Hi Roger,

Thank you for bringing that to our attention. I think most of us know that in some foreign countries its better to say one is from Canada than America. We do have some problems with some people thinking we are all aggressive.

The same thing happens when you tell people in Washington State that you are from California. The welcome mat disappears rather rapidly. They got tired of people from here, going there and taking the large capital from selling homes in CA to purchase something far larger in their area's. Also it tended to bring on to many subdivisions and they became concerned that Washington one day might look like the burbs of CA.

I recalled more than once reading the Seattle Times where one of the columnists wrote and said if you had friends in CA to tell them it rained all the time to discourage them from wanting to move there.

Mind you, when I lived there, it wasn't that way, but today I say, if it gets serious, let's not buy any apples from Washington and I think that should make a good point. Afterall, its all economic anyway.

I have no opinion one way or the other about the new Mr. Bush. I liked his father, but did find great exception when he visited China and had the flu and didn't stay in his room. He chose instead to deliver his cookies at the dinner table. Poor choice for sure.

I think as they put it, the new Mr. Bush is "jestering." Feeling his way as they put it and of course, as most in power learn in time, graciousness in the end is greated far better than a big huff at the beginning. Let us hope this man gets the drift before its to late.

Petra