Travel companion

Traveling in west Mississppi, I can upon a "trading post" with lots of hillbilly trinkets. This little fella caught my eye and will be keeping me company.

He is, of course, a "JAC rabbit".

JACIII

The Big River

The moutains are prohibited by rain or snow. What's left? The River.
THE river. The mighty Mississipi.

Forgive the lack of photo journalism, but I fear the camera could not have survived the submarine exposure from the 90 MPH, eight hour deluge. It remain buried under layers of "water resistant" travel bags.

So, there is nothing left but the aftermath:




Incidentally, waterproof gear needs to be treated with waterproofing chemicals every so often. Guess how I know.

I need to go.

But where?

It's premium riding season and I've been a good boy. I've put this trip off for 3 weeks now getting barn doors, stalls built, horses shod, clients catered to, the buildings and grounds and vehicle maintenance caught up. But there is a hitch. Well, two.

All the really choice destinations are still a bit on the chilly side or plumb snowed in and, I know it sounds disingenuous, the fuel prices are cramping my adventurous creativity.

The best riding is in or near elevation changes, the higher the delta the more fun and picturesque. Won't work. The really cool places still got snow. Alaska? Shit. South Dakota the weather is untrustworthy, now. Though, Durango might be doable.... The Dragon - been there done that and it's covered up in fat, stupid, cruiser fags.

The gas thing. Used to be motorcycling was free for all intents and purposes. Fill 'er up, strap on a tent, sleeping bag, and cook stove and the world is at your feet virtually for free. Now, 4000 miles @ 45MPG is about 89 gallons of fuel. Two years ago that was a week on the road for 200 bucks. Chump change! Throw away money! Now, it's 400 bucks and whereas that's not cost prohibitive, it starts lookin' like a sum a father should spend on entertaining more people than just himself. It's supposed to be guilt free. Oh, I can fight any related guilt off by the sheer force of my naturally self-centered ego, but that's effort I'd rather not apply.

There's bikes out there that get 100mpg, but motorcycling is about a passion for more than traveling. The bike has to speak to you. Yours might have things to say, but it will be mute whenever I'm around.

I need to go.

Eight Belles, Rest in Peace

Tough break for a tough lady.




The big girl was gaining ground on Big Brown. Closing down on him in the stretch with a full head of steam when something happened and she started fading. Damned shame. She purely ran her heart out.

I suspect she broke those bones running and never even noticed until they began making it mechanically impossible for her to run well. Horses pick up on prevalent emotions and there is always a fever pitch of excitement at the Derby. So, not only are they keyed up because they know they are about to race, but the intensity and level of excitement picked up from that many thousand people has the horses riding a veritable adrenaline tsunami wave.

There is no pain, only the fulfillment of what they are. What they were born to be. What countless generations were bred to produce; the finest athlete on God's earth. They are the offspring of champion sires and dams, immortal grandsires and mares. Legends are their ancestral heritage. Speed is their birthright, endurance their defining character.

Something you pick up on from being around lots of horses and lots of different kinds of horses is that they are happiest doing what they are meant to do. Draft horses are happiest in harness, quarter horses are happiest under saddle and working the range, saddlebreds are happiest showing off, jumpers live to jump. A racehorse loves to run, and not only to run, but to compete. They have a burning desire to run in front.

So, think of a horse doing what she loves to do. Amplify her joy with the rush of a wild roaring crowd. Challenge her supreme will to forbid a horse on the cusp of greatness his glory. She will run her heart out for you.

She did.

JamieR, Mad Aussie, Suck My Balls!

Freebird!

Hidden Treasures and One Man's Junk

I attended an estate auction yesterday where an old man had collected horse drawn conveyances of one sort or another for many years. There were enough of these things lined up well preserved out in his field to stock a museum. I took pictures of some of the interesting (to me) ones.



















The wagons went from $100 to $5000. I couldn't tell any rhyme or reason to it, except for the John Deere and Owensboro wagons.

This Big old Oliver went for $2700. I thought that was a damned good price.

Shitcan it Vox

It sucks ass.

It sucks hairy ass.

Still think that DNA database is harmless?

"DNA enough to file indictments", and that's all it takes to get the ball rolling since few of them want to think about their "decisions"; now there's precedent. And this comes from a rape case where it's nearly always a she said he said situation. Prosecutors are bad enough trying to get a good conviction rate (better prospects later in private practice) now; soon they won't need do anything but pull a "DNA" out of a hat to pin a crime on someone.

There's no sense in even debating how error prone and bumbling, sham "CSI" crime laboratories remain, yet they will be churning out "incontrovertible evidence" on an industrial scale. It is documented common knowledge that these "labs" are error prone, yet courts will still admit their "expert" testimony and their "scientific" evidence.

Of course, it won't be abused. Right, Bill?

Obviously the Doors are the Best Part of the Stable

Heavy Metal: Rednecks Gone Wild

What you're seeing here is a new bumper we are building for a mid-eighties one ton truck. We wanted something heavy and sturdy, but not a sea of diamond plate. It's about 2/3 finished; there is a lot of welding yet to be done and some bracing going in behind everything then it's off to the powder coater for a finish that appears remarkably like polished aluminum.




The tubing is 5" x 1/4"and the deck (diamond) plate is 1/4". All the boxing and bracing is 1/2" thick plate. I'm thinkin' it'll hold up.



Something similar will be going on the front. With a 12,000lb winch, of course.

Our next project will probably be an Escalade getting a similar treatment, though scaled down for its lighter suspension. Some 1/8" x 5" tubing and 1/8" deck plate - I don't think I can forgo the 1/2" plate box and braces though. Maybe an 8000lb winch and some mudders will help mitigate the "brutha" factor, right bro?

We've all been Here

BOOBS!

What Goes Around, Comes Around: Ethanol vs. Oil

Interesting how things turn out...

Once upon a time the US had low energy/fuel costs which allowed it to produce cheap, abundant food in such quantity that it was made available to the world's population. Then the ragheads and nutty South Americans, who were already filthy stinkin' rich, decided where the US could pay more for fuel. Whatever shall we do?

Everyone knows nothing happens in a vacuum; there is always a reaction to any action, and often a cascade of events. Here's the one we're lookin' at now:

Demand for replacement cheap energy source is huge, this drives the search for cheap energy sources. During this search folks get the bright idea that food crops can be converted into useful fuel. Last I looked Ethanol from corn was $85 a barrel while oil was $100+. This encourages energy companies to start using ethanol in their products, meaning they buy a lot of the stuff which drives the price of corn up while encouraging increased crop production of corn. The corn used to go to the world market as food, now it's going into the market as fuel. But folks still gotta eat, right?!

There's less food out there and demand is still high, the price goes up. The US won't just give the stuff away so much. Food crop production is up, but it's going heavily to corn destined for nonfood use. The EU isn't helping matters much with its global warming bullshit biofuels mandates. The other food crops will shrink in relation and it is from this portion that folks are lookin' to get fed. Who are they going to look to?

Seein' as a shitload of folks live near dessert who depend on US surplus food to live they are liable to turn to the folks pumping oil out of said dessert, who started this whole process by the way, for relief - barring that relief they will be lookin' a whole lot like the french revolution only hungrier, meaner, and more raggedy-assed.

The US will get the blame, but we've got the food. And soon, the energy.

I wouldn't rule out coal becoming king again, either. Global warming is on the skids and there are a lot of ideas out there to "clean" up coal. Combustion technology, materials, and controls have advanced in a quantum leap since coal was last implemented as a locomotion source. Wouldn't it be cool if the old steam locomotives were to become feasible again? A local railroad man just took delivery of a NEW steam locomotive from China. They still manufacture and use them. Coincidence?



What we really need is steam turbine locomotives.

Like this one from 1938:


GE built them and they were complete electric power plants on wheels. Piece of cake!

Environmental Police?

God's own warriors to a treehugger, I reckon.

Police doubt bear shooting story
Thursday, April 10, 2008
By SANDRA E. CONSTANTINE and GEORGE GRAHAM

GRANBY - Environmental police have concluded there is no evidence that a black bear shot by a town man on his property was charging the resident.

"Evidence does not indicate there was a public safety threat," Lisa Capone, a spokeswoman for the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, said yesterday.

The bear was euthanized by state environmental police Tuesday morning after David W. Menard, 23, of 10 Oak Drive shot it with a compound bow, according to officials. Menard told police he shot the animal on his property because it charged him, and he feared for the safety of his cats, Patrolman Kevin C. O'Grady said.

Granby police were called to the scene by Menard about 7:40 a.m. Tuesday and in turn notified environmental police.

Capone said the shooting was investigated by Environmental Police Officer Anthony Tranghese, whom she described as having 25 years experience in dealing with problem wildlife, including black bears.


Menard is to be charged with hunting without a license, hunting bear without a permit, discharging bow or firearm within 150 feet of a road and hunting out of season, she said. A spokeswoman for court said she could not release information on the matter.

Environmental Police discovered the bear on its back in a wooded area a short distance away from the residence and used a shotgun to put it down, O'Grady said.

Meanwhile, Police Chief Louis M. Barry said bear sightings are a daily occurrence in town and that residents should take care not to leave out bird feeders, dog or cat food, and unturned compost piles.

"Don't antagonize them. They usually wander off if you just leave them alone," Barry said.

He described the animals as naturally shy and unlikely to attack unless protecting a cub or food source.

I don't know which is full of more idiots the west coast or the east coast. I hope these cute, cuddly, harmless bears eat each and every "environmental police" jerkoff walkin'. Some things are rationally assumed to be a threat by their very existence in one's vicinity.

Something Stinks in Eldorado Texas

"In my opinion, this is the largest endeavor we've ever been involved in in the state of Texas," said Children's Protective Services spokesman Marleigh Meisner, who said she was also involved in the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco.


I guess we should all be impressed the swat team managed to not roast the children alive this time.

Things are really quiet in Eldorado news-wise regarding the "other side" and no skepticism has been leveled about this supposed 16 year old who called in for help. The authorities can't seem to find her. I smell bullshit and a slimy female Texas CPS authoritarian action.

How in hell can the marriage of two men or two women be legally semi-"protected" (depends on where you are) and yet men and women cannot be married in threes or fours, etc. Is this not on of those "lifestyle choices" the relativists want everyone to be so open minded about? Maybe if it was three polygamous fags it would be OK? Five dikes on bikes approved to give foster care?

This kind of persecution is what "family court" is all about. I have no doubt that when pressed the charges are trumped up and the womyn bureaucrats are, at base, most appalled by the lack of television, non-adherence to fashion trends, and proper manners of the children they are kidnapping. The story is very careful how it notes that the mothers left voluntarily after they stole their children as bait.

The AP quotes a liar as a source:

"Once you go into the compound, you don't ever leave it," said Carolyn Jessop, one of the wives of the alleged leader of the Eldorado complex. Jessop left with her eight children before the sect moved to Texas."

Notice you can't leave, but she left. Hmmmm.


It is also interesting to note that a single generation ago a 14 year old marrying (with parental permission) was not that big a deal. No doubt Texas CPS believes they need to be fucking at that age (with a condom - safe sex of course), just not married.

Let me make my perspective on this entirely clear. I have young daughters and if I perceive any man old enough to know better looking upon them with genuine lust and a hard cussin' or plain ass-whippin' doesn't show him the error of his ways I will cause 10mm entrance holes to appear in all his most important places and some hogs' diet (or catfish - I'm largely undecided) will become more omnivorous for a time. And I would help you do the same. So, I get the "no perverts" angle. I just have trouble buying it here.

NGA's and police agencies will use the most repulsive among us (child abusers and molesters) to get us started reporting one another's actions to government agencies. There are ads on the radio, suspiciously timed, encouraging folks to report parents for child abuse "even if you only suspect". No mention of the consequences is given for any innocent parents maliciously reported on; just the promise of a social boner for some busy-body. I bet you can imagine the kinds of hell an aroused bureaucrat can wreak in a household and upon a child's psyche.

Disgusting.

UPDATE

A source wishing to remain anonymous has sent an email contending local authorities have been dying for an excuse to get onto the LDS property and poke around. Of the 401 abducted there are none pregnant. The "16 year old" is nowhere to be found.

From a local news source:

So why would there need to be dozens of police officers plus armored vehicles, as witnesses have reported? KSL reporter John Hollenhorst has covered numerous stories on polygamy over the years. He weighed in, in tonight's "talking points" segment on Eyewitness News at 6:30. "To surround the compound would create a lot of risk. I don't think they would have done that unless communications had broken down."

The BBC has a slightly different take on a key piece of information:

Ms Meisner said the investigation had begun after Child Protective Services were called by someone who alleged a 16-year-old girl had suffered physical abuse.

Recognize this?

For all those springfield sissies who go weak-kneed and wet their panties at the sight of an XD; $200 croatian POS. You wouldn't buy a lawn mower from these people and you'd carry a firearm made by them?

Speaks for Itself

Now That's a Barn Door!

Any opportunity to build something is an opportunity to over build it.


Conventional wood doors are subject to warp and rain induced deterioration. Metal over wood always seemed flimsy to me - like you could kick a hole in one.

The door above is 2x6 rectangle steel 1/8" thick. It is laying on a 1000 lb. 1/2" thick layout table bought for that purpose.


When in Rome....
Paint? No way. The doors go to the powder coater next week.

And Now for Something Completely Different

Gleaned From Yahoo!

Pouring rain on the way into work this morning and I got passed by a bunch of BMW riders - are they nuts?

I'd never ride my Harley in rain like that and I think most Harley riders wouldn't either. I never see Harley's riding in the rain because I know they're smarter than that - not just for safety but also subjecting your ride to the elements like that. But these BMW guys - they flew by my Acura like I was standing still. Are BMW motorcycle riders generally nuts? I'd think you have to be partially nuts to buy that German junk instead of quality american, but what are they doing riding in the rain like that?

Best Answer
Wow! They are nuts Halry Rider!

I rode in the rain once. Never again! That is waaaay too dangerous. I mean, I ruined two leather Harly © jackets on that trip alone. Luckily I was only driving 14 miles so I only had to change outfits once. I don't even want to tell you happened to my HD Boots. Never again!

Looks like a good day to ride.

Don't think so?

Pussy.

JACIII