More Global Warming Information

I just found this post about Global Warming on the US Senate Committee on Environmental and Public Works web page. It is worth reading. Notice that the number of skeptics is 12 times the number of UN scientists that authored the climate claims made by the UN IPCC.

A Bigger Congress?

Listen to the podcast on this page and see what you think.

A Personal Recommendation

I recommend that you listen to this podcast at least three times. It is an interview that Lew Rockwell did with Peter Schiff. It will give you lots to think about and might help you to make some plans for the future.

An Early Christmas Present

I woke up Tuesday morning and realized that I could not blink my right eye. Further examination revealed that I also could not move my right cheek and that the right side of my mouth didn't work correctly, I had a crooked smile. Of course the first thing I thought of was stroke, but I could still stick out my tongue and move it from side to side. My speech was about as good as it ever is and I had no weakness or impairment in my arms and legs. I got on the internet and did some checking and decided that I had Bell's Palsy. Sure enough, when I went to the Doc-In-A-Box, the doctor walked in the room, checked me for less than a minute before he diagnosed it as Bell's Palsy. He said that not being able to blink my eye was the give away. Apparently stroke victims can blink. He prescribed a round of MethylPrednisolone and told me to get some eye drops to keep my right eye moist. Seems that one of the greatest risks with Bell's Palsy is damage to the cornea of the affected eye. Corneas don't do well if they get dried out. No change in my condition yet, but I am optimistic. In the meantime, I find myself quoting Kosmo Kramer, "Don't look at me, I'm hideous." ;>) this emoticon is doing something I currently can't.

So What's Next?

Like most everyone else, I have spent the last few days reading about the economic crisis. I've heard what Paulson and Bernanke say we should expect. I don't pay them much attention since they are the ones that were assuring us a few weeks ago that everything was OK.

After looking the whole thing over, I think I have a pretty good idea what we can expect. Heres the Reader's Digest version:

The government has promised to make good on what will eventually amount to trillions (as in more than one) of dollars worth of debt. Added to that is the 50 trillion plus dollars of unfunded medicare and social security for the boomers. Where is the money gonna come from? Certainly not from taxes, the American people don't have it, if they did, they would be paying those ridiculous mortgage payments and there wouldn't be an immediate crisis in the first place. What does that leave? Print more money. With more money comes price inflation. When the prices start through the roof, people are going to start crying and the government will step in with price controls. Price controls will lead to shortages and a black market.

Like I said before, I got these ideas from reading. They are not my ideas, just a compilation of the stuff that a lot of smart people are saying. You may believe as I do or you may think it is silly. Still in wouldn't hurt to have an extra case of toliet paper stuck back in the closet and that 5 gallon can you use for lawn mower gas full in the garage. Just in case.

The Knack

If the embedded video does not work watch the first couple of minutes of this one, it is the same thing.

Flu Shot or Vitamin D?

Read this and decide for yourself.

The Real Great Depression

This article says that the Panic of 1873 is probably the best model for understanding our current recession.

Alaska Trip - Last of the Pictures

These are the last of the pictures of the Alaska trip. After crossing over into Iowa, we proceeded to Des Moines where we stopped for the night. The next morning, we got up early and drove the 1000 miles home. When you drive 1000 miles in one day, you don't take any pictures.






Rape plants in bloom in Saskatchewan














A rural church in Saskatchewan early in the morning.














I took my picture in front of the Gopherville sign close to the Saskatchewan - Manitoba line.














Sunrise in North Dakota.














Downtown Dwight, ND














Iowa state line

Alaska Trip - The Trip Home

Crossing back into Canada














Kluane Lake, YT, pronounced clue WAH nee














Kluane Lake, YT














Sheep in the road














Black bear in BC

Alaska Trip - Bertha Creek, Glenn Highway, Delta Junction

Matanuska Glacier














Waterfall at Bertha Creek Campground on Seward Highway














Some folks floating the Matanuska River.














Fireweed in bloom.














North end of Alaska Highway in Delta Junction.














Rest area south of Delta Junction at 10:00 PM.

Alaska Trip - Glacier Cruse, Richardson Hwy

Harriman Glacier














Surprise Glacier














Alaska Pipeline from Richardson Highway













Another view of the pipeline













Worthington Glacier

Alaska Trip - Tok, Glenn Hwy, Seward Hwy

Entering Alaska














Alaska Highway south of Tok, AK














Guide Poles for Snow Plows on Tok Cutoff














View of Wrangell - St Elias NP from Glenn Hwy














Mountain view from Glenn Hwy













Turnagain Arm south of Anchorage, view from Seward Highway

Alaska Trip - Yukon

Welcome to the Yukon













Yukon Rest Area - two pit toilets and a bear proof trash can.













Signs at Watson Lake















Yukon Scenery















A section of the "old Alaska Highway"















Early morning in the Yukon

Alaska Trip - British Columbia

Entering Dawson Creek, BC













The start of the Alaska Highway.













Trees behind our campsite at Pink Mountain.













Tetsa River.













The Canadian Rockies through our rain dotted windshield.













View from the camper door at our campsite at Strawberry Fields Campground, Muncho Lake, BC.














Buffalo using the road right of way for pasture in northern BC.

Alaska Trip - Alberta

Field south of Calgary, Alberta











Entering Calgary, Alberta













Township Rd in Alberta. The avenues and streets of the US midwest are township and range roads in the Canadian plains.












Sunrise in the Walmart Parking lot in Whitecourt, Alberta. We slept here in the early morning hours of July 11.














The terrian begins to change north of Grande Prairie, Alberta.

Alaska Trip - Montana

Wyoming / Montana State Line













Yellowstone River near our campsite in ITCH-KEP-PE Park, Columbia MT.












Our campsite in ITCH-KEP-PE Park.













North of Wilsall, MT.














Entering the Lewis and Clark National Forest.













Crawford Creek North of Reihart, MT.