Illegal Burning

This is for my friend Brandon so he will have the goods on me just like I have on him. Notice I also believe in using chemicals on my lawn!





This hastily constructed firepit is left over from my daughters 21st B'day/Going away to Africa party with about 20 of her college friends. I'm now putting it to better use.

How Things Change

Remember when President Bill Clinton sent troops to Bosnia? Here are a few quotes from Republicans back then:

"Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is." --Governor George W. Bush (R-TX)

"Well, I just think it's a bad idea. What's going to happen is they're going to be over there for 10, 15, maybe 20 years." --Joe Scarborough (R-FL)

"You can support the troops but not the president." --Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

"Explain to the mothers and fathers of American servicemen that may come home in body bags why their son or daughter have to give up their life?" --Sean Hannity, Fox News, 4/6/99

"If we are going to commit American troops, we must be certain they have a clear mission, an achievable goal and an exit strategy." --Karen Hughes, speaking on behalf of George W Bush

Now remind me how many troops were killed in that action?

Middle Class Squeeze

All thanks to our Congress and G.W. Bush policies

Real hourly wages adjusted for inflation fell 0.8 percent•
The cost of medical care rose 4.2 percent•
College tuition and fees rose 8.6 percent on average•
1.3 million jobless Americans used up their unemployment benefits without finding work•
One in six middle-class households lacked health insurance•
An estimated 6 million Americans lost their legal right to overtime pay

But hey....

We are spreading Democracy around the world (except for the USA)
We are on the way to proving the earth is only 6000 years old
We no longer have a 'war on terrorism' instead we have a 'gsave'
Hopefully, next year we will declare 'victory' in Iraq and bring our soldiers home

Life is good in Bush World

G.W. Bush's Reality

Baseball player Rafael Palmeriro gets caught using steroids. Denies using steroids during congressional hearings. G.W. says "I believe him....still do". That is W's main problem.....he takes everying on faith...on what he believes...no matter what the facts say.

You've Gotta Care

You can't not care about the war in Iraq. I thought the war with Iraq was a terrible idea, but I have to admit that Colin Powell's presentation to the UN half convinced me that maybe I was wrong. Now for at least the past 2 years we know the Bush Administration started the war based on lies. Now for my Republican friends I have to ask....who do you care more about...your President, your Party or our country. I'm sick to death of what this White House did in outing an undercover CIA agent just to get back at her husband. And, ignoring the lessons of the last administration they lied about what they did. Is treason now just part of hardball politics? Does anything go now? Can any Republican or Conservative argue that if this had happened during a Democratic Admin. that they would not be hollering for someone's head to be placed on the fence outside the White House. Personally, I don't need a law to be broken to tell me that outing a covert CIA agent during wartime (so called) is just plain wrong. But then again, I'm just one of many America-hating liberals.

Wildlife this Morning

Does a bear shit in the woods? Yes, or a clearing.


Let's get to hell out of here!

You know you are a Republican when:

...Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.

...trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

...A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.

...Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.

...the best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.

...providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism.

...global warming is junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.

...being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.

by 'Bill in Portland' www.dailykos.com

Saucy Posse Returns

Went to Burlington Vt yesterday, on the Port Kent Ferry, to watch my daughter and her roommates race in the Vt City Marathon (Relay portion). Last year in the Open Womens Division they placed 8 out of 91 relay teams with a total guntime time of 3:32:11 (7:45 pace). This year they placed 5/94 with a guntime time of 3:17:37 (7:33 pace). They have to knock off another 10 min to get into the top 3. Maybe next year. I'll have some pictures of the ferry crossing in a day or so.

What is your world view - this is mine

You scored as Materialist. Materialism stresses the essence of fundamental particles. Everything that exists is purely physical matter and there is no special force that holds life together. You believe that anything can be explained by breaking it up into its pieces. i.e. the big picture can be understood by its smaller elements. Existentialist 63% Materialist 63% Cultural Creative 56% Idealist 56% Romanticist 50% Postmodernist 50% Modernist 44% Fundamentalist 38% What is Your World View? (corrected...hopefully) created with QuizFarm.com

Grasse River waterfall

A view out the front window of the camp Julia and her roommates are staying in for a few days before coming home from college.

Why Do They Ignore the Mineral Lick?

It's illegal to feed deer in the Adirondacks (probably the rest of the state too) because we don't want to transmit CWD. But no one said anything about mineral blocks, so I put one out. It's been there all winter without a single lick (to my knowledge).

Me, today

I'm not dressed like this to protect me, it's to protect the mice (seriously).

Canadian Parliament - Ottawa, Ontario

Ottawa is a wonderful, beautiful, safe, small city. Only 130 miles from Saranac Lake. Like going to Albany. Drive to Malone, through the Akwesasne reservation (get cheap gas) and cross at the bridge next to the GM engine block plant. Make sure and take a tour through the Parliament building.

Some Worms are Larger

This is a nice batch of roundworms isolated from some persons intestinal tract.

Went to Ottawa to give a seminar at the National Research Council. Spent time with my friend who works with one of the most deadly bacteria known to man. Guess what that pathogen would be. Hint: it's found primarily in North America in rabbits. Here is a picture of one of my favorite helminth parasites. Female on the left and male on the right.
Heligmosomoides polygyrus once known at Nematospiroides dubius.

Are You an Extremist Kook?

Do you think all Americans should have access to health care?
Do you think large corporations should pay their fair share of taxes?
Do you think all Americans should be paid a living wage?
Do you think the Federal Judiciary is a separate branch of the government?

Ok then, according to Rush Limbaugh, you are an extremist kook. Congratulations!

Ever Seen a Palace Made out of Ice?

Why the Next Pope will Not be American.

From USAToday Poll Results Yes No

Allow Catholics to use birth control 78 21
Allow priests to marry 63 36
Allow stem cell research 59 36
Allow women priests 55 44
Allow Catholics to divorce/remarry 49 48
Make church doctrine on abortion less strict 37 59

Except for the last item most American Catholics don't seem to believe in church doctrine.
How long will it be before the American Catholic church succeeds from Rome?

Why are Colleges and Universities Liberal?

It has now been documented that US colleges have liberal faculties, not just in the humanities and social sciences but in the hard sciences as well. Of course conservatives claim this is a conspiracy by the colleges to keep them from getting faculty positions. It seems more likely that it is a matter of self selection. Should liberals be upset that members of the military are more likely to vote conservative? Does the fact that some conservatives believe the earth is less than 6000 years old possibly have anything to do with the liberal bent in higher education? Even President Bush proclaims that the 'jury is still out' on the issue of evolution.

So what is a liberal and what do we believe? Well think about it, liberals believe in 'liberty'. We believe you should be free to follow your conscious as long as it does not impede the rights of others. We believe in fighting for our rights. Conservatives believe in fighting for what they think your rights should be. So here is a list of liberal beliefs:

-we are in charge of defining what our family is

-we believe that the government should not dictate our religious beliefs or moral values

-parents should teach religious values, not the government

-we believe you have control of your own body

-we believe people different from us shouldnt be discriminated against

-we believe the government has the responsibility to preserve the environment for future generations

By the way, you can find out where your political inclinations lie by taking a test at www.politicalcompass.org

And one more thing, Republicans want to deregulate big business and regulate you.

How is Pope Elected?

When the Pope dies the Cardinal Camerlengo must verify his death by calling his name 3 times. If the Pope is dead, the Cardinal Camerlengo becomes temporary boss. A period of 9 days of mourning occurs and then a funeral. 120 Cardinals, all under the age of 80, meet in the Sistine Chapel and cast two votes each morning and one vote each afternoon. Older Cardinals are not allowed to participate and Cardinals in the Conclave must have no contact with the outside world until a new Pope is elected. During the period of voting the Cardinals stay at a hotel like facility in the Vatican City called the Domus Sanctae Marthae. A silent ballot is used. A candidate requires 2/3 majority to be elected. However, if after 30 ballots a candidate does not get 2/3's of the votes, the requirement becomes half +1 of the votes. Technically any Catholic male of age is eligible to become Pope. However, the last time a non-clergyman was elected was in 1379, Pope Urban VI. I am not running for Pope.