Here Kitty Kitty

 

Mountain Lion Encounter

LL’s recent VM post about a maundering lion sparked a memory of my encounter in a very unlikely place.  Near Brighton, CO is Barr Lake State Park. The water is owned by farmers and the lake is often drawn down to a puddle. Around the lake is an eight mile hiking trail.

Much of the trail is an elevated walkway. It is very much in an urban area.

Circa 2008 I was hiking the trail and was on a long elevated section with no exits when I heard something running in my direction. My thought was a dog. Around the corner 20’ away was a mountain lion running at full speed. I had nowhere to go. The lion went past me brushing my legs while giving me a quick look. The lion didn’t slow and continued up the elevated walkway.

It took a few moments to regain my composure. My intended direction was in the direction the lion came from. Deciding I didn’t want to find out what caused the lion to run, I reversed course and followed the lion. At the first opportunity I got off the walkway and followed the canal back to my car.

You second guess yourself after an event. I was armed but didn’t think to draw my revolver. I could have jumped off the walkway into the muck below. What I did was stand stock still.

California High Speed Rail – Hold My Beer

There is a vocal persistent group that wants high speed rail along the Front Range.

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If there was a profit to be made, the Union Pacific or BNSF would already offer passenger service. If we must have it, pay the railroads to provide it. They own the rails already and have a modicum of expertise in making trains run on time.

Oh no, WSF, that would curtail cushy jobs for the well connected Gender Studies elites who are reliable Democrat activists and voters.

Data Centers

The ad Microsoft is running in Wyoming.

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Bullshit at World Cup Level

According the U.S. News & World Report, Colorado is rated #1 in the nation for education. What is their criteria? Wokeism and New World Order?

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My guess is Colorado schools have lower standards, allowing for more participation trophies, than other states.

Union Pacific 4014 Big Boy

Taken 7/27/2026 at 711 O Street, Greeley CO

They were returning home to Cheyenne after a long trip back East. I picked this spot because the engine would be working hard climbing a grade. Instead, they were stopped for about 30 minutes.

 The UP has a reputation for squeezing every dime to make a nickel. There is rolling stock to be moved and a caboose to be moved to storage. Why not use the steamer? After all, it is going to Cheyenne anyway.

This handsome gentleman is my good friend Santa Clause, aka Paul Schindeldecker.  He is a professional Santa Clause during the season.

Painful Listening II

My neighbor is back. Toes amputated, IC for three days as his heart isn’t strong, and now has been diagnosed with MRSA.

Another resident’s son is a lay minister. Tonight he spent about an hour with my neighbor.

My neighbor has a Spyder. I advised him to get out and ride it as much as possible. Having to focus on the machine will break the cycle of brooding. Jesse, you must keep moving!

Many of us have seen a person just give up and wait to die. Problem is, death’s schedule is so unpredictable you may wallow in misery for years. In the days ahead he will have his neighbors support. We can hope that will left his spirits and he will fight on.

Thank You. I won’t be able to attend 

They will likely welcome all who show upMORE

Car Story

A retired long haul trucker, chronic drunk with cognitive decline resident of our senior apartment building, owns a Green 1999 Ford F-150. Currently not drivable due to a bad transmission, local church members are fixing it for him. Misplaced compassion, IMO.

The man is manipulator. The truck isn’t licensed, isn’t insured and likely won’t be when returned to him. When it was running he had two or three minor accidents. He escaped consequences by leaving the scene. He was using counterfeit temporary tags. I understand you can buy these on line but have never looked into it.  I doubt he is smart enough to do it himself so is getting help from someone.

Several residents, including myself, are prepared to call the local police the moment we see him driving off the property. Are we vigilantes?

As always, YMMV

Colorado, How Blue Can You Be?

 

Colorado’s Next Governor

With the Republican primary winner being shunned by the GOP’s ‘little’ shots, Whizzer will win. What will Colorado look like in four more years?

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There is one kicker; the (P)regressive ‘little’ shots endorsed his opponent, Senator Do Nothing, in the primary. Will they now kiss and make up?

Snide observation. In the many of his campaign photos online, the crowds are caucasian

Modeling Tyranny

Since time immortal, farmers and herders have managed their efforts around local needs and conditions. That opposes the new world order – one world tyranny. Modeling is a blueprint for control; climate modeling being the most obvious

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Settled science, nothing to see here folks, move along. The scientific community has never rigged a model to achieve a pre-determined outcome.

In this vein, the Democrat candidate for Congress in my district has a past that raises eyebrows among even leftist outlets.

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TABOR (Taxpayers Bill of Rights)

Unique to the Colorado Constitution, this has throttled the (P)regressive Californication of Colorado ambitions since the state went blue. This is their newest attack. Surprise! It is for the children.

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The Pustule on Journalism’s Ass

A local writer beloved by the radical left, who checks all the (P)regressive boxes, especially “I said it; it is a fact”, has an opinion piece that is worth reading, once. IMO, he clearly shows the stinking thinking that prevails in much of our population.

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Interesting, Emperor Polis, architect of “The Blueprint”, is denouncing Democrat Socialism.

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Cleaning his stable for a running at the 2028 Presidential nomination?

 Painful Listening

A neighbor is living with serious health issues. An amputee (one leg below the knee), bad heart, diabetes, and facing a partial amputations of his remaining leg, his doctor has advised him to get his affairs in order. Like me, he was a Combat Engineer. He needs a listener, and I listen.  I have no solutions for him beyond referring him to resources. As an example, a local attorney I trust. This attorney does criminal law but I trust him to make a referral to someone competent who can help him get his affairs in order. The Veterans Administration is another resource. What he does is up to him. I know he is considering suicide. His choice, I won’t interfere.  

No Waiting List for Fraud

People I personally know are sitting on waiting lists to receive even minor home care. Hang the bastards.

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Creeping Correct Thinking

OccultBlackMetalZine can be found on this blog’s side bar. This is written by a son. His interest is off the deep end dark metal. He regularly gets berated for putting up offensive material. I don’t understand the genre but I visit his blog/zine once in awhile.

Evidently he is an influencer and receives music from all over the world to review. He suspects AI is behind  much of the negative comments. While the negativity and criticism bothers him, he isn’t about to change.

There is a point here. Who out in the big world even gives a shit what one man has been writing about for years? The genre that interests him is, in the grand scheme of thing, not even a rounding error.

Wolves

The wolf re-introduction is seeing some success. The survival of wolves born in Colorado seems higher than wolves introduced from elsewhere.

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Good or bad?

Car Story

Floor Check

Most car dealers are subject to inventory checks, commonly called floor checks. Many times the inventory is “floored”, i.e. financed and the lender wants to make sure what they have financed is physically present.

For many years as part of my overall management duties, I conducted floor checks. When I did a floor check, I physically put my hand on every vehicle on the list. Then I went to the general manager’s office asking about discrepancies.

These meeting often produced drama. You would have the haughty, I’m too important to be questioned, entitled manager. You would have the manager who thought he/she could bluff me. Rarely, one would offer a bribe. A few even believed I could be intimidated. You are going to kick my ass? None of that worked. My report would determine whether or not they remained in their position.

“Oh, it is at the (detail, tire, body) shop”

“OK, what is the address so I can see it?”

Our Grand Junction store always seemed to have cars unaccounted for.

 “OK, I’m going to lunch. When I get back, I need to see the car”.

On my return the car would be parked out back. In the waiting room would be some young pissed off female hard belly.

Did I inform the owner and/or General Manager (the only two people who I answered to)? Usually, not. If they asked me, sure.

NOTE: Picture is for illustration but we often had 120+ vehicles in stock. All needed to be counted regardless of weather.

As always, YMMV

 

 

Laugh, Smile?

 

Low Humor

Heartland mixed marriages. Bride comes from a farm family that runs John Deere. The Groom comes from a farm family that runs Case-New Holland. Later their daughter marries into a farm family running Massey Ferguson.

Meanwhile, in Yellowstone.

And Cheyenne Frontier Days.

(I’ll go to my room now)

Ringling Bros Barnum and Bailey Circus Train

Last run ever, 2017, headed to Denver. The locomotive is UP 3985 “Challenger” 4-6-6-4 on the last run it made. After that, the UP used a 4-8-4 “Northern” #844 until bringing back the Big Boy, currently on tour in the eastern states. The #844 is still operational though seldom used. It was the very last steam engine delivered to the Union Pacific and never retired.

Yes, I have a minor interest in steam engines.

Car Insurance

Colorado consistently has high car insurance rates (5^th highest in the country). The cost means more uninsured motorists (many are undocumented immigrants), perhaps a third on the roads daily, and the associated cost of accidents they are involved in. The following article is long and technical. My superficial take? The current system provides a lot of opportunities for attorneys, government functionaries and asset recovery companies (repo men). YMMV

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How Blue States Work

Nothing to see here folks, move on! 

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For perspective, the adult population of Colorado is approximately 4.7 million. Assuming all are taxpayers, this one nonprofit received approximately $1.40 from each taxpayer.

 From Google AI.

An estimated 2,111 nonprofits in Colorado receive federal, state, or local government grants. This figure is based on IRS Form 990 filings that track government grant funding. Overall, approximately 34,251 registered nonprofits operate in Colorado, meaning about 77.4% of the organizations that file detailed tax returns report receiving some form of taxpayer-funded government grants.

Immigrants

Legal immigrants historically were screened for health problems. The Biden mobs were not. 

The consequences are part of this article.

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Tuberculosis was a scourge in the 19th and early 20^th Century. Many came west hoping the clean air and dry climate would help. Notable examples include Ed Johnson who represented Colorado in the US Senate and as Governor.  Eventually, TB became a rare disease in the USA. Not the rest of the world as this article highlights.

 The facility in question is a Federal operated property. Just what power Colorado law has is a question for lawyers? What is apparent to this former Adams County resident is the deep blue functionaries aren’t going to pass up a chance to “fight ICE”.

Side note. 7/16 employees were trying to enter the facility to work. Protestors were blocking them. A protestor was shot and an employee was arrested. FAFO

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Car Story

This is from the way back machine.

“Sorry officer, you didn’t see the boot on your undercover car as you tore off in ‘hot pursuit’?”

Days after graduating from high school in 1961, I did what hundreds of rural young people did; I moved to Denver for opportunities. I wanted more than cutting brush in the summer for the Forest Service and plowing snow in the winter for the County. I arrived in time to witness the Denver Police Department scandal.

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This was just part of the corruption; perhaps a minor part. The Sheriff’s Department was involved at some level.

I came to know Deputy C----, who drove around in a station wagon immobilizing cars of drivers with unpaid tickets. To my knowledge, he never arrested anyone nor let himself become involved in any other police work. Execute the President in front of him? Shrug, but he would boot an ambulance parked in a red zone.

His second activity was dealing marijuana out of his official car. That was an open secret other cops must have known.

Back to the top. The undercover officers would use impounded cars.

Deputy C--- spotted a car on his list, booted the car, and drove off. When the officer came back to the car and attempted to drive off, hilarity ensued.

Later I learned in Paris they called the immobilizer, “the Denver Boot”.

For clarity, I never used nor was involved with drugs. They were around me but I stayed at arm’s length.

I worked a lot of different jobs, sometimes as many as three at a time. One was working security at professional wrestling shows, Denver Bears (AAA baseball) and Denver Bronco games for a Denver policeman’s side business. While he personally wasn’t corrupt, he knew what was going on and helped us steer clear of entanglements.

For a time I worked nights part time running a parking lot across from a hotel with a nightclub in the basement. Several hookers worked out of the hotel.  He strongly urged me to drop the job. Nothing dramatic to report but who knows what a dumb country boy might have been sucked into keeping that particular job.

The Denver Police Department was corrupt from day one, 1859. Does the Department still have an element of corruption? Does a bear………

As always, YMMV

Circling the Drain - Centennial State Edition

 

Gold Standard Mail Voting

(P)regressives claim Colorado’s Mail  Voting System is the “Gold Standard”. Of course, they are right by their standards (low bar, that).

Troublesome facts only upset them.

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Where is the effort among elected officials to vigorously focus on these problems? Their disdain tells me they don’t care so long as the dysfunctional system keeps them and their cronies in power.

Colorado Republicans

They continue to be above wrestling in the (P)regressive mud. That should guarantee they won’t win any statewide races.

The primary winner for Governor, Victor Marks, hasn’t received endorsements from ‘mainstream’ Republicans. He is an “outsider” (unclean, unclean). His radical platform will ensure I vote for him.

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Should, by some divine miracle, he wins the (P)regressives still will have a majority in the Legislature, even a super-majority.

His words, as expected from any candidate.

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Various pundits are asking if the Republicans will unite behind him. Silly question, IMO.

Car Leasing

With prices of “a family sized SUV”  North of $80,000 and monthly stroke close to $1,000, leasing may soon be the only way to get new transportation.

I’m a fan of leasing in general when done properly. More on that later in this post.

This was the sales “pitch” I used. “Folks, when you buy a car, you put  money as a down payment and then make monthly payments. During that time, who owns the car?”

We agree that that the bank owns the car until the loan is paid off.

“With a lease, we turn the process around. You make much smaller monthly payments for the same number of months because you are not paying for the whole car, just the use. At the end you make the down payment. You do that only if you want. What you pay is called the residual”.

“The market value of the car in relation to the residual at the end of the lease will be one of three things, lower, higher, or about the same. If it is lower, walk away. If it is higher, that is money that can go in your pocket. If it about the same, you have the option to buy the car”.  Get acknowledgment.

“Say you decide to keep the car. Those of us in the business know people seldom trade in a perfectly good car. They either know or suspect bad things are happening. You know the car, so no surprises”.

Hopefully, this approach brought on more questions. In my time about 50% of my closes were leases.

Lease pitfalls. One, mileage. If you drive an average of 18,000 miles a year then don’t be stupid and lease for 10,000 miles to get a lower payment. That will bite you hard at the end of the lease. Second, know the capitalization cost (what to car is sold to the lease company) and, if possible, the buy rate (interest). Yes, you can arrange leases outside the dealerships and shop with that in your back pocket. You need to keep the car in good repair and, perhaps, have it professionally detailed before turning it in should you decide not to keep it.

Seldom mentioned lease benefit – liability. The lease company owns the car. He who owns the car owns the liability. They will require you to have higher insurance coverage because they, not you, are liable. Say you are in a bad accident and the other parties get hooked by the billboard lawyers. Your insurance company is obligated to defend you and pay up to the policy limits. They are not, repeat not, obligated to defend you the way you want to be defended. Do you think I’m wrong? Please read your policy.

You have $100,000 coverage. Your insurance company and Whiplash Charlie settle for $137,200. You have now become liable for $37,200. (Thing I’m wrong? Talk to a lawyer)

Take the same scenario with a lease. The lease company is liable, not you. Think Whiplash Charlie wants to take on Ford Motor Credit Corporation?

Yeah, but, you can still be sued yada, yada, yada. True, but you are no longer low hanging fruit.

One last point. You will enter the shark tank when you meet with the finance manager (known in the business as F&I). Next to parts and service departments, this is the greatest profit center in a dealership. 

Although I personally loath this father and son combination, they do a good job of showing how dealerships and sales work.

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Iran

Taken off a Facebook post.

 A reply.

The Daily Perspective

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We’re not dealing with sane people in Iran. They’re focused on world domination, they’re true believers in their cultic religion, and they truly believe their god is guiding them and won’t let them fail. They will lie about everything to achieve their goals, and they will never stop lying or attacking “the infidels”. The only way this ends is to completely eliminate the Islamic regime in Iran. Only then will the people be free and the region be safe.

Another example is Japanese bushido prior to WWII. Even after two atomic bombs, and the edict of the Emperor, some Japanese officers wanted to continue fighting.

Fanatics remain fanatics until they are dead or castrated.

John Denver

I’ve noticed John Denver mentioned in several places recently and thought to post a wee John Denver story. To be clear, I never personally met him but we were in Denver around the same time.

Colorado once had 3.2 beer for those 18-21 and Denver had several 3.2 night club/bars. One, the Eastway, was on East Colfax near Colorado Blvd and John Denver was playing in a band there. He was not yet a headliner and may have still been John Deutschendorf. He was the proud owner of a three tone Thunderbird. A big fight broke out in the parking lot and he was trying to keep people off his car. He had courage, not size, and was getting his ass kicked. My friends and I waded in and helped him. End of story. The police arrived and we made a strategic retreat.

Sanctuary City

Car Story

Repo Man

From time to time we needed to get a sold vehicle back because the financing fell through. This is one of the hazards of “spot” delivery” for aggressive dealers. Usually it wasn’t a big problem but a few were memorable.

Recently a Facebook idiot posted about putting his truck behind a locked gate with some kind of printed notice attached to the lock. Fool, few in the repo biz would let that stop them.

Laws vary but police attitudes are consistent. Going through a gate onto private property, in the moment, is criminal. Once the collateral is on a public street the police regard it as a civil matter. That saves them a ton of paperwork. As a courtesy to the police, you want to repo the vehicle with as few witnesses as possible.

My General Manager tasked me with retrieving a Ford Ranger. The buyer parked it in his back yard with a high wood fence. He had elaborate locks and chains securing the gate.

What to do? Pull the pins on the gate hinges, push the gate far enough open to drive the Ranger out to the street, and then beat feet.

Regretfully, we didn’t take time to put the pins back in the hinges.

As always, YMMV