philoshop

I appreciate the input Mike. Thanks for making people in that area aware of issues beyond the presidential primaries. That's what it's about: making people aware, and getting them to the polls.

It's important to be aware.

Today is the day that NYS residents vote in the presidential primaries, both Democrat and Republican. It's a 'closed' primary, so you have to be registered for one party or the other to vote today. Not a political post, just a public service announcement.

Tractor and equipment maintenance... and celebrating the first day in 8 months that I didn't have to tend the wood stove.

The hunting shows are a lot like the woodworking shows or the home improvement shows: They make the end result look easy, without showing the prep, the setup, and the knowledge required to get there. They glamorize the end product in order to lure people in, and they're sponsored by people who want to sell stuff. It's just marketing and business, and an extension of the 'infotainment' industry. BTW, the Popeil Pocket Fisherman actually works.

As long as they bring their own food I love my vegan/vegetarian friends. More meat for me. I make it clear up front that a special bowl of quinoa or a plate of raw kale and algae is not to be expected at my grill parties.

A good list Larry.

The idea for this lawsuit was being floated two days after the event. Interesting how it's creeped back into the news now, in the middle of a highly contested presidential race.

Mostly just reloading supplies at this point.

How do you think the 'sin' taxes were imposed?

It's been 35+ years or so, but I used something like this: (Just a random internet photo BTW) The 'reel' I used was bigger and mounted so that I shot through it. I made it from an old tricycle wheel that was salvaged from the local junkyard, and used fly-rod backer line. It certainly doesn't have to be high-tech to be fun. Then again, we also considered an old can with string wrapped around it to be a legitimate 'fishing pole'.

That government lawsuit ended with the MSA (Master Settlement Agreement), whereby the state governments and the tobacco companies agreed to share tobacco profits. That led to the issuance of state bonds that were dependent on continued tobacco sales that were actively being curtailed by other state and federal agencies charged with cracking down on smoking. Very weird stuff. 10's of Billions of dollars in play, and possibly the financial ruin of a few states if smokers actually quit. The advent of personal vaporizers and products like Snus are being attacked not because they're unhealthy alternatives to smoking, but because they don't pay like smoking. This is really interesting stuff if you want to get into it. It's a case study of government dysfunction and obfuscation.

In most ways you're exactly right jrm. Professional politicians have no right to run our country. They're not suited for the job and they generally have no interest beyond their personal bank accounts. That's why they've become professional politicians. It's easy money if you know the game. Serving your country was always intended to be a personal hardship, undertaken for patriotic reasons. The days of having to ride for several days in a horse-drawn coach to get to Philadelphia may be gone, but a stick-in-the-eye rabble-rouser is exactly what we need to shake some sense into the current establishment.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2014/05/19/the-highest-paid-public-university-presidents-2/#59890aeb1dec http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/mens-basketball/coach https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/get-there/wp/2015/01/26/what-the-top-1-percent-makes-in-every-state/ Do I need to go on?

It's just a very large peep sight.

Hydro axe would turn it into a golf course hazard. Or a view from a subdivision. No good. :-] Just some little 10 or 15 foot loops, side-handed and parallel to the shoreline. It's not purist fly-fishing form but it's a lot of fun when they're in the shallows.

I don't think Thurgood Marshall would have approved of Martial law. ;-]

No paranoia here. Just a very healthy concern for my country.

It's interesting that the people who complain about the 1% of the wealthiest Americans somehow forget that many of those in that 1% are college administrators, or college coaches, or college union leaders... or the politicians who put those very same people in power. Keep paying and they'll keep taking. Dissonance writ large.

You're not paying attention.

Looks like a fun spot for a fly rod and some poppers.

I worked my butt off before-hand (7 years) to save money for undergrad, and worked every day to pay for grad school. Then I worked some more for post-grad, shuttling between Chicago and Buffalo for TA positions and delivering pizzas or doing carpentry on the side. This was 30+ years ago and things have certainly changed, but I knew going in that it wasn't going to be 'easy'. Wishes based on unicorns and rainbows aren't going to save the country, or the planet.

More cats, or more people looking for them and counting them? The article is unclear.

Thanks for the tip. I'll look into that.

Sounds like a winner! Don't forget the spare batteries and cards for the camera. Looks like a fun place for a photo shoot.