Tis the Season....

Happy Christmas to All......

What a great past few months this has been! So much exciting news, with the latest of the 14 billion "loan" to the Big 3. Please please please tell me that part of the "reorganization" has to be they tell the UAW to take a hike, but I really doubt it.

Anyway, the big buzz in The Valley this week has been the appointment of half of the Salazar Congressional clan, Ken, to the Secretary of the Interior. Andrew Ripemoff of facethestate.com summed it up pretty well. Here is an excerpt from the aritcle-

Why did the leader of the free world put a second rate attorney from Manassa in charge of our nation’s natural resources? The Presidential press conference was telling:
REPORTER #1 : Sir. Can you tell us why you chose Ken Salazar?
OBAMA: I’ve made it clear from day one that my cabinet would be made up of only the best and the brightest this country has to offer.
REPORTER #1 : So why did you make an exception?
OBAMA: I felt that he very clearly met the strict criteria I was looking for in an Interior secretary.
REPORTER #1 : How so?
OBAMA: He’s a Western Democrat with a pulse.
REPORTER #2: Mr. President-elect, what does the appointment of Mr. Salazar say about your commitment to diversity?
OBAMA: Well, hopefully it will make the Congressional Hispanic Caucus shut up for a while.

Just another example of the excellence we have to look forward to for the next four years.

On a lighter note, I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year! Make a good New Year's Resolution for me!

Post-Election Depression

For those who feel a little (or a lot) down in the dumps this day after elections, here's an article with a few tips.

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I actually googled this, I am really bummed today. It doesn't help when the "other side" is right there to celebrate (yeah, I would probably be the same way). I hope that the "messiah" can work the miracles he has promised (doubtful), so I guess I hope that my umbrella is big enough and can hold up for the shit storm that is bound to happen. For more outrage and scolding aimed at the GOP (therapy), I suggest Nel Boortz and/or IMAO .

Drilling takes center stage on Capitol Hill

Found this article on Panhandle Poet's blog this morning. From the Houston Chronicle, it talks about the energy bills being brought up in Congress. I loved this quote from the President-

"This is their final chance to take action before the November elections," Bush said. "If members of Congress do not support the American people at the gas pump, then they should not expect the American people to support them at the ballot box."

Too bad they are having to spend all their time bailing out the sub-prime lenders and their bad loans, now we'll have raised taxes and higher fuel prices.

More Head-Rattling

I feel guilty, I have been neglecting my little blog here. It's pretty sad when you start to rely on other people to convey your own thoughts. Plus doing that whole work thing, and lack of energy to do much in general other than what's required. Anyway, here are a few brain nuggets to ponder and/or laugh at.

• Yesterday, overheard a co-worker say to another co-worker "I have a blog now, how do I get people to see it?" (what a question!). Come to find out she also blogs "random stuff". I'm glad there is enough random stuff to go around.
• Heard a comment on the news this morning that the current economic snafu is just part of the seven year cycle of economic ups and downs. What was happening seven years ago? 9/11 and the instability of the aftermath. Makes you wonder.....
• G. Gordon Liddy had a excellent tribute to 9/11. I suggest finding it if you can. I will never forget standing there getting ready for work and watching the second plane and knowing things would never be the same. Let's hope we never forget.
• I actually had an "discussion" with a fellow office dweller when he had said that we need to "take from the rich and give to the poor". This whole "Robin Hood" mentality is getting out of control. Here's a point to ponder: What happens to the level of charitable funds being spent by Bill Gates, self-made gazillionaire, is forced to pay more taxes to support lazy welfare leeches? I wouldn't be so generous.
• In the same "discussion", the race card was pulled. Does anyone know how many of them are out there and where to get them, because as much as they are being and going to be used, they are going to be wearing out and need replaced. Maybe someone can make some money, but then they would just have to give it away. Gotta love socialism comrade.

Anyway, there should be enough there for some entertainment to hold you over. I am going to try and keep things going, there's going to be plenty to talk about in this election season. Later Days!

An open letter to those of you here for the DNC

A letter written by Colorado's Face The State welcoming the inflow of liberals to the rock show known as the DNC. Does a really good job summing things up.

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RNC organizers aggressively go green

Looks like Republicans are also taking steps to help the planet as well. It was nice to see, since all we in Colorado have been hearing about is Obamarama, and how "green" they claim to be, like claiming power for the convention will be supplied by a broken wind turban in Wray, and moving from the pepsi center to the huge investco field, or buying carbon credits to offset travel from their cronies.

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Saharan sun's solar power could provide Europe's electricity

Interesting concept, wonder if it's economically feasible, considering the infastructure for the plant itself as well as laying the cable to get the juice.

Speaking at the Euroscience Open Forum in Barcelona, Arnulf Jaeger-Walden of the European commission's Institute for Energy, said it would require the capture of just 0.3% of the light falling on the Sahara and Middle East deserts to meet all of Europe's energy needs.

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Sam The Farmer

Good read, I think pretty well sums up the predicament we have gotten ourselves into with importing more of our goods than we are producing.

What the story of a farmer who had a huge farm with plenty of valuable resources - but who wouldn't use it and instead bought his supplies from others - should teach us about our own role in the oil crisis. Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.

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Curry Wants Extra Protection After Bruce Remark

Apparently the Colorado State Representative who interupted a fellow Representative after he called illegal immigrants "illiterate peasants" fells she needs to be protected because of "threatening e-mails and phone messages" that are "off the charts."

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A follow-up to the first story in the previous blog. I'm thinking she's over reacting and the public is trying to make their voices heard. Bottom line, she'll be made out to be the victim, and the big scary public are going to get her. Maybe she should think twice before denying another person their first amendment rights.

An Illegal Immigration two-fer

Have you noticed that with the mud slinging between ol' Hil and Obama that we really haven't heard much about real issues? Guess they don't get the ratings, bummer. Here are two stories on immigration I found interesting.

1st Story- Saw the video yesterday, quite entertaining. Dunno if he helped make a point or give them an excuse to be against it.

Colorado State Representative Douglas Bruce was no longer recognized to speak in the Colorado legislature after he called Mexican workers “illiterate peasants.” Bruce is also know for kicking a photographer.

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2nd Story- I would like to see this followed up, I have the feeling they might find Americans would be happy to do the job that employers are hiring illegals to do.

Oklahoma's unemployment rate, which was a seasonally adjusted 4.3% and 4.4%, respectively, in September and October 2007, has fallen to a seasonally adjusted 3.1% in both February and March of this year.

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Censorship with your free Wi-Fi?

Ah, another "service" provided by DIA, makes Albuquerque's sound better and better.

Denver International Airport is the biggest in the world to offer free Wi-Fi. But now a Denver newspaper reports that the connection is censored. The airport actually blocks blogs like BoingBoing and other "potentially racy sites."

Here's anther case of unnecessary censorship. I like the fact they are claiming it's catching the "potentially racy sites" which translates to "Oh, somebody might get offended" sites. For a "free" service I'm sure the traveler is going to be charged for through raised airport fees, I think they should have the right to see whatever they want. I guess you still need to bring a book, since all you will be able to do on the internet is check e-mail, until they figure out that people send people "potentially racy" e-mails.


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Can Owlgore Be Wrong?

Here's an interesting interview from Fox and Friends via breitbart.tv from John Coleman, founder of the Weather Channel. He is accusing Al Gore of using global warning to fraud the public into buying carbon credits and making millions. I have always wondered about carbon credits and if they actually go towards reducing carbon emissions in other places than Al's mansion. Check out the video here.

John also made some disparaging comments about The Weather Channel and how they have moved away from reporting the weather. I have to agree with him, I watch for about 1-2 minutes in the morning just to see what their radar is saying, which I get just as much info looking out the window on my way to work. I think their resources would be better used to report the weather in more areas, such as Southern Colorado instead of lumping us in with Denver. But then again, it is the valley, "and no high-falutin' weather telling machine would never be able to figure out the weather here."

Ebay To Ban Negative Feedback Ratings

"Online auctioneer eBay plans to change its feedback system and ban sellers from leaving negative comments."

I don't do much on ebay anymore, but after this and all the spam e-mails I get after I bid, I'm wondering if the system is broken and not being able to leave negative feedback is going to open the floodgates for shifty sellers. I'm thinking that this will drop ebay's popularity and let someone like google to step in and take some of their thunder.

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Frank J's Democrat Debate Reaction

Pretty much sums up what's going to happen if the Dems get into the oval office, and how I am feeling about Barack and Hil.

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UPS saved 3 Million Gallons of Gas-- By Not Turning Left

I guess someone has to even out all the left turns NASCAR drivers make....

"Mapping out routes for its drivers, drastically reducing the number of left-hand turns they make helped the company shave 28.5 million miles off its delivery routes, which has resulted in savings of roughly three million gallons of gas and has reduced CO2 emissions by 31,000 metric tons."

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Weed it and Reap

Interesting commentary from yesterday's New York Times about the new Farm Bill that is coming up from approval. The Farm Bill is what dictates how the direction different Ag Agencies move (mine included). The big beef in the article is the argument against payments to farmers as subsidies, disaster payments and direct payments. I hope people took the time and read it, since agriculture affects everyone who eats in this country.

A Town That Only Has Water 3 Hours a Day in America

I saw this headline on the news this morning, they made it out to be some HUGE tragedy, I guess they needed global warming consipiracy fuel. An interesting read if you have a few minutes.

Mayor Tony Reames drives up to the community's towering water tank and releases the tank's meager water supply for a period of 3 hours.

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Glenn Beck Blames California Wildfires On The ‘Damn Environmentalists'

About time someone stands up against the crazy California fruits and nuts. And a CNN reporter too, he must be trying to get fired. Same thing happened in Tahoe this summer, dumb environmental laws prevented homeowners from defending their homes. Makes you feel bad about people's homes going up in flames, but when they do it to themselves, it's hard to feel sorry for them. Story goes as follows-

Last night, CNN Headline News host Glenn Beck blamed California’s massive wildfires on the “damn environmentalists” and their “bad environmental policies.” He also claimed that global warming has nothing to do with the situation, stating, “[I]f I hear global warming one more time, blood is going to shoot out of my eyes.”

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Nobel Committee Bypassed Holocaust Savior for Al Gore

Fresh from Boortz , (one of his reading assignments), A story about one of the 180 nominees that was up for the Nobel Peace Prize with Algore. Saving Jewish kids in the Holocaust isn't as important as a movie on "global warming"? See the story here, or first reading assignment on the Boortz page. As Rush said, "this just proves that the Nobel prizes have lost all their credibility." Even though I am not jewish, I salute you Irena Sendler for sacraficing your life to save 2,500 others.

Reply to "The Future Shape of Agriculture"

I was reading an article written by the Panhandle Poet on his blog, and decided to comment, and felt it would be best to take space on my blog and not his comment window. So click the link above, read the article entitled "The Future Shape of Agriculture", then read my comments-

Very well thought out written outlook of the food and fiber industry. Here are some more points to consider:

*Water is going to become very expensive, whether it's the rights to use the water or the process to filter water to make it potable. I read an interview with T. Boone Pickens, a oil tycoon, and he stated that he is starting to buy up property just for the access to aquifers, because water will be the next oil. There's already a push for agriculture producers to contribute as much water to as they take out, either by building recharge pits, or buying water credits.

*I am for these urban "rooftop" farms, this would take some of the a little pressure off of farmers for supply, but also it will give urbanites an idea of where their food comes from. Educating their consumers is one of the problems agriculture faces, people thinking their food comes from warehouses and factories. I think people are starting to take more interest in their food, and being only feet from the farm instead of miles is better for everyone.

*There is going to need to be a large amount of capital needed to make agriculture sustainable. All of the technologies talked about here still need quite a bit of tweeking before they become effective. The only two sources of income coming in to an Agriculture Production is from product (food and fiber), or federal (taxes)and non-federal assistance. I think America's history of low food prices is coming to the end. I think there is an emerging market for local products, especially with the focus on CO2 emissions and cost of transportation.

Anyway, to sum things up, I think it's going to be an interesting time to be in Agriculture. I think that there will be more focus on "wise use" (definition of Conservation), and the 3 R's (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle). The technology coming out will be interesting, and a whole lot of paradigms will be changed.


Stay Tuned.