The Midsummer Classic is but 10 days away as June turns into July. Here are my choices for the rosters of the two teams.
American League
C: Victor Martinez, CLE starting; with Jorge Posada, NYY; Ivan Rodriguez, DET; & Jason Varitek, BSN; as backups.
1B: David Ortiz, BSN, starting; with Justin Morneau, MINN; Jim Thome, CHI; Mark Teixeira, TEX; & Casey Kotchman, ANAH; as backups.
2B: Placido Polanco, DET, starting; with Brian Roberts, BLT; Aaron Hill, TOR; & Mark Ellis, OAK; as backups.
3B: Alex Rodriguez, NYY, starting; with Mike Lowell, BSN; & Casey Blake, CLE; as backups.
SS: Orlando Cabrera, ANAH, starting; with Derek Jeter, NYY; Johnny Peralta, CLE; & Carlos Guillen, DET; as backups.
LF: Magglio Ordonez, DET, starting; with Manny Ramirez, BSN; & Carl Crawford, TB; as backups.
CF: Ichiro Suzuki, SEA, starting; with Torii Hunter, MINN; & Curtis Granderson, DET; as backups.
RF: Vladimir Guerrero, ANAH, starting; with Alex Rios, TOR; & Mark Teahen, KC; as backups.
P: Josh Beckett, BSN, starting; CC Sabathia, CLE; Dan Haren, OAK; John Lackey, ANAH; Johan Santana, MINN; Justin Verlander, DET; Jeremy Bonderman, DET; Roy Halladay, TOR; Gil Meche, KC; Francisco Rodriguez, ANAH; JJ Putz, SEA; Jonathon Pappelbon, BSN; Joe Nathan, MINN; as relievers
National League
C: Russell Martin, LA, starting; with Paul LoDuca, NYM; Johnny Estrada, MLW; & Bengie Molina, SF; as backups.
1B: Prince Fielder, MLW, starting; with Derrek Lee, CHI; Dimitri Young, WASH; Adrian Gonzalez, SD; & Albert Pujols, STL; as backups.
2B: Chase Utley, PHIL, starting; with Orlando Hudson, ARIZ; Dan Uggla, FLA; & Freddie Sanchez, PGH; as backups.
3B: Miguel Cabrera, FLA, starting; with David Wright, NYM; & Aramis Ramirez, CHI; as backups
SS: Jose Reyes, NYM, starting; with JJ Hardy, MLW; Edgar Renteria, ATL; & Jimmy Rollins, PHIL; as backups.
LF: Matt Holliday, COLO, starting; with Barry Bonds, SF; & Eric Byrnes, ARIZ; as backups.
CF: Aaron Rowand, PHIL, starting; with Carlos Beltran, NYM; & Alfonso Soriano, CHI; as backups.
RF: Ken Griffey, CINC, starting; with Brad Hawpe, COLO; & Jeff Francouer, ATL; as backups.
P: Jake Peavy, SD, starting; Brad Penny, LA; Chris Young, SD; John Smoltz, ATL; Ben Sheets, MLW; Brandon Webb, ARIZ; Jeff Francis, COLO; John Maine, NYM; Francisco Cordero, MLW; Jose Valverde, ARIZ; Billy Wagner, NYM; Trevor Hoffman, SD; & Takashito Saito, LA; as relievers.
The official rosters will be announced on Sunday 1 July at 2pm MDT on TBS and the game will be played on Tuesday 10 July starting around 6:20pm on FOX.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
3000 Hits for Craig Biggio
Congratulations to 20 year Houston Astros veteran second baseman Craig Biggio on getting the 3000th hit of his baseball career. He achieved this milestone on a night where he had five hits, a first for any of the 27 members who have gotten at least 3000 hits. The Astros ended up winning the game 8-5 in 11 innings over the Rockies as Brian Fuentes gagged away his third game in less than a week for Colorado.
Completion of a Long Awaited Project
After 31 1/2 long months, I finally was able to empty my storage room in Aurora and transport my property to WY on Wednesday 27 June and end one long, frustrating, and at times seemingly endless chapter in my life. Over the next two weeks I will get fully moved into my new place and make myself a home again. Hallelullah...
The process actually went quite well. I caught a break in the weather as it was partly cloudy to cloudy for the most part and the temperature got no higher than the low 80s. I was able to catch a ride from Todd's wife Tascha and her son as they were already planning to see her sister in Denver so that worked out extra nice as it saved a round trip back and forth (about 3 1/2 hours) and a tank of gasoline. I was able to load the truck completely by myself in about 4 1/2 hours with only one glitch--while reaching for a coffee table that was stored on top of the mattresses, I slipped and fell off a short ladder. I cut the shin on my lower right leg above the ankle and broke a brace that holds the coffee table leg to the table. The damage is completely repairable. My big 36" Curtis Mathes TV was able to be put in and out of the truck rather easily as I used the center cabinet of my entertainment center to wheel the TV out of storage right up to the back of the truck and then lift the 175 pound beast about four feet for placement into the back part of the truck and brace it between the mattress and my recliner. After an uneventful drive up to WY, I then unloaded the vehicle in about 2 3/4 hours by myself in largely ideal weather conditions (cloudy and 65 degrees) into the garage that comes with my unit. Everything went into easily with room to spare as I carefully engineered the placement and stacking of furniture and boxes. I only had to repair about four boxes, but I plan on replacing about two to three dozens boxes that I store keepsakes, memoriabilia, and other items in as some of those boxes have been in use for those purposes going back to the 1980s when I moved from NM to AZ.
The U-haul took about 12-13 gallons of fuel for the trip which wasn't bad --- I ended getting right around 10 mpg for that big truck with all that weight aboard.
I drank lots and lots of water to keep hydrated and fresh. I probably drank about 4 gallons of water in total for the day, and my designated moving hat served its purpose well. It was totally soaked and drenched in perspiration but the absorption was excellent enough to keep perspiration from flowing onto my faces, into my eyes, and on my glasses. Add that to taking breaks about every 20-30 minutes and towelling down my head and neck thoroughly and the level of discomfort was minimal from that point of view. Workgloves as usual were very helpful in handling the materials and eliminating any external wear and tear on my hands and wrists.
Wearing shorts and a t-shirt along with socks and tennis shoes were excellent choices for the job, allowing for comfort and ease of movement.
I did work hard but having the hand cart helped out tremendously reducing physical labor and make things more efficient. I was quite sore and stiff by days end as expected, but I took about a 20 minute hot shower to soothe my bones and muscles and then generously applied Ben-Gay ointment across most of me before going to bed. I slept solidly and uninterrupted for over 9 1/2 hours. When I awoke this morning, there was some lingering stiffness and soreness but quite a bit less than I anticipated. And I then worked all day being on my feet with bending and stretching and made it through the day with surprisingly little discomfort. I do not feel a whole lot worse than I did when I started working again fulltime in April. I surmise I must be in the best shape I have been in a very long time, perhaps back to over 15 years ago. Working jobs that keep me on my feet for hours on end and having to go up and down stairs sometimes as much as 30 times a day obviously has helped plus having a decent but by no means perfect diet. I absolutely do not believe I could have done this project with as much time efficiency and minimalization of pain 2-3 years ago so thats some good news.
People that I go without seeing for 4-6 months do tell me I look better and have lost weight so, even though I do not see it so evidently, it must be happening. Maybe in the next year or two I can get back down to 220 lbs or less which I have not been around in about 25 years.
Quite a few projects and missions were accomplished in the last couple of months which is very gratifying personally after a long period of non-accomplishment and frustration. I still need to get a post office box, a new cell phone number, and determine if I need to make any replacements or additions to my household supplies. And the somewhat costly repair expenses loom for the White Night in the next several months. Plus I need to get another job that is higher paying, offers benefits, and is least a little more mentally challenging.
But it sure is very satisfying to have gotten this big project done after such a long period of time. I eagerly await using and enjoying these possessions again in the coming near time.
The process actually went quite well. I caught a break in the weather as it was partly cloudy to cloudy for the most part and the temperature got no higher than the low 80s. I was able to catch a ride from Todd's wife Tascha and her son as they were already planning to see her sister in Denver so that worked out extra nice as it saved a round trip back and forth (about 3 1/2 hours) and a tank of gasoline. I was able to load the truck completely by myself in about 4 1/2 hours with only one glitch--while reaching for a coffee table that was stored on top of the mattresses, I slipped and fell off a short ladder. I cut the shin on my lower right leg above the ankle and broke a brace that holds the coffee table leg to the table. The damage is completely repairable. My big 36" Curtis Mathes TV was able to be put in and out of the truck rather easily as I used the center cabinet of my entertainment center to wheel the TV out of storage right up to the back of the truck and then lift the 175 pound beast about four feet for placement into the back part of the truck and brace it between the mattress and my recliner. After an uneventful drive up to WY, I then unloaded the vehicle in about 2 3/4 hours by myself in largely ideal weather conditions (cloudy and 65 degrees) into the garage that comes with my unit. Everything went into easily with room to spare as I carefully engineered the placement and stacking of furniture and boxes. I only had to repair about four boxes, but I plan on replacing about two to three dozens boxes that I store keepsakes, memoriabilia, and other items in as some of those boxes have been in use for those purposes going back to the 1980s when I moved from NM to AZ.
The U-haul took about 12-13 gallons of fuel for the trip which wasn't bad --- I ended getting right around 10 mpg for that big truck with all that weight aboard.
I drank lots and lots of water to keep hydrated and fresh. I probably drank about 4 gallons of water in total for the day, and my designated moving hat served its purpose well. It was totally soaked and drenched in perspiration but the absorption was excellent enough to keep perspiration from flowing onto my faces, into my eyes, and on my glasses. Add that to taking breaks about every 20-30 minutes and towelling down my head and neck thoroughly and the level of discomfort was minimal from that point of view. Workgloves as usual were very helpful in handling the materials and eliminating any external wear and tear on my hands and wrists.
Wearing shorts and a t-shirt along with socks and tennis shoes were excellent choices for the job, allowing for comfort and ease of movement.
I did work hard but having the hand cart helped out tremendously reducing physical labor and make things more efficient. I was quite sore and stiff by days end as expected, but I took about a 20 minute hot shower to soothe my bones and muscles and then generously applied Ben-Gay ointment across most of me before going to bed. I slept solidly and uninterrupted for over 9 1/2 hours. When I awoke this morning, there was some lingering stiffness and soreness but quite a bit less than I anticipated. And I then worked all day being on my feet with bending and stretching and made it through the day with surprisingly little discomfort. I do not feel a whole lot worse than I did when I started working again fulltime in April. I surmise I must be in the best shape I have been in a very long time, perhaps back to over 15 years ago. Working jobs that keep me on my feet for hours on end and having to go up and down stairs sometimes as much as 30 times a day obviously has helped plus having a decent but by no means perfect diet. I absolutely do not believe I could have done this project with as much time efficiency and minimalization of pain 2-3 years ago so thats some good news.
People that I go without seeing for 4-6 months do tell me I look better and have lost weight so, even though I do not see it so evidently, it must be happening. Maybe in the next year or two I can get back down to 220 lbs or less which I have not been around in about 25 years.
Quite a few projects and missions were accomplished in the last couple of months which is very gratifying personally after a long period of non-accomplishment and frustration. I still need to get a post office box, a new cell phone number, and determine if I need to make any replacements or additions to my household supplies. And the somewhat costly repair expenses loom for the White Night in the next several months. Plus I need to get another job that is higher paying, offers benefits, and is least a little more mentally challenging.
But it sure is very satisfying to have gotten this big project done after such a long period of time. I eagerly await using and enjoying these possessions again in the coming near time.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Two News Articles
Briefly, these two news articles caught my attention and interest.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/magazine/24Style-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=magazine&pagewanted=all
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/uhaul/la-na-haul24jun24,0,4383195.story
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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/magazine/24Style-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=magazine&pagewanted=all
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/uhaul/la-na-haul24jun24,0,4383195.story
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Sunday, June 24, 2007
Busy Big Week Looms... and Some Words of Care
As this last week of June is underway and the first half of 2007 wraps up, some big actions will occur for me personally.
After so, so long, I retake possession of my property and personal assets after having most of them in storage for 32 months. I will be loading a U-haul truck on Wednesday morning and then transporting them up here to WY to the new residence and settling in to the new place the end of this week and on into next week. I have a lot of sorting through to do and going through the process of recalling just what I have as I am sure I have forgotten some of what I have. I have been thinking and I do not believe I need anything to get established in the new place with the exception of some groceries and a sundry or two.
Also this week, I will be getting a new cellular telephone as the Kyocera I have had and been using for almost five years (next month would have gotten it to that mark) finally bit the dust. I have to order the phone from a special customer service department and have it shipped to me and then get it programmed. That probably means no phone service for 3-4 more days. Family can reach me at alternative numbers which LAC and HBL have. Friends will have to rely on email until I get back live again. I will also be getting a new phone number and I will notify those who need to know this by email after I get this change made.
With the upcoming Wednesday being the moving day, this means no day off until next Sunday, 1 July, as I will have to work on Saturday 30 June to make up for the day off. Today I enjoyed the day off and went out and wondered and strolled, looking at some retail shops in the mall including Spencers Gifts where I saw some interesting products being sold. I will need to get an A-104 tip for my new phone. I then went over to Todd's and visited and had a nice dinner.
Overall a quiet relaxing summer weekend before I undertake the task of making a house a home and getting organized.
And last, but not by certainly any means least, best wishes and prayers to VML and his family on the upcoming medical procedure he will undergo and the challenge of a lengthy difficult recovery that awaits and the successful change in lifestyle and habits for the future which will go a long way to helping with better health. After I get back into my own home, I have to buckle down and start eating more wisely and healthy again, drinking water exclusively, and exercising more again. It will be an effort in self-discipline but it is essential I do my best to continue and stay on a more healthy path in these respects for my own good and to show respect, love, and care to others who want me in their lives.
After so, so long, I retake possession of my property and personal assets after having most of them in storage for 32 months. I will be loading a U-haul truck on Wednesday morning and then transporting them up here to WY to the new residence and settling in to the new place the end of this week and on into next week. I have a lot of sorting through to do and going through the process of recalling just what I have as I am sure I have forgotten some of what I have. I have been thinking and I do not believe I need anything to get established in the new place with the exception of some groceries and a sundry or two.
Also this week, I will be getting a new cellular telephone as the Kyocera I have had and been using for almost five years (next month would have gotten it to that mark) finally bit the dust. I have to order the phone from a special customer service department and have it shipped to me and then get it programmed. That probably means no phone service for 3-4 more days. Family can reach me at alternative numbers which LAC and HBL have. Friends will have to rely on email until I get back live again. I will also be getting a new phone number and I will notify those who need to know this by email after I get this change made.
With the upcoming Wednesday being the moving day, this means no day off until next Sunday, 1 July, as I will have to work on Saturday 30 June to make up for the day off. Today I enjoyed the day off and went out and wondered and strolled, looking at some retail shops in the mall including Spencers Gifts where I saw some interesting products being sold. I will need to get an A-104 tip for my new phone. I then went over to Todd's and visited and had a nice dinner.
Overall a quiet relaxing summer weekend before I undertake the task of making a house a home and getting organized.
And last, but not by certainly any means least, best wishes and prayers to VML and his family on the upcoming medical procedure he will undergo and the challenge of a lengthy difficult recovery that awaits and the successful change in lifestyle and habits for the future which will go a long way to helping with better health. After I get back into my own home, I have to buckle down and start eating more wisely and healthy again, drinking water exclusively, and exercising more again. It will be an effort in self-discipline but it is essential I do my best to continue and stay on a more healthy path in these respects for my own good and to show respect, love, and care to others who want me in their lives.
Freudenthal Taps Barasso for US Senate Seat
Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal chose Casper physician and State Senator John Barrasso to fill the US Senate seat left vacant by the sudden death of Craig Thomas on 4 June. The choice of Barrasso was considered to be some as a surprise, but I think the governor believed that Barrasso would follow the spirit of Craig Thomas more closely than either of the other two options he was given. Additionally, Barrasso may move to the center more on certain critical votes and issues. I had thought the governor was going to go with former Thomas staff aide Tom Sansonetti as the choice. I believed Lummis had no chance whatsoever of being chosen as she largely had a mediocre legislative record, strived to be devisive and combative on many issues, and used the press in a war of words with the governor just a few years ago.
Barrasso serves for basically 18 months as the interim junior senator from the Equality State. A special election looms in November '08 for the remaining 4 years on the seat. I can see Barrasso winning the election then and winning two or three after that. He very well could be in the US Senate until 2031 when he will be in his late 70s. Being a doctor, however, and having an evident love of this state, he may opt to spend only a partial and a full term in the District and return home in 2019. Time will tell...
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/topic/article/governor_appoints_dr_john_barrasso_to_fill_wyoming_senate_seat/C37/L37/
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/topic/article/barasso_marvels_at_becoming_wyomings_newest_us_senator/C37/L37/
Barrasso serves for basically 18 months as the interim junior senator from the Equality State. A special election looms in November '08 for the remaining 4 years on the seat. I can see Barrasso winning the election then and winning two or three after that. He very well could be in the US Senate until 2031 when he will be in his late 70s. Being a doctor, however, and having an evident love of this state, he may opt to spend only a partial and a full term in the District and return home in 2019. Time will tell...
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/topic/article/governor_appoints_dr_john_barrasso_to_fill_wyoming_senate_seat/C37/L37/
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/topic/article/barasso_marvels_at_becoming_wyomings_newest_us_senator/C37/L37/
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Sadness of Loss of Old Pinedale and Sublette County
What was once an isolated, remote, sleepy town and surrounding county has changed immeasureably, and probably for the worst. Although some nice infrastructural additions have been achieved during this boom, unquestionably there has been a decline in the quality of life and a loss of innocence for this scenic community.
http://www.jhguide.com/article.php?art_id=1889
http://www.jhguide.com/article.php?art_id=1889
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Tuesday 19 June News Articles and Observations
Here the news articles from Tuesday 19 June and some brief observations about them.
A. Many Believe That Gore is the Answer
I would agree that he is the best man out there for the enormous challenges and responsibilites that the next President will have, as the sewage spewed by the Bush Junta is thick, deep, and toxic to life across the planet and will require a real experienced leader to take on.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2105343,00.html
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B. Bloomfield Third-Party Presidential Candidacy Looming Greater
I believe it is all but but a certainly billionaire Mike will run perhaps with Hegel on the ticket. I wonder if discussions have been held with Ross Perot, who would have elected in '92 except for a two month lapse of judgement that summer.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070619/ap_on_el_pr/bloomberg_politics;_ylt=AoBjFAYffB8v3BlCriYxjGOs0NUE
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06182007/news/regionalnews/bloomys_travel_bug_regionalnews_david_seifman___city_hall_bureau_chief.htm
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C. Australia Sets the Pace for Solar Energy
I sure would like to see similar if not larger projects throughout the High Plains and Rocky Mountain West where sunlight is in abundance year round.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/01/technology/towerofpower0802.biz2/
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D. Brookings Institute Report on Woes of Poor Kentuckians and How Best to Make Improvements
Most of the policy plans and ideas discussed here should be recommended and implemented in all the Rocky Mountains and High Plains states to help the less fortunate here as well. This report by the Brookings Institute is outstanding and insightful.
http://www3.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20070618_kentucky.pdf
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E. Large Amounts of African Oil in Our Future ?
Yet another corrupt hapless part of the world that we will be relying on for our motor vehicle energy sources in the future.
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/lalumia/232
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F. Tragedy of Allowing Private Lenders to Give Student Loans
This was a grave horrible decision to have been allowed. Not only does it cause greivous financial harm to susceptible college students, but it also encourages universities and colleges to ramp up tuition and fees and not find ways to be more efficient and thrifty. Many state legislatures have also dropped the ball in a big way in not more adequately funding higher education. Student Loans should be a government function exclusively.
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-oppri195261477jun19,0,6473310,print.story
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G. Surprise ! Supreme Court Remembers the Fourth Amendment
This unanimous decision by the High Court was greatly welcome, as many recent court decisions have given too much power to police, particularly in regards to procedures when private vehicles are concerned.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2007/06/18/national/w071630D56.DTL
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H. Shi'ites v Sunnis v Iranians v Americans
It is a complicated and deadly pool we have put ourselves into.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070702/toensing
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I. The Challenge and Promise for Thoughtful American Citizens
The vision for a better nation for ourselves, families, children, neighborhoods, communities, working people, and society as a whole is there. More citizens need to understand and appreciate its possibilities.
http://commonsense.ourfuture.org/take_back_america_our_time?tx=3
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J. Wyoming GOP Chooses Three Finalists to Fill Late Thomas Senate Seat
These were three names that were believed early on to be among the favorites. I would predict Sansonetti will be chosen by the governor to fill the seat, perhaps as early as Thursday, 21 June.
http://www.casperstartribune.com/articles/2007/06/19/news/top_story/doc4677ebe616901321216413.txt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Sansonetti
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Lummis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barrasso
-----
K. Major Blighted Downtown Denver Block to be Redeveloped
This small downtown block was among the most ugly and least safe areas in the downtown Denver grid. I am pleased to see another underutilized area of property about to be developed rather than see property elsewhere in the Metro area. The sooner the entire area of downtown from Wewatta to Grant and from Speer to Park Avenue is fully redeveloped to its full potential with the complete elimination of surface parking lots the better. It remains a possibility that someday I will move into a downtown apartment in downtown Denver as I would welcome the livestyle that exists there and not having to drive everywhere would be nice.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/real_estate/article/0,1299,DRMN_414_5592856,00.html
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L. Another Key Denver Area Real Estate Redevelopment Awaits
With the impending movement of the St Anthonys Hospital Campus to a Denver Federal Center site about 6 miles away where mass transit will be a focus, another area not far from downtown can be brought out of its long standing urban malaise. The area to the south and east of the hospital in Denver is seriously blighted and poorly developed with dumpy housing, rotting motels, convenience stores, used car lots, and substandard commercial properties. Gang activity, litter, seriously substandard infrastructure, grafitti, crime, muffler-less motor vehicles, and rap music are common evident evil in abundance in and around this area. Lakewood off to the west is much the same, although Colfax has been spruced up some. The challenge of city and community leaders will be to do something special and redeeming for that long downtrodden area in West Denver and NE Lakewood.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_6178617
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M. Drought Continues to Build Nationally
It is really bad across most of the West except farther east on the High Plains and in SE and Southern New Mexico. Here in Wyoming, we are in extreme statewide except the Bighorn Basin and far NE Wyoming northwest of the Black Hills, where things are about normal. The only states worse off than Wyoming are California and Arizona (both entirely in severe and extreme drought) Most of the Southeast, including Tennesssee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Arkansas, and West Virginia; as well as Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Ohio, are in moderate to severe drought with widespread pockets of severe status in these areas where agriculture and crop production is vital. Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana also have wide areas of severe or exteme drought also.
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/regional_monitoring/palmer.gif
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N. Streamflow Reports Fair to Good Across the Rocky Mountain West
Levels are subnormal for many west flowing stream and river basins while most east flowing basins are fair to good.
http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/
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O. Recommended Site to Bookmark
http://www.mongabay.com/news-index/water1.html
-----
A. Many Believe That Gore is the Answer
I would agree that he is the best man out there for the enormous challenges and responsibilites that the next President will have, as the sewage spewed by the Bush Junta is thick, deep, and toxic to life across the planet and will require a real experienced leader to take on.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2105343,00.html
-----
B. Bloomfield Third-Party Presidential Candidacy Looming Greater
I believe it is all but but a certainly billionaire Mike will run perhaps with Hegel on the ticket. I wonder if discussions have been held with Ross Perot, who would have elected in '92 except for a two month lapse of judgement that summer.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070619/ap_on_el_pr/bloomberg_politics;_ylt=AoBjFAYffB8v3BlCriYxjGOs0NUE
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06182007/news/regionalnews/bloomys_travel_bug_regionalnews_david_seifman___city_hall_bureau_chief.htm
-----
C. Australia Sets the Pace for Solar Energy
I sure would like to see similar if not larger projects throughout the High Plains and Rocky Mountain West where sunlight is in abundance year round.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/01/technology/towerofpower0802.biz2/
-----
D. Brookings Institute Report on Woes of Poor Kentuckians and How Best to Make Improvements
Most of the policy plans and ideas discussed here should be recommended and implemented in all the Rocky Mountains and High Plains states to help the less fortunate here as well. This report by the Brookings Institute is outstanding and insightful.
http://www3.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20070618_kentucky.pdf
-----
E. Large Amounts of African Oil in Our Future ?
Yet another corrupt hapless part of the world that we will be relying on for our motor vehicle energy sources in the future.
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/lalumia/232
-----
F. Tragedy of Allowing Private Lenders to Give Student Loans
This was a grave horrible decision to have been allowed. Not only does it cause greivous financial harm to susceptible college students, but it also encourages universities and colleges to ramp up tuition and fees and not find ways to be more efficient and thrifty. Many state legislatures have also dropped the ball in a big way in not more adequately funding higher education. Student Loans should be a government function exclusively.
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-oppri195261477jun19,0,6473310,print.story
-----
G. Surprise ! Supreme Court Remembers the Fourth Amendment
This unanimous decision by the High Court was greatly welcome, as many recent court decisions have given too much power to police, particularly in regards to procedures when private vehicles are concerned.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2007/06/18/national/w071630D56.DTL
-----
H. Shi'ites v Sunnis v Iranians v Americans
It is a complicated and deadly pool we have put ourselves into.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070702/toensing
-----
I. The Challenge and Promise for Thoughtful American Citizens
The vision for a better nation for ourselves, families, children, neighborhoods, communities, working people, and society as a whole is there. More citizens need to understand and appreciate its possibilities.
http://commonsense.ourfuture.org/take_back_america_our_time?tx=3
-----
J. Wyoming GOP Chooses Three Finalists to Fill Late Thomas Senate Seat
These were three names that were believed early on to be among the favorites. I would predict Sansonetti will be chosen by the governor to fill the seat, perhaps as early as Thursday, 21 June.
http://www.casperstartribune.com/articles/2007/06/19/news/top_story/doc4677ebe616901321216413.txt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Sansonetti
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Lummis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barrasso
-----
K. Major Blighted Downtown Denver Block to be Redeveloped
This small downtown block was among the most ugly and least safe areas in the downtown Denver grid. I am pleased to see another underutilized area of property about to be developed rather than see property elsewhere in the Metro area. The sooner the entire area of downtown from Wewatta to Grant and from Speer to Park Avenue is fully redeveloped to its full potential with the complete elimination of surface parking lots the better. It remains a possibility that someday I will move into a downtown apartment in downtown Denver as I would welcome the livestyle that exists there and not having to drive everywhere would be nice.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/real_estate/article/0,1299,DRMN_414_5592856,00.html
-----
L. Another Key Denver Area Real Estate Redevelopment Awaits
With the impending movement of the St Anthonys Hospital Campus to a Denver Federal Center site about 6 miles away where mass transit will be a focus, another area not far from downtown can be brought out of its long standing urban malaise. The area to the south and east of the hospital in Denver is seriously blighted and poorly developed with dumpy housing, rotting motels, convenience stores, used car lots, and substandard commercial properties. Gang activity, litter, seriously substandard infrastructure, grafitti, crime, muffler-less motor vehicles, and rap music are common evident evil in abundance in and around this area. Lakewood off to the west is much the same, although Colfax has been spruced up some. The challenge of city and community leaders will be to do something special and redeeming for that long downtrodden area in West Denver and NE Lakewood.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_6178617
-----
M. Drought Continues to Build Nationally
It is really bad across most of the West except farther east on the High Plains and in SE and Southern New Mexico. Here in Wyoming, we are in extreme statewide except the Bighorn Basin and far NE Wyoming northwest of the Black Hills, where things are about normal. The only states worse off than Wyoming are California and Arizona (both entirely in severe and extreme drought) Most of the Southeast, including Tennesssee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Arkansas, and West Virginia; as well as Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Ohio, are in moderate to severe drought with widespread pockets of severe status in these areas where agriculture and crop production is vital. Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana also have wide areas of severe or exteme drought also.
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/regional_monitoring/palmer.gif
-----
N. Streamflow Reports Fair to Good Across the Rocky Mountain West
Levels are subnormal for many west flowing stream and river basins while most east flowing basins are fair to good.
http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/
-----
O. Recommended Site to Bookmark
http://www.mongabay.com/news-index/water1.html
-----
Monday, June 18, 2007
Some Ways I Try to Follow to Save Money
MSN had a list today of some ways to save money and be thrifty. Many of them I have used for many years. Their list is at this link:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/Devote15MinutesADayToBeingCheap.aspx
Some others I use include:
1) Never purchase national brands for the most part. Store brands are manufactured or processed by the same firms that make the national brands, so there is largely no difference in taste or quality (catsup is one noticeable exception). There are a few other isolated exceptions to this as with some products there is no store brand alternative.
2) Plan all activities or errands for one trip. I never make additional trips and strive to only have one, maybe two of those errand trips per week. Always be aware of the fuel stations where fuel prices generally run less and make avail of them. The oil corporations and convenience stores love to play this silly little game of having varying prices in locations that are fairly close together just to gouge consumers. I would dearly love to see a law that mandates same gasoline prices for the same brand name within a zip code so this childish foolishness ceases and we can have even pricing like we do when we purchase other consumer goods (food, clothing, household goods, meals, etc.) at like businesses.
3) Never buy magazines. Read or scan them for free at a bookstore, and read them more deeply online. Use newspapers in place of paper towels for cleaning duties. Generic or store brands of most chemicals used in household cleaning tasks are just fine instead of the higher costing national brands where you are paying for advertising, corporate waste, and fat corporate executive salaries. I am considering purchasing online electronic subscriptions for newspapers that run less 60 cents per week while hardcopy subscriptions are over $2 and newstand purchases end up being $6 per week. Plus it is environmentally prudent.
4) Try to only eat out once per week, maybe twice at the most. Allow yourself only one meal out per month where the individual cost exceeds $6.00.
5) Be very careful with your clothing, apparel, and linens. Strive to not get them dirty and sweaty. This will result in minimizing having to do laundry.
6) Clean as you go in the kitchen and bathroom. Rinse the sink during and after each use. Do not use soap in the shower as it causes a buildup that needs to be attended to. Use a body wash sparingly instead.
7) Re-use plastic and metal containers for other uses and storage. Whatever else you cannot use again at home, recycle at your local recycling center or dropoff depot. Do not purchase trash bags; instead use the paper or plastic ones you get at the store from grocery purchases.
8) Keep thermostats at 57 degrees during the winter when your home is largely inactive. Use 6-10 blankets to stay warm while sleeping. When showering, do not turn on the bathroom fan as that keeps the steam in and really warms the bathroom and adjacent areas. Keep it at 63 degrees when you are active. Wear sweaters and sweatshirts and double socks to stay warm. In summer, fans are better than a/c to keep cool. Put them in windows to ventilate to bring in the cooler outside air after sunset. Wear minimal clothing while at home, no matter how disgusting you will look. Take cool showers in hot weather with minimal warm water. Only use heat from November 1st or later and not after April 1. Limit your showers to seven minutes except for one time per week.
9) Drink lots of water and try to minimize purchases of pop. Buying skim milk is always cheaper than 2% or whole milk. The more water you drink, the less hungry you will be. When you do choose to buy a pop, get it from the store brand machine out front or just inside the store. Those tasty 12 ounce cans are just 25 cents each instead of paying well over $1 for the 16 ounce cups at the fast food joints or the convenience stores.
10) Try not to eat food after 7pm or 3 hours before you go to bed. Skip supper at least a couple of nights a week. Doing this will result in better, longer, and deeper sleep that night. And its an easy way to help lose weight.
11) Hookup electronics to power strips that you can switch off so you are not giving away money to the greedy immoral electric corporations when you are not using them.
12) When available, shop at farmers markets. The produce is fresher and far less expensive than at the grocery store. Plus it is very satisfying to buy directly personally from the grower.
I am sure there are other things I do that are of a thrifty nature and I am not even aware of them. I will ponder other attitudes and behaviors I have and follow and will add them to this list.
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/Devote15MinutesADayToBeingCheap.aspx
Some others I use include:
1) Never purchase national brands for the most part. Store brands are manufactured or processed by the same firms that make the national brands, so there is largely no difference in taste or quality (catsup is one noticeable exception). There are a few other isolated exceptions to this as with some products there is no store brand alternative.
2) Plan all activities or errands for one trip. I never make additional trips and strive to only have one, maybe two of those errand trips per week. Always be aware of the fuel stations where fuel prices generally run less and make avail of them. The oil corporations and convenience stores love to play this silly little game of having varying prices in locations that are fairly close together just to gouge consumers. I would dearly love to see a law that mandates same gasoline prices for the same brand name within a zip code so this childish foolishness ceases and we can have even pricing like we do when we purchase other consumer goods (food, clothing, household goods, meals, etc.) at like businesses.
3) Never buy magazines. Read or scan them for free at a bookstore, and read them more deeply online. Use newspapers in place of paper towels for cleaning duties. Generic or store brands of most chemicals used in household cleaning tasks are just fine instead of the higher costing national brands where you are paying for advertising, corporate waste, and fat corporate executive salaries. I am considering purchasing online electronic subscriptions for newspapers that run less 60 cents per week while hardcopy subscriptions are over $2 and newstand purchases end up being $6 per week. Plus it is environmentally prudent.
4) Try to only eat out once per week, maybe twice at the most. Allow yourself only one meal out per month where the individual cost exceeds $6.00.
5) Be very careful with your clothing, apparel, and linens. Strive to not get them dirty and sweaty. This will result in minimizing having to do laundry.
6) Clean as you go in the kitchen and bathroom. Rinse the sink during and after each use. Do not use soap in the shower as it causes a buildup that needs to be attended to. Use a body wash sparingly instead.
7) Re-use plastic and metal containers for other uses and storage. Whatever else you cannot use again at home, recycle at your local recycling center or dropoff depot. Do not purchase trash bags; instead use the paper or plastic ones you get at the store from grocery purchases.
8) Keep thermostats at 57 degrees during the winter when your home is largely inactive. Use 6-10 blankets to stay warm while sleeping. When showering, do not turn on the bathroom fan as that keeps the steam in and really warms the bathroom and adjacent areas. Keep it at 63 degrees when you are active. Wear sweaters and sweatshirts and double socks to stay warm. In summer, fans are better than a/c to keep cool. Put them in windows to ventilate to bring in the cooler outside air after sunset. Wear minimal clothing while at home, no matter how disgusting you will look. Take cool showers in hot weather with minimal warm water. Only use heat from November 1st or later and not after April 1. Limit your showers to seven minutes except for one time per week.
9) Drink lots of water and try to minimize purchases of pop. Buying skim milk is always cheaper than 2% or whole milk. The more water you drink, the less hungry you will be. When you do choose to buy a pop, get it from the store brand machine out front or just inside the store. Those tasty 12 ounce cans are just 25 cents each instead of paying well over $1 for the 16 ounce cups at the fast food joints or the convenience stores.
10) Try not to eat food after 7pm or 3 hours before you go to bed. Skip supper at least a couple of nights a week. Doing this will result in better, longer, and deeper sleep that night. And its an easy way to help lose weight.
11) Hookup electronics to power strips that you can switch off so you are not giving away money to the greedy immoral electric corporations when you are not using them.
12) When available, shop at farmers markets. The produce is fresher and far less expensive than at the grocery store. Plus it is very satisfying to buy directly personally from the grower.
I am sure there are other things I do that are of a thrifty nature and I am not even aware of them. I will ponder other attitudes and behaviors I have and follow and will add them to this list.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Dead or Alive: Which Baseball Teams are Which...
This article looks about right on with the assessments given.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6916072?MSNHPHCP>1=10136
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6916072?MSNHPHCP>1=10136
Animal Stories
Both bad and funny here. On the funny side, it is truly unbelievable and hilarious to see a housecat attempt to "capture" an antelope by climbing on the back of one that was just lying down on the prairie grass and take a ride for several dozen yards before either falling off or getting thrown by the probably irritated antelope. The Leopard Cat, Niles, did just that and lived to have more days with possibly even greater adventures awaiting.
We also saw an antelope go to great extents to protect its young from potential predators. A fox was in the area and nearing where some antelope were grazing. Suddenly, the boss male antelope took off at a full bore and chased the fox for several hundred yards to clear it from the area where the young antelope were. One would not have expected such aggressive and forceful behavior from a critter that looks and acts largely docile. But anything can happen in the wild, even here on the lonesome high prairie.
On the bad side, this was destined to happen eventually. While on the deck Monday evening, the four St Bernards got fired up and excited and the 650 pounds of beastdom got going in a big way and knocked me down resulting in a rolled right ankle and twisted foot that is quite sore and tender. Putting on my boots has been quite painful the last two mornings but I can walk okay and better than last week when it was my left knee's turn to have gotten lightly injured. It was a wonder that it took nearly six months for the livestock to get me. As I sit here and write, the four beasts are all soundly asleep surrounding me and the volume of the snoring is quite apparent as these kinds of dogs sleep on their backs with their four legs in the air which is quite the sight with four huge dogs looking this way, oblivious to the light and the noise of the TV movie I am watching, "Running Scared" from 1985. Once I get my camera back I will have to take some pictures of the fourteen critters here and put them on this blog and ringo.
I sure hope next week does not continue this mini-streak of injuries as in fourteen days (Wednesday 27 June) I have a day of box moving and weight lifting ahead of me between two trips of 130 miles each or four trips totalling 520 miles moving my property.
We also saw an antelope go to great extents to protect its young from potential predators. A fox was in the area and nearing where some antelope were grazing. Suddenly, the boss male antelope took off at a full bore and chased the fox for several hundred yards to clear it from the area where the young antelope were. One would not have expected such aggressive and forceful behavior from a critter that looks and acts largely docile. But anything can happen in the wild, even here on the lonesome high prairie.
On the bad side, this was destined to happen eventually. While on the deck Monday evening, the four St Bernards got fired up and excited and the 650 pounds of beastdom got going in a big way and knocked me down resulting in a rolled right ankle and twisted foot that is quite sore and tender. Putting on my boots has been quite painful the last two mornings but I can walk okay and better than last week when it was my left knee's turn to have gotten lightly injured. It was a wonder that it took nearly six months for the livestock to get me. As I sit here and write, the four beasts are all soundly asleep surrounding me and the volume of the snoring is quite apparent as these kinds of dogs sleep on their backs with their four legs in the air which is quite the sight with four huge dogs looking this way, oblivious to the light and the noise of the TV movie I am watching, "Running Scared" from 1985. Once I get my camera back I will have to take some pictures of the fourteen critters here and put them on this blog and ringo.
I sure hope next week does not continue this mini-streak of injuries as in fourteen days (Wednesday 27 June) I have a day of box moving and weight lifting ahead of me between two trips of 130 miles each or four trips totalling 520 miles moving my property.
Wednesday 13 June News Articles and Observations
13 June 2007 had some news articles that I observed and had a brief opinion about.
A. Words of Wisdom from Gary Trauner
Trauner is a thoughtful observer who lost by less than 1000 votes for the US House seat from Wyoming in November 2006. I posted an earlier commentary from him which was quite insightful. I hope he opts to run for public office again in the future as he would be a great voice for Wyoming.
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/topic/article/trauner_information_is_power_democracy/C37/L37/
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/search/results/8537ea532377b3820adcb039b7d62c42/
-----
B. Wesley Clark on Joe Lieberman
The retired General and recent candidate for President is certainly of greater wisdom concerning Iraq and the Middle East than the Connecticut Senator.
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/11980
-----
C. Progressive Wave to Consume Conservatives ?
I sure hope the view of what the near future public policy direction most Americans want to take is what is expressed here.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/06/13/americas_progressive_majority.php
-----
D. The Rampant Epidemic of Corporate Crime
This is a far greater problem in America than most citizens are aware of, and in urgent need of being given a greater priority by law enforcement officers, district attorneys, and the grand jury system. There has been far too much emphasis by those people on crimes by citizens that are of far lesser importance than those being done by corporations and their executives and management.
http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/06/13/1859/
-----
A. Words of Wisdom from Gary Trauner
Trauner is a thoughtful observer who lost by less than 1000 votes for the US House seat from Wyoming in November 2006. I posted an earlier commentary from him which was quite insightful. I hope he opts to run for public office again in the future as he would be a great voice for Wyoming.
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/topic/article/trauner_information_is_power_democracy/C37/L37/
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/search/results/8537ea532377b3820adcb039b7d62c42/
-----
B. Wesley Clark on Joe Lieberman
The retired General and recent candidate for President is certainly of greater wisdom concerning Iraq and the Middle East than the Connecticut Senator.
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/11980
-----
C. Progressive Wave to Consume Conservatives ?
I sure hope the view of what the near future public policy direction most Americans want to take is what is expressed here.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/06/13/americas_progressive_majority.php
-----
D. The Rampant Epidemic of Corporate Crime
This is a far greater problem in America than most citizens are aware of, and in urgent need of being given a greater priority by law enforcement officers, district attorneys, and the grand jury system. There has been far too much emphasis by those people on crimes by citizens that are of far lesser importance than those being done by corporations and their executives and management.
http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/06/13/1859/
-----
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
A Delightful Step Back in Time
I made a pit stop into a Safeway store just north of downtown yesterday and was surprised to see a grocery store so small and quaint. The design was clearly vintage 1950s with only about 12 aisles about 30 feet long, a relatively low ceiling, a tiny bakery and produce section, and just 5 checkout register counters. I would have thought these size stores, particularly from a giant like Safeway, would be all gone, particularly in a small city like this. I would have to think this relic from the past's days are numbered as the massive superstores with 30 or more aisles;huge bakery, produce, meat, and frozen food sections with delis, floral departments, and pharmacies; ceilings that are 50' above the floor; and at least 15 check out lanes with some that are self serve have become the norm everywhere. This recent experience I had was very cool.
The Treachery and Evil of American Corporations
They are robbing citizens blind and then asking the taxpayers for handouts. They pay their officials and executives pornographic amounts of money. They contribute little to the benefit and well being of our society and the communities they do their dirty work in. And only the intelligent insightful citizens like yours truly is aware of this. Let the work of Ralph Nader and others continue and grow with great success...
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/06/12/1828/
http://taxjustice-usa.org/
And here is a publication that sheds even more light on this evil shadow that is so harmful to so many.
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-History-American-Empire-Corruption/dp/052595015X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-4808519-4794825?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181707863&sr=1-1
http://www.buzzflash.com/store/items/650
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/06/12/1828/
http://taxjustice-usa.org/
And here is a publication that sheds even more light on this evil shadow that is so harmful to so many.
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-History-American-Empire-Corruption/dp/052595015X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-4808519-4794825?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181707863&sr=1-1
http://www.buzzflash.com/store/items/650
Monday, June 11, 2007
Great Blog to Bookmark
This looks to be a good reference to check in on with news that is pertinent for the future.
http://www.cleantechblog.com/
http://www.cleantechblog.com/
Monday 11 June News Articles and Observations
Here are Monday 11 June's news articles that caught my attention and some brief reaction to them.
A. Loss of Honeybees: Colony Collapse Disorder Growing
The ramifications of this development are indeed grave and of great concern for all of us.
http://www.alternet.org/environment/53491/
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-bees10jun10,0,4460235.story?coll=la-home-center
-----
B. City of Denver Plans Widescale Attack on Local Sources of Global Warming
I like what I read here, but it is rather ambitious and will require a major change in the consciousness of many of the locals there and corporations and business. During my ten years working there, I must have thrown into the trash about three tons or so of cardboard being scrapped by braindead employers that I worked for. I wonder if this waste will be included in the program. And what about all the waste generated by retailers and restaurants ? The quantity those businesses waste is incredible. And most of it will have not decayed in a couple of thousand years or more.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5580343,00.html
-----
C. Changes in Suburban Planning
News that is certainly for the better, as it will keep more people from giving their money indirectly to terrorist Arabs who are killing our soldiers.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070611/a_transitvillage11.art.htm
-----
D. Lieberman Urges War on Iran; Israelis Eager and Ready to Join
The only questions are when and to what extent...
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003596777
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1181228588702&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
-----
E. This Should be the Case for All Transportation
Hopefully, Salt Lake is at vanguard of an inevitable universal trend that grows extremely fast.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_6108450
-----
F. Does Bill Richardson Have the Right Stuff ?
Despite his upbeat message in his campaigning so far, the New Mexico governor has done little to capture the imagination of the electorate thus far. His record on the all important issue of health care is so-so, and he has offered little to deal with the reality of Iraq beyond the blind cries of most liberal Democrats. He better come up with some new ideas and policy proposals because it looks like he will a goner in the race by the end of next February based on what we know today.
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/62841.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070610/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail;_ylt=AlJb7H.HRtrNzrMklkX_rjys0NUE
-----
G. Irradicating Poverty: America Must Do This Soon !
A good indepth article in the New York Times with a couple of supporting ones that say much about this serious growing problem that should not exist with all the wealth in this nation. John Edwards remains my choice for President because of his aggressive stand on this issue, among others.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/magazine/10edwards-t.html?em&ex=1181707200&en=92b80d973b9eb6e6&ei=5070
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/magazine/10payne-t.html?em&ex=1181707200&en=14090a6e40af6b56&ei=5087%0A
http://mytown.ca/zepp/
-----
H. Republicans Salivate over Open Wyoming Senate Seat
Not too many names that create any enthusiasm. We will find out next Tuesday, 19 June, who makes the finalists list.
http://www.casperstartribune.com/articles/2007/06/11/news/wyoming/doc466d857723a40632393851.txt
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/topic/article/republicans_will_crowd_for_open_wyoming_senate_seat/C37/L37/
-----
I. Signifiant Energy Infrastructure Investment on the Horizon
This is indeed more good news that will be of great benefit to citzens as we try to diversify sources for energy.
http://www.casperstartribune.com/articles/2007/06/11/news/wyoming/d85b65da65541233872572f7000336bd.txt
-----
J. More Wisdom and Insight from Professor Krugman
He is always right on target with his editorials.
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/06/11/1798/
-----
K. Progress on Wilderness Expansion Bill in Idaho
Any growth in wilderness areas in Republican-dominated Idaho is good news, but so much more is needed there as in other Western states.
http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/06/08/opinion/editorials/113774.txt
-----
L. Republicans Support Sinking Everywhere
What will be the impact on GOP candidates including incumbents in the November '08 elections ? This poll does not paint a good picture at all.
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/topic/article/poll_republicans_losing_ground_in_rural_america/C37/L37/
http://www.ruralstrategies.org/default.html
-----
M. College Degrees are not the Ticket to Success and Prosperity
Many individuals, including my brothers, among others, know this is true and I certainly am well aware of it as well.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/opinion/11mon3.html?em&ex=1181707200&en=4316131177e885aa&ei=5070
-----
N. A Not So Welcome Milestone Looms for Sports Fans in the City of Brotherly Love
On a lighter note, its been tough to be a Phillies fan. At least some can see the humor and achievement in being one.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/12/sports/baseball/12phillies.html?hp
http://celebrate10000.com
-----
A. Loss of Honeybees: Colony Collapse Disorder Growing
The ramifications of this development are indeed grave and of great concern for all of us.
http://www.alternet.org/environment/53491/
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-bees10jun10,0,4460235.story?coll=la-home-center
-----
B. City of Denver Plans Widescale Attack on Local Sources of Global Warming
I like what I read here, but it is rather ambitious and will require a major change in the consciousness of many of the locals there and corporations and business. During my ten years working there, I must have thrown into the trash about three tons or so of cardboard being scrapped by braindead employers that I worked for. I wonder if this waste will be included in the program. And what about all the waste generated by retailers and restaurants ? The quantity those businesses waste is incredible. And most of it will have not decayed in a couple of thousand years or more.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5580343,00.html
-----
C. Changes in Suburban Planning
News that is certainly for the better, as it will keep more people from giving their money indirectly to terrorist Arabs who are killing our soldiers.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070611/a_transitvillage11.art.htm
-----
D. Lieberman Urges War on Iran; Israelis Eager and Ready to Join
The only questions are when and to what extent...
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003596777
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1181228588702&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
-----
E. This Should be the Case for All Transportation
Hopefully, Salt Lake is at vanguard of an inevitable universal trend that grows extremely fast.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_6108450
-----
F. Does Bill Richardson Have the Right Stuff ?
Despite his upbeat message in his campaigning so far, the New Mexico governor has done little to capture the imagination of the electorate thus far. His record on the all important issue of health care is so-so, and he has offered little to deal with the reality of Iraq beyond the blind cries of most liberal Democrats. He better come up with some new ideas and policy proposals because it looks like he will a goner in the race by the end of next February based on what we know today.
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/62841.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070610/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail;_ylt=AlJb7H.HRtrNzrMklkX_rjys0NUE
-----
G. Irradicating Poverty: America Must Do This Soon !
A good indepth article in the New York Times with a couple of supporting ones that say much about this serious growing problem that should not exist with all the wealth in this nation. John Edwards remains my choice for President because of his aggressive stand on this issue, among others.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/magazine/10edwards-t.html?em&ex=1181707200&en=92b80d973b9eb6e6&ei=5070
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/magazine/10payne-t.html?em&ex=1181707200&en=14090a6e40af6b56&ei=5087%0A
http://mytown.ca/zepp/
-----
H. Republicans Salivate over Open Wyoming Senate Seat
Not too many names that create any enthusiasm. We will find out next Tuesday, 19 June, who makes the finalists list.
http://www.casperstartribune.com/articles/2007/06/11/news/wyoming/doc466d857723a40632393851.txt
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/topic/article/republicans_will_crowd_for_open_wyoming_senate_seat/C37/L37/
-----
I. Signifiant Energy Infrastructure Investment on the Horizon
This is indeed more good news that will be of great benefit to citzens as we try to diversify sources for energy.
http://www.casperstartribune.com/articles/2007/06/11/news/wyoming/d85b65da65541233872572f7000336bd.txt
-----
J. More Wisdom and Insight from Professor Krugman
He is always right on target with his editorials.
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/06/11/1798/
-----
K. Progress on Wilderness Expansion Bill in Idaho
Any growth in wilderness areas in Republican-dominated Idaho is good news, but so much more is needed there as in other Western states.
http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/06/08/opinion/editorials/113774.txt
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L. Republicans Support Sinking Everywhere
What will be the impact on GOP candidates including incumbents in the November '08 elections ? This poll does not paint a good picture at all.
http://www.newwest.net/index.php/topic/article/poll_republicans_losing_ground_in_rural_america/C37/L37/
http://www.ruralstrategies.org/default.html
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M. College Degrees are not the Ticket to Success and Prosperity
Many individuals, including my brothers, among others, know this is true and I certainly am well aware of it as well.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/opinion/11mon3.html?em&ex=1181707200&en=4316131177e885aa&ei=5070
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N. A Not So Welcome Milestone Looms for Sports Fans in the City of Brotherly Love
On a lighter note, its been tough to be a Phillies fan. At least some can see the humor and achievement in being one.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/12/sports/baseball/12phillies.html?hp
http://celebrate10000.com
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Sunday, June 10, 2007
Insane, Immoral Pay of Corporate Officials
The pay of corporate officials is truly wrong. Tax and other public policy must be reformed to stop this destruction of American capitalism. I will ponder over the coming weeks some of the public policy actions that must be employed and implemented as quickly as possible to get this under control and reduced. For the American economy and our democracy to be in balance and working properly for as many citizens as possible, all publicly traded and held corporations must pay their executives, officials, and management no more than 15 times that of what the lowest paid employee in that corporation is paid. One can look back in history 40-45 years ago and more to see that was the case in America. And by no coincidence, this was the perioid of the greatest success for the working class and when family life in the US was in balance.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/money/article/0,2777,DRMN_23908_5577618,00.html
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/money/article/0,2777,DRMN_23908_5577618,00.html
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Some things That are Now Gone That Were Reality When I was Born and an Infant
Some of the big changes that have occurred on a more visible level during my long lifetime:
-- there were only 48 states when I was born, and most of Africa and Asia were still under colonial control of Britain and France.
-- there was no such thing as an imported automobile being sold and driven in the US for the most part, and we had six domestic automobile manufacturers.
-- the Interstate Highway system was barely in existence, so most drivers had to take two lane roads when driving anywhere.
-- there was no such thing as fast food, microwaves, color television, frost-free freezers, flourescent lighting, electric dishwashers, air conditioning, digital watches, and unleaded gasoline.
-- most automobiles still had manual transmissions, bias ply tires, and no power accessories.
-- nobody had contact lenses, and all containers were made of glass and metal as nothing was constructed of plastic or aluminum for products to be contained in.
-- Baseball was the national sport and pastime but there was only 16 teams, and the two new teams in California, the Giants and Dodgers, had only been playing in the Golden State for a few months, being the first teams west of the Central Time Zone.
-- not many people paid attention to pro football, as there were only 12 teams. Nobody watched or heard of pro basketball or pro hockey except for a very small number of fans in the largely Northeastern cities where the 16 teams were located (10 in the NBA and only 6 in the NHL).
-- there was no such thing as a Zip Code, and US postal mail was delivered twice daily including Saturdays, and there was once daily mail delivery on Sundays. First Class Postal Stamps cost 2 or 3 cents each.
-- telephone service was quaint and of no technological sustance. Telephones had rotary dials, were always black in color and owned by AT&T, the one and only phone company in existance. Phone numbers consisted of only five numbers, and most people shared their phone service with others nearby in what was called a party line. No long distance calls were ever made except in case of extreme emergencies and important holidays, and the average monthly telephone bill was between $2 and $3.
-- there were only three or four television stations to watch at the most, and they went off the air around midnight at the latest and were not back on the air until 6:30am at the earliest. In most places there were only 3-5 radio stations that could be heard, and most signed off at sunset and played only music with news on the top of every hour.
-- many people only wore one set of a clothing throughout the week, and on Sundays they wore their nicest clothing for church and stayed in them through the whole day, especially for the all-important Sunday Dinner which was the best and most elaborate meal of the week in which Mom worked long and hard to prepare and the time when all family gathered together.
-- for many people, baths and showers were only taken once per week, usually on Saturday nights.
-- electric or gas dryers for clothing were unheard of, and everywhere you could see clothes hanging to dry on clotheslines.
-- most fabrics and materials in clothing and household products were made completely of cotton or wool, as artificial fabrics were still in their infancy for everyday use. Clothes were repaired and kept up and not viewed as disposable and changeable.
-- nobody except teenagers wore tennis shoes, and adults were always dressed impeccibly, with hats, suits, and shoes. No one over age 18 wore sandals, shorts, or tshirts except at the beach. Most people had only one or two pairs of shoes and they were expected to last a long time and were often resoled or repaired to accomplish just that. Blue jeans were only worn by farmers and cowboys.
-- all men kept their hair cut very short and visited the barber shop monthly, and all women made trips monthly or bimonthly to beauty shops to keep their hair looking good.
-- the only sports on television was one baseball game on Saturday afternoons, one college football game on Autumn Saturday afternoons, and one pro football game on Autumn Sunday afternoons. There was no basketball or hockey televised, and only limited amounts of golf and tennis. Televised auto racing did not exist, but boxing, wrestling, and trotting and horse racing were broadcast even on evening slots.
-- the only businesses that were open after 5pm or so were the odd gasoline station and liquor stores. Most restaurants closed by 7 and all stores by 6. Movie theatres and drive in theatres always started their last showing before or at dusk except in the biggest cities. Nearly every business was closed on Sundays to honor the Sabbath and to provide for quality and quantity family time.
-- airlines were only flown by the few wealthy people, government officials, and celebrities. Everyone else took the train or buses to get around outside of their immediate areas, which were considerably smaller than what is normal today -- nobody had any kind of a commute to their workplace, shopping, or other activities regularly done in ones daily life.
-- atomic and nuclear power was considered safe and viewed as an important part of the future in many different ways and applications, including energy, medicine, transportation, communications, and electronics.
-- virtually all oil being refined, used, and consumed originated from domestic sources, resulting in gasoline being priced around 8 cents to 15 cents per gallon. Most homes were heated with firewood, coal, heating oil, or steam heat, as natural gas usage was still in its infancy.
-- most shopping was still done in small neighborhood stores where there was a personal connection and intimacy as the shopping center was still a new phenomena. Sears, Woolworths, Montgomery Wards, and Gimbles were the retail giants of the day, and they were tiny in size, both physically and in number of outlets as compared to the Wal-Marts, Targets and other big box retailers that rule today
I will add more to this list as things come to me, or I will make a new post with those new entries. Contributions, comments, suggestions, and items I have overlooked are greatly welcome.
-- there were only 48 states when I was born, and most of Africa and Asia were still under colonial control of Britain and France.
-- there was no such thing as an imported automobile being sold and driven in the US for the most part, and we had six domestic automobile manufacturers.
-- the Interstate Highway system was barely in existence, so most drivers had to take two lane roads when driving anywhere.
-- there was no such thing as fast food, microwaves, color television, frost-free freezers, flourescent lighting, electric dishwashers, air conditioning, digital watches, and unleaded gasoline.
-- most automobiles still had manual transmissions, bias ply tires, and no power accessories.
-- nobody had contact lenses, and all containers were made of glass and metal as nothing was constructed of plastic or aluminum for products to be contained in.
-- Baseball was the national sport and pastime but there was only 16 teams, and the two new teams in California, the Giants and Dodgers, had only been playing in the Golden State for a few months, being the first teams west of the Central Time Zone.
-- not many people paid attention to pro football, as there were only 12 teams. Nobody watched or heard of pro basketball or pro hockey except for a very small number of fans in the largely Northeastern cities where the 16 teams were located (10 in the NBA and only 6 in the NHL).
-- there was no such thing as a Zip Code, and US postal mail was delivered twice daily including Saturdays, and there was once daily mail delivery on Sundays. First Class Postal Stamps cost 2 or 3 cents each.
-- telephone service was quaint and of no technological sustance. Telephones had rotary dials, were always black in color and owned by AT&T, the one and only phone company in existance. Phone numbers consisted of only five numbers, and most people shared their phone service with others nearby in what was called a party line. No long distance calls were ever made except in case of extreme emergencies and important holidays, and the average monthly telephone bill was between $2 and $3.
-- there were only three or four television stations to watch at the most, and they went off the air around midnight at the latest and were not back on the air until 6:30am at the earliest. In most places there were only 3-5 radio stations that could be heard, and most signed off at sunset and played only music with news on the top of every hour.
-- many people only wore one set of a clothing throughout the week, and on Sundays they wore their nicest clothing for church and stayed in them through the whole day, especially for the all-important Sunday Dinner which was the best and most elaborate meal of the week in which Mom worked long and hard to prepare and the time when all family gathered together.
-- for many people, baths and showers were only taken once per week, usually on Saturday nights.
-- electric or gas dryers for clothing were unheard of, and everywhere you could see clothes hanging to dry on clotheslines.
-- most fabrics and materials in clothing and household products were made completely of cotton or wool, as artificial fabrics were still in their infancy for everyday use. Clothes were repaired and kept up and not viewed as disposable and changeable.
-- nobody except teenagers wore tennis shoes, and adults were always dressed impeccibly, with hats, suits, and shoes. No one over age 18 wore sandals, shorts, or tshirts except at the beach. Most people had only one or two pairs of shoes and they were expected to last a long time and were often resoled or repaired to accomplish just that. Blue jeans were only worn by farmers and cowboys.
-- all men kept their hair cut very short and visited the barber shop monthly, and all women made trips monthly or bimonthly to beauty shops to keep their hair looking good.
-- the only sports on television was one baseball game on Saturday afternoons, one college football game on Autumn Saturday afternoons, and one pro football game on Autumn Sunday afternoons. There was no basketball or hockey televised, and only limited amounts of golf and tennis. Televised auto racing did not exist, but boxing, wrestling, and trotting and horse racing were broadcast even on evening slots.
-- the only businesses that were open after 5pm or so were the odd gasoline station and liquor stores. Most restaurants closed by 7 and all stores by 6. Movie theatres and drive in theatres always started their last showing before or at dusk except in the biggest cities. Nearly every business was closed on Sundays to honor the Sabbath and to provide for quality and quantity family time.
-- airlines were only flown by the few wealthy people, government officials, and celebrities. Everyone else took the train or buses to get around outside of their immediate areas, which were considerably smaller than what is normal today -- nobody had any kind of a commute to their workplace, shopping, or other activities regularly done in ones daily life.
-- atomic and nuclear power was considered safe and viewed as an important part of the future in many different ways and applications, including energy, medicine, transportation, communications, and electronics.
-- virtually all oil being refined, used, and consumed originated from domestic sources, resulting in gasoline being priced around 8 cents to 15 cents per gallon. Most homes were heated with firewood, coal, heating oil, or steam heat, as natural gas usage was still in its infancy.
-- most shopping was still done in small neighborhood stores where there was a personal connection and intimacy as the shopping center was still a new phenomena. Sears, Woolworths, Montgomery Wards, and Gimbles were the retail giants of the day, and they were tiny in size, both physically and in number of outlets as compared to the Wal-Marts, Targets and other big box retailers that rule today
I will add more to this list as things come to me, or I will make a new post with those new entries. Contributions, comments, suggestions, and items I have overlooked are greatly welcome.
Corporations Gone Wild
Taxes and regulatory reform is what is necessary and essential to get these amok businesses entities reined in and in their proper place in a citizen democracy. A great first start would be a complete and extensive implementation of an across the board 2% revenue tax on all corporate revenue in excess of $180,ooo annually. Additional revenue taxes need to be accessed on the one hundred largest corporations, revenue emanating from sources outside the United States and Canada, and on those who pay any officer, official, or manager income that exceeds that of the President of the United States or is greater than 15 times that of that corporation's lowest paid worker.
We can reclaim the Golden Age of the American Worker and the Middle Class than existed in the 1950s and 1960s here in the United States if we get the corporacy and big business and their evil soulless leadership and management reined in and under firm hard knuckle control.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/06/08/taming_corporations_gone_wild.php
We can reclaim the Golden Age of the American Worker and the Middle Class than existed in the 1950s and 1960s here in the United States if we get the corporacy and big business and their evil soulless leadership and management reined in and under firm hard knuckle control.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/06/08/taming_corporations_gone_wild.php
Continuing to Be Harnessed by Truck Repair Expenses
The White Knight continues to require largely unanticipated maintenance to be done and yet more still probably awaits. On Friday, 8 June, I had to take the truck into the shop for some new repairs. The starter suddenly died on Tuesday, 5 June, forcing me to have strategically park so I could push start the vehicle for three days. Not a pleasant proposition considering I had a bum knee. Fortunately the wind was blowing like all get out so all I had to do was disengage the truck out of gear and release the brake and the wind would push the truck down a low grade slope so it could be started. I also had an ongoing issue with the temperature guage sender unit which required replacement. The guage was reading completely inaccurately which is not good in the summer months and anytime for that matter as one has to be able to be aware of the engine system temperature.
I also had to have the tires rotated and the tire that was my spare had to be moved to the wheel that was on my front passenger side as I have a bad wheel that I only keep as a spare to use temporarily. My right front passenger tire was going bald on the outside with the metal belt already showing throught the rubber. This was of a great danger as I could have had a blowout easily with my 50-mile round trip commute which is primarily done at speeds in excess of 65 mph. The reason for the tire damage and wear is due to bad kingpins in the front suspension. The kingpins are original equipment on the truck and keep the tires and wheels at the proper cant. When kingpins are going bad, the wheels and tires invert inward in an ever so small way which puts additional stress, pressure, and wear on the outside of the tire surface.
While not a pressing safety matter, the replacement of the kingpins is something I need to attend to before years end for also reasons of maximizing the cost of investing in tires which are around $65 each. Replacing the kingpins on both front wheels and the suspension system is about $550, largely for labor which takes about six hours to do the job with all the disassembly and reassembly and making sure it is down with exact precision and alignment.
Another sizeable expense for the vehicle that also awaits will be installing a new clutch and replacing and aligning the flywheel. I suspect I will have to get this done also before years end. The clutch in the truck now has been in there since 1999 so I have gotten an excellent amount of time from this critical part. In the past, some clutches that were installed lasted less than 24 months so it was nice to have a correct and excellent installation done last time. I believe that in the 21 years I have had the truck there has been five or six clutches installed. The new starter I had installed today does not line up correctly with the existing flywheel so I will have to deal with a painful metal cutting grinding sound when engaging the clutch while turning the ignition key for a few weeks until the flywheel cuts a groove on the starter housing. The starter I got has a lifetime warranty so I should be okay with any future problem that may arise in the future. This clutch/flywheel repair job is also around $550 to get done. I need to bankroll funds so as I can be prepared if this expense happens suddenly.
Other expenses that I need to get done some day include replacing the entire exhaust from the manifold on back; getting those mirrors replaced; new rocker gaskets; a new power steering system as leakage occurs while driving at freeway speeds for a lengthy period of time during warm months; and the perennial practical and cosmetic issues that need addressing such as the inside door handles, the tailgate release assembly which is missing a plastic coupler, and paint and body work. Something annoying that has just happened is right turn signal indicator light on the instrument panel burning out -- it never occurred to me that this could happen so now I never really know if my signal to turn right is on since I see no visual evidence inside that it is engaged except for the turn signal arm being put into the proper position. I will have to keep an eagle eye on the bulbs to make sure they are in working order.
There are two choices for most people about motor vehicle transportation: have a newer vehicle and make car loan payments that are usually in excess of the vehicle's real value or have an older vehicle that is completely paid for and have to make regular and sometimes expensive maintenance and repair expenses. I have opted for the latter option which I think has made sense for me in most ways over the last two decades given my overall failure and ineptitude in most of the other areas in life. At least when one has the vehicle for as long as I have, generally I am completely aware and understanding what is going on and what the problem is when something arises, although I can still get stumped as what happened in late April and early May when rotting wiring that was not evident left me perplexed about why the Ford would not start.
At least I basically will get a free oil change and lube on Monday 11 June as the result of having spent over $250 on Friday 8 June for all the other repair and maintenance work I had done and availing myself of coupons that the repair garage had placed in the local Cheyenne newspaper.
Fortunately I will be moving into town in the next three to four weeks or so and then I can walk to work ( it will be about a 1.5 mile journey each way) saving alot of money and wear and tear on the truck. Living in a small city like Cheyenne will enable me to be able to walk to most places unlike if I had stayed in Denver. I will have to drive only to go to the grocery store, bookstore, and to visit my friends. I had hoped to get my property from Colorado by this weekend but once again circumstances will force a delay. The targeted day now for moving the property here is Wednesday 27 June. Apologies to HBL for having to continue to make adjustments to this timetable and having you continue to hold those 12-15 items in your garage for an even more longer period of time than you would like and trying your patience on this matter.
I also had to have the tires rotated and the tire that was my spare had to be moved to the wheel that was on my front passenger side as I have a bad wheel that I only keep as a spare to use temporarily. My right front passenger tire was going bald on the outside with the metal belt already showing throught the rubber. This was of a great danger as I could have had a blowout easily with my 50-mile round trip commute which is primarily done at speeds in excess of 65 mph. The reason for the tire damage and wear is due to bad kingpins in the front suspension. The kingpins are original equipment on the truck and keep the tires and wheels at the proper cant. When kingpins are going bad, the wheels and tires invert inward in an ever so small way which puts additional stress, pressure, and wear on the outside of the tire surface.
While not a pressing safety matter, the replacement of the kingpins is something I need to attend to before years end for also reasons of maximizing the cost of investing in tires which are around $65 each. Replacing the kingpins on both front wheels and the suspension system is about $550, largely for labor which takes about six hours to do the job with all the disassembly and reassembly and making sure it is down with exact precision and alignment.
Another sizeable expense for the vehicle that also awaits will be installing a new clutch and replacing and aligning the flywheel. I suspect I will have to get this done also before years end. The clutch in the truck now has been in there since 1999 so I have gotten an excellent amount of time from this critical part. In the past, some clutches that were installed lasted less than 24 months so it was nice to have a correct and excellent installation done last time. I believe that in the 21 years I have had the truck there has been five or six clutches installed. The new starter I had installed today does not line up correctly with the existing flywheel so I will have to deal with a painful metal cutting grinding sound when engaging the clutch while turning the ignition key for a few weeks until the flywheel cuts a groove on the starter housing. The starter I got has a lifetime warranty so I should be okay with any future problem that may arise in the future. This clutch/flywheel repair job is also around $550 to get done. I need to bankroll funds so as I can be prepared if this expense happens suddenly.
Other expenses that I need to get done some day include replacing the entire exhaust from the manifold on back; getting those mirrors replaced; new rocker gaskets; a new power steering system as leakage occurs while driving at freeway speeds for a lengthy period of time during warm months; and the perennial practical and cosmetic issues that need addressing such as the inside door handles, the tailgate release assembly which is missing a plastic coupler, and paint and body work. Something annoying that has just happened is right turn signal indicator light on the instrument panel burning out -- it never occurred to me that this could happen so now I never really know if my signal to turn right is on since I see no visual evidence inside that it is engaged except for the turn signal arm being put into the proper position. I will have to keep an eagle eye on the bulbs to make sure they are in working order.
There are two choices for most people about motor vehicle transportation: have a newer vehicle and make car loan payments that are usually in excess of the vehicle's real value or have an older vehicle that is completely paid for and have to make regular and sometimes expensive maintenance and repair expenses. I have opted for the latter option which I think has made sense for me in most ways over the last two decades given my overall failure and ineptitude in most of the other areas in life. At least when one has the vehicle for as long as I have, generally I am completely aware and understanding what is going on and what the problem is when something arises, although I can still get stumped as what happened in late April and early May when rotting wiring that was not evident left me perplexed about why the Ford would not start.
At least I basically will get a free oil change and lube on Monday 11 June as the result of having spent over $250 on Friday 8 June for all the other repair and maintenance work I had done and availing myself of coupons that the repair garage had placed in the local Cheyenne newspaper.
Fortunately I will be moving into town in the next three to four weeks or so and then I can walk to work ( it will be about a 1.5 mile journey each way) saving alot of money and wear and tear on the truck. Living in a small city like Cheyenne will enable me to be able to walk to most places unlike if I had stayed in Denver. I will have to drive only to go to the grocery store, bookstore, and to visit my friends. I had hoped to get my property from Colorado by this weekend but once again circumstances will force a delay. The targeted day now for moving the property here is Wednesday 27 June. Apologies to HBL for having to continue to make adjustments to this timetable and having you continue to hold those 12-15 items in your garage for an even more longer period of time than you would like and trying your patience on this matter.
A Record Cold 8 June Morning Throughout the High Plains Region
It was a frosty morning across the Front Range Region on Friday, 8 June. Here in Cheyenne, an official low of 31 degrees was observed for a new record, but out where I stay it got down to 27 degrees.
In Denver, the official low was also 31 degrees, the second coldest morning low ever recorded and the latest sub-freezing temperature observed in any June day.
There were dozens of other communities across the region that also set new records, and in Castle Rock, where my brother's family resides, the low was 28 degrees.
I know Summer will get here eventually...and this global warming crisis sure has not been evident in this part of the world since early last November !
In Denver, the official low was also 31 degrees, the second coldest morning low ever recorded and the latest sub-freezing temperature observed in any June day.
There were dozens of other communities across the region that also set new records, and in Castle Rock, where my brother's family resides, the low was 28 degrees.
I know Summer will get here eventually...and this global warming crisis sure has not been evident in this part of the world since early last November !
39 Years Later: A Deep Loss That Still Hurts for So Many
If there was ever a crossroads in history in my early life, the assassination of Senator Robert F Kennedy was one of the most significant. The loss of this man destroyed much of the promise, the hope, and the idealism of America, and it has never returned.
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/06/08/1745/
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/06/08/1745/
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Noteworthy Changes That Have Occurred in My Lifetime
With less than 360 days until I cross the half-century mark of my life, I have some perspectives on my experiences and surroundings and what they have been and are about.
Here is a brief, incomplete list of some of the changes that I have observed during my life. Any additional suggestions and insights are most welcome, and I look forward to discussions about my list and others' suggestions and opinions.
1. Collapse of Nuclear Family:
The modern American family is anything but nuclear as social forces, economic realities, and vast political manueverings has changed much since I was born and a youth. Science has also contributed to this change in a number of ways. The societal effects and psychological consequences individually and in families and communities are most certainly incalculable.
2. Loss of American Industrial Manufacturing Might and Employment:
The massive shift in the American Economy from one of self made self sufficiency and competitiveness to one overwhelmingly dominated by imports, oligopolies in most sectors, and service sector and sales jobs is incredible and largely unfortunate. The consequences of this radical distortion and mutation are yet to be fully realized and payment will be harsh and overwhelming for Americans in the not so distant future.
3. Vast Growth of Technology, particularly in Communications and Medical Care:
Most of the changes that have occured have been for the better, but one could argue with certainty that for what we have gained, there has been a significant loss in what we were as people and how we interacted and communicated with others. There has been a noticeable decline and loss in civility, courtesy, and neighborliness in everyway for most everyone. I do not believe we talk with others as easily and fully as we once did just a few years back. I would also suggest that this trend has actually led to greater inefficiency and waste.
4. Vast Divergence of Culture, with Large Numbers of Subcultures -- Loss of American Cultural Hegemony and Homogeneity:
There are so many of us now going in so many different directions and being influenced and controlled by so many divergent entities. This is quite the contrast to the America of my youth where we all largely went about our lives with much in common. Changes in communication choices and technology are partly to blame for this, along with major increases in immigration, and the decline and collapse of influential and leading institutions that set the agenda and led by example for all the citizenry.
5. Birth of Environmentalism and Growth of it as a Consciousness and Mindset:
There absolutely was no kind of environmentalism when I was a lad. Wastefulness, inefficiency, and pollution of all types and kinds were the norm then. In the last 35 years or so this mindset has been reversed, but we remain a long ways away from the ideal needed to make this world the place it should be for all its peoples, wildlife, and ecosystems.
6. Change in Transportations Choices:
We have gone from trains, one-car families, and walking out of necessity to a society dominated by multi-automobile individuals and families, airplanes, and a rebirth in urban areas with growing mass transit options due to an epic change in fuel prices. And technology has made everything faster, safer, and with more gadgets. Simplicity is gone.
7. The Widespread Growth of Convenience and Ease of Lifestyle Choices:
We ate all our meals at home prepared from raw materials. Most work required physical exertion when cleaning and maintaining our homes and businesses. Now it is a prepackaged pre-prepared world with widespread applications of unpronounceable chemicals in foods and everything that makes up our lifestyle;, and use of time has become more efficient, yet we have less time thanever to do what all what we want. In gaining convenience, we have lost simplicity.
8. Polarization and Hostility in Politics:
It is always existed to an extent, but what we have now in the public sector and the airwaves is the worst it has ever been as hardened positions have been deeply staked out; words and language are coarse, crude, and harsh; and a largely negative media culture only perpetuates and exacerbates these alarming developments. Compromise and conciliation are all but gone in our society, particularly in the political realm, in recent years.
9. Explosion of Sports and Recreation in Everyday Life:
The growth, power, and influences that these industries have on our society on individual, community, and societal levels has been astronomical and in some ways been catastrophic and deeply harmful to many; yet it can also be argued that much of the change has been beneficial and healthful for many. Professional sports now dominates the consciousness of most Americans on a deep daily basis at the expense of much more vital subjects.
10. Changes in Everyday Culture -- Smoking, Drinking, Sex, Drugs, Corruption, Greed, Arrogance, Cheating, Dishonesty, Crime, and Immorality:
All these basic human behaviors have seen enormous growth during my lifetime in all types and kinds of people including those who would never have been considered for this in the not so distant past with the exception of one of the items listed above: smoking. There has been an epic decline in smoking and tolerance of the habit during my lifetime.
-----
Here is a brief, incomplete list of some of the changes that I have observed during my life. Any additional suggestions and insights are most welcome, and I look forward to discussions about my list and others' suggestions and opinions.
1. Collapse of Nuclear Family:
The modern American family is anything but nuclear as social forces, economic realities, and vast political manueverings has changed much since I was born and a youth. Science has also contributed to this change in a number of ways. The societal effects and psychological consequences individually and in families and communities are most certainly incalculable.
2. Loss of American Industrial Manufacturing Might and Employment:
The massive shift in the American Economy from one of self made self sufficiency and competitiveness to one overwhelmingly dominated by imports, oligopolies in most sectors, and service sector and sales jobs is incredible and largely unfortunate. The consequences of this radical distortion and mutation are yet to be fully realized and payment will be harsh and overwhelming for Americans in the not so distant future.
3. Vast Growth of Technology, particularly in Communications and Medical Care:
Most of the changes that have occured have been for the better, but one could argue with certainty that for what we have gained, there has been a significant loss in what we were as people and how we interacted and communicated with others. There has been a noticeable decline and loss in civility, courtesy, and neighborliness in everyway for most everyone. I do not believe we talk with others as easily and fully as we once did just a few years back. I would also suggest that this trend has actually led to greater inefficiency and waste.
4. Vast Divergence of Culture, with Large Numbers of Subcultures -- Loss of American Cultural Hegemony and Homogeneity:
There are so many of us now going in so many different directions and being influenced and controlled by so many divergent entities. This is quite the contrast to the America of my youth where we all largely went about our lives with much in common. Changes in communication choices and technology are partly to blame for this, along with major increases in immigration, and the decline and collapse of influential and leading institutions that set the agenda and led by example for all the citizenry.
5. Birth of Environmentalism and Growth of it as a Consciousness and Mindset:
There absolutely was no kind of environmentalism when I was a lad. Wastefulness, inefficiency, and pollution of all types and kinds were the norm then. In the last 35 years or so this mindset has been reversed, but we remain a long ways away from the ideal needed to make this world the place it should be for all its peoples, wildlife, and ecosystems.
6. Change in Transportations Choices:
We have gone from trains, one-car families, and walking out of necessity to a society dominated by multi-automobile individuals and families, airplanes, and a rebirth in urban areas with growing mass transit options due to an epic change in fuel prices. And technology has made everything faster, safer, and with more gadgets. Simplicity is gone.
7. The Widespread Growth of Convenience and Ease of Lifestyle Choices:
We ate all our meals at home prepared from raw materials. Most work required physical exertion when cleaning and maintaining our homes and businesses. Now it is a prepackaged pre-prepared world with widespread applications of unpronounceable chemicals in foods and everything that makes up our lifestyle;, and use of time has become more efficient, yet we have less time thanever to do what all what we want. In gaining convenience, we have lost simplicity.
8. Polarization and Hostility in Politics:
It is always existed to an extent, but what we have now in the public sector and the airwaves is the worst it has ever been as hardened positions have been deeply staked out; words and language are coarse, crude, and harsh; and a largely negative media culture only perpetuates and exacerbates these alarming developments. Compromise and conciliation are all but gone in our society, particularly in the political realm, in recent years.
9. Explosion of Sports and Recreation in Everyday Life:
The growth, power, and influences that these industries have on our society on individual, community, and societal levels has been astronomical and in some ways been catastrophic and deeply harmful to many; yet it can also be argued that much of the change has been beneficial and healthful for many. Professional sports now dominates the consciousness of most Americans on a deep daily basis at the expense of much more vital subjects.
10. Changes in Everyday Culture -- Smoking, Drinking, Sex, Drugs, Corruption, Greed, Arrogance, Cheating, Dishonesty, Crime, and Immorality:
All these basic human behaviors have seen enormous growth during my lifetime in all types and kinds of people including those who would never have been considered for this in the not so distant past with the exception of one of the items listed above: smoking. There has been an epic decline in smoking and tolerance of the habit during my lifetime.
-----
Sorry Treasonous Immigration Bill Goes Down in Flames !
Excellent news out of the Capital tonight with the evident defeat of the horrible Bush Adminstration proposed immigration legislation. I believe the bill may still be resurrected though later this summer or in the autumn so we are not out of the woods yet. But it is very gratifying to see widespread and concentrated citizen action and lobbying towards our elected officials about this poor piece of legislation was effective and led to a victory for all citizens and a defeat for the Bush Junta, special interests, corporations, and criminals (the illegals themselves).
I smell the winds of change blowing and it is an aroma to savor.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/washington/10oppose.html?_r=1&hp=&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/07/washington/07cnd-immig.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Immigration-Congress.html
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0608/p01s02-uspo.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070606/ap_on_go_co/immigration_business;_ylt=Aj9SLULfwce2.l.aMOOiiDWs0NUE
-----
I smell the winds of change blowing and it is an aroma to savor.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/washington/10oppose.html?_r=1&hp=&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/07/washington/07cnd-immig.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Immigration-Congress.html
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0608/p01s02-uspo.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070606/ap_on_go_co/immigration_business;_ylt=Aj9SLULfwce2.l.aMOOiiDWs0NUE
-----
Thursday 7 June News Articles and Observations
First, its the 63rd anniversary of one of the greatest and heroic military operations in history, the launch of the invasion of Nazi-occupied France by Allied Forces as Operation Overlord was focused on the Normandy Coast by a troop force of 1.4 million men. The courage,heroism, and sacrifice by these men and their families should always be remembered and honored and its truly a shame more recognition and commemoration does not occur for the anniversary of D-Day each year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Overlord
If this mission had failed, I and many others would have never been born and the world would have become a much different place.
Here are some news articles for Thursday 7 June 2007 and some brief observations about them.
A. Massive Electrical Transmission Investment Announced
This is fantastic news for alternative energy sources providers, as this investment will allow for construction and integration of wind energy resources into the electrical grid. The eventual beneficiaries of this development will be residents and families living in over 1.2 million homes in the Mountain West, the High Plains and the Pacific Coast.
http://www.trib.com/articles/2007/06/07/news/top_story/055086987abf6d62872572f200816bfe.txt
-----
B. The Wisdom and Insight of Garrison Keillor
I very much like what is said in this editorial.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.keillor07jun07,0,417667.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines
-----
C. Shortcomings in the American System of Presidential Elections
All of the reforms and changes suggested here should be implemented, although constitutional action would be required for much of the recommendations.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_steven_h_070607_political_science_10.htm
http://p3books.com/books/10_steps.html
-----
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Overlord
If this mission had failed, I and many others would have never been born and the world would have become a much different place.
Here are some news articles for Thursday 7 June 2007 and some brief observations about them.
A. Massive Electrical Transmission Investment Announced
This is fantastic news for alternative energy sources providers, as this investment will allow for construction and integration of wind energy resources into the electrical grid. The eventual beneficiaries of this development will be residents and families living in over 1.2 million homes in the Mountain West, the High Plains and the Pacific Coast.
http://www.trib.com/articles/2007/06/07/news/top_story/055086987abf6d62872572f200816bfe.txt
-----
B. The Wisdom and Insight of Garrison Keillor
I very much like what is said in this editorial.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.keillor07jun07,0,417667.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines
-----
C. Shortcomings in the American System of Presidential Elections
All of the reforms and changes suggested here should be implemented, although constitutional action would be required for much of the recommendations.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_steven_h_070607_political_science_10.htm
http://p3books.com/books/10_steps.html
-----
NHL Expansion in the Offing
It looks as if the National Hockey League will be expanding by two teams to a total of 32 clubs. The outlook is for teams to be placed in Kansas City and Las Vegas, probably in time to play in the 08-09 or 09-10 seasons. Kansas City already has a brand new state of the art arena ready to use, while Las Vegas still needs one constructed, although there is a temporary arena available at the Orleans Casino that seats around 12,ooo that could be used until one is constructed in downtown Las Vegas which would take about 15-18 months in the Southern Nevada weather and climate.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/7880671.html
http://www.lvrj.com/news/7880671.html
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Good News in the Offing for the Boulder Turnpike
US Highway 36 or the Boulder Turnpike in Adams, Jefferson, and Boulder County is a highway in desparate need of improvements and upgrades. From I-25 to Federal Blvd the highway is in decent condition although the merge from northbound I-25 is poor and inadequate and the I-25 southbound merge is unbelievably bad. From Federal on to the west to where the highway terminates in Boulder is grossly terrible and inadequate.
For the most part, all citizens, commuters, travelers, and transportation experts would like to see the following added to the highway: additional lanes ( as many as four in both directions); exit to exit merge and accelerate lanes like the ones installed on I-25 between Dry Creek Road and University Blvd in the Central and South Denver area; dedicated HOV/bus lanes for busy commute times (5:30am to 9:30am and 3pm to 7:30pm weekdays and special times on weekends in coordination with special events like CU football, Broncos & Rockies games, etc.); installation of dense high quality lighting the entire length of highway for purposes of improved safety, better visability (particularly in inclement weather), and convenience; better signage for exits, traffic hazards ahead, and mileage marker information; possible installation of a high-speed express train from Boulder with stops at McCasland, Wadsworth/287, Sheridan/92nd, Federal, Pecos, Washington/70th, 58th and terminating at downtown Union Station; increased cameras and video surveillance to increase safety and reduce dangerous driving and road rage particularly by youthful and young adult drivers living near the highway and using the highway on a regular basis; photo radar to help keep speeding under control; and widespread implementation of cost effective landscaping and roadside art (the T-rex project down I-25 was a miserable failure in terms of landscaping) including hedges and flowering shrubs in the medians.
It would be nice and fantastic to see this vision realized by 2012 for this entire length of US 36 from I-25 to Boulder. Maybe the Feds will put their money where their mouth is and where the need is.
One day I will post about the Denver metro area's other inadequate and needy freeways: I-270 from York to I-70; I-76 from its onset near Wadsworth to north of Brighton; I-225 in Aurora from north of Colfax to I-25 in the DTC; Sixth Avenue Freeway from east of I-25 to Golden;
C-470 from I-25 to Golden; I-70 from the mouth of the Rockies west of Golden to east of E-470; Hampden/285 from I-25 west to C-470; and I-25 from Wellington (north of Fort Collins through metro Denver and south into Douglas County to the El Paso County Line. The information that would be discussed there would be quite lengthy. And there is the other ideas and visions I have about many other surface transportation arterials throughout the Front Range region...
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5573239,00.html
For the most part, all citizens, commuters, travelers, and transportation experts would like to see the following added to the highway: additional lanes ( as many as four in both directions); exit to exit merge and accelerate lanes like the ones installed on I-25 between Dry Creek Road and University Blvd in the Central and South Denver area; dedicated HOV/bus lanes for busy commute times (5:30am to 9:30am and 3pm to 7:30pm weekdays and special times on weekends in coordination with special events like CU football, Broncos & Rockies games, etc.); installation of dense high quality lighting the entire length of highway for purposes of improved safety, better visability (particularly in inclement weather), and convenience; better signage for exits, traffic hazards ahead, and mileage marker information; possible installation of a high-speed express train from Boulder with stops at McCasland, Wadsworth/287, Sheridan/92nd, Federal, Pecos, Washington/70th, 58th and terminating at downtown Union Station; increased cameras and video surveillance to increase safety and reduce dangerous driving and road rage particularly by youthful and young adult drivers living near the highway and using the highway on a regular basis; photo radar to help keep speeding under control; and widespread implementation of cost effective landscaping and roadside art (the T-rex project down I-25 was a miserable failure in terms of landscaping) including hedges and flowering shrubs in the medians.
It would be nice and fantastic to see this vision realized by 2012 for this entire length of US 36 from I-25 to Boulder. Maybe the Feds will put their money where their mouth is and where the need is.
One day I will post about the Denver metro area's other inadequate and needy freeways: I-270 from York to I-70; I-76 from its onset near Wadsworth to north of Brighton; I-225 in Aurora from north of Colfax to I-25 in the DTC; Sixth Avenue Freeway from east of I-25 to Golden;
C-470 from I-25 to Golden; I-70 from the mouth of the Rockies west of Golden to east of E-470; Hampden/285 from I-25 west to C-470; and I-25 from Wellington (north of Fort Collins through metro Denver and south into Douglas County to the El Paso County Line. The information that would be discussed there would be quite lengthy. And there is the other ideas and visions I have about many other surface transportation arterials throughout the Front Range region...
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5573239,00.html
Anaheim Ducks Take the 2007 Stanley Cup
The 2006-2007 NHL Season concluded this evening as the Anaheim Ducks won their first Stanley Cup in their fourteenth season of existence in five games over the Ottawa Senators.
Anaheim was one of the best clubs throughout the regular season, finishing a close second in the overall Western Conference standings behind Detroit. In the playoffs, the Ducks ousted Minnesota, Vancouver, and Detroit before claiming the Cup over the feisty and hard-working Eastern Conference Champion Senators. Anaheim is first club in the Pacific Time Zone to claim the Cup, ahead of the rival Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Vancouver Canucks, as well as the defunct California Golden Seals who were based in the Bay Area in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
I truly enjoy watching the postgame award of the Stanley Cup trophy following the always classy traditional exchange of handshakes between all members of both teams following the conclusion of each and every playoff series. The exuberation and pure thrill seen in each player's eyes and body language in accomplishing this achievement of a championship is a stirring time and makes my eyes well up with happiness. To see the joy in these players who have worked since they were young children to make this happen is incredible. The ordeal of winning a Stanley Cup starts each season in September right after Labor Day when training camps open and through a long over six and a half month season covering 8 preseason and 82 regular season games continuing through a grueling ordeal of nearly two months to win the sixteen postseason games necessary to capture the Stanley Cup is professional sports' most difficult and arduous challenge.
Congratulations to the Ducks -- they are indeed (still)"Mighty" this year ! And the 07-08 season looms in less than 100 days --- GO AVALANCHE !!! Bring the Cup back to the Mountain Time Zone !!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2007/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=2895970
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2007/columns/story?columnist=frei_terry&id=2897840
Anaheim was one of the best clubs throughout the regular season, finishing a close second in the overall Western Conference standings behind Detroit. In the playoffs, the Ducks ousted Minnesota, Vancouver, and Detroit before claiming the Cup over the feisty and hard-working Eastern Conference Champion Senators. Anaheim is first club in the Pacific Time Zone to claim the Cup, ahead of the rival Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Vancouver Canucks, as well as the defunct California Golden Seals who were based in the Bay Area in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
I truly enjoy watching the postgame award of the Stanley Cup trophy following the always classy traditional exchange of handshakes between all members of both teams following the conclusion of each and every playoff series. The exuberation and pure thrill seen in each player's eyes and body language in accomplishing this achievement of a championship is a stirring time and makes my eyes well up with happiness. To see the joy in these players who have worked since they were young children to make this happen is incredible. The ordeal of winning a Stanley Cup starts each season in September right after Labor Day when training camps open and through a long over six and a half month season covering 8 preseason and 82 regular season games continuing through a grueling ordeal of nearly two months to win the sixteen postseason games necessary to capture the Stanley Cup is professional sports' most difficult and arduous challenge.
Congratulations to the Ducks -- they are indeed (still)"Mighty" this year ! And the 07-08 season looms in less than 100 days --- GO AVALANCHE !!! Bring the Cup back to the Mountain Time Zone !!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2007/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=2895970
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2007/columns/story?columnist=frei_terry&id=2897840
Put on the Shelf by Left Knee Injury
I clumsily fell down some stairs and seriously whacked my left knee, leaving it swollen above the patella and me in severe pain. Walking was able to be done barely and climbing stairs was an adventure. Putting extra stress on my right hip to do more was not all that good either, as the dull chronic pain that is usually always there was more noticeable as well. Driving was a pain as engaging the clutch in my truck to shift gears was difficult with the loss of strength. There is a temporary loss of range of motion. Hopefully by Saturday or Sunday, the knee will be feeling at or near 100 % again so the other pains can retake the rightful places in the everyday hierarchy.
Names Surface to Fill Thomas Senate Seat
I already have mentioned four names under consideration to fill the US Senate seat left empty by the sudden death Monday, 4 June, of Craig Thomas: US Representative Barbara Cubin, retired US Senator Alan Simpson, former Governor Jim Gehringer, and Vice-President Richard Cheney. Today several other names were brought up additionally as possible replacements:
Lynne Cheney: Wife of the Vice-President; education activist; author.
John Barrasso: Casper physician, state legislator, local television news health commentator.
Colin Simpson: State legislator; son of Alan Simpson; grandson of the late Governor Milward Simpson.
John Mead: US Attorney for Wyoming; was recently in the news for being under consideration for being fired by the Bush Administration and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for not following administration policy closely enough.
Susan Thomas: the wife of the late Senator, long time special needs public educator.
The Wyoming State Republican Party Committee has until 19 June to provide Governor David Freudenthal with three names for him to consider in filling the seat. Susan Thomas would be a superb choice and lets hope the state GOP honors Thomas' legacy and accomplishments by including his wife among the recommendations for filling the seat.
Lynne Cheney: Wife of the Vice-President; education activist; author.
John Barrasso: Casper physician, state legislator, local television news health commentator.
Colin Simpson: State legislator; son of Alan Simpson; grandson of the late Governor Milward Simpson.
John Mead: US Attorney for Wyoming; was recently in the news for being under consideration for being fired by the Bush Administration and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for not following administration policy closely enough.
Susan Thomas: the wife of the late Senator, long time special needs public educator.
The Wyoming State Republican Party Committee has until 19 June to provide Governor David Freudenthal with three names for him to consider in filling the seat. Susan Thomas would be a superb choice and lets hope the state GOP honors Thomas' legacy and accomplishments by including his wife among the recommendations for filling the seat.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Tuesday 5 June News Articles and Observations
Here are some news articles that caught my attention and some brief personal observations about them.
A. The Stagnant Sleepy American Economy of the Bush Years
These economic facts and statistics come as no surprise to anyone. The only ones who have seen any kind of improvement in their standard of living are corporate officials, directors, and management as well as their government hacks and muscle. Everyone else has taken it on the chin and seen a large hole grow in their wallets thanks to the disgraceful one-sided economic policies of the Bush Junta.
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/1059
-----
B. Rising Food Prices Becoming More Evident
This development is a long-coming consequence of the dramatic massive fuel prices that have occurred over the last 39 months. For example, Regular gasoline in the Front Range Region has gone from under $1.30 per gallon to $3.25 per gallon on average, an increase of 150 %. Growers, Suppliers, Processors, Manufacturers, Distributors, Venders, and Retailers can only absorb painful costs that increase that enormously for only so long before they have to start passing it on to the consumers. So more macaroni & cheese, soup, and other inexpensive staples are in all our diets more so from now on.
http://www.startribune.com/745/story/1220329.html
-----
C. And Why are Food Price Increases Hitting So Many So Hard ?
The disgraceful greed, arrogance, and pure selfishness of corporate officials, directors, and management in gouging citizens for their own wealth and gluttony at the expense of the health and welfare of the American citizenry is so out of control and enraging that nothing short of an electoral revolution like we saw in 1932 is of paramount importance before this nation's democracy, freedom, and liberty are lost to these Un-Christian cretins and evil disciples of Satan.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070611/ehrenreich
-----
D. The Cowardice and Loss of Heart and Soul by Congressional Democrats
A sad and sorry indictment of what is supposed to be the alternative to what we are enduring and trying to tolerate now.
http://counterpunch.org/rosenthal06042007.html
-----
E. Why the Anti-War Movement has Failed Thus Far
Unfortunately, the citizenry protesting the war are largely voices in the wilderness and have marginalized by mainstream corporate media. Virtually no acknowledgement of these concerned thoughtful individual citizens has been made at all. Why ? Because this war is being fought by military volunteers and mercenaries, not draftees.
-----
G. The Endless 2008 Election Campaign
We still have 17 months of saturation media coverage of this campaign, so expect vast numbers of people to tune out and drop out, which only serves to further enrich and assist the corporacy in maintaining the status quo to the detriment of the citizenry.
http://kunstler.com/mags_diary21.html
-----
H. More on GOP Presidential Candidate Ron Paul
The more one reads and learns about this man, his ideas, and policy proposals, the more like he sounds as if he is the best Republican choice for the office he is campaigning for.
http://counterpunch.org/cockburn06022007.html
-----
I. Bill Moyers on Amok Corporate Bribery of Government
This distinguished thoughtful journalist always is able to define root problems and their causes and effects in and on our society and nation, and the problems he discusses here should be of grave and serious concern to all Americans.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/
-----
J. Recommended Book to Peruse
http://www.buzzflash.com/store/items/641
-----
K. Poverty: A Growing Widespread Problem Nationally
Public Policy on every level must be directed towards minimizing and then eliminating this chronic social disease for which it is ridiculous to exist in this nation with all the wealth and assets that are evident and not being shared by the corporacy and the wealthy elite.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/jackson/413809,CST-EDT-jesse05.article
-----
L. The Middle East: 40 Years of Israel's Decisive Victory in the Six Day War
The author makes some important historical conclusions which are very reasonable and logical.
I believe the strife, instablility, and violence in this region which has been going on for decades now will continue for many more decades to come in spite of efforts by well-intentioned people everywhere.
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/martin_woollacott/2007/06/the_price_of_victory.html
-----
M. Greenland Ice Melt Occurring Much Faster
This news bodes quite ill for all of us, particularly those living near coastal areas and at elevations under 10' feet above sea level. The impacts of this icecap melt could be seen noticeably within a decade at this rate. Imagine the costs, sacrifices, and hysteria that will be coming (realistically, no one probably can).
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/06/02/MNG4VQ6A0B1.DTL&type=printable
-----
N. Vast Army Territorial Expansion on Tap for Arizona
Like what is already underway in Southeastern Colorado, vast amounts of largely unused land except for livestock grazing will be taken by the US Army for training and weapons testing. It is inevitable that this taking will occur despite protests and various legal actions in Arizona like anywhere else it is happening. The military will get their way and people will lose their homes, land, and heritage.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0605army0605.html
-----
O. Major Medical Technological Advance on the Near Horizon
One of the greatest things to look forward to in the 21st Century will be in the areas of medical advancements. Eliminating blindness is a significant step of progress, and I have to think that even I might be part of this exciting new idea, as my own vision is already deteriorating in tiny noticeable ways and I may be nearly blind in a literal sense within 20-25 years without advances in medical science for me and others to be able to take advantage of.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/technology/technology.html?in_article_id=460052&in_page_id=1965
-----
A. The Stagnant Sleepy American Economy of the Bush Years
These economic facts and statistics come as no surprise to anyone. The only ones who have seen any kind of improvement in their standard of living are corporate officials, directors, and management as well as their government hacks and muscle. Everyone else has taken it on the chin and seen a large hole grow in their wallets thanks to the disgraceful one-sided economic policies of the Bush Junta.
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/1059
-----
B. Rising Food Prices Becoming More Evident
This development is a long-coming consequence of the dramatic massive fuel prices that have occurred over the last 39 months. For example, Regular gasoline in the Front Range Region has gone from under $1.30 per gallon to $3.25 per gallon on average, an increase of 150 %. Growers, Suppliers, Processors, Manufacturers, Distributors, Venders, and Retailers can only absorb painful costs that increase that enormously for only so long before they have to start passing it on to the consumers. So more macaroni & cheese, soup, and other inexpensive staples are in all our diets more so from now on.
http://www.startribune.com/745/story/1220329.html
-----
C. And Why are Food Price Increases Hitting So Many So Hard ?
The disgraceful greed, arrogance, and pure selfishness of corporate officials, directors, and management in gouging citizens for their own wealth and gluttony at the expense of the health and welfare of the American citizenry is so out of control and enraging that nothing short of an electoral revolution like we saw in 1932 is of paramount importance before this nation's democracy, freedom, and liberty are lost to these Un-Christian cretins and evil disciples of Satan.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070611/ehrenreich
-----
D. The Cowardice and Loss of Heart and Soul by Congressional Democrats
A sad and sorry indictment of what is supposed to be the alternative to what we are enduring and trying to tolerate now.
http://counterpunch.org/rosenthal06042007.html
-----
E. Why the Anti-War Movement has Failed Thus Far
Unfortunately, the citizenry protesting the war are largely voices in the wilderness and have marginalized by mainstream corporate media. Virtually no acknowledgement of these concerned thoughtful individual citizens has been made at all. Why ? Because this war is being fought by military volunteers and mercenaries, not draftees.
-----
G. The Endless 2008 Election Campaign
We still have 17 months of saturation media coverage of this campaign, so expect vast numbers of people to tune out and drop out, which only serves to further enrich and assist the corporacy in maintaining the status quo to the detriment of the citizenry.
http://kunstler.com/mags_diary21.html
-----
H. More on GOP Presidential Candidate Ron Paul
The more one reads and learns about this man, his ideas, and policy proposals, the more like he sounds as if he is the best Republican choice for the office he is campaigning for.
http://counterpunch.org/cockburn06022007.html
-----
I. Bill Moyers on Amok Corporate Bribery of Government
This distinguished thoughtful journalist always is able to define root problems and their causes and effects in and on our society and nation, and the problems he discusses here should be of grave and serious concern to all Americans.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/
-----
J. Recommended Book to Peruse
http://www.buzzflash.com/store/items/641
-----
K. Poverty: A Growing Widespread Problem Nationally
Public Policy on every level must be directed towards minimizing and then eliminating this chronic social disease for which it is ridiculous to exist in this nation with all the wealth and assets that are evident and not being shared by the corporacy and the wealthy elite.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/jackson/413809,CST-EDT-jesse05.article
-----
L. The Middle East: 40 Years of Israel's Decisive Victory in the Six Day War
The author makes some important historical conclusions which are very reasonable and logical.
I believe the strife, instablility, and violence in this region which has been going on for decades now will continue for many more decades to come in spite of efforts by well-intentioned people everywhere.
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/martin_woollacott/2007/06/the_price_of_victory.html
-----
M. Greenland Ice Melt Occurring Much Faster
This news bodes quite ill for all of us, particularly those living near coastal areas and at elevations under 10' feet above sea level. The impacts of this icecap melt could be seen noticeably within a decade at this rate. Imagine the costs, sacrifices, and hysteria that will be coming (realistically, no one probably can).
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/06/02/MNG4VQ6A0B1.DTL&type=printable
-----
N. Vast Army Territorial Expansion on Tap for Arizona
Like what is already underway in Southeastern Colorado, vast amounts of largely unused land except for livestock grazing will be taken by the US Army for training and weapons testing. It is inevitable that this taking will occur despite protests and various legal actions in Arizona like anywhere else it is happening. The military will get their way and people will lose their homes, land, and heritage.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0605army0605.html
-----
O. Major Medical Technological Advance on the Near Horizon
One of the greatest things to look forward to in the 21st Century will be in the areas of medical advancements. Eliminating blindness is a significant step of progress, and I have to think that even I might be part of this exciting new idea, as my own vision is already deteriorating in tiny noticeable ways and I may be nearly blind in a literal sense within 20-25 years without advances in medical science for me and others to be able to take advantage of.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/technology/technology.html?in_article_id=460052&in_page_id=1965
-----
Monday, June 4, 2007
WY US Senator Craig Thomas, 1933-2007
Wyoming United States Senator Craig Thomas, a three-term conservative Republican who stayed clear of attention in Washington and largely worked hard behind the scenes for his constituents, died on Monday, June 4, 2007. He was 74.
A statement was issued stating he died Monday evening at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He had been receiving chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia since early November 2006.
On the eve of the 2006 general national election, Thomas was hospitalized with pneumonia and had to cancel his last campaign stops in Wyoming. He was re-elected to a third term easily, but on November 9, two days after the election, Thomas surprisingly announced that he had just been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia but was determined to continue serving his Wyoming constituency in the Senate.
Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, will appoint a successor from one of three finalists chosen by Republican state legislators. Thomas's successor will serve through December of 2008. The Senate seat will be up for election in November 2008 and again in November 2012. Wyoming's other Senator, Michael Enzi, will also be up for election in November 2008, meaning voters in the Equality State will be choosing both Senators in one election as was done recently in California in the 1990s.
After his first round of chemotherapy, Thomas made an earlier than anticipated return to work in the Senate in December 2006. By March 2007, he said he felt better than he had in a long time. Thomas initiated legislation to protect the sensitive Wyoming Range along the western part of the state to be protected from further oil and gas drilling. However, he returned to the hospital for a second round of chemotherapy in mid-May 2007. He remained optimistic about his medical outlook but was realistic about how it was effecting his day to day life and his future.
Thomas entered the US Congress in a special election in 1989 to replace Congressman Richard Cheney when the future vice president was appointed Secretary of Defense by the President George Bush the Elder. Thomas was re-elected to the US House of Representatives in 1990 and 1992. In 1994, Thomas was elected to a first full term of office in the US Senate after incumbent Alan Simpson opted to retire. Thomas was re-elected for a second full term in the Senate in 2000.
Thomas had previously served five years in the Wyoming Legislature. He was born in Cody, Wyoming, east of Yellowstone National Park in northwest Wyoming, and was raised on a working cattle ranch. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in Laramie with a bachelors degree in agriculture, then served four years in the United States Marines, rising to the Officers' Corps. He later served as vice president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau and general manager of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association prior to his entry into the Wyoming state legislature in 1984.
Craig Thomas is the fourth United States Senator from Wyoming to die while in office. The other thre were Francis E. Warren in 1929, John B. Kendrick in 1933, and Lester Hunt in 1954.
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=t000162
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Thomas_(politician)
Freudenthal will choose a Republican to fill the seat from a list of three nominees submitted by the Republican-led state legislature, with Representative Cubin, former Senator Simpson, and perhaps recent former Governor Gehringer as the leading possibilities. It will be interesting to see who will else will under consideration. Maybe Dick Cheney will resign the Vice-Presidency and take the appointment for this lower profile, less stressful, and more rewarding political office. (Would not that be great and one of the biggest stunners in American History ! )
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A statement was issued stating he died Monday evening at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He had been receiving chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia since early November 2006.
On the eve of the 2006 general national election, Thomas was hospitalized with pneumonia and had to cancel his last campaign stops in Wyoming. He was re-elected to a third term easily, but on November 9, two days after the election, Thomas surprisingly announced that he had just been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia but was determined to continue serving his Wyoming constituency in the Senate.
Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, will appoint a successor from one of three finalists chosen by Republican state legislators. Thomas's successor will serve through December of 2008. The Senate seat will be up for election in November 2008 and again in November 2012. Wyoming's other Senator, Michael Enzi, will also be up for election in November 2008, meaning voters in the Equality State will be choosing both Senators in one election as was done recently in California in the 1990s.
After his first round of chemotherapy, Thomas made an earlier than anticipated return to work in the Senate in December 2006. By March 2007, he said he felt better than he had in a long time. Thomas initiated legislation to protect the sensitive Wyoming Range along the western part of the state to be protected from further oil and gas drilling. However, he returned to the hospital for a second round of chemotherapy in mid-May 2007. He remained optimistic about his medical outlook but was realistic about how it was effecting his day to day life and his future.
Thomas entered the US Congress in a special election in 1989 to replace Congressman Richard Cheney when the future vice president was appointed Secretary of Defense by the President George Bush the Elder. Thomas was re-elected to the US House of Representatives in 1990 and 1992. In 1994, Thomas was elected to a first full term of office in the US Senate after incumbent Alan Simpson opted to retire. Thomas was re-elected for a second full term in the Senate in 2000.
Thomas had previously served five years in the Wyoming Legislature. He was born in Cody, Wyoming, east of Yellowstone National Park in northwest Wyoming, and was raised on a working cattle ranch. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in Laramie with a bachelors degree in agriculture, then served four years in the United States Marines, rising to the Officers' Corps. He later served as vice president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau and general manager of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association prior to his entry into the Wyoming state legislature in 1984.
Craig Thomas is the fourth United States Senator from Wyoming to die while in office. The other thre were Francis E. Warren in 1929, John B. Kendrick in 1933, and Lester Hunt in 1954.
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=t000162
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Thomas_(politician)
Freudenthal will choose a Republican to fill the seat from a list of three nominees submitted by the Republican-led state legislature, with Representative Cubin, former Senator Simpson, and perhaps recent former Governor Gehringer as the leading possibilities. It will be interesting to see who will else will under consideration. Maybe Dick Cheney will resign the Vice-Presidency and take the appointment for this lower profile, less stressful, and more rewarding political office. (Would not that be great and one of the biggest stunners in American History ! )
-----
Sunday, June 3, 2007
The Fallacy of George Will and Conservatism
This article thoroughly explains why Conservatism is a doomed and failed philosophy as the guiding and steering mechanism for setting public policy for American citizens.
http://www.rockridgenation.org/blog/archive/2007/06/01/george-will-conservative-fairy-tale
http://www.rockridgenation.org/blog/archive/2007/06/01/george-will-conservative-fairy-tale
Friday, June 1, 2007
My 2007 MLB All-Star Ballot
The midsummer tradition, the MLB All-Star Game, is now less than six weeks away. Voting is ongoing and is being sponsored by monster.com as the game is being played in San Francisco on Tuesday, 10 July, with first pitch around 6:25pm and the broadcast on FOX television and ESPN radio. I have been fortunate to have watched 36 of the last 38 All-Star games broadcast since 1969.
Here is my ballot:
American League
C: Victor Martinez, CLE; with Ivan Rodriguez, DET; Joe Mauer, MINN; Jason Veritek, BSN; & Jorge Posada, NY; as backup competitors: Go with Rodriguez, Veritek, & Posada.
1B: Justin Moreau, MINN; with Kevin Youkilis, BSN, Carlos Pena, TB; Travis Haffner, CLE; Jim Thome, CHI; & David Ortiz, BSN; as backup competitors; go with Ortiz, Youkilis, Ortiz, & Haffner.
2B: Placido Polanco, DET; with BJ Upton, TB; Brian Roberts, BLT; & Luis Castillo, MINN; as backup competitors; go with Upton & Roberts.
SS: Derek Jeter, NY; with Orlando Cabrera, ANAH; Carlos Guillen, DET; Johnny Peralta, CLE; & Miguel Tejada, BLT; as backup competitors; go with Cabrera & Peralta.
3B: Alex Rodriguez, NY; with Akinori Iwamura, TB; Adrian Beltre, SEA; Mike Lowell, BSN; & Troy Glaus, TOR; as backup competitors; go with Lowell & Beltre.
LF: Carl Crawford, TB; with Manny Ramirez, BSN; Craig Monroe, DET; & Shannon Stewart, OAK; as backup competitors; go with Monroe & Ramirez.
CF: Ichiro Suzuki, SEA; with Torii Hunter, MINN; Curtis Granderson, DET; Grady Sizemore, CLE; & Gary Matthews, Jr, ANAH; as backup competitors; go with Granderson, Sizemore, & Hunter.
RF: Vladimir Guerrero, ANAH; with Magglio Ordonez, DET; Alex Rios, TOR; Michael Cuddyer, MINN; & Mark Teahen, KC; as backup competitors; go with Ordonez, Rios, & Cuddyer.
National League
C: Paul LoDuca, NY: with Bengie Molina, SF; Johnny Estrada, MLW; Brian McCann, ATL; & Russell Martin, LA; as backup competitors; go with Estrada, Martin, & Molina.
1B: Prince Fielder, MLW; with Adrian Gonzalez, SD; Todd Helton, COLO; Derrek Lee, CHI; & Dmitri Young, WASH; as backup competitors; go with Gonzalez & Lee.
2B: Chase Utley, PHIL; with Orlando Hudson, ARIZ; Brandon Phillips, CINC; Dan Uggla, FLA; & Kelly Johnson, ATL; as backup competitors; go with Hudson & Uggla.
SS: Edgar Renteria, ATL; with JJ Hardy, MLW; Jose Reyes, NY; Hanley Ramirez, FLA; Troy Tulowitzki, COLO; Omar Vizquel, SF; & Jimmy Rollins, PHIL; as backup competitors; go with Reyes, Vizquel, & Hardy.
3B: Miguel Cabrera, FLA; with Chipper Jones, ATL; Aramis Ramirez, CHI; David Wright, NY; & Ryan Zimmerman, WASH; as backup competitors; go with Ramirez & Jones.
LF: Matt Holliday, COLO; with Carlos Lee, HTN; Jason Bay, Pgh; Geoff Jenkins, MLW; Eric Byrnes, ARIZ; & Barry Bonds, SF; as backup competitors; go with Bay, Jenkins, Bonds, & Byrnes.
CF: Carlos Beltran, NY; with Aaron Rowand, PHIL; Chris Young, ARIZ; & Ryan Church, WASH; as backup competitors; go with Rowand & Church.
RF: Ken Griffey, Jr, CINC; with Jeff Francoeur, ATL; Randy Winn, SF; & Xavier Nady, PGH; as backup competitors; go with Francouer & Winn.
I will list my selections for pitchers later in June, as well as any substitutes in the starting eight required due to injury or deep slumps or giant positive streaks.
Here is my ballot:
American League
C: Victor Martinez, CLE; with Ivan Rodriguez, DET; Joe Mauer, MINN; Jason Veritek, BSN; & Jorge Posada, NY; as backup competitors: Go with Rodriguez, Veritek, & Posada.
1B: Justin Moreau, MINN; with Kevin Youkilis, BSN, Carlos Pena, TB; Travis Haffner, CLE; Jim Thome, CHI; & David Ortiz, BSN; as backup competitors; go with Ortiz, Youkilis, Ortiz, & Haffner.
2B: Placido Polanco, DET; with BJ Upton, TB; Brian Roberts, BLT; & Luis Castillo, MINN; as backup competitors; go with Upton & Roberts.
SS: Derek Jeter, NY; with Orlando Cabrera, ANAH; Carlos Guillen, DET; Johnny Peralta, CLE; & Miguel Tejada, BLT; as backup competitors; go with Cabrera & Peralta.
3B: Alex Rodriguez, NY; with Akinori Iwamura, TB; Adrian Beltre, SEA; Mike Lowell, BSN; & Troy Glaus, TOR; as backup competitors; go with Lowell & Beltre.
LF: Carl Crawford, TB; with Manny Ramirez, BSN; Craig Monroe, DET; & Shannon Stewart, OAK; as backup competitors; go with Monroe & Ramirez.
CF: Ichiro Suzuki, SEA; with Torii Hunter, MINN; Curtis Granderson, DET; Grady Sizemore, CLE; & Gary Matthews, Jr, ANAH; as backup competitors; go with Granderson, Sizemore, & Hunter.
RF: Vladimir Guerrero, ANAH; with Magglio Ordonez, DET; Alex Rios, TOR; Michael Cuddyer, MINN; & Mark Teahen, KC; as backup competitors; go with Ordonez, Rios, & Cuddyer.
National League
C: Paul LoDuca, NY: with Bengie Molina, SF; Johnny Estrada, MLW; Brian McCann, ATL; & Russell Martin, LA; as backup competitors; go with Estrada, Martin, & Molina.
1B: Prince Fielder, MLW; with Adrian Gonzalez, SD; Todd Helton, COLO; Derrek Lee, CHI; & Dmitri Young, WASH; as backup competitors; go with Gonzalez & Lee.
2B: Chase Utley, PHIL; with Orlando Hudson, ARIZ; Brandon Phillips, CINC; Dan Uggla, FLA; & Kelly Johnson, ATL; as backup competitors; go with Hudson & Uggla.
SS: Edgar Renteria, ATL; with JJ Hardy, MLW; Jose Reyes, NY; Hanley Ramirez, FLA; Troy Tulowitzki, COLO; Omar Vizquel, SF; & Jimmy Rollins, PHIL; as backup competitors; go with Reyes, Vizquel, & Hardy.
3B: Miguel Cabrera, FLA; with Chipper Jones, ATL; Aramis Ramirez, CHI; David Wright, NY; & Ryan Zimmerman, WASH; as backup competitors; go with Ramirez & Jones.
LF: Matt Holliday, COLO; with Carlos Lee, HTN; Jason Bay, Pgh; Geoff Jenkins, MLW; Eric Byrnes, ARIZ; & Barry Bonds, SF; as backup competitors; go with Bay, Jenkins, Bonds, & Byrnes.
CF: Carlos Beltran, NY; with Aaron Rowand, PHIL; Chris Young, ARIZ; & Ryan Church, WASH; as backup competitors; go with Rowand & Church.
RF: Ken Griffey, Jr, CINC; with Jeff Francoeur, ATL; Randy Winn, SF; & Xavier Nady, PGH; as backup competitors; go with Francouer & Winn.
I will list my selections for pitchers later in June, as well as any substitutes in the starting eight required due to injury or deep slumps or giant positive streaks.
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