Final Ride of the '08

It has become almost a tradition to take a ride on the last day of the year and this is no exception. Last year I went to Canyon and Apache Lakes and up to the Reavis trailhead. This year it had snowed so a trip to see what was left of it at Crown King sounded like a good half-day excursion. It was a fairly cold morning so I bundled up with the new jacket Vicki bought me and headed off for Bumble Bee.

It was clear and crisp as the asphalt turned to dirt. Bumble Bee looked clean and inhabited but Cleator seemed more worn than the last time. As the trip progressed the road became a muddy bog in places but still passable. Cars and trucks didn't fly down the road as is typical but carefully chose their paths. There were large puddles on the road as well as ice and snow. In Crown King it was just as I had left it last year after the snow, a muddy mess. The road are all dirt in the summer and mud and ice in the winter.

Just after ordering breakfast the owner (she also works as the waitress) came in upset and I could hear talking going on in the kitchen. I guess the owner of the building (such as it is) decided the rent was going to be increased so the owner of the restraunt served me and let her staff leave. She said that she couldn't make it if the rent increased so she just shut down. I was the last that day to eat, at 10:30 AM. Happy New Year!

The trip back was a whole lot less eventful and at least the cows stayed off the road.

Light Rail

They finished the new light rail this month and were allowing free rides. Vicki had to work so Michele and I decided to go from beginning to end. Well it ends in Mesa so instead we got off at Mill Avenue in Tempe.

We got on right away, no waiting but by the time we returned 3 hours later there was a huge line at Christown (where it starts).

I guess we must have just missed the first crash while we were riding around today.

Some New Gear and Interesting People

The leather jacket I have been using is nice to look at but leaks a little too much air and is heavy so I looked around for something warm, air tight, water proof, armored, and light. LeatherUp.com had just the ticket so for Christmas Vicki got me one. I gave it a good workout this morning and it was pretty darn good.

It wasn't raining but it was cold and overcast, probably near freezing with windchill. The balaclava helped around the neck and face and wearing my leather pants made it quite comfortable.

While on the ride to Bartlett Lake I met a couple of guys, one on an '85 Goldwing and the other in a SUV. We may have been the only ones out there. The guy with the Wing bought it used with 25K miles on it for $2,900 and uses it for long hauls and his Guzzi for commuting to work. The Guzzi has over 100K on it but he finds it annoyingly loud on the road. The guy in the SUV is recovering from a motorcycle wreck he had in November. He was on a Road Star when a Passat (he said, "piss ant") turned left in front of him doing about 45. His bike was totalled as was the car. Luckily he had at the last minute (because it was getting cold) decided to put on all of his gear. Even though he was wearing a full-face flip up helmet he still broke his nose in 3 places (I didn't even know that was possible) and damaged his 4 lower teeth enough so that they will have to be removed. He broke a wrist, dislocated his hip but only suffered a little road rash due to the car tearing his jacket as he flew over it. He planted his helmet in the windshield of the car and according to witnesses did 3 flips after clearing the car. Lucky guy!

The Coming Obamination of America

There are basic differences in this country that some can’t fathom. Why would we pass legislation that can’t be paid for? Half of the country believes that the government should be a husband to the widow (or divorced), father to the fatherless (or parentless), protector of the weak (or lazy), a provider for the poor (or a least less wealthy), teacher, doctor, retirement advisor, realtor, and underwriter of last resort. The other half doesn’t want these things and doesn’t want to pay for them. It is a case of having to live with an oniomaniac. But that’s who is running the place. They have the family credit card and the ability to print money.

The plan is to steal (by taxation and devaluation) the wealth of those who have carefully attempted to create it and redistribute it to others. Consider that the “solution” to the foreclosure crisis is to decrease the principal and interest rates of those being foreclosed on (usually with little wealth of their own at risk). They will be handed the advantages of those who have sacrificed and invested their own money (lower payments due to less owed). The message is clear, “Be as irresponsible as you want; there is no advantage to saving or planning.” Worse than that, I predict Obama won’t address the cause of this whole thing, the housing meltdown, except to blame it on Republicans. The guys in charge will still be there.

The bailout of American car companies is a prime example of the differences. Why should tax money be used to pay off a bad agreement by a private company and a union? The message again is clear, “If there are enough people (constituents) involved those who are trying to be responsible (non-constituents) will be forced to pay the bill.”

To make things even worse Obama and those supporting him in the middle of a financial downturn want to waste money on the fraud of global warming. They refuse to consider solutions to our energy needs that even have a chance of success (nuclear, clean coal, domestic oil production) and insist on throwing money away, or worse, increasing the cost of energy to all Americans by denying access to cheap energy. They promise mythical “green” jobs in exchange for real ones.

I predict that it won’t take until 2010 for the lapse in judgment to become apparent to a majority of Americans because these wastes of money won’t work. But I have been wrong before about the wishful thinking and depth of ignorance out there involving basic economics.

BTW I was discussing AGW with my science teacher friend and he is becoming pursuaded that it is not true. But, he argued, changing over to alternative energy could be a good result of it anyway. Manipulation of people by fear based on lies is not, in my opinion, the right way to make decisions. It will ultimately destroy trust and that is what holds this whole thing together.

“America is divided into two parties: a stupid party and an evil party. When they both act stupid and evil, that’s called bipartisanship.”—- Author and public speaker Dinesh D’Souza from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, when his elderly mother asked him to explain bipartisanship to her.

Finally a Break ... And a Chance to Think

School's out for the next two weeks and I can think again. Christmas time, the new year, and time off allow for a chance to reflect and boy what a mixed bag that is.

The cold weather is so refreshing it almost makes me want to be snowed in up in the mountains, but only if I can escape on one of my bikes. Is there a conflict?

Reflection sounds good as long as I don't have to think about all of these insane bailouts, but how can that be avoided? The huge Ponzi scheme that crashed (and the government is going to bail out) just makes me think about the much larger one we call Social Security that is scheduled to crash in the future, but don't worry, the government can bail it out. That was a joke that not many people get yet. On the bright side, if the government prints a bunch of money to cover every one's losses the inflation will make what we owe worth less. Unfortunately, I don't have a fireplace so I can't use it to heat my house. Why don't we just print enough so that the government can hand each family $100,000 a year and do away with all this capitalism stuff? Really, it's just that simple.

And then there's the darkness crisis to consider!

Animals have begun to check out due to despair over global warming, but thankfully Santa was saved in time.

Charged With Battery

It didn't cost much, $32.95, Walmart. Not only did I get charged but I also had to charge the battery.

It often happens with things mechanical that you get the euphoric feeling of accomplishment only to be stung by a reoccurance of the same old malfunction. After crying to my new friends at KLR650.net and getting a dozen different diagnoses it all came down to a weak battery. But not before I was served many an interesting story from bugs in the tank vent to a bug that caused a flat (wedged in the valve stem at speed). There is nothing like a bunch of guys talking who have been riding for a while to get one's imagination running wild. One guy said that an old deisel mechanic told him that whenever a starting problem crops up, try the battery. I assumed that that the old mechanic's advice was from experience not just because he was old. Anyway, I knew that my battery had to be recharged after about 4 or 5 start attempts so it sounded like the best and cheapest advice. I also found out that my KLR was a CALIFORNIA BIKE!!!! Extra hoses, extra canisters, tubes that no one can explain, and all. But fortunately Tex Earnhardt, a local car dealer and previous owner, had someone yank all that good stuff so that all there is left are hoses going nowhere.

To celebrate and check out the fix I rode out to 7 Springs, started it various times, and tempted fate since it was an area with no cell phone service.

Get'r Done

The job I had been dreading wasn't all that bad and was actually kind of satisfying. Last week I skinned both knees when I fell push-starting the KLR. It had a hot start problem and down deep I knew it was probably not a serious sign but .... the fix was going to be a pain, not as bad as road rash on the knees though.

I tried the easy stuff, checked the battery and electronics. There is a great resource on the web KLR.net, a forum of owners who help each other. After signing up a quick search told me what I suspected, a valve adjustment. There are a lot of easy things to do to the KLR but adjusting the valves requires removing the seat, tank, head cover, and both cams just to make an adjustment. You see, replacing the shims under the cams are what needs to be done.

An old Fiat 128 that I owned back in the early '70s had the same kind of adjustment but the shims could just be popped out without removing the cam so this was not my idea of a well planned out engine. It took all day but turned out nicely. Tomorrow it's time for a ride.

Public School Propoganda

I run a computer lab after shool most days. Yesterday I had the arctic sea ice site up and a couple of students noticed it on my screen. They asked what it was so I explained that during the summer I heard a report that the arctic ice would be gone in a few years so I was keeping an eye on it. When they asked how it was doing I told them it was much better than last year and didn't look like there was a problem. They were surprised, but no wonder. They never hear anything other than the planet is in trouble, us humans are to blame, and we need to fix it.

A teacher friend was in the lab at that time and overheard the conversation. He looked at the screen but then said that the glaciers were still in retreat so the information about the arctic must be inconsequential. I mentioned that the glacial retreat has been going on for the past few centuries and was occurring before there was a United States. That apparently was inconsequential too. He then went on about, of all things, Fox News and political agendas as though bringing up inconvenient truths was somehow sinister.

Another Democrat. Is there some kind of talking point that anything that calls into question the modern orthodoxy must have come from Fox? I didn't get into a further conversation since I was talking to a true believer and no amount of evidence would matter. This is who we have teaching our kids.

UPDATE: The science teacher I spoke with in a previous entry has looked at some of the evidence and was surprised to see that it has some validity. I think it shook him that the conventional view may be wrong. He liked Michael Crichton's speech about aliens causing global warming.

Who Will Bail Out the Government?

Let's see, every business in sight is looking for a handout because someone thought that propping up Lehman, AIG, and then Fannie & Freddie was a good idea. It reminds me of the scene in "The Jerk" where the rich guy with worn out seats in his airplane is hitting up Steve Martin for money to replace them.

What did we expect? Bailing out every company in the country will not fix this problem because the issue is not as much whether or not we can trust capitalism but can we trust our own government. When push comes to shove the politicians and the people do what they always do, one makes a promise and the other believes it. But isn't it getting a little hard to believe that guys (and gals) who buy votes with other people's money can actually keep their promises?

After all the lies are told and the money is spent who will bail out the government?

Junk Science and Arctic Sea Ice

If nothing else it is entertaining to work with liberal (oh, I mean progressive) Democrats. It is almost impossible to keep up a blog that even touches on what it is like working in a public school and engaging in truly insane conversations.

The other day my "free" bicycle recipient (future) friend told me that people who make over 3 million dollars should be taxed at 90%. I asked if he thought that would raise money and he looked at me as though I hadn't heard him. So I asked him just how long would a person bother to make that kind of money if he couldn't keep it and would that have an effect on the economy. You know, some really deep thoughts.

Then there was the conversation about the election turn-out. Apparently it wasn't that big turn-out we had all been primed for. In fact, it was about the same percent as 2004 because 1.3% less Republicans bothered to show up. One of my colleagues asked me if I got that from Fox News (since it is so biased, you know) and I said that actually it was CNN.

Then there is the constant propoganda about global warming and the total lack of interest in any explanation other than it is caused by Republicans. That was a joke. So when I asked our science teacher if he remembered that the Arctic sea ice was due to disappear and wanted to know if he had been keeping an eye on it, he was surprised to see that it was still there. That's a little exaggeration. But he would not believe that it was growing from last year. He wanted to know if I got that from Fox News (Fox or Drudge might report a story since failure to report defines bias). I told him that actually it was from a University of Illinois website. Well you really can't believe your lying eyes you know.

There will no doubt be many other interesting conversations in the future that involve pulling one's self up with one's own bootstraps (economics). I'll keep you posted.

A Dream

Last night I had a dream that I was riding a bicycle down a forest trail. Ahead of me was a large rattlesnake lying across the road apparently asleep. I stopped and looked for a way around but then became aware that all along the trail and even within striking distance were various vipers that blended in with the foliage, all in a state of stupor. I carefully turned the bike around and rushed back along the trail. That's where the dream ended.

A Time for Healing?

I was on the playground the day after the election and a little hispanic girl came up to me on the verge of tears because some other kids were calling her a racist because in the voting at school she was for McCain. I gave her a high five and said I voted for him too. Her face lit up.

The same day a couple of 8th grade hispanic girls asked me who I voted for. Since it was after the election I decided to answer. When I said, "McCain," they asked me if I was a racist. I said that I wasn't and then they proceeded to explain to me that McCain wanted to send all the illegals back to Mexico. I decided not to bother explaining that he actually sponsored a bill to allow them to stay and become citizens if they wished because I then might have said that it was something I strongly disagreed with him about.

I guess it is probably time to not say what one thinks.

Congratulations Obama

An Israeli airstrike on Gaza
A rocket attack on Israel
A warning to the US from Iran
Russia to place missiles on the border of the EU
and
The stock market drops 500 points

Welcome to the big leagues.

The 95% Solution

I got in a fairly heated discussion the other day with my liberal buddy (the one who is looking forward to the new bike we will all be buying for him). Anyway the topic of how much is too much came up. You know, the $250,000 limit. Anybody who makes more than that should be taxed more since obviously it won't keep them from taking care of life's necessities.

I answered with, "We should tax the poor!" It stopped him in his tracks.

He answered that it wasn't fair. To which I responded, "It wasn't fair that a person who only had something to gain got to choose." If 95% of the people will not see a tax increase that translates to, "Let's gouge those other 5%."

Making a deal with someone who has nothing to lose (and a lot to gain) is not fair ..... unless the goal is to buy votes with other people's money. Could that be the game? Ya think?

As the Advent Approaches

The Earth is cooling; (no word on sea levels yet)
Gas prices are falling,
The economy is rebounding, and
Peace engulfs the planet.

(well 3 out of 4 ain't bad)

Socialism (or charity at gunpoint)

A story redistributed (stolen) from an unknown (to me) source:

Yesterday on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read "Vote Obama, I need the money". I laughed. Once in the restaurant my server had on an "Obama 08" Button, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference -- just imagine the coincidence. When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--I pointed out the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight. I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was very grateful. At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient "lacked" the money more. I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

Predicting the Future

McCain Win - "300" (Spartans)
It will be a continuation of the war on terror, war on big government, picking up the pieces, fighting a congress with even more Democrats in it, and even more frustration.

Obama Win - Jimmy Carter 2 - Organizing the Communities of Malaiseia/Held Hostage by Iran 2
Surrender on the war on terror, surrender on the war on big government, more pieces to pick up, no one to fight the Democrats in congress, and even more frustration.

Unfortunately, I don't see much hope either way, at least for the next 2 years.

Warm Body Democracy

I heard that term the other day and it struck a chord. In Athens male citizens above a certain age voted and what was decided upon affected them as well as others. For instance, if it was decided that war was to be, you and your boys better get the armor out and get ready. Of course, that was a direct democracy.

Over the years various groups have been allowed into the decision making process to the point that now any warm body (along with Mickey Mouse and that dead goldfish) are on the voter rolls. The author who used the phrase "warm body democracy" was warning that as soon as the dependent class finds out that they can vote themselves a pay raise, it's over. Sounds kind of like Congress huh?

My dad used to say that, "The inmates were running the place." We may have reached that tipping point.

Stick it to the Rich!!

It would be amusing if it weren't so dangerous to hear people demand more from "the rich" because by rich they mostly mean people who have worked and prospered more than themselves. In the teacher's lounge I hear this and have to remind them that I make what they do but have done different things with my money. I'm certainly not rich but I am a Republican which by itself means I am hateful and selfish.

The talk is always the same, "My daughter (who got pregnant in highschool and is still not married) doesn't have a good paying job and doesn't qualify for susidized child care." Or, "Student loans are difficult to get." The answer is always that teachers don't make enough (therefore the taxpayers need to pay more) or the government needs to "do something". Many are single and in financial straits due to divorce and have found that as a teacher you just can't make enough. Almost all are Democrats and usually union members.

The simple answer is always that the rich are getting away with something and need to pay more. They never consider that businesses have to make a profit (but not too much the corporate tax rate in America is the second highest in the world) to be able to hire the unmarried daughter at all so that someone, probably not her, can pay taxes to keep us in our jobs.

But look at the bright side, people like them will possibly elect the next president and get to see first hand how it is all tied together. Unfortunately the rest of us are on the same train.

Bar Stool Economics

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten
comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it
would go something like this:

The first four men (The poorest) would pay nothing.

The fifth would pay $1.

The sixth would pay $3.

The seventh would pay $7.

The eighth would pay $12.

The ninth would pay $18.

The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every
day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the
owner threw them a curve. "Since you are all such good customers,"

he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20."

Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the
first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free

But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they
divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted
that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would
each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested
that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same
amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).

The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings).

The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28% savings).

The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).

The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).

The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued
to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to
compare their savings.

"I only got a dollar out of the $20,"declared the sixth man.

He pointed to the tenth man," but he got $10!"

"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar,
too! It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"

"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back
when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison.

"We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat
down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill,
they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money
between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is
how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the
most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for
being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they
might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat
friendlier.

When Will the Market Turn?

The short answer is when people perceive that the government can be trusted. The polls say, "It's Obama", the market says, "Oh no!" Confidence is needed but Obama does not make business investors comfortable, and there are very good reasons for that.

This current problem was caused by government policy distorting the market by creating customers that should not have been there. Capitalism is very good at making things, in this case houses. The builders said that if there would be customers to buy their houses, we will build them. The banks said if the government is backing the loans, we will give them. Investment companies said if we have loans to sell, we will package them and sell them.

An Obama win means more government distortion of the market with a weak economy and a broke government. A community organizer needs money, lots of it, and government power. That money needs to come from somewhere, either tax increases (letting the Bush tax cut die), printing more money, or borrowing from someone else (at a higher rate). Any of those choices will make it tougher on business. Hence the stock market falls.

I think, that even at this late date, it will still be a landslide for McCain when people connect the dots.

Time To Name Names

The following is info gleaned from a variety of sources:

Barney Frank, the Black Caucus, Chris Dodd and many other Democrats are directly responsible for the bad loans that triggered the financial crisis we are currently experiencing. Barack Obama worked with ACORN and as a lawyer for a firm was personally involved suing banks to ensure that risky loans were made. He is part of the problem.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's mortgage policies fueled the trend towards issuing risky loans.[83][84] In 1995, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac began receiving affordable housing credit for purchasing mortgage backed securities which included loans to low income borrowers. This resulted in the agencies purchasing subprime securities.[85] Subprime mortgage loan originations surged by 25% per year between 1994 and 2003, resulting in a nearly ten-fold increase in the volume of these loans in just nine years.[86] As of November 2007 Fannie Mae held a total of $55.9 billion of subprime securities and $324.7 billion of Alt-A securities in their portfolios.[87] As of the 2008Q2 Freddie Mac had $190 billion in Alt-A mortgages. Together they have more than half of the $1 trillion of Alt-A mortgages.[88] The growth in the subprime mortgage market, which included B, C and D paper bought by private investors such as hedge funds, fed a housing bubble that later burst.

A September 30, 1999 New York Times article stated, "... the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans... The action... will encourage those banks to extend home mortgages to individuals whose credit is generally not good enough... Fannie Mae... has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people... borrowers whose incomes, credit ratings and savings are not good enough... Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk... the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble... prompting a government rescue... the move is intended in part to increase the number of... home owners who tend to have worse credit ratings..." [89

Damning video compilation of the 2004 hearings on Fannie and Freddie.

The Big Three Oh

I was given the chore of getting Brad out of the house for the day so that Jackie and Vicki could get the actual work done. My part wasn't tough because the goal was to just have fun.

We went to breakfast at a nice outdoor cafe in Cave Creek and then to Cracker Jax, kind of a game place that caters to kids and adults. We chose the top level of the driving range so that we could appear better than we were (It probably gives your drive an extra 10 yards or so). Five irons and excellent form let us smash drives out to let's say 150 yards. (yeh). After blisters began to form we moved on to the batting range.



Sixty mph seemed about right and both of us looked like pros.

The plan was to hang out at the ballfield for a while before the last Diamondbacks game of the year so we talked stats. Believe it or not the numbers this year were very interesting. Home runs were down but stolen bases were up. There was speculation that a drop in the use of steroids may have had something to do with it.

The game was against the Rockies but both teams were out of the running so it was low stress. Winning at home on the last game is a lot of fun though, and win they did. Randy Johnson pitched and if you have ever seen him his long lanky body seems to stretch half-way to the plate. Unfortunately the win was one of those that is fun but in some way not satisfying. The relief pitcher loaded the bases and walked in the winning run. Sad.

On the way home we stopped at Dale's house and Brad got to try out his massage chair that looks like an ejection seat. It's the real deal. The thing grabs you by the arms and legs and squeezes. No kidding. By the time you finish you are sore and relaxed at the same time. Quite a machine.

When we got home Brad saw that they had decorated his office in NY Mets style. The wall was blue, there were pictures of the City and stadium and a new swivel chair. A very good day!

An Opportunity of a Lifetime

This could be what we have all been waiting for. Many of us have said for years that the government and its programs are wayyyy too large and expensive. We have pleaded for restraint at the yearly expansion and maybe the time has come. It is clear to the world that under pressure our Senate could only pass a "critical" bill by adding pork to it. (One of my liberal "green" friends was excited because the bill had a provision in it to pay for his new bicycle if he could document that it was used to ride to work. He couldn't understand why I wasn't impressed. OMG!!!) Government as usual. Time for a change.

If our way of life is looked at as a tree with the trunk being the free market system then many of the branches that the trunk supports are government. What we have now is a hurricane strength wind that will either snap off those limbs or give us an incentive to prune. And boy is that doable! I think it's clear that government can't save us, we need to save government but not by more of the same. If you watched the last debate there was only one person out there that was even talking about reducing government. Guess who.

In Case it is Still Not Clear

What is happening is a purposeful transferrance of wealth. Democrat socialists used race (political correctness) to intimidate those who would resist the largest theft in American history. When people understand that their hard work and lifetime of savings have been sacrificed to buy votes for crooks it will be the beginning of a landslide for, of all people, John McCain.

This crisis was not only unnecessary and preventable but planned. It will sink in that there are many Democrats that need to go to jail not just defeated in an election.

It will be easy to dump Obama when his ties to radical socialists and his community "organizing" is revealed for what it is, part of the problem.

More market not government is necessary but it will not happen with the current Democrat leadership and speech-stifling atmosphere.

Rewarding Bad Behavior

I guess the solution that our politicians came up with to the over building of homes is to devalue all of ours and reward people who "can't afford" what they bought. Since us taxpayer now own a bunch of worthless property why don't we just level it?

It sounds funny in a way but consider that supply and demand drive prices. Cut down on the number of houses and those left will be more valuable which will stabilize the housing market. There is no shortage of apartments so "affordable housing" is not the problem. No one will be left living on the street.

Why punish those who have been living within their means and reward those who haven't by giving them something for nothing?

Bad Loan Crash, What a Surprise!

They say that there was a blockage in the old financial intestines keeping new food from getting through. Now where did these loans come from? Who thought it was a good idea to let people buy houses with no down payment? Who was crying the blues over people "losing their house"? If a person has nothing but "rent" invested what will make them stick around and not just walk away? This was all so predictable provided the thought crossed one's mind that all "investments" don't make money. And some even lose it.

This all comes down to what a business friend once said, "Don't ever go into business with someone who has nothing to lose." No substantial down payment means nothing to lose.

Truly Treacherous

I took a little ride out to Bartlett this morning after breakfast (don't tell Vicki!) and saw scads of bicyclists on the road. The road is two lanes wide, full of blind curves with no room to pull over, no passing zones, and people towing trailers. It is fun on a motorcycle because no one is likely to sneak up on you from behind and the lane is wide enough to share with a bicyclist. It is not a bicycle friendly place, but there they are on every fourth turn.

Surprisingly the accident I saw was on a straight-of-way on Carefree Highway. Luckily, there wasn't a need for an ambulance but the paramedics were on the scene. I can't say how to make it safe but it sure makes me nervous to see the mixture of traffic on the road.

Nightmare Before Christmas?

Imagine a railroad track with a tight turn and workers with too much time and paint. The story is that around 1900 some railroad workers thought it would be fun to give passengers something to think about as they sped toward a sharp curve on a deserted stretch of track.
Apparently someone must be keeping the paint fresh because it looks pretty good.
It is located about 6 and a half miles down a dirt road a mile or two past the wide spot in the road named Congress, Arizona. A mile or so before the climb into Yarnell watch for a graded dirt road called 62. If you turn left and go the 6.3 miles you still could miss it. Only the front and half of the side of the rock is painted so you will need to be looking to the right.

Green and Humid

This morning I took the road to Horseshoe Lake and found the lake empty. There was nothing but a huge mud plain. It had to have been planned because there has been no shortage of rain. Bartlett Lake a few miles downstream is as full as I've ever seen it, the water covers the highest waterline on the cliffs. The desert is unbelievably green.

I drove up to Skull Valley outside of Prescott for breakfast Saturday morning and again, cool and green from horizon to horizon. Motorcycles and even bicycles were all over the place. It may be the price of gas or just a fad but bring it on!

A Rainy Night in Georgia

Our good buddies the Russians are at it again. A replay of helping out the Czechs, and the Hungarians, and the Afghans, and the .... Well you get the picture. Where is "the world" on this one?

Help ! Help! Send in the U.N. They'll solve it. Surely Europe will not let another "Poland" happen .... again. Don't worry, Putin only wants this one little thing, right. It's only one free country being swallowed up.

The only thing between the world being dominated by totalitarians and freedom is us. Hope we elect someone who understands that talk is cheap but protecting freedom requires a will, a military, and maybe some blood.

Looks Like the Market is Working

I was out riding this morning and noticed that the price of gasoline had dropped some. Later I went to fill up Vicki's car and paid $3.96 for regular but what really shocked me was diesel had dropped to $4.44. This week demand finally kicked in to drive the price down. If we get serious about production it may get down to $3.50 by Labor Day but doubt that it will get much lower than that.

Government doesn't need to do anything but get out of the way.

UPDATE 7/27/2008:
At the station mentioned above regular is now $3.85 and diesel $4.29. Keep it going!

UPDATE 8/9/2008:
The prices all over town are $3.69 for regular and diesel $3.99. I might consider buying some soon.

UPDATE 8/15/2008:
Regular is as low as $3.63 and I broke down and bought some diesel for $3.89. The first since January. Don't drive the truck much, you know.

UPDATE 8/24/2008:
Regular is at $3.499 in several places but diesel has gone up a little or stayed the same. $3.50 a gallon and a week early, ok.

UPDATE 9/13/2008:
Regular is $3.45, Premium $3.61, and diesel, $3.69.

Been There, Done That

Just sitting around watching ride videos of places I've been. Oh, I didn't shoot the videos but been there. People sometimes ask how I can keep going to places I've seen before. It's like rereading a book or watching a familiar movie. They can be "new" because I've changed; they bring back a forgotten thought or feeling.

Today I visited the cemetery where my daughter is buried. It had changed so much that I needed help finding the grave. 1986 may seem like a long time ago but is only yesterday in my heart.

Certain roads, hiking trails, landscapes, thoughts and people are what make you who you are. I am so immersed in the present that revisiting the past helps clarify the paths on this journey I call life.

Let's Get Real 5

For those of you who are or have been married you understand that it is possible to lose an argument but still be right. ANTHROPOMORPHIC GLOBAL WARMING is the latest example. It's a hoax but so many people buy into it, for whatever psychological reasons, that politicians have to act like it's true.

The bottom line is that if CO2 is causing anything (which I think is disproven historically) there is nothing we can do to stop it because we don't control China or India and we will not be able to stop other countries from using "fossil fuels". It is a feel-good exercise designed by big government types to deprive us of our money and freedom while supposedly "saving the planet". Many businesses have signed on because selling one product to make money is as good as another. That oil guy, Pickens, is a perfect example. He wants to sell natural gas so he supports wind and solar to get the support of the environmentalists. Hopefully, as the cost becomes clear, the American people will get the picture.

Energy independence is a worthy goal but mining, drilling, damming, and nuclear is no more damaging to the environment than building wind farms or solar plants. All energy on earth is "natural".

Where the Deer and the Antelope Play

Wednesday through Friday Vicki and I rode the Nomad to visit nice weather, wild animals, and friends. Jim and Virginia Slusser, a former teaching colleague and her husband, were kind enough to invite us to their cabin in Greer, Arizona in the White Mountains just off the New Mexico border. It got all the way up to the 70's and down in the low 50's. It has been a while since I had to wear a long sleeve shirt. Yes, we did actually see deer and antelope roaming but not playing.

Let's Get Real 4

This is why we need conservatives in government. Socialism doesn't work. Whenever the government is the financial guarantor, the people will act irresponsibly. They have nothing to lose.

Here we are bailing out companies again. Everybody should have a house, right? Even people who can't afford one. Even investors who were just looking to flip them. Even people who had no income? And guess what, we, all of us who are not part of the problem, are going to get stuck covering the losses that government policy has allowed and encouraged to happen.

In Arizona people who aren't even here legally are (or were) allowed to buy a house and a car, don't ask don't tell, you know. As laws begin to be enforced they no longer can get jobs so they walk away from what they should have never been allowed to purchase, exaserbating a bad situation. We have been screaming, "Enforce the laws!" for so long that the results of enforcement now are a shock, but not to those who have been paying attention.

Unless we get some responsible leaders (and citizens) who understand the nature of the problems, increased supply decreases the price, don't bail out bad behavior because it will then increase, and government can't take care of everything, we will bankrupt this country.

Let's Get Real 3

On September 11, 2001 the United States was hit with the largest terrorist attack in its history. George Bush decided to attempt something that no previous President thought possible, a permanent reordering of the Middle East.

Afghanistan was invaded and the Taliban was toppled, Al Qaeda was driven into Pakistan, and the people of Afghanistan were given a chance at a more normal existance with a more representative government. Pressure is continuing to be applied by the government of Pakistan and coalition forces on the border of Pakistan. Not a perfect situation but better for us and them.

In Iraq Saddam Hussein was removed, Al Qaeda has nearly been driven to extinction, Iran's proxy, Sadr's Army, has been defeated in Iraq and driven back into Iran, and Iraq has shown the ability to begin governing and protecting itself while producing oil in a stable and free enough environment that foreign companies can function. Not a perfect situation but better for us and them.

We have not had a terrorist attack of any magnitude since September 11, 2001. Whoever is the next president has a war to win or lose depending upon his tenacity. There is only one candidate who is known for that trait, McCain.

Ya think ya raise your kids right...

Raising boys has certain pitfalls. You don't want to hear from the police and you're always sweating that they don't hook-up with a sleazy girlfriend. After a while they meet great women and get married and you think you made it... No drug convictions, no unexpected grandchildren, no chronic money problems ... just good responsible citizens, assets to humanity... and then a belated Father's Day gift shows up ... a coffee cup.

Let's Get Real 2

I've just about had it with the constant nonsense coming out of the news media. If people are ignorant of facts it is partly because of the unending hype. To get viewers these guys have to paint everything as a crisis but, holy cow, at least be honest.

We are daily treated to the word recession and comparisons to the Great Depression. A recession involves the economy shrinking (going backwards) for 2 consecutive quarters. I would bet that most people would be surprised that this has not happened, not even 1 quarter. WE ARE NOT IN A RECESSION.

The Great Depression involved a shortage of money, we actually have too much money out there that's why some economists are concerned about inflation. The current unemployment is about 5%, during the Depression unemployment was 23%. Remember we have 5% unemployment with about 10-20 million people here illegally. When the stock market plunged in the Great Depression it dropped 75% of its value. I can't speak for everyone else but with all this "market turmoil" my stock market holdings have dropped 1/2 of one percent. J and Brad, your inheritance is still safe.

I don't know how much of the hype is politically motivated and how much is just to sell "news", but for Pete's sake, and the rest of us, at least be honest.

Let's Get Real

The price of gasoline will not ever be $1, $2, or even $3 a gallon again. But that should be no mystery. It's not because the world is running out or there is some conspiracy. We will never see new houses selling for $25,000 or even $100.000 again either.

Many things just about double in price every 10 years. When I was working in a gas station in 1970 gas was $.25. Prices aren't straight-line linear but the trend is clear. 1970 $.25, 1980 $.50, 1990 $1.00, 2000 $2.00, and 2010 $4.00. The cost of a starter home in 1975 was $25,000, 1985 $50,000, 1995 $100,000, and 2005 $200,000. A new car in 1970 was about $2,000, in 1980 $4,000, 1990 $8,000, 2000 $ 16,000 and by 2010 it will be about $32,000. Not all things follow this trend but enough do that I would plan on having to deal with it.

So what should be done? We need to get to work on producing our own energy and not leave it to everyone else. Yeh, that means we need to start drilling and mining, responsibly of course, but still getter done. Nuclear power needs to be placed off the back burner and restarted. What we do today will affect us for the next century. We have already lost 40 years and can't afford 4 more, if you get my drift. It seems there is only one guy out there that gets it, McCain.

Just That Close

We came within one vote of losing the second ammendment. ONE VOTE!

When our founders set up this country individual rights were considered such no brainers that many people thought that certainly we shouldn't have to get it in writing. But there were some hold-outs who said that they would approve this new constitution on the condition that there would immediately be a list of guaranteed individual rights added to the document. Where would we be today if they hadn't gotten it in writing?

Our Constitution has built within it the means of creating and repealing ammendments. But those are constantly being circumvented by activist courts who take it upon themselves to create rights or attempt to take away rights out of thin air. There should be no doubt that an individual citizen has all of the rights in the first 10 ammendments. It makes no sense to see it any other way.

Four liberal judges almost took away a part of the Constitution that they pledged to defend. The President selects who is considered to sit on the Supreme Court. We can't afford another liberal on the Court.

How Many Fun Places Can You Visit in a Day?

Vicki had not been to Chattanooga for 45 years (or so) but she remembered places she had visited way back then and had often talked about returning. Today was the day.

We drove in from Nahshville and immediately took the steepest railway in the world up Lookout Mountain. She had to close her eyes on the steep part but that was much better than the past when the "women didn't ride the train".

After that we went to Rock City, home of the swinging suspension bridge that was so frightening to her as a child. This time she crossed it twice and even made it bounce and swing. So there! The whole park was majestic except for the "Fairyland Caverns". That part was kind of frightening to me.

We grabbed some lunch at Rock City and then made a beeline to Tennessee Aquarium. We went to both parts the river and ocean. There was a sea horse exibit and way too many other creatures to even mention from butterflies to alligators.

The next stop was Ruby Falls. The falls is located in a cavern entered after a 260 feet elevator ride down through solid limestone. The falls is about 1/2 mile farther into the the cave 1100 feet below the surface. No sweat, really. It was fairly cool down there.

By the time we got out of there it was 5:30 in the afternoon and time for dinner. Cracker Barrel is always fine with me so catfish, chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, gravy and all the other good stuff that goes with it made the ride home very relaxing. Here I sit, after a shower sipping a Margarita and typing. A very full day!

Time Off

It starts like one of those dreams where you wake up and don't know where you are. The first couple of days you need to get everything done like the chicken whose head is cut off and she's still running around in normal mode. And, like the chicken, it doesn't take long to get over that.

So, I have a huge cup of coffee, enjoy the sun come up, take a hike or a motorcycle ride, do a few chores, have lunch, do some homework (yeh us teachers are "lifelong learners" or perpetual students), listen to Rush for as long as I can stand listening to the world's insanity, read a little, take a nap, read some more or do homework, visit on the patio, make something for dinner, sip a beer while watching the sun go down, listen to some music, and go to bed with my police scanner on (it's entertaining to hear what the bad guys are up to) so I can do it all again tomorrow.

I do enjoy this slower pace.

A New Tire and Some Dirt

Last July I crashed the KLR on a washed out road to Horseshoe Lake and last month J dumped it in a sand wash a few miles away called Camp Creek. After installing a vey nice 50/50 on-off road tire, the Maxxis 6006, it was time to revisit the scenes of the crimes.

Rear wheel traction is right up there with fuel when it comes to riding in sand. When J was here I took the KLR into Camp Creek for a little spin and after warning him that there wasn't much tread (none) turned him loose to crash my bike.

Today it was like riding a new motorcycle. It actually responded when given some gas. The front tire didn't dig in because it was busy being shoved right over all that sand. Things were as they should be!

Why Is It Important?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

I was teaching my history class last week about the Constitution of the United States and our textbook asked a question about where our rights came from. I couldn't believe that they asked.

That is probably the most relevant question that I have seen in the book. Of course, the students didn't know and came up with the usual answers such as the government, the laws, judges, and most commonly, "I don't know". But why is the answer critical to understanding our country?

I believe that the answer refects a person's worldview and certainly defines their politics. If the government is lower in importance than the "Creator" and those "unalienable rights" then any subsequent laws become very important. The question that has to be answered by that citizen is, "To what extent are our political decisions inhibiting our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?" If there is no God then rights are irrelevant, vapor decided upon by the government (even a democratic government), some dictator, or whatever is currently seen as the authority.

What isn't given by men can't be taken away by men. That is what makes our concept of government different than any out there.

Mother's Day

In some ways it's like so many other things, you never miss them till there gone. I visited the cemetery yesterday where my mom and dad's ashes are and looked at the date on the headstones. My dad, Fred Curtis, has been gone almost 4 years, but really longer because his mental faculties gave out before his body. Mom, Helen, left us two years ago the end of this month. It doesn't seem that long.

Moms are a great thing. The way it is supposed to be is that they are on your side no matter what. Well that was almost the case with Mom. The only time she was critical of me was in regards to my wife, Vicki. She ALWAYS took her side. I was always insensive and in need of repentance. She had a mission to straighten us out and she was not afraid to say what she thought. But you always knew that she was on your side. God, I miss her.

It's Not If, It's When

When J and Sheila were visiting the other day we took the bikes out for a ride. As soon as he got on the KLR he asked if I noticed that the handlebars were bent. I told him that actually I had already straightened them. He gave me that look. When you ride off-road it’s not if you’re going to crash, just when and how bad.

He wanted to try out a sand wash and immediately laid the KLR down. Luckily parts are easy to come by and cheap. The blinker (Australian version which is slightly smaller) was $12.87 and the bolts for the foot pegs (not J’s fault, an earlier injury) including the tap and drill bit, $14.00. Ready to ride. Will there be more in the future? Yeh.

Hearts to Heros

Barry said that it would be his last one. I didn't ask him why, possibly that it is a huge job, but it was good. The turn-out was large, as usual, and the servicemen were very appreciative.

We had the use of Christ Church of the Valley, Sheriff Joe's posse out directing traffic, a band called High and Tight (that was good) and a stage at WestGate. The proceeds went to several support organizations, Operation Homefront, Packages From Home, and Freedom is Not Free.

A Ride a Hike and Fellowship

Great way to spend a Sunday morning.

After the Bible study on Saturday night someone came up with the idea of getting together at 7:00 Sunday morning to hike in the White Tanks. Everyone in our new "church" (we don't really know what to call it) lives on the far west side of Phoenix, actually Surprise or El Mirage, so for me, getting together involves packing a lunch. Luckily, that was the plan. Well, breakfast not lunch.

We hiked the Waterfall Trail and spotted some hieroglyphs then got together for breakfast at a cabana near the trailhead. The kids went on the hike and played on some great playground equipment right next to the cabana.

Next week it will be on my side of the city, North Mountain. The plan is to work up to a trip down the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon for lunch at Indian Gardens. Sounds good to me.

Easter in Phoenix

As I was hiking Shaw Butte yesterday looking at all of the flowers I decided to bring my camera the next time out. Easter morning I drove around to several of the trailheads near the condos and took a few pictures. The yellows really stood out but there was red, blue, violet, and orange mixed in too.