Friday, July 06, 2012

Independence Day Flag: Choose Made-In-America

Ours is made in America.
Is yours?

The flag we hung out on Independence Day was made in America, unlike so many of them available now.
We got it at a thrift store, where many goods are passed on when people move out of their large houses into smaller ones, or assisted living facilities. We were happy to give this flag, which had obviously seen some use, a new and permanent home.
It just makes sense, when you're getting a flag to show support for our nation, to get one made in our country. We have the land to grow the cotton; we have the looms to weave the cloth; we have the workers to sew; why should we not support American jobs when getting an American flag?
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And that made me think of this July 3 article from "The Hill":
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) on Tuesday called on the House to pass legislation requiring the government to only purchase American flags that are made in the United States.
"Under current law, the American flags that fly from federal buildings — on July 4th and every day of the year — may be up to fifty percent foreign-made," Brown said. "Many American companies, including Annin and Company in Coshocton [Ohio], proudly produce the American flag right here in the United States."
Their bill, the All-American Flag Act, passed the Senate last July, but the House never took up the measure. A similar bill was approved unanimously in the House by the prior Congress.

Brown and Braley said the House version, H.R. 1344, needs to be discharged by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in order for it to be considered on the House floor. They wrote to Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and ranking member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) asking them to discharge the bill.

"American flags should be made in America using American products," they wrote. "Allowing the government to purchase flags with foreign-made materials is a disservice to our country.

"Now is the time to see that this legislation is signed into law," they added."
Why not contact your Congresscritter and tell them to get behind this bill?
And, when you get a flag, either buy it used so that it supports American jobs in the resale industry, or if it's new, insist on  Made In America.

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

4freeCLE: Your Free CLE Newsletter - July 1, 2012

I love doing my newsletter; I just don't always get around to posting it here promptly:

4freeCLE: Your Free CLE Newsletter!
July 1, 2012
In This Issue
Webinar CLEs
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offers one free CLE program  
(1 credit) 
just for registering on their website!
It has dozens of on-demand, online courses to choose from, so you will probably find something that fits your practice!

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Free webinars earn you CLE credit with zero travel time!
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Thanks for the News!
A big thank-you to Attorney Beverly Angel of Cedar Creek, TX for sending us notice of the DIVO program above! That is a wonderful resource for our colleagues and clients. 

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Monday, July 02, 2012

If Your Newsman's Sexuality Is More Important Than The News: You're Doing It Wrong!

I never gave one thought to Anderson Cooper's sexuality, but it turns out he's gay and "Big Whoop!" says I.
Well, it *is* a Big Whoop because there's not a whole lot of openly gay people at our highest levels of reporting and other important institutions (excepting entertainment).
So far, it hasn't seem to have affected the simple fact that in his field he's among the best of the best, but I suppose there will be a certain amount of hysteria among the professionally fearful.
My reaction is as in the caption I put on his photo: if you're watching the news because of the sexuality of your newsman, you're doing it wrong (but there's nothing wrong with that I suppose.)
Anyway, good job Cooper; that must have taken some guts and it makes the world just a little be better that you are being honest.
Now get back to work!
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The above notwithstanding I'm sure this is a significant event. As Jennifer Vanasco wrote, it  does matter when people come out because the reason that life is getting better for minorities is that more people are coming out. I  don't mean to minimize the courage it takes to come out; I'm just hoping that we are now approaching the era where homophobia will join racism in the garbage dumpster of history (... a regrettably smelly dumpster, that just won't go away, but still...)