Happy Anniversary !! Happy New Year !!

                                                                     The Staff
                      
Four years ago (yesterday) I put up this blog. I've sure learned a lot about formatting and "how to" along the way.

So far I guess it's had its moments, as have I. It's seen the changes in my life and location, provided me with an outlet for my feelings and has increased my knowledge of useless facts -- oh well. Occasionally, I've said something that people actually looked at !!

650 posts, almost forty thousand "hits" or views. Certainly nothing to brag about, eh ? Thanks to everyone who's "clicked" to give it a view and the volunteer "mini-bears" that have suggested topics and those whose who have posted comments. Thanks to my unacknowledged "mentors,"   Comrade EB Misfit and Badtux, the Snarky Penguin and all those who have included me in their blogrolls.

Hopefully, 2016 being the meat of the National Silliness will provide plenty of fodder. The Bluegrass and Maps will, hopefully, continue to populate their usual time slots.

HAPPY 2016 !!

Gone Vacationin' .... div

Thank heaven (or whatever), the Goose Girl and her Old Klunky Bear will be leaving the environs of the GWTP soon to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their conjugal happiness. We'll be gone before the wonderful celebration of democratic happiness voting event and won't be back 'til after it's over - - -(PS, we voted absentee, so whatever the result, it ain't our fault).
I can't seem to understand how anyone is "undecided."  Given the state of the economy (thank you "job creators"), the intransigence of the idiots in Congress, the stupidity of Mittens and 'lil Budddy and just the simple answer to the question "Which side are you on?"
I guess I could include cites to various and sundry links, but it's a useless process. There's no use to preach to the choir or wrestle with pigs.
Saturday Nite Bluegrass will continue courtesy of the scheduler (hopefully) and perhaps a random thought or two - depending on access.
Should anything of note require comment prior to our departure, see it here.
Otherwise check the places the Bear visits for info and guidance.

Wonder Why ??? ... div

Ah, this cyber stuff  - -
Looked at the stats today  - - seems the whole thing has reset on page views. Yesterday it was 3250 or so, today it's 3 ......... go figure.
More hits than I ever figured when I started this thing on 1 Jan.
Guess it's a "Blogger" thing  - - thanks Google.
Edit: 15 Oct  - - now it's back to the way it was  - -  go figure.....???????

Lies 'n Boots ** div

It's a wonder with the internet that we aren't a better informed population. You'd a thunk with all the ease and access to information crap like this wouldn't stand a chance. But, then again, just look at your inbox and ponder some of the stuff that ends up there.

Probably the only prescient quote in the article is the rancher saying:
“It is truly an invasion of privacy,” said Chuck Folken, who runs a farm and cattle feedlot in Leigh, Neb. Farmers worry about photos of private homes and back yards winding up in government files. “We don’t need our own government . . . flying over us, taking pictures of us, telling us what we’re doing wrong.”
Well Chuck, if you're doing something wrong, wouldn't you want to know about it ??? Oh yeah, oops, dumping manure in a public watershed or something contrary to the common good (as in General Welfare - from that Constitution, you know) could maybe getcha in trouble, eh ? 


Then again, I guess it's ok if the police get to use 'em. The cattle (you define the word as you see fit) probably won't care.


**

Bafflement div

One of the hardest things about doing this blog thingee is deciding what to write about. There's this great desire to be original and not pirate anything from anyone else, let alone plagiarize their words and ideas.  Like what Atrios said.

But, there's just SO much material.

I often recommend the Capitol Steps to those visiting the Great White Theme Park; very creative  (and heaven knows they never will suffer from lack of material). These folks run the gamut and are "fairly balanced" in the process. I think the nightly news and the talking heads could learn a bit from them.

I was asked last nite by an American ex-patriate (living in Greece) what the issues were in the upcoming election; ya know, it was hard to explain just what the issues were. Every day there seems to be some new twist and I can't imagine what sense someone in Europe (they have their own problems) can make of the idiocy going on here right now.  She couldn't understand the preoccupation with sex and why women can't have a say in their own healthcare. I sure as hell didn't have a good answer.
I see today that a crazy woman in Arizona wants to make women witness an abortion before having one.  I guess she hasn't considered that this would violate her anti-abortion stand.

Gas was $4 a gallon last nite. Obama's fault...... HUH ????
When is someone going to ask why we are a net EXPORTER of gasoline and jet-fuel ??????

I'm amazed that the man has been so gracious and held his "cool" in spite of the attacks on him, his wife, his children, hell even his dog.
Folks out in Montana have nicely summed up the issues.

Mittens is going to put his "experience" as a businessman to work as President. Doing what exactly ??? Still haven't heard anything from the Republicans other than cut taxes, cut benefits, cut government, and increase defense. Pretty soon everyone not on Wall Street or K Street will be in the Army, Nay, Air Force or Marines. When are these rubes going to figure out that GOVERNMENT isn't a business ??? I think somedays my brain is gonna explode from hearing the insane things they say.

ARRRGH !!!!!! I need a drink.

This Blogging Stuff div

(h/t Rhymes with Orange)

......... and why are there so many viewers from Russia ???