ONCE UPON A TIME,
IN A LAND FAR, FAR AWAY,
IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT
AND SO; QUE SERA SERA.
ERGO IPSO FACTO
MY BLOG BEGINS
From: Greg Subject: Two New Aircraft Carriers- or - How desperate are Republicans to take credit for good news? Hey Scott! Good info on the specs for the USS REAGAN. It's very comforting to know we have it to rely upon! But it's too bad that email screwed up the specs on the USS BILL CLINTON and made me look for " the rest of the story." (I didn't like the implications implied and was suspicious of the emails intent, 'cuz I'm afraid I didn't find it very humorous. :-( Don't much appreciate pro-Republican, anti-Clinton humor under the current leadership disaster.) I looked for the true facts.... Guess what? I found out that construction of the USS Reagan was authorized and approved by a Democratic controlled Congress AND President CLINTON! This is a brief history of how construction of the USS REAGAN was made possible under CLINTON's administration! September 30, 1993 A plan to revitalize American shipbuilding was announced today by the Clinton Administration. It calls for up to $3 billion in loan guarantees for ship construction, reviving an existing program; seeking the elimination of foreign shipbuilding subsidies through negotiations; regulatory reform to reduce burdens on shipyards and suppliers, and helping American companies to get foreign orders through better marketing and promotion. In addition, the Pentagon will award $220 million over five years f... August 3, 1994 President Clinton announced nearly $1 billion in shipbuilding contracts today, holding them up as the products of a Government effort to assist the struggling maritime industry. The President said the efforts to revitalize the shipbuilding industry were part of a broader campaign to help military-related industries that are facing cutbacks with the end of the cold war. September 30, 1994 Tenneco Inc. said that its shipbuilding unit's backlog would increase by $3 billion as a result of Congressional approval of funds for an aircraft carrier. (USS REAGAN) The $4.4 billion CVN-76 aircraft carrier was part of the $244 billion fiscal 1995 defense appropriations budget approved by Congress yesterday. President Clinton is expected to sign the bill today. The budget provided $2.3 billion for the Tenneco carrier, about $100 million less than requested. The company said another $1.2 billion was author... Feb 3, 1995. In a tribute to two former Presidents, President Clinton today approved the naming of two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers after Ronald Reagan and Harry S. Truman. "Once again, the names Truman and Reagan will lend themselves in pursuit of our national security in an effort to secure the peace they won during the cold war," Mr. Clinton said. Good thing I realized this email was just more typical Republican partisan propaganda that tries to take credit for another superior Democratic accomplishment!!! It kind of makes the Republican side look even more pathetic, trying to take credit for the USS REAGAN while making fun of Clinton!!! How could they have sunk so low! :-) Cousin Greg.
My muse visited and gave me this warning. I Say. Say the US had a $200 million dollar radar telescope. Say that radar telescope can keep track of potentially deadly near-earth asteroids that might be on a course to collide with Earth. Say this radar telescope is unique and irreplaceable. Say it only cost $1 million a year to fund this observation program. Say this program could help prevent the inevitable future asteroid collision disaster from happening. Say that the funding of this program is scheduled to be terminated soon. Say that the present administration has a decidedly anti-science agenda. Say that they're really NOT INTERESTED in giving the public advance notice of a asteroid collision with Earth. Say our leaders have notoriously short sighted and adamantly partisan beliefs. Say that their excuse is they don't want the public and the economy to experience unnecessary anxiety, panic and horror. Say that their excuse is also that there is nothing we could do to stop it anyway. Say that they're thinking of using an asteroid collision to further their own particular ideological agenda. Say they are willing and able to place everyones existence in jeopardy to further their own goals. Say that our leaders who we depend upon to protect us all are just as intransigent as the asteroid that has our name on it. Say these leaders would want any collision to be a "surprise" so they can, in the following death, destruction and confusion, blame it on "terrorists". Say they use this so called "terrorist attack" as an excuse to launch their own all-out attack on a pre-selected target. Say this target could be Iran, or North Korea, or China or even homegrown domestic opposition to their policies. Say this is happening here and now, in a not-so-hypothetical, not-so-alternate dimension. Say I'm basing this theory on past performances that I have witnessed, not on what I have heard anyone actually allege to be possible. Say I'm not being incredibly paranoid or delusional. Say I have an incredibly active imagination. Please. Say you search for the U.S. National Science Foundation Astronomy Senior Review - page 62, 6.2.1 Arecibo for proof. Say, for your own peace of mind, that you have just had a close encounter with my own episode of The Twilight Zone. All done,
Now Succumbing to the Desire for Tender Retrospection Fovever Espousing and Honoring these Sentiments Below I Acknowledge Sustaining a Decade Long Yearning For an Especial Pedestal Dwelling Object of Youthful Adoration Inevitably Chastising Myself for Various Squandered Opportunities Still Never Regretting this Unfulfilled Quixotic Obsession Still do I Remember with Fond Desire and Romance What That Idealized Image of Comeliness and Perfection Carol Jo Sobkoviak C.J.S.- Class of '68 Carol Jo Sobkoviak Meant to Me and My Anamorphosis
To Dream The Impossible Dream
To dream ... the impossible dream ... To fight ... the unbeatable foe ... To bear ... with unbearable sorrow ... To run ... where the brave dare not go ... To right ... the unrightable wrong ... To love ... pure and chaste from afar ... To try ... when your arms are too weary ... To reach ... the unreachable star ... This is my quest, to follow that star ... No matter how hopeless, no matter how far ... To fight for the right, without question or pause ... To be willing to march into Hell, for a Heavenly cause ... And I know if I'll only be true, to this glorious quest, That my heart will lie will lie peaceful and calm, when I'm laid to my rest ... And the world will be better for this: That one man, scorned and covered with scars, Still strove, with his last ounce of courage, To reach ... the unreachable star ...
Thinking about the past this week, I realize the most fun I EVER had in my life was back in the early 80's when we started playing Dungeons & Dragons. Most of the players were around 30 years of age, we didn't take it very seriously, and we did a lot of eating and socializing. But it was the one thing I did that was actually FUN. Oh, it was nice getting out on Amacoy Lake water skiing in summer, and snow skiing at Christie Mt was a good way to make the winter go faster, but playing D&D was a great excuse to be creative and use my imagination while interacting with an intellectual variety of friends and companions. Our group got together regularly for a year or two and it was surely the very best time of my life. I would have liked to have continued our get togethers forever, but issues developed that made that impossible. Sure wish I could recreate those times. Rolling the 10 sided dice. Checking hit points. Allowing damage. Casting spells. Developing characters. Spending hours preparing that weeks adventure. Making maps. Plotting strategy. Exploring. Creating memories. And... I almost forgot! The yearly Fantasy Feast! At Halloween! Dragon Ribs! Earth Apples! Eating with our fingers! Practicing medieval dancing! Celtic music! OMG! Those were the days, my friend. I wished they'd never ended. And that's when I started my curio collection. Started with a silver cigarette box with a dragon eating the sun embossed on the side. Got it at a flea market where the seller told a story about a G.I. stationed in China who had it made by a local craftsman out of melted down silver dollars. My curiosity collection fills a room now. Now I'm feeling sad and lonely. I work too hard now. No time for FUN. Maybe life sucks. :-{
Dredging deep into my archives, I decided to reprint something old. Inspired by Loreena McKennitt, her music, and the deep thoughts I found on The Old Ways mailing list. MegaLimerick by Greg Meier 4/1/95 Songs old and new by Loreena Have acquired a deep, rich patina of apparent great age while remaining the rage of listeners in the Old-Ways arena. Tho I never go far from home My mind, when unleashed, does roam. freed from my head (and I'm not even dead) I'll explore, then relate with a poem. If the result of new knowledge is pain that could be why I'm *Insane* but as long as I know There's new places to go I'll forge onward, come hell or high rain. When science was once my god I wouldn't have dared to have trod beyond the confines of books with hard spines now I venture beyond my own bod. I once was a star gazing fool thinking the telescope just the tool that I could peruse to delight and amuse then discovered 'twas vacuum did rule. So then I came back to earth trying to find my own worth ego shrunk small almost ceasing at all my inner-being invaded by dearth. 'Tis Loreena then brought a salvation when discovering her lyric creation my spirits did soar I needed no more to heal my souls laceration.
February 16, 2007
It's been below zero every night since January 28. We've survived. Several nights were -20 and wind chills often reached -30 and lower. The essential machinery needed to provide the cows with their daily ration of feed is not working. My duty is clear. Climbing 35 feet up the silo chute upon frosty steel rungs, wriggling and contorting myself thru the 30 inch square door. The silage lies 10 feet below, all the other doors are frozen shut To chop the silage off from the inside was my best plan. I thought. Grasping the frozen concrete, desperately trying not to fall, hanging by my fingertips, but still 4 feet off the surface. Trying not to break any bones by landing on the silo unloader. Plop! I'm in! Now all I have to do is get out before I freeze. Farming's no fun after a week of below zero temperatures, and the relatively minor repair or maintenance job becomes dangerous. Ten days of 10 and 20 below zero nights have taken it's toll. The 6" thick hayledge frozen to the wall is tougher than concrete. The lowest edge of the only open door is now far above my reach. My exit strategy requires getting another door open lower down. The hayledge is frozen harder than wood, absorbing the sledge-hammer blows far better (I'm convinced) than any bullet-proof, man-made product. Pounding the crowbar in to cut a channel around a door proves too great a task and after an hour I'm exhausted. And trapped. The walky-talky is a life-saver to have under the circumstances. I radio my wife to winch the unloader up another 4 feet so I can escape. Imagine yourself trapped in a frozen prison cell thirty feet in the air. Your only exit a tiny window ten feet above and your ladder glued to the outside wall. By climbing on the raised unloader, I use my last ounce of strength to exit. I'm bitterly cold and defeated. The cows would have to be fed dry hay tonight. I dreaded having to postpone this awful chore. How stressfully discouraging. How I hated having to get back in that silo the next day. But I did. The next day I brought my chain saw and pickaxe. I would not be defeated again. Hard to believe, but more intense cold had moved in overnight. Even the chainsaw had a tough time cutting that blasted frozen cow feed! And I feared that the exhaust fumes would render me senseless. By the time I was done getting another door open and getting the silo unloader up and running again, my fingers were numb with cold, yet still hurting. Out of the silo now. Hurrying to a warm place. Peeling off frozen gloves. Two of my fingers have a strangely "crunchy" feel to them. Uh oh! My wife has the milk house sink filled with warm water. I plunge in. Argh! PAIN! More pain. I'm afraid they were more than numb with cold. For a week I couldn't grasp and hold anything with my right hand, until I learned how to use my thumb and smaller fingers together. Another week of below zero nights flew by like molasses in January. In this case, February brings frozen fingersicles but sans a la mode.
I usually don't go to "HIT" movies as my tastes often don't jibe with normal people. You may be considering going to see last weekends hit movie Ghost Rider. If you don't like reading comics you might not like it. A lot of "expert" reviewers didn't. BUT... If you've ever liked reading comics, ignore the experts. They are totally clueless on this one. I found this movie engrossing, visually stunning (even gorgeous) and with more than enough plot to keep me involved in the story. (The scene with the 2 Ghost Riders traveling across the desert was amazing and incredible and, unlikely as it may seem, given the subject matter, BEAUTIFUL.) Perhaps being taught by nuns in Catholic school for seven years has given me some insight into the religious elements that are often only hinted at in the plot, elements that may be beyond the ken of a more secular audience, but elements that are really very basic to any good vs evil situation. Perhaps, to you, the romance angle might seem to be lacking depth, but from my own, personal nerdy experience in life as well as in the comic book world, the romance (tho minimalistic) is essential to the story and the motivation of the "hero." If you've ever tried to make a great photo, your going to be thrilled with the effort that has been expended crafting each scene, with perfect color and composition. I must say I think this film is a visual work of art. I'm giving Ghost Rider a rave! I'm sure glad I didn't miss it. the "EERY GRIM OGRE" (hey, get your own anagram! this one's mine!)
February 20, 2007
Yesterday and today were warm! Over 30 degrees F for the first time since the end of January. It's like going on vacation. Work is so much easier. We are leaving the cows outside for sun and exercise all afternoon. They are enjoying the change and so are we. I finally welded the flite wiper unit back on the barn cleaner. It snapped off in the cold more than a week ago. I tied the welder to the front end loader and brought it right to the "job site." Didn't have the proper 220 volt plugin, so I spliced it into the barn cleaner circuit. Working in the warm sunshine made it almost seem as if I were on vacation. Almost. All the frozen machinery is thawed and working like it should. I'm hoping the worst of the cold weather is past now. The next 5 days are supposed to be 30 and above, tho freezing rain turning to snow is predicted for the weekend, 5 days from today. I actually stepped in a little muddy spot today! Slip-slide, splish-splash, Oh what a relief it is! Never thought I'd be glad to see muddy ground. We're actually officially still in a drought, with the lack of snow this winter. Never more than a couple inches on the ground. The 2006 season was 10 inches of precipitation below average and it appears the dryness will be continuing. Northern Wisconsin is drying up with the climate change, one of the effects of global warming. Probably turning into a desert. I always say how every year has different rainfall and temperature range patterns. Even dry years are very distinct as timing of rains can be critical to crop development and yield. 1963-64, 1976-77, 1988 were extreme drought years for us. 1968 was extremely wet all year long. For us, the last ten years have had very mild winters with a serious lack of snow cover.
February 22, 2007
I consider myself something of a climate expert, living on a farm and trying to grow top notch crops for our herd of milking cows, so listen up earthlings! Al Gore is right! But he is much too conservative and should be alerting people with a different message. A much more accurate term than "global warming", "Climate Meltdown" is the newest catch phrase to consider. I think most people have been thinking "local" warming whenever they hear someone talking about "global" warming. Knowing what I know, I think they're morons, but, giving them the benefit of the doubt and also realizing that the general public has little interest in, or knowledge of general science, I can see why they may doubt the trend to a warming climate when they might be experiencing just the opposite. From my own perspective, northern Wisconsin has been warmer and dryer for the last 6 years or more. Seasons have tended to blend into one another. Winters have been warm and dry. So dry in fact, that the sport of snowmobiling is dead. 10 to 20 years ago we would see hundreds of snowmobilers going past the house and across the lake. For the past three years the public trails have never been "officially" open for lack of snow. In the past, we would measure snow fall in feet, we now measure it in fractions of an inch. Vegetation on our property is also showing a change, especially in tree species. Balsam Fir and White Pine are in serious decline, most likely because they like colder, wetter weather. Young American Elms that had been thriving and seeming to be making a marvelous comeback after the devastating Dutch Elm Disease ravaged the population 30 years ago, are experiencing a 90% mortality rate the last 5 years. We have so many young dead elms I can't cut them down fast enough to salvage and burn them for firewood for the house. So when you hear someone talking about global warming, start THINKING "climate meltdown" instead. It's here. It's real. It's happening now and will continue to happen for the rest of this century even if we implement massive programs to try and prevent it. There is that much greenhouse effect gas in the atmosphere already that we can only mitigate warming, not prevent it. Eery Grim Ogre - a.k.a. "The Original Christie Mt. Blue Hills Beast"
Hello fellow patriots and possible fellow UFO enthusiasts !! "tis very sad and pathetic that Republicans have little or no sense of humor! But even worse is the fact that they are so accustomed to making things up, and doing it for so long, that it shows up even when they attempt to make a joke! This "joke" might actually have been funny if there wasn't such a glaring discrepancy in the ages of the people who are supposedly the butt of the "joke." Certainly does "clear up a lot of things" for me! But not in the Republicans favor, I'm afraid! First, the facts. Dianne Goldman Berman Feinstein (born June 22, 1933) Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi (born March 26, 1940) Barbara Levy Boxer (born November 11, 1940) William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton on (August 19, 1946) Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton born (October 26, 1947) Albert Arnold Gore, Jr. (born March 31, 1948) Howard Dean III (born November 17, 1948) Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer (born November 23, 1950) check out these links! 1. if you'd like to learn more about sheep behavior - http://www.sheep101.info/bahavior.html 2. an aggressive sheep never gives up, never surrenders! - http://www.extremefunnypictures.com/funnypic1773.htm Sincerely, EERY GRIM OGRE (hey, get your own anagram name! this one's mine!) BAAAH! BAAAH! Go fellow Sheepocrats! (see joke below) On Saturday, February 24, 2007, at 04:52 PM, a fanatically patriotic REPUBLICAN sent me this "joke":
>Roswell >Many will recall that onJuly 8, 1947, witnesses claimed that an >unidentified object with five aliens aboard crashed onto a sheep >and cattle ranch just outsideRoswell,New Mexico. >This is a well-known incident that many say has long been covered >up by the U.S.Air Force and the federal government. >However, you may NOT know that in the month of March 1948, exactly >nine months after that historic day, Albert Arnold Gore, Jr., >Hillary Rodham, John F. Kerry, William Jefferson Clinton, Howard >Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Charles E. Schumer, and >Barbara Boxer were born. >See what happens when aliens breed with sheep. >This piece of information may clear up a lot of things.
Anyway, I say if you look at the Bush family you'll see what happens when relatives breed. Aliens are definitely the better choice!
From: Greg Meier Date: Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:25:17 PM US/Central To: Michele Subject: Fwd: Fw: Something to think about Howdy! (You've pushed a lot of my buttons here! Set? Ready? GO!) Lot's of interesting quotes in this conglomerated message from various sources! For the "rest of the story" truth behind this email chain letter, go to this URL... http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/glenn.asp My thoughts... There is so much distortion and just plain made-up stuff being dumped on the average citizen by partisan zealots and that I am now in the habit of researching anything passed on to me by email. Most of the stuff I run across seems to be of the category of some kind of political-cheerleading, pep-rallyish kind of message that is designed to stir up patriotic feelings, or outrage at partisan politics, or something supposedly humorous that's really just plain cruel. I feel the Republicans are now getting desperate because their attacks on the Democrats are showing more viscous prevarication and creative distortion than even the highest levels they have been achieving and maintaining for the last couple of decades. Check out that URL out and see if it changes the way you feel about this letter. I'll bet it does. Here. I'll note a couple of discrepancies I found. The first half of this message was not from Glenn, including everything down to where is says... "But Wait there's more!" was added by someone else! and the Glenn vs. Metzenbaum discussion took place when they were both running for the Democratic primary in 1974! NOT 2004! and The comments at the end sound like they're from one of those fanatical christian fundamentalists who think "The Rapture" is coming any day! (Bush bends over backward for these voters.) Myself, I'm rooting for Armageddon happening first! So although there is a lot that is true in this letter, it's been manipulated to better "brainwash" the reader. Here's a quote I've been taking to heart lately, by Thomas Jefferson. ÒAll tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.Ò (and I don't equate tyranny with "terrorism" , tyranny in this case is a domestic issue!) I'd like to add that "people of good conscience " also need to be able to discern truth from fiction, even if it takes them hours and hours of investigation. Hey! I'm all shook up! Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah!
The email
From: Michele Date: Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:43:30 AM US/Central To: Greg Subject: Fw: Something to think about This was sent to me by a recently retired militery family. Just thought I would shake things up a bit!!! Kind of interesting. WHAT SENATOR JOHN GLENN SAID & Things that make you think a little: There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq in January. In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the Month of January. That' s just one American city, About as deadly as the entire war-torn country of Iraq When some claim that President Bush shouldn't Have started this war, remember the following: A.FDRled us into World War II. B.Germany never attacked us; Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost .. An average of 112,500 per year. C.Trumanfinished that war and started one in Korea . North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost ... An average of 18,334 per year. D. John F. Kennedy started the Vietnamconflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us. E. Johnson turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost .. An average of 5,800 per year. F.Clintonwent to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent. Bosnia never attacked us. Ê Clinton was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three Times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on Multiple occasions. G. In the years since terrorists attacked us , President Bush Has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled Al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran, and North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who Slaughtered 300,000 of his own people. People are complaining About how long the war is taking ButIt took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno To take the Branch Dravidian compound. That was a 51-day operation. It took less time to take Iraq than it took To count the votes in Florida !!!! Our Commander-In- Chief is doing aHARD JOB! The Military morale is high! The biased media hopes we are too ignorant To realize the facts But Wait there's more! JOHN GLENN (ON THE SENATE FLOOR) Mon, 26 Jan 2004 11:13 Some people still don't understand why military personnel Do what they do for a living. This exchange between Senators John Glenn and Senator Howard Metzenbaum Is worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressive Impromptu speech, but it's also a good example of one man's explanation of why men and women in the armed Services do what they do for a living ThisISa typical, though sad, example of what Some who have never served think of the military. Senator Metzenbaum (speaking to Senator Glenn): "How can you run for Senate When you've never held a real job?" Senator Glenn (D-Ohio): "I served 23 years in the United StatesMarine Corps. I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on 12 different Occasions. I was in the space program . It wasn't my Checkbook, Howard; it was my life on the line. It was Not a nine-to-five job, where I took time off to take the Daily cash receipts to the bank." "I ask you to go with me ... As I went the other day... To a veteran's hospital and meet those men ... With their mangled bodies in the eye, and tellTHEM they didn't hold a job! You go with me to the Space Program at NASA And go, as I have gone, to the widows and Orphans Of Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee... And you look those kids in the eye and tell them That their DADS didn't hold a job. You go with me on Memorial Day and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends Buried than I'd like to remember, and you watch Those waving flags You stand there, and you think about this nation, And you tell ME that those people didn't have a job? What about you?" For those who don't remember During WW II, Howard Metzenbaum was an attorney Representing the Communist Party in the USA . And now he's a Senator! If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English thank a Veteran. God's Peace to ALL Nations and people. Jesus said in John 18:36 "My kingdom is not of this world.Ê If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews."Ê Are we not His servants.Ê And if this Nation that is free don't fight for those Nations who aren't free, then who will?Ê His servant's must fight for His righteous cause.Ê We are humans, and will make mistakes, but isn't it a greater sin to sit by and do nothing, to not use the "talent" (our freedom and His truth) that God has given America? Pray for the Nations & God's True Peace to Come
From the Saga of "Fun on a Family Farm" by Greg Meier
March 3, 2007
Perils On a One Inch Deep Lake
Climate Meltdown will be making things more interesting, I'm sure but the Chinese have an ancient curse, "May you live in interesting times!" Earlier this winter we had unusually warm weather with rain on the frozen ground. The fields were almost bare of snow but water covered vast areas of land. It froze. This situation is getting to be much too common here in northern Wisconsin. Normally (for the last 40 years) we have had snow in November which would last all winter. It's now early March and we have finally had our snow, and snow, and more snow. Several storms that lasted for days have dropped several feet of fluffy white stuff. Many hours have been spent on a tractor, pushing that fluffy white stuff into piles Piles that keep growing larger, and higher, and more numerous as room runs out. None of this was unexpected, this is what winter is supposed to be like up north. It's even fun seeing all the land scenically encased in drifted contours again. But now there lurks beneath that snowy covering, the bane of the rubber tire. Something which leaves even the largest and most powerful... powerless. And immobile. Ice. Not very thick, but very slippery. And invisible. Buried where it cannot be sensed. Ice. Only in spots. Spots that were shallow depressions in the ground. Now treacherous. Treacherous to anyone driving a tractor through these affected areas. Anyone. Even me. The odd thing about rubber tires on slick ice under a foot of snow. They don't move. Well, they move round and round. Very fast they spin. But only in one place. Forever. You'd think the ice would be melting, the tires are spinning so fast. A blur... Two blurs. But the loose snow lubricates the ice and makes it frictionless. So frictionless that, Abracadabra! You have just experienced the joy of creating the proverbial perpetual motion-LESS machine. My 100 horsepower tractor was doing it's job very well until that last snow shower. The straw that broke the camel's back. The flakes that stopped the tractor dead in it's tracks. I still don't know the extent of that icy patch, but it took me ten minutes to move ten feet. There was a LOT of movement involved, just not forward. Back and forth...Spinning round and round. So it was interesting, where the snow was spun off the ice, you could see the grass. Entombed. Very well protected from attacks by wild and rugged rubber tires. Wish studded tires were legal.
March 3, 2007
Anne Coulter Sucks
video Famous loud mouthed right wing hero anne coulter extinguishes the very last vestiges of the Republican "compassionate conservatism" hoax while exposing this example of one of her deepest convictions.
March 4, 2007
Renaissance on the Farm
Good news for a change! I just made a deal for our photos of the Wisconsin Renaissance Faire in Chippewa Falls to used in the faires TV commercial and other promotions. They have had a link to our renfest photo website since last year and it seems that everyone there.... "is so impressed with your photography & have been delighted with the thoughtful way in which you highlighted many of the people and events that made up the faire." said Directors of Entertainment -Kenton and Rebecca Whitman So I sent them a CD with all our photos at the highest resolution. Watch for Faire commercials and advertising. Later, Eery Grim Ogre aka Blue Hills Beast aka Greg Meier
March 10, 2007
Bush Will Be Cutting and Running!
I've been thinking about what a "Cutter and Runner" Bush is going to be. He's actually admitted he's going to do it, if you've been paying attention. He's admitted that he's going to be leaving the Iraqi war for the NEXT president to solve. (and, by the way, all the other problems he's created) If that's not a case of CUTTING and RUNNING I don't know what is! I've convinced myself he's postponing HIS particular variety of "cutting and running" until the day he leaves office! Good thing he'll never get impeached. It would be a shame if he wasn't there to pass the buck onto his successor. He needs to stay in office to the bitter end so he'll be able to "stay the course" as long as he can, and then he'll be out of office before his incompetence is exposed. I predict, HE"S GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST CUTTER AND RUNNER THERE EVER WAS! He's cutting and running from admitting he made mistakes that need to be corrected. He's cutting and running from being accused of flip flopping by his own radical clique. He's cutting and running from having to accept responsibility for his lack of knowledge. He's cutting and running from having to take action on the experts advise. When he leaves office after "staying the course" for the next 20 months. He will Cut and Run. This is his pattern, one he has followed all his life. Why would he change now? Remember what people have done in the past, not what they are saying in the here and now. You can't change the spots on a leopard, or the stripes on a zebra. Accusing his enemies of "Cutting and Running" will come back to haunt His Highness. Did you hear that Bush firmly believes his farts don't stink? Maybe it's true. Look at all the folks that have their lips stuck to his butt. Man I'm being nasty!
March 15, 2007
To Rove or not to Rove, that is the riddle.
You may notice that I seem to have become a follower of the Karl Rove school of "Rovism" (Definition) "All politicians operate within an Orwellian nimbus where words don't mean what they normally mean, but Rovism posits that there is no objective, verifiable reality at all. REALITY IS WHAT YOU SAY IT IS." For example: On 19 January 2005, Karl Rove said George W. Bush was "one of the most intellectually gifted presidents we've had." After studying the precepts of Rovism diligently I discovered the fact that Prez Bush was also going to be "Cutting and Running"in 2008. My deduction is based on the fact that he will be leaving office in 2008, that he will be leaving many things unfinished, and that his presidency will, in fact, be terminated before he is able to be convinced he has a responsibility to start correcting the innumerable problems his administration has created. I'm hoping my adoption of "Rovism" will be temporary, as I now feel my immortal soul in deadly peril. "EERY GRIM OGRE" (hey, get your own anagram! this one's mine!)
March 15, 2007
I'm Self-Actualizing!!!
Never heard of Maslow before now, but... I've just discovered I seem to have many traits of a self-actualized person, such as.... Maslow writes the following of self-actualizing people: * They embrace the facts and realities of the world (including themselves) rather than denying or avoiding them. * They are spontaneous in their ideas and actions. * They are creative. * They are interested in solving problems; this often includes the problems of others. Solving these problems is often a key focus in their lives. * They feel a closeness to other people, and generally appreciate life. * They have a system of morality that is fully internalized and independent of external authority. * They have discernment and are able to view all things in an objective manner. Prejudices are absent. Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory can be read Maslow's hierarchy of needs
March 17, 2007
My attempt to produce a concise explanation of two important historic events
Yesterday had two VERY important historical events, one in the Senate, one in the House. At the same time. The Senate hearing. Was about the revelation of how the Republicans underhandedly stole the power from the US Congress to approve or reject any state Attorney General. It cut Congress out of the process, giving the president total power over appointing state Attorneys General. This was done after a mysterious, yet unnamed Republican secretly added a phrase into the Homeland Security Act, after the Democrats were force to leave the room, stating that Congress no longer has the power or duty to reject any presidential nominee for State Attorney General. The power of Congress to have 120 days to voice objections about nominees is abolished. The way this was accomplished is under investigation. It was very sneaky. Many senators in BOTH parties are VERY upset with this additional grab of presidential power by Bush. The House hearing. Testimony by the CIA agent (Valerie Plame Wilson); whose secret identity was exposed by the administration. This agents' ambassador husband was attacked / discredited by the administration because he had information that would have DEMOLISHED the administrations main argument for invading Iraq. This agents career in the CIA was destroyed and her life and her co-workers were put in jeopardy by revelations made by the administration. If the people had been told the truth about nuclear materials NOT going to Iraq, the war probably never would have happened. "EERY GRIM OGRE" (hey, get your own anagram! this one's mine!)
March 18, 2007
Military Cutbacks
Dear Eeery Grim Ogre's Mailing List Members, These series of photos were originally sent to me with the "Military Cutbacks - Democrats are in office!" subject line. I thought it was a good laugh, pretty funny! But all things are relative as you can see if you compare this with the Democrat version I did. Thanks to my conservative Republican email buddy for passing these photos on to me! I've been much too obsessed with attacking this administrations policies and any intelligent humor is appreciated! Greg Meier "EERY GRIM OGRE" (hey, get your own anagram! this one's mine!) Military Cutbacks
March 19, 2007
I zing the republicans with their own ammunition! Bush's Surge Strategy
March 24, 2007
The truth is out there.
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Barack_Obama's_Iraq_Speech Amazing. Obscured by all the propaganda. The truth is out there, we just need to find it. Someone actually knew what was going on. Someone actually predicted what would happen. We DO have competent leaders. They are not all ideologically driven flunkies. Some are realists and thinkers. This is reality. This happened. Hard to believe, four years later, that these words were ever spoken. If you have 5 minutes to spare this week. You MUST read this old speech by Obama. I have personally verified the accuracy of this link. To the best of my abilities as a MacUser and CodeMonkey. What a different world we would be living in right now If the most intelligent and wise humans were in charge. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Barack_Obama's_Iraq_Speech
April 3, 2007
Bush is NUTS!
After listening to Bush's speech this morning, I'm convinced he's insane. Everything he says is insane; or else we are living in bizarro land. He says there is no military solution and in the same breath he says that's why he sent the surge in troops. He said the president of Syria never listens to anyone, and doesn't see the horrible irony in that statement. On and on and on. Want to be scared? Forget the damn terrorists! Do a search for Bush + insane, or Bush + mental, or Bush + crazy, or Bush is certifiable. Be afraid. Be very afraid. EERY GRIM OGRE
May 11, 2007
One of these is a hoax.
Two stories, which one do you believe is true? Dear Continental, American Airlines, Southwest, Delta, United, et al: I have the solution to prevent hijackings and get our airline industry back on its feet at the same time. Replace all female flight attendants with good lookin' strippers. What the hell? The attendants have gotten old and haggard looking. They don't even serve food anymore, so what's the loss? The strippers would double, triple, perhaps quadruple the alcohol consumption and get a "party atmosphere" going in the cabin. Muslims would be afraid to get on the planes for fear of seeing naked women. And, of course, every heterosexual businessman in this country would start flying again hoping to see naked women. Hijackings would come to a screeching halt and the airline industry would see record revenue. Why the hell didn't Bush think of this? Why do I still have to do everything myself? Sincerely, Bill Clinton A little girl was talking to President Bush about whales. Mr. Bush told her that it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human being because even though it was a very large mammal, its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the President reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah." Mr. Bush asked, "What if Jonah went to the other place?" The little girl replied, "Then you ask him." EERY GRIM OGRE (One is a hoax, and so is the other.)
May 15, 2007
GWB's Biggest Crime
I'm taking the lazy way out by quoting an article that I totally agree with. Here's an except from a reliable source that I think says it all very well. I've heard that prophets of doom are not appreciated by most people, but I think that in this case, blissful ignorance is not a good option. FYI, I no longer care if or how Bush is impeached, as we will all be busy for decades mitigating the damage he has done and I would consider shunning him, his family and accomplice's as suitable punishment. Making them non-entities, invisible and powerless sounds like fun to me. (rats, ain't ever gonna happen', is it?) To the best of my knowledge, the following quoted text is fair and accurate, and even gentle in it's wording. In case you haven't been paying attention and haven't been doing your reading between the lines, I firmly believe that Iraq is probably going to turn out to be (historically speaking) only a minor crime against humanity. After all, it's just one country. His biggest crime is a deliberate campaign of inaction and active obstruction in the face of a clear need for the United States to act decisively to stop or slow catastrophic climate change. This president has not simply denied the reality of global warming. He has actively lied to the American people about the dangers ahead, and has had his administration, through intimidation and post-hoc editing by political hacks, block the publication of government scientific reports on global warming. He has defunded projects that would help document the growing crisis, for example cutting funding for satellites that would measure the effects of climate change on the surface of the planet. He has pulled the U.S. out of the Kyoto Protocol--the first global effort to confront the problem and try to limit production of greenhouse gasses. He even went back on a 2000 campaign promise to limit carbon emissions from power plants, and instead has given virtual carte blanche to power companies to build the most carbon-spewing coal- powered generating stations possible, complete with gratuitous tax breaks. He has threatened countries with trade sanctions for trying to take actions that would combat global warming, and has even had the US government go to court against state governments, like CaliforniaÕs and VermontÕs, to try to block them from acting to reduce carbon emissions on their own, by for example setting mileage standards for vehicles sold in-state. All of this has meant that for six critical years, when the U.S.--the source of 28 percent of the worldÕs greenhouse gas emissions--could have been taking decisive action to start reducing t he CO2 that the U.S. is spewing into the already carbon-soaked global atmosphere, America has done nothing. In fact, AmericaÕs contribution of carbon emissions to the global atmosphere has been rising, not falling, as average miles per gallon figures for American autos have worsened, as more dirty power plants have gone on line, and as overall energy use in the US has gone up. Stupidity, pig-headedness and yahooism are not impeachable offenses. The Founding Fathers pointedly rejected a proposal by George Washington that maladministration be included as grounds for impeachment. Rather, they stuck with "high crimes and misdemeanors," which they took to mean acts that threatened Constitutional government, or endangered the people or the nation. Well it seems crystal clear that the presidentÕs actions and inaction on global warming easily fit that definition. As the coastal waters rise, as other cities join New Orleans in suffering disastrous flooding, as the Midwestern grain belt and CaliforniaÕs salad bowl become dust bowls, as forests burn and already threatened species of animals and plants go vanish forever, and as the throngs of refugees of climate change in Mexico and other harder hit lands surge across AmericaÕs borders seeking relief, this president will be remembered best, like Nero and his fiddle, for the two terms during which he dithered, interfered and actively obstructed efforts to stop this predictable disaster from happening. For that crime against our nation and our descendants, and indeed against the entire human race, Bush must be impeached. EERY GRIM OGRE
May 21, 2007
Power grabber
With scarcely a mention in the mainstream media, President Bush has ordered up a plan for responding to a catastrophic attack. This act www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070509-12.html enables Bush/Cheney/Rove to replace leadership of the congress, the states and any other body at any time. Under that plan, he entrusts himself with leading the entire federal government, not just the Executive Branch. And he gives himself the responsibility "for ensuring constitutional government." May 30, 2007Another crackdown
This is my comment to CBS about their firing of a Great American Hero, General Batitse, because he disagreed with the Bushites and was brave enough to say so. The link will take you to the same page where you can make your own comment. This incident with General Batiste supplies to me another piece in the puzzle of how the Nazi's managed to take over in Germany and control normal citizens with propaganda, etc. Cut it out CBS! http://pol.moveon.org/batiste/?rc=jk Keep On Truckin' Everybody! Eery Grim OgreJune 12, 2007
Geocaching and the Flambeau Mine.
Jana Murphy, Environmental Manager at the Flambeau Mine, contacted me about our geocaching, because we have placed a few caches at the old minesite. She wanted some quotes from me to put in an article about geocaching in their newsletter. So I sent her the following... For us, the sport of geocaching is a family affair that fits in well with our living on a dairy farm. Our farming work schedule often interferes with trying to attend other local recreational activities. Geocaching gives us the flexibility to have fun whenever we have rainy day downtime, where we can't do our normal chores, or need to take time off on the spur of the moment. Our favorite cache is one that take us to a scenic place we would never find or even know about otherwise. Most times trying to find the cache is not our main objective. The discovery of special scenery or unique geology; viewing rare native plant communities and spontaneous wildlife sightings; traveling unknown rustic roads and learning about local lore and historical sites: we consider these the most important aspects of how we tailor geocaching to fill our needs. Some people love city caches. Others like complicated puzzle caches. Some like taking long hikes and others like quick easy finds. There are caches to satisfy the requirements of a large variety of personal tastes. When we started, there were only 3 caches in all of Rusk County. We have since placed about 30 (of 46 total) caches of our own, mostly in scenic, wild places. I think that this is the greatest strength of geocaching; that local people who know their area well, can direct others to certain special places that are open to the public, where they can then enjoy the outdoors on their own, yet have an almost personal guided tour by using the capabilities of their GPS receiver, in conjunction with the geocaching.com website and their own skills. We also really enjoy inviting relatives and friends to join us on our geocaching trips and have taken them to special places that are only a few hours from home that none of us ever knew existed. Within our own little family group, geocaching satisfies various pleasures at the same time. My daughter loves wildlife and nature photography and takes tons of photos, some of which have won blue ribbons at the Rusk County fair! My wife likes getting away to see different towns and scenery and the occasional antique store! I like operating the GPSr and zeroing in on the target without having to ask anyone for directions! So geocaching really can be something unique for people of different interests. Greg
EERY GRIM OGRE
June 25, 2007
MooNie the Magnificent
Check out this URL for my first movie project. homepage.mac.com/amacoy/wirenfaire/moonie2.mp4 From the Wisconsin Renaissance Faire in Chippewa Falls comes Moonie The Magnificent!!! The video doesn't do him justice, but he inspired me to be creative. I never used iMovie before (which comes with all Apple computers). This was my very first project and is a little rough. GregJuly 6, 2007
Bush loves Libby
"I don't believe my role is to replace the verdict of a jury with my own," - George W. Bush on why he signed death warrants for 152 inmates as governor of Texas. The quote is from his own book, "A Charge To Keep." So if he actually believes what he says, why did he interfere with the Libby verdict? Oh yeah, I think I know. He's Bush. If your intellectually curious, do a search on Google of that full quote. Lots of interesting commentary shows up. EERY GRIM OGRE
July 7, 2007
Progressive Propaganda
Click on the .jpg at the top of my political page here... homepage.mac.com/amacoy/politics/bushcutrun.html To see a collection of liberal propaganda posters all in one image. It IS propaganda because it is NOT impartial. It's hopefully very effective because IT IS completely truthful. The images/messages ARE loaded to produce an emotional, rather than rational response. If it changes your thinking, my objective has been met. Passing on this important , "unit of cultural transmission". EERY GRIM OGRE
July 9, 2007
Insanity
I can't even conceive of the reasoning behind this latest insane decision by our insane leadership. Wether it be criminal incompetence or criminal insanity or criminal criminality for it's own sake, I am totally shocked and awed by this latest example. Someone's really shooting for the world title of worst of the worst of the worst "SOMETHING"!!! Makes you wonder what Bush wants to hide, or what industries he wants to protect. http://www.technewsworld.com/story/57683.html EERY GRIM OGRE
August 8, 2007
Local newspaper clipping
Here's one of the best and most concise compilations' of negative aspects of the Bush administration that I have ever seen! Wrote by a local Wisconsinite who was apparently educated right here in Wisconsin. BRAVO! Scoundrels will tell you to "Get over it!", but they are the ones perverting our government. I say, "Let's get even". Bush Administration Crimes EERY GRIM OGRE
August 10, 2007
Guess who just said this? Just before he went on vacation.
"It matters if the United States does not believe in the universality of freedom. It matters to the security of people here at home if we don't work to change the conditions that caused 19 kids to be lured onto airplanes to come and murder our citizens." HUH! Gee, you really think so? This explains a lot about your actions George! The 19 "KIDS" this person is referring to are, of course, the 9-11 terrorists. (Remember that fifteen of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers were from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.) I guess Iraq was just a better target than Saudi Arabia, where the Bush Clan family friends (House of Saud) live and rule. http://www.mercurynews.com/politics/ci_6583527 EERY GRIM OGREAugust 20, 2007
Immunize yourself against the propaganda
Reality is what you say it is, say it loud and say it often. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Link one "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." - George W. Bush, May 24, 2005 Immunize yourself against the propaganda by knowing how it works. Link two WAR IS PEACE! FREEDOM IS SLAVERY! IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH! EERY GRIM OGRE
August 29, 2007
My Silly Movie
I just upgraded to Quicktime pro and this is my first movie! OK, I know, it's stupid! But it only took me 2 minutes to make and email. This is just a test and only a test. I this were an actual movie, you would be directed to an actual URL to view it with your web browser. Thanks! Greg P.S. Beware!! If you tell me you like this one, I might release my second movie where I sing the Rubber Ducky song. EERY GRIM OGRE
September the 14th, 2007
A Powerful Sketch
The obvious and terrible, sad, sad truth expressed in a simple but powerful, black and white sketch. The truth IS out there, if you know WHERE to look, but trust NO ONE! (even me, even tho my search for truth has often been long and difficult; a tough job. if you will.) And, quoting the devil incarnate himself, GWB is correct when he say's , "It's a tough job". But I bet it's not as tough his trying to keep his latest pack of lies straight and orderly. Eery Grim Ogre WAR IS PEACE! FREEDOM IS SLAVERY! IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH!
September the 15th, 2007
Exit Stage Right!
And so, it appears that his only REAL "exit strategy" will be this. ...... "I'll give some speeches, just to replenish the ol' coffers." "We'll have a nice place in Dallas." He will run "a fantastic Freedom Institute. I can envision getting in the car, getting bored, going down to the ranch." GWB's personal exit strategy? - (excerpt from the book "Dead Certain.") "How swell that one American has an exit strategy." (says Goodman from the Washington Post) WAR IS PEACE! FREEDOM IS SLAVERY! IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH! (from the book "1984" by George Orwell)
To Be Continued.....