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The past couple of weeks have been busy; my wonderful wife had her birthday. I just wish I aged as well as she does. Her brother had his 60th birthday a couple of weekends ago, we all went up in the hills and had a good time. Last weekend I went out to my mom's place to do some chores. The rest of the time I've been trying to keep up with the yardwork around here, but the high temperatures have been kicking my ass.
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The birthday party in the mountains was good; we went to the Potter's Pond area. Some the people went fishing, others hiked, some just sat around and visited. I opted for some walking around, and managed to get a couple of photos. Double-lick to enlarge.
One end of the lake.
The dragonflies were thick.
Colombine.
Wild geranium.
Near where we had our picnic.
A view of the sky, with a tree for contrast.
Same tree as previous picture, showing its full size.
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Have you noticed how the pressure is on for Congress and the Senate to hurry and pass the "healthcare reform" bill? You know, if someone is telling me to sign a contract several hundred pages long, without reading it, I get the feeling they are trying to slip something by that I might not like. I don't believe in buying a pig in a poke, and distrust anyone who is trying to sell one.
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The Thune Amendment was defeated; evidently marriage licenses and driver's licenses are good across state lines, but not people who have CCW's. These are a group of people with some of the lowest instances of violence, but are regarded as dangerous criminals, due to lies and fabricated statistics designed to frighted those who are ignorant of such things. A lot of people argue that it doesn't come under the Second Amendment, but it is fairly obvious what the writers of the Bill of Rights meant, no matter what the lying politicians say.
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves in all cases to which they think themselves competent..., or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of the press." -Thomas Jefferson
"The great object is, that every man be armed." -Patrick Henry
I'd say that it's fairly plain what they meant.
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A mixture, as usual.
"Thelonious" by Thelonious Monk
"It Was a Very Good Year" by Frank Sinatra
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye
"Abracadabra" by Steve Miller Band
"The Four Seasons - Largo - Winter" by Antonio Vivaldi
"Proud Mary" by Tina Turner
"Magic" by Electric Light Orchestra/Olivia Newton-John
"No More Mr. Nice Guy" by Alice Cooper
"Run Through the Jungle" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
"Baby the Rain Must Fall" by Glenn Yarbrough
The last one in the list was also done by Steve McQueen in the movie of the same name.
Any favorites in that bunch?
