left field

As a former animator who grew up on Looney Toons, got to meet a few guys who worked at “The Termite Terrace” (and two of Disney’s “old men”), and still laugh like hell at “Duck, Rabbit, Duck”, Elmer Fudd without a gun is the stupidest thing I’ve heard all day.

That really just brings up so many images.

Sorry, how so? I was riffing off Dr. J’s comment and thinking of that old Twilight Zone episode where the elderly couple go to trade up to younger bodies.

I look forward to my sexy robot body. Good luck, Bionic.

Just caught up on the last six months and I’m curious about something, Bionic. How do you write/type? Do you have that much dexterity in the cool hand?

I have a few years before I hit Rattler’s age but Christ, I hope I don’t get that crazy.

Long post. In 2012, I was driving from CA to NY and my schedule took me to DC for the night. I had a few hours in the morning and wanted to see the Mall so I had a cab drop me off at the Lincoln Memorial. Now, as a Canadian, I didn’t have a personal or cultural relationship with the monuments, though I was aware of them all, seeing them in the media my entire life. It was an intellectual relationship at best. As I ascended the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial, I was struck by the increasing weight and solemnity of this tribute to a man seated but also looking like he was about to stand to greet me. It was early and I was fortunate to be alone as it would seem sinful to speak in such a reverent space. From there I walked to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Now I knew this was a wall of names carved into black granite but what I didn’t realise was that the memorial was essentially below grade and you descended as the wall of names grew taller until they overwhelmed you. At the bottom you were forced to see your reflection in the granite among the names of the dead. This was one of the most powerful monuments I’ve ever seen After that, I came across the WW2 Memorial and the point of this story. I’ll be honest, it’s not a particularly impressive memorial or space, especially compared to what I had just seen, but as I approached a few buses of WW2 veterans pulled up. I stood aside and was humbled to silently witness these men slowly make their way—some with canes, some in wheelchairs—to the names of the towns, theatre, battles that define them as young men. Time was pressing, so I rushed to the Air and Space Museum and could only poke my head into the lobby, but damn ... The Spirit of St Louis, Apollo 11 module, Wright Brothers plane ... how the hell do you guys still have the stuff? I hailed a cab and headed back to my hotel. As a Canadian I was left with only three words .... America, fuck yeah.

You’re like the Storm of Delaware County - show up at the GTG but stay in the parking lot taking notes on everyone. Damn, man. It was a beautiful day yesterday and you had nothing better to do than sit in your car and spy on people just to collect evidence for your continued one-note diatribes? Do you secretly work for OANN? Here are some random shots of the event taken by friends. Note that no one was clumped together and everyone wore a mask. If you were truly there you would have also noticed the street marked with places to stand that allowed for social distancing. From the organisers: **PLEASE WEAR A MASK & PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING. We will meet at the Courthouse Square at 1pm for brief remarks. Following, we’ll disperse to marked points along Main St., which will provide the recommended 6ft social distancing to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. Also, this social distancing measure will spread our messages down the length of Main St.

That’s bloody great news.

So apparently, that original story is wrong. That isn’t Wes Perkins but a 77-year-old guide named Glenn Bohn. He was hunting with his son when this all went down. THC just did a podcast with the son, Brett, who tells the story of the attack and how he got his father to the hospital. Only one major surgery on his face and he was out of the hospital in a few days https://www.themeateater.com/listen/the-hunting-collective-2/ep-126-bear-attack-turned-urban-legend-the-true-story-behind-the-gruesome-images-that-shocked-the-internet-with-bret-bohn

No idea. Can’t tell if this is a family or a group of friends. It struck me as people are talking about mobs coming down the street and this seemed to fit. Again, they seem to be standing on their own property watching the street. it’s impossible to generalise any of this. You want video of black looters? Look here. White looters? Look there. Cops busting heads for no reason? Here you go. Cops holding hands with protestors and dancing? Try these.

I don’t have context for this but they’re not in public, at a rally or protest. Or breaking the law as far as I can tell. They’re standing on their porch remarking that an armoured vehicle just drove down their street followed by troops screaming at them. They barely had time to react when the order “light ‘em up“ is given and they are fired upon.

To me that looks like an average suburban street and not a riot area. Just curious if people would obey that “lawful” order and vacate their porch.

What if the mob has matching uniforms and is "ordering" you off your porch?

He might have squeaked by with 100,000+ Covid deaths and his incompetent response, but not with the pseudo tough guy postering of the last few days. Then again, I've been wrong before. The danger - and I truly believe this - is that he may try and burn the whole thing down before he accepts the loss.

I would happily take two 2019s and move right into 2021.

CHECK Before you leave a river, stream or lake, check all items and leave debris at the site. Bag and trash it; do not wash down drains. CLEAN For non-absorbant items like fishing tackle, either clean with a five percent solution of dishwashing detergent, a two percent bleach and water solution, or soak for at least twenty minutes in very hot water. For absorbant items like clothing and felt-soled waders, the soak time is longer to allow for thorough saturation. Either soak in very hot water (113 degrees F) for 40 minutes, soak for 30 minutes in hot water with dishwashing detergent, or freeze the item solid. When you are finished with the cleaning solution and water, dispose of well away from any waterways. For boats, drain all water before leaving. When you are away from the water body, disinfect live wells, bilges, cooling systems, hulls and decks with a solution of bleach and water, (1/2 gallon of bleach in a 5-gallon bucket, then fill with water) and allow at least 10 minutes of contact time. Then rinse well, preferably with hot water. If hot water is not available, allow the boat to dry for at least five days before entering a new water body. For absorbant items like clothing and felt-soled waders, the soak time is longer to allow for thorough saturation. Either soak in very hot water (113 degrees F) for 40 minutes, soak for 30 minutes in hot water with dishwashing detergent, or freeze the item solid. When you are finished with the cleaning solution and water, dispose of well away from any waterways.

Joan Wulff is a phenomenal caster. Here's Williams fishing for Atlantic Salmon. For those old enough to remember, it's narrated by John Facenda, the voice of those great '70s NFL films. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MiPagrXzA

You don't need tickets. It's held at the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club in Golden Gate Park and open to anyone. It's a very cool event and club. I lived in SF for a couple of years and would cast there a few times a week. Some of the best anglers and casters in the country came out of that club including Mel Kreiger. Spey-O-Rama

Two-handed casting ... not quite the same. I attended the World Spey Championships in SF for a few years. It was amazing how far they could cast a line.

Proper footwear is important as well.

Honestly, you don't need the DH in trout fishing. But ... Find a pond with a wide straight bank and stand perpendicular to it. Feed some line out and lay it out to the right. Now using the water as drag, cast to the left mimicking a forward cast. In other words, you're taking the overhead cast and laying it flat on the water in front of you. This way you can see and feel the DH action. As you get better, raise the line higher and higher. You can see Joan Wulff do it here: https://vimeo.com/70578415 Another approach.

Driving through a caddis storm.

A little reading: https://books.google.com/books?id=KUhNmll8aeQC&pg=PA19&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false

I assume you’re doing a loop-to-loop connection between the line and leader. If so, pick up a 7’ 3x leader. Leave it or cut about 12” of the tippet off and tie a perfection loop. Use that as your streamer base leader and add extra tippet via another perfection loop for the fly. You don’t need a long leader for streamers. I will sometimes go down to 5’. Or pick up a sinking leader and tie the same loop at the tippet end. This leader should last a few seasons.