Ski Steamboat

View from the top.

Visiting Elk

At 12am last night (I guess that is today), I was awakened by a tap-tap on the window. When I pulled up the shade I was face to face with a 6-point Bull Elk. I mean, he was just staring right at me - head on - with his snout no more than 2 feet away from me.
He was eating the shrubs below the window. I got my wife up and rushed to my office to get my camera. By the time I returned he had left the bedroom window and was around the house just west of the house.

Attached are a couple of these shots.

This guy has been around the house for the last two nights and was the one I took the picture of on the 16th.

Police Report from North Park

The following are a couple of police reports written by the clever Jim Dustin of the Jackson County Star.

Dec 13: a ranch manager on the west side of the county had a chat with some snowmobilers regarding the concept of private property.

Dec 14: the EMT's assisted when a child fell out of a shopping cart.

Dec 14: a motorist driving over Cameron Pass and down into Jackson County was confronted with numerous curves along Highway 14. He failed to make the first one; passersby helped.

Dec 14: motorists were faced with a prickly problem when they encountered a rather large porcupine in the middle of Highway 125 south of Walden. Officers summoned the DOW.

Northern Spotted Owl

EATS ->





In the Feb 2006 issue of Outdoor Life the editor relates the sad fact that the environmentalists had it all wrong about the Spotted Owl. Sad, that is for the 130,000 people who lost their jobs!

Having been placed on the endangered list in 1990, the Clinton administration (in the mid 90's), banned all logging on 24 million acres in the Pacific North West. This shut down the logging industry and therefore the loss of jobs.

The population of the Spotted Owl has continued to decline even though there has been no logging. Seems as though the reason is the fact that the Barred Owl's favorite target is the Spotted Owl! Heavens me! Did we jump to conclusions back in 1995?

Just another example of how the left, the environmentalists in this case, are really anti-capitalist when it comes right down to it.

I think he is lost

When the snow is close to 4 feet deep on the flats, getting around is much easier if you use the plowed streets!

Alito on his way to confirmation!

"A senior Democratic leadership aide conceded that President George W. Bush's 55-year-old conservative nominee appeared to have the votes." From Reuters Jan 12, 2006

It hasn't happened yet, but it looks like our country will have a NEW Supreme Court. Thank goodness. Of all the things that George Bush has done, this is the most important for our country. Now there are 5 judges solidly in the conservative camp. That doesn't mean that they will vote conservative every time, but it does look like a majority will interpret the constitution now rather than try to rewrite it!

Fantastic!

Harry Reid is a Phony!

I wrote a letter to the editor of the Denver Post about a guest commentary Harry Reid had in that paper last Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006, which, by the way, will be published this coming Sunday, Jan 15 2006 in the Post. You can read Reid's comments here:

http://www.denverpost.com/guestcommentary/ci_3375720

The gist is that "others" have this problem with the Abramoff scandal. WHAT A BUNCH OF BUNK! I wrote the following:

Editor, Denver Post

In response to the Guest Commentary of Harry Reid; Jan 8, 2006;

Not only is Harry Reid sanctimonious, he is hypocritical in his guest commentary called "Time for capital cleanup" (Sunday Perspective). I am very disappointed in the Post for allowing this type of commentary to be unanswered. I give you one thing, the picture at the top of the column does a good job of portraying him as a smug, chin in the air phony that he really is.

In the fifth paragraph he states; "The problem is Washington is run by leaders who put their own political interests ahead of America's interests."

What a joke! A quick Google of 'Abramoff Reid' will display numerous links to Mr Reid's complicity in the whole scandal (see some below).

Not only did he receive over $60,000 from Abramoff's office, he refuses to accept responsibility. Unlike many of his Democrat colleagues, he is not returning any of it, or, for that matter, donating a dime of the tainted money to charities like some of his Democrat friends are.

Later on in the column he talks about how the Democrats have resolved to "clean up Washington". Mr Reid ought not have his minions clean too hard, they may unearth their own skeletons!

Finally, he wants us all to ask ourselves: "is this the best America can do - a government where the special interests come before the people?"

I say to Mr Reid; yes we can, and the first step is to get rid of leaders like him.


Here are a few of the links to articles exposing Mr Reid:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/17/AR2005111701682.html (next to last paragraph)

http://www.nrsc.org/newsdesk/document.aspx?ID=1386

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/1/3/115231.shtml

http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/005805.php

girly-men come to Steamboat.

There was a letter to the editor from a guy from Ft Collins who just visited Steamboat over the Christmas break. he complained about the ice on the sidewalks. Here is my response which I sent in to the local paper.

WARNING! It snows here in Steamboat. My goodness, this year it has snowed a lot. I hear that the three feet I have in my yard is just average; some have five feet.

And then sometimes it gets warm (periods of global warming...I think) and some of that snow melts and turns to water which runs all over the place. It runs off roofs and on to streets and even on to sidewalks.

And then it gets cold here in the winter. Really cold sometimes. And if it gets cold right after a big melt, all that water freezes. It freezes on the roofs; it freezes on your car and in your car locks; it even freezes all that water on the streets and sidewalks.

Frozen water is slippery, in fact, very slippery when it is about 32 degrees out. You must take care when you walk on it so as to not fall on your butt, or slide your car into the one in front of you. If you have a car, perhaps you should have snow tires, and if you are walking, by all means, get yourself some Yaks.

Better yet, try skiing or ice skating where the slipperier it is, the better. In fact, that is why most people come to Steamboat in the first place.

GIVE ME A BREAK!

The guy from the front range that wrote to the editor the other day, complaining of ice on the sidewalk, needs to get a life. When you come to the mountains in the winter, you are going to run into some ice and snow; even on the sidewalks. And even when the merchants in this town try their hardest to keep ahead of it. It is just a loosing proposition. Like keeping your sand castle standing in a rising tide. Or does this guy think our taxes should be raised so that we can have a ice-remover man who spends his day chipping all the ice away?

What is with our culture now where so many are looking for something to complain about and someone to blame. Perhaps that guy should vacation in Florida and dodge hurricanes or go to California and take his chances with earthquakes and mudslides. Or even Texas where he will have to watch out for all those tornados. It even gets hot down there too. Perhaps the towns in Texas should provide fans on street corners so as to keep people from heat stroke.

I can't help but remember, not too long ago, when one would see 80 year old Dorothy Wither (owner of a local store called Dorothy's) walking down Lincoln with her ski pole, climbing over the 3 foot piles of snow that were, not only on the side of the road, but right smack dab down the center of Lincoln. When they had time, the merchants would shovel little paths through those piles only to have them filled in by the state plows that night.

Of course, Dorothy was a tough, no nonsense woman; a real pioneer woman. Seems to me that, what we have now are too many girly-men...and women.

disapointment

I haven't been here for quite some time and when I do, all I find is a bunch of responses to my blog refering to this stock deal here and that special webhosting site there. All I can say is; GET LOST! Each and every one of these slime-ball posts will get a visit and I will try my best to return in kind!

Do Nothing with Social Security ?????

I received a response to a blog I wrote on Feb 5th concerning Social Security. In this response I was pointed to the following URL: http://www.spokesmanreview.com/chat/transcript.asp?id=61. At this site a Prof from E.Washington U discusses SS.

I enjoy looking at different takes on this subject so I read most of the article. If I wrote all the things that I disagreed with, this blog would be much too long to hold anyones attention, so I will hold it down to a couple of observations.

First, Mr Orr received his MA from the University of Colorado a few years after I graduated from there. He then stayed on to get his PhD. After all that has gone on at CU in the last few months with Ward Churchill, I am tempted to say..."I rest my case". What do you expect from a guy that studies at an institution such as CU? I can tell you from experience of going there in the 60's, having family living in Boulder (Peoples Republic of) and having a daughter who graduated from there, CU could easily be called the Berkley of the Rocky Mountains! Now he teaches at a school in one of the most liberal areas of the country.

As is typical of the majority of people against the reform of SS, this guy has little to say other than, let's do nothing! He calls SS an insurance system. If I am not mistaken, this is not the intent back in the 30's when the thing was created.

He thinks that private accounts would allow people to loose all their money unless they were an expert in the markets. I say, make it a requirement that only indexed funds be allowed. Or, for that matter, continue to put the money in T Notes, but with MY NAME ON THE T NOTE!

Even Chris Rock in his ranting has stated that SS is a scam for Blacks in this country because the average life span of a Black man is only 57. He is wrong on the life span (it is 67), but he has a point. Blacks put their money into SS for 35 years only to, on average, die before they even get to use it. And their families get no benefit other than the small death benefit.

He wants to fund SS with another tax increase on the RICH! Did you know that if pressed, the Libs will admit that they consider rich to be family income over $60,000 a year. How about that all you 2 teacher families making $80,000! I bet you never thought you were one of the evil rich in this country. Of course you teachers don't need to worry about SS, you have a private pension that has been doing just fine, thank you, invested in the stock market!!!

OK lets tax the really wealthy. You know, the guys and gals that make the really big money. You know Socialism! Robin Hood and all that good stuff.....does this all sound familiar?

He ignores the demographics of the Baby Boomers hitting the retirement age in a couple of years or so. His answer, well, increased productivity has taken care of this 16 to 1 gong to 3 to 1 thing. Yea, sure, why, even the libs in Congress have admitted that this is going to be a huge problem.

Orr says that Bush lied about accounts being guaranteed a better return. I am tired of these folks always using hyperbole in describing anything Bush does. I'm surprised he didn't accuse him of some Naziism. As I have stated in past discussions, it sure will not be hard to achieve a better return than what SS provides now. Particularly when you consider it is all gone when you die as the system is now..

This is much too long as it is. Nobody is going to want to read this thing, so I will end for now. Just remember, when you hear a one sided story on this very important thing, when a guy like Orr says do nothing, then head for the exit.

Losers

I just got back from a walk with my dogs. We parked in the same place and saw, basically, the same cars who, too, are owned by people walking their dogs. On one there is a Kerry - Edwards sign on the rear bumper.

What is it with these people who drive around town displaying the name of a couple of losers on their car. I don't know what to think of it. Are they the type that leave their garage sale signs up in the neighborhood for 6 months after the sale, or are they just spiteful romantics that think that they are making a "Hate Bush" statement by doing it?

Get a life!

The election is over and with it, your overblown impression that the majority of this country was on your side. I would love to talk to a person like this, but I know what occur. Wide eyed, red faced and loud talking, this person would spue all the cute little sound bites she heard from all her hollywood heros (ops, I gave it away; she was a she). When you talk to her, you would find intellectual bankruptcy. And if she would, god willing, give you the the chance to bring on the overwhelmingly logical facts of your side, she would go right on as if she did not hear them.

I take comfort in the fact that no mater what she does now, she and her type cannot reverse what really happened.

Oh, by the way, when I got back to my car, I noticed a big "L" smudged on the dirty bumper, just to the RIGHT of the sticker.

I smile

Private accts means fewer elected Democrats

Let's cut to the chase! The Dems want Social Security to stay the same because they want as many people dependent on government as possible! If you have a bunch of people dependent on the government for their livelihood whether it is SS or welfare, they are going to vote for the Dems. The dems want to expand programs. They want more and more dependent people.

You certainly would not vote republican if you thought they would cut programs.

Private accounts are owned by the people. Even the working poor. If everyone has a direct investment in the country's economy, they are going to vote for the people who want the best for business.

More snow this week..great sking! 

Social Security a Gov Ponzi Scheme

Most informed people understand that Social Security (SS) is just a legal pyramid scheme perpetrated on the working folks of America. The workers of today pay 12.3% of their gross wages (half of this paid by the employer) into SS. This money goes to pay the benefits of todays retired workers. When the system started there were about 16 young workers paying into SS for every 1 retiree. Today there are about 3 workers paying into the account for every retiree. Some day, if the system is not changed, theoretically, this figure could drop to one worker for every retiree. How would you like to pay your own family's bills and then be personally responsible for paying for the retirement of someone else.

More money is going into this system than is being spent today. The amount that is in excess of what is needed to pay the current retirees, goes into what is called the SS Trust Fund. All this is, is a bunch of T-Bonds (Treasury Bonds). What are T-Bonds, well they are obligations of the Federal Government. You can go down to your bank today and buy some if you want a low, but safe return on your money. The Trust Fund has been growing since 1983 or so when SS taxes were raised. The Fund will be in positive balance until, some say 2018, some say earlier, say 2008.

THEN WHAT HAPPENS? The government must use the built up surplus (T-Bonds) to pay some of the benefits of the then existing retirees. The problem is that to get the cash, the government must go out and TAX the people, or borrow more (sell new Bonds to investors who may or may not be Americans). Either method is not good for our economy. The debt of the government rises. Taxes must go up or benefits go down some way to pay for this mess. Since raising taxes hurts the economy (takes money out of your pocket now as a worker), benefits will probably go down! Or, the retirement age will go up.

A very important fact is overlooked in this discussion by most government lovers. The SS surplus (Trust Fund) is counted as part of the government's yearly income (taxes and such). This makes the deficit look better than it really is. If it was not part of the equation, the deficit would look REALLY bad (you know; the truth).

The answer: The Democrats want to raise taxes and the Republicans want to cut back on government spending.

A better solution is to have young workers put some of their SS taxes into an individual account that THEY WILL OWN. Yes, like a forced IRA. And like I talked about a couple of Blogs ago, this account will provide a much better return than SS does now, as shown through its history! And MOST important...you will own it. You can use it in retirement and when you die, it will be passed on to your kids. Social Security, on the other hand, ENDS when you die. And in the event you die before you are 66 years old. All your investment is gone!

How'bout 10 1/2 inches! Looks like Winter Carnival will be just fine now. 

Six inches and counting! 

Social Security Change NOW!

The politics of Social Security is predictable, so, rather than listen to the politicians, look at the numbers.

I was in banking for 14 years and learned during that time why Einstein was so impressed with compound interest. Take the following example:

You fund your IRA with $3000 when you are 18 and continue to fund it until you are 28. Thereafter, you do nothing until you are 67 (you put no more money in the account). The account achieves a return of 6.25%. You look at your balance....

On the other hand, your best friend starts funding his IRA when he is 28 at the same $3000 level. He continues to fund it with $3000 a year until he is 67. Your friend looks at his balance...

Which one has more money in his IRA account when he is 67?

You may be surprised that you both would have about $460,000 in the account.

Both of these, of course, are not adjusted for inflation, but do you see the point?

You may argue that 6.25% is a high rate. Well, considering the stock market has achieved an average of 7.5% over the last 80 years, 6.25% doesn't look so out of reach.

Besides, arguments about how much of a return you make in private returns hardly makes a difference when you compare it to the return you make on the existing SS pyramid.

To show you the retirement security you can have by investing in private accounts, if you did receive that 7.5% return you would have $765,000 in your account. Your friend would have $630,000 in his. And if you both started out when you were 18 and continued to invest $3000 a year into the account until you were 67, you both would have an astounding $1,350,000 in your account-!!

Compound Interest!

And this is just your IRA. What if you had your SS withholding doing the same thing? I don't think we would have a problem with retirement.

There are obviously particulars that need to be worked out, but if given the chance to choose between the existing system or the one I show above, I would pick the private account.

Out the Office 

Spring has sprung in the Rockys

Like spring to day. Forcast is for 55 tomorrow!

Cold Weather Workers

Across the street a new building is being put up. It is a sunny day in the middle of the winter and there is no one there! Why, of course, they are all skiing. They wait to work when it is 10 degrees and snowing. They get nothing done, but what the HEY, they all came to town to ski anyway, didn't they!?

One wonders why it costs $250/ft to build in this town.

I wonder where the owner is. A month ago the wind blew and down came a whole two story wall. Not enough bracing was used.

This town is full of skiers that put on a carpenders belt they bought at True Value and ask $25/hr to pound nails...or should I say work a nail gun.