A recent CNN story announced a spike in tariffs for solar panels coming from China. The Chinese government is being accused of “dumping” or flooding the market with solar panels manufactured with government subsidies. The idea being that we couldn’t compete on price on solar panels.

As you may remember Solyndra was the Fremont California based manufacturer of solar panels.They were touted by the Obama administration as part of his job stimulus efforts. They were going to create 4000 new jobs. His administration put our government on the hook for $535 million in loan guarantees to allow Solyndra to expand and develop new technology.

They filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on 8/31/2011. The FBI raided them September 8, 2011. Over 1000 employees were laid off without any severance pay.

Obama is accused by some to have unduly influenced the approval of the guarantee, even though it’s possible there is a connection to the Bush administration.

This is going to be a huge issue in Obama’s campaign for his second term. What are the chances the spike in tariff rates are a built in cover story for this debacle? Watch and see him deflect this issue as we get closer to the election.

I wish I was a better writer. A good story needs a good writer to tell it but you’re stuck with me,

When my son was in first grade his school put on their yearly “Winter Festival.” (This is where a good writer would say something clever about political correctness but since you have so very recently been warned, I feel no guilt about leaving it unsaid and moving along).

Among the activities was a horse and buggy ride that was supposed to more or less approximate a Christmas horse and sleigh. I suppose it was disguised enough to not appear to be celebrating Christmas.

My son had never been up close to a horse (The suburbs not being a breeding ground for horsemen or writers) and was too afraid to ride.

Fast forward to next year’s Winter Fest (Oh my, that was a clumsy transition) My son is leaving the house, his eyes locked straight ahead with a determined look on his face, “This year I’m going to ride that horse thing.” (I don’t think “horse thing” is an accurate quote, but I forget what he said and I don’t know what else to call it) I said something like, “Try to have fun” He responded, “No Dad, this year I’m going to face my fears,” As he almost closes the door on his backpack.

Later that Evening when I get home I asked about his day. He ended up riding the horse thing. I was especially interested in his comment about facing his fears. I wondered, did he learn it from school? From his Tae Kwon doe instructor?

“I learned it from you Dad. I heard you telling your friend on the phone to face his fears and they’ll disappear. So I tried it a few times and then I tried it today on the sleigh ride and I found out it works every time.”

So what I got out of this experience is, that it’s true, we are teaching our kids something whether we realize it or not.

I also recalled something about the student learning the lesson so well that they become the teacher and the teacher becomes the student again. They reveal another aspect of the lesson the teacher didn’t see.

What I learned is that facing your fears works even for little boys that have the character to apply it and it also works every time.

So maybe my little story will encourage you to face any fears you might have.

Or perhaps you are a better story teller than me and you can tell it in a way that might help someone overcome their fears.

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Google has finally listened to their users and is now offering an effective opt out privacy program.

Google Opt Out Feature Lets Users Protect Privacy By Moving To Remote Village

Should the government stop dumping money into a Giant Hole?