Colombia Tariff Ticker
Your browser does not support iframes. Please visit <a href=”http://trade.gov/cfta/smallerticker.html”> Trade.gov</a> to view the Colombia Tariff Ticker.The Commerce Department has launched the above “Colombia Tariff Ticker” to highlight just how much money American businesses are losing in tariffs paid to the Colombian government. Tariffs that would be reduced to zero if only our labor union controlled Congress would pass the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. According to the Department of Commerce: Since the Colombia FTA was signed, nearly $1 billion in tariffs have been assessed to U.S. products being exported to Colombia. If Congress were to pass the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, tariffs on more than 70 percent of U.S. agricultural products destined to Colombia would be eliminated immediately.
A co-worker, Carla, won a contest and as a result she got to invite some folks over to her house for a mini-concert by Melinda Doolittle. Melinda was absolutely amazing. A great voice, but also a very kind person who accomodated every request for autographs and pictures. We all got American Idol t-shirts, ice cream bowls (the sweepstakes my co-worker won was by an ice cream company) and autographed and personalized pictures of Melinda. Carla also won a Nintendo Wii and the new, yet to be released, American Idol video game. Below are some pictures as well as a video of Melinda singing Woman. She also sang it on Idol. A fun time was had by all!
daughter Katherine, wife Mary, Melinda Doolittle and myself
daughter Katherine and Melinda Doolittle
Melinda Doolittle
Update: because of popular demand, I’m posting another video of Melinda. It’s her singing the theme song from the Jefferson’s. Movin’ On Up. I missed the first note, but other than that, I think I got the whole thing. It was kind of funny how at Melinda’s insistence we should all clap along, but soon the folks with no rhythm messed it up. Naturally. :o) Anyway, without further ado:
Yesterday (on April Fool’s Day of all days!) my family (minus me) got to meet Chad “Corntassle” Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. The meeting took place because my wife Mary wanted to promote swimming as a sport that the Nation could support for the health of it’s children. Katherine, my 13 year old, is on the far right and has been a competitive swimmer for years now. You can see the Chief along side my wife Mary. My son Joseph is on the far left (he’s also a swimmer), our youngest (Aidan) is in front of Mary and Ruby (she’s now a swimmer too, but not yet competitive) is in front of Chief Smith. Mary, and hence my children, are Cherokee and are very proud of their heritage.
Saturday was a big day, music-wise, for the Pendergraft family. We braved the bitter cold and threat of snow to go to Mrs. Lewis’s piano recital. It was held at a retirment home in Tahlequah to help bring some Christmas cheer to the residents. First up was 5 year old Ruby. It was her first recital. She did a great job. I like the way she didn’t miss a note. She takes the time to stare at her hands, then the music and back to her hands to make sure she hit the right note every time. Naturally, she plays it even better at home. Take a look:
Next was 9 year old Joseph. He plays with some authority! I love watching him play. So handsome.
Last was beautiful 13 year old Katherine. She plays so well and we are so proud of her! We need to work on her bow and remind her that it’s OK to SMILE!
This is the morning that I had planned to fix my motorcycle. But the call of opening day was too much. I figured a couple of hours hooting around behind the house, and then I would come in and work on the bike. Well, I got lucky. I ran into my wife’s cousin in the back 40 and we began chatting. After about 10 minutes of talking, I saw this young buck. I said “shh” to Russell and took the shot. I had to only drag him about 150 yards to my house. My three youngest wanted their pictures taken with the deer. My teenage daugther was still asleep.
You can spot the hapless KLR on my porch. I still need to fix the leaky cylinder head cover.
My wife Mary’s father, Billy Joe Russell, was changing the oil in her Yukon XL. It seems he had a little help from my two youngest girls Aidan (3) and Ruby (5). A great shot!
It’s not everyday you get to meet the Greatest Olympian of All Time! 11 Olympic Gold Medals. 26 World Records. 35 U.S. Records. Anyway, my kids swim on a USA Swimming swim team. The Tahlequah Stingrays. They brought in Mark Spitz to speak with the kids and also do a swim clinic. Since my wife was on the committee to bring him in, I was able to go with her last Friday night September 14th to a dinner hosted in his honor. It was a low key dinner at one of the coaches house. Mark was very gracious and funny. Full of great stories. One of the ladies told him she remembered him on the Wheaties box. I think he burst her bubble when he admitted to having never been on a Wheaties box! Anyway, here are a few pics. Oh, pictures don’t do him justice. In person you can tell he is still in amazing shape.
Me and Mark Spitz
Mark Spitz with (L-R) Ruby (5), Katherine (13) and Aidan Pendergraft (3)
