Trains, Oil, Drugs, and Kiddie Porn

Whew! Just this heading is probably enough to have this post blocked at a lot of companies email servers. If you forward it to anyone and they don't get it, remember, it is always available on the website.

Let's talk about trains. We've had a train accident in Chalmette not too long ago and Tangipahoa Parish had six people die in the past month or so.

Le me set the record straight for those that don't understand. It doesn't matter how big or small a vehicle you are driving, the train is going to win. Period. No questions, no exceptions, simple physics. Just the engine alone has enough steel and mass to ruin anybodies day.

I do believe it has already been concluded that the accident in Chalmette was the truck drivers fault. But that still didn't stop all of our local politicians from running around like Chicken Little.

After investigation, I'm sure it will be ruled that the drivers in Tangipahoa Parish failed to yield to the train. Of course, politicians in Tangipahoa Parish are running around like Chicken Littles.

For its part, the state Department of Transportation and Development has decided to use this to it's advantage. It has sent a letter to Tangipahoa Parish asking to close several train crossings in exchange the DOTD will put up flashing lights and gates.

The lights and gates are nice safety features, but common sense would negate the absolute need for them. Look at the train crossings in Arabi and Bywater. Some lights, but no gates and I don't recall hearing of a train accident at those crossings ever.

Oil. A major industry in Louisiana, especially here in Chalmette.

In case you didn't know, or forgot, Chalmette Refining LLC is a joint venture between ExxonMobil and Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). ExxonMobil provides the staff and PDVSA provides the oil.

Venezuela is currently ruled by President Hugo Chavez, a former soldier and now politician. First elected as President of Venezuela in 1998, his popularity has swung back and forth, so much so that was ousted from office for two days then promptly returned when the leaders of the coup couldn't muster enough support.

This article, by Emma Brossard, which was published by PetroleumWorld, explains the hatred Chavez has of President Bush and the United States and the attempts by Chavez to sell now only Chalmette Refining, but also Citgo, which has a refinery located in Lake Charles, LA.

While I'm on the subject of oil, anyone know Ken Ford, Director of St. Bernard Citizen's for Environmental Quality? He's the lead for this story, published in E/The Environmental Magazine.

Seems he's lived next to Chalmette Refining for forty years and now all his neighbors are dropping dead of cancer. Of course, Chalmette Refining is the sole reason for their deaths. I just wonder, how many of these neighbors of his smoked at any time in their life? What kind of jobs did they have?

I'm not claiming that Chalmette Refining is pumping out the cleanest air you could ever breathe, but it is a lot easier for an individual to move than for a refinery.

I know I've said it before, but the same principle applies. If you don't like the sound of jets flying over your house, don't move next door to an airport. It was there before you and will most likely be there long after you're gone.

It's always a nice feeling when I'm talking to folks and they mention how they heard about St. Bernard Parish on the news. Unfortunately, that feeling turns bad when they start talking about the teacher accused of having over 2400 images of child pornography and the St. Bernard Coroner talking about the number of prescription drug overdoses.

There's not a whole lot we can do about the child pornography other than count on Sheriff Jack Stephens finding those who engage in such acts and garnering enough evidence for District Attorney Jack Rowley to put them in jail for life.

The story with Kevin Carmouches, a fifth grade teacher at Joseph Maggiore Elementary School in Metairie, just seems strange. His father was arrested on the same charges a month ago. The two of them shared a house together. Did the Sheriff's office not gather all the images when the father was arrested? If he is guilty, is Kevin that stupid that he resumed his antics so soon after his father was arrested?

I've read some of the reports and interviews with parents who claim he was a fantastic teacher. All I can say is, I'm glad he doesn't teach at my kids school with the way he grooms himself. Just his appearance makes me leary of him to begin with.

As for the drug overdoses. The St. Bernard Parish Council is passing resolutions to limit the outburst of pain clinics within St. Bernard, which is a fantastic idea. Now I just think the medical community needs to step up to the plate.

The doctors who are running these pain clinics need to have their licenses revoked so they can no longer write these prescriptions. And, the rules need to be changed in the hospitals so they overdose patients are no longer given a higher priority.

Some may view me as uncompassionate, but my feeling is, if they are going to swallow twenty pills out of thirty, let me help them by giving them the other ten.

It is no secret that I have family members who have overdosed on drugs. Personally, I think the rest of the family would be better off if they wouldn't have been saved.

At the least, Chalmette Medical Center is joining the medical boom within the metro area and is in the midst of a $12 million expansion that will add 84,000 square feet to the hospital.

Before I forget, two last items. Received an email asking about St. Joseph Altars in St. Bernard Parish. I don't have a definitive list, but I do know St. Mark Church will have their Altar open Friday, 7:00 - 8:00 PM, with the Blessing at 7:30 PM.

Mass will be at 9:00 AM. The saints will be served around 11:30 AM with the public invited to eat from 12 noon until 7:00 PM. The main section of the Altar will remain open for viewing until after the noon Mass on Sunday.

I believe the Knights of Columbus Rummel Council on Paris Road has an Altar, although I'm not positive.

If you know of any Altars, please let me know and I'll send it out so everyone gets it.

Second item, if you've been wanting to learn Linux but just didn't know what book to buy, I'm getting a special shipment autographed copies of Linux for Dummies, 6th Edition written by Dee-Ann LeBlanc. Dee-Ann is a business associate of mine, we are both founders of AnswerSquad, your online tech support. She has been updating the book after every major Linux revision and is a certified Red Hat instructor as well as a columnist for Linux World Magazine.

As soon as I get the books in, I'll place a link so you can get your autographed copy for less than half the cover price.

Be good to yourself,
Westley Annis
westley@da-parish.com
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