Republican Hissy Fits

That is what they are good at. Krugman on health care.

Some of us were skeptical. A couple of months after Mr. Obama gave that speech, I warned that his vision of a “different kind of politics” was a vain hope, that any Democrat who made it to the White House would face “an unending procession of wild charges and fake scandals, dutifully given credence by major media organizations that somehow can’t bring themselves to declare the accusations unequivocally false.”

So, how’s it going?

Sure enough, President Obama is now facing the same kind of opposition that President Bill Clinton had to deal with: an enraged right that denies the legitimacy of his presidency, that eagerly seizes on every wild rumor manufactured by the right-wing media complex.

This opposition cannot be appeased. Some pundits claim that Mr. Obama has polarized the country by following too liberal an agenda. But the truth is that the attacks on the president have no relationship to anything he is actually doing or proposing.

There is no lie that the conservative media will not repeat.

Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro, originally uploaded by etchasketchist.

Today is Fidel's birthday

McPork In Japan

McPork in Japan　(日本のマックポーク), originally uploaded by CharleyMarley.

You know you want one.

Sad To Hear

A hiker dies in Kings Canyon- Sequoia National Park.

I'm sorry to report there was yet another national park death this week. This one was a bit closer to home, at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Kevin Trevor Rodriguez, 19, died of head injuries Monday after he fell 50-plus feet near Tokopah Falls, a popular day hike near the Lodgepole Visitor Center.

Rodriguez -- who was reported to be from the Malibu-Agoura area -- and a friend were scrambling on the rocks above the trail when the accident occurred, according to the National Park Service. Instead of climbing down the same way they came up, they tried to descend via an apparently easier route, albeit one with slippery rocks, and Rodriguez took a tumbling fall, landing in a pool below

.

My condolences to his friends and family.

Sad To Hear

A hiker dies in Utah.

A California woman died after falling at least 1,000 feet while hiking in Zion National Park Sunday.

Nancy Maltez, 55, of Glendora, apparently stumbled on the north side of Angels Landing, a high peak above Zion Canyon, said park spokesman Ron Terry.

My condolences to her friends and family.

Do Not Feed The Animals

A lady was killed by bears after years of feeding them.

The story of Donna Munson’s tragic death last week is a sad one. She was mauled to death by a bear at her home outside of Ouray.

The 74-year-old woman had been feeding bears on her 40-acre property for almost a decade, despite repeated warnings that she stop.

Bears, it turns out, don’t care how soft your heart is or how much you appreciate them. They care primarily about food and will attack people who get between them and their dinner.

It is sad she was killed but please do not feed the wildlife.

Smokey The Bear

Smokey the Bear Sign, originally uploaded by Neato Coolville.

Happy 65th Birthday Smokey!

August 9th is officially Smokey Bear's, or Smokey the Bear's, birthday. Today, he turns 65 years old.

Back in the early forties, the United States Forest Service used Disney characters to educate the public about the importance of fire safety. However, these characters were only on loan from Walt Disney, so in 1944, a new symbol was needed. Smokey the Bear was born.

June Carter

Ring of Fire.

More Johny Cash Show

Andy Kaufman.

Ring Of Fire

Ray Charles Style. From the Johny Cash show.

The Barefoot Sisters

Have a book out about their 2000 Southbound thru-hike. They hiked north in 2001, the year I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. It seemed I was always a day behind them. I did occasionally see barefoot prints, however from the pictures in the video you can see Teva tan lines on their feet. I suspect they hikrd in Teva's alot.

The book can be purchased through the AT Store.

Special Comment

The republicans are owned by corporate profits. So are many of the democrats. 1.4 million a day to kill health care reform. That money is not going to health care. Health Insurance companies do not provide health care.

I Am Simple

I was looking for something much more raunchy, but found this,

Beer Summit

Obama and VP Biden, had Gates and Crowley over for beers.

1. Obama Bud Light
   
2. Biden Buckler
3. Gates Sam Adams Light
4. Crowley Blue Moon

Buckler is almost non alcohol beer. Is Biden a teetotaler?

Just Wrong

Canning a woman for drinking beer. We should encourage such behavior. Damn fundemetalist religions.

Bad Gravy

OK. It really was not that bad of a gravy. I had no stock. So when I over thickened, I added some wine. But did not let the gravy get hot enough to burn off the alcohol. A little strange.

Sad To Hear

A hiker dies on Longs Peak in Colorado.

The hiker who died yesterday in Rocky
Mountain National Park has been identified as Maynard Brandsma, 61, of
Durango.
Brandsma died from an apparent heart attack near the summit of Longs
Peak on Monday morning. The Boulder
County coroner will conduct an autopsy today to determine an official cause
of death.
Brandsma was hiking with a family member when he fell ill in the
Homestretch area of 14,259-foot Longs Peak.

My condolences to his friends and family.

Good Beer Month

New York has declared July good beer month.

July is a month of cycling bliss. The weather is perfect for
long rides and, for much of the month, the world’s best riders battle for the
yellow jersey in the Tour de
France.
July is also a big month for beer; good beer, to be exact. This
month, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg officially proclaimed July to be Good Beer Month
in New York City. Approved good beer bars will get a Good Beer Seal.
As a part
of the month of good beer cheer, bar owners are encouraging patrons to Bike to the Bars, where they can enjoy
artisanal beers, in moderation, of course.

Good stuff!

Why Do Today What You Can Put Off Till Tomorrow?

My foot is still mysteriously swollen. I came home to Baltimoe, to have it checked out but have not yet called the doctor.

Deep Thought

The journey is the destination.