Random Thoughts

Posted by Greybeard on Feb 10th, 2009 in Days of Old, News and weather | 3 comments

Imprimis came today,  with an adaption of a speech by Rush Limbaugh.   First off,  I’m not a listener of Rush.  Not that I wouldn’t listen if the opportunity arose,  I’m just not near a radio that often, with time to listen.  The intro goes like this:

“Rush Limbaugh launched his radio broadcast into national syndication on August 1st, 1998, with 56 radio stations.  Twenty years later it is heard on nearly 600 stations, by approximately 20 million people each week, and is the highest rated national radio talk show in America.”

And this is the guy,  the Liberal’s want to legislate off the air???????

Also in the mail,  was a letter from the “UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust”.   (Note:  I worked for over half of my career under the UAW for Generous Motors).  With the problems GM has been having,  a year or so ago we recieved notification that GM was shifting the burden of our retiree healthcare to the UAW and of course, GM was going to generously fund this new Benefits Trust.   Well,  I wish I would have written down my thoughts when I heard this news.   Today,  approximitely 1 year before the UAW takes over management of our healthcare,  I get a letter from them.  This gist of the letter breaks down to something like:   We’re reminding you of the fact that in about a year,  we will be taken over the management of your health care.  We’re also reminding you that GM has genererously prefunded a trust (for us to manage) that will pay for your healthcare.  We’ve been recieving cash payments, and investing them wisely, with all intentions of being able to fund your healthcare long into the future.  (THEN THE SHOE DROPS)  Unfortunatley, (I had to go back and look to be sure they used the word “unfortunatley”) recent ecomomic downturns,  have had a great affect on this plan.  (Ya know,  I sorta ken that as sounding rather ominous).  And in closing,  we’ll let you know next year,  if you still have any healthcare.

Now this is almost word for word the way I would have written it,  the day that I heard our healthcare program was changing management hands. 

Another thought for today,  I hear Obama’s Socialist Stimulus package finally got through,  all I can say is,  I hope it does some good,  even though history has proven that it won’t,  (and we, our children, and their children, will be paying for it for many years to come).

Finally,  a link from Brigid,  sent me over to “America’s Outback“,  and the photo that greeted me sent me immediately into revery about my lost pal “Grifter”.  I’ve likely written about Grif before,  and he still crosses my mind on a quite frequent basis.  He was 120 lbs of long lanky Rottweiler.  Protector, confidant, friend, companion.  Cancer took him at 8.5 years old,  but it was a good 8.5 years.  This painting of him,  hangs over the entry to our dining room.  (painted by Kim at Dog a Day )

 click for full size.

Do it for your kids

Posted by Greybeard on Feb 9th, 2009 in News and weather, Shootist | Comments Off

Five rounds of Self Defense 

I’ve sent the link to mine.

Minor temperature variations

Posted by Greybeard on Feb 7th, 2009 in News and weather | Comments Off

48 hours ago,  it was minus 9 degrees.  Today, it’s currently 50 degrees!  This is the warmest day we’ve seen in at least two months. (actually the first day above freezing)  There’s a good west wind blowing,  and the snow is melting fast.  The river,  still has about 9 or 10 inches of ice on it,  but there’s six inches of water on top of the ice.  The Perchville festival is going strong in East Tawas,  with good ice, (but definately a little messy).  This one wanted to go real bad,  but we figured the cold water,  the wind, and not being able to run around like mad,  would just make it to cold for her.

P.S.  Note that:  Port GreyBeard   (a blogspot blog),  has become the jump on point for this blog.  Doing this allows me to use some of googles rather cool features.

You can get here,  either way http://greybeard.igogg.com , or http://greybeardsgripes.blogspot.com .  I just get to use the blogspot features if you come in through the “Port”.

Glitch is unGlitched !! What to do on a 3 degree day.

Posted by Greybeard on Feb 5th, 2009 in News and weather | 1 comment

 

What to do on a day that that the outside temp. averages 3 degrees.  (Doc orders say stay inside).

Well,   I’m currently listening to Gun Nuts Radio,  and whining about the stock market and my PSP.    In the foreground of this photo of my sidedesk,  is a 1/150th scale model, (partly finished) of the clipper ship Cutty Sark.  In the backround,  is it’s name sake,  (lubrication purposes).  It’s amazing how many tiny parts there are to paint and install (with tweezers),  and,  I’m not even to the hard part yet.  (rigging the sails)

Other activities include reading.  My most recently read magazine article, being from the March 09 Guns and Ammo.   Titled:  “A Brand New Spin“,  it’s all about Ruger’s revolutionary new polymer framed .38 +P revolver.   I’ll leave the details to G&A,  but it sounds like a very interesting new spin on wheelguns.  It scales out at 13 oz’s and they say it doesn’t kick!

Glitch continues

Posted by Greybeard on Feb 3rd, 2009 in News and weather | Comments Off

For the time being,  I’ll be moving over to Port GreyBeard,  at least until we get WordPress back order.