Dave Shuck said:
It's Friday for me! (kind of...)
I will be travelling to MN for a conference the next 4 days. Yeah so it is still work-ish... but it's not *work*!
I will be travelling to MN for a conference the next 4 days. Yeah so it is still work-ish... but it's not *work*!
Vaughn Tolle said:
Enjoy MN Dave; the Cities or elsewhere? It's a bit too early for the "state bird" to be out in force, so you might leave the DEET repellent at home.
Dave Shuck said:
LOL state bird!
Yes, I will be in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area for a convention with about 200 programming nerds like myself.
Yes, I will be in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area for a convention with about 200 programming nerds like myself.
lindainks55 said:
Many years ago my husband talked me into going on a fishing trip with him, our two sons, and his parents (Mom and Dad in law). It's late June and the SIX of us start off in a pickup truck with a topper, pulling a trailer, After many cramped miserable hours STRAIGHT THROUGH as we can't wait 'till we're on that lake with a fishing pole in our hand, we find the END OF THE EARTH -- a town named Orr, Minnesota. I hope I'm not misleading you here and making you think there was anything pleasant about the trip to this point!
The earth ends there and the process we followed was to load EVERYTHING we might need for the next 10 days onto a boat. Canoes on top on special racks, tent, sleeping bags, food... and us inside the rather smallish boat. It was raining. It rained all except two one half days of the next 10 days. After a couple of portages (I didn't know this word let alone the fact that you would actually travel so far into the boonies that you would get out of the boat, walk a distance on land to get to MORE water), we arrived at the Canadian Ranger station to report in. He keeps track of how many campers are there, where and such. Sooooo, IF a bear is sited or other such really scary nonsense he might be able to help. Argh! IF I had been able to walk on water I would have left then!
We camped on Lac La Croix, a massive border lake, stretching over 28 miles along the Minnesota/Ontario border. It not only rained it was COLD. Temps around 40ish, maybe 50 tops. When you're wet all the time it can be uncomfortable. When you're wet and cold it is pure misery. THEN, at the end of the afternoon you would hear a sound. This sound quickly got louder and louder. It was the mosquitoes coming. They were large enough that had they organized they could have easily picked up and carried away a tent filled with six humans. If you didn't heed the sound and get inside RIGHT NOW, you would be eaten alive.
There is sooo much to do inside a tent with two boys 10 and 12 and your Mother and Father in law! The light wasn't quite ample for reading or even playing cards (although we did lots of both), it was so cold you only wanted to snuggle deeply into the sleeping bag.
I'll stop now. There's much more to the story but it is as boring as this first has been. Well, except for the one half day of sunshine when I found this wonderful flat rock that gradually dipped into the lake. I decided to have a bath! Wayne was fishing rapids a short distance off, no one was around. I stripped everything off and crouched at water's edge on that nice flat rock. I could almost bear the cold of the water if I only splashed it onto me. NO WAY could I actually immerse in that frigid lake. So I'm all soaped up, beginning to feel human and I hear a noise behind me. A rustling noise. I had heard so many stories of bears I was instantly alert. As I turn around I see many feet, many legs, and there is an entire troop of boy scouts with canoes over their heads. This wonderful flat rock this completely nude and soapy woman was on is at the end of a portage. This troop of scouts who are currently only able to see straight down because of the canoe over their heads, resting on their shoulders is headed for where I am. Wayne says he has never seen a human dress so quickly! Did I mention I was covered in soap?
Enjoy Minnesota Dave!
The earth ends there and the process we followed was to load EVERYTHING we might need for the next 10 days onto a boat. Canoes on top on special racks, tent, sleeping bags, food... and us inside the rather smallish boat. It was raining. It rained all except two one half days of the next 10 days. After a couple of portages (I didn't know this word let alone the fact that you would actually travel so far into the boonies that you would get out of the boat, walk a distance on land to get to MORE water), we arrived at the Canadian Ranger station to report in. He keeps track of how many campers are there, where and such. Sooooo, IF a bear is sited or other such really scary nonsense he might be able to help. Argh! IF I had been able to walk on water I would have left then!
We camped on Lac La Croix, a massive border lake, stretching over 28 miles along the Minnesota/Ontario border. It not only rained it was COLD. Temps around 40ish, maybe 50 tops. When you're wet all the time it can be uncomfortable. When you're wet and cold it is pure misery. THEN, at the end of the afternoon you would hear a sound. This sound quickly got louder and louder. It was the mosquitoes coming. They were large enough that had they organized they could have easily picked up and carried away a tent filled with six humans. If you didn't heed the sound and get inside RIGHT NOW, you would be eaten alive.
There is sooo much to do inside a tent with two boys 10 and 12 and your Mother and Father in law! The light wasn't quite ample for reading or even playing cards (although we did lots of both), it was so cold you only wanted to snuggle deeply into the sleeping bag.
I'll stop now. There's much more to the story but it is as boring as this first has been. Well, except for the one half day of sunshine when I found this wonderful flat rock that gradually dipped into the lake. I decided to have a bath! Wayne was fishing rapids a short distance off, no one was around. I stripped everything off and crouched at water's edge on that nice flat rock. I could almost bear the cold of the water if I only splashed it onto me. NO WAY could I actually immerse in that frigid lake. So I'm all soaped up, beginning to feel human and I hear a noise behind me. A rustling noise. I had heard so many stories of bears I was instantly alert. As I turn around I see many feet, many legs, and there is an entire troop of boy scouts with canoes over their heads. This wonderful flat rock this completely nude and soapy woman was on is at the end of a portage. This troop of scouts who are currently only able to see straight down because of the canoe over their heads, resting on their shoulders is headed for where I am. Wayne says he has never seen a human dress so quickly! Did I mention I was covered in soap?
Enjoy Minnesota Dave!
Vaughn Tolle said:
For Dave; the current forecast for the Cities covering the time he'll be there!
TODAY
MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 65 TO 70. NORTHEAST WINDS 10 MPH.
TONIGHT
MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS AROUND 45. EAST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
THURSDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 65 TO 70. EAST WINDS 10 TO
15 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 45 TO 50. SOUTHEAST WINDS
AROUND 15 MPH.
FRIDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS AROUND 70. S UTHEAST WINDS 15 TO
20 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT
CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS AROUND 50. HIGHS 70 TO
75.
SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT
CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS 55 TO 60. HIGHS AROUND
80.
TODAY
MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 65 TO 70. NORTHEAST WINDS 10 MPH.
TONIGHT
MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS AROUND 45. EAST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
THURSDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 65 TO 70. EAST WINDS 10 TO
15 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 45 TO 50. SOUTHEAST WINDS
AROUND 15 MPH.
FRIDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS AROUND 70. S UTHEAST WINDS 15 TO
20 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT
CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS AROUND 50. HIGHS 70 TO
75.
SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT
CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS 55 TO 60. HIGHS AROUND
80.
Dave Shuck said:
Linda that is hilarious story. I am a big fan of the outdoors, but I will pass the next time you offer to take me on a fishing expedition to MN! Thankfully I am expecting a bit more posh surroundings on this trip with open bars, per diems, and wifi in the hotel room! :)
Vaughn Tolle said:
Linda, sounds like you were up in the "Boundary Waters" area. I've never been there, and really have no interest in going there for fishing, etc., as that isn't my particular thing. Wonder what the Boy Scout Troop talked about that night? :-)
Predestined said:
Not Minnesota, but Michigan for us. Battle Creek, to be exact. Not a camping trip, but a national ANG softball tournament. Three daughters, husband (the softball player) and I. It was August, and of course we had packed summer clothes. But the temp hovered in the high 50's and low 60's the entire time we were there. The girls had looked forward to swimming in the motel pool. Yeah, right. I found a Wal-Mart and ended up charging a bunch of clothes for the freezing kids. Jackets, jeans, whatever, with the excuse that they would be part of their back-to-school wardrobe.
And all it did was rain. And rain.
Linda, maybe we're just jinxed?
And all it did was rain. And rain.
Linda, maybe we're just jinxed?
Predestined said:
I can't remember a single time we camped when it didn't rain.
Anybody remember the huge county-wide power outage in the 90's over 4th of July weekend? We decided we might as well load up the boat and go to Cheney. We started setting up the (brand new 3-room) tent just before dark. By the time we finished with it and the little dome tent for 3 of the 4 kids, it was completely dark. In the middle of the night, the storm hit, complete with tornado warnings. I'd taken the little battery operated TV, and we watched the radar on it as the storm crossed Cheney lake. The next to oldest daughter was screaming in the dome tent, because the wind nearly flattened it--with them in it, and she was sure they were all going to blow away, tent and all. It stormed the next night, too. The one thing we forgot to do in our rush to get to the lake was to waterproof the new tent. It dripped on us all night both nights.
Oh, wait. We did manage to camp once without a storm, but the wind was blowing so hard, everyone wearing contacts had to take them out.
And people wonder why I cringe at the suggestion of camping. HA!
Anybody remember the huge county-wide power outage in the 90's over 4th of July weekend? We decided we might as well load up the boat and go to Cheney. We started setting up the (brand new 3-room) tent just before dark. By the time we finished with it and the little dome tent for 3 of the 4 kids, it was completely dark. In the middle of the night, the storm hit, complete with tornado warnings. I'd taken the little battery operated TV, and we watched the radar on it as the storm crossed Cheney lake. The next to oldest daughter was screaming in the dome tent, because the wind nearly flattened it--with them in it, and she was sure they were all going to blow away, tent and all. It stormed the next night, too. The one thing we forgot to do in our rush to get to the lake was to waterproof the new tent. It dripped on us all night both nights.
Oh, wait. We did manage to camp once without a storm, but the wind was blowing so hard, everyone wearing contacts had to take them out.
And people wonder why I cringe at the suggestion of camping. HA!
Gster said:
True commuting with Mother Nature is camping out in the boonies at Ft. Riley in a tiny pup tent and having the Mother of all Thunderstorms roll in. We had to sweat the wind and the lighting! There was also a hell of a rinse cycle.
Julie said:
As a mother of a boy scout which camping story do you want to hear?
Coyotes
family campout at Harvey County west.
coyotes circle our campsite and howl at about 3:30 am scaring the little ones
blizzard
trappers rendevous Harvey county west. Snows about a foot overnight. Forcast for that weekend was dry and mid 30's. Lot's of huddling and consumption of hot cocoa
hotter than hades
so many summer campouts all over the state
windstorm and the improperly staked tent - 'nuff said
there's many many more where that came from but they've all provided memories :)
Coyotes
family campout at Harvey County west.
coyotes circle our campsite and howl at about 3:30 am scaring the little ones
blizzard
trappers rendevous Harvey county west. Snows about a foot overnight. Forcast for that weekend was dry and mid 30's. Lot's of huddling and consumption of hot cocoa
hotter than hades
so many summer campouts all over the state
windstorm and the improperly staked tent - 'nuff said
there's many many more where that came from but they've all provided memories :)
Vaughn Tolle said:
NOT a camping story, but "the first time I ever..."
The first time I ever used a defroster and heater in an automobile in June was the "late spring" of 2000 when we took the elder to Bar Harbor, ME for a summer internship at Jackson Labs. On the appointed Sunday morning, we awoke from our well-deserved sleep (at a wonderful, funky little place in Hull's Cove) to discover that the ambient temperature was 39 degrees F. Thanking our lucky stars that we had all packed at least one change of "winter" clothes, we piled into the car for breakfast (at Jordan's, 80 Cottage, Bar Harbor, ME; if you're ever there, try it out - it's better than good!) and turned on the heater/defroster. IIRC, the date was June 12 or so; we had left Kansas 4 days earlier in substantially warmer weather, so it was a shock, to say the least.
Doesn't rank up there with the other stories, but I'm taking a break, and thought I'd share.
The first time I ever used a defroster and heater in an automobile in June was the "late spring" of 2000 when we took the elder to Bar Harbor, ME for a summer internship at Jackson Labs. On the appointed Sunday morning, we awoke from our well-deserved sleep (at a wonderful, funky little place in Hull's Cove) to discover that the ambient temperature was 39 degrees F. Thanking our lucky stars that we had all packed at least one change of "winter" clothes, we piled into the car for breakfast (at Jordan's, 80 Cottage, Bar Harbor, ME; if you're ever there, try it out - it's better than good!) and turned on the heater/defroster. IIRC, the date was June 12 or so; we had left Kansas 4 days earlier in substantially warmer weather, so it was a shock, to say the least.
Doesn't rank up there with the other stories, but I'm taking a break, and thought I'd share.
Vaughn Tolle said:
A bleak assessment with which I agree. I've oft said I was against invading Iraq from the beginning; as I have posted on WEBlog, I recognize the dangers of a sudden withdrawal, given the instability in the country and the region resultant from the invasion. So, the issue is: if we cannot withdraw "all at once" due to the conditions set forth in the linked piece, how should we do it?
I do not believe the current Iraqi government will do anything material for itself so long as there are coalition/U.S. troops (for I believe the U.S. will soon be the only nation with any material military presence there) upon which to rely. I do not know when the next elections are, or if the same will even be held. I'll restate my long-held position; get the U.S. troops out of Baghdad; draw back to the North and the South, as well as watching the borders with Iran and Syria; slowly begin weaning the Iraqi government from reliance; and, if it all goes to Hell, get out.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/02/iraq.sce...
I do not believe the current Iraqi government will do anything material for itself so long as there are coalition/U.S. troops (for I believe the U.S. will soon be the only nation with any material military presence there) upon which to rely. I do not know when the next elections are, or if the same will even be held. I'll restate my long-held position; get the U.S. troops out of Baghdad; draw back to the North and the South, as well as watching the borders with Iran and Syria; slowly begin weaning the Iraqi government from reliance; and, if it all goes to Hell, get out.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/02/iraq.sce...
lindainks55 said:
I heard on CNN in the last couple of days that the current elected Iraqi government intended to take the next two months off as vacation. I have not been able to confirm that anywhere and wondered if you had heard anything like this?
Vaughn Tolle said:
Hadn't heard that; however, I would think that this is a custom in that part of the world, given its climate, likely developed in the days before air conditioning. If true, doesn't surprise me.
Nathan said:
http://www.kansas.com/205/story/59321.html
"Do the war's opponents realize, or care, that every critical statement they make is reported by the enemy's media and passed on to homicide bombers and fighters to encourage them to keep killing Americans and Iraqis?"
"Do the war's opponents realize, or care, that every critical statement they make is reported by the enemy's media and passed on to homicide bombers and fighters to encourage them to keep killing Americans and Iraqis?"
WSClark said:
What is the point of fighting for "freedom" if you are going to censor speech at home?
lindainks55 said:
I will not give up my freedoms so a country we invaded and currently occupy might decide to fight the bad guys our invasion attracted and make an idiot who is making stupid decisions appear to be correct in his warnings that we should be very afraid. You go right ahead and wear your sheepdog clothing and feel like you need to protect me. I do not want nor need your protection. The adults will take over soon. Don't bother to respond. I don't respect anything you post. I am of the opinion you are quite deluded. You may have any opinion of me you choose. You and your opinions don't matter even a little bit.
lindainks55 said:
I'm sorry that felt so good! It shouldn't. I am way too human too often. I am old enough to know better. And I have places to go where I don't need to read anything that stupid. After all the leaders of my country have done to make the country of Iraq a dangerous place I'm supposed to feel that something I say would encourage bad guys!? Invading and occupying a country; attracting and training terrorists; killing innocent Iraqis isn't critical? No, it's the statements I make. I don't know what kind of delusion that thinking requires but am glad I will NEVER visit that place.
lindainks55 said:
Geoff Hoon, who was the British defence secretary during the invasion of Iraq speaks about the errors that were made, how the Brits underestimated Cheney's power, how the mess that is now came to be. Interesting analysis and I think very accurate.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2070256,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2070256,00.html
lindainks55 said:
An article about the lowered expectations in Iraq and reader comments.
"In the end, President Bush’s failure to heed the will of the people isn’t so much an act of principle, but rather an outburst of sheer peevishness. With Democrats in control of Congress, he’s no longer getting a blank check to fund his military adventures. He finds this frustrating, so he’s stamping his foot, covering his ears, and taking his party down with him.
All this is exactly what one would expect in the way of a political farewell gesture from a spoiled rich kid who never grew up. Future generations of historians will note George W. Bush made a mess of every real job he ever had - and, unfortunately for America, the presidency of the United States proved to be no exception."
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/05/01/889...
"In the end, President Bush’s failure to heed the will of the people isn’t so much an act of principle, but rather an outburst of sheer peevishness. With Democrats in control of Congress, he’s no longer getting a blank check to fund his military adventures. He finds this frustrating, so he’s stamping his foot, covering his ears, and taking his party down with him.
All this is exactly what one would expect in the way of a political farewell gesture from a spoiled rich kid who never grew up. Future generations of historians will note George W. Bush made a mess of every real job he ever had - and, unfortunately for America, the presidency of the United States proved to be no exception."
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/05/01/889...
Nathan said:
Gen. Petraeus:
"I think that sectarian groups would obviously begin to stake out their turf, try to expand their turf. They would do that by greatly increased ethnic cleansing ... There is the possibility, certainly, of an international terrorist organization truly getting a grip on some substantial piece of Iraq. There is the possibility of problems in the global economy, should in fact this cause a disruption to the flow of oil -- and a number of other potential outcomes, none of which are positive."
(Gen. Petraeus, Committee On Armed Services, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 1/23/07)
"I think that sectarian groups would obviously begin to stake out their turf, try to expand their turf. They would do that by greatly increased ethnic cleansing ... There is the possibility, certainly, of an international terrorist organization truly getting a grip on some substantial piece of Iraq. There is the possibility of problems in the global economy, should in fact this cause a disruption to the flow of oil -- and a number of other potential outcomes, none of which are positive."
(Gen. Petraeus, Committee On Armed Services, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 1/23/07)
Nathan said:
"My sense is that there would be an increase in sectarian violence, a resumption of sectarian violence, were the presence of our forces and Iraqi forces at that time to be reduced and not to be doing what it is that they are doing right now."
(Gen. David Petraeus, Press Conference, 4/26/07)
(Gen. David Petraeus, Press Conference, 4/26/07)
lindainks55 said:
"An average of 80-90 Americans die each month. And US personnel have just had their tours extended by another three months.
But, as it has always been since the 2003 invasion, it is the Iraqis who suffer most.
No-one knows the exact figures, but at the end of another week of unspeakable, random carnage, hundreds more Iraqi families are grieving.
Exhaustion and despair hang over the country.
And there are no signs of change."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6575717.stm...
lindainks55 said:
"The President in an extended whine, a rant, actually, about no one understands him, the critics are all messed up, if only people would see what he’s doing things would be OK…etc., etc. This is called a “bunker mentality” and it’s not attractive when a friend does it. When the friend is the President of the United States, it can be downright dangerous."
“Bush has apparently taken to whining about how unappreciated he his. As I recall, Nixon started talking the same way, right before he was driven from office. This isn’t encouraging. In fact, if Bush starts wondering what he can do to prove everyone wrong about his greatness, this kind of thinking could get scary.”
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/01/big-money-play...
Vaughn Tolle said:
So, the Iraqi Parliament is thinking about a two month recess, beginning in July, leaving much which needs to be done on hold. This proposal seems to be uniting those in Congress otherwise divided on the war funding, etc., with those commenting raising questions of why.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/03/congress.ir...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/03/congress.ir...
lindainks55 said:
I don't think bush is capable of compromise, but with the Iraqis taking a vacation there won't be any progress on any benchmarks (as if there has been any with them supposedly working?) so where and what will be his reasoning for Americans to continue what isn't important to them??
bushco's actions are unforgivable. They just make themselves smaller and less significant on a daily basis. Looks like Iraqis elected people who are as incompetent as those elected by Americans.
Vaughn Tolle said:
Linda, you raise the inescapable issue of why should the U.S. and other coalition members expend their talent and treasure on behalf of a country whose leaders would rather take two months off than work on resolution of the political issues needed to unify the country (if this is possible) and thereby reduce or eliminate the sectarian violence now occurring.
If coming to a solution in Iraq isn't important to the leaders of the country, then why is it important to anyone else?
If coming to a solution in Iraq isn't important to the leaders of the country, then why is it important to anyone else?
Predestined said:
I find it unf-ingbelievable that those involved in the invasion of Iraq didn't bother to do their homework about the region.
Predestined said:
Well, damn, VT, it's HARD WORK. When the going gets hard...
/sarcasm
(excuse the 'French')
/sarcasm
(excuse the 'French')
Nathan said:
Lets compare the time taken off by thier government with our own and see who is in session more.
Do our very own leaders simply not care about the problems our country faces when they take so much time off?
Do our very own leaders simply not care about the problems our country faces when they take so much time off?
WSClark said:
"Do our very own leaders simply not care about the problems our country faces when they take so much time off?"
You mean like the vacations that Bush takes? Bush has missed more days in office than any president in recent history.
You mean like the vacations that Bush takes? Bush has missed more days in office than any president in recent history.
Nathan said:
The President has WORKED more from his Ranch and Camp David than many other Presidents.
Vaughn Tolle said:
Nathan, if we are to properly do your comparison, just how often is the Iraqi Parliament in session anyway?
Last I looked, Washington, D.C., unlike Baghdad, wasn't beset by sectarian violence, a "civil war" insofar as this part of Iraq is concerned, and Congress didn't have pending proposed legislation to be enacted to end the same.
Last I looked, Washington, D.C., unlike Baghdad, wasn't beset by sectarian violence, a "civil war" insofar as this part of Iraq is concerned, and Congress didn't have pending proposed legislation to be enacted to end the same.
WSClark said:
Keep telling yourself that Bush is a wonderful president, Nathan, just keep telling yourself.
sunbefree said:
I do believe the two month hiatus was a consideration, not a fact. I don't know what the Muslim holidays are, but perhaps that is a factor.
The person that was interviewed on CNN, said that two weeks might be more reasonable. I can well imagine the stress going to the Green Zone with armed guards and the threat of being assassinated on a daily basis is quite stressful. I would probably want a break from all of that as well.
The person that was interviewed on CNN, said that two weeks might be more reasonable. I can well imagine the stress going to the Green Zone with armed guards and the threat of being assassinated on a daily basis is quite stressful. I would probably want a break from all of that as well.
Vaughn Tolle said:
sun, thanks for the information. On the piece linked upthread, it states that it is often difficult for the Parliament to get any work done, as the Sunni members leave for extended periods due to security concerns, and there are issues with members even showing up; thus, I suspect that the Iraqi Parliament is not in session quite often, making any announced proposed recess even more unconscionable, IMHO.
Vaughn Tolle said:
Now, a post from my favorite milblog site by four USAF logistics officers assigned to the Army in Afghanistan on their year together, complete with photos.
http://gocomics.typepad.com/the_sandbox/2007/05/th...
http://gocomics.typepad.com/the_sandbox/2007/05/th...
avtolle said:
$2 million gift to fund a new engineering program at WSU; dare I say potentially more important than the NIAR funding from the Legislature, insofar as the future is concerned?
http://www.kansas.com/197/story/61223.html
http://www.kansas.com/197/story/61223.html
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