Don't bug me when I'm eating

It’s a tough world.  The challenges of the new job are formidable but I’m still liking it very much.  Having worked for one man for 17 years and having free reign on almost everything I did, it’s a challenge to have, well, rules.  I don’t mind the rules it’s just that there are a lot of them and no real manual.  Still the cooperation I’m getting when I need it is good and helping me to succeed. 

I drive to Williston, ND every other week.  475 miles one way and I only cross one state line. The crew here is in the same boat as I am. They are all new Titan employees as this location only opened in January.  The entire staff is great and they give my all the help I ask for.  There is also a former ABC employee here so that is a tremendous help as well.  All in all, good things.

Like sand through the hourglass

What a great week.  I don't have to go anywhere.  For the first time in three weeks I get to spend every night in my own bed.  The temperaturer finally broke 80.  I got to wear shorts playing golf.  I had a letter to the editor printed (making me 10 for 11 letters printed vs submitted).  But here's the highlight.  You all know how much Malta means to me and how great my friends are.  Two weeks from now, I will be attending my high school 30th class reunion. I know that you are all shocked that, given the maturity of my posts, I've been out of school that long, but it's true.  Last night, the reunion committee called.  They were having trouble coming up with a keynote speaker and someone suggest having me get up and talk.  I told them I would do it if they couldn't find anyone else and this morning my agent said I was booked. 

I'm not gonna lie.  I'm thrilled to be able to stand in front of all these great people and tell them my take on Malta, life and our great class.  I will be working hard to put it together and keep it under two hours.

After the jump you can read the op-ed by dipshit John Baden that fired me up to write my letter to the ed.  I hope you all enjoy it.

The pre-Superbowl interview

During the interview with Barry and Bill O'Reilly yesterday, O'Reilly asked the president something to the effect of "what don't you like about being president?" To which Obama responded that he didn't like how he was always under the microscope.  He couldn't just go out and and go to dinner, you know that sort of thing.

Really B. Hussein?  You really don't like alll of the attention?  I've been following the presidency since Jimmy Carter and I've never seen a president more in love with himself than you.  You go to burger joints and shut down complete areas of downtown.  You go to NYC to take your wife to a play and shut down airspace for over eight hours.  These are but two that  come to immediately to mind.  When you always want to be in the limelight, when you spend every waking moment seeking it or figuring out how you can get in it, don't complain.  Even for you it's unbecoming.  No wait, it's exactly what I expect.

If you didn't want to be on television, then decline the interview.  If you're going to be on television put on a tie.  Oh, and don't think for a minute I don't know you're coloring your hair.  Its way less gray than it was after the November elections.  Does Carly Simon know you're living her song?

A little smorgassbord.

Here are some links you may find enjoyable.

First, from Kissing Suzy Kolber here is  a nice bit of sarcasm from one of the guys pretending to be Jason Whitlock.  The jurty is still out for me with Whitlock.  I used to watch him on ESPN's Sports Reporters back in the day and liked him on that.  He always put Frodo Mike Lupica in his place.  His articles can be edgy but like all journalists he can fall in love with the sound of his own voice or keyboard as it were.  I'm so glad I'm not like that. Humility, it's my middle name. You can read an actual Whitlock here.  The guys at KSK are very funny but they're writing is rated "R".  You've been warned.

Marc Faber, telling it like it is.

This is Swiss economist Marc Faber.  This clip is 11 minutes long but very much worth your time.  It frightens me for our economic future.

The Great American Land Grab. Part One - The Wilderness

And so it begins.

On December 23, 2010 Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced plans "to reverse a Bush era policy and make millions of undeveloped acres of land once again eligible for federal wilderness protection." ( Bozeman Daily Chronicle 12/24/10). Secretary Salazar and Interior Department Management will review some 220 million acres to possibly designate as wilderness. This is an area larger than the entire state of Texas . However this only the beginning.

Secretary Salazar has clearly stated he will designate certain areas as "Wild Lands". The term "Wild Lands" has not been officially defined by the Interior Department or Congress. Because “Wild Lands” is not defined, it allows Secretary Salazar and BLM Director Bob Abbey to use their discretion to define areas within the 220 million acres as off-limits to any activities they disagree with. These activities will include on and off-road mechanized travel, livestock grazing, and placing any gas and oil exploration completely off-limits. The current administration's relationship with the environmental lobby certainly supports the restrictions of these types of activities.

Where's my abacus?

Let me see if I have this straight.  Adding a trillion dollar entitlement program to the national coifers will lower the national debt while repealing it will add to the national debt.  Repealing health care will make Medicare costs increase even though part of the money to fund health care was supposed to come from Medicare waste.  So how will it go into debt if there is all of this waste?  How can not funding a government entitlement program that isn't in existence yet add to the debt?  Why is this the only bill in the last 50 years for which we were going to be taxed for two years before it goes into effect?

Strange times indeed.

Krayton Kerns, DVM

I started working on a ranch in south Phillips County when I was 12.  It's a long story of how I ended up there and maybe someday I'll tell it. I spent every summer there from that time until I graduated from high school.  I've since been "adpoted" by them as their third son.  It's how they introduce me to people I don't know and I do the same for them.  They are my parents and I call them Pop and Mother.  Pop and my own Dad were the best of friends so the history is long and happy.

Anyway, Pop and Mother's youngest daughter is currently renting a spare room from me.  She was in need of a place and though I didn't particularly care to have a roommate, there was no way I was going to turn her out.  Her mom and dad are happy that one of her big brother's is around to take care of her.
When I go to Malta, I almost always spend all or part of a day at the ranch.  It is my home. It's where I want to be buried. The folks get a publication called the Western Ag Reporter.  I will usually give it quick read and go back to talking politics and baseball with Pop. 

This year, I've asked mother on a couple of occasions to make me copies or send me articles from the Western Ag that I read when I was home and wanted to keep on file as I begin my assault on the environmental movement.  She must have tired of it because she bought me a subscription for Christmas.

This week's issue had a great article by a guy named Krayton Kerns. It was a great read so I linked it here for you.  Check out his home page as well.  He seems very malconted and would fit in well.

A New Year, a new mission.

Well, I missed most of the New Year's Party at Boxer's. I read lots of comments and looks like it was a great time. I was having a hell of a time trying to post. I'm assuming it was the the amount of traffic and blogger couldn't handle it as the rest of the net seemed to be working fine on my end.  Great job to all and it looks like Boxer raised some awesome money for her charity. I had a great year and need to fulfill my New Year's pledges as well. 

Meanwhile in the real world.  Montana's own 300 pound ball of lard Senator Jon Tester is trying to introduce a bill entitled "The Forest Jobs and Recreation Act".  Senator Tester ran as a moderate but was largely backed with out of state (read "California") money and is now trying to pay back the envrironmental lobby for their efforts.  In a nutshell, this bill will close thousands of acres of public land currently being used by a number of different recreationists and designate it wilderness.  Much of it will not even be able to be accessed by horseback.

It's called "incrementalization"

Our federal government is attempting to pull off one of the largest land grabs in history. Using the Anitquities Act the environmental whackos want to have a wildlife corridor  from the Missouri River north to Canada.  I'll post more on this in the weeks to come but take a look at the map.  The blue lines indicate what the enviro-Nazi's envision as a "vast natural wilderness".  Buffalo, wolves, etc. It's the usual bullshit.  Problem is that over 1/2 the land in the corridor is privately held.  It's going to be a sticky situation.  Worst of all is that it will engulf the ranch I grew up on, many of the people I grew up with as well as my beloved Malta.  Stay tuned.

"Over the last four decades, federal land holding increased 6 percent.  29.6 percent of all land in America is owned by the federal government (671,759,297.7 total acres). Only 2.4 percent of federal land in the U.S. is used for military purposes, and more than 5.1 million acres of federal land are classified as 'vacant' with no definable purpose."- General Services Administration, April 2004 as publish in the Fall 2005 edition of Range magazine.

Because this was really, really important.

While our country fights a war against terrorism, a war I might add that liberals do not want us to win, it was a high priority to make sure that openly gay men were allowed to serve.  Unlike most liberals and definately unlike the chain smoking former coke addict President, I actually know people who have served in the military.  I know Korean vets,Vietnam vets, Desert Storm vets, vets from the current conflict and not one of them that I've asked has been in favor.  As a matter of fact, each person I've asked is adamantly opposed.  It's odd to me that with everything going on in the country and the world, that this was such a priority.  I can hardly wait for the lawsuits to come against the military when some twinkle toes gets his feelings hurt by a drill sargeant in basic.

Here's something to think about though.  If straight men are supposed to be "OK" with showering and serving with openly gay men, why can't we put women, straight men, and gays all together. If straight men are supposed to accept being in barracks with gays, shouldn't women have to shower, etc with straight men. Isn't that what "equality" really is?  Think of all the money it would save in operation costs. 

How hard is to get a journalism degree?

I hate the media.  Make no mistakes about it.  If Katie Couric was on a plane with Keith Olberman and it went down, let's just say I'm not volunteering to join the search and rescue party. They tow the liberal line lock, stock and barrel and you need to look no further than the current "tax cut" bill as proof.

When this bill was passed over 8 years ago, it was, and has been since, protrayed as a tax cut "for the rich". Even though it was across the board.  I knew this.  Anyone with an IQ bigger than my average golf score knew this but in the press it was always a tax cut for the rich.  Fast forward to six months ago.  The tax policy passed by GWB with biparitisan support is set to change at years end and guess what?  We find out that EVERYONE'S taxes are going up and not by a little bit. Really? 

Here's more great journalism.  President Teleprompter campaigned on repealing this law.  I've heard over a dozen soundbites from the campaign trail about "repealing the Bush tax cuts."  Now, after the ass kicking the libtards took in November he is singing a different tune.  The exact opposite in fact.  We need to extend this program for "middle America". The press is not taking him to task for it.  They act like it never happened.

Random thoughts #24

Things that crossed my mind while wondering why life has been so good to me.

#1. I find myself saying "dude" a lot more than I used to and it sucks.

#2. Andie MacDowell is getting better looking with age. Not that she is that great  of an actress, but hot, yes she is.

#3. "Human Target" is the best show you aren't watching. Mark Valley is the star. A West Point graduate and a Desert Storm vet. The show is fun, exciting and good entertainment. Indira Varma is hotter than doughnut grease.

Random thoughts about the election and American scene.

Had a couple of drinks with my friend Jon at The Mint here in Belgrade.  Our waitress/bartender has a husband who has served two tours in Iraq.   Jon asked to borrow $60 bucks from me as he was out of cash. I didn't ask why.  He's good for it.  He says " I'm going to buy her and her husband dinner for his service."  I told him I was in for half.  She was very touched.  Even better news.  She said she'd been offered a position at The Grantree where I stop every Friday.  Jessica, I look forward to seeing you there and thanks to your husband Nate for his service. 

Things that crossed my mind while wondering how Barry and the media don't get it.

Time to save the U.S.A.

Don't forget to vote today.  It's not too late to save us from the path to serfdom that Mullah President Obama has us on.  Vote early and often.

Some reading while I recover

Here are a few links I thought you would enjoy while I get caught up on my sleep and work.  Made a mad dash to St. Louis to watch the Rams put a little beat down on the Chargers.  Left Saturday at 5:30 AM and landed in St. Louis at 3 PM.  Beers, Crowns, sleep, breakfast, beers, then victory beers, dinner, sleep then leaving the hotel to catch a plane at 6 AM yesterday.  Good times though.    Rams won 20-17.  Sam Bradford looked pretty darn good.  Steven Jackson was THE MAN at the end of the game and the D put whiny ass punk Phillip Rivers on his back 7 times.

Global warming is a scam. Always has been, always will be.

Liberals are just a bunch of lying mofo's.  From health care, to the stimulus, to global warming.  Just read this and then try to argue.  Hussein Obama just hates America and will try to destroy us through Cap and Trade. C'mon November 2nd.

The slippery slope of the stimulus

The liberals insisted on borrowing a trillion dollars to "stimulate" the economy. They used 1/2 the money they borrowed. Most of it kept government and union jobs safe. The other 1/2 has yet to be spent. Now our  Chairman Mao Barry wants to borrow ANOTHER 50 billion for infrastructure repair. What's the matter with taking it out of the money you haven't spent?  What happened to those "shovel ready jobs"?  Honestly, have we ever had a less capable leader?

A trillion is a lot. It's 12 zeros.  We have 300 million people in the US. According to the latest figures on Wiki, 73% of Americans make less than $70K annually.  If we had given each person below $75K the stimulus money and told them they could spend it without paying it back, it would have stimulated the economy big time.  That's $4,500.00  for every man, woman and child.  A family of four would have received $18,000.00. We would have received a far better return on our money than saving the job of some teacher. 

The US Government, solving your problems since 2009

My brother sent this to me this morning. No link just a cut and paste job but it's good reading.

Now read this........

Date: Monday, October 4, 2010, 8:44 AM

Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said, "Someone may steal from it at night." So they created a night watchman position and hired a person for the job. Then Congress said, "How does the watchman do his job without instruction?" So they created a planningdepartment and hired two people, one person to write the instructions, and one person to do time studies.

Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?" So they created a Quality Control department and hired two people. One to do the studies and one to write the reports.

Random Thoughts #22

After a 13 1/2 hour day which did include a couple of good leads and a 520 mile stint behind the wheel, I'm safe and sound here at COTR headquarters.  No work for the rest of the week.  I've poured myself a nice glass of Crown Black and think some blogging is in order.

Sad news from the Center of the Universe.  An early morning fire broke out in Malta and took out a building on Front Street destroying five businesses.  As of this writing, there are no reports of injury which of course is great. The building can be replaced but the lives affected makes my heart heavy.  Saddest of all is that the building housed the local weekly paper, the Phillips County News.  I'm very saddened at the fact that over 100 years of archives were probably lost.  It's Malta.  While I'm sure that many years are on disc or stored electronically somewhere, I have no doubts that many original copies of the PCN are gone forever.  I'll update more when I have more information.

Things that crossed my mind while wondering how the Bobcats will stop Taiwan Jones this weekend.

When GW passed the tax cuts in 2003, liberals complained that they only benefitted the rich.  Now we see that everyone got a tax cut and that if these cuts expire, people making $50,000.00 a year will see their taxes go up $2,900.00 annually.  That's $241.66 that will come out of their paychecks every month. I guess to the liberals, a family making 50k a year is rich. 

I need to get all the gibberish on my digital recorder put into writing.  I have the history of the first seven LBOH's recorded.  Trouble is that I don't have any more room until I have them transcribed.  Biggest problem is that when I'm driving down the road I have great random thoughts and when I sit down at my computer I can't remember any of them.  It sucks getting old.