Trail Camera Mix

A lot of different critters show-up regularly (or periodically) on my trail cameras.  Like these, for instance...

A coyote

A fox squirrel

A skunk

Someone's trailing hounds chasing a coyote

A grouse

Some whitetail deer

And a Timber Doodle (American Woodcock)

If you build it they will come.  Sometimes the same old thang; sometimes something different...

Friday Music

From the fifth studio album cut by Dire Straits this was released in May of 1985.  It was the first album in history to sell over one million copies in CD format.

Of course, my daily drive back then was a 1984 Subaru RX Turbo outfitted with a six speaker sound system including a cassette player.

I still have the album on cassette.  In my pick-up truck.

Brothers In Arms.......

Molson Canadian

OK.

One more....

First Tractor

In my life I've owned two of these; a 1950 and a 1952 8N.  They're both gone now; but they were my workhorses in the early years.

The Ford N-Series refers to a line of tractors produced by Ford from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. These tractors revolutionized farming with their affordability, reliability, and ease of use. The series includes some of the most famous tractors in history.

Key Models:

1. 9N (1939-1942)

   • First model in the series, introduced in 1939.
   • Featured a 3-speed transmission.
   • Used the Ferguson three-point hitch system, which became a standard in the industry.

2. 2N (1942-1947)

   • Introduced during World War II with minor improvements.
   • Had steel wheels and magneto ignition in some versions due to wartime material shortages.

3. 8N (1947-1952)

   • The most popular of the N-Series, with over 500,000 units produced.
   • Featured a 4-speed transmission and improved hydraulics.
   • Increased horsepower and other refinements made it one of the best-selling tractors of its time.

Impact of the N-Series:

• The Ford N-Series tractors were pivotal in mechanizing small farms across America.
• They introduced affordable, easy-to-maintain tractors to a broader market.
• The success of the N-Series helped establish Ford as a major player in the agricultural equipment industry.

Follow The Money

The Wisconsin Supreme Court election was held yesterday with candidate Susan Crawford besting Brad Schimel in what everyone has concluded was very much a national race.  And by any measure the costliest judicial race in our country's history.

With ideological control of the court again at stake, the race shattered the record set just two years ago. Through April 1, WisPolitics tracked $107 million in overall spending through independent expenditure filings with the state, data from AdImpact, information from media buyers and sources with knowledge of the efforts. That includes $58.2 million by Schimel and those supporting him and $48.8 million by Crawford and those backing her.

Still, no donor was more influential than Elon Musk.  

The billionaire oligarch and top aide to President Trump plus two aligned PACs put in more than  $24 million, according to the WisPolitics tally. That includes $12.6 million by America PAC and another nearly $8.7 million by Building America’s Future PAC. 

Oh Boy, Howdy!

Key Points

• Records show that more than 100,000 people from all 50 states have sent money to the campaigns of liberal Susan Crawford and conservative Brad Schimel in hopes of helping them across the finish line.
• Overall, Crawford has raised more than $26 million, almost double the $14 million Schimel has raised.
• Some 77% of Crawford's donors come from outside Wisconsin, compared with only 13% of Schimel's backers. Still, both drew the bulk of their cash from Wisconsinites.
  

 

Link to excellent local coverage of the donor class for each candidate.

Liberation Day

According to the interweb April 2 is National Ferret Day - a day to celebrate these lively and intelligent companion animals.  President Trump has declared that today is Liberation Day - and is kicking-off a Rose Garden celebration later today with a fresh round of tariffs on global trade.

It is no secret that the president and his minions have clashed with mainstream economists for just about forever over the merits of what White House economic advisor Peter Navarro has described as the largest peacetime tax increase in American history.  Beginning today I suppose we'll learn who's right as global reciprocal tariffs are announced; including a whopping 25% tariff imposed on big ticket items such as imported vehicles and overseas parts used in the assembly of automobiles. The president has promised these tariffs are permanent.

The president is insistent that tariffs will have the straightforward effect that manufacturers will move factories and assembly operations to the US thereby creating more American jobs and universal prosperity.  Of course, the president has not addressed the billions upon billions of dollars associated with re-shoring overseas manufacturing and supply lines that have evolved over decades.  Or the exceedingly long timeline associated with this.  A timeline long enough that he won't be president when American companies even get close to making it happen.

For those eggheads in the economic community the impact of tariffs is anything but simple.  Over the long run they might encourage domestic automobile production; yet in the short term they might also cause substantial collateral damage to jobs growth and the economy writ large.

Logically, the impact of tariffs will raise the price of imported goods discouraging the purchase of automobiles, damaging supply chains, reducing US car production and slowing the economy.  Stagflation - an economic portmanteau of slow economic growth combined with rising unemployment and persistent inflation would be an unwelcome ghost of Christmas Past; both here and abroad.

Earlier last month the President convened the CEOs of the country's largest automakers where he warned them: They better not  raise car prices because of tariffs. 

I suppose in the weeks and months ahead we'll learn whether (or not) retribution will be visited-upon automobile companies or their executives face punishment if they increase prices.

For the present, dealers have stockpiled a two to three month inventory of vehicles meaning that the impact of tariffs will not be manifest until late spring.  At that point, Morgan Stanley analysts have suggested that vehicle prices could rise 11% to 12% to offset the tax increase.

Meanwhile, I'm going to pay close attention to the market's response to this.  And while doing so I'll be pondering policy under this administration and whether (or not) it will improve your and my prosperity and general lot in life.  And maybe make the world a safer place.  Time will tell.....

Government Center

 Seen at the county government center.....

 

Foolish Is As Foolish Does

The history of April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved from March 25 - April 1 (new year's week) to January 1.

Communication traveled slowly in those days and some people were only informed of the change several years later. Still others, who were more rebellious, refused to acknowledge the change and continued to celebrate on the last day of the former celebration, April 1.

These people were labeled "fools" by the general populace, were subject to ridicule and sent on "fool errands," sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played upon them. The butts of these pranks became known as a "poisson d'avril" or "April fish" because a young naive fish is easily caught. In addition, one common practice was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke.

This harassment evolved over time and a custom of prank-playing continue on the first day of April. This tradition eventually spread elsewhere to Britain and Scotland in the 18th century and was introduced to the American colonies by the English and the French. Because of this spread to other countries, April Fool's Day has taken on an international flavor with each country celebrating the holiday in its own way.

In 1996 the Taco Bell Corporation announced it had bought the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was housed to express their anger. Their nerves were only calmed when Taco Bell revealed, a few hours later, that it was all a practical joke. The best line of the day came when White House press secretary Mike McCurry was asked about the sale. Thinking on his feet, he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold. It would now be known, he said, as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.

Here's some inspiration.....