Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

A new kind of computer attack that is very unique has surfaced and is called "ransom-ware." The hackers encrypt files on your computer and will provide you the key to un-encrypt them once you pay them off. You have to give them points for originality, if nothing else.

Originality is in the eye of the beholder. Mason Cooley

I got a few branding pictures ready. Nothing spectacular just a few good shots My Darling Wife got so thanks go to her. We rope all the calves, when the guys aren't having trouble with their ropes, and drag them to the fire. Once to the fire the branding gets done.

Towards the end of branding some of the little calves are getting tired of being in the corral and this one found a novel place to try to rest. He never did look very comfortable but he wouldn't give the spot up either. These calves were just wondering if they were done yet.

We finally got them all done and My Darling Wife served up a great dinner, even the horses enjoyed their lunch at this time.

The only problem with the branding day was the wind was blowing very hard but since it has been wet enough there was no dust so that was nice. We got them done for another year. On to the next chores.

Work, work, work, is the main thing. Abraham Lincoln

The Beast

The Beast is put to rest today after many years of faithful service. It's continuing power problems have finally been diagnosed and the prognosis was grim. The engine is shot. The cost of repairs are more than the tractor is worth so on to the happy farm ground in the sky it goes leaving the dilemma behind, "HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO GET MY FARMING DONE NOW?" I'm sure The Beast really doesn't care but it's a problem I am going to have to figure out.



Let them rest in obscurity and peace! Let my memory be left in oblivion, my tomb remain uninscribed. Robert Emmet

High Court rules beef checkoff constitutional

Ok, call me naive but I really am surprised by this ruling. The whole lawsuit was based on the fact that as beef producers we are required to fund a "message" sponsored by the Government whether we agree with it or not. This sounds like a violation of a producers freedom of speech but the Court has decided it doesn't. Now all the legal Mumbo Jumbo behind this is a little beyond my simple mind but I found this comment interesting over at SCOtUSblog

Today’s decision is likely to be extremely significant for First Amendment jurisprudence, as it signals that the government has a free hand not only to communicate its own views without oversight by the courts but also to require financial support for that communication from a discrete segment of the population.

The decision creates an interesting divergence in First Amendment law that may have substantial consequences in the future. The Court has previously held (in cases like Abood and Keller) that the government cannot compel private financial contributions in support of a private message. The contributions, the Court reasoned, were akin to compelled speech. Those rulings provide the doctrinal foundation for the United Foods decision.

Today, the Court held that the same rule does not apply to forced contributions to support governmental messages. The reason for the different rule is not entirely clear, but is apparently that the government can require support through generalized tax revenues, and it makes no difference if the assessment is instead targeted. In most First Amendment contexts, of course, the Court deems it more objectionable – not less – that an individual is being required to support a governmental message.

So how it works is that the Government cannot compel people to pay for a private message but they can force people to pay for a Government message. Our freedoms at work, isn't it such a wonderful thing.

Coercion may prevent many transgressions; but it robs even actions which are legal of a part of their beauty. Freedom may lead to many transgressions, but it lends even to vices a less ignoble form. Karl Wilhelm Von Humboldt

P.S. I will point out that I don't have a particular problem with the Beef Checkoff but I do understand and support those people that do have a problem with it.

UPDATE: Some reactions to the decision can be found here. It shows me how out of touch the Montana Stock Growers is with the cattle industry in Montana. I was originally going to say they weren't in touch with thier members but they have all ready driven people out that don't like the checkoff so they aren't members anymore.

I think he needs tossed out a vehicle at 70 MPH and see what he thinks. Assuming the story is true of course.

No punishment has ever possessed enough power of deterrence to prevent the commission of crimes. On the contrary, whatever the punishment, once a specific crime has appeared for the first time, its reappearance is more likely than its initial emergence could ever have been. Hannah Arendt

I have been talking about the drought here in Montana and the west. There is also other parts of the world having the same problem and the one I keep picking up on is Australia. I now find an interesting story about Goulburn running very low on water and how Sydney is even starting to have water trouble because of the drought in Australia. We sometimes need to remember these things affect others in the world and not just our little corner of it.

Water doesn't flow if it's level, and people won't complain if you treat them on the level. Chinese proverb

Some more pictures I took the other day. These are pictures of some of the fire damage from a couple of years ago and how it looks this spring. I will try to get a few branding pictures up in a few days. Continue reading "Fire Pictures" »

WE WON! Just got in, calves all branded and everything else is done. Now wait for my turn at the hot water. Hopefully I will be able to sleep tonight.

:I have finished my combat with the sun;And my body, the old animal,Knows nothing more. Wallace Stevens

Today we brand the big bunch of cattle. It's going to be a long day but we will win. I have been doing odds and ends all week to get ready for it and I haven't been sleeping well and my backs been hurting. Subconscious reactions to the stress of branding I know but it's just the way I am. I am sure I will be too busy for pictures but maybe My Darling Wife can get some when she gets there. I will give an update tonight.

The day is short, the labor long, the workers are idle, and reward is great, and the Master is urgent. Aboth

I don't know anything about the Fischer-Tropsch technology which produces oil from coal, but it sounds too good to be true.

Schweitzer envisions a plant where the state-owned Otter Creek coal reserves are located in Powder River County. It would cost $2.5 billion to build a private project over two years with 5,000 construction workers, he said, citing Pentagon estimates. About 1,000 people would operate the plant permanently, not counting those working to mine the coal to fuel the plant. Such a plant would produce 30,000 barrels of fuel daily.

......

The coal-conversion process produces no air pollution, uses no water and creates electricity as a byproduct. The petroleum fuels produced could be shipped out of state by pipeline.

I don't know of any manufacturing process that uses no water and produces no air pollution. Sounds like a dream but I will give anything a chance until proven otherwise.

A few other thoughts on this to ponder. I mentioned the NPRC just yesterday and you can bet your bottom dollar that they will fight such development tooth and nail. Just the idea of development anywhere in southeastern Montana raises their hackles.

5000 construction jobs and 1000 permanent jobs exclusive of the mine itself, you want to talk about growing pains in poor Ashland Montana, this would create it.

I would be curious to know what the Amish community in Ashland would think of all this development.

It kind of sounds too good to be true but we will see where it goes. trying to find a private concern that wants to spend BILLIONS of dollars doing this could be real tough if you ask me.

The development of technology will leave only one problem: the infirmity of human nature. Karl Kraus

Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer - and often the supreme disappointment. Ansel Adams

I have talked before about being opposed to the Coal Bed Methane (CBM) development that is proposed in my area of the state. There has always been one thing that has made me real uneasy about opposing such development and has kept me from being more vocal about the issue. By opposing CBM development I am on the same side of the street as the Northern Plains Resource Council (NPRC) and this worries me since NPRC has some radical positions.

The petition says the NPRC "has gone to excessive and obstructive lengths" in its "self-assumed watchdog role in the development and utilization of various natural resources in our state." It accuses Northern Plains of aligning itself with "radical environmentalists" whose goal is to wipe out agriculture with the aim of "rewilding" large areas of land.

I seen this in the paper this morning about a group who supports the CBM development and while I don't support the development, I do agree with the quote that NPRC is in bed with the "radical environmentalists" and has a goal of reducing the agricultural potential of the land.

I know quite a few of the people in the NPRC mostly by reputation and their views about agriculture and the environment are flat scary. While I don't support CBM development, I will continue to be fairly quite on the issue because of the NPRC's involvement in the issue. I don't want to be seen in bed with such a radical organization.

A radical generally meant a man who thought he could somehow pull up the root without affecting the flower. Gilbert Keith Chesterton

I truly believe that I reside in God's Country. Continue on if you want to see what I mean. Continue reading "God's Country" »

Right or wrong the filibuster has been part of the Senate tradition from the start of this country. Efforts to do away with this option when it comes to Judicial nominees are wrong. The Republicans need to remember what goes around, comes around. One of these days they will be the minority party again and want this option in their arsenal. But thinking ahead probably requires too much thought.

Planning ahead is a measure of class. Gloria Steinem

I think I understand now.

Dick Dasen Sr. said he never paid for sex and he was motivated only by altruism when he gave money to women who had none. Having sex with them was unrelated, he said.

So giving women money and getting sexual favors isn't prostitution. Unique strategy is all I can say.

Understanding replaces imaginary fears with real ones. Mason Cooley