Two years ago President Trump signed an executive order to hire 15,000 new border agents.
As a consequence, Customs and Border Protection paid $60.7 million to the
consulting firm Accenture Federal Services to recruit, vet and hire 7,500
such officers over five years.
While pricey in the private sector that figure of $8,000 per recruit sounds like a reasonable outlay by federal government law-enforcement standards.
In two years the Trump contractor has hired 33 officers.
Amortized cost is just under $2 million per recruit. Yup.
Meanwhile, historic lows in illegal immigration on the US-Mexican border has prompted the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general to question whether more hires are even necessary.
Just the facts and truth. Move along now. Nothing to see. No crisis here.
More on this story here.
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
The Millennial Malfunction
The study of 1,000 U.S. drivers revealed that 49 percent of Millennials and Gen Z drivers and 39 percent of overall drivers did not recognize the warning symbol for tire pressure.
Yeah, I know it is easy to pick on Millennials. You know who they are – that demographic that cannot read a compass, follow a map, locate landmarks, cook a meal from scratch, change a tire or even read the owner’s manual for their automobile.
A survey completed last fall by Goodyear Auto Service and Just Tires found young drivers – consisting of both millennials and Generation Z – were more than 1.5 times as likely to identify the eye roll emoji or the Wi-Fi symbol correctly than the tire pressure warning light on the vehicle dashboard.
In fact, 49 percent of young drivers and 39 percent of all drivers were unable to recognize the warning light at all, the survey found. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a warning system indicating that at least one tire is leaking, under-inflated or otherwise compromised - a condition that could lead to tire damage or poor handling.
It cuts deeper than that however. Millennials are desperately lacking in common sense and basic life skills such as sewing a button, operating a stick shift or conducting the most simple of home repairs.
You can read-up on how bad things are here.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Shed Head
There remain a large number of deer on the landscape including some dandy bucks.
Like this one...
And like this one...
These photos were taken by a trail cameras of two different bucks in two different locations on December 26 and January 5 respectively. Both these boy deer are sporting their headgear.
I suspect that this may be about to change and before too long my girls and I are going to begin our end of winter chores such as pruning an occasional oak and cleaning out nest boxes for the birds that will return in a few months. That also means an opportunity for the dogs to engage in the time-honored pursuit of shed antler hunting.
Stay tuned for what turns-up.....
Like this one...
And like this one...
click on an image for a closer look
I suspect that this may be about to change and before too long my girls and I are going to begin our end of winter chores such as pruning an occasional oak and cleaning out nest boxes for the birds that will return in a few months. That also means an opportunity for the dogs to engage in the time-honored pursuit of shed antler hunting.
Stay tuned for what turns-up.....
Monday, January 28, 2019
Skating Anyone?
From this past weekend came this inspiration....
That would be my garden - a large raised bed adjacent to the machine shed. The freeze-thaw cycle of late has left a glaze of imperfect ice and snow atop the dirt. The 'Ah-Ha' moment came when Blonde Lab skittered-across the surface attempting a crossing while running at full-tilt.
How about this - when it's cold enough I could snake a hose from the slop sink in the garage and flood that garden with several applications of water. Thus making a skating-rink. The best part is that the perimeter of the garden would contain the water efficiently and there is no risk to breaking thru the ice.
Grandson might get skates when he visits in the winter....
That would be my garden - a large raised bed adjacent to the machine shed. The freeze-thaw cycle of late has left a glaze of imperfect ice and snow atop the dirt. The 'Ah-Ha' moment came when Blonde Lab skittered-across the surface attempting a crossing while running at full-tilt.
How about this - when it's cold enough I could snake a hose from the slop sink in the garage and flood that garden with several applications of water. Thus making a skating-rink. The best part is that the perimeter of the garden would contain the water efficiently and there is no risk to breaking thru the ice.
Grandson might get skates when he visits in the winter....
Sunday, January 27, 2019
A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place
This all began with a search for smoked pork hocks. Jill expressed a hankering for navy bean soup
and I suggested that I would readily whip-up a batch as I was certain I had
smoked pork hocks in the larger chest freezer in the basement. A search for the hocks was frustrating. They might be there – or they might have been
there. There was no way to know and no
amount of digging produced them. It was
clear that with the passage of time the chest freezer had devolved into a
disorganized amalgamation of frozen goodness and oddities representing various
vintages that had become a modern day collection of ice-age surprises.
I don’t want you to get the impression that I am a hoarder. This chest freezer business is to my mind’s eye a mostly out-of-sight-out-of-mind set of circumstances. I am blameless except the extent-to-which I may have killed and/or butchered some of the frozen stuff therein. It was clear that this could not stand and I had to bring order out of chaos. Moreover I had to implement a plan to consume this food before it was left to the settlement of my estate.
Unplugging the freezer I off-loaded its contents. Venison into one cooler, poultry in another, sausage into still another and odds and ends into a fourth. Initial plans figured-upon allowing the freezer to thaw overnight and be cleaned the following morning. Progress was faster and using a Teflon ice scraper the accumulated frost was easily removed and the appliance wiped-down and powered-up within a matter of a few hours.
Repacking it was an orderly and systematized process organized around four boxes. Bottom box: a couple of ginormous Piggly Wiggly pork butts (purchased on sale) along with four packages of pork fat from the local butcher. Someone clearly had sausage-making on his mind and lost track of his ambition. Added to this box were eight individually shrink-wrapped pheasant breasts. The box on the bottom is destined for sausage and smoking in retirement.
The second box is sausage. Mostly venison brats and a bunch of
bow-killed black bear summer sausage found at the very bottom of the
freezer. Included are last year’s venison
hot sticks and some homemade sausages bartered from my pal RottieGuy in
Wauwatosa.
Third box (on top) is ground venison along with steaks and chops. The oldest pack is dated fall of 2015 with the balance from 2017 and last year’s hunt. Rounding it out were some smaller shrink-wrapped black bear roasts, a package of elk burger, one homemade pheasant pot pie and camp meat – namely venison roasts and whole trimmed back straps destined for Schützenfest and deer camp this year. And one wild turkey.
The prize goes to this -
A package of BBQ pork from almost ten years ago. It’s vacuum-packed and not freezer burned. Heated-up with some additional sauce it will likely be first-rate on a toasted bun.
And if you are wondering about that navy bean soup - no smoked pork hocks were to be found. Yet, retrieved from the very bottom of the freezer was a container of homemade navy bean soup. It was dated February 2016. It was delicious.
I don’t want you to get the impression that I am a hoarder. This chest freezer business is to my mind’s eye a mostly out-of-sight-out-of-mind set of circumstances. I am blameless except the extent-to-which I may have killed and/or butchered some of the frozen stuff therein. It was clear that this could not stand and I had to bring order out of chaos. Moreover I had to implement a plan to consume this food before it was left to the settlement of my estate.
Unplugging the freezer I off-loaded its contents. Venison into one cooler, poultry in another, sausage into still another and odds and ends into a fourth. Initial plans figured-upon allowing the freezer to thaw overnight and be cleaned the following morning. Progress was faster and using a Teflon ice scraper the accumulated frost was easily removed and the appliance wiped-down and powered-up within a matter of a few hours.
Repacking it was an orderly and systematized process organized around four boxes. Bottom box: a couple of ginormous Piggly Wiggly pork butts (purchased on sale) along with four packages of pork fat from the local butcher. Someone clearly had sausage-making on his mind and lost track of his ambition. Added to this box were eight individually shrink-wrapped pheasant breasts. The box on the bottom is destined for sausage and smoking in retirement.
Third box (on top) is ground venison along with steaks and chops. The oldest pack is dated fall of 2015 with the balance from 2017 and last year’s hunt. Rounding it out were some smaller shrink-wrapped black bear roasts, a package of elk burger, one homemade pheasant pot pie and camp meat – namely venison roasts and whole trimmed back straps destined for Schützenfest and deer camp this year. And one wild turkey.
The prize goes to this -
A package of BBQ pork from almost ten years ago. It’s vacuum-packed and not freezer burned. Heated-up with some additional sauce it will likely be first-rate on a toasted bun.
And if you are wondering about that navy bean soup - no smoked pork hocks were to be found. Yet, retrieved from the very bottom of the freezer was a container of homemade navy bean soup. It was dated February 2016. It was delicious.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Wintertime
click on photo to enlarge
Trail camera periodically catches some good scenery...
Friday, January 25, 2019
Night Skies
HQ-spotthestation@mail.nasa.gov
Time: Fri Jan 25 5:42 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 56°, Appears: 22° above SW, Disappears: 18° above ENE
Raising a toast to cold, clear night skies (and a wee bit of technology)
Theater of the Absurd
There are nine congressional districts that are
associated with our 2,000-mile southern border.
While the notion of a wall is popular among Trump supporters in North Dakota, Montana and Wisconsin it is a fact that each and every one of the members of congress representing the good people of these nine border congressional districts have one thing in common.
Each is against President Donald Trump's border wall. They’re all in favor of stronger border control and security measures but they’re all in agreement that walls don’t work and are a waste of taxpayer resources
Go figure….
While the notion of a wall is popular among Trump supporters in North Dakota, Montana and Wisconsin it is a fact that each and every one of the members of congress representing the good people of these nine border congressional districts have one thing in common.
Each is against President Donald Trump's border wall. They’re all in favor of stronger border control and security measures but they’re all in agreement that walls don’t work and are a waste of taxpayer resources
Go figure….
Friday Music
This Chicago blues singer, harmonica virtuoso and guitar
player was born in Mississippi as Chester Arthur Burnett. When his producer Sam Phillips first heard
him he was said to say: This is for me.
This is where the soul of man never dies.
Phillips was spot-on as this is the guy who brought blues mainstream to America,
Several of his songs, including Smokestack Lightnin', Killing Floor and Spoonful, have become blues standards.
Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 54 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. This clip from the teeny bopper TV program Shindig is awesome. He’s 55 years old and still has the moves. What’s so cool about this short-take is you’ve got the Stones, Billy Preston tickling the ivories and the incomparable Darlene Love sitting in the back!
Howlin' Wolf…..
Several of his songs, including Smokestack Lightnin', Killing Floor and Spoonful, have become blues standards.
Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 54 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. This clip from the teeny bopper TV program Shindig is awesome. He’s 55 years old and still has the moves. What’s so cool about this short-take is you’ve got the Stones, Billy Preston tickling the ivories and the incomparable Darlene Love sitting in the back!
Howlin' Wolf…..
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Alarm!
The last time I serviced the trail cameras was December 16. That is more than a month ago. Saturday I went out and checked them for battery life and swapped-out the SD cards. Noteworthy were crows, bunnies, the fattest raccoon I've ever seen, coyotes and a fox. Yup, haven't seen a fox in several years. Deer figured significantly in the inventory of photos for shear volume. There are a lot of deer on the landscape. And so far the bucks have their headgear. No sign of antler drop just yet - but that can change just about anytime.
Here's a fun series of burst photos of an inquisitive deer startled into flight...
Here's a fun series of burst photos of an inquisitive deer startled into flight...
click on images for a closer look
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Theater of the Absurd
Reasonable people support smart and reasonable border
security. That this has become a crisis
is not supported by the facts.
For starters the number of apprehended individuals at the southern border has declined 75 percent in the past two decades — from 1.6 million in 2000 to 397,000 last year.
The number of undocumented immigrants in the United States is at a 15-year low. Of those undocumented immigrants that are here – most of them arrived here legally and have overstayed their visas. The truth is that they exceed the number who crossed a border illegally by almost two to one.
Immigrants - legal and illegal - commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans. The truth is that there has never been a terrorist attack in the United States carried out by terrorists who entered the United States from Mexico.
To be sure there is a problem with undocumented immigrants and drugs entering the United States. Nevertheless, it is also a fact that most drugs and undocumented immigrants arrive through legal ports of entry.
It is also a fact that there is a real immigration problem on the border - Central American migrants have figured out that by showing up at the border in family units, they will be admitted into the country pending the adjudication of an asylum claim. As a consequence of this the asylum system is overwhelmed and adjudications take what seems like forever. It is a fact that very few Central Americans succeed in their asylum claims. Yet, almost all end up staying here. This is because long before the case receives a hearing these would-be migrants can disappear into the U.S. labor market. Poof! The truth is that this is a problem. However, the fix to that particular problem is not a wall.
This is all quite logical to me – walls take a long time to build. First of all you have to design your wall. Then you have to perform the very un-republican act of condemnation and expropriation of privately-owned property by means of imminent domain. Once you have gotten past the laughable notion of pulling this-off in south Texas – you still have to excavate, grade and build your wall. That aside – walls make poor barriers. A determined individual will tunnel under it, climb over it or go around it. That is the truth – I’m not making it up. Yeah, I know, railing about a wall can gin-up the faithful and cause rally attendees to get sweaty and aroused. Nevertheless, with the exception of strategic and specific tactical applications walls are not as impactful on criminal activity as staffing and technological interdiction at legal ports of entry.
The solution to the Central American asylum problem is to get more adjudicators into the asylum system. Right now. This can happen faster than the couple of years it will take to build a wall. If cases are resolved fast, and border-crossers removed promptly, the surge of asylum seekers will abate. Just like in 2015 after a crack down on the 2014 Central American border surge.
Beyond that I’m not sure that there is anything to negotiate.
I may be wrong but I think there is a very low probability of the Democrats caving on the shutdown. Paying ransom for hostages only encourages more of the same bad behavior. Just ask the Israelis. Besides, Trump has said over and over - Mexico will pay for his wall. That is the truth.
In closing I would like to add that my disdain for liars refuses to be tempered.
The truth hurts sometimes…
For starters the number of apprehended individuals at the southern border has declined 75 percent in the past two decades — from 1.6 million in 2000 to 397,000 last year.
The number of undocumented immigrants in the United States is at a 15-year low. Of those undocumented immigrants that are here – most of them arrived here legally and have overstayed their visas. The truth is that they exceed the number who crossed a border illegally by almost two to one.
Immigrants - legal and illegal - commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans. The truth is that there has never been a terrorist attack in the United States carried out by terrorists who entered the United States from Mexico.
To be sure there is a problem with undocumented immigrants and drugs entering the United States. Nevertheless, it is also a fact that most drugs and undocumented immigrants arrive through legal ports of entry.
It is also a fact that there is a real immigration problem on the border - Central American migrants have figured out that by showing up at the border in family units, they will be admitted into the country pending the adjudication of an asylum claim. As a consequence of this the asylum system is overwhelmed and adjudications take what seems like forever. It is a fact that very few Central Americans succeed in their asylum claims. Yet, almost all end up staying here. This is because long before the case receives a hearing these would-be migrants can disappear into the U.S. labor market. Poof! The truth is that this is a problem. However, the fix to that particular problem is not a wall.
This is all quite logical to me – walls take a long time to build. First of all you have to design your wall. Then you have to perform the very un-republican act of condemnation and expropriation of privately-owned property by means of imminent domain. Once you have gotten past the laughable notion of pulling this-off in south Texas – you still have to excavate, grade and build your wall. That aside – walls make poor barriers. A determined individual will tunnel under it, climb over it or go around it. That is the truth – I’m not making it up. Yeah, I know, railing about a wall can gin-up the faithful and cause rally attendees to get sweaty and aroused. Nevertheless, with the exception of strategic and specific tactical applications walls are not as impactful on criminal activity as staffing and technological interdiction at legal ports of entry.
The solution to the Central American asylum problem is to get more adjudicators into the asylum system. Right now. This can happen faster than the couple of years it will take to build a wall. If cases are resolved fast, and border-crossers removed promptly, the surge of asylum seekers will abate. Just like in 2015 after a crack down on the 2014 Central American border surge.
Beyond that I’m not sure that there is anything to negotiate.
I may be wrong but I think there is a very low probability of the Democrats caving on the shutdown. Paying ransom for hostages only encourages more of the same bad behavior. Just ask the Israelis. Besides, Trump has said over and over - Mexico will pay for his wall. That is the truth.
In closing I would like to add that my disdain for liars refuses to be tempered.
The truth hurts sometimes…
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Your Government Hard at Work
Starting January 24, the
USDA says 9,700 employees will be working to keep FSA offices open during
normal business hours. Among other
things, the returning FSA employees will assist farmers and ranchers harmed by
retaliatory tariffs imposed by other countries in response to the Republican tax increases on imported steel and aluminum.
For the first two full weeks January 28 – February 1 and February 4 – 8, FSA offices will be open Mondays through Fridays. In subsequent weeks, offices will be open three days a week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, if needed to provide the additional administrative services.
The announcement is welcome news for hard-working ranchers, farmers and growers suffering financially from republican trade policies and plunging commodity prices.
Sidelined federal employees will not be paid for the duration of the Republican shutdown. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement that President Trump has already signed legislation that guarantees employees will receive all back pay missed during the lapse in funding.
What a cluster.....
For the first two full weeks January 28 – February 1 and February 4 – 8, FSA offices will be open Mondays through Fridays. In subsequent weeks, offices will be open three days a week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, if needed to provide the additional administrative services.
The announcement is welcome news for hard-working ranchers, farmers and growers suffering financially from republican trade policies and plunging commodity prices.
Sidelined federal employees will not be paid for the duration of the Republican shutdown. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement that President Trump has already signed legislation that guarantees employees will receive all back pay missed during the lapse in funding.
What a cluster.....
Eleven Year Anniversary
Today is the anniversary of one of the earliest events
marking the start of the financial crisis eleven years ago and the beginning of
the Great Recession.
Millions of American homeowners had adjustable-rate mortgages. They took lower introductory interest rates with knowledge that they would reset after a few years. Many planned to sell their homes before then. When home prices began to falter in 2006, they couldn't sell. Moreover, they couldn't afford the higher monthly payments from the interest rate reset and as a consequence they were facing foreclosure. In January 2008, there were 57 percent more foreclosures than 12 months earlier.
In response to a struggling housing market, the Federal Market Open Committee began lowering the fed funds rate. It dropped the rate to 3.5 percent on January 22, 2008, then to 3.0 percent a week later. Economic analysts thought lower rates would be enough to restore demand for homes. Little did they know what was in store for them.....
Millions of American homeowners had adjustable-rate mortgages. They took lower introductory interest rates with knowledge that they would reset after a few years. Many planned to sell their homes before then. When home prices began to falter in 2006, they couldn't sell. Moreover, they couldn't afford the higher monthly payments from the interest rate reset and as a consequence they were facing foreclosure. In January 2008, there were 57 percent more foreclosures than 12 months earlier.
In response to a struggling housing market, the Federal Market Open Committee began lowering the fed funds rate. It dropped the rate to 3.5 percent on January 22, 2008, then to 3.0 percent a week later. Economic analysts thought lower rates would be enough to restore demand for homes. Little did they know what was in store for them.....
Monday, January 21, 2019
Theater of the Absurd
Ahem (clearing voice).
I wish to take a moment to post this public service announcement of the truth. You know – speaking truth to power.
It is a universal truth that President Trump is responsible for the government shutdown. He owns it. I watched the December 11, 2018 oval office meeting and Trump stated very clearly that he would take responsibility for a shutdown. At the time I couldn’t believe my own ears and I thought to myself - someone has to give this guy the hook.
President Trump had this to say....
And I'll tell you what, I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck, because the people of this country don't want criminals and people that have lots of problems, and drugs pouring into our country. So I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I'm not going to blame you for it. The last time you shut it down it didn't work. I will take the mantle of shutting down, and I'm going to shut it down for border security.
That is the gospel truth folks.
One and done.
I wish to take a moment to post this public service announcement of the truth. You know – speaking truth to power.
It is a universal truth that President Trump is responsible for the government shutdown. He owns it. I watched the December 11, 2018 oval office meeting and Trump stated very clearly that he would take responsibility for a shutdown. At the time I couldn’t believe my own ears and I thought to myself - someone has to give this guy the hook.
President Trump had this to say....
And I'll tell you what, I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck, because the people of this country don't want criminals and people that have lots of problems, and drugs pouring into our country. So I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I'm not going to blame you for it. The last time you shut it down it didn't work. I will take the mantle of shutting down, and I'm going to shut it down for border security.
That is the gospel truth folks.
One and done.
Which End is Up?
True north is not to be confused with magnetic
north. True north is marked by the earth’s
axis and magnetic north is where your compass points. Located near Canada's Ellesmere Island magnetic north has for centuries been an aid to navigation.
Because magnetic north is thought to be the
result of the earth’s molten iron core it’s been known to move about a bit. Between
1900 and 1980 it hardly moved at all. In
case you need something to worry about – in recent years it has picked-up the
pace and has begun moving a lot. The pole is
moving approximately thirty miles a year – which is the equivalent of one compass degree every twelve months. If this keeps up it’s going to end up in
Russia!
The World Magnetic Model was due in 2020 but the U.S. military was concerned enough that they requested an earlier review. The results were supposed to be released last week but have been delayed until January 30th as a consequence of the government shutdown. So here we sit – the magnetic north pole is moving at the fastest rate known in human history and we don’t know for sure where it is because of the Trump shutdown. This is a big deal if you are sailing a boat, flying an airplane, driving a car or out for a hike.
This has implications for nature too. Migratory wildlife use the earth's magnetic field to navigate their movements over vast distances. Will they be able to compensate? Or will they get lost?
Some scientists have suggested that the rapid movement of magnetic north may be evidence of the earth's magnetic field preparing to flip. A flip would result in your compass pointing south or somewhere else. Gack!
The good news is that the last time the field flipped human civilization did not exist - no harm no foul. What the impact would be if it flips during our current advanced civilization is anybody's guess. So if you cannot find me I'll likely be hanging out in my bunker.
You can learn more about this phenomenon here and here. .
The World Magnetic Model was due in 2020 but the U.S. military was concerned enough that they requested an earlier review. The results were supposed to be released last week but have been delayed until January 30th as a consequence of the government shutdown. So here we sit – the magnetic north pole is moving at the fastest rate known in human history and we don’t know for sure where it is because of the Trump shutdown. This is a big deal if you are sailing a boat, flying an airplane, driving a car or out for a hike.
This has implications for nature too. Migratory wildlife use the earth's magnetic field to navigate their movements over vast distances. Will they be able to compensate? Or will they get lost?
Some scientists have suggested that the rapid movement of magnetic north may be evidence of the earth's magnetic field preparing to flip. A flip would result in your compass pointing south or somewhere else. Gack!
The good news is that the last time the field flipped human civilization did not exist - no harm no foul. What the impact would be if it flips during our current advanced civilization is anybody's guess. So if you cannot find me I'll likely be hanging out in my bunker.
You can learn more about this phenomenon here and here. .
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Howling At The Moon
Geez it’s cold. 2
degrees.
Just came in from letting the girls out to tinkle before bedtime and allow them one last howl at the super bloody wolf moon. Constellation Orion (the hunter) is directly to the south. How appropriate.
Setting on the porch you could read a novel by the light of this moon – presumably bundled-up enough.
Perfect viewing conditions here with no clouds, no light pollution and spectacularly cold skies
Alas my Apple iPhone is incapable of capturing heavenly bodies.
I love winter.
I’m not making that up….
Just came in from letting the girls out to tinkle before bedtime and allow them one last howl at the super bloody wolf moon. Constellation Orion (the hunter) is directly to the south. How appropriate.
Setting on the porch you could read a novel by the light of this moon – presumably bundled-up enough.
Perfect viewing conditions here with no clouds, no light pollution and spectacularly cold skies
Alas my Apple iPhone is incapable of capturing heavenly bodies.
I love winter.
I’m not making that up….
Saturday, January 19, 2019
A Lunar Trifecta
For you observers of the night sky January is the month
that keeps on giving. Tomorrow, on the evening of January
20th - if conditions are good - you may have an opportunity to view a very rare lunar eclipse.
This phenomenon turns the moon a ruddy red giving rise (pun intended) to the name Blood Moon. This event coincides with a super moon (when the moon is closest to the Earth). The coincidence of a super moon becoming a super blood moon won't happen again until 2036 – so if viewing conditions are good for you this is an opportunity you will not want to miss. It also happens to be the first full moon of the New Year – known as a Wolf Moon.
A rare super bloody wolf moon – a lunar
trifecta!
For optimal viewing conditions find yourself a location with a minimal amount of light pollution. The moon will begin passing through the earth’s shadow at 8:36 p.m. CST. It will achieve full totality – and safe to view without special glasses - at 11:12 p.m. CST and conclude at 1:48 p.m. The duration of the full eclipse is 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Raising a toast to clear, winter night skies and viewing the heavens.......
This phenomenon turns the moon a ruddy red giving rise (pun intended) to the name Blood Moon. This event coincides with a super moon (when the moon is closest to the Earth). The coincidence of a super moon becoming a super blood moon won't happen again until 2036 – so if viewing conditions are good for you this is an opportunity you will not want to miss. It also happens to be the first full moon of the New Year – known as a Wolf Moon.
photo - NASA
For optimal viewing conditions find yourself a location with a minimal amount of light pollution. The moon will begin passing through the earth’s shadow at 8:36 p.m. CST. It will achieve full totality – and safe to view without special glasses - at 11:12 p.m. CST and conclude at 1:48 p.m. The duration of the full eclipse is 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Raising a toast to clear, winter night skies and viewing the heavens.......
Friday, January 18, 2019
Friday Music
In 1960, Ben E. King repurposed an older gospel hymn by
Charles Albert Tindley loosely based-upon Psalm 46 - will not we fear, though the Earth be
removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. King composed this for the Drifters who
subsequently took a pass.
Later in the year King had some studio time left over and the producers, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (think Supremes and others), inquired if he had any more songs. King played it on the piano for them. They liked it and called the studio musicians back in to record it. File this under really smart move.
Remarkably, there have been more than 400 recorded covers of the song including the soundtrack of the 1986 film Stand by Me. In 2015 King's original version was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Later that year – and only five weeks before his death - the 2015 line up of the Drifters recorded it as a tribute to him.
Enjoy this really nicely-done acoustic cover….
Later in the year King had some studio time left over and the producers, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (think Supremes and others), inquired if he had any more songs. King played it on the piano for them. They liked it and called the studio musicians back in to record it. File this under really smart move.
Remarkably, there have been more than 400 recorded covers of the song including the soundtrack of the 1986 film Stand by Me. In 2015 King's original version was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Later that year – and only five weeks before his death - the 2015 line up of the Drifters recorded it as a tribute to him.
Enjoy this really nicely-done acoustic cover….
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Contemporary Republican Governance
A spokesperson from the USDA said that the recalled employees represent about one quarter of FSA staff. They will not be paid for their work. Moreover, FSA staff will not be able to process new applications, grant loans, participate in dairy programs and review requests for Republican welfare payments meant to offset the losses suffered by hard-working ranchers, farmers and producers as a consequence of Republican tax increases on international trade.
Trump shutdown, Trump tariffs and Trump winning. It's no longer the Republican Party I grew-up with.....
Prepper Cheddar
From Wikipedia is this…
Survivalism is a primarily American movement of individuals or groups (called survivalists or preppers) who actively prepare for emergencies, including possible disruptions in social or political order, on scales from local to international. Survivalism also encompasses preparation for personal emergencies, such as job loss or being stranded in the wild or under adverse weather conditions. The emphasis is on self-reliance, stockpiling supplies, and gaining survival knowledge and skills. Survivalists often acquire emergency medical and self-defense training, stockpile food and water, prepare to become self-sufficient, and build structures such as survival retreats or underground shelters that may help them survive a catastrophe.
I will admit to having a wee bit of prepper running thru my veins. I've got a couple of cases of MREs and a case or two of bottled water on hand for emergencies. Plus a pantry full of canned and boxed goods that generally run-thru the daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal family grocery rotation. That's just an old boy scout living the Boy Scout Motto - Be Prepared!
However for you more serious and die-hard survivalist
types there is this: A 27 pound bucket of mac-and-cheese with a shelf-life of two decades. Only ninety bucks! Put that in your bunker for
bragging rights. You can even use the
bucket as a privy when it’s empty.
Each bucket includes 180 servings - in separate pouches - of elbow pasta and cheddar cheese sauce which calculates to about two servings per dollar. Shoot. Suppose you don't even have a bunker. If you live long enough you could put this in your regular grocery rotation and be good to go for regular 17-year intervals and leave the unused portion to your estate. Kid in college? Here is an affordable and convenient solution to after bar-time snacks solved with a semester-worth of mac-and cheese!
Raising a toast to better living thru preservatives and pasteurized process cheese food.
Survivalism is a primarily American movement of individuals or groups (called survivalists or preppers) who actively prepare for emergencies, including possible disruptions in social or political order, on scales from local to international. Survivalism also encompasses preparation for personal emergencies, such as job loss or being stranded in the wild or under adverse weather conditions. The emphasis is on self-reliance, stockpiling supplies, and gaining survival knowledge and skills. Survivalists often acquire emergency medical and self-defense training, stockpile food and water, prepare to become self-sufficient, and build structures such as survival retreats or underground shelters that may help them survive a catastrophe.
I will admit to having a wee bit of prepper running thru my veins. I've got a couple of cases of MREs and a case or two of bottled water on hand for emergencies. Plus a pantry full of canned and boxed goods that generally run-thru the daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal family grocery rotation. That's just an old boy scout living the Boy Scout Motto - Be Prepared!
Each bucket includes 180 servings - in separate pouches - of elbow pasta and cheddar cheese sauce which calculates to about two servings per dollar. Shoot. Suppose you don't even have a bunker. If you live long enough you could put this in your regular grocery rotation and be good to go for regular 17-year intervals and leave the unused portion to your estate. Kid in college? Here is an affordable and convenient solution to after bar-time snacks solved with a semester-worth of mac-and cheese!
Raising a toast to better living thru preservatives and pasteurized process cheese food.
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Household Gadget
For the person who has everything including too much clothing there is this...
The FoldiMate laundry folding robot.
Come to think of it - if you wore a uniform (slacks and shirt) every day this household gadget just might come in handy.
The company expects to roll this out before year-end. Retail price around a grand.
Learn more about it here.....
The FoldiMate laundry folding robot.
Come to think of it - if you wore a uniform (slacks and shirt) every day this household gadget just might come in handy.
The company expects to roll this out before year-end. Retail price around a grand.
Learn more about it here.....
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Gross and Disgusting
Blaze hunting bibs and parka - over-garments that comprise the last layer, barrier and line of defense against the elements during the gun deer hunting season. The bright orange a safety consideration plus they keep the mud, the blood and the gore off of the hunter.
These duds have been hanging-around in the garage since the last gun hunt in December.
They haven't seen the inside of a washing machine in a couple of years and as a consequence are laying here on the laundry floor in all of their gory glory. They've reached the tipping-point. That point were the level of gross and disgusting cries-out for action.
Laundered and hung to dry.
Raising a toast to a clean slate......
These duds have been hanging-around in the garage since the last gun hunt in December.
They haven't seen the inside of a washing machine in a couple of years and as a consequence are laying here on the laundry floor in all of their gory glory. They've reached the tipping-point. That point were the level of gross and disgusting cries-out for action.
Laundered and hung to dry.
click on the parka for a closer look at the transformation
Raising a toast to a clean slate......
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