Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

If you were going to create/breed new stock that would bring you recognition, what stock would it be?

This question intrigued me. The first thought out of my head was, who do I know that is recognized for creating a new breed? Hmmm, nobody. Does anybody create a new breed? I know there are some people that have designed a new cross breed and called it a new breed but are they recognized by the common cowman or even more, famous for it? Not really.

So, what would it take to be recognized or even famous for your work? Is that really what I want to do? Do I want to be famous? Not really. There are a lot of people out there that want there 15 minutes of fame, have you ever seen one of those lame reality shows, but I am not really interested in that. Should I be? Are you? If you are interested in being famous, why? What would that get you that living your present life to the best of your ability doesn't give you?

Another thought, do you have to have ability to be famous? For most people it helps but what about famous people like Paris Hilton? What ability does she have? The ability to be an idiot? There doesn't appear to be much ability there but she is definitely famous. What does this say about our culture that somebody with so little ability has such fame?

Anything I have ever done in my life I have done a damn good job at. I do everything to the best of my ability and I have a lot of ability, but to be recognized or famous has never been a goal of mine. I suppose if I wanted to be famous I would.

Talking about being famous leads my thoughts to "heroes." Did you have a hero when you were growing up? Someone you wanted to be like? My Darling Wife and I have talked about this many times and we are in the same boat when it comes to heroes. Neither one of us can remember having one. There was nobody we wanted to grow up to be like. We were happy with who and what we were and went from there. Did my lack of a heroes when I was growing up lead me not to desire being famous? Not growing up admiring some famous person, did this stunt my desire to be famous and gain recognition in my life? Is wanting to be famous or be recognized a normal human desire that all humans want, or is it something only certain people strive for?

So, I don't have an answer to this question. I am not interested in fame or recognition. Above and beyond that I don't believe a person can " create" a new breed or stock. Cross breeding is an established trait and anybody can do it. A little hard to gain recognition for something the guy down the road could do to if he wanted.

I don't like the idea of famous people. Kristin Hersh

I was visiting with a guy the other day and he made the comment that he had heard they were having to sell mother cows in California due to the drought there. He said he couldn't figure out how the droughts were so much worse nowadays and right away people were having to sell cows.

I responded by asking a question. Are the droughts so much worse than they used to be or are cattle producers so running to the limits of their grass that any diminution of the grass causes them to not have enough? I remember many years ago people didn't run as many cattle in this area as they do now. They have to run more cattle/acre to pay for the higher prices that everything costs, fuel to vehicles, insurance to clothes.

So which is it, are the droughts worse or are cattlemen running more cattle? The guy I was talking to wouldn't commit but it gave him something to think about?

I'm not allowing my perspective to be dictated by the dominant culture. Holly Near

I had some thoughts and questions about the recent Brucellosis issue in Montana.

I was really wondering if the seven cows that tested positive were vaccinated for brucellosis? This was the case in Wyoming when they originally discovered cattle near the park had Brucellosis. It was in all ready vaccinated cattle. Yesterday evening I had the answer to this question delivered to me so it was a question no more. I've heard a little more about the situation from the proverbial horse's mouth. My source of information informs me that the cattle that tested positive were vaccinated against brucellosis. So this leads to another question, why the hell do we bother to vaccinate if the vaccine isn't very effective? I realize that there are quite a few people in Montana that don't vaccinate but there are a lot of people, including me, who do. Why do we bother if apparently the vaccine has a failure rate of 35%? Something to think about.

Another question, why is it necessary to destroy the whole herd of cattle for a few cows testing positive? This doesn't make a lot of sense. When they originally eradicated brucellosis in the state they took blood sample from all the cows and only destroyed those that tested positive or tested suspect twice. Why can't they do that here? Why not bleed all the cows and only destroy those who test positive? Wouldn't this make more sense than randomly destroying all the cows for just being in the wrong place at the wrong time? It sure would to me. The government doesn't look at it that way though. Killing them all is just easier. They are going to destroy this whole herd of cattle and the owner more than likely will get no compensation for it. They vaccinate their cattle for brucellosis and still will have to sacrifice them to the all powerful government because it is easier on them. This should change.

The cattle that tested positive for brucellosis had been in the Paradise Valley near Emigrant. According to the information I've heard, the cattle were a lot closer to Yellowstone National Park than Emigrant so it sounds to me like the reservoir of brucellosis infection that is Yellowstone National Park is more than likely to blame for this little outbreak we are now having. Whether this infection comes from the bison or the elk, I don't care. The problem is the reservoir of infection that is allowed to exist in the Greater Yellowstone Area. I don't have an answer on how to clear up the brucellosis problem in the park. Between the elk and the bison in the area, there are too many wild animals spread over too large of area to control. Ignoring the problem of the brucellosis infection in the Park will not make it go away. It just prolongs the problem and costs people like the ranchers who cattle are going to be destroyed a lot of money and heartache.

Question everything. Maria Mitchell

I have been approached by a commercial entity about using some of my photographs on some of there web pages. Does anybody out there know how this works? The individual said my pictures are of value so I need to get the value out of them if he uses them but he is not sure how to structure the deal either. This is a new deal for him too. I know I would prefer some kind of use deal instead of selling them but I don't know how it's done. I thought I would ask the question here in case anybody knows something about it.

A prudent question is one-half of wisdom. Francis Bacon

Some things that quickly caught my eye.

When did the Doomsday Clock, which was used to show the threat of a nuclear cataclysm, begin to be used to show environmental catastrophe? I was not aware of this change, not that I'm in the loop on this one. It seems like an.........interesting change.

Did you know that there is going to be an increase in deaths in affluent households in 2010? That's what some people are claiming.

Congress must act to discourage a year of mysterious accidents in affluent households

I wonder if they mean that old people will kill themselves or that the heirs will murder them? I don't even know what to say about such a claim. How can they ethically make such a speculation? Alluding to murder or suicide is just unbelievable to me.

Why do some lawmakers want to do away with same day voter registration? Sure it made for some long lines but it was a success. The people generally like it. What, are they afraid it's going to come back and bite them in the ass next election?

People could be opening a fine kettle of fish in respect to water rights. How do you figure priority dates in respect to ground water and over how large of area it might affect things. This could have far reaching implications for our dry corner of the state.

I've kind of wondered about how the over worked crime lab in the state was going to handle all the DNA samples this new law would require. Sounds like they would really have to upgrade the crime lab to do it. Any bets on whether the Legislature will do that? I doubt it, the legislature always like to expand it's workload but not give them any more money to do it with. Typical politicians thinking. Politicians thinking, isn't that an oxymoron?

Does anybody know which landing strip the Feds want to close that prompted our Congressman to attempt to ban them from doing it to any rural strip? Something like this proposal is always brought about by some action and I would just be curious to know what. Doesn't really make a difference to me, just more useless information for me to mull over.

Take these useless thoughts and throw them out the window somewhere. That's about all they are good for.

He is useless on top of the ground; he ought to be under it, inspiring the cabbages. Mark Twain

I have a question that I hope somewhat out there can answer for me. What's the big deal about New Years?

This ought to tell you how clueless I am about popular culture because I can't figure out the whole thing about New Year. Today is just another day like yesterday. A day to be savored and enjoyed since there will be no other day like it ever again. A unique and wonderful day that follows a different unique and wonderful day the day before. The only difference is the number in the Year. Not a big deal in my opinion.

A large majority of the people go out and party on New Year's Eve in some strange ritual I don't understand. I never have figured out the reason for the party. Are you celebrating the end of a horrible, rotten year and drowning your sorrow in booze, or are you celebrating the change in the number on the Calender in desperate hope that somehow things will be better? These things have never made sense. Drowning your sorrows in booze never accomplishes anything and hoping things will be better without changes in who you are and how you do things is fruitless. Just because the number in the Year changes doesn't mean things are going to be better without changes in yourself, to think anything else makes no sense.

Then last, why is this strange ritual in the middle of winter? To me the New Year begins when the calves are hitting the ground, the grass is getting green, and the trees and bushes are budding. The earth is showing signs of new life after the cold, hard winter and a "New Year" is upon us to enjoy and nourish. This is a New Year that makes sense to me. Admittedly, this type of New Year happens at a different time in every place in the world but at least it makes sense to me.

This ritual popular culture has us celebrating is bizarre to me and makes no sense. Today is not a New Year, just another day the cows need feed, chores need done, and life needs to continue, just like yesterday. What's the big deal?

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. Bill Vaughan

P.S. So what is a person who flat doesn't care about New Years called, a stick in the mud?

Sex abuse of girls is stubborn scourge in Africa

Thirty miles outside this down-at-the-heels seaside town, Justin Betombo tends his vanilla plants and cheers the local soccer team as if he had not a care in the world. And in fact, what was once his greatest worry has been almost magically lifted from his shoulders.

In the local prosecutor's office, a file filled with accusations that he had sodomized his 9-year-old niece has vanished.

Mr. Betombo was arrested in 2003 after the girl, Kenia, said he had savagely assaulted her. The police obtained his confession, which he later recanted, and a doctor's certificate that Kenia had been sexually violated, rendering her incontinent and anorexic. Twice they sent the case file to the prosecutor.

There matters ended. Mr. Betombo attended one hearing in the prosecutor's office, but Kenia's parents say they were not told about it. The records are nowhere to be found. And Mr. Betombo walked away a free man. Kenia's parents, distressed by what they saw as a travesty of justice, asked that her name be published, hoping that her case would set an example.

It's a hard story to read that's for sure. What's the answer? Wish I had one. Does anybody out there have any answers? I don't see how throwing money at the problem will help. What really struck me was the parts about having to pay the cops to get them to investigate the situation. How can that attitude be changed?

A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy? Albert Einstein

Canada reports new case of mad cow disease

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed on Wednesday a new case of mad cow disease in Alberta.

It is Canada's fifth case in 2006 and the eighth since 2003, when the disease was first found in this country, officials said.

I continue to find it interesting that Canada has such a problem with BSE and in the US, with a much larger herd, we have only had a couple of native cases. I still think COOL here in the US would help with this situation. Let the consumer decide if they want to limit their beef consumption to one country or just buy meat from wherever. I personally think the typical consumer only cares about the price of beef and not considerations such as where it's from or disease that they will most likely not contract.

This will sure get RCALF going again on this BSE/Canada issue again. Let's check it out.

BSE Confirmed in Alberta Beef Cow

Today the Canadian government confirmed bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in another Alberta beef cow, making this the ninth BSE-positive animal of Canadian origin.

“R-CALF has been saying all along that it appears the prevalence of BSE in Canada is a lot higher than anybody anticipated,” said R-CALF USA President and Region V Director Chuck Kiker. “This raises a tremendous amount of concern, especially in light of the fact that it does not appear Canada’s meat and bone meal ban, or feed ban, was effective.

“With numerous cases of BSE in older Canadian cows, and the four cases in animals born after Canada’s 1997 feed ban, Canada could continue to discover BSE cases for years to come,” he added.

I sure wish R-CALF would put this kind of effort into stopping our government from forcing NAIS down our throats or enforcing the Packers and Stockyards act to prevent the meat packers from screwing the farmers and ranchers. But they feel the BSE/Canada issue trumps all. Awful short sighted if you ask me. They need to open their eyes to other problems.

We must open our eyes and see that modern civilization has become so complex and the lives of civilized men so interwoven with the lives of other men in other countries as to make it impossible to be in this world and out of it. Franklin D. Roosevelt

Rains fail to bring end to drought conditions

Recent rains aren't enough to snuff out the fire danger in the region.

It's definitely no time to be complacent, said Hoyt Richards, southern land office area manager with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

Excuse me!!! What did I miss. What rain are we talking about. It's been months since anything resembling moisture fell from the sky. Did I miss a memo or something?

Don't wait for the last judgment - it takes place every day. Albert Camus

I again post my woes about trying to get the Democratic US Senate candidate Jon Tester to answer my questions regarding agricultural issues at the Federal level and his positions on them. The reason I bring this up again is the excellent response the Monica Lindeen campaign, the Democratic candidate for the US House, returned when I asked the same questions to her. A few of the issues are still outstanding with her but the majority of the questions I have received an answer to.

I've asked this question before, received no adequate response except the comment to leave Tester alone, he's busy, and I ask it again. If Tester is such a man of the people, especially agricultural folks, why won't he answer simple questions like his position on NAIS or his position on the farm bill and the goals the farm bill should be supporting? These aren't tough questions to answer so why can't I, a registered voter in Montana, get an answer? The Lindeen campaign feels my vote is important enough to respond to the questions with useful information. Why not Tester? Am I not supposed to vote for Tester on the issues he supports or am I just supposed to vote for him because Conrad Burns is a liar and a crook?

I personally want more information on the issues and am getting sick and tired of waiting for it. If the Lindeen campaign can respond to my questions in less than 12 hours why can't the Tester campaign do the same? The only reason I can figure is Tester doesn't want to talk about the issues, just about whether he's prettier than Burns or not. A beauty contest, how sickening.

Voters don't decide issues, they decide who will decide issues. George Will

Where does the problem lie with opening up the markets across the sea to US Beef? With the Cattleman not ID tagging their animals or the big meat packers who keep shipping meat overseas that doesn't meet the standards for importation into other countries?

HK suspends beef imports from U.S. processing plant

Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced on Saturday that it would suspend immediately beef imports from Swift Beef Company, a processing plant in Colorado of the United States.

The decision was made following the discovery of beef imports with bones from that plant during last night's inspections by FEHD' s Airport Food Inspection Office, a department spokesman said.

"Beef imports from the United States was resumed on Dec. 29 last year. According to an agreed protocol, only boneless beef from cattle less than 30 months of age, with high risk materials such as brain and spinal cord removed during slaughtering, could be imported from designated plants approved by the United States.

"We will contact the relevant authorities for more information concerning the beef imports in question," he said.

We lose Japan as a market because a meat packer shipped banned items and now another market is at risk for the same reason. The USDA/meat packers need to fix their problem before it drives the whole cattle business under water.

So, how would the ear tag the USDA/meat packers want to mandate I use to help keep foreign markets open, prevent the meat packer from stupidly shipping meat with bone pieces in it to a foreign country that doesn't allow it? You got it, it doesn't. The meat packers need to step up sanitation and inspections in their plants if they want to maintain foreign markets, not drive the producers in this country out of business with this NAIS scheme.

Look to your own house first before you come into mine to fix your problem. I can't fix things you break.

There is always an easy solution to every human problem-neat, plausible, and wrong. H. L. MENCKEN

Cross posted to No Mandatory Animal ID

Some would say these quotes describe the US. Any thoughts.

Ask yourself why totalitarian dictatorships find it necessary to pour money and effort into propaganda for their own helpless, chained, gagged slaves, who have no means of protest or defense. The answer is that even the humblest peasant or the lowest savage would rise in blind rebellion, were he to realize that he is being immolated, not to some incomprehensible noble purpose, but to plain, naked human evil. Ayn Rand

There are four characteristics which brand a country unmistakably as a dictatorship: one-party rule- executions without trial or with a mock trial, for political offenses- the nationalization or expropriation of private property- and censorship. A country guilty of these outrages forfeits any moral prerogatives, any claim to national rights or sovereignty, and becomes an outlaw. Ayn Rand

I have a question to ask that I have never been able to find an answer to.



In the foreground of the above picture on the fence line you see a rock sticking up out of the ground. You will find rocks sticking up out of the ground in various places around the ranch and they are cornerstones. Cornerstones mark the corner of sections when they surveyed this country but not all corners have them, just some.

The question I have falls with the stone in the picture though. It is a "cornerstone" but it's not in the corner of a section. It is in the middle of the section line. So, is this stone still a "cornerstone" or is there another designation for it since it falls in the middle of the section? Mid-section stone? Doesn't have quite the ring if you ask me. Any ideas out there?

A prudent question is one-half of wisdom. Francis Bacon