OK - I Will Join the 1st Car Meme - Very Late

The meme is on for what is/was your first car. I am inspired by In Jennifer's Head and The Smallest Minority.
It does take me a while to get inspired but nonetheless here we go! When I was growing up we were very poor. How poor you ask? Toys were almost non-existent, you had zucchini for three meals a day when it was in season, you were happy you got three meals in the same day, and the dog got nervous every year at Thanksgiving. Heck, mom cut the pockets out of our pants so that we would have something to play with. We used to sing songs to amuse ourselves as only the rich folks had radios and TVs. Rain water was stored to serve for plant watering and washing kids on Saturday night. Sing along - you know the tune!

Oh, it ain't gonna rain no more, no more
It ain't gonna rain no more
How in the heck can I wash around my neck
if it ain't gonna rain no more

Rich man drives a Cadillac
poor man drives a Ford
but my old man is satisfied
with fours wheels on a board

Oh, it ain't gonna rain no more, no more
It ain't gonna rain no more
How in the heck can I wash around my neck
if it ain't gonna rain no more

Well, you get the idea. My first car was a Rolls Canardly. It rolls down one side of the hill and canardly get up the other side!

Just kidding. It was a 21 Olds  and boy it was rough. Eventually we got her fixed up a bit so that the neighbors would quit singing the theme song to the Beverly Hillbillies every time we went by.

The neighbors still hooped an hollered when we went by. I even heard a few cat calls that sounded like someone was yelling, "Wheee doggies!." You probably think that I am just pulling your lariat about now.

I guess I am stretching the truth a touch so below is a photo of my first car.

Still kidding, I never had one of these. Anyone who knows me is aware that I would need two of these, one for each foot. Perhaps I will eventually get around to posting my actual 1st car. I drove a few of dad's before I ever had enough money to get one of my own. I think that the 64 Studebaker Lark was one of the most memorable. Dad was a rural route carrier for the Postal Service and his cars always looked like they sat outside with the windows left open during the great dust bowl. His route was almost all dirt roads. He would laugh when I asked to use it to go on a date. There was usually a full day event to shovel out the dirt and get it even semi-presentable for a date. That was the only time it got cleaned. You remember these wonderful vehicles don't you? Yessirree! It really impressed your date when you rolled up in this. It looked like this one replace the remaining paint with dusty black.

 Your date's father would typically say, "You the mailman's boy aren't you?" Everyone knew the vehicle so you couldn't get away with anything in this small town. Then I was lucky enough to get to drive a right hand drive Scout. What a chick magnet that was!

OK, I will give it up.

The 1st car I actually owned was a 67 Ford Custom I bought in 70. Dad helped me pick it out as he knew the previous owner. It was a base edition with a 240CID six, 3 on the tree, manual brakes/steering. You were not going racing in a full size vehicle with a six banger although it did OK when you were getting on the expressway and all. In many ways, I wish that I still own it as it was roomy, drove well, and decent on gas. It was a great car to double date in. I believe that my best friend got his wife-to-be pregnant in the back. You could disappear in the back seat and they did one evening or two while we were out "parking". You could also disappear in the front seat as the three on the tree did not get in the way. Gives a new meaning to the term, double dipping.

Cute Story

I love the delivery of the better speakers.

Woman allegedly beaten with frozen armadillo

Good thing it wasn't a frozen javalina or she could have been killed!Below is my favorite resipe for this tasty critter in case you happen to "run" across one either at the grocery store or on the highway. Just be sure to keep those rubber gloves on while cleaning them and don't forget to cook the daylights out of them to avoid mycobacterial leprosy. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm, yummy!

ARMADILLO IN MUSTARD SAUCE INGREDIENTS:

1 1/4 cups dry white wine
1/2 cup oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed (optional)
1/4 cup butter
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. rosemary
1 med. onion, sliced thin
1 armadillo, cleaned and cut into serving pieces
1 1/4 cups light cream
1 tbsp. brown mustard (e.g. Gulden's) or Poupon Dijon
1 tbsp. cornstarch

Directions:

Mix all ingredients of marinade and add armadillo. Marinate about 8 hrs., turning meat occasionally. Remove armadillo and reserve marinade.

Melt butter in deep skillet and brown armadillo pieces. Pour in marinade and bring to a boil. Stir in seasoning, cover and simmer until tender (about 1 - 1 1/4 hours.) Remove skillet from the fire and place armadillo pieces on a warmed platter.

Mix mustard and cornstarch, then mix in cream. Return skillet to low heat and stir in this mixture a little at a time. Stir sauce until hot, but not boiling, and thickened. Pour sauce over armadillo. Serve with steamed rice.

Firebird Raceway NHRA Nationals 2011

I have made my annual pilgrimage to Firebird for the drag races. I was surprised that it was switched this year to October. It hit 100 degrees so there were no really fast runs due to track temperatures but there were a lot of completed runs. It was a great, if hot, day! I like to roam the pits for a little it in the morning. No telling who might be around.

One must get the morning wafting of nitro-methane to energize the day!

Yes ladies, there are pink dragsters.

Self explanatory.

Wonder if those heads will fit the Bronco?

We counted 8 trailers for Force Racing. 

The Sarge.

And they're off!

A few videos are here for your viewing entertainment. The little camera does not do justice on the sound portion. I think that the camera shake is just the ground pounding vibration of top fuel. It couldn't be me.

Has It Really Been a Year Already?

Dad passed away a year ago today. I can hardly believe that it has been that long as I was so busy with taking care of stuff for mom. We were fortunate enough one year to get drawn for deer in Unit 27 (Blue River). I hope he still gets to visit. Darn it, I miss him.

Air Surge Phenomenon

The other day at work a PA announcement was made that the Lunch & Learn for a certain valve company was about to start. The presentation this time was by a company that deals in pressure/vacuum relief valves. The announced topic was Air Surge Phenomenon and How to Solve Them.

Some of us starting laughing which caused others less jaded to inquire as to what we thought was funny. A new description for a body function had just presented itself. The first thought was that the alternate meaning for air surge phenomenon was "fart". I wonder if they would need any guidance in how to rate this phenomenon as we already have a system. Three categories that are worth 10 points each are rated with the highest overall score being awarded the win. Our categories are volume, duration, and olfactory quality.

Hahahahaha. Sorry - it's an engineer thing as we must amuse ourselves whenever possible.

Orifice Onslaught

It was THAT time again. I was a bit late for my old guy check-up, you know colonoscopy. My doctor does have a sense of humor but this must be expected in his profession. How else could you survive the day talking about and looking at bungholes. His comment at the end of the prelim was, "Well you've got the orifice and I've got a tube. See you Monday."

I think that there may be an opportunity to make money here. How can you make the colon blow solution taste tolerable? The cherry flavoring provided does imbibe some vague sense of smelling the additive but it doesn't taste like cherry.

First drink it's alright
Second drink I lean right
Third drink hang on tight (go faster faster)

Fourth drink - this stuff really tastes bad. I think you could really make some money if this stuff didn't taste like bear piss diluted with swamp water. Don't ask how I know what that taste like.

Man, I could squirt through a keyhole at thirty paces and hit the wall on the other side. It is good that after you are halfway through that you are to start drinking some water as you are definitely expelling more than you are taking in.

The following morning I looked up every joke I could find on the internet on this topic so that I could be prepared to entertain the nurses and doctors. I dressed in my best clothes as I wanted them to think well of me. The lasting impression should not be that of my big hairy behind sticking out from the oh so fashionable smock provided. I put on tie dye shorts which my wife has dubbed the "clown shorts". She actually made me change my shirt as it did not match the shorts. Come on, everything goes with tie dye. I am kidding, I had to change my shirt as it had the usual array of food stains from previous days. She did not care if I looked like a clown as long as it wasn't a sloppy one.

I finally got to the room so that I could start with the jokes. They patiently smiled at me and informed me that they had heard these jokes. I was to finish up the comedy act as I was about to be sedated. I did get a chuckle when I asked for a note to take home stating that my head was not firmly planted up there.

The new drugs they use are pretty smooth. You come out of sedation slowly but fully. No drifting in and out of awareness like before. I am unsure why you shouldn't be able to drive yourself home at this point. I may or may not have driven more impaired than this in my youth. Regardless, you must have your designated driver with you. They assigned a nice little old lady that must have been all of about 5 feet tall and weighing in at 90 pounds as my guide to the vehicle. I told her that if she thought I was about to fall, that the sensible thing to do would be to get out of the way!


Well, they took one polyp but it was benign so I don't have to go back for five years. Yeah! I told the doctor that I would miss him and to call if he was missing seeing me. I also received some great color photographs. Let me know if you need to know what an a*****e, hemorrhoid, or polyp looks like and I would be glad to scan and post them up. I doubt that the doctor cares about copyrights.

I Find Myself Smiling Less

It has been a hard year and a half. Dad's health was failing last year while he was trying to take care of mom. She had the misfortune of having a stroke during hip replacement surgery. She never was able to come back to any semi-normal semblance of life. There was substantial damage from the stroke to the speech center, physical instability, incontinence, and vascular damage that brought progressive dementia. I had hired in-home care to assist for four hours in the morning and evening. Dad died 9/27/10 at 87 years old. Mom could not be home alone so the in-home care went to 24/7. This brought fees of $14,400.00 plus per month. It was not sustainable so mom went to an elder care facility that ran about $4,000.00 per month.

I took over all finances, got a financial advisor, got an attorney, took care of all dad's death requirements for mom, moved mom to eldercare, held an estate sale, donated what was left, created a trust, moved funds into in the trust, moved the house into the trust, and applied for survivor VA benefits for mom. It was what seemed to be never ending chores.

I swear that with mom's dementia, she would forget dad passed and then rediscover the event. Not good. She hated the care facility. Every time I would visit started with about a half hour of I hate it here, you can take care of me, dad took care of me, and on. I would tell her that she needed to stop this so that we could visit. The damage to the brain's speech center was enough that there was never more that a word a two that might or might not be the correct words. You were always try to guess what she was trying to say often to find out that it was nonsensical.

As the dementia progressed, she always called me by her deceased brother's name and insisted that I could not be her son as I was too old. Her memory was going off in strange directions but she most certainly did remember who was responsible for putting her in elder care.

Mom started to refuse medications in July including her blood thinner. She had a very mild heart attack toward the end of July. Her doctor did not seem to be too concerned about it and was going to release later in the week. The doctor asked about bringing in hospice at the elder care facility. OK - explain to me why you aren't concerned about the heart attack but you are talking about hospice now? I never did get her doctor to return calls after that. I have gotten to hate the medical profession. It seems that it is some great favor being bequeathed to you for them to tell you anything. No wonder doctors make the worst patients as they know how they have treated people all along.

The social worker from the hospital called me and wanted to know which hospice I wanted to use. I told here that I was unaware of why we are talking about hospice. The social worker can't tell you anything medical as it is not their place to do so. This is understandable. I know enough about hospice that there is no harm in start/stopping it there are only restrictions on the continuous length of care so I told them to set up with a hospice group.

Finally, hospice calls and want to know if I want them to get to work or send mom for treatment. Treatment for what? Endocarditus, as mom has a systemic bacterial infection that has hit the membrane of the heart. Why the heck couldn't mom's doctor have communicated this? The chances of success for the treatment were very low. I told the hospice to start their care as it seemed the least damaging to mom at the time. That evening we agonized over the decision of treatment or not. I felt like I was signing mom's death warrant if I said no to treatment. I decided that the discussion should be based on our own desires if you or I were in the same situation. Both my wife and I decided that if either of us were in the same position to go to hospice and let go. I did not have to make the final decision for mom. She died quietly in her sleep that night on 8/2/2011. I was the baby of the family and now I am it. My brother passed in 2000, dad in 2010 and now mom is gone.

I am still trying to sell the house from within the trust and things are not moving. there is a mortgage on the house. It is not upside down but it is a drain on what little money is left in the trust. I still have some of mom's accounts etc to close out. The chores still continue. I would not say I am depressed just that I don't smile as much.

It is fortunate that I have an outstanding wife and daughters. Both girls are in college and doing well. I am looking forward to the Masonic Lodge to start in September (we take a couple of months off in the summer), dove season is coming, there are a variety of pistol shoots, and I did get drawn for white tail deer in November. There is a lot to look forward to but it is still difficult at times.

Sunday Morning Blues

Some days just don't go as planned. One AM Sunday morning daughter number two wakes me up because a sound was heard in the garage. Well that sound was the shelf unit holding reloading goodies partially collapsing. Two bottom legs had given way and my shelf was a leaning tower of Pisa. There was little loaded ammo but plenty of brass, bullets, dies, and other sundry pieces had been loaded on the shelf. It was not overloaded by the shelf specifications but plastic shelving in the AZ heat apparently does not even retain half of its load capacity.

We moved the reloading table and moved brass and bullets out of the way to get to the shelf. I did not want to step on any brass and ruin it. I needed about four hands to try to keep things that were still on the shelf in place so they could be relocated to the living room. I have always thought that reloading equipment and supplies make perfect living room decorations. Other have different ideas concerning decor.

Thank goodness only 3-4 boxes opened up when hitting the floor. Most boxes have 500 each of this and that. We pulled the shelf out to the porch and decided the rest could wait until the morning. I set my alarm for 6 AM so I could be at Lowes at 7 to buy a heavier duty metal frame shelf. Oh well, I figured four hours sleep and then maybe a nap later in the day.

I got up and perused the garage again while getting ready. It was pretty impressive. I had not seen anything as scattered as this since the time I dumped #9 shot all over the living room while reloading shotshell. That previous event involved getting a clean paper bag put into my shop vac and sucking up shot out of the carpet. Wouldn't want to waste it. Later on my wife commented that there must be something wrong with the vacuum as every so often it would really make some rattling noises. I guess that I did not get all the #9 up and it was still working its way to the surface. It was hard not to laugh and I went ahead and confessed - but I am getting off track.

I was ready to venture outside and get that shelf except I noticed that the van seemed to be lacking a spare tire. There were pieces of broken lock and a lug nut on the ground but no tire. I had parked in the street to leave driveway space for daughter #1 and neglected to set the alarm. Gee, I wonder how long it will take for the police to arrive so that I can get an incident number. It was only about 20 minutes since it was 7 AM Sunday morning with little going on. The morning was disappearing.

I did get to Lowes and get the shelf. The loose parts on the floor were gathered into boxes for later sorting. Now I could go about sweeping the floor, setting the new shelf, empty the living room, sorting part/pieces back into their original containers, and finishing organizing it all. I never did get that nap.

It Isn't Charity if Payment is Forced

Quote of the day from Mrs wizardpc at Guns, Cars, and Tech
It is worth the read and to follow some of the links.

I would like politicians and bureaucrats to acknowledge this: Every law,rule,and regulation made by the government ends in puppy killing SWAT Teams. Every dime that is spent in our name was taken at gunpoint.

I want them to understand that every action they take has this statement as a footnote:“This is important enough that my grandmother should be killed if she does not abide.”

Lambertville, MI Makes The Drudge Report via Fox!

Lambertville vandalism turns life-threatening

Figures it would be some union thug attacking a non-union employer. It appears that the union harassment has been going on for years. I would say that occurrences like this give unions a bad name but that is really redundant. Unions have always been violent when they don't get their way regardless of the topic.

"School Discipline Study Raises Fresh Questions"

"Minority students facing discipline for the first time tended to be given the harsher, out-of-school suspension, rather than in-school suspension, more often than white students, the study said. (The nature of the offenses was not noted.) "

The link I followed says that the Texas study raises questions.
I have a question. Which moron decided that the nature of the offense was not a major factor in this study? This could have been a valid study but I expect that the desired results were not achieved without skipping major factors. The whole thing should have started with the type of offense linked with the rest of the demographic factors. Perhaps there is an unfair racial bias that could be addressed but one should at least make the effort to put forth a defensible study.

For Whom the Bell Tolls!!!!

"A mine awareness team in Uganda was horrified to find an unexploded bomb being used as a bell when they visited a school to teach children how to spot bombs"

Team member #1, "Ring the bell and call in the children for our class."
Team member #2, "Hey, does that bell have a familiar shape?"
Team member #1, "Sure, we see those all the time. Let me ring it."
Team member #2, "Find a hammer, that rock really doesn't make it ring well!"
Team member #1, "OK, How's.........."

Recent advertisement in the Anti-Mine Network publication desires replacement inspectors for locating unexploded ordinance.

Activists Missing After Declaring “War on Leather” at Motorcycle Rally

“I…I was trying to show my outrage at a man with a heavy leather jacket, and he…he didn’t even care. I called him a murderer, and all he said was, ‘You can’t prove that.’ Next thing I know he forced me to ride on the back of his motorcycle all day, and would not let me off, because his girl friend was out of town and I was almost a woman.”

Hahahahahahahahha! Don't read the article while drinking soda. Monitor & keyboard alert!

Judge intervenes to let tea party hand out Constitution

Heaven forbid someone actually read the U.S. Constitution! Don't pass out that subversive literature! Egads! Its Tea Partiers passing out the Constitution, circle the wagons and pass new rules.
The board of this library should be replaced. Porn 1, Constitution 0

The score isn't quite correct yet since there is a  preliminary injunction against the library preventing them from implementing the new rules. 

Jon Stewart on "Fast and Furious"

This is quite good.

The Daily Show - The Fast and the Furious - Mexico Grift
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

New Shooter!

Daughter #1 and I went to the Marksman's facility on Saturday for the NRA Basic Handgun course. I also took the course to keep her company. It was a good refresher and the instructor was lively. The instructor recognized me and asked if I was taking the course to keep my daughter company. I nodded yes and he smiled. The classroom handguns were 22LR S&W.  double action with the 8 round cylinder. Perfect starter gun. We went through all the usual safety and operational items before lunch. Range time would be from 1-2PM.

She was a bit nervous come range time but survived it well. I don't know that it is fair to call her a new shooter as she has shot a shotgun before - one session at the trap field. Her main enjoyment is archery. Regardless, she did just fine and seems to have a good eye. She obviously paid attention during the class portion of stance, grip and sight plane. All of her shots were within the boundaries of a CCW target. I was keeping an eyeball on her target while we were shooting and I could see her pattern tightening up nicely.

We shot about 50 rounds of 22, 6 rounds of 38, and 2 of 9mm. I like shooting anything so I was entertained aside from the limited amount of ammo for the 38 and 9mm. It was nice that I got to shoot three weapons that I had never touched before. She had a big smile at the end of the range time.

Upon returning home my target was presented to mom as being hers. Mom just gave her "the eye" and said she wanted to see the other target. After a few more seconds of  "the eye" she confessed that the target with a ragged hole was mine. She said that she was watching my target and was trying to figure out if I was missing the whole thing. She kept seeing little pieces of paper on the floor and came to the realization of what was happening.

With the class we received a range pass for a month. I have been informed that this was fun and we should go back while it is free. Now we need to go over the operation of my P22 and Single Six. Works for me!

Daughter #2 will go to the same course after returning from summer vacation. I expect that I will attend again. Perhaps I can talk to the instructor about having three different guns for me to try!

Can I have a SWAT team too?

I was thinking about starting my own church, The Powerhouse Church of the Presumptuous Assumption of the Blinding Light (thank you Firesign Theater), but am concerned that attendance might not be good in the beginning. Hence, I would like my own SWAT team choir to go house to house and shake people down gather loan repayments owed God. You owe everything to God and he has informed me, Pastor Rod Flash (thanks again Firesign Theater), that it is time to collect. I am sure that I can blackmail find some judge to get some warrants so that we go collecting door-to-door for your forced repayment charitable contributions. I wonder which judge the Department of Education used for this SWAT invasion for a student loan repayment? This judge would be my first choice for my warrants.

OK - snark off, but it makes just about as much sense as what was actually done. ED has no business having a police arm much less pulling SWAT invasions. The fact that it was done over a student loans shows the idiocy of the bureaucracy. Did I just use idiocy and bureaucracy in the same sentence? I hate being redundant. This message brought to you by the Department of Redundency Department (thanks yet again Firesign Theater).

U.N. Agreement Should Have All Gun Owners Up In Arms

"It may not come as surprising news to many of you that the United Nations doesn’t approve of our Second Amendment. Not one bit."

Time to contact your congress critters again and complain loud and clear.

Ex.-Sen. Thompson joins popular vote project

"Thompson, who also ran briefly for the Republican nomination for president in 2008, said the campaign is consistent with the country's constitutional principles. "

It may be consistent with the country's "current constitutional principles" but it is in no way constitutional. I do not think that your current principles or lack thereof should necessarily override the constitution.

 Oh no Fred, what happened to you? Medications kicking in or wearing off?

The electoral college serves the exact same purpose today as when it was put in place - to keep highly populated centers from controlling the entire country. I think that the way some states run their electoral colleges is bizarre to say the least but it is a State's prerogative.

"They wanted a fence."

"Well, that fence is now basically complete."

POTUS needs a new speech writer as they should have used "virtually" instead of "basically". Then he couldn't be accused of being a liar as virtual means - not in reality. Does anyone actually believe these speeches and the nonsense that is spewed?

I am still stuck at the same place. Secure the border first. You may talk to me about reform afterwards, not before.

Fred Astaire!

I ran across an article on Power Line that May 10th was Fred Astaire's birthday. Frederick Austerlitz was born this day in 1899, in Omaha, Nebraska. He would have been 112. He actually died in 1987 at the age of 88.

My daughters like watching some of the old musicals as they were both involved in dance. Enjoy some fine footwork!

How to get along!

Andrew Klavan: How to Behave During an Islamic Massacre

I Will Participate in Earth Day

The little sticker says it all. I believe that I will go reload some more ammo to again recycle some of that old brass.

I am also a big supporter of alternative fuel vehicles.

 

Wonder if there is a way to collect the methane for use in an internal combustion engine?

Why of cousre there is! It would just need some slight modificaitons for human use. Don't not be concerned as the tube is only uncomforatable for a little while. You will get used to it.

Calling All RINOs

"To my Republican friends: take back your party. So that it doesn’t matter so much who wins the election,"

Yes, all the RINOs need to take their party back so it doesn't matter who is elected. The Democrats can then get their socialistic way without any conservatives complaining about the Constitution, taxes or whatever.

This last go around about so called reductions in the budget, government shutdown, and how everyone would starve has convinced me that we really do need a reset button. How is a $225+ billion dollar increase over last year's budget a cut? It is insulting that we are expected to believe this nonsense. This whole things is about politicians pretending to do something to fool the unwashed masses.

It is almost like a comedic movie except it really costs us a lot of money that we don't have. "We have to protect our phoney baloney jobs here, gentlemen! We must do something about this immediately! Immediately! Immediately! Harrumph! Harrumph! Harrumph!" - Governor William J. Le Petomane

Japanese Nuke Crisis Severity

"The news was received with chagrin by residents in Iitate, one of the five communities, where high levels of radiation have been detected in the soil. The village of 6,200 people is about 40 kilometers from the Fukushima plant."

Fishermen in the area have been reporting that a variety of previously unseen fish have been netted. Scientists are at a loss to classify the recently discovered mutations. Our reporters have been asked to participate in the new bounty and have been informed that they taste just like chicken! Funny, they don't look like chickens.







Also of great surprise to the village was the discovery a very large reptile roaming the area which resulted in the scientists immediate evacuation. Fortunately, one of them was able to get a quick shot of the creature. Some of the locals were excitedly exclaiming, "Oh no, there goes Tokyo!".









Amazingly enough another creature appeared causing the first monster to flee in apparent terror. The photo of this creature has scientists baffle as they are unable to determine the genus or any other useful information. DNA is being collected in the area to try to classify this new menace.

Perfect Green Car

"Nissan Motor Co has received complaints from owners that its Leaf electric car on occasion fails to start, posing a potential setback for the automaker's goal of promoting zero-emission vehicles" Doesn't start, doesn't go anywhere and uses no energy doing it! Why wouldn't every Greenie want one? Does it come with a bicycle rack as standard equipment?

Semi with cattle rolls over on Interstate 17

And there's hamburger all over the highway in Black Canyon City, Arizona. Those are the headlines and now the rumours behind the news.

25th Wedding Anniversary Coming Soon!

Wow, time flies when your having fun! Now I need to figure out something get Sweetie other than the usual household appliances. A new vacuum probably won't be adequate even if it is silver plated. I could take her over to the Silver Saddle Steak House for a meal, maybe run over to Silver City for a weekend, buy some silver coins to play with, or stand on the corner and count the silver cars as they go by. The silver picture frame is another common item but you have to figure out what picture to put in it. How about the very thrilling and exciting silver paperweight? There are all kinds of sterling or crystal flutes but Sweetie does not drink. I am having a hard time coming up with something other than the typical engraved silver platter. What the heck does anyone do with those silver platters? They have good stuff for guys like the crowned silver frog engraved "you are my prince". How about the Penthouse 25th Anniversary Pet of the Year Spectacular? The 25th anniversary commemorative issue of a any weapon is the best idea, bar none.

Another MI Run

I finally got word that the 99 Windstar I bought from mom had the new rear axle installed. It had been resting at the dealer since October. A one-way airline ticket was purchased to go collect the van and drive it back to AZ. During the time gap of purchasing the airline ticket and actually travelling, I received another recall notice. This one involves some of the undercarriage support brackets. Sheesh. I called the Ford dealer in MI. The Windstar had passed this exam. This means that the additional bracing can be installed under this recall - when spare parts are in - again. I called a dealer here and no problem with doing the install here - when they get parts. It was deemed safe to drive so off I went.

While speaking of taking time off from work, it turned into one of those "while your up" conversations. A side trip to Belding, MI and Dayton, OH were scheduled for some equipment inspections. This turned out well as I now could turn some of the costs in a reimbursable expenses.

Thursday night (3/3) was move all the furniture that did not sell in the estate sale from the upstairs/downstairs to the main floor. Salvation Army does not do stairs. Friday was picking up the vehicle and moving furniture day. Some shirt-tail relatives and neighbors showed up that were now interested in some of the furniture. All I could say was to make an offer before the SA gets here as they have already been scheduled. You would hear some of the typical questions, "Can I make a call and let you know later if they are interested." My answer, to the dismay of some, was an emphatic NO. I goes out now or it goes to the SA. I have limited time to be here and will not make another airline flight for some piece of furniture or your convenience. I made a couple of Goodwill runs after getting the remaining large stuff out.

I finally got over to see mom Friday evening. This is difficult as she is unsure if I am her son or brother. The stroke related dementia continues to progress. The stroke had physical impacts and also hammered speech centers. You will need to get into charades and twenty questions to figure out what the topic is. Don't say yes to anything unless you are quite clear on what the topic is. My moron cousin was nodding and saying yes when she was asking to come live with him and for he along with his wife to take care of her. This is a 24/7 event and is why we had to go to the eldercare. I had to interrupt , take him off to the side, let him know what he was agreeing to, and tell him that the answer is "no" or "I don't understand" until you do understand. It then falls to me to explain to mom that he was not agreeing to her moving in. Thanks a bunch for that added task.

She says that I am too old to be her son and calls me by her brother's name. But, she is very aware of the fact that I am the one who put her in assisted living and the attempts at manipulation start immediately. This will last about an hour before you can get around to visiting. It starts over at each visit even if you were there 4 hours ago as she no longer has a good concept of time.

Saturday and Sunday were composed of visiting with mom and making runs to Goodwill. I also cleared out the storage area I had rented of the things that I was going to transport to AZ. On Monday, I traveled to Belding, MI which made a nice test run of the van prior to heading across country. Tuesday morning found me loaded up and in Dayton, OH and then heading west to St. Louis. I wanted to get halfway on Tuesday but due to some heavy rain and then some fog, I ended up spending the night in Joplin. I only made 800 miles that day. Wednesday was my 1200 mile day. I crawled into Tucson after midnight. The trip was uneventful in general. I am getting too old or maybe less willing for the 2,000 mile 2 day trips. For some reason, I really did not feel like getting up and going to work the next morning! I would rather drag through a day at the office than burn another vacation day. I need those vacations days for fun things like hunting.

I could be done with the last major task if that house would sell. It is not a great time to be trying to sell a house.

Don't Expect Leo To Arrive

Delta Kills Kitten, Offers Owner $50

Having dealt with Delta on a variety of lost luggage issues, I am surprised that they made any offer at all. Must have been caught stone cold in the frozen kitty caper!

GM hourly workers get $4,000 bonuses

"Since the taxpayers helped these companies out of bankruptcy, the taxpayers should be repaid before bonuses go out," Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said in a statement. "It sends a message that those in charge take shareholders, in this case the taxpayers, for a sucker."

Like we did not know we were being played for fools at the time of the bailout. This is money that should be applied to buying back the government owned stocks which also should never have taken place. I would say that there will never be another Chevy in my driveway until GM pays us, the taxpayers, back. It is probably safe to say that there won't ever be a Chevy there with future purchases being based on that premise.

Raging Against Self Defense:

Raging Against Self Defense:
A Psychiatrist Examines The Anti-Gun Mentality

This is worth the time to read as it does try to help with how to deal with the anti crowd.

Super Bowl Snacks

I really did not have a dog in this fight so I was happy to see a game that was not a blowout or worse. It does however to encourage me to create some snacks that we have not had in a while. Anyone for frog legs? How about pig's tongue? Gator nuggets? It was a good thing I got down to the Chinese supermarket in our area before they ran out of tongue! Most people who have not had frog's legs make a funny face when mentioned. It is easy to identify those who have had them as they usually comment that they are good. They are also easy to make. I like the deep fried ones but don't like to deep fry because of the mess to clean up. This time, we went baked. Grease a baking dish, rinse and pat dry the legs, brush them with a little oil or butter, shake them in cracker crumbs and spices, and bake for about 45 minutes at 350.

Tongue is great for putting on crackers after slicing thinly. It is easy also. Cover them with water, add spices, add onions & garlic, bring to a boil, and simmer for a couple of hours. You take the outer layer off and slice thinly.

Gator nuggets are easy. Cut up some gator, put in milk/egg, shake in flour/spices (don't forget the cayenne pepper) and pan fry in a little oil. Stick a toothpick in them and serve with Thousand Island for dipping.

How's that for some eclectic snacks? I can't say that I plan ahead as I just go the store and see what strikes my fancy. I passed on the pig snout as I was unsure how it was prepared. Maybe next year.

McCain says a 'much more centrist' Obama 'much' easier to work with

I don't think my idea of a centrist is the same as Johnny's. Maybe someday John will become conservative and switch parties. Oh, I forgot that he is a Republican although that really has nothing to do with being conservative anymore. What a maroon.

I know, John can be Obama's running mate in the next election! Now there's a pair for you. They could do the duet that Obama and Biden couldn't because there is no way Joe could get through any song without screwing up. Still might need a teleprompter for the prez. How about Ebony & Ivory? I really liked the version by Piscopo and Murphy! Do you do your own hair?

Smugglers Catapult Pot Over Border Fence

The border patrol was able to get a picture of the people waiting to receive the load on the US side. A reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the smugglers.

Crazy Times in Tucson

There have been plenty of comments by others (pick a side) so my comments on the tragedy at Gabby's gathering are going to be simple. I wish a speedy recovery to the survivors. My condolences to the families of the slain. Our prayers are with you.

Happy Belated New Year

The evening of December 30th I was starting to feel like I was coming down with The Bug. Regardless of minor inconveniences, we (my bow and I ) went for a walk the following morning which was New Years Eve. It had stormed and there was snow on the mountain! I did not see any deer sign in the snow at lower elevations so I started to work up higher where some sign was showing. Snow was a little deeper too but not enough to bother the deer. There was a spot that was worth watching so I found a spot to hang out for while. I was feeling worse as the day went on. I heard voices from around a hilltop and from a ways away. Sounded like they were a having a moving party as they were laughing and talking. I eventually watched them cut across the face of a ridge line. It was a family (I guess) or four that was out for a walk. I just stayed tight to see if they would move anything around. Apparently they didn't find a good trail the way they were going and came back across the face and then were contouring down in my direction. They got within about 20 yards of me before I moved a little and the man in lead realized that someone was there. I could hear him whisper to his wife(?), "There's a guy there, looks like a hunter." Gee, I wounder what the first clue was that I might be a hunter. Was it the camo and bow? The lady said, "Gee, I hope he doesn't mistake us for deer." I said, "Hello. Beautiful morning isn't it? Ma'am, no one is going to mistake you for deer with all the laughing and conversation." We had a nice short visit as they were obviously out for morning adventure in the snow and did not seem anti-hunting. They hoped that they hadn't spoiled anything for my hunt. I had let them know that they had not spoiled anything and that the area was for everyone's use. We wished each other well and off they went still talking, laughing and having a grand time in general. It is always beautiful in the mountains with the snow on them.

I was feeling crappier by the minute and decided to bail out for home. I was only about a mile or so from the truck but it seemed much longer. Upon arriving at home, the gear was stowed, clothes changed and some hot food was in order. I was feeling worse still. Bed came early, I did not see the ball drop for the New Year. No complaints.

Merry Christmas - Finally

I have been remiss in keeping up the posting but offer no apologies.

I had a great time on the 12th trying to knock down bowling pins in a match set up by Kevin. I haven't shot in a little while due to many reasons. So it was only natural that I go to the shoot with a couple of guns that I normally don't shoot in competition. I did poorly but had a great time. My Frankenstein Commander (Colt slide, Essex frame, and various other parts) performed nicely. I think that it is finally broken in from lapping the slide onto the new frame along with the guncoat refinishing. No FTF or FTE. The Walther P22 worked just fine. Now I need time to get over to the bowling alley and get more pins. We were going through some pins with all the people that were there. It should be mentioned again that the tables looked like really chewed up by the end of the matches. Termites have nothing on us!

I was back in wintry MI the 17th through the 20th to get mom to sign the papers needed to establish a trust. I lucked out as I was there between storms. It has been quite a run this last 6 months. The abbreviated run down looks like this: Dad getting too weak to care for mom in July (she had a stroke a couple of years ago), doctors visits for dad, outside help brought into their house, meetings with financial advisor for VA benefits, dad in the hospital, outside help goes 24/7, hospice, dad's passing in September, taking care of dad's affairs, POA with attorney for mom, arranging and moving mom into assisted living, financial advisor and trust attorney, setting up trust so mom can get dad's VA survivor benefits for care, move house into trust so that Medicaid can't do anything about it in five years, get the house up for sale from within trust and set up estate sale. I think I have been back to MI about 6 times so far.

I fly occasionally for work also so it has been busier than I like. Heck, I am not all that fond of flying anyways what with the airlines stuffing more seats onboard. Coach should really be renamed "sardine class". The last flight was out of Phoenix as I could get a direct from there to Detroit. The drive to the Phoenix airport only takes about an hour and a half from my house so it is still better than having connecting flights. I was dreading the longer flight as I am usually squashed in. Keep in mind that I am 6'7". I went on US Airways and lo and behold they had not shrunk the plane as far as others. My knees were at least a quarter inch off the seat in front of me.

I also got to go through my first of the new scanners. I decided that I should probably go through the scanner as I was unsure that I could refrain from making kissy noises while being patted down or comment on what nice hands he has. I was waiting for the results and asked the agent, "If I give you my email, will you send me a copy of the scan?" He did not actually answer but I did receive what I call THE LOOK. I then asked him, "Have you heard this request before?" I got a one word answer this time, "Yes". He was not happy that I was even talking to him. We believe that TSA agents' sense of humor is surgically removed as a hiring requirement.

Christmas was nice. Daughter #1 is home on break from NAU so the immediate family was together. We all went to Christmas Eve service at the Thornydale Family Church. Daughter #1 likes this church. Christmas Eve has traditionally been our gift opening time after church. Christmas Day is more for play and loafing. The Sunday after was back to my usual busy self - fixed the dryer, put up a shelf, went to Caveman Warehouse to get my 2011 tags, made ham & bean soup, and went to Sunday services with daughter #1. She asked if I would go with her and I try to say yes unless there is something going on like a shoot.

Wow, I was present in church twice in three days. I could see the increased interest is the pastor and others. It is kind of like fresh meat hanging up to attract the carnivores. JK. We were sitting and waiting for service to start. I commented to my daughter that if you changed a few words that you could take Revelation 13 and turn it into the start of a SciFi movie. This time I got THE LOOK from my daughter along with the obligatory exclamation, "Dad!" Which normally means that I am being difficult and should should be quiet. Like that is going to work. So I read part of it to her.

The Beast out of the Sea
1 The dragon[a] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion.

OK, does it have 4 heads with one horn each and 3 heads two horns each or........
Who had the gumption to get up there and tattoo the blasphemous names on the heads?
Shouldn't the dragon be coming out of the sea and the beast on the shore? I never heard of a sea leopard but have heard of a sea dragon.

I don't understand why I get the reactions I do when I am just asking obvious questions!

And on that note - Happy New Year!

Reid, Senate Democrats Threaten to Block Obama Deal on Tax Cuts

Pelosi and Reid annoy me. I will just address one issue here from the article, the Estate Tax. Let's call it what is really is, which is the death tax. This falls somewhere into triple or quadruple taxation.

"Pelosi called the estate tax provision "a bridge too far," and Reid also singled it out for criticism." So they are arguing whether is should be 35% of anything over $5 million or 45% of anything over $3.5 million. It should be nothing, period. There is something inherently evil about this tax. Guess they need the money to pay for their endless job benefits. Oops, I guess that makes two issues.

I believe that any politician who supports any measure of death tax should become acquainted with tar and feathers. Both the republicans and democrats are bunch of leaches that still don't comprehend that it is not their money that they demand and then freely squander.

I always laugh at the quote from Grandma Florence Norris in Mars Attack, "They blew up congress. Ha ha ha ha!" She seemed to exhibit the same disdain that most hold for our so called representatives.

My Elk Hunt Sucked

I don't know how else to state it. This hunt ranks down there as one of the worst trips ever. I hired a guide for this hunt which is something I have never done before. There were several reasons involved in this decision. I don't have a hunting partner(s) at this time and my wife actually worries about me when I am in the backcountry alone. I have yet to be able to reassure her with statements like, "I won't die for lack of firepower." or "What the heck is a partner going to do anyways? He can't really can't carry me. I guess he could call and tell you I was dead" or "At least I will die doing what I like to do." She just seems to get more agitated and displays nervous ticks.

I am unsure how many more times I will go elk hunting as the fun really does stop when the animal drops. There used to be a group of us that would all put in for elk. The deal was that everyone went whether they were drawn or not. Everyone pitched in when someone got one and made short work of it. We would split up the elk meat amongst the group. People eventually scattered to the four winds and the group was no more. Elk are a lot to handle by yourself so I thought that it might be nice to get an "expert" to help with finding a nice rack and help tote. I should have stuck to looking at "racks" in magazines instead of hiring a guide.

The online site has reviews for previous clients. I know now that these must have been carefully selected for publication. Either that or they are complete fabrications. There was a questionnaire to be filled out prior to the hunt. It was missing some very important questions such as:

• Are you able to see well enough by flashlight to march through the woods at 4 AM for miles?
• Are you able to leap tall boulders in a single bound?
• If you see game, are you able to run faster than it does? (Keep in mind that an elk will walk at about 5 MPH).
• Are you able to see game while rapidly walking before they see you?
• Are you ready to march all day on six hours sleep for days on end?
• Do you fit in a Suzuki Samurai?
  

The night before opening day we were going to go glass. He told me to jump in his Suzuki Samurai - right. Keep in mind that I am 6'7" tall and there is not going to be any jumping in. I found that I could get in if the seat was all the way back, reclined a bit, put my left foot in first, held onto the grab bar and door, leaned in, sat down, put my feet just so to get the right leg in, and leaned off to one side to shut the door. I could only describe it as uncomfortable at best until we actually did some rock crawling then it was miserable. These vehicles can be worked over to become quite capable off road machines however I do believe that they were designed by a Japanese gentleman was who considered to be exceptionally short for his race.

We drove about two miles from camp and were glassing a hillside across the canyon above a tank. There were a few other vehicles parked in the vicinity doing the same. I let him know that there was a bull on the hillside. There were actually quite a few elk on the hillside. I figured that it might be a good idea to get on the other side of the ridge where we saw the elk on opening morning. I also figured that a few of the other hunters were going to be parking in the same place and heading that way. They could move them to us.

Such was not the case. We left camp opening morning at 4:30 AM so that we could drive 45 minutes and get to another spot before daybreak. The area actually looked pretty good. Lots of older beds and sign. I only found a pile or two that was fresh within 24 hours. We marched around in a big loop with minimal time spent glassing. Heck, he would go a couple hundred yards without pause prior to taking a quick glance around. Glassing was reserved for special occasions. He said that he could always spot the elk before they saw him even while walking. We saw nothing.

That afternoon we went back to where we had seen elk before and got around to the next ridge over. We saw a nice 6x5 a little over 300 yards out. I was tempted to try to take him but it would require a stalk to get in at less than 200 yards. Keep in mind that this is muzzle loader hunt. The ft lbs of most of these weapons is getting very marginal when past the 150 yard mark. He asked how far I could shoot that thing and was informed that I did not even know the drop at 300 yards as it is not a clean kill distance for this weapon. I looked up the muzzle loader data again for my load. I sighted in for 150 yards which is at 973 ft lbs. Most consider 1,000 ft lbs to be the lower end for elk hunting. At 200 yards the drop from this setup is 13" (762 ft lbs). 300 yards gives 42" of drop and 445 ft lbs.

It was almost dark and I felt that a stalk would be difficult at best trying to get down the rocky ridge line without getting spotted. I was informed that it wasn't that nice of a bull anyways and that he could put me on a better animal. I should have tried the stalk as it was the last decent thing we saw. Heck we did not even get on a spike after that.

The following morning found us on the next ridge over, marching along as usual. We saw some elk crossing a saddle that joined our ridge above us. He took off up the hill like a jackrabbit, jumping from rock to rock, and waving for me to follow. I am not a talus runner. There were three elk, we think, of unknown sex. No identification was possible nor was there any opportunity.

The next morning found us driving to the other side of the unit. We saw a really nice bull about 5AM in the headlights. I guess that was the better bull he could show me. Personally, I would have gone back to the area where we saw elk before but I am not as experienced and have these novice thoughts. We saw nothing that day.

The following days were no better. I have not hunted like this before. Hike an hour in the morning, in the dark, to get to the "good" spot. Spend maybe 5 minutes there after it is daylight. March around hoping that the animals don't see you first. If you do see something, go like heck to try to get in front of it. I was not able to keep up being a flat lander now at 7,000 feet in elevation, I found it difficult to catch my breath. I was then informed that if I wanted to see anything that I had to keep up. I was working hard just to try to keep this a**hole in sight.

He had one of his partners with him one day. They would walk ahead, softly talking & laughing, and with waving their hands with great animation the whole time. The guide had a pair of natural elk skin choppers on. You know how new choppers are yellow and shiny bright. Once in a while they would hold up for you. It sure was nice that they were getting paid to visit with each other. I was wondering if anyone would discover the bodies. We never did see anything that day either. Probably had something to do with marching, paying no attention, and waving those bright gloves around while talking.

I informed him that I had never hunted this way before. He did not like that comment and wanted to know what I really knew about elk. I actually do know a bit about them but thought that this ought to be fun. I responded that they were a lot like deer. Well, I got the 15 minute lecture about how they were not at all like deer which lead into his description of what they were like. He proceeded to give a prefect description of mule deer habits without even realizing it. There is one strong difference. Elk travel further than mule deer when you bump them which is mainly because they can travel those distances easily.

Something dawned on me after a while. They do lion hunts and he is permanently in lion hunting mode where you are always chasing the dogs. I was also starting to believe that he was using my hunt to scout for other purposes.

His idea of accommodating this old man was to wait up every so often and then take off as soon as you caught up. I would continue to stand there waiting for my heart rate to stabilize. He would turn and see me still standing there and stop with a disgusted look on his face. I let him know on the fourth day that I was no longer going to try to pretend that I could keep up with him. I was struggling to maintain a reasonable heartbeat and that this would kill me if I attempted to keep it up. I was very tired from the previous days which made it even more difficult. I told him he could slowly take me back to the camp and that he was relieved of his obligation. This did not go over well as he was probably thinking that this was not good for his reputation. There are no refunds nor was I asking for one. I just figured that I could ditch him and go hunt by myself. He did not want to let go. The last couple of days were more enjoyable as the long marches were over. We even stooped so low, in his opinion, to watch a tank in the evening but no elk was seen. He claims that you don't see elk sitting that you have to be moving. What a crock.

This was the least amount of elk I have seen when fortunate enough to get drawn. I have been drawn four other times. I shot a 5x4 and two times have passed on spikes. Only one other year did I not have an opportunity. I should know better by now not to pass on spikes or anything else. It does not seem to matter whether I am deer or elk hunting, if I pass on any animal that it will be the last shootable game seen.

Camp wasn't even fun. The very early mornings combined with not getting back to camp until well after dark only left time for dinner and bed. You might be able to hustle up dinner and be able to get 6 hours sleep.

Things I learned this hunt:

• Don't ever, ever, ever bother with a guide unless someone you know has used him. The rest falls under truth in advertising - not!
• Try the stalk when game is seen. It is better to get busted trying than to not try. I am still kicking myself for not trying. 6x5 antlers would look good next to the 5x4.
• I hate Suzuki Samurais.
• I did see some country I haven't been in before. I know where I want to be the first couple days of the hunting season if I can get drawn for 6A again.
• Bifocal glasses are a poor choice when trying to hike in the dark with a flashlight. You pretty much have to keep your head down to be able to see over the lower lens. Get another pair of glasses without the bifocal. I used to have a regular pair but neglected to do so with the last pair. It's not like your going to be reading much. You can take them off if you can't see the map well enough.
• I really like my Big Buddy heater with a 20 pound bottle as it lasted 5 days.
• Cut morons like this loose earlier. You can't get your money back anyways, so why make yourself miserable because you paid for it.
• Just because your paying someone doesn't mean that they actually know more than you do.
• Repeat this to yourself as necessary.

The Nightmare in DC Act

Contact your congress critter and let them know what you think of yet another attempt at back door amnesty. Senator Session has put up a good synopsis of the bill.

The full text of Senator Sessions’ release:

OBAMA-REID AMNESTY PLAN BACK ON SENATE CALENDAR FOR LAME-DUCK SESSION

BILL WOULD GIVE COLLEGE PREFERENCE TO ILLEGALS OVER CITIZENS

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has placed S.3827, the DREAM Act, on the Legislative Calendar and has indicated he will seek a vote during the lame duck session of Congress.

In addition to immediately putting an estimated 2.1 million illegal aliens (including certain criminal aliens) on a path to citizenship, the DREAM Act will give them access to in-state tuition rates at public universities, federal student loans, and federal work-study programs.

Aliens granted amnesty by the DREAM Act will have the legal right to petition for entry of their family members, including their adult brothers and sisters and the parents who illegally brought or sent them to the United States, once they become naturalized U.S. citizens. In less than a decade, this reality could easily double or triple the more than 2.1 million green cards that will be immediately distributed as a result of the DREAM Act.

Ten Things You Need To Know About S.3827, The DREAM Act

1. The DREAM Act Is NOT Limited to Children, And It Will Be Funded On the Backs Of Hard Working, Law-Abiding Americans

Proponents of the DREAM Act frequently claim the bill offers relief only to illegal alien “kids.” Incredibly, previous versions of the DREAM Act had no age limit at all, so illegal aliens of any age who satisfied the Act’s requirements—not just children—could obtain lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. In response to this criticism, S.3827 includes a requirement that aliens be under the age of 35 on the date of enactment to be eligible for LPR status. Even with this cap, many aliens would be at least 41 years old before obtaining full LPR status under the Act—hardly the “kids” the Act’s advocates keep talking about.

The DREAM Act requires that DHS/USCIS process all DREAM Act applications (applications that would require complex, multi-step adjudication) without being able to increase fees to handle processing. This mandate would require either additional Congressional appropriations, or for USCIS, a primarily fee-funded agency, to raise fees on other types of immigration benefit applications. This would unfairly spread the cost of administering the DREAM Act legalization program among applicants and petitioners who have abided by U.S. laws and force taxpayers to pay for amnesty. Taxpayers would also be on the hook for all Federal benefits the DREAM Act seeks to offer illegal aliens, including student loans and grants.

2. The DREAM Act PROVIDES SAFE HARBOR FOR ANY ALIEN, Including Criminals, From Being Removed or Deported If They Simply Submit An Application


Although DREAM Act proponents claim it will benefit only those who meet certain age, presence, and educational requirements, amazingly the Act protects ANY alien who simply submits an application for status no matter how frivolous. The bill forbids the Secretary of Homeland Security from removing “any alien who has a pending application for conditional status” under the DREAM Act—regardless of age or criminal record—providing a safe harbor for all illegal aliens. This loophole will open the floodgates for applications that could stay pending for many years or be litigated as a delay tactic to prevent the illegal aliens’ removal from the United States. The provision will further erode any chances of ending the rampant illegality and fraud in the existing system.

3. Certain Criminal Aliens Will Be Eligible For Amnesty Under The DREAM Act

Certain categories of criminal aliens will be eligible for the DREAM Act amnesty, including alien gang members and aliens with misdemeanor convictions, even DUIs. The DREAM Act allows illegal aliens guilty of the following offenses to be eligible for amnesty: alien absconders (aliens who failed to attend their removal proceedings), aliens who have engaged in voter fraud or unlawfully voted, aliens who have falsely claimed U.S. citizenship, aliens who have abused their student visas, and aliens who have committed marriage fraud. Additionally, illegal aliens who pose a public health risk, aliens who have been permanently barred from obtaining U.S. citizenship, and aliens who are likely to become a public charge are also eligible.

4. Estimates Suggest That At Least 2.1 Million Illegal Aliens Will Be Eligible For the DREAM Act Amnesty. In Reality, We Have No Idea How Many Illegal Aliens Will Apply

Section 4(d) of the DREAM Act waives all numerical limitations on green cards, and prohibits any numerical limitation on the number of aliens eligible for amnesty under its provisions. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that the DREAM Act will make approximately 2.1 million illegal aliens eligible for amnesty. It is highly likely that the number of illegal aliens receiving amnesty under the DREAM Act will be much higher than the estimated 2.1 million due to fraud and our inherent inability to accurately estimate the illegal alien population. Clearly, the message sent by the DREAM Act will be that if any young person can enter the country illegally, within 5 years, they will be placed on a path to citizenship.

5. Illegal Aliens Will Get In-State Tuition Benefits

The DREAM Act will allow illegal aliens to qualify for in-state tuition, even when it is not being offered to U.S. citizens and legally present aliens living just across state lines. Section 3 of the DREAM Act repeals Section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1623) which prohibits giving education benefits to an unlawfully present individual unless that same benefit is offered to all U.S. citizens.


6. The DREAM Act Does Not Require That An Illegal Alien Finish Any Type of Degree (Vocational, Two-Year, or Bachelor’s Degree) As A Condition of Amnesty

DREAM Act supporters would have you believe that the bill is intended to benefit illegal immigrants who have graduated from high school and are on their way to earning college degrees. However, the bill is careful to ensure that illegal alien high school drop-outs will also be put on a pathway to citizenship – they simply have to get a GED and be admitted to “an institution of higher education,” defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Under the Higher Education Act, an “institution of higher education” includes institutions that provide 2-year programs (community colleges) and any “school that provides not less than a 1-year program of training to prepare students for gainful employment” (a vocational school). Within 8 years of the initial grant of status, the alien must prove only that they finished 2 years of a bachelor’s degree program, not that they completed any program or earned any degree.

If the alien is unable to complete 2 years of college but can demonstrate that their removal would result in hardship to themselves or their U.S. citizen or LPR spouse, child, or parent, the education requirement can be waived altogether.

7. The DREAM Act does not require that an illegal alien serve in the military as a condition for amnesty, and There is ALREADY A Legal Process In Place For Illegal Aliens to Obtain U.S. Citizenship Through Military Service

DREAM Act supporters would have you believe that illegal aliens who don’t go to college will earn their citizenship through service in the U.S. Armed Forces. However, the bill does not require aliens to join the U.S. Armed Forces (the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard); instead it requires enlistment in the “uniformed services.” This means that aliens need only go to work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or Public Health Service for 2 years to get U.S. citizenship. If the alien is unable to complete 2 years in the “uniformed services,” and can demonstrate that their removal would result in hardship to themselves or their U.S. citizen or LPR spouse, child, or parent, the military service requirement can be waived altogether. Such claims will likely engender much litigation and place a huge burden on DHS.

Furthermore, under current law (10 USC § 504), the Secretary of Defense can authorize the enlistment of illegal aliens. Once enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces, under 8 USC § 1440, these illegal aliens can become naturalized citizens through expedited processing, often obtaining U.S. citizenship in six months.

8. Despite Their Current Illegal Status, DREAM Act Aliens Will Be Given All The Rights That Legal Immigrants Receive—Including The Legal Right To Sponsor Their Parents and Extended Family Members For Immigration

Under current federal law, U.S. citizens have the right to immigrate their “immediate relatives” to the U.S. without regard to numerical caps. Similarly, lawful permanent residents can immigrate their spouses and children to the U.S. as long as they retain their status. This means illegal aliens who receive amnesty under the DREAM Act will have the right to immigrate their family members—including the parents who sent for or brought them to the U.S. illegally in the first place—in unlimited numbers as soon as they become U.S. citizens (6 to 8 years after enactment) and are 21 years of age.

Additionally, amnestied aliens who become U.S. citizens will be able to petition for their adult siblings living abroad to immigrate to the U.S., further incentivizing chain migration and potentially illegal entry into the United States (for those who don’t want to wait for the petition process overseas). When an adult brother or sister receives a green card, the family (spouse and children) of the adult sibling receive green cards as well.

9. Current Illegal Aliens Will Get Federal Student Loans, Federal Work Study Programs, and Other Forms of Federal Financial Aid

Section 10 of the DREAM Act allows illegal aliens amnestied under the bill’s provisions to qualify for federal student assistance under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) in the form of federal student loans (Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans), federal work-study programs, and other federal education services such as tutoring and counseling.

10. DHS Is Prohibited From Using the Information Provided By Illegal Aliens Whose DREAM Act Amnesty Applications Are Denied To Initiate Their Removal Proceedings or Investigate or Prosecute Fraud in the Application Process

When an illegal alien’s DREAM Act amnesty application is denied, the bill states that the alien will revert to their “previous immigration status,” which is likely illegal or deportable. The bill, however, prohibits using any of the information contained in the amnesty application (name, address, length of illegal presence that the alien admits to, etc) to initiate a removal proceeding or investigate or prosecute fraud in the application process. Thus, it will be extremely hard for DHS to remove aliens who they now know are illegally present in the U.S., because illegal aliens will be able to claim that the legal action is a product of the amnesty application, and DHS will have the nearly impossible task of proving a negative.