New Idaho capitol

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

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

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

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

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

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

I invite your comments...

Newsweek

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

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

Proud to be a Redneck

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

YOU MIGHT BE A REDNECK IF...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Federal Larceny

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mayor West

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

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

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

Lock 'em up, Dano

Reaganism Again

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

Re-Retirement

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

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

Herb

Horny Old Goats

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

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

But back to my personal resentment...

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

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

Signed,
The Old Goat

Misconceptions

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fish & Game Confusion

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

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

Please, can anyone explain this to me?

Moral dilemma

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

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

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

Herb Huseland
Bayviews

Sunset

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

Dang, it must be spring!

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

Herb

Friendship

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

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

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

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

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

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

Herb Huseland
Bayview, Idaho

I'm so confused

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

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

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

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

Your Bayview Comen-tater,

Herb

Computer Illiterates

Well, I've done it again...

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

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

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

Bloggers get fired

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

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

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

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

Summertime

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

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

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

Bayview's Own

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

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

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

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

Viruses n' Things

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ronnie again

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

Ronald Reagan