Ok, I don't know how to title this about the rain forrest


I was thinking along the lines of cutting off your nose to spite your face masochism or hitting your hand with a hammer to be sure it hurts stupidity, but you make up your mind.

Ok, picture yourself in Woods Hole Research Center. Now you're hearing from your ecofreaks researchers about the irepairable damage to the Amozon rainforest. Now, being the concientious, benevolent, thoughtful researchers of an ecofriendly bend; how do you think you'd study the problem?

Being the evil, greedy, anti-Gaia, right-wing nature-haterI am, you'd think it was MY idea to just start rainforest fires to study them, you'd be wrong. I believe in conserving rescorces, why not study a fire already set?

BUT:

Fire is an important agent of transformation in the Amazon landscape. Every year, low intensity fires burn thousands of square miles of Amazon forest. To study the effects of these fires on the forest, and the forests' ability to recover from repeated burning, Woods Hole Research Center scientists will burn two and a half square kilometers of forest in the transition forest of northern Mato Grosso state, at Fazenda Tanguro in Querencia, from late August into early September.

The goal of this research is to better understand what is the impact of fire on the transition forests, which lies between the tall dense rainforests at the core of the Amazon and the "Cerrado" savannas of central Brazil. According to Daniel Nepstad, a senior scientist with the Center, "By studying the characteristics of fires in this transitional forest on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, Center researchers hope to learn how these accidental fires may affect the vigor, health, biodiversity, and animal habitat in these forests, and in the end, to learn whether recurring fire may threaten the very existence of the forest." Repeated burning of transition forests in the Amazon could cause their eventual replacement by fire-prone scrub vegetation through a process call "savannization."

Ok, it's SCIENCE,

The planned burn provides information that cannot be obtained by studying an accidental or escaped fire. The experiment is being conducted in an area in which researchers have taken many measurements prior to the burning – inventories of thousands of trees to catalogue their species, size, and number, surveys of seedlings, measurements of fuel on the forest floor, censuses of mammals, amphibians, and birds, and monthly measurements of canopy closure at 400 points within each square kilometer of forest. After the burn, a census will be taken of the trees to see how many have survived or how they may be reacting or recovering from the burn; and canopy density will be measured immediately after the fire and at monthly intervals, to monitor the impact of the fire and rate of recovery. Temperature and humidity will be monitored at multiple spots in each forest pre- and post- burn, to detect changes in the microclimate of the forest; and soil moisture will be measured at set points in the parcels at regular intervals, to see how the changes in canopy may effect the water available in the soil. According to Nepstad, "This experiment allows us to measure the impacts of recurring fire on the forest by comparing the trees, the animals, the leaf canopy, and the soil before vs. after the fire."

Couldn't they do the "census" on a place that's already going to be burned?

Sorry, I tried posting about the redudndant, inadvertant, , ,whatever it is about about Libs ruining something instead of using what's already there.

I'm still burnt-out from the RRC inspection- maybe tomorrow will be better.

Oh, yeh, I'm still here

Just been busy at work, we're going through a Railroad Commission safety audit.
I've come home with a headache the last two days from lying explaining our paperwork. She used to be an office mouse, so we have to explain why we're not dotting the "I's" and crossing all "T's"; and explaining how what we do in the feild is represented on our forms. Now we have to totally redo our leak survey maps, because she "can't tell how much was done" by reading the locations in a written report and looking at a map of a 750 meter gas system.

The last inspector we had worked in the field, and KNEW how a gas supplier worked, and was more interested in the pipeline integrity, , , siggghhhh.

Sorry y'all, computer probs.


I found out just how FUBAR'D my computer was when I tried to reinstall my cam to show MsJenny a computer desk. I am now reinstalling all the windows upgrades, and all the rest of the cr@p I lost.

Have I mentioned that we live between Hondo and Casrtoville? Yep out in the sticks with a 26K connection. Yeh, that slow.

Anyone notice one word specifically NOT mentioned in this article?


You saw the article over at Drudge, did you notice the one word description that a specific population doubling in 10 years was ignored?



Outside the office of the Living Water Ministry, which two months ago drew hundreds of people to its first Cinco de Mayo festival, there is still a smell of charred wood from the June 21 fire that gutted the house next door and caused damage to the outside of the ministry's office.

"Before, the street would be covered with people, people out all over the place," said Sasha Amen, community outreach coordinator for Living Water. "There's a lot of fear now. People are shutting themselves in their homes."

Hamilton has been a hotbed for Hispanic growth in a state that has lagged behind much of the nation in Hispanic population. The number of Hispanics here jumped fivefold in the 1990s, to 1,566, and is now estimated at 4,000 or more in a city of some 61,000.

For the most part, the immigrants had settled in without much controversy in Hamilton, whose mayor in the 1990s was of Cuban descent. But life here was transformed on June 19, when a 9-year-old Caucasian girl was raped, allegedly by a Hispanic man who has apparently fled the city.


In case you didn't bother reading the entire thing, or just miised it- the word they ignored is ILLEGAL.

I am going to be SOooo glad to get rid of that pager

I woke up to it going off, and now that our SCADA is working; everything that lost power had to page us (the electric dept). After every affected well, lift station, switching gear, and water treatment plant paged us; we got another page reminding us that we had all those unanswered pages.

We had a hard trip on our side, our fault indicators were tripped at a lateral to an elementary school, and also to an underground subdivision. Ok, at least we're narrowing it down- it's verifying my suspicions, too.

Anyway, we got the power up- AND- every thing affected had to page us to tell us they had power again.

Gawd am I going to be glad when I don't have to hear that d@mn thing going off any more.

Hey y'all- lookat this, , , I can see the future

I was surfing and came on the speech from Chimpy McHitler on his Supreme Court ideas.

Just look at the excerpts, and I can tell what the Leftist reaction is going to be, , ,
"In his weekly radio address, Bush said his eventual nominee will be a "fair-minded individual who represents the mainstream of American law and American values." '

Yep, somebody from a RED state, who the Dems will oppose like fish breathing air

"His candidate also "will meet the highest standards of intellect, character and ability and will pledge to faithfully interpret the Constitution and laws of our country," the president said."

Ohhh cr@p, some-one who thinks the founding fathers didn't want a guy to marry his male dog!

"Our nation deserves, and I will select, a Supreme Court justice that Americans can be proud of,"

Ok, so from the previous statements, we just know it'll be Ward Churchill, or another Ruth Bader-Ginsberg.


.

OK, my money's on a filibuster, and a lot of hyperventilating--- what are the Vegas odds against?

I'm just curious if the world is ready for a new computer desk?

I'm bored, I'm looking for something to do. I want an excuse to build a workshop at the new casa.
In order to really make it worth my while, I want to make it worthwhile to spend the cash on materials (and go thru the motions at our HOA).

I'm looking at the desk top computer console I made to hide the tower in plain sight. The difference between this one and most I've seen, is that I put in a door to make it easy to attatch ALL the cabling in the back(the computer pivots). I also included a workshelf to hold the monitor, printer and paperwork at just the right height to hide the keyboard while not in use.
except for the printer taking up space on the left, I could take my keyboard, monitor and mouse a good 30" farther to the left. That would leave a lot of working (storage) space on my right.
the top two drawers hold our collection of software c/d's, and the base has 4 BIG drawers and two smallish cupboards.

I've got about $35- or so invested in the 1"x 12" pine boards I used to make the body of the tower, and another $10 -or so in hardware. I KNOW how much Wally-world wants for cheap particleboard knock-offs, so I should be able to make a decent dollar if I could get people to buy a solid wood computer work station for around $100 plus shipping- or more if the traffic would bear it.

Should I write about something I don't really know about?

I have my thoughts, and if devoting hours of airtime and trees worth of print on proving a (false) idea they have is true *waving at KKKarl*, then I guess I can waste some electrons.

The new Harry Potter book is coming out tonight. I have a 16 yr-old who would willingly camp outside in the rain to get the new book. More power to her, she's expanding her mind and learning about right and wrong (by osmosis?)- but she's NOT hanging in the hood, or doing anything illegal or immoral.

I've been seeing a lot of moral -ummmm , , ,'experts'- telling about how bad the Potter books are with the witchcraft and majik and all. I'm a (non practicing) Lutheran, I was taught from a book that had water turning magically into wine, guys walking on water, people rising from the dead, a guy who lived in a whales' belly, a small boat that housed every type of living animal now on earth, 7 loaves and 7 fishes that magically fed a multitude.
The thing with Harry is that everyone KNOWS it's fiction! H.P. is on the side of good, he's showing how hard it is to do the right thing. I want my girls to know that the easy thing is usually not the right thing- and to be ready for the problems.

I have alot less problem with the girl reading Harry Potter than I do with what the Liberals want her to believe.

(Just for the record, I'm a non-practicing Christian- NOT- a non believer)

Are you REALLY going to eat that?

Some real life shelf life for things in your cupboards:

# Beer
Unopened: 4 months.

# Brown sugar
Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moistureproof container in a cool, dry place.

# Chocolate (Hershey bar)
1 year from production date

# Coffee, canned ground
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 1 month refrigerated

# Coffee, gourmet
Beans: 3 weeks in paper bag, longer in vacuum-seal bag (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Ground: 1 week in sealed container

# Coffee, instant
Unopened: Up to 2 years
Opened: Up to 1 month

# Diet soda (and soft drinks in plastic bottles)
Unopened: 3 months from "best by" date.
Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected.

# Dried pasta
12 months

# Frozen dinners
Unopened: 12 to 18 months

# Frozen vegetables
Unopened: 18 to 24 months
Opened: 1 month

# Honey
Indefinite shelf life

# Juice, bottled (apple or cranberry)
Unopened: 8 months from production date
Opened: 7 to 10 days

# Ketchup
Unopened: 1 year (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Opened or used: 4 to 6 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

# Maple syrup, real or imitation
1 year

# Maraschino cherries
Unopened: 3 to 4 years
Opened: 2 weeks at room temperature; 6 months refrigerated

And that's not all that has a shelflife:

# Miracle Gro, liquid, water-soluble
Indefinite

# Motor oil
Unopened: 2 to 5 years
Opened: 3 months

# Mr. Clean
2 years

# Paint
Unopened: Up to 10 years
Opened: 2 to 5 years

# Spray paint
2 to 3 years

# Windex
2 years

# Wood polish (Pledge)
2 years

Beauty Products
All dates are from the manufacture date, which is either displayed on the packaging or can be obtained by calling the manufacturer's customer-service number.

# Bar soap
18 months to 3 years

# Bath gel, body wash
3 years

# Bath oil
1 year

# Body bleaches and depilatories
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 6 months

# Body lotion
3 years

# Conditioner
2 to 3 years

# Deodorant
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 1 to 2 years
For antiperspirants, see expiration date

There's more here.

Man, I hate the smell of burnt insulation in the morning

And at night. I just got back from a smoking meter call, the second one at this restaurant. We think he's added equipment, and all his phases aren't balanced- he says "it's the same as it's been for the last 20 years".

Ok, we looked in his panel box and his wiring is twice as big as ours, it's like he's using our wiring as his fusible link. We've got 4/o copper and a 320Amp 3 phase box on order- lets see him burn that. That's it for job-blogging tonight- except that we have a Railroad Commission inspection Monday. We just found out at 3:55 yesterday, and they're 6 months early for our annual inspection. Well, we know the FIRST 6 months records will pass with flying colors, anyway.

This joke shamelessly stolen from Confederate Yankee

At a small terminal in the Texas Panhandle, three strangers are awaiting their shuttle flight. One is a Native American passing through from Oklahoma. Another, a local ranch hand on his way to Ft. Worth for a stock show. The third passenger is an Arab student, newly arrived at the Texas oil patch from the Middle East.

To pass the time they strike up a conversation on recent events, and the discussion drifts to their diverse cultures. Soon the Westerners learn that the Arab is a devout Muslim. The conversation falls into an uneasy lull.

The cowpoke leans back in his chair, crosses his boots on a magazine table, tips his big sweat-stained hat forward over his face. The wind outside blows tumbleweeds and the old windsock flaps, but no plane comes.

Finally, the Native American clears his throat and softly, he speaks: 'Once my people were many, Now we are few.'

The Muslim raises an eyebrow and leans forward, 'Once my people were few,' he sneers, 'and now we are many. Why do you suppose that is?'



.


.


.


The Texan shifts the toothpick to one side of his mouth and from the darkness beneath his Stetson says, 'That's 'cause we ain't played Cowboys and Muslims yet.'


He goes on to relate how well 2005 parallels the west in the 1870's, and how tribal warfare matches against modern arms.

Hi, I'm not a rocket scientist or anything-but

I know that some things need to be complex, but Mr. ENGINEER have you ever heard of K.I.S.S.? (That means Keep It Simple, Stupid).

That way maybe we could get the Shuttle launched sometime soon.

Two people I'd vote for for governor

I just ran accross an Austin interview with the Motor City Madman himself, and he wouldn't be adverse to running for governor of Mich.

That's Ok, we have Kinky Freidman running here.

He needs your signature, if you don't vote in a primary, , , just letting ya knowin case you want a real change.

Ok, being a guy and KNOWING that I wouldn't see what I wanted


I still HAD to look and be sure that I couldn't see a NUDE Mariah Carey .
It's just something I had to be sure of, kinda like seeing smoke on the next block- you just have to look.

And now, for something new and completely different

It's fairly new, and unique enough to merit comment,unfortunately anyway.

I found a new moderate/conservative black blog called BookerRising over at Deans World.

If you've missed Aelfheld


He's been weathering the storm standing watch over at Wards Place while Ward is watching roofs fly past in Fla.

The new, NEW Democratic playbook

From the Watley archives comes this new Dem re-invention:

Following the defeat of presidential candidate John Kerry, the Democratic party has announced that it is completely revamping its platform in preparation for coming elections.

"A key issue in our defeat was our failure to articulate the core values of the Democratic party," said DNC chair Terry McAuliffe. "While the selection of my successor will of course play a role in defining the future of the party, we feel it necessary to let America know now what we are really all about, before we are written off as the next Green party."


The new platform eschews all attempts at walking the line on potentially controversial issues, and instead attempts to connect with what Democrats suggest are a set of "values all Americans can agree upon." This includes, and indeed is entirely limited to, a broad statement of support for "puppies, rainbows, and flowers."


And why not?
They've hollered and yelled about all their other versions of policy( and still couldn't get their message out) that they may as well try this one.
Yes, I think they should go for the soft and cuddly now- they've shown that the only time they are meanspirited is when it's looking at what America is about.

Another picture statement blog

Except this one HAS something to say to the islamo-fascists.


H/T Second Breakfast
Via the Vodka Pundit

Still waiting

I'm reading about these so-called moslem leaders and social groups:

*Terror Strikes London

July 7, 2005

Free Muslims Coalition

(Washington, D.C., 7/7/05) The Free Muslims Coalition (FMC), a national Muslim organization with 15 chapters world wide, condemns the London terror attacks and calls on the silent majority of Muslims to stand up against the terrorists who commit evil in their name.

*PMU Statement on the London Bombings

The Progressive Muslim Union of North America (PMU) categorically condemns the terrorist attacks in London of July 7. We mourn the loss of life and injury there as we do everywhere around the world. We offer our condolences and prayers to the families and loved ones of all those affected by this brutal attack.

*Arab News:
The barbaric terrorist attacks in London yesterday were condemned by all civilized nations. In addition to condemning the atrocities, Muslim and Middle Eastern leaders were among the first to send messages of support, sympathy and solidarity with Britain.

Etc, ad-nausium

But, here is a realist on the "Religion of Peace":

And that's why Muslims everywhere face a test in the next several hours. Assuming we're serious that Islam means peace, we must demand that our Friday khutbas denounce the London terrorist explosions in unambiguous and unqualified terms.

Here's what I predict will happen instead. The preachers will express condolences for the victims and condemnations of the criminals. Then they'll add, "But Britain should have never invited this kind of response by joining America in the invasion of Iraq."

And not one public demonstration
As I said, I'm still waiting for the mass protests against this terrorism like that greeted a lie about mis-use of a book

On a bit more liberating note

The ACLU lost an "anti-religious" lawsuit by someone who was "offended" by a Christmas display.

Oddly enough, it was a court in Boston.

What I have a real problem with is that these people who are so, , , ummmm delicate that they have to complain about something that they either happen to see, or go out of their way to be offended by(religion) have NO problem with anything else.
They don't raise a stink about the moral decay of our society-
-the slutty look of young girls (and I like a nice shape- but too young is too young)
- the gratuitous violence in any film or video game,
-the vile language being forced onto anyone with-in earshot
- The separation of education from government schools- replaced by the "theory of the period".
-The tax funded NEA "art":
-Performance of giant bloody tampons, satanic bunnies, three-foot feces and vibrators. — NEA-funded performan

— A novel depicting the sexual molestation of a group of 10 children in a pedophile's garage, including acts of bestiality, with the children commenting on how much they enjoyed the pedophilia. — NEA-funded publisher

— Christ submerged in a jar of urine. — NEA-funded exhibit

— A female performer inserting a speculum into her vagina and inviting audience members on stage to view her cervix with a flashlight. — NEA-funded performance

— A performance of large, sexually explicit props covered with Bibles performing a wide variety of sex acts and concluding with a mass Bible-burning. — NEA-funded performance (canceled by the venue in response to citizen protests)

— A show titled "DEGENERATE WITH A CAPITAL D" featuring a display of the remains of the artist's own aborted baby. — NEA-funded exhibit

— A play titled "Sincerity Forever," depicting Christ using obscenities and endorsing any and all types of sexual activities as consistent with Biblical teaching. — NEA-funded exhibit

If she's "offended" by a religious display, I'n sure she finds no problem with:

— "Kiss it." — governor of Arkansas to state employee

— "For most Americans ... (war with Japan) was a war of vengeance. For most Japanese, it was a war to defend their unique culture against Western imperialism. ... Some have argued that the United States would never have dropped the bomb on the Germans, because Americans were more reluctant to bomb 'white people' than Asians." — Smithsonian exhibit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of VJ Day, later modified due to protests

— "Anglos consolidated their control of New Mexico, acquiring huge holdings from the original owners through fraud and manipulation." — Smithsonian exhibit

— "Ignored were the less honorable aspects of California history — the profiteering, revolts against Mexican authority and Indian massacres." — Smithsonian exhibit, comment on the painting "The Promised Land — The Grayson Family"

— "This predominance of negative and violent views was a manifestation of Indian hating, a largely manufactured, calculated reversal of the basic facts of white encroachment and deceit." — Smithsonian exhibit

— "In the Americas, sugar meant slavery." — Smithsonian exhibit :either.

I'm daring anyone to tell me -aside from being a socialist ploy to remove any kind of religion from public life- WHY is someone offended by a religious display, but NOT raising anything else I mentioned to the same level of "offence".

Tell me the difference.

List via Anne Coulter

WHy don't women listen?



------------------This post deleted for marital harmony-----------------

(UPDATE July 12 2005 7:00PM) I called - - - Kohls is "required by law" (really? I thought they were gouging because they could) "to unless someone in your family is going into the military". So, after paying the other half next month, it's adios Kohls card, and we'll use a card that's not "required by law" to charge 21%. I only told Mrs Trainwreck to get it anyway to get a credit history, I'm sure Visa, or any major card would let her use theirs- IF we wanted more than we need.

( UPDATE July 12 2005)---Yes I am in trouble for this post

The "Religion of Peace" has shown their "love of diversity" yet again

I'm not sure what their aim was this time, last time they pied an election- this time I'm sure it's going to bite them in the ass.

I feel for the Brits, I have 5 of them in my house right now. All those terrorists did was solidify the will of freedom loving people on both sides of the Atlantic. Did they think that a handfull of bombs would scare the Brits into caving? The Empire who withstood the Zepplin and Gotha raids of London in the War to End all Wars? The Nazi bombings that near wiped out the East End? They're used to looking for terrorist bombs and dealing with the aftermath- They have Ireland.

Now you Islamo-fascists want to TRY to destroy the English resolve?
That might happen- - - AFTER the widespread islamic protests against terrorism.

Is anyone else getting tired of the ads on Drudge?

I've got Firefox w/ pop-up blocker, my IE has pop-up blocker and I've got SpywareBlaster, but I'm still having to delete the ads from that site. I guess it's time to cull my bookmarks. You know, go for a good news site instead of a kind of sensationalised gossip column.

Late Independance day post

I'm running behind in my blogreading, but came upon this at Iowa Hawk who let Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi(yes the terrorist) post a 4th of July greeting. It sounds alot like the left over here- well exept for the carbombs.

Trans oceanic perspectives

As I've mentioned, wifes' dad and brother are visiting untill the 10th. Some observations.

* They both can't believe how wide and straight the roads are here- and (relativly) uncrowded. -English roads (and their interstate) grew from cowpaths thousands of years ago.
* Since we live in the country, the unreality that we can step out the back door with our rifles and plink at targets- and how good the 14 yr-old is with her hand-me-down .22!
* 4th of July fireworks and parades- they don't have "organized" fireworkes.
* Fajitas!
* How it's so clear and dark that you can see the smallest stars.
* How quiet and peaceful it is out here.
* Wildlife- deer, roadrunners, humming birds, coons, possums, armadillos.
* Peanutbutter AND jelly- "wonderful, we'd never think of combining them"
* Biscuits and gravy
* The Alamo! (dad's a big John Wayne fan)
* The heat- it's amost 100 degrees in the shade.
* The price of gas- it's about $4/liter over there now - don't you feel lucky?
* The stores open after 8PM and on Sundays.
* Grorcery baggers (they do shopping daily- and bag it themselves)
* Pick-ups and SUVs- how abundant they are here

Just thought I'd update you on the visit.

One thing they don't like is the tax. They're used to the VAT- what the pricetag says- you pay. They had to get used to adding tax to the price.

How American are you?

You Are 87% American

You're as American as red meat and shooting ranges. Tough and independent, you think big. You love everything about the US, wrong or right. And anyone who criticizes your home better not do it in front of you!

How American Are You?

via Denita

I hope everyone had a good Independance day

Even if you had a mediocor one, it was better than the one I had.

Happy independence day!

I thought I'd just post an image of the Declaration of independence, but decided to remember how we spread our ideals.

By returning our favor to France in the first part of this last century.

By freeing most of the world in WWII.

We and our allies tried to do the same in Korea.

And we tried in 'Nam , but got blindsided at home.

I can't say much about the mideast in the 80's and 90's.

This guy was called a war monger, but finished throwing the yoke of communism off uncounted millions by using a backbone, and never spilling (our) blood in fruitless glory.

We tried in
Kosovo, but that turned into an unreported "quagmire".

And last but not least, is Afghanistan and Iraq,;where we are doing a hell-0va job taking one nation out of the 14th century and showing the entire region that they, too can govern themselves through self will.

I'm hopeful that there will be more to write about next year, as long as we remember that we ARE independent Americans first- no matter what your party.
We've recognized that communism socialism doesn't work longer than we've been a country, and I hope the folks in DC will continue to remember that the first attempts at socialism in America failed miserably- (where it almost killed the dream before it could begin); and don't try to renew it again.

*I know there are lots of mistakes, but I have to be at work at 4AM to get things ready for the 4th parade* God Bless America- again.

Do you think there's a reason that 5 of the six are guys?

In these reflecto-prOn?


Not realy safe for work- if your boss wants to look REAL close.

And ,no I'm not spending alot of time here.

For the lack of anything better. . .

A new Army Captain was assigned to an outfit in a remote post in the African desert.

During his first inspection of the outfit, he noticed a camel hitched up behind the mess tent.
He asks the Sergeant why the camel is kept there.

The nervous sergeant said, "Well sir, as you know, there are 250 men here on the post and no women. And sir, sometimes the men have "urges". That's why we have the camel."
The Captain says, "I can't say that I condone this, but I understand about "urges", so the camel can stay."

About a month later, the Captain starts having his own "urges".

Crazy with passion, he asks the Sergeant to bring the camel to his tent.

Putting a ladder behind the camel, the Captain stands on the ladder, pulls his pants down and has wild, insane sex with the camel.

When he's done, he asks the Sergeant, "Is that how the men do it?"


.

.

.

.


No . not really, sir...They usually just ride the camel into town where the girls are."