text:
Feature Story-
-The Wolf Tree
-Collectivism Vs Individualism: The Critical Wolf Issue
-The Dirty Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007
-More Anti-Hunting Lies
-NAIS and Property Rights, A Poll
-Truckin' Penguins
-Wireless History
Feature Organizations/Sites-
-Americans for Responsible Recreational Access
-The Gardner Files
Welcome to the second edition of the Voices From the Rural American West monthly newsletter. I am pleased to be bringing a new writer to you as well as returning with a few familiar folks with new works I know you will enjoy and gain from as I have. We bring you wolves, politics, environmental issues, recreational access and hunting along with some humor- and in this edition- a feature organization and feature website we feel represent some of what we are about here at VFRAW. A thank you goes out from me to our contributing writers who make this possible and offer great insight and food for thought.
Erin Miller
The Wolf Tree
By Greg Farber
Early 2001: My father dropped me off with my pack at the Bear River inlet at the North Fork of the Boise River, and we agree to meet in three weeks at Ten-Mile Creek on the Payette River. My plan was to climb the Bear River drainage and cross Goat Mountain making my way to Johnson creek and slip into an unnamed lake for some rainbows and solitude. As I watched him drive off, the dust settled and all is quiet except for the breeze, singing birds, and the slow bubbling waters where these two rivers collide. I shouldered the 55 pound pack and stepped off the road onto the Bear River trail starting my hike up the canyon. Flies buzzed me, grasshoppers flitted about, and chipmunks zipped and twisted like lunatics in impossible escapes, making like the jaws of death are just behind them snapping at their tails.
I set my pace, using the walking poles to balance and move like a cat, wanting to take advantage of the coolness and make some miles. I should have seen the omen in the chipmunks hurried flights, but everything was so full of life that I looked up canyon eagerly at the curve ahead of me which I could not yet see around. I had no thoughts of the intricate web of the hunter and hunted, being used to the top of the food chain during my stay here. I confidently looked around at the beauty of this place and looked into those openings made by snow slides which were rich with greenery and thickened between the tall yellow pines, long wisps of moss hangs from them, the buck brush grows taller than me. It is the jungle.
The river talked louder as I moved a few miles into the canyon, having just turned south east as I made my way around the first curve of the canyon. The trail is a highway of fresh tracks and I read the story as I walked along following one after another, sometimes stopping to investigate where one went off to water, or to the mountain and their hide out. Another couple miles goes by, I was buzzing with things seen and heard. The air was heavy with spring and the scent of animals. Everywhere I looked, a branch bent or whipped skyward as birds came and went. The forest is incredible and looks like a sea of deep, deep green, I feel like I can dive into it, it is brilliant.
I did not see the Red Tailed Hawk until I was almost to my first camp site, seven miles behind me now I have used the morning to get here, I pull the 10×28 binocs' off my chest and raise them to my eyes and watch the hawk, a snake is dangling from the talons and I lose sight of him at the tops of the trees across canyon from me. He had seemed excited, as if he had done something of great magnitude, and he cut the air with folded wing as he turned out of my vision. I stood staring at what I imagined was the mark of his flight which seemed no longer visible. I envied this hawk, and would exchange places with him if I could. It was a great day, a prize day.
The river branch dove left and then right, deep green pools amongst the ripples here, cutting an arrowhead of land at its bend. The tree stood a little inland, pushing out buds as if some force inside it demanded release. Four feet thick at its base, massive branches shading a circle around it- a natural skyscraper 140 feet tall- one massive spruce. A log bridge straddled the river where it narrowed to a stream along the north side of the arrowhead. Up the path beyond it are Trapper Flats and some old eighteenth-century Spanish diggings. Later I expected to go up that way for a look and maybe find myself a trinket or such, but first there was camp to set up for night and fish to catch and eat. I was glad to drop that pack and set about making the fire spit ready for evening, and set up my little home here. I was looking forward to enjoying the river and sight seeing before dark, and tomorrow's getting to Goat Mountain and the waterfall where I would camp the next night.
After finding myself a forked stick to use as a spit for later, and collecting of firewood for the evening fire, I thought I would go and sit on the log and use my 10×28s again to see into the pools to spot a brook trout and watch my meal first before attempting to take him with fly. I wanted to know him before I put my hook in. I wished him to know that what I did I did not do out of malice but to live. I could see several trout in the deep pool below the natural log bridge, and spotted several two pounders darting about and playing below. Already knowing their colors and size, I also knew their taste- one would be my fish soon. I knew my food from the moment I saw them circling under the rushing water, watching the surface for their food of flies. One made a tight turn and then a short, powerful run before his leap out of the water taking his fly then returning to his friends. The slap and silver flash was quick and wonderful, I knew just where to place my fly later. That leap would make him my meal this day.
Things were as they should be, the woods moved in complex rhythm, things mated, ate, and were eaten. The whole thing was sustained by the interlocking network of its parts. I liked this camping spot, I could see much of the canyon below me, and its sheer cliff walls to the southern sides and gentle but steep timbered slopes of the north sides with scattered shoots. It held openings with buck pastures- I thought it strange I had not seen the elk and deer it must hold now, not even a track of hoof had I seen yet, but this area is a big country and I thought not much of it. When I looked up the canyon towards Goat Mountain and could see the switch backs far above which would be my path tomorrow, the sun felt nice, I could feel my body drinking in its warmth. The air smelled of pine and cottonwoods and bitter sage; a chickadee whistled across the camp from branch to branch scolding me and my pack for our intrusion, I watched him flit off down the path I had come in on. I looked up into the blue sky and felt my world spinning around me, with the canyon rims just touching the edges and the snow capped peak of Goat Mountain behind me. The stars turning above the high blue of the sky could almost be felt, and for an instant, we spun together- the stars, the river, the fish and me.
When I next looked up, the wolves were hurrying down the near side of the opening into my clearing and camp. Instantly I sensed this would not be the usual howling session and testing on me, they had made up their minds I was their prey. It was only a short run to the log and across it. Had the first wolf had not bumped into the second and gone splashing into the water, they would have torn me down before I reached the lowest branch of the mighty spruce. I looked around while running and knew I had to make that spruce, it was the only one I could be sure of making, so I sprang towards it. The lead wolf swept around the point of the land yelping and struggling against the current. It occurred to me that he might not make it out, and I wished him into the fastest part of the current where his legs would tire and let him drown.
The other five hesitated on the far side of the log for a second, watching their leader shrieking downstream. His terror and anger seemed to disarm them for a moment and it gave me the time I needed.
The lowest branch was a good nine feet off the ground, I ran right up that massive trunk throwing myself back and up and wrapped my arms around that branch pulling myself up and swinging a leg over the branch then my other. I stopped a moment, caught my breath and my mind, and then pulled myself around to the top of the branch and slid over against the tree. Holding on, I stood up and grabbed another branch then steadied myself. One wolf had just nipped my vest as I rolled around the branch to safety, lucky for me he leaped after me too soon and fell short; otherwise he would have pulled me to the ground.
Whew, I laughed and cursed at the same time, I was cut up a bit on my arms from the bark of the branch, but fine. I was glad to be wearing marmot skins on my legs and a marmot shirt under my Kakadu vest, and then loose fitting camo khakis shorts, thus I was not fighting tight clothing at all in my rush to safety. The other four wolves tumbled into the tree base and they all were jumping and snarling but I was out of their reach and they knew it.
I was shaken a bit and moved up into the tree, my heart pounding. Those are the coldest eyes below I have ever looked into in my life, and I have faced a Wyoming grizz before. I moved to a wide huge branch on this monster spruce, another smaller branch forked out from it and close to the tree so I sat on this with my back to the spruce and tried to relax and focus on this situation. I could see across my fishing hole and camp, I could see my pack and my evening stack of fire wood and lying across my pack is my belt of cartridges and holstered pistol which I wished now was on my hip.
I just laughed out loud at the luck, and looked down and cursed them. Finally looked away from them and started watching the Alpha; he had made it out of the river and was approaching the tree. Tall and black with gold eyes, 150 pounds of sheer muscle and teeth- I shivered as I admired him. He looked up into my eyes and somehow let me know he was angry, as I had bested them for now.
No doubt, they thought of my skull cracking like a nut in the narrowing angle of their mighty jaws, opening the sweet delicacy of my brain to them like the meat of a walnut. I could see their hunger in the joyous frenzy of their leaps. They wanted me with a sadistic exuberance that made them keep leaping long after they had any chance of reaching me. I stood up and teased them, I spit on them. I cussed them; I imitated a chimp and drove them mad. I became mad and screamed out loud, I almost leaped into them to fight this prehistoric and savage battle with them as I felt my warrior savage anger rising. I felt the way I had made a few cougar feel, trapped in the tree, I hissed and spat at them. This was kinda' fun, I had no idea at that moment just how zero on the fun meter this would become. I roared with laughter at their frustration. They circled the tree and began to howl. I sat back down and tried to ignore them. Maybe they would leave soon. I had things to do.
I decided to climb higher into this mighty spruce which had become my prison; I wanted to go high enough that they could not see me. I disappeared into the tree, and was getting tired. Reaching a spot where three massive branches grew out close together and then tangled a bit, I found I could almost lay on it. I scooted onto it with my back to the tree and took note of the day's events mentally. I remembered the pouch in my vest full of hemp seeds, got it out and ate some as it appears my trout and wild plant meal was off. I had a knife and saw on my belt, some ten foot of twine in the vest pocket, and my lp-3 light with a bumble bee chocolate bar- but no water, I tried not to think of the water. I unleashed my belt and fastened it to the tree branch looping it thru my belt loop again and buckling it back up. Then attempting my afternoon nap, I remained silent looking around at my view outside the tree, the view alone was worth the climb, and I try to shut out that howling. Finally, sleep found me. I expected the wolves would get bored and leave soon, the best thing is to ignore them. I did.
Mid-afternoon I awoke from this sleep, now quite sore. The cuts on my arms stung and thirst was another physical problem I tried to ignore as I rubbed my head with my hands to push the cobwebs out. It was now silent except for the river and the slightly enhanced breeze. Unhooking from the branch, I moved down to have a look-see. The wolves are moving back and forth along my scent trail at the camp, to the log and across to the tree where I reside at the moment. Thinking I might be able to reach the river unnoticed and drink, I edged down, then I stop and watch them. Timing this thing that must be perfect- get a drink and get back to the tree. I figured I would attempt it, but I have only seen five wolves at my camp… where is that lobo Alpha, I could not see him as I moved around the tree to hide my drop to the ground from view from camp. A low growl… there he was… waiting about twenty feet out from this backside of the tree. He charged the tree growling and snarling, bringing the other five across the log and back under the tree. Then a rage built within me as I climbed up again and sat. Then I decided to cut up a branch and make short chunks which I could throw down at them. Once done, I then moved down a bit getting set. I throw one of my chunks of wood at the Alpha, smacking him a good blow on his rib cage. He sort of shrieked and howled as he lunged at the tree, the other wolves started leaping again and I pelted them with sticks until I ran out.
I moved back up into the tree from their line of sight, to my perch, and re-hooked in to sit and ponder this out in my mind. I decided to ignore my adversaries longer this time, while observing a squirrel sitting out on a branch of a nearby tree watching the spectacle from his own perch. As if to tease me, he jumped across to my tree, through it, then leaped out to another tree before turning to scolds me. I shook my grinning head; everybody was on my case this day. I sat and stared out at the birds as they flew about amongst the tall pines and brush of the north slopes behind me. The howling had stopped again and I decided to visit the top of this tree, nothing else to do right now. Climbing up thru this incredible tree, I never imagined in all the years walking past here that I would spend and entire afternoon in this tree. Perhaps I should have, the view from up there was magnificent. I perched myself upon a very thick group of branches where I could see all the way around me. I found that I could put my arms around the trunk up here. I watched some goats up in the rocks above me, looking after little Billie-unbothered by the events taking place below them.
A ruckus began below me with growling and snarling, so I climbed back down to a safer position in the tree and looked out and below. The wolves were tearing apart my backpack pulling on my belongings and throwing things about. My sack of collard green leaves and onions was trashed- they chomped on the cans of sardines from Portugal, splitting them open and licking out the contents. My sack of apples and oranges was strewn about along with two pounds of hemp seeds, walnuts, and almonds along with clothing, my thermorest and sleeping bag. I just laughed, what else could I do, I had seen chewed open cans before but never got to watch it happen before, I just watched and enjoyed the show; hoping one would slice off his tongue for his efforts. I counted five wolves, then I looked around below me and sure enough just to the north the Alpha had climbed a knoll and was just sitting there, looking right at me, those cold eyes met mine and I knew then his determination. The others might have left me, but not him. This wolf was all business. I longed for my pistol which was lying over in the dirt right now, I would show the Alpha determination, but I was unfanged… de-toothed if you will.
The shadows were getting long, signaling that soon the sun would go down, so I moved back to the spot of my nap in the tree from early in the afternoon, I tied in and leaned back. I realized they weren't going to leave anytime soon. I was stuck in the tree until they got bored and went away.
The ants were making their highway along the trunk of the spruce, and I put my face up against the tree to see them walking the tiny ravine in the bark, full of dedication and purpose. I wondered if there was one ant in the column going steadily by that would let its curiosity distract it from its job and set it wandering down some curling road in the formic acid, hot on the trail of some mystery. But I never saw one that didn't stay within the lane laid down by some functionary between the nest and food. One or two got lost and did an erratic circle as big as my hand, like some hunter from the city trying to find the jeep trail he had wandered off. The rest never went far from wrong before they stopped and circled, looking for the trail. They did not seem comfortable until they found it again. The ones I took into my hand explored this new world looking for their old; I doubt that they saw much. When I put them back down on the trunk of the tree, they blended right back into the flow of commuters. When I put some down in a new part of the tree, they searched with ferocious diligence until they found the highway again, the road to home, job, and duty. I decided that they were depressingly like people in the end, but I admired them for the way they tracked, even if I didn't like their purpose.
I was getting angry again, for my purpose of freedom had been taken from me and my goal of the next days was shattered as I still sat in this huge spruce tree, scratched, bleeding, and thirsty. I wondered if there were ants like me, were they shunned as well, or did they seek others of their kind to share in new mysteries?
The sun went down, and I lost the ants in the changing contour of the tree. The darkness came in like a tide, shade by shade, deepening the water into space and throwing stars back with the unveiling of the dark curtain. The cold came with it. I watched the river dim, darken and then become slowly bright again as my eyes adjusted to the dark. In fits and starts I fell asleep and woke to changes, cursing myself for missing them. Sometimes when I awoke, I got hungry, but that passed, then I got thirsty and that didn't. So I put it aside until I could do something about it and watched the sun come up. The wolves below me jerked and twitched in their dreams. I wondered if they were dreaming of eating me, tearing my soft human flesh to shreds and ripping my muscles from the bones, or would they just kill and waste me like they do so often to other creatures of the forest- like they did to that kid in Canada, or to those other North Americans whom died from brutal wolf attacks in history. I didn't figure they thought they had anything more powerful than perhaps a bobcat up this tree, and I grew angry. I decided I was going to fight, I hated to be taken for granted like this. There were those stupid wolves lying down there, and I trapped in this tree like some greenhorn city hunter whining and crying over a little discomfort. Besides, I couldn't go another day and night with out water, if I did, I would have died and I knew it. I was dehydrating bad and had to stop it.
As if the Alpha new my thoughts, he went to the river and drank, then turned and looked at me and almost grinned. This made me so angry, I started cutting up another branch into chunks and stocking up on ammo, I wanted to beat them back from this tree. I would bean that Alpha if it were the last thing I'd do. I could tell by watching him he was one of those rare wolves with super intelligence and cunning, and he was determined to have me. I got the impression I was not their first human and I wondered about a missing young man over towards home- gone missing from his church camp a while back. I contemplated this must go on yet the actions are either hidden from public view or out right denied.
I furiously cut up all the dead branches I could find in my tree kingdom, and stacked them high on a wedge of branches near the lower part of the tree. I made myself a nice club from a heavy branch and tied it with twine to a living branch so as not to lose it. I stopped and ate some hemp seeds; I noticed clouds moving in to the canyon and hoped for some rain. I had an Idea how to get out of this and started formulating my escape in my mind spending the rest of the second afternoon driving that Alpha crazy and getting to know his reflex movements and such. I could see the absolute anger and determination in his eyes to kill me, I swear those eyes penetrated my inner being like cold steel. I raised my arm again to throw a stick and watched him jump back out of range, I kept the stick in my hand and when he charged forward I threw it hard and nailed him on the head. He leaped up then dropped and ran by the tree to get behind me, and then circled back. I realized then that he was playing me too, trying to tire me and wear me down, hoping I would misstep and fall.
Sitting down again, starting to rain ever so slightly, I caught what I could in my mouth. The wolves sitting below me now with a forlorn, less excited howling. A couple of sparrows had an aerial battle I could see through an opening in the branches which I sat on. I could see the river swirling down through the trees and valley I had hiked the day before. A nice rainbow darted out of the water twisting and turning, then slapped back under after he came out and caught a fly.
I could feel the dehydration headache coming on and knew I was in trouble as I licked rain drops off the pine needles and branches, catching rain drops more in my mouth as they fell from above. I sat silent, watching the wolves and watching it get dark again. I hooked into my spruce camp and sat wet and shivering in the cold darkness, I had to be careful now as the branches were slick. At some point I fell asleep, I woke to pain and cold so got up and flexed and moved, doing some pull ups from a branch, locking my hands together until I was hot and tired again. I slept until the gray dawn woke me, I watched below me for the wolves but they were gone.
Elated and feeling like the fool green horn city hunter, I climbed down to the lower branches of my kingdom- the wolf tree. I looked about and could not see them, and felt sorta' humiliated that I had not defeated them. I wished they were back so I could even the score on them. I looked around myself, raised my eyes to my camp and, and caught movement on the rise dropping into my camp- five wolves were sitting on the rise where I had first seen them two days ago yet I could not locate the big black Alpha, he was missing. I swung myself around my tree and looked for him hiding in the brush or tall grass but he wasn't there. I lowered myself some more and studied the tracks on the ground, but in the confusion of all the tracks, I could not figure out which way he had gone. I got down onto the ground, I crept towards the water. Halfway between the water and the tree I spotted the black wolf coming for me, I was caught, fell for his trick. He had been hiding behind the log jam and then jumped onto the log bridge and was running full steam at me. I lunged for the river, my only hope, I knew I could not jump back into the safety of the spruce. I dived into the deep green pool of the Bear River and swam under water with the current.
I could feel the river carrying me down stream in the rapids, the cold of spring run off was shocking and I thought I would drown. I fought to stay under and to get distance between the Alpha and me. I stuck my face up and grabbed some air, went down again floating along, smacking rocks, then finally I looked up from the cold- I knew I was done, I could not even move my limbs, then I saw it- a small sand bar next to the bank. I hit it and somehow pulled myself out and lay on it for some time until the numbing cold left me, and I could crawl off into the brush and hide. I went under a small cotton wood in tall grass and with my back to it watched upstream. I had washed down stream two-hundred yards and could see my wolf tree, yet I could not see the wolves. I got up and headed down the valley, watching all around me and finally made the road after two hours- muddy, bloody, beaten, and alive. I walked to the North Fork of the Boise River Bridge and sat down there until some campers saw me. After hearing this story, they gave me a ride to my father's home some 40 miles away.
Two days later, I went back to my camp and retrieved what was left of my pack, pistol, walking poles, clothes and bedding. I brought a 12 gage shotgun with me this time, no wolves were around. I looked at the wolf tree and the log jam. I smiled, and knew I had learned another lesson while playing in the great outdoors. I've wanted that black since then, I wanted to kill him. He was a demon disguised as a wolf, I think. I will never forget him, and the wolf tree that saved me.
Greg Farber is a lifelong Idaho/Wyoming mountain man, hunter, fisherman, backpacker, and horse packer who grew up 30 miles from the Idaho Sawtooth Wilderness near Lowman. He learned the art of tracking and survival from Native Americans. Preferring to hike across the Sawtooths from the West going East using no trails made by men, Greg has taken three 200 class mule deer bucks all with over 30 inch spreads and is determined to get his 40 inch buck before leaving this place. He was born in 1959, and his mother cooked for his family in a little log cabin on a Monarch stove, he says, "sure do miss those days…"
Collectivism Vs Individualism: The Critical Wolf Issue
By Bruce Hemming
Researching and talking with people about the wolf issue I noticed a trend with the pro-wolf side. "Wolves are needed for a healthy eco-system," or "it can't be that bad, wolves are good and people just have to learn to live with them." Often, people that make these statements are hundreds if not thousands of miles away from those living with wolves. Yet there are those who live near wolves that say the same thing, but again, the majority and often most vocal and powerful are located in big cities. How many people living with wolves 365 days a year support them? Well, the number is a low 25%. Then Ask the ranchers and rural families that have had their dogs horses or livestock attacked if they support the wolves, and you may see 10%. Clearly 90% will tell you there must be sound management. Use the US Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms, the right to private property and the protection thereof, the right to protect themselves and their children, the right to protect their pets and livestock, and also the right to peace and life without undue harassment.
Follow this great web link to better understand what is going on with this vital issue, which is imperative:
"Socialists or Communists or Fascists are collectivist and sees government as the solution. The collectivist believes that the group is more important than the individual and, if necessary, the individual must be sacrificed for the group. Sometimes that is expressed in terms of 'the greater good for the greater number.' It's a very appealing concept."
This statement applies especially to the wolf issue.
The pro-wolf side essentially says individual rights are unimportant, as is the fact that ranchers and outfitters are being forced out of business. They don't seem to care that people have been stalked, children terrorize, livestock and pets slaughtered- all by wolves. The concept seems to be that the individual must be sacrificed for the cause. Those of us who believe in freedom and human rights say- hey, wait a minute... Many if not most of those who oppose the wolf situation in 'recovery' areas don't wish to 'wipe out' the wolves, they want is reasonable control and that is the least they could ask for given the reality of the situation.
"Collectivists are often critics of religious and family values, because collectivism demands unquestioning obedience to the state. Since loyalty to family or religious codes often conflict with the concept of group supremacy, they cannot be tolerated in a collectivist system."
You see, people who believe the wolf –an animal- deserves the same or more rights than people, children no less, being terrorized by them are falling in line with the Socialist, Communist, and/or Fascist way of thinking. Have they forgotten they are Americans?
"The view of individualism was expressed clearly in the United States Declaration of Independence, which said: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men." Nothing could be clearer than that. "Unalienable Rights" means they are the natural possession of each of us upon birth, not granted by the state. The purpose of government is, not to grant rights, but to secure them and protect them."
Those who believe in Freedom, our Rights, and The Declaration of Independence have no problem with their fellow Americans protecting themselves and their property from damages from wolves.
Simple concept: our forefathers ensured our 2nd amendment guaranteeing our right to protect ourselves and our property. What happened was the Socialist, Communist, and/or Fascist way of thinking seems to have taken control in this issue and resulted in others being convinced, especially those living in cities or away from wolf country that what has happened with the wolf populations is for the greater good- therefore it is fine for people's livelihoods and family businesses to be sacrificed for the wolves.
"By contrast, all collectivist political systems embrace the view that rights are granted by the state. That includes the Nazis, Fascists, and Communists. It is also a tenet of the United Nations. Article Four of the UN Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights says: "The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, in the enjoyment of those rights provided by the State … the State may subject such rights only to such limitations as are determined by law."
Why do we need so many wolves? Are they really worth stripping peoples of their rights? Are they really worth bringing the full force of the Federal government down on Americans and forcing them to accept wolves at their doors? "…Those rights provided by the State … The State may subject such rights only to such limitations as are determined by law." So people that believe in Socialist, Communists or Fascist ways in regards to the wolf issue say, "of course the collective good is more important than individual rights. Run these people over, toss them in jail, force them out of business, let their animals be slaughtered- who cares about people? The wolf is more important.
"The collectivist says you have to force people. That's why he has an affinity to government. Government is the embodiment of legalized force. You can always spot a collectivist because, when he confronts a problem, his first reaction is to say, "There ought to be a law." His attitude is that we must force people to do what we think they should do, because they are not as smart as we are - we collectivists.
The collectivist believes in coercion. The individualist believes in freedom.
Last year Defenders of Wildlife collected over 35 million dollars. How was public opinion manipulated? A process called mass media propaganda. To get a greater understanding watch the film, "The Corporation," an outstanding documentary on how we become good consumers, yet the important part of the film is how public opinion and thoughts are manipulated. Physiologists are hired in developing these ads and commercials. How has this manipulation of public opinion in regards to wolf issues been accomplished? The value of presenting a single image or slogan, and repeating it over and over again until it becomes ingrained in the public's consciousness. "Wolves are needed for a healthy eco-system" has almost become a chant as a result of this. Then the thinking is reinforced with the "independent expert" and the "guy on the street" being interviewed in such a way that the only logical conclusion is to support the wolf. Propaganda can be used in very clever ways based entirely on emotional appeals. Emotional appeals are very powerful tools used to manipulate the public. The wolf turns into a heartstring-tugging animal that is almost heroic. A lot of pro-wolf people, when spoken with, seem to think the wolf is a deity of sorts. How could anyone ever wish to harm one, they wonder? What they are saying is a product of buying into the propaganda of the 'collective good.' Individual rights and freedoms are forgone, as is American greatness based on individual freedoms.
--The title of my film is "Undue Burden," the term defined as being when some are forced to pay and sacrifice for what a particular majority wants. Do you believe in freedom? The only way you will truly be able to understand the wolf issue and see what has been missing from showing the issue is to watch this ground-breaking documentary www.prosts.com/Documentary-Undue-Burden.htm then you will finally be able to see what these people are living with. Do you believe in the "collective good" or individual American Rights?
http://www.lewrockwell.com/englund/englund46.html "The Green Recession: Today, thanks to Al Gore, greenies are riding high. For it is they who are the anointed ones who have the answers to prevent hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons, soil erosion, flooding, osteoporosis, indigestion, migraine headaches, and shark attacks. (Of course, their real objective is to eradicate humanity, but that is an issue I have covered previously). And, true to Stephen Schneider's "vision," the green movement's success has been built upon a pack of lies." -Eric Englund
The Dirty Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007
By C. J. Williams
The Clean Water Act of 1972, officially the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, was designed to govern pollution in the "navigable waters of the United States". Responsibility for the law was placed under the jurisdiction of the Corps of Engineers. Navigable waters were defined to mean water on which a canoe could float and the legislative mandate was quite broad: "to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nation's waters."
The legislative bill's primary designer was Sen. Ed Muskie (D-Maine) who some consider the father of the modern day environmental movement. Muskie was Maine's governor from 1955-1959 and then a senator from 1959-1980 before serving the Carter administration as Sec. of State from May 1980 to Jan. 1981.
In a glowing tribute on the "founders" page of the Edmund S. Muskie Foundation Website, Leon G. Billings wrote that "before Ed Muskie, there was no national environmental policy. There was no national environmental movement. There was no national environmental consciousness."
None could say there's no "national environmental consciousness" anymore, that's for sure, as environmentalism has become almost rabid in intensity, particularly with more than sufficient nudging by Gang Green's partnering "tax-exempt" stakeholder groups who pass around a peace pipe with the taxpayers' resource management agencies one minute and then sue them the next.
The lofty goal of Muskie's 1972 Clean Water Act was to make the nation's lakes, rivers, and shoreline clean enough for swimming and fishing by 1983. The immediate task to be undertaken, however, was to stop municipal sewage plants and other government facilities (such as military bases) and industries, including manufacturing, mining, oil and gas extraction entities, and also certain agricultural businesses (i.e. animal feedlots) from dumping untreated or poorly treated wastes into the public's navigable waters. (Surface water for drinking purposes is governed by separate legislation, the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974)
The 1972 Clean Water Act was amended in 1977 and is now primarily administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, which helps state and local governments set up their own pollution control plans. The Clean Water Act of 1977 provided for billions of dollars in grants that helped local communities build sewage treatment plants. Unfortunately, now that many of those treatment plants have become obsolete and in need of updating and repairs, the broke and badly bent communities are hard put to foot the bill on their own.
While the federal government could continue to kick in with money for upgrades, as it's done in the past, it seems there's no longer enough money in the nation's coffer. One might wonder how that can be since presidential hopeful Barack Hussein Obama had no qualms about recently introducing legislation that would use $845 billion in taxpayer money to augment what America already doles out to reduce poverty everywhere else but in the USA.
Though the goal of the Clean Water Act of 1972 wasn't reached by 1983, at least 60% of the nation's intrastate (within a state) waterways were considered clean enough for recreational purposes by 1998. Chances are much of the 60% was safe long before 1972, but figures regarding that notion aren't readily available. The good Lord knows I swam and fished in one heck of a lot of Michigan water from 1950 until today and am no worse the wear for it.
Regardless, only a fool would argue that ensuring that water isn't safe to swim or fish isn't a good thing.
What isn't a good thing, however, is that the Act has been and continues to be manipulated by environmentalists who yank lawmakers around by the ring in their nose, just as has happened with the Endangered Species Act, so that, as time passes, people lose more and more of their private property rights without really knowing what hit them, let alone the how and why of it.
The latest manipulation is in the form of the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007, which eliminates the term "navigable waters of the United Sates" and replaces it with "waters of the United States". As such, the new term means "all waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, the territorial seas, and all interstate and intrastate waters and their tributaries, including lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, natural ponds, and all impoundments of the foregoing, to the fullest extent that these waters, or activities affecting these waters, are subject to the legislative power of Congress under the Constitution."
To encapsulate that new definition for "waters of the United States", it means all water, every last drop of it, even on your very private, do not trespass, land that the government lets you own in name only, provided you pay property taxes to do so.
In essence, if it rains hard enough on your land to cause a run-off into a roadside ditch, or gives rise to wet meadowland on the back forty, or a water filled pothole in your driveway, the feds believe the Constitution empowers them to apply their cockamamie law to your private property.
Technically, according to Article I, Sect. 8, the US Constitution allows the federal government to "regulate commerce…among the several states…". Being the devious bunch they've been long before being "transparent" about globalism and sustainability came into vogue, the ruling majority of our elected who serve in D.C. have interpreted their constitutional empowerment to mean they have the right to regulate the "navigable waters" of the United States because some goods are transported by boat.
Now they're interpreting their empowerment to include striking the term "navigable waters" in favor of regulating mud puddles on anyone's private property. And, if you don't think Gang Green hasn't helped in this endeavor, think again, as countless lawsuits have been filed against more than a few other than the U.P.'s Richard Delene and downstate Michigan farmer John Rapanos, who fought a long, hard, and very expensive battle regarding dubious wetlands on his private property 20 miles from the nearest navigable waterway.
In fact, the Rapanos v. United States case and another, Carabell v. United States, decided in 2006 by the Supreme Court in favor of the private property owners, may have provided the catalyst for the federal legislature's decision to revamp the Clean Water Act so as to strike the term "navigable water" and replace it with "waters of the United States". Not only that, but the feds also had their Constitution tampering legislation questioned in 2001 when a Supreme Court ruling limited the government's reach to some extent by exempting isolated wetlands that didn't cross state lines and didn't have a hydrological connection to navigable waters.
Not having to fight city hall because they are city hall, a contingent of 174 U.S. Representatives, mostly Democrats, have decided to make an end run around the Supreme Court and bellied up to co-sponsor the newly contrived Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007, a.k.a. HR-2412. The bill was proposed by Rep. James Oberstar, a Democrat who, since 1975, has represented several counties in northeastern Minnesota that include the cities of Duluth, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, and International Falls.
Michigan legislators who don't mind interpreting the Constitution in a very liberal manner so as to regulate the use of any water in any amount by We, the People and who have signed on as co-sponsors of HR-2421 are Republican Rep. Vern Ehlers and Democrat Reps. Conyers, Dingell, Kildee, Kilpatrick, Levin, and Stupak.
Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced similar companion legislation, S-1870, in the Senate. Michigan Senators who co-sponsored Feingold's bill are Carl Levin and Deborah Stabenow.
Clearly, our legislators need to get reacquainted with the 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, which is part of We, the People's Bill of Rights: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
To quote respected property rights activist Henry Lamb who wrote in his Feb. 4, 2008 article, 'The Feds Are Trying to Steal Your Water': "All limitations of freedom should arise from the government that is closest to the people and should be authorized by the consent of the people whose freedom is limited. In the case of water regulations, these regulations should arise from the government that is closest to the water source and water users, and these regulations should be approved by the people whose freedom is limited by them…
"…The regulation of non-navigable waters should remain in the hands of the state and local governments, where the people whose freedom is threatened can express their concerns and approve, or reject, specific regulatory proposals…
"…When Bill Clinton moved into the White House, every resource agency of the federal government was populated with recruits from politically powerful environmental organizations. The agenda that drives these organizations is not the U.S. Constitution, not the rights of the people. Their agenda is to force the people to behave in ways they think is best for society…
"…The people, and their local and state representatives, should rise up in outrage against this congressional effort to steal their water."
Link 1 Link 2 Link 3 Link 4
"I wouldn't call it fascism exactly, but [an American] political system nominally controlled by an irresponsible, dumbed down electorate who are manipulated by dishonest, cynical, controlled mass media that dispense the propaganda of a corrupt political establishment can hardly be described as democracy either." -Edward Zehr
More Anti-Hunting Lies
By Tom Remington
The Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting is continuing their campaign of spreading lies to the people. In an editorial in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise by Joe Miele, president of CASH, says that young people are against "killing".
"The average age of these "sportsmen" is increasing because hunting and fishing no longer appeal to the younger generation, which has shown for the most part to be uninterested in killing animals for recreation.
According to data supplied by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, since 1996 the number of anglers and hunters in New York has decreased by more than 25 percent and 5 percent, respectively. This has been occurring because sportsmen who choose to interact with wildlife in violent ways are dying or otherwise dropping out of the sport faster than new hunters and anglers can be recruited. Despite the waning interest in the blood sports, nonviolent forms of outdoor recreation are becoming more popular every year; hunting and fishing have been declining in popularity as wildlife watching in the state has been showing encouraging growth."
It is despicable that CASH has taken some data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that shows the interest in hunting and fishing has declined of late and wrongfully concluded that the reason is because young people aren't interested in killing animals. Miele offers no data to support his claim because there is none available.
Certainly, the information that USFWS puts out that Miele refers to, does not include any conclusions as to what is affecting any of the trends referred to in this editorial. His assumptions and conclusions are absurd, unfounded and this is nothing more than a cheap trick to influence public opinion.
"The three great rights are so bound together as to be essentially one right. To give a man his life, but deny him his liberty, is to take from him all that makes his life worth living. To give him his liberty, but take from him the property which is the fruit and badge of his liberty, is to still leave him a slave." - George Sutherland, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, 1921.
The National Animal Identification chipping program has caused Western Horseman Magazine to hold an online poll on the issue. Beleif in Private Property Rights says support "little guy" farmers, 4-H programs, and anyone who has a horse, cow, pig, sheep, goat, chicken, turkey, etc., on their property and take a moment to visit this poll and vote "no." NAIS requires that these folks register their property where animals are located, as well as every one of their critters, in a national data base so Big Brother can keep its beady eye on them, and it's not just the "barnyard" animals.
The survey is on the bottom left of the Western Horseman page.
There was a blond truck driver who had to deliver 500 penguins to the state zoo. As she was driving through the desert, she broke down. After about 3 hours she waved down a brunette trucker and offered her $500 to take the penguins to the state zoo for her. The next day the blond trucker arrived in town and saw the brunette trucker crossing the road with 500 penguins walking in single file line behind her. She jumped out of her truck and yelled, "WHATS GOIN ON? I GAVE YOU $500 TO TAKE THESE PENGUINS TO THE ZOO!" The brunette driver responded, "I did take them to the zoo. But I had some money left over so now we're going to the movies."
After having dug to a depth of 10 yards last year, New York scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago. Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, California scientists dug to a depth of 20 yards, and shortly after, headlines in the LA Times newspaper read: 'California archaeologists have found traces of 200 year old copper wire and have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the New Yorkers.' One week later, "The Post Dispatch," a local newspaper in Missouri reported the following: 'After digging as deep as 30 yards in corn fields near St Louis , Ole Johnson, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Ole has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Missouri had already gone wireless.
Americans for Responsible Recreational Access (AARA)
Their Statement of Purpose says it all: ARRA was formed to ensure that Americans are not arbitrarily denied the right to responsibly experience and enjoy the public lands that belong to the citizens of the United States. The members of ARRA, which include horseback riders, personal watercraft users, off-highway vehicle and snowmobile riders, and vacationing families, have joined together to provide input on decisions regarding land use designation, recreation opportunities, and preservation. Its members seek responsible consideration of competing activities, which are based on sound environmental principles. No alliance member believes that recreation enthusiasts have the right to exclusive, unregulated use of our national heritage, but all oppose land closure or extreme regulation, which denies responsible citizens access to public lands for multifaceted recreational pursuits.
New Site Loaded With Nevada & the Northwest's Oral History on hunting, ranching, property rights-
It's now on line by Cliff Gardner, a lifelong Nevadan who has spent many years of his life documenting game management atrocities throughout Nevada and the western states and its affects on hunters, cattlemen, grazing rights and private property owners.
You'll be amazed at what Mr. Gardner has compiled for our use to benefit each of us in our fields of expertise.
Look it over and appreciate its professionalism and use it in your future research and understanding of our American history.
"The Gardner Files-They Drove Us from the Land" www.gardnerfiles.com


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9.0 / 1
|Urban Sniper
|The objective of the game is to follow the mission and kill the targets. You have limited bullets and your accuracy is calculated so dont waste ammunition. The hints are shown on the pane on the lower left side. You could also destroy vehicles by hitting their fuel tanks. Try to be as accurate as possible. Have Fun!
|Shoot: mouse
Zoom: space
|Shooter Action
|rifle shoot sniper urban

subset: commoncrawl


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Have you ever been told by a gym to check with your GP first if it is OK to exercise? Wondering how common this is.
I asked this because it is reported that gyms ask many people, but particularly those with long-term conditions to get advice from a health professional before starting exercise. The wiki 'GANFYD' (Get a note from your doctor) even has a template letter for GPs to use when gyms seemingly insist on a letter from a GP to say that exercise is safe.
— AnneMarie Cunningham (@amcunningham) October 4, 2014
@amcunningham that's because that is the industry's guidance. I am not risk averse and covered in liability anyway by insurance...
I could not establish where this industry standard advice is published but if it becomes available I will publish the link. (edit: thanks to +Lindsay Jordan for directing me to PAR-Q, and info on how its use is suggested by industry training. Note this does not suggest that all people increasing physical activity should see a health professional.) But I am concerned because this not fit with general advice from the NHS or from the Chief Medical Officers of Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England on the safety of exercise. In their document "Start Active, Stay Active' they state that previously inactive people who increase their activity are unlikely to encounter significant risks.
— Exercise Works! (@exerciseworks) October 4, 2014
@amcunningham @FSEM_UK yes. CMO can't detail all the risk...inactivity is the issue. More support for LTC patients where risk is higher
— Niall Elliott (@dundeesportsmed) October 4, 2014


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It's Mother's Day! Just kidding. It's next Sunday, the 13th, but why not be ahead of the curve this year and get prepared a little early? With all the overnight flower delivery charges and the mad dash to CVS to pick from the dregs of the Mom's Day cards, I bet you could use a little forethought this year. That's why I've put together a list of funny Mother's Day poems that are perfect for the occasion. Give one of these to your mom and she'll love you forever, even if she is still mad about the bat-meets-mailbox incident of 1994. Oops.
For the mom who "gets it":
Dear Mom,
You're the bomb.
Thanks for not raising me in a wigwam.
(though, to be honest, I could've used some more trees of palm.)
You didn't force me to pose for pics of prom,
or play with that snotty neighbor kid Tom.
I've always admired your sense of calm,
and you let me stay up til 9 to watch a sitcom,
Psst -- I'm going to miss you when you're embalmed.
(Spoiler alert -- we're totally going to embalm you and put you on the front porch at Halloween.)
For the mom who's always there:
Mom I know I owe you a big thank you,
because in a lot of ways you are my guru.
You taught me to swim, you taught me fractions,
without you, I'd be dumber than Ashton.
You're there when I need you,
my bullshit you see-through.
Don't ever change, or I'll come unglued.
For the cleaner-picker-upper mom:
Roses are red,
Windex is blue.
Thanks for keeping everything clean,
I really appreciate it.
For the art-appreciation mom:
I love that you loved all of my "art"
though I'm sure it was uglier than a pile of farts.
From pottery to painting to paper mache,
you even liked that drawing of me and Nick Lachey.
But, come on, at this point it's all older than vintage,
so I think it's time to take it down from the fridge.
Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there!
Photo via Elizabeth/Table4Five/Flickr


text:
Core Worker is very similar to another occupation for which we have
a full profile.
Check out our full profile for:
Statistical Assistants
Compile and compute data according to statistical formulas for use in statistical studies. May perform actuarial computations and compile charts and graphs for use by actuaries. Includes actuarial clerks.
Actuarial Analyst
Actuarial Assistant
Actuarial Technician
Actuary Clerk
Analytical Clerk
Board Boy
Board Operator
Board Worker
Chart Calculator
Chart Changer
Chart Clerk
Compilation Clerk
Core Man
Core Worker
Crime Data Specialist
Data Analyst
Editing Clerk
Fiscal Clerk
Management Engineer
Mathematical Technician
Mileage Clerk
Planimeter Operator
Product Operations Associate
Prorate Clerk
Proration Clerk
Record Clerk, Tabulating
Report Clerk
Research Assistant
Research Associate
Sales, Record Clerk
Statistical Clerk
Statistical Clerk, Advertising
Tabulating Clerk
Tariff Compiler
Technical Analyst
Technician, Data
Wheelage Clerk


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Burkina Faso Travel Information
The Basics
Burkina Faso has no GMT offset.
Electrical outlets in Burkina Faso usually supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs with round pins are standard.
About 69 languages are spoken in Burkina Faso, but the official language is French.
Travel Health
Malaria is a problem in Burkina Faso and some form of prophylaxis is recommended for all travellers in all areas of the country. A yellow fever vaccination is required for all travellers to Burkina Faso over one year of age.
Vaccinations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, and meningococcus are recommended. Those who will be spending a lot of time outdoors and are at risk of animal bites should consider a rabies vaccination.
Visitors should also be up to date on vaccinations for polio, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), and tetanus-diphtheria. Travellers should drink only bottled or filtered water and avoid ice in drinks. All meals should be eaten while hot and uncooked fruit and vegetables avoided.
Medical facilities are very limited and of poor quality, particularly outside of the capital city. Comprehensive travel insurance is required. In many areas of the country, emergency medical services are non-existent, and the supply of medication is often very limited. Travellers who require specific medications should bring along sufficient supplies, accompanied by a signed and dated note from a doctor detailing what the medication is and why it is needed.
A 10 to 15 percent service fee is usually included in restaurant bills, but it is customary to tip taxi drivers, porters, and hotel staff.
Safety Information
Burkina Faso is one of the safest countries in West Africa and most visits are trouble-free, but tourists are advised to exercise caution and maintain a high level of security as theft and banditry can be a problem in certain parts of the country. The northern Sahel region is considered dangerous, especially near the borders with Mali and Niger. The Sahel is too remote for the local government or foreign embassies to provide much assistance in the event of an emergency. There have been no documented terrorist attacks directed against foreigners in Burkina Faso, but there is often concern that conflict in neighbouring countries may spill over, and some governments, including the British Foreign Office, advise against all but essential travel to the Sahel region.
Crime is a problem in Burkina Faso and incidents of robbery, sexual assault and rape against foreigners have been reported. Most crime, however, is petty, and visitors in cities should beware of bag-snatchers, pickpockets and scam artists.
Local Customs
There are several customs in Burkina Faso that visitors need to be aware of: photography is strictly controlled, and tourists should always ask permission before photographing local people, and never attempt to take a picture of a military or government building. Women should dress modestly and keep shoulders and legs fully covered to avoid unwanted attention. They should also refrain from smoking in public. Shaking hands is an appropriate way to greet a person regardless of sex, and one should always return a greeting. Homosexuality is not generally accepted in Burkina Faso. Eating, touching another person, and giving someone money with the left hand is considered offensive.
Burkina Faso is a poor country which doesn't rank highly for ease of doing business, according to the World Bank. Business etiquette is fairly standard, with lightweight suits or traditional African dress the norm for meetings, and handshakes and business cards exchanged upon greeting. Business hours vary, but most offices are open from 7.30am to noon, and from 3pm to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Some shops and businesses are also open on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.
Communications in Burkina Faso are limited, even in major cities, due to the low penetration of electricity. Landline use is extremely low, but mobile phones are widely used. The international access code for Burkina Faso is +226. Internet use is also low but on the rise, with internet cafes popping up in major cities.
Duty Free
Visitors to Burkina Faso may import up to 200 cigarettes, or up to 50 cigars; or 250g of tobacco. One litre of spirit and one litre of wine is permitted and 500ml each of eau de toilette and perfume. Sporting guns may be brought in by license only. Prohibited imports include narcotics and counterfeit goods.
Become our Burkina Faso Travel Expert
We are looking for contributors for our Burkina Faso travel guide. If you are a local, a regular traveller to Burkina Faso or a travel professional with time to contribute and answer occasional forum questions, please contact us.


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EVENT: Bretton Woodstock Goes Off to Conclude The Main Event
February 14, 2012
Bretton Woodstock Goes Off to Conclude The Main Event
On The Most Progressive Courses Ever For The Main Event, The Riders Brought Out The Hammers
The Main Event for 2012 wrapped up in proper fashion with the most progressive course in the contest's history. At the top of course was a 50 foot plus step up jump that led into the boxing ring start area for the rail, box, heavyweight punching bag and 12 foot vitaminwater wall ride; to say the riders were stoked would be a major understatement.
Although the weather was challenging with a huge white cloud covering the Bretton Woods skies slowing down the riders pointing it into the step up jump, the real shredders brought their "A Game" busting out chicken wings, back 180 tai-pans, 900s and backside rodeos. Top standout was George Scott throwing down a backside 540 shifty; earning him the super limited (only 1,000 made) Nike Quickstrike Boot. On the women's side Kara Field stole the show with a huge back flip, which was rewarded with Most Progressive Women's Trick of the Day, and The Main Event Engraved Gold Nixon Watch.
Moving down the course to the rail garden, the riders met up with announcer Avert Guldemond, Director of The Main Event Brandon Halberstadt and the two judges Ryan Manning and Ryan Stefani inside the boxing ring. The bottom half the course was explained during the meeting, and then opened to the riders to begin an hour plus jam slaughter session. And once again Parker Szumowski was charging the hardest and hitting every single obstacle on course especially the Nike heavyweight bag built by Andrew Mutty, founder of The Main Event and Josh Lempert of Snow Grind. For his relentless assault on the rail garden Parker is going to The Face-Off at Boreal Courtesy of Arbor Snowboarders.
New to the rail garden this year was the vitaminwater bottle being built as a wall ride to determine the highest air for a year's supply of vitaminwater, and although several riders were charging hard, Donny Noble of Maine blasted above the vitaminwater bottle and took home top honors! Another standout was Travis Neuenhaus and his one-footer off the rail earning him The Main Event Engraved Gold Nixon Watch.
When all was said and done, Ezra Racine ran away with the overall heavyweight men's title belt, wild card into the 2012 US Open and additionally was awarded with best overall rider of both contests which has him going to Argentina this summer courtesy of SGT. Joining him in Argentina this summer will be Lily Calabrese for best overall female rider of both contests as she placed second at the Hip Hop Rail Jam and stepped up her game one more notch at Bretton Woodstock taking home the women's title belt and a wild card into the 2012 US Open. Rounding out top honors was Jasper Tripp in the lightweight men's for straight owning the jump and rail garden for his division.
Big ups to Brad Shedd, Blake Roberts and the entire crew at Bretton Woods for helping take The Main Event to another level in 2012 with our best course and rider driven contest to date. Additional thank you shout outs need to go to Josh Lempert of Snow Grind and the entire The Main Event staff for working around the clock, including until 3:30am the day of Bretton Woodstock to get the course into prime time shape.
Check back to the www.maineventseries.com for the video recap, mega photo gallery and much more in the coming weeks; in the meantime follow @maineventseries on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.


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Lee County man faces livestock abuse charges
Jeffrey Graber suspected of livestock neglect, improper disposal of dead animal
A southeast Iowa man has been charged with livestock neglect after more than two dozen horses were found without proper food or shelter.
The Daily Gate City in Keokuk reports the Lee County Sheriff's Department on Wednesday charged 55-year-old Jeffrey L. Graber, of Donnellson, with several offenses. He's charged with livestock neglect leading to death, improper disposal of a dead animal, and two counts of livestock neglect.
All the charges are misdemeanors.
Graber was charged after authorities searched two properties he owns.
Officials found numerous horses that suffered from a lack of care and food.
One horse was found dead. About 30 others now have access to food, water and shelter.
An attorney for Graber couldn't be found through online court records.


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Disagreements can be uncomfortable among friends. But when it comes to Big Labor's outcry over a pension-reform package jammed through the legislature on Friday, Jerry Brown should hope his union allies become even more loud and vocal.
The governor knows that one of his best chances for convincing the public to pass Prop 30 in November, his package of temporary taxes, is evidence of some progress toward fixing the state's pension mess.
That point is in fact underscored by a new poll released Thursday by the California Business Roundtable and Pepperdine University. The poll shows that 71 percent of those surveyed believe that a pension fix is important in order to address the state's budget woes.
U.S. & World
"As the session comes to an end, the legislature seems poised to take a much-needed step toward reform," Dr. Michael Shires of Pepperdine University said in a statement. "While these reforms don't resolve the current unfunded liability or go far enough to address the entirety of the problem, they are a good start."
In fact, critics note, the plan passed by a strong margin by the Assembly and Senate falls far short of comprehensive reform. In particular, the plan doesn't address reducing benefits enjoyed by current employees. That means a continued increase in what the state will owe in coming years, as workers retire. Savings in the plan, which CalPERS is estimating at between $40 and $60 billion, will come far into the future.
But in closing remarks, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento said, "I think this is a very significant step."
The measure is estimated to save taxpayers as much as $55 billion over the next 30 years, in part by capping the salary level at which benefits are set.
Labor could've had it much worse in the plan now awaiting the governor's signature. It could've included a move to a hybrid 401k-style system, as is common in the private sector. It does not. Instead, the Democrats' plan is much more limited, focusing on raising the retirement age and cracking down on abuses like pension spiking.
You wouldn't know that by the outcry. Labor leaders are doing what's expected of them, by denouncing the reforms. But the louder they complain, the better it is for Jerry Brown. It's the kind of wedge politics he can point to, when he asks voters to approve Prop 30.
Author Kevin Riggs, an Emmy-winning former TV reporter in Sacramento, is Senior Vice President at Randle Communications.
Send us your thoughts via Twitter @PropZero or add your comment to our Facebook page.


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The number of registered Illinois voters is at a five-decade high for a primary election, but voting officials remain skeptical about how many of those voters will follow through.
The number of registered Illinois voters is at a five-decade high for a primary election, but voting officials remain skeptical about how many of those voters will follow through.
There's a hot race for governor in both parties, but not a lot else to draw voters out in waves. No presidential race on the ballot, an unusually early primary and the weather could all keep the numbers down.
Dan White, executive director of the Illinois State Board of Elections, said he expects about 28 percent of registered voters to turn out for Tuesday's primary election. Voter registration is up by 300,000 voters from the last election, with more than 7.5 million registered voters heading into next week.
"We are always hoping for a high turnout, but historically the turnout in the last several gubernatorial races has averaged about 28 percent, and I think that is what we are looking at for next week," he said.
Some local authorities are predicting this year's primary could challenge as one of the worst turnouts in state history. Turnout for the 2006 primary was a record low statewide, with just 25 percent of registered voters casting ballots.
Stacey Kern, director of elections in the Sangamon County election office, said she expects turn out to barely reach the 20 percent mark there. Peoria and Rockford authorities expect much of the same, with turnout expected between 20 and 25 percent.
"Part of it is the fact that this is a primary and people don't like to vote in primaries because you have to choose a party affiliation," Kern said. "It's also been moved up. It used to be the third Tuesday in March and now it's the first Tuesday in February."
Meanwhile, early voting and mail-in numbers paint an equally bleak picture so far.
According to the Illinois Voter Registration System database, only about 40,000 people had voted in-person at an early voting center as of Jan. 19, the most recent date for information available.
Thomas Bride, executive director of elections in Peoria, said Peoria would be lucky to return 15 percent of mail-in voting ballots. Bride said the low turnout could be tied to a lackluster voting season.
"Sometimes there are local issues that drive local numbers up, like a school board vote," he said. "I don't see anything locally that really drives beyond statewide levels."
For more information on elections, visit the board's Web site at www.elections.il.gov.
Brian Feldt can be reached at email@example.com.


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The Omen – how do you let your kid star in something like this?
The Omen, a supernatural thriller staring the antichrist himself, opened 06/06/06. This is the remake of the 1976 original starring Gregory Peck. I haven't seen the movie yet but watching the trailer recently, it occurred to me, what kind of parent lets their seven year old star in a film like The Omen? How does this not mess with the kid's head?
Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, a seven year old 1st grader from New York was selected by director John Moore for his ability to "look evil." Jim Fitzpatrick, Seamus' father, also has this ability and has put it to use in a few scary flicks of his own 1, 2, 3. Jim has a starring role in the upcoming The Belly of the Beast Satan flick. Can you imagine the conversations Jim and Seamus must have? "Dad, I just can't get the demon voice right. How do I make it sound really evil."
I'm sure Jim is very proud of his son and I'm sure they have a lot to talk about but is a role like this really in Seamus' best interests? Maybe the family has good sense of humor about it, maybe Seamus is super smart and this kind of thing just roles off him, but as the parent of a four year old I can't see this not messing with the kid's head. Getting "into character" at seven years old and back out probably isn't as easy as it sounds. Go kill your "pretend" parents Seamus and look evil doing it! Take 1, Take 2, Take 3 – can't be easy to just put behind you at seven. I'll end this post with a quote from Seamus' grandmother Margaret Davey (80).
'I know there are parts where I'll keep my eyes closed," Davey says. "He kills his mother and his father, but at least he doesn't kill his grandmother." [source]
Related posts:


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For some.
This is called Brangelina Forever. Daniel Edwards, the same dude who created the sculpture of Britney giving birth, has puked out another masterpiece inspired by Pitt Porn. The piece is currently on display at some rich man's house in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City is where the Alba Bitch decided to defile a United Way billboard. Not a suggestion or anything…
Apparently Brangelina Forever is supposed to promote passion and fertility. It's been jizz sprayed with the DNA of the Brange in the form of crushed wine glasses they supposedly used to celebrate their first anniversary. Click here if you need to know more.
What I need to know is the meaning of the dove. That dove is me wanting to watch them have sex. F-ck the art.
And while that Ian Halperin book keeps trying to make scandalous headlines, the Brange stepped out in public for a second time this week in support of Clint Eastwood last night at the LA premiere of Invictus just named to the NBR Top 10 List for which Clint also received a Best Director acknowledgment and Morgan Freeman, as Nelson Mandela, shared Best Actor with George Clooney.
Angelina is tight with Clint. And when Clint wants to sell something, he makes sure his friends come out to support him. Even Maddox.
Yes. Maddox.
This marks the first time, out of womb, that one of the Brange kids has walked the carpet with them. Good move. Serves so many purposes. Obviously creates buzz for Eastwood. Also for Invictus, a film our kids can learn from, and finally, the united family front. Let's trot our oldest out, show the world that it's solid up in the JP household.
Well played, well played.
But again…
Her styling is FOR SH-T.
Hate the hair. So much. And that shawl. It exhausts me. Brad knows about fashion. How can he stand to look at her like this?
See more photos of the Brange and Maddox cavorting with Clint here.
Photos from Kevin Winter/Gettyimages.com and Splashnewsonline.com
For some.


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MISS Saturday Match 09/28/19, Alpha Ranges, Saturday, 28. September 2019
Tickets go on sale at 8AM for Alpha Members and 8PM for general public on the Sunday before a match. Registration ends at 2PM the day of the match or when capacity is reached. If match is full you can sign up for our waitlist through Eventbrite and you'll be contacted if someone requests a cancellation.
Our usual indoor matches feature a minimum of four stages, usually including one classifier. Once in a while we will shoot an all-steel versus match or another "carnival format"/"theme" match. We start building the stage ~6:00 AM, then shoot until about 12:00 PM, followed by about 30 minute tear-down and cleanup.
We require all Illinois competitors to show a FOID. Additionally, we require competitors be classifed USPSA members in good standing. If you have yet to classify in a division and have not shot with us before, approval from the match director will be required prior to registration.
No walk-ins will be accepted!
Scoring is done via PractiScore - check results here:
MISS Saturday Match 09/28/19
Source: Eventbrite
Eventeri.com is not a host of this event! Contact host here.
Eventeri.com is not a host of this event! Contact host here.


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I guess not, most likely it is some Troll trophy hunter wondering how to mount us on their wall.
I guess we look like an easy target, I mean if you can punt us, surely you can kill us, right?
I would suggest, that we are a little bit harder to kill, or if you do, there probably wont be anything left to mount.
Anyway, tusks are are requirement of a trophy right? Still to mounting Trolls or maybe Tauren.
Of course, if it is the Gnome sex kind of thing you were looking for.. maybe we can talk...
Umm.. we like it when you tall females wear your shortest skirts. It doesn't really matter in the end, we will just walk right in there and take a peek anyway, but it's nice not to get tangled in the long shirts.
Why you would be looking for that here I'm not quite sure… we all know Mages don't wear skirts, we wear frocks!
- Good for you on your choice of menu item for tonight.
- Good for you on choosing to participate in Azeroth Iron Chef
- Good for you on your improved grammar.. you Orcs seem to be getting smarter, I dare say that is Thrall's influence, god forbid that Thrall should go away or you will all return to the uneducated drooling rabble of the past.
Just one search for this?
There are lots of Oh Shit! Macros out there, because of course there are lots of situations you will need them, multiplied by different classes and specs. I will share a few with you here.
The "I'm standing in it" OhShit macro
/y OhShit!, OhShit!, OhShit!, OhShit!, OhShit!, OhShit!…
/cast Ice Block
/y Phew!
The "My DPS is so awesome I always get the bosses attention" macro
/y OhShit!, OhShit!, OhShit!, OhShit!, OhShit!, OhShit!…
/cast Invisibility
/y HaHaHaHa, you can't see me!
The "Ice block and Invisibility were on cooldown" macro
/y OhShit!, OhShit!, OhShit!, OhShit!, OhShit!, OhShit!…
/y ………………………………….
/y damn can someone spare a Battle Rez?
I haven't been to BG 2010 yet, but I expect it is like all the traditional ones.
Queue, Kills stuff, COMPLETE OBJECTIVES, Kill some more stuff, WIN, profit.
To make it easier, join a premade.
Of course Blizzard i their infinite wisdom have decided that (until Cataclysm where you HAVE to be in a premade to get (good) rewards), your premade raid group can be up to any size – BUT ONLY 5 OF YOU WILL GET IN.
Yeah, here's a game you can play with you mates.
The most sensible way to ensure a victory in BGs is to play as an organised group.
Therefore, we wont allow it!
Imagine LK25 with only 5 people from each "premade" raid group.. yeah, good thinking Blizzard.
What I do (apart from occasionally grabbing 4 mates – well there might be more, but only 5 of us can queue), is I run with a group on the Bloodlust Battleground called QueueQ. Cross-Realm Battleground premades FTW!
Meh, only got a 100k honor on Saturday…
Which pretty much amounts to "down with the Horde".. nuff said.
Yes, yes it is, it is awesome fun.
Nearly as much fun as Fire Mage suicide fun.
Stay alive and the fun just keeps on coming.
From what I understand it is a BAD PvP server… not in the "we can't PvP our way out of a wet paper bag" kind of way, more in the "we will dominate your mother, sister and ohh you have a little brother… especially if you play on a RP server" kind of way.
That said, I play with a lot of Blockrock folk in QueueQ, and they don't seem so bad… mind you, we are slaughtering the Horde, so that might take their minds of slaughtering the RP'ers.
Battle Ground Scoreboards that have the title:
To be honest, this Gnome hasn't had much time for reading lately, but has been listening to a whole lot of podcasts. Strangely few of them have been WoW podcasts.
These are my current favorites, that have blown my mind and may well blow yours.
- WNYC's Radio Lab
- Stuff you should know
- ObscureCast
- Answer Me This!
- Dr. Karl's Great Moments in Science
- Dr. Karl on TrippleJ
- Dr. Karl and the Naked Scientists
- Twisted Nether Blogcast
That's a whole lot of fail in a few search queries.. not sure why they came to me… can't even remember what I was going to write here, so moving along…
Totally lost me with this one.
Why would anyone search for Me and a Fish?
Is there a fish that will be the end of the known Gnome's world?
Maybe it's a new recipe… whatever…
Nice… a tip nobody reads about turning off tips nobody reads.
Gnomer and Out!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.


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