If this was a movie I’d turn it off and go for a ride

Unfortunately it’s real life and each scene is worse than the one before. It’s like watching those old I Love Lucy shows where the madcap redhead makes things worse as she stumbles and lies through what should be fairly simple problems. Remember the one where she gets behind on the assembly line and the cakes keep falling off the conveyor belt? That’s what we have running this country.

Obama keeps “fixing” stuff and no one seems to notice that they aren’t fixed or even better than they were. On to the next problem. We have the stimulus that doesn’t stimulate, the Government Motors debacle, run-away global warming that isn’t (but still needs fixing), Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Syria, Palestine, Guantanamo, a zillion-dollar “good” deficit, and we haven’t even gotten to the Supreme Court, healthcare, social security, Medicaid, and illegal immigration. But don’t worry, Barry and the bunch have it all under control.

God, I miss Carter. At least when you pointed out that it wasn’t working you weren’t a RACIST! too.

This Says All That Needs To Be Said

Boys in the Hood … sort of

The week before Bob Goodwin (in the middle) up and died he had the forethought (well it wasn’t planned I’m sure) to invite us over to play with some of his toys. That WW1 vintage heavy machinegun was quite a collectors piece.

Bob was one of those guys that loved the finer things in life … guns, motorcycles, and his family. Every time I saw him it was like going on a vacation.

Jumping Cactus and more ….

It doesn’t really jump but all one has to do is to barely touch it and it digs in. The barbs at the tip are such that they will work in more deeply with a little movement. I just touched one of the pieces on the ground and it attached to the tip of my boot. It is the method of this plant to reproduce, animals and wind carry away parts of the plant and they root where they stop. One of my dogs got into one of these and it took pliers to get the barbs out. Not a pretty experience.

Plant Ocotillos around your property and it’s like putting up concertina wire. Remember those scenes from Disney’s Snow White with the thistles, this must be the stuff!

We also have our full-grown phallic symbols and our little insipient ones.

Then there was that treacherous mix of trucks towing boats and bicyclists on narrowing roads with blind corners and hills. But wow what a beautiful morning!

The Learning Curve

Well it hasn’t even been the first 100 days and we’ve heard Bama trash the job of generations of American presidents, seen the trampling of property rights, heard plans for the huge expansion of government financed in large part by the demonization (and taxation) of a harmless gas, seen just how much help the Europeans (NATO) will be in Afghanistan (the only just front against terror), watched the UN in action (in all its usefulness), seen the North Koreans threaten our allies in Asia, watched Iran prepare to go nuclear (after the plea for help to our peaceful friends the Rooskies and the “world community”), and looked on helplessly as an American crew was taken hostage by pirates. I sure hope the smartest people in the world can do better than that dull tool, Bush. There isn’t much time for an extended learning curve in the big leagues but it looks like we may be reliving Jimmy Carter and the 70’s.

Actions Should Speak Louder Than Words

President Obama should not be listened to, he should be watched. His words support free enterprise and self-reliance but his actions are socialist to the core. It can’t be viewed in any other way. He has consistently grabbed more government control in every business he has lain his eyes on. In every area, education, energy, finance, health and even automobiles, his words suggest just a little tinkering to “help” but his actions mean government control. Not just temporarily but permanently. No other president has had the “audacity” to fire and hire (as well as threaten) CEOs and board members of companies that took the “help” of the government. And he wants to “help” all of us.

The Grand Canyon by Back Road

 

We took 19th Avenue to the Carefree Highway and then up 7th Street which turns into New River Road. After a short hop on I-17 the Bumble Bee turn off becomes a dirt road all the way to Mayer, nothing but dust and cows. From Mayer on  Highway 69 we finagled our way to 89A up to the ghost town of Jerome and then back to dirt roads most of the way into Williams for a burger and some fuel. The final leg was a two lane blacktop into the national park.

We met up with the girls (our wives) who drove in the regular way. On the way back we stopped by to see Bedrock but the wind was so bad we didn’t stick around.

 

A Final Destination Experience

Every now and then something happens that makes you wonder if some things are meant to be, or not. Today I decided to not stay in the computer lab after school so I left an hour early. It was an uneventful ride home until getting stuck behind a stalled bus on Peoria Avenue just past the I-17. The frustration lasted about 30 seconds but I was able to go around it when traffic cleared. I got to the intersection of Peoria and 19th Avenue and noticed cars blocking my lane. The accident had just occurred and I was the first in line. No one had gotten out of the vehicles, the airbags were still deployed …. and one of the cars was sitting in the left lane, right where I would have been stopped for the light.

The No-Nonsense Bailout

$50 Billion in Cash Headed for Paid-Up Homeowners

by Scott Ott for ScrappleFace · 120 Comments

(2009-02-17) — Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner this week will unveil a plan to address the nation’s housing crisis by making $50 billion in direct payments to the 91 percent of homeowners who currently pay their mortgages on time.

The plan is an 11th-hour revision of the original scheme which would have allowed government-backed renegotiation of loans between banks and delinquent or foreclosed homeowners.

“We want to invest in what works,” said Mr. Geithner. “It suddenly dawned on me that rewarding people who bought more house than they could afford, and backing banks that made risky loans, would just throw good money after bad. But the vast majority of Americans make sensible mortgage decisions, so when we put cash in their hands they’ll use it in ways that will reinforce a sound, sustainable economy.”

Only about nine percent of mortgages are delinquent or in foreclosure, Mr. Geithner noted.

“The best thing for these folks is to get them out of the McMansions and into modest homes or rental units they can afford,” the Treasury chief said. “If we bail them out now, then we just send a signal to the banks that Uncle Sam stands behind every foolish, risky or evil thing you do. We would effectively nationalize the banks while subsidizing people who think the American dream is a birthright payable upon demand.”

Asked by a reporter why the federal government should get involved at all, taking out a $50 billion loan to try to stabilize credit markets, Mr. Geithner said, “We’re just following the great Democrat example of Franklin Roosevelt during the Depression.”

“FDR knew that it doesn’t matter whether what you do will work, or even make sense,” he said, “What matters is that people think you care, and they see you doing something. Borrowing money against future tax receipts is something we can do, and we do it well.”

Why Not Try This?

Since we’re talking huge amounts of money, enough to pay off 90% of the mortgages in America, why not just hand out checks to those of us who have a mortgage with the understanding (hell I’ll even sign something) that we will pay off our mortgages. No need to “bail out” those in foreclosure, prop up banks, keep track of thieves or spend money on a bunch of pork projects. Toxic assets covered, crisis averted, income freed up for more buying, banks flush with cash to loan, everyone is better off. Now that would be a stimulus!

The Stimulus That Isn’t

There really isn’t much more to say, because they wouldn’t let us see it.

It’s law, so enjoy the downward spiral. It took a less than a month to get a good picture of what “hope and change” is all about.  2009 may be a lost year but 2010 will be payback.

Time to Chill

Finally a slight feeling of euphoria. Global warming is a hoax, we aren’t going to die because of CO2 so all that wasteful spending is unnecessary. The economy is weak but fixable, no need for the the Spendulus. The Kool-Aid may be in the glass but we don’t have to drink it. People are beginning to get it! I think the stock market is reflecting the feeling that it all aint gunna happen. The Republicans (and a lot of Democrats) are beginning to get some focus. We need to make it crystal clear that we won’t be railroaded into idiotic decisions.

Frog Rock

I don’t know how many times I have gone up Yarnell Hill but today I happened to look to the left and there it was, Frog Rock. Now how could I have missed it? About 100 yards down the road on the right is The Frog Rock Cafe, could that be related?

After the big discovery it was time to kick back and have a cup of coffee in Peeple’s Valley. The trip back was just as interesting. I darn near hit a couple of donkeys on Carefree Highway. The four-legged kind. I stopped as quickly as I could to take a picture (If it had of been J the camera would have been ready) but by the time I got my camera out they were hiding somewhere in the brush. While I was waiting for them to surface I saw a couple of hunters and they told me, “They’re all over out here.” Well I’d heard that but have never actually seen any and didn’t see those ones again either. Another thing to watch out for while riding, I guess.

A Cold Shoulder

Hundreds attend global warming protest ….. and they look pretty mad!

Elections Have Consequences

This is why Barry should have never been elected. We are being inundated by climate scare tactics designed to further destroy our economy and forever create a socialist state. People will buy into this because the media is the Democrat party. Oh we got our “historic” new president and a bunch of fools following him off a cliff. Just give him a chance, they say. I did. One week is all it has taken to prove to me that he absolutely can’t be trusted and is destined to be the all time worst president we have ever had. I’m sorry friends and family but between letting terrorist free, buying into global warming, pushing a huge pork laden so called stimulus bill designed to buy votes, paying for abortions, putting a tax cheat in charge of the Treasury Department and Hillary at State there isn’t much good to look forward to the next couple of years except one hell of a fight.

Vicki’s Birthday

When I woke her up this morning at 7:00 and asked her if she wanted to go out for breakfast or dinner she answered, “I want to go back to sleep.” She didn’t get the chance because Brad, Jackie, Alana, and Sammy stopped by with cinnamon rolls and presents.

After opening presents and having rolls and coffee she did what makes sense on a beautiful day, go outside and read, which leads to falling asleep.

We went out for dinner (Dale, Donna, Wally, Peggy, Howard, Michele, Brad, Jackie, Alana, Elizabeth, Ric, and Vicki) at Villa De Los Antos and came back for cake and coffee. Happy Birthday Vicki!

What Ever Happened to "Appropriate Technology"?

It's deja'vu all over again. If you can remember the periodical "Mother Earth News" you know what I'm talking about. Ben Franklin Stoves to heat the house, Volkswagens with batteries driving electric starter motors, passive solar collectors, wind generation, large home gardens, a woodlot, earthworks to modulate home temperatures, earthworm bins for fertilizer, mulching, picking pests off vegetables by hand. I could go on and on, after all, I was a subscriber.

Of course, now it's high tech, but the same. The problem was that it was too much work, the power was insufficient, didn't work well, and not cost effective. But now that we only have 4 years to live .... it's all doable... again. Back then the wind generators were small enough to fit on your micro-farm. The heat generated by the sun was used in a way that was more efficient (heating water) not converting to electricity and wood was considered a renewable resource. Your house was built underground (and you didn't have to deal with city building codes) so heating and cooling was minimal. It was almost like returning to cave dwelling.

Here we are again in the 70's with our new generation of (metro)hippies, a black Jimmy Carter and this time without our Franklin stove.

I Don't Know if I Should Voice It

I had the Inauguration on a live feed today for my computer classes so that the students could listen and watch it in it's entirety, oaths, prayers, and speeches without commentary. What I was left with was a sadness that seems out of place.

The rambling poem and the sometime inspiring sometime insulting benediction created a feeling in me of foreboding. Obama's speech was not the type that a commander would give his men going into battle but a disjointed list kind of like a State of the Union but without applause lines. I feel sorry for those who put their trust in him and I don't want to feel that way, they are my friends, my family, and my country.

And Another Great Day for a Ride

I was talking to a friend who has been chipping ice off of his toothbrush up in the frozen wasteland of Illinois and wanted to cheer him up a little. So this one's for you TJ.

It was a clear frigid 52 degrees this morning when I headed out the door at 7:30. On the way out to Cave Creek the roads were full of motorcycles and bicycles. The royal blue sky made the sun feel even warmer.

After a brisk 100 mile ride through scenic country on a twisty two-lane to Bartlett Lake I sipped coffee enjoying the view at an overlook. The ride home was a pleasure as the temperature rose to 70 degrees.

When I arrived home the scent of freshly fried chips and home-made salsa greeted me. And it isn't even noon yet.

Where Do We Go From Here?

In America we have an utopian "gene" that resurfaces occasionally. All it takes is some distance from pressing problems and a group of believers. The experiments fail for the "simple" reason that the desire for personal freedom will not die easily. It's "human nature". The second or third generation buys out. The problem has been attacked by the current group of believers by taking over the school system and the information media. They have been able to secure at least a majority of the population .... for a while. The only way they may succeed is to take away enough freedoms that the average person can't see the horizon, so to speak. No dissension, "the science has been settled".

I think that reality will rear it's ugly head and bring us back. A few terrorist attacks, very cold winters, a little bit of financial suffering, and hopefully all this wishful thinking will fade away or may be swept away. For instance, what would happen if terrorists put bombs in a bunch of soft targets, shopping malls, baggage check-ins or public plazas? How about freezing temperatures where no amount of "green" energy will suffice? What about bailout after bailout that doesn't work? What about taxation that punishes those who produce and feeds the seed for the next crop (money that would have been invested rather than spent) to the takers? One or more of these will probably happen. And soon.

Then we can get back to raping the planet. You know, raising the standard of living, growing enough food, producing enough energy, improving medical care, creating wealth rather than redistributing it, creating new jobs, cleaning up pollution, increasing lifespans. A return to the bad old days.