Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Yes, we’re an imperfect country

November 5, 2007

Yes, we’re an imperfect country…and some of the media delights in that, pointing it out to us repeatedly. But
here’s a pleasant read about America and our unselfish motives around the world. Enjoy.

When in England at a large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if
our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building’ by George Bush.

He answered by saying, “Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and
women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in
return is enough to bury those that did not return.”
It became very quiet in the room.
**************

Then there was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking
part,including French and American. During a break one of the French engineers came back into the room
saying “Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help
the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?”

A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: “Our carriers have three hospitals on board that
can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore
facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can
produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters
for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck.. We have eleven such ships; how many
does France have?”
Once again, dead silence.
*****************

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. ,
English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a
large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in
English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, ‘whereas Europeans learn many
languages, Americans learn only English.’ He then asked, ‘Why is it that we always have to speak English in
these conferences
rather than speaking French?’

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied ‘Maybe its because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies
and Americans arranged it so you wouldn’t have to speak German’
You could have heard a pin drop!

Bears, flat tires, and Big Deer

November 4, 2007

buck-in-snow.jpgI don’t remember what year it was, 1988 or 89 somewhere there about. I went out to the Pieance basin, near Meeker Colorado during the third season. I had a Buck Tag, and an extra draw Doe License as well. Richard had a Buck license, and Robert had drawn a Doe Tag. All of us also had bought over the counter Bull Elk licenses as well.

We were in Roberts Dodge pick up heading up north of Meeker on Pieance Creek road, and had just passed the sign that announced that this was winter home to the largest migratory deer herd in the world. When suddenly the truck started to swerve…. Well guys, we got a flat. Robert was able to control it well enough that we didn’t end up in the creek at least. We piled out and began the task of tire changing in the snow that had started to fall a short time before. It began to get almost surreal, the early dusk. the snowfall, and gray shapes moving quietly all around us as we worked. There were deer everywhere. Some would stop and look at the crazy humans seemingly without a care. That task finished we headed up the road, and turned west at Ryan’s Gulch road.

We turned off and headed up a dirt road that had been made during the failed shale oil project days, past a windmill that fed a stock pond and rounded the top of the hill where we would again set up our deer camp, as we had been doing for so many years. Our hunting friends from Michigan were already there getting settled in about fifty or so yards away.

I was pounding in a tent peg when there was a sudden yell from their campsite that bordered on a scream. “Bear! Bear! Big G-D DAMN BEAR!” Now, you have to understand that most bears were already in their winter digs and fast asleep, not to mention that bears in this area were pretty rare. As I looked over at the commotion Robert was getting his rifle out and loading it in what might be called Rapid Order Drill… And I saw the bear, it was big, at least for that part of the state, about a four hundred pound animal! It was running for all it was worth to get away from the people that were screaming for all that they were worth. It ran right past us, through the camp that we were in the process of setting up and disappeared over the hill. All this took perhaps five seconds. I think that our collective blood pressures returned to normal about two hours later…

The next morning was opening day, and I had left camp about an hour before dawn. I position myself  just below the crest of a hill overlooking a small gulch that I had seen deer and elk pass through several times over the years. I set the model seven hundred to my side, sprayed myself all over with no scent goop, and then rested the rifle across my knees, and waited. The false dawn was in full swing as a small herd of does came through the draw that led to the path that the deer used in the gulch. I checked my wristwatch as I watched them. Ten more minutes to legal shooting time. The deer passed by, apparently unaware of my presence, and went on down the path. I removed the covers from my Burris six power scope, and then wrapped my arm into a relaxed hasty sling. That would allow me to raise the rifle into a sling supported sitting position without very much movement, and I worked the bolt of the rifle, chambering a Federal 140 grain cartridge into the 270, and set the safety. Then I waited. It was legal shooting time now, and I could hear soft hoof beats in the distance. I heard a shot from some distance off, probably a mile away. The hoof beats became louder, the deer were on notice now, and would be wary.

I don’t know which was louder, or more rapid, the hoof beats, or my hearts pounding. But suddenly, over the rise of the saddle came a small herd of young bucks, they slowed as they surveyed the ravine that they were about to enter, but were still moving. The rifle came to my shoulder in a well learned routine, scope to my eye, all in a silent and fluid motion. The cross hairs of the scope found the spot on the deers chest, the rifle cracked, the buck jumped once, and then tried to catch up with his buddies that already had after burners lit up. He made it about three bounds, and fell. It was a clean kill, with no needless suffering. I said a prayer thanking God for that, and for the harvest. Then waited fifteen minutes or so, and went over to my fallen quarry. He had lived about three years, and would be tender. His antlers were well matched and were close to twenty by twenty inches, a very good specimen of the Mule Deer genus.

Later in the week, I also harvested a doe, and a rag-horn Bull Elk. For some reason though, that young buck is what stands out in my memories of the hunt that started with a flat tire, and a hair raising encounter with a huge bear that was more frightened of us than we were of it!

The Rabbi and the Firefighters « THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS

November 4, 2007

The Rabbi and the Firefighters « THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS

Eric over at Tygrrrr Express writes a fine story of courage, faith, and human will. Many of my friends left the safety of the Front Range and headed out to do battle with the winds and fire that struck California in this most recent round.

Shalom Friend.

Al Qaeda 11/11 Attack Still Pending « Waste Of My Oxygen

November 4, 2007

Al Qaeda 11/11 Attack Still Pending « Waste Of My Oxygen

This is quite an excellent piece of writing! The security steps outlined should be the norm though, not just when an attack is contemplated. One never knows what will be just around the corner so to speak.

Wife beating 101

November 3, 2007

Wife beating appears to be acceptable in some places. What the heck? This cleric even has rules and such for such sport. Does that make it any more acceptable? Nope, not at all.

Full Story here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307680,00.html

It is no more an acceptable story than the idiocy of an advertisement that I keep hearing on the radio that says that you must teach your son that “all violence against women is wrong.” Guess what? If a woman is trying to kill or maim your child you have a duty to stop her. If a woman is trying to harm you, you have a right to defend yourself. They want so called equality? Guess what, they get it, especially when it comes to defending yourself from their violence…

Free the Browns from Tyranny!

October 31, 2007

People need to know about things like this. 

Fw: [LPCO] Free the Browns petition End IRS Tyranny

Tue Oct 30, 2007 12:34 pm (PST)

———- Forwarded Message ———-
Please consider signing the following petition. The Browns gained national attention when they armed themselves and held off the feds for eight months. Now it is your turn. Either ask to be shown the law or submit to tyranny.

The petition is for a fair trial in the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals and reads as follows:

Congress shall make no law respecting the right of the people to petition the government for a redress of grievances. (United States Constitution, First Amendment).

The case of United States vs. Edward and Elaine Brown was not about income taxes. For more than a dozen years, they simply asked the Internal Revenue Service to show them the law that specifically makes them liable to pay the federal income tax, all the while stating that if the government could do so, they would gladly pay all income taxes and never question the law again. Instead, the Internal Revenue Service ignored their requests, year after year, although the Browns were constitutionally entitled to an answer. Then, in 2004, after never responding to any of the Browns’ countless requests, the Internal Revenue Service, along with a SWAT team, U.S. marshals, and state and local police, raided Elaine’s office building and took each of the Browns, by force, into custody.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor. (United States Constitution, Sixth Amendment).

Elaine Brown, representing herself and her husband, Ed, hand crafted more than 50 motions during the course of their trial. All legal experts who read the motions agreed that they were flawlessly written and all within the scope of the law and in accordance with established court procedures. All but a handful of the motions were denied, many without objection from the prosecution or without explanation. The Browns were not allowed to present witnesses, or evidence, or to cite case law. The jury was also instructed to return a verdict based solely on whether or not the Browns paid federal income taxes or filed tax returns for the years in question. Also, the Browns were technically not charged with a crime, they were charged with two penalty clauses. No indictment ever cited a statute that showed the defendants liable to pay an income tax or file a tax return.

Due to the fact that because the Browns’ constitutionally guaranteed rights were not honored, they now sit in prison, separated from each other. Their livelihood has been taken away, their property confiscated, and they have been financially destroyed. When they are finally released from prison, they will be homeless, penniless, unemployed, and in their 70s. No government employee, or public servant, has yet answered their question and showed them the law subjecting them to a federal income tax on their wages.

The Browns are being destroyed for asking a question. Furthermore, the Internal Revenue Service is illegally confiscating more than $3 trillion worth of property and assets for an alleged, and unproven, debt of only $650,000. Our servant government is obligated to answer their question, but instead it locked them up and destroyed their lives. This is unacceptable.

We hereby petition the United States government, specifically the United States Federal Court of Appeals, 1 Courthouse Square, Boston, MA, to reconsider the appellate denial of Edward Lewis and Elaine Alice Brown. We also petition the United States government to cease the seizure of the Browns’ properties and assets until such time that a fair trial, as defined by the United States Constitution, can be executed.

You can sign the petition at

http://www.petitiononline. com/brownirs

To end IRS Tyranny forever pass the Fair Tax to abolish the IRS and Income taxes, then repeal the 16th amendment to make sure it never comes back.

Blackwater members given IMMUNITY from shooting 17 Iraqi civilians « Mrs. Silence Dogood

October 30, 2007

Blackwater members given IMMUNITY from shooting 17 Iraqi civilians « Mrs. Silence Dogood

When you absolutely, positively, have to have the very best, Blackwater is the answer. That American General that got hit? Please note that it was not Blackwater International that was guarding him. It is in things like this that the Utilitarian comes out in me. As for the abuse of power question? Better judged by twelve than carried by six.

“Liberty is a word which, according as it is used, comprehends the most good and the most evil of any in the world. Justly understood it is sacred next to those which we appropriate in divine adoration; but in the mouths of some it means anything, which enervate a necessary government; excite a jealousy of the rulers who are our own choice, and keep society in confusion for want of a power sufficiently concentered to promote good.” —Oliver Ellsworth

Burn Baby, Burn…

October 25, 2007

As I read about the tremendous damage from the wildfires that ravage the stomping grounds of my youth I began to think about a few things.

STORY HERE: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/10/25/news/top_stories/1_01_0110_25_07.txt

First, I noticed the paths of the fires. During the late sixties and early seventies, there were what at the time were described as the biggest wildfires in the states history. Those were in the same general areas, but remarkably not in the exact areas of the current burns. This has me thinking, albeit the fire science types will need to take a much closer look, that much of the current burn could well be related to what is called, “Downed Fuel.”  That, and it also appears to be concentrated in protected areas of Manzanita growth. Well folks that stuff, as a former Red Card Firefighter I can tell you, really burns with a ferocity that is difficult to comprehend.

As much as I despise my former haunts my prayers go out to those that are being displaced, and especially for those that have “One foot in the burn.”

Kazakhstan’s “Glorious” Neighbor Kyrgyzstan « Giving Up Control

October 25, 2007

Kazakhstan’s “Glorious” Neighbor Kyrgyzstan « Giving Up Control

An interesting take on the customs of people in other parts of the world. The comments are mostly quite thoughtful as well.

Seems as though this solution to the high cost of courting works for them, as disgusting as it appears to others. I mean? The money is one thing, but she better be very exceptional if a cow is also included in the bride price! ( Joke)

Planet “on a hair trigger” … « Energy Smart

October 21, 2007

Planet “on a hair trigger” … « Energy Smart

More of the new religion as I call it. Can someone, anyone, please tell me when the Earth was not either cooling or warming? Glaciers have been falling into oceans for eons, the polar caps have expanded and receded forever, and man has had nothing at all to do with that.