Guard Dog

That's why I suggested him to you Though I haven't read that one. What Scifi had you been reading up until now? Lately, not much. I'm not a big fan of the genre in any way. But I've read Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and the first six Dune books. I loved HHGTG but the Dune books started brilliant and got progressively worse and really he should have stopped at #3. I won't even get into what his son has churned out. I read all of John Scalzi's "Old Mans War" series and found them to be mediocre. Halderman's Forever War was a little better. Some of Larry Nivens books were just ok, others... I have no interest in the new stuff like Hunger Games and I think it's geared more to kids anyway. And I won't even touch the cartloads of franchise dreck of star wars and star trek books. And holy crap are there a lot of them. I've read one of China Melivlle's books, don't even remember which one, it really did not make an impression on me, something about pirates on floating city. I read Slaughterhouse 5 and Flowers for Algernon in college and loved them. I've read a lot of HG Wells & Bradbury as a kid and enjoyed it. I ordered this: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/philip-k-****-collection-philip-k-****/1101304598?ean=9781598530490 and started with book one, story one The Man in the High Castle. I'm halfway through it and really into it.

Now reading The Man in the High Castle by Phillip ****. I was wrong when I said there was no good sci fi.., this one is good

Orogun you are such a pessimist!

I learned a little Japanese when I was stationed in Okinawa. I found it really hard to comprehend since there really was no common ground with the latin based languages. But most folks were so happy you were making an effort to learn they would help you. The folks in Okinawa were really nice. Not so much in the home islands.

Gorth is right! Most folks who wave the St. Andrews Cross flag (the stars & bars that are most commonly referred to as the "rebel" flag) would not know the real thing if you rolled it up and thwaped them with it. I had a conversation once with someone who said they were just flying it to honor history. I said that's great, why don't you be historical then and fly the real thing? On that note, most folks seem to agree that the stars and bars are somewhat divisive and it has certainly been waved by some genuinely nasty folks like the KKK, but if you saw someone flying one of the actual flags of the CSA (there were four of them) would you consider that racist or divisive? I would not and I'd buy the honoring history argument in that case. I have mixed feelings on the civil war. I have often made the argument that slavery was just the catalyst for the secession and conflict and the war was not fought over slavery so much as states rights and the role of the federal government and the sovereignty of the states. And that is certainly true. In fact it is the underlying principle in ALL US politics even today. However, the more I have read and learned over the years I'm finding that position harder and harder to defend. Especially since slavery is mentioned numerous times in the CS Constitution. I think now if was a good cause (states rights) fought by great men to defend an atrocity. And that latter lessens the former in a big way. And that is sad. Personally I wish I could go back to 1787 and talk to the folks at the convention in Philadelphia and give them a little insight into what was to come. Outlaw slavery right from the get go. You have to wonder what the world would have been like then. What would have changed. Come to that we used to have an alternate history thread. We ought to do that again.

Is there any sci-fi out there that doesn't suck?

I was supposed to be having dinner with someone I met last week. I might be in trouble because I really like this one. She's my dogs new vet. I felt a little foolish asking her out, sort of like that guy in the Garfield comic that only takes him to the vet so he can hit on her. But she said yes! Then cancelled on me. Oh well. I am undeterred! At least for one more attempt. then I'll be deterred.

Speaking as a vet I am absolutely 100% opposed to any kind of compulsory service or draft. Being in the military is not easy. It is a hard life (although I learned after about two years in it is only as hard as you make it on yourself). To serve well, to succeed in it you have to want to be there. And we should only want the ones who want to be there. The infantry is the most difficult job in the service. It takes someone with quick wits as well as good physical condition to do that job. I was not in that MOS myself but like every other Marine I went through the first phase of the SOI after boot camp and of course had training every week the whole time in. Since draftees ended up almost exclusively in the infantry we would do our military and our nation a serious disservice by filling out it's ranks with people who are just "putting in their time". Past history has proven that out. Granted if we were ever engaged in something on the scale of WWII that changes everything but outside of that... bad idea.

Today I'm doing some work around the house then watching the Indianapolis 500. Hopefully either Marco Andretti, Tony Kanaan, or Simona Di Silvestro will win. I'd watch the Rays/Yankees game but I'm just disgusted with them right now.

Rodney blew his fifth save last night and the Rays have lost all five. Last night he choked on a two run lead to the bottom of the Yankees order. Enough is just enough. I realize there is nobody (and I mean nobody) to replace him with and the Rays don't trade for veterans as a rule but... f**k the season is starting to get away from them. I think they should waive Farnsworth, bring up Chris Archer, send Hernandez to the pen and make Rodney a regular reliever then go with closer-by-committee based on lefty/righty matchups. Something HAS to give here.

Now THAT"S a great story. I don't want to bring you down Ros but it would have been a better one if you'd convinced all three to come home with you!

In no particular order: Bob Marley - Legend Led Zeppelin - 1990 Box set (Yes I know but I'm counting this as one) Johnny Cash - The Legend of Johnny Cash The Doors - LA Woman & Strange Days (consider them tied) The Beatles - Abbey Road Tesla - Five Man Acoustic Jam Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon The Who - Who's Next U2 - The Joshua Tree The Eagles - Hotel California Van Halen - 5150

Good luck with both Enoch. Going home tomorrow. It's been a long week. No more road trips until June.

Wals wins! Nobody is topping this one!

Damn you Tigranes for hooking me on this! But I am getting better at it. http://www.geoguessr.com/?v=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

I'm in Lincoln Nebraska tonight. I love this town.

We get Warthog in South Africa, its similar to Boar but not as aggressive or big. What specific animals are you allowed to hunt in the state that you live? You can hunt whitetail deer in season, you three tags per season and one has to be a female. Unless you bow hunt, then you get five. You can hunt squirrel & rabbit in season. There is a very limited bear hunt, tags are hard to get. You can also hunt wild turkey in season (or you can go to the bar anytime ). Hogs & Coyotes you can hunt anytime with a license with no limit because they are considered a pest. I don't because 1) I don't care for the taste of these wild hogs 2) I don't eat coyotes so I don't want to shoot them. As long as they leave me and my dogs alone. It's never been a problem though, they only thing they have ever attacked are my grill & garbage cans. I put locks on the cans and chained the grill to one of the porch supports. Problem solved.

I used to get coyotes here all the time when I first built this place. One night they knocked my grill over and made a hell of a racket. My dogs were going nuts. I eased my shotgun out the window and fired a round off in the air... didn't hear a peep out of them the rest of the night. Anderson Tully has at least two good sized packs living in it. I still hear them from time to time but they have not paid a visit in a while. For a time they were a real pest though. I was considering shooting one or two of them to see if that would run them off. It is perfectly legal to do so in TN. Thankfully they lost interest and it never came to that.

Congrats to you and the missus Hurlie! I'm afraid I won't be able to come though. I don't think I could make it from Memphis to San Francisco before the champagne & BBQ run out!

Rodney blew another save AND lost the game Thursday night. WTF? They may really have lost faith because the left Peralta in to pitch the 9th with a two run lead and the meat of the O's order up last night. So far the Rays have proven no lead is safe with their bullpen in the game.

I have a feeling I'm getting nothing done today. It has taken a maximum effort of will just to get up, make coffee and sit down at the computer. Sounds like a good day to watch DVDs and wait for the Rays game to come on at 3.

Gotta agree with you guys in this one. Prosecuting MJ users is nothing but big nanny government BS. I say legalize it and tax it. Besides, nobody ever got stoned and then killed their wife. Booze certainly can't boast that. Funny thing is, if it were legal I still wouldn't use it. I just hate the idea of the government telling people what they can't do when it hurts nobody.

I believe in most states they are considered a nuisance. That means no season, no limit, no end to the bacon. But they don't taste like pork. I have found them to be a little gamey. Marinade is a must. Plus as Hurlie pointed out, they are somewhat dangerous so I'd used the most expeditious weapon available to hunt them. Namely a large caliber rifle.

I gave up firearm hunting when I discovered archery. To be honest my reasons were more practical that any sense of sporting fair play. Archery season is two months longer, you get two extra tags and some of the best hunting areas are primitive weapons only. Anderson Tully right near my house is an example. Gun season is only three weeks long, archery is three months. Plus I've never heard of a hunter being accidently shot with an arrow.

I have no problem at all with the folks who choose not to own firearms. I have a very real problem with the folks who want to take mine away from me. Generally they are one in the same... but not always.