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| BREWER-OBAMA |
The meeting on the tarmac at the Phoenix airport between Gov Jan Brewer & Barack Obama raised eyebrows Wednesday when Brewer, who has had a contentious relationship with Mr. Obama for years, was seen pointing her finger at the president. President Obama said reports of the meeting were "blown out of proportion," adding that Brewer simply wanted to give him a letter.
In that letter, Brewer asks Mr. Obama for another meeting and boasts that her policies -- which stand in contrast to the president's policy prescriptions -- have helped turn around Arizona's economy.
The reaction, not surpisingly, is frequently split between party believers and we have heard it first had on the local radio news. Some have praised Gov Jan Brewer saying "we all need to get into #Obama's face!" and others are embarrassed for the state and state that what she did was incredibly disrespectful.
Maricopa County had been granted the power to enforce immigration law by ICE in 2004, but Sheriff Arpaio’s use of that power was overstepped. The aim is to identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants. A law that President Obama strongly opposes. Immigrants are required by law to carry identity documents legitimizing their presence on American soil. Failure to carry immigration documents is a crime and give the police broad power to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally.
Arpaio’s office has been under investigation by the Department of Justice for alleged racial-profiling and unfair treatment of Latinos. The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) has also filed a number of lawsuits on behalf of clients who were targeted by Arpaio’s deputies based on their skin color.
Lawsuits brought against Arpaio by employees, former employees, inmates, and the families of dead inmates have cost the county millions and Arpaio has misled the public about the cost to taxpayers of lawsuits.
He apparently makes inmates wear pink underwear & live in tents during Arizona's sweltering summers (up to 145 degrees) and eat green bologna. Opened by Sheriff Joe in 1993 over 375,000 inmates have served sentences at Tent City.
Just some of the accusations regarding the "toughest sheriff in America." Will be watching to see if the 80 yr old is re-elected for another four year term.
Arizona Golf Course
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| Marc continues to challenge himself! Back to the driving range! |
Back to the oldest golf course in town. Still busy on a thursday at 1:00 but as is typical, hole #2 is a par three - it backs up with about six deep, everyone patiently waits and then the pace gets set and the people spread out - a normal day here takes 4 1/2 hours.
First time since coming here we can finish 18 holes before dark (starting just after 1:00). Booked on EasyLinks we can play for $18-20 and finish by 5:30 just when the sun is going down and it gets cold once that happens. Only course we have been to that you can not walk the course - must use electric carts. December, bookings were not an issue and we could play mornings; come January - different story. Also, prices have jumped up. Apache Creek is now charging approximately $15.00 more than in December. Darned Snowbirds anyway!
Marc's relatives, Steve & Sandy are incredible beaders! So, a little lesson on wire wrapping, and connecting clasps, making earrings. Man - I thought golf was complicated!!!
The pendant & earrings birthday present! (Bought at the Arizona market). Birthday was Dec but the "Silver Bear" jeweler was getting a new shipment in January - worth the wait.
ARIZONA OPRY DINNER THEATRE
This year we attended the "Rock & Roll" show and left feeling the same way we did last year when we saw the "Variety Show" (can see the info on our blog for January of last year). Food was good (a sit down roast beef dinner served to approx 500) and the music & prodcution of the show incredible.
The musicians are all extremely talented, playing multi instruments, amazing voices & the a cappella was incredible.
Would not be complete without a performance by The King - "Elvis" - he needed help up after gyrating to the floor.
The most amazing performer (producer) and also known as "a freak of nature" is George Staerkel. He has been professionally performing since age 10 and has a huge background, including lead singer and keyboard player for The Tokens (they sang "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" at the Opry). George now has a collection of instruments totalling approximately 100 and plays everything. He has at least 7 famous instruments (horns of Al Hirt and Boots Randolph to name a couple. He has an incredible five octave voice range. Here he plays his 90 lb saxophone.
An interesting article about the performers - at Estes Park in Colorado where they opened their first Opry: http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/estes_park_news/epn7-22-11webfile/2011072101/10.html#10
South Mountain Park
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| Ancient dwelling |
South Mountain is a desert mountain preserve of over 17,000 acres. For those that don't walk or hike, there is a winding, narrow road to drive for spectacular views of Phoenix, 58 miles of biking trails, desert info and horseback tours. Families, joggers, bikers and hikers utilize the trails and apparently weekends you have to watch every bend as it gets super busy.
This was mid day Monday & the parking lot looked full to us - saw alot of people but not many once we got out on the single track (rock) trails.
Prime terrain for rattlesnakes & they are out (according to someone in a local hiking club) - today we saw a couple of chipmunks and a Trasher.
Going out on Mormon Trail was all uphill with alot of switchbacks & we went until we got about a third of the way up the National then turned & came back on national .... lots of rock on the way back with some good sized drops. We see why people told us to ride up Mormon and head down National.
Well worth the climb - you get about a 270 degree view from Buckeye to Chandler -
Phoenix & the International Airport directly ahead.
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