Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

Residents of Montana can sleep better at night now. State authorities have seized illegal gambling equipment in their zeal to protect us from the vice of gambling that they don't approve of. But wait, these devices were not being used for gambling and were just antiques.

SO WHY IN THE HELL IS IT NECESSARY TO SEIZE THIS STUFF!!!!!! It's not being used and is on display and for sale to other innocent people who like to own antiques. What, are we going to make antiques illegal next?

This is just another example of Government gone awry. There is absolutely no common sense being shown here. Just an unthinking urge to harass people in the state. What's next? Since my dining room table can be used for poker they will come seize it? Since the dice in my kids Monopoly game can be used for craps they will come seize the game? My playing cards can be used for poker they will come seize them?

Come on, a little common sense here. I know, common sense is a commodity to few people in this world have but lets interject a little here. Is that to much to ask? The real crime here is an unthinking, uncaring State abusing its power.

Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done. Josh Billings

President signs drought warning system

President Bush has signed a bill instituting the National Integrated Drought Information System, or NADIS, an early warning system that can help reduce the impact of drought. The legislation was introduced by U.S. Senator Ben Campbell of Nebraska.

An early warning system for drought. I'll have to see this one to figure it out. I will tell you right now that my area of the country is on trouble. It was a damn dry summer, followed by a little moisture in the fall and into what is so far a very dry winter. Snow pack levels are way down around the state of Montana and with the lack of moisture last year, slight El nino for the rest of the winter, we are definitely in the early stages of drought.

Is that an early enough warning system? A little common sense and people in touch with nature will figure this out easy enough. But, you know the government, spend lots of money to figure out what the common man knows.

Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done.Josh Billings

I've always jokingly told My Darling Wife the only way she is going to git rid of me is to shoot me. HA, ha, ha, that is until I saw this today.

Woman admits to killing husband

A woman who said her husband told her during a drunken argument that "the only way I'm going to leave you alone is for you to shoot me" did just that.

My only saving grace might be that neither one of us drink, but i had better watch my choice of words. They might get me shot.

I’m not afraid of death but I am afraid of dying. Derek Jarman

No, I'm not selling any but this story caught my eye.

Herd liquidation continues in South Dakota

Herd liquidation continues in South Dakota as the drought drags on. That’s according to Myron Williams, president of the Black Hills chapter of the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association.

Williams says herd liquidation is especially intense in the northwest and north central South Dakota communities of Faith, Mobridge and Herried. According to Williams, ranchers in those parts of the state have held on as long as they can, but have been forced to sell entire herds as the drought continues.

We've had a break in the drought here last year and kind of this year but I'm really beginning to wonder the way this year is going if it isn't coming back. I was never forced to sell my herd through the 8 years of drought we experienced but I sure had to cut down on cow numbers. I have worked them up a little but I am still not to maximum stocking rates and I am really beginning to think I need to cut down again. I should finish the year with some grass left which is always my goal, but not as much as I would like with the continuing drought situation threatening.

There were some people that had to sell out during the drought around here and seeing this going on in South Dakota now is tough. Having to sell all your cows would be a tough decision but you have to do the right thing by the critters. Letting them starve to death isn't right but it has to be heartbreaking to sell. My thoughts and prayers go out to these Cattlemen.

Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees. Victor Hugo

Rep. Ron Paul is at it again, asking for the impossible.

Bringing Sunlight to Congress

Before the US House of Representatives, March 3, 2006

Mr. Speaker, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis famously said, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.” In order to shine sunlight on the practices of the House of Representatives, and thus restore public trust and integrity to this institution, I am introducing the "Sunlight Rule." This measure amends House rules to ensure members have adequate time to study a bill before being asked to vote on it.

What a novel concept, allow Congressmen and their staffs time to review a bill before voting on it. I can see why the powers that be are scared of such a thing. People might discover the pork they shove in all bills before it's voted on. Rep. Ron Paul is always tilting at windmills and he is after another one here. I wish him luck and admire him for his courage and persistence. Go get them Ron Paul.

We assume a common sense as the necessary condition of the universal communicability of our knowledge, which is presupposed in every logic and every principle of knowledge that is not one of skepticism. Immanuel Kant