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...punching on the walls of reality since 2005...
Puff House is embedded at the bottom of this page. Or click on the spitfire image above to go direct to my new blog, Puff House.

Through the Smoke...

Free Speech. NASCAR. Trivia. Bitching and moaning.

My Photo
Name:
Location: Texas, United States

Neo-Redneck into...Free Speech. NASCAR. NFL. Trivia. Comic books. Nerd propaganda, Geek culture. Biting social commentary, bitching and moaning...WARNING: This is not journalism, mainstream or citizen. Anything presented is flavored by my diseased mind, my frustration and/or my sarcastic wit. Not necessarily in that order. You were warned.

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Because it's important...

FBI's 10 Most Wanted List

I think everyone should look at this list every month or two. You never know when the guy down the street, or that guy at the grocery store, or that weird guy who you see walking down the highway on your way home from work may be one of the guys on the Ten Most Wanted List.

These are extremely bad guys and need to be off the streets in a nice square prison cell where they can be Bubba or LeRoy's prom date for the next couple of years while they await trial or the needle, whichever they get.

Agroterrorism...Something I never really thought of...

The following is from the excellent World Wide Words column that I receive via email. The column is in italics. My commentary and addition in plain script.:

Turns of Phrase: Agroterrorism
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This term has been around for several years (the earliest examples I can find
are from 1999), but has mostly been used by specialists up till now. It has
gained a higher profile in the past year or so and has been in the news
because the first International Symposium on Agroterrorism was held
earlier this month.

Agroterrorism is the deliberate introduction of a plant or animal disease
that disrupts agriculture and so causes widespread economic loss
along with fear and instability. The risk is potentially high in the
USA, which is a major agricultural country with huge exports, so
that the effect of a terrorist attack might be felt well beyond its
own borders. As yet, no successful attack by agroterrorists anywhere
in the world is known to have happened, though there have been
reports of small-scale strikes by Palestinians and Israeli settlers on
each other's crops.


There haven't been any "confirmed" attacks in the U. S. That doesn't mean that there haven't been attacks. Killer bees, the recent plague of bee mites damaging honey production in the U. S., the introduction of the snake head fish into America streams and estuaries that are eating through native fish populations, the fish scale worms that are showing up in American ponds at alarming rates, the mad cow disease scares in England, Canada and the U. S. could all be elements of attacks by foreign competitors on American agriculture, maybe not political, possibly industrial or agribusiness terrorism. Maybe the examples are all just coincidence, but realize that they have all happened in the last 10 years or so and you have to start wondering. How much coincidence do you believe in?

Threats in New Zealand to spread foot-and-mouth disease have
been blackmail by individuals, not terrorism. Known cases of food
contamination in various countries, or of threats to contaminate
food, have also proved to be the work of would-be blackmailers or
disgruntled employees.

* From the Aberdeen News, South Dakota, 2 May 2005:
Agroterrorism is a largely hypothetical problem...The United States
has never experienced an agroterror attack, but some of the hijackers
involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks were known to have been
interested in agriculture and crop dusting.


The difference in a hypothetical problem and an emergent situation is merely execution.

Makes you wonder, doesn't it? If these guys were only on a suicide mission, why an interest in agriculture? Crop dusting gave them an "in" into pilot education and such sure, but agriculture...

* From USA Today, 9 May 2005:
Inspections of imported food at the nation's entry ports have declined since
the Department of Homeland Security took over the job in 2003, a new
government report says. The drop means the government is reducing its
first chance to discover a foreign disease or an act of "agroterrorism"
before the food is distributed nationwide.


It seems to me that the height of stupidity would be to forego and/or lessen the inspection of imported food. I mean, c'mon, if you were the bad guy and you saw something like this what would you do. Isn't there anybody up there in Washington whose job it is to think like the bad guys. If so, this is an example of them doing a piss poor job of it.

Your friendly neighborhood opinionated piece of crap,
puff

Friday, May 27, 2005

Canadis...I mean cannabis

WARNING: THE PERSON BEHIND THROUGH THE CIGAR SMOKE IS JUST THAT, A
CIGAR SMOKER. HE JUST THOUGHT THIS MADE FOR AN ODD NEWS STORY.
THANK YOU,
THE MANAGEMENT





Canada has become the first country to approve a cannabis-based painkiller for patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis.

This move was applauded by those with the disease and proponents of medical uses for marijuana.



A federal Canadian agency that oversees medical care for Canadians, Health Canada, announced the approval of the prescription painkiller Sativex, made from components derived from the cannabis plant.



The drug is taken by spraying under the tongue or into the cheek, thus avoiding the carcinogenic dangers of smoking pot.

Read the story here from the Medical Post.

Bachelor Food: French Apricot Ham

1 - 1 and a half to 2 lbs. ham
1 - 10 oz. jar of apricot preserves
1 - 16 oz. French salad dressing

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix preserves and dressing until color is uniform. Lay foil base in pan. Place ham in center of pan. Pour mixture over ham. Seal top with foil.

Bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven. Baste occasionally as ham cools for approximately 10 minutes.

Cut in slices. Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with mashed potatoes.

This based on a pork chop recipe that I stole from Cadi. Try sauce mixture on pork chops and try substituting Russian dressing for French.

Enjoy.

DC Heroes The Replacements #6 is up

The Replacements #6
By Mark "Puff" Anderson
"The End of the Beginning"


This closes the first major story arc in the Replacements saga.

"What's the matter, green jeans?" Hawkgirl asked. "Do you want to live forever?"

He smiled dropped his hands back to his sides and winked at her.

And now...A Health Safety Report



Stop it or you may go blind...maybe

Of course, its probably a function of men taking Viagra in instances where they don't have companionship and then doing what men have a tendency to do when things come to a head in those moments when they're alone.

Don't forget, they always told you that it would cause you to go blind.

And then there is Saturday Night Live's Viagra survey.

HA!

But seriously apparently there is a blindness side effect related to the blue-green vision effect where the user has trouble differentiating between the two. The effect is also linked to Cialis, so its not just Viagra. To this point, Levitra hasn't been implicated.

How rare is the risk? 42 cases have been reported. Against the millions who have taken Viagra with no blindness...seems like a pretty small consequence.

Still its a risk factor. Let's see...blindness or a good erection...hhhmmmm, blindness or a good erection...hmmmm.

Sight is overrated, don't you think.

puff

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Beware the Burrito Bomber

A few weeks ago in Clovis, New Mexico, a 911 call about a possible weapon at a middle school put armed officers on rooftops and locked down the school.

Someone saw a boy carrying a silver object wrapped in white cloth into Marshall Junior High School.

Two hours later, the boy was found. The item in question...was it a bomb...no, not hardly. He had brought his lunch. It was a 30-inch burrito wrapped in tin foil with a t-shirt wrapped around it.

The steps from burrito to bomb is odd. I can understand in the post-911 modern world how scary the idea would be if you saw someone with something that could be misconstrued as a pipe bomb.

I don't have a solution or a suggestion. I just thought that this was an odd bit that needed wider exposure.

Monday, May 23, 2005

Just Us Cup Special Report: Nextel Cup All Star Weekend

Nextel Open

Both the Open and the Challenge are non-points races.

Cars not automatically qualified for the Challenge have to race their way in. The winner of the Open transfers to the Challenge Race. Automatic qualifiers are anyone who has won a race this season or last, any previous Challenge winners still racing, any previous Cup champion still racing, the winner of the Open, and 1 driver from the non-qualified group makes it in based on fan voting.*

Results:

1 - Brian Vickers/25/ditech.com-GMAC --dirty bastard**
9 - Ken Schrader/49/Red Baron's Pizza --Mark
14 - Jaime McMurray/42/Texaco-Havoline --Cadi

*Last year, the driver voted in was...wait for it, Ken Schrader. This year, Martin Truex Jr. in the Dale Earnhardt Incorporated Bass Pro Shops-Tracker Boats #1. Its seems to me that a part time driver(He only ran four times this year.) in a part time ride(The car has only ran a handful of times as well.) that isn't running the full schedule shouldn't be eligible. Add to that the fact that his performance in the four races he has run is anything but All Star-like, his best result in those four races was a 21st at Talladega back in April. And most amazing of all, he has yet to finish a race in Nextel Cup. So that's four starts and four DNFs(Did Not Finish), yeah that guy should absolutely be an All Star. Just one more kiss the ring moment, where the fans try to re-envision the Holy Trinity...you know, the Father, the Son and Michael Waltrip. Go read the We Wonder column at nascar.com, he and I are on the same page.
** On the last lap of the Open, coming out of Turn 4, headed for the finish line, Brian Vickers intentionally spun Mike Bliss allowing him to pass and get the win. Afterward, instead of being apologetic, he showed what a true punk too many of the young drivers on the circuit are becoming.

So anyway, Vickers transferred to the Challenge and Truex was voted in.

Nextel All Star Challenge

1 -- Mark Martin/6/Viagra -(Jerry)
2 -- Brian Vickers/25/ditech.com-GMAC -(see ** above)
4 -- Jeff Gordon/24/Dupont Performance Alliance -(Craig)
6 -- Dale Jarrett/88/UPS -(Darla)
10 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr/8/Budweiser -(Stephanie)
13 -- Rusty Wallace/2/Miller Lite -(Nancy)
14 -- Greg Biffle/16/National Guard-Subway -(Jerry's Replacement Driver pending Martin's retirement)
15 -- Carl Edwards/99/Scotts Miracle Gro -(Mark)
16 -- Kasey Kahne/9/Dodge Dealers/UAW -(...cause Cadi thinks he's cute)
18 -- Kevin Harvick/29/GM Goodwrench -(John)
20 -- Michael Waltrip/15/NAPA Auto Parts -(Cadi)
22 -- Martin Truex Jr/1/Bass Pro Shops-Tracker -(see * above)

NASCAR: The Just Us Cup - Week 11

Week 11 Race Results - Richmond International Raceway - Chevy American Revolution 400

Finished -- Driver Name/Car No./Sponsor --Your name here)

1 -- Kasey Kahne/9/Dodge Dealers-UAW -(...cause Cadi thinks he's cute)
5 -- Kevin Harvick/29/GM Goodwrench -(John)
6 -- Greg Biffle/16/National Guard-Subway --(Jerry's Replacement Driver pending Mark Martin's retirement at season's end)
9 -- Michael Waltrip/15/NAPA Auto Parts --(Cadi)
10 -- Jaimie McMurray/42/Texaco-Havoline --(Cadi)
14 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr./8/Budweiser --(Stephanie)
15 -- Mark Martin/6/Viagra --(Jerry)
19 -- Rusty Wallace/2/Miller Lite --(Nancy)
21 -- Carl Edwards/99/Office Depot-Scotts –(Mark)
30 -- Ken Schrader/49/Schwans -(Mark)
34 -- Dale Jarrett/88/UPS -(Darla)
39 -- Jeff Gordon/24/Dupont -(Craig)

Points after Race 11…

NEXTEL Standings - Driver Name/Car No. - Laps Led - NEXTEL Points -(Your name here)

2 - Greg Biffle/16 - 739 - 1521 --(Jerry's Replacement Driver pending Mark Martin's retirement)
3 - Jeff Gordon/24 - 257 - 1438 --(Craig)
8 - Kevin Harvick/29 - 146 - 1364 --(John)
9 - Jaimie McMurray/42 - 0 - 1351 --(Cadi)
10 - Mark Martin/6 - 10 - 1344 --(Jerry)
11 - Dale Earnhardt Jr/8 - 5 - 1333 --(Stephanie)
12 - Rusty Wallace/2 - 204 - 1290 --(Nancy)
13 - Carl Edwards/99 -46 -1289 --(Mark)
14 - Dale Jarrett/88 - 1 - 1264 --(Darla)
15 - Kasey Kahne/9 - 303 -1261 --(...cause Cadi thinks he's cute)
17 - Michael Waltrip/15 - 93 - 1235 --(Cadi)
28 - Ken Schrader/49 - 8 - 980 --(Mark)*

*As of this week all of our drivers would qualify for the playoffs/Chase for the Championship except for Ken Schrader. Right now he is 182 points out of the transfer spot. That is doable, but it is doubtful as well with the way the season has gone to this point.

American Justice - A Sad State of Affairs

What the hell has happened to the American legal system?

It's not innocent until proven guilty anymore...it's put the victim on trial.

The Michael Jackson case is horrible. If the same types of tactics were used in a rape case against a female victim there would be a huge hue and cry. Unless of course, the perpetrator played for an NBA team from LA that shall remain nameless.

But since the boy in the MJ case is a boy, life is tough. Since his mom is something of a fruit herself, life is tough. Since, he had cancer and she went to extraordinary lengths to get money to take care of him, life is tough.

How much truck do we really place in all of the celebrity witnesses that are being put up? So he didn't molest McCauley Culkin. Maybe little blonde white boys aren't his type. Do we really care what Liz Taylor and Liza Minelli think about the chemically albino pedophilliac freak?

The judge in this case has let it turn into tabloid jurisprudence.

A sad state of affairs.

Friday, May 20, 2005

Just Us Cup-date

Look for Week 11's information to be posted early next week.

This week is All Star weekend with the special races at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte on Saturday night. Its a special format race and won't count toward points.

We'll return to our regular schedule next week.

puff

Rules of Thumb #2 - Wisdom from Fart Girl

Don't know who the original author was. Fart Girl sent it to me. Thanks, darlin'.

#6 is greatness, in a deviant sort of way.

****

1. If you are choking on an ice cube, don't panic.
Simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat
and presto. The blockage will be almost instantly
removed.

2. Clumsy? Avoid cutting yourself while slicing
vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while
you chop away.

3. Avoid arguments with the little woman about lifting
the toilet seat by simply using the sink.

4. For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut
yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing
the pressure in your veins. Remember to use a timer.

5. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock,
will prevent you from rolling over and going back to
sleep after you hit the snooze button.

6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of
laxatives, then you will be afraid to cough.

7. Have a bad toothache? Smash your thumb with a
hammer and you will forget about the toothache.

8. You only need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it
doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it
shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

9. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

10. Never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom.

11. If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You get
another chance.

12. Be really nice to your family and
friends; you never know when you might need them to
empty your bedpan

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Disturbing 60's/70's Comic Book Cover



Don't think this needs any woods of explanation.

HA! I mean words.

puff

Mother Nature Attacks!

When Birds Attack!

Wow! Poor Houstonians.

I wonder what happened to the baby bird that fell out of the nest. And how the entire community of grackles decided that the people on that street in front of that building were the ones responsible. Interesting.

These would probably be the Great-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus. A recent report showed that their breeding area extends over all of Texas. That's a lot of confirmed breeding area.

A couple of years ago for Halloween, I went as a victim of Hitchcock's Birds. I got a thrift store suit for $15 and bought some little fake black birds and a couple of vials of fake blood. After I went to work with some scissors and started attaching the birds to the suit, it turned out great.

I've never had grackles attack me before, but I can attest that the little bastards are very aggressive. Anyone who has ever seen them defend their territory would agree.

And if you are unfortunate enough to park under a tree that they choose to flock in...well, let's just say that you'll be spending awhile at the car wash, a good long while.

More info on the black bird known as the grackle can be found here

puff

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Rules of Thumb #1 - The Dog as Connoisseur

If you are cooking, and usually when you cook, the dog comes over and sits in the middle of the kitchen. He looks up at you expectantly. But this time, you're cooking and you look around and the dog is sitting in the living room on a chair licking either his balls or his ass and pointedly ignoring what's going on in the kitchen.

Perhaps you should rethink that night's dinner choice.

Just an idea,

puff

Thursday, May 12, 2005

The Terminator Lives...

The Rise of the Machine

Machines who can build themselves with minimal human involvement...did we not learn anything by watching the Governator's movies.

Besides aren't we removing the opportunity to have those robot building jobs outsourced and offshored to India...or Poland...or Sri Lanka...or...God, I'm bitter.

puff

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

The House of M First Look at Comics Continuum

House of M Preview

Its looks bad assed. I so didn't want to get the fever.

But there it is. Looks like an interesting story.

puff

Beware the Mudman this way comes...



I couldn't make up my mind if I thought this was fun looking or not. He is definitely having a great time.

I wonder how far it is to a waterfall or shower.

Yes, it looks like fun...they better have came in a pickup truck, otherwise his friends are going to make him walk.

This was the parting shot in the June 2005 issue of Outside magazine. The mag is pretty damned cool. Good info. Camping, fishing, surfing...fires my circuits.

Just don't know about the mud baths...or muck wrestling...or whatever the hell that guy was doing in Dark Canyon, Utah.

The Brotherhood of Alpha Geeks has a heavy heart...

Such sweet sorrow (2005-05-07)
It's with deepest regret that the staff here at Altmarvel announce the passing of Ken Leon-Guerrero. Ken has been a great addition to Altmarvel for the past year, and besides that, a great friend, voice, and presence to us. Ken will be greatly missed. Our prayers and wishes go out to his family in this time. Any condolences may be passed to his kin via tyragon@yahoo.com.


I saw this over at AltMarvel.

I was just getting to know Ken and his work. It was good having someone else who was writing Alpha Flight fan fiction to email back and forth with occasionally. Wish I would have been able to spend more time corresponding with him.

Rest in Peace.

puff

Bachelor Food: Kid Cliche's Potato Soup

6 medium to large potatoes(large cubed with skins left on)
1 onion(chopped)
1 medium bell pepper(chopped)
6 stalks of celery(chopped)
6 carrots(cut)
3 tablespoons of chopped garlic
2 cups of milk
2 sticks of butter or margarine
salt and pepper to taste

Place potatoes, onions, celery, bell pepper, garlic and carrots in large pan. Cover with water. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook until vegetables are mushy. Keep well stirred. Pour in milk and butter. Heat thoroughly, do not boil. Keep well stirred.

For a smoother texture, you might try beating the vegetables in the cooking water before adding the milk.

For a creamier taste, substitute half and half for milk.

Serve with bread and/or rotisserie chicken and/or salad.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Bachelor Food: Texas Onion Soup

3 large onions
3 sticks of butter
1 tablespoon flour
2 cans of beef broth
1 can Rotel
1 can jalapenos, sliced
2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
2 tablespoons Valentina's Hot Sauce
3 cups shredded cheese(use your favorite here, I used cheddar on the test run for this recipe)

Cook onions in butter in skillet. Cook until onions are tender and beginning to brown. Sprinkle in flour. Stir to thicken. Add 1 cup of broth. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat. Add remaining broth, Rotel, jalapenos, Worcestershire and Hot Sauce. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat to simmer. Cover and allow to simmer for ten minutes. Spread cheese over top of mixture. Cover. Watch as cheese melts. When cheese is all melted remove from heat and serve.

Can be served over croutons or French bread. Goes well with salad.

Keep well stirred. For more zip add more jalapenos. For less...you get the idea.

Enjoy.

Av2K's Alpha Flight #21 is up

Alpha Flight
#21 By Mark "Puff" Anderson
"Les Enfants Perdus"


Part Three of The Rise of the Wicker Man storyline.

"Be careful," he called as she raced down the hallway. "He stood off
the Dominion on Parliament Hill a couple of weeks ago."

Boycott Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon is producing fifty second history shorts that they run between shows. Nickelodeon is not great entertainment. They are the epitome of electronic babysitter. The quality control on their history plain and simply, sucks on that network. So, I don't know what I expected when they present "history", but I, at least, expected history to actually be history and not political claptrap masquerading as teaching our youth.

Did you know that the freedom fighters at the Alamo were fighting for the right of the white man to keep slaves? That paragon of virtue Santa Ana was really a huge abolitionist, who was focused on freeing the slaves...

That's the part where my eyes glaze over and my blood pressure begins to rise.

The Alamo is sacred ground in Texas. All children of my generation had to take a semester of Texas History in school. The war with Mexico began largely because the Mexican federal government had revoked the constitution which covered the colonial area where the United States citizens had settled.

"I think it's a shame that anybody would take that approach," said David Stewart, director of the Alamo. "I think it's an insult to the Mexicans, the Tejanos, who fought for freedom and liberty in the Alamo as part of the defenders. It kind of slaps them in the face to claim that was the reason the battle took place."


Nickelodeon was informed in advance that their slant of the history piece was leaning in the wrong direction. They chose to ignore the historians who disagreed with them and continued on anyway.

Texas declared independence in 1836 when Mexico's leader, Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, revoked the existing constitution that allowed white settlement of the nation's northernmost province.


I supposed next the extremists will begin painting Santa Ana as a misunderstood saint in the history of North America. PFAH!

What's next?

Will the U.S. have to buy Texas retroactively from Mexico? PFAH!

About 200 Texan fighters held off thousands of Mexico troops for 13 days until Santa Anna finally crushed them on March 6, 1836. However, the siege gave other Texas units a chance to move east and gather for an ultimately pivotal battle near Houston in April 1836 that secured Texas independence.


The story of the Alamo taught me what the meaning of pyrrhic victory was. It showed me what a martyr was. That story taught me that some things were worth everything in the bigger picture of life.

Boycott Nickelodeon!

They have a captive audience sitting there waiting for the next show to come on and they are tilting a representation of history to tell the story they want to. Why is a very good question.

Revisionist history is bullshit. How many kids do you think saw this and assumed that since it was on TV, its the truth?

Boycott Nickelodeon!

It's a shame. I'm going to miss Spongebob, Jimmy Neutron, Danny Phantom, Fairly Oddparents and Kim Possible.

Bastards.

puff

Monday, May 09, 2005

NASCAR: The Just Us Cup - Week 10

Week 10 Race Results - Darlington Raceway - Dodge Charger 500

Finished – Driver Name/Car No./Sponsor –(Your name here)

2 -- Jeff Gordon/24/Dupont -(Craig)
4 -- Mark Martin/6/Viagra -(Jerry)
6 -- Jaimie McMurray/42/Texaco-Havoline -(Cadi)
8 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr/8/Budweiser -(Stephanie)
9 -- Carl Edwards/99/Office Depot-Scotts –(Mark)
12 -- Rusty Wallace/2/Miller Lite -(Nancy)
14 -- Kevin Harvick/29/GM Goodwrench -(John)
15 -- Dale Jarrett/88/UPS -(Darla)
18 -- Ken Schrader/49/Schwans -(Mark)
34 -- Michael Waltrip/15/NAPA Auto Parts -(Cadi)

Points after Race 10…

NEXTEL Standings – Driver Name/Car No. - Laps Led – NEXTEL Points –(Your name here)

2 - Jeff Gordon/24 - 257 - 1519 --(Craig)
6 - Mark Martin/6 - 10 - 1226 --(Jerry)
8 - Jaimie McMurray/42 - 0 - 1217 --(Cadi)
9 - Dale Earnhardt Jr/8 - 5 - 1212 --(Stephanie)
11 - Kevin Harvick/29 - 145 - 1204 --(John)
12 - Dale Jarrett/88 - 1 - 1203 --(Darla)
13 - Carl Edwards/99 - 46 – 1189 --(Mark)
14 - Rusty Wallace/2 - 204 - 1184 --(Nancy)
17 - Michael Waltrip/15 - 94 - 1097 --(Cadi)
29 - Ken Schrader/49 - 8 - 907 --(Mark)

I'm a lumberjack and I don't care...

Spent Saturday afternoon helping Steve trim and cut down trees in Nancy's back yard.

A day well spent.

Really fires the circuits when you drop a tree exactly where you aim it. Which is really, really good when three feet off either direction and we would have dropped the tree on a fence or onto the neighbor's air conditioner unit.

TIMBER!

puff

Gone Fishing????

The other day, I was discussing going fishing on our July vacation. We're going to be on the Texas coast, just like last year.

Bay fishing...pier fishing...its all good.

We were talking about salt water rods and reels and the like. Someone mentioned that most of the reels you buy come pre-loaded with 20 lb. test line, which of course wouldn't be enough.

???

And I started thinking...hmmm, do I really want to land a fish that is bigger than or about the same size of my beagle. I'm thinking that beagle size is plenty big for me to land and have to handle...and probably too big at that.

Here's how I picture it...

It's dawn. I'm standing in three to three and a half foot of bay water. The sky is pinking up. The next nearest fisherman is about 25 or 30 yards to my right. The small boat that dropped me off is another 150 yards beyond him.

I've thrown my third or fourth cast. The air is warm and still. The sounds of the bay awakening around me is one of the best sounds I've ever heard in my life.

Something hits my bait. I set the hook and give the reel a spin or two to make sure its set. Then, I let him run for a moment. I yank back and turn him reeling hard as he turns toward me. I bring him in as near as I can.

He pulls hard bending the rod almost double a few times as he and I go back and forth.

He comes to the surface and I get my first good look at him...


Note: Not me. Not anyone I know. Shown for fish size comparison.

Okay, this one is 25 lbs...now imagine its a shark...now imagine that it is 40 pounds because as we previously discussed 20 lb. test line is for wussies.

Well call me a wuss then, I don't want to catch a fish that is the size of a ten year old, when I'm standing thigh deep in bay water with my nearest assistance 25 yards away and the nearest boat 150 yards away. Just doesn't sound safe.

Of course, once I'm standing in the water, with the sun just touching the horizon, I'll forget all about this. And then there's the rush you get when something hits your bait. There is that zen moment when you pull the fish from the water and connect with the whole history of humankind. And the thought of that fish with lemon, butter and pepper sizzling lightly in a skillet. Mmmmmmm, makes my mouth water.

I still have misgivings about a fish that is halfway between the size of my beagle and my ten year old, but what the hell, you only live once. I'll just keep a sharp knife nearby so that when the bastard surfaces, I can cut the line, if he's the size of a Volkswagen or a couch. Gotta draw the line somewhere.

And I'd rather think about it now...rather than when the bastard surfaces 15 feet from me in Corpus Christi Bay.

puff

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

NASCAR: The Just Us Cup - Week 9

Week 9 Race Results - Taladega Super Speedway - Aaron's 499

Finished – Driver Name/Car No./Sponsor –(Your name here)

1 -- Jeff Gordon/24/Dupont -(Craig)
3 -- Michael Waltrip/15/NAPA Auto Parts -(Cadi)
5 -- Jaimie McMurray/42/Texaco-Havoline -(Cadi)
8 -- Ken Schrader/49/Schwans -(Mark)
9 -- Dale Jarrett/88/UPS -(Darla)
12 -- Kevin Harvick/29/GM Goodwrench -(John)
15 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr/8/Budweiser -(Stephanie)
22 -- Rusty Wallace/2/Miller Lite -(Nancy)
32 -- Carl Edwards/99/Scotts-Ortho –(Mark)
33 -- Mark Martin/6/Viagra -(Jerry)

Points after Race 9…

NEXTEL Standings – Driver Name/Car No. - Laps Led – NEXTEL Points –(Your name here)

3 - Jeff Gordon/24 - 237 - 1217 --(Craig)
7 - Dale Jarrett/88 - 1 - 1085 --(Darla)
8 - Kevin Harvick/29 - 145 - 1083 --(John)
9 - Dale Earnhardt Jr/8 - 5 - 1070 --(Stephanie)
10 - Jaimie McMurray/42 - 0 - 1067 --(Cadi)
11 - Mark Martin/6 - 10 - 1066 --(Jerry)
13 - Rusty Wallace/2 - 204 - 1057 --(Nancy)
14 - Carl Edwards/99 - 42 – 1046 --(Mark)
16 - Michael Waltrip/15 - 93 - 1036 --(Cadi)
29 - Ken Schrader/49 - 8 - 798 --(Mark)

Knock, knock, knocking on Bin Laden's door

Well, by now, you've all probably heard that al-Quaeda's #3 man has been captured in Pakistan. And wonder of wonders, he was caught by the Pakistani security forces.

I wouldn't celebrate just yet.

The reason why the Pakistanis were so happy to cooperate was that this man, Abu Farraj al-Libbi, has made or planned at least three attempts on the life of Pakistani President Musharef.

I wouldn't put much stock in whether the Pakistani secret police will be nearly as forthcoming in tracking down the #2 man or Bin Laden himself since they were instrumental in the funding and formation of the Taliban, which in case anyone has forgotten had very close relationships with those self-same Pakistani security forces.

Its a big case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend...unless he is an enemy as well.

puff

The Pinata Effect

Does anyone else find it disturbing that pinatas are often made out of cartoon characters and things that kids supposedly like a whole lot?

A pinata made from Bugs Bunny, Dora the Explorer, or Nemo just seems wrong. I, also, find the Beautiful Princess pinata disturbing.

"Here kids, beat the crap out of Dora the Explorer. When she cracks open she will spray candy out all over the ground. Woo hoo!"

Although, I wouldn't mind beating the crap out of a Philadelphia Eagles pinata...but that's just me.

The History of the Pinata is explained here.

Odd stuff, I never realized that it came to us through the Chinese via Marco Polo and the Catholic Church.

But still...how would you feel sitting in a yard watching a group of children beat the living daylights out of Dora or Scooby or Sleeping Beauty or Buzz Lightyear or Carebears or the Easter Bunny.

Although, if I ever have to listen to the Barney song again, I might be convinced to beat up on a Barney pinata.

Just seems weird to me that celebrating a birthday party or somesuch leads to our children beating the crap out of the characters they love.

I wonder at the message that this activity sends. And the whole they burst and spray candy thing is a disturbing facet all to itself.

STOP PINATA VIOLENCE!

puff

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

Great Advertising...

I came upon the back of a truck while going down the highway the other early morning. It was a bread truck, Mrs. Bairds.

The signage on the back of the truck, "We Haul Buns Too!"

I laughed.

puff

I guess I'm Just Not Cool...

Sushi jewelry

I really don't understand the attraction to wear a necklace, bracelet or earrings designed around the shapes and colors of sushi.

Is it an analog to when ancient man used to wear the bones and fur of the animals he hunted.

I just don't get it.

puff

Free Comic Book Day 2005 is Coming...

Happy FCBD!

May 7th.

Be there!

All the local shops in my area are participating. Woo hoo! Looks like its going to be a good FCBD.

I am interested in the Impact University book. Looks like my cup of tea.

I've been pruning my collection a little. As I do so I'm giving the girls some books that they might be interested in. Speed Racer, Transformers and Powerpuff Girls, so far, we'll see what else they end up with as I go through the stacks and stacks and stacks and stacks. HA!

Peace,
puff


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