January 29, 2013

It's 50 freaking degrees here tonight and it's raining like Hell!

I am used to weird weather here in the Manistee National Forest, but I have never experienced what I have the past two years. Last week it dipped below zero (fahrenheit) for the first time this winter -- most unusual. Usually January nights are nearly all below zero. Today, the mercury on my thermometer hit 50F and it is raining like hell.

Two days from now we will again see winter temperatures, so the forecasts say. Global climate change is not always warmer. The models say that it will likely be different. That's what we're seeing here. They're forecasting freaking thunderstorms in January here -- something I've never seen in my 64 years.

It sure is raining a lot, though.

January 29, 2013

"The Revisionaries" on Independent Lens.

I love me some Eugenie Scott. She's the real deal, fighting the battle against the idiocy put forth by the Texas textbook rubbish and his 6,000 year old universe, where Fred Flintstone dictates science. (I want those ribs which capsize the car... As long as they are served with spicy sauce.)

Great program. See it. And realize the extent to which religious lunacy has invaded our country.

on edit: title correction. Thank you, WhoIsNumberNone!

January 23, 2013

OMG! It's the Devil Chef!

Notice that, too?

Total gross out.

January 22, 2013

First below zero temps here in west MI this winter

Good morning, campers.
It's cold outside!

Got -3F this morning.
Prospective high today 7F, tomorrow 15F
Forecasted high next Monday: 35F

Trace of snow last night. It's very dry here. The rivers are low; so are the lakes.

January 9, 2013

Dueling posts!

Welcome to another golden era of liberal Senators Here on DU

And this one:
The fatally compromised progressive caucus
Here on DU

Let the chair throwing and defenestrations begin.

Or, better yet... Let's find a way to see our way forward in spite of our disagreements. As a liberal, President Obama isn't my best choice. But he's pretty damned good, even if. (No! I do not want to hear about your pet issues.)

We can support the guy we have, or I suppose that we could undermine him.

There is a lot that I do not like about him. But there is a huge amount that I do like about him. I think he sees things fairly well.

Now here's what's important. I trust him! even if I don't always agree.

That is what is important.

January 6, 2013

Marlene Dietrich bio documentary on THIS! right now

Will probably be repeated. This is an on-air network, but may be available online. Goes to 10PM EST if you can get it.

So far, it's wonderful.

THIS TV affiliates

This TV

On edit: Wow!! Just wow!

Look for this one if you're a Dietrich fan.

Here's the IMDB: Marlene Dietrich: Her Own Song

January 3, 2013

Happy Perihelion Day Everybody!

Today marks the Earth's closest distance to the Sun. Worth celebrating, I think. (Almost anything is worth celebrating, IMHO.)

Earth is Closest to the Sun for 2013 Today

Skäl, everybody!


on edit: Distance to Sun today = 91,402,560 miles.

December 22, 2012

DU GD is still gungeon. Gonna take a break here.

Guns, guns, guns.

I care, but I am sick of all the chair throwing about things reasonable people can both disagree and rationally discuss. Apparently, from the evidence of the last few days, I am wrong.

The DU community is, on some topics, unable to have reasoned discussion.

My bandwidth is near max and it just isn't worth the cost to return here to see the Gungeon mayhem raised to GD yet again.

We all know where we stand. We will all take the action for which we stand. Now is the time for action, not DU chair throwing. Do what you see is necessary -- as will I.

But I do not have bandwidth this month only to throw more chairs. That isn't my DU. I hope it isn't yours either.

See you all next year, when my bandwidth resets. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to you all. I will miss you dearly the next couple of weeks. But, it isn't worth the cost to ignore all the gun threads. I think we've seen all too many of them already this past few days. Bless you all.

Nota bene: I will likely not come back to respond too many times before New Years. But I would gladly like to see others support this thread. If you want to throw chairs, I will ignore it.

Thanks.

November 23, 2012

Black Friday even happens in the Manistee National Forest.

I went to my neighborhood country store this evening to get martini fixens, and a burger and curly fries -- a six mile drive each way, the closest commercial venture to my house. It is owned by a dear family friend who has a kind heart and continued to run this wonderful little store when her husband of many years died suddenly several years ago. My friend even stood up for me and my wife at our wedding. Sadly, after a decade, that marriage failed. But my endearing friendship with my wife and the store owner continues.

When I arrived this evening I noticed that the glass in the front door was plywood. Some asshats had busted into the store late last night and burgled the place.

My friend was still distraught this evening, but she was still there, doing her job. She said that she's insured, but she's lost her deductible, obviously not a small amount.

There are many people in this rural area who depend on this little store for basic needs, and during the warm months, ice cream cones with the locally made, and very yummy, Husonville ice cream. During the current hunting season the hunters go there for their needs, too.

But now Maxine and her staff have to worry about their livelihood, all because of jerks who think Thanksgiving is for taking what the want.

We see the same in the mobs at Walmarts and other shopping venues across the country. People hurt and actually shot -- indeed, we need more firearm carry rights!! -- all in the name of a bargain over a cell phone, or some sort, as has been reported here at DU.

I make no distinction between either of these people. They are all equally to be reviled and condemned!

Thanksgiving is about friends and family get-togethers. For camaraderie and love. I include DU as part of my family. I do love you all, too.

The things that have happened the last 24 hours disgust me. That it has effected me so personally is doubly dispicible.

I now wish I had gone into town today to picket at the local Walmart. At one time it was the only grocer in a town of some 10,000+ people, the three other major grocers being driven away by the dispicible Waltons. Now we have a second grocer, Meiers, another Walmart look alike -- and they are right next door to one another, like Bobsie Twins.

I prefer to shop at my little country store for my small daily needs, even though I pay a little more and I may have to settle for beans and Spam for dinner. Alternatively, I can get a decent home-cooked take-out, albeit a simple one.

My only other comment is:

My god! What have we done?

November 7, 2012

We dood it!

This is a great victory!