This is an interesting study to be sure. How much is practical and easily doable remains to be seen. It is in PDF so you will need a reader. I do agree with a lot that is in there, such as immigration issues. But the parts that give more government money (taxes that you and I pay) are anathema.
Archive for the ‘Economics’ Category
The Platform of the American People
February 3, 2008Books, Reading Lists and so on
February 3, 2008I have added a new category to this blog. The recommended reading list will be an ongoing project, and I will do my best to supply full information so that any reading that someone wants can find it, or check it out from a library.
Mostly it will be a resource, and hopefully be of some educational use. There will not be any particular order but politics, economics, fishing, hunting and things of that nature will be here.
The Global Warming Test, what do you really know..?
February 1, 2008Test your knowledge and common sense in this simple 10-question test.
http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/GlobWarmTest/start.html
Enjoy!
It’s getting ugly
January 31, 2008This morning, from a cave somewhere in Pakistan , Taliban
Minister of Migration, Mohammed Omar, warned the United States that if military action against Iraq continues,
Taliban authorities will cut off America ‘s supply of convenience store managers.
If this action does not yield sufficient results, cab
drivers will be next, followed by Dell and AOL customer service reps., and then Motel 6 managers.
It’s getting ugly.
UPDATE ON DEER FEEDING OPERATION IN THE GUNNISON BASIN
January 26, 2008JAN. 25 UPDATE ON DEER FEEDING OPERATION IN THE GUNNISON BASIN
The emergency feeding program by the Colorado Division of Wildlife in the Gunnison Basin is in full operation with feed being distributed to big game animals at more than 60 sites.
The program was started Jan. 13 because of extreme winter conditions in the area. Up to four feet of snow is covering natural food sources, and cold temperatures that have reached 40 degrees below zero are affecting the animals.
The feeding effort is being aimed at mule deer and pronghorn because their natural food sources are completely covered with snow. Elk, which are well-adapted to severe cold, are being provided hay in select areas only to keep them away from deer feeding sites and ranchers’ haystacks.
For the past 10 days Division of Wildlife personnel have been packing trails and roads into feeding areas with snow-cats and snowmobiles. Now that the snow on those trails is firm, feed is being taken into areas by snowmobile, snow-cat and on foot. Feeding is being done by DOW staff and volunteers. About 150 people have signed on to work as volunteers in the effort. At this time the DOW is not soliciting more volunteers.
Deer, which are naturally wary of people, are becoming accustomed to human activity and are starting to move to the feeding sites. Deer are being provided approximately 2 pounds per day of a specially formulated, high-energy feed.
Feed is also being provided to about 380 pronghorn in the basin. These animals, however, are notoriously skiddish and are difficult to draw to feed sites.
One problem facing wildlife officials is that some people are feeding deer inappropriate food. Deer are browsers, they survive mainly on shrubby-type vegetation. They cannot survive on hay, pet food, corn, birdseed, table scraps, etc.
“Unnatural food hurts deer more than it helps them,” said J Wenum, area wildlife manager for the Gunnison area.
If people want to help deer, wildlife officials recommend that property owners knock snow off of shrubs and pack down areas with snowshoes or skies to allow deer to move around in snow more easily.
Even though winter conditions are difficult in the basin now, snow came late which allowed deer to feed on natural vegetation until mid-December. Consequently, the body condition of many deer still appears to be good at this time.
Wildlife managers note, however, that the tough conditions will mean that mortality among deer will likely be higher than average. In a normal winter, 12 percent to 18 percent of the population will die. Most susceptible to harsh winter conditions are fawns and older age bucks.
“We’re not trying to save every deer in the Gunnison Basin. More deer will probably die this year than in average years. But our feeding program is meant to avoid a catastrophic die off,” Wenum said.
Colorado residents are reminded that the Colorado Division of Wildlife has posted a temporary emergency closure on wildlife-related recreational activities on public lands in the Gunnison Basin below 9,500 feet through May 15. Activities prohibited include all hunting and shed-antler collecting. Fishing is still permitted on Blue Mesa Reservoir and area streams. Collection of big horn sheep horns or skulls in sheep unit S70 is also prohibited. The full closure notice and a map can be viewed at the DOW web site: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/EmergencyFeedingOperation2008.htm.
Anyone can make a donation to the feeding effort. Go to the DOW’s home page to donate on line or for more information:
http://wildlife.state.co.us.
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For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.
DOW MONITORING WINTER CONDITIONS IN NORTHWEST COLORADO
January 26, 2008Winter Feeding Programs Not Yet Necessary Outside Gunnison Basin
District Wildlife Managers and terrestrial biologists with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) are monitoring winter conditions throughout northwest Colorado to determine whether wildlife populations will need supplemental winter feeding.
“At this point we’re in fairly good shape,” explained Ron Velarde, DOW Northwest regional manager. “Fortunately, we are not seeing the difficult winter conditions that they are experiencing in the Gunnison Basin, nor do we have the same type of landscape.”
The DOW began a massive deer feeding operation in the Gunnison Basin more than a week ago. Deer around Gunnison are dealing with extreme snow depths, temperatures well below zero and a layer of hard-crusted snow that makes foraging for food extremely difficult. Additionally, the Gunnison Basin is an enclosed winter ecosystem and heavy snow leaves animals with no way to move to lower or more open terrain. Without the extensive feeding effort, many of the deer in the Gunnison area could face starvation.
“While we are seeing some very localized areas in the northwest part of the state that have heavy snow depths, there are readily available areas nearby those sites where sage brush and other critical food sources are available,” said John Broderick, senior terrestrial biologist for the northwest region. “We’ve also avoided the prolonged extreme cold temperatures and we aren’t finding heavy crusting conditions.”
District Wildlife Managers are monitoring herds in the Meeker, Craig, Steamboat Springs, North Park, Eagle, Middle Park and Aspen areas. Herd monitoring is accomplished in a number of ways. Wildlife managers can visually analyze body condition on deer and elk herds in their districts.
Wildlife professionals are also utilizing DOW airplanes to examine available habitat and animal tracks in remote areas.
“As deer become more stressed by heavy winter snows, they tend to utilize existing trails instead of exerting excess energy to break new trail,” said Perry Will, Area Wildlife Manager for Glenwood Springs. “When the animals start ‘troughing’, or using a single trail, it’s another indicator of severe conditions.”
DOW employees are also analyzing bone marrow of animals that are killed by vehicles. “Deer and elk have a natural fat reserve that helps sustain them during the winter months,” explained DOW Hot Sulphur Springs Area Wildlife Manager Lyle Sidener. “When that natural reserve is used up, the deer turn to the fat in the bone marrow as a last resort. Monitoring the marrow helps determine if the situation is becoming critical.”
Deer and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are the primary starvation concern during hard winters. As smaller animals they are more prone to the difficulties associated with heavy snow. Elk are much more adaptable and less likely to suffer from heavy snows. Moose, the largest member of the deer family, are well adapted to more harsh winter conditions and they don’t mind waiting out the winter eating tall shoots of willow that are not covered by snow.
“Most of our deer have moved out of the Steamboat Springs area and far to the west where they are finding open conditions,” said Jim Haskins, DOW Area Wildlife Manager in Steamboat Springs. “We are seeing a small number of elk that are struggling, but that’s more due to their own unwillingness to move to where the food can be found than due to the winter conditions.”
Many of the deer and elk in northwest Colorado have never seen a hard winter or, in some cases, even a normal winter. The past eight winters have been relatively mild, leading deer and elk to stay in areas that aren’t really appropriate winter range.
Meeker Area Wildlife Manager Bill deVergie is seeing that exact situation. “This is certainly more snow than we’ve had in quite a few years, but it is more of a typical winter. Most of the big game in this area hasn’t seen anything but mild winters in their lifetime, so they’re trying to figure out how to adapt. For the most part the animals are finding ways to find food on areas of critical winter range.”
Wildlife managers are reporting some mortalities, but it is normal for some mortality to occur during the winter. Old, young and sick animals often succumb to even mild winter conditions. Two significant deer studies in northwest Colorado use radio tracking collars to monitor mule deer mortalities. The Middle Park study and the Piceance deer monitoring are both seeing mortality consistent with this time of year. The studies are another way that wildlife managers can watch for signs that intervention might be necessary.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is another complicating factor in feeding decisions for northwest Colorado wildlife managers. While CWD has not been detected in the Gunnison Basin, it has been found in some parts of northwest Colorado. Any feeding of deer in areas with confirmed instances of CWD must be approved by the Colorado Wildlife Commission. This is because feeding sites create large concentrations of deer and elk, which can result in increased transmission of CWD and other diseases.
“As we analyze feeding decisions we have to determine if the percentage of animals we might protect from starvation will outweigh the percentage of animals that might be at risk from disease transmission,” added Broderick. “And while starvation is a rare or one-time occurrence, increased CWD transmission can negatively impact a population for multiple generations. That isn’t to say we won’t feed if it becomes necessary, but hopefully people understand more about what goes into the decision.”
Despite scientific and visual assurances that wildlife health is not seriously threatened at this time, DOW offices are being flooded with calls and e-mails from concerned citizens that want immediate action.
“We understand and appreciate the public concern for wildlife,” said Velarde. “We will intervene if the conditions worsen and we will immediately ask the public for assistance in what will be a massive undertaking.”
Wildlife managers will continue to monitor the situation and the DOW remains committed to preserving and protecting Colorado’s wildlife resource for the use and enjoyment of Colorado’s citizens and visitors.
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The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and its habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation. The Division is funded through hunting and fishing license fees, federal grants and Colorado Lottery proceeds through Great Outdoors Colorado.
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.
Letter to the New York Times on HIV and Gay Youth Editorial « Kenyon Farrow
January 22, 2008Letter to the New York Times on HIV and Gay Youth Editorial « Kenyon Farrow
Young gay men are not to blame for the profound failure of government to provide comprehensive HIV prevention—nor for the media’s continued ignorance of the root causes of HIV.
That statement “Young gay men are not to blame for the profound failure of government to provide comprehensive HIV prevention—nor for the media’s continued ignorance of the root causes of HIV.”
Young gay men are in their situation precisely because of choices that they have made. There has been ample media coverage about HIV/AIDS, it’s treatment and prevention for decades. Why should the government be responsible for the research? It has all become a blind hole and money pit. Spending more good money after bad makes no sense. Especially when these young gay men are so irresponsible that they make the choices that they do.
Wildlife, Politics do mix
January 22, 2008Source: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jan/22/dentry-wildlife-politics-do-mix/
Here is a great way for those that truly are interested in Colorado and it’s wildlife. many challenges face hunters and fishermen here in the Centennial State. Misconceptions abound, and Mister Dentry’s reference to so called “canned” hunts fails to address thew actual scope of the legislation that is being proposed. As is stands, if your farm is fenced, you will not be allowed to hunt on it, and that is only one example.
GB 1137 is piss poor legislation whether it is supported by Republicans or not. Republicans have also sponsored immoral Ex Post Facto Law based solely upon political correctness, so go figure.
Here are my biggest issues regarding hunting and fishing in Colorado. They are not in any particular order, and no one is of greater importance than any other issue.
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We are constantly bombarded with messages from all over that the younger generation is the future of outdoor recreation. “Take a kid fishing,” and that sort of thing. Has anyone noted that the cost of licenses has become prohibitive for a lot of people over the past few years?
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Two years ago, I bought a license for a friend of mine so that I would have a hunting partner for big game season; He was, and is broke secondary to an abusive child support order. They took my money, that I spent, and used it toward his support order. Screw the powers that be, that was theft.
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Access, while greatly improved over the past few years, still is a problem. See bullet number one…
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I had family from out of state come and visit. We went fishing, and a DOW officer stopped by. Gone are the days of chatting with a friendly Warden, he was a grump, and was only concerned with legalities. Law enforcement is a legitimate part of the job, but so is proper interaction with the public at large. My relatives will no longer purchase expensive non resident licenses in Colorado. Now they go to Wyoming. Where “The people are so friendly.”
It’s the Stupid, Economy « Gary Patrick Garry
January 21, 2008It’s the Stupid, Economy « Gary Patrick Garry
Poor Gary, he just cannot cope with reality from the looks of things. Complaining about the business cycle does nothing to improve anything. he complains about a business that offers employment way below par, but fails to mention that in the very same city cocktail waitresses earn well over a hundred thousand dollars a year. At least the three that I know do.
He complains about the problems besetting the automotive industry, and says or implies that if only the labor unions were still powerful everything would be just hunky dory. Guess what? The unions are what brought on the majority of the problems. With poor quality and exorbitant pricing back in the early seventies it is no wonder that foreign manufacturers made great inroads in the domestic market.
Have to take a pee in your Cheerios Gary, and use one of those economic terms that you are so uncomfortable with. Wal Mart is such a success because of opportunity costs. Not because of any sinister corporate greed.
ZEBRA MUSSELS DETECTED IN LAKE PUEBLO STATE PARK
January 20, 2008ZEBRA MUSSELS DETECTED IN LAKE PUEBLO STATE PARK
Recent sampling efforts between the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) and Colorado State Parks personnel detected the presence zebra mussels at Lake Pueblo State Park. Two adult mussels and one immature specimen were found on substrate sampling gear, and the larva (veliger) was found by performing plankton tows.
The DOW and Parks personnel have been conducting field sampling efforts for several years to evaluate waters across Colorado for the presence of aquatic invasive species. These efforts are targeted toward locating and monitoring potential introductions of invasive species that can be environmentally and economically detrimental to the state, its wildlife and recreation resources.
Additional sampling at Lake Pueblo State Park to determine the degree of infestation and exact mussel species is planned for this winter and spring. State Parks and the DOW are planning a concerted effort to notify recreational users at Pueblo Reservoir, and other state parks, about the potential impacts of zebra mussels.
The Pueblo State Fish Hatchery, which receives its water supply from Pueblo Reservoir, will undergo an assessment regarding options to prevent the spread of adult mussels and/or veligers. Sampling inspections have been conducted to determine if zebra mussels or larvae are present in the hatchery unit, to date none have been detected. Pueblo Hatchery raises a variety of warm and cold water species of fish (walleye, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, smallmouth bass, wiper, rainbow, cutthroat X rainbow hybrid, and brown trout) and distributes these fish across the state each year. No fish are planned to be stocked from the Pueblo Hatchery until April this year. Effective water treatment options exist to eliminate zebra mussel adults and/or veligers prior to the fish being stocked.
All boaters and other water craft recreational users should take simple, precautionary steps every time they go to a lake, river or stream.
Before leaving a lake or other waterway, always:
- CLEAN the hull of your boat.
- DRAIN the water from the boat, livewell and the lower unit of the engine.
- DRY the boat, fishing gear, and equipment.
- INSPECT all exposed surfaces.
- REMOVE all plant and animal material.
Remember, many of these aquatic hitchhikers can harm your boat as well. These invaders will attach themselves to boats and can cause damage to boat motors if they block the flow of cooling water through the engine.
However, zebra mussels do not pose a known threat to human health. Biologists are concerned that zebra mussels may cause ecological shifts in the lakes they invade, with consequences to valued wildlife resources. Because these invasive mussels attach to hard surfaces like concrete and pipes, they will affect canals, aqueducts, water intakes and dams, resulting in increased maintenance costs for those facilities.
The zebra mussel gets its name from the black- (or dark brown) and white-striped markings that appear on its shell. Zebra mussels are native to the Caspian, Black, and Azov seas of Eastern Europe.
These exotic mussels were first discovered in the United States in Lake Saint Clair, Michigan, in 1988 and are believed to have been introduced in 1986 through ballast water discharge from ocean-going ships. Since their initial discovery, zebra mussels have spread rapidly throughout the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basin states and other watersheds throughout the eastern and central United States.
The primary method of overland dispersal of these mussels is through human-related activities. Given their ability to attach to hard surfaces and survive out of water, many infestations have occurred by adult mussels hitching rides on watercraft. The microscopic larvae also can be transported in bilges, ballast water, live wells, or any other equipment that holds water.
They are primarily algae feeders. They feed by filtering up to a liter of water per day through a siphon. These mussels consume large portions of the microscopic plants and animals that form the base of the food web. The removal of significant amounts of phytoplankton from the water can cause a shift in native species and a disruption of the ecological balance a lake or other waterway.
These mussels can settle in massive colonies that can block water intake and affect municipal water supply and agricultural irrigation and power plant operation. In the United States, Congressional researchers estimated that zebra mussels alone cost the power industry $3.1 billion in the 1993-1999 period, with their impact on industries, businesses, and communities more than $5 billion.
For more information, visit www.100thmeridian.org.
I might add that waders need to be well rinsed also.
Conservative Libertarian Outpost 