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.”