Chaos and Confusion

 

President Trump

Am I enjoying what is happening? Damn right I am. Will some of what he will do piss me off? Undoubtedly. There is always a human cost that will be borne by people, both innocent and guilty; their children as jobs are lost and lifestyles disrupted. Anyone who has ever been kicked to the curb, for any reason, can remember the anger and despair that follows. Therefore, I will not be gloating.

Wolves

Sheesh, WSF, don’t you ever get tired about harping about wolves. Nope. You can follow the links or skip over, your choice.

Bison

Tourists.

What, a government agency hiding information the public should know?

Shut up, Sheeple

And the fight goes on.

And she has big boobs

Immigration Wars

Denver and other Colorado cities are resisting.

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I don’t have a problem with this. While not agreeing with them, I keep in mind Civil Rights Lawyer John H. Bryan’s admonishment, “My rights don’t end where your fears begin. Freedom is scary, deal with it.”

I respect people who will put their asses on the line even when I loathe what they stand for. I really dislike those who stay on the sidelines and bitch and moan.

Climate Change “News”

How do we tax this?

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Wait! Here is a new need.

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 Taxes, takes, taxes! More taxes!

DEI Sarcasm

 Prime Time

Wal-Mart

A place seldom visited by WSF. Now there is another reason.

Backing (P)regressive content providers.

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WSF, isn’t it time for you to take your meds?

 As always, YMMV

Trump Won. Lawyer Up

 

Oh Shit, Trump is Coming

The Hatch Act, a federal law passed in 1939, limits certain political activities of federal employees, as well as some state, D.C., and local government employees who work in connection with federally funded programs. ​The law’s purposes are to ensure that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion, to protect federal employees from political coercion in the workplace, and to ensure that federal employees are advanced based on merit and not based on political affiliation.​​​​ ​​

This is still on the books. Trump, and whoever he puts in charge, will use it to weed out corrupt federal employees. Pass the popcorn.

Petard, (P)regressive, hoisted upon their own

Every since Shillary supposedly received 2.9 million votes more than Trump in 2016, the (P)regressives have been pushing the idea that each state pledge to give their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. That, along with the influx of hordes of illegal immigrants voting should guarantee they will hold power forever. Oops! President Trump won the national popular vote.

National popular vote

The National Popular Vote Compact has been enacted into law by 17 states and the District of Columbia, including 5 small states (DE, HI, ME, RI, VT), 9 medium-sized states (CO, CT, MD, MA, MN, NJ, NM, OR, WA), and 3 big states (CA, IL, NY). These jurisdictions have 209 of the 270 electoral votes needed to activate the law.

 Harris won 15 of those states. How many, including Colorado, will send the Electors pledged to Trump to the Electoral College?

Answer. Probably none, as the law hasn’t been activated

Righteous Shooting

The county deputy won. For those that think Wyoming is a “shoot’em up state”, a complete reading of the article will show self defense in Wyoming is somewhat complicated.

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The Sky is Still Falling

It is settled science. Also, need to keep the money flowing to establish more settled science.

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As Always, YMMV

Stirring the Pot

 

Self Defense Shooting? Expect bad after action situations

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Even elderly residents in 2^nd Amendment friendly Wyoming aren’t immune from heavy handed police and prosecutors.

This one is for LL, Virtual Mirage, who likes to poke the bear

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Banner’s Posse

He now has three ladies in our building offering to host him while I exercise at the recreation center. One makes him homemade dog treats. Four ladies and one gentleman routinely provide him with treats. One scatters treats along the 3^rd floor hall for him to find. 

A larger number of residents and visitors take an opportunity to give him petting and praising him as, “a good boy”. As we make our rounds, they call out, “It’s Banner! And Frank”.

Union Pacific #4014 Big Boy

The Fall Tour details have been released. Many in the Central Time Zone will have an opportunity to see and/or visit the largest operating steam engine in North America. Emphasis on “operating”.

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Something that annoys me for no good reason is people who call the Big Boys “the world’s largest, blah, blah, blah”. They are among the largest ever built and, arguably, the most successful for their intended purpose. They are not the largest in North America and the rest of the world.

They were designed to haul large trains from Cheyenne to Ogden and back. Westbound from Cheyenne they need to climb from 6,000’ ASL at Cheyenne to 8,000’ ASL in approximately 30 miles over Sherman Summit then operate at high speed (by the standards of the day) across  Wyoming to Evanston.

From Ogden at 4,300’ ASL to Evanston at 6,750’ASL they needed to navigate two narrow canyons for about 70 miles. They were purpose built for the curves on the route they ran and were not suited for other railroads. ALCO built other large steam engines for other railroads whose needs were different.

Interstate 84 runs beside the UP tracks from Ogden to Evanston.

Wyoming has vast quantities of coal and the Union Pacific owns a lot of the deposits. At one time they used coal to power turbine engines. These proved to be high maintenance and were so loud you could hear one many miles away.

Economy + Voting

Every day the “news” has stories of restaurant chains going out of business or drastically scaling back. Banks closing branches. Pharmacies closing or scaling back. Household names like Avon going out of business. Southwest Airlines pulling out of smaller markets. The bad news goes on and on. COVID hangover is usually cited by the American Mainstream Maggots (h/t BZ). Certainly the reckless Biden Administration and Congressional (P)regressives aren’t at fault, right?

Question. All the employees, franchise owners, and others affected will still vote Democrat, if they bother to vote at all, right?

Question for Virtual Mirage

Will the financial structure under Harris/Walz 4^th Obama term be able to fund construction of reeducation camps? Will dogs be allowed? Are we doomed to exist in military surplus tents ala Joe Arpaio? Will we be forced to live with the current horde of “unhoused”?

For everyone else, think it can’t happen?

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Ying and Yang? Exercise

Starting in mid May I started and exercise and diet program to drop weight and increase mobility. Result? Gained weight. My mind says go, the 80 year old carcass it inhabits is saying, “fuck you, I’m retired”. With all that I’m not giving up but am rethinking my approach. For this week at least, I’m giving the carcass a rest.

Another epic Wyoming drunk driver

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Climate Change

A nearly one hour You Tube video that lays out inconvenient facts about climate change.

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Enough stirring. As always, YMMV

Ignored Colorado

 

When many people think of Colorado they envision 14,000’ mountains, deep canyons, and skiing. What they don’t realize half the state lies east of the mountains and is mainly high plains. There is much to see but you need to make an effort. The mountains are in your face.

Between my years in the car biz and my present work, I’ve spent a lot of time and driven a lot of miles in the plains.

The people are a hardy lot; they need to be. Many are of German, Mexican, Germans from Russia, and Slovak descent. They are Trump supporters and the (P)regressive and trust fund snots try to ignore them.

Rural Yard Art

What is slimeball Bill Gates up to now?

Are the environazis changing their view on nuclear energy? Looking for another public stranglehold?

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Environazis, Colorado chapter, want a “conversation” about gas and oil

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My guess is many people in Colorado are tired of their posturing and they are losing popular support (and donors, especially donors). Solution? Bitch louder.

Visiting Colorado in the near future? Be prepared, those all season tires won’t get you anywhere but stuck.

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New ways Climate Change will kill us, infectious diseases.

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Isn’t it more rational to recognize the climate will always be changing and to prepare for the change.

Can’t drive for shit club meeting

Pass by this body shop most Sunday mornings. There is usually double the number of cars parked across the street Sunday mornings.

Guardian dogs

Old friends are Routt County ranchers. In their late seventies, they still  do ranch work but are leaving more and more to their son who is now the 4^th generation rancher on a 100+ year old ranch. Several years ago they started using livestock guardian dogs.

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My knowledge of livestock dogs ends with border collies.

They have preserved their ranch against the trust fund snots invasion but are surrounded by recreationists of all stripes, hence their efforts to possibly educate people.

 My friends assure me that a .30-.06 round three inches over interloper heads is no longer acceptable.

 As always, YMMV

A Banner Year

A Banner Year.

Pets add so much to our lives and sharing him with my neighbors gives all a warm fuzzy feeling (excepting the haters – fuck’em).

Not Sure What I Think of This – Political Polarization

Is the subject being studied out of scientific curiosity or a means of thought control? Benign or dangerous?

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Climate Change vs Reality

Forest management duplicating natural processes isn’t the way to go?

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Worked for eons and can work again.

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Natives often set fire to prairies to encourage the re-growth of vegetation preferred by Bison (ok, Buffalo). Sagebrush competes with grasses for water. In areas where sagebrush is eliminated, grasses will grow belly deep to a horse.

Amen, Brother

Iran gets Bit in the Ass – No Gasoline

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Coming soon to America? How internet integrated are our gas stations? In reality, our whole infrastructure may be vulnerable. Supermarkets, anyone?

Bottom Line First vs Clickbait – A Rant

YouTube Videos are something I like to watch but get pissed off and stop watching many, quickly.

In business management we wanted to hear the bottom line first and details later as needed, i.e, get to the fucking point!

Far too many of these videos start with subjects that interests me. What follows is two minutes of the poster droning on and on without getting near the point. Quickly, I’m gone. That probably doesn’t enhance the algorithms. Asking me to subscribe, hit the notification button, etc. isn’t the issue. Wasting my time by not getting to the point is an issue. Sheesh, wonder how many reading this blog feel the same about the author?

Stefan Soloview – the Anti-Elite

The billionaire son of a New York mogul is impacting agriculture in Colorado and Kansas. The opposite of Bill Gates, he gets his hands dirty. A long article about him and his endeavors.

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He resurrected a 122 mile section of railroad successfully and once tried to buy the dormant Tennessee Pass route from the Union Pacific to the horror of the Colorado trust fund snots. Gasp! Coal trains along the Arkansas and Eagle Rivers again???

Tennessee Pass

For those interested here is an hour long video about the last active trains when the Union Pacific closed the route in 1997. You get to see most of the route during the presentation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4WGDDxWl8w&ab_channel=CVisionProductions

Affluence

As opposed to riches, affluence, for me, means paying bills without having to wait for a check, or paycheck, to have enough in the checking account to cover the bill. While not a “prepper”, when I see things I use or consume all the time on sale, I buy weeks worth because I can.

Working most of my life on commission, I had a tight budget. Any month I made more than the ‘budget’, that surplus went into savings. My goal was to have six months ahead.  The lean months then were not stressful as I could draw down some savings. My last car payment was in 1984.  

When you are among the top producers and you are not living check to check, that gives you an edge dealing with bean counters and greedy managers.

Like most folks, unexpected expenses happened. Medical bills, children’s DUI’s, and terminating grandchildren’s birth mother’s parenting rights for example. Doing so without accruing huge debt was a stress reducer.

Was I right in helping my one son with his DUI’s? 

He is still alive, now several years sober, and a productive citizen. He put in the hard work to turn his life around, divest himself of bad companions, and ending a bad marriage.

My only accomplishment parenting may be sons who are financially disciplined.

More Local Rare Earth News

Better, faster, cheaper extraction method with wide potential for other minerals.

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Colorado Politics, Lauren Bobert Edition

The Congresswoman the trust funds snots love to hate gives them the middle finger, choosing to run in another District.

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I’ve always rather liked her as a person. A small town Western Slope resident, knocked up in high school, and a hard worker who raised herself up from her humble beginnings, she is someone to admire even if you disagree with her politics. Plus, I never got sick (or shot) eating in her restaurant.

The open seat being vacated by Loyal Opposition RINO Ken Buck isn’t likely to go (P)regressive. How the voters in the district will view her I can’t forecast. Pass the popcorn.

Hamas War

This isn’t my first post recommending this YouTube Channel. Think the polar opposite of American Media Maggots (h/t BZ) reporting. This is from the grunts point of view. Also, noted are the number of Israeli Generals who have died. Leading from the front gets my respect.

https://www.youtube.com/@TBNIsrael

Best wishes to one and all. May 2024 be a high point in your lives.

As always, YMMV

Umbrage Button Pushed.

 

 Conspiracy Nut

Among other duties, Colorado County Clerk and Recorders conduct elections. While this particular one may be a taco short of a combination plate, her duty was to insure an honest election. Her method displeased the (P)regressive cabal and they have MADE AN EXAMPLE of her as an example for the other sixty three County Clerk and Recorders in the state. She hasn’t gone quietly into the night.

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As per American Media Maggot s.o.p., we find “false conspiracy theories” early in the article.

 AAA SAID PROPERLY INFLATED TIRES CAN SAVE 3 CENTS PER GALLON. I SAY PROPERLY COUNTED BALLOTS CAN SAVE $3 PER GALLON.

Colorado Special Legislative Session

As expected, another (P)regressive assault on TABOR. Chaos, i.e. SNAFU.

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Not to be outdone, the RINOs chime in. 

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UPDATE. Seems something got passed. Republicans voted nay, (P)regressives aye, and the mess will soon be on Emperor Polis’ desk to be signed.

Money to be made? China to be pissed off?

The country has ample deposits of rare earths, lithium, cobalt and petroleum. Developing the resources is a political problem. Maybe a part answer to the problem is here.

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So, as usual, WSF goes contrary. The ‘tree hugger’ environmentalist’s crowds are not without a valid point of view. Tour the Colorado Gold Belt areas some summer and see the huge amounts of waste left behind when the mines played out. See the sludge oozing out and contaminating watersheds. Travel any old oil fields, big or small, anywhere in the country and see old wells abandoned but still leaking methane. As a species we are terrible polluters.

So glad to be retired from retail vehicle sales

Seems dealer inventories are high and sales slow. Dealerships are cash flow machines. Cash flows one way or the other. In simple terms the dealer receives a vehicle and starts making payments, usually 10% of the cost, after thirty days. Each month thereafter, another “curtailment”, i.e payment which escalates until the 120^th day when the dealer pays the manufacturer in total. When the dealer sells the vehicle within thirty days, the profit margin is huge. After 90-120 days the dealer costs mount and the cash flow is negative. Obviously, there are many variations in ‘floor plans’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koHiD-U4BD4&ab_channel=CarEdge

A savvy buyer can make a better deal on a vehicle the dealer has had in inventory a long time. There is no exact way to know this. However, at the bottom of the ‘window sticker’ you should be able to locate the month and year of manufacture. Inside the drivers door are placards showing weights and other information along with the month and date the vehicle was built.

Almost all big ticket items (boats, Rvs, farm equipment, etc.) will be on a floor plan.

 Here we go again, Climate Change edition. (Hold on to your wallets)

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Elections

Jungle system used in some states, like Louisiana. I would rather see efforts toward honest elections but that is a pipe dream. Any opinions on this type of elections?

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Freak of Nature?

I haven’t had a flu shot in ten years, or any COVID poison, and haven’t gotten sick. Seems I’m not alone and there may be a reason.

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Cue Sisty. “You are a freak”.

 As always, YMMV

Hypocrisy, Writ Large

 

Al Gore, John Kerry, et al

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Of course, the wealthy are justified as they do so much to insure the well being of the world and they must continue their work.

What is unusual is for them to be called out by environazis.

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Careful, biting the hand that feeds you may cause you to need a real job.

Cutting out the Middleman Pawn Shop

Want to bet thieves have already found ways to defeat whatever safe guards these machines employ?

Yes, not much of a blog. Others bloggers have done a better job writing on topics that frost the family jewels, you should read them. Besides, it is only Monday.

As always, YMMV

Angry, Yes! Anyone Care? No

 

My neighbor down the hall was a successful businessman until diabetes and heart problems crippled him. His stated position now is he no longer cares what happens in the world. “Fuck it” is his motto. Then some event or government action sets him off and he starts bloviating.

“Tom”, I say. “You keep saying you don’t care”

That prompts a glare and one or two suggestions for me  that would be very uncomfortable indeed.

More and more I find myself in agreement. The blatant criminality at all levels is out front; the bastards don’t even try to hide it. Maybe that is the master plan. So overwhelm us we quit caring.

Banner’s response.

So, less blogging. A couple of things tweaked my interest.

Green Wet Dream 

It is only money.

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Oh, the virtue signaling! Did the Colorado Legislator pass funding for this boondoggle? How many apartment fires will result from faulty battery fires, especially frozen batteries?

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Riding in the winter? As someone whose sole transportation was a motorcycle for two years, college years, I can attest that Colorado winters are a challenge.

From the (P)gressive point of view, this will help keep Colorado blue.

Yet, Banner might enjoy riding on the back.

Gaia Shrugs

Paychecks matter.

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OK, University of Colorado, keep your funding coming by reaching “settled science” conclusions that the funders expect.

As always, YMMV