Conversation with Kathleen Parker, Columnist

This is an exchange I had with Kathleen Parker, columnist with the Orlando Sentinel in reference to her put down column of bloggers. HDH
----------------
Forwarded Message:
Subj: Re: Blogs
Date: 12/30/2005 5:08:01 A.M. Pacific Standard Time
From: kparker1@mindspring.com
Reply-to: kparker@kparker.com
To: Hhuseland@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)



Don't feel betrayed. I spotted you for a philosopher. (That's why I used that word - to give enough space to include all of those smart bloggers out there who don't fall into a particular category) And, of course, not all bloggers are alike, just as not all of us journalists are part of the smear known as the MSM. Some bloggers, in fact, are fabulous and I've written extensively about them. But the mob mentality of the blogosphere is troubling and good bloggers ought to recognize that. I suspect many do. Among the many differences, which I should have mentioned, is that bloggers (so far) don't get sued for defamation, libel and slander and are not held to the standards professional journalists are. When we mess up, we are unemployed and unemployable. Perhaps, too, you have to have seen your own head on that stick a few times to know of what I have written.

All best,
Kathleen
----- Original Message -----
From: Hhuseland@aol.com
To: kparker@orlandosentinel.com
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 1:28 AM
Subject: Blogs


Ah, Kathleen, I feel betrayed. I am a blogger, with a three year high school journalism education. I don't rightly know whether I'm into narcissism or just a bore. What I think I am, is a senior citizen that has seen much, lived much, and possibly has something to share.

I read your columns in the Spokesman-Review, which is located in Spokane, Washington. I live in a little town called Bayview, in Idaho, about 70 miles from Spokane.

My blog covers everything from what I call humor,world events, and local stuff. Just two hours ago, the night reporter for the Spokesman-Review called me to check out a breaking story here in Bayview.

I recognize that there are many infantile bloggers that just want to see their four letter words in print. I'm not one of them.

We have a guy, Dave Oliveria, Associate Editor for the Spokesman-Review, that has an on-line column called "Huckleberries". (A local thing) He links to other blogs, (mine included)

The best away to check me out is to log on to my blog, either independently, or through the spokesmanreview.com/blogs/hbo.

Mine is Bayviews.blogspot.com.

I am, if you bother to check further, a moderately conservative guy, and think a lot along the lines that you write. Please don't lump us serious amateurs with the screwballs.

Herb Huseland
Bayview, Idaho

Senseless Vandalism

I have seen, in my 67 years, many senseless acts. I don't think that I can remember anything like hit Bayview last night.

Posters were ripped down from the local businesses. Two marinas were attacked viciously. Locked marina doors were kicked down, and many boats vandalized.

From the sparse information that we have, while a few things were stolen, mostly it was just senseless destruction.

In talking to Jeff Barden, General Manager of the Waterford Park Marinas, He indicated that the criminals got around the newly installed security gates on the docks, probably due to the low water level. They then forced open the doors to the secure covered docks. They proceeded to demolish many privately owned boats, for no apparent reason. While a few things were stolen, most damage was simple destruction.

Most of the affected boat owners are either in Arizona for the Winter, or living in Spokane, Washington, a major city nearby. Contacted by the night desk at the Spokesman-Review, I was able to come up with this information to add to what the paper already had.

Unfortunately for the deadbeats that did this, there were security cameras present that recorded all of the participants faces. As of this posting,and to my knowledge none of the participants have been arrested, but I wouldn't bet on them seeing the New Year in, Saturday Night.

My very First Poem

Dedicated to my Grandchildren...

'Twas the day after Christmas
when all through the land,

A gigantic sound, seemed to abound...

The rustling became a roar,
it wouldn't fit through the door...

Wrapping paper in a dash, heading for the trash...
Dumpster guards all plead, don't let this last...

Reds, greens, tinsel galore,
look out the closet, shut the door...

Children play joyfully, unwrapping the gift,
after all is done, the box heads the list...

The credit card statements bang at the door,
hoping until next year, please, no more...

Grandpa Herb

Merry Christmas, Etc.

Much has recently been written pro and con regarding the appropriate season's greeting. Sunday, Paul Turner, of the Slice, a feature writer for the Spokesman-Review, devoted almost his entire column to an anti-Christmas message, ending by calling the arguement political.

For many reasons this year, this discussion has raged. I personally think it is not just Christmas, and definitely not political, at least not for most of us. Whether it's Christmas or Hanukkah, or just Boxing Day, the Winter holidays mean something to most of us. I believe that what is really being fought in the trenches, is the loss of tradition, whether religious or other.

First, we eliminated Lincoln's Birthday. (It irritated some Southerners) Then the father of our Country, George Washington was judged not to be worthy. We invented President's Day...A poor way to celebrate nothing, but hey, we saved a vacation day, didn't we. Martin Luther King, Jr. Was elevated past these two fine presidents, in what appears, his greatness aside, a political act in it's entirety.

Patriotism? Long gone. We don't even do the pledge of allegiance in school anymore.
Veteran's Day? "Hey, Dad,what are all them old men in their funny hats doing walking down the street? Can I have another hotdog"?

I firmly believe two things. One, please, Paul, go back to collecting cute, trite, little experiences for your column and stay out of issues that are too deep for you. Second, in just one generation we have lost these and many more traditions. Traditions that are the glue that holds us together as a nation and as a a society.

I believe that we need to fight for the return of sanity and allow the multitude of ideas and religions to flourish without the naysayers.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, good night...

Herb Huseland

Christmas

We have read many things this Christmas Season. Some have been very critical, like Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus will somehow injure them. I haven't read anything critical about the Jewish holidays, or for that matter, about Ramadan.

The reason for these attitudes? I think that some civil libertarians have gone way too extreme in the "separation of church and state". First, that isn't what the constitution says. The U.S. constitution merely states that our government cannot establish a state religion.

This should not be construed, as I fear it has, as license for atheists to firmly establish THEIR religion, or lack thereof. Some arguments are that Sunday and Christmas are pagan holidays. Well, it is true of course that the early Roman Church established Sunday instead of Saturday as the new Sabbath. By the same method, Christmas day was arbitrarily set up on December 25.

There isn't much doubt that pagan "Sun" worship in pre-Christian Rome had some of these holidays. I submit that the tradition is what is real, not the argument as to date placement. That the Roman Empire felt it necessary to blend Christianity in with what then was familiar is arguable. However, my blog wasn't up and running back then, and my opinion wasn't asked.

To summarize, I am one of those hateful Christians who doesn't believe that because Rome diddled with some of the facts and traditions, that the birth of Christ is any less valid, or important. I will wake up Christmas Morning with two thoughts. The first, my thanks for the job Jesus did, and secondly, how about those Seahawks...

Merry Christmas to all that believe, and Happy Holidays to the rest of you.

Herb

Bayview Fundraiser

Jerry and Carly Berry asked me to thank the many people that made the fundraiser for Jerry a great success. The Captain's Wheel was jammed with well wishers that put the Christmas Spirit to work as the night was a great outpouring of friendship.

We are all hoping for the best, as Jerry proceeds with treatment for Pancreatic Cancer. I would like to remind all that there is an account set up at Wells Fargo Bank in Hayden for donations for Jerry's very expensive treatment.

A Town Called Waterford Park

Bayview is a small unincorporated spot of unusual beauty. Nestled in one of the few protected bays on Lake Pend Orielle, it lay undiscovered, eight miles off the highway until recently.

Big money hit town with a vengeance. With Three underachieving resorts for sale, a development firm called Waterford Park Homes entered the picture. First Vista Bay Marina was purchased. Then followed closely by Boileau's Resort including the Button Hook Restaurant, and Bayview Marina.

Following the purchase of three of the six existing resorts in town, they went on to purchase the town trailer park and the Scenic Motel. Bayview is fast becoming a company town. The goal of the company is presumably to become a Summer version of Sun Valley. A destination resort playground for the very wealthy.

While I personally applaud the investment in tired ownership situations, one wonders when it's too much. I don't believe one company should dominate any town or village. One starts to feel like it's the middle ages again with the royalty vs. Peasants.

This Summer season, the Buttonhook Restaurant was leased and operated by Dan and Wendy Talerico. After closing seasonally, they were informed that some of Waterford's management wanted to play with it next year. Renewal of the lease was refused. This after a large investment in the business by the lessees.

I don't know at what point an illegal monopoly occurs. Perhaps there are readers out there that could offer opinions. This town of Bayview is becoming a town named Waterford Park...

Winter Weather

I have come forth to anoint the unwashed and the unanimity, of course. This is about living in North Idaho.

Should you have moved to our fair area in the last 13 or 14 years, you will have experienced maybe one snowy winter, and maybe one ice storm.

BUT, you will have not experienced our equalizer. Equalizer, you ask? Well let me tell you about our equalizers.

They happen about fifteen to twenty years apart. They are all different. They all spell cold, snow, and ice.

Why are they called equalizers? Because that's where we shed unneeded, unwanted and unwelcome relocaters from Southern California.

It would appear that true to form, we get a whole bunch of folks from more temperate climates, that home in on our somewhat dreary landscape. They seem to think that this is paradise. Wrongo, Baby! We are a back woods, gap-teeth, undereducated bunch of Red-Necks that you NEVER want as your neighbor.

This year we are going to meet you out there on the (Highways). (We always put that word in parentheses so real highway folks don't get confused).

Please, even if you are personally willing to die, don't invite us to join you, like speeding with 4-wheel drive. You ever seen 4-wheel drive stop anyone faster?

I write this, actually, snowed in here in Bayview, in the secure knowledge that until some nice young person digs my car out, I'm not your target.

Winter Prediction

I hereby step out on a limb. I predict that winter weather here in Northern Idaho will be a tourist repellent. Starting tomorrow, December 1, were going to get it.

Two low pressure areas meeting just off the coast. One from the North, carrying cold air. The other, carrying heavy moisture from the South.

When the twain shall meet has the weather guessers checking their almanacs in despair. They don't know what's going to happen. Somewhere in the great Northwest we are going to find out. By Friday afternoon traffic will be paralyzed, and I will be comfortable at home. Others won't have the good sense to get out of their own way. You heard it here first!

Crisis in Bayview

Recently, Jerry Berry, owner of the Captain's Wheel restaurant was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. This type is one of the most virulent cancers.

Unlike restaurants in the big city, resort town places such as this are marginal operations at best. They make money in the Summer and lose it back in the winter months. Jerry has Medicare, but no supplemental insurance. Some of his Chemotherapy drugs are not covered by Medicare and will cost $3000.00 per week out of pocket.

Friends of Jerry Berry are banding together for "Love and Life" December 10 at the Captain's Wheel in Bayview from 7:00 to 11:00 P.M. There will be several fund raising events including a silent auction, live auction, raffle and a $10.95 buffet.

Entertainment will be provided by Whiskey Rock. An account has been set up for donations at the Hayden Branch of Wells Fargo Bank. We urge all of you to help if you can... Jerry's survival may hinge upon your help...

Thanksgiving

T'was the night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't sleep.
I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.
The leftovers beckoned, the dark meat and white.
But I fought the temptation with all of my might.

tossing and turning, with anticipation.
The thought of a snack became infatuation.
So I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door,
and gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey, and butters potatoes,
Pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.
I felt myself swelling, so plump and so round
'til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky,
With a mouthful of pudding, and a handful of pie.
But I managed to yell, as I soared past the trees,
Happy eating to all, pass the cranberries please.

May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy have nary a lump,
May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize,
and may your thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs!

Happy thanksgivings to all, and to all a great feast.

Author, Steve Beaudry

Respect

I have given a great deal of thought to the recent, and for that matter, past discussions involving disrespectful references.

I am not a fundamentalist Christian, nor am I an Evangelical Christian, Nor a Moslem or any of the other labels that we use to identify, in some way, how others differ, or are the same as we. It isn't important in this forum at this time to state what my beliefs are. That would detract from the main topic.

That topic is respect. Every day I read the paper, (Spokesman-Review of course) and grind my teeth over the sarcasm and vitriol that spews forth in articles and editorials. Where have good manners gone. Haven't some of you learned to be tolerant of others? It doesn't matter that you disagree with someone else's opinion. What does matter is how you do it.

To insult the belief system, or the base from which a person is coming from is to lose the argument from the start. If you don't have logic and good theory going for you, sarcasm and put downs certainly won't help you either.

My father once said to me, "Herb if you find that you are digging a hole for yourself, the first thing to remember is to let go of the shovel".

I suggest that those of you that insist on basing your arguments on personalities and putdowns, let go of the shovel...

If you need a forum that totally agrees with you, start a new blog entitled "atheists R us"...

Homeless in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

It had to happen sooner or later. I mean, the Coeur d'Alene City Council has always had diversity of sorts. This week, we have topped the heap. The ultimate in democracy. Everywhere in this great country of ours, we have homeless people wandering the streets, looking for a life.

Right here in beautiful downtown Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, we have struck a blow for freedom.

For the very first time in the history of Idaho, and maybe a bunch of other places, we have elected a homeless person to the city council. Coeur d'Alene, I salute you.

As an afterthought, we sincerely hope that Mike Kennedy will find a home soon...It might snow.

Bayview's Best

All of Bayview is collectively holding their breath. Jerry Berry, popular owner of the "Captain's Wheel" Restaurant and night club is seriously ill. We all are hoping and praying that he will recover soon.

Many loyal patrons of the local night spot are donating their time and energies to help out where they can. I would like to encourage all of you to stop by. Tell your waitress to say hi to Jerry.

Springboards

Now that it is firmly established that to succeed in Idaho politics, you merely have to be a DFO blogger, I'm in. No smoke filled rooms for Herb, Baby. On my way to fame and graft, I am.

Skipping over the humdrum meetings with sycophants, avoiding the rotten tomato throwing opposition, thumbing my nose at the party bosses, I'm ready for public service. No need for training or worrying about qualifications. No kissing babies for me. Babes, though, is different.

Skipping over the more mundane things like City Council, after all, I don't live in a city anyway, I'm going for the top.

Is it too late to declare for Governor? No matter, I'll win hands down through write in votes secured through Huckleberries. (Happy days are here again) Oops, wrong party, oh well, no matter, I'll run on both tickets, and win both nominations...

There is only one problem here. We DFO bloggers outnumber the available public offices. Maybe I'll just declare victory now...Otherwise I'll be late for dinner again...

Unlimited Faith

I've spent several days trying to figure out how or whether to write this...

This is a well reported local story. I am not trying to reach local people. That has already been done. This is to get this amazing act of courage out to folks that don't live in the Spokane/North Idaho area.

Several days ago, a Mennonite family was heading to Spokane, Washington to meet up with wife and mother, Carolyn Schrock. Carolyn, pregnant with their sixth child, had gone ahead to shop.

Driving south from Chewelah, Washington, home of a small Mennonite Community, was Jeffrey Schrock and their five children. Driving North, was Clifford Helm. Helm, according to printed reports, crossed over into the oncoming lane, and struck, head-on, the Schrock vehicle.

Jeffrey Schrock, was critically injured. All five children were instantly killed.

When notified, Carolyn Schrock was reported to have said, "It was God's will".

She has since visited the hospital room of the other driver, to comfort him and offer her forgiveness. I can't in my life, remember an example of faith that transcends this one.

I don't necessarily personally believe that the children were taken as a deliberate act of God. He gave us free will, to achieve or screw up as we would. In my mind those two principles oppose each other. But it isn't important here what I believe.

The point here is that this woman's faith was so strong, that rather than collapse at the loss of her entire family of children, she comforted the very person that caused that loss. I am truly awed beyond the ability to express my feelings.

I don't think the Mennonite Religion has Saints. If they did, I believe we have one in Carolyn Schrock.

Desert vs Jungle

Ah! The last day of a seemingly endless desert... Withdrawal at an end...

Huckleberries will be back tomorrow. The jungle that sometimes erupts in huckleberries is by far overshadowed by the desert we have had to endure during Dave's vacation. Why, we bloggers have actually resorted to entertaining each other...

I think I've done some of my best stuff during Dave's vacation, but during the hiatus I doubt we bloggers got the hits that we normally do.

By and large, I think everyone has been reasonably civil to each other, with the possible exception of today, where the debate seems to be heating up along liberal/conservative lines again.

Dave, you are getting back just in time, I think...

Nature's Balance, Right?

Much has been written about the "endangered" Mountain Caribou, including the one in this morning's spokesman-Review, written by James Hagengruber.

Caribou...Cougars... Cougars...Caribou.

Joe Scott, of Bellingham, Washington, as mentioned in the above article, bemoans Canada's policy change, to give up trying to introduce Mountain Caribou into areas that they don't naturally prosper. Namly, the areas bordering Canada and Idaho, in the Selkirk range.

I'm wondering if Joe was in the forefront of the activists campaign of a few years ago, banning the use of dogs in hunting Cougars, and advocating natural selection.

Well, Joe, you've just been batted over the head with a dash of reality. Protection and reintroduction of predators does not bode well for the less hardy species or traditional victims.

You can't have it both ways, pal! Either give up on the artificial introduction of Wolves, Grizzlies and Cougars, or wave bye-bye to Caribou, deer and Elk.

Methinks you have been hoisted on your own petard...

Oh, and by the way, the Selkirk Caribou reside in Idaho. Police your own area, please. We have our own wackos without having to import any from a neighboring State...

My Time Out

For those of you that missed me this week, I've just been busy with my wind-up week at Silverwood. I am fine. To the female person that left a message re: my blog on my cheap answering machine, please e-mail me.

My hearing disability causes me to not hear certain tone ranges, which include the higher voices of the ladies. I've been told it was due to me ingoring my wives during all those years of marriage. I'm at hhuseland@aol.com. No comment on the cause of the hearing loss.

I will be back this week-end with more unsolicited comments about damn near everything. Hang on to your seats, folks.

Navy Base

In a recent inquiry by a local spy, I was asked,"What does the Navy REALLY do at their base in Bayview"?

I thought everyone knew that! It's a support base for the underwater city and U.N. arms factory bubble city between Lakeview and Bayview, Idaho.

You've seen the black helicopters, right? You know, the ones that are going to invade us through Canada? Right there... Flying Saucers? Right there...

The demise of the Blueback fishery? Food for the aliens working beneath the deep waters of South Lake Pend Oreille! Oh, and of course the secret underwater gold mine. I hope I've answered your question, Stebbijo...Oops! Now I guess you're out of the closet, dear...

Spokane Transit Authority

The Transit Authority in Spokane Washington, is typically known by the acronym STA. I didn't feel comfortable titling this blog with STA for fear someone would think it was contracted by unprotected sex.

Today, in the Spokesman-Review, was an editorial about STA. It was one of hundreds over the years. I finally got tired of hearing poor me stories about this abortion.

STA doesn't do well because they are unable or unwilling to separate the two primary goals of public transportation. The first, run it as a business and apply supply and demand principles.

The second, the welfare aspect.

It is all well and good to help underemployed and those more unfortunate than us get to work and the doctor, grocery shopping, etc.

What I am seeing here is that the STA has low ridership. That means that there is more service than the demand calls for.

While helping the needy is a positive thing, it is not the job of Public Transportation to be a welfare agency. If we need to subsidize, have the proper welfare agencies issue bus passes or reduced fare tickets, paid for by the welfare system, not the Bus Company.

As to low ridership, there are two obvious conclusions drawn here. If the transit authority is running buses that are not needed, then cut service. If featherbedding is the issue, if keeping a pre-ordained level of service is the goal, then back to applying good business principles.

Many people will not ride public transportation because of fear for their personal safety. There are some pretty cruddy people that ride this tax supported company.

Clean up your act, STA, then talk to us...

Random Thoughts

I am blessed. So many of you have sent me warm fuzzies, that I'm pressed to wonder why I didn't think of getting cancer sooner. You're all great.

I do, however have one disappointment to share with you...In accessing Cis's blog, there before my eyes, mocking me was her stats.

No! No! Not those kind of stats...I learned that she has 16 Grandchildren. That ties her with me, although, heh! heh! I have THREE Great-grandchildren. On the other hand, I've never been a Mother.

I'm finding that other than I can't stray more than, say, 30 feet from the nearest restroom, the after effects, so far, have been negligible. I still see the Sun come up, read good books, visit with my friends on-line, and rant.

That reminds me. Since DFO has become a recovering flame-thrower, someone has to take up the slack. Finding nobody more qualified, I have nominated myself.

If one considers, where else can you find unassailable opinions that are right on almost always...Well, sometimes...Would you believe once in awhile!

As we float innocently toward the week-end, I will discover some nefarious plot against mankind to expose. Until then...Adios, my friends.

After Effects

As they say, "you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs". This is also true when using radiation as a cancer treatment.

The collateral damage, as they would say in military circles occurs when radioactivity reaches healthy tissue and damages or destroys it.

I'm told I can expect to feel very lethargic for three to four weeks. This may be due to the 5 times I had to get up last night. That's bound to cause sleep deprivation.

Oh well, being lazy is something I'm pretty good at anyway...

I'm still working at the park, handling uniform turn-in and inventory, but should be free to loaf by the end of next week. I just hope I can hold out that long. I may not feel very creative for awhile, but keep checking the blog. I'll try to write something, if for no other reason than to let everyone know I'm alright...

Hanging in there, Herb!

Pearl Harbor

I have witnessed three sneak attacks during my lifetime.

The first, when I was only three years old, was Pearl Harbor, the sneak attack by the Japanese. More than two thousand Naval and Military personnel were killed during that attack.

The second, was the attack on civilians by Moslems. Unable to form effective armies, Arab extremists (read the Koran encouraged) resort to terrorism. The attack on the World Trade Center killed 2726 innocent people.

The third, is on going. It is the attack on the current administration by left wing radicals, including,it seems the majority of the written press. While liberating two countries, Afghanistan and Iraq, bringing a new life to the Kurds, we have lost a total of 2139 lives.

Put into perspective, we lost 386,744 Military and Naval lives in World War two.

We lost 54,246 to death in Korea.

Vietnam deaths totaled 58,152.

All of these deaths were severe blows to the families affected. Still, American Patriots flocked to the banner of freedom...

I can't minimize the 2139 casualties in Iraq. All deaths are a tragedy. What I am attempting to do here is put this all into perspective.

Have we lost the will to defend freedom, or is it just that our media bends the news to reflect their own prejudices.

I am getting old, and maybe it's time. I don't like the direction this country of opportunity is taking. It has always been a statistical certainty that sooner or later the have not's, and underachievers would become the majority, and change this Country irretrevably to something that will resemble the decline of Rome.

I am saddened deeply.

The Bottom Line

It's done. After two plus hours in the stirrups, sixty two radio-active seeds reside in my prostate. I suddenly realized, while undergoing this giant indignity, that I was finally seeing the world from a Woman's point of view.

While I certainly hope that my next crisis is passing away at 90 while peacefully sleeping, (post-coital, of course) I'm glad I had it done. The nice thing about this treatment option, is that it's a one shot thing. No follow-up, except PSA tests to record the demise of the cancer cells.

I drove over to Seattle, in a friend's car. He figured, rightly that I wouldn't feel much like driving, so I played tour guide, while John Wirst, my chauffeur rubber necked. The procedure was done by the Veterans Administration Hospital there. The Doctor, a famous author, Radiologist and UW professor was Kent Wallner.

When I asked what the cost of the treatment would be in a private facility, I was told $30,000 to $45,000. Next time you hear any criticism of the patient care at VA, send them to me!

I'm home, my bottom is sore and it's wonderful to have this over with. Thank you all for caring...

Herb

Comments

Dave Oliveria writes in his on-line column "Huckleberries" that he encourages comments. That started me thinking about my blog. We need comments. When I write something that I am really proud of, and receive no comments, I feel like nobody is out there.

If a tree falls in the forest and there's nobody there, does it make a sound? That's what it feels like when readers go away without letting us know they were there.

I'll be out of town for a few days, as my cancer treatment is in Seattle at the V.A.
I'm getting brackytherapy, which is the implantation of radioactive seeds into the prostate. I'm expecting a full recovery without any serious complications.

I'll be back with a full report, well, maybe an abridged report, on the whole experience.

The Supreme Court

Many people that I meet in my daily life, when asked about their opinion regarding Harriet Miers appointment to the Supreme Court simply don't care. They either shrug their shoulders, saying "it doesn't have anything to do with me," or think it's some Mo-town music thing.

They are wrong. What happens in the next few weeks may effect everyone in very material ways. The next Justice appointed and confirmed will possibly bring about the largest swing in the high court since the ill begotten appointment of Earl Warren.

For several years now, the left wing feminist movement has held on to the "right" of abortion as a given. It hasn't always been that way. Prior the the activist Warren Court, abortion was illegal everywhere in this country. In my opinion, with perhaps a couple exceptions, it should still be. Killing our young is an animal response to stress.

In the old days, prior to legalizing this abhorrent act, it is true that many illegal back alley abortions killed and/or maimed expectant mothers. We now have modern day birth control. Something that we didn't have back then. We will very soon have approval of the "morning after pill". That should take care of rape cases, and some incest as well.

This year and with this appointment of a charismatic Christian woman,the high court will probably at the very least choose to limit abortion to very few circumstances.

We may see a shift from the welfare programs of the past, where we have multi- generational dependence on Government support. A shift back to values, something that many of our youth in these times doesn't seem to have.

Our society is imploding from lack of purpose and moral values. A few changes wouldn't hurt.

President Bush may be smarter that you think...

Editorials, plus and minus

I read each and every editorial in our hometown Spokesman-Review. Most are pushing extreme positions, and almost always are they politically correct.

Well, once in a while a real good one comes along. One did last Sunday. In an editorial that started out about Roberts and the Supreme Court, Andres Martinez of the Los Angeles Times hit a grand-slam.

When asked in hearings whether he would favor the "little guy or the big guy", Roberts replied, who ever is right...

Andres went on to explore the whole subject. He pointed out that targets that are unpopular, such as Tobacco Companies,Accounting Companies and such. Following Enron and other large corruption cases, the Feds went after the accountants. Smoking is more and more unpopular, so burn the companies that make them by using RICO, which is obviously not designed for this.

On the other hand, the Agriculture Department is subsidizing the tobacco growers.
Andres points out that while it is popular to go after unpopular industries, (Big Oil) because voters like that, it's bad law...

I like a guy that swims against the current and tells it like it is!

The Spokesman-Review

I've been musing about my blog, and blogging in general lately. Most of the inspiration for my stuff comes from articles and editorials in the S/R. Not only that, but Dave Oliveria of Spokesman-review.com/blogs/nhb, started most of us in this area, inspired us, then taught us how. When we actually do something interesting, he features it in his, the master of blogs. I wanted to take time out here to say thank you.

Sunday's paper was not an exception. The most hilarious piece was where the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has authorized the killing of an entire pack of re-introduced wolves. You know, the ones that are highly protected? Heavy fines for killing them? Well it turns out that these wolves are killing cows.

Duh!! It has become clear that what is lacking in the protection program is classes on English, the written language. If we had only the foresight to write "COW" on both sides of our livestock, we could, after teaching the wolves how to read, solve the problem.

Or maybe what we need here is a wolf class on discipline. You know, hey wolfy, deer and elk or O.K. but stay away from out cows and sheep! If a wild animal is given the choice between a Rib-eye steak or hamburger it will probably not be able to make the distinction between the right and wrong of it.

If we are going to re-introduce predator species that have disappeared from our forests, we have to first remember why they disappeared. We killed them because we couldn't co-exist with them. The wolves and Grizzlies killed livestock and folks back then. It was war. Survival. Now, we have environmentalists living in places like San Francisco in high rise apartments telling us what is good for the wilderness.

Have you noticed they don't ask us here in North Idaho our opinion? I invite these enviro-nazis to take up hiking and camping...Say on and around Bernard Peak here on the South end of Lake Pend Oreille. (pronounced pond oray) We have a resident Grizzly Bear for you to play with. Invite him to lunch! Or be lunch!

Be our guests. We'd love to have you.

Inheritance Tax

They just never quit, do they? The lead story in the Region section of the Spokesman-Review today,shows the have nots are once again attempting to rob the haves...

An organization calling itself the "United Vision of Idaho" have called on Idaho Senator Crapo to end his support for the repeal of the federal estate tax.

They contend that the loss of revenue from this governmental larceny will suck funds from programs that benefit the low income people. Here is a quote. "We question how anyone can put the interest of 51 millionaires ahead of the interest of...Ordinary Idahoans, " said William Whittaker, a Boise State University professor of social work.

Now, THAT'S a real endorsement for sending your kids to that school. Go to college so that you might learn to steal what someone else has earned, so that you don't have to bother with the work involved yourself. The point here is very simple, people...

The money that these families have accrued belongs to THEM! Just because the have nots outnumber the over achievers does not confer the right of confiscation...

I will go to my grave with part of my last pension check unspent, or not. I am not even close to wealthy. Being poor does not confer the right to take money away from people that were smarter, worked harder and were more dedicated in their careers.

These 51 millionaires so casually sniffed at, are probably the leaders of business and industry that have created jobs and wealth far outweighing their own for the community. Robin Hood, get thee behind me!

My Cancer Treatment

I have had many requests for updates about my prostate cancer and subsequest treatment. Well, actually, there was just one guy that said something to the effect that "would you just shut up about your reproductive stuff"?

I will enter treatment October 12 at 1:00 P.M. Everything being equal, I will exit said treatment at about 2:30 P.M.

I am going to have what is called Brackytherapy. Essentially, that is inserting radioactive isotopes into my prostate.

I have been told that there are certain restrictions...

Such as I can't approach pregnant women with-in six feet. I am happpy to report that this will not be a problem, as no woman has come within that distance for a very long time, pregnant or not.

I do however, now have the prospect of having a beacon...You know, like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer...

Everywhere I go for about two months, a certain portion of my body will glow in the dark. This is really great, since up until now, I've used a night light to find the bathroom.

Hopefully, in six months or so, I will be back to normal.

I send this message, so that you may feel sorry for me as I stand depraved, deprived, and very upbeat about the whole thing...

RITA

My Granddaughter, her husband, and my first Great-Grandchild will flee the Houston area tomorrow morning.

I urged them them to leave tonight, but, alas, the young know more than we do. I explained that fleeing to Waco, due north, was the wrong direction, and that the eye was going to hit Waco, dead on.

I suggested that they go west to San Antonio, which is about the same distance, but should be out of the path of the Eye.

I don't think they are going to listen to me. I pray that they will be safe.

Why is the wisdom of age wasted on the young?

Autumn in North Idaho

I have run out of items to be pissed off about, unless it would be Clinton, breaking away from the bi-partisan effort of the Clinton/Bush fund raising effort.

Instead, I would like to point out the beginning of Autumn. Alas, I don't have the skills of Phil or others, and haven't the slightest idea of how to take electronic pictures, and then in some mysterious way, actually put them on the screen. You see, I am old.

I learned to type before electric typewriters, which, I might add, are already out of style. I am a prisoner of a technology that I haven't a clue about.

It seems only yesterday, that I learned where the on/off button was on my computer. Now, I'm expected to know how to not only check my e-mail, but also, actually go on to the internet, to find out about things I didn't previously know about.

The thought occurs to me, at this time, that maybe, just maybe, this stuff is totally unnecessary.

Have I lived this long, just to discover that information is obsolete, and only impressions are of value?

But enough of that...My tomatoes are doing what they usually do at this time of year...Turn bright green, just before the first frost.

The town drunks are tuning up for the winter, and I don't have a clue as to what I will do, other, than I won't do the rocking chair bit.

On the other hand, the leaves are starting to turn, the harsh 95 degree weather of a few weeks ago are gone, it was a wonderful day today, and will probably be again tomorrow, as Indian Summer slides in. I think it's time to go fishing!!!

Bigotry

I am going to step into the politically incorrect abyss and talk about not just bigotry as seen from people of European descent toward minorities, but all kinds of bigotry and discrimination.

In my last blog, I talked about the blame game, and how both publicly elected officials, and the usual show biz radicals immediately pointed to the White community to scream about discrimination.

We as a society have become accustomed to being called names by the radicals of color, and have even accepted it as their right to do so. If given a mirror image of this principle, it would be considered horrible, unacceptable right wing behavior.

Bullshit! If one accepts, as I do, that we are all equal, then it flows both ways, Baby! Those of us that disagree with the double standard are usually branded as racist, right wing Bigots. Well, Bigotry comes in all sizes, shapes and colors.

To step aside for a moment, have you heard things like, "How long you lived here, huh? Or, you from where? I'm talking about regional bias. We have all kinds of differences. Regional, Race, Country of origin, What School you attended, and on and on and on.

I've had it, and hereafter, will only deal with people just like me, or lacking anyone in that category, people that think just like me. After all, everyone else is (pick your category) and not acceptable.

Blame Game

After reading article after article, editorial after editorial regarding the blame for the Gulf Coast tragedy, I have come to a conclusion.

A disaster, any disaster, whether caused by man, or nature, attracts those that have radical agendas. Writers, and/or special interest groups that hate Bush, or anything Republican, choose the disaster as a vehicle for attack, whether or not logic prevails.

Undoubtedly, the formation of the Homeland Security Department was one of the culprits. Any super agency that is new and untested, as this one, is ripe for bureaucratic bungling. We had a perfectly good FEMA, only to merge it into Homeland Security.

Any agency of the Federal Government is by nature a gigantic slug, made operational only by years of professionals toiling in the trenches, trying to overcome the political insanity that surrounds them. Some are incompetent, others not.

Homeland Security, with the paint still wet on it's office signs, simply wasn't ready yet to do anything of great import. Budgets were still being fought out in the halls of Congress. Executives were still settling in, learning their jobs.

As it was pointed out in this morning's Spokesman-Review, Federal Assistance to the States is only available after the States declare a disaster area.

Perhaps it is time to review the various departments of Homeland Security. It is definitely time to start funding the Coast Guard at higher levels. This department is perhaps the most well trained for disaster relief and at the same time, perpetually under funded.

State and local Governments, and the people that ignored warnings to head for high ground are much more to blame than the Feds. The Mayor of New Orleans can only throw racially motivated knives at Bush, when he would have been much more effective taking charge. Racists, as we are learning, come in all colors.

The Governor of Louisiana, when faced with this challenge, breaks into tears, totally unqualified to lead.

Two words, REACTIVE and PROACTIVE come to mind. Reactive screaming of racial motivation is not the answer... This was simply a case of many incompetent, small people, not being qualified to lead during this horrendous experience.

Perhaps it's time to become proactive, and find solutions, replace those that are not up to the challenges of office or position and learn from this how to do better next time around.

Dear anonymous

I recently wrote a blog, criticizing the Timberlake Fire District for not being able to appreciate the recently departed Fire Chief.

I just read an anonymous comment suggesting that the Chief had covered up an egregious act by one of his staff, and that, in effect, I didn't know what I was talking about.

A tax supported agency such as a fire district is obligated to keep the people that hire them, "read public", informed about important events that affect us all. Hiding behind "It's a personnel issue" and the implication that it's none of our business is bull-poop.

Being uninformed, or worse, misinformed is not a proper function of elected officials. I have no way of determining whether this source was accurate, since they didn't sign their name so that I could follow up.

Being, what I consider, a responsible blogger, I would never alter the known facts to support someone that didn't deserve it. Staying mum on the facts simply encourage rumors, most of which end up being not true.

The key here is the word "KNOWN". If I have served any function here, it would be to get the subject out in the open for others to question.

If the officials involved here know of a criminal act performed by one of the staff, it would be their obligation to report it to the authorities for proper action.

I sign my name to everything I write, whether fact or opinion. It would be helpful that others do the same...

More About Farragut State Park

As a follow up to the previous article, "Massive Tree Kill in Farragut", John Perfect got back to me. It seems that yes, the State killed the many trees by improper use of herbicides.

Unlike most Government Leaders I've met, Perfect was straight forward and honest about it. He regrets the mistake, and indicates that the State will alter the practices to prevent reoccurances.

One of the most picturesque views around, is the drive through Farragut State Park, here in Bayview, Idaho. Unfortunately, that view, as seen through the tunnel-like four miles through the heavily treed route, will never be the same.

Talking to Randall Butts, Park Manager, it seems inevitable that the trees will probably be cut back anyway, as the encroaching tree line imperils traffic, and gives cover to deer, wild turkey and other game animals. One only has to hit a turkey in flight to realize the damage it can cause. I know, I hit one doing 60 MPH.

One point that Perfect made, and was seconded by Butts, was that probably the Park and D.O.T. haven't coordinated their efforts as well as they could. Hopefully, they will put their heads todether for future maintenance, such as the center island, which neither agency keeps up adaquately.

Grand Canyon

I am happy to report that my (ahem) goal oriented brother has actually survived the trek from rim to canyon and back to rim.

His Sons also survived, although with probably longer recovery periods.

I am in awe of this waste of senior citizen energy. My hero is Norm Chad. You know, a beer, and the remote should handle all sporting situations.

Well, I have to sign off now...You know, nap time...

My Brother

I have an older brother. He is Stan Huseland; Author, PR guy, Journalist and Great guy...

Tomorrow, August 29, he and two Sons will hike down the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch, thence back up to the South Rim.

He has always been goal oriented, (stubborn) and not withstanding the 125 degree temperatures, will undoubtedly triumph. I, however, will be looking for a softer spot on the couch, while reading another of my many novels.

I would not try to hike to the corner store at 125 degrees, let alone down the Grand Canyon, and back up. Using my television without a remote is an imposition.

This successful idiot brother of mine will succeed, of course, like he does at anything he sets out to do.

He will turn 70 years old this October.

I love yah, Guy...

Massive Tree Kill in Faraggut Park

For the past six weeks, those of us who travel back and forth through Farragut State Park on Highway 54 have witnessed a large tree kill.

This started, unlike pest kills, where the top new growth of the trees die first. The browning of the needles began at the bottom, soon to become systemic. Hundreds of all varieties of evergreens and others are dying, all on the same schedule.

I contacted the Idaho State Transportation Department, at their Regional headquarters in Hayden, Idaho. I was referred to the district Superintendent of road maintenance. When I brought this phenomenon up to John Perfect, he had not been aware of this previously. He promised to personally inspect the situation and get back to me, which he did promptly.
It appears, where the seemingly obvious was overspray of a defoliant, there are other possible culprits, such as the chloride spray used in the winter, and possibly plowed back into the trees. This is less than obvious, but then I suppose if the hot spell over stressed the trees in combination of the salts, it could be the cause.

To Mr Perfect's credit, rather than gloss over the situation, he is calling in the Silvaculturists from the Department of Lands to diagnose the cause. If it is transportation's problem, he sounded like he would take corrective action.

Until then, we have probably lost hundreds of trees, both on Highway 54, and 95 North of Silverwood Theme Park.

More on this as the situation develops...

Timberlake Fire District implodes

I have lived in Bayview for only ten years... In that time, we had a volunteer Fire Department that was run by well meaning, but poorly trained good old boys.

Two or three years ago, we consolidated with the Athol Fire Department. The partnership with Athol, (wrongly referred to in a recent Spokane Spokesman-Review as Athol Fire Department) and Bayview Fire District occurred. The surviving entity is the Timberlake Fire District, consisting of Athol, Bayview, and Cape Horn.

Several things happened that were very good. First, by consolidating the two weak fire districts, into one, we gained a more powerful taxing district. Secondly, somehow, we managed to capture a great Fire Chief in Rich Graeber.

I have personally witnessed two occasions where the first arrival in the emergency was Rich Graeber. He was a great asset to the community, not just as a fire chief, but as a person. I cannot believe that he left us willingly, or without regret.

We, here in Bayview, and yes, in Athol too, will miss him. But that's not the end to this story. Somehow, politics have overpowered common sense...

Has the desire to be important overcome the desire to have a great fire department? I think so, and so do many others that were shocked to hear the news. I believe that the commissioners needed to be in the limelight, and resented the chief his popularity. How sad!

There will be more from this column on this subject, including full participation in the next Fire District Commissioner election. I'm about throwing the rascals out.

Disenfranchisement

Although many forgot, or ignored it, August 2 was an election day. To most people, it is choice, that determines who and how many vote.

In this case it wasn't! An obscure elective position on the Lakes Highway commission was at stake. Obviously, I live in Bayview, as does the incumbent, Hanson. We have enjoyed, over the years, very good road maintenance from Lakes. Great snow removal, repairs made in a timely manner.

Was this an even playing field? I think not. When I went to the Bayview Community Center, our normal polling place, I found nobody home. The next day, I found out I would have had to drive 24 miles into Hayden to vote. I don't know if the challenger lives in Hayden, or where he lives, but by bending the availability of polling places to the south, I'm quite sure that he picked up a huge advantage, since us local Bayview folks were not served, informed or without extraordinary effort allowed to vote, I claim foul.

I have religiously scanned the Spokesman-Review for information. It must be a slow count, as I have been unable to find out who won this crooked up election.

Prognosis & Treatment options

Well, Part of the waiting is over. For those of you that are sensitive, read no further. What I want is opinions, either by commenting in this blog, or going to my e-mail which is hhuseland@aol.com...

As I have learned, I have two viable options. Radical prostate removal with all of it's be-product, or Brachytherapy, which is the insertion of radioactive seeds.

I'm going to have to make a hard choice here, and would love to hear from anyone whith prior experience. If you wish to comment anonymously, you can do that here.

IF YOU PERSONALLY HAVE GONE THROUGH TIS, OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS, PLEASE RESPOND.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT...

Terry's Cafe

Recently, Don's Cafe, in Bayview, was taken over by Terry Shepherd, and re-named Terry's Cafe. Terry was the long time manager.

Just two or three days before the Fourth week-end, the hot water heater blew up causing a fire that gutted the interior. Since ownership was in transition, the insurance didn't overlap. The financial losses were staggering. The entire community piled in to help clean it up, but help is needed desperately.

Terry has done so much for Bayview and others, including opening her restaurant to the public at Christmas time for the strays far from family.

Saturday, July 16 at 3:00 PM a "Blowout benefit will occur at JD's patio...

All a dollar beer, dogs, chili and pop along with Live music and a prize raffle will be held...

Hopefully this will get at least as much attention as the week-end part at the same location.

Please, if you can, attend this very worthwhile event for a wonderful person and a credit to her community...

If you can't make it and want to donate, please leave a message in the comments section of this blog.

For Men

I remember a friend from awhile back that contracted prostate cancer. The very first thing out of his mouth to me was, "Herb, get a PSA test".

Well, I'd like to say two things. First,and obviously, I would rather not have cancer. Secondly, I realize that it was probably caught in time to treat in several different ways. But the most important point of all, is because I am enrolled in the VA preventive medicine program, I have received a PSA test every six months for the last 2 or 3 years.

This, probably has saved my life...

Every day we read of prominent people, with lts of wealth, dying of prostate cancer. In almost all of those cases, it was diagnosed too late. And by the time sometimes appeared it had spread to the bones, at which time it is not treatable.

As to my attitude, I am just as upbeat as I always was, and am having a ball this Summer. This challenge is just another adventure on the path between birth and death. I am so very fortunate to have a great family, and great friends, here in Bayview, and perhaps beyond.

Please don't be afraid of talking to me about it. I'm not bothered, and will enjoy your interest...

I hope I don't become a single subject blogger that everyone ignores, but from time to time, I feel the need to share information that might just save one or two lives, and then you can thank me as I now thank Sam MacClay, the guy that told me of his problem, in time to find out about my own.

Well, Oh well

The guessing is over....I have prostate cancer...

I'm blessed, however, by the fact that I have treatment through the Spokane VA...

You can't believe, with all of the negative press, how great these people are, and how much they care...

This morning, I recieved a call from the doctors at the medicaL Center. They wanted me to know right now, not to wash around in subtle stuff...I admire that...

I want the facts...My god, and great medical treatment will call the shots...

I will, as previously stated, keep you updated. I have great confidence that everything will turn out all right...

Thank you for your interest...

Greatest Americans

I was very disappointed last week, when I opened this subject. I tried to handle the subject somewhat objectively, knowing that I have a great admiration for Ron Reagan.

I didn't try to reach beyond the five finalists, nor did I seek to unnecessarily put down anyone...

But sure enough, some commentators, had to get sarcastic, and spit vitriol, over some of the finalists, even, I suspect, though they either weren't alive during their time, or certainly not old enough to be politically aware.

It was then that I realized how completely our parents pass on the prejudices of their own lives.

Certainly, there were other great Americans that were left out...

Franklin Roosevelt, certainly deserved a spot, and many others...I just wish that we could all just debate the issues, instead of stooping to insults, innuendos and echoes of our parents. If you can't think of any other way to comment, then shut up...Let the more thoughtful among us be heard...

Health Update

Today was the day...

I went into the V.A. for a needle biopsy, which went smoothly...

It will be about one week until I get results. The scan that accompanies the biopsy showed three bumps, which could be calcium deposits, or tumors. One can only wait and see.

In the mean time, live today, for tomorrow.......

Greatest Americans

AOL has all week been holding an election for the top American of all time.

The finalists are as follows...

Benjamin Franklin
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Abraham Lincoln
Ronald Reagan
George Washington

I honestly don't know how you can objectively choose between these great Americans...

Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor, a great statesman, and may have been principally responsible for the French intervention in the Revolutionary War...

Martin Luther King, Jr., of course is known as the one single American most responsible for directing attention to the plight of the Black Americans that were still not getting full Citizenship, or justice. I still have chills when I hear replays of his great speech, "I Have a Dream"...

Abraham Lincoln was the president during a time of great turmoil. While the industrial North was doing well, the Agricultural South, depending upon slavery, was not going to follow his lead, and of course didn't...He held the nation together, at a time that no one thought it was possible...

Ronald Reagan inherited his office, after the previous President, a nice man, but an ignorant one, had, much like the Truman administration, following the second world war, with the Navy decimated, the Air Force raped, and the Army cut to one third of it's previous strength.

He, during his term of office,managed to rebuild the Armed Forces to a level that could not only compete, but actually sank the Soviet Union...He of course, along with Congress, ran up a large national debt, which some folks still blame him for, without looking at the reasons therefor.

This man, in his own time, managed to turn the world around by the strength of his will, during a time that television and the media well surpast any media that existed during the previous persons lives...

George Washington...How can anyone choose above him, yet, was he a great statesman, or just a great General...

I confess, that faced with these great choices, why should we be force to choose...

I am thankful that we have had them all, in their chosen, or forced into roles...

I can't see where anyone can choose between these great men, certainly not me...

Mariners

I have a plan...

Watching the Mariners play inter-league, I have come to the obvious conclusion. We need to petition Major league baseball for a change of league. As near as I can figure, if we switch to the National League, we're in first place.

We whipped San Diego, thence Tampa Bay, Philly, and now the Mets...

Whata you think, CDA Dave? DFO?

I rest my case...

PS: In doing spell check on "Mariners", the option is "Mourners".

Boy is THAT symbolism!

Grandchildren

I have, for the last few days, been entertaining my youngest Son, Daughter-in-law, and three delightful grandchildren. Actually, they have been entertaining me.

My Son is a missionary in England. My grandchildren, ages 7, 4, and 2 are all young ladies. The youngest two, I had never met, as they were born in England.

The picture of myself and the youngest, below, says it all. I had a wonderful time, and hope that they did too. We went to Silverwood, where yours truly works. None of the kids had ever been to a theme park and were thrilled with the magic show and the juggler, plus the many rides that they took.

I miss them already...

This is what Grandpa likes to do in his spare time...
Posted by Hello

Wailting for another sunny day
Posted by Hello

If I could, would you

I am a poorly trained blogger. Having arrived at the ripe age of 67, I'm very lucky that I can find and understand the function of the on/off switch.

Having said that, I am irretrievably sucked in to this amazing stuff. One thing, though that escapes me, is how to manipulate the various options that exist on Blogger.com

I see all of these links to other blogs, and I'm sure that either these people don't like what I write, or, just simply write me off because I don't link to them.

The simple truth of the matter is that I don't know how. If I did, I would be delighted to refer others to my esteemed colleges...Help?

Newsweek heard from

Several days ago I wrote a scathing article about the irresponsibility they showed recently.

Today I received a reply in the mail. In opening it, I found an offer of a greatly reduced subscription for a "journalist discount". This has to be the greatest!

I am in awe. The Yiddish language has an expression that covers this, but I can't spell it.

PS: I just found out why my cat is so demanding all of the time as I chased two huge racoons off my porch. Their reputation as thieves is well deserved.

Boeing

There was much discussion about Boeing and taxes on the "Wild Card" comments of yesterday, posted by Huckleberries on line.

I remember that during the Vietnam War, the Boeing 727 used the same engine as the F-4 multi-use fighter-bomber. At the height of the conflict a shortage occurred of these jet engines. I lived near the Renton plant, and observed 50 or more 727's lined up ready for delivery, but without engines.

Along came the year end, and Washington State inventory tax. To avoid this punishing penalty, Boeing had to ferry engines to Renton Boeing, install them, fly to Wichita, Kansas, remove the engines and fly them back. They did this over and over until the undelivered planes were all in Wichita.

The moral of this story is that if a state, in their greed, passes too many anti-business tax laws, they will loose the base which they are taxing.

Boeing also pays Business & Occupational tax, one of the most repressive taxes ever invented. With this tax, you pay on your gross revenue, regardless of whether you showed a profit. I once started a business in Washington where in the first year I showed an actual loss of $7000.00. I paid $1600.00 B & O tax anyway...

The state got their's first.

Boeing pays their own way and then some. It is very hard for me to see the point of view that all businesses are predatory, and all labor is perfect. Who hires these perfect workers, and who creates with their own capitol the where-with-all to hire?

Prayer

I don't talk much about religion. The reason being, that either some idiot comes up with a bunch of reasons that I'm an idiot, or it's a different slant on the same stuff, or, I'm not of your faith.

Right now, I'm recieving a lot of prayer. I gotta be honest with you, I don't care whether you are a praying muslim, or a praying Jew, or even if, like me, you are a Christian, all of your prayers are coming from the heart, and that's the only place that counts...And, remember, it all started with a guy named Abraham, or Abrim, or whatever.

God bless you all...

Herb

New Farragut Shooting Range

The following is a guest publication, written by Tim Jones, on behalf of C.A.R.E.

Citizens Against Range Expansion

Farragut Shooting Range Q and A

Q. Fish and Game seem to be doing a good job providing the area with a needed facility. Why are you against shooters having a safe place to shoot?

A. We’re all for safe places to shoot. The NRA identifies 15 such facilities within a 50-mile radius of Coeur d’Alene. Yet Fish and Game didn’t bother to survey any of them for usage rates before designing the expanded facility in Farragut. While we understand that an expanding population is putting pressure on shooting ranges (primarily because of noise), putting a noisy one in Farragut State Park is not a reasonable solution.

Q. Fish and Game say the new range will actually be quieter than the old range. Why on earth would you object to that?

A. Of the many half-truths employed by Fish and Game, this is one of the dirtiest. They arrive at this absurd claim by referring to a planned curtailment of shooting hours available compared to the shooting hours available now. Of course, they are actively promoting the new range for competition and making access much easier. This will certainly lead to a vast increase in the number of bullets fired, therefore an INCREASE in noise.

Q. But Fish and Game say they have noise abatement plans. Won’t these take care of any additional noise?

A. What plans, exactly? Ask Fish and Game to show you their acoustical engineering plan. They don’t have one. Their design contains NO acoustical engineering. Any noise abatement plan they claim is simply an empty promise, with no basis in science.

Q. And how are you in a position to criticize?

A. Well, unlike F&G, who have yet to plan a proper sound test, we know the noise will be massive. On April 23, 2005, C.A.R.E. conducted a bona fide sound emission study at the range under the direction of a qualified acoustics engineer. His final report is pending, but preliminary results show clearly that noise from the range far exceeds any reasonable standard. Effective abatement to acceptable levels would likely be very expensive.

Q. Fish and Game says they’re just making “improvements” and “safety enhancements” to an existing range, not an “expansion.” What’s wrong with that?

A. $3.6 million, parking for 400 cars, accommodations for 130 simultaneous shooters, a 600 yard high-power range, a skeet range and Cowboy Action Shooting goes far beyond these terms. This is an expansion on an enormous scale, but Fish and Game knows that term sets off alarm bells.

Q. I’ve heard that C.A.R.E. is an anti-gun organization. Is that true?

A. Absolutely not. We support the letter and intent of the second amendment. Many of us own guns and use them regularly. Some people who want the range to be expanded try to characterize us as anti-gun because they have little to offer in its support. We are not against guns. We ARE against Fish and Game sidestepping every reasonable safeguard and shoving this range down our throats.



For more information, please call (208) 683-3736

Challenges

Two days ago, I learned that I probably have cancer of the prostate. While being tested routinely at the V.A. for various things last Summer, my PSA reading came back at 4.6. In March of this year, it came back at 5.4. Day before yesterday it was 6.0.

That, according to my Urologist, is pretty convincing, as there are apparently no other causes for these numbers, other than cancer. It's a strange feeling. Kind of unreal. I'm a charter member of the "it can't happen to me" club. While I see and hear of people all around me having fatal or near fatal diseases, hey, that's not me, right?

In about three weeks, I go in for a biopsy. There is an 80% chance of it being positive. I'm going to, as far as I can, share my feelings and reactions as this situation unfolds. Prostate cancer, of course, involves the reproductive organs, and details of this experience my be objectionable to some, and perhaps helpful to others.

Right now, I am somewhat ambivalent. This type of cancer is curable in 80 or so percent of cases, and even more, when caught early. Having said that, the loss of bladder control, prevalent in many after radical surgery, and the knowledge that my sex life may be over forever, is to say the least, daunting.

Hopefully, as I periodically write about this new adventure, I will help someone to get checked, and successfully get help for them. If not, maybe just writing about this will at least keep me from whining.

New Idaho capitol

Boise has been the capitol of Idaho too long...

What does it have to offer? Freeways to nowhere? Potatoes? Onions? Hey, I love potatoes and onions! Its just not centrally located. I have a plan.

Let's move the capitol to Athol. Athol, you say? Yes, Athol! Where else can you be within two hours of Montana, Washington and Canada, plus it's got a catchy name. What's with "Boise". Does anyone know what a Boise is?

Boise is the biggest city in Idaho. Nowhere else does that happen. Olympia, Washington is small. Pierre, South Dakota is small...Well, so are the rest of their cities, come to think of it.

Athol has Silverwood...Boise has a crumbling capitol building. Why spend all that money refurbishing a building that deserves a decent burial. Build a new one...In Athol, of course.

If the capitol is in Athol, our legislators would be fishing in Bayview, not trying to think up new ways to ignore are area, and passing odorous tax legislation.

I invite your comments...

Newsweek

This situation needs to go much further than ridicule and chastisement. The responsible parties at Newsleak should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for; Inciting to riot, aiding and abetting terrorism and any other statutes that others like you and me are subject to.

If you give me a few more minutes, I'll tell you what I really feel...

Proud to be a Redneck

This was submitted by Alan Fournier, and believed to have been written by him...

YOU MIGHT BE A REDNECK IF...

"It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase,"One Nation Under God..."

"You've never protested about seeing the Ten Commandments posted in public places..."

"You still say "Christmas" instead of "Winter Festival..."

"You bow your head when someone prays..."

"You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem..."

"You treat Vietnam Vets with great respect, and always have..."

"You've never burned an American Flag..."

"You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening..."

"You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same..."

"You'd give your last dollar to a friend..."

"We have enjoyed redneck jokes for years. It's time to take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that values home, country, family, country and God. If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I'd choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up. Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit-that's what rednecks are made of. I hope I am one of them..."

THANK YOU ALAN, FOR SHARING THIS WITH OUR READERS...

Federal Larceny

Wasted taxes in this country have become totally out of control, and it appears that it doesn't matter much, which party is in control.

This year the Federal budget was achieved by stealing the 150 Billion Dollars collected by Social Security. Yes, I said stealing! Even though Congress signed a note, "borrowing the money". If, while borrowing money, you knowingly do not intend, or know you can't pay it back, that is defined as intent to defraud, and is punishable as a felony.

In today's news, the presidential yacht was re-purchase for $2 Million dollars. Certainly, President Bush could cage a ride on some benefactors boat, couldn't he? Pork spending is out of control, as members of Congress battle over endless funds, for pet projects at home, most of which are not practical, or even needed.

While on my road trip last fall, I drove through the mountains on a freeway that didn't go anywhere, and was used only by myself...Periodically, I would see signs proclaiming "The Appalachian Trail, or some such thing. Some long tenured Senator or Congressman from the south, had bullied the Government into building this Arkansas blunder at the cost of untold millions. I never saw any other traffic while I was on it, and it would run out every few miles, to be replaced by a two lane road. After an hour or so, the freeway would reappear.

But back to the 150 Billion the Congress stole from our Social Security Trust. It doesn't take private accounts to reform Social Security. For starters, how about stopping Congress from looting it? Secondly, most pension funds don't invest in Stocks. Bonds and Real Estate loans prevail in those private funds. The Social Security TRUST FUND could be invested in those kinds of ways. The largest cause among many, for Social Security not keeping up, is that it doesn't develop income to keep up with inflation.

Is it possible that President Bush is pushing private accounts as the only way to keep the sticky fingers of Congress out of at least part of the money?

Mayor West

Today's blockbuster expose of Spokane, Washington Mayor Jim West is on a par with the Washington Post exposing Watergate. This investigative reporting wasn't just about homosexuality, as some apologists will claim. This is about perversion...About attacking young boy scouts...

I believe that if the Mayor hasn't already resigned, he doesn't get it. This creature needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. That he espouses a total separation between his personal and professional life, just exposes that he is two-faced.

I congratulate the fine work of the staff at the Spokesman-Review.

Lock 'em up, Dano

Reaganism Again

"It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession; I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first".

Re-Retirement

Well, it was swell while it lasted. Micro-management, and too many duties for a guy my age, doomed my relationship with Waterford Park Homes, dba Vista Bay Resort.

I won't be your bartender and hamburger flipper after all. Maybe you can still try my chili, if they decide to serve what I froze. Life goes on, and I will resume my search for "what I want to do when I grow up".

Herb

Horny Old Goats

Much has been written lately about polygamy and horny old goats. As a horny old goat, I seriously resent that. The presumption that if you are old and sexually active, it's disgusting, comes from the wasted youth that thinks that they personally invented sex.

While I don't personally agree with polygamy, it's more that I could never find a way to understand one, let alone multiple wives. After all, how many Dog Houses can one sleep in?

But back to my personal resentment...

If you are a single male that has had several recent sexual encounters, you are a Stud...A man that is admired. Forget the lies he told to temporarily befuddle the young ladies...After all, that's expected, right?

On the other hand, a senior citizen that wants a little affection, is called names and is reviled.

Signed,
The Old Goat

Misconceptions

I'm going to clarify what is either a misconception, or a tongue-in-cheek reaction. Gaming machines, as they exist in Idaho are just that. While the state licenses them as "amusement only" machines, that is where the tongue-in-cheek is.

A few years ago in Shoshone County, all of the bars and private clubs were raided by the FBI. All machines were confiscated, and proceeds seized. After a long investigation, including plants and surveillance, the FBI concluded that not a single bar was using the machines as "amusement only".

Certainly, after all that, our County Prosecutor, as well as our Sheriff, and all other interested parties, knew what was going on. This is the definition of the word "Tolerance".

Only after the greed of the Idaho State Gaming commission entered the picture, and pointed out to law enforcement that the activity was illegal, did any enforcement occur.

All the owners and operators of these machines operate them as gaming machines! All of them pay off to winners!

This tolerance policy has existed as long as boot legging in the Silver Valley has. No harm, no foul. Our law enforcement people didn't think it hurt anyone, so as independent North Idahoans, they ignored it. I suggest that if you care about this issue, boycott the State lottery in protest.

Fish & Game Confusion

I'm a little confused. About one or so months ago, a bulletin was issued by Idaho Fish & Game stating that they had a surplus of $30,000. They decided to donate it the the Lake Pend Orreille Spring Fishing Tournament.

Just before the Idaho Legislature adjourned, this same agency petioned the state for an increase of licence fees, pleading poverty.

Please, can anyone explain this to me?

Moral dilemma

Post Falls police, accompanied by State liquor control board officers, and State Lottery people, busted the bars and private clubs in Post Falls Thursday for possessing gambling machines. Duh! They have had these machines under a tolerance policy that has existed for more than thirty years.

A moral issue? No way! It was, according to State Lottery officials, a competitive issue. "It is costing us millions per year, said this officious official".

Apparently, gambling is O.K. only if it's run by the state. I personally don't like the machines, but question the justification for the heavey handed use of the law to kill competition.

Herb Huseland
Bayviews

Sunset

The Sun is setting over Scenic Bay, and the whitecaps have subsided. My Maple tree is starting to bud, and the forsythia is blooming...

Dang, it must be spring!

Tomorrow, I must drag myself out of bed, and plod over to Vista Bay Resort, where I will be forced to laze the day through next to the sparkling water with nothing but the sound of fish swimming to break the silence. Ho Hum, I guess all of us have to make sacrifices.

Herb

Friendship

Today I want to talk about relationships, and how they affect a small town. Tim Jones just wrote me saying,"Ideas are more important than work".

I agree...Having said that, I believe that good people can disagree on a single issue, and still remain good people.

A very emotional issue has overtaken Bayview. The controversy over Fish & Game building a huge rifle, shotgun, pistol range in Farragut State Park, has pitted Friend vs. Friend and Neighbor against Neighbor. To paraphrase Tim,and my own opinion, "issues are important, but friendships are forever".

I have watched relationships deteriorate to shouting matches, and long time friends that are not speaking to each other. Some opponents of the range, have started a campaign to enlist special interests people to join the local chamber, so that they can outnumber the present members, and "throw out those that disagree with their position on the gun range.

That kind of enthusiasm is more accurately called radical behavior. To want to suddenly become active in the community, is a good thing. To want to be active for the aforementioned reasons, is very base behavior.

Please remember, that win, lose or draw on the gun range, we'll still be here, and will have to be able to live with each other. Please, people, take a step back and examine your motives and your behavior...

Herb Huseland
Bayview, Idaho

I'm so confused

I started this blog, at the urging of Dave Oliveria. During the start-up days, I was totally retired.

Now I find myself working full time, 45 hours a week. I'm loving it, but. Alas, I have been neglecting my blog. Since I started my blog, I have seen many other blogs show up. Apparently, most of them are more interesting than mine. Daily, in the Huckleberry column, several blogs are mentioned. Mine is not. Perhaps the blog phenomenon has over taken me, and more talented people have taken over. If so, so be it.

I now have to decide whether to continue this thing. Sometimes I find humor in stuff, and have to express it. Sometimes I have serious issues, and the need to express those.

Alas, what I need is feed-back. If you have enjoyed my past raving, please indicate by commenting. If not, then your silence will communicate all that is necessary.

Your Bayview Comen-tater,

Herb

Computer Illiterates

Well, I've done it again...

I've lost my high speed internet connection. In trying to correct the problem, I inadvertently blocked the cookie that allows me to access my own blog through Huckleberries. I started erasing cookies and virus scan programs at random and now have who knows what. I am on line now by recreating a dial-up connection.

The day I learned how to hit cd: / was a day of infamy, then came windows, making it easier to get in over my head. Now I've lost McAfee virus scan, can't access my own blog, and things are heading downhill fast.

Oh well, some days my cup runneth over and some days I break the cup.

Bloggers get fired

In a news article on AOL,it was reported that several bloggers were fired from their jobs. It seems that these bloggers were caught criticizing their employer.

AOL ran a poll asking two questions: "Is a blogger protected as to sources like a journalist?" The second," should an employer be able to fire a person for dissing them on line." In both cases, the poll vote totals favored not protecting the bloggers.

In my opinion, these employees should be fired for stupidity alone! Anyone foolish enough to sign their name to a written critcism of their boss deserves to be canned.

If you're smart, you leak the info to DFO and let him expose your boss. Loyalty to your employer is a 24 hour thing. When I went to work for Vista Bay Marina, I immediately gave them my blog address.

Summertime

Well, here we are again...The end of another work week that was filled with triumph, disappointment, challenges, hurdles, agony, and that was just trying to get out of bed at 6:00 AM.

Getting a resort up and running that has been closed for ten or twelve years is not without it's challenges. We think when we are ready to open though, we'll have the best damn resort in the Northwest. I, of course, will be the chief cook, dishwasher, bartender and entertainer. When everyone's glass is full, I might just pick up the old banjo and belt out some bluegrass.

We're looking to open April 1, for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Eventually, as the weather improves, and more folks are out in the water, we will be open 7 days.

Bayview's Own

Nestled in the foothills of Bayview, is a charming Victorian mansion. Recently converted to a Bed and Breakfast, Dromore manor stands out just above the bay. One reason it stands out, is that the building is painted solid passionate pink.

One can only wonder what possessed the previous owners to select that color scheme. If you are approaching Bayview from the lake, your first impression is hey, what a beautiful place...Then you glance up the hill to your right and gasp! That huge house is PINK!

Well, aside from that, we are told by Stacy Summer, the proud proprietor, that many marriages are performed in this ideal setting. One can assume that many are also consummated there. Our only concern here, is that if too many people get married here, they are going to remember Bayview fondly and return...We really like it here the way it is...

well, if you insist on coming anyway, Dromore, and Stacy can be contacted at 208-683-9311 or e-mail longhotsommers@msn.com.

Viruses n' Things

I've been gone for a few days, not because of the crud virus going around, but due to a computer one. Suddenly, I got an error message box telling me I can't sign on because of my firewall.

I looked down screen, and lo and behold, the little box says firewall not on. I go to tech support...No, not in India, but the corner Pub, you know, where all of the experts hang out...

I got one such expert who solemnly pronounced, "you are infected." I quickly moved my bar stool a little further away, out of concern for his health. No! No! He replied, not you, your computer! Well, I had guessed already that something was wrong with my computer. So, I went home, and activated spydestroyer, or whatever...

After two hours, it informed me that I had one such unwelcome visitor...I quickly then activated McAfee Virus destroyer, which took the rest of the night.

I bounced out of bed this morning, brimming with righteous enthusiasm. I beat the system, right? Wrong. I powered up, clicked on AOL and sat back with a satisfied smirk on my face...Right! Up clicks the aforementioned error window. I follow all of the troubleshooting directions.

Have any of you noticed that when they tell you to go to the start button, then click on whatever, that there is no such thing called whatever in the start menu? Maybe their instructions are for windows 95, instead of XP.

Now I'm going to outsmart the system. I click on Microsoft Explorer, instead of AOL.

I go to Netscape, thence to AOL I'm in! Oh happy day...But wait, up popped a security message..."YOU HAVE 247 SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN YOUR COMPUTER." Funny, I thought I only had one. So I click on this new Sheriff in town. For only $29.95, I can get rid of all 247 errors in my computer...You know, the ones I had already used McAfee and Spywhatever to eradicate.

I sighed, and paid the $29.95. Say, you don't suppose? No, of course not! Who would be that devious.

Ronnie again

"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program."

Ronald Reagan

Old Friends

I ran into an old friend and Neighbor today, while flitting about on pre-opening business for the Vista Bay Marina...

Dan English popped up at a fast food joint we both frequent...Dedicated to the core, he was eating on the run, while conducting County business between swallows...

As a Republican, I gotta tell you this Dem is the real deal...I even promised him a campaign contribution for his next time around...

Farragut Rifle Range Revisited

In todays The Spokesman-Review, a guest editorial drove a stake into Idaho Fish & Game bureacrats bodies in the location a heart is usually found. I pondered what it must feel like to find out the steamroller has a reverse gear...

Maybe someday these public servants will discover who they ultimately work for...You & Me...

today's Reaganism

"Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other."

-Ronald Reagan

New Career

Would you believe that the crack of dawn is after 6:00 AM? My alarm goes off, and it's still dark...What's up with that? In my retirement, I went back to nature.
If God intended for us to get up at 6:00 AM, he quite naturally would have arranged it to be day-light out.

So fine, I make the sacrifice...I still think that having to turn on lights to get out of bed is un-natural...Then I have to find my way into the living room...Would you believe how hard it is to remember where that is, at that hour of the day???

I wolf down something unhealthy, but unidentified, and get the paper... The Spokesman-Review, of course...Now I have to find the house again! I forgot to turn on the coffee pot timer last night, and suddenly realize this is the twilight zone...

If I finally wake up, and begin to think. I'll get back to you...Whoever you are...

Today's Reaganism

"The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government, but doesn't have to take the civil service examination."

-Ronald Reagan

Un-Retirement

Semi-retirement can be fun. It's also another name for being old and unemployed. I think the most challenging thing about growing old, is being marginalized by the main stream. The feeling, justified or not, that nobody really considers you as valid. To have all of your experience, both in profession and life declared invalid because a new generation, the only one that matters, is after all, in charge now.

After a career in Mortgage Banking,I have worked at Wal-mart, which was interesting, but kind of regimented, and Silverwood, which was fun, but there, older people work for kids, and that was hard to deal with, and in general, felt like life was passing me by.

Not any longer...

I have just accepted the huge challenge of operating the restaurant & bar at the reopening of the Vista Bay Marina, in Bayview, Idaho.

My professional food preparation and bartending experience is sparse, and somewhat out of date, but these are technical details...Entertaining guests, and making them feel welcome, I can do...The rest will follow...

I will, of course, announce the opening date, as soon as I know what it will be...Wish me luck, and come see me there...

Herb Huseland
Raconteur & Host

Oregon Suicide guy

I understand, after reading about this guy, he wants to attract ladies to have sex with him, followed by committing suicide.

Now that's what I call a real recommendation...I don't know how I have scored throughout my life, but I'm reasonably certain that none of my partners stepped out afterwards to kill themselves.

Perhaps in his case, it may be warranted...

Todays Reaganism

"I have wondered at times about what the ten commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress."

-Ronald W. Reagan

Remembering the old days

I ran across an old friend this weekend. Mike McFarland. Attorney-at-law, former County commissioner, entrepreneur, and all around nice guy.

We talked about blogging, and blogs, and the old days...He said nice things about Dave Oliveria, too. He said, "Dave was very fair when writing about the council".

I found that fascinating...a politician, and attorney, not less, that felt Dave is fair??? David, your halo shines bright...

The down side, is that I gave him the principal blog addresses. For me, Dave, Whitecaps, and others. No good can come from this...

Have a good day...

Todays Reaganism

"Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong."

-Ronald Reagan

And the beat goes on

I attended the big meeting Tuesday in Bayview. Funny, it must have been a different one than Mr. Brooks, Rich Lander's spy...At the meeting that I attended, there were about 130 people squished into a room meant for 40. Rich Landers, for you folks that are unaware, is the leftist,elitist,Outdoor Editor for the Spokesman-Review.

While the vast majority was opposed to the Shooting Range, they were quiet, well mannered, and didn't interrupt the Fish & Game speaker, or for that matter, any speaker. Only once, when the speaker suggested that his proof of support was a caller from Laclede, did the audience, roar with disdain and laughter.

According to Mr. Brooks, we were an undisciplined rabble, led astray by a small number of activists. Yes Mr. Brooks, we do have a small number of activists. They do not, however, have the power, or the influence to sway a whole community. To claim that, is a sarcastic, simplistic way of opposition...Simply discredit those you disagree with...

Mr. Brooks, you undoubtedly have studied politics at your masters knee...

While there are good people on both sides of this issue, we don't need put-down artists among them...Rich...Crawl back into your hole, please...

Reaganism

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant: It's just that they know so much that isn't so".

-Ronald Reagan

Social Security

With all of the stir, both for and against privatization of Social Security, I finally got disgusted enough to comment.

A few years ago, I retired from the Real Estate Lending field. Most people don't know what happens to their loan once it closes. Even though you pay the payments to the bank that made the loan,(called servicing) an investor actually buys or funds the loan, Many such loans are bundled together, and shares are sold in the multiple loan package. Many union retirement programs and life insurance companies invest in these loans. They are long term, as is the commitment to their policy holder or union member.

Federal regulations force these groups to invest in conservative issues, such as bonds and the above mentioned loans.

Now we come to Social Security. This is supposedly an insurance plan, and certainly qualifies as a retirement fund.

BUT, alas, there is a problem here. First, Congress has stolen all of the money. There is no fund. You cannot invest that money which doesn't exist. So, Congress must first get their collective hands out of the till.

Then we operate it like any other retirement fund, investing in solid conventional residential loans. I rest my case...

Reagan humor

" The most terifying words in the English language are:" I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you..." Ronald Reagan, a patriot...

Ronnie

I had a friend, once, a long time ago...He hosted Death Valley Days, he filled my days with stories about social issues, and high taxes, and big government. His name was Ronald Reagan. I was a Republican activist then, and that's how I met him.

I was an officer in the Orange County Young Republicans, back then, so many years ago. I wasn't just an advocate of Ronnie back then, I was a disciple...

I stayed silent all these years, after all who would believe me, a modest living retiree, with mixed financial success. I was friends with his oldest daughter, Maureen Reagan Sills, and of her husband then, David Sills. Now a respected appellate judge in California.

I grieve his passing, as of his daughter's passing way too young, from cancer. I never met Nancy. It was always, she was home, and he was available to anyone that wanted him in the cause of conservatism. I am going to as the days pass, include quotes from him, graciously provided by my former Brother-in-law, who kept these things sacred...

The Reagan sense of humor...

"Here's my strategy on the cold war: We win, they lose".

Good day...

In The Spokesman-Review today

U.S. Fish & Wildlife co-ordinator, Ed Bangs in an interview. "You can classify Wolves as anything you want but predators"...Duh? How about wildlife disposal units?...

An excited Iraqi after voting yesterday...Hamid Azazi, 57 said, "Even if I was dead, I would still participate!"...Hamid, are you sure you don't live in Seattle?

In Huckleberries..."I left my dollar for salami home". My mariner heart fluttered, until I realized he was not talking about grand-slam homers...

Psst! Based on chapter 24, of "Undaunted Courage", a book by noted historian,
Stephen Ambrose, Toby, or "Old Toby" was the nickname of an old Shoshone that guided the expedition through the Bitterroot Mountains...

Contact me: Bayviewsblogspot@aol.com.

Fish & Game

I fell into a hotbed of very spirited opposition to the new/old Farragut firing range yesterday.

While recreating, several people came up to me with comments on the subject of my recent blog, re: Farragut State Park. There is apparently a great deal of emotion on this issue on both sides of the question.

Those folks living on Perimeter Road, adjacent to the firing range feel strongly that the quality of life will seriously deteriorate with a new access directly off Perimeter, and enhanced facilities.

Many comments follow a similar thread here. State Parks are nice for camping and nature studies...Keep it that way.

Acoustical Engineer, retired, George Guedel, formerly Superintendent of the Naval acoustical research station, has declared the noise studies that Fish & Game claims to have done are "Worthless". Others wonder about lead contamination from World War Two basic training on through the current and future use.

What has become obvious is that tempers are flaring, and friendships are becoming divided over this issue.

The feeling here is that the Parks Department and Fish & Game have become the proverbial giant gorilla.

A town meeting will be held in the Bayview Community Center February 8, at 7:00 PM.
We understand that KXLY will have televison coverage, and I would suppose we can depend on the folks at the Spokesman-Review for coverage.

Much more, I am sure, to follow...

(I have learned that people have tried to comment on these issues and are having problems accessing comments. So am I. I'll try to learn how & will pass it on)