza pandemic funding to mask deep proposed cuts to the agency. 'Once these items are excluded, it becomes clear the administration's proposal drastically cuts the CDC,' the organization said.

Gerberding acknowledged the budget cut during an appearance at a forum on government investment in research and development.
'That's correct,' she said. 'Obviously, it creates a challenge. We do what every family does when their budget is short. They have to really priortize and make sure that the investments they're making are accomplishing the most they can.'
She added that the CDC was 'working hard to be more effective with less, but I'm not going to pretend that it's not a challenge.' "

This is just sad. Most public health programs nationally have been "doing more with less" while in Iraq we are "doing less with more".

At the Go Go race

Aris and Mark waiting in line for go cart race track. After all the crashes, yellow flags and penalties I believe I won. Thanks for all the support!

Aris looking perplexed....

Must have been the chicken burning on the grill....

Driving back

Think he really needs BOTH hands on the wheel.......