RED MEAT! (Happy Halloween!)

Bush's new nominee is a real Treat for conservstives and a Trick for Democrats. I doubt much will change for the near term. The problem I see is that the bru-ha-ha that will most certainly ensue will zap precious energy from a Congress that needs to get work done.

Who knows? Maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised if he turns out to be not as conservative as his billing. I doubt it!

Please STOP me!

O.k., I agree kids could order it on the internet and that would not be a good thing. The rest of us will just have to suffer, I guess! I don't think they should ship pot through the mail, but the seeds? All the Internet shippers seem to be in Amsterdam. I'd like to grow a couple of plants and see if it does anything for pain. Don't like to smoke it, however! Maybe Toan could bake me some Mary-Jane bread! Maybe I could dissolve some in alcohol or some substance and rub it on my sore arm.

I've probably already broken the law by ordering pain pills through the internet. There's still a few to be had, but no narcotics. I dream of a society where we don't have the government telling us what we can and can't take! Hell, you can go to the liquor store and buy a bottle of vodka and really get pukingly messed up. Where's the reason in that?? You could buy a case of vodka and die of alcohol toxicity!

Of course that meth stuff scares me for the toxic chemicals it leaves behind. They're cooking that stuff up in suburban neighborhoods. There should be a war on the really bad drugs, but not the light stuff. Oh, sure, pot could lead to harder stuff. You could also get slipped some undesirable drug when under the influence of alcohol!

I think I'll hold off on ordering the seeds from Amsterdam. Maybe someone will sift the seeds out, smoke the rest and give me what is left over. It would be nice if M.J. took over like dill spread throughout the countryside. Then we wouldn't have to go to a drug dealer to get some.

It's time to get away from the War on Drugs, and focus on treatment of people who get addicted! Also more education for young people. Pot does kind of dumb you down if used constantly.

The curse is off....

Of course I wasn't sitting there watching every play, but the tv was on. Things were beginning to look bad in the third quarter, but the fourth saw them back on track. So, I won't deliberately watch every game, but if they are on in the background I will watch occasionly. Let's see if the curse is off! I won't bet the farm on them, but it's something to do when cooking green chili on a cold afternoon. Plummer is more exciting than Griese.

$49.95? For WHAT????

I was getting ready to e-mail my essay on how to get back at the big oil companies to Bill O'Reilly, but was directed to this page for becoming a "Premium Member". Now look here Mr. O'Reilly, sometimes I agree with your rants, but you comes off as the most pompous and arrogant personality on cable TV! NO THANKS!!!! It can go to the regular Fox News e-mail and probably end up filed as junk mail.

I am NOT going to send $49.95 to feed Bill's ego! Bill must have a lot of followers, but I prefer Larry King because he has more interesting guests and treats them all with respect. Besides, Larry hasn't asked me for money...

Affordable Housing

1968 Argus "Mobile" home. Why is it a mobile home? It has a hitch, taillights and wheels underfoot. There are moving instructions inside one of the closets. I wouldn't recommend doing so, however!

A few ounces

O.k., I tried the turbo thingee that goes into the air intake and it probably improved mileage by one or maybe two m.p.g.. I think it was about 70 bucks, so it'll take a while to pay for itself. I'm wondering if you have to take it out and clean it every once and a while? It's downstream from the PCV valve, so maybe some gunk gets on it.

I could use this next product to clean it off and add to my gas! Acetone! I've heard only a few ounces per tank will do the trick. People who report their tests have provided numbers of up to 30% increase. Realisticly, it will probably be in the realm of 10 to 15 percent, if it works at all. That would be another 2.5 mpg at 25 mpg. This is assuming the two methods of saving would compound the mileage. Going down hill the best mileage was 29 mpg and uphill 25 to 27. This is the gradual 2000 feet per 200 miles from here to Nebraska.

Anyway, it should pay for the bottle of acetone, plus a couple bucks in my pocket. That's the beauty of this one; no big investment!

How to get back at them, Mr. O'Reilley....

Bill has departed from the border issues to attack the big oil companies. Part of me says bravo, part of me says bravo for them. I'm seeing more people riding the bus and there seem to be fewer of those big trucks and suv's on the road. I'm also seeing more hybrids. Now the cost of gas is at pre-Katrina levels. But if it goes down further, the big trucks and suv's will re-appear. If you really want to stick it to the oil companies, conserve! I've got more sympathy for those heating their homes. We've come a long way in insulating our houses and building more energy efficient heating and cooling systems. Those who are on tight budgets really will feel the pinch this winter. I believe the natural gas and heating oil are to go up more, percentage wise, than gasoline did. That part isn't so fair, because it isn't like most people are trying to waste energy heating or air conditioning. Still, there's a few who waste it through ignorance. The rise in prices will surely prompt more education on how to save energy. Some people need reminding!

Could he do it?

John McCain looks old. I think of the time passed since the 2000 election. Yet he still speaks well and has that wonderful whit in his sense of humor. How sad it is that Bush said the word "Christ" in a debate for the 2000 Virginia primary and Pat Robertson pulled out his troops to sink McCain.

Now the religious conservatives have Bush's ear, yet the President has a lot more pressing issues than what they present. I am NOT one to judge the mind of the American people, but I believe they have their minds on the more practical issues such as paying for all this stuff and getting our troops home.

Just like sometimes I feel that I am a Christian deep in my heart of hearts, I also sometimes feel the family heritage to be a Republican. NOT the Republicans as they are today, but the fiscally conservative, socially moderate Republicans as presented by Senator McCain. The man is a true statesman who can say genuine complements of those in the other party or those in opposition to his views. I would think he could use this skill to work better with other world leaders.

Also, though he supported the war, I don't believe he shares the Neo-Con views of world domination. One would have to hope the Senator would have more restraint in deploying troops. Unlike the Neo-Con leaders who have little or no combat experience, his story speaks for itself. His record in the Senate, I might add, is one of leadership and accomplishment.

If he never becomes President, I hope he will at least return to host Saturday Night Live! The guy is a real card!

A bittersweet milestone...

First of all, record numbers of Iraqi's approved their new constitution. That, alone, should have been the news of the day! It just happened to coincide with the 2000th death of an American serviceperson. The news media made such a big deal out of this artificial number. Actually, tens of thousands of people have perished in this war. Then add in those who were maimed and disabled and you get quite a toll. All wars are messy and destructive!

It is clear that a majority of people there want Democracy. Now the task is to get those selfish few idiots to stop blowing themselves and others up! Hopefully the majority of people there realize the futility of these acts. I don't personally believe we should "cut and run", but it is time for us to begin to stand down and lower our visibility there. Ultimately the fate of Iraq will be up to the Iraqi's.

What to do with them?

A news photo with FEMA trailers in the background shows many have survived, yet this isn't a very good fix for the problem. They should offer them for sale to the residents at a reduced price, with free moving within a limited distance. Manufactured homes in Florida do not seem to be a good idea. I hope these newer ones have decent moisture protection.

New Fed Chief?

Sometimes I think Greenspan raises and lowers interest rates too much. Aside from that, he's helped us from going into an economic tailspin. I hope this pick is better than Bushie's former FEMA chief!

Whoa!

Let's not bring charges against anyone unless they have merit! I told you I thought this one was driven by partisan politics. Let us hope there is some meat to these charges against Tom Delay. I'd love to see him go down, but if there is nothing there, it will just beget sympathy for him... Certainly whaterver that practice (the formal charge is money laundering) is called , it isn't legal in all states. I heard a Republican Florida Congresswoman talk about how it wouldn't be legal there. You can bet there are all kinds of strange manipulations going on with political money every day. The little guy just gets screwed!

Wilma!

Stop it already! This isn't funny! Fred is pissed!

Just like Dad!

At least he didn't tune in to Fox News, only CNN and C-Span. So much is going on these days, you kind of get hypnotized by the news. It was really nice to sit down and watch the movie Troy. I didn't think the movie was as bad as it's reviews, but then maybe I was predjudiced by all the naked torsos!

They repeat so much on the news channels, if you only tune in once a day, you can get everything you need. I really enjoy NPR - Nebraska radio on the way over to the lake.

Help is on the way!

Did I read this right? The Honda Insight hybrid with manual transmission gets 61 mpg city and 66 highway! Or was it 66 city and 61 highway? That's over twice my Ranger's mpg! I don't know if it could tow anything, maybe the light boat? I can hardly wait till they get more little SUV's with hybrid. These gas prices have at least helped drive the market. The beauty of the Insight is that it really isn't that much more expensive than standard cars. 20 -25K. MSRP Starts at 19-something.

First New Orleans, now this?

RE: The floods in New Hampshire:

I've been all over the Granite State and to Keene. Had a friend from there. More evidence that our activities are wreaking havock on the environment! At least in my view.

Now we know!

Harriet is an Evangelical Christian who goes to a conservative church. So what? This may reassure James Dobson, but I still want to know if she can be a fair judge. They don't ask me my religion when I apply for a job, what's so big a deal here?

Judicial activism cuts both ways. If abortion is to be outlawed, let it be done by laws not judges. Let it be the will of the people. Rather than outlawing abortion by decree and having back alley abortions, I think it would be better to become a society in which it is culturally unpopular. Keep up the efforts to provide alternatives and assistance. Parents need to be more understanding when their daughters get knocked-up. Sex happens!

Obviously there are a lot of other "social" issues that I'd probably disagree with her on, but remember that the elected officials are in a lot more tenuous positions and the pendulum can and will swing. The fifties were followed by the sixties. We may end up with a liberal legislative and executive branch some day. And who knows, some day Thomas or Scalia may retire under a progressive President.

What does he know about Harriet?

I really don't care what her views on abortion are. Can she be a fair judge? Can she go through the process of hearing a case with an open mind? Does she have an agenda?

James Dobson has an agenda. I suppose it is his right. I still can't believe that he might go before Congress to testify. Is it because of Carl Rove's big mouth? What concerns me here is that Dobson has such connections at all with the White House. Who the hell is he? I still want to head down to the Springs and dump a load of trash next to Focus on the Famly's highway sign.

Normal weather for a change.

Photo courtesy from a 9 News digital network photographer

Outsiders might think it a bit odd going from near 80 degrees to snow, but this is Colorado after all! I guess the temps are going back up to around 70 later this week. Perfect!

I can't help myself......

I'm not sure I will go fishing this weekend, but certainly if a fish shall hook itself, I shall murder him (or her). I might not wear a light gray suit, however.

I would like to know a quick way to put a catfish out of it's misery.

Thanks, PETA for your insights.

Magazine cover courtesy PETA

Life goes on...

I listened to Bush's speech before going to work. He's not my favorite speaker, but it was a good speech. It didn't raise my support for his war, but we are in it so I hope they can make lemonade out of the lemon. I also hope there is some common sense left in the administration and that they will think twice about committing any more troops.

I guess that woman he picked for the Supreme Court is drawing somewhat less than an enthusiastic response. This is from both conservatives and the left. To be fair, one should listen to her and not draw any conclusions. I stand by my support for Justice Roberts, though I already dissgree with him on the Oregon Assisted Suicide Law. I suppose if they overturn that one we are all going to need to read up on our do-it-yourself manuals. The tricky thing about suicide is when you don't do it right and end up still alive, but maimed or badly brain damaged.

My view on all these government happenings is that the every day "Joe" has no control over them and just has to adapt. To me, local politics are more meaningful because your vote or voice carries more weight. Even here, it's one out of thousands or even millions! Like I said, one just has to adapt.

Life goes on....

And one I'm not so sure of...

Another crony from Texas! We'll see, but I am skeptical. Having a vagina is not the only consideration.