PRECINCT COMMITTEEMAN

Today I received a call from a prominent Republican that participates actively in Kootenai County politics. Here is what I derived from that conversation.

People all over the county gripe about the Republican Central Committee being to radical. There is a good reason for that. Radicals are driven by God only knows what, but in short, the reason why they control Republican elections in Kootenai county is simple. Radicals work harder at campaigning, so they win by default because the rest of us have lives, and don't need the power trippers.

It all starts at the grass roots, where each precinct elects a representative called Precinct Committeeman. Most of us pass right by that position on the ballot which in many cases is someone you have never heard of.

This campaign started with that knowledge and fully intends to field candidates in the several precincts that then elect the central committee which I have already elplained, controls the whole shoe. An example of that is when the County Clerk recently died, this body was asked to submit three  names for consideration. The law then requires the appointee comes from those three names.

It doesn't take much imagination t realize that all three names were well known ideologues of the far right. obviously,  a balanced list would have included Republicans from several levels of partisanship, with hopefully, sees the public service, not a power trip.

I live in Precinct four, Bayview. This center/right group, which I fit into comfortably, is attempting to replace the Wackos with more moderate representative. I have been asked to run for that office in this election cycle and have agreed to serve.

If you, like many others in our area agree that more reasonable representation is vitally needed. Right now, the Democrats are primarily so far left you can't find them without a guide dog. The same applies to Republicans. Only you and your neighbors can make this change in the way we govern ourselves. I will appreciate your support in this endeavor. So next election, be sure to go to the polls, and when you do you will see "Herb Huseland," on the ballot. Please vote for me.

SPRING IS HERE

As I looked out my back door this afternoon, more snow was falling on top of the already 10 inches from before. I looked out over the berm created by our erstwhile road guy. You see, in parking my car across the road, I never thought that a gigantic berm would stand between me and my car. The back door opens kinda, and as I look longingly toward my car, I realize that it can move without a problem. The issue is that I can't get out of my house to get there.

So I trekked out the front to get my morning Spokesman-Review. I had to plow my way through the front yard to the paper box only to find that he had left a Coeur d'Alene Press instead. No problem, since the S/R on Mondays is even skinnier than the rest of the week.

I went back inside and decided to take action. Control. Activity. So I poured another cup of coffee and settled down to read the paper, such as it was. Then as my routine requires, I sat down at my computer. I couldn't get online, so I called Time-Warner. Most of you are aware that even with hearing aids, my ability to hear clearly is limited. Especially with accents. People who speak English without the benefit of an American accent are just mouthing gibberish. I lamented to the tech that I couldn't understand why the company had to use Indian on-line help. He informed me that He was Filipino. OK, now that I have his accent placed, I still can't understand him. He was mouthing syllables with no meanings.

Finally it turns out that in either Microsoft updates or McAfee updates, someone had jiggered my IP. I essentially in the eyes of the world wide net didn't exist. Finally, after much chagrin, I understood that I had to reboot by turning off the computer. All is well now. I have reclaimed my identity and am in good standing on the net, which is a real good thing, because I sure as hell am not going anywhere until some of this shit turns to water again which of course means flooding.

Oh happy day. Spring time at last.

OLYMPICS REVISITED

A great week of entertainment ended Sunday with the end of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Several events stood out, but it seemed that the projected winners lost and unknowns won which of course is why they play the games.

I thought the most outstanding example of bravery was Justyna Kowalcyzk. Skiing the ten kilometer cross country, she competed with a fractured foot and won. there were others. Bodie Miller, trying one more time for the gold at age 39 and winning a bronze. The Russian solo figure skater that was a national hero in Russia, taking a huge lead in scoring, only to be injured  in practice and forced to withdraw.

A group of young skaters from the United States that showed great promise for the future and many others. But it still wasn't the "Thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, that marked the years that ABC televised the games.

The woman that interviewed Bodie Miller and pressed him when he became emotional, probably interviews Mothers having lost their children in an accident with questions like, "how did it feel."

The worst of all was Bob Costas. A sports reporter that constantly lectures and editorializes as if he were  Walter Cronkite reincarnated. His well known for scathingly attacking Bodie Miller in the past, who was by example a free spirit. Still in character, he felt it necessary to jump on the band wagon of critics. I remember back when He was branded a rebel when he, as an adult, balked at sleeping in a dormitory during the circuit.

Perhaps his worse gaff though was in an Olympics that sprouted sportsmanship from every angle, suddenly in interviewing the Russian Olympic President  burst out with, "Yes but what about the horrible human rights record Russia has." It wasn't a proper question in the context of the interview and I t was asked of the wrong person. He wasn't interviewing Putin after all. Once again showed his frustration in not being a news commentator. Perhaps he gets his inspiration from watching MSNBC.
The final Sunday was to me a disappointment. The two events left were, the 50 K cross country and the finals in four man bob-sled racing. First the announcer when becoming excited, started to scream to the point it was difficult to understand. Secondly, the favorite American  skier, Hoffman, was never identified by number. Throughout the race I tried to figure out which skier he was to no avail. Then the constant reminders that coming up next was the bobsled finals. This coming up next lasted over an hour while NBC tried to stretch two hours of events into five hours, constantly misleading listeners.

In all I would give this Olympics a great grade for competitiveness and NBC a poor grade with Costas.  

MARIJUANA TAXES

With Washington And Colorado legalizing Marijuana, several things pop out of my mind.

 Historically, Two things were strictly outlawed. Three if you include prohibition. First gambling was considered sinful and quick way to break up families. Then they figured out how to tax it. Suddenly it wasn't so bad after all. So the states jumped in, no longer piously  against it and even promoting it.

Now we come to Marijuana. This is still classified as a hard drug by the Federal codes. It isn't even addictive, yet holier than thou types still lie to themselves and to us. My take on this government blumder is that the Viet Nam War and the protests that accompanied it were part of the drug culture, therefor anything connected to protest had to be horrible.

Zoom to the 21st century and suddenly the states that have legalized it are dry washing their hands in anticipation of a tax bonanza. Washington states that there are three levels of taxaion. The grower, the processor and the retail sale. At each level a 25% tax is imposed. This is not just 75%, because it compounds and ends up at about 94%. Whoopti doo. Now the state is competing against the Mexican private enterprise to the extent  that legal pot may end jp being more expensive that state controlled product.

This could end ju[ being a bidding or price war between the legal growth and sales and the existing underground sales. I think that the greed of the respective governments outweighs any moral objections.

Stay tuned. This could get interesting. 

TRAINS VS PIPELINE

It would appear that President Obama has painted hmself into an energy corner. Sitting on an authorization for the Canada to Texas pipeline and trains carrying crude from the oil sands in Alberta.

First scenario, His political base of rabid ecologists keep opposing the pipeline not based on clean pipeline routes, but the ecology in China. While it is commendable to help in the fight for clean air, this opposition doesn't stop China from using coal or oil in their industries. This outrageous interference with China's right to self  determination. Opposing the pipeline is parallel to using the spotted owl to interfere with logging. It was about not cutting any more trees anywhere. Still, it was an issue wholly within our territorial limits. In the case of activists lobbying against the pipeline this is not going to stop China, it will just hurt our neighbor, Canada. Oh and our selves as well.

Second scenario, we ship all oil from the region by train. Well, it seems like the crude from tar sands has more volatility than our domestic product and is a danger to the  citizenry from derailments. In three lurid examples of derailed oil trains, One blew the center of a town up, causing 41 deaths. Railroads were originally designed to connect cities with each other, so products and services could connect them. Rerouting trains through rural areas in high population areas, is impractical and beyond  any sensible investment.

The choice between the two solutions is not the only one, however.. If we force Canada to build their own pipeline from scratch rather than just connecting with our domestic system, and trough terrain that makes construction problematic. If our government chooses either there are dire consequences. For one, we get a large percentage of our  oil and natural gas from Canada. There is nothing to stop Canada from refusing to ship any petroleum products to this country.  A boycott would prove that our natural gas industry to come to a screeching halt.

By your intransigence, we are between a rock and a hard spot. Get off the dime and choose which method to use, but remember, our good neighbor Canada has no barrier unusable. Shooting urselves in the foot is not the answer.

DIAMOND CUP DIFFICULTIES

The recent unauthorized disclosure of some of the inner workings of the Diamond Cup principals has caused confusion and dismay for some supporters and in some quarters a desire to face the music.

The motives are unclear at this time, but I am guessing that it was well meaning fund raising that went awry. To the person that ultimately sent the material to the Coeur d'Alene Press, I find it more difficult to be magnanimous. I find it difficult to suggest an act that smells of disjointed thinking or worse, sabotage, motives are suspect.

In talking  with Doug Miller, the president of Diamond Cup Racing, LLC, He explained that the disclosure told only part pf the story.   First, the letter, which I do not have, quotes Sam Cole, President of H1 Racing, the organizer of these events across the country as saying that the committee must respond to several conditions and that time is running out for these to be met if a race in 2014 is to be held.

One condition, a deposit of $5000 to the H1 account, has been met, which happened Friday of last week. Another, that a performance bond be issued guaranteeing the race funds to the sponsoring authority.

The sound of the NSF check in the amount of $71,000 be made good.  Deliberately writing a bad check with criminal intend is doubtful.   It is my understanding that the principals in this matter wrote the check against a line of credit that the bank pulled back citing the first year shaky financial conditions  that prevailed at that time.

Those issues yet to be resolved, are being addressed currently.

The largest culprit in this melodrama is the public taking advantage of the open Centennial Trail, where thousands of freeloaders skated past the necessity for the funds to be raised in order to pay for the expenses necessary to hold the race. I believe that only 3200 tickets for shore viewing were sold, yet an estimated 52,000 actually attended. Perhaps lacking the experience of communities with a more recent racing history, caused the committee to over estimate the honesty of the viewing public.

Had all viewers, including the log boom paid the admittance fee, no financial problem would exist. Those items are being addressed, with closing the trail for the race days and looking with askance at local homeowners that coincidentally held parties that week-end with up to 60 passes for entrance to their homes.

Secondly, there is plenty of money in this community through sponsorships and shares of ownership to conduct this race annually. Apparently the leading businesses in the area are willing to harvest the ton of money the public spent on bars, restaurants and hotel/motels. Perhaps it is the lack of understanding the positive influence annual hydro races bring to the community. The Iron Man competition, in which streets are blocked off routinely, the Fourth of July downtown festivities and now the races, are blockbuster events that across the nation reflect well on Coeur d'Alene and all of the Spokane, north Idaho up to the Canadian border.

Whether reorganization or more community support, or both is needed. you will not have this race to enjoy in future years if freeloaders rule. In 1968, it was lack of funding, not the behavior directly that caused the cancellation of future years. The public would go around the ticket booth with coolers full of alcoholic beverages, hike up Tubbs Hill and camp out for the races.

This generated drunks then poured into town for more, and less controlled, crowds which then became noticed by law enforcement. In 2013, not one incident springing from this race was noted. Alcohol was limited to licensed businesses bordering the course, those being Tony's on the south and the Silver Beach restaurant and marina at the north end. As Seattle and Tri-Cities had solved crowd control issues many years ago, so went the Diamond Cup, era the 21st century.

Some reacted to the article with bitterness, using name calling as a path to vent their displeasure with the source of this story, yet for the most part the information, proprietary that it was, was accurate. This blog, private thoughts aside, does not support name calling. It was however, an incomplete recitation of ongoing negotiations with H1, and has been overtaken by events.

For the record, no blame for this disclosure should be put on the Coeur d'Alene Press, who did their due diligence and printed it as news for which newspapers are supposed to do.

We invite those interested in furthering the cause, to step forward, whether buying tickets in blocks, sponsorship or get involved on the inside by purchasing participation in ownership. The people who run this are doing so without compensation. The public should be sued for non-support.

  

BAH HUMBUG

Yesterday I decided that braving a heavy snow storm just to get the ever so small S/R, I left it in the box. This morning, I went out to fetch my paper. Yesterday's was still in the box, but today's was lying in the melting snow, wet and soggy. I guess my motor route carrier only throws the paper at the box one try and gone.

After blow drying the paper, I finally got to see what was going on out there. The prediction of more snow today and tomorrow is probably a bad guess from the weather guessers (again) I constantly regret not having obtained a degree in forecasting weather. What other career path can you be wrong half the time and still get raises, retirement benefits, long vacations and promotions.

Only here can we get snow forecast at the same time as thawing snow causing flooding. Oh well, perhaps if the thaw continues I can once more access my car.

Incidentally, you can access weather information from the navy here in Bayview. The link is:
 lpo.dt.navy.mil

TWELFTH MAN

In no other sport, nor other city has a team plucked "spectators'" out of the rubble of fandom to become a part of the success of that sport. A part of the team and you might say are in the huddle with the players. The Twelfth Man.

These guys called Seattle Seahawks are without a doubt currently the best in the league. But in every way, fans, loyal to the core, bearer of the lean years, are now considered "participants."

Sure there are band wagon jumpers. Fair weather fans. That is natural. But there buried in the Kingdome years, bad ownership and iffy players are fans like me. Having lived in the Seattle area most of my life, I was one of the originials. Fans that attended the first game back in 1976, where they played a preseason game against St. Louis. A game that showed what was eventually to evolve. St. Louis won, if my dimming memory serves witha  score of about 32-28.

The pickup team made up of cast offs and players at the end of their careers surpised everyone with what was then called a fly pattern, Zorn to Largent. Which scored a touchdown. Mississippi gamblers all, and coached by a guy with nothing to loose threw away the standard play books. His name is Jack Patera. Where too weak physically, and lacking talent. Substituted trickery and treachery for the talent they didn't have.

Who can forget Effren Herrera, place kicker, running behind a wedge, recovering his own on side kick. Those were great moments. A time,  when we didn't expect a championship, just entertainment. I still have the ticket stub from that first game and treasure it as one of the original fan group.

I also had a ticket which unfortunately I lost, for the second Seattle Pilots baseball team. A  season that didn't happen when ownership packed up and moved to Milwaukee.Most do not know that Lou Pinella was a member of that team though traded before a game was played.

Today we can celebrate as the uncontested best team in football. It was a long time coming and I along with all of those original fans, those that are still alive anyway, are cheering, not as fans but as members of the team. To Jack Patera, who lives in Ellensburg, Washington, in retirement, never coached again, we offer thanks for a great beginning.

Go Seahawks! 43-8, defeated the number one offensive team, stole their lunch money and beat them up on the way home from school. Denver was run over by a bus. A bus called Seahawks.

POLITICAL EXTREMISM

It is a given  that very few extremists realize that they in fact are out of the main stream. As a moderate Republican that actually have a few friends that are Democrats, I have observed many in the past months that fit the term extreme on both ends of the political spectrum. I'm probably a little to the right of center, since I observe more wackos on the far left than the right. But then maybe they like the lonely Jackass in the field bray louder than those in the majority. Having said that, I am deeply offended by those in my own party that bring shame and disbelief to the average voter.

The recent election in both the Coeur d'Alene School District and Coer d'Aleene City Council in Idaho,, brought me into the arena, even though I don't live in either. In the past I felt one without skin in the game should stay out of other people's affairs. That was cancelled by the large part of the Reagan Republicans from other areas such as Post falls, Rathdrum and Athol taking an active part in battling other citizen candidates running for non-partisan offices. To these people, politics is war, requiring the faithful to no holds barred interference and sometimes slander.

What brought on this reflective period for me was a phone call the other day by a conservative asking me to join a luncheon group be was forming. Interestingly, he admitted to being a former Constitutionalists turned Republican, yet he is holding his lunches on the same dates and at the same time as the so called, "Reagan Republicans." It would seem to me that Constitutionalists that have reformed as new Republicans are the real RINO'S, not the rank and file that has historical party roots.

I refer to them as imposters since I knew Ronnie Reagan and his late daughter,Maureen back in the sixties. I was an MC at a large speech venue with Reagan, just before he ran for Governor of California, and worked closely with him and his son-in-law, Dave Sills and Maureen during the campaign. That he resembled the loud, knee jerk gang that misrepresents his legacy burns me, but I digress.

After receiving the call from this activist, I politely declined for two reasons. One, I live in Bayview which is kind of a long drive, and two I'm not sure I could in good conscience, join a group that is possibly even further to the right than the RR's. Well, and there is one other reason. I am 75 years old and unlike the old days I don't run around in political circles with my hair on fire anymore.

As I have aged, two things became apparent to me. One, I had grown out of the more raucous party activities that I was a part of in the 1960's. In other words I grew up and matured some. I can listen to other points of view unless they are prefaced by an insult or belittling remark about mine. That from my perspective seems to be more prevalent on the far left. I have actually not received one complaint or put down from the right, even though I am left of many of them.

I won't mention the name of the individual that called me except to say, if I do not know in detail where he is coming from, I am, not like some others I know, going to guess.

I have figured out that the problem in working with others to solve problems in the community, either locally, or nationally, is that extremists tend to make their political philosophy a religion, not a governance. Therefore, you are either a believer, or an apostate. With that inflexible position, or positions, derives our inability to govern ourselves within the bounds of decency and mutual respect.

I will have more to say as the primary candidacies unfold in North Idaho. We still have some wackos out there, and unfortunately as long as moderates refuse to register as Republicans, the activists which have nothing better to do with their lives will run the show giving all of us the choice between bad and worse.

TIME-WARNER RIPOFF

I have Time-Warner Cable for TV, Internet and Phone. When I signed up[ they put me in a package that allows me access to all channels from 2-150 with a couple of exceptions.

Getting 150 channels sounds like a lot, and it would be if in fact you got 150 channels. I decided recently to count the duplications and voids in that 150. Would you believe that of that number, 43 are vacant. Well, not exactly vacant, but duplicates.

For example, Fox news is on channels 54-55-56-57-58-59-60-61. Rather than providing 150 channels, they just fill in the blanks with duplications. 43 such channels exist in this package. If this isn't misrepresentation then what is?

What is worse, is that I get all of the sports channels except ESPNU and the NFL channel. I would be satisfied if they included them and left a couple fewer duplications.

Bottom line, the 150 channel package is actually 107.  Bah Humbug!

SEAHAWKS RULE

There might be someone, somewhere that does not know the Seahawks are NFC champs and are going to the Super Bowl ... But they don't live in the Pacific Northwest.

In a game that wasn't played well by the offense, the defense once again bailed them out. I lost the signal at exactly six o'clock when the Hawks were behind 17-13. When the game finally came back on 15 minutes later, we were in the lead. The Hawks never relinquished that lead the rest of the game, though it was touch and go for awhile.

Now if we could only get the Mariners up to speed.

BAYVIEW WINDSTORM

Saturday dawned with the forecast of high winds. Around 1:30 the breeze kicked up. By about 4:30, powerful winds entered the area. By midnight, winds on Lake Pend Oreille reached 90 mph and 65 mph in Bayview. Thankfully, the power didn't go out here during the NFL playoffs, but stuff banging off my roof suggested that all was not calm.

Around 4:30 or so, I heard thumps and bangs as unknown objects caromed off my roof.  Various items that were on my deck found new homes as well.

As I watched the games I suddenly got an inspiration. "Herb, move your car from beneath the white fir towering above it." I did and it came through unscathed.

I then logged on to the Bayview Naval  Research Detachment weather stations for accurate information on the temperatures and wind velocities. I found 82 mph at the deep moor station north of Cape Horn in the main channel of Lake Pend Oreille and 58 mph gusts in Scenic Bay.

Later that night the Deep Moore station recorded a 90 mph gust.

Waking up this morning produced a calm with no unoccupied boats floating in the bay. Still it is good that we can withstand gusts of that magnitude and come out unscathed.

The LPO Current Weather is available on the internet at: http://lpo.dt.navy.mil/ for those of you interested.

**Monday am 11:15 a gust of 77mph hit the lake.

NFL JUSTICE

Let me see if I have this straight. An NFL team CEO hires a General Manager. He then Hires a team coach and assistants. The GM then drafts, signs and in other ways procures the players.

Where I get confused is when a GM hires a coach that has had success with other teams, then fires him because he, the GM didn't get him players he could win with, he then fires the coach for incompetence.

Said GM then goes out and finds another winning coach to bring victory home. He too fails.

Given this situation where apparently the guilty party is the GM, he gets to shift the blame to the coach and players with attitudes. Why doesn't the team owners hire a winning coach then let the coach hire the GM?

So far this month, about six coaches have been fired. Only one GM, that of Miami was fired, too. This suggests that the idiots are the team owners who allow an incompetent manager to run his multi-billion dollar team, not the poor guy that was saddled with lousy players. The general managers are the ones that make player acquisition decisions, not the coach.

Perhaps it is time to force team owners such as in Washington, to sell the team to someone that knows how to run it.

Go Seahawks!

Pneumonia Sucks

There is an inordinate amount of pneumonia activity this Winter with yours truly leading the pack. I have been under the weather for about three weeks or so with bacterial pneumonia. As of last Monday I am clear of congestion and now working on getting my strength back.

My closest neighbor also has been afflicted with said disease too. What with that plus a bunch of Flu cases, a large group of sick people are staying home. At least we hope they are, since we do not need people that work with the public such as bartenders and waitresses spreading ill health.

The holidays are in the rear view mirror and starting next week I will be working on the 2014 Diamond Cup. Tickets are being sold locally so that working with Tickets West and credit cards is one of many improvements that are taking place as we learn from our mistakes.

Some of the businesses that support the race and also have tickets for sale are: Inland Northwest Bank Branches,  Kootenai Lawn & Garden, Angel Gallery, Super One and Crickets.

Larry Justus R.I.P

It is with deep regret that for those of you that didn't hear, as I didn't, that Larry passed away December 4 after a long illness.

Larry, and his wife of many years own and operate the Lakeland RV Park in Bayview. To say this is a tragic end to a man that was everyone's friend is an understatement.

I'm not adding the usual statistics simply because I am unwilling at this time to disturb Liz and her family. I am sure, however that you, her friends would be welcome to call or visit.

There are very few giants in Bayview. Those that have lived and worked here for many years and in some cases, many generations. Liz and Larry have touched many lives and those that they touched are the better for it. Good bye, my friend. I'll miss you.

Commentary

Deputy city manager, John Engalls recently  revealed that a discussion between Idaho Transportation Department and the city of Coeur d'Alene is in progress. The issue is what to do with the Lake Shore Drive that used to be  I-90.

When the subject of hydroplane races was raised, Engalls stated that if the city annexes that stretch of old highway the seventeen year old law that prohibits Hydroplane racing would apply.

Let's look at that issue. First, the only property the city would inherit is the road bed. All property from the road to the high water level is owned and maintained by the Idaho State Parks Department.

To the east, are private homes of which none have asked to become part of the city. Another possibility would be the East Side Highway district.

Add to the  mix is grandfathered rights that the state may confer to the hydro race, the parks department interests and of course that of the hillside residents. Oh and of course the Centenial Trail.

The key reason for the city not to participate, is that excluding the lake shoulder and the uphill property owners, all that is left if the pavement, of which no tax revenue is possible. Short of making it a toll road, city ownership would only benefit the anti-race people of which after last fall we think are very few.

Perhaps the east side highway district would be interested, as they would benefit from the road taxes the state would transfer. The Eastside district is the most viable and they haven't formed a prejudice against boat racing.

Even if the city were petitioned to overturn the antiquated anti-boat racing law, there would be no guarantee the revocation wouldn't pass. Do I have an axe to grind? You betcha. No governmental body has ever passed a law prohibiting a specific sport, other than the City of Coeur d'Alene. OK, perhaps Bull Fighting, which is not really a sport but a stylized method of torturing and butchering a bull.

High School sports, Iron man, local collegiate sports have their own fan bases. No one sport would poll a majority of voters, simply because of a diversity of interests. As our constitution provides, minority interests are clearly protected on many levels. Personally, I would like to see that old law stricken from the books as outdated and archaic not to mention prejudicial.

This one-sided issue will go away just as other bad ideas have. The race will be held in the same location as last year, excepting lines to weights for buoys would be designed to disconnect immediately after use. Were there problems with the race last year? Absolutely. No local had every ran a race of the magnitude of an H-1 unlimited race. We plane on addressing the errors of last year to make this race as smooth as the Tri-Cities and Seattle venues. We had about 50,000 attendees last fall of which most were from the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene area. We believe common sense and fairness to others will prevail. There will always be a few loud voices against most everything. They shouldn't rule the rest of us.

Dog Walk & Simple Mind

Over the past several years I have watched and listen to the studied observations of these ladies of my age. First, I would like to point out that either or both are much smarter than I, and what's more important, more objective.

The first Blog Fest (named by me) was held in Bayview at the Captain's Wheel Restaurant. I think there were about nine people present including the Blog father. As always in North Kootenai county, Larry was there. My high moment was then I observed a conversation between a former journalism teacher and Larry of whose name I shall not speak, since he, like the ghouls, comes out of the woodwork when his name is mentioned. Dogwalk and simple were there as well.

The reason I mentioned these two gals is that first they have finely tuned antenna when it comes to Bullshit. The second, that unlike most of the contributors here, they don't have an agenda. They use an antiquated method called common sense.These two do not break their claws agaist a stacked deck as occurs often on comments. They merely say what they have to say then they either shut up or as the case may be, go walk the dog.

Ladies, you are what lends intellect and common sense to this zoo. I'm proud to know you.

An almost Parade

Bayview has an annual par ... er, lighted car cruise this time of year. We can't call it a parade because then we would need to do all of that paper work and get a permit.

So, our Christmas cruise will form at the Flippin' Frog Cafe at about 6:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to participate.

An additional news item is that hydro race tickets are now also available at Super One Foods.

Stocking Stuffers, Hydroplane style

A new and different stocking stuffer idea has occurred as tickets are now available for the 2014 Diamond Cup Race.

So far, the outlets are at:  All Inland Northwest Bank branches, Kootenai Lawn & Garden, and Angel Gallery, in Coeur d'Alene. Grab these unique gifts in time for Christmas. An additional site is Super One Foods.

Pearl Harbor Remembered

As I sat contemplating the memories of Pearl Harbor, I realized that from baby boomers on down in age, this was history, not a life experience. Those born after World War two were for the most part unaffected by those experiences.

I was born in March of 1938 and was seven years old when the war ended, and 3 1/2 the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. At the age I was, not a lot of detail was retained. One though, was. I witnessed adults running out into the streets expecting to see bombs falling from Japanese aircraft. That Japan did not have long range capability was ignored, even by our military.

Farragut was chosen for naval training, not because of the proximity of Lake pend Oreille, but the distance from the vulnerable pacific coast.

This generation along with mine, has 9/11 and the twin towers of New York City as an equally egregious attack, this time against civilians instead of military targets. The war against Japan ended finally, but will the war against Jihadists ever end?

There are only seven Pearl Harbor veterans left to attend their annual reunion. My generation will soon die off leaving Pearl Harbor as only an historical event, not touching many lives unless a grandfather was part of it. Still, we should remember Pearl Harbor as an example of our vulnerability.

Plumbing Woes

I have been fighting a plumbing problem for about one month.I found that the worst place a faucet can go bad is in the shower/tub. Naturally, it was the hot water side. This caused me to have to turn the hot water off on the hot water tank which is accessed outside.

Yesterday, thanks to a very helpful Mark Streater, I drove into town to get a new one. The last time I replaced a leaky faucet, I just pulled the handle off and replaced the double aught washer. No more. Modern technology has once again fixed something that wasn't broke. Now we have stems and seats, O rings and other interesting pieces. In order to find the right parts I had to first remove the old one. Unfortunately, I didn't have the right stuff.

After visiting the two big box stores, Lowes and Home Depot. I bought one at each store, determined not to make a second trip. It worked and I now have normal hot water. The drive home was a different story.

Yesterday morning we started getting lake effect snow which tapered off and then returned about dusk. For those of you that are not familiar with lake effect it is when the air temperature is much colder that the water in the lake. This causes the lake to steam. Thousands of gallons of water evaporated causing a huge cloud which then began to precipitate as fine snow flakes.

As I started back to Bayview, I ran into snow at about Chilco. It got heavier as I got closer to the lake. When I turned east on highway 54 I ran into about three inches of unplowed, drifting snow. By the time I got to Farragut, my car was all over the road. In addition, a deer jumped out so close to me I couldn't have stopped. Fortunately the deer did the right thing and headed for the shoulder.

When I got into Bayview, creeping around sharp turns, (it was greasy slick) I barely made it up the hill and around the hairpin turn on Lime Kiln Rd. But I made it home. I guess it is time to put my snow tires on, huh? 

Bayview Mercantile

Rumors have been flying around Bayview regarding the sale and reopening of our only store. I met with the purportedly new owner yesterday and asked him about the status. His reply was, "I haven'tdecided yet whether to buy it."

Bottom line, it has not been purchased, it is not opening January 2 as the rumor mill has it. It is still for sale, according to the new Prospective owner, who did not give me permission to name him.

Wistful thinking will not work until someone steps up with an offer that the bank who now owns it accepts. If that offer were made today it would still be spring before it could open.

Thanksgiving

Some of us, myself included are going to have a free dinner Thursday at the "Flippin Frog'" the former Bay Cafe. Dinner with all of the fixin's will be served between 1:00 and 5:00 pm.

I am contributing my infamous dressing, since the birds will be fried and unstuffed.

As we approach the holidays look for some interesting things about to happen in the next week or so regarding the availability of Diamond Cup 2014 tickets locally for stocking stuffers.

I renewed my car license last week and picked up my state park sticker which you can buy along with a car license for just $10 bucks. Don't forget to ask for the sticker. It's a great buy and is vital to the financial health of the park system.

I am busy soliciting sponsorships for the Diamond Cup next fall. For a small or even large business, the donation is a tax write-off as well as great publicity. The souvenir programs last for years opposed to newspaper ads that expire with the next day's news. People keep them for years. I recently rceived the one from the Seafare race in Seattle for the year I graduated from Renton High School. It was kept for all these years since 1956.

Advertising and/or sponsoring the race will get you an ad in the program that will last like an encyclopedia. A gift as they say, that keeps on giving.

An office relocation for the race is  at 1105 Sherman has just been established and we should have phones and wifi hooked up in the next few days.

Have a great Thanksgiving, I'll see you next week.

Why I Blog

Sometimes when things are slow and no news is flying around the community, I wonder why I continue to do this thing. Last week, if I needed reminding, I found out.

I received a phone call from a last name that I recognized on caller ID, but not the first. James Dotson. After a few minutes of conversation I finally realized two things. I was speaking to a guy retired from United Airlines that we used to call<"Airline Mike." Mike is apparently his middle name.

The second was that he had a much better memory than mine. He recollected when I was driving cab in Coeur d'Alene and even who I was living with at the time. (Cute young Texas girl.) Mike went through about an hour of remembrance from when he lived here.

Actually, he kind of didn't live here. As an airline employee, he worked out of Seattle four days a week. Leaving a car at Spokane airport, he would fly free to and from Spokane, then drive to his hideaway here in Bayview.

He bought and remodeled several homes including a float home. Mike was a genius at minutely getting everything he built perfect. Mike moved away about ten years ago if my memory serves me, which it often doesn't. We weren't friends, just acquaintances that respected each other.

Mike Dotson was calling from West Virginia, where he was raised as a child. He returned to his roots where he is ... yes, remodeling another home. This one an ancient brick home with a carriage house next to it. The bricks he tells me, are about sixteen inches thick.

While it is always good to hear from people that have moved away, it occurred to me that most probably, he contacted me because through this blog he kept track of the happenings here in Bayview, Idaho. So I'll keep plodding along, writing when I have something to say and gliding a bit when there isn't any news of import. Thanks for dropping in, Mike. Glad to hear from you.

New Sponsors Welcome

 

Now that the political season is behind us and the 2013 Diamond Cup is also, it is time to start planning for the 2014 Diamond Cup.

While last year's race had many problems all due to time constraints, instead of six weeks to raise funds to support the race this year, we have nine months. This doesn't mean we can sit back and relax though. Hydroplane races are very expensive. Between now and Labor Day week-end we need about 1 million in new funds, most of which will come from corporate sponsorships, but ticket sales will still be critical.

If we can arrange it in time, perhaps you can purchase tickets for stocking stuffers at Christmas.

Steps are being taken to tighten up security at the site, and those that strolled past security to watch the races free will no longer be able to do so. Some new ideas are being explored even as we speak regarding local sales outlets rather than just Tickets West.

Several personnel changes have taken place to firm up control of the event. One particular legitimate complaint was from people that paid big bucks to have their boat on the log boom only to see others tie up without paying. That will not happen anymore either. Boats roaring up to the log boom without regard to the wake left endangered the boats racing on the course. The half mile no wake zone will also be rigorously enforced with the assistance of the Kootenai County Sheriff Department.

We want this to be a fun filled adventure and a safe one for the drivers on the course. 2014 will be that way.

Anyone wanting to become a race sponsor can either e-mail me at:bayviewherb@gmail.com or go the the Diamond Cup website. If you e-mail me personally, I'll follow up myself. Questions about the race can also be sent to me.

Nurturing Your Community

Elections are all about caring. Caring about your community and how it is administrated on your behalf. Tomorrow will be critical to that end.

Depending on where you live, either radical Liberals or radical Conservatives will control your area's  politics. This is because radicals are more motivated to vote than the average person.

Here in the Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls area recent years have found an influx of Constitutionalists and anti-government types that have claimed Republican labels so that they have a chance to win elections. During the recent school Board election in Coeur d'Alene, the public became aware of a right wing takeover by the so called Regan Republicans. I say so called, because I knew Ronald Reagan back in 1964 and 65 when he was preparing to run for California Governor. I had his daughter Maureen and then husband, Dave Sills over to my house for dinner. These pretenders would not have supported Reagan and he would not have supported their exclusionary activities either. The attempt to take over the school board failed as it should again in this election. I believe that with Widmyer as mayor and those others such as Kiki Miller and Amy Evans. If Amber Copeland were not running against McEvers, I would favor her. Perhaps she can oppose last election's mistake, Adams when he next is up for election. 

Many of these types are refugees from the John Birch Society, a very extreme group. Whether you favor the progress our two cities have made economically, more jobs, diversified economy, increased tourism and items like the Kroc Center, which was opposed by these RR types, the education corridor, a route to a full time four year campus, The beautiful park and pond at Riverstone, plus the shops and other infrastructure, or want to return to the bad old days of unemployment, lack of professional diversity, your vote is more vital tomorrow than perhaps at any time in the history of these two cities. Those that oppose government should not be elected to run it.

Vote which ever way you must, but please don't leave the decisions to others who may not think like you do. Participate in this landmark election. Be a part of your future.

2013 Diamond Cup

This is a well written recap of the race and the people who run it.

http://www.unlimitednewsjournal.net/October_2013.html

Bayview's Own USS Zumwalt

the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard. U.S. Navy photo


This picture might look familiar to those that live or play in Bayview, Idaho. The small scale model of what morphed into this ship was tested here by the naval research detachment. This came to Bayviews through the courtesy of Lawrence Killingsworth, otherwise know as the scourge of the Pend Oreille Seas. More can be seen at:gCaptain.com.

It is great to see our friends at the base are not hanging out at the water cooler all the time.

"General Dynamics Bath Iron Works on Monday successfully launched the Navy’s first Zumwalt-class destroyer at their Bath, Maine shipyard. The ship, the future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), will be the first of three ships in the Navy’s newest destroyer class, designed for littoral operations and land attack.
The ship began the transition from Bath Iron Works’ land-based construction facility to a floating dry dock on Friday. Once loaded into the dry dock, the dock was flooded and the ship was removed from its cradle. By late Monday, the dock had been flooded and the ship was floated off and tied to a pier on the Kennebec River.

SEE ALSO: DDG 1000 Pics – Billy Badass Has Arrived
“This is the largest ship Bath Iron Works has ever constructed and the Navy’s largest destroyer. The launch was unprecedented in both its size and complexity,” said Capt. Jim Downey, the Zumwalt-class program manager for the Navy’s Program Executive Office, Ships. “Due to meticulous planning and execution, the operation went very smoothly. I’m extremely pleased with the results and applaud the combined efforts of the Navy-industry team.”

Curbing Radicalism

Never in this region's history has it been more vital to pay attention to candidates in local city and county elections. The example of the Adams victory in the last Coeur d'Alene city council election should serve as a warning. His actions and declarations, threatening the elderly lady mayor physically should be a warning for the election coming next week.

With the Coeur d'Alene city election having three vacancies on the council and Mayor, a huge change could take place if the radicals score another victory.

In the race for mayor, we have a successful businessman, a guy heavily invested in our area with three businesses and a background as a comptroller, running against a Woman that hasn't come out in favor of anything. My dad would have called her a ginner. In every issue she has taken a position on she has been against something or someone.

Souza has attacked and re-attacked everything in sight in the name of Libertarian purity. Her whole issue is shut the treasury down along with any spending project whether needed or not. Along with her candidacy is a slate of Libertarians that along with others have fled the ineffective Constitution Party to attempt a takeover of the Republican Party. To many outside our area, they think all Republicans are radical due to the image portrayed by these radicals. We are not.

The huge leap forward that the city by the lake has taken in the last few years is an astounding one. The Kroc Center, Education Corridor, Riverstone, the creation of a model park from what was essentially a vacant field with a baseball diamond and a large parking lot are all projects these radicals opposed.

I urge you to vote for Widmyer for Mayor and Kiki Miller et al for a retention of common sense. Vote against the wrecking ball of radicalism by voting. It has never been more vital that you do so. Remember the old adage, "You get the government that you deserve."

LCDC The Truth

There has been a ton of negative propaganda against the Lake City Development Corporation, which is a chartered group that operates from tax increments. This simply means that if, in the case of Riverstone of which I have the most information, here are the facts.

The 2012 tax base, which is when tax rates are applied determines how much tax money is owed the county, was 3,052,000. Just a little over 3 million dollars. The land consisted of a former lumber mill, shut down. It also contained a large gravel pit which was also no longer in use, except perhaps by the Mosquitos that bred there.

The number of jobs that used to be in the area, were 5. Number of businesses, 1.

Amount of public money spent in Riverstone, zero. Now lets zip to the present.

First, the new tax base, created by the private development of Riverstone, also in 2012, is $95,000,000. 95 million dollars of tax base that did not exist before. That number is in the lexicon of Urban Renewal, is called tax increment, or the increased value that now can be taxed by the county.

Included in that development are 63 new businesses, 757 new jobs and 459 new residents living in the condos that were tastefully intertwined in the commercial community.

No public money was used to develop this project, just city owned roads and public improvements. Over 3 Million dollars has been paid to the city of Coeur d'Alene in fees along with a lake that was developed from the eye sore gravel pit that previously existed Twenty plus acres of Riverstone private property was donated to the city. That included the new park, and lake, improvement to Northwest Blvd and the prairie trail, a section of the Centennial Trail that borders the Spokane River and passes through Riverstone.

All URA funds were spent on   publicly owned ground and invested in the infrastructure of the city of Coeur d'Alene. $250 million dollars were invested privately to develop the project. For some unknown convoluted reasoning, a small group of anti-government people led by but not limited to such as Sims and Mayoral candidate, Souza seem to think this is Socialism. Since no public money is invested in Riverstone, and the tax base went from 3 million to 95 million, causing huge amounts of tax dollars to accrue to the city of Coeur d'Alene, I'm at a loss, and as a conservative believing in small businesses and private enterprise to see where this is anything close to a liberal project.

Building a community from tax dollars earned from these tax paying developers is the best of Conservative political principles.

Other projects that were made possible by Urban Renewal, are the Kroc Center, The Education corridor adjacent to North Idaho College, the prairie trail and the new public library. In many cases, the library is used by detractors of urban renewal for meetings they hold to stir up trouble. Seed money for the McEuen Park transformation was also provided by the Urban Renewal people.

I lived in Coeur d'Alene back in 1970-72 when the mills were down, the mines were down and people were leaving town in droves. Primarily driven by the Coeur d'Alene Resort, tourism has replaced many of those jobs which then a thriving community, attracted hundreds of small businesses.

So then, what we have are anti-growth, anti-government radicals trying to take over in this upcoming election, all of the huge advances our community has experienced. Not because the common sense candidates for Mayor and city council are not qualified, but because they do not toe the Anarchist line.

I urge you to vote for common sense candidates such as Widmyer for mayor and the other main stream candidates like Kiki Miller and other Balance Coeur d'Alene candidates that have been screened and interviewed as to their views for the future, not the route to yesterday. I read an account yesterday, of a drowning man saved by a fellow rafter. His name is Steve Widmyer. Perhaps Steve can save a city from the same fate.

I Have Returned

The principals involved with the Diamond Cup Regatta have asked me to return to the fold. All is well between them and myself. I am not sure what my duties will entail, except you will probably hear my voice when calling the Diamond Cup phone number, which is 208-664-3338. This will not take place for a week or so, but it will happen. They also tell me I'm going to have more responsibility.

I suspect that I will be heavily involved with media relations, as I was last Summer. This is the slow season, but it is never the slow season when it comes to fund raising. Last year we had a total of two months to organize and fund the race. It got done, but with those time limitations  it was pretty ragged.

This year is different. We plan on boosting our boosters so to speak insofar as  making a company donation pay off in publicity for those donors. Now is not to early to donate to the cause. You can contact me at : bayviewherb@gmail.com with any questions relating to supporting the 2014 race.I'm going to be contacting local marinas, since water sports come in all sizes and speeds. So, if you have a need for speed, give me a call. This is a good time to claim a loss on your tax return for 2013. Ask us about how.

I look forward to working with the community and the fine people that I met last year. Let's jump start our fund raising by responding soon. In the period prior to us getting phone coverage at the office, please feel free to call me at home.208-683-9107

This is going to be a great year. With the experience behind us and the physical installations already built it will be much simpler. We ask those people that live in the vicinity of the race course to play fair with us as it costs a lot of money to put the races on and cheaters minimize the chances of continuing year after year. It doesn't cost an individual much to attend the race, but collectively, it is a huge part of our funding. It's early and I'm already excited.

Widmyer For Mayor

As a resident of Bayview, I can't vote in the Coeur d'Alene elections. It's really a pity, since the city also represents the county seat and the center of most activities in Kootenai County.

In the past I have remained quiet about municipal elections held in areas I don't live in. Then it occurred to me that many of the radical rightists that oppose Widmyer live in Post Falls and just drop in to agitate in Coeur d'Alene from time to time.

My heart favors Copeland for council, that spunky young lady that wants to get further involved in her community. Unfortunately, she is running against a popular incumbent.

One thing that jumps out at me is this political freak Adams that somehow flummoxed the electorate into electing him to a position of responsibility. He claims that it is downtown business interests that are backing Widmyer and others.

First, as a conservative, if in fact that is what he is, (questionable) he should applaud the business interests stand since pro-business is a Republican core principle. So what is left that we can label him as? I suspect he is more an anti-government loner that just hangs out with hate groups. Not racial hate, though I have no knowledge one way or the other on that, but just plain hate everything groups.

There are a few in every generation that does not believe in any form of government or regulations. That is their right. They shouldn't however,  be trusted with public office that they opposes on principle. I can only hope that my neighbors to the south show more sense this time around. Anarchists we do not need.

Tom Clancy, R.I.P.

Little more than a footnote appeared in the press recently as Tom Clancy died at age 66. Arguably the preeminent Thriller/Military fiction writer of our time is gone. Gone way before his time.

I have, I believe all of the books that were written by him, numbering well over 50 and they weren't minimized in size. Executive Orders, one of his best, Threat Vector and most others number more than 800 pages. Eight hundred pages of I can't put the book down is a wholesale loss of productivity on the part of the reader.

His writing career started out while he was an Insurance agent, with a degree in English. His first book, "The hunt for red October." was published in 1984 closely followed by "Red Storm Rising,: then a deluge of cold war related tales.

When the cold war ended he created wars with an expansionist Japan, the reversing course, sided with Russia against a land grab in Siberia by the Chinese.

His detail was so uncannily accurate that he was questioned by authorities as to where he got his classified information. He calmly pointed to open source information available to anyone that wanted it.

There are others of my favorites. Steve Coonts, Dale Brown, W.E.B. Griffin, but nobody can replace the master. You'll be sorely missed, Big Guy.

Outrageous Closures

The closure of the World War 11 memorial which is in open space, but allowing a rally consisting of left wing politicians and illegal immigrants is a devastating insult to our war dead. But wait, there's more. Mount Rushmore is also closed. Why is that significant? Mt. Rushmore is operated by a private contractor that charges admission. There are no public funds in play at all. The illustration shown below says it all. The Obama administration is showing it's ass to the world. (picture stolen from author, Stephen Coonts on Facebook.)

The Golden Years

Some rather astounding changes happened when I got old and retired. I disappeared. Yes, I still occupy space and use oxygen needed by others, but I became a non-person. No longer are my opinions valid, nor my knowledge legitimate. It isn't just me, I've noticed that other older people are treated the same way.

You see, those that have come after me already know everything important and when an older person offers a remark, it is a put down to the younger less experienced. Ergo, I am making them stupid. These are fellow adults I'm referring to here.

The first few years that I no longer worked, I faded into the woodwork as the saying goes. My twenty years experience in the Real Estate and mortgage lending field, invalid. Then a few years later, the Spokesman-Review gave me an opportunity to be creative again, writing a weekly column on community events and people features. Folks accepted that, I guess as an old Geezer's ramblings.

More recently, and still unwilling to go back to being a non-person, I became active in the committee to bring Unlimited Hydroplanes back to Coeur d'Alene after a 40 year absence. Suddenly, when that was over, I sensed an uneasy relationship with those around me.

A month ago, a renown loudmouth yelled at me to SHUT UP, HERB! More recently, a younger person, roughly 35 years my junior repeated that slur. I asked him why he was trying to intimidate me. His response was, "You think you know it all." I pointed out that I had never made that claim, nor had I ever suggested that I was more intelligent than others, though this guy was determined to proving that point.

Apparently, I am not adhering to the role that younger people feel I belong in. One in which I don't make them feel like underachievers. Well,their feelings are their own and I won't take responsibility for them. But I won't sit down, shut up or in any other disrespectful way, kowtow to bullies of any age, regardless of their tendency to ape a troglodyte.

Conflicts

Friendship is a precarious  place, always. When one faces the necessity to contradict that friend, it is even worse. Last week, I blasted an article that was written about the Diamond Cup by my friend, Jeff Selle. In that story, and in subsequent conversations with his editor, Mike Patrick, I determined that it was primarily Doug Miller's  reluctance to return calls that spurred the  dialog.

It wasn't the attack against Miller that stirred me,. it was when it turned into a diatribe against the race and it's future that did.

Nowhere in the dialogue or lack thereof, was there any objective referrence about what went down and how to fix it. I regret that I felt it necessary to defend what appeared to me as a position that very well could have doomed fund raising attempts in future years.

Bayview Oktoberfest

Oktoberfish

Well the weather has cooled the water down and here we are again ready for some fishing. The annual fishing derby held in Bayview will kick off with an auction Friday at 6:30 which will include dinner if you are a ticket holder.

The derby itself will run Saturday and Sunday October 5th and 6th. Hours are from dawn Saturday am to 4:00 pm Sunday afternoon.

Prizes are lead by the Golden Trout traveling trophy, followed by Rainbow trout prizes for size 1st and second with third being the largest weight. All proceeds are awarded to the winners with 1st at 50%, 2nd 30% and third 20%.

There are also floating buoys worth $50 each. For additional information call Ralph's at 208-683-2218.

The weather guessers have forecasted from 59 to 62 degree highs with partly sunny skies for Saturday and Sunday. No wind problems were mentioned.

Tea Party Congress

This year is shaping up to be a radical change in the way Washington works. The "Tea Party," which is really undefined can safely be known for two things.

One is that they are right of the main Stream Republican Party. Two, and most important is that is was a spontaneous, grass roots uprising by amateur politicians and supported by many that up until the last election chose to stay uninvolved.

Now we as a nation are faced with the inevitable consequences of an out of control president, one that ignores the congress when he can and the Young Turks that were responsible for wresting the house from democratic control.

The primary issue is Obama Care. A program that even many of the original supporters are calling a train wreck. It simply wasn't planned out at all. The vote legalizing it in most cases wasn't scrutinized by committees or the Congressional oversight people. It was rushed to a vote by the democratic leadership fearful that if they waited until people understood all of it's ramifications, they wouldn't have passed it.

We could have easily controlled medical costs by merely passing tort control, limiting liability for the medical industry and radically reducing the class action leaches that pass themselves off as attorneys. 

Large sectors of our population cannot afford the premiums in an all inclusive plan. Those that live in poverty will have their premiums paid for by the federal government. (read more bureaucrats and departments.) As most thinking people realize, the government doesn't pay for anything. They take it from us and then dole it out in lock step with their socialist goals.

Back to the dilemma. If the president doesn't back down, and he won't, and the House of Representatives do not either, our government will shut down. Obama would love that because he is counting on us to blame the Republican Party for their intransigence rather than his bankrupt program.

One of two things are going to occur in the next election. Either the electorate will side with Obama and the hard line Republicans will be voted out of office ... Or, the grass roots that got them there will stay strong and send even more Tea Party types to Congress. This is a major turning point. Do we minimize the federal government back to manageable size or do we leap off the cliff as Lemmings. Time will tell.

$85 Billion

This weekend's paper noted that the federal reserve is buying another $85 Billion in treasury bonds. They have been buying them at the rate of once per month for well over a year. I can't count that high, but do any of you wonder why they are doing this?

Our government has been selling bonds both domestically and internationally for many years, letting the market set the rates and prices. Suddenly and in concert with the administration, the fed is undercutting the market. They claim it is to accelerate growth and job creation, yet while the stock market is doing well, unemployment is still very high. No, don't pay any attention to the statistics on that subject. Remember Will Rogers, who once said there are lies, damn lies and statistics.

Unemployment is kept track of by benefit applications. If a person lost his/her job back in 2008 they are no longer counted, since they have already run out of benefits. Thousands that lost their jobs to cheap Asian labor, represent the uncounted. Perhaps they can be counted by trips to the food bank and food stamps.

Back to the non-recession we are in. According to the statisticians, (see damn lies) our Great Recession ended in 2008. Well, that was when the stock market recovered, mostly due to Obama throwing money at large industry, and doling out millions to individuals.

Something to remember here. This is our money being thrown at us. No, we haven't paid that money yet. That is for future generations to do. Another old quote, I think from Thomas Jefferson, said, "When the government finds out they can bribe the people with their own money, democracy is lost." That is paraphrased, but the intent Is clear.

Back to the lead paragraph. $85,000,000,000 per month for over a year. There are several things wrong with this formula including a massive inflation due soon, similar to 1980-1982. The most serious though is where is the federal reserve getting the money to spend on this program. The fed is not a taxing agency and has no real
income. If you haven't guessed yet, I'll tell you. They are just figuratively printing it. I say figuratively because they do  not print out $85 billion dollars in $100 bills each month. They merely go to their computers and send a message to the treasury that they now have that much on deposit at the central bank and oh by the way, please send the bonds to us.

This my friends is what the FBI calls a Ponzi Scheme, which if done by a citizen earns you many years in a federal penitentiary.

If in the next several elections we haven't changed our votes, we won't have to worry about Tea Party extremism, just the wackos we already have.

Out Of Groceries?

It has occurred to me that there might be a few residents in Bayview that with the Mercantile closed, have no access to groceries. If you or if you know of someone that needs a ride to the store, please call me at 208-683-9107.

I'm happy to help out, but just so there are no misunderstandings, this doesn't mean that if you are out of cigarettes or beer that I will give you a ride. I am available to either the Little town Market in Athol, or Super One in Hayden.

Store No More

The weekend was an active one as in addition to the Farragut Reunion, the Bayview Mercantile closed it's doors. Citing the expense of hiring all of the help, the Bjergos were feeding a loss.

Both have well paying jobs with Scott operator of the Mail Boat and Jeannie a Registered Nurse. This left the store with a larger payroll than it would support. A Mom & Pop operation would fit well, but not if all the help was hired.

It has been more than 15 years since Bayview has been  without a convenience store. It will be sorely missed. Want a quart of milk or a half rack of beer? Drive eight miles to Athol, which has three. The winners will be the operators of the Little Town Market on highway 54.

Those elderly and unable to drive will not be able to shop with a golf cart anymore. This is a huge hit to the unincorporated town of Bayview.

The store is going back to the bank which will be looking for a buyer when they take possession, which could take most of the winter months. If it is still closed next summer, the cost to tourism will be high. Scott and Jeannie ran a good shop and will be missed.  Living in the apartment above the Mercantile are the Darnells, Clint and Jamie. They will have to move soon, as the power will be disconnected.

Bittersweet Reunion

Farragut Navy reunion was a bittersweet experience as those that still survived from Worth War Two become fewer each year.

Brightening this year was Spokesman-Review photographer, Hawaiian, Jesse Tinsley who performed with his ukulele and sang Hawaiian songs. Most of the naval veterans served in the Pacific and either were stationed in the Islands or listened to the haunting Hawaiian tunes over short wave radio as they plowed through the water in search of the Japanese that had attacked Pearl Harbor without warning December 7, i941.

The bitter was the loss of several long time attendees from previous years. Al Sweetman, a favorite of all passed away since last year's event. He and Gene Cooper were fixtures at the flag raising ceremony. Sadly, Gene suffered a debilitating stroke and his wife, Lorraine, also a loyal member of the group, became blind.

Even so, several Farragut Vets, still hanging in there at age 90 plus, were in attendance.

L-R Gene Cooper, Al Sweetman and Park Ranger Errin Bair, circa 2010, who in attempting a eulogy for Sweetman, broke into tears and needed assistance from Ranger Dennis who read it for her. Al Sweetman was very special to Errin and for that matter many others. R.I.P, pal.

Hydro Volunteer Party

An after race party is being held today, Thursday in Riverstone. The party will be from 5-7 pm in the space across the breezeway from the 2040 Main St. address that served as the race headquarters.

Without a doubt many changes will happen before next year's race but a huge thank you is owed to those that in spite of many hurdles, managed to pull this off.

For myself, I was rewarded with the knowledge that I did a good job. This race pulled me off of the rockin chair to become active again. Now that I have become productive, how in hell are they going to put the cork back in the bottle.

To the vast numbers of people that served at the race, what can be said for the long hours, the dedication and toil by the volunteers. I think volunteer of the year should have gone to the person in charge of the outhouses and TP replacement.
 

Sunset Tuesday Evening In Bayview

Diamond Cup Aftermath

From the comments on Huckleberries and the Scott Maben story in the Spokesman-Review, it appears that more things went right than wrong. I was pleased that the perception was a good job well done. Considering this was a first try, I actually didn't think it would go that well. I suppose that springs from being on the inside where one sees all of the warts.

The area I worked on pretty much exclusively during the week leading up to the race was community relations, primarily with those homeowners and guests living on Lakeshore Drive or roads leading up the hill from it. I know there was a great anxiety from some of these folks as to the potential disruption it would cause them. We haven't heard from them yet, so I will still hold my breath as I was responsible for limiting their discomfort. A great deal of effort went into the attempt to see that residents and their guests were not inconvenienced any more than necessary.

If I have one recommendation for next year it would be to schedule the race the week prior to Labor Day, as their were much more group activities in the private home area than was anticipated. Hopefully, everyone got to where they were going without too much stress.

Also, our typical weather patterns have abrupt changes just before, just after or during the Labor Day weekend. This year, we missed a week filled with thunder storms and rain by one day. This year we needed all the time we could get. Next year it will luck not good planning.

From log boom reports it appears that people were willing to walk long distances to get where they wanted to sit. That also was a concern of mine, but with only one lane of traffic and that flagged as one-way, it was deemed to difficult to take the large buses into the course without  a decent turnaround place to get back out.

I regret that I wasn't there to witness the fruits of my and other's labor in the months preceding the race. Most of the confusion could not be helped. The period between financing being assured and the race was too short. Next year that shouldn't be an issue. I was ill most of the week-end, most likely from stress.

Burned Out

After days of people in my face over resident parking and access along Silver Beach, ticket holder problems, fickle changes in direction by management It came to a head today when the straw broke the camel's back. Faced with fans less than 24 hours from now, the sound guy switched FM frequencies. This, after a thorough airing of 90.5.

This was  by my hand, publicized through the Spokesman-Review, the Coeur d'Alene Press and this blog and by it's republication in Huckleberries on line. Fans going to the race expecting 90.5 are going to come up empty. With no time left to publicize the switch, most race fans will not hear the P.A. announcements.

While I regret the necessity of leaving, I was too close to boiling over to stay. I do not anger easily, but you don't want to witness those times I am. I feel I have a good reputation for delivering factual information (aside from opinion pieces which are entirely another thing)

With my credibility at risk and that of many in management as well, I will not be on the judges stand making announcements this weekend. When I am through, I first examine if in fact I wish to take that step. I do not intend to allow the situation to regress where I end up with a heart attack or stroke.

I wish the race well. I'll be home and out of it. It's just too bad that management couldn't lend support to the office instead of dropping everything in my lap. When trouble rears it's head, the "Wheels" are out of sight. Y'all have a great week-end.

Diamond Cup - Final Lap

We are solving problems as they occur and discovering others as we go along.

One hitch is the P.A. system will be severely limited. To counter that, we will have a low power FM station broadcasting the P.A. announcements as well as Mike Fitzsimmons calling the race. Anyone that has a portable radio can dial in 90.5 on their FM radio.

Other than that, we expect traffic delays, crowds both at the fairgrounds and at the venue itself. If you own bicycles and can park away from the race course, ride in on bikes you can access any part of the viewing area. Should you wish to leave your bike there is a supervised bike corral across from the Beach House.

I'll be perched up on the judges scaffolding sharing the P.A. duties with Mike and another guy. Have a great time at the race and remember, this is our first time at holding an unlimited hydro race. It will be a learning experience.
Mistakes will be made and improvements for next year incorporated. Please give us a pass this first year, but let us know after the race if you encountered an unreasonable situation.,

Yvonne Wallis, Revisited

It has been more than two years and three surgeries since Yvonne Wallis was nearly killed and her daughter-in-law was, by a hammer wielding crazed neighbor.

Since then she has gone through hell with several trips to Seattle for treatment, six months of twice daily absorbing a liter of antibiotic, taken intravenously.

She is doing well now. She is living healthy, looks great and gets regular exercise. She is a new person Partly due to the love the community has shown her. It prodded her out of her recliner with a wish to participate in life again.

Throughout the whole time the community stood with her, donating money, personal services and then her church doing a complete interior remodel of her home.

Today she has another need. Her car broke. She needs a new starter which with labor will run between $200 and $250 to replace.

Her budget, which derives from social security disability, doesn't allow for keeping a reserve for contingencies. I'm asking once again for community support. This time not thousands, but just a little from a few will enable her to shop for groceries and visit her kids. Please if you can, send a few bucks to me in her name.

Yvonne Wallis c/o Herb Huseland, PO Box 884, Bayview, ID 83803.

Scott Dorman Fun Run

The Scott Dorman Fun run will take place Sunday, August 18 at 9:00 am. This memorial fund raiser is in memory of Scott Dorman, felled about three years ago with Fanconi Anemia.

The run starts at Fedora Pub and Grill and will be followed by lunch there. Prizes and awards, T-shirts and goodie bags. This is a 5 K run Registration is $10.

For more information, call Jamie Tapia @ 509-768-1182 or check the web site at www.imathlete.com/events/fanconifundraiserfunrun.

Athol Daze 2013

Athol Daze cranked off on a beautiful Saturday morning with a parade and a car show at Victory Auto Parts. Throngs lined the main highway which was blocked off by the Kootenai county Sheriff department.

The usual parade had a somber twist this year as we lost three pillars of the community all in one year. City Clerk, Sally Hansen, rode her horse and led another with an empty saddle to honor the fallen icons.

Liz Hasbrouck: Living into her 90's, she along with her long time partner Bob, donated property to the fire district, sponsored parts of the playground equipment in the park and was the originator of the popular money-in-the-straw feature on Athol Daze.

Jerene Bohn: Jerene served as mayor in the 1960's and when the volunteer fire department couldn't function during the day due to as she put it, "the guys were either out in the woods logging, or drunk." She then organized an all women fire brigade, and served as chief.

Shirley Hyke: Shirley was totally immersed in Athol as a city council person and in many other roles, including that of American Legion Post 249 club manager.

The parade was halted at the judges stand as the three were honored.

Less somber was the rest of the parade which featured as parade Marshall, 100 year old Eileen Morse, acrobats, vintage cars, the Queen Tahya Russell and princess Kathryn Phillips as well, and not to forget, the clowns, sponsored by council member Mark Dane. Bringing up the rear was the Timberlake Fire District. Leading as always was the Post 149 American Legion color guard followed by the auxiliary, who are outstanding examples of patriotism.

One of the most appreciated feature was when Councilman Mark Dane sat astride the seat on the dunk tank. As always, money-in-the-straw was the hit as children scrambled after nickels, dimes and quarters.

Lest we forget, An award for citizen of the year was given to Gust Schieve. Gust volunteers any time the word goes out. Recently, he mapped the grave sites in the city cemetery. (pictured below)

 

 

 

Doctors & RNs Needed

The Diamond Cup needs volunteer doctors for triage purposes for the three days the race will be run. We need either three volunteer doctors licensed in Idaho each day, or one doctor willing to serve all three days. The First Aid tent will be manned from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 30, 31 and September 1.

We are required to conduct physical exams on the drivers every morning, Saturday and Sunday race days, prior to race activities. These take place at 6:30 am both days. These can be conducted by Registered Nurses. We need three for just the am physicals. You, of course are welcome to stay for the race.

Volunteer doctors and nurses will receive a pass plus four more for friends or family which is good for the day they serve. Hopefully, there are a few in the medical profession that have a need for speed.   

Retreat???

When did retreat become our national policy?  Last week, the United States closed 21 embassies around the middle east. Why? Because a rabble of Jihadists scared us. Perhaps I have outlived my culture.

Back not two many years ago, if we were threatened by irregular forces, we would send in a Marine heavy weapons platoon to protect what is American soil in other countries. Now these wild eyed jerks can yell boo and we retreat from our embassies. What must other countries think of our policy of, "cut and run?"

Where has our leadership misplaced it's spine? Or did our current government ever have one? Once we were the most powerful nation in the world. Like in Rome, while the emperor fiddled, our current administration dithers in fear. Ronald Reagan must have rolled over in his grave when the state department disengaged in foreign policy, pulled up it's skirts and ran like hell.

While we paid attention to ideologies and personalities, our government has been busy taking our liberties away from us, then removing us from any foreign policy that makes sense. I mourn for what was a great country. My country.

Now that radical Islam has us on the run, is is doubtful that we can ever claw our way back to a position other countries will respect. We have surrendered without a shot being fired.

An Athol Icon Retires

Friends & Family!

After 30+ years in business, my grandmother Fran Harms is closing her craft store Square Granny's Craft Store in Athol and I would be very thankful if you could share the attached flier via email or facebook with your crocheting/knitting/crafting friends!  She has a TON of inventory including hundreds of skeins of yarn (starting at $1) and all sorts of crafting supplies which will be at least 50% off. There are hundreds of craft books and patterns marked down to $1 each.  

The sale will be 8 a.m. to noon during Athol Daze, Saturday Aug. 10. If anyone would like to shop but can't make it then, they can contact Taryn via phone or text at 208-661-3891 to set up a weekday appointment. 

Hope to see you there!

Taryn