Plumbing the economy

I've been neglecting the blog for plumbing. I've spent two days digging out a waste line and replacing some water valves. Then I've been feeding the stock, which takes more time when snow and cold takes over the Osage Cuestas.

I've also been plumbing other people's computers. I figured it would be a way to exploit the bad economy--fixing and upgrading older computers people would have simply replaced a few months ago. I contemplated starting my own bank holding corporation to snag increasingly worth-less federal bailout dollars. It is more fun to fix other people's virus-infected computers, however.

A man came by this morning inquiring about a pickup-truck load of old horse manure for a garden. He inquired about composition, quality and price. I told him I'd charge $20, which seems reasonable because I'd have to take the bale fork off the tractor to put on the bucket. He said he might come back next weekend if he didn't find manure at another place. I think he wants perfect, free shit. Could that be why the economy turned to crap in the first place?

Here's a change ...

The first Christmas was June 17, 2 B.C., according to Australian astronomer Dave Reneke. The Star of Bethlehem? It was truly a "bright beacon of light" caused when Venus and Jupiter appeared extremely close together.

There's no news that Reneke's findings will create "peace on Earth" and "good will" between the "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays" factions. It could throw marketers off, causing them to start the holiday shopping season before Memorial Day. How it may impact suicide and depression rates, which both spike high around the December holidays, is still unknown.

The religious observations in public forums issue may lessen since most public schools are closed by June 17. It would be tough to keep the grass mowed if nativity scenes cluttered up the courthouse lawn. But there's always Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Pagan Yule festivals, etc., in December to heighten tensions.

Al Gore, Earth in the Balance prophet, should be pleased. With the increased June daylight, we can cut down our carbon footprint by running the holiday lights less.

"Always Lawful"

"It kind of smells like Nixon and Watergate. But I don't care whether you tape me privately or publicly, I can tell you that whatever I say is always lawful."

--Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Dec. 8, 2008

Apparently the feds don't agree. Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested earlier today in Chicago. One may follow Operation Board Games here.

Rod is now estranged from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and friends Rahm Emanuel, who is now Prez-elect Obama's chief of staff, and David Axelrod, Obama's senior advisor. It will be interesting to see how this will play out.

Gov. Lawful has long waged a campaign against Illinois firearms manufacturers such as Rock River Arms, Springfield Armory, Armalite and Les Baer.

"a date which will live in infamy"

The president-elect, Barack Obama, revealed his plans for a new "New Deal" last weekend. It is appropriate to remember Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the first deal on Pearl Harbor Day.

Roosevelt's "date which will live in infamy" announcement after Japan's, Dec. 7, 1941, attacks in the Pacific is remembered as one of the most famous political speeches in our country's history. The New Deal and Roosevelt's handling of World War II is legendary. FDR is ranked as one of the most popular presidents ever.

Most overlook or do not know about Executive Order 6102, where Roosevelt declared all privately-held gold property of the government, and Executive Order 9066, which imprisoned Japanese Americans without due process in February 1942. When judges ruled against his policies, FDR replaced them with rubber stampers.

George Santayana reminds us, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." There's no doubt that surrendering the reins of government to one man in 2009 is a mistake, despite how the 21st Century-equivalent of Roosevelt's "Brain Trust" tell us it is necessary.

Check out Richard Olivastros's column, Infamous Day of "East Wind, Rain". It's one more example of how one of our most revered chief executives disregarded constitutional safeguards. FDR was only one man, not a demigod or a king. If presidents are allowed to operate outside the restraints laid out by the U.S. Constitution in times of real or drummed-up emergencies, we're less free thereafter. FDR has been a model for too long. It's time to change back to the Constitution.

"I like to push it to the edge": the NHL's Sean Avery

Sean Avery is another person who hasn't figured out it is a bad career decision to talk about their exs such as actress Elisha Cuthbert and model Rachel Hunter.

I've never watched him play on television or on real-life ice. But if I was his public relations advisor, I'd tell him it makes him look weak, foolish, crude and abusive. Those are all characteristics of a bitter, out-of-control loser.

"He's not only often called the most hated player in the NHL, he loves hearing it."

Sean, I don't hate you. In fact this is the first I've learned that you exist. However, it isn't a mystery to me why girls ditch you for other hockey players. You could, no doubt, boost sales of TROJAN® Her Pleasure™ Vibrating Touch fingertip massagers with your magnetic personality.

The Queen of Pain: Tabloid Fodder

Jennifer Aniston is "bummed". She gets too much publicity from tabloids such as Vogue, who took her quote about her ex-husband's replacement wife, Angelina Jolie, being "uncool" out of context.

Aniston, 39, is also a late bloomer and babies could be in her future. I've never watched an entire episode of Friends or seen a movie that she has appeared in, so I don't know much about her talents. However, if I was her public relations agent, I'd tell her to stop talking about her woe-filled personal life and her exs with anyone except her therapist.

With no pictures of babies to peddle, Aniston doesn't have the juice to neogiate favorable press coverage. Leave her alone, you mass media bullies!

Aiming for Accuracy: the NSSF Response

It is obvious from partaking of the MSM that the majority of journalists know little about firearms beyond what they view on television or read. Some coverage seems as if its genesis was a Brady Center press release. So it was good to hear about the industry's response, which I have posted below:

NEWTOWN, Conn., Nov. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) - the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry - has launched a blog aimed at hunting down and correcting inaccuracies about firearms and the firearms industry. The blog, titled "Aiming for Accuracy," is updated regularly with news, links and other helpful resources designed to promote accurate communications about firearms issues in the media, among bloggers and with all firearms enthusiasts.

"Tomorrow is here," said NSSF President Stephen L. Sanetti. "In order to fully represent one of the oldest industries in the world, it is incumbent upon NSSF to utilize new communications tools. NSSF is dedicated to using every medium at its disposal to set and keep the record straight. We encourage readers to bring inaccuracies in the media to our attention, and we ask NSSF members and other readers of the Aiming for Accuracy blog to forward relevant postings to their local media and their favorite bloggers."

I urge anyone who views inaccurate and unfair news media coverage to compose factual messages to media outlets pointing out the errors. Don't make it a rant. Use these facts the NSSF has provided for a firm foundation. It would be great if every news room had copies of the NSSF publication, The Writer's Guide to Firearms and Ammunition, to supplement their style guidelines.

Also, reach out to reporters in your communities and take them shooting. Many of them are curious about firearms. The most powerful act shooters can take to preserve our rights is to close the gap that inaccurate perceptions have widened between us and others, journalists included.