Is It Hypocrisy...

...or is it just me being confused. Well for starters I am not feeling confused at all, and as a matter of fact I am feeling pretty sure of myself when I think that Barack Obama is one of the biggest all time frauds and hypocrites to have run for the office of the presidency of the United States of America. His latest piece of work, or at least the latest piece of work of his campaign team shows, I think, just what a hypocrite is he as he can now be seen standing at a podium behind the Barack Obama seal - a rip off of the obverse of the Great Seal of the United States of America, and of the Seal of the President of the United States of America. I have to wonder does this scoundrel candidate know absolutely no way to stand for that in which he believes or at least that which he espouses he believes? What I mean is that he claims to be the candidate for change. I suppose that means whatever change any of his followers would like to believe we need here in America - yet what does he do but use an obvious rip off of the Great Seal and Presidential Seal to promote himself and his website.

I see no change coming with this guy, not at least from other ultra liberals who have come before him. He is about as Washington Insider as one could possibly become in the short time he has been in DC, and that folks just goes to show that he will be one of the same to fall out of the ultra donkey liberal mold among the likes of Feinstein, Boxer, Schumer, Clinton, Carter and others. I see only disrespect for this country, and the things for which it stands, coming out of him, his wife and his preacher. That disrespect for the USA seems ingrained into his very essence, and now another apparent example of said disrespect is, in my opinion, seen in his mockery of two great symbols of our freedom and of all for which our nation stands.

In light of the seeming hypocrisy, and disrespect, I also have to wonder if this man has any modesty or ability to be shamed at all. First he was evidently proud of himself for not wearing the American Flag lapel pin worn by other candidates, then he defended himself for not saluting the American Flag during recitation of the National Anthem, now he stands defiantly behind this obviously less than original seal, a rip off of two of the greatest symbols of the USA. He seems to be boundless in his lack of character, and his ability to remain shameless when in apparently fact guilty of things for which anyone else would, at the very least, be ashamed of himself for having perpetrated. In my opinion the man is a cad, and is not worthy of running for the presidency - let alone winning it.

All the best,
Glenn B

Road Trip 2008 - Shenandoah River and Beyond

How does the song go: "Oh Shenando I long to see you...." With its forested and farmland shores, small islands dotted throughout her waters, small rapids, abundance of wildlife, decent fishing - I mean who that loves the outdoors would not love this river. So once again, for the third time over the past several years, Brendan and I have been smitten by the beauty of this famed Virginia river, at least the south fork of it.

We left home on Sunday June 15at about 0730 - pretty darned early to get the younger version up, at em, and on the road with all our gear - but somehow I managed it. I am not saying I like to be up before the birds or anything like that, but just that while I would have liked to have left earlier by an hour or so, it wasn't bad timing at all. We had sort of planned on driving to Harrisburg, PA the first day and then spend some time at Hershey Park. I figured the drive there would be a breeze at about 199 miles, and 3 hours 40 minutes driving time per MapQuest. While I was driving I was, as usual, also talking. Brendan usually tunes me out after a while but sometimes he catches what I am blabbering on about. So somewhere along the way, while we were I was talking about our past canoeing road trips to the Shenandoah River, Brendan asked: "That's Virginia?". I said it was, and was surprised to hear that Harrisburg was out, and a direct drive all the way to VA, all 361 miles of it was in. Being a bit leery of just how long Brendan would want to be in the car I decided not to cancel our reservations at Motel 6 near Harrisburg until we were well passed it. While in PA, and long before we reached Harrisburg, we made a stop of about an hour and a half at a Pizza Hut, and then Cabelas near Hamburg. We picked up some lures, and I got a fishing pole to replace one that had broken on me some time ago. While there we took the time to get a good look at all the fish they have in the huge aquariums they have - all native species of freshwater game fish. Impressive, to say the least. We had both seen it before, but Brendan and I got a real kick out of it this time around too.

We then drove on without stopping until we hit the Welcome Center in West Virginia, on Interstate 81. We took a short break, and Brendan snapped a quick pic of me. We took a look at the map in the welcome center - I had forgotten to did out our road atlas, just to make sure I remembered how to get there. Then we grabbed a bunch of WV pamphlets just in case we decided to change plans and spend more time in WV. Then off again, this time with Brendan at the wheel. It's nice to be able to share the driving with my son, almost like the luxury of having a chauffeur and best buddy all in one. Along the way we made a stop for gas somewhere, and one other stop at the Virginia Welcome Center on Interstate 81. Lie in WV we stocked up on pamphlets and info guides about the state. When we drove on I had to start thinking about finding another motel at least for our first night's stay in VA. We had a reservation at the Best Western in Winchester, VA for Monday and Tuesday, but we decided to get closer to where we would likely be canoeing and we eventually decided on a Days Inn in Luray, VA. It wound up being a good choice, close to the canoe outfitters, close to other attractions, clean rooms, wi-fi, free continental breakfast, and nice folks running it. We cancelled the other reservation and stayed at the Days Inn for 3 nights. All in all it took us just about 7 1/2 hours of driving to get there, all three stops included, not bad at all.

Once we checked in at the motel, the rest of our day was spent shopping for fishing gear, and for supplies. I wanted to stock up on enough food for 3 to 4 days worth of lunches since we would likely be either canoeing, fishing, or hiking at any given lunchtime during the trip. So off to Walmart we went. We picked up a fishing supplies, our nonresident 5 day fishing licenses with added national forest permits, and lunch supplies and drinks for the next few days (not a beer or ale among those drinks though). As we drove around the area a bit, I realized just how much Luray, the tow in which our motel was located, has going for it as a road trip destination, or as a great place to live. There is, of course, the Shenandoah River with all the outdoor activities one can enjoy on a river like fishing, swimming, canoeing, rafting, tubing and so on. Then just about 10 miles away to the east is the Skyline Drive through the Shenandoah National Park for sightseeing, camping, hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing and so on. Maybe a bit further to the west is the George Washington National Forest another great spot for hiking, camping, fishing, and also for hunting. The area is also loaded with caverns that are open to the public for a fee. We figured if the weather got miserable enough we would go and explore some of them, but as it turned out we never got the chance.

On Monday, day 2 of the trip, and our first full day in the Shenandoah Valley, we took off for Downriver Canoe Company in Benton. That was a drive of about 15 miles from the motel. We really didn't set off for that outfitter, but were headed to Front Royal Canoe about 10 miles further north. The thing that made us check out Downriver Canoe Company was that I was pretty sure it was down the same road as a canoe outfitter we had used on our 2 previous trips to the area. I could not remember the name of that one, but I wanted to use them again, and figured why not see if that was the right road. Well when we got to the river, there was Downriver Canoe Company on our right, and there was the building complex for the other canoe outfitter on our left just as I had remembered except for the fact that there were no canoes or signs of an outfitter at the place we previously had used. We stopped in at Downriver canoe Company and we were greeted by an pleasant gentleman with white hair but a youthful sparkle in his eyes. When I inquired about the other place, he told me that it had closed down after the owner, a heavily accented German lady whom I recall fondly, had retired in the last year or two. What a shame, we liked her and her outfit; and I talked to her each time about the old country - my wife having been born in Germany. Oh well, we figured what the heck we would give Downriver Canoe Company a try.

I am guessing we were in our canoe and on the river by about 11:00 AM. None to early, but they only open at 9 on weekdays; and it was more than early enough for sleeping beauty who really seemed to be comfortable in that Days Inn bed despite the alarm having gone off 15 minutes earlier with some truly irritating and loud preacher ranting about the wrath of God. As it was he finally woke up and we set off to enjoy the beauty of nature, which I guess you could see as God's greatest gift to us, too bad that radio preacher did not gear his sermon that way - then I might have listened for awhile.

I digress, so let me get back to the canoe, the river, and the good time we were about to have. We picked a trip of ten miles, and soon were in the transport van with two young ladies , one from Scotland the other from Ireland, who were traveling together, and with a man and woman I assumed to be hubby and wife obviously from the USA. The other two couples were dropped off first, then us. We opted to be dropped off above the rapids, or at least what there was of them since the water levels were on the low side. I guess VA had been spared the rain we had been getting in NY and surely were spared the rains that were pelting Iowa. We wasted no time once we were dropped off and we were in the river in about 10 minutes after having secured all our gear to the cross members in the canoe with bungee cords. We fished a while above the rapids, maybe a half hour or so; and Brendan caught a small mouth or spotted bass almost immediately. Nothing big, maybe a pound or pound and a half; but certainly the first fish of the trip. After a bit, and maybe a sunfish or two, and another but tiny bass, we headed downriver and through the rapids. They were fun but none too exhilarating since the water level was down. Still though it beat working, driving, and just sitting around. As I said it was fun.

Once over them we paddled a bit then started to fish again. We were constantly watching the skies as the weatherman, and the guy who helped us at the canoe rental, both promised severe weather. It was overcast, with lots of low dark clouds, but luckily each time we heard thunder booming, it was further downriver than were we and we stayed dry, at least early on. We had been told if we got in the thick of it to make for shore and wait it out. As it was we just fished and hoped we would not get rained on. A couple more tiny bass were brought in and some more fat sunfish. Brendan caught everything, I'd say about 8 or 9 fish - except that is for two bass about 3 or 4 inches long each. Oh joy, I caught them.

After stopping and fishing, then paddling, then stopping and fishing, then paddling, I started to wonder what time it was since I had forgotten my watch. We had time but it seemed later than it was to me. We continued on that way for awhile. Once or twice we got stuck right atop submerged rocks only and inch or two under the water in some of the other rapids we ran as we went along. Sadly when I get frustrated, I sometimes get not so nice and mouth off orders. None too fun for Brendan especially since I blamed getting stuck on him when it was as much my fault as his, maybe more mine for me being a lard butt who weighs too much. I apologized, shut my mouth and we pushed off, literally by both half climbing out of the canoe to give those rocks a shove. Then more fishing, and looking for turtles. Did I forget to mention that every now and then the sun came out. Once it was shining, it would not be more than 5 or 10 minutes and the turtles were climbing up on any downfall sticking up out of the water. We tried to catch some of them but they were just too alert and quick for us. You might be surprised at how quick they make a dive into the water when they think danger is approaching, it is no wonder that their cousin the tortoise was able to beat the hare.

We kept gliding along, fishing, looking at turtles, seeing cows cooling off in the shallows, watching birds, spotting some big fish swim under the canoe, and catching small ones. Then there was a sudden real darkening of the sky over us, and some loud boomers and lightning, and the water started to be whipped by the wind. In no time it was pouring, and we made for shore along with three other guys in two other canoes. We chatted with them a bit and they said they were catching fish all day long nonstop. When I asked what they were using, one guy said lures. What a helpful piece of info was that you cannot imagine. Heck we tried spinners, plugs both sinking and floating, artificial worms, other rubber like critter lures, live earthworms and meal worms; and we were not catching fish as they claimed they were doing. We must have been using the wrong lures, but no more information was forthcoming from the tight lipped fisherman with who we shared a bit of landing in the downpour. I had to wonder if they had caught anything. After about 10 or 15 minutes of getting soaked, we were off again. Luckily we had found out both the time and the distance to the canoe base, and realized we had enough time to get back if we paddled steadily with one or two stops for fishing. As it turned out, I guess the guy's watch was fast, or his guess at the distance was off, because we got back to the base at 4:30 PM, about an hour and a half before we had to be there. That was okay because in between we again got into the middle of a real bad one. We paddled ashore, this time just he two of us since the others had pulled way ahead since the last stop. I was kind of concerned because we had to have spent about 1/2 hour on the shore waiting for this one to pass. When it slowed down some, we were in the canoe and off toward the outfitter's base. We were both drenched, Brendan more so than I because he was wearing cotton shirt and shorts; and I was wearing a cotton shirt, and nylon swim suit with the addition of a poncho. Brendan was too manly for that, and he got drenched and stayed that way until we reached the outfitter's landing. Once there and not paddling he started to get cold fast and off came the wet shirt. The outfitter's helpers were there to meet us, or actually had come down to the landing to pick up the canoes of the other two parties who had arrived before us. Just lucky they were there to take ours just as we showed up. We put our gear together, and I gave Brendan the car keys and he went and got the car from across the river. We left and hit the hotel. I guess we were back at the hotel when I realized we were short a Camel Back day pack with a lot of our gar in it. Back down to the car, and nope it was not there; so into the car and off at speed to the canoe landing. Of course we got stuck behind a knucklehead who was driving erratically, slow then fast, then over the lines, then crawling, then fast - all when I was stressed out about losing my gear. When we got to the landing, there was my pack where I had left it. I guess the camo was pretty good since no one had driven by and spotted it. Lucky thing for me that it as still there.

After that we went into Luray to eat dinner. We stopped at Uncle Buck's restaurant. I had a burger. It was not cooked medium rare how I like it since they have to cook em medium or more in VA by state Law. Can you imagine the audacity of the politicians to tell you how you have to cook a burger - outrageous. Brendan had a bowl of vegetable soup and we also shared an appetizer called Texas Toast. It was toast smothered with crab meat and cheese, and toasted to perfection. I have to admit the bacon and cheese on my burger made up for it being cooked medium or medium well, and the food and service were outstanding. If you ever go to Luray, stop by this place. One side is a family style restaurant, the other is a bar. Not a bad set up. By the way, I had a couple of ales at this pit stop, one New castle that was on the flat side, and a Yeungling that was delicious. My first and only alcohol of the trip, but since Brendan could drive, a couple of pints were okay.

Later on we took a drive up toward Sky Line Drive in Shenandoah National Park. We headed up to it and turned around because the toll booth was shut down, and because it cost $15 bucks to enter if open. Now had it been the daytime that would have been okay, but I was not about to pay $15 for a short nighttime drive; and the sign said to pay upon exiting at whatever booth through which we would have exited. We were lucky though because along the way we saw a couple of deer feeding at roadside, and we saw a black bear sauntering along the road side a few miles later. The it was back to the motel to hit the sack.

The next day, Tuesday and day 3 of the trip, dawned sunny and much cooler. It was absolutely a perfect day. We decided not to hit the canoes again, I was still aching from the day before, and I think so too was Brendan at least a bit. My shoulders, back, knees and butt all were sore. So what to do. We decided to go fishing again, this time in a lake in the George Washington national Forest. It took us about an hour to find the road out of town to get across the river and to the lake. That was even after stopping at the COC to get directions and a local map. Even the locals had a hard time figuring out where that road started in town, and there were few access points to it out of town, and none within miles of it. Well we finally got onto the right road, and after a spell we were at Skidmore Forks. That turned out to be a stream, and we decided to stop there for lunch, and do some fishing. Lunch was delicious, fishing was not productive though we did see some small trout in the stream. We also saw a mess left by partiers or campers around a large fire ring. What a shame that people haul it in, then get drunk (as was obvious from the amount of beer cans) and then don't haul it out. If I had had a large garbage bag I would have cleaned it up.

After a short stopover, we were off again to look for Skidmore lake. I figured and hoped it would not be far from a stream called Skidmore Forks, and I was right. In a mile or two we hit the intersection of Switzer Lake Road. We figured that any lake was better than no lake, and if not Skidmore Lake, well Switzer Lake would do just fine so we decided to take it. Where did we wind up, well at Skidmore Lake of course! At least that is what the sign said near the lake. Why the road was named Switzer Lake Road and not named Skidmore Lake Road was beyond me, but I would guess there is a story in that somewhere. We fished there for a couple of hours. While hiking along the shore I lifted several flat rocks and spotted about 8 or 9 water snakes underneath them. I caught three of them to show Brendan. As I was headed back to where he was fishing (I figured some solo time would be god for both of us) he came walking toward me looking under some of the same rocks I had checked. I showed him the 3 snakes I had in my zippered vest pocket, and after a few minutes we released them. Brendan made on toward where I had been fishing, and as he did he looked for snakes too. He spotted one about three feet long, and very fat - probably gravid. he told me it had a stub tail. That was one of the same I had seen earlier on.

As for the fishing, we caught a bass or two, or I should say Brendan caught them, and he also caught a few sunnies. (Yes if you look closely in the pic, you can see a small sunfish at the end of his line.) After a couple of hours or so we moved to the other end of the lake to fish there. When we got there, a couple of other guys were jsut leaving, and we took their spot. We were the only ones there at that time, on the whole 118 acre lake. As we walked down to where they others had been fishing, brendan said that they had a fire, and had left it burining. Sure enough, there was a fire ring with hot ashes and embers in it. It was not more than 5 feet from the water, and those 2 other guys had been too lazy to fetch some water to assure it was out. Since it was also only about 25 feet from the woods, I think it would have been wise to have put it out. As it turned out, Brendan and I (mostly I) decided to gather some wood and start a new blaze. We fished, and enjoyed the campfire.

Again Brendan caught most of the fish, just a couple or few, but more than me with maybe one, if any at that area. When we tired of fishing, we sat around the fire and talked and Brendan and I each enjoyed half a sandwhich each, all we had left to eat, well besides a bass he had caught at the lake. I guess brendan was still hungry because he asked me to cook that up for him. I cooked it whole over the glowing embers. Pretty delicious if I say so myself, and Brendan agreed with me on that.

It was starting to turn to the hours of the long shadows as the sun got lower in the sky behind us; and and some other folks arrived to fish. A family of three, mom, dad and young sone - maybe 2 - shopwed up and fished for 20 minutes or so without luck. Then a couple of guys showed up and put a boat with a small motor in the water, and they were off to fish.I also spotted a canoe with fishermaen, and brendan spotted another small rowbaot with fishermen. Remarkable how the fishermen show up near dusk when the fish should be biting the best, but the fish did not cooperate. One other thing also started to show up when those shadows started to get long, and more of them came on as the sahdows lengthened. Dracula said: "Listen to them sing, the children of the night, what music they make." in reference to wolves howling outside at dusk. While these guys did not howl, they sure did have a buzzing, whining, drone, and also were children of the night, and bloodsuckers at that. Yes the mosquitoes had arrived, but luckily for us not in great numbers as on a pst trip we made to the Evergaldes a coupl,e of years back. Maybe it was the chill air, or maybe the smoke from the fire, but we only got a couple of bites each. Soon after they arrived we decided to make our getaway - fire or no fire they get pretty bold as it gets darker, and even the machete that Brendan was carrying would have been poor defense against a horde of hungry mosquitoes (we just had to buy it when we saw it at Wally World). We took off at about 8:15 or 8:30, and I was pretty surprised it was so late since it was still somewhat light out. We got back to the hotel pretty bushed and hit the hay shortly after our arrival.

I figure if you have read this through until now, you must be almost as tired of reading it as I am of writing it; and hopefully there were not too many typos. So for now dear readers I will pull the plug, and go watch something on the Sci-Fi channel. I'll finish up with the last day of the trip tomorrow or Sunday.

All the best,

Glenn B

Happy Father's Day

What a coincidence that the road trip with my son begins today. I could not have planned it better, and was actually kind of surprised to find out today is Father's day. It should be a good one. Hopes yours is nice too.

Al the best,
Glenn B

Questions, Questions: What Guns To Take On The Road Trip?

So we leave tomorrow at about 0730 (yeah right, probably not likely buy one can hope that the only son wakes up before then); and the question of which gun(s) to bring along has popped up in my head. Of course I am going armed, with my regular carry pistol, the Glock 19; but I probably will throw another firearm or two into the car to bring along for some fun shooting should we have the opportunity. I am thinking the S&W Model 17 ten shot revolver in .22LR, and maybe the Henry Survival Rifle. They should so nicely for some plinking fun, and if we get lost in the woods with the Henry, well it can live up to its name and protect us from things like ravenous mosquitoes, crazed chipmunks, Pic-A-Nic basket thieving Boo-Boo and Yogi The Bears, and criminally insane psychos. We may take it canoeing too, and if we capsize our canoe whilst canoeing - it floats - or so they say. One never knows when one may have to shoot at a turtle who has decided to torpedo the canoe. Yes a couple of 22s should make any trip like this more fun; and no I don't really plan to shoot any turtles or other critters, heck not even any mosquitoes...

Later for you,
GB

Hellbent On Hellbenders

It's not the best picture, but it was the only one I could find in the public domain. What is it a picture of, why it is a Hellbender - of course! Or if you prefer the scientific lingo, it is Cryptobranchus alleganiensis - the largest salamander in the United States, heck the largest amphibian in the United States. It is native to NY, PA, WV, VA, NC, SC, TN, GA, OH, KY, IN, IL, MO, AR, MI, AL (hope I got the abbreviations correct). Sadly their numbers have been reduced; and although the causes are not known for certain it is believed that loss primarily has been due to pollution, and siltation. Its last strongholds are in PA, WV, VA, TN, NC and GA.

Brendan and I are hellbent on observing and photographing at least one of these creatures while on our road trip to VA. Of course that will mean a side trip to WV and the Monongahela National Forest, but it would be worth it for us to find just one of them. We have searched for these guys over several years in the Susquehanna River system near Windsor, NY and Binghamton, NY but have never see one even though the streams seemed well suited to them. All of the rivers and streams that we searched had large populations of crayfish - one of the favorite dietary items of the helbender. Still though no hellbenders, and I suppose because of an overabundance of silt in the water from runoff originating on farms and dirt roads.

If you would like to learn more about this amazing creatures, visit this site:

http://hellbenders.org/index.html

There are some really great photographs of hellbenders on that site; and instead of swiping them for use on my site (I could not get through to the owner of them via email to ask permission) I figured I would link to the site and let you explore it at your leisure. Check out the second picture on the photos page, it will give you a good idea of just how big these critters get.

Now back to refinishing the bedroom floor for me!

All the best,
Glenn B

Road Trip - We Cannot Afford It...

...but I'll be damned if Brendan and I don't get away on our annual road trip for at least a few days. This June marks some big events for him, his last days of high school, the prom, and graduation. Well the last day has come and gone, so has the prom which was last night. Graduation is not until later in the month. Then he starts a new full time job next Friday. Since I am busy tomorrow working on the house, that leaves us with Sunday through Thursday to get away. I am hoping for a drive to Harrisburg, PA to visit sites nearby - maybe Hershey Park, maybe Gettysburg - could be both. Then a drive down to the Shenandoah River Valley where we may camp out (talk about me being cheap, but only if I think my back can take sleeping on the ground otherwise an inexpensive motel). We have been there twice, and he liked the canoe and fishing trips we took on the Shenandoah River. A couple of days of that, then we head back north. maybe we spend a night somewhere in PA, maybe we drive right home. Either way we are home by Thursday at the latest. It is about the only outdoors 'regular' thing I look forward to all year anymore besides a fall hunting trip; but most of all Brendan deserves it. I think he maybe looking forward to it as much as I look forward to it. I hope so, because that means he will really help get all of our gear ready tomorrow night. Nothing like waiting until the last minute to pack for a road trip, now is there!

If you don't see anything left here in the blog from Sunday til Thursday - you will know why.

All the best,
Glenn B

The House Is Breaking The Bank...

...and I mean that almost literally since it sure is breaking my bank account. First it was the water heater that went on the fritz. That went for about $1325, plus $150 for the permit (can you imagine the politicians eating steak on my dime, I can), plus another $25 for the inspections. Then it was an air conditioner that went kaflooey. Another $110 for a new one, yeah we got a special on some off name brand (if it lasts three years it will have been well worth it). Then the upstairs toilet had to be replaced. About $180 for the toilet and installation kit; then the friggin plumber had the nerve to charge $225, use my tools to install it, and not even set it level. They sent someone today to tell me how they think it will be okay not levelled. I think I may have to contest that charge with Amex. Finally, well for expenses of the last month up through today, I shelled out another $1,195 to have an oak tree chopped down and removed from my property. That was the best offer from over 8 tree service places (well I had an estimate of $675, but that guy just seemingly fell off the face of the earth once he came to give me an estimate). I waited about 3 weeks for him and said fuggedaboudit, and got the next lowest priced guy to do it. He sent a bunch of illegal aliens nice guys to my house to cut it down today.

That of course was enough, but not for my black cloud. Nope, my personal black cloud dumps on me even after it has covered me from head to foot. You see, now the side door needs replacement. A year or a couple of years back, the door jamb cracked, right at the bottom hinge. Good old Stanley Doors, they used the softest wood I have ever seen for a door frame. Well once it cracked, the crack found its way right through the screw holes of the hinge. The screws wobbled and flexed, and ate those screw holes bigger and bigger until now they will not hold at all. I had some contractors who were here for other work, over the past 2 years, look at it. They told me the same thing, it would cost as much or more than getting a whole new door installed to fix it. So now I am off to Lowes to look for a steel door, with steel frame - no more wood, unless they have some with hardwood frames. My best guesstimate is at least another $500 to replace the door.

There I was a few weeks back thinking I would be buying us a new barbecue grill, a nice one, a stainless steel one, for this season - since the old one is literally rusting through and falling apart. I guess that just isn't gonna happen any time soon. As a matter of fact, it looks as if my annual road trip with Brendan may be off this year, or certainly curtailed what with all these unexpected expenses and the cost of gasoline. He is graduating high school, his prom is tomorrow, and I thought for sure we would have a special road trip this year. Maybe we can get away with a camping trip within a hundred miles or so of home. That shouldn't be too expensive, I mean what is a couple of hundred bucks added onto about $3,700 of unexpected expenses in a month. Yikes I hope nothing else goes wrong with this gosh darned money pit or we may not be able to eat except for every other day!

If anything else goes wrong I seriously may have to consider selling some of the boomers; and heck I don't have that many to sell in the first place. I would sure miss em if I have to resort to that. Then again, if gold peaks near a grand per ounce, I do have a 14K white gold college ring I can sell, and one other small gold nugget ring I would be happy to get rid of. Maybe I could get a few hundred for both of them. Other than that, there isn't a thing in my house worth all that much. Heck, I just thought, I may have to stay on my job more than another year if things keep going down financially, that is a truly scary thought, but at least I have a job. Oh well, enough b-ing and moaning; I am off to Lowes to go door shopping to see how much I have to add to the approximately.

In the meantime if any of you can think of any legitimate and reasonable ways for me to earn some quick cash - let me know.

All the best,
Glenn B

Barack Obama - Gun Grabber?

Well this is what the NRA had to say about Barack Obama, and I glommed it from their website here because they said it MAY be reproduced:

"On the Second Amendment, Don’t Believe Obama!

Friday, June 06, 2008

The presidential primary season is finally over, and it is now time for gun owners to take a careful look at just where apparent nominee Barack Obama stands on issues related to the Second Amendment. During the primaries, Obama tried to hide behind vague statements of support for “sportsmen” or unfounded claims of general support for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

But his real record, based on votes taken, political associations, and long standing positions, shows that Barack Obama is a serious threat to Second Amendment liberties. Don’t listen to his campaign rhetoric! Look instead to what he has said and done during his entire political career.


FACT: Barack Obama voted to allow reckless lawsuits designed to bankrupt the firearms industry.

FACT: Barack Obama wants to re-impose the failed and discredited Clinton Gun Ban.


FACT: Barack Obama voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting.

FACT: Barack Obama has endorsed a complete ban on handgun ownership.

FACT: Barack Obama supports local gun bans in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and other cities.

FACT: Barack Obama voted to uphold local gun bans and the criminal prosecution of people who use firearms in self-defense.

FACT: Barack Obama supports requiring law-abiding gun owners to register their firearms.

FACT: Barack Obama refused to sign a friend-of-the-court brief in support of individual Second Amendment rights in the Heller case.

FACT: Barack Obama wants to eliminate your Right to Carry.

FACT: Barack Obama was a member of the Board of Directors of the Joyce Foundation, the leading source of funds for anti-gun organizations and “research.”

FACT: Barack Obama supported a proposal to ban gun stores within 5 miles of a school or park, which would eliminate almost every gun store in America.

FACT: Barack Obama voted not to notify gun owners when the state of Illinois did records searches on them.

FACT: Barack Obama voted against a measure to lower the Firearms Owners Identification card age minimum from 21 to 18, a measure designed to assist young people in the military.

FACT: Barack Obama favors a ban on standard capacity magazines.

FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory micro-stamping.

FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory waiting periods.

FACT: Barack Obama supports repeal of the Tiahrt Amendment, which prohibits information on gun traces collected by the BATFE from being used in reckless lawsuits against firearm dealers and manufacturers.

FACT: Barack Obama supports “one-gun-a-month” sales restrictions.

FACT: Barack Obama supports a ban on inexpensive handguns.

FACT: Barack Obama supports a ban on the resale of police issued firearms, even if the money is going to police departments for replacement equipment.

FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory firearm training requirements for all gun owners and a ban on gun ownership for persons under the age of 21.

Copyright 2008, National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action.

This may be reproduced. It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes. "

I have got to tell you, this guy Obama is a scary dude. I can only imagine that his apparent disregard for our rights and liberties probably are shameful on other Constitutional issues as well as the right to keep and bear arms. Besides that I have seen him to be, in my opinion: an ultra liberal kook, an evasive person on the actual issues, an opportunist extraordinaire without regard for truth, and basically in essence a simple liar using his lies to get over on all of America. As I said though that is just my personal opinion of him, but I am sure it will keep me from voting for him. As to your vote, you have to make up your own opinion and then vote your on conscience.

Happy and safe shooting,
Glenn B

My Black Cloud Follows Me...

...to most places that I go, and it shows an undying loyalty to me that I truly do not want or need. Just yesterday it was a hot but beautiful day. I was at my sisters house visiting her, my brother-in-law, their son, and my mom. Brendan and Mimi came with me. After visiting for a few hours, Brendan, I, Daniel and Mimi went down to the beach to go fishing. As we pulled into the parking spot, I thought hmm, its going to rain, and Brendan said some drops were already coming down. When I had suggested it looked like rain earlier, Uncle David (my brother-in-law) said 'its not going to rain'. Well here we were at the beach parking lot and it was getting dark, and not because it was getting close to evening, it was still late afternoon. We walked from the car to the beach down a narrow path through light woods and grass, and I mentioned I hoped we didn't get any ticks. The area is known for deer ticks. Daniel assured me if we stayed on the path we would not pick up any ticks.

Okay so we got to the beach, and Brendan and I set up the two poles we had. Brendan gave a cast and the line snapped! I had only earlier told uncle David I had wanted but forgotten to change the line that came with the reel when I bought it last year because the line seemed brittle. Well it lived up to its reputation and we lost a good lure. Daniel's line was just in the water, and their was lightning across the channel from us. Large, ominous black clouds were moving our way too. I said I thought we ought to get out of there, and before we could get all our gear together it was raining down on us pretty good. We took off running the short distance to the car, but the storm was apparently moving faster than we could run and we were pretty wet by the time we got into the car. Of course it did not matter all that much now that Mimi had already been soaking wet from her dive into the drink down at the beach. Oh, had I forgotten to mention it was her first time near a large body of water, and she of course had to jump right in. She seemed flabbergasted but swam pretty good for a first timer.

We drove the short distance to the house, and by the time we were in the driveway, the rain was pelting the car, the wind was whooping insanely, and the trees were swaying violently and dangerously. It was one heck of a storm and we all stayed in the car for a few minutes, until Daniel - whom I think was scared - bolted out and ran inside the house. Brendan and I soon followed, and I probably got as wet in a few feet as we had gotten earlier while running back to the car it was then raining so hard. What a storm.

Brendan and I enjoyed the end of our stay inside, me with desert and coffee, him just coffee, and soon departed. On the way out we hit a detour. Apparently there was trouble on the road ahead. My guess was a tree had come down. On the detour, we passed an accident. The storm had made things sloppy for sure. While following the time consuming detour, I happened to glance at my right leg, and lo and behold what did I find but two very small ticks stuck on my limb and enjoying my life's blood. I scraped em off pronto. I'll have to check for the tell tale bull's eye of Lyme Disease.

Well there it was, that black cloud had followed me both literally and figuratively from a storm that drenched us, to a fishing line that snapped taking with it a favorite lure, to a lengthy detour, to ticks embedded in my leg. All in all though, it was a pretty good day and a nice visit; but that cloud just keeps following me around - go figure.

All the best,
Glenn B

Oh Joy - Its Gonna Be A Hot One

Yep, and it's sort of hot already, somewhere in the mid eighties with lots of sultry added on (that would translate to a lot of humidity for you desert dwellers). The garden is well watered, and even the bean plants that looked wilted yesterday look ready to face the heat today; and it is expected to get pretty hot - up to the mid nineties. With that humidity that should make it feel in the hundreds as the sweat pours out of one's pores and sticks to one's body. As for Brendan and I that should not present too much of a problem - we are heading east on a trip to visit my mom, my sister, my brother-in-law, and my nephew.

The trip was going to include a stop at the rifle range in Brookhaven, but alas other things have interfered. We need to make a stop for washing machine parts at a Sears service center. No, thank the gods, not for my washing machine; enough has gone wrong in my house, but for my sister's. Heck it may just be too hot for a fun day at the range anyhow; and we are also taking Mimi along with us, and we could not leave her in the car while we would have been out shooting in the expected heat. I have another thing or three up my sleeve. I figure to remember my fishing pole this time, the surf caster. My bet is that the bluefish are running, and maybe to too are the stripers and weakfish. A nice striped bass would be delicious! We are also taking Mimi along with us, and we could not leave her in the car while we would have been out shooting in the expected heat.

I guess I should also grab a small shovel, the screen sifter, and the metal detector. Who knows, maybe we will get a chance to look for Blackbeard's treasure while we are out east. One never knows, now does one. Yeah - I know - my luck stinks, so the most I'll find is a metal slug. Then again, with Brendan along, we make get lucky, he has much better luck than me - no black clouds following him around. If you don't ever see more written on this blog after today, you can figure either we struck it rich or that I hooked a big one, got pulled into the drink, and was eaten by sharks.

Of course I am also taking a frisbee. It just seems like a good day for it. Maybe if I stick to throwing the old flying disc around I can avoid the shark thing.

All the best,
Glenn B

Home Repairs - Nothing Is Easy When You Have My Luck

So I finally got the spare bedroom painted. Took about 4 weekends of my spare time. That is okay - no hurry here. It looks pretty good. I also took up the old carpet today, and when I saw the old floor underneath, I figured I'll have to sand it, then refinish it. That will not be the easiest thing to do, but not too hard.

Of course, with a house it is one thing after another. About a week or so ago, I tried to change the handle on the upstairs throne. As my luck and ineptness would have it, I broke the side of the toilet tank doing so. Luckily for me above the water line; but it is ruined. It needs replacing, but it is so old I cannot find a match. So after a week or week and a half of it being usable but broken, I took off the tank and tried to line up a new one. No go. So that left me with needing to replace the whole toilet and tank. Okay, I took off the old toilet too. Then there it was a major problem, at least for me who am no plumber. The brass flange to which the base of the throne attaches is cracked. It seems the knuckleheads who put in my new bathroom 14 years ago placed the tile floor atop the old tile floor. When they left the hole for the toilet, they made it too wide. Instead of the flange having floor under it to support it, they attached the flange to the drain pipe and left the edges of it in thin air. Well the toilet and floor must have settled causing the brass flange to crack. I imagine I could just put everything back atop it, but all the books I've read and advice I have been given is to have a new flange installed. While I am sure this would be a major job for me, I am hopeful it will be easy for the plumber I am calling on Monday. My guess though is it will be a major job for him just to remove the old one without cracking the drain pipe. I can only hope they get it done easily and inexpensively. Then I can put in the new toilet myself, or maybe may as well have them do it since that job will take all of a half hour more at most.

I have to say, it really sucks because all was going well, in fact better than I had expected, until I saw the crack. I had thought it would be tougher to do under normal circumstances, but replacing the loo would actually have been an easy job if there were no surprise problems like the cracked flange. Oh well, a house is, I suppose, a pit into which to throw money. I just wish I had the money. If it was not for my own personal black cloud following me around, maybe it would be less expensive. As it is though, I really am getting better at doing things around the homestead despite this most recent screwup.

I had other things to keep me busy today too, like moving the paving stones from under my oak tree. The tree is coming down next Wednesday. I was supposed to have it down weeks ago but the tree service guy never showed up. I got a new guy, at almost double the price, and he still is less than all the others I have called except for the bum guy who did not show. Then I did some spraying for ants/termites. Hopefully I don't have any in the house, but I sprayed all around it for a protective barrier. Those carpenter ants and termites can be nasty even in a brick house to what wood there is, especially the beams.

Now I am going to go out and do some gardening. The broccoli is coming in nicely, the lettuce has been unused and thus wasted by the wife, the cabbage looks good, and the tomato plants have been better in previous years. If I am lucky I'll find some ripe strawberries. Only had a few last year, but this year they are coming in strong. As for the pepper plants Mimi, the latest mutt in the house, dug em all up. I am learning, sprayed some hot pepper sauce in the garden and the digging sure has subsided. Next time though only on the soil as it really ruined some of the leaves on some of the plants.

Later for you.

All the best,
GB

Lest We Forget - June 6, 1944

Today is the 64th anniversary of the allied invasion of Normandy in an attempt to route the Nazi's from occupied France, and to double the efforts against the Nazis that had started with the invasion of Anzio months before. The invasion of Normandy was the largest amphibious assault in the history of the world. The first day of the assault has gone down in history simply as D-Day. It should be needless to say it was one of the bloodiest battles of all time - but lest we forget I make mention of it here that total losses in the Battle of Normandy were approximated at: over 425,000 for both sides combined, with 209,000 allied casualties. On D-Day alone there were an estimated 10,000 allied casualties. There were also an estimated 15,000 - 20,200 French civilians killed, mostly due to allied bombing. (Yet the allies were praised for liberating France, could you imagine the outcry of the libs if this happened today in these numbers.)

As I said, I make note of this here lest we forget. We should never forget those who were wounded or who died in service of our nation, or in pursuit of true freedom in the world. We should hold them in a place of honor as long as there is one man or woman among humanity who is left standing. They were scared, they were brave, they were tenacious, they were tender, they were fathers, they were sons, they were soldiers, they were civilians, they were all there to defeat a common enemy, they were there to help liberate our allies, they were the men and women who lost their lives, their limbs, their innocence forever doing the right thing for the rest of us. Lest we forget.

More info on D-Day can be found at:

http://www.army.mil/d-day/

http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/faq.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_701702421/D-Day.html

http://www.warchronicle.com/numbers/WWII/ddaycasualtyest.htm

All the best,

Glenn B

In Memoriam - Ronald Wilson Reagan

He was born February 6, 1911 - he died June 5, 2004. During the time in between those dates he did many things, but most importantly he was the leader of the United States of America and a staunch ally and protector of much of the Free World as we now know it. I did not say he was president of the USA, but while indeed such was the case, it is more importantly noted that he was indeed a great leader. He was not a manager, not a supervisor, not a coach, not a puppet nor puppet master, not anything like what the world seems to want to make of those they call presidents, prime ministers, and politicians today. Instead of fitting the mold of one who merely managed what was at hand, he actually took the reigns of leadership, and he rode that steed sitting high in the saddle all the way through some of the toughest times in our history to assure we remained free men in a free world.

Too bad we don't have anyone even close to him today because we sure could use his talent, his zeal, his love of freedom, his morality, his belief that man is inherently good, his determination to make certain that good would triumph over evil whenever evil reared its ugly head, and to assure freedom would ring throughout the land. He is gone, but certainly not forgotten, nor should he ever be lost to memory because he was indeed a great leader, a good man, and a loyal American.

All the best,
Glenn B

Obama Staffers Reportedly Defile Police Memorial For Fallen Officers

I thought I had seen it all when it came to the debasedness of America at the hands of politicians, but I guess I ain't seen nothing yet! Well I have not seen it in person, but I did see a picture - and the picture plainly shows that at a recent rally for Barack Hussein Obama, his staffers reportedly had set up portable toilets directly atop (and I mean DIRECTLY as in touching) the Police Memorial in Portland, Oregon. This memorial honors the 25 police officers of that city who gave their lives in the line of duty. If you'd like to see the picture and the brief report that describes the scene, go here: http://www.policelink.com/news/26729-obama-uses-police-memorial-for-porta-potties and here: http://www.kptv.com/news/16412289/detail.html

Now many of you, my regular readers, know I am a federal law enforcement officer. If you are a regular reader, you also probably realize I do not normally blog about anything wherein I go out of my way to show special support for police or other law enforcement groups, although I may honor a fallen officer time and again. Tonight I am going to make an exception. I am going to blog about the sanctity, in general, of any memorial for fallen police officers. I think that such a memorial amounts to hallowed ground; hallowed by the sacrifice made by the fallen officer. It is not to be taken lightly, not to be tread upon in disrespect, and should be a place where only honor is offered.

Yes that is my opinion, and here is upon what I base that opinion. You see when a police officer lays down his or her life in the line of duty, I think it not just akin to a military service person laying down his or her life for country, but I think it goes somewhat beyond that. Why, well it is difficult to explain, especially difficult without offending any veterans or current service members; and I can assure you it is not my intent to demean loss of life in the military, so please bear with me as I try to explain.

You see, each day when a police officer goes to work, the officer leaves his or her family or loved ones behind and heads out into America, on the streets, in the country, on the waters, into businesses, and into homes. Yes that's it in a nutshell - can you see why the death of a police officer in the line of duty is different than that of a service person in the military. They go out into America, and that my friends is mostly what makes it different from most contemporary duty deaths of soldiers within our military. Our military people are trained to go out and fight our enemies in foreign lands in order to protect our nation. Our police officers are trained to go out and fight crime and criminals to protect our nation. The big difference is that our law enforcement officers go out among other Americans here at home, and most of them who fall in the line of duty fall on their home soil. They do not live, fight and die to protect us on foreign soil thousands of miles from home at the hands of an avowed enemy, they are right here living among the rest of us each and everyday - here at home - yet home is where they are killed.

Despite that, we here at home with them take them for granted, we get pissed off at them if they give us a ticket, we get angrier still if they treat someone wrongly, we accuse them of be jack booted thugs, we call them racists, we sue them regularly, yet we call them for help when we need it, we underpay them and expect them to be honest, and in general we take them for granted until we need them, that is unless we are putting them down. Sure some put down the military too, but the guys fighting the war are not here to hear it. They are focused on a mission thousands of miles away. I know, sure they get it second hand, then come home and get it first hand, but the cop gets it second hand and first hand each and every day of his or her career right here at home. Of course on the other hand they get praised, they get thanked, they get blessed, again all here at home - though I can tell you not nearly enough for what the good ones do for us.

Still though it does not explain fully why I believe that a law enforcement officer losing his or her life in the line of duty is all so much different, more noble, or maybe that is not the word but bear with me, more of something anyway that goes beyond a soldier being killed protecting his or her country. It is not that I am saying one life, that of a soldier or that of a police officer is better. They are both servants of the people, both doing a dangerous job, both wonderful in that they would risk their lives to protect others - and I guess the difference is not so much in who they are, or what they do, or how much they get paid, or much they get put down - but rather the circumstances under which they lose their lives.

You see, it is the Police Officer, the FBI Agent, the Probation officer, the Game Warden, the SPCA Officer, the local Sheriff, the Correction Officer, and all the other law enforcement officers who go out not among foreigners who are our enemies living in foreign lands - but rather who go out among us their fellow Americans each and every day of their careers. Yes that is the main difference between the loss of a soldier (under most circumstances) and the loss of a law enforcement officer. The law enforcement officer all to often loses his life on native soil, at the hands of a fellow American - the same guy that the police officer and the soldier are trying to protect. You see the police officer dies at home, at the hands of the same people he is sworn to protect; the same dirtbag who just pulled the trigger may have been saved by that officer just days before. You get my point don't you - you see it clear as crystal now. I am not putting down the value of the life of a military service person, nor raising the value of the life of a cop, but I am saying that the way a cop loses his or her life here at home in is own backyard so to speak, usually at the hands of an a fellow American, or an immigrant to America, is something that strike me as more heinous than a sworn enemy of America killing a soldier. So while it does not take away one iota from the importance of a war memorial, it makes a memorial to fallen police officers something very special to me, and it makes the killing of a police officer in the line of duty not more special than a war loss, but something that is harder to understand, something for which it is much more difficult to reach down into the depths of my soul and find an answer as to why it happened here INSIDE of America - here at home.

So when I see a picture of portable toilets, set up atop a Police Officers Memorial, with the flag still flying at half staff in the background (because of the recent passing of a memorial remembrance for the officers) I get upset. When I see political supporters, of the hack candidate from whose campaign the staffers came that set up that disgrace, lounging about on what I consider hallowed ground, and apparently heading to the head, well my fucking head is just about ready to explode from the anger within and a red curtain of blood (to borrow a phrase from another blogger) descends over my eyes. I can count my blessings that I was not present at said political rally where this reportedly occurred because I might have gotten into a confrontation over this shameful display of disrespect. I am happier yet that I was not assigned on a detail to work in a protection unit for the particular candidate because I probably would have lost my cool, and then lost my job and career, over the tirade I would have unleashed. Really though, it is probably better I was not there in an unofficial capacity and already retired with no job to lose because then I may have done something more than just release a verbal assault on that disgrace and those responsible for it. Most of all, I am lucky that I was not the one who questioned Barack Hussein Obama's staff about the placing of the toilets on the fallen officers memorial, because if I had gotten this reported reply:

"Despite a large amount of open areas in the vicinity, the campaign staffers claimed the toilets were placed on the memorial for safety reasons to accommodate wheelchair access."

Well, let me just say I hypothesize it would have been possible I might have just lost control and punched someone in the mouth. I only am speaking in the hypothetical. I do not advocate such illegal violence, nor am I saying I actually would have gotten physically violent; although I have to admit - I can imagine it. That is I can imagine beating some sense and respect into the arrogant son of a bitch moonbat who thought it was appropriate to place the toilets on the memorial to fallen police officers - and for some reason it brings a smile to my face to imagine the likes of it.

As it stands, I will keep it peaceful. I will lodge my complaint with the Obama campaign, I will express my concerns to the city of Portland, OR for allowing it to happen, I will complain to he head of the Secret Service (you can bet that they allowed it to be placed there whether by neglect of thought or by design), I will express my disdain to the media for not widely reporting it, and I will express my disgust to all of the elected officials who represent me. Most importantly, I will not vote for the candidate whose staffers were responsible for this sickening display of unabashed disregard something so honorable as the Police Officers' Memorial.

I guess after thinking of it all, it is no surprise that his supporters would pick as a toilet area a memorial to our brave fallen, be they civilian or military service. It is no surprise because it comes from the staff of the candidate whose wife was never proud of America until her husband ran for the presidency, whose minister was an apparent racist and anti-American hack, who has friends who were once in essence considered terrorists, who refused to wear an American flag pin until he realized it was to his political benefit to do so, who refused to place his hand over his heart during the singing of the National Anthem, and who mocks an American war hero by saying John McCain does not support the troops, yet Obama himself has made only a single visit to our troops in a combat area. If this guy becomes president, it is my personal opinion, we are doomed as We The People of the United States of America as his lack of respect for we Americans be we military service, civil service, or the rest of us is, as I see it, absolutely lacking.

All the best,
Glenn B

She Would Not Concede Last Night...

...and she made that freaky comment about staying in until the end because one never knows what might happen then essentially referenced the assassination of Robert Kennedy in that same statement. It has to make one wonder, in a creepy sort of way, is she expecting, hoping, wanting something to happen that will destroy the candidacy of Barack Obama tomorrow or two days from now being that RK was shot on the 5th and died on the 6th? I am not a supporter of either Clinton or Obama, and only support McCain as the better of three evils, but I have to say I hope for the sake of America and American Politics that Clinton has the decency to concede defeat, or announce that she is staying in it, on a day other than tomorrow or this Friday. If she comes out with some freaky announcement that she is staying in it, or that she is dropping out on the anniversary of the assassination, well then she has no shame - none at all. If Barack Obama and she announce on either of these days that she will become the vice presidential candidate that too is beyond the scope of decency. Finally, if the Republican Party, or any conservative, releases the rumored and so called Michelle Obama smoking gun on either of these days it will be likewise a shameful piece of timing; that of course being if the so called smoking gun exists. I did not care much for any of the Kennedys, I thought they were a bunch of typical boss Tweed politicians, but I will respect the fact that two were gunned down, one is suffering from brain cancer, and their family is going through tough times again. So I give them the respect due and I for one would not want to go out of my way to attack, use to advantage them or their political ideology, or exploit their fates over the next couple of days because it would be reprehensible to do so on the anniversary of RK's assassination and death. I certainly hope that the current political figures do likewise, it is merely a common courtesy to do so; but I have got to say I get that feeling that something creepy is about to come down.

All the best,
Glenn B

Is More Food Really The Answer?

According to the United Nations, as reported in: UN chief: food production must rise 50 percent by 2030, found at: http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Jun03/0,4670,UNFoodCrisis,00.html the world food supply not only needs to increase, but food producing nations must "...minimize export restrictions and import tariffs during the food price crisis and quickly resolve world trade talks".

So what the UN Secretary general was saying is that not only does the world need more food, but we need cheap food too. Of course this is all geared toward certain countries. On the receiving end it is geared toward countries that do not produce enough food for their own population. In other words, it is geared toward countries that do not even come close to performing the basic work necessary to meet the basic needs of their own people - basic needs being food, water and shelter. Of course this is not how the UN sees it; the UN would rather blame those countries at the other end of the spectrum, those who produce enough food to feed their own populations and then have some surplus left over. Here is an example of this last: "The United Nations is encouraging summit participants to start undoing a decades-long legacy of agricultural and trade policies that many blame for the failure of small farmers in poor countries to feed their own people."

No, the failures of small farms in poor countries are not due to policies of other nations in my opinion. Rather these failures are due to tyrannical governments oppressing people of those poor nations. Look at Myanmar for the perfect example. They not only oppress the people during fairly normal times, but have done so after a catastrophic natural disaster. Even when food and other aid freely flows into the country from abroad what has happened to it, it has in great part gone to the 'haves' and not to the 'have nots'. It is either about time that the UN start to address the real problem here, and try to look for lasting solutions. Having countries like the USA or Brazil dole out welfare like shipments of food, farm equipment, and fertilizer to third world nations is doing little to resolve their problems. Assuring that honest, moral, beneficent governments come to and remain in power in these countries would do an awful lot more in the long run. Then again whom am I trying to kid, because if we really live to see that happen it would not be the UN that would be doing it. As a matter of fact, it is many of the countries who participate in the UN who are apparently responsible for the same oppression that is responsible for keeping the masses of their own countries downtrodden in misery. I guess that leaves us with one place to start, so why not abolish the UN!

Edited to add: Oh, how could I forget? Maybe there is also another solution to this mess. Maybe those in third world countries ought to start acting responsibly when it comes to population growth. They could exercise some form of birth control and reduce the need for handouts while also reducing their own suiffering due to overpopulation. After all, overpopulation causes food shortages, and shortages of all other resources, just look to countries like India if you don't beleive it. They could start with abstinence, or condoms, or the pill, or family planning (as the one child rule in most of China). Or they could go with good old oral sex for a more fun solution. What a thought, can you imagine anyone trying to solve a shortage of resources by actually realizing that over population is the root cause for those shortages, and then trying to stem overpopulation. I must be some sort of radical, but it makes sense to me that there are just too many rats in the cage and not enough rat chow to go around.

All the best,
Glenn B

1st Amendment Only Good For Dems?

Did anyone catch Fox News this morning at about 0610 hours? Some goon guy named Bob Beckell was on the show as a Democrat Strategist or something like that. He blatantly stated his dislike of right wing bloggers, and if I heard it and understood him correctly he in essence said they should not be allowed to be blogging. So I guess what he is implying is that it is okay for the leftists to blog - since he did not comment about them in a negative manner, and since he is apparently on the left, thereby in essence saying that the Right of Free Speech applies only to the left. This guy, in my opinion, is a blowhard fool, and I have to wonder how the hosts on the Fox News show did not catch the implication, or even the direct statement he made about right leaning bloggers, and then call him to task for it. Yeah, I know he is entitled to his opinion, and entitled to speak under the 1st; but so too am I deserving of that right just as much as he - maybe even a bit more since I support the Constitution.

All the best,
Glenn B

Under The Weather...

...so no blogging today, none until I am feeling better.

All the best,
GB.

Controversial Subjects Discussed Here - Opposing Opinions Welcome

Yes feel free to come to this site to read my blog, and to leave comments regarding posts I have made. Please make sure they are decent, without going overboard with cursing (though now and then I'll do it myself and allow you to do it too), and without becoming a name calling person who uses only insult and innuendo without ever actually addressing the issue at hand in any intelligible manner. In other words do it as you have been doing it so far, feel free to discuss the issues at hand even if you vehemently disagree with me or those who leave comments. Your comments will not be deleted if kept with the realms of semi-decency. Of course, unless you become an out and out abusive, name calling, zealot (or something like a spammer or flamer) - you will never be banned from this blog just because you give a strong opinion, or strong factual evidence, or both that disagrees with the way I see things. If we all did that, banned people for stating their opinion that did not agree with our own, heck there would be no intelligent discussion at all, and no one would learn a thing. So feel free to be neutral, or to agree, and feel just as free to disagree, with anything I say here in this blog; and feel free to disagree with others who leave comments as well.

I may not visit your site if I don't like your stuff, but I will not prevent you from visiting mine or commenting here if you do it with some intelligence and common decency. That goes even if it is a tough or very disagreeable point for me to take. I invite tough and mind exercising discussion of all the issues. By the way, if I ever decide to ban you, I will let you know why first before actually doing so if at all possible, and give you the courtesy of an opportunity to explain and discuss with me whatever it was that got me to even consider a ban in the first place. Heck it could be I got it all wrong, (can you imagine a know it all like me saying that, but if I can say it I guess others should be able to do likewise, that would be common courtesy), and I would not want to be so arrogant as to think you could have only been wrong and only I be right.

All the best,
Glenn B

Fresh Eggs in the Incubator...

...and you know I don't live even anywhere near to a farm, so if you guessed they are some kind of reptile eggs - well, you guessed right. My female corn snake laid a clutch of eggs about 2 days ago. I don't know if they are going to be alright or not, because as things would have it I forgot to assure that the humidity level was high enough for them, and they kind of caved in a bit. Chances are though they are still alive and well, and my having moistened the sphagnum moss / coconut husk fiber blend that they are in should solve the problem. Time will tell if all the eggs are viable; if not they should start discoloring within a few days to a week or so. As for the ones that are good, they should hatch in about 60 days if I keep them at the right humidity level and proper temperature. I incubate them at about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and am not sure of the humidity level but it has to be close to 90 to 95 percent in the incubation chamber. The chamber itself consists only of a plastic food container with the lid on, and with the lid drilled through with small holes to allow some air to circulate through it. I always amazes me how fertile and viable eggs manage not to become overridden with mold or fungus in these conditions, but they usually make it all the way to hatching without mold or fungus killing them. As for the bad eggs in the clutch, well they do get attacked by mold and or fungus, and it makes them smell pretty badly quite quickly. Sometimes I leave them in the incubator, that is if attached to other eggs, because I don't like to risk rupturing a good egg by trying to pull them apart. Snake eggs, unlike bird eggs, are leathery to the touch, and remain pliable as opposed to becoming brittle. They also often adhere to one another just after the time they are laid. Also, as opposed to bird eggs, they need to pretty much remain in the same position as they were when they were laid by the mother. The great majority of snakes (except some pythons and cobras) do not tend to their eggs, and snake eggs never need to be rolled over as to bird eggs. In fact rolling them over can reportedly kill the embryos.

For now, I'll just pretty much leave them alone, and check on the incubator's temps now and again. The incubator I use now is basically just a container in which I place the incubation chamber, and in which I place a waterproof heating unit and some water. The heater heats the water to about 80 degrees, which in turn evenly heats up the interior of the container including the incubation chamber along with the eggs inside of it. In about 56 to 65 days, I'll know if I did it right.

All the best,
Glenn B.

Not Much To Write about - So Allow Me To Intoduce you To Potato Vodka.

When I was a kid growing up in Brooklyn, and then Queens, I remember my father and my uncles (brothers on his side), and a few years later my godfather (husband of my godmother, both my moms friends), then my uncle (my moms brother) all talking about various things. One of those topics that has stuck in my mind was about a subject that oft times comes up in man to man discussions as it did in these various talkfests - and that topic was booze and in this particular case I mean Vodka. Somehow, I recall them talking about Vodka, over many years and throughout many get-togethers of my disjointed family. One of the recurrent themes was which of the few countries, from which it was imported, produced the best vodka (back then not nearly as many were imported as are today). I seem to recall Russia coming out as the winner for best country of origin, although I don't remember or know if a lot was imported during the cold war (although I did find out that Stolichnaya was first imported to the USA in 1965 and then Pepsi made a Pepsi-Cola for Stoli swap with the Ruskies in 1973 - both right about the time period about which I am writing, give or take a few years). They also discussed Polish Vodka, American Vodka, and Vodka from northern European countries. I don't recall an awful lot of what they said, but I do remember them telling me it was made from potatoes. I got a taste now and then, and I remember too that it was terrible.

Well nowadays, I don't think it so terrible. In fact I think it is a great alcoholic beverage to mix with other things like sodas, juices, other alcoholic ingredients, flavored seltzer and the like. The thing is though, in all those years since the mid 60s through today, I have never as best I can recall, enjoyed a Vodka that was distilled from potatoes. Stoli is made from grains, Absolut and Grey Goose likewise as far as I am aware. I am not sure about Finlandia, Ketel One, or Boru, but my guess would be grain for them also. By these brands all I have had the pleasure of being stung. Not that vodka has a nasty bite, it is neat and clean, but it can pack a sting to your psyche if you drink enough of it at any given moment. I have done so, let us say, more than thrice.

But I digress from the meat (and potatoes) of the matter - and that my friends is Vodka distilled from potatoes. It was indeed long ago that I began to associate potatoes with real man's vodka. I had known from an even earlier age, that meat and potatoes were a real man's eats, and darned tasty at that, and I enjoyed them as much as did the adults even if I was only a young lad at the time. So why would not potatoes be part of a real man's drink too! It only made sense to a lad of somewhere between about 7 to 14 (when I was mostly at home listening to all these old farts, and not yet hanging out in the park with my friends getting sloshed). Now as I said, I do not recall ever imbibing of the spirits of distilled potatoes in the past. Heck I never even saw a vodka made from smashed in the past as far as I know. But there I was, in the vodka section, of the local retailer of fine spirits, just before this past weekend began. (Last Thursday or Friday night, which it was I cannot recall.) Well, there I was perusing the stock on hand, and debating between Stoli, and another brand or two, when something caught my eye. It had not quite registered, but I knew whatever it was had been important enough for me to scan the bottles again once or twice before it did register. When it did, a smile came to my face, because what I had seen were the words: POTATO VODKA" and the words "100% Neutral Potato Spirits".

I grabbed hold of a bottle and took a better look. The brand was Luksusowa, made in Poland, and it was 80 proof. It was also triple distilled through charcoal. All seemed well with the world, except maybe that it appeared the only bottle size they had of it was: 1.75 liters. Now that my friends is about double the size of the bottle I normally get, and I thought it a tad much. I searched in vain for a smaller size and finally decided on the one at hand. I was happily surprised to discover it was only about $26.00 including tax for that size bottle. I usually pay more than that for less than half the amount of another brand, and those made from grain. Now do not get me wrong - there is nothing wrong with booze made from grain, not even Vodka made from grain, but Vodka made from potatoes had a certain aura to it for me - after all I had memories of it being the real man's Vodka!

So needless to say, I grabbed it, paid for it, and was soon enjoying it. I had a couple of drinks with it over the weekend, mixed drinks made with simple ingredients like cherry flavored seltzer, orange juice, cranberry juice, and Hawaiian Punch. I liked it best with cherry flavored seltzer, but the others by themselves, or in weird mixtures with one another, and some vodka are all fine by me. Of course before trying it in a mixed drink, I gave it the real man's test for any booze and I had one (or was it two) neat (straight up). It was ever so smooth, and that was a big surprise considering how inexpensive it had been. Now after several more mixed drinks, and one or two neat, I can say without a doubt, it is still ever so smooth. This is good stuff, and I suggest if you are a Vodka drinker and can get hold of a bottle, that you give it a try.

The terrible picture I just took of it is to make you familiar with the look of it in case you happen to look for it in your local fine spirits emporium. The stuff in the glass next to it is a combination of OJ, Cranberry Juice, and a tad of the Luksusowa Potato Vodka (can't have too much since I do have to work tomorrow). I have to wonder, does my concoction have as many servings of fruit and vegetables as does that letter after U/number before 9 drink they advertise on television all the time? Maybe not, but I'd bet it packs more of a wallop and tastes better. As you can see there has been a fair depletion of the liquid nectar from that bottle in just a week's time - of course, mostly taken in over the long Memorial Day weekend.

If you do decide to enjoy some of this splendid alcoholic beverage, please remember to drink responsibly, and don't mix drinking alcohol with handling firearms, driving, operating machinery and so forth because when you screw up in a moment while drunk, you have to live with the consequences for the rest of your life.

All the best,

Glenn B