Old Truck

Driving the medical courier route I occasionally see survivors like this old Willys pickup. Not sure of the year but guessing 1953-1954. I didn’t open the hood to see what engine it has but the rear window isn’t large and the turn signals are not O.E.M.

Prior to about 1956 small trucks weren’t required to have turn signals. I once owned a 1955 I.H. that didn’t have turn signals. Somewhere around 1955 Willys put in a much larger rear window.

Note it has cowl mounts for windshield wipers (missing) but has one, probably hand operated, wiper mount above the windshield on the drivers side.

A great uncle owned one and the summer I turned eleven I worked for him mowing hay. I drove his Willys out to the tractor with 5 gallon cans of gas and sharpened sickle bars. Regrettably, he decided I was strong enough to buck bales which ended my driving the Willys.

The truck is parked along US 26 in Torrington, WY. I pass it too early in the morning to make inquiries. I have no need for the truck and other things to spend mad money on but I do get a smile on my face when I drive by. 

1868 Police Blotter?

Cheyenne Leader
January 21, 1868
Three Men Hung near Dale City by Vigilantes
There is a story afloat here…that on yesterday morning, about four-o’clock, the Vigilantes visited Dale City, and made a “call” for Dillon—alias “Shorty,” and (illegible)…, and “gobbled” all three while still in bed, asleep. The men awoke soon after the arrival of the “vigies,” realizing the sense of their situation, and (could see) that the men in masks meant business. All three were quickly hung, but died game, making no disclosures of the tricks of their trade, nor implicating any of their confederates… This showed pluck, that’s all!
It is stated that all three of these men had been arrested by the police force of Dale City, and were held to bail on some charge by the Mayor. Obtaining bail, they then went on a drunk. They were caught off their guard, and were hung up. This is pretty rough, gambling with men’s lives. Let us not have too much of it.

Dale City was once the largest city in the area. Located between Buford and Tie Siding, it disappeared in a matter of weeks as the residents relocated to what is now Laramie, Wy. 

Pure Paranoid Speculation

This year’s flu season has been bad. Just in terms of pure speculation, is it random circumstances or deliberate?

Looking back, the 1918-1919 “Spanish” flu epidemic killed around  675,000 Americans, mainly otherwise healthy adults 20-45. Worldwide, the mortality rate was around 2.5% of those affected. The economic costs were staggering as whole communities became quarantined and commerce nearly halted.

The potential to weaponize  flu has been recognized.

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2003/07/influenza-virus-seen-possible-bioterrorism-weapon

Many bad actors worldwide can develop bioterrorism capability with far less costs than any nuclear or EMT capability. Who? Cuba, Venezuela, ISIS, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, or take your pick. All have motives for taking out the USA and/or the West.

These are obvious. What aren’t so obvious are what the globalists, the Deep State, George Soros, or others are willing to do. During the 1918-1919 epidemic wholesale suspensions of civil liberties and legal processes were suspended.

One small example.

http://chm.med.umich.edu/research/1918-influenza-escape-communities/gunnison/

This type of activity occurred all over the country, if not the world.

A pandemic would be a perfect opportunity for (P)regressives to achieve their goals. We must not forget  Rahm Emanual.

You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before. Rahm Emanuel

Oh, WSF, you are a paranoid old fool. Yes, I damn well hope I am.

President Trump's Appeal

President Trump seems to connect with people in a way we haven’t seen in recent years. Why?

My answer? He speaks his mind openly, no filter, and the rest of the political world speaks in focus group tested sound bites.

So what do you want? A straight forward position from an a often irritating person or smooth words that you want to hear but don’t trust?

The deplorable have already made their choice. 

Loathing

“It’s the economy, stupid”, former President Clinton’s advisor, James Carville  is credited with saying in formulating campaign strategy.

Jobs!  People need a job. Other than health, nothing is more important to most people. Not welfare, not a handout, but a bill paying, grocery buying job income.

 In one year President Trump has delivered on his promise. The economy is growing. Unemployment is dropping. True, the deficit is still growing. The growth has slowed and there is hope of paying it down in a growing economy.

The (P)regressive response? National blackmail. Dreamers and illegal immigrants are their “moral” high ground. Bullshit! They see this as a way to harm a sitting president they loath.

I see where Senator Eunuch (D) CO is saying one thing in Colorado while voting as Chucky Schumer tells him to vote. Big surprise, not.

While they posture, lives are at risk. One example near to me is Community Health Services. Please let me emphasize COMMUNITY. These exist because people from the community make them work. Funding is always an issue, to be sure, but the people who make them work are committed volunteers and health care professionals whose service is above self. They are in imminent danger of closing. The people served are the ones the (P)regressivs allegedly care for. Actions, not rhetoric, show their contempt.

Why, WSF, pick this example? On a selfish level, that is where I go for health care. Without it, I would be hard pressed to receive anything besides emergency care even though I have health insurance. 

To expand, I know the people who make it happen. My sister has devoted thirty years of her life, as a volunteer, to one. She receives, and has received over the years, zero financial reward. People like my sister are the true strength of this country and the fucking elites who muck about while people face death or financial ruin make me so furious I want…………….

There are thousands of other examples. Service organizations, fraternal organizations, religious organizations, etc., all contributing to a better life for their communities.

I should add I’m not applauding President Trump. He should have found a better way, the Art of The Deal if you will, to have averted this crisis.

Down the road, at the mid term elections, I hope accountability will prevail at the ballot box.

  

Winter Weather

Don’t like Colorado weather?  Just stick around awhile.

Last winter’s heavy snowfall, 160+ above median in many areas, is followed this year by less than half of median. Immediately impacted are the ski areas that can’t open because they have no snow. The many workers who depend on those jobs are hurting.

Along the Colorado Front Range it is worse, or better, your opinion may differ.

http://kdvr.com/2018/01/16/denver-in-its-3rd-least-snowy-season-to-date/

The last two summers have seen Wyoming staying green all summer. Doubt that happens in 2018.

In the mountain valleys winters are judged by the number of barbed wire strands covered. A “three wire” winter is normal. Last winter the posts were covered. This year is shaping up to be a “one wire” winter.

There will be far less winter kill of wildlife. Assuming adequate rainfall in the summer the deer herds should come back.

Low snow pack means low water come summer. Rivers become creeks and reservoirs start draining to water crops. Devastating to aquatic critters  and birds.

Nature’s cycles do provide opportunities for the climate change crowd to advance their various agendas. The planet is some 4-5 billion years old and homo sapiens have inhabited it for some 300,000 years. What impact a sub Corte of self serving “experts” will have on controlling planet change is laughable. I do agree we should, as a species, try not to foul our nests.

Forecast is for another weak storm today or tomorrow. Should make Monday’s route a pain. Small storm or major blizzard doesn’t make much difference in my job.  

Easy winter.

Bad Winter. 

 That is my youngest son with the shovel.  With his medical retirement from the Army, he is firmly planted in South Carolina. Wonder why?

Gone Legit?

In much of Colorado the worst thing to say about an elected official is they have “gone Denver”. Today I went through the process of meeting the state imposed legal requirements to do what I’ve been doing most of my adult life, carrying a concealed firearm. Wonder what that makes me?

I had taken the required safety class and had the certificate. The process at the Sheriff’s office was efficient and pleasant. Cost? $100. I simply walked in and went to the window. Another 45 minutes and I was on my way.

The process would have been faster except for fingerprints. While I haven’t worked my fingers to the bone, have worn down the whorls to the point they are hard to print. It took several tries with one thumb and my right ring finger by the deputy with twenty years of experience.

Weld County, CO is about as red as it gets. Contrast this with the next county South, Adams, where a three term Sheriff allowed 25 permit applications only per day, two days a week, first come, first served. This in a county with a population North of 600,000.

So why haven’t I done this after many years? Family members will say it is because I’m too cheap. They say that like it is a bad thing!

It pisses me off I need to ask/pay for something that is my natural born right, self defense.

Age plays a part. I don’t care to deal with the hassle of fighting the legal system. More so, at age 73, I’m coming to grips with being, in fact, an “at risk” senior.

Privacy concerns played a part. In reality, with all the interconnected data bases privacy is gone. Does anyone believe the FBI purges background check reports after a certain time limit as prescribed by law? They seem to flout any law they find inconvenient, don’t they?

“So, Mr. White, where is the .22 rifle you purchased from XXX and picked up from an FFL in Brighton, CO in 2xxx? You passed a background check then. Oh, and the 20 gauge shotgun from an auction picked up from the same FFL?”

In two to three weeks will have the credit card sized permit with my picture and details. That, and a diminished scofflaw status. Oh well, life goes on.