fritz

"Could this be point #3 (with overtones of #6)?" Could be. Watch the next election (but the hobos won't vote). fritz

Actually, I'm going to stay out of active trading on the stock market and keep investing in mutual funds, annuities, etc. I know I will not make $900 in one day, but I also know I will not lose $1,000 in one day. Besides, we are in the midst of a drought here right now, and I spend my free time (that part of the day away from the golf course) on feeding my cows. I shipped a load of calves today, hope the market is good. That is my way of trying to make it to Medicare age, when I can really "retire". HA! BTW the Ginnie Maes I refer to are government mortgage funds that are not listed as a single symbol. The OCM gold fund is also a part of a mutual fund. These are all part of annuities and funds that we just call "Ginnie Mae". Gold is separate from the government mortgage funds, and is doing poorly. I did not know how badly HCA was doing, but you know how it is--people will always get sick and need to go to a hospital, so I expect their stock to rebound. Maybe it's doing so badly now is because---no I won't say it. fritz

Capitalists! I am surrounded here by capitalists! So, what do you think about medical stocks, most notably HCA? The OCM gold fund has left me with only a .27% return, while my Ginnie Maes are returning about 6%. Gold is supposed to be a good thing to invest in now, so says my broker. But .27%? fritz

Tony, The hobos in Austin are not liberal or conservative. They are bums, and they don't know jack schitt about politics. They don't vote, because they are too busy panhandling on election day. Have you seen one standing in line at the polls? Don't worry about them. Worry about the well educated liberals that are poised to take over the reins of this government because the present conservatives have sold us out as a country. You can't have it both ways. fritz

And although we spell them "staples" when we have to, we use "steeples" when we use them. Makes it easier for a wetback to understand what you are talking about. Disclaimer: I do not use wetback labor (besides, those fellows don't want farm jobs anymore, they have higher paying jobs waiting for them in Houston.) Thanks to you, taxpayer dummy! (from my post in another topic, no connection to you here). fritz

Our high school here in Goliad has qualified for the finals in Virginia with their model rockets. They beat out a lot of other teams to get there. The object is to launch a rocket with an egg aboard as high as you can, and have the egg intact upon landing. I didn't know our school, a small town school, even had such a class. But they have a teacher that has gathered about 10 students into a class project on rocketry. They learned well, and are on their way to Virginia for the final competition. The same project was seen on "Junkyard Wars" on TV several years ago, but those are from England (and they talk funny). fritz

POEM - Illegal Immigrants I cross ocean, poor and broke, Take bus, see employment folk. Nice man treat me good in there, Say I need go see Welfare. Welfare say, "You come no more, We send cash right to your door." Welfare checks, they make you wealthy, Medicaid it keep you healthy! By and by, Got plenty money, Thanks to you, TAXPAYER dummy. Write to friends in motherland, Tell them 'come, fast as you can' They come in turbans and Ford trucks, I buy big house with welfare bucks. They come here, we live together, More welfare checks, it gets better! Fourteen families, they moving in, But neighbor's patience wearing thin. Finally, white guy moves away, .. I buy his house, and then I say, "Find more aliens for house to rent." In my yard I put a tent Send for family they just trash, ... But they, too, draw welfare cash! Everything is very good, Soon we own whole neighborhood. We have hobby it called breeding, Welfare pay for baby feeding. Kids need dentist? Wife need pills? We get free! We got no bills! TAXPAYER crazy! He pay all year, To keep welfare running here. We think America darn good place! Too darn good for white man race. If they no like us, they can scram, Got lots of room in Pakistan. And 1. If you migrate to this county, you must speak the native language. 2. You have to be a professional or an investor. No unskilled workers allowed. 3. There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools, no special ballots for elections, all government business will be conducted in our language. 4. Foreigners will NOT have the right to vote no matter how long they are here. 5. Foreigners will NEVER be able to hold political office. 6. Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs. 7. Foreigners can invest in this country, but it must be an amount equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage. 8. If foreigners do come and want to buy land that will be okay, BUT options will be restricted. You are not allowed waterfront property. That is reserved for citizens naturally born into this country. 9. Foreigners may not protest; no demonstrations, no waving a foreign flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our president or his policies, if you do you will be sent home. 10. If you do come to this country illegally, you will be hunted down and sent straight to jail. Harsh, you say? The above laws happen to be the immigration laws of Mexico!

Jerry, If you will pardon the clutter around the room, here is what the surround looks like. I had it built as a bookcase/cabinets arrangement around the fireplace. Those bricks in the fireplace are from my old house that had a chimney that was fed by a wood stove. We saved them when we remodeled this home. Those bricks are probably 70 years old. The wood is nothing but a cabinet plywood called vireola or something. I hope my sombrero shows up in the pic, along with the 1893 Spanish mauser over the mantle--- http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/fritz/cabinet.jpg fritz

Without sounding macabre, do you ever wonder what they will say over your remains someday? Will there be even be a eulogy? Is there something that you would like someone to say at the last rites about you? As for me, I would hope that someone would stand up and tell it like it was. Tell it like he/she remembered me as being. I can hear it now (and maybe I can someday), "He was a hard fellow to get to know, but once you knew him, he was your friend. He was bad and he was good. He was sometimes funny and sometimes serious. He was harsh, and he was soft." I would hope that my wife would give that eulogy. fritz

On a very hot day, on the 5th hole and a long way from the bar, I will sometimes beg for a beer from my partners. A fellow can get desperate sometimes. Now, I usually don't drink and drive (on the golf course), but sometimes it gets so damned hot here that that wet towel just don't do the trick. I have never turned down anything except that Irish crap (but then my partners don't drink that). At least I don't hunt quail with Dick Cheny. But in a golf game, if his aim is as bad as his shotgun aim is, maybe I could clean his plow. Somebody needs to. fritz

Yeah, I'm as happy as a cow in clover right now. But I know it will not last. I also believe my cows know it. We have been through a lot (me and the cows) and I am determined to be the last of the Mohicans (so to speak) in this formidable matter. I will sell no cow before it's time. That sounds like a wine commercial, though I prefer the schnapps myself. There does seem to be another trip to the spirits store tomorrow. I wonder where that last one went? At least I ain't row crop farming grain anymore. Those boys are ahead of me in the line at the liquor store. fritz

I probably have most of the famous golf courses in the world right here on golf games CDs. It gives me an edge when I watch a major tournament being played on one of these. I also love the music in the prelude on Pebble Beach. Maybe someday I will play that course. Well, after my well comes in. They do allow the public to play there if they have an appointed time (and can afford the fees). I don't play the golf games on computer much anymore, in fact I have even cut back a bit on playing the real game. Hitting a ball off bare, hard concrete ground, has dulled my interest in the game. But the rains have came, and it is beginning to be fun again. I played today with a fellow who was in my winning foursome on friday eve, along with two hispanic friends. I lost. But it was still fun. You can only play good golf when your mind is not distracted by problems of the world. Hopefully someday my mind will be freed of all the troubles of the world, and I will shoot my age. It's getting closer (the age that is). fritz

You bet, she was pleased, but also a little perplexed when I said nothing as I handed her the lilies. I had to explain that I wanted these to be remembered as something special (I didn't tell her about the truck). The vase and the Mexican fired clay ornaments in the background are also special to me. But that's another story. fritz

"I always boycott mex. beer I prefer to support our neighbors to the north. -Don" Actually, boycotting Mex beer is easy to do here at my club. They charge 50 cents more for it. Well, they charge 50 cents more for the crap (supposedly from Ireland, but now from here). I think it is called Guinnes or something. I almost drank one once, got about halfway through the bottle when I asked the barmaid to dunk it. Mex beer ain't bad, but not worth 50 cents more (American). If I am going to pay for premium beer, I will buy German beer. Hell, Shiner beer is available for about the same price. Hey Z1r, I wasn't sure you were of German heritage, but now I know. I am sorry for all the trouble I may have given you in the past. In a way, we have some things in common. fritz

It's amazing how soon after a rain that the flowers come out. The first are the ones we commoners call rain lilies. They are out now, just a day after the rains. I guess Mother Nature does have a plan for everything after all. On the way back to the ranch today, I just had to pull over to the side of the road and pick a few. Now I knew that the holy State of Texas has a law against picking wildflowers on "their" roadways. But since I was still a few miles from home and there were these huge patches of lilies in the ditch, I pulled off the road. But it was a very short detour, as my wheels began spinning in the soft ground. I forgot how soft the ditches can get when they are wet. Hell, give me credit, because it has been so long since they were wet. I managed to get out by gunning the engine (and now have a very muddy truck). But by damned I got me some lilies! Here they are--- http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/fritz/lilies.jpg fritz

Yesterday and today there were storms that passed through here and dropped 2.5" on my place (some got more). It could not have come at a better time, as many of us are in the process of selling most of their cows. In fact I helped load out two truck loads for my sister yesterday. We should have at least a little grass in a week or two. It could not have been that fire aburning, so I attribute it to the Cinco de Mayo fiesta held here yesterday and today. Those mariachi bands must have done it. And to think that some folks don't appreciate good rainmaking musica when they hear it! fritz

All letters/calls/emails to a senator or congressman will be recorded as pro or con. The politician will get a breakdown from his/her aide as to how many of each there were. He/she will then instruct the aide to send out the appropriate response to each of the pros, and each of the cons. That's the way it works. It all comes down to how the elected official will react when it comes time for him/her to vote on the bill/resolution/issue. Hopefully, he/she will vote the way of the majority responds to them. At least that's the way it's supposed to work. Your state may differ. fritz

Just one question (and I only wish upon you the best), but was the reply from the Senator himself or his aide? My son was an aide to several state officials during his time in the capitol (Austin), but I know for a fact that many of the repllies he sent out were never seen by the Senator. May your milleage differ. fritz

Jason, You should have bought them both. I love the K-frame for target and around the farm, but for carry I go with the J-frame .38 Special, snub nose. Easy to carry, even in an ankle holster. Qualify with a semi-auto, then carry a snub-nose .38. It will be better than one of those weak .380s. The 9mm can be had in small sizes now (I sold one to a friend because it was too small for my hands). But if I had the choice, it would be a snub-nose 38. It don't have to be a S&W, Taurus makes a very good one for less. How often are you going to fire a .38 snub-nose? fritz

Tony, The fact that he was panhandling outside of Big Lots tells me that he should not have been expecting more than 50 cents. Maybe he should have been setting up shop outside Dillards. Hell, I like Big Lots. But if I was going to panhandle, I would move over to the high-rent district. fritz

Well, of course we all here will do that. But do you think the greedy employers who knowlingly hire them (because they are greedy) will do that? No, the answer has to come from the White House, and they ain't backing up idle threats with action. Not the way a helluva lot of other departments in Washington are taking action. Maybe if they suspected these criminals are in possesion of a firearm, they would strike like they did at Ruby Ridge and Waco. Maybe they would strike like they did in Miami, with guns drawn. A lot has changed since GW took office, and it ain't all for the better! fritz Smart move, herr docktor. Today I saw on the news that chicken has arsenic in it. By being a veggie, you are safe. But can you tell me why you do not eat beef? I hope you have nothing against the cattlemen. Anyway, the fact that you don't eat chicken helps us in the beef business. Support the beef industry---run over a chicken. fritz

My thoughts exactly! I am lucky to live in a small town, even though it is largely hispanic. Today there was no difference in the business in the stores here. I did see on the San Antonio TV where some restaurants put out the "closed in support of the march" sign. There was no march in Goliad (maybe because we still remember Santa Anna). Closing because all of their employees skipped work is also a good reason to boycott these places. I guess I am lucky (since I already have a hot temper) that I did not encounter any of these fundillos today. I just got back from my doctor and he only found my blood pressure slightly elevated (hell, it always is). But then I live in a small town. My biggest problem is not illegal Mexicans here, but the drought. Too bad it did not rain on their parade today in San Antonio. But since the marchers were largely wetbacks anyway, maybe a good hailstorm would have been needed to deter them from their "appointed" rounds. fritz

Tony, I go through that area every time I go to Austin, and the other day (even though they had had rain) the only ponds that were full were those that have a pump on them. There has not been enough runoff water to do it, since the ground is so dry it is absorbing it all. And the high temps and low humidity and high winds are finishing it off. My ponds are awfully low, save for one where I am pumping. That pond, plus a water trough, is all that my herd has to go on. Water is going to be a bigger problem than feed. Feed can be trucked in (and I heard of those Nebraska farmers doing that as a repay) but water is another thing. When the well goes dry, we are all screwed. fritz

No, it will still be crowded. I'd bet on it. The only places that won't be crowded is the ones where the greedy employers that hire illegals set up shop. It appears that they may just lose their employees tomorrow. That should be a good indication of where the illegals work. But that is just too simple for the INS people to figure out. Especially since they get their orders from Washington. I was told by several of my Mexican friends today that they are going to boycott tomorrow, boycott everything but the beer joints! See you there. fritz

Comrade, you are correct in your acessment of this restaurateur (if that is what he wants to be called). He/she is aiding and abetting a criminal. Hell, I know that is a hard pill for some liberals to swallow, but what this fellow (and too many other GREEDY fellows) does is illegal. I wonder if he/she reduces the price of the meals he/she serves because he/she uses cheap illegal labor? I doubt it, since they are only in the business to fatten their bank accounts by using illegal workers. It's out of your and my hands now. Only our elected officials can stop this thing of making a mockery of the law. At least I sleep better at night knowing that I don't hire (aid/abet) illegal workers. Does that make me special? It appears so, as the greedy ones don't give a schitt about the law. At least I am above them. But since they don't give a schitt, only the law of the land can rein them in. I am waiting for that to happen. But I ain't holding my breath. And the greedy sob should be worried if his help don't show up tomorrow. That would make an impression on him/her that would impact the old pocket book. I agree, To hell with 'em! fritz