A New Addition to the Pocket Park

Lord Kadizzle has been working for the past month with the help of Wayne Axtmann to build the rear entrance to the Pocket Park on Main Street. There is still some tweaking to be done, but generally we are pleased with the results.

The Party Line

If you want to read the best editorials, and expose yourself to something other than the Fox News, Rush Limbaugh courses for fawning George Bush supporters, read the New York Times editorials. As a flaming liberal I have to say they are consistently the best. Anyone can read them free on the New York Times web site. I almost consider it a patriotic duty. Maureen Dowd is my favorite, no one kicks butt like her. If you could put her side by side with Ann Coulter you would see the contrast between brains, and the vicious selfessness Ruport Murdock loves in his marching minions. You see the same thing when Keith Oberman, is compared to Bill O'reilly. Sometimes I listen to Rush Limbaugh, if I can I watch Ann Coulter, and I even give Bill Oreilly a chance once in awhile. I do it because you need to know, and give each side a chance. I strongly suspect most hard core right wingers do not even consider what the left has to say. Many times I have given my right wing friends a copy of an article by someone they do not agree with. They refuse to read it. On the other hand, if they were to give me an article I would be willing to read it and discuss the merits of the case. To me that is the difference between doctrine, and philosophy.

How did I get to be me?

Once upon a time I did my student teaching in West Virginia. At the high school where I was teaching all the students were carrying around and reading THIS PERFECT DAY. One of the students gave me a copy and I read it. The book is similar to 1984, however it has a different spin. No other book I have read explains how our society works better than this book. It deals very well with the concept and morality of manipulating a whole society. If any Kadizzled fans have read the book, again I would like your feedback. A big issue the book deals with is about the morality of the more intelligent manipulating the less intelligent. Should they do it? The more intelligent create a perfect world for the less intelligent, but is this a good thing, if the less intelligent are subjected to nothing but a drug induced bliss? The book parallels very much what is happening in our society today, and its ability to predict the future has amazed me. If I had to choose a paranoid theory to subscribe to, this would be it.

Zeitgeist The Movie

One of my greatest pleasures in life is being the dad of two great daughters. Both of them have a love for knowledge, and are always making it a point to enrich their knowledge base. Recently Megan called and insisted I watch a movie called Zeitgeist The Movie. You can watch it on your computer, that is what I am doing this morning at 5:30 A.M. I have only made it through the first chapter. I can see why Megan found it so fascinating. It would be very useful for the religious to watch. The movie in my mind proves Christianity is basically an advanced astrological religion. Before you get your shorts in a knot, if you are religious, watch the movie. I would love to watch it with a fundamentalist and see their reaction. I think the movie is about much more than religion, and of course I endorse it because it parallels my views. It is almost two hours long, so if you decide to give it a try, be patient, and let it unfold. I am just taking a break, then on to chapter two.

Well, I made it through chapter two. Chapter two deals with 911. Chapter two portrays 911 as a conspiracy. It does a very good job of it, but I am always skeptical of conspiracy theories. There are certainly some very interesting unexplained things that took place on 911. The most convincing is the collapse of what they call building seven. Building seven was never hit by an airplane, none the less it still collapsed like the others. One theory that I never bought before was the idea that the buildings were blown up. This seems crazy to me, but they make a case for it. Like I say, I am one of the most skeptical of people, and conspiracy theorist love coincidence. The jury is out on chapter two. On to chapter three, if I can see it before the commander wakes up.

Just barely made it. The Commander is up wondering what I am doing. I made it through chapter three. Chapter three is very good and thought provoking. Unfortunately it gets into the one world order type thing, which turns me off. However, it makes some very good arguments, and I would recommend going through it for its thought provoking nature. The basic premise is that we are being manipulated. I believe this is true, I don't exactly agree it is being done in the manner described. The last chapter is called the man behind the curtain. I think the guy is back there, but we may be giving him too much credit. My problem is I can see how these conspiracy theories can be flip flopped to the advantage of to the guy behind the curtain. Perhaps he is exposing his own magic, in order to make an even greater magic. Questioning is a very good thing, but the line between questioning and paranoia is very fine. Many people have been cleverly manipulated by paranoia. There are some very good scenes in chapter three that make it worthwhile. If you watch the thing, I would like to hear your spin on it. The first chapter was my favorite, and the one I truely believe. The verdict is out on the last two chapters. I agree with a lot of it, but I am not yet ready to make a ruling. My gut feeling it is the recooking of a lot of old stuff.

The Good Life

Lord Kadizzle and The Commander spent the weekend near Pettibone at Sandy's lakeside hunting Cabin. The crew consisted of five dogs and six people. The dogs had free run of the house, and usually took the best seats. Sandy is the guy in the red long underwear. Up in the morning, he stumbles out of bed, and trips down the steps in his suit of red. He sits at the table to roll his first cigarette, to help him remember and help him forget. His hair is a mess trying to escape his head, he mumbles something, but you can't tell what he said. Next comes Mev with his duck boots on his feet, his mind is confused, but his outfit is neat. Sandy and Mev are a baking pair. Sandy baked Taylors birthday cake and Mev iced it with care. The women are outside sleeping in the trailer, we have to do this to keep Sandy from Taylor. Bob is up and ready to go get the birds, but Sandy and Mev are stumbling around just mumbling some words. Finally together they go out the door, only to come back from the hunt empty handed once more. Life is good at the hunting camp by the lake, it was the best trip the men from the group home ever would take.

His Royal Cheapness

Lord Kadizzle has a reputation for being cheap, or cost conscious, or whatever you want to call it. Tuesday with The Commander in Bismarck the Kingdom got everything for at least thirty percent less using the credit card technique. Most stores give you a special deal on the day you get their credit card. The great thing is most of the stores also let you have the discount on the sale price. Lord Kadizzle first purchased a wallet at Herbergers for 40% off. Next, at Penny's his Lordship got two pair of blue jeans that normally sell for thirty two dollars each for only eleven dollars a pair. At Best Buy the Kadizzle family got a forty percent discount on the new external hard drive for the computer. At Scheels the commander got her hunting pants for a thirty percent discount. Now, we have to cancel four credit cards when they come, but for a savings of over one hundred dollars, it can be done. Anyone who made an attempt could save ten percent on every purchase they make. Many times his Lordship has simply told a clerk in a store that he was a good customer and wanted a discount. Often they deliver on the spot. Take your yearly income and figure out what ten percent is, and you may see the glory of being cheap. Lord Kadizzle once read an article that explained this very well. The writer pointed out that if you got a ten percent discount on a purchase, you instantly made ten percent. On the other hand if you invested a dollar, your dollar would be tied up for a year, and you might be lucky to get the ten percent. Now, if you took the dime you made immediately and invested it, by the end of the year your discount at the store could easily amount to twenty percent. The bottom line is do you want to work for your money, or do you want your money to work for you?

The Death of the Machine by Paul Krugman NYT

There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money, and I can’t remember what the second one is.” So declared Mark Hanna, the great Gilded Age political boss.


Karl Rove has often described Hanna as his role model. And predictions that Mr. Rove and his disciples would succeed in creating a permanent Republican majority — I have a whole bookshelf of volumes with titles like “One Party Nation” and “Building Red America” — depended crucially on the assumption that the G.O.P. would have vastly more money than its opponents. It might even, some thought, match the 10-to-1 advantage Hanna gave William McKinley when he ran against William Jennings Bryan.

Oops. According to data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics, in the current election cycle every one of the top 10 industries making political donations is giving more money to Democrats. Even industries that have in the past been overwhelmingly Republican, like insurance and pharmaceuticals, are now splitting their donations more or less evenly. Oil and gas is the only major industry that the G.O.P. can still call its own.

The sudden burst of corporate affection for Democrats is good news for the party’s campaign committees, but not necessarily good news for progressives. Before I get to the down side, however, let’s talk about why business seems to be giving up on the G.O.P.

To some extent it’s a matter of cold political calculation. Polls, plus a wave of G.O.P. retirements, suggest that next year the Democrats will expand their majority in the House, which is already bigger than anything the Republicans ever had during their 12-year reign. Of the 34 Senate seats up for election, 22 are held by Republicans, and major Democratic gains seem all but inevitable.

Add to this the weakness of the Republican presidential field, and it’s not surprising that lobbyists are casting in their lot with the likely winners. But that’s not the whole story.

There’s also disgust, even in the corporate world, with the corruption and incompetence of the Bush years. People on the left often describe the Bush administration as an agent of corporate America; that’s giving it too much credit.

The truth is that while the administration has lavished favors on some powerful, established corporations, the biggest scandals have involved companies that were small or didn’t exist at all until they started getting huge contracts thanks to their political connections. Thus, Blackwater USA was a tiny business until it somehow became the leading supplier of mercenaries for the War on Terror™.

And the lethal amateurishness of these loyal Bushies on the make horrifies the corporate elite almost as much as it horrifies ordinary Americans.

Last but not least, even corporations are relieved to see the end of what amounted to a protection racket.

In a classic 2003 article in The Washington Monthly, Nicholas Confessore (now at The New York Times) described the efforts of people like former Senator Rick Santorum to turn K Street into an appendage of the Republican Party — not the other way around. “The corporate lobbyists who once ran the show, loyal only to the parochial interests of their employer,” wrote Mr. Confessore, “are being replaced by party activists who are loyal first and foremost to the G.O.P.”

But corporations weren’t happy. According to The Politico, “many C.E.O.’s” used the term “extortion” to describe “the annual shakedowns by committee chairmen with jurisdiction over their industries.” And now that Mr. Santorum is out of office, heading the America’s Enemies program at a right-wing think tank, the faint sound you hear from K Street is that of lobbyists singing: “Ding, dong, the witch is dead.”

All of this greatly increases the odds that the Republicans, far from establishing a permanent majority, will be out of power for quite a while. But it also raises the question of what Democratic rule will really mean.

Right now all the leading contenders for the Democratic nomination are running on strongly progressive platforms — especially on health care. But there remain real concerns about what they would actually do in office.

Here’s an example of the sort of thing that makes you wonder: yesterday ABC News reported on its Web site that the Clinton campaign is holding a “Rural Americans for Hillary” lunch and campaign briefing — at the offices of the Troutman Sanders Public Affairs Group, which lobbies for the agribusiness and biotech giant Monsanto. You don’t have to be a Naderite to feel uncomfortable about the implied closeness.

I’d put it this way: many progressives, myself included, hope that the next president will be another F.D.R. But we worry that he or she will turn out to be another Grover Cleveland instead — better-intentioned and much more competent than the current occupant of the White House, but too dependent on lobbyists’ money to seriously confront the excesses of our new Gilded Age.
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Ray Just Keeps Going

You may remember from early in the summer how we went with Ray to the Logging Camp Ranch to get lumber for the trading post Ray Kerns is building in Stanton with other volunteers. Since that time Ray has been hard at it putting things together. The transformation from garage to what is going to be a unique building is something only Ray could engineer. If you could breed an artist to an engineer you would get someone like Ray.

Equal Justice

Lord Kadizzle has been the municipal judge for the city of Hazen for over twenty years, and also serves as judge for Hebron. Every year municipal judges must have a day of training. Yesterday was the big day. Most of the day was so boring the flies left the room. However, one speaker who happened to be a North Dakota Supreme court judge brought up something that has always amazed me, the inconsistency of justice in North Dakota. The speaker used the example of a street in Grand Forks. On the same street you could be arrested by two different entities for the same offense. If one police system stopped you the fine was fifty dollars higher than if the other local police system stopped you. The speaker went on to point out other examples in North Dakota where the same thing happened. Most of the problem was related to the home rule system in North Dakota that allows cities to set their own fines. In many cases the fine could be different by a factor of hundreds of dollars for doing the exact same thing, in the exact same spot. It all depends on who arrest you. The speaker asked the class if they knew of any other system in North Dakota that treated people so unequally or unfairly. I raised my hand and explained to him how we have a special class of people all over the state that have privileges no one else does. The privileged are the farmers. A farmer can drive a truck in the most despicable condition, over weight, over width, and lacking all sorts of safety devices, but he is not ticketed, because he is a farmer. Every conceivable loophole in taxes and privileges has been created for farmers in North Dakota. Our legislature is made up of farmers and lickspittles. None of our legislators has the guts to do what they should on a moral basis. If they raised the fines for speeding like they should they fear they would not be re-elected. Certainly they could not turn on their own and ask farmers who are already subsidized to pay the same taxes everyone else does.

Pheaasant Report

For about the third year in a row the pheasants are abundant in the Southwest. My shoulder is sore from shooting, and black and blue. I burned up about a box of shells a day. When we hit a pocket of pheasants they were thick. It is amazing how many roosters there are in the area. It is not unusual to see fifty or a hundred at a time. Yesterday morning we went out in the fog. We could not find a bird to save our life. How they can manage to be in the hundreds one day and gone the next is unbelievable. In the Afternoon the fog was gone and we were back in the gravy. Very quickly the birds get educated, I would to if I was shot at all day. Our host declared his house a no war zone. Hunters were not allowed to discuss the war in Iraq. He thought armed people discussing the war was too dangerous. As usual we were overfed. The prime rib was excellent, and as predicted there were some granny slapper deserts. My old gun Table Meat warmed up slowly, but soon was on the game with some nice bus stop shots. The bus stop shot is my favorite. You yell at the bird "meet you at the bus stop". Next, you shoot a few feet in front of Mr. Pheasant. If all goes well, not from the pheasants perspective, when he gets to the bus stop there is some shot there. The bus takes him to heaven where he gets 28 virgin hen pheasants for his brave suicide mission.

The Life of Ease, on the Big Hunt

For many years Lord Kadizzle has had the tradition of going to Scranton for the opening of the Pheasant season. Our host have an old home they cut into three pieces and moved about three hundred miles from Fargo. The home has been rebuilt with all the old woodwork and large windows. It reminds his lordship very much of the house he grew up in on 26 Poplar Ave, back in Wheeling, W.Va. When everyone arrives this evening there will be a nice table set up with oourdeverds (thats how we spell it in West Virginia when we have a little ground hog meat on a tooth pick) and drinks. A nice formal dinner will be served with fine china, and silverware. Later perhaps Dave will strum his guitar and we will sing some old sea shanties. After a good sleep morning will come. The dogs will be roused and the hunting clothes put on. Our host have coffee and rolls set out for us before the hunt. After the morning hunt we return to the first stuffing. The table will be spread with every imaginable breakfast food. After reviewing the morning hunt most of the old guys go out to the hay bales and doze in the sun. Next we clean the morning birds, and head out for the afternoon shoot. Returning from the shoot we shower, and have a cocktail before dinner, perhaps with some shrimp, to tickle the belly. Now a little football watching on TV may be in order before the evening feast, which always includes a good desert designed to sink a ship. Either during the meal or after the meal the political argument's may break out. The poor liberals are usually out numbered. This would include Lord Kadizzle. However, the liberals can usually cause a nuclear reaction in Bill which can be heard back in Bismarck. After the radiation blows away it is time for more music, calmer conversation, and finally back to bed to repeat the process the next day.

Good hunting partner has cancer

Emil is one of the best hunting partners a man could have, but he never fires a shot. Years ago I asked Daryl if he knew Emil. Since he said he did, I asked him to check with Emil to see if we could hunt on his land. The next time I saw Daryl I asked " Well, what did he say?". The @##$#%! said nobody can hunt unless he goes with them. This did not deter me. I went to his house and said do you want to hunt? He explained that he did not hunt, but when someone did on his property he went with them. I said "hop in". Ever since that day we have had the best hunts in Mercer county on his property. Emil sits in the truck, and we give him a two way radio. When we want picked up, Emil brings the truck where it is needed. During the winter Emil feeds the pheasants. It is one thing to have a farmer let you hunt, but far better one that drives you around. Now, just about everyone who hunts with us knows Emil, and has enjoyed his company on the hunts. Emil has a good sense of humor and always enjoys ribbing people about a missed shot or a failed maneuver. If you are in Bismarck, and you want to visit Emil, he is in room 245 at Med Center One.

Go to the Bar and get me a gallon of Milk

Yesterday the milk truck with Lord Kadizzle rolled into Stanton, North Dakota. Unfortunately the grocery store folded, so where do they get their milk? If you want some butter and a gallon of milk, you go down to the bar. Apparently you can get your pockets cleaned there too. As we filled the cooler with milk, the gambling money was being counted on the pool table. While taking one load of milk in the door, his Lordship noticed a little sign on the door notifying people that this was a smoking bar. If they had a problem with smoke, they should consider staying out. No one was smoking while we delivered the milk, but there were enough fumes that lighting up was not necessary. In some cities they have oxygen bars, but in Stanton you can sit in a room any time of day and get a nicotine high 24 hours a day, without lighting up. Another stop we made in Stanton was at the school. Stantonites have been scratching their heads, and wondering how they are going to keep the school open with the declining school population. Where will they get the money? Perhaps they could go to the source they are using to provide the money for the drinking, gambling, and smoking. There was more money on the pool table than was needed to run the school yesterday.

Education Just Confuses People

One of my favorite quotes is from my neighbor up the street " Education just confuses people". Unfortunately a lot of people seem to agree with him. In the New York Times today there was a good article about tax cuts and how they affect the economy. The truth is there is no proof they work the way Republicans would like you to believe. Of course most rich people would like everyone else to think giving them tax breaks is a good thing, but it doesn't jive with reality. So many things when put to the test of science, or good scrutiny don't really turn out to be true. I have been in arguments with a lot of people about the distribution of wealth in this country. One argument they like to use is that the wealthy give a lot to charity. On a percentage basis this is actually not true. They typical wealthy person gives about three percent of their income to charity, while the typical low or middle class person gives ten percent. This reminds me of a fundamentalist friend of mine. One day I asked him "Do you give ten percent to the church like the bible says you should?". He replied "They figured percentages differently in those days". In other words two thousand years ago ten percent was not ten percent. How convenient?

The Tooth Fairy

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/opinion/07friedman.html?ex=1349409600&en=bc8bd97191ef6ad3&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Charge It to My Kids



Article Tools Sponsored By
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: October 7, 2007

Every so often a quote comes out of the Bush administration that leaves you asking: Am I crazy or are they? I had one of those moments last week when Dana Perino, the White House press secretary, was asked about a proposal by some Congressional Democrats to levy a surtax to pay for the Iraq war, and she responded, “We’ve always known that Democrats seem to revert to type, and they are willing to raise taxes on just about anything.”

Read this whole article by using the link, or in the New York Times today. The Bush Administration is without question the worst we have ever had.

The Blasted Benchooga Bug

Fall in North Dakota means you will be invaded by the Benchooga bugs (actually Box Elder Bugs), but I always told the kids they were Benchooga bugs. They accumulate on the south side of the house by the hundreds, then they find any opening and come in our house. They are everywhere. They are harmless, but drive you nuts. They get in the bed, they get on your head. They are on the TV, or where ever you want to be. They are in the kitchen while Cissie is @##$%. They in the shower at every hour. The are on the carpet. They are on the floor. They come in the house, but they don't use the door.

When Megan was in high school her history teacher hated the terrible Benchooga bugs. Megan made a one foot long Box Elder marionette and gave it to the teacher. With great joy it hung from the ceiling of the classroom for the rest of his career. This is the absolute worst year I have ever seen for the little @#$%$/. We have been going through the house vacuuming them one by one. Inside the vacuum cleaner there must be a convention.

Look What came out of the Basement

The weather is fit for neither man nor beast, but we are going out after the vicious grouse. Our good friend Shanika came to Hazen last night. We had an excellent meal of lamb with the Donovans. Cissie made the lamb, and the Donovans hosted with other goodies. We may regret going out today, it is cold, wet and miserable.

Lord Kadizzle has annual performance review

The Commander called Lord Kadizzle in for his annual performance review today. First she asked if he wanted the good news first or last. Lord Kadizzle decided to go with the good news first. The Commander said Lord Kadizzle has done an excellent job maintaining his weight. This sounded good until she reminded him that he was maintaining it and adding to it. Searching for other good points the Commander let Lord Kadizzle know he was doing an excellent job of sleeping, with the exception of the chain saw snoring. Although his Lordship thought he had done well in working the remote control he got a D-. In marksmanship another poor grade. Asking why this happened The Commander pointed out that most underwear and socks never hit within ten feet of the laundry hamper. A bright spot was attendance. His Lordship never failed to show up for dinner, and often appeared early, however he was late more than once doing the dishes. Personal appearance had "has room for improvement" checked. The Commander pointed out that failure to raise zipper was a common problem, and tucking pants into socks was also not adding to the Feng Shwu. Lord Kadizzle was most upset with the table manner section choices that were checked. That section read: His manners are most appropriate for a...., then it gave several choices. The Commander marked feedlot. As Lord Kadizzle left the back porch he asked The Commander if there were any bright spots she did not mention. After thinking she said, "Yes, there is plenty of room for improvement".

Sailing in the Surf

This looks like a lot of fun, I would love to try it

Calamity at Hazen Gargbage Exchange

Since I arrived at my afternoon work assignment early Lord Kadizzle decided to go to the Hazen Garbage Exchange. It is a small store on main street that sells peoples trash. It has a marvelous selection of fribbles, little cups, glasses, knick knacks, and simple minded house decorations. Frequently I find a good buy there on tools. Since the trash exchange is run by volunteer women, they are generally clueless about the value of tools. As I bent down to examine a socket set, I bumped a shelf full of glass and ceramic fribbles. The whole shelf came loose. One or two fell and broke with a loud glass breaking sound, then five fell, then six then the shelf fell on the shelf below and knocked down that entire shelf. It turned into a waterfall of breaking junk. Everyone in the store appeared in an instant. It sounded like a crash of Biblical proportions and they were sure someone must be hurt. Had this happened in a China shop I would be in debt forever, but in Hazen I think the bill for the broken trash may have come to three or four dollars. Well, I ended up buying a socket set for $3.50, I don't think they made anything on my visit.

In the spirit of the day I cooked my pizza special. A couple weeks ago I found a good cheap frozen pizza at the grocery store. After I cooked it The Commander explained to me it would be better if I took the cardboard off first. Well, last night I did it again. I put the pizza in the oven with the cardboard still on the bottom. The technique produces a gooey pizza, that creates firebelly that will last all night. I am hoping for a better day today.

Rough Weather Sailing - BT Global Challenge 2000

Scenes from our boat on Saturday

The Sailing Season Ends

Some Pictures from our last sail

The Last Sail for 2007

It finally happened, the last sail of the season. We had a wonderful wind going west and made it to Fossil Bay on Friday night. Lord Kadizzle got mixed up and knocked the top from an underwater tree. The bottom of the boat has not yet been seen, but it seems we fared OK. Saturday was very nice for the time of year. There was even a little swimming. The whole crew had a couple of wonderful hikes. As predicted the weather turned windy on the way back. On the radio we found out Utopia, and Gone With the Wind were in Berthold Bay. They came out and we all headed for Camp of the Cross. The wind went crazy, and perked up to over forty miles per hour. We were over canvassed as they used to say in the old days. For five seconds we sustained 8.6 knots. Which is a record for the good ship. We did over haul speed all the way to Cammp of the Cross. The Commander was very nervous, and wanted to shorten sail. We cut back on the head sail, but reefing the main was not prudent, since we could run in front of the wind. The boats all rafted on shore together below the cross and had a nice night. Utopia, provided a nice cheese plate, and Gone With the Wind set out some nice shrimp. The Sovereign crew went to bed a little early, and Lord Kadizzle suffered some fire belly from the wine. Sunday was a little less windy and we boomed back to port in some big rollers. It looks like the crew and boat made it through another year. Sometime this week the good ship will come out of the water and get the well deserved rest on the trailer. Now the next round of adventures on land starts.

Summer On Mt. Everest with Pat

Cissie and Pat climbed to the top of Everest and had a good view of the lake.

Megan's Fashion Business getting a little Buzz

Go to http://papierblog.papierdoll.net/2007/09/26/noble-youth-spring-collection-lovefest/

Check out an article about Meg

West Nile Virus in Hazen

The Commander is having more of a struggle with the lingering effects of West Nile virus than Lord Kadizzle. The lingering part is soreness, tiredness, and for the Commander grumpiness. Since we have been stricken with this dread, we have become much more aware of how prevalent it is in our area. Many of the cases go unreported. Recently a local bar owner had a very bad case and lost his sight temporarily. Other people have suffered partial paralysis. Many people in our community have take up to a year to fully recover. This year the amount of rain increased, and I think so did the mosquito population. I think it is hopeless to avoid mosquitoes completely, so good luck, and if you get it I hope it is a mild case.

Armed and Dangerous

We searched in desperation, but did not see a single grouse. This has never happened in this area before. There were a few pheasants. Prior to hunting Lord Kadizzle expressed his concern about hunting with the Commander to the Police Chief in Hazen. Lord Kadizzle explained that he had been negligent in doing the dishes and a few other task and it may be an ideal chance for the Commander to do him in. The Chief assured me if I was found dead with a shotgun blast to the back of my head they would declare it a suicide. Chief said the report would read "Lord Kadizzle shot himself in the back of the head in self defense". Since I had the attention of our police chief I decided to ask him if it was unusual for The Commander to ask me to make the bed with a blue truck tarp. The Chief pondered for a minute and asked me "Is she telling you to put the sheet on the top or the bottom?" "On the bottom I replied". "You have a problem" he said.

Man vs Beast

Although it looks like the kind of nice fall day we should get something useful done, we may take on the vicious North Dakota grouse. Dennis, The Commander, and Lord Kadizzle may go out to the mine and see if we can stir some up. It is usually hard to get close to these guys, but if you do you may get a shot. One thing grouse seem to do is make up their mind to fly a certain direction, and stick to it, regardless of the results. They remind me of Republicans in that regard. A grouse will keep flying toward you if it has made up its mind that is the right thing to do. This makes for some good shooting. There is nothing more fun than an oncoming overhead grouse shot. I am not a mad dog killer, and in fact I don't like killing any thing, however somehow or other we have to put meat on the table.

Fox visits office of Jones E. Bear (Erin)

Erin has the luxury of an office in the woods. Some of her best ideas come from this guy who shows up at her back door.

Sailing

Got a little Churchin on the boat

Had a very nice sail to a place I have not been in many years. Pat and Nancy, Dean, and the Sovereign crew sailed west to Berthold had few beers and then decided to sail to Church Camp bay. It is a very nice anchorage in the shadow of the cross. Lord Kadizzle managed to take more than enough communion wine, Pat and Dean helped. As the lying contest progressed first The Commander gave up and went to bed, then next Nancy threw in the towel. As the BS pile got deeper we heard the engine start on Pat and Nancy's boat. Pat quickly got the message someone was ready to set the anchor. Nancy probably did us all a favor. If she had not started her engine, mine may not have started the next morning to get me out of bed.

Betrayal of Trust

Wonderful Fall Day

The silage is done, and Lord Kadizzle is still alive. The Bismarck Tribune says we can expect a record pheasant population this year, so there may be meat on the table. Meg went back to New York today, and her business is getting some good buzz. The good ship may make its last sail today. Between the silage up my nose, and my normal sinus problems my head feels like a fat lady in spandex.

Count Your Tires

What a day for old Lord Kadizzle. Yesterday I set out to haul silage. My silage truck is a 1973. My employer told me to take a load of silage to town and get it weighed. On the way I felt like I hit a pot hole. I looked back and saw a small pile of gravel, and thought perhaps that was the bump. The truck drove just fine, and I thought nothing of it. When I got to the truck scale another truck driver came up to me and said, "Some truck just lost some tires". I had no idea he was talking about me, so I asked where, and he took me to the back of my truck. To my amazement a set of dual wheels was gone. A truck that started the day with ten tires now only had eight. I suspected the bump I felt at the intersection may have been the tires going their own way. I drove to the intersection a few miles back in my pickup, and sure enough the tires had crossed the road by themselves and were happily resting in the ditch. No problem, we borrowed another truck. The borrowed truck had many special features, two bullet holes in the windshield, no brakes, no lights, no muffler, no horn, and it was probably ten years older than the last truck. It did have one nice feature four less tires. Now if any fell off I would know it. When my boss assigned me to the truck I asked if there was some special ceremony that I should undergo, like the Kamakasi do. I thought he would give me a sacred scarf to wear. He didn't do that, but when I got to the field he kneeled and prayed in font of the truck. It must have worked the truck lasted for the whole day. The last load was driven back to the yard in the dark, I would say it was an instrument flight, but none of the instruments worked. I am taking a compass today.

John Edwards has nothing on Lord Kadizzle

Perhaps you remember the controversy when presidential candidate John Edwards spent $400 dollars for a hair cut. Lord Kadizzle had this pretty girl flown in from New York just to cut his hair. Normally Bubba is a high fashion designer and the proprieter of her own fashion design company, but when Lord Kadizzle needs a haircut she is on her way.

Chart tells the whole story

The following is a quote from Paul Krugman in the NYT:In fact, let me start this blog off with a chart that’s central to how I think about the big picture, the underlying story of what’s really going on in this country. The chart shows the share of the richest 10 percent of the American population in total income – an indicator that closely tracks many other measures of economic inequality – over the past 90 years, as estimated by the economists Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez.

Many times Lord Kadizzle has been in heated arguments with hard core right wingers. The chart above tells the whole story. If you think the fifties, and sixties were a good time for the middle class, you are right. The chart shows how the Republicans have allowed the rich to walk off with everything. If anyone would like to dispute it please let me hear it. In todays New York Times you can read the complete article.

Lake Sakakawea at Sunset, by Amanda Mack

Kadizzled Sailing in the Dark

Sailing in the Dark, it is easy to become Kadizzled.

He Ate My Lunch

Often I wonder where expressions come from. Sometimes you hear people say "It will eat your lunch". Yesterday, I was the it. In the constant quest for pheasants I agreed to help a local farmer harvest silage. When dinner came, the farm wife gave the guy pushing the silage into the pit two shoe boxes with dinner in them. As I pulled into the pile with a load of silage, the pile manager said, " Were stopping for dinner, here's yours". He told me the farm wife was taking her husband a box with dinner. Her husband was in the field on the tractor. As I ate I wondered why there were two cups in my box, but the mystery didn't keep me from eating everything in the box. When I got back to the field where the farmer was chopping the silage I asked him if he had dinner. Soon we realized what had happened, I was supposed to bring it to him. Now I am afraid when someone says "How is Lord Kadizzle to work with?". The answer will be "He will eat your lunch".

Surprise Engagement by Megan to local Man (Peachy and his mom )

The Commander and Megan sauntered up to the farmers market at the end of the street. In no time Meg struck up a conversation with the peach salesman. His first question was "Ah you married?". Meg said "No, Ah gotta boy friend". Then he said "Do ya want some peaches?" Meg said "Yea I'll have some peaches". Well, one thing led to another, and Meg came home and said we was gettin free peaches for the rest of our life. It looks like Meg is going to make someone a peach of a wife. Poor Corneilous Shatzer the poet back in New York will be heart broken. Corny has been watching Meg's illegitimate child Tony the chihuaha. Tony has become used to being a snooty New York dog and it will be hard for him to get used to his new dad, who goes by the name Peachy, and living on a Peach ranch. Meg has promised to get Tony a cowboy hat. Thats the peachy news from Hazen.

Sail with Meg

Lord Kadizzle had a wonderful sail with Megan, and The Commander. Last night in the bay we were anchored and bored, so Megan said "Don't you have any games on here". Lord Kadizzle explained that normally we just get drunk and got to bed, but we could not let Meg down, so we had to invent a game. Lord Kadizzle suggested the crew play Stump the genius. Megan fired several of her hardest questions at Lord Kadizzle he answered with no problem. However, poor Meg could not answer any tough ones so Lord Kadizzle threw her a couple soft ones like, "What country invented polish sausage?". Some good peppers The Commander just cooked were on board, and went nicely with the fresh lamb chops cooked on the grill. Meg got in for a swim, but the water was a bit cold. Snoring was a serious problem so Meg had to be moved to the V berth on the second night, since she was not used to the thunder claps. The crew took a couple of hikes. During the first hike we found ancient bones from a cheeseburgasoures.

Fashion Magnate Negotiates with Lord Kadizzle

A famous clothing designer sailed with Lord Kadizlle over the weekend. She explained how you could keep warm lighting hundred dollar bills, or just send them to her to invest in the company. Either outcome would produce about as much heat.

Good Ship heads West for last time this year

With Megan aboard the good ship Sovereign will head west around noon. Weather appears to be excellent for the adventure with South winds. Megan has been looking forward to a sail all summer. The Commander is still recovering from West Nile, and has been busy roasting peppers. Those roast peppers from our garden will knock your socks off. Yesterday Wayne Axtman helped pour the concrete at the pocket park for the final phase. If it were not for Wayne, I would never get anything done there. Now, Mike Krause's art gallery is open beside the pocket park, which is nice. The Gallery is right across the alley. Marilyn Shine minds the store most of the time, so it is a combination art gallery and loony bin. As we work on the concrete Marilyn supervises.

I hope I get paid

Yesterday we went to pick up Megan at Bismarck. It is so nice having Chichi home. She is struggling with her entry into the fashion business in New York. Being over stressed she said she needed a break. As luck would have it a friend was able to provide her with free airline tickets in exchange for a favor I had done him. I helped put together his new 33ft sailboat, so he offered to fly Megan home. Many times this is how the economy works for Lord Kadizzle. Lord Kadizzle is a substitute milkman. When the regular worker cannot show up because he is on the potato harvest, Lord Kadizzle has to keep the little children fed. The economy in this country relies on temporary people far more than most of us may imagine. In a couple weeks I may be driving a truck to haul some corn. It will give me a place to hunt pheasants, and may put some money in my pocket. In North Dakota just about anyone can drive a beet truck in the fall. A lot of people make it an annual event. I gave it a try one time.

Megan has one employee in her sweat shop. She has become great friends with her spanish speaking helper. Megan said that her helper comes every day with the hope she will get paid. The helper would come even if there was no money to pay her, just because she has the hope someday she will get paid. I think I sometimes know the feeling. I have often found myself working for someone who expects me to be paid by giving me junk. I was whining to the commander about this on the way to Bismarck, and she said " That sounds like something you would pull", I had to agree, but I told her that when my medium of exchange is junk, I always make that clear before the job starts.

There is a sad side to this. Last year while traveling the south a rancher told us about how an apple grower in Washington State cheated some illegal immigrants. The apple grower had the immigrants pick his entire crop, then called the border patrol to haul them away before they were paid. In the great border debate, a lot of people forget who is benefiting. The apple grower had the audacity to brag about what he had done.

Cube Girl: The Origin

A Small Incision

Last night sister Kate called up from the hills in West Virginia with an update. She said sister Sue suffered from a fever and was hospitalized. Sounds like Suzie is recovering. Kate went on to tell me about Frank talking to the goats. The whole thing sounded like one of those redneck comedians on the comedy channel. The neighbors called up and complained to Ma about Dad acting like a chicken in the front yard. Ma, said "Thats ok, he don't bother no one, and besides we can use the eggs". Now, to the best part. Kate said she had an appendicitis that almost killed her. The doctor told her it would take a small two inch incision to fix her up. After the surgery she told me she had a scar ten inches wide and five inches deep. Thank God Kate is a big woman. If you cut The Commander like that, you would have two commanders. I mentioned to Kate that five inches is pretty deep. She explained that she has a lot of muscle. Most Quinns have a lot of "muscle". Sometimes I have to let my belt out an extra notch because of all the muscle I have developed eating pizza.

Garden Harvest sponsered by The Commander

According to The Commander she is recovering from the West Nile. While she put the final touches on the garden, Lord Kadizzle cut the grass and did a little fishing. If you don't want to catch fish, be sure and take me with you. We caught three useless shiners. It looks like hamburger instead of walleye for dinner

Will the Surge Succeed? ( In our yard ) Soonhe vs Sheah

Today Lord Kadazzile will attempt to cut the grass in the entire yard. Normally the combination of a defective ambition gland, and attention deficit disorder make this impossible. The Commander has always dreamed of a day when both the front yard, and the back yard are both cut entirely within the same day. If Lord Kadizzle can mount a surge with his ambition gland it may be possible to get it done today. If it is not done the Sheah are expected to be mad. Sheah will not be happy. However the Soonhe may not care, because Soonhe will be on the couch, Sheah will say "get up" or the Soonhe will not get any dinner. So you can see how the strife between the Soonhe and Sheah is a problem that is hard to resolve. Those who say the surge will work may be over optimistic, but with the cooperation of the Sheah, the Soonhe may be brought into line.

Bush

Heartbroken Bush Runs After Departing Rove's Car

Suffering 101

Neighbor Bob and Lord Kadizzle are going to take off on an all male sail today. We used to make many trips like this when the kids were home and The Commander stayed home to keep us from becoming grandparents too soon. As I walked out to get the paper I could see what kind of sail it is going to be. Windy, cold, and rainy, it will be like rounding the horn of South America. As we sail west I am sure we will get soaked. Also I look forward to walking through mud to get to the boat. It should clear off by the end of the day, and tomorrow may be nice with no wind. Sometimes a wet miserable sail is fun. Years ago I went out in our 19ft boat in a terrible blow. It looked like the setting for a movie. Water was blowing in our face, but we enjoyed it, and I still remember that sail. At least sunburn will not be an issue.

Taking in the Strays

Over the years The Commander and I have always opened our home to travelers. Usually we meet adventurers on the lake doing the Lewis and Clark voyage, or on bicycles doing the same thing. These people really appreciate a chance to sleep in a good bed, eat a good meal, and have their laundry done. Some of these people have stayed for days and become good email friends. Frequently someone will ask either The Commander or Lord Kadizzle, "Aren't you afraid to take these people in?". The concept seems silly. These people are not going across the country murdering people. Once a bicyclist stopped at the local library and was told to call the Quinns if he needed a place to stay. We put the guy up and he wrote about us on his blog. A couple of the librarians are fundamentalist Christians. I asked them, "Why didn't you just invite them to your house?". They replied that they would never trust anyone to stay at their house. Since I am the local heathen and do not participate in church it struck me as very strange that people who are studying how to be Christians missed the most fundamental lesson of the Bible about helping strangers.

Comander Feeling Better, Counter does magic

A pretty good day in the kingdom yesterday. Her lordship is feeling better. She took some Chinese Herbs and the placebo effect worked miracles. The magic counter in our kitchen cooked the whole meal. Wonderful apple crisp showed up in abundance along with a two course meal. God bless that counter. If the counter would do the dishes I would have to pinch myself to see if I went to heaven.

Nanny Hired for Cissie

Carol Galvin has agreed to work part time as a nanny for Cissie. This morning poor Lord Kadizzle was subjected to endless tirades accusing him of loosing the keys to our camper. Lord Kadizzle finally applied scientific principles and found the keys in the garbage. It turned out The Commander had thrown the keys in the garbage. Apparently West Nile has caused brain damage to The Commander. Someone has to watch to see she doesn't throw out money in the literal sense.