Playing Whack-a-Mouse in the morning!

We have a cat here at Wasted Electrons World Headquarters that just loves to catch and kill small critters. More than catching and killing critters that he finds in the yard, he loves to catch small critters and bring them into the house to show them to us... When he has a critter in his teeth he always makes this distinctive sound- which we have grown to recognize as his way of telling us that he has a treat to share with us.

I heard that sound this morning- just a few minutes before my alarm went off. I tried to ignore him for a bit but then I got up and chased him outside with his catch- which I did not actually see. A few minutes later, the cat was back and this time I did see the mouse that he was chasing around the family room! Uintah finally caught the mouse after a bit of a chase and then dropped the mouse- again, right in front of me, just outside the bathroom.

The mouse ran right through my legs, followed immediately by the cat! The chase resumed in the bathroom and the cat managed to chase the terrified rodent into the shower stall where the chase got really intense. I went for something to smack the mouse with and found one of my shoes with a heavy leather heel.

Returning to the bathroom, I tossed the cat out of the shower stall and hunted myself until I found the mouse hiding behind a shampoo bottle. Moving the bottle put the rodent into motion again and it began streaking all around inside the tile stall, and I took to whacking at the mouse with the shoe!

It took me 6 or 7 whacks but I eventually delivered a stunning blow to the fuzzy rodent and I was able to remove him and carry it out to the trash can.

All this before 5:30 this morning!

No posting goodness tonight

Its already 11 PM. I didn't even get sat down in my chair until 10:25. So I've only had the quickest look around the interweb tonight and now I need to hustle off to bed.

Grandbaby Ryker even cracked his peepers open and gave me a squint tonight while I held him a couple minutes! Mom is still doing well and they are both going home tomorrow.

We have a new grandbaby!

His name is Ryker Gauge and he was born early this morning- 2 1/2 weeks early. Mom and baby are both fine and mom is beaming. Ryker weighs 6 pounds, 2 ounces and is 18" tall. And he has a head full of very blonde hair!



As always, click the small pictures to see the full size pictures.

Seems like a pretty good day to curl up with a book.

According to the Weather Channel app on my iPhone, it is just 41 degrees outside but feels like 38 degrees, due to the 5 MPH winds and the pouring rain! So I do not believe I will be in the carport removing a busted engine from the boy's Tempo today, even though the replacement engine is waiting in the bed of the truck.

I heard thunderclaps a few minutes ago!

There is a huge pile of paper on the end of the dinner table, bills to pay and subscription forms to return and Explanation of Benefits reports from insurance companies to sort and file or dispose of that will be receiving my full attention this morning.

But the car is just going to have to wait, cause it is cold and wet outside!

Dear FBI, I am that subversive element-

Browsing around the interweb this morning with a fresh pot of coffee to keep me warm, I discovered what is going on In Jennifer's Head, thanks to Tamara. You can click the link to read the whole thing and find the background documents but I'm reproducing Jennifer's statement here:

Dear FBI agent,

First of all, welcome to my little corner of the internet. Let me save you a little time and effort and let you know that yes, I do in fact fit the definition of a right-wing extremist. I believe life is precious, including that that has not yet been born. I believe in God and the freedom to worship as I please. I believe free people should have the right to defend themselves against any threat, including that of a tyrannical government. I believe people should be entitled only to that which they earn. I believe the federal government should be limited to matters of interstate commerce and national defense. I do not believe the leader of this nation should ever bow down to anyone, least of all the leader of a hostile nation.

I am not racist. I don’t care what consenting adults do behind closed doors. (The answer to this question is no, it will not cause a civil war.) I am not using the economy to brain-wash nor indoctrinate. I am pleased that people are beginning to wake up. We don’t need a nanny state. We don’t need more bureaucracy. We need the government to get out of the way so we can pursue our own happiness.

The only pork I like is edible, not spendable. (Although the value of bacon does seem far more stable than the dollar these days.)

I think Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, and Ronald Reagan were great. I wish we had more men like them in power today. I did not vote for our current president and plan to vote against his party in the next congressional election. I prefer tea to kool-aid, but I’m really a coffee drinker.

I have no intention of turning my guns in even if you offer to buy them back. They were never yours in the first place, so how can you possibly buy them back? I want only to be a citizen of this great nation and have no intention of being a subject of anyone.

I don’t watch Fox, and they did not astro-turf this movement. The people are tired of being spent into debt far beyond what can be repaid. The first thing you must do when you find yourself in a hole, is stop digging. When you find yourself in a recession, stop spending.

I brought 2 people to the last tea party with me. July 4th, it will be more. We’ll smile for your cameras. If you bring pictures from the last one, I’ll even sign them for you.

Sincerely,

Jennifer

Because what she said is exactly how I feel about the subject too. So there, Mr. FBI Agent!

A Modern Parable

And it came to pass in the Age of Insanity that the people of the land called America, having lost their morals, their initiative, and their will to defend their liberties, chose as their Supreme Leader that person known as The One. He emerged from the vapors with a message that had no meaning; but He hypnotized the people telling them, "I am sent to save you. My lack of experience, my questionable ethics, my monstrous ego, and my association with evil doers are of no consequence. For I shall save you with Hope and Change Go, therefore, and proclaim throughout the land that he who preceded me is evil, that he has defiled the nation, and that all he has built must be destroyed.

And the people rejoiced. For even though they knew not what The One would do, He had promised that it was good; and they believed.

And The One said "We live in the greatest country in the world. Help me change everything about it!&

And the people said, "Hallelujah!! Change is good!

Then He said, "We are going to tax the rich fat-cats,"

And the people said "Sock it to them!&---- and redistribute their wealth.

And the people said, "Show us the money!&"

And then He said, "Redistribution of wealth is good for everybody

And Joe the plumber asked, "Are you kidding me? You're going to steal my money and give it to the deadbeats??"

And The One ridiculed and taunted him, and Joe's personal records were hacked and publicized.

One lone reporter asked, "Isn't that Marxist policy?"

Then a citizen asked, "With no foreign relations experience and having zero military experience or knowledge, how will you deal with radical terrorists?

And The One said, "Simple. I shall sit with them and talk with them and show them how nice we really are; and they will forget that they ever wanted to kill us all!

And the people said, "Hallelujah!! We are safe at last, and we can beat our weapons into free cars for the people!"

Then The One said, "I shall give 95% of you lower taxes.

And one, lone voice said, "But 40% of us don't pay ANY taxes."

So The One said, "Then I shall give you some of the taxes the fat-cats pay!

And the people said, "Hallelujah!! Show us the money!"

Then The One said, "I shall tax your Capital Gains when you sell your homes!

And the people yawned and the slumping housing market collapsed.

And He said, "I shall mandate employer- funded health care for EVERY worker and raise the minimum wage. And I shall give every person unlimited healthcare and medicine and transportation to the clinics."

And the people said, "Gimme some of that!"

Then he said, "I shall penalize employers who ship jobs overseas."

And the people said, "Where's my rebate check?"

Then The One said, "I shall bankrupt the coal industry and electricity rates will skyrocket!"

And the people said, "Coal is dirty, coal is evil, no more coal! But we don't care for that part about higher electric rates."

So The One said, "Not to worry. If your rebate isn't enough to cover your expenses, we shall bail you out. Just sign up with ACORN and your troubles are over!

Then He said, "Illegal immigrants feel scorned and slighted. Let's grant them amnesty, Social Security, free education, free lunches, free medical care, bi-lingual signs and guaranteed housing..."

And the people said, "Hallelujah!!" And they made him King!

And so it came to pass that employers, facing spiraling costs and ever-higher taxes, raised their prices and laid off workers. Others simply gave up and went out of business and the economy sank like unto a rock dropped from a cliff. The banking industry was destroyed. Manufacturing slowed to a crawl. And more of the people were without a means of support.

Then The One said, "I am the The One - The Messiah - and I'm here to save you! We shall just print more money so everyone will have enough!"

But our foreign trading partners said unto Him, "Wait a minute. Your dollar is not worth a pile of camel dung! You will have to pay more..."

And the people said, "Wait a minute. That is unfair!!"

And the world said, "Neither are these other idiotic programs you have embraced. Lo, you have become a Socialist state and a second-rate power. Now you shall play by our rules!"

And the people cried out, "Alas, alas!! What have we done?

But yea verily, it was too late. The people set upon The One and spat upon him and stoned him, and his name was dung. And the once mighty nation was no more; and the once proud people were without sustenance or shelter or hope. And the Change The One had given them was as like unto a poison that had destroyed them and like a whirlwind that consumed all that they had built.

And the people beat their chests in despair and cried out in anguish, "Give us back our nation and our pride and our hope!!" But it was too late, and their homeland was no more.

From an email I received from my Dad.

Teen soils self after deputy surprises him

CENTERVILLE — A teenager suspected of car burglary was so surprised when he opened a car door to find a police officer sitting inside that he messed his pants, police said.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705298541/Frightened-burglar-soils-himself.html

 

Maybe by the time he gets out of Farmington Juvenile Facility, he will have figured out a smarter method of acquiring his lunch money.

James Gregory talks about the government...

Got 18 minutes to get schooled on what is wron with our government? Sure you do. Go listen to James Gregory, live on The Big Show. It's an education you won't get from the MSM. Really.

Go listen to it. My brother Tim turned me on to it tonight.

National Public Radio acknowledges the 90% Guns Canard!

UPDATE: Rewritten to reformat and add some clarity.

First, read the email I sent to National Public Radio first thing this morning in response to a story on yesterday's programming-

Message #: 5607-8545217
Date Created: 4/17/2009 10:27 AM EDT
Subject: Please research the "90% of guns in Mexico" canard
Body: I am a long time listener and supporter but I have to call into question ATC's continued repeating of a oft-repeated story, promoted just yesterday by Pres. Obama, about the "90% of guns found in Mexico came from American gunstores".

That story is simply not true yet it is used to promote continued talk of restricting legal sales of guns to American citizens and the lie of this story needs to be halted immediately. Please review this article before repeating the lie on your programs again.

Stop to consider- one of the big complaints about the guns in Mexico are fully automatic weapons, hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenades. Fully automatic weapon sales in the US have been very carefully controlled since 1934 with the National Firearms Act. There are NO hand grenades or RPGs for sale to civilians in any gun store in America- they are strictly military weapons. So if the drug cartels have these restricted items, by far the items came in through any number of foreign sales or through desertions from the Mexican army or from corruption within the Mexican military and government.

So please give this "90% of guns in Mexico are from US gunstores" lie a rest. Don't let those people you interview repeat this lie without taking them to task for their repeating of a lie.

Now I know it is a little repetitive and the spousal unit grouched at me for not editing better before hitting SEND, but that was my email. And later this afternoon, I got a response-

From: "NPR - Listener Care"
Date: April 17, 2009 9:45:26 AM MDT
To:
Subject: Message #5607-8545217: (Please research the "90% of guns in Mexico" canard)
Reply-To:

Dear Nate,

Thank you for contacting NPR.

We are grateful for your comments to NPR News. Your feedback is important to us, and your thoughts have been noted.

NPR is always delighted to hear from listeners.

Thank you for listening, and for your continued support of public broadcasting. For the latest news and information, visit NPR.org.

Sincerely,

Alan
NPR Services
(202) 513-3232
www.npr.org

NPR encourages you to support your favorite public radio station. Please visit http://www.npr.org/stations/donate/index.php?ps=200, select your station, and make a financial contribution.

NPR invites you to join its audience advisory panel, NPR Listens. Learn more at http://www.npr.org/listens.

That's a real boilerplate response, right? Imagine my surprise in my car tonight on my way home from work to hear Michelle Norris begin a story titled Where Does Mexico Get It's Guns? The first part of the article is an interview with Robert Farley from Politifact.com who pretty thoroughly debunks the "90% canard" on their own website. Michelle later interviews Robert Farley, who proceeds to downplay the numbers and make up his own, unsupported numbers for the guns that may make it across the border into Mexico.

But here is the good part- Michelle remarks that "at least one listener" wrote to suggest that All Things Considered check out the report at Fox News that busts the myth of American guns in Mexico. And I am staking my claim as being THAT listener! My email above is proof enough for me!

Of course, I don't really know if I was the person that caused the staff at NPR to research and produce this new story but the coincidence is pretty remarkable. And I was very pleased to hear ATC admit that they were repeating numbers that they had taken for granted and not researched. Of course President Barry uses the same numbers so maybe somebody could take the effort to make him aware of his math errors!

Just 95 bucks tonight-

to get a repairman out to fix our furnace! The dang thing quit getting warm 2 days ago and it was only 50 degrees in the house last night. So the BSU called a repairman today and he got it working without too much trouble.

He did advise that our Lennox furnace is probably 18-20 years old and a lousy design that really should be replaced as they are prone to liner cracks that can allow carbon monoxide into the house.

I suppose a new furnace will be on the fall shopping list.

Went to the Tea Party today, as promised

That's right, Kenny, Ray and Dave and I headed out on the Front Runner, rode to Salt Lake City, had some coffee and lunch then headed over to participate in the Tax Day Tea Party rally!

It was a very enjoyable couple hours. The crowd was enthusiastic and loud and if not of one mind- because there were many issues on display, were certainly of one opinion that our government needs to change from the direction it is heading. Taxes, imposed on us and waiting to be imposed on our children and grandchildren were certainly high on the list of grievances but government subsidies of failing businesses, pork barrel spending on special interest projects and a return to individual and state control over the laws were all issues on display.

The Utah Attorney General, Mark Shurtliff spoke, as did our freshman Congressman, Jason Chaffetz. Both men gave stirring speeches promising their efforts to push America back into a more conservative and smaller government. Several other citizens from the community spoke about their frustration with government as it is today and encouraged the crowd to get involved, get connected and to stay the course in preparation for a long change back into a less liberal, big spending, big taxing government.

It was all very thrilling. I don't know how many people showed up but the plaza was plenty crowded for much of the two hour rally. There were parents with their kids, folks flying their "Don't Tread on Me" flags and people from seemingly many walks of life. We weren't all kooks and crazies, I assure you of that! And it did snow- just as the weather guessers predicted- it rained and snowed and the wind blew like it was December 15th, not April 15th! It was brisk standing out there!

But it was good and I'm glad I went. This was my very first-ever political rally, so that was exciting. I suspect I might find the time to participate in more activities related to turning America back to it's Founding Father's intents in the future. If you watch the video at the KSL link, about 10 seconds from the end, you can see a bald headed guy holding a sign that says, "Government can't spend it's way out of debt." That guy is Ray, he's carrying a sign I made at the last minute last night.

Here's me with the other sign I made-


My boss, Dave and Kenny in the background- in the yellow rain jacket-


and all the pictures that I have collected from the Tea Party are here. I should have more tomorrow.

Tomorrow is Tax Day-

and I'm going to a Tea Party! I'll be going with Kenny, other friends of Kenny and, (I hope), thousands of other liberty loving and unhappy with our government citizens. I have two signs to wave, my camera and an umbrella, all packed and ready to go.

If you live in the Wasatch Front, I hope I see you there.

And dress warm, it's going to snow!

Woman watches thieves over webcam- Utah technology makes it possible

Well I saw the story last week of the woman that installed a webcam in her home after being burglarized, who then was able to alert the police as she watched another set of burglars enter her home. But I held off linking to the story because it took place in Boynton Beach Florida, and I figured another blogger that I know, who also lives in the same town, might report on the story. But so far, that blogger, that I might be related to, has failed to share the story.

Now I see that the technology that the woman purchased and installed came from Logitech WiLife, right here in Utah.

So congrats to the Florida woman for taking a positive action to protect her home from the bad guys, tough luck to the dumbass bad guys, and thanks to the folks at Logitech WiLife for making and marketing the tolls that made it all possible.

UPDATE: That fellow blogger, (and my Dad), notes that the bad guys are already out on bail. Too bad about that!

I've been busy- and it's a busy time of year.

I know the posting has been pretty sparse this week but it just seems there hasn't been time for timely and inciteful writing. Apparently there also hasn't been time for the usual drivel that shows up on these pages!

Two trips to Salt Lake City this week and two extra services at church ate up most of the week. There was a very nice service for Easter today and we made a trip to Salt Lake City, (again) to take the eldest boy out to dinner this afternoon.

I've also been preparing the Phantom scooter for it's new owner who should be taking it to a new home next week. So I've been getting it ready and boxing up all the extra bits and pieces I have for it. I still need to take it for a little ride to ensure everything is working as it should be and get it inspected so that it will be ready for new license plates for the new owner next week.

What else? Well, I'm officially part of a medical study for a new treatment for my roseacea that involves me applying 3 different creams and lotions to my face twice daily to see if this new stuff will clear up the ugly redness that occupies most of my forehead, my nose and the area on each side of my nose. I am very hopeful that this new stuff will have some good effect and reduce the uglieness that has been creeping over my face for too many months.

I fixed a leaky drain under the bathroom vanity and even found some time to read part of a book. So it has been a busy week!

Thank you Navy Seals and your dedicated riflemen-

“We pay a lot for their training,” Gortney said of the snipers. “We got a good return on their investment tonight.”

We got our American ship captain back from the Somali pirates. The pirates criminals are vowing to have their revenge on US and French shipping but I suspect our US Navy has figured out a better solution than these jackasses.

Here's my suggestion, for a start: put the satellites up there and let them watch for big boats towing multiple fast runner boats behind, anywhere off the coast of Somalia. Consider these boats as de facto "mother ships" with pirates on board and use our very capable drones to shoot missiles through them. Repeat as often as possible. Let these pirates get the idea that no bit of water is safe from our capable eyes and missiles from the sky.

Kill them all. Make it too hard for them to operate. Give our Seals plenty of hunting opportunities. That's my idea, anyway.

24.8 MPG-

That's the average on the dash display on the Lincoln tonight after 2 trips to Salt Lake last night and tonight. It was actually 25.2 MPG when we got off the highway last night but a little lower tonight, I suppose due to the around town running I did today.

With the cruise control set to 75 MPH, the instant mileage ranged from 26 to 34 MPG depending upon the inclination of the road.

Beats the truck by twice and the ride is so much smoother!

Do you have a Concealed Carry permit?

You need to be carrying in a Crossbreed holster! I received mine last week for my PF-9 and it is terrific. This thing is comfortable, thin and doesn't show under a tucked in shirt.

Really. Buy one of these from Mark. Tell him Nate sent you. Put the word "thanks" in the discount box when you order and get 5% discounted. This is a the best holster I have found so far and I'll probably buy another one for my 1911 in the near future.

The little Ninja that could-

Watch this video. It is an amazing story and the author deserves an Iron Butt patch for his jacket!

San Diego to Jacksonville, Florida then Key West Florida to Prudoe Bay Alaska and back to California, 15,000+ miles on a 250 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle.

Remarkable! My helmet is off to this guy!

Teen falls from cliff; two others rescued

OGDEN -- A teenage girl was seriously injured Sunday afternoon when she fell about 40 feet from a rocky cliff while hiking 1 1/2 miles east of 2550 South.

Two other girls who were hiking with the victim and became stranded on the cliffs were rescued without injury, said Corey Barton, a battalion chief for the Ogden Fire Department.

I was pretty certain when I could hear the helicopter working last night that there must have been a rescue going on. Turns out I was right. This rescue took place just about ½ mile from my house. Pretty scary stuff for the girls involved.

 

http://www.standard.net/live/news/169070

Fixes for the Lincoln, Part Deux

Well I've had the Mark VIII for an entire week now and I hope I am nearly done spending money on it- though it being a 15 year old car, there is little hope of that! But it did require more repairs and cash outlays this weekend.

It was making an exhaust rumbling noise, that seemed to get louder each day and it seemed to be coming from the front of the car. So Saturday I took the car into the muffler shop and they quickly diagnosed a rust hole in the top of one of the catalytic converters. And since having an exhaust leak just under the floorboards is a first class opportunity for carbon monoxide poisoning, repairing the hole couldn't wait.

That bill was over $300...

I did receive the new Halogen Infrared Radiating headlight bulbs that I ordered and got them installed on Saturday. I also repaired a broken mount piece on the headlight that tipped up and down so now that headlight is secure and pointing the right direction. So far I haven't had a chance to drive behind the new lights but I am hoping for greatly improved visibility behind my new lights.

I also ordered a replacement mast last week and today I installed that and got the power antenna working. I had to remove the antenna from the car to remove the broken bit of the drive gear but after that I had it working just perfect.

I also took the car to Pep Boys to have the failed and corroded negative battery cable replaced today. It might seem like that could have been a driveway project but after I got the cable home, and then discovered where the cable bolted to the engine block- way under there, buried and hard to reach. Paying Pep Boys was a very smart thing because even on the lift the job required a great deal of dexerity and head scratching that I never could have managed in the driveway.

So, to recap- new catalytic converter, expensive but neccesary. New battery cable because the old one would have failed very soon. New headlights and repairs so I can see in the dark and a new antenna so it goes up and down like it is supposed to.

Another day still to come? I found an upholsterer who can repair my damaged driver's seat!

Utah DMV rocks!

No, really, I must give the Utah Department of Motor Vehicles full props for their service. I know we all hate the DMV, no matter where we live and I believe that most people that have owned at least one motor vehicle all have a DMV horror story to tell.

But our DMV, here in Utah really seems to have their act together. Really. I carried in my paperwork to register the Lincoln last Monday afternoon- about 5 PM. I waited no more than 10 minutes before being waited on and in 10 more minutes I was walking out with 2 shiny new license plates, completely legal. One of the processes was the application for a new title showing me as the owner. Normal stuff right?

I got the title in the mail yesterday afternoon... Thursday.

I applied for the title on Monday afternoon and it was in my mailbox Thursday afternoon! I think that is pretty remarkable, so thanks Utah DMV! Keep up the great work!

Game time is 9 PM? Say what?

Our adopted hometown of Ogden has acquired an indoor football team this year, the Ogden Knights. And since I never traveled down to Salt Lake to see their arena football team before the league folded, I thought it might be fun to spectate some indoor football with the Knights.

I thought the BSU and I would go last Saturday night until I discovered that game time is 9 PM! What is up with that? Don't the people that arrange these things know that folks with a few bucks to spend- old guys like me, are ready to put their feet up at home by 9?

We like going to Grizzlies hockey and their ganes start at 7 and run until 9:30 so an indoor football has to run as long, doesn't it? I have no idea why these games start at 9 PM but the entire season is like that. So unless I'm willing to start taking naps in the afternoon so I can stay up late enough, I won't be taking in any Knights games.