Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Electoral College Safeguards



In my last post I tried to show how the Electoral College protects minorities, such as rural residents, from the tyranny of the majority. When all is determined by popular vote, rural residents get the shaft.

The following is somewhat long and is Colorado specific but makes my point, I believe.


Our (P)regressive Governor on the campaign trail once drew an audience of less than thirty in Craig, CO. His support was from the urban areas and the trust funder infested mountain towns. One would hope he would rise above pettiness and try to serve the whole state.

Another possibility is rewarding supporters with an appointment to a no work involved commission with a potential for under the table earnings. No mistake, water is Colorado’s biggest asset.

Readers outside of Colorado may just shrug and say so what. You might rethink that if you live downstream along the many rivers that originate in Colorado.

Monday, January 27, 2020

Why We Have the Electoral College



Short  answer;  to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority.

The climate change boondoggle is an example of the population centers, using their majority, to fuck over the rural areas. Coal is an example. Only the Electoral College prevents this happening in politics.

Please indulge me as I try to draw parallels.

Northwest Colorado, along the Yampa River, has coal deposits in the thousands of feet deep. Much is near the surface allowing for easy, relative inexpensive, strip mining. This has led to the construction of two large electrical generating plants. The resulting jobs have allowed three generations to form families and raise children in relative comfort. Many are my relatives including, for a time, my late father.



The efficiency of the power plants is high and their contribution to pollution extremely low.
For decades Colorado has required strip mines to reclaim the mines after they are closed. People passing through the area will be hard pressed to identify areas that have been mined.






Now under the pressure of the eco freaks the mines and power plants will be closing. The economic impact will create a huge depression for the area.

The Congressman representing that area summed it up well, IMO.


This isn’t just a Colorado problem but is occurring all over the country. Wyoming around Gillette and West Virginia come to mind.

And the tyranny of the majority?  In Colorado the four most populous counties are home to the governor, and every other state office except one, at that one is arguable. He didn’t receive a majority in his home county.

The ripples spread. The Union Pacific railroad, a major coal hauler, forecasts cutting 1,000 jobs and closing various operation centers. The BNSF is facing the same obstacles.

People may say, “so what?”  Well snowflake, since much of what you consume arrives by rail, and transportation costs are passed along, your living costs will go up. And your light bill? Prepare for sticker shock.

In theory, since each state has two United States Senators, rural areas have protection. Doesn’t seem to work out that well as most are oriented to their political party and that agenda. Said agenda isn’t favorable to the rural areas, IMO.

So Shillary won the “popular” vote but was soundly defeated because the majority of states elected their Electors in support of President Trump. That isn’t the first time, or only time, that has happened in Presidential elections. Maybe that is why our country survives. As always, YMMV.

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Grief


Seems the muse is AWOL again, or, my life is boring and mundane.  That said, this morning while listening to the, Ladies of The Round Table, aka The Coven, one member said something that stirred something inside me.

She is 82, her husband ran the service department of the oldest car dealership in town, and this morning she said, “I am NOT a widow. My husband has wings”.

I like that.  She isn’t letting grief control her, she is kicking grief’s ass.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Dumb Shits


A story in the local rag caught my eye. The individual involved is a person with whom I’ve had (very minor) business dealing. Can’t say I’m surprised.


Am I the only one who thinks, if you are going to engage in criminal activities, you shouldn’t have your head up your ass?

https://www.greeleytribune.com/news/colorado-couple-who-announced-engagement-before-bank-robbery-spree-sentenced-to-federal-prison/

Evidently, no.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Daughter-In-Law


Sent her two texts. The first was the change on the place of prominence on my apartment wall. Had a picture she sent me printed on canvas. The second was the picture it replaced (DrJim might recognize it).

Her reply text.

“Love it followed by three hearts. Even more impressed with your ability to take AND send pictures with your phone!!!”

She makes sure, along with my sister and niece, I stay humble. Strong women!

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Memory Lane


Saw this old relic today and it started a trip down memory lane, riding in the bed of my maternal grandfather’s yellow Studebaker pickup.

He had a ranch east of Saratoga, WY and the summer I turned eight I spent a month there.

WATER IS FOR FIGHTING

Granddad Burtis had the oldest water right on the ditch that served several ranches. He was also the last one on the ditch. We would go out to irrigate and he wouldn’t have all his water. Cursing, he would jump in the pickup with my Uncle Ray and go tearing off to the headqate across fields and along rutted county roads. Riding in the pickup bed were spools of barbed wire, long shovels, pry bars, fence stretchers, dogs and grandsons all being churned as the load bounced up and down.

Grandad was a big man and Uncle Ray about 6’5” with shoulders so wide he went through doors sideways. Hence, there were rarely physical confrontations with the other ranchers. There were rich vocabulary lessons in words and phrases not to be used in polite company as the topic of; “water thieves”, was given a through airing.

When I first arrived, I was given a rusty irrigating shovel (a long handled pointed spade). I was made to understand rust on a shovel was nearly a mortal sin. Message, work that rust off. Granddad wasn’t real pleased to find me in the shop using the pedal powered sharpening wheel to do a little rust removal.

WHAT IS A MAN?

I last saw him Christmas 1962. They were visiting my parents in Steamboat Springs, CO and I came up from Denver in my red sports car wearing “city clothes”. He was distant with me. My Dad had a pickup loaded with stoker coal backed up to the coal shed and asked me to unload it.  After changing clothes, I was shoveling about a ton of coal when Granddad came out and watched me.

“Now, by God, you look like a man”, he said.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Weld County, Wyoming Addendum


Money raising?


Organizing?



We will see how it goes.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Weld County, Wyoming


A splendid alternative to COLOEXIT.   Move Weld County, CO to Wyoming. There is a Facebook group promoting the idea of putting the idea on the 2021 ballot.

Far fetched?


Would Wyoming want Weld County? Consider that the Watennburg field, the majority of which is in Weld County, is the 4th largest in the country. In 2015 the county produced 4 out of 5 barrels of crude in the state. The county is even bigger in natural gas production. The county infrastructure is mature and in decent condition.

Weld County has a population of over 300,000. Since Wyoming is the least populated state (540,000) and has only one Congressional representative, Wyoming would pick up another seat.

This is something I can get involved. Will it work? Probably not, but it will discomfort the (P)regressive assholes that now dominate state politics.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Poor People Have Poor Ways



A favorite saying of my late father, and I am my father’s son. I need to replace the windshield  wiper control module on my 1995 Ford Taurus. It is secured by two 5.5 mm bolts. Problem? Location.

This is located under the dash near the firewall and my fat 75 year old body cannot twist and slide enough for me to see it. I’m trying to use a mirror and flashlight  (yes, it is dark under there) to get my verdamnit tomsadasity socket wrench on the bolts without success.

I’m not yet defeated but need a bigger mirror and better lighting. What doesn’t help is my cheapskate ways and unwillingness to spend any real money. Next up is the $60 or so for a new part.

Another petard I hoist myself on is my unwillingness to ask anyone for help. Yeah, it is a character flaw.

Spend money and take it to a pro? Surely you jest.

What I am going to spend some money is for a professional print, probably on canvas of this picture my daughter-in-law sent me taken Thanksgiving. Her friend who took the picture photo shopped my late son’s image into the background.


 That will be framed and go on my wall.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Drones


Mysterious drones have been appearing nightly around NE Colorado for several weeks. No one seems to know who/what/why.



Reports have been coming in from Nebraska and Kansas.

We are hitting the big time with some national press. Are we now the new Roswell? Speculation abounds.

Maybe LL can shed some light as he has a connection, or did have, with drones. Probably OPSEC in his case.

Even our junior Senator is chiming in as the drone activity is occurring around Yuma, CO, his home town.


Me personally? Haven’t a clue and am not losing sleep over it.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Human Nature


It is easy for us old farts to bemoan the condition of today’s youth. It is just as easy for us to be wrong.

The image is a soft slug glued to a monitor with a controller in hand playing games. Wanting “safe spaces”. True to an extent.

Have you ever watched closely skateboarders?  BMX bicycle riders? Despite helicopter parents and swathing in protective layers, these kids, of both sexes, are out there risk taking.

We probably will never see again as big a “Hot rod” scene as we remember, partly because more modern cars are harder to work on and far more costly.  Still, you see import “tuner” cars on the streets. If nothing else, these kids know how to  retrofit a loud muffler.

There may be less sandlot baseball, but there is a lot of organized soccer and volleyball. Football is still played.

Risk taking seems to be part of human nature and no amount of feminism, social justice whimpers, and forced socialization will kill it.

What I see, and respect, are the young people fighting for their own identity and values. Long may they prevail.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Hostiles



For those occasional readers who only check this blog to be outraged by my posts, this is for you.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Memories of Days Gone By


The above picture was posted on Facebook with the question, “Do you know what this is and have you ever used them?”

“Hell yes!

My folks ended up with a 35 acre ranch about the time I started 8th grade. The place wouldn’t support us and my parents always had “town jobs” but we always had two to three milk cows. My father bred them so they had a calf in the fall. We milked them all winter and dried them in the spring. Twice a day, every day, no excuses.

We were friends with a few families in similar circumstances and would milk their cows too so they could have a couple of days off and they would do the same for us.

I can tell you, from certain knowledge, putting your hands where they weren’t yet welcome was a mistake when the young lady in question grew up milking cows and bucking hay bales.


Copied this picture from Facebook. That would have been handy back in the day for judging the long term prospects with a love interest.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Unique Event


Those traveling near Northwest Colorado in early May 2020 might consider taking in this (FREE!) event.


0:14 Damn fool cantering on asphalt and trying a cutting horse move

On my father’s side of the family, we are descendents of early 1900’s homesteaders and late 1890’s outlaws in that part of the world. Some descendents still live in, or near, Maybell.  Gives us an excuse to gather each year.


Some years we bury relatives who have passed at the old homestead which is now a private family graveyard. We have one to do so far this year.


For those of you that have $3,000 lying around, the Sombrero Ranch will include you as a wrangler in the horse drive.


Amazing to remember my sister and I moving horses, just the two of us and a fine dog, as part of our chores.

There is a hotel in Maybell, the Victory, that is an experience all by itself. Early reservations advised.


Craig is nearby with many motels on US 40. Further is Meeker, where I like to stay, as I enjoy the drive on the back roads.

If you come, you won’t be disappointed.