Gloveshot

78's in Anoka.

2010-06-17T08:47:00.003-06:00

Well I decided to try something new here. Today I came across a stack of about 2 dozen 78 rpm records from way back. The sweet lady was moving into a retirement townhome, and didn't have room to keep them, and had no way to play them. If she can't sell them by noon on Sat. June 19th, they will probably hit the trash. If you know anybody who might be interested in buying these, give me a shout in the comments and I will grab them for you. Thanks.

randy

Under Reconstruction

2010-01-10T00:03:00.001-06:00

I'm thinking of getting this thing active again. Stay Tuned.

2008-01-08T23:21:00.002-06:00

2008-01-08T08:53:00.001-06:00

2008-01-06T08:45:00.001-06:00

2008-01-03T09:06:00.001-06:00

2008-01-01T10:46:00.001-06:00

Hello, and Happy New Year

2008-01-01T10:23:00.000-06:00

When I started this I had great plans to make something of substance, but alas, I had a hard time staying focused. But now, we may have something to get us going. I am talking about the looming death of America. Everyone knows what a disaster the George W. Bush Administration has been to the framework of the United States government. Unfortunately, the system has been rigged by the large corporations and the few with the largest concentrations of assets, to make it nearly impossible for any candidate who does not meet their profile to get any press for the office of President.

I am probably too little, too late, but I am going to try to see if I can find a link type network to inform the Citizens of the USA about the better candidates for the Office of the President than those presented by the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, Fox News or CNN. Wish me luck.

Pictures From the Zoo

2007-07-08T06:55:00.001-06:00

Yesterday we went to the Como Park Zoo over in St. Paul. with the daytime temp of 99, the dew point at 70, and not a cloud in the sky, taking good pictures was a challange. Inside, the lights are low and the glass was obscured by the fingerprints of hundreds of sweaty little children, (which is a good thing). Outside, most of the animals were hiding from the sun back in the deepest shade of their area. And of course, there is not much shade for the people walking around. Anyway, here are some of the pictures that somewhat turned out. Firs is one of the male lions, taken through glass in a very dim indoor exhibit. I was amazed that this turned out as well as it did. Click any of the pics for full size.

The one thing better than standing in the humidity was cooling off in the pool.

Oh-oh, he has decided to come out and get us!

With the temperature approaching 100 degrees F, this ostrich was telling everybody to head for the shade!

Once in a while, you get a chance to get a shot that just tells the story better without words:

And, finally, going with the trend of pictures that make it look that something is happening when it is not, how about a baby giraffe kissing a pole:

Just So Everybody Remembers

2007-07-03T08:38:00.000-06:00

THE BILL OF RIGHTS
Amendments 1-10 of the Constitution

The Conventions of a number of the States having, at the time of adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added, and as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution;

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two-thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States; all or any of which articles, when ratified by three-fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the said Constitution, namely:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Things I saw today.

2007-06-13T08:10:00.001-06:00

While out walking today, I spotted a path running off from the street into the shrubbery between houses and Sunny Acres Park, so I walked up the path.

After following the path for about 20 ft. (about 6 meters), I came stumbled into a little clearing in the shrubbery. This is the view looking north.

Looking east.

Looking west.

And finally, I saw one big POTHOLE.

Hey, a second post in one day!

2007-06-09T08:31:00.000-06:00

This is a picture of one old the old local State Hospital buildings, taken from the back side of the building. It was used for many years to treat those who had various problems with rational thought processes (see how PC I can be). Today it is used to threat those who like to abuse substances. I believe these buildings were built around 1935, and they are really quite eye catching as a group. A new State Hospital has been built on an adjoining plot of real-estate.

This is a picture of the south side of the new Hospital. Somehow, it just seems a cold and stark place.

This is the east side of the new Hospital. The main entrance is on the left. It kinda looks boxish and straight, doesn't it?

Stuff I Saw on Friday.

2007-06-09T05:55:00.001-06:00

My little pocket- shooter Doesn't have the ability to capture the beauty of this flag. I took the shot from probably 600-700 yards, across the Rum River. But if you click it to full size, it does look pretty good.

I again tried taking pictures of flowers. This is a wildflower I caught blossoming in my shadow.The next 2 photos were taken of planters on Main Street.
Trying to take closeups of flowers on a windy day can be tricky. and sometimes the color just doesn't jump enough.

I didn't take into account the reflections in the window for this shot.

It looks as if somebody is planning to build a fire some time in the future, down by the Rum River
And that is what I saw on Friday.

More pics

2007-06-06T19:20:00.001-06:00

First up, a decorated lampost on Main Street.

I snapped this photo on Main Street near St. Stephen's.

I'm not sure why these pieces of lumber are nailed to the retaining wall under US 10, but I'm sure whoever nailed them there had a reason.

Looking east from where 6th Avenue would cross the tracks, if 6th Avenue crossed the tracks.

Looking west on the tracks from the imaginary 6th Avenue crossing..

Twin Cities Radio Gets Even Worse!

2007-05-08T07:57:00.000-06:00

Actually, Major League Baseball is my usual summer listening fare. However the Minnesota Twins have changed their "Flagship Station" to AM1500. I can't say I'm thrilled, but at least Gordo & Gladden still do the play by play.

However, on the music side, yesterday I went to pick up my daughter after school. Feeling like being a nice dad, I tuned into 'Drive105', which played a mix of 90's Alt and newer stuff by some of the few rockers of the younger strain. But, 'Drive105' was simul-casting the evil twin sister station, '93X'. so on my way to work last night, I checked it out again, same stuff. THEN CAME TUESDAY.

'Drive105', the best of the commercial crapfest on the airwaves of the Twin Cities is now 'Love105'. ONJ, Classics IV. 2 songs, that is all I could take. Well at least there is 'The Current' and 'KVSC' on the non-commercial side. They may not be perfect, but at least it ain't all sugar coated oldies.

I Shot a Pair of Ducks

2007-05-04T07:28:00.000-06:00

Last night as the Minnesota Twins were losing to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, my wonderful wife mentioned that the ducks were back. So I decided to shoot them with the camera. We live about a 1/4 mile from the Rum River, and about a mile from the Mississippi River, so we occasionally get visits from some webbed footers. That is actually the street you see behind them.

They came around quite a bit last summer to peck around under the bird feeders to see what their feathered friends drop for them. After supper, they just hunker down and let the food settle.
That is until some shutter happy shithead tries to get closer for some close ups.

As I should have known, they were not going to put up with my approach for very long.

More Signs.

2007-04-28T07:59:00.000-06:00

I will have to go at a better time of day to re-take this shot, and try to gt a better angle and lighting. But for now, this is one of my favorite intersections in the world, and I don't think anyone else has posted a pic of it lately.

Back in my childhood days on the MesabI Range, the City of Virginia had an area they called Finn Town. Anoka is a little bit more official, they have an area dedicated to some of the city's early settlers.

City Ordinances

2007-04-26T07:25:00.000-06:00

The city of Anoka has some strange rules about music, parking and cruising, and liquor and snow removal and so on and so forth. The City Fathers think that putting up signs is a good way to express their ideas. Heare are some I photographed recently.

I want to know, who wants to park for more than an hour in an area where they can't listen to loud music ? Come back, I will be posting more signs soon.

Springtime!

2007-04-15T09:29:00.000-06:00

Let us see what Springtime holds for us. New pictures to go along with a new look and a new title.

Soon, Anoka will get a Commuter Rail Station just a couple of blocks from my house. It doesn't really help m, because I trvel a different direction, but hey, I can use it to go down ton Minneapolis, or, eventually to St. Cloud.

And there is water in the river:

And even a Guy fishing:

That was what gave me the idea for the new title, and Hopefully a kick to get this thing up and running on a more regular basis. Please come back soon, I hope to get it going this coming week.

124 Billion Reasons Why America is Doomed.

2007-03-24T06:28:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, the US House of Representatives authorized $124 Billion to fund the debacle in Iraq, with provisions for limiting tours of duty for US Military Personnel, better medical treatment for American soldiers injured while serving in Iraq, and a timetable for the orderly withdrawal of American Forces from Iraq. The DipShit who occupies the White House said that he will veto this bill.

I think that The House is trying to act responsibly. Since the 'War' started, The weapons of mas destruction that were never there have been destroyed. Saddam was found guilty by a Kangaroo Court and hung in a media show designed to make the DipShit fell more manly. Billions of US Tax dollars have vanished without a trace, and billions more have bolstered the pockets of some billionaires who are now moving their corporate headquarters to the United Arab Emirates.

With the money spent on destroying Iraq, how many hungry people could have been fed? How many school and hospitals could have been built and staffed? How much vocational training could have been provide to American workers who have had there jobs outsourced to countries with lower standards of employee compensation and protection? I could go on, but I have another point I would like to make.

There are many different phrases like: Only the strong survive; The survival of the fittest; and yes, the nastiest of all, Natural selection.

We have all seen the commercials for the children around the world who are dying of starvation. Ironically, I think by wasting so much effort and money in Iraq, while ignoring the hungry people of the world, we are dooming America and the rest of the developed world. Huh?

Those kids who do survive the famines and disasters around the world are the strongest, fittest, and probably the smartest of the group. Nature has selected them to grow up and reproduce. They will remember the time when their friends and family died around them while more affluent societies fought for world dominance. These stories will be retold to their children, who will also face a hard-scrabble life if US policies to the 3rd world remain the same. Of these children, once again, the fittest, smartest and strongest will grow up to reproduce, not only children, but a growing hatred to those who look away.

We are not seeing it yet, but it will happen. Eventually those who have endured the hardships of our decisions will decide they want more, and where will they get it? More importantly, how will they get it? Will the strongest and smartest men and women of the currently impoverished nations choose to build a better life, or will they choose to follow the example of today and use terrorism, invasion, and war to try and get what they think has been denied them? Is America and the rest of the upscale world ready to face this growing threat?

Or is it time to try a different approach? Maybe instead of funding more wars to get oil, or make politicians feel more manly, we should be focusing on providing food to the hungry, education to the masses and developing diplomacy that will allow the world to become a more reasonable and stable environment of all of mankind.

The FBI and the TV Studios.

2007-03-10T07:32:00.000-06:00

When it comes to hokie TV, 2 of the best hokie shoes are Bones on Fox and Numb3rs on CBS. Both of them portray the FBI as the defenders of the public with a few little imperfections.

This past week some serious charges have surfaced against the FBI concerning abuse of The Patriot Act on both Fox News and CBS News.

I think every American citizen now kinda wishes they were not so quick to jump on the anti-freedom bus that rolled through town in the last part of 2001. Some of us are waking up to the reality of what we allowed the Bush Administration to steal away from us (besides any world respect or future financial security). I doubt if we will ever get any of it back.

But, back to the TV shows. I like watching these 2 show for the same reason, they try WAAAY to hard to be serious. Granted, they both try to incorporate a touch of humor here and there, and are often successful in that manner, but with their convoluted scripts and their herky-jerky acting, they turn out to be the funniest stuff on the tube.

So what I want to know is whether or not Bones and Numb3rs are needed by these media giants to keep the FCC from leaning on them too much in these days of revived censorship with shows that push the envelope just a little. Or perhaps these shows are kinda like PSAs for the FBI produced by the Republican Corporations to say, "See, ya was all worried for nothing, America, the FBI would never do anything to an average American citizen without the full due process of the US Constitution."

Or is that that these goody-2-shoes programs are just accidental TV fare meant to soothe the fears of the TV addicts? Somebody please answer me, before the FBI starts to ask for my bank records, internet use record, phone records, and library records, without a warrant, or any recourse of action for me.

I wonder if they will come and confiscate my vinyl records?

Winter is finally here.

2007-02-25T08:09:00.000-06:00

Well winter has finally arrived. Nice, because it cannot last to long. Surprising that the Weather People actually were pretty close this time. We got about 8" here in the Northern Subs.

I have to admire or U.S. 6th District Representative, Michele Bachman, the lady who would not let go of the President after the SOTU Address back in Jan. Now, it appears she has single handedly uncovered an Iranian plot to annex a large portion of Iraq for a Terrorist Training Ground. She has since recanted, somewhat, on this story, but I still wonder what her ultimate goal is.

But my biggest question is, what will be the next media diversion from the important stuff. Granted, Anna N. Smith will probably keep in the news for a couple more days. But then what. Are there plans for major publicity stunts at the Oscars tonight? How long will that keep the press buzzing?

Why is there so little media coverage of the casualties in Iraq? With over 3100 US servicemen killed and over 32,000 wounded and over 300 US contractors killed, the news reports usually only mention daily or maybe weekly casualty figures. Then if you look at the numbers of Iraqi dead and wounded, it starts to sink in, this is not the neat little coup we were promised.

And I don't even want to think of the costs we have paid, and will be paying for generations to come. Billions have been lost. Can we sue Bush and Cheney and Halliburon and Rumsfeld and Bechtel and the rest for re-imbursement? I think maybe it is worth a try.

Meanwhile, our US Veterans facilities fall into ruin. Our schools are short of money. Our national health care system is broken (maybe I'll blow off steam on that next time), and there is no money to rebuild our aging roads, bridges or utilities systems.

Sorry, just a little more fed up every day. I think it is time for a bigger change of leadership. Two more years is a very long time to wait.

Well It Has Been Started

2007-01-28T11:20:00.000-06:00

I have the cover and the inside covers posted on The Final ECHO .

I will put a pemalink on the side bar in the near future (I have forgotten the how at the moment), and try to put the scanner into a better position so I can get this done in a relatively short time.

Finally I'm back!

2007-01-28T10:32:00.000-06:00

Well the idea of weekly posts went by the wayside in a big hurry. To tell the truth, I was looking for the 1970 final "ECHO", the yearbook of Embarrass High School. Well I finally found it (my sister had it).

So, anyway, here is a scan of the cover. Now I just have to figure out how I am going to do this.

I kinda want to make a completely different Blog to put it on and link it from here. I will go now and get started. Stay tuned.

Season's Greetings

2006-12-25T09:04:00.000-06:00

I wish everyone the Best Holiday Season ever!
My New Year resolution is to try and post at least once a week, not once a month. But time does fly when you get older, and you realize there is so much more to learn in your life.

Adding a Pemalink

2006-11-26T08:55:00.000-06:00

I am trying to post a permalink to the final edition of the 'Ember.

And I have done it, next step is to try and put a picture there.

We is learning!

A Fresh Start By Going Back

2006-11-21T11:12:00.000-06:00

It is time to start anew (again) with a different look, a different outlook and different content. To start, I will try to post the Final edition of the school paper for St. Louis County School #70 originally published in May, 1970.

I have the entire issue posted online here.

This is my first try at this type of posting, so be prepared to spend a couple of minutes learning to use the interface to make the pages readable, but you can do it, I know you can!

And please if you know anyone else who ever attended Embarrass High School, tell them about this.

Just a reminder to Vote.

2006-11-05T08:58:00.000-06:00

This is a reminder to vote on Tuesday. And I wish to use a couple of photos to illustrate what I think of the choices be fore us:

We can vote to continue on the path we are on, represented by this photo:

(Click to enlarge)

Or we can vote to restore America to what it should be, represented by this photo of the same area:

The choice is up to all of us

As America Sinks Into the Sunset.

2006-10-01T07:35:00.000-06:00

What can I say, our representatives in Congress have killed our nation. They no longer feel we need to be a progressive nation, leading the world into a better home for humanity. They now support imprisonment and torture if the President says, "I say so." What are our recourses if the man says that about us?

This past week a political flyer from the National Republican Congressional Committee arrived in my mail box. The flyer states "Traditional marriage is hanging by a thread." The flip side reads, "Patty Wetterling is holding the scissors. Liberal Patty Wetterling is against a Constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. (St. Cloud Times,10/20/04) You'd think protecting marriage would be easy. Obviously, Patty's hometown values aren't our values."

Well, I take this to mean the Republican members of Congress want the ability to legislate discrimination, starting with the group they consider the easiest target to bully, because many people feel homosexuals are some type of human degenerates. Whether or not homosexuality is a birth hardwire, or a learned behavior, or a lifestyle choice does not matter. It in no way threatens traditional marriage. And regardless of the feelings you or I have for gay or lesbian citizens, they are American Citizens, and by birthright, they are entitled to equal rights and protections as are afforded to all American Citizens. If we allow Congress to legislate discrimination against one group of American Citizens, how many of us will be discriminated against next time around. Will it be Blacks, Jews, Atheists? Will it be Artists, Musicians, Writers, Journalists, Bloggers? Will it be the Old, the Weak, the Terminally Ill, the Mentally challenged? Me, You? We cannot allow the gate to be opened, because it will drown all of us.

Also this past week, I have contacted Rep. Mark Kennedy, who is running for the US Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Mark Dayton, telling Mr. Kennedy that I will work against his election to the US Senate. The reason, as I explained to the Congressman, is because I cannot and will not support any Government which does not hold to the highest moral standards that can be attained by humanity. I cannot support a government that can hold prisoners in secret prisons, without a fair hearing, without charges, and subject them to treatment which does not conform to the standards of human decency a civilized society should expect.

And in the little box where it asks how to improve Rep. Kennedy's website, I suggested that he remove all content, put up a statement that he was wrong to vote to destroy the American Constitution, and to announce that he was retiring from all public office.

If anyone ever reads this before the November 2006 elections, and would like to restore the US Constitution as the Law of the Land, please check out where your candidates stand on the issues of legislated discrimination and granting the US President Dictatorial powers over the people of our fine country, and vote for a better America.

Fixing stuff

2006-09-16T11:02:00.000-06:00

I blew that last post bigtime. Not only did my spelling suck big time, my link to PCL Linkdump was a dead end.

This should fix the stuff. Anyway, here is my bicycle:

Quick test for a fbetter blogger

2006-09-16T10:55:00.000-06:00

I am testing for a Mr. Dante Fontanaover at PCL Linkdump for image posting.
So let me try to post an image:

Worked like a charm.

Are We Safer Today?

2006-09-12T07:12:00.000-06:00

Okay, today is 5 years and one day since the fall of the World trade Center Towers, a hole blasted in the side of the Pentagon, and a plane crash in a Pennsylvania field. Our President tells as we are safer than we were on this date 5 years ago. I disagree.

I no longer trust our National Government system. Our President has admitted lying about WMD, Iraq trying to get uranium, secret prisons run by the CIA. He has admitted there was no connection between Saddam and 9/11. He has admitted there was no connection between Saddam and Al-Queda. What doesn't he admit to?

Our government has spied on our citizens without court ordered warrants by listing to our telephone conversations and calling the people who broke the story un-American. Our government has pilfered bank records without probable cause. People who voice opposition have been jailed. Peaceful assemblies are videotaped in effort to dissuade your or me from attending.

Then there is the tax, spending, healthcare, cost of war, privitization of Social Security, oil issues, global warming, cuts in funding to all levels of education... You all know the rest of the issues.

So no, I do not feel safer. I feel like the terrorist threats to this country come not only from the Middle East (as a response to 60 years of meddling) but also from the man who was supposedly elected in the last 2 Elections.

I ask all True Americans to search their thoughts. Ask yourself, is our way of life safer with secret tribunals, restricted speech, restricted science and research. Ask your friends and family if our nation has gained respect in the eyes of the world for the actions of the men running the war in Iraq? Ask a retired person if the Medicare drug benefit is the solution to all of their health care needs. I could continue, but that is enough ranting for one day.

Heating up for November

2006-07-30T06:32:00.000-06:00

The weather here in ht Twin Cities is very warm dry this summer, but I think that is just a preview of what the next 3 months of political bullshit will bring us. Already we have dingle-berry running for Senate who says he crosses party lines when needed, but toes the Republican line on taxing and spending. Last I checked, the GOP wanted to tax the middle class to pay for a made up war on terrorism, with most of the proceedes going to military contractors with heavy political ties. Then there is the lady on TV who tells us she is qualified for the Senate because she will even put members of her of her own party (Democrat) in jail.

It reminds me of something I read once, I don't remember who wrote it, but it kinda makes sense to me: "The fact that someone willingly seeks public office should be enough to disqualify them from being elected." That is probably the best critque of our current political status.

Anyway, more pics from around town. That picnic shelter with the chimney is on the State Hospitl grounds, and that stone structure is jus below the dam. Both visible from the trail along the river

Walking Different

2006-07-17T08:05:00.000-06:00

Today, I decided to walk with my camera in a different direction. Instead of heading west toward the Rum River, or south toward the business district, I headed east toward Sunny Acres Park. In the south parking lot are the remnants of some trees. I wonder if they are diseased, or left over from last years storms, or if they have been gathered from local construction.

Regardless, I sent a note to my brother-in-law, in case the Parks Department is giving it away, he can us it in his sauna stove.

I think that is a sensible way to recycle wood. If Mother Nature blows it down for you, why not us it to cleanse your body, spirit and mind in a good old fashioned Steam Bath? That is all for today.

Fruitcakeville

2006-07-16T05:31:00.001-06:00

The temperature yesterday reached 99F. Kinda warm for Minnesota, known more for the lakes and trees that populate the state. But all of that seems in peril these days as 'The Situation" in the Middle East continues to escalate. After the Russians spent about 10 years bombing the shit out of Afghanistan, the US took over and bombed the shit out of it for 3 more. The bombings of Iraq by US Allied forces have destroyed much of that country. Now it looks like Israel and Lebanon are going to try and bomb each other to dust. The calls are out on Right-Wingnut-Radio stations for bombing Iran because they are supplying high tech weapons to the Hezbollah group. I am sure there are many wingnut radio stations in the Arab world asking for the bombing of the US because the US supplies weapons of mass destruction to Israel. And don't forget North Korea, where a guy with an ego even greater than Bush is trying to make nuclear weapons and long range missiles while his people are starving.

Soon, if things continue to escalate, we may find ourselves in a situation where overlooking a pool of water and the greenery around it will become impossible. We are only a whisker away from bring attacked by a resident from Fruitcakeville. Just as US scientists have created biological and chemical agents under the guise of anti-terrorism, others have developed them to combat Western aggression. I can't give you the details, because those details are top-secret. But I'm pretty sure the shit is out there.

So what happens when a Christian lab-virus gets mixed with some Islamic lab-virus and the resulting goop gets incubated by some Korean nukes? Will any of the worlds water supply, crops, wildlife, greenery or people survive. Or will everything be killed by the residents of Fruitcakeville?

I Return to Start Over

2006-07-15T05:15:00.000-06:00

Well I have decided to gove it another try. I think I am going to focus on some basic nature shots take around town with my pocket shooter. First up is a Great Egret looking for breakfast at the base of the Rum River Dam in Downtown Anoka. I tried to get the best shot possible, but it was at a distance which is kinda long for anything but a high end camera with that BIG lense.

But still and all, it don't look to fuzzy. And doing things in my normal way, I got the pictures in kinda the wrong order. The third pic was to kinda give perspective to the distance I was from the bird. It is the little white spec on the left side of the photo. just below the dam. The pics I shot were from the catwalk on the right. Well maybe after awhile I wil get better at putting posts together, and maybe at taking pictures. I hope to be posting more frequently in the coming days.

Time flies

2006-04-10T07:51:00.003-06:00

Time flies when your having fun. Good Lord I haven't looked here in 9 days. I must get more dedicated. But there are so many things to do. Like Fat Jerry. It is a different kinda place to rant and rave and get responses. The Prime group, mostly former patrons of a place called Catch.com enjoy a lively banter until I show up and kill it. Oh well.

Anyway time is coming into spring. The protestors are out. The other day, about 50 of the anti-immigrant type were at the Capitol in St.Paul spewing their racism and bigotry. Yesterday, several thousand marched in support of positive immigration reform, guest worker programs and amnesty programs for productive illegals.

All this is a smoke screen to take our minds off of Iraq, Scooter Libby, Iran , Gas Prices, GOP Pedophiles , the National Debt, the Failure of Katrina and on and on and on.

I think the time is ripe for a change in our leadership. Any volunteers?

Ancient Family Picture

2006-03-25T07:18:00.000-06:00

This is a photo of my Grandparents 44th Wedding Anniversary. It is dated July 14, 1955. I'm the guy in back, being held by my Dad. I was about 18 months old at the time.

Think how things have changed since then. TV was just becoming to most of the USA, but I really can't remember if we had one yet. As a matter of fact, many of the farm houses in the area (including the one pictured) did not have inside toilets. Which probably made it a bitch in January when the temps would get down to 40 degrees below zero.

Ike was President. American automobiles were actually made in America, and imports hardly existed. Honda was racing motorcycles in Europe, but I don't think they were marketed in the USA yet. Tape recorders were only available in reel to reel types, and stereo was an experimental technology. There were no VCRs. Hell there were only 2 or 3 TV stations in most major markets. AM radio was king as FM was in transition hampered by lawsuits, patent fights and incompatibility issues. Telephones in this area of Minnesota still had batteries, cranks and party lines. Calling to the nearest city was long distance, sometimes call the neighbor across the road was long distance. The 'switchboard' was located in a private home, and if the operator was outside, or sleeping, getting a call through to the outside world could take a long time.

Just some stuff to think about till next time.

2006-03-12T08:16:00.000-06:00

This is a picture of my grandparents on my fathers side. They passed away about 40 years ago.

Life was much different then, more simple and streamlined. There were only 2 or 3 channels of TV to watch. The networks worked very hard to attract a wide cross section of viewers, but mostly catered to the white middle to upper middle class
male because he represented the largest wage.
If that sounds racist, I apologize for the era, but that was the way it was.

If you look at TV today, with 6 broadcast net-
works, cable and dish superstations, sports, news, and dozens of diy, music, ethnic and religious specialty channels, yes there is a lot of choice, but the pool of the various production talent has been thinned out way to far. There are only so many writers, producers, directors, and actors who have extraordinary talent. Currently, a few have been brought together by luck (or by some other unknown means) to create a few shows of superb quality.

However, this has left a lot of mediocrity to fill a lot of programming blocks. As a result, much of what they produce is of questionable quality. I will allow the thought that some of the future stars (both behind the camera as well as in front of it) are honing their craft in these efforts. But face it, some of them just suck. They will always suck. So why do I have to be bothered with the shit they produce, while trying to find something worthy to view? Could it be because they work cheap?

Here I Am

2006-03-08T09:13:00.000-06:00

Thought it was time to show the world who's talking to 'em.

First up me at about 6:

Hmmm, I'm gonna have to work on my uploading a bit.

I'll try again tomorrow.

Radio Gone Horrible

2006-03-06T08:09:00.000-06:00

Okay, now I have had it. I was very bored while driving Sat. night, so I started listening to AM Radio. When I was a kid in NE Minn. I would lay awake and listen to episodes of ChickenMan on WLS 890 am Chicago. Now it is news talk, no music, just blah-blah-blah. KAAY Little Rock would have strange Beeker Theater radio plays, followed by Beeker Street, a block of progressive rock.

Now we have THIS

The Worst excuse for a radio station, ever. On Saturday evening, they were spouting about how if a public (or private) school teacher does not back the Almighty President 100%, then that teacher is threat to the future security of society. Parents were encouraged to document (through their children's class notes, or even by hidden tape recorders) the talking points the teachers presented to the class. If any teacher should question the US involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan, or the American backing of Israel, that teacher should be reported to the school board as a dangerous person trying to brainwash American children.

The 1st Amendment no longer exists. Meaningful discussion is threatening. Sounds a lot like what we as Americans should be resisting: fascism.

Beyond My Small Mind.

2006-03-05T07:02:00.000-06:00

Sometimes as I read things, my little mind gets all bogged down in what the writer is trying to say. Take this article for example:

HUH?

This is a prime example of political shit-speak. And that a NEWSPAPER would publish something that a reader has to go over several times to understand what the opinion the writer is trying to express shows a total lack of respect for the reader.

That said, sorry to anybody who has retuned here in the last week to find nothing new, I have not had a lot of time to work on this. So anyway check out this pic from the "Clearwater Tribune":

PIC

MOre stuff next time.

My first class picture!

2006-02-25T13:00:00.001-06:00

Well there it is. This is a picture of my class room when I was in 1st grade. Yep I'm the center of attention (second row, 3rd seat,right behind Bernice and the bow in her hair). The teacher is Mrs. Maki. It was a 3 classroom school, grades 1-6, but only 2 rooms were used.

The school was located in Pike township, St. Louis County, Minnesota. Wiki link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_Township,_Minnesota

Quickie

2006-02-23T08:20:00.000-06:00

Short on time today,but I have for you a story of severe labor unrest:

http://www.koamtv.com/index.php?action=news.view&num=3640

Iam sure that union will be busted.

More stuff

2006-02-22T08:21:00.002-06:00

I don't know if ranting or looking for random shit to link to is harder, so maybe some of each. First up, I did not know that wine production was a big deal in Arizona, but apparently it is:

http://www.douglasdispatch.com/articles/2006/02/21/news/01_wine.txt

Secondly it seems a little odd that in the heart of coal country, natural gas would be more expensive than in most of the rest of the country:

http://www.register-herald.com/cnhi/registerherald/business/local_story_052231814.html?keyword=topstory

I'm still working on getting pictures, I just have to find the perfect ones. Hopefully soon.

I'll keep looking for odd little stories., hopefully I will get better at finding stuff to look at.

The First Link

2006-02-21T08:11:00.000-06:00

Many of the blogs and websites with high traffic rates depend on off-beat or unusual links to attract visitors, and often end up ripping each other off. Well to try and get some traffic, I am going to try find stories of human interest that other people haven't seen yet. I will do this by checking random small town newspapers, until I find something that says, "Hey, pick me."

First up is a story about a mother/daughter type of story:

http://showcase.netins.net/web/bpunion/Prison52.html

Also I guess I will try to reduce my ranting a bit and have a sunnier disposition. If the Almighty President can go to an alt-energy research lab and tell them they are the most important facility in the USA, even if He cut $10 million from their budget and laugh about it, I'll just have to laugh at Him.

THE Pill

2006-02-20T08:14:00.000-06:00

As the hours pass by, the electronic pacifier known as television bombards Americans with commercial after commercial after infomercial about all the things that are wroong with us.

Mostly, we hear that we are too fat, have acne, have heartburn, or worst of all, we have bad breath. Also men have droopy dick, women leak varios fluids, we fart, we bloat, we have headaches, and of course, our legs are restless.

Also we poop to much, or can't poop at all. Our children have ADD. We are depressed. Our children have ADD. Our hands and knees ache. The list is endless. But every malady has a cure. Juast ask your doctor to get you THE Pill.

THE Pill will keep you up all night with dizziness and constipation, but don't drive or operate machinery during the day, because THE Pill will make you drowsy with loose stools. Getting rid of your heartburn will give you aheadache. getting rid of your headache will give you dry mouth. Drinking watter to relieve your dry mouth will make you have to pee. THE Pill to hold your water will bloat you. The circle is endless.

Most importantly, do not take THE Pill if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, are nursing, living, breathing, or taking any OTHER Pills.

I'm NOT a doctor, and I don't even play one on the net. But I say maybe it is time to save the money. Quit buying THE Pills. You know that very soon THE ULTIMATE PILL (TUP) will be on the market. TUP will cure your acne, make you skinny, make your manhood stand up for a non-leaking woman. You will sleep all night, poop on schedule, be able to eat everything at the buffet, never have an ache or pain, and your children will be A+ students. All with out side effects, even if you are pregnant. You will also become the ultimate real estate agent/broker, be able to cook perfect meals in 3 minutes, and have the cleanest bathroom in the universe.

For only $8000 per month, TUP will do it all for you. (Results not typical. Individual results wll depend on many factors. Do not take TUP if you are alive.)

Well what should we do?

2006-02-19T10:55:00.000-06:00

There is so much in my brain these days that just wants to get out, I think I will free form ramble for awhile.

Anyone who pays attention to the events of the world has to be amazed at what is going on. While the U.S. Senate wonders about Yahoo and Google doing business in a restricted speech country like China, the Almighty President and his staff look at stifling the press and complain when things like secret phone taps and the such are reported in the press.

NBC and the related cable networks try to wave the flag and get America cheering for the best athletes that can promote commercial products. Yet every day America's real heros face death in Iraq. Granted, there are some PSAs about the Iraq effort, but mostly "We are supposed to be there" type.

Where are the human stories we should be hearing about? Where is the American press putting stories about rehabilitating the maimed and wounded, both American and Iraqi? Where are the stories about how we are paying for this effort? Are we planning to use the oil in the ground to pay for the invasion? If so, how are we going to gain possession of this oil?

What about the Home interests of the U.S.? How are we going to fund our schools? How are we going to compete in a world where China, Japan, South Korea, India, the European Union, etc. are investing in there own infrastructure, at a time when the U.S. is diverting its resources to private contractors to rebuild some other country, with virtually no oversight?

The list goes on , but I get so depressed when I think about it. I guess that is what the Almighty President is relying on. When the American citizens look around and see what a mess He has created, they will get sick and depressed, and turn to the medicine box (TV) for a dose of escape.

What do you think?

step B

2006-02-18T23:10:00.000-06:00

Well it has occured to me that if I want to get people involved I am going to have to generate something that will get a reader revvved up. So here is step B.

I want you to take time to look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself aloud: "Knowing I live as a priveledged individual in a world of want, do I feel better about myself than I should?'

Then answer yourself honestly. (I like this spacing between thoughts).

Feel free to post your responses.

gloveshot has arrived, oh well

2006-02-18T22:30:00.000-06:00

Day 1. Well let us see what we can do here.

This is a new effort on my part to enlighten the world to my way of thinking. Gloveshot thinking.
I hope it will inspire others to think in ways which will help the world develop into a better place, a funnier place, a happier place. My brain is just a tad out of sync with the rest of the world, and my data entry and spelling skills suck like a kid trying to get to the bottom of a thick malted.
I don't know all the rules, so I will be making them up as I go. Where I go may offend some people. Sorry. It hopefully will make me think, and maybe if I ever can get anybody to read this drivel, they will think too(probably that I'm not very bright).
1st up, pick up the phone and tell people to come here. If you don't own a phone, send them an e-mail, or a snail mail, or even talk face to face, and let them know gloveshot is here.
Now I have to figure out step B.