Greybeards Gripes

I just finished ordering a book by,  Elman, Robert. BAD MEN OF THE WEST. [THE LIVES AND TIMES OF RENEGADES, BANDITS, RUSTLERS, AND GUNFIGHTERS WHO MADE THE WILD WEST.

My father told me a long time ago, that his Grandfather was listed in this book,  but we were never able to find it.  Crediting the wonders of the Internet,  (this is my third try to find the book via the Internet),  supposedly I’ve finally connected with a seller who has the book,  Q.M. Dabney & Co. .

I’m interested to see what the author has to say about my Great Grandfather,  “Wild Bill Ellis”.  My Dad was always under the impression that he was a rough and tumble lawman.  If there’s any good info about Great Grandpa Ellis,,   I’ll do a later post on him.  NOTE:  As far as I know, no relation to Wild Bill Hickok, of Ellis County.

AuGres River Ice Report: It’s been very cold for at least 72 hours.  4 days ago,  the river was open.

Today,  1-21-08,  at 4pm,  there are around 3 to 3.5 inches of clear blue ice,  out about 15 ft from shore.  I wasn’t ready to go any farther out to deeper water and current,   make your own choices.

Ammo Ordered:  Sellier and Bellot 147 gr. .308,  13.23 a box,and Greek manufactured 30.06 M-2 ball from 1988,  6.39 a box,  from www.cheaperthandirt.com.   I didn’t plan or ordering anything until at least early spring,  but it looks like this might be the last chance to beat the big price increases on ammo.

I just ordered an “Easy Troller Trolling Plate” for use on the old SeaRay next spring.  Theoretically, it will get us down to very low speeds, without dragging a sea anchor,  or using a kicker motor.  It’s a bit odd to be thinking about trolling for Walleye,  when this morning’s temperature was 2 degrees, but I’ve also been reading up on trolling methods.  Cabela’s Field Guides,  have a lot of useful info.  Of particular interest for today, was the article on Dipsy Divers.  I think I’ll be adding a couple or more to the boats fishing arsenal. 

A very quick Point Lookout Harbor/AuGres River report would sound like this:

A day or two day’s more of the kind of weather we’ve had for the last 48 hours,  will get the river,  and probably the inner Bay,  back into ice fishing condition.    The high today was about 14,  and the low near zero,  with temps like that predicted for the next 2 or 3 days.  

BRRRRR!

GB

I just visited Horus Vision on their website.  Very interesting information.

I highly recommend trying their demo’s.  The interactive target shooting game demo, is particularly interesting.  If you have any interest at all in shooting at a thousand yards or more,  these people have the product for you. 

Well,  I voted.  I’ll keep my current preferences to myself,  but I can assure you,  that I didn’t vote for one of the two dumocratic choices we were allowed to choose from.  If I had been inclined to vote Dumocratic,  I certainly wouldn’t have, after the “party” pulled all of Michigan delegates.  (kinda makes voting for one of them irrelavent, doesn’t it?)

The big problem is ALL of the candidates scare me in one way or another.  Huck,  sounds good,  but just might be a little to religious to honor “Separation of Church and State“.    I don’t really know enough about Thompson.  McCain and Romney,  both are pretty good and saying what they think people want to hear,,  but is either of them sincere?  They both have extended bouts of being Constitutionally challenged.

Maybe Uber Judge Thomas should have ran,  at least he understands and honors the Constitution! 

I have an idea for a little flash card that all polititions could carry in their shirt pocket for reference.  Something like:

The Citizens of the USA

(note,  not “American’s” , CITIZENS!)

(a cheat sheet for Dummies)

Are Guaranteed;

1. Freedom of speech and religion.

2. The right to carry arms for defense of self and country.

3. They don’t have to board solider’s in their homes.

4. They cannot be unreasonably searched or their property unreasonably seized.

5. A guarantee of  right of due process by law.

6. If charged, they shall be granted a speedy public and fair,  trial.

7. They can only be convicted by a jury of their peers.

8. Excessive bail, fines, or cruel unusual punishments shall not be imposed.

9. Any one of these rights,  cannot overide or diminish another.

10. Powers not given to the Federal Government by the Constitution,  are reserved for the States and the people.  (The power of the FED. is limited)

This was an impromptu attempt at a cheat sheet for all of our new polititions.  It’s a little ruff in places, if you can improve on it,  please do.  It could easily fit in a shirt pocket.  Maybe,,  some of them could benefit from it. 

~~>GB

Could think of any other way to title it?

LawDog  pointed out the electronic bag pipes, and I was duely impressed.

As for Sonic Booms,  tonight I we heard our first sonic boom in years.   We heard jets flying around earlier,  sounding very close.  Then about 9pm  a sonic boom,  loud enough to shake the windows in the house.  (Over Point Lookout Harbor, near AuGres, Michigan).  I was under the impression that the Air Force base in Oscoda was closed,   so if anyone has an explaination why we’d be hearing fighters and sonic booms,  I’d really be interested.

~GB

I’ve taken a quick visit back to my PC game playing days,  by downloading Alien Arena.  I also pulled down Wolfenstien Enemy Territory.

Enemy Territory,  appears to be an online only game,  and I wasn’t able to find a server that actually had other players logged in and playing.  Alien Arena on the other hand,  is online based, but allows single player play.  It’s a fair first person shooter,  but get’s a little jerky when there’s a lot of action.  The graphics aren’t anything special,  but it moves along pretty fast,  obviously based on the Wolfenstien type of game play.

Kind of fun,  but I’m not as good as I used to be. 

~~>GB