Straight No Chaser Twelve Days of Christmas (2008 live version)

Prop 8 or is it Prop hay8?

Local Information & Services and Some Helpful Links (maybe)

Strings in the Mountains winter schedule
Steamboat Springs Art Council
Steamboat Mountain Theatre
Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association
Steamboat Springs Internet Service Provider
Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation
Routt County and Steamboat Springs Community Center

American Tune

One happy and lucky milf....who muffed

Find more videos like this on www.truveo.com.

A Wink, A Nod, And A Stolen Line

Bail me out

Dear Congressional Representative:

Regarding: Credit Default Swap System Regulations

We encourage you to act immediately regarding the credit default swaps system that has pervaded the financial markets for the past decade.

As indicated in a Time.com article dated March 27, 2008, these “insurance-like contracts” are supposed to act similarly to home insurance policies that provide for losses from fire and theft. However, they do not provide insurance since they are not regulated. “As a result, contracts can be traded - or swapped- from investor to investor without anyone overseeing the trades to ensure the buyer has the resources to cover the losses...” Heavily traded, these credit default swaps are traded in secret with no accountability by commercial banks and other hedge fund managers.

Wall Street has scammed the American people in the amount of $700 billion; while certain members of Congress have scammed the American people for billions more through “extensions” that were tacked on to H.R. 1424 by pork barrel projects; projects that most Americans aren’t even aware of.

How, as our congressional representative, can you help us on Main Street, America? Here are our demands:
• We demand more regulation and more transparency for credit default swaps
• We demand to know, by publishing the name and state of Congressional leaders who put the “pork” into H.R. 1424
• We demand to know what punishment CEO’s such as Lehman Brothers Richard Fuld will receive and who will hold him accountable as well as other CEO’s of companies such as AIG, JP Morgan, Citigroup, Bear-Sterns, etc.
• We demand to know how the $700 billion in taxpayer money will be used by the government and who will hold the government accountable for using the money for it’s intended purpose
• We demand to know who was overseeing the financial system before it became a financial crisis and why didn’t they do anything to prevent this from happening,
• We demand a cap on executive salaries, bonuses, and golden parachutesWe have worked our entire lives, paid our taxes, paid our bills in full and on time each and every month, and planned for our retirement years. In the last week, all of our efforts have been denigrated by greedy companies and their leaders seeking extreme financial gain through unregulated and atrocious financial practices. Who’s bailing us out?

Oh of pumpkins and men and rice cakes...

Ok here we go again

I really must apologize for my ranting on other issues that have nothing to do with the title or intent of my blogs. As you, all are aware; we are living in extraordinary times, with extraordinary events happening at the speed of light. I find myself needing to comment. Especially considering the fact that this is an election year, and it seems as if it has been going on for three or four years. Soon November 04 2008 will come and go. Not soon enough for many of us, it seems it can never come too soon. Anyway, I ask for a little latitude, as my rantings seem to be non-blog related. I feel sometimes I just have to comment on my opinions on the current happenings that we all find ourselves in. Please accept my sincerest apologies and feel free too to comment on any of my postings. Bear with me this election year will be over soon. Hopefully too the financial crisis everyone is yakking about.

Just like the Iraq war, it seems this “crisis” is being sold to us at the speed of light. And no one in any form of elected capacity seems to fully understand the implications. They all seem to think that because of the mortgage meltdowns and foreclosures, we will soon be plunged into a deep financial depression. Now that is depressing. Soup lines come to mind. So too do infrastructure style projects. I.e. roads, bridges, dams etc. Anyway, let us all not be too hasty in our decision as to this bail out. A little common sense and investigation of the facts seem to be in order, before we find ourselves in another quagmire similar to the conflicts in the Middle East.

Like you, I pay my bills on time including my mortgage. I am one of the lucky ones who do not need to be foreclosed on at this point. What is in it for me? I thank you for all of your indulgence.

Uncommon cents

OMG....Down over a trillion yesterday (777.+ fall) and up this day....make it stop! Lets just let the all the countries who hate us buy our debt...that would be soo helpful...

The Most heart felt scene between Paul Newman and Richard Jaekel in my favorite Paul Newman movie…”Sometimes a Great Notion”

Paul Newman and Richard Jaekel in my favorite Paul Newman movie…”Sometimes a Great Notion”

GOP V.P. candidate Sarah Palin talks to Katie Couric parts one and two....

Watch CBS Videos Online


Watch CBS Videos Online

Bailout the Bailout....

Bailout the Bailout…

Please give us a break here Mr. President. You have spoken about twenty minutes total on this subject. It really shows your style in addressing issues, (kindly read crisis), similar to Katrina and both irresponsible wars. Add to that your part in increasing our national debt and we can see what a true jewel we have in our leadership.

I do not know the answer, heck I barely know the questions in the so-called rescue plan. You have said, and I quote, “It is hard work and a big proposal. We gotta big problem and we need to move quickly.” I have taken more time on these silly blogs than you have taken in your speeches to your nation on this “big” issue. I just want to say thanks for being such a brave and caring, dim witted useless leader. Praise God for term limits!

Some harmless and tasteless fun?

Oh No Mr Bill

A Couple of Wall Street 'Buskers' Beguile CNN...

Oak Creek Colorado at its finest hour?

I think because of the entire hubbub resulting from what I call a home invasion of Oak Creeks former mayor, (Kathy ‘Cargo’ Rodeman), "alledgedly" perpetrated by the now former Oak Creek police sergeant Erik Foster. Both Oak Creeks Police Chief Russ Caterinicchio and Sgt. Erik Foster resigned September 11^th and the Oak Creek town board accepted the resignations during the citizen packed meeting.

They, (the resignations) surprised those in attendance.

Russ Caterinicchio turned in his letter of resignation at 5 p.m. Thursday September 11th, roughly an hour after Erik Foster gave his to a town Trustee and the police commissioner, Chuck Wisecup. Also quitting was the town’s community service officer, Tony VanDeventer.

The Oak Creek Colorado town board met at 7 that evening and went into executive session immediately discussing undisclosed personnel issues. Following that meeting, board members and the towns police commissioner accepted all of the resignations. None of those resigning attended the meeting.

There is a recording of the 911 call made by the former mayor later in these postings, see Oak Creek clusterfunk below. She made the call during what I call a home invasion by this former Oak Creek sergeant.

Small town living at its finest....these are the days of our lives.

WTF LIPSTICK?...People coming home from war in bags....and news is about cosmetics....wow

WTF LIPSTICK?...People coming home from war in bags....and news is about cosmetics and pork products....wow

Here I go again...I need a new bathroom..a large one with a kitchen....lol

Good Ol' Ghengis W, Bush is loosing us our allies

Good Ol' Ghengis W, Bush is loosing us our allies, the ones he so carelessly did not even cultivate. Even with the 8000 troops exiting Iraq there will still be more troops there than before the surge. What this country needs is an election surge...be sure to vote....I care for who you vote for, but do not care to tell you who you should vote for, (not for me to say),....just vote, too late for the damage Ghengis W. Bush has done. Read Bob Woodward's new book..The War Within: Secret White House History 2006-2008

Snow tonight..

Snow in the passes tonight..Colorado high country that is...

Eroica 'Ludwig Von Beethoven

FWD email and such stupid (?) you decide. Also check the link at the bottom please...

Old Age, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. Moreover, often that old person that lives takes me aback in my mirror, but I do not agonize over those things for long. I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, and my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I have aged, I have become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I have become my own friend. I do not chide myself on eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed or for buying that silly cement gecko that I did not need, but looks so avant-garde on my patio. I am entitled to a
treat, to be messy, to be extravagant to drink my beer and drink my scotch (blue of course). I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love... I will. I will walk the beach in a swimsuit that has stretched over my bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set, they, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when a car hits somebody’s beloved pet? But broken hearts are what give us strength, understanding, and compassion. A heart that has never been broken is too pristine and too sterile and will not ever know the joy of being imperfect. I am so blessed. To have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I do not question myself anymore. I have even earned the right to be wrong. So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART! MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER! FRIENDS FOREVER

http://www.youtube.com/Keith Olbermann

This video is hard to watch due to poor recording and audio as well as subject. Important though none the less

Diagnosis, other ramblings…A link to clinical trials for Crohn’s (click this title) or read the post for more information on this website.

There is no denying the fact that living with Crohn’s disease sucks, blows, bites, stinks, (literally), hurts and any other synonym you may think of. Anyone who has Crohn’s knows that. Vomiting fermented diarrhea, as awesome as that sounds, is seldom if ever… fun. When the vomiting stops is when the fun starts.

I had read or heard of a little girl who told her mother she knew why she was so sick, it was because she had all that puke in her. Cute saying, but also filled with such truth, as often the little children’s words are.

One bright spot in my journey with this disease was the diagnosis. I first experienced symptoms of Crohn’s when I was twelve years of age, 1969. Since the symptoms resemble other illnesses we, (my parents and I), never felt a need to see a physician. Since this effluent had an odor that no one else in my family had when they were praying to the porcelain goddess, and since I would tear up with pain in my abdomen, I just figured that everyone is different so everyone manifests the flu (as an example) in different ways.

My episodes were however, seldom until my early twenties. That is when I first started to see doctors about this mysterious version of the flu that only I had. If you are reading this, you know what I am saying. I am sure we all have horror stories about doctors and their attitudes. In my case when I had an episode I would schedule a visit, but after throwing up so much before the visit with the doctor, the symptoms were greatly subsided, (all the puke was gone). Even and often nonexistent at those times when I went. So there was no way they could accurately diagnose it other than as the ubiquitous twenty-four hour bug.

Finally, in 1997 after several especially violent episodes, a trip to a specialist in the gut, and lots of tasty barium, as well as an especially experienced X-ray physician they told me about Crohn’s. Another trip to yet another specialist confirmed the diagnosis a couple weeks later. Whew, I finally knew I had something other than the flu or twenty-four hour bug. Oddly just knowing what I had made me feel better, not literally but emotionally it helped. You may know what I mean.

Here is some links that may be useful for you if you are looking to participate in clinical trials:

www.clinicaltrials.org

Crohn’s specific link:

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=crohn%27s

By clicking, the title to this post will take you directly to the Crohn’s disease page, as shown above, but you may want to enter different criteria for your state or particular circumstance. Good luck to all and thanks for listening.

Just to remember....originally posted 09/10/05.

Pat Tillman died at age 27; He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, based at Fort Lewis, Washington. The battalion was involved in Operation Mountain Storm in southeastern Afghanistan, part of the U.S. campaign against fighters of the al-Qaida network and the Taliban government along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border; military officials were recorded as saying. I'm just saying…

This is funny at its best....

Evil stepmothers and soldiers

My father’s funeral

When I attended my father’s funeral several years ago, many things struck me and flooded my memories of my time with him as a child and too as an adult. Overwhelmed at the loss of my father as well as my friend, but also of the loss to this country of a patriot. I have a feeling or obligation to qualify that statement a little. I call him a patriot because as I was growing up in the sixties watching rioting and looting on the nightly newscasts, he would say, “Go hippies!” in his enthusiastic way, often shaking his fist at the screen. His meaning of the hippies actions were to him a good thing. Yelling at the television screen as those “hippies” demonstrated against the Viet Nam war, or protecting (at least trying) to protect their freedom of speech at Kent State, or the 1968 democratic convention. The surprising thing was that my father was a man of modest means, attending college part-time to earn his engineering degree in electronics, actively helping to raise his five children, one of which was at that time, considered mentally retarded, all the while volunteering for the Army National Guard. This seems now, with the benefit of hindsight, a contradiction of terms. Praising “hippies’ and civil disobedience. Similar to “Special report with Britt Hume, or Bob Hope Special", on the fixed news channel.” Here was a man who would dress in his uniform on weekends or during national disasters and confront sometimes the very hippies he privately urged and encouraged to endure. That to me is what this republic of our great nation is. We all wear our own uniforms or masks and at different times, we are responsible either by family or job obligations to perform contrary to our beliefs. At least that is how it was in the 1960 is when and where I grew up. When I was twelve years old, I had the opportunity to attend a little music festival in upstate New York. Many of you may have heard of it. Sadly, my parents did not allow me to attend this event (known as Woodstock of course); however, in 1971 I was granted the opportunity to attend a Grateful Dead concert in Austin Texas. This is where I lost all respect, (almost) for Arlo Guthrie as he threw a tantrum on stage about how out of tune a technician had made his piano. It had more to do with how out of tune the crowd was to having to endure Arlo perform before the Grateful Dead, I think.

Now getting back to my fathers funeral and the reason for this rant. He was interred in a tiny little town north of Idaho Falls, Idaho. With a post card view of the Grand Tetons to the east. Nevertheless, since he was a veteran there was a full twenty-one gun salute. The color guard all where eighty years old and a few of the seven men were older. Many of them dragged their guns as they marched in their own fashion to the gravesite. Many had to have another relative (I assume), hold the gun barrels up in the air and reload. There were seven of these old-timer veterans firing three shots each. It was the only time that the particular brand of my father’s ironic sense of lifestyle, humor, and essence shined enough to bring a sly smile to my face. All day long, I had been too filled with grief. I was asked to sing and perform on guitar a song that my father had told me he wanted at his funeral. The song is a ditty called, “When the Works All Done This Fall.” I rehearsed it in the funeral homes sanctuary a few hours before the actual services, alone with his open casket, with my wife dutifully enduring listening to the umpteenth versions, of the cowboy standard, but this was the first I actually performed it for my father. I sang all the verses, if I recall there were seven, with the chorus every two verses. I played it finger-stylye, capoed all the way at the seventh fret, so it had a bell like quality to the instrumental portions. Now I am not known as the greatest vocalist but in that key, I was able to keep the pitch close to where it needed to be for my limited range. I was not able to make it through the actual service with all of the verses, as I was too grieved, so I sang and played an abbreviated version for those who were present. If you are asked to sing at, one of your parent’s funerals, and you were very close to that parent, I do not recommend it. It was probably the most emotionally difficult thing I have ever done, or do.

My mother worked, part-time, as well as attending a high school degree equivalency program at night. Even though she was twenty-two years older than I was, she graduated high school one year before I did I kid her often. They were divorced by the time my father succumbed to his colon cancer, but she was welcomed at the funeral. Then my evil stepmother ended up stealing all of his children’s inheritances. This will be a rant for another time.

Sarah Palin like a Minnesota cheerleader...

Sarah Palin like a Minnesota cheerleader...

Two days ago, Sarah Palin accepted John McCain’s invitation to be his vice presidential running mate. She gave a speech in which she quoted the, “a ship is safe in harbor but that’s not what ships are for.” (I do think that is why harbors were made though...)

I had heard this quote before from a woman I used to date. My ex-girlfriend was born in Iraq, (not Iran as previously mentioned*). She had told me it was an old Persian proverb.

As Mrs. Palin spoke the next day on the campaign trail, she more or less sounded like someone from Minnesota. She also said the same speech. Much as if a musician would play the same songs at different concerts, Sarah Palin spoke the same speech at yesterday’s campaign events. Same old, same old politics’ as usual. I am a registered republican but I will not be voting republican this year.

* if you have ever dated an Iraqi princess and accidentally called her an Iranian, you too would no longer be her boyfriend. This is another story for another blog however....

Oak Creek Colorado Clusterfunk...

Oak Creek Colorado is a small hamlet located near the southwest edge of Routt county Colorado. It is about twenty-five miles from Steamboat Springs. It also has a very colorful history. Especially recently. I guess that would be a colorful recent history, (is that a contradiction of terms?). Politically the town seems to be much divided between what I would call the last of the twentieth century hippie culture and the last of a red neck rural or agricultural presence. The main reason however for this post though is just to shine a light on a new and dark part of a conflict between police forces and a former mayor.

Kathy ‘Cargo’ Rodeman began her term in 2002, and resigned in October of 2006. Kathy Rodeman was arrested July 19, 2008 on suspicion of the misdemeanor charges: driving under the influence of alcohol, resisting arrest and eluding police. The incident however is not without its comedy of errors on the part of all parties involved. At least that is my opinion of what I have read in the Steamboat Springs daily local newspaper accounts.

What is of more importance in my opinion however are the actions by Oak Creek Police Chief Russ Caterinicchio, after the events of July 19 2008. This chief should be seen an embarrassment to all law enforcement authorities. His actions following the event can be followed as well in the Steamboat Springs local and daily newspaper.

I have included the audiotaped portion of a 911 call at the bottom of this post, from the former mayor for your education and a couple of links to the newspaper I have mentioned earlier.

http://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/2008/aug/15/rob_douglas_chief_caterinicchio_acted_unprofession/

http://www.steamboatpilot.com/search/?q=rodeman&go.x=0&go.y=0&go=Search&sortby=date

Sarah Palin Uses an Old Persian Proverb in Her Acceptance Speech

Sarah Palin Uses an Old Persian Proverb in Her Acceptance Speech

Mrs. Palin quoted the old Persian proverb, “a ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for”; at least I think it is Persian. Anyway the reason I mention it at all is that I would say,”...maybe that is true, but that is what harbors are for! At least the GOP took the wind out of the sails of Barack Osama’s wonderful speech last night, as all the major channels are gushing about McCain’s pick for vice president.

Authors note: A Google search reveals William Shedd as the one who penned the quote, but I like the old girlfriend (an oil princess from Iran) whom I first heard it from. The translation of her name meant shifting sand, alls that says to me is something not too nice about the GOP. Any who that is my two cents worth.

Living the good life in a Colorado paradise. Click this title for a link to the locals paper coverage

Living in what was once a small town for so many years, I know these two people. I probably also know some of the victims, (especially the family members of the main two people involved.) This story is beyond sad and speaks for itself. I thought you all should see some seedy parts of a resort town. There is more than this but the shear size of the amount of dollars involved piqued my interest and I thought it might yours.

Free Obama/Biden Sticker

Get Your Free Obama/Biden Sticker!

You can get one Obama/Biden sticker free. For a $3+ donation, we will send you five stickers. For a $20+ donation, we will send 50 stickers. Stickers may take 4-6 weeks to arrive.

No need to join moveon.org, just give them a little information for a chance to support this historic election. I also thank you all for allowing me to exercise my freedom of speech. What a country!

Click this: https://political.moveon.org/barackstickers/?rc=homepage

Copy and paste into a browser (the web address below) or click the title of this post for a Free Obama button.

Copy and paste into a browser (the web address below) or click the title of this post for a Free Obama button.

https://pol.moveon.org/obamabuttons/?rc=homepage

Early one day, a C, an E-flat, and a G go into a bar. The bartender
says: "Sorry, but we don't serve minors."
So the E-flat leaves, and the C and the G have an open fifth between them.
After a few drinks, the fifth is diminished and the G is out flat. An F
comes in and tries to augment the situation, but is not sharp enough.
Later, a D comes into the bar and heads straight for the bathroom
saying, "Excuse me. I'll just be a second."
Then an A comes into the bar, but the bartender is not convinced that
this relative of C is not a minor.
Then the bartender noti ces a B-flat hiding at the end of the bar and
exclaims, "Get out now.
You're the seventh minor I've found in this bar tonight."

The E-flat, not easily deflated, comes back to the bar the next night in
a 3-piece suit with nicely shined shoes.
The bartender (who used to have a nice corporate job until his company
downsized) says, "You're looking sharp tonight, come on in! This could
be a major development."
This proves to be the case, as the E-flat takes off the suit, and
everything else, and stands there au natural.
Eventually, the C sobers up, and realizes in horror that he's under a rest.
The C is brought to trial, is found guilty of contributing to the
diminution of a minor, and is sentenced to 10 years of DS without Coda
at an upscale correctional facility.
On appeal, however, the C is found innocent of any wrongdoing, even
accidental, and that all accusations to the contrary are bassless.
The bartender decides, however, that since he's only had tenor so
patrons, with the soprano out in the bathroom, and everything has become
alto much treble, he needs a rest, and closes the bar.

"Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good at all...

sometimes it is easier to settle down in a new country than it is to settle up in the old...

my grandfather joe said the last one. Don't know who said the first.....

Keith Olbermann: Special Comment on Hillary Clinton

Toilet

John Hartford (with Roy Huskey Jr.) - Gentle On My Mind

"If a criminal deserve the right to an attorney then I think a citizen deserves access to medical treatment"....not sure who said this but think it food for thought.

In These Shoes? - Kirsty MacColl

this at one time was an empty space. Now it has this in it. Look out! Thanks for listening. I could have put anything in this space. I just put this here.

US footage of confrontation in the Gulf - 09 Jan 08

OMG Iran hates America....what next, a movie about a big shark, those four lads from Liverpool going to break up? Sheesh...G in G.W. stands for Ghengis I think..

Obama vs. Bill O'Reilly

Leave Bill-O alooonne

Barack Obama Iowa Caucus Victory Speech