The 13th edition of The Rascal Fair is up over at Craig's place. As usual in Craig style it is great. Go over and read around Montana blog sphere. I noticed Matt says the Fair was on vacation. If it was I wasn't aware of the fact. I have been entering the Fair every time it's up. It's a regular thing for all you that are wondering. Keep your eye here and I will keep you up to date. The next fair is 09/06/2005 and Randy will be hosting. See you there.
If you visit your friend, why need you apologize for not having visited him, and waste his time and deface your own act? Visit him now. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tuesday, August 23. 2005
The Fair
Beef News
I saw recently that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) wanted to allow the importation of Japanese beef in to the US. I thought this was laughable since they are a beef starved country and have very little beef to export to the US. I assumed they were just doing it to try to get the Japanese market open to US beef and accepted that as a price of doing business. R-Calf was going to oppose it and that should be enough.
Now I see the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is opossing this move too. Has the NCBA grown a set of gonads or what? I personally don't think so, the big meat packers that control the NCBA have no stake in letting Japanese processed meat into the US so they are opposing it. It isn't like cheap Canadian beef which they want to process and make a ton of money on so it's no big deal to them. I am just suprised the NCBA took a stand on the issue, it's so rare for them to oppose what the USDA wants that it is note worthy.
One other quick note, I see the Canadians shipped a cow over 30 months of age to slaughter in the US against the import rules established for bringing Canadian cattle into the US. For "safety" reasons some beef was recalled because of it. I know this case violated the rules and needed to be acted upon but really, you have a better chance of getting hit by lightning than you do of getting BSE. Was all this really neccassary?
Business is thirty percent patience. Chinese proverb
Now I see the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is opossing this move too. Has the NCBA grown a set of gonads or what? I personally don't think so, the big meat packers that control the NCBA have no stake in letting Japanese processed meat into the US so they are opposing it. It isn't like cheap Canadian beef which they want to process and make a ton of money on so it's no big deal to them. I am just suprised the NCBA took a stand on the issue, it's so rare for them to oppose what the USDA wants that it is note worthy.
One other quick note, I see the Canadians shipped a cow over 30 months of age to slaughter in the US against the import rules established for bringing Canadian cattle into the US. For "safety" reasons some beef was recalled because of it. I know this case violated the rules and needed to be acted upon but really, you have a better chance of getting hit by lightning than you do of getting BSE. Was all this really neccassary?
Business is thirty percent patience. Chinese proverb
Do Over
One of those days yesterday. You know those do over days. My personal vehicle died on Sunday so I had to find a way to get it to the garage to fix it. These damn newer vehicles are so complicated you can't work on them. My Darling Wife borrowed my father's vehicle to go to Billings and guess what happened to it. It died in Billings on her. This tends to get My Darling Wife just a wee bit excitable. I managed to get somebody to get her going again and she made it home. Battery problem in that vehicle, new one is in order.
Luckily I was at home to help her because I was busy sitting around waiting for the scale guys to come and fix the scale. They got it fixed but I dread getting the bill for it. They come all the way from Great Falls so the mileage is a killer.
In between all of this while checking water for the cows we had a flat tire and the cows had knocked the hose lose at on well so it had been pumping water all over the place for quite a while, wasting propane and water while wearing out the engine all for no reason.
Finally late Western Ranch Supply showed up with all the stuff I ordered to work on the corral to get ready to ship. Quite a pile of work he delivered. Fifteen 20' panels, 5 large gates and all the assorted hardware for it. Luckily I have enough railroad ties on hand to do the job. It should take about 30 of those and I have 35 so I don't have to get any of them. We got it unloaded and then had to change the tire on his vehicle because it went flat while it sat there. Another flat tire, I hate flat tires. Good thing it happened here, he had help to change it which helps a lot.
Didn't seem to get much accomplished today but spend money. A do over kind of day.
I am fairly tired-bored beyond endurance-by the world we live in, and its ideals, and am ready to say so, not violently, but kindly, as one rubs salt into the back of a flogged sailor as though one loved him. Henry Brooks Adams
Luckily I was at home to help her because I was busy sitting around waiting for the scale guys to come and fix the scale. They got it fixed but I dread getting the bill for it. They come all the way from Great Falls so the mileage is a killer.
In between all of this while checking water for the cows we had a flat tire and the cows had knocked the hose lose at on well so it had been pumping water all over the place for quite a while, wasting propane and water while wearing out the engine all for no reason.
Finally late Western Ranch Supply showed up with all the stuff I ordered to work on the corral to get ready to ship. Quite a pile of work he delivered. Fifteen 20' panels, 5 large gates and all the assorted hardware for it. Luckily I have enough railroad ties on hand to do the job. It should take about 30 of those and I have 35 so I don't have to get any of them. We got it unloaded and then had to change the tire on his vehicle because it went flat while it sat there. Another flat tire, I hate flat tires. Good thing it happened here, he had help to change it which helps a lot.
Didn't seem to get much accomplished today but spend money. A do over kind of day.
I am fairly tired-bored beyond endurance-by the world we live in, and its ideals, and am ready to say so, not violently, but kindly, as one rubs salt into the back of a flogged sailor as though one loved him. Henry Brooks Adams
Monday, August 22. 2005
Laundring Money
The big Texas cattle feeders might be helping launder drug money. I have no love for the Texas feeders that bring Mexican cattle into the US and sell them as a US product but I am sure they had no idea they were laundering drug money. If the justice Department starts seizing cattle it will get real expensive for people. The Texas feeders are quick to say they run a solid, reputable business but do they really know? This will probable put a little crimp in the business of importing cheap cattle. I won't complain.
I only do business with the people I do business with. The people I do business with find out I do business with the people I don't do business with.... I can't do business with you. John Guare
I only do business with the people I do business with. The people I do business with find out I do business with the people I don't do business with.... I can't do business with you. John Guare
Profiting From Speech
I read that a blogger, Jeremy Wright, has sold his blog, Wealthy Blogger, for $2000. I wonder how much I could get for mine?
I probable couldn't get a thin dime but the concept of people starting to sell their blog is very interesting. Makes a person wonder what might happen in the long run. I wonder what some of the really big blogs might be worth? Hard to figure.
Profit is sweet, even if it comes from deception. Sophocles
I probable couldn't get a thin dime but the concept of people starting to sell their blog is very interesting. Makes a person wonder what might happen in the long run. I wonder what some of the really big blogs might be worth? Hard to figure.
Profit is sweet, even if it comes from deception. Sophocles
Sunday, August 21. 2005
Huh?
90-year-old's wheelchair stolen
Maybe somebody out there could explain to me why someone would steal a wheelchair. This just totally baffles me.
I am disgraced, impeached, and baffled here. William Shakespeare
Maybe somebody out there could explain to me why someone would steal a wheelchair. This just totally baffles me.
I am disgraced, impeached, and baffled here. William Shakespeare
Pictures of Beauty
Click to enlarge. It's well worth it.
Now opposed to this is a picture from yesterday of a spider eating its prey that she got. Quality wise it is a great picture but the subject gives me the willies.
Here is one I snapped of a red rose. I printed it out and gave it to My Darling Wife and told her it's better then the real thing, it will never wilt.
The kids horse, Nylon, was not to sure he wanted to come into oats with the boy standing there. He usually means work for him and Nylon avoids that at all costs.
And last on the parade of pictures is a failure. I noticed yesterday morning that a full moon was out so I stepped out and tried to get a picture of it. The picture of the moon was a failure but look at what I got. The moon's light backlit two trees in my yard and gave me a wonderful picture. It might have been a failure if I wanted a shot of the moon but what I got was even better if you ask me.
Anything that excites me for any reason, I will photograph; not searching for unusual subject matter, but making the commonplace unusual. Edward Weston
Saturday, August 20. 2005
Stooges
USDA 'bunch of stooges'
Somebody must be reading my blog. This is the point I make about the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) all the time. They are not protecting the interests of the consumers or producers. They run the shop like their boss's, the big meat packing companies, want. This is bad for consumers and producers alike and something needs to be done.
A point I disagree with this article on is they credit Gov. Schweitzer for all of this. R-calf has been the point people on this for years and the Gov. is a late addition to the band wagon, but as long as we make progress for everybody I shouldn't complain who gets credit.
The brisk fond lackey to fetch and carry,
The true, sick-hearted slave,
Expect him not in the just city
And free land of the grave.
A.E. (Alfred Edward) Housman
"A few years ago, the four big meat companies, they expanded their role in this country. They bought a U.S. company called the United States Department of Agriculture," Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer said in an interview. "They are a bunch of stooges."
"The USDA crawled right into bed with them (the meat companies) and they run our internal policy and our international (beef) policy," Schweitzer said.
Somebody must be reading my blog. This is the point I make about the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) all the time. They are not protecting the interests of the consumers or producers. They run the shop like their boss's, the big meat packing companies, want. This is bad for consumers and producers alike and something needs to be done.
A point I disagree with this article on is they credit Gov. Schweitzer for all of this. R-calf has been the point people on this for years and the Gov. is a late addition to the band wagon, but as long as we make progress for everybody I shouldn't complain who gets credit.
The brisk fond lackey to fetch and carry,
The true, sick-hearted slave,
Expect him not in the just city
And free land of the grave.
A.E. (Alfred Edward) Housman
Hell Of An Idea
Wolves at The Door
Ever since wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone Park the mantra of locals is they ought to turn wolves loose on the East Coast so they can have some fun too. It looks like they might be getting their wish to some degree. It might not be in New York City but it is in New York. This article makes it sound like people are thrilled at the idea but I bet there is a lot of people that aren't. It would be interesting to hear the whole story.
Just as a side note I knew a gal from New York City who would just rail at the assumption us westerners would make that people in New York City are extremely liberal. She always said that all came from California and "The City" was not that way. I don't know but the whole story is interesting.
Truly an interesting spot to stand on,-if that were it,-though you could not sit down there. Henry David Thoreau
Just as a side note I knew a gal from New York City who would just rail at the assumption us westerners would make that people in New York City are extremely liberal. She always said that all came from California and "The City" was not that way. I don't know but the whole story is interesting.
Truly an interesting spot to stand on,-if that were it,-though you could not sit down there. Henry David Thoreau
Ethanol's Failure
Ethanol and the Calculation Issue
This is exactly what I've been saying all along. If ethanol production was a viable industry the private industry would be doing it without the needs of subsides or mandates. With all the new subsides for ethanol in the new energy bill we are just throwing good money after bad for an industry that can't compete.
No failure in America, whether of love or money, is ever simple; it is always a kind of betrayal, of a mass of shadowy, shared hopes. Greil Marcus
In the end, the federal government's subsidization of ethanol through various energy bills created the current debate over the efficiency of ethanol production. In an unregulated and unsubsidized economy, the market pricing system for ethanol consumption and the capital goods required in its production will soon signify if ethanol production represents an efficient and viable investment. Hence, the continual need for an ethanol subsidy implies that the latter criteria are not met in ethanol production.
If ethanol production were truly profitable it would not need subsidization because consumers would purchase ethanol-enhanced fuel at a price that would provide a reasonable rate of return to producers. This in turn means that the producers of capital goods essential to ethanol production would also receive a rate of return on their investment that would allow them to profitably continue producing capital goods essential to ethanol production.
This is exactly what I've been saying all along. If ethanol production was a viable industry the private industry would be doing it without the needs of subsides or mandates. With all the new subsides for ethanol in the new energy bill we are just throwing good money after bad for an industry that can't compete.
No failure in America, whether of love or money, is ever simple; it is always a kind of betrayal, of a mass of shadowy, shared hopes. Greil Marcus
Friday, August 19. 2005
Things That Don't Add Up
1. August 19 + dry Montana climate = Fog
It was foggy here this morning. In August of all months. This isn't right.
2. Private Property + No Trespassing = More pickup tracks than cow tracks in the Pasture I gathered this Morning
Someone(s) has been wandering around all over my far pasture. Tire tracks all over the place. Not just on roads but in places sane people would never take a vehicle. It just isn't right.
3. A Gate Left Open + Tire Tracks Not Ours + Dead Antelope = Some asshole out shooting game and leaving it lay.
It just isn't right.
Just a few things that don't add up today.
Right and proof are two crutches for everything bent and crooked that limps along. Franz Grillparzer
It was foggy here this morning. In August of all months. This isn't right.
2. Private Property + No Trespassing = More pickup tracks than cow tracks in the Pasture I gathered this Morning
Someone(s) has been wandering around all over my far pasture. Tire tracks all over the place. Not just on roads but in places sane people would never take a vehicle. It just isn't right.
3. A Gate Left Open + Tire Tracks Not Ours + Dead Antelope = Some asshole out shooting game and leaving it lay.
It just isn't right.
Just a few things that don't add up today.
Right and proof are two crutches for everything bent and crooked that limps along. Franz Grillparzer
Friday Cat Blogging
I just had to share a recent picture of my favorite cat, CP.
Continue reading "Friday Cat Blogging" »
Upcoming Fair
Calling all Montana Bloggers.
Calling all Montana Bloggers.
HURRY! HURRY! HURRY!
The next edition of Rascal Fair is coming up next week and Craig at mtpolitics is set to host it. Get your posts, good, bad or ugly, in to rascalfair@mtpolitics.net before Tuesday's deadline. See you there.
Being in a hurry is one of the tributes he pays to life. Elizabeth Asquith Bibesco
Calling all Montana Bloggers.
HURRY! HURRY! HURRY!
The next edition of Rascal Fair is coming up next week and Craig at mtpolitics is set to host it. Get your posts, good, bad or ugly, in to rascalfair@mtpolitics.net before Tuesday's deadline. See you there.
Being in a hurry is one of the tributes he pays to life. Elizabeth Asquith Bibesco
The Problem Is Obvious
States are continuing to see their authority stepped on by the federal government, something that not only curtails their independence in dealing with such matters as elections and education, but in the case of a new national ID card, could cost them financially, according to a new report.
In the report released Tuesday, the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan group meeting in Seattle this week, documents pending legislation that pre-empts state authority, a problem that many say has increased in the past few years.
Guess what, this is what happens when the Constitution is ignored for convenience.
U.S. Constitution: Tenth Amendment
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Freedom is not an ideal, it is not even a protection, if it means nothing more than freedom to stagnate, to live without dreams, to have no greater aim than a second car and another television set. Adlai Stevenson
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