Wednesday, September 30, 2020

State and Local Issues Matter


 

Often we voters overlook state and local issues being more intrigued by Presidential campaigns. As a practical matter, state and local issues impact us more, and sooner.

Colorado is unique in passing the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR) in 1992 (before the great unwashed immigrants from CA, MA, NY, NJ,etc became a power) and, to date, is the only state. For those interested, here is more information. Full disclosure; from 1970-1993 I lived in Utah and Washington. Does that make part of the unwashed herd?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxpayer_Bill_of_Rights

Very biased, IMO, so read it with skepticism.

The  (P)regressives hate it and try in all kinds of ways to weaken or work around it so as to fund their pet causes. Perhaps this is why are roads are so shitty; a comprehensive Transportation appropriation hasn’t passed in years. While they weasel ways to spend more than the state takes in, we are far from the worst off. The last figures I’ve seen says every citizen’s share of the debt is $2,600. A pittance compared to the national debt.

It is a hot button again. Here is a mailing piece I recently received.




Close to half the state’s tax revenue comes from the energy sector and energy sector services. The (P)regressive loons  are well on the way to killing off that sector, starting with a 2,000’ set back on any new wells now required. Coal fired generating plants are being closed down. Coal mines pay taxes, a lot of taxes.

Inflation is the hidden tool politicians everywhere use to pay off government debt. That and pushing the debt down the road to future generations.

Cliché, but very true, elections have consequences.

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Road Tripping

 

Back from an 800 mile business mile trip in the wilds of the Nebraska Panhandle and Northeast Colorado. While not a Texas trip, there are a lot of miles to be covered. Sorry, no pictures.

Saw exactly three Biden signs. Scads of Trump/Pence signs and flags.

I did see something that reminded me of the values flyover America retains. A more disliked Supreme Court Justice than Ginsberg would be hard to find in the area, yet flags everywhere were at half mast out of respect, and not just government buildings.

What Sisty calls over thinking and what I call thoughtful analysis,  is something I do while driving. Better, for my alertness, than listening to “tunes” or talking mouths (since we can’t see their heads) on the radio.

One random idea I kept mulling over is the number of “educated” university graduates with staggering student debt and degrees for which there are no real jobs. At their core, they know they have been gamed. Their salvation is make work government funded “social sector” jobs. The same party that created the mechanism for their dilemma is the party they expect to save them.

Another random idea is the impact all these wildfires will have on water supplies. My city has some of the finest drinking water in the country but draws water from five reservoirs that collect runoff from areas now burning. How much of a problem will that be for California?

Still another thought was the number of dying towns I drove through and the number of small, but seemly prosperous, towns just down the road in the heavily agriculture areas I traveled. Most, but not all, prosperous towns are in areas with ample water supplies. Most, but certainly not all dying towns are in areas where dry land farming is practiced.

Back in the day I worried this particular bone in trying to decide places to hold our offsite sales. I never developed a template and instead asked questions here and there. At the Chamber of Commerce; are you getting more new members than you are losing? At the town clerk (permits, permit, permits up the wazzo) are you delinquent  taxes higher this year? What I wanted to determine was the prevailing attitudes, positive or negative. Was the local newspaper eager to accept my advertising?  Local radio station willing to run my adds and do a live remote?  As to advertising, we had a direct mail guy that put something into every address in a zip code.

One more thought on water. Most of the Nebraska Panhandle is pumping from the Ogallala Aquifer. It isn’t being replenished as fast as it is being depleted. A portion of that replenishment is from the Rocky Mountains runoff, where the fires are currently burning, ie the North and South Platte Rivers and tributaries.

Retirement means I don’t need to make these trips. The company I work for as an agent is hurting and I don’t mind helping. Plus, I do get paid. We are seeing the end of some of the Chinese Flu short term programs. Unless some or most of the programs are renewed, I think I may be very busy this fall contacting delinquent mortgagees.


Saturday, September 26, 2020

Amy Coney Barrett

 

Bravo, Mr. President, for nominating someone who didn't graduate from Yale or Harvard! Or, as LL puts it, Satan's Vatican. 

Now to see how vile the (P)regressives will be. Surely, they will try to outdo each other in loathsomeness. 

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Custer Colt


 Of interest to old firearm fans, and Colt fans, is this item in the Craig, CO Museum. From their Facebook post.

MUSEUM MARVELS!! #32
A Very Significant Firearm
The museum has had what is known as a Custer Colt in our collection for years. While it was already a significant firearm in our collection, new information has made it possibly one of the more historically significant Colt’s in any collection anywhere.
A “Custer Colt” is a well-known term for historians and collectors. It’s a Colt revolver within a serial number range that gives it an increased possibility of having been issued to Custer’s Seventh Cavalry and possibly used on the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. However, while there are roughly 8,000 Colts that fit within the Custer serial number range, there were only about 700 Seventh Cavalrymen engaged in Little Bighorn. So the chances of a Custer Colt having any relation to one of Custer’s men is pretty low. Also take into account that about 250 of the Seventh Cavalry died during the battle. Most of their firearms would have ultimately been acquired by the victorious Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne and Arapahos. So, just 700 Colts that have 142 years’ worth of mostly unknown fates.
The museum recently decided to revisit our Custer Colt to see if any new information had surfaced over the years to help tell its story. Imagine our excitement when it had!
An auction back in 2014 saw the sale of a Custer Colt with serial #4815 which had an interesting story attached. The auction provenance mentioned a document found in the walls of Ft. Abraham Lincoln during its demolition. The document outlined the proceedings of an inquiry held on April 24, 1876, just two months before Little Bighorn, against Lt. William Van Wyck Reily of the Seventh Cavalry. At issue was Reily allowing his service issued Colt revolver to be stolen - possibly by one of the other cavalrymen. Lt. Reily was required to repay the U.S. for the loss and was issued revolver serial #4815 as a replacement. Reily’s stolen revolver, the document stated, was none other than the museum’s #5126!
Though we are still authenticating this document, this new information possibly gives our firearm not only a direct link to Custer’s Seventh Calvary, but to an exact individual. We can’t fully express how EXTREMELY RARE this is. The news of this discovery has already attracted visits from a few of the most knowledgeable firearm experts in the field. They have all stated that the gun appears to be an absolutely authentic Custer Colt. We will keep our audience posted with any updates to this story.
Lt. Reily died on Little Bighorn just two months after losing his Colt #5126. It is currently on display here at the museum.

I've seen it. The museum has many interesting items along with an elevator to take you to the second floor. It may be the smallest elevator you will ever see but beggars, etc.

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

What is Going on Here?


 

The Biden/Harris ticket is a loser. Why is it continuing? My suspicious (and paranoid) imagination sees two possible scenarios; all based on the Democrat Party insiders and power brokers manipulations.

First, Biden’s health decline allows him to be replaced by someone they want or can control. Moosehelle? This invigorates the Democrats going into the election. Clearly, there isn’t much enthusiasm for the ticket; not enough to fire up the rank and file Democrats.

Or

Second, the insiders know the ticket is a loser and President Trump will win by a landslide. That gives them four years to take the party back from the lunatic leftists in much the way the Republican insiders got control back from the evangelicals after Reagan left office. Of course, they didn’t see the Trump train rolling over them.

The swamp dwellers can co-exist with each other. If one side is eating steak while the other is eating hamburger, they are still eating meat. It is in their best interests to support each other. Public perception? Just something to be manipulated.

Monday, September 21, 2020

Just Because You Can, Should You?


 

Just because you can, should you? Note the receiver hitch. U-Haul rents trailers, cheap. That roof load might not weigh much but will be a sail in a crosswind.

Weekend politics as reported by our local rag included one short report on a President Trump rally and two long reports on Democrat events. If you want the gory details, this is the newspaper.

https://www.greeleytribune.com/

The first Democrat event took place in a local park. All very proper, social distancing and everyone wearing masks. The second was the candidate for US Senate seat meeting in the backyard with a dozen or so people. Again, social distancing and masks.

In contrast, the President Trump supporters were clearly scofflaws.

Amusing, outside, sun shining, and an 85° temperature. Perfect conditions for spreading the Chinese Flu.

I did bother reading the articles in their entirety. The usual Dem talking points, bless their hearts.

One comment was, in my mind, something of a reach. President Trump is responsible for the eight deaths and others disabled by COVID among the workforce at our local packing plant. Reason? He declared those employed in the industry as essential workers.



I can’t think of a tougher way to make a living than working for JBS in one of the largest operations in the country. JBS isn’t known for being a kind and caring employer. They are the largest employer in Weld County.

In Morgan County it is Cargill, JBS’ largest competitor, who have their own COVID problems to go along with their imported Somalia workers “issues”.



The Cameron Peak fire is back and stronger. Areas around Red Feather Lake and Crystal Lake are under evacuation orders.

Wonder what the week ahead will bring? Certainly the vacant Supreme Court seat will be in the forefront. That will give the Senate a good excuse to not address any other issues until the election.

As always, YMMV.


Saturday, September 19, 2020

Birthdays

My middle son is 47 today. Being charitable, he is a strange ranger. That is fine with me; I raised my sons to be their own men. He is deep into a genre of music I don’t understand, black metal, death metal, etc. He has several “zines” or blogs. One is on my sidebar. He receives music from all over the world to review. Outside his circle of friends, he is non social. A hard worker, he is well into his fourth year of sobriety. I’m glad; his last DUI arrest (7 years ago) required six Denver policeman to place him in the back of a squad car. One marriage. May be the father of a son. That is now in the courts as he fights to establish paternity.

Big contrast with my first born who will be 50 next month. I’ve written before about his autism and those complications.

I’ve written before about my youngest, the Medic, who died at age 41 last St. Patrick’s Day from complications from his Army service.




They were a handful to raise and still need to vent about life with their father from time to time.


 

Thursday, September 17, 2020

Signs, Sign, Everywhere There's Signs


 The Parson posted about signs in his town.

https://lonestarparson.blogspot.com/2020/09/yet-more-signs.html

Typical in my neighborhood. This back yard faces a walking path.

In my neighborhood I've seen one Biden sign.

Greeley traditionally has been a blue spot in perhaps the reddest county in Colorado. The teacher's college, er, University of Northern Colorado and a large Latino population is the reason, with all falling in the same precinct. Driving through the "barrio" you now see far more Trump signs than Biden. 

The two BLM signs in my neighborhood disappeared shortly after they went up. I wonder who was responsible?

I think the Democrats are running another George McGovern campaign. One difference; Biden escaped the draft with"asthma" and McGovern flew 35 missions as a B-24 pilot in WWII. 

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Made Me Snort!


One of my Jarhead cousins had this on Facebook.

Smoke is Back


 Sunup this morning. Cloudless sky. Last weeks snow helped but the Cameron Peak fire is only partially contained.

At least 53 structures have been lost. One was a 150 year old homestead.

No relief in sight, weather wise. Oh well. at least we aren't in California.

Ancestry.com sent an update/enhanced report.


First time Iceland has shown up. Does show I'm the whitest white boy you are likely to meet, for what that is worth. It does explain my ease in getting sunburned.

Carp, bitch, moan. I really, really dislike this new Blogger!

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

You Get Cute


No excitement around here so you get cute. My 70 lb Lab and “Pinto” play well together.

Voter enthusiasm for SloJoe, or lack thereof, has been a topic of discussion currently. Getting out the vote is always a concern for candidates and party hacks. Other than the opportunity for fraud, this may be the motivation of the Donkey’s push for voting by mail. It takes a bit of effort to get out and vote. If a ballot is lying around their home, the otherwise apathetic voter just might fill it out and mail it, or not.

The mail in ballot Colorado uses takes more than one First Class Stamp. Other States?


As in any election, the integrity depends on those responsible for conducting the election. In Colorado, that is each County Clerk and Recorder. The office is required to pay for Election Judges, from all political parties. My mother served for decades. I’m not sure her motivation wasn’t financial but she was diligent in her duties.

Readers concerned about the integrity of their local election process might look into becoming an Election Judge. It is a long, grueling day, maybe more. Think of it as a military mission, if you will.

Sunday, September 13, 2020

The Shit You See on Facebook


ntSpouns2sore2dmh
  · 
WAKE UP, AMERICA! Putin didn't install Trump because he likes us. Putin installed Trump because he hates America and knows that Trump is corrupt, stupid and would be easy to manipulate to do his bidding. Re-electing Trump would be Putin's final blow to America. Follow
to defeat
The 27 or so comments in support weren't worth re-posting.

Ties in with LLs polemic today.

https://www.virtualmirage.org/a-quiz-and-a-polemic/

Saturday, September 12, 2020

No Smoke

Out walking the dog this evening. No smoke and mainly clear skies.

A friend in Steamboat Springs says the Middle Fork fire is still putting up visible smoke. That fire is in a wilderness area. Use Google Earth and enter Luna Lake, CO or Mt Zirkel.

My dog flirting with another dog. 


The ladies in this building encourage his behavior and he is always eager to please anytime I turn loose of his leash.

Friday, September 11, 2020

This One Is For LSP


LSP is an avid fisherman, and encourages me to fish. So far, I’ve resisted. A local pond, well stocked I’m told, is being drained so as to be fixed for erosion issues. Hence, there is no limit and very few restrictions for fishing this location.

My former employer is a dedicated fisherman and quite good. Seems he and a friend fished this pond on got skunked.

My problem with fishing is twofold. First, I’m not a big eater of fish. Second, my youth spent as a subsistent hunter. I fished the Yampa River for food. What I caught was soon on our table. The idea of catch and release makes no sense to me.

Intellectually, I can understand the appeal of fishing that draws people into the practice. It just doesn’t pull my personal chain.

Sitting in my storage shed is a well equipped tackle box (bought at a yard sale for pennies on the dollar value of the contents) and an expensive rod and reel that I paid (gasp) retail for one moment of weakness at Cabella’s.

Will the tackle box and rod/reel make it to one of my vehicles? Maybe, if I bored enough.

As always, YMMV.

Thursday, September 10, 2020

Monday, September 7, 2020

More Smoke II

1300 and people have their headlights on. A steady stream of ash and burnt needles keeps falling.

The color of the picture is accurate.

More Smoke

A wind shift during the night shifted most of the smoke to the north but we are still on the fringe. The morning walk wasn't too bad but smoke smell was still present. 

The picture was taken about one hour after sunrise.

Hoping for rain/snow tonight. Guess it will be prudent to fetch my snow rake from the storage shed.

Sunday, September 6, 2020

Life In Colorado


 99° with a winter storm watch.


P.S. The "new" blogger sucks!!!

Saturday, September 5, 2020

Cameron Peak Fire

Tonight around 8pm looking WNW from Greeley, CO.

Jim is about 30 miles closer and has a good account.

http://every-blade-of-grass.blogspot.com/2020/09/misc-bits-and-pieces.html

We too have a layer of ash on our vehicles and the smoke smell is strong.

Friday, September 4, 2020

Sinclair, Wyoming



Company Town

Yesterday was a business trip to Rawlins, WY. After the job was done, Banner and I stopped at the small but immaculately maintained Sinclair Park to enjoy a “picnic” lunch. Sinclair is a few miles east of Rawlins.

Circa 1950-1960 an uncle was the night auditor/manager of the company hotel. The family had an entire floor in one wing for housing. Sinclair has a population of around 400 and is 100% a company town.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair,_Wyoming

Two side notes that may be of interest. My uncle was a 32nd Degree Mason. I know little of the Masons but understand that is rare. The second was my aunt was killed along I-80 between Rawlins and Sinclair. One day during a terrible blizzard/ice storm she stopped to help a stranded motorist and was struck by another vehicle.

Nissan Sentra

I rented one yesterday. When I was selling cars, I had a high opinion of Nissan vehicles. Not so with this “rental rocket”. Noisy, with seats that left me stiff and sore after 450 miles.

Wildlife

Saw one lonely pronghorn.

Old School

Coming back, diverted at the North Platte River and traveled US 30 to Laramie. Only 20 miles longer than I-80, with no RVs, 18 wheelers, and no damned tourists. Two lanes, 70 mph speed limit, and little traffic. Along the way, one ranch had their hay put up loose in stacks. You seldom see that today. Sorry, no pictures. None of the stacking equipment was in sight.

Two main ways of stacking hay were/are used in our area. One is the so called “Mormon” stacker, i.e. derrick manner.

The second is the “beaverslide” method. At age four my parents were working on a ranch near Dillion, CO that used this method.  A hitched team was used to pull the hay rick to the top of the slide and drop the hay down into the stack corral. My job was to lead the team back and forth. Undoubtedly, the team didn’t need to be led, voice commands would do, but it kept me out of the way and made me feel important.

Rest Stops

With just a one hour bladder, I’m familiar with rest stops. Having Banner along means walking him a bit which leads to reading various markers I usually ignore.

The Chinese flu uproar has halted most elective surgery. Maybe soon I can schedule a “rotor rooter” of the prostrate and ease the problem. Yeah, I know, TMI.

Chinese Flu Impact – Personal

The entry area of our apartment complex now looks less inviting than a hospital waiting room. My immediate anti-authority conspiracy seeking personality decided it is the manager succumbing to his desire to be “important”. The manager is 2nd/3rd generation Hispanic (Mexican). Yeah, racist implications.

One of my neighbors is a 2nd generation LA Hispanic (Mexican) who, through dint and hard work, has “made it”. A retired High School Principal, he is an ardent Democrat. Has a Biden poster in his window.

We have discussions, from time to time, and are able to disagree without being disagreeable. I appreciate that, and find myself re-examining my positions and outlooks after listening to him. I seldom change them but am forced into critical thinking.

He pointed out the building manager is in a difficult spot. Should we have a COVID-19 outbreak among our vulnerable senior population, he will be blamed for not taking strong preventive measures.

My neighbor is never seen without a face mask. I don’t fault him; one of his son’s came down with COVID-19 and was gravely ill. While recovered for now, his son still has serious health problems as a result of his episode.

To finish, here is something I swiped off Rev. Paul’s blog.

https://mooseintheyard.blogspot.com/




Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Colorado Weather II

This evening sunset. Remaining clear and a bit cooler.

Colorado Weather


Somewhat clear skies this morning as recent rain has scrubbed a lot of smoke and ash. The numerous fires are still burning so the peaks weren’t glistening.

Inspection tomorrow in Rawlins, WY and the route is under Red Flag advisory today but not tomorrow.

The four major fires haven’t grown and are slowly being contained. One news source reports the costs to fight them, to date, is $77 Million.

In response, Emperor, excuse me, Governor Polis has concentrated on impoverishing the state with various COVID-19 dictates.

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Good Conduct Medal

My late son, the Medic, enjoyed pointing out he had two awards of the Good Conduct Medal while I had zero. Recently I was asked why. Alright, Mr. Snoopy, read this past blog post.

https://wellseasonedfool.blogspot.com/search?q=good+conduct+medal

At the time it was a practice in training units to appoint trainees as acting NCOs. Laying a hand on one was treated just like laying a hand on a real NCO. That was a sure fire trip to the stockade, at a minimum.

Some of these temporary NCOs forgot they wouldn't always have that protection. Like, at the end of the training cycle when we all went in transit. Most tried their best but, human nature being human nature, some reveled in their authority. Need I say when they lost those temporary stripes, scores were settled?

One positive. As I completed the balance of my enlistment, my actions were no threat to losing my Good Conduct Medal.

Despite my best efforts, I left the Green Machine a Specialist Fifth Class (E-5).