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...