philoshop

I spent 20 years in Buffalo and generally found the people to be friendly and courteous. When the Bills win the eyes sparkle a bit more, the smiles are a bit wider, and the day-to-day common courtesies seem to be a bit more heart-felt. Congratulations to the team, the fans and the city for making it to the playoffs!!

Fish dinner?

I appreciate the news update. I had the opportunity to meet and chat with him several times. He knew more about white-tailed deer than anyone else I've ever met. Very sad day. Condolences to the family.

What leftist media outlet gave you that particular talking point? If it was intended as sarcasm you might want to identify it as such.

That's it Biz! You do what is best for you and yours. Always.

It's as much about the social factor as it is about the actual fishing. Kind of like an all-day tailgate party without being distracted by having to watch a game. Dress for it and have fun. You meet up with people you only see a few times a year, everybody's got a grill and a cooler of their best venison recipes so you wander around for samples. The fish fillets off the grills couldn't possibly be any fresher, and the occasional snort of bourbon couldn't taste better. Sometimes it's not so much fun, like when the wind is howling, but most of the time it's a good experience.

My buddy and I had about a dozen spots with natural springs that stayed clear of ice during the winter. We were running trap lines anyway, so might as well carry the shotguns too. It was a lot of walking and exhausting work, but I only remember the good parts. Oh, and a Popeil Pocket Fisherman with a snag hook for the dead ducks in deeper water. ;-]

Pulling the 6" wide head of an angry Northern Pike through a 6" hole in the ice can be pretty exciting. There was a time when I lived for that as much as any other outdoors experience.

I'm not a hacker, and I would have no knowledge at all of how to access that information. A close friend of mine is a retired NYSP Captain who mentioned the vulnerability to me while we were discussing the SAFE act when it was passed. Their IT system is so broad that security in the gun registration part was not generally a top priority. I hope it's seriously on their radar after nearly five years, though, considering the information they're collecting. I'm making no accusations here, just relaying information. That said, it probably wouldn't be a good idea try to re-certify on a Wi-Fi connection at the local coffee shop either.

He should hold hands with his brother Chris. And they both should land on the deck of a garbage scow. Fitting end.

If your Dad is okay with it, go for it. Sounds like a nice tribute to some old buddies, but some people don't like to be reminded.

I spent a lot of years as a part-time musician, and New Years eve was generally just another work night. It was usually fun, and I miss the extra money. I also miss meeting my friend Jenny at Anacone's Inn on Bailey Ave at 3 in the morning on Jan 1st every year, but that's a separate story.

I'm not sure it really matters whether the recertification is done on-line. The entire database is essentially available on-line for anyone who knows how to access it. Just sayin'.

I sincerely hope you find someone to mentor you. It can be rewarding on many levels. You might try finding a couple of "general stores" or diners where the old-timers drink coffee and chat. Maybe go to some fur auctions after this season and make some friends. Trapping is not inherently difficult to do, but it's not easy to learn either. It's mostly a matter of learning how to get stuff done when you're soaking wet, numb to the bone, exhausted from snow-shoeing, able to accept the fact that others will steal your gear, the general public hates what you do, and the reward at the end of a tough day is hours of skinning, fleshing, and stretching hides. If it was easy the folks in D.C. would be doing it.

I have no way to post pics any more, but my folks got me a cool wrought iron sign with a couple of crossed revolvers and the words, "We don't call 911" to hang on the house. It absolutely terrified my sister in law, which was the best gift of the day.

You have to put a couple of rounds through it just to say that you've fired it, though.

For some reason I'm picturing you in a manger swaddled in rags and taking aim at some sheep and goats with your bow..... Happy Birthday!!

Nice Christmas present for the little guy. Are going to teach him how to stand sideways like Bones does in your avatar? Nice work on the bunnies, Paula. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

The traditional 'elite' media; ABC, CBS, NBC will come around. Their viewers are older and generally wiser. CNN and MSNBC cater to an entirely different (generally anti-American) crowd and will likely never see the light. JMO

Merry Christmas everyone!!

I have no idea how that piece ever ended up on the air, but I'm certainly glad it did. It's almost like the 'elite' media might just be dialing back their anti-Trump propaganda. :-]

A lot of upper income people in the deep blue high tax states like NY, NJ, CT, CA.... are going to feel a pinch, for sure. At least in the early days until the paycheck catches up with the loss of the deductions. I feel bad for the folks who didn't vote the "high tax" officials into office to begin with, but the blame needs to fall entirely on the "Limousine Liberals" who have kept these states dependent on the SALT deductions in order to subsidize their poor voting habits and propensity for virtue signalling. I think, overall, the tax plan is good for the country. I also think that 4 or 5 states (who overwhelmingly voted for Clinton BTW) should not be able to control national policy. Thank God for the Electoral College in presidential elections.

Obama was so intent on diminishing America's position in the world that he actively aided and abetted two of the worst terrorist factions on the planet. I watched this movie in real time, but it's nice to see a left-leaning source (Politico) actually write about it.

I have a friend who's a Pakistani Muslim legal immigrant. He did the work to get here. I've done construction work for him in the past on a number of his mini-mart/convenience stores. He's a good guy who has adopted American values in most every way. When I asked for his thoughts on 'chain migration' recently he said, "F*** no! My brother's a radical Jihadi who doesn't belong in this country, and if he ever tries to get in I'll be the first one to speak up against him being allowed to come here."

It's a very simple tactic used by anti-hunters (and most leftists on political issues as well) to get their message out. They're allowed to blatantly lie in their news reporting. What these guys were doing was not hunting by any stretch of reality. It was poaching, plain and simple, and reporters are somehow allowed to call it hunting. The guy who mowed down people on the bike path in NYC was not simply a 'bad driver' either. A lying media is the most dangerous thing in this country today.