Unjust Forfeiture and Seizure

Police abuse of civil asset forfeiture laws allows police to seize - and then keep and sell - any property they allege is involved in a crime.  If it is your property you need not be arrested or convicted of a crime.  Your cash, vehicles and real estate can be taken from you permanently by the government.

These forfeiture laws were originally pitched as a mechanism to cripple large criminal enterprises by seizing their resources.  Because many of these statutes are deeply flawed many police departments use forfeiture to fatten their bottom line making seizures a means of profit instead of crime fighting. 

Forfeiture laws pose one of the greatest threats to property rights in our nation.  These laws encourage law enforcement to favor the pursuit of property  over the pursuit of justice.  Citizens are encouraged to be vigilant when it comes to action by government without criminal due process protections.  Abuses of forfeiture proceedings have been well documented.

Between 2001 and 2018, Texas law enforcement agencies forfeited more than $781 million under Texas law.  In Texas, law enforcement doesn't need to arrest, charge, or convict someone to seize your property.  All that is required is a need to articulate probable cause based upon the officer's suspicion that it is linked to criminal activity; or even that it could be used to facilitate a future crime that hasn't even been committed yet.  

Texas prosecutors rush to civil court - not criminal court - to use this flimsy standard.  In criminal court you have a right to counsel and the government must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.  Neither of which apply in forfeiture cases.

Be grateful you live in Wisconsin and not Texas or another state with flawed laws on their books.  On April 3, 2018, Governor Scott Walker signed Wisconsin Act 211, a bill that changed the rules the State has to follow when it seeks to forfeit property seized in relation to a crime.  This Act significantly changed Wis. Stat. § 961.55, which had previously permitted law enforcement agencies to seize and later forfeit property, in many cases for their own benefit.  The act now protects citizens whose property is seized but who are not prosecuted or whose criminal case is dismissed.  Furthermore, the fruits of any forfeiture is turned over to Wisconsin's School Fund and not the law enforcement agency that seized the property.  

The most significant change to the old forfeiture law is that if the owner of the property is acquitted or the charges dropped, the court must order that the property be returned within 30 days.  The bill also requires seized property to be returned to innocent owners of the property unless the owners were involved with or knowledgeable about the crime related to their property.

Wisconsin Act 211 restored balance between the power of the state and the rights of its citizens. 

Yet, there is reason to be hopeful.  Last year, a Texas judge allowed a class-action lawsuit to move forward against Harris County over its unconstitutional forfeiture program.  

Everyday citizens, along with help from organizations such as The Institute for Justice are pushing back and fighting back to reform flawed and unjust forfeiture laws. 

Remain vigilant, people.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Three days ago New York Times Cooking contributor Melissa Clark posted the recipe for Kay Chun’s gingery honey and soy glazed chicken. 

I cleaned-up the big kettle grill today and, BOOM!  This happened. The Pantry Warrior strikes again. 

No food stylist was engaged for this photo. 

Chicken-fried rice on-deck tomorrow. 

Happy Easter everyone…

Slippery Milestone

A milestone was reached a couple of weeks ago.  

The US has surpassed the production rate of 113 million barrels per day (BPD) of crude oil, setting a record for the highest production level of any country.  Moreover, in the near-term this trend is expected to continue.

Yup, you read that correctly.  For the moment, we produce more crude than any other nation on the planet.  

Sure, the Saudis could open the taps and turn this all on its head; but that is unlikely to happen as global oil prices continue to afford the House of Saud plenty of profits. 

At risk of straying into Social Identity Theory (BIRG) how does it feel to be Number One? 

As a consequence we export a barrel of crude oil too.  (Pun intended).

US crude oil exports established a record in 2023, averaging 4.1 million barrels BPD, breaking the previous record set in 2022.  In the waning days of the Obama administration the previous ban on most crude oil exports was lifted and with the exception of a hiccup in 2021, the export of crude from the US to the rest of the world has increased every year. 

It is important to note that government does not drill for oil or gas.  Business does.  Technology advances in fracking and horizontal drilling have vastly increased productivity thus enabling businesses in the oil patch to bring more wells on-line all the while maintaining production of existing wells.  Furthermore, most of our domestic production is light, sweet crude; which happens to be a favorite of export markets.

Where does our export oil go?  Since Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine most of it winds-up in Europe.  China was in second place last year with imports doubling those of 2022.  Export sanctions have forced Russia to sell their oil on the world market at a significant discount.  Consequently, US exports to India have fallen by about half as India increased their imports of lower cost Russian crude.

You're probably wondering with all of the record-setting domestic production why hasn't the price of a gallon of gas fallen to $1.50?  The short answer is that oil is a fungible commodity, traded globally and in dollars.  Fungible items are basically interchangeable (you cannot tell one county's oil from the other just by looking at it).  Other commodities, shares of stock, options and dollar bills are all examples of fungible goods.

Because oil is traded globally it is priced according to worldwide supply and demand.  If oil producing nations want to drive the price up; they reduce the supply.  In the unlikely event they want to bring the price down; they increase supply.  

You're probably thinking; "why don't we keep it all to ourselves and have cheap gas and diesel to ourselves?"  The answer is oil does not belong to the government.  We live in a capitalist economy and anybody crazy enough to do that would drive the oil companies out of business turning trillions of dollars of businesses into pumpkins and mice.

That's what Venezuela did.  And we know how that ended.

You're welcome....

 Sources: EIA and Petroleum Supply Monthly

Friday Music

Written and released by Pearl Jam in 2009 this song was the second single from the album Backspacer.  Celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2021, Billboard ranked this song number 14 on its list of the 100 most successful songs in the chart's history.

It's been a long time favorite of mine and it's finally made it to the Friday stage.  I have no excuse for waiting for so long.  

Just Breathe.....

Noteable Quotable

I am your warrior. I am your justice and for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.

- Donald Trump

Perfect Fit

Sometimes when faced with a challenging project the engineering gene kicks-in.

Be sure to follow this blog for more home repair advice.....

 

Recipe of the Day

Dumpling Noodle Soup

By Hetty Lui McKinnon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Time 25 minutes

Keep a package or two of frozen dumplings in your freezer for this warming weeknight meal.
This recipe is loosely inspired by wonton noodle soup, but replaces homemade wontons with
store-bought frozen dumplings for a quick alternative. The soup base, which comes together in just 10 minutes, is surprisingly rich and full-bodied, thanks to the trio of ginger, garlic and
turmeric. Miso paste brings extra savoriness, but you could substitute soy sauce or tamari.
Scale up on veggies if you like; carrots, peas, snow peas or mushrooms would be excellent
additions. Any type of frozen dumpling works in this dish, making it easy to adapt for vegan,
vegetarian or meat-loving diners.  When I next make this I plan to amp-up the veggies and include Asian mushrooms.

Ingredients 

Yield:4 servings

● Kosher salt
● 6 ounces thin dried wheat, egg or rice noodles
● 1 tablespoon sesame oil
● 1 (2-inch) piece ginger, grated
● 2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated
● 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
● 6 cups vegetable stock
● 2 tablespoon white miso paste
● 16 ounces frozen dumplings (not thawed)
●  Bok choy (about 12 ounces), trimmed and each cut into pieces through the stem
● 1 small head broccoli (about 9 ounces), cut into bite-size florets
● Handful of cilantro or chopped scallions, for serving

Preparation

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook according to
package instructions, until the noodles are just tender. Drain, rinse with cold water and
drain well again. Divide them among four serving bowls.
2. Place the same large pot over medium heat, and add sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Stir
and cook for 30 seconds, until aromatic. Add turmeric, and stir for 15 seconds, until
fragrant.
3. Pour the vegetable stock into the pot, then season with 1 teaspoon of salt. Cover and
cook for 8 to 10 minutes on medium heat, to allow flavors to meld.
4. Remove the lid and add the miso paste, stirring constantly until it is dissolved. Taste, and
season with more salt, if needed.
5. Increase the heat to medium-high, and carefully drop the dumplings into the broth. When
they float to the top, add the baby bok choy and broccoli, and cook for about 2 minutes,
just until the broccoli is crisp-tender.
6. Ladle the broth, dumplings, baby bok choy and broccoli into the four bowls over the
noodles. To serve, top with cilantro or chopped scallions.

 

Economics 101

This photo has recently been observed floating in the Face Book cesspool of lazy economic thought.  Because today happens to be March 25 I thought it worthy of sharing.

Judging from the individuals posting, sharing or re-posting this image; the implication is if only the Former Guy was at the helm retail fuel prices would be at these levels.

Ahem.  

These were at those levels four years ago as a consequence of being in the throes of a COVID recession.  Our country's GDP was cratering.  The major market indices were at levels half where they are today.  Unemployment was soaring and small business bankruptcies reaching levels unseen since the Great Depression. 

I happen to believe that presidents get too much blame for bad economies and take too much credit for strong economies.  Truthfully, it is a heavy lift for a president to move something as complex as the US economy.  Nevertheless, if you believe in market economics and do not indulge yourself in magical wishful thinking it's rather simple.

No traveling + minimal demand + increased supply = low prices 

I'll remember that in November.

And be careful what you ask for.  You might just get it.....

March Night Sky

March’s full moon is frequently called the Full Worm Moon.  The story goes this is because of the earthworms that wriggle out of the ground as the earth begins to thaw in March.  As a consequence some Native American Tribes referred to it as the Worm Moon and the return of robins to feast on the emerging worms.

The fact of the matter is that Northern tribes would not have embraced this name for the March moon as there were no earthworms. A Southern tribe maybe – but certainly not a Northern tribe.

Historically, earthworms did not exist in the northern reaches of continental North America. The ice sheets of the last glaciation wiped them out. All of the earthworms and night crawlers we see nowadays were introduced by European colonists – brought here in plant root balls and soil used as ship ballast. That’s right – earthworms are invasive species.  But I digress.

Northern American tribes such as the Shawnee tribe know this as the Sap Moon - a reminder for the tribes that they can begin tapping maple trees for the making of syrup.

In general, March’s full moon is known as a herald for the beginning of spring and new agricultural cycles. The European settlers referred to this as the Lenten Moon and as a way to measure the progress of their crops. They called it the Storm Moon if the weather was inclement – an indicator their crops might fail. Under ideal growing conditions they called it the Rugged Moon – a sign of a successful harvest that year.

One of its other names is the Chaste Moon, symbolizing the purity of early spring. The Pueblo tribe named it the Moon When the Leaves Break Forth, The Cree called it the Goose Moon, while in Shoshone culture it was known as the Warming Moon. The Ojibwe called the the Crows Come Back Moon, after the crows and other birds that appear as winter draws to a close.  It is also called the Crust Moon, because of the snow that becomes crusty when it thaws in the sun and freezes in the moonlight.

In my latitude the moon will be at its fullest on Monday morning at 1:00 AM. 

Raise The Libido Bar

I just love eating oysters.  As they say at Wintzell's Oyster House; nude fried or stewed. Whenever I get close to a saltwater coast oysters are in my sights. 

Is there anything to the notion that a steady diet of oysters will boost your libido?

The legendary lover, Giacomo Casanova would dine on fifty raw oysters before setting out seeking sexual conquest.  Napoleon feasted on oysters before battle.  Roman orgies featured oysters too.

Scientists suggest that the briny mollusks do contain large amounts of zinc; an element associated with male fertility and improved testosterone  levels.  Zinc influences dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, which might possibly influence arousal levels in both sexes.  Of course you can enhance your dopamine levels with vigorous exercise too. 

There is an amino acid - D-Aspartic Acid - which may improve testosterone levels; in animals.  Alas, there is no conclusive evidence this enhances the sex drive in humans.

Or maybe sitting down to a dozen raw delicacies and a frosty Yuengling Lager is so incredibly yummy-good that it puts you in the mood for other extracurricular, post meal possibilities?  

If something works, do more of it.  If it doesn't; do something else.

Learn more about this subject here.

  

Hunting Dog

There are no upland game birds to  legally hunt this time of year.   Although I wouldn't rule-out a half day hunt at a game farm to put the dog on some birds and see how she does.

Nevertheless, I've got a good feeling about this pup as she seems to intuitively know what to do when we go thru the motions on our daily walk. 

Trail cameras don't miss much...

 

 

 

 

 

More Russian Intrigue

My first thought was a false flag operation with Putin's fingerprints on it to pin the blame on Ukraine.  That may still be the case.

Or not.

Stay-tuned for developments.....

Friday Music

Badfinger was a British rock band that recorded and released four consecutive hits between 1970 to 1972 - Come and Get It (written and produced by Paul McCartney), No Matter What, Day After Day (produced by George Harrison), and Baby Blue (written by Pete Ham and produced by Todd Rundgren).    

As the tale goes it is said that Ham wrote the song about a woman named Dixie Armstrong, whom he had dated during Badfinger's final US tour.  It was the group's last Top 20 single, peaking at number 14 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.  Forty years later the song reemerged to new fame and recognition when it was featured in the series finale of AMC's Breaking Bad - a reference to the distinctive blue methamphetamine produced by Walter White.  

Baby Blue.....

 

Economics 101

Are you better off today than you were four years ago?

How about growth in our county's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?

The first two quarters of 2020 our economy contracted in a hair raising free-fall.

To be clear, I think presidents get too much blame for bad economies and take too much credit for strong economies.  Truthfully, it is a heavy lift for a president to move something as complex as the US economy.  And the former guy appeared to struggle under the strain of the worst pandemic to come along in several generations. 

These numbers are adjusted for inflation, under the current guy we've enjoyed the must robust and sustained GDP growth in a decade.

I find the narrative being pitched by the partisans to be strange... 

Shell Game With A Shell Company

Recently there has been significant chatter in the main stream media about Donald Trump's inability to obtain bonding to advance appeal (and hopefully reversals) of significant judgements due to fraud and defamation convictions.  I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that this is likely made-up reality television drama - a narrative Mr. Trump employs regularly.  Hear me out.

There will be no bankruptcy and nobody is going to seize any Trump properties.

Some time ago Donald Trump set in motion the monetization of Truth Social by means of a thing called a SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company).

 

Unlike a traditional IPO (including troublesome stuff like disclosure or sales, earnings and more) this is not in my wheelhouse; nevertheless, it is an investment opportunity.

If this works as planned Trump will raise sufficient funds to meet the cash bond and probably pocket $3 billion+ of additional walking-around money.

WSJ published excellent coverage yesterday - but it is behind a paywall. This link may work.

 

Stay tuned.....

The Big Tease

 

Taken yesterday afternoon.

Behold one of the resident yard birds who has been taunting my dog from beneath the feeders.

We went out early today to see if we might be able to find this bird (and his ilk) and were unsuccessful. 

The good news is that for the first time, and on her own, the dog bum rushed the big pond launching herself into the icy water scattering three dozen ducks. 

Dog is dry and the ducks are back. 

It is clear the hunting drive is there. Now I have to train the pup to channel it effectively. 

And we may have a dock diver too….

 

Return of the Migrators

With the arrival of migratory song birds a week ago we spent an afternoon cleaning-out nest boxes for our cavity-nesting friends.

A couple of 2023 buck scrapes in the foreground beneath the oak tree branches, a box in the background and our chariot.

 

 

This is a remarkably typical house wren nest.

 

Deployed two new boxes, replaced one (bringing a damaged box home for repair).  

 

And we evicted some white-footed deer mice from several boxes too.

 

Fifty-five total boxes available for occupancy.

 

Raising a toast to affordable housing!

Alarm!

No mistaking the alarm response in the whitetail deer.  It's that raised whitetail waving good bye.

I haven't a clue was spooked the deer in these photos ; nevertheless, every deer hunter I know can commiserate after being busted...

 

Spring Has Sprung

Today marks the vernal or spring equinox – the astronomical first day of spring here in the northern hemisphere. 

On this day both of earth’s hemispheres receive equal amounts of night and day.  In case you are wondering this is the earliest arrival for this event in more than a century.  For those of us in the northern hemisphere our days will continue to get longer and our hopes for spring continue to grow stronger as spring green-up is about to begin.   

Hubba Hubba. 

There is a long-standing claim that you can stand an egg on its end ONLY during the vernal equinox.  Popular support for this myth is that not only are day and night equalized but gravity is equalized between the earth and the sun on this day.  Alas, it is but fiction.  You can stand an egg on end any day of the year.  Nevertheless, if you wish to engage in a friendly game of deceit I recommend that you let the egg set in the carton with the big side down so that the yolk (and the center of gravity) settles in the wider end of the egg.  To stand the egg on its end, try using a rough surface or an egg that has a bumpy end for better balance.  Bon Chance!  Go forth and fleece someone.  Make sure there's money involved..

In closing I would like to remind my readers to take careful note of the location of today’s sunrise (true east) and sunset (true west).  These compass points mark the celestial equator and the cardinal directions.  As you observe the movement of the sun across the sky each day you will note that it is shifting toward the north.  Birds and butterflies begin their northward migration as a response to this change in daylight following the path of the sun.   

Spring officially begins at 10:06 PM CST. 

Recipe of the Day

 

Hat Tip to the food section of the New York Times. Some days I feel a special kinship with Sam Sifton and Melissa Clark. But I digress. 

 

Anyway, freezing temperatures returned over the weekend and my plan for St. Paddy's Day was for a traditional Irish stew.  So timing was perfect. My only departure from the basic recipe was to substitute our favorite free-range, wild-organic, hand-carved and renewable back forty venison.  Skipped the horseradish sour cream too.

Oven-Braised Guinness Beef Stew With Horseradish Cream

By Sarah DiGregorio

Classic beef stew is good, but this sophisticated beef stew — enriched with beer, cocoa powder and espresso — is really something special. Start by browning the beef and making a quick roux to guarantee a thick, flavorful stew instead of a watery, bland soup, and finish with hit of balsamic vinegar and lemon juice to balance out the rich, round notes. Dried shiitake
mushrooms provide another layer of complexity, but if you can’t find them, leave them out. The stew will still be delicious. Top big bowls of it with swirls of tangy horseradish cream.

Ingredients

Yield:6 servings

● 3 pounds beef chuck, fat trimmed and meat cut into 2-inch pieces
● 2 tablespoons plus ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
● Kosher salt and black pepper
● 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more as needed
● 3 large garlic cloves, chopped
● 2 dried shiitake mushrooms, halved (optional)
● 2 tablespoons tomato paste
● 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar
● 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
● 1 teaspoon onion powder
● ½ teaspoon caraway seeds
● ½ teaspoon instant espresso powder
● 2½ cups Guinness or other stout beer
● 2½ cups beef stock or broth
● 2 fresh thyme sprigs
● 1 pound red or Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1- to 2-inch pieces
● 1 to 1½ pounds root vegetables, such as carrots, turnips, rutabaga, celery root and
    parsnips, peeled and cut into 1- to 2-inch pieces
● 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
● 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
● 1 teaspoon lemon juice, plus more to taste
● ¾ cup sour cream
● 3 tablespoons jarred horseradish
● ¼ cup minced scallions or chives

Preparation

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the beef and 2 tablespoons flour.
Season generously with salt and pepper and toss to coat. In a Dutch oven, heat 2
tablespoons vegetable oil over medium-high. Working in batches, add the beef and let it
brown on two sides, about 2 minutes per side. Add a bit more oil if the meat sticks. (You
can brown it on more than two sides if you have time, but browning it on two sides is
enough to build flavor and texture.) Transfer the browned beef to a bowl or plate.
2. Make the gravy: Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the remaining 2 tablespoons
oil. Add the garlic, dried shiitakes (if using), tomato paste, brown sugar, cocoa, onion
powder, caraway seeds and espresso powder. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture
is fragrant and evenly combined, 1 to 2 minutes. (Reduce the heat to low or remove from
the heat temporarily if the bottom of the pan threatens to burn.) Add the remaining ⅓ cup
flour and cook, stirring and scraping constantly, until the mixture forms a thick, dry paste,
about 1 minute. Add the beer and stock. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil,
whisking constantly to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it boil
until smooth and thickened, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper and remove
from the heat.
3. Add the beef and any juices, thyme, potatoes and root vegetables. Cover and transfer to
the oven. Cook until the beef and vegetables are tender, 2 to 2½ hours.
4. Add the vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. Taste, and season with more
salt, pepper and lemon juice if necessary. (If the stew tastes flat, add more lemon juice
first, then more salt and pepper; acid is key to making it taste lively. It may need a
surprising amount of salt, especially if you have used unsalted or low-salt stock.) Discard
the thyme.
5. Make the horseradish cream: Stir together the sour cream, horseradish and scallions in
a small bowl. Season with salt. Serve stew in bowls with a spoonful of the horseradish
cream on top.

Mise en place

Brown venison in small batches

Assemble everything and braise it low and slow in the oven

Excellent table fare - this recipe is a keeper

 

Feels Like Spring Lately

Nevertheless, the astronomical first day of spring here in the northern hemisphere is tomorrow; with the arrival of the spring equinox.

That said, we've scored some spectacularly warm days lately that are mindful of summer weather.  Just the other day I popped-open the windows on the west side of the house so I could watch the news with a glass of Merlot and listen to the finches feeding just the other side of the screen.

There has also been several porch beer days in the 70F sunshine.

And the first patio burger; loaded with Poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Hetero-cyclic amines and advanced glycation end products.  All of this notwithstanding; real men grill on charcoal.

I have lived to bear witness….

Guinness

As a proud member of the 10.5% of the US population blessed with Irish blood I would like to raise a toast to the long and distinguished line of McCarty and McNulty ancestors on my mother Grace's side of the family.

And to all of my friends - May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.  

I know mine is.

Slàinte!

The Walls Have Ears

In Medieval times it was said that if you were in someone else's castle beware what you speak.  The walls have ears.  Nowadays, we don't have castles where bad people can eavesdrop on your conversations.  We have devices that can do that and much, much more.  Technology is ubiquitous and data can be swept-up and used for all sorts of noble or nefarious purposes.

If you’ve been following the drama in Washington DC lately this may be of interest. 

Communist Red China is always watching.  And I’m not talking about spy balloons.  

Under the law in China, any company must cooperate with the government.  So if you've got TikTok on your phone, you may want to watch your back.

However, there is an even scarier company out there, it's called META. 

Both companies collect the same data, but Zuckerberg  takes this a step further.  He takes your data, bundles it and sells it to scammers. 

This is video is worth a watch. Less than three minutes….

 

A Wee Bit O'Blarney

Kilfenora - Ireland

The Feast Day of Saint Patrick has taken-on more significance for me since we traveled and visited the Old Sod of my ancestors November, 2019.  Unless you are oblivious it is obvious that the Republic of Ireland is most assuredly a bastion of the Roman Catholic tradition of the Christian faith.  And I suppose more than a few visitors are left with the impression that Ireland is - in some official capacity - a Catholic country.  While Catholics significantly outnumber all other faith traditions in Ireland, there is no reference to Catholicism in the Irish Constitution.  Ireland is officially a secular state and tolerates all belief systems.  Of course, on my visit not even once did I spy a Lutheran church.  But I digress.

Getting back to the Feast Day the story of Ireland’s Patron Saint persists and you readers are likely wondering if St. Patrick really did chase the snakes out of Ireland.  Or is that tale just a bunch of blarney?        

According to the tale way back in the fifth century the legendary priest raised his staff and banished the reptiles into the seas surrounding the Emerald Isle.  Save for those in captivity it is true that Ireland has no snakes.  But this current condition has less to do with religious tradition and more to do with geologic history and events dating many millennia ago.  Following the retreat of the last glaciers some 15,000 years ago Ireland was devoid of snakes.  Surrounded by icy waters to this very day snakes cannot swim or find their way there and as a consequence Ireland remains snake-free.         

That’s too bad because if my recreational DNA test is to be believed I am becoming more Irish with every passing year.  And I have a particular fondness for snakes. The bigger the better.   

 Like this dandy five foot long Western Fox Snake.  I also like a good saint when I see one and St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish.         

Patrick was born of aristocratic blood in Britain probably around the year 390.  The legend says that he was not particularly religious.  At age 16 he was kidnapped into slavery was forced into life as a sheepherder in Ireland.  It is held that it was during this time that he found God and became a believer.         

As the story goes he began hearing voices and the voices instructed him to flee.  Which he did.  Patrick eventually found his way back to Britain and his family.  Alas, the voices returned commanding him to return to Ireland.  He was ordained a priest, went back to Ireland and spent the balance of a rather difficult life converting the pagan Celts to Christianity.  He died on March 17, 461 and was promptly forgotten.      

Nevertheless, over many years faithful conviction and belief in the story of Patrick grew.  And he grew ever larger after his death than he did in real life.  Hundreds of years after the fact he was honored as Ireland’s patron saint.         

So on March 17th we gather to pay homage to this saint who - ostensibly - banished the snakes from Ireland.  It is said that on this one day of the year everyone is Irish.          

Since I have real Irish blood coursing through my veins I intend to raise a glass of Guinness and toast my ancestors and Saint Patrick.  I will ignore the part about the sketchy British and Western European connection.         

Speaking of Guinness - according to the Guinness people somewhere around 5.5 million pints of Guinness stout are consumed world-wide each and every day.  On St. Patrick’s Day this will grow to 13 million pints.     

Drink responsibly people.         

Sláinte!

The Red Rocket

 

Newton's First Law of Motion, also known as the Law of Inertia, states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Our Red Rocket is further evidence of this immutable truth…

Friday Music

This is one of my personal Top Ten Tunes.  And this video is the first published on the blog to launch some of the oddball music that finds its way here every Friday. 

Originally released on The Moody Blues 1967 album Days of Future Passed - a concept album chronicling a typical day – this song was subsequently released as a single in 1968. 

According to an interview with Justin Hayward, he composed this tune while sitting in the middle of a field near his home in England on a beautiful spring afternoon. He claims that he had his acoustic guitar in hand and the song just came to him. The song features Hayward on lead vocals and acoustic guitar. The backing melody comes from the mellotron, which was played by Mike Pinder. There is also a short flute solo at the end played by Ray Thomas. 

Fun Fact:  The jeans worn by Ray Thomas in this video are identical to jeans I wore in 1969.  Tie-dyed with black spattered ink accents.  High style.  Traveling in Germany that summer  my trousers would periodically draw the gaze of the locals and hushed comments like:  Das Hosen! Good taste, Ray.  But I might have beat you to it.

Tuesday Afternoon.....  

Economics 101

Are you better off today than you were four years ago?

In March of 2020 the unemployment rate was at 4.4 percent.  By the time April rolled-around it had risen to 14.8 percent!

To be clear, I think presidents get too much blame for bad economies and take too much credit for strong economies.  Truthfully, it is a heavy lift for a president to move something as complex as the US economy.  Nevertheless, under the current guy the unemployment rate has been under 4 percent for 24 consecutive months.

March Night Sky

It is this month that we bid adieu to lovely Venus in the morning sky.  Since last summer this brilliant planet has greeted the early riser.  Alas, Venus has fallen lower on the horizon and is rising closer to sunrise becoming more difficult to see and will soon disappear in the predawn eastern horizon by the end of the month.

Mars and Saturn continue to battle the bright glow of dawn.  Mars is ascending in the morning sky with Saturn following twenty minutes later. Use binoculars.

A couple of evening planets are much easier to see.  Jupiter is situated prominently in the west-southwest sky after sunset.  Be sure to catch the pairing of Jupiter and the crescent moon this evening.

Mercury materializes later this month shining brightly, low in the western sky, well to the lower right of Jupiter.  March offers an excellent opportunity to observe Mercury.