View From The Ditch Bank

AND THEN THERE WAS NONE

2012-02-11T13:16:00.000-08:00

JUST A FEW THINGS ON MY MIND. I have a few things that have crossed my mind lately, none of them worth a blog by themselves, but put together, perhaps some thing that will occupy your time for a minute or two. Mayhaps even cause a chuckle. OK, maybe not.

1. I have an open mind. Guess that's why I can't remember any thing, cause it's so open that things just fall out. Or just go on through without stopping to rest.

2. I live in a haunted house. I know I do, cause every time I look in a mirror, there is this old man staring back at me.

3. I have a lot of hair. I really do. I went to the store and saw all these boxes of hair color. Most of them were for women, but a few were for men. One of the men ones said, Try this one for the BOLD look. I tried it and when I looked in the mirror, ( yes the same haunted one ) It looked like I didn't have any hair. I wondered what I had done wrong, so I went back to the box, and that is when I noticed it actually said Try This One for the BALD look. It works. I have the bald look, even though I really have hair.

4. And finally, Does it seem like there is a large amount of people today that seem to not have a brain, or if they do, they aren't using them. I figured out the reason. They gave someone a piece of their mind, not realizing they didn't have any to spare.

And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK.

PERSPECTIVE

2012-01-18T18:44:00.000-08:00

PERSPECTIVE CHANGES EVERYTHING: My daughter in law sent this a week or so back. Kinda puts things into perspective, don't cha think?
This so addresses my generation. I just hope the article can be read. You will probably have to enlarge it to read it, but read it some how. I may comment on it further in a later post. For now, think about it. And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

OH SAY WHAT IS TRUTH

2012-01-12T06:47:00.000-08:00

FACT OR FICTION: When John F. Kennedy was killed in 1963, I was around. Married with children, actually. I lived in the area of the ditch bank at that time, and news wasn't instantaneous like it is now, still we heard about it not too long after the fact. Fast forward several years, and a movie about JFK was made in Hollywood and released. A friend of mine, a college teacher, took a group of students to see that movie. He is many years younger than me. He later ask me if I had seen the movie. At my reply that I had not, he said it was a good movie and that I should go. He didn't really understand when I said that I had lived through the JFK years and didn't need to go see Hollywood's version of it. Now, Meryl Streep is staring in a movie about Margaret Thatcher. Maybe it has the approval of the English people, but do I really need to go see a movie about someone I watched on TV and read about in the news. Especially Hollywood's dramatic version. There have been other movies about real people and events that have been Hollywood-ized that I have seen. I usually wasn't impressed. Especially if I was aware of the facts. When I went to a movie, ( I say that cause I haven't been to a movie in years ) I went for the escapism, to get away from the worldly things I am surrounded with every day. I miss the old days of movies and TV shows that provided good entertainment, and where I didn't have to be involved in the social issues of the day. Maybe if Hollywood would try to entertain and not try to be the solver of social ills, movies would be more enticing to members of my age group. Oh Wait, Hollywood is the cause of a lot of our social ills, and are having trouble healing itself. Well, That's the View From The Ditch Bank.

MODERN TECHNOLOGY

2012-01-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

MODERN TECHNOLOGY; PFFFFT. Well, some of it, any way. A friend recently posted on her face book page something like this. " I have a computer desk top, a laptop, a smart phone, an I pod, an e mail account, a face book account. All of which keeps me entertained and connected to my friends. I wonder if that will be an accepted excuse for not studying the scriptures." That is not a direct quote of what she said, but just a general idea. My wife and I also have a computer. Even though neither of us has ever been in jail, we also have cell phones. Most of the time, they are turned off. We do not text or tweet. We can text, of we have to, but we don't use texting as a general rule. Shucks, we don't even turn our cell phones on, unless we leave the house, and happen to remember to take them with us and actually turn them on. Often when we do turn them on, we find that someone has sent us a text message that may be days old. I recently called a local pharmacy, well a pharmacy in the local area, but is part of a very large chain. the conversation went something like this. Welcome to Walgreen's. If you would like this, press 1 or that press 2 or something else press 3 etc. Finally arriving at the proper number I pressed it. Only to go through a similar spiel to finally press 0 to actually talk to someone. It took several minutes to get to a live person to spend 15 seconds to ask a question and receive an answer. Wouldn't it have been easier to just dial a number and have them pick up and say, Welcome to Walgreen's, how can I help you. May not help them, but it sure would help me.
Now, I am not against modern technology. I am using a computer to write this blog which can be read all over the world within a few seconds of my posting it. Course it won't be read all over the world, but the capability is there. I can take a digital picture and e mail it to family or friends instantly. There are many things that are good and are used by even me. But sometimes, it can be so frustrating. And it is good just to have a face to face conversation, shoot even a phone to phone conversation, without having to go through a lot of "press this number for". Sometime I think people and businesses complicate the most simple of things. Just cause they have the technology to do it with. And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK.
P.S. HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY TODAY TO NEW MEXICO

CHANGE

2011-12-31T07:46:00.000-08:00

IS ALL CHANGE REALLY GOOD? Today is December 31, 2011. A year about to end and a new year about to begin. Does the tick of a clock, the one that changes the clock from 11:59 p.m. December 31 to 00:00 a.m. January 1, 2012, really make a difference. Does that one second really change any thing. The night is still dark. The sun will still rise in the East in a few hours. The Flora and Fauna have no clue that a year has changed. Only us humans make a big deal out of it. Many drink the bubbly and trundle off to home, or to jail, as the case may be. Some will start a new relationship, and others will end one. Most of us, though, regardless of what we do tonight, will just simple carry on, living our lives to the best of our ability. Some of us will make new years resolutions, some of which will actually be kept. Most will not. be kept, that is. Some, like me, will not make new years resolutions, but try to make course adjustments and improvements throughout the year. Is that a good thing. Do I need to change? Should I make a new years resolution, and write it down, thus to judge my progress, or lack there of, in a year, when 2013 is ushered in? Comments please. When it comes down to it, though, will any thing really change, just because of a tick of the clock. Will I become thin and rich? will the government become thin and rich? My becoming thin and rich is more likely. And the thin part is within reach. Rich, probably not so much. So, yes, change is good, if it is for the better. But if it is for the worse, then it is not a good thing. So, perhaps all change is not good. As we enter this new year, we can hope that the economy will change, for the better. We can hope that the medical research people will find better ways to help those who are ill so they can change for the better. We can hope that we as individuals will change our bad habits for good ones. But whatever happens, I wish EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO MAY READ MY WARBLING S, A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR. MAY 2012 BRING YOU MANY OF THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE COMING TO YOU. AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK.

EVERY ONE NEEDS WHAT??

2011-12-23T07:38:00.000-08:00

ARE YOU WITH EVERY ONE? A few days ago, MLWFAE and I were watching the QVC shopping channel. They were selling something that "Every one" just had to have. Get one now, before they become available to the public in February. I don't even remember just what it was. But I didn't need one. The item prior to that one was a little tablet of some kind that "Every one" had to get. Why? Well, cause your kids could watch movies on it and not be bored when you traveled. I guess here I need to apologize to my kids, cause I would not have bought one when they were growing up, even had they been available. When we traveled, they could read, but we tried to encourage them to look at the country side. Some of it was more pretty than others, but it was all intriguing. As my wife and I now travel, we still find the country side intriguing, even though we have seen some of it hundreds of times. Still, even as it remains the same, it changes. There are so many electronic items available now, that it is hard to keep up with what they are and what they do, that it makes the mind boggle. In my old mind, emphasis on old, there is nothing better on a snowy winter day, than to settle down by the fire, wood, of course, a hot chocolate and a good book. Maybe play games. No, not on the TV or the phone or the whatever is out there now. But real games, with cards and game boards and game pieces. And interacting as a family. Now that is what "every one" needs. And That Is The View From The Ditch Bank.

ADDICTION

2011-12-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

ARE YOU AN ADDICT? What, exactly is an addict? A young man ( in his early 40's) so a young man to me, recently went to work for the construction company where I now work. He had been working for the mine that I retired from nearly 3 years ago. Didn't like the politics and the bickering that was going on, he said. So he quit. Nearly a month ago, he was picked, along with some others, to take a random drug test. He failed. I later learned that was the same reason he no longer works for the mine. He is addicted to cocaine. So, other than drug addictions, what else is there? Alcohol, Tobacco, Tea, Coffee, illegal drugs other than Cocaine, Heroin, marijuana, Meth, and the list goes on and on. With new things popping up almost daily. But what of things that aren't illegal. Or even bad for you, necessarily? Back to my opening question. Are you addicted to any thing? Think about it. Many people exercise. daily, even. But what of the person that has to exercise. Who goes to the gym or runs along the road or at a track. And has to do it every day. Or they go into withdrawals, just like a drug user trying to quit. Is this person an addict? Not all people that run or exercise are addicts, but there are those who are addicted and have to do it. What of people who have food problems. Eating to much and becoming fat. ( ok, ok, I won't look in the mirror. ) Or those who eat then purge. Are they addicts? They need help, but what they do is not illegal. So, any ideas on addiction. do you feel that you are addicted to any thing. I really just scratched the surface of addiction's, cause I didn't want to get into the addiction's themselves, but to just start us thinking on what addiction actually is. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

ARE YOU A CRIMINAL

2011-12-02T18:16:00.000-08:00

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A CRIMINAL? To borrow a line or two from a Robert W. Service poem; "I'm not as wise as those lawyer guys, but strictly between us two"
I can tell you my version of a criminal. The word is a derivative of the word crime. You commit a crime, thus you are a criminal. That's it in a nutshell. A simple solution from a simple mind. So, what if you break a law, but don't commit a crime? What, you can do that? Well, it may be splitting hairs, Uh no, it is actually not splitting hairs, it is just simple facts. Just the facts Mam, just the facts. So, how do you break the law with out committing a crime? Well, traffic laws come to mind. You can drive faster than the posted speed limit, run a stop light or sign, failure to yield, etc. You can get a ticket and pay a fine, even lose your license to drive, but you are not a criminal. You committed no crime. But you did break the law. An acquaintance recently stated that you can drive 10 miles per hour over the speed limit with out getting a ticket. Why? Cause the cops have to give you that lee way. No they don't. They may do so, but they don't have to. If the speed limit is 60 MPH, they can ticket you for 61. They won't, but they could. Cause that's the law. So, if you break the law through traffic violations, why then aren't you a criminal? Comments please, cause, well refer to lines of the poem by Robert Service and that explains why I just don't know. But we should all obey the law. We agree to do so if we are citizens receiving citizenship after coming here from another country. We tacitly agree to obey the law by just being born here. So we should obey the law. ALL Laws. If we don't like them, work to change them, but until they are changed, obey them. And That's the View From The Ditch Bank.
P.S. I can already hear the pain of the toes I just stepped on.

WHAT COLOR WAS YOUR FRIDAY

2011-11-27T13:35:00.000-08:00

BLACK FRIDAY: What color was your Friday, the day after Thanksgiving? Why do they call it black Friday? Don't know? Well, then I'll enlighten you. It is the day that merchants hope to turn their red ink black for the year. They hope to get enough shoppers in their places of business, buying items that they have put on sale, and that enough money will enter the business coffers, to turn that business into a profitable business for the current year. Whew. Stop for breath here. So, they put their wares on sale, hoping that people will buy. And they do. One news report said there was 9000 people camped out waiting to get into Macy's in new york city. OK let's try that again. NEW YORK CITY. That is about how many people are in the city close to where I live, with a few dogs and cats thrown in, perhaps. Too many people for this old country kid. At least crowded into one place at a time. Is there actually that many bargains in one store at one time for that many people to all buy something to turn Macy's red ink black. Must be, or they wouldn't be there shopping. MLWFAE and I went to a neighboring small city in a neighboring State here in the southwest and bought a piece of furniture. It was regularly priced at over $400.00 but was on sale for $399.00. However, for black Friday they took off an additional 15%, thus costing us $340.00 for a furniture piece that was originally priced at over $100 more than that. Now! if this store, ( and all others like them ) can price item's like this and get their red ink to turn to black, wouldn't it make more business sense to price things like that all year long, and have people buying all year long, and keep the ink black all year long and not have to worry about the crush at this time of year. Just saying. And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK.

THE PONZI SCHEME THAT ISN'T

2011-11-19T07:23:00.000-08:00

I'm going to do something with this blog that I have never done before, and probably sill never do again. At least not often, if ever. And that is to quote, verbatim, or nearly so, an article that came out in an AARP news paper. See the heading of this post for the title of that article. So here goes.
When he signed the law creating Social Security, Franklin D. Roosevelt believed the program was so well insulated that "no damn politician" could tinker with it. He was right to worry. The linchpin was the payroll tax demanded of all workers. Once they paid into the Social Security system, he calculated, they would have a stake and never abandon it. For decades now, his foresight has been vindicated. Beneficiaries hail the system, and still, the damn politicians can't stop trying to tinker. Over three generations, a smattering of politicians and economists, from libertarians to liberals have blasted the system as wasteful and dishonest and more recently have trivialized it as little more than a Ponzi scheme. Since the master schemer, Carlo Pietro Giovanni Guglielmo Tebaldo Ponzi had many schemes, none of which paid out any funds for any length of time, and all payouts were financed by new investors, and all ended in a matter of weeks. And he wound up in jail numerous times. And some of his schemes even caused banks to fail.
The reasons Social Security is not a Ponzi scheme, or even close, are numerous. Most importantly, it has endured for 76 years and never missed a payment. The financing is secure and the administrative costs are practically nothing.
So why the fuss? Politics, mostly, plus simple math and demographics. A soaring federal deficit, a declining number of workers per Social Security beneficiary and a growing number of older people living longer. :-) This puts new pressure on the Social Security trust fund. But instead of making the minor adjustments that would strengthen the system, budget critics have a different agenda. They hope to raid it or privatize it or end it.
Anyone doubting its value need only check the latest national poverty statistics. More Americans slid into poverty in the past year than at any time in the past four decades. Most vulnerable were people 55 to 64, one in ten of whom now live below the poverty line. Over 800,000 people 45 to 64 lost health insurance. By contrast, the economic turmoil of the past year drove far fewer Americans over 65 into poverty. No surprise. That's the segment of the population protected by Medicare and by Social Security---the Ponzi scheme that isn't. This article was written by Jim Toedtman, Editor of the paper. Also, I did paraphrase some of the article and I did leave out some of it. But the bulk of it is there.
My wife and I are beneficiaries of this program. And we paid into it for decades. And since I have returned to work for a short period of time, I am still paying into the system. And a payment for Medicare is held out of our Social Security check each month, just like a monthly insurance premium payment. So I do not feel that this is a government handout, like so many programs are. This is funded by those who pay into the system, while so many other programs are just taken from tax payers pockets.
also, most of the few of you that will actually read this message will also be recipients of this program someday. I encourage each of you to pay close attention to the Damn Politicians and what they want to do and let them know that they are to leave this system alone. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

ONLY IN NEW MEXICO

2011-10-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

RED OR GREEN OR ITALIAN? Any one who has spent much time in New Mexico and ate meals in the restaurants here, know that one of the questions ask is Red or Green? Meaning Chili. Hatch, New Mexico bills itself as the Chili capitol of the world. There is even a Hatch brand of Chili, sold around the world, or around New Mexico and a few other places. And it is good Chili. Or is it Chile?
My wife and I went to a town 60 miles away from where we currently reside to take care of some business. After the business was completed, we went to an Italian restaurant for lunch. there we ordered an Italian style meal. Our two dishes were different, but both contained chicken. her's a chicken breast, Italian style and mine had chunks of chicken with lots of pasta. Her chicken breast had a strip of green chili across the top, along with the normal Italian items. Mine had pieces of green chili and jalapeno's in it. And I was ask when I ordered, red or green. I took green.
Now, this was a small town local restaurant, not Olive Garden. the food was good, it was Italian, with chili. Or is it Chile? But where else, besides New Mexico, can you go to an Italian restaurant, or any other restaurant, and have the fare of the restaurant, mixed with chili? or is it chile? Your choice. But if you don't think it sounds good. Don't knock it till you try it. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank.

CLEANLINESS

2011-10-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

IF CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS; then what is filthiness? Or just dirtiness? A friend of mine recently commented on a young couple and their lack of cleanliness. Quoting the Biblical scripture, saying that if cleanliness is next to Godliness, then this couple is headed straight for the devil.
In the previous blog, I mentioned that my wife and I had attended opening day of the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival. There was between 90,000 and 100,000 people there that day. There is an expectation of garbage every where.And we did see some. A few burrito wrappers, an occasional water bottle, some other items, but for that many people, crowded that close together, there was not an exceptional amount of garbage. Still, there was some.
Why, one might ask? We did. The reason we ask was because there were garbage barrels everywhere. Often just a step or two from where garbage was dropped on the ground. We have to wonder, if someone is so clueless as to drop garbage on the ground, just inches from a garbage barrel, are they living like that in their houses and cars. If so, are they, as my friend stated about the young couple, headed for the devil, cause they are not clean. One has to wonder. And as I wonder, my wondering is the View From The Ditch Bank.

UNLAWFUL OR ILLEGAL

2011-10-07T18:47:00.000-07:00

UNLAWFUL OR ILLEGAL; IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? I miss those signs. You know the ones. No, not the Burma Shave signs, although I miss those also. The unlawful signs that used to be on the highway's. At least in New Mexico.
My wife and I recently attended the International balloon festival in Albuquerque. We drove there, and having business in another County, we took a road less traveled to get to the City of the Duke. Along the way we reminisced about those old signs. They used to say "It is Unlawful to pass when solid line is in your lane." Or "It is unlawful to pass school bus when lights are flashing" Or "It is unlawful to exceed the posted speed limit" Or, well you get the picture. Do you remember those signs? It was always Unlawful, never illegal. do you know why? Do you know the difference between Unlawful and Illegal? Ask a police officer. See if they know. There is a difference, you know. Now the road signs simply say "do not pass, or Pass with Caution" Or Speed Limit and the number of the limit. It is not only not illegal but it is not unlawful any more either. Yes, I miss those old signs. Like a lot of other things I miss, which may be mentioned in a future post. Probably won't though, as I miss my memory at times also. But I do remember the difference between Unlawful and Illegal. OK, so those of you that don't already know, want to know. Well, Unlawful means something is against the law. As in, Don't do it. Illegal. Well, ask any animal doctor and they will tell you that an illegal is a sick bird. And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK.

DO ENGLISH TEACHERS HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR

2011-09-23T07:25:00.000-07:00

DID YOU EVER DANGLE A PARTICIPLE? I could have named this post a number of things. It also probably should be split into two or three posts. But I named it like I did, and it will cover a few things English, so bare, uh bear with me and we will see what comes out.
I was not a strait, I mean straight A student. Heck, I was rarely a A student in any thing. And if I ever knew what a dangling participle was, I have forgotten, but I do know that I never did actually learn how to correctly diagram a sentence. Or even understand the reason for doing so. I read a lot. I mean really a lot. I have yet to see a sentence in a book that is diagrammed. I did learn something about subjects and predicaments, I mean predicate's, noun and professional nouns, more commonly know as pro nouns, verbs and advertising verbs, or adverbs for short, and prepositions and propositions. I didn't always understand all them thar things, but we durn sure studied them. But I did learn a few things about using the English language, proper spelling of, and usage of, words like bare and bear, their and there, and others of their ilk. And when to use them and why they were spelled different. I also learned when to use and not to use a preposition. I don't remember all the rules that apply to this English rule, but one of the most over used prepositions in the world where I live and work is the word AT. Usually used in a question. Where are you at? Where are you parked at? Where would you like to meet me at? Drives me up a wall. Or would if I knew where the wall was at. And it was actually possible to be driven up a wall. Well, you get the point. I hope.
Now, how does an English teacher of today teach English. Like, you know, really teach, you know, English. If their, uh, there is any word or phrase, more over used than the preposition at, it is the words like and you know. Drives me down the other side of the wall. Know what I mean. Feel free to correct my incorrectness.
Guess I better end this post and get my tongue out of my cheek before I chew it off. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

TIMES AND SEASONS

2011-09-08T08:19:00.000-07:00

TIS THE SEASON OF THE YEAR: There are many seasons. Spring, summer, fall and winter. Others are the holiday season, Thanksgiving and Christmas. For others there is the football season or basketball or baseball. For me, though, I tend to think of seasons in the terms as first listed. I live in an area that the local Chamber advertises as having 4 gentle seasons. Well, I guess. Although it can get very hot in the summer, and extremely cold in the winter, both of which we have recently experienced. But what brought all this to mind was yesterday. Yesterday evening, to be specific. I was driving to work, minding my own business and thinking my own thoughts, when there happened upon my senses a smell that I equate with fall, and the Southwest. I was passing a parking lot of a local business when that smell came wafting in the car window. You know the one. Roasting chili. Aww, is there any thing that says the Southwest in the fall any more than the smell of chili roasting. The temperatures are cooling off, the daylight is getting shorter, and life is slowing down, but the smell of chili in the roaster just caps off the perfect season. Yep, I like all seasons, except maybe football, but the fall is the best one for me. And here, in the advertised CHILI capitol of the world, Southwest New Mexico, nothing says fall like roasting chili. Maybe they roast chili the world over, but to me, where ever I might be, that smell would bring me right back here. To the Southwest. And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK.

THEN AND NOW

2011-08-26T19:45:00.000-07:00

SOMEWHERE THERE MIGHT BE A POINT: I fear this post will ramble and seem pointless. If you manage to read it clear through you may scratch your head, ( in confusion, not from a rash ) and just say HUH! Oh! not so different from my regular posts, then. Well, read on and we will see what comes out.
Back then, you know, way back, before even I was born, the inhabitants of this country were the people. AKA Indians. Native Americans. They lived from the land. Migrating within certain boundaries, set by the boundaries of other tribes. Usually tribes strong enough to keep the neighbors from invading their territory. And there was buffalo roaming and deer and antelope playing. And these people lived from these animals, along with many others, and flora and fauna and, well you get the picture. Then along came the other people. From other lands, and they started to settle the land, and they fought one another, and then they fought the Indians. And to help them win the fight, and for other reasons, they killed off the buffalo. Almost. And the Indians moved to reservations, cause there waran't any buffler to assist and edify them. Then the white man moved into the Indian lands and brought cattle. Herds and herds of cattle. To survive on the Buffalo grass. And water. And along came the wolves and the grizzly bears, and the coyote and other animals to kill the ranchers cattle. So they ranchers killed the bears and the wolves, but in spite of all they and the road runner could do, wiley coyote just stayed around. Then along came a group of people claiming that the wolves had a right to live too, so they introduced them back into the wild. But guess what. People now live in the wild, and they still have cattle, and they don't like the wolves killing their cattle. That's why they were hunted to almost extinction decades ago. So now the families children aren't safe from the wolves and the grizzly bears, and if you kill one, the government will arrest you and jail you and fine you, and pat the remaining wolves on their collective heads and say, good doggie, please don't do what you are naturally programmed to do. Eat straw, or something. Hey! maybe they should eat deer. Why oh why would I say that. Well, I'm fixin to tell ya.
In this fair city where I almost live, population 10 or 12 thousand, there seems to be a large population of deer. And they are destroying peoples flowers beds and gardens, and leaving deposits on the lawn. And the people are unhappy. So the decision has been made by the state game department to try to dispose of the deer. By trapping them. (Trapping is illegal in this state for fur bearing animals cause you might catch a wolf.) Or killing them. ( You can't kill a wolf, even if it threatens you and your pets or children. It's against the law ) And even though these people say, let the wolves alone. They deserve to live and eat your cattle. But kill the deer, cause they ate my roses. And the mountain lions and the coyote are following the deer into town. But not the wolves. They are too busy killing cattle. For fun. Several recent cattle kills have been proven wolf kills. For food? No, they didn't eat the cattle, they just brought them down and killed them. Too bad they won't eat deer. Too bad people with a deer destroyed yard can't feel some empathy for the rancher losing cattle to wolves and having to fight environmental groups and the government over it. But the government will kill the deer. Or jail and fine an Idaho man for killing a Grizzly Bear to protect his family. Guess we need a little more of then and a little less of now in this case. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

OF LAWS AND LAWYERS

2011-08-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

THIS IS NOT A RELIGIOUS POST: Nor is it a post castigating lawyers. Well, most lawyers. When Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, they lived God's laws. Even after they were cast out, they lived God's laws, cause they knew no other. I don't know at what point man's laws began to come into effect, but it was probably sometime after Cain killed his brother. I do know that lawyers are mentioned in the scriptures. I also know that Judges are also listed in the scriptures, and so it only follows that if there are judges, there needs to be someone trained in the law to present a case to the judge. I have a cousin who is a retired criminal defense attorney. My wife has a cousin who is a retired attorney. Don't know just what kind of law he practiced. I have a daughter in law who is an attorney. I think she practices corporate or business law. I understand and accept that there needs to be attorneys in all manner of life's events. If you have made it this far, know that these statements were only to explain my opinion of lawyers. I might add, well guess I will add, that I understand the need to have man's laws, since man don't want to live God's laws. Too bad, the world would be so much better off if we would. Thus the need for those trained in the law. Now, to the point of this blog.
Here, in the grand ol' State of New Mexico, there are now two cases in the courts that almost boggle the mind. The first one. In 2006, a man, wanted by the police as a suspect in a murder, was pulled over by a County deputy. Did the deputy know who he was pulling over. We will never know, for shortly after he pulled the man over, the deputy was shot and killed. His killer was caught and jailed. Fast forward to 2010, when the New Mexico State Legislature abolished the death penalty as a form of punishment. The deputy killer was subsequently tried and found guilty, and the death penalty was listed as a form of punishment for his crime. Hold on , his attorney said, the death penalty has been abolished. yes, the State said, but years after the killing for which his client was convicted for. Before the killer can be sentenced, a decision has to be made by a judge on whether the death penalty is in place for him. A play on the writing of laws, I assume, but who am I to decide.
Next case. A man robs a bank in Albuquerque. As he leaves, the police are alerted by the bank teller. The police gives chase. There are two women, one 28 years old and one 34, in a car, on their lunch break, sitting in traffic at a red light. The robber, in his attempt to elude the police, crashes into the car with these two women, killing both of them. The robber is unhurt and is arrested. He is now charged with several crimes, including robbing the bank and for killing the two women. Not so fast, says his attorney. He did rob the bank, but the killing of the women was not his fault. So whose fault is it? The bank tellers for alerting the police and the police for giving chase. If they had just let him get away with the robbery, the two women would still be alive. True, says I, but if that is the case, then why have police. Just let people do whatever, and all would be well. NOT. If this man had not robbed the bank in the first place, he wouldn't be in trouble, the women would be alive, raising their children, and the police could have continued eating donuts. Then the man could be arrested for causing the death of the police men for causing them to have a heart attack. HUH! guess the man will end up in jail in any case. And THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK!

Politics, Again

2011-06-30T18:25:00.000-07:00

IT'S BEEN AWHILE: Since I actually blogged just about the tics. Maybe I should say politicians. Or, even nicer, those who hold public office. Why do I want to be nicer. Well, a few days ago, we received one of those forwarded messages from a friend. You know the ones. this one was anti Obama cartoons. Some of them crude, some of them humorous, none of them necessary. So, we deleted them and didn't send them on. We felt we needed to be a little nicer. Having said that, I will say I didn't vote for Mr. Obama in the last election, and given the chance, I won't vote for him again. I don't feel that he has done much of what he said he would do. And he has blamed Bush for the things that haven't gone right. OK, the economy was going into the tank while George Bush was still President. And the wars we are involved in were going on while Bush was still President. But President Obama has just dug the tank deeper, and the wars are still waging. And while we are struggling, as a country, with unemployment, he is causing more of it daily. A Democrat started, or accelerated, the space program in the early 60's. It has been a success and we are the world leaders in the space program. Or we were. Now, President Obama is ending the space program and handing it over to the Russians. And putting thousands of Government and private individuals out of work. I'll not belabor the issue, as that is just one item. He now wants to raise taxes. Guess he did, as the taxes that come out of my check are now more than they were when I started in February. He says "We don't have a spending problem, we have a revenue problem." And he wants to raise taxes to fix the problem. Won't work, McGee. Never has, never will. Do the Republicans have the answer. Not totally. Spending cuts are in order, but maybe not as deep as the Repubs want. We all know, at least those of us that have a house hold budget, that if we spend more than we take in, we have a spending problem. Maybe it is a revenue problem, also, but raising our wages just don't work. Even if we did get a raise, most people would just spend more, causing a continuation of a spending problem. Who should be president? Don't know. I like Sarah Palin, but I won't vote for her for President, for several reasons. Will just have to see who has a good platform.
Now a moment on local politics, then I'll quit boring you. Oh! guess if you actually read this far, you may not be bored. Smiling or frowning, depending on your own feelings on the matter. Because of the wild fires in the Southwest, many of the politicians in Arizona and New Mexico want to get legislation going that will give the forests, along with other rights, back to the States and the people. More on this in the future. President Obama wants to sign an executive order relating to a United Nations Agenda 21 program, that will give control of our forests over to the U.N. We need to watch that one very closely. We also need to watch closely the various environmental acts that will affect people adversely. Namely, the Clean Water act that will affect ranchers and their stock tanks. The clean air act that will affect farmers plowing and disking their fields. The Food safety act that will affect farmers markets.
Well, guess I got a little carried away. More on a later blog. But
That is The View From The Ditch Bank

Now What???????????

2011-06-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

NOW WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO? Some time back, decades, actually, centuries maybe, the people here in the US of A were what we now call Indians. And there were Buffalo roaming and Deer and Antelope playing and occasionally there was fire. At least I would assume there was fire. In spite of what many think, I'm not old enough to remember back that far. And as the Deer and Antelope played and the Buffalo roamed, the Buffalo created chips that fertilized the land, and their cloven hooves cultivated the land, and things grew, and there was occasional fire. Or so the history books say. Then came the white man and the deer and antelope continued to play, but the buffalo gradually ceased to roam. But in their place came the white mans cattle, and they created pies that fertilized the land and their cloven hooves cultivated the land and things like grass grew. And the western range was taken care of. And the white man wanted houses, so the trees in the forest were cut and milled into lumber, and minerals were dug out of the land and the land was taken care of, mostly. And you could see the water in the streams, and occasionally there was fire. Some as big as 30 square miles. And then 40 years or so ago, ( maybe you have a different timeline ) there was a movement in the land for environmental awareness. And the cattle ranchers and the loggers said OK. They thought it was a good idea, cause they were already being environmentally correct about the land. they were pruning the trees and cultivating the land and keeping the land clean and the streams flowing, and life was good. What they didn't understand was, the people, or groups, that were sponsoring this environmental movement, weren't interested in keeping the land clean, the streams flowing and the ground cultivated. They wanted the pies to disappear, the cattle rancher to disappear, the logger to disappear, the miner to disappear. And by the time these hard working folks realized this, they were way behind in the movement. And losing their way of life. Laws were passed by city folk's in the west and people in the east, who didn't understand what was going on. So, the land was "saved" for Mexican Spotted Owls, who had coexisted with the loggers and ranchers for decades, maybe even centuries, and then there was the willow fly catcher, a small bird, and the spike dace minnow, a small silver fish, and so many other animals that it makes your head swim to think of them all. Or it would swim, if you could find some water to swim in. Now, the streams are choked by the trees on the river trying to use the water. many of those trees are dying, cause there isn't enough water for them all. The loggers and sawmills are shut down, cause they can't cut trees. The ranchers are out of business cause they can't ranch. So the land is dying, cause it isn't being cultivated and fertilized. And then there was fire. Not the 30 square mile fire, but the 600 to 800 square mile fires. Yes fires. plural. And the land is cleansed. And the streams are clogged with ash, and the silver minnow chokes to death, and the fly catcher has no where to catch flies, or what ever it does. And the owl? Well, it has no where to lay it's head, cause the trees are all burned up. So what are they gonna do now?
I HOPE THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE HAPPY NOW. Oh! they said it is not their fault. Yeah! Right.
And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

SMOKE AND FIRE

2011-06-11T18:47:00.000-07:00

SMOKE: No, don't run out and buy a pack of cigarettes. Not talking about that kind of smoke. Here in this area where we live, ( if you are not sure, see my profile ) we have literally been under a cloud or haze of smoke since back in March. Every day. From forest or grass fires. Several of them almost next door. Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas are especially hard hit fire wise. Right now there are several fires burning in Southern Colorado, more near Flagstaff, Arizona, others in various parts of New Mexico. But the big one, on the news, is the Wallow fire in Eastern Arizona. Nearing 400,000 acres and 5% contained. There is another one in South East Arizona, called the Horse Shoe Two fire, that had grown to 116,000 acres and was 60% contained. Thursday afternoon, that fire got away from the firefighters and is now around 166,000 acres and only 40% contained. The Wallow fire is as big as Chicago, ( having never been to Chicago I will take their word for that ) and it wasn't a cow that kicked over a lantern to start it. Rumor has it that it was started by a camp fire that got out of control. By two or three campers. Rumor or not, it is under investigation. And it happened in a campground Sunday, Memorial day weekend.
Having said all that, let me get to the point of this blog. A few decades ago, not that many, actually, buffalo roamed and antelope played here in the west. And there was fire. Occasionally. Then the buffalo went away, (I won't get into that topic ) and ranchers brought their cattle and put them on the range. And timber men came and logged the forests for lumber to build houses and buildings for all the people coming west. And there was fire. Occasionally. A 30,000 acres fire was extreme. Most were small and put out quickly. Then came the environmentalist and said that cattle were bad for the land, and logging was bad for the land, and they made the people in the East, who are mostly clueless about the West, to pass laws making it unlawful to ranch or log. If it is unlawful, why isn't it illegal? Think about it a moment. Now, the forests are a mess. Where there used to be 50 trees to the acre, now there are hundres and even thousands of trees per acre. Mostly small saplings, growing close together, and all vying for what little water there isn't. I have a picture I took several years back of a river that had a nice stand of trees and a cabin in the river bottom. It was just a little ways off the highway. Now, because cattle are not allowed to drink from that river, cause the environmentalists say they pollute the river, you can't even see the river for the trees and brush, much less the cabin. Thus, we have wildfires like the ones mentioned at the start of this post.
This fire has started a dialog from western politicians and ranchers and loggers, and other people that we need to let the Forest Service manage the forest, in conjunction with the ranchers and loggers. And others that know how to manage the land. And take care of it, and thin it of the small saps, uh, saplings that are choking it to death. And I, for one, support that idea whole heartedly. Otherwise it will just continue to burn out of control. Or blow away like a dust bowl, for lack of rain. Of course the environmentalists are opposed to that, and said that this is just scare tactics. That is a quote from Bryan Bird of the organization Wild earth Guardians. Wonder where these guardians are now? Bet they are not on the fire line. Well, nuff said for now. Oh! The reason it isn't illegal is cause unlawful is against the law, but illegal is a sick bird. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

Manners

2011-06-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

CODE OF THE WEST: For the few of you that read this blog, I have not left, just don't post as often since I returned to full time employment. And while that is not the purpose of this posting, my returning to work, I will mention it in a passing fashion during this blog. As to the first line. there used to be one. A code. still is, mostly. So I'll quote this poem and then elaborate a bit.
It don't take such a lot o' laws to keep the range land straight
Nor books to write 'em in, 'cause there are only six or eight
The first one is the welcome sign, written deep in western hearts
My camp is yours and yours is mine in all cow country parts
Treat with respect all women kind, same as you would your sister
Care for neighbors' strays you find, and don't call cowboys Mister
Shut the pasture gates when passin' through, and taking all in all
Be just as rough as pleases you, but don't be mean or small
Talk straight, shoot straight, never break your word to man or hoss
Plumb always kill a rattlesnake, don't ride a sore back hoss
It don't take law nor pedigree to live the best you can
These few is all it takes to be a cowboy and a man
Author Unknown
Cowboys have always wore hats. The style of hat sometimes varies from area to area, but they are still worn. Now a days, hats are becoming more of an item to ward of the sun, because more people are aware of the likely hood of skin cancer, especially here in the Southwest. Along with the poem quoted above, there was a hat etiquette that cowboys practised. It used to be common for hats to be checked at the door of a public place, such as restaurants. That has mostly become obsolete, so here are some thoughts on how to wear your hat today.
One hat maker has written on the back of his business card "Take it off at the table, leave it on at the bar, and treat it like your sweetheart." Trent Johnson of Greely Hat Works. While the hats off at the dinner table used to be a hard and fast rule, many cowboys now leave it on when dining at a public restaurant. However, you should remove it when entering a private residence, a house of worship, or a business meeting. And around the ladies? While the days when men were expected to remove them when a lady enters the room has kinda disappeared, it is still good manners to do so, and it is mostly appreciated, even if it is unexpected. It is also not a bad practice to tip your hat to the ladies in public. In a respectful manner.
So what does any of this have to do with me returning to work? Simple. Many of the men I work with are very disrespectful of the ladies. Their language is crude and lewd at best, and the ladies in the crew are disregarded or treated as one of the boys by most of the men on the crew.
And as a last thought. Manners as a general rule seems to have gone the way of rotary phones and typewriters. You can still find them, but they are in the minority. When people return to the cowboy way of life, in the country or the city, showing respect for your neighbors and your neighbors property, curbing foul language, and treating ladies with the respect they deserve, especially your spouse, then the country will be on track to return to the kind of country we would all like to live in. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

Y2K

2011-05-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

WHEN WILL WE EVER LEARN? Well, not all of us, but a lot of us. How many of you remember back just a few years, to the turn of the century. And the Y2K flop, uh flap. Do you remember all the predictions. I'm sure I don't. Remember all of them. But it was predicted that because the world is ruled, I mean run, by computers, and when we went from 1999 to 2000, all the computers would crash. So panic set in. Computer programmers set about creating programs to fix the problem. It was predicted that when the change from 1999 to 2000 happened, airplanes would crash, ships would wonder about the ocean and crash, stores wouldn't be able to sell you any thing, cause their computerized cash registers would crash, and computers would just crash. So people went on a buying frenzy, buying food, clothing, water, electric generators, and all manner of survival gear. Then, well, then we changed from 1999 to 2000 and airplanes flew to their destination and landed at the airports and didn't crash, ships made it safely to harbor and didn't crash, and computers, well they crashed, but then that's what computers do best. Even without the Y2K bug. So, people ate their food, drank their water, sold their survival gear, and went back to normal living. Then, along came a preacher, preaching that the world would end on May 21, 2011. And people, well some people, gave him their money, some sold their houses and cars, and got ready to be rapturized, or something. And May 22 came along and no one was rapturized. And then they had no money, no house, no car. And some even had no belief in the preacher any more. And the preacher. Well, he was made fun of, in the media, on face book and twitter. Oh! did people twitter, even when they weren't on twitter. Now the preacher has made a statement or three. One, he made a mistake on the date. Now it will happen on October 21, 2011. Then he said it happened, but it was invisible, and will go on for the next five months, then the world will be completely destroyed. And the money. He will give it back to the people. Not. They survived the bank failures, so they can survive his taking of their money. And send him more. How many people will get ready for the end to come on October 21. How many people will get ready for the end in December 2012. How many people will do stupid things, based on these "predictions". Will the world end. Yes it will. Do I know when? No I don't. Who does? Read the Bible. Matthew 24:39. Then live accordingly. And be ready if it should happen in your life time. And don't panic, just cause some one said something will happen. Common sense and thinking things through in a sensible manner is always best. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

TV Must See

2011-05-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

Is there such a thing? As something on TV that is a must see. I think not. My wife and I watch some TV. We are not really fans of most of what is on TV these days. To me it should be MWTV. Standing for Most Worthless T V. We do watch NCIS, and we like most of the Hall Mark movies. We watch the news, but don't understand why some of the news casters are so hung up on all things Holly Wood.
We watch The Biggest Loser. Does that make us Big losers, watching people on TV losing fat. Many shows are having their season finals. Some won't be back, some will. There will be many new ones. Will they be any good. For the most part, probably not. My wife and I are old enough to remember when TV came into existence. At least in the form as we now know it. Back when comedy actually was, and variety shows were actually fun to watch. Now, comedy seems to have taken on a potty mouth. And that's the clean stuff. It gets worse. I tried to watch a comedy show a while back. Lasted about 90 seconds. Me, not the show. Guess I'll just have to turn off the TV and curl up with a good book. If I can find one. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

The Rules Of The Road

2011-05-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

I'm reminded of a story of an older couple from many decades back, when automobiles had taken over, but this farm couple still traveled by horse and buggy. One day, as they came in to town, there was a sign that said, "Speed Limit, 25 MPH" The old farmer handed the reins to his wife and said, "Here, you take the reins, and I'll get the whip, and we will see if we can get the horse to get us up that fast."

I am sure the two or three of you that actually read my drivel, already know the rules of the road, and obey them. So, I will just talk to those who don't know or don't have time to read. How many people driving an automobile know the rule about cross walks. You know, the place where people walk across the road. There is the cross walk, but before you get to it, there is another line, where you are supposed to stop your vehicle, thus providing a measure of safety to the pedestrian. How many people stop at the actual cross walk, even with their vehicle intruding into the cross walk, and inching forward, hoping the red light will change faster, or something. Or those who come up to a red sign that says "STOP" but they don't, they actually see this sign as a triangle, with the word "YIELD" on it. And when they see a yield sign it's just get out of the way, here I come. OK, Ok there is a point to this story. There is one other safety rule that you won't see a sign for. It is, Keep 1 car length between you and the car in front of you, for every 10 MPH you are traveling. Thus, if you are traveling 60 MPH, you should have 6 car lengths between you and the car in front of you.

MLWFAE, ( for any new comers, that refers to my wife. Refer to a previous post to see the actual meaning ) and I recently traveled to a distant city. Since the speed limit on the freeway is 75 MPH, and since we had more time that gas, we drove 70 MPH, thus is was easy to keep 7 car lengths between me and the car in front of us. Oh! the car in front had just passed, at 80 MPH usually, and was soon out of sight. But as we came to the city, the traffic increased, and the speed limit reduced to 65 MPH. So, keeping 6 1/2 car lengths between me and the car in front, caused 6 1/2 cars to squeeze in between us. OK, so it was only 6 cars, but I backed off and another 6 cars came in. I soon realized we were back at the city limits and losing ground fast. At this rate, we would soon be back home, without ever getting to where we were going. So, I bit the bullet, or would have, had I had a bullet, and ignoring the rules, I closed up behind the car in front and finally made it into the city, and to the motel where we were staying. No wonder it takes us longer to get where we are going, than it does every one else. We had the same problem while traveling about the city, so I had to bite another bullet, ( the previous one had been chewed up and spit out ) and travel the same crazy way the rest of the people were. Boy, sure was good to get out of the city a few days later and get back to the small city where we live, where the people are just as crazy as the big city folks, just not as many of them. Maybe some day we will all get where we are going, then we can park our cars, ( bumper to bumper, if we want to, as they will not be moving ) and just enjoy life in the slow, Uh!, parked and stopped lane. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

TRUTH IN ADVERTISING

2011-04-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

OH! SAY WHAT IS TRUTH. That's a statement, not a question. Have you seen the advertisement's for Brita water bottles? Or filters? They will have someone doing something, walking on a treadmill, for example, drinking from a plastic bottle of water. Then say something like thirty minutes in the gym ( or something like that ) thousands of years in the land fill. Then on to the Brita. Well, that is truth, kinda. I assume they don't actually know how long they will be in the land fill. But then, every thing else in the land fill with the plastic bottle will be there for thousands of years also. Including the Brita bottle, when it gets thrown away. Why? Cause of the nature of a true landfill. FYI, a truly well made land fill goes like this. First the bottom is packed with clay, or some such material. Then it is lined with a heavy gauge liner. Then as the garbage is put in the land fill, it is packed with spiked, steel wheel bulldozer's. When all this is done, and dirt is added from time to time, and packed, then the landfill is covered with more clay like material and packed down hard. So when it is finished it is supposed to be leak proof. No water, no air, no sunlight. So, whatever is in there, be it a plastic bottle, a cardboard box, a two by four, or whatever, it cannot deteriorate with out moisture, oxygen and sunlight. so, like the water bottle, it just sits there for thousands of years. Supposedly. Only time will tell.
So what else is truthful, kinda. Well, like Brita, ( and I am not dissing Brita, just using them as an example ) most companies stretch the truth a bit. Cause they want you to buy their products. What is best. Usually, what ever you like is best. I like Fords, but if every one else did also, it wouldn't matter how many bailouts the other company's got, GM and Chrysler and the rest would go under. . So decide what you want, check out the stats on the items, and buy whichever one fits you best. The same goes for most tics. Republican or Democrat. Listen to what they say. Check out their record, if they have one. What kind of person are they? Then vote accordingly. Be they Repub or Demo. As in the land fill, only time will then tell. And tell it will. If we live long enough. Oh! even if we don't, it will tell. Just hope those coming along later learn what ever lesson is there to learn.
And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

A Little Bit About A Few Things

2011-04-15T16:50:00.000-07:00

WHERE TO START: It's been a couple of weeks since I posted a blog. Since I returned to the working world, blogging seems to have taken a back seat to the activities I am involved in. I am even thinking of increasing the amount of blogging I do that would be conceived as personal. Maybe. But probably not today. 1. The congress and the President finally agreed on a 2011 budget. Now the fight is on for the 2012 budget. The current budget will cut several Billion Dollars from federal spending. Good? Well, maybe. The fine print says this will be over a period of time. This year! only a few million will be cut. Now a fight on whether to raise the debt ceiling. Regular people like me, and I suppose you, when we don't have the money we go without, or go into debt. Well, the federal government does one of those things. I saw a news report where people said they would give up their entitlements. I believe most, if not all, entitlements should be eliminated. What is an entitlement? Social Security. Well, no I am drawing that, but have paid into it for over 50 years. Medicare? No, I have paid taxes from my pay check into that program for years also, and was made to enroll when I turned 65, even if I didn't want to. Also, $96.00 a month is held from my S.S. check as well as a similar amount from my wife's check each month to pay for medicare. Yet, these are the programs the President wants to cut, to cut spending. 2. In the city/county where I live the sixth fire this week was burning a house and into the forest. We are extremely dry and the wind is blowing a sustained 30 MPH this weekend, with stronger winds on Monday, yet the Forest Service wants to set two "controlled burns" next Monday. This is 14 fires since the 14,000 acre fire we had last month. Some of them very small and put out before it did any damage. 3. I don't like the "change" that has taken place the last two years. Although Obama campaigned on that premise, and made promises that he hasn't kept, I have been around long enough to know that he wouldn't keep them. Indeed, couldn't keep them. Politics are like that and have been for centuries. Still, I think the President, and the House of Representatives and all Senators who are up for election needs to be replaced next election. I think the people are demanding that our elected officials need to be responsible for the way they are governing and spending our money. And it is OUR money they are spending. We need to pay attention to all tics and get rid of the ones who are over zealous with spending, regardless of the party they belong to. 4. On a little better note, Our new governor is making a name for herself, at least in the State. She is now auditing the school districts, especially the one that are crying foul at the cuts they are being ask to make. I have blogged in the past on my opinion of the budget and the schools, so scroll back and find what I said if you don't know. The audits are being inspired by a fact that came to light recently where the school systems are padding the numbers of "special ed students" so they can get more money, then using the overage for other things. Sounds a lot like government bodies don't it. Well, Governor Martinez is trying to put a stop to a lot of those kinds of things. Kudos to her. 5. In case you haven't noticed, the world is going crazy. Mothers killing their babies, children killing their parents, husbands and wives killing their spouses, kidnappings, murders, rapes, crooked cops, condoms being offered to pre teens, and wrong being called right, or at least OK. And that's just the news. TV programs are worse. 6. Considering all this just makes me want to find a cave somewhere and go into hiding. With a good book, of course. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

A Contradiction In Terms

2011-03-31T07:37:00.001-07:00

OR JUST A GOVERNMENT MIND SET: I saw on the news this morning a report about the government trying to pass a budget to keep the government from shutting down. The Republicans in the House wants the Senate to pass a bill and send it to them. They also want budget cuts. There was also a mention of picketing for a budget by the TEA Party. Harry Reid said something like, "No one pays any attention to the Tea Party. There is only a small minority of people who even notice them." Not a accurate or direct quote, but close. Uh! Harry, didn't you notice the results of the last election? So all the Tea Party candidates didn't win. Many did and several that didn't garnered a lot of attention. Pay attention Harry. Pass a budget bill and fund needed government. Emphasis on needed. Get rid of the pork. Now, to the item that actually spawned the thought for this blog. In the little paper we get here, ( emphasis on little paper, 8 pages sometimes) on the front page was these articles. Since January 1, 2011, not quite three months into the year, New Mexico has had 199 wild fires, burning more than 119,000 acres. 1400 of those acres were right here in our county. A grass fire that burned so fast with the wind that the fire fighters couldn't get a handle on it for some time. Another article was on the weather. Windy conditions predicted for as far ahead as the weather predictors can predict. Last article. The United States Forest Service is planning a prescribed burn for an area in about two weeks. All three of these items were on the front page of the paper. New Mexico is so dry the grass is about the color of this type. And brittle and ready to burn. And it is doing so. Often. There has been a few more fires and acres added to the total since the paper came out just two days ago. We haven't had any substantial moisture in many years. It will take several years of above average moisture to even begin to catch up. And probably several years of responsible government to get the budget back in order. But that's OK. Lets set fire to the forest that is so dry it will burn quickly if a little breeze comes up. And lets pass a budget that spends ( read burns ) money we don't have on things we don't need, just so I can make my constituents happy and they will re elect me. I think the mind set is going to have to change. I'm an old man, but I hope the change comes in my life time. I'm afraid it won't. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

Humor Can't Hurt

2011-03-24T05:40:00.000-07:00

WITH ALL THAT IS GOING ON, IS HUMOR OUT OF ORDER? Actually, I think not. Tragedy has been with the world at least since the flood when Noah built the Ark. Having said that, I am not going to detail the many tragedy's that even I am aware of since that time. OK, I know I'm old, but not that old. I read about them in a book. but lets just mention a few recent ones. Like fires and then floods in Australia. Earthquakes in Haiti, South America and New Zealand. Miners rescued from a cave in in Chile. And finally, the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. While all of these things are not to be ignored, or played down, life does go on, and so does the human spirit. In that vein, I am going to mention a few things that I consider humorous in the same manner as the ending of the previous blog. If that didn't appeal to you, you may want to stop reading here.
1. It has been reported that someone was rolling in the dough. I always thought a rolling pin worked better.
2. A no fly zone has been declared over Libya. Apparently mosquitoes are OK.
And these from the announcers for March Madness, AKA NCAA basketball tournament.
3. Marquette is off to the races. Since they won the game, guess they didn't stay long.
4. In one game the announcer reported that a player had knocked down a three, and a little later another player did the same thing. Wonder if the three learned to just stay down.
5. The team did a good job of defending the paint. Wonder what the paint did that it needed defended.
and last 6. The Tarheels coach was upset cause his team turned the ball over too many times. Guess they haven't learned how to catch the ball in the correct position, so had to turn it over. maybe to see the label better.
And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

Just A Few Things That Comes To Mind

2011-03-18T16:26:00.000-07:00

SOME ARE FUNNY, SOME JUST ARE: Here are a few things that have been on the news lately, in one form or another. The New Mexico State legislature is ending a 60 day session Saturday, March 19 at noon. It has been a very low key session, as far as the news items have been. Much different than the last few years. One thing that happened is that the Senate and Representatives finally, last night, passed a balanced budget for the Governor to sign. She probably will, with reluctance. The last final 111 million dollars used to balance the budget is for the State Employees to pay a little more into their retirement fund and the State to pay a little less. Since the majority of the tax paying residents of the State are not State employees, and don't have the benefits of State employees, this isn't a bad thing. The State employees don't like it, of course, but then, it is their retirement fund. The amount the State pays into it is funded by my, and the rest of the States tax paying residents dollars. Also, in this session, the Governor, Susana Martinez, wanted a law passed that made it illegal to issue drivers licenses to illegal residents. The legislature did not pass that law. There were rally's claiming racial discrimination. And racial profiling. Arizona had 5 bills before their legislature on illegal residents and immigration. They all failed, for much the same reason. As one Arizona politician said, "Maybe you forgot it's illegal to be in this country illegally." New Mexico's governor is Hispanic. This is not a racial item. it is a legal item. What part of "Illegal" don't people understand. Oh, and New Mexico assisted the Educational system by raising tuition fees. Fees that most students will be hard put to pay. This, in spite of the fact that New Mexico passed a gambling bill years ago, with the millions of dollars from gambling to go to assist New Mexico residents to pay for education. Unfortunately, at least half of those dollars go to "Administrative" costs. Also, the University of New Mexico, which will have the largest tuition hike, has 28 Vice Presidents that earn $250,000 plus a year. Not to mention other lesser vice presidents and assistants that also earn big bucks. Could cutting their salaries balance the budget? probably not, but it would help if their salaries were cut some. I would think they could live on less. Most of the residents of the State do. And lastly, how often do you hear this from a T. V. news reporter. Stay tuned for a Live Interview. yeah! beats a dead interview every time. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

WHY? WHY? WHY?

2011-03-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

WHERE'S THE MIND SET? Recently, in the area where I live, there was a large grass fire. 1400 acres and 12 houses were burned, along with some out buildings and some equipment of residents. The fire was started by someone driving off the road into the grass and their catalytic converter started the fire. That is the official determination, any way. Shortly after that was over here, the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. That devastation is still on going, and makes our little fire seem meaningless. Of course it's not, at least for those affected by the fire. Still, with the many events going on worldwide, there is one thing that makes me ask the question. WHY? Not why the disasters. Those have been going on since the dawn of time. Oh Wait! What I am blogging about probably has also. That is the scam artists. Why call them artists? makes true artists look bad. Still, there are those contacting the victims of the fire offering false assistance. they are calling people and telling about places to donate money, where the donations are not accepted. Contractors, who are not authorized, offering help. The same thing is going on with a much larger scale with people trying to scam people out of money by donating to a false site to assist the Japanese. Where is the mind set of these people. With families in Japan looking for family members, children wandering around homeless, how can someone think of enriching themselves at the expense of those who only want to help. I just don't understand. What happened to the idea, it's mine, so you don't touch. Guess those days are long behind us. And more's the pity. I feel for those of my children and grandchildren that have to live in the current world. And the world yet to come is probably only going to get worse. And that's the Viewpoint the Scriptures give me.

IT'S GETTING CLOSE

2011-03-10T06:38:00.000-08:00

TAX TIMES A COMING: You know the day. April 15. Tax day dead line. And with the economy for us and them like it is, them, namely governments, local state and federal, are looking for ways to increase their coffers. I just saw a report on the news that property taxes can go up if you change a sink in your house. Or build a shed in the back yard. Or even more if the shed has a cement floor. Cause that makes it more livable. But I was more interested in some of the innovative ways, read outrageous ways, that governments are coming up with to get our money. Try these. I think we are all aware of the so called Sin taxes. Here are some new ones that are on the books, or are being discussed to be put on the books. Taxes, that is, not all necessarily sin taxes, although most of them should be a sin for even being thought of. I will list the taxes, but not if they are on the books, or just being considered.
1. In Alabama, any one who purchases a deck of cards of 54 cards or less must pay a tax of 10 cents. If you get a deck with 55 cards, guess you don't have to pay.

2. In Utah, any business where Nude or partially Nude individuals perform any service have to pay a 10% sales and use tax. This tax is applied to all revenue from admission fees as well as merchandise, food, drink and services sales.

3. don't know if this one is State specific or all has all states involved, but it is part of the controversial Patient Protections and Affordable Care Act of 2010. There is now a 10% excise tax on using a tanning salon. This tax is expected to raise $2.7 billion dollars over ten years.

4. In Kentucky there is now a sales tax on any food classified as candy. But the definition of candy is controversial. A Reese's Peanut Butter Cup is candy, but a Milky Way is not. The tax is also snaring some seemingly healthy foods. If a Breakfast bar contains natural or artificial sweeteners along with fruits, nuts or other healthy ingredients, but has no flour, and doesn't need refrigeration, it's considered candy, but breakfast cereals with the exact same ingredients are not.

5. In January, the New York City Fire department proposed a new Crash Tax. The proposal calls for a $500 dollar fine for anyone in an accident requiring emergency response vehicles at the scene. This stirred up some controversy.

6. A new haunted house tax would charge a sales tax on admission to a haunted house if the fee is over 10 Cents and includes music. But New York doesn't tax musical comedies, operas or chamber music shows.

7. In New York, if you buy a Bagel and take it home it is tax free, but if you buy one in a Bagel shop, and eat it there, you have to pay sales tax.

8. As of January, 2011, King County Washington, which includes Seattle, has instituted a $50 fee for reporting a death to the Medical Examiners office. If you don't pay, you don't get the permission and paperwork needed in order to be buried.

9.There is now an annual tax on brand name pharmaceutical companies. This is a corporation tax that is expected to raise $2.5 Billion in 2011. If you think you are not going to pay this tax also, think again.

10. There is also some tax rules going into effect on the FSA medical accounts. Since I have a definite opinion on FSA's, I won't go into these taxes. But if you use one, be prepared for some changes.

Just be prepared as governments take us into the red, while trying to get themselves out of the red, if they succeed, we will be left feeling blue. Just means we will be left spending less, while the tics spend more. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

A Sign Of The Times

2011-03-02T06:49:00.000-08:00

A BALANCED BUDGET: Did you see the news where Rhode Island fired ALL of the school teachers. Some 19,000 plus or so. Then said that those that were needed would be hired back. If some of them weren't needed, why were they hired in the first place? The Federal Government, and most States are struggling to balance their budgets. Well, maybe not the Feds. Harry Reid and friends seem to get upset and carry on almost as bad as Charlie Sheen when the Republicans want to cut something from the budget. All that aside, the struggle goes on, and one of the favorite targets is education. So, I am going to weigh in on my uneducated opinion on what could be done.
First in my blog, if not first on a list, would be to eliminate pre kindergarten. Kindergarten would be acceptable, but get rid of the pre. Then, let the families feed their children breakfast, instead of the tax payers. Oh! I know all the arguments. families are poor, parents are too busy, Etc., Etc. I agree there are those that fit that mold. But not to the extent that the schools take care of. Then charge a fair price for school lunch. I know the above arguments will come into play once again. But many parents pay a lot more than that to go to lunch, so pay it for the kiddo's also. Stop letting the tax payer feed the kids.
Then look to administration. Ok, so the salaries of the top brass is just a minuscule part of the budget. But how much is wasted there. How many of those people could be done without? How many of them could use a salary cut and still make more than the average bear? And how many States provide free lunches during the summer to any one up to the age of 18. Are they really necessary? How much could be saved there? Do you see where this is going? A lot of it is just that. Free Lunches. In today's times, too many people look to the government for a handout, a free lunch. And don't want to take care of themselves. I have many family members involved in the education business, in one degree or another. As far as I know, all of it is involved with the education of children. So, instead of firing teachers en masse, the tics need to look at where the waste is. And if, and I repeat if, they have too many teachers, then take care of that problem. But it seems to me that too many of the tics want to cut the classroom, and keep the bloated people and programs that really could be eliminated with no ill affect to the students. And there are so many "free lunch" type of programs that could be done away with, at a cost savings of millions, if not billions. Programs that have nothing to do with education. Programs in other fields of endeavor besides education. Programs that did not even exist not so many years back. And that is where the tics really need to look. But of course these programs are some tics pet project, so they won't be considered for cuts. That would be bad for re election. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

REBELLION:

2011-02-23T17:40:00.000-08:00

WHEN DID IT START: For those of a Bible reading kind of mind, it probably started in the pre-existence, when Lucifer rebelled against God and Jehovah and the plan for us to come to earth and gain a body. On that line of thought, it continued when Cain killed his brother Able. And it hasn't really stopped since. So, I will not detail the many rebellions that have happened down through the ages. As if I could. Lets just get to the present day. Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya, just to name a few. And it continues. Even here in the good old U.S. of A. In Wisconsin. State legislatures that don't like the law some are trying to pass, left the State in so that the bill couldn't pass, for lack of majority. Other States legislatures are threatening to do the same thing. New Mexico hasn't made the news on that front yet, at least not the national news, but there have been rumors floating around the State, that they could do that if the Republicans and the Republican Governor insist on passing laws they don't like. Well, I thought this was supposed to be a government of the people, by the people, for the people. So I guess the PEOPLE need to rebel and tell the elected officials that they were elected to go to the State house or wherever they do their business, and do the business they were elected to do. If they want to pout and play childish games, then vote them out and vote for someone who wants to take care of State business. Or Federal business, for that matter. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

So, What's Next

2011-02-19T15:07:00.000-08:00

THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A WEEK: Not a complaining type of week. Just somewhat different than I have had in quite some time. I haven't made it a habit to blog about myself or family. But this week, I think I will. So, for the few of you that actually read my drivel, you have been warned.
About three years ago, the man who I go to for my haircuts, ( OK, you can finish this when you quit laughing, ) ask me when I was going to retire. I, being over 65 years old at the time, said probably in a year or two. The barber, being more than a decade older than me, said, well, let me know when you decide, and I will retire with you. Two years ago I retired, he didn't. Said he had nothing to do if he wasn't working.
Now, to this week. Monday, last, I went back to work. In a mine, doing the same type of work I retired from, but with a contractor, rather than the mining company. The work is so familiar, that the first day was like being back to work after a long vacation. Oh! guess it was. On Thursday, February 17, my wife and I reached a milestone that few people reach. We "celebrated" 50 years of marriage. To each other. The day didn't go like I had envisioned the Golden wedding year would. I said "celebrated" because I, having just started a new job, went to work. My wife stayed home, feeling ill. We will celebrate later, after I retire again. Which definitely will not be 40 years. Nor even 40 months. Then this morning I went to the barber for a hair cut. A new barber was in the shop. My old barber had retired February 1st. Not cause he wanted to, but cause diabetes had taken so much of his eyesight, that he finally had to quit. Many people, like him, and myself, work way past the current considered time to retire. Work is a necessity of life. Even if you are financially healthy. But so is play. I just hope many of the younger generation realize that and combine the two, and not just get hooked on the thought of being able to play all the time. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

For Richer or Poorer

2011-02-11T16:05:00.000-08:00

IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY: My last blog was just a tongue in cheek type of blog about a situation that happened in this State last week. You can read that blog to see what I wrote. This blog is a little more serious follow up on that blog.
A lot of information has come out since my last blog. The natural gas service was cut off to several small towns in the northern part of the state, and service was curtailed to several others. With temperatures in the below freezing to as cold as below zero in many places, a lot of those families were without heat. Even after the "problem" was solved by the gas company, it was still several days before these people got their gas turned on. Governor Martinez called out the National Guard to assist with getting the gas turned back on. Police and fire department personnel from other cities also were called on, or volunteered, to help with this. The gas company officials could only say, they were doing the best they could. Result, frozen and broken water pipes, damaged gas lines and furnaces, due to the cessation of normal gas flow. FEMA has sent personnel in to asses the damage and if the State has more than a few million dollars in problems, they can offer assistance. In one of the affected towns, the people were told they could qualify for loans to help them. They said, "We don't want loans, we want answers". They might get the loans. So far, they aren't getting answers. Noted, most of those affected are some of the poorest in the State.
I have long voiced my opinion that Government's, local, State and Federal, need to cut their budgets and live like normal people have to. I have blasted, in this blog, those tics that bloat themselves on the blood of the people. I am still of that opinion. Now, I read in the paper this; "Obama to propose cuts in heating aid". The article said that the President wants to propose a cut of 2.5 Billion dollars in the fund to assist the poor with heating. In the coldest winter on record in many years. Once again. Who will this affect. The Poor. Again I say. Government needs to cut spending. But to do so at the expense of those most dependant is wrong. It seems to be the way, though. Of companies and governments. Why? Cause the rich can afford services and they can holler loud and long enough that the tics listen. Large cities and big business can do the same. So a gas company can turn off the gas of the poor, and get away with it. Well, the officials are trying to defend themselves before the New Mexico State legislature, starting today, and they are squirming. :-) Our newly elected governor is demanding answers, and is not playing patty cake with them. I don't think they like it. And she has publicly stated that if they can't prove what they say, they will pay. What do they say? It isn't their fault. The fault lies in Texas. If so, why? See previous blog. Maybe more truth than fiction there. And that is the View From The Ditch Bank

Out Of Gas

2011-02-07T13:56:00.000-08:00

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT: Oh! that isn't exactly what it was. The headline in the irregular paper ( that's the local daily paper, except Sat. and Sun.) said "Governor declares state of emergency across New Mexico". What was that emergency. Well, I'll tell you, then we will explore the implications a bit. The emergency was, many places in the State had no natural gas service. That's the natural kind that is pumped from the ground. As a result, a few cities were cut off completely, and many more had gas curtailments, so that many citizens were with out any way to heat their homes. Result: frozen and busted pipes. Insurance claim amounts yet to be determined. But, how can that happen in a State that produces a hugh amount of the nation's natural gas and oil. That is the question that is now being ask by many of those serving in the State think tank. More commonly known as the legislature. The answer. We get our gas from Texas. And the Texas company that supplies said gas, said they had compressor problems, and couldn't pressurize the lines to get the gas to the State. So, in a week and a weekend that is the coldest on record in many places, ( extremely sub zero) and in others since way back in the 1960's, much of the State lost gas service. And many suffered. Even now, as I write this, there are still some areas of the state that is just now finally getting service returned to them. After many days of freezing. And living in shelters that have been set up by the cities involved. But as people lost gas service, they plugged in electric heaters, overloading the electrical circuits, causing rolling blackouts in some parts of the State, adding to the problem. And as many are getting gas service back, and pilot lights being relit, they are told, Oh! when the gas went off, it caused problems to your old furnace, so we can't light you up until you buy a new furnace. Cost! 4 to 6 thousand dollars. Lots of problems for many in the State. Due to a loss of gas. Why? Well,
lets explore this just a little bit. The good, the bad and the ugly. Oh! that's the title of a poor spaghetti western. Sorry. Just the bad and the good, then. As I ramble around this, you decide which is which. To start this exploration, the Green Bay Packers, won their division ( which ever one that was ) in football. The Pittsburgh Steelers won their division also. The division that the Packers didn't win. As a result of that, these two over paid teams met in the Dallas Cowboy Football Stadium to play in a bowl of Chili. Oh! not JUST a Chili Bowl, but a Super Bowl. One that produced a lot of gas, I would imagine. But I digress. The afore mentioned cold spell also hit Dallas. And it snowed there, and froze there. And the snow had to be removed from the roof of the Chili Bowl. And that takes a lot of heat. Not to mention heating it for the game. Which takes a lot of gas. And the fans that paid overly high prices to set in a warm seat and view the smash and grab. If they were lucky enough not to have one of the seats that was sold, but unsittable in. And where did said natural gas come from. Well, ummmm, lets just tell New Mexico we have compressor problems, and send that gas to Dallas, to heat up the roof of the chili bowl and get the ice and snow off it, and warm up those high priced fans seats, so they will want to come back sometime. Maybe even to root for the Cowboys. OK, so maybe I went a little too far with that one, but the real Cowboy fans can always hope. And for the good. If Chicago had won the division, ( which ever one it was ) instead of the Packers, then the Bears would have been in the bowl of Chili and the President and his family were going to attend. Yep, that's the one. You know, the President of the U.S. of A. But Chicago lost, the first family didn't attend, and the taxpayers won. Always some good comes out of disaster somewhere. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2011-02-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

IS IT DELIBERATE OR IGNORANCE?: I am posting today about politics. Mostly New Mexico politics, but not totally. So, having that warning, continue at your own risk.
As if such disasters as the recent flooding and now a cyclone bearing down on Queensland, Australia, the bitter cold and snowy weather in the United States, and the affect that has on millions of people in both countries, there is always the politics going on. And if that isn't enough, you have the recent events in Tunisia, and now in Egypt, and possibly expanding to other Arabic countries, the world political scene is almost boggling to the mind. Well, my mind, any way. I have enough trouble keeping up with what is going on locally, much less the national scene or the international scene. So, I'll get down to it.
Monday, Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, spoke to a group in El Paso, Texas. Her theme. Border cities are safer than people say they are. The reports of the danger are just political hype and should be stopped. That is not a direct quote, but a statement that took several paragraphs in the local paper to say. This statement was made just across the border from Juarez, Mexico, where 6,000 people have been murdered in just the last two years. And close to 30,000 in the last 6. Where drug violence spills across the border at times. Just like it has in Arizona, at times. Maybe she needs to talk to the family members of the U.S. citizens who have been victims of that violence. Napolitano quoted a lot of statistics, said a lot of money has been, and is being, spent on border security. Still, the violence goes on. Maybe if the Federal government would allow the States to practice illegal immigration enforcement, the U.S. of A wouldn't have to spend so much time and money trying to enforce a law that the federal government seems to be reluctant to enforce. Colorado is in the process of crafting a law modeled after, but different from, the embattled illegal immigration law in Arizona. They say they are crafting it so it won't get struck down. We will see.
Our own new Governor, Susana Martinez, has signed an executive order rescinding the previous governor's order that made New Mexico a sanctuary state. She also signed an order rescinding the former Governor's order, so that now Police Officers are allowed to inquire about a person's immigration status, if they are being arrested for a crime. Let me repeat that. They can ask IF THE PERSON IS BEING ARRESTED FOR A CRIME. The cannot ask it of a person who witnessed a crime, is a victim of a crime , or is asking for police assistance. They cannot ask if the person is stopped for a traffic violation. Only for the above capitalized reason. Yet; a civil rights group protested her order saying "New Mexicans should not have to fear that a broken tail light or other pretextual stop will lead to their arrest because of the color of their skin." This was said by a director of the ACLU. Read that statement, along with the statement by Napolitano, and then read the title to this blog. You just have to wonder. Are they really so ignorant? Or, are they trying to stir up trouble?
Has any one ever heard of Katie's law. Governor Martinez wants to expand that law in the State of New Mexico, by making it a law for ALL persons arrested for a felony to give a DNA sample to be entered into the national data base. I hope the Legislature passes that one. Mrs. Martinez is trying to bring back a lot of the stiffer laws and sentences that have gone by the way side in the last 8 years. She will have a hard row to hoe on a lot of this, with the State budget in the red and the State of the State unemployment. Still, she is trying. So far, I am behind her all the way. Stay tuned for future updates in the future. (Wouldn't it be funny to give a future update in the past). And that is The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2011-01-28T13:40:00.000-08:00

I took this picture a couple of years ago. I have made it my blog post picture for a while. Sometimes a person just has to wonder what the people that lived here would think if they could see the world of today. Just what would their view of the world be. Since this is obviously on a hill side, would this be their "view from a ditch bank?" Their world view would be very narrow, compared to ours of today. And it would probably not cover a lot of territory. Since there is not space there to grow any thing, they would have to go at least a couple of miles from here to plant any thing. Since there is a corn crib on the property, I can only assume that they did go planting somewhere. Or did a brisk trade with some other people somewhere in the area. Several miles from here is a very fertile farming area. When it rains. At least there is now. Wonder what there was then? Hunting was also probably high on their list of existence. And existence is what they were all about, I would assume. Shelter, a safe defence from any enemies, including the weather,marauding animals or enemy tribes. Something to wear, and food, would be high on their list of necessities. While this probably was a tribal thing, family would be of paramount importance also, I would think. And when it comes right down to it, aren't these things what all of us are about. Even now. And that is The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2011-01-22T12:44:00.000-08:00

WHAT, EXACTLY, IS INSANE?: A couple or three years back, a young boy, a year or two old, was found buried in the sand at a park playground in Albuquerque. He had been dead just long enough to make identification difficult. But not impossible. So, when he was identified, his mother was questioned, admitted she had killed and buried him. She said she had suffocated him, then performed CPR and revived him, then suffocated him a second time. Then buried him. She has been in jail since then awaiting trial. This week her trial was to commence, but her lawyer ask for a change, because she wanted to change her plea from guilty to not guilty by reason of insanity. A hearing was held yesterday and the judge granted that motion. So now she will be tried later this year on an insanity plea. Begs the question. Why did she wait so long to decide that.
The shooter in Tucson two weeks ago today, will undoubtedly plead insanity. And he may well be. But here's the difference. In New Mexico, if found not guilty by reason of insanity, you are sent to a mental hospital and given treatment, and when the Dr. decides you are cured, you are released back into society. Hopefully to never go insane again. Arizona, along with three other States, Utah, And I think Idaho and Montana, you can plead insanity and still be convicted. Guilty, but insane. You are sent to a mental hospital and treated, and when the Dr. decides you are cured, you are then released to prison to finish out your sentence. A much better solution, I think. The above mentioned mother said she killed her son because she didn't want him to grow up unloved, like she had been. Who knows why the shooter in Tucson did what he did. But because it is so easy to get off by pleading insanity, many people do so. Most are declared competent to stand trial, but the costs to be evaluated are high. So, do the tests, and if they are determined to be insane, find them guilty and treat them, then let them do the time. Our current governor is wanting to bring back the death penalty to New Mexico for certain crimes. While the death sentence has been carried out only once in this State in the last 50 years, I hope the legislature brings it back. While I don't think it needs to be used indiscriminately, I do think it should be in place to be used if deemed necessary. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2011-01-18T13:43:00.000-08:00

FOOD: We all eat it. We all need it. Some of us even savor it. Some of us make it from scratch. Some buy take out or just pop something in a micro wave and nuke it. Some eat at a fast food restaurant. Sometimes we eat at a slow food restaurant. But, wherever or however, we all eat. FOOD.
Did you see the news article on food a while back? No? Well, let me give you a brief capsule of what it said. "Folklore has it that in the 1970's McDonald's used Styrofoam balls as a filler in its milkshakes, until customers began to notice the fuzzy floating substances and complained." The article went on to say that while they didn't use Styrofoam, there are other things in McD's that you might think twice about eating. Ex. Among the 30 plus ingredients in their Chicken McNuggets, in each bite are dextrose, wheat starch and sodium phosphate. And that's just in the meat. In Thailand and the UK, food manufactures are required to disclose specific percentages of ingredients in food. So here are a few more examples of what you are fooled into buying in the good ol' U S of A.
1.Gerber graduates for preschoolers is a fruit drink, with a lot of fruit pictured on the box. What is does have is less than 2% raspberry juice concentrate and a lot of sugar in all its various forms. 2. The Quaker Strawberries and Cream instant oatmeal has no strawberries, but has instead, dehydrated apples dyed red. 3. Betty Crockers Supermoist Carrot Cake Mix is mostly flour, sugar and corn syrup, with just a few carrot flavored pieces mixed in for flavor. 4. Betty Crocker Bac-o's are not bacon, but are bacon flavored bits of defatted soy flour, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, salt and sugar. 5. Sun Maid vanilla yogurt covered raisins, ( one of the things I actually like to eat ) are made primarily from sugar and trans fatty palm kernel oil with a smidge of yogurt powder for flavor. (Guess I'll just stick to regular ol' raisins )
Well, there was more to the article, but you get the idea. Now, a different article says OBAMA SIGNS BILL TO IMPROVE FOOD SAFETY To paraphrase this article, The President signed a $1.4 Billion overhaul to the nation's food safety system. The first major overhaul of the food safety system since the 1930's, the law emphasizes prevention to help stop deadly outbreaks of food borne illness before they occur, instead of reaction after people get sick. It calls for increased government inspections of food processing plants and for the first time, gives the Food and Drug administration the power to order the recall of unsafe foods. There is a lot of political comment in the article, but then it says "Major food companies backed the bill, recognizing that safe food is good for business." Jack Kingston, a Republican House member from Georgia, said that the funding would be looked at carefully. Supporters of the bill said they would push for full funding. Senator Tom Harkin, a democrat from Iowa, said spending decisions will have to be made, but that food safety shouldn't be sacrificed in the process.
OK, so none of us want our food to make is sick. And when we go to the local grocery store, we expect to buy what we think we are buying. But two things struck me about this bill. $1.4 Billion. And, Major food companies backed the bill, recognizing that safe food is good for business. Uh! I'm not very smart. These blogs are my uneducated opinion, after all. But to me, if Major Food Companies think that safe food is good for business, then why not just PRODUCE SAFE FOOD. Why do we need to implement a tax payer funded $1.4 billion law to bring this about. Produce. Safe. Food... That's period, period, period. In case you didn't catch that. And it would save us $1.4 Billion. Or $1.4 Billion that could be put to other better uses, like education. Education that perhaps could educate Major food companies on how to produce safe food. :-) And That's The View from The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch bank

2011-01-14T11:14:00.000-08:00

IN MY LAST POST: I mentioned that I had a different idea to post about, then Tuscon happened and then Brisbane happened. I posted some pictures My wife and I had taken in Brisbane a few years ago, but I posted the last one upside down. This blog has corrected that picture. As mentioned, the dark rectangle squares mark the height of previous floods, with the top most one being over 20 feet, if I remember correctly. Also, so far, the flood, as devastating as it has been and is, did not quite reach the height that had been feared, and is now starting to recede somewhat. Good for them. Many years of recovery ahead of them.
Now to Tucson; My opinion. That was also devastating. And as usual, when these things happen, blame starts to be placed somewhere. On Sarah Palin, on guns, on the system that let the shooter do what he did. On whatever pet peeve some one comes up with and can get attention paid to. So, here's my uneducated opinion. First, it was not Sarah Palin's fault. Sure, she has here faults, but then we all do. She is just more visible than the rest of us. And the system. Hindsight is always 2020 or better. Many people observed the deterioration of the shooter in the last few months. But they were snapshots of a larger picture, and only after the fact did all those snapshots get put together to show a larger picture. Probably even now, not a complete picture. And guns? Well, if guns kill people, then computers and pencils misspell words and cars drive drunk. Some one said that if all the guns in the world was put in a pile, they wouldn't shoot any one, until a person picked one up and pulled the trigger. And Sarah Palin? If it is her fault, where was she when John F. Kennedy was assassinated? Where was she when the two boys went on a shooting spree at Columbine? Where was she when President Reagan was shot? Where was she when all of the many shooting events of the last few years took place. And where were the guns when all those in ancient history were poisoned to death? or were killed with swords or spears or arrows. History, ancient and modern, religious and secular, is replete with mans inhumanity to man. And the many ways man has come up with to kill his fellow man. The saying that, If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns, is a very apt statement. Guns, or cars, or knives, don't kill people. People kill people. Constantly. And have been doing so since Adam and Eve left the garden, and will continue to do so, until Christ returns in Glory.
So where does the blame lie? With the shooter. Are there extenuating circumstances? Probably so. Are his parents to blame? Don't know. Is society to blame? Maybe so, in some degree. Again, Don't Know. Will it help for politicians to carry guns themselves? Probably not. Might even make them so nervous that they become paranoid and shoot an innocent someone just wanting to shake hands of something. Could the Arizona congresswoman have prevented the shooting if she had a gun in her purse, or in a holster. I think she would have been shot before she even recognized the threat. And I am sorry she was shot, along with the 19 other people. I am sorry that 6 people were killed. It brings a tear to the eye and a lump to the throat for the 9 year old girl. It is all so senseless.
This has been a long post that isn't any better than the talking heads on the TV, but it is my opinion. I don't think we should go off passing laws, regulating guns, and doing all the things that come out of situations like this. Lets put the blame on the shooter, and future shooters. Or stranglers. Or any other person that uses whatever method to cause pain and hurt to their fellow man. Let them be responsible and held accountable for their actions. And That Is The View from The Ditch bank

View From The Ditch bank

2011-01-11T11:40:00.000-08:00

WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS: I had a totally different idea in mind for today's post. Then a shooting happened last Saturday in Tucson, so I thought to post about that. Then I heard from my son and daughter in law in Australia, so I decided to post about that today. Maybe Tucson later.
I can assume that those of you that read this blog are aware of the flooding that is going on in Australia. My youngest son and his wife live in a suburb of Brisbane, and as of yesterday, are affected by the flood. Since they are 15 hours ahead of us in time, as I write this at 1:30 p.m. MST it is 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning there. We haven't heard from them since yesterday afternoon. Water was lapping at their doorstep at that time. Having been to Brisbane a few years back, and having spent several days in the area that is now under water, I thought to include a few pictures my wife and I took at that time, for perspective to those of you that might have seen enough news to be aware of what I am talking about.

This picture is looking eastward, I think, across the Brisbane river with the Brisbane LDS Temple on the point above the river. This is in the Kangaroo Point area of Brisbane.
This picture is a similar view, but with a zoom lens.

This is just a picture trying to capture the old Cathedral on the bank above the river. It is a ways north of the LDS Temple but in the same general area.

This picture is across the road from the LDS temple on Kangaroo Point, looking northwest, kinda, toward Eagle street. Eagle street is probably in the area of the buildings in the center of the picture, or maybe just beyond. This area is under water today, and the peak of the flood has not yet arrived.

This is a picture of one of the numerous boat ramps that line the river. Many people live on boats on the river, and use a small boat to get to shore, then bicycle, walk or taxi around the city. River taxis, called River Cats, ply the river during the day, and a lot of people use them to get to and from work, or school, across or up or down the river. It is an inexpensive way to traverse the city. Many, if not most, of these ramps are now gone in the current flood, and the water is almost up to the bottom of the many bridges across the river.

A River Cat. We spent a very pleasant time going on a tour of the city in one of these one evening.

I took this picture of a barge pushing a drill rig up the river, but I included it in this post because it shows many of the office buildings across the river that are similar to the building in the next picture.

I don't remember the name of this building. The dark colored rectangular squares show the heights of where past floods have reached. This building is in a similar position to the river as the buildings in the background of the previous picture. It takes a lot of water to spread out that far and to that height.

The land is quite flat and the river feeds into the Pacific ocean and is subject to tides. Those tides are expected to come tomorrow, well today in Australia, and meet the flood waters coming down. Where ever they meet, it will be catastrophic. When we were there a few years ago, I saw more water than this old southwest desert dweller has ever seen, not counting the ocean, but they said they were in a drought. This is not a good way to end the drought.

We need to keep these people in our prayers, as well as those who have suffered from the snow and cold in the Northeast United States, and those who are suffering from the senseless shooting last weekend in Tucson, Arizona. We need to daily count our blessings. Especially those of us who have so much. And that is the View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2011-01-07T14:24:00.000-08:00

A CONTINUATION: What is coming in the next 358 days. Do I know? Nope. Do I care? Yep. Do I have predictions? Not really. Some thoughts, maybe? Uh! Yeah, I guess. Along with a few comments. The first thing the Republicans did was to read the Constitution from the floor of the house. Never been done before. So, about time. Will it make a difference? Time will tell, but probably not. Can they balance the budget? Not any time soon. And it will take a lot of work. And cooperation from the members of Congress. The next thing the new House did was to announce that they were going to repeal the health care bill. Won't happen. They will try. And waste time and money. But it won't happen. What could, and I said COULD, happen, is for both sides to set down together and rework the bill to a more workable document. Will that happen. Time will tell. President Obama will want a lot of things, but will spend a lot of the next two years campaigning for a 2nd term. Who will run against him? Again, don't know. There are several predictions out there, but so far no one has officially announced. Sarah Palin? Maybe, but I don't think so. I like Sarah. She is down to earth and would make a good have made a good president. But, now, I think she has kinda shot herself in the foot. Mitt Romney? Again rumors. He is a good financial man. If congress worked with him, he could balance the budget by the end of his first term. Does he have a good handle of foreign affairs and other items? Don't know. But then, that's why they have advisors. Mike Huckabee? Stay tuned, the next two years may turn out to be interesting.
As for New Mexico's new governor. She has been in office for one week. She has said that she wants to balance the State Budget. She has taken steps to do that, but without some major changes somewhere, she is fighting an uphill battle. She has fired most of the previous governor's political appointees, and cut the salaries of cabinet level employees. She has put the new State jet up for sale. She fired two Chefs, saying she knew how to cook. She did retain a short order cook and an assistant. She has made headway, but so far the savings is kinda like eating pudding with a fork. It can be done, but will take a while. Again Stay tuned. The legislature meets later this month, for the start of a 60 day session. What will happen? Don't know. I just know this Half of your trouble comes from wanting your way. The other half comes from getting it. And that is The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2011-01-04T14:12:00.000-08:00

REFLECTIONS: As I contemplated this first post of 2011, and deciding on what to write, and writing it out in my mind, I soon realized if I included everything I thought of, It would rival War and Peace in length and be about as hard to read as the Book of Isaiah. So I have pared it down to what, I hope, is manageable ramblings. Those of you who have been with me since the beginning, or have scrolled back through the posts to see the beginning, know that I write very little about myself and my family. This may change a little this year. We will see.
For now, here are a few reflective thoughts I have to start this year of 2011.
On religion; I have stated that I am LDS, more commonly known as Mormon. In that vein, I start this year with two Nephews and 3 Grandsons serving missions for the LDS Church. One of the Grandsons will complete his mission this year and return home. If I am not mistaken, both of the nephews will return home this year also. They all will return very much more able to continue on with their life.
For my wife and I, we spent 6 1/2 years serving in the LDS Temple in Albuquerque, New Mexico and 6 months serving in The Gila Valley Temple in Arizona. We have been released from Temple service, because of the next reflection. However, before I leave this topic, I must say that those 7 years were the most enjoyable 7 years of church service I have ever spent.
Now, We were released from that service because after 2 years of being retired, I have decided to return to the land of the gainfully employed. I won't go into the job I have taken, but it is in the same line of work that I retired from. The reason I decided to return to work is simple. Money. Well, because my wife and I have some things we want to do, and a little boost in income at this time will accelerate getting those things done. Some of them are expensive. So, I will work for a while. How long to be determined. I have been met with mixed reactions from my contemporaries. Some say WHY? Some say WHY NOT? Many say good for you, and a few say Better you than me. What ever their reactions, I have returned to work.
Now, I can't leave this post with out a few remarks about politics. The new year starts off with a new congress. The Republicans are back in charge. I am a republican, but don't believe all things republican. However, many of those in the new congress have stated they will work to reverse all that has been done in the last two years. My view point on this. Don't kill the health care bill. I don't like the health care bill as it was passed. There are many aspects of it that I don't like. There some of them that I do like. Many Americans feel the same way. So, work on the bill, with the Democrats, and eliminate those items that are unnecessary, and leave the rest alone. Many of the Republicans have stated that they want to hold Obama to a one term President. While I have no objection to that, For them to just object to every thing he has done, and object to every thing he may want to do, nothing will get done and the Republicans will just come out looking like fools, and any ground they may have gained this past election will be lost, and we the people will be the biggest losers.
Now, to the State politics. New Mexico entered this new year with a Republican Governor. She has made some history, according to the talking heads on the news, by being the first Woman Governor of New Mexico and the First Hispanic Woman Governor of any State. As a prosecuting attorney in a southern county, she is making statements already of things she wants done that will be a benefit to the law enforcement community. I voted for her, and so far I like what I have seen from her as a Governor. Granted, she has only been in office 4 days. And she will not be able to keep all her campaign promises. That is a given, and should be accepted as such by all. Her promises to balance the budget, not take from education to do so were based on a $250 million imbalance. Shortly after she was elected our then Governor said Oh! the imbalance is actually $450 million. But even though he spent and spent, he blamed it on the national economy. So Mrs. Martinez will have to break some promises to get a balanced budget. She wants to reverse the Death Penalty that the past Governor got passed last year. She wants to loosen regulations and taxes making it easier for businesses to do business in New Mexico. She also wants to repeal the law giving drivers licenses to undocumented residents. She also wants to strengthen the laws against illegal immigration. She has many other ideas that sound good. Stay tuned. The year is new and who knows what will actually result by years end. And that is The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-12-31T13:54:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR: Those of you that know me well are aware that I don't make New Years Resolutions. I feel that if something needs changed, do it then, not wait weeks or months until the new year to make that change. Having said that, I will now say that I do feel that each one of us should have a time to reflect on what we have done, and what we still want to do, and perhaps make a course adjustment, if that is called for. Perhaps circumstances either under or beyond our control has come along to get us a little off track. So maybe you don't need to make a resolution, just make a course correction. I also think that this time of year is a good time to do that. MLWFAE and I recently decided that an increase in funds for a short time would be beneficial to some of the things that we have decided we want to do. So, when a job opportunity came my way, I signed up. I will be returning to the ranks of the employed soon. Officially, I am already hired and have went through some refresher training, just haven't been given a start date yet. This was not a new year's resolution, but a course adjustment that we decided to make. I have the option at my age to readjust that course as soon as I decide I want to. Resolutions that have no meaning or no real resolve are just useless time wasters. I recently read a tongue in cheek face book post of a friend that it was now time to start the diet/weight loss resolution that goes from Jan. 1 to Jan. 3. It seems to me that many new years resolutions go like that. I am not against true resolutions and changes made. I'm all for it. I just don't make them, for the reasons already stated. I hope that each of you will have a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. And prosperous does not always mean money. Happy and healthy can make for a good year. Hope it happen's for each of us. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

The View From The Ditch Bank

2010-12-24T12:10:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL

As we celebrate this time of year, I pray that we all remember that Christ is the reason for the season. That we all reflect back on the past year and give thanks for the many blessings he has given us. There is much of tragedy throughout the world. Many of us have been touched somewhat by this, some more than others. Still, as we contemplate on the many things that have happened, most of us, if not all, have much to be thankful for. A saying that has been around for some time is "Wise men sought Him; Wise men still do." I pray that each of us are counted among those who are wise enough to still seek Him. As many who read this blog share the same religious view that I do, I hope that as we seek Him, we will also seek the blessings of attending the temple often. That we acknowledge Him in all our coming and goings, and give the thanks to Him that we should. As we give and get this Christmas season, that we include in those precious gifts, the giving away of hatred, pride, bad attitudes, superior feelings over others, and get the gifts of Humble Prayerful attitudes. Of doing good to all men. Extending a loving hand to all, even those who revile us. May you all have a great Christmas Season and may the Lords blessings attend to each of you throughout the coming year. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-12-21T08:54:00.000-08:00

AN UPDATE: New Mexico Governor, Bill Richardson, has just a few days left in office. He has served, now, for 8 years. Two terms. For a lot of those 8 years, he has been tinkering with the idea of giving a pardon to William Bonney, alias Billy the Kid. I have blogged about this in the past, and if you missed it, you can scroll back through past posts to find it, somewhere back in the past. Kinda like where Billy the Kid is. Back in the past. He was a killer. By design, by intention, by accident or incident. No matter, he was a killer. Now he may not have actually killed 21 men. Many of those he is accused of killing were killed during the Lincoln County war,and since no one knew who exactly killed them, Billy was blamed. Maybe he killed them, maybe not. But it is a proven fact that he killed at least 4 people. And not by accident, either. 2 were deputies he killed in order to escape jail. He supposedly made a deal with then governor Lew Wallace to testify in a trial, in exchange for a pardon. For whatever reason, governor Wallace did not extend that pardon. Now Governor Bill wants to pardon Criminal Billy to do what Governor Wallace failed to do. No one knows why Wallace didn't. But for Governor Bill to do so now would be a travesty of justice, not to mention a slap in the face of the Garrett family. And the Wallace family. Both who have protested to Governor bill on this matter. I have already done so, but if any of you would like to comment to Governor Bill about what you think, you can do so by sending an e mail to btk.comments@state.nm.us and voice your opinion. Governor Richardson, who is now, as I write, on his way home from North Korea, has said he will make a decision on Billy before he leaves office on December 31. He needs your comments by the end of this week. Feel free to say whatever you think, but for me, I hope you send an e mail of protest. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-12-17T12:56:00.000-08:00

NOSTALGIA, OR, CAN ALL CHANGE ACTUALLY MEAN PROGRESS?: For the few of you that actually spend time reading my drivel, you will know that I don't blog about myself much, but this time I am going to make an exception. Kinda. Back in the 1950's, when I was a teenager old enough to think I knew more than I actually did, to run around with buddies who had cars, and to get a car of my own, there were a lot of places to eat and party. That is Party 1950's style. Which was very tame, compared to today. There were also many places to eat good food. I am going to talk about both of these things somewhat, as compared to current times. Now, we ate and danced from St. Johns, Arizona, to Silver City, New Mexico, although both of those places were on the extreme edges of where we mostly went. Mostly we went to Springerville and Eagar Arizona, better known as Round Valley. And to Reserve and Glenwood, New Mexico. In Round Valley, one of the best places to go to a good ol' country dance was a place called the Arvazona. And, yes, that is spelled correctly. Also, a good place to eat American food was the Safire Restaurant, and the best Spanish food was the Spanish Inn. In Silver City, you could eat at the Hilltop Cafe or Druley's. And dances were in the high school gym in Reserve or at the Mound House in Glenwood. To live bands. Someone DJ,ing a dance? Unheard of. Now, I don't know if the Arvazona is used any more or not. I think not. The Mound House, mostly empty, is used occasionally for specially booked parties, I think. And in the little mountain valley where I was raised, we could go to the two room school house and dance, or roller skate, or even watch a movie from time to time. Back when movie stars didn't cuss or undress, at least in public. It was replaced many years ago by a three room school house, but the old building stood for many years to be used for above mentioned events. Even Square dances. Does any one do that any more?? And if Bar room dancing was your thing, you could dance at the X A Bar in Springerville. Now, my wife and I have eaten Spanish food from Southern California to West Texas, from Northern Utah to Southern New Mexico. And for the most part it was good food. I even tried it one time, back in the 60's, in Kansas City, Mo. Now that was an experience. But no one, I repeat no one, has ever, in my humble opinion, been able to touch the Spanish Food of the Spanish Inn. Except one place. Maybe. A Spanish restaurant in Silver City called the Kountry Kitchen. There are several Spanish restaurants, and many other restaurants that serve Spanish food in Silver City, but to me, the Kountry Kitchen is the best.
OK, now a little update. The Spanish Inn is no more. It moved many years ago, from the side street where it used to be, to a more main street place, but it is now no more. The building where it was is now a laundry, I think. One of the watering holes of back then is now a funeral home and the XA Bar is just an empty building. The Hilltop Cafe is now a Chinese Buffet and Druley's gave way to a highway extension. Now, there are McDonalds, Arby's, Sonic's, Burger Kings and Taco Bells. Not to mention several other fast food places. Back then, you could order a burger and fries, and a malt, ( you can't get malt's much any more) and then wait while they were cooked, to your specifications. And they were good. The Safire Restaurant burned and was rebuilt, at the same location, but on a different footprint. And the food isn't as good as I remember it being. Different atmosphere there also. Maybe I'm just getting old. But all has changed from the 1950's and I can't think that it is all for the good. Or that it is necessarily progress. The only thing that remains the same is the Kountry Kitchen. Oh! wait. My wife and I ate there a few days ago and were told that they would be closed from Christmas to New Years, so the new owners could remodel and update the menu's. New Owners?? we ask. Yep, there will be some changes there also. We can only hope that the food will remain good. I'm getting to old to change every thing. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-12-14T13:29:00.000-08:00

WHERE DO OLD POLITICIANS GO? Well, I don't really know. Mostly don't really care. President Kennedy was killed while in office. President Nixon killed himself, politically and left in disgrace. President Carter wasn't really a good President, but I have to admire him and his wife some, for the charitable works he has participated in since leaving office. The two Presidents Bush have not been very visible, but they have been involved in a few things. President Clinton, who I didn't vote for, and given the opportunity wouldn't vote for again, has been very visible, poking his nose into things every chance he can make. So, I left out a couple of presidents and a lot of other politicians. Check on them if you are interested. I am going to mention a few New Mexico Governors now. Our current Governor, Bill Richardson, who leaves office at the end of this month, but left the country today to visit North Korea, has said that he is turning down a $1 million a year job running the Motion Picture Association. Given his penchant for all things Hollywood, that is a surprise to many in the State, including Moi. He has said he wants to remain in the State, probably in Santa Fe', and be a gentleman rancher. Well, OK. Past governors left office, and Santa Fe' and went: Garey Carruthers moved home to Las Cruces. Gary Johnson never liked Santa Fe' and now lives in Taos. Jerry Apodaca and Toney Anaya remain in Santa Fe', but you hardly ever hear of them. Bruce King returned to the family ranch in Stanley, where he raised cattle. A little aside. The incoming Governor, Susana Martinez, has been touted in the news as a possible U.S. Attorney General, or even a Vice Presidential candidate. Uh! She hasn't even taken office as Governor yet. Maybe we need to wait and see what she will do in that capacity, before shipping her off to D.C. In the preliminary, I like her. She does have her opinions on what she wants done, and I hear she was very strong in her opinions while serving as a District attorney. I think that is what we need in a governor. I'm sure she will be cross wise with the Legislature quickly, though. Stay tuned. I will end with this observation. A cattle rancher raises cattle. A horse rancher raises horses. A sheep rancher raises Sheep. A sugar rancher rancher raises cane. :-) So, since Bill Richardson wants to be a Gentleman Rancher he will raise... No, I don't think so either. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-12-10T17:41:00.000-08:00

WHO IS ON OUR SIDE; CHAPTER TWO: In my last post I mentioned a bit about my uneducated understanding of the political situation on the national scale. I'll expand on that just a bit more, then mention a bit about the local situation. I assume that the few of you that actually read this blog are aware of the current state of affairs in Washington. The President is caught in the middle of the Repub's and the Dem's on the tax break situation. Neither side likes any thing that is taking place. And some of the President's allies are turning on him. Again, this is what THEY want, with us caught with the Pres. In the middle. While they fight over us. Oh! well. Same song just using different words. Same solution, namely, we pay, regardless. Now, on to the local scene.
Back in October, slick Bill, the Governor of New Mexico and his group said that the deficit in the State was $240 Million. Susana Martinez, and Diane Denish both said they could balance the budget and not touch education. And they may have been able to do so. We will never know. Just two days after the election in November, it was reported by the Gov and his henchmen that the deficit was actually $450 million. Uh! what happened in the few days before and after the election that caused the State to be an additional $200 million in the hole. When Governor elect Martinez ask that, and blasted Richardson and his staff for lying to the public, he said, "Well, Mrs. Martinez just doesn't understand how the budget works, and if she had ask, she would have been told that it was actually $450 million. She, along with others, including her opponent Mrs. Denish, did ask, and were told the lower amount. Just another example of the type of politics that the Richardson administration has been ruining, uh, running this State. Oh, by the way, in case you haven't heard, Richardson and his people are still under federal investigation for pay to play cover ups. They may get him yet. More posts to come on the budget and the new legislature in the future, but the next one will have a tongue in cheek look at the future of the current President, the outgoing Governor and the incoming Governor. And maybe a few other things. Stay tuned to the View From The Ditch Bank.

VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

2010-12-07T16:40:00.000-08:00

SO WHO IS ON OUR SIDE: In November the American people voted out several congress people. In January, the house will be controlled by the Republicans, the Senate by the Democrats, but just barely. Now, many of the newly elected are saying that they received a mandate from the people. And that is to cut spending. Also, Mitch McConnell has said that he and the Republicans want to make President Obama a one term President. So, they want him to fail. I have no problem with him being a one term President, but in the meantime, what does that do to us? The Republicans refuse to raise taxes, the Democrats refuse to eliminate Entitlements. They both say that Americans want a balanced budget, and they are most likely correct. But they disagree on how to do that. What I, as an American want, is for a balanced budget, by cutting the fat and waste that is permeating D.C. And State governments. But more on the State side of it in the next post. So, in the next two years, the President and the Democrats will strive to raise taxes, saying that the Americans want the things they are used to getting. The Republicans will try to hold taxes down and cut Entitlements. And see that the President and the Congressional Democrats look like the bad guys, so Obama doesn't get the things done that he says he wants done, thus he fails and the people will vote him out. The Republicans won't get any thing done either, cause they will be too busy fighting the Democrats and causing the downfall of their causes. And the Democrats will be busy voting against anything the Republicans want to do. And the rest of us? We sit here in the middle of the fighting and say; Vote them all out and start over. And if the new ones can't do the job, vote them out also. My advise: cut the budget waste. Cut the pork. Cut the fraud. Do things that actually benefit the people. Forget their little power trips and do what is best for the country. Oh! well, it has probably never been that way, and until the Millennium, probably never will be. But it sounds good any way. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-12-03T16:39:00.000-08:00

IS IT TRUE, OR IS IT JUST ME? Does it seem like we are a two region country? New York and Washington, D.C. for the East and Los Angeles/Hollywood for the West. And the rest of us just filling or binding that holds the two together. Or apart. If you watch the news, and we here in the Rocky Mountain West, yes I said West, have a big storm, lots of snow, or wind, or rain, or some other so called ka trass tro fee, we might get an honorable mention. Or dishonorable mention, depending on what exactly is being mentioned. But have those same events in the above mentioned regions, and the talking heads on the news carry on forever. Like it never happened to any one else. OK, OK, so I understand that when we get a large winter storm, for example, it affects only a few people, maybe a few hundred thousand, and on the West or East it affects millions, still we just seem to be the step children to these two regions. Like nothing can come out of places like ours any way. And I am not feeling bad about it, or feeling sour grapes or any thing. Just filling up space on my Friday blog, while I put together a little better written blog for Tuesday. Not that it will be any better written, just perhaps more factual. But wouldn't those puffed up people that report on the news, or make the laws, or the movies, be surprised if they discovered that there are many of us ( or am I alone in this ) out in the real world, that work, sweat, play, pay our bills, go to church, go to bed at night and arise early in the morning, mind our own business, and don't really get excited about, or mostly don't even care about, most of the thing's that takes place in these "important" places. Is it legal in literature to write a sentence that long? Just saying. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-11-30T16:24:00.000-08:00

BLACK FRIDAY: Did you survive it? How about Cyber Monday. Now, I don't have a problem with either of those days, on a personal note. I don't participate in them as a lot of people do. I do wonder, though,about a couple or three of things. One of those things is, What is so important in a store, that would warrant camping out, in cold to freezing weather, for a day or more prior to Thanksgiving, just to be the first one in a store to buy something. And how about Cyber Monday. I heard that many people shop on line on that day, from work. Ummm, Uh! aren't these people supposed to be at work. Being paid by an employer to do work for said employer. On said employer's computer. Do employer's condone employees using company computers to shop online during business hours? I wouldn't, but then I'm old and old fashioned. Still, a days work for a days pay should be the mantra. And I wonder how many spend money they don't have, to buy things they don't need, to impress people they probably don't even like. And then spend most of the following year paying off the credit cards or store charge accounts. For said unneeded items. Well, maybe this year, not so much. I heard a tic ( that's a politician, for any who may be new to this blog ) say on the news a few days back, that the economy wasn't rebounding because the American people weren't spending money. Well, Duh! A lot of them are out of a job and don't have any money. Many that do have a job, are concerned that they might not have a job for long, so they are saving money. And the tic wanted those people to spend their money and not save it. Guess when you are a tic, you have enough money that you just don't understand that most Americans just don't have the spendable income that they do. Course, most of what they spend is the tax payers money any way. Maybe, when, and I'm optimistic enough to say when, the economy rebounds, people will spend money throughout the year, and businesses won't have to depend on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Then people can visit family on Thanksgiving day and employees can actually work and not shop on Cyber Monday. Yeah! in a perfect world. We could only hope. And That's the View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-11-24T12:11:00.000-08:00

NO, I DON'T REALLY NEED IT. Just this morning, on the Today Show, some gentleman was telling Matt Lauer about the latest electronic gizmo's. ( Heh, Heh a little play on words ) I don't remember all the things he was talking about. Fancy phones that do a lot of things. Some of them even make phone calls. There were gadgets that you can play on the TV, and I don't know what all. My point here is, he said These are things YOU NEED. Wrong. I don't need them.
Now, I have a cell phone. Sometimes I turn it on and make a call. I have several camera's, from a number of old 35 mm's to newer 35 mm's to a fancy digital camera. No added lenses, but still a nice camera. I want another camera, and I have one in mind I would like. I also want a Droid. I may get both of them next year, I may not. BUT I DON'T NEED THEM. I don't even need the ones I have. I lived very well with out ever having a cell phone. In fact, I live very well now without even turning on the one I have most of the time. I don't have a HD TV. I would like to have one, and probably will get one. But I Don't Need One. I don't even really need a TV. MLWFAE and I have friends that don't have TV's or if they have a tv to watch rented movies on, they don't have tv service. And they do just fine, thank you very much.
So, all these fancy things are very nice. And I use some of them, and will continue to take advantage of many of them. Like this computer that tells me when I misspell a word. Which is often. But, I don't need them. Oh! wait. maybe I need the computer. And how many of the other things I mentioned will eventually become needs. No! I resist. I will not succumb! I will not! I will not! I will not! I will not! I will not! And isn't that the way we are. We resist until we are wore down by the ads and the people telling us that we need these things. Well, I will succumb to some of the wants, but I still say, we do not need most of the things we are told we need. Food, shelter, clothing, those are needs. Transportation is necessary, but not as fancy as we are told we need. In this Thanksgiving time, there are so many in the world who have very little, or nothing, when most of us have so much, that I think we need, yes need, to contemplate on just what it is we actually need, and put it in perspective with the rest of the world. I wish for all, even all the world beyond those few who actually stoop to read this blog, a happy and satisfying Thanksgiving Day and a good Holiday season. And that's the Wish From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-11-19T12:28:00.001-08:00

WOULDN'T IT BE FUNNY. You know, if animals actually had a sense of humor. The fall deer hunting season is about over. Bears are getting ready to hibernate for the winter, many animals will be moving down from the high country to the low lands. Deer will be wiping the sweat of tension from their faces, as they won't have to be looking out for the legal hunter. Turkey's may have to be aware for a little while longer. That includes those with beaks and feathers. The other ones are always in season. But; maybe just one last prank, you know, to get the tension out. Before settling down to the activities of winter and having to put on a red nose and fly away, pulling a sleigh. Oh! different deer. Sorry. Well, have a good Thanksgiving day and a good holiday Season. May only post once next week, then back to some serious posting after that. Maybe.

And that's the wish From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-11-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE A BOOK? One that is seldom read. I think a lot of people in this country could feel like a book, with the book ends being Los Angeles in the West and Washington D.C. in the East. Probably New York City backing up D.C. And what makes these book ends alike. Well, one makes the laws and the other ignores them. Or thinks they are above them. Wait, don't a lot of those making those laws think they are above them also. Guess they are a lot alike. Have you been keeping up with the Charlie Rangel thing. In case you haven't, you haven't been keeping up with the news. Good time Charlie has been under investigation by a House ethics committee for the past two years on ethics violations. And now they have found him guilty. And he is upset. But will he be sent to jail. Nope, Just censured by his "peers" in the house. Maybe. And, Maybe he will lose a few perks. He could be ousted from his job, but probably won't be. We will be watching, though. And perhaps commenting. Still, a house ethics committee finding one of its own guilty of ethics violations is kinda like a cop that speeds up and down the high ways when they are not in "hot pursuit' and then pulling over a private citizen and giving a ticket for speeding. Makes you wonder how they can do it. And with people like Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Charlie Sheen crying foul when they are arrested for their crimes, and people like Nancy Pelosi wanting to stay in power in the face of people not wanting her there, and the many other politicos wanting to keep the tax dollars rolling into their pockets, those of us that try to pay our taxes so they can fill their pockets, and abide by the laws of the land, feel squeezed between these two bookends. Those who make the laws and those who ignore them. Oh! wait. Maybe there are a lot of books in the middle that fit the bookend mold after all. And maybe "mold" is a good word to fit them with. Maybe it is actually people like me that hopes for a better future that fits the party mentioned in the Andy Capp cartoon. And That Is The view From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-11-12T18:20:00.000-08:00

CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE? Flashing red and blue lights behind you and you pull over. Officer: "I need to see your license and registration and insurance papers. OK, I am citing you for littering and spreading a hazardous material on a public highway. You may choose to see a judge if you like." Driver: Well, I like.
Judge: How do you plead?
Driver: Not Guilty, Your Honor.
Judge: But the officer has the indisputable evidence.
Driver: May I present my defense, Your Honor.
Judge: OK go ahead
Driver: Well, it is like this. I saw an ad on TV for a brand of oil that would get me 30% better gas mileage, so I bought it and had it put in the engine of my car. Then I saw an ad on TV that said that their tires would give me 40% better gas mileage, so I bought them and had them installed on my car. Then I saw an ad in a car parts store for a spark plug that would give me 30% better gas mileage, so I bought them and had them installed in the engine. Then my dealer told me that if I would have their new improved air filter installed it would save me 15% on gas mileage, so I told them to go ahead. So you see, your honor, that added up to 115% better gas mileage and my car was making gas, so I had to remove the gas cap so the gas would have somewhere to go. And that is what the officer saw. If you need to blame someone, blame the advertisers that show all the savings that their products will bring about. And that's why I am not guilty. And that's the tale, er View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-11-09T09:26:00.000-08:00

AS THE SUN SETS: How was your morning. Last Sunday morning, to be exact. If you live in Arizona, USA, or Queensland, Australia, it was the same as any other Sunday morning in early November. Most every where else, you got an extra hour of sleep. Uh! sure. the body and mind will wake up according to what they have been doing for the last several months, regardless of what the clock said. And the birds will sing, the roosters will crow and the cows will need milked and the other animals fed according to a schedule that has nothing to do with the clock. Except that those things that have to do with human interaction will also change, according to the human set clock. The sun rises with only a minute change in time and latitude as the earth continues it's tilt to the north, sending the sun to rise more fully in the south for a period of time. On December 21, we here in the northern hemisphere will experience the shortest daylight day of the year, winter officially begins, and the earth will begin it's tilt back to the south, bringing the sun back north to lengthen the daylight time here. And in March 2011, except in those places more attuned to whatever it is they are attuned to, we will once again experience that change of the clocks, back to daylight saving time. I sure would like to know where they save it. The daylight, that is. And who they are. The Indian says daylight saving time is like cutting a foot off of one end of a blanket and sewing it on the other end to make it longer. Well, just like that blanket, the day is still 24 hours, regardless of where the hands point on the face of the clock. So, as the sun sets on the 2010 daylight saving time season, I think we would be better off to just decide where we want the hands to point on the clock for a 24 hour period and leave them there. Changing the clock don't change the sun, the spin or rotation, or tilt of the earth, or the time the rooster crows. Sometimes us humans just aren't satisfied with the way nature regulates things. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-11-05T14:22:00.001-07:00

IS IT REALLY OVER: The election. No it isn't. Seems that a couple of States have yet to finish counting a few ballots. But THE ANNOYING ADS ARE GONE. I really didn't think I would revisit the political scene this soon, but decided I have a few thoughts to put to paper, uh! computer, before leaving that topic for a time. Maybe I'll wait until January 2011. Probably not, but who knows? And why then? You ask. Cause the new State legislature convenes for the 60 day session to decide what to do to us in 2011. New Mexico also has a new Governor to begin the new year. To me, she is the governor, and, I HOPE, will be a good one. But for those who like to keep track of those kind of things, she made history on two counts. First, she is New Mexico's first woman governor. Second, she is the Nation's first woman Hispanic governor of any state. While news media types have mentioned this item, many times, she has never mentioned it at all, that I have heard. Her opponent, Democrat Diane Denish, stated that the people made a mistake and she would have been the better choice to move this State forward, but she did ask her Democrat friends in the legislature to work with Mrs. Martinez and the Republicans in the legislature for the good of New Mexico. The legislature, like the State, is heavily Democrat populated. We will see what actually gets done. The first thing that Mrs. Martinez said she wanted done was to audit ALL State Departments and see which ones could actually sustain cuts and which ones could not. While many of us agree with this, there are those who say she can't or won't do it. We will see.

On the national scene, the President has decided the people want a change from his politics and was upset the the enemy ( that's what he called us Republicans) gave his party such a shellacking. He has decided that maybe he needs to work closer with the repubs now and see what can be done to get the economy moving. Of course his government pumped an additional $600 billion into the "Economy" right after the election, to the dismay of the Republicans and a lot of the people of the country. Just ran up the country's debt some more. A debt that the young people will have to pay off, if they ever can. He has called a meeting with the new and old leaders of the house to work on this. Oh! wait. he can't do that it yet. He's out of the office, again. Even out of the country until the middle of November. He's making a stop in India. Maybe he's checking out the Billion dollar house there. Getting ideas to remodel the White House, perhaps? Or a place to retire to, when he is out of office. Well, we can only hope that all works out in 2011 and 2012 for the good of the country. And that's Oh! the picture at the beginning of this post. Well, read the title of this blog.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-11-02T14:29:00.000-07:00

IT AIN'T ABOUT YOU: I assume that the few people who actually choose to read my ramblings took some time out of their day to vote. Assuming you were eligible to do so. And except for a possible few County or State politicians, most of the people running for office that said it was all about you, well, it ain't. It's all about them. And the power and perks that they envision they can collect.Especially the power. And about Democrats staying in power, and Republicans taking it away from them. But never about the people. I will note here, however, that the Republican Lady, Susana Martinez, did win the Governor position over the Democrat, Diane Denish. Mrs. Denish in her concession speech said that she would have been the better choice. Mrs. Martinez paid honor to Mrs. Denish for the years of service she had given to the State. Then she gave a good speech, and told what she wants to do. Time will tell if it happens. I hope so. Now, for most of those elected yesterday across the country, If they really wanted to be of service to the country, and since most of them in the National arena politic have more wealth than those of us average people can even dream about, they would take of that wealth and do some good with it, like Bill and Melinda Gates do. Quietly, going about doing good. But since it ain't gonna happen, I will comment on that in my usual uneducated manner.

Does the weather seem to be getting a little cooler now. It is, after all, fall, but the weather predicting type of people say it is one of the warmest falls on record since records started being kept over 100 years ago. Well, it will cool down now. In spite of what the weather people say, you know, about jet streams and La Nino or La Nina, or what ever is in the atmosphere, the warmth has been all that hot air coming from the mouths of those tics wanting to get your vote. And the burning of the millions of dollars on TV ads. Now that the mouths have been closed, and the fires have been doused, the weather will cool.

I was not raised in Arizona, but spent some of my youth visiting that State from time to time. Being in my teens during the 50's, that's the 1950's, I visited a cafe in St. Johns, Arizona from time to time. And on a placard on the wall was a poem that I memorized. Since we are now much removed for the 50's, and I am much past my 50's I have forgot exactly how the poem went. But, I have filled in a line or two of my own, and will quote the most of what that poem said. Here goes.

ELECTIONS ARE OVER

RESULTS ARE KNOWN

THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

IS CLEARLY SHOWN

SO LETS FORGET ALL OUR SQUABBLES

AND SHOW MY OUR DEEDS

THAT TOGETHER WE HAVE

WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS

AS WE LET ALL OUR DIFFERENCES

BECOME PART OF THE PAST

I'LL KISS YOUR ELEPHANT

AND YOU'LL KISS MY...DONKEY

I have often wished I could find a copy of that poem again, although that is mostly how it was written. Well, I hope all of you who are eligible actually did exercise you privilege to vote and did so for the candidate of your choice. But today many are probably seeing red and many more are feeling blue but whatever your feelings are, if you did not exercise your right to vote, but could have, well then I will quote another placard from the 50's that was on the wall of the above mentioned cafe. It simply said

KWITCHERBELLYAKIN

And that's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-10-29T14:46:00.000-07:00

911 WHAT IS YOUR EMERGENCY? Caller--"I'd like to report a drunk driver" Operator--"What is your location?" Caller--"I-25 in northern New Mexico" Operator--"OK I'll notify law enforcement and get an officer headed that way." Caller--Uh! an officer is already here. He is the drunk driver.
Ok Ok so this is a fictional call. Kinda. earlier this week, on the news from Albuquerque, it was reported that a Deputy Sheriff for a northern County was located on the side of -I-25, passed out in his patrol car. And he was on duty. And he was MIA. When State Police found him, they gave him a sobriety test, twice, and he tested 4 times over the legal limit. Which is .08. So this makes his alcohol content about 3. something. He admitted to drinking during the day and a bottle of Tequila was found in his patrol car. The following day, it was reported that earlier in the day before the deputy was found drunk, he had lost a 14 year old prisoner he was transporting to jail. The 14 year old was later apprehended by another police department. So, can't you just see the hilarity that could take place in court.
Judge to Deputy. "How do you plead. Not guilty, your honor. Uh! yeah I was under the influence, but I wasn't driving, I was beside the road asleep. Judge--You were passed out. OK Ok so I was passed out, but I had to stop and take a nap so I wouldn't have a wreck. So that makes me a responsible person and not guilty of driving drunk.
Judge to 14 year old. In addition to the previous charges, I am charging you with escaping while in custody. 14 Year old. But your honor, I had to get out of the car. He was driving drunk, and my parents taught me to never ride with a drunk driver, so I was protecting my life, and am not guilty of escape.
Ho Hum, just another day in the life of Law Enforcement in New Mexico.
And That Is The View From The Ditch Bank.

The View From The Ditch Bank

2010-10-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

THERE ARE WINNERS, AND THEN THERE ARE WINNERS: A few weeks ago I received in the snail mail, an envelope from someone. A law firm or someone like that, I believe. Inside was a lot of papers, basically saying that someone who holds a popular credit card had filed a lawsuit against said credit card company, and had hired an attorney. This was subsequently turned into a class action suit, and according to the credit card company's records, I qualified to receive an amount of money, should the plaintiff's be successful. I had some options. I could toss the papers and do nothing. And if a settlement was reached, that is what I would get. Nothing. I could hire my own attorney and join in the lawsuit on my own. At my expense. Or I could sign my acceptance of the law firm that had been retained, and then receive an amount of money when a settlement was reached. Depending on just what, exactly, my status was with said credit card co. I would receive an amount, credited to my account, somewhere between $30.00 or so up to $57.00. Yep, tops, $57.00. Well, a $57.00 credit on my account, sometime in 2011, would be fine,and since all it cost me was the price of a stamp, I signed said paper and sent it back. By the time this all comes to an end, I will probably have forgotten about it. Oh! and the law firm. If they win, they receive $12 million. Clearly the big winner. Well, maybe not. I am sure there are enough card holders to make the $57.00 each add up to probably millions more. So the Card Co. is the big loser. Well Maybe. This situation has been going on for 15 years or so. How much money did the card company make in that 15 years. Did they anticipate this coming up and put money aside, in an interest bearing account, to combat this, in the event it did come up? Don't know. I do know, however, that governments and company's do accounting different than us common people do. They don't say "Well, I have a hundred dollars, I can spend a hundred dollars without going in the red. Nope, the government raises taxes and company's raise prices and do other accounting things that I don't understand. By the time said company actually pays the attorneys, and the card holders, they will have figured out ( probably already have figured out ) a way to take a tax deduction, or whatever they do to show a loss, without actually losing, and will do all the other things that company's do to spread this around. So they will not actually lose any thing, in the long run. And my credit card statement. Oh I'm sure it will be charged a fee somewhere and somehow along the line, that will make back the $57.00 for the company. And after that, they will keep on receiving that fee. And while I may be a little winner for a time, and the attorneys will be a big winner, I think in the long run, the Credit Card Company will turn out to be the Biggest winner of all. And That Is The view From The Ditch Bank.

The View From The Ditch Bank

2010-10-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THE CLICK: I remember one time many years back, when I had been working in the mine for just a short time, An assistant foreman was watching me at my job and perceived I had done something wrong. I was a truck driver of a truck similar to the one in the picture. He pulled me aside and commenced to perform the proverbial chewing. After a bit, as I was explaining what had actually happened, it dawned on him what I was saying and that he was wrong in his perception. You could just see that light bulb click. It was gratifying to me to realize that he was wrong. I wondered why, though, he wouldn't apologise. Instead, he just mumbled a few more words, got in his pickup and drove off, leaving me to get back to work. Have you ever been in a similar situation. It sure is funny when it happens. except, of course, when it is you who comes to the realization that you are the one who is wrong. Still, there is that moment of "Click".

Well, now I am having more and more of those clicking moments. Oh! wait a minute. Maybe I am changing the subject a bit. But things are really clicking for me now a days. You know, in my knees, my hips and my elbows. Yep, clicking all the time. Now if I could just get the clicks in time with each other, maybe I could start a rhythm band. No? Well, guess you are correct. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

The View From The Ditch Bank

2010-10-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

IS IT EVEN WASHABLE? The politics of today's world. I don't know about the ads in your area, but here they are DIRTY. And after all is said and done, and before this is over I think all will be said and done, I wonder how the winner can look at their selves in the mirror and think they did good. I will assume that any of you who may actually read this blog, have seen the ads being talked about on the news. Those of a "National" interest. So I will write about a few in the State of N.M. Actually, some of them just leaves us in a state of confusion. There are three congressional districts in this State. The race for congress in the 1st and 2nd districts are getting so dirty it will take a box of Tide to clean up. The accusations are flying back and forth till you just want to say, Vote for neither of them. In the 1st district, The Republican ads are blaming the Democrat incumbent of spending billions while in Washington the last two years. Will, he did side with Pelosi on a regular basis, but he didn't do this all by himself, like the ad implys. the Dem is accusing the Repub of messing with Social Security as a lobbyist. Well, he didn't, and it has been proven he didn't, but the ads keep on coming. In the second district, both candidates are from the eastern part of the state. Neighbors, almost. Both very rich oil men. The repub has had the job before. He dropped out two years ago to run for the Senate. He lost. Now he wants his house seat back. He is being accused as being the most crooked member of congress. And selling his oil company for much more than it was worth, and then voting for items that would give the new owners perks. the dem incumbent is accused of taking a 3 million bonus from his company and cutting the health insurance of his employees. Just days before Christmas. He doesn't deny that. He says, I haven't taken any salary or bonus's from my company for the last 21 months, and and I had to make cuts to keep the people working. Um, perhaps so. But with the 3 million bonus and his congressional salary, he didn't need to take a salary from his company. And the ladies running for governor. The repub, who I will vote for, has, according to the polls, a 12 point lead over the dem. The Dem is the current Lieutenant Governor, and has been so for the last 8 years. She is saying she will create jobs, cut taxes, etc, etc. ( The repub says the same thing ) But the Dem has made a few mis steps in her ads. The last one, she accused her opponent of being a Tejano. Well, she was born in El Paso, but has lived her adult life in N.M. The dem is from the Southeast part of the state, and that area has been referred to for years as little Texas. Texans now joke that whoever wins, they will have two governors and New Mexico will have none. Who ever wins, it is getting nasty and dirty. On second thought, this is too tough a job for Tide. I think it will take Oxydol and Clorox to clean this up. Here and nationwide. And that is the View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-10-15T19:59:00.000-07:00

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE: OK Bear with me. I have been writing this post in my mind off and on for a few days now. If I wrote every thing I have thought to put in it, I would need to divide it into chapters and look for a publisher. Having said that, I will post some thoughts about the recent rescue of the Chilean miners, and the bond they now share.
We all have a bond with something or someone. A family, a church group, a work group, a community or even more than one of these. Growing up in a small Mormon community, I felt that bond of church and community. Marrying and moving away, I lost that sense of community and have not found it again any where I have lived since. I worked for a few years for a regional airline. Even though as a station agent in a small airport, I felt a kinship with airline employees every where, even though my contact was with the pilot's and stewardesses when the plane was on the ground. The rest of the employees were known to me only through teletype messages. Still, all these many years later, I feel the anguish when a plane goes down, or the lift of kinship when a plane is landed on the Hudson river. None of those employees know me. I have been out of the airline business since 1968. Still, there is a feeling in me when these things take place. I recently retired after 40 years in the mining industry. It is an open pit operation, with very large mining equipment. Never been underground. Still, my wife and I watched, with the world, as the 33 miners were brought to the surface one by one, until there were none left to bring up. We listened to the talking heads on the various channels, mostly CNN and Fox, as the hosts interviewed "experts", mostly Doctors. Most of them, maybe all of them, had no clue what they were talking about. We talked about what they didn't know. These 33 miners were in a survival chamber. They knew rescue was on the way. They didn't know how soon, so they went into survival mode. A mode that would make the TV show Survivor look like children playing in a sandbox. They have a mindset to even go underground that the "Experts" don't know any thing about. After their survival was discovered, they were given food and water, and video access to the outside world. Their health, mental and physical, now astounds the Doctor's. I feel that my experience around large equipment makes it easier for me to understand the effort that was expended to bring in the equipment that was able to level a spot on the side of a mountain that would hold the drills and other equipment needed to effect this rescue. The GPS system that told the engineers where the survival chamber was so they could drill in the right place the first time. I felt a bond with those operating that equipment and the miners waiting to be rescued. The different personalities of those miners was evident as they surfaced. Still, they all had a job to do, and they did it. And they survived. And they will continue to do so. Did it change them? For sure it did. Will they have mental problems? Undoubtedly some will. But I dare say that they will continue to astound the medical profession with the recovery most of them will make. And when this event is talked about, I will feel a bond with those men that is hard to put into words. A bond, even though I don't know them and they have never heard of me. And never will. Still, I understand somewhat of the mentality it took for them to survive. And long live the bond that forges us all together as human beings on this earth of different people. Different nationalities, different cultures, different politics and even different religions. Still, a bond that all should understand each in our own way. And That Is The View From The Ditch Bank

The View From The Ditch Bank

2010-10-12T12:10:00.000-07:00

THINGS HAVEN'T REALLY CHANGED ALL THAT MUCH: This past June there was the start of a 150th anniversary of the Pony Express. The first celebration I am aware of was in June in El Dorado, Calif. and the last I am aware of was a Labor day parade in Fallon Nevada. I know there were other celebrations in Calif., Nevada, Missouri and Utah through out the summer. The one in June starts in Ca. and ends in St. Joseph Mo. a reenactment of the original ride. Some events are in conjunction with this event, others are independant of it. What? you aren't aware of the Pony Express? Or the celebration's going on this year? Well, it was a short lived operation. It began in April 1860 and ended in October of 1861. It covered a 2000 mile route from St. Joseph. Mo. and ended at Sacramento, Ca. Postage was $5.00 a half ounce ( about $75.00 in today's money ) but eventually fell to $1.00 a half ounce. The fastest time recorded to cover that 2000 miles was seven days and 17 hours to deliver President Lincoln's inaugural address to California. The completion of telegraph lines across the country spelled the demise of the Pony Express. The enterprise ended $200,000 in debt. Now, the post office, or snail mail, delivers the mail at a lesser cost, but not much faster. And they are millions of dollars in debt. And are asking for a raise in rates. Just like the telegraph lines spelled the demise of the Pony Express, will e mail, face book, twitter and whatever else is now available, not to mention ( OK I won't ) what ever else is out there or may yet come about, spell the demise of the post office? Just a bit about the Pony Express riders. Even though the picture shows a pistol, they were not issued uniforms nor weapons. They were told to outrun interlopers. Mostly they did. It was an innovative enterprise for the time. Just like all the electronic medium is today. What will be the next thing to go by the way side. Already, e mail is becoming almost extinct. And I am just learning how to use it, kinda. All in all, I think a national postal service is essential to the nation. Just how it will evolve to become financially solvent, we will see. And That Is The View From The Ditch Bank

The View From The Ditch bank

2010-10-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

ALL I REALLY WANT IS: My wife and I belong to a couple of those big box warehouse type clubs. You know the ones. Where you can buy bulk items. There isn't one here in the little hamlet ( that's a small town, not a little pig ) where we live. And we haven't been to one for a while. And we are getting low on a few things. Like dish detergent. We use Dawn. No, this is not a commercial for Dawn. I'm sure whatever you use is just fine. We just happen to like Dawn. So, a few days ago, when we were in a big box store, ( a little brother to one of the big box warehouses ) we decided to buy a bottle of Dawn. Oh my gosh! What a choice. Now, they don't have the big bottles like we get at big brother. Just a regular size like you buy in a grocery store. But the choices. There were bottles of Dawn with Aloe, bottles that smelled like Cherries, or Lemons, or Oranges, or Cinnamon Apple, or Springtime or day time or like sunshine or a cold winter day. Well, maybe I made up that last one, but not most of them. The colors were yellow, orange, pink, blue, green, cloudy white, clear,and probably a few other colors and smells that I have forgotten about. Well, I don't know about you, but I don't need to use most of these. And I can dry my hands and then lotion if I want to. Does the dishwasher care what the detergent smells like? I think not. Maybe all those smells make working in a sewer plant more pleasant. No, I don't think so either. And there is one called original scent. After all this, which one is the original one. I don't remember. However, whether you wash dishes by hand like we do, or use a dishwasher like most people do, after all is said and done, I don't need detergent that smells like it came from the garden or an orchard, I just want dishes to be and smell clean. As in, no smell at all. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-10-06T13:42:00.000-07:00

SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED? We used to be a great nation. Well, we are still a great nation, but something has happened. Have you been keeping up on the Education Nation that is/was going on in Washington. The D.C. one. It is all about education. I am in favor of education. I wasn't a good student when I was in school, but that wasn't the fault of the school. I just wasn't a good student. I would be a MUCH better student now. I guarantee it. When I was in school, teachers had control over the class room. Cafeteria employees had control over the cafeteria and bus drivers had control over the bus. And physical punishment, by the teacher any way, was not only allowed, but expected. Now, I am not, I repeat, I am not, in favor of teachers being allowed to whip, or beat a student. I do favor a teacher being allowed to discipline a student. I my few years, well 12, of schooling, I know of very few times that a teacher resorted to using spanking as a form of punishment. One of those was in high school. Yes, they had high school's even back then. And the student deserved that punishment. But now, that is not allowed. A good thing, perhaps, but some form of discipline needs to be allowed the teacher, without the parents crying fowl, oops, foul. This is a nation that developed nuclear submarines, put a man on the moon, and many other good things. And maybe a few bad ones. We had good schools and good teachers. Mostly. And we scored high against other countries. Now, we score very low against other countries when it comes to education. Why??? I don't know. That's why this blog is the uneducated opinion of me. But I do know this. The last President Bush started a program called No Child Left Behind. A noble idea. I don't know what all was involved in that idea, and have seen and heard many reports that said it didn't work. Or isn't working. Again, Why? The Democratic party is wanting to put money into Charter Schools. This is one of the things I have heard from the Education Nation reports. I find that ironic, somewhat, as the Democrat lady running for Governor in the State of N.M. is against this and accuses her Republican opponent as wanting to do that. Seems like the Repub. is in tune with the national Dems. Did you see the young teacher's comment on the news during an early report on the Education Nation. She wants to teach. She said ( and I will probably not quote exactly ) Some students are slower that others and need extra help. Sometimes she would like to stay a little longer after school and help this student, but she can't. Why, Cause the union won't let her. She would like to work extra with this student, and give him or her the extra help and assistance they need to learn, but she can't, cause the union won't let her. Those few of you that know me well, know my opinion of union's, so I won't comment on that. I do know that something needs to be done. And this State is getting ready to cut millions of dollars, again, from the education budget. Both candidates for Governor say they won't, but they have the LFC and the Legislature to contend with. I think a lot of fat can be cut from the bureaucracy of both federal and state budgets and leave education alone. The inventor of Facebook has committed $100 million to New Jersey schools and Bill and Melinda Gates have committed $60 million to education. That will help, but will it be enough? Not until parents step in and help their children from an early age, instilling a desire to learn, and teaching them readin, writin, and rithmetic long before they start pre pre school. Some parents do. Some don't. Some can't. And, unfortunately, some just don't care. And that's The View From The Ditch bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-09-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

HO HUM! Here we go again. What do Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Johnny Tapia all have in common. Doing the crime, not the time. Although Paris Hilton was recently not allowed to enter Japan to promote her clothing line, or whatever it is she is promoting. She said, " That's OK, I respect their laws". Uh! If she had respected the laws right here in the U S of A, she wouldn't have been denied entrance into Japan. But then, if she were incarcerated in Japan, would they let her out after serving a few hours of a much longer sentence. And Lohan. She was jailed without bond. But a different Judge set bond at $300,000.00 and she bonded out. I have no problem with her bonding out on the bond set. She can afford it. I have a problem with her being let out constantly after breaking probation and then finally being jailed without bond, just to have someone else give her a bond so she could get out of jail. And Johnny Tapia. Who? you ask. Well, he's a nobody as far as I am concerned. He lives in Albuquerque, N.M. and is a world champion boxer. Ever heard of him? Probably not. But he is constantly being put in prison for Heroin and Cocaine use. Like Hilton and Lohan, he constantly breaks parole and is put back in jail. Then let out if he will behave. But he never does. Or, "I need to get out so I can train for my next fight." And he is let out, only to be found guilty again of using afore mentioned drugs. And put back in jail, only to be let out again, to go search for a missing relative, or whatever current excuse he may come up with. Do I blame these Celebs. Of course. But I blame the Judges more. Seems they could have the backbone to just say, Stay In Jail. I am sure there are many local "celebs" who fit this same MO. How much does it cost the tax payers to fund these people's shenanigans, as opposed to just letting them stay in jail until they have served their time. And how many judges around the country let them out, time after time. Personally, I am not impressed with any of the three mentioned, or any of the others that seem to be swooned over in Hollywood or on the Today show. There are just too many common folk that would be much better company in my uneducated opinion. And I will blog more about that in a future post. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-09-25T14:26:00.000-07:00

IS THE CRISIS REALLY OVER: I don't think so. I'm starting this blog talking about the recent oil spill in the Gulf. The well has been capped and plugged. No more oil is spilling into the waters of the Gulf. The crisis is over. Uh! no. Not really. Scientists are still finding oil deep within the ocean waters. Tar balls are still washing up on beaches. The shores are still polluted. Fisherman still can't go back to work fishing. I saw one news report from Alaska, where it was shown that just by digging down a foot or so on the beach's there was still oil pooled up there. After all these years. I think the Gulf will suffer for many years to come from this pollution. Not only the waters and the land, but tourists will be slow to return, fishing will be slow to resume, and people will be uncertain if the fish is safe to eat. Won't bother me, as I eat very little fish anyway. But I am just one person, so the economic impact from my non fish eating will be as nothing. Not even a drop to start concentric rings moving across the water. How will it affect BP. I can't even begin to guess, but the impact on those who actually make a living from the gulf and fishing will be devastating.

Now, a little side trip. Did you see the news article about the people of Bell, California becoming upset with the tics that was running that city. They had voted themselves incomes of hundreds of thousands of $'s. And they got caught. Literally. They are now in jail, unless they have bailed themselves out. The people of the city, and the their attorneys, have charged these officials with fraud, and corruption. And they have the proof. So they swept them out of office. Wouldn't it be funny ( read, good for the country ) if that was just the ringing of the starting bell, there in Bell, for the sweeping out of office of all corrupt politicians, going from there up and down the coast, then heading East sweeping out all of the corrupt tics before the broom of justice. Don't forget to make a big sweep right here in New Mexico as the broom goes by. If this was done, clear to the Atlantic ocean, when all these corrupt tics were swept into the ocean, the BP oil spill would be hardly a blip on the radar in comparison to the pollution that would then take place. While that would not be good for the Ocean waters, it would sure nuff be good for the land. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-09-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

ARE WE ALREADY THERE. I read a little story the other day and it went something like this. I say something like this, cause I'm gonna paraphrase some of it. "A man was fishing from the boat dock of a small sleepy coastal fishing village in Mexico. A Mexican man came to the dock in his boat with a nice catch of yellow fin tuna. The man admired this catch of fish and ask the Man how long it took him to catch these fish. Not very long, he replied. "Then why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" The Mexican man replied, "Because I have enough to support my families needs. I live a very full life, Senior, he said. I sleep late, I fish a little, take a siesta with my wife, play with my children, go into town in the evening and play guitar with my friends. The man on the dock then said, "I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. If you would fish longer,you could catch more fish and then you could buy a bigger boat and catch even more fish. What then, senior. They you could buy more boats, catch more fish, sell directly to the cannery, making more money, where by you could buy the cannery or start a cannery of your own. What then, Senior. Well, you would have to leave this village, move to Mexico City, then to Los Angeles or New Your in order to run your financial empire. And how long would all of this take, Senior. About 20 years, the MBA replied. Then what, senior? Well, then you announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and make millions. Millions, Senior. Then what? Then you can retire, move to a small coastal fishing village in Mexico, where you sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, go into the village in the evening and play your guitar with your friends.
Sometimes it seems we make our lives too complicated. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-09-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE? Time of the year, that is? Recently I received one of those forwarded messages that gives someones opinion, and ask you to put in your opinion and forward it on. I did so. One of the questions ask was, what is your favorite holiday. I don't really have a favorite, but finally put down July 4Th. I will do a post at a later time about my uneducated opinion on our holidays. At least the more popular ones. For now, well, I got to thinking about that forwarded message and thought, I guess I have a favorite time of the year more than a favorite holiday. And we are coming into it. The fall. Now, I like all seasons. This area where I live advertises that it has 4 gentle seasons. I guess it does. The summer has very few days that get over 100* and the winter has few, if any, days that get down to 0*. We do get some snow, and several freezing nights. The spring is probably the really bad one, as it has weeks and weeks of sustained high winds. But I like the winter, when the land is put to bed and life slows down somewhat. The spring time is a time to reflect on the things that didn't get done last year, and preparation for this year. The summer is usually busy, with long days and lots of time spent in the garden, and traveling a little bit. But the fall, with it's colors, the harvest in, the nights cool enough to sleep with just a sheet, but the windows still open, the morning cool and crisp, no noise except the birds singing ♪ ♫ ♫ ♪ in the trees, and the yipping of a distant Coyote, serenading the moon, or whatever it is that Coyotes do. No noise from the neighbors, yet ( like I'm hearing now, blaring music) and just cool weather setting the crisp flavor in the apples that are not yet picked. A few veggies still left to harvest from the garden. Fruit and veggies have been frozen, bottled or pickled. And it is just a good time to set back and relax. I guess that I like fall the best, and that would include Thanksgiving, so maybe I made a mistake on the forward message about my favorite holiday. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-09-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE HEARD IT ALL, you realize you haven't. There are head gates, fence gates, Watergate. But have you heard about Cabbagegate? You haven't. Well, even if you have, I'm going to tell you about it. It seems that a man, Steve Miller, in Clarkston, Georgia, has been fined $5,200.00 for growing too many vegetables in his back yard. Yep, you read that correctly. Why did they fine him. Well, his garden is 1 and 1/4 acres. And the area is zoned against urban agriculture. But still, it is his back yard. And it is his garden. He has been raising a garden there for 15 years, giving away veggies to friends and selling some in farmers markets. But last September the Dekalb County Code Enforcement officer cited him for doing this. Cause it is against the law. A zoning law. So he got the zoning changed to allow him to garden. While getting that done, he quit working the land, and allowed it to lie fallow. Then he was fined for hiring workers to clean the weeds from it while it was lying fallow. A landscaper by trade, he said he does not garden as a living, and would have to sell his house if he tried to do so. Many are up in arms about this, and laws are being looked at and changed around the country. Such as backyard beekeeping allowed in New York and backyard chickens in Seattle and New Haven, Conn. Mr. Miller is happy that the people helped him get the zoning laws changed, but he is still having to pay the fines. He has appealed, and the County refused to comment as the case is still pending. Well, We would sure be in trouble if this law applied to us. All though we haven't sold any products, we sure have given a lot away. If we were to be fined, we may be calling on those who received the fruit and veggies, for assistance. :-) And that's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch B ank

2010-09-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

LOCAL TICS, AND A FEW OTHER THINGS: Just a short note about the Koran/Mosque item. I have stated in a past post that I don't think it would be a good idea for the Mosque to be built near ground zero. Whatever happens in that situation is yet to be determined. I am glad, however, that the Preacher in the South decided not to burn the Muslim Holy Book. If the media had not jumped all over that issue, I think it would have died a natural death anyway. Now, Donald Trump has offered to buy the building where the Mosque will be built. At a prophet, uh profit, to the Muslim's who own it. Sounds like a win win situation for every one. Well, except maybe Mr. Trump.
Now for the local political scene. Slick Bill just returned from a trip to Cuba, and is now in Spain. Why Spain??? Well, he says it is to help people in New Mexico find jobs. And help the State economically. Oh! Well then, if that is what he is doing, then good for him. Unfortunately it is not why he is there. So why is he there. Cause he can and cause he is Bill Richardson, and cause he likes the national and international limelight. That's why. It would help the New Mexico economics if he would stay home and govern.
Now, to the ladies who would replace him. They have finally agreed on something. They both want something better for New Mexico. They disagree on how to bring this about. They both agree on the fact that they want to fund education, they disagree on just how to do this. What they don't say is that whatever they want to do, they have to convince the legislature to pass the necessary bills to bring that about. I assume they know that, they just don't say that. According to the polls, ( who can really believe a poll of 1000 people or less, when there are 1000's of voters ) Republican Susana Martinez is several points ahead of Diane Denish. Now, the past legislature abolished the death penalty in New Mexico. Mrs. Denish wants to keep it that way. Mrs. Martinez wants to return it back to the State Judicial system. According to the polls ( see above statement) the majority of the people in the State want the death penalty back. Including me. The Richardson administration, which includes Mrs. Denish, has given around 50,000 illegal immigrants drivers licences. While Mrs. Denish wants to rework the law, she thinks giving these licenses is OK. Mrs. Martinez wants to abolish the law, and repeal the licenses that have already been issued. One of her ads states that once these illegal people get a license, they then are able to drive any where in the states, with documentation. Maybe she has something there that we need to think about. In a serious manner. One last thing. The legislature, under Slick Bill's governance, passed a law to make medical marijuana legal. It is still against Federal law. Mrs. Denish supports that law. Mrs. Martinez does not. I am against the law. A point of view, from a Doctor friend of mine, who happens to belong to the same faith I do, has stated that Marijuana is similar to booze, and we have legal booze, so we can legalize marijuana, and collect the taxes from it, just like the state does from alcohol. A point to think about. But perhaps the Federal Government needs to do the same. time will tell. Wait and see. And that's the View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-09-07T14:47:00.001-07:00

IT'S ALL ABOUT CONTROL---Not quite two years ago, Barack Obama was elected President of this great nation. Along with him there were several democrats elected to congressional positions. Now, two years later, the complete house of Representatives and a number of Senators are running for office, again. And the President is leaving the office that was given to him when he was elected to office, and going on the campaign trail, stumping for Democrats in states where they may be in a position of losing. To a Republican. And if enough of them lose, then the Republicans will regain CONTROL of the house and or Senate. If the Democrats can win, then they retain CONTROL. In all the speeches I hear, it is all about control. Very little is said about what they can do for the American people. Except in passing, when talking about health care, or jobs, or the economy. But mostly, though, it is about retaining or regaining control. And I don't care if it is the Democrats, or the Republicans, or the Tory's or the Whigs, the Tea Party or the Coffee Clatch, it is all about control. Oh, their speeches may differ in content, and passion, and accusations, and their lies may be different, but still it is all about control. Mr. Obama was elected on the campaign of change. Well, look at the changes he, and they, have made, listen to the changes he and they say is yet to come, decide if it will happen and then make an intelligent decision and vote accordingly in 8 weeks, And That Is The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch bank

2010-09-02T16:51:00.001-07:00

ARE THEY SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE--I'm talking about commercials on TV. You know the ones. Oh! you don't. Well, I'll mention a couple or so. First, there is Discount Tire. You surely know this one. If ever you don't like our tires, just bring them back. And a woman, ( I assume it is a woman ) throws a tire through their window. And they say " Thank You." Now, I assume that Discount Tire is advertising their tires and wanting you to buy them, and if you are dissatisfied, they will take them back. I assume that they are saying that you will not be dissatisfied. But the ad indicates that someone was dissatisfied, and, to me, maybe I don't want a Discount tire. I may not like them. Does any one else have that kind of a reaction to this commercial? No! Just me then. And have you seen the ad by Sonic, advertising their FOOT LONG CONEY HOT DOGS? The kids in the ad show that they are listening, but McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King say nothing. So, Sonic has them, others don't. Uh! Well, maybe the others don't cause they aren't healthy. If it is so heavy they have to deliver it to me with a crane, I don't want one any way. I'll just go get my heart attack at Wendy's, thank you very much. Just another weird way to look at a commercial. Oh! and one last thing. I won't mention a particular medicine, cause they are legion, but take your pick: This medicine will help you with_________ you fill in the blank for the medicine of your choice. Not advised if you are pregnant, have a kidney condition, a liver condition, ( I wonder why they don't say it's expensive, so don't take it if you have a financial condition) and on and on. My cause sleepless nights, ( wondering how you are going to pay for it?) may cause you to get drowsy, ( OK, so am I gonna be sleepy or wide awake?) cause head aches or back aches. I get a headache with too little sleep, and I can get a backache with hard physical labor. I don't need a medicine, that they can't tell me what it's gonna do any way, to help with that. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you. Some times I think it would just be better to be sick. Instead of taking the medicine and be sicker. Oh well, That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-08-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

Peaches

Apples

Cucumbers, Jalapeno's, Bell Peppers, and an apple

Plums

Apricots

Cherries

A BOUNTEOUS HARVEST---For the two or three of you that may have been reading this blog from the start, know that I said the blogs would not be about me. And mostly they haven't. This one, however, will be, kinda. MLWFAE and I have some fruit trees and a small garden in our small back yard, as well as an Apricot tree in the front yard. Since we water the garden from a hose, and pay double rates for the water, our garden is small. Our fruit trees will bear fruit some years, but the blossoms usually freeze in the one last frost around the first of April. This year they didn't. Freeze, that is. And they all bore fruit in great abundance. And the small garden did the same. MLWFAE (my wife, for those of you that don't know ) has canned and canned, and is still canning the things from this harvest. Also, we have had a lot of rain this summer, and that has been a big help. So, at times like this, we all need to stop for a time, and give thanks to our Father above for the bounteous harvest He has provided. May you all have a good and happy fall. And that is the wish From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-08-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

DON'T WE ALL BELIEVE THE SAME; KINDA--I have read the many news stories, watched the TV news, read the political blogs of some, and listened to the you tube postings of others, all relating to the Mosque that some are wanting to build around the corner from Ground Zero. To some it is a bad thing, to others it is a good thing, to still others it is shoulder shrug. Evidence points to the fact that those who practice this religion have done this on other occasions, in other places, when they declare a victory over a Christian State or Nation. Perhaps so. And if so, then this Mosque is a very disturbing thing, indeed. My personal opinion is, I am not as close to it as those in New York, and they don't want it. So, if Islam, or who ever is building this Mosque, actually is doing so in peace and want's to get along with their neighbors, then find somewhere else to put this Mosque. To continue to force the issue, in the face of so much public opinion against it, seems to this uneducated person, to be saying "I don't really care." I cut an article from a paper some years ago, and this is what it said.

Christianity: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."
Islam: "Not one of you truly believes, until you wish for others what you wish for yourself."
Judaism: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor."
Hinduism: "Do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you."
Buddhism: "Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."
Confucianism: "Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself."
Taoism: "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss."
Sikhism: "I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all."
Baha'i: Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you."
Jainism: "One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated."
Zoroastrianism: "Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself."

Now, I have not heard of the last three of those listed, and don't know where they originated or where they practice. I don't really care. BUT; if all these religions believe what these sayings say, why can't we all just get along. I am a Christian, and don't know any thing about other religions, so can only assume that what was printed in this article is correct.
However, if Islam actually believes the principle stated here, I believe they will not persist in the building of this Mosque. If this is not actually the true Islam religion driving this project, then it probably is terrorist driven and we need to be aware. And put a stop to it.
And That Is The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch

2010-08-20T16:47:00.001-07:00

WHISKEY OR WATER---What's your choice. Samuel Clemens, AKA, Mark Twain, said one time; Whiskey is for drinking, Water is for fighting over. Well, that is sure the thing here in the arid Southwest. Although the drink of choice may be beer. Which takes a lot of water to make. Not me, I'm not a drinking man, as far as alcohol drinks are concerned. I drink a lot of water, though. Still, do we know how blessed we are? My youngest lives on a big Island down under. Most people call it Australia. He lives not too far from a River. A big river. One that probably loses more water every day to evaporation than you can find in the whole of the Rio Grand. Still, they are in a drought, and under severe water restrictions. As in, they are allotted a certain amount of water a month, depending on the size of their family. This water allotment allows them to cook and clean, do laundry and a 4 minute shower a day. If they go over their allotted water amount, they pay 5 times the regular rate for the overage, and have to write the city why they went over. They are not allowed to have a water hose hooked up to an outdoor faucet. They are fined a large fine if caught. Not watering, just for having the hose hooked up. How we would holler if we were to be put under similar restrictions. Still, we do waste water. This year has been nice, with an unprecedented amount of rain, leaving the country side green and beautiful. A recent ruling has left the Southwest part of the State of New Mexico with 14,000 annual acre feet of water and millions of dollars to help use this water. Now, the people involved with getting the water distributed are having meeting's, for several months now, trying to decide what to do with the water and the money. I don't know how long they have to come to a decision, but meanwhile, the water is running downstream, to Arizona and California. Water rights put in place in New Mexico in the 1960's are hindering some of what is wanted to be done. So, trying to make the loss of those water rights whole, restoring previously irrigated lands back to production, ( the mentioned water rights prevent that ) addressing those with non consumptive wells so they can use domestic water out side of their house and the use of stock tanks, are some of the issues those deciding these water issues are looking at. Also, building a dam on a local river, ( the one that carries the water out of state ) to contain some of this water and use it to recharge the water table and for irrigation etc. are being discussed. One official, raised on a farm, has stated that those who farm get less for their water than most because they are mostly self sustained, while city dwellers get more of the benefit of those who farm and ranch. Well, Duh! like I didn't already know that. So stay tuned, more to come in future posts, as things develop. Oh! as to the Whiskey and Water thing mentioned at the start of this post. Whiskey is for fighting also, but those fights are usually spur of the drunken moment and over soon, while water fights build and build and continue for generations. And That Is The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-08-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

WHEN I STARTED THIS BLOG--I thought I would blog two or three times a week, about current items in the news, with an occasional humorous item thrown in, and not repeating myself. I have several items to blog about, but instead find me repeating myself, somewhat. Those few of you that actually read this blog, know my political leanings. Just in case you don't, though, I am Republican, but will vote for a Democrat if I feel they are the best candidate. On that note, I have a few things to say about the current ladies vying to be the next Governor of New Mexico. I don't like politics and the games that are played. I know, they have been going on since the beginning of time, I guess. I still don't like them. And all parties play them. The Republicans, the Democrats, the Green party, the independents, the Tories and the Whigs. So, when the New Mexico Republican party tries to paint Diane Denish, The Democrat for Governor, with the Bill Richardson brush, I don't like it. Mrs. Denish was voted in on the party ticket, yes, but not as a running mate with Bill. And she has had her differences with Slick Bill. Having said that, I do not intend to vote for her.
Both she and Mrs. Martinez, the Republican candidate, agree that the State of New Mexico is Broke, and the government of New Mexico is broken, and both need fixed. What they don't agree on is how to fix it. Gov. Bill spent a lot of unnecessary State taxpayers money. Some of it was on a multi million dollar airplane. That wasn't needed. Both ladies have said they will sell the plane. Mrs. Denish says, however, that there are a lot of planes on the market, so she will wait until the market gets better. So, she continues the use of the plane as Governor, while we pay for the maintenance and the State absorbs the depreciation. So when the market is better, the plane isn't worth as much, cause it's an older used plane. it's already a used plane. Sell it asap. In fact, that's what governor Bill was for buying it in the first place. Mrs. Martinez, not having as much campaign money as her opponent, has TV ads telling what she will do. ( Both have kinda quit the dirty political sniping, kinda.) Mrs. Denish also has ads telling what she will do, but she always says "Even though my opponent continues her negative 'campaign against me, this is what I will do. Uh! I haven't heard a negative ad from the Republican in a long time. Just the little snipes from the Dem. And while the State in in financial difficulties, education has taken a hit. Mrs. Denish, though, brags how she, as Lieutenant Governor, expanded Pre-K education, she campaigns that she will expand it even further. If it goes much further, new borns will leave the hospital in a car seat, with a cell phone in one hand and a lap top in the other. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-08-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

POTPOURRI---A word that has an origin in French and Latin, our old dictionary says it is a noun. The dictionary in my computer gives one definition as a hodge podge. Speaking of French, I don't know French, but I do know one word is "Oui" pronounced as "We" which in English is a word plural, meaning more than one, or a hodge podge. So that is what this blog will be. A hodge podge of things. Mostly a few comments or updates on blog posts past.
So I think I will start with Governor Bill and his obsession with Billy the Kid. As has been mentioned, New Mexico Territorial Governor Lew Wallace thought about issuing him a pardon, but didn't. Then Pat Garrett killed Billy in 1881. A man who called himself Brushy Bill came from Texas to New Mexico in, Oh, 1952 or so, claiming he was Billy the Kid, and ask Governor Mabry for a pardon. He didn't get it. Now Slick Bill wants to issue that pardon. To Billy, or Brushy Bill. Members of the Pat Garret family recently visited the Gov and requested that he not issue this pardon, claiming that Pat did indeed kill Billy, that Billy was an outlaw and a killer, and it would be an insult to the Garrett family if he gave this pardon. There have been so many people in the State weighing in on this matter, that the Gov is getting a mite testy, saying on the news that no decision had been made and for people to just chill out. Guess he don't have enough to do, governing the State.
And over in Arizona, a federal judge has struck down part of the Arizona immigration law. Makes one wonder why. Several cities, including Albuquerque, have similar laws, and many States also have similar laws, some as much as three years old. Is there some kind of retaliation going on, between the current administration and the State that Senator John McCain is from. Especially since McCain is struggling to hold on to his Senate seat, the news says. Is this a blow to his campaign? Probably not, but still, a person wonders.
And speaking of the current administration, have you been keeping up with the vacation of the first lady and her daughter. To Spain. Many people have. And there is a lot of controversy about it. Including from this blogger. She went to Spain, reserved 30 rooms of a plush resort to stay in. Reports are that the Obama's will pay for their own expenses on this trip. But in a time when the U.S. economy is in the tank, people are still losing jobs, while but a few are finding new ones, homes are being lost, the oil spill on the gulf is devastating the coast line there and affecting the economy of many , not to mention the effect it will have on the rest of the country, shouldn't the first lady and her husband have a little more sensitivity to the people of the country. While they may pay for their own expenses, this trip cost the U.S. taxpayers over $150,000.00 for the plane she flew in plus a little over $95,000.00 for the security and staff that accompanied her. Sure, other first ladies have taken vacations. Laura Bush, mostly hiking trips in our U.S. National Parks. And Hilary took Chelsea to Africa. But Hilary was on official business, and just took her daughter along. Neither of which cost the taxpayers a quarter of a million dollars. And the economy wasn't bad then, like it is now.
Now a little closer to home. The two ladies campaigning to be Governor of the State of New Mexico has kinda quit snipping at each other. There is a lot of what is wrong and needs fixed in this State that they agree on. What is not agreed on is just how to fix it. They each have their own ideas, and are advertising on TV on just how to accomplish it. One thing I have in mind. Mrs. Denish, the Dem. pushed for Pre K education while serving as Lieutenant Governor, and is using that accomplishment as one of her selling points. I'm an old man, and am not totally convinced that Kindergarten is necessary, and am totally opposed to Pre K, and the cost of such, so this is not a selling point to me. I think parents should take care of their children, and see to their initial education, you know, like learning how to spell and how to count. And if they just can't do that, or won't do that, cause they want or need to work, then pay for kinder care, with some one that will do this, at the parents expense, not the State. But the law makers will be elected in November, then go to Santa Fe' in 2011 and find a way to raise our taxes to pay for programs that are not needed, instead of cutting out those programs that are not essential. Like Pre K.

One last thing. Out in California, a judge has overturned Proposition 8. You know the one that voters voted on that said that marriage was between a man and a woman. I could do a whole post on that, and may do so yet. And I admit to one and all that I don't know much about politics and the law, but it seems to me that for a judge, one individual, to have the power and authority, to overturn the voted on will of the people, is just giving too much power to the judiciary, and I don't think that much power was in the mind of those who wrote the Constitution. You know, the ones that said a Government of the People, by the People, for the People. Maybe it is time that we, the people, said, enough is enough. And that is The View From The Ditch Bank.

View from The Ditch bank

2010-08-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A RATTLE SNAKE SMILE? Those of you that know me well, know that I don't do a lot of fishing. Very little, in fact. But sometimes I get the urge, and buy a license and go fishing. It only takes a time or two to get my fill for a while. And the cost of a license, a trout stamp, a habitat stamp, a postal stamp, OK so I exaggerate a bit, but not much. Plus the cost of gas to get to the lake and back, I could buy all the fish I would ever eat at the grocery store, Salmon, even, and have money left over for a Taco or something. But back to the story. After making the above necessary purchases, and cause I had never caught a Bass, and after hearing the Bass were biting at a local lake, ( 30 miles away, does that make it local?) I loaded up my skimpy fishing gear, a bait can of worms, cause that's all I ever fished with. I know a lot of people use a lot of different kinds of baits. Fish eggs, cheese balls, dough balls, artificial lures, ( for artificial fish? :-) and so forth. But, all I ever fished for growing up was trout, and we used worms. So when I got to the lake, I baited up and began fishing. Now, in addition to trout, I have caught Cat Fish, and Blue Gill, but never a Bass. As I fished at the local lake, I caught a couple of Trout, a couple or three Bluegill, but no Bass. Maybe the bites I had, that took my worms were Bass. There was a man close by catching bass, using frogs. He was also using a bottle of Jack Daniels. Not for the fish, but for himself. He took a nip ever time he caught a fish. Now that I think about it, he took a nip even when he didn't catch a fish. I sure wanted to use one of his frogs, but he didn't offer and I didn't ask. I was about to pack it in and go home, when I saw this rattlesnake swimming out of the lake with a frog in it's mouth. Now, I hate snakes in general, and rattle snakes in particular. But I wanted that frog, and since it was in the snakes mouth, he couldn't bite me. so I grabbed that snake by the neck. You know, right behind it's head. He, ( I assume it was a he ) opened his mouth, in surprise, or protest, I didn't ask, but open his mouth he did, and the frog dropped right into my bait bucket. And just sat there. Too stunned to move, no doubt. Uh Oh!, now I have a problem. There being no frog in the snakes mouth, he is now free to bite me. I say free, cause I doubt he would pay if I sent him a bill. And he is mad. Have you ever held a mad rattle snake. They are strong. they have muscles on their muscles. And he was writhing around, coiling up my arm, rattling and hissing, and telling me what he would do to me, when he got loose. Not if, when. I now have a dilemma. The man close by realized my problem and came over and offered me his bottle of Jack Daniels. I don't drink and didn't have time to even if I did, but he said, not for you, for the snake. Give him a shot. Can you imagine a snake, high on Whiskey. well, it couldn't be any worse, so I poured a shot down his throat. He soon went limp, passed out colder than Uh,a snake. I wondered how mad a rattler would be when he woke up with a hangover. But I threw him out into the lake, baited my hook with the frog, and proceeded to catch a Bass. In a little while I felt something bumping my foot, and just as the Jack Daniels man started laughing, I looked down, and there was that snake, a grin on his face from ear to ear, and he had two frogs in his mouth. And that's the Tale, Uh, View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-07-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

AFTER ALL THIS TIME, I STILL DON'T GET IT: Tomorrow, the Immigration Law goes into effect in the State of Arizona, unless the Feds stop it in court. Today a group is traveling from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Phoenix, Arizona, to protest the new law. They were shown on the news carrying signs against the new law, mostly saying "Stop Racial Hatred" Stop Racial Profiling" and other Racial themes. I agree. HUH! you say. He agrees. Yes, I agree. We should stop racial hatred. But, this law has nothing to do with racial hatred, and every thing to do with LAW. You know, the legal system under which we in this country, and every other civilized country, can live and breathe. The news has reported that at least 50 families have left Arizona and moved to Albuquerque to avoid the advent of the new law. I say, if they are legally in the United states, including Arizona, they need not fear, and they need not leave. If they are not here legally, then that is a different matter. It deals with LAW, legality. Not race. I personally, have no objection to any one coming to this country. I have visited other Country's, including Mexico, when it was safe to do so, and I had the papers I needed to prove who I was and where I belonged. I recently visited with a niece who had this summer visited in Sweden with her husband. She enjoyed the visit, but said she would not want to live there. But she had the papers she needed to visit the country legally. A year ago a son and his wife visited the U.S. from another country. He has the papers necessary to live in that country, and his wife had the necessary papers to visit this country with him. So, since we require this documentation for others, and other countries require documentation when we visit them, why is this Arizona law causing such a stir. Not only among those here illegally, but by our own political leaders who have taken an oath to uphold the law of this Country. If their oath means no more to them than that, I say we need to be looking at them very hard come next election. And their appointees. Maybe especially the appointees. And that is The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch bank

2010-07-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

WELL; WELL; WELL.---No, I'm not talking about three holes in the ground. So, then, what am I talking about? Well, I'll get to it in a minute. Those few if you that have read more than a few of my posts, will have read a few weeks back, my posts of the two lady candidates for Governor of New Mexico. On election night, the Democrat, Diane Denish, said to her supporters " Look for the Republicans to come out with a mud slinging campaign." Then she promptly began a mud slinging campaign. I said in my blogs, that either of these two ladies could be a good Governor. I repeat "Could" be not "Would" be. Well, the Republicans have responded with a little mud slinging, but not nearly as much as the dems. in my biased opinion. Also, I have blogged about the spendthrift ways of our current Governor, slick Bill Richardson, and his spending on planes, trains and automobiles. In spite of the State having a huge surplus of funds before the economic downturn, and against the advise of the state legislature, he managed to spend all the surplus and put the State in the red. As a result, State jobs have been cut, people laid off, others required to take unpaid days off, and so forth, in order to balance the State budget. Now, to the title of this blog. Last week it came to light, by a news reporter in Albuquerque, that a state employee was given a "Leave of absence" from her department, to work for the campaign of the democratic candidate, Diane Denish. She is being paid by the Campaign, not the State, but she still has her State job. When her department head was ask who was doing her work, while she was on a leave of absence, they were told that her work was being done by other workers in her department. Well, they were ask, in light of the fact that the state budget is in a crisis, and State employees have been laid off, if her work can be done for 4 or 5 months, while she campaigns, why does the state need her in the first place. Shouldn't she be laid off also. Oops! The Governor, when he "Heard" of this, said she needs to resign her State job, or return to the job and quit the campaign, and he issued a directive to all State departments, that no one was to be given a leave of absence. Hmmm, just when you think Maybe, we have a candidate who has a little common sense, we learn that such seems not to be the case. Guess she learned well from her boss of the last 8 years. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-07-20T13:10:00.001-07:00

ARE YOU IN JAIL YET??? A while back a friend of mine made a comment about his cell phone. I said, "I didn't know you were in jail." he said, with a puzzled expression, "What do you mean?" Me "Well, you just mentioned a CELL phone, so guessed you were in jail." He didn't appreciate the humor.

Have you noticed how many of them things there are around? Yep, I have one also, as does MLWFAE. Mine is mostly on the dresser, turned off. Hers is mostly in a pocket on her purse, built for a cell phone, also turned off. Still, as we drive the highways and byways of this country, you can see them glued to peoples ears, or people are distracted sending a text message. While driving, or shopping, or even in a restaurant eating. Do you suppose, if all those people HAD to put their phones on the dresser, or even in a purse pocket, turned off, and leave them off for at least 30 days, the amount of car wrecks would go down? They would realize there are actually other people on the highway, or in the stores shopping also, or in the restaurant eating. Or in the family? Would the pollution in the air clear up, if all those messages weren't being sent? Would the cramp in their hands go away? Maybe the population of the insane wards would increase as people went into withdrawals, or the use of real CELL phones would increase as people were sent to jail for committing a crime to curb their frustration. In order to get out of the Ward or the Jail, would they have to sign up for CPA meetings? And, no, that does not stand for Certified Public Accountant. But with them in Jail or in the Ward, there would be less people on the road for me to have to watch out for. Maybe then I could pay more attention to eating my Ice Cream Sundae. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-07-12T16:40:00.000-07:00

A TWISTED SENSE OF HUMOR---When there is nothing else to blog about, or at least nothing else that appeals at the time, this is what comes up. Things that you , Uh me, as in I, myself, finds humorous, if they were ever actually said. And I guess some of them wouldn't actually be funny. You decide.

1. Cop to Driver--I know you were speeding as you ran that red light, but since you didn't cause an accident, I'll give you a certificate for doing some good driving.

2. I am running for office and would like to be elected, but actually, my opponent is the better candidate.

3. TV Reporter at the anchor desk, telling about a current event---" now we will cut to the reporter at the scene for a dead report."

4. From a used car salesman---What kind of warranty does that used car have, you ask. You have to be kidding. We can't even guarantee it will make it off the lot.

5.From the public safety officer---I know it has been raining hard, and flash floods are likely, but go ahead and play in the arroyo--You can swim, can't you?

6. From the investment broker---Yes, it is a ponzi scheme. You'll just have to trust me to make money for you.

If you don't get them, well, that's just my twisted sense of humor. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-07-07T14:20:00.001-07:00

AMERICA, LAND OF THE FREE.---OK, this is the final blog about America. At least for a time. I left the last one at the start of the 60's, kinda, and the advent of the Space Program. I could now blog about the 60's and the Hippie movement, Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco, the National Guard shootings at Kent State. The Vietnamese war and the pull out of the US, leaving several countries to become communist ran countries in just a few short years, could fill a couple of blogs. Richard Nixon and his resignation, in disgrace, after Watergate could fill another one. But I will by pass those, and many other items, such as the gas and oil shortages of the mid 70's, and will say just a few things leading up to the election of President Ronald Reagan. There is so much history there, that I will surely leave something out. Probably several somethings. After Nixon's resignation, Gerald Ford watched in frustration as Congress cut off all military and domestic aid to our former allies in South Vietnam. Millions were killed by the communists. Since the US didn't do any thing, other communist regimes began to take over Cambodia and Laos. In Africa the Soviet Union used Cubans to impose "Protection" over ten African nations. Then the Soviet Union supported terrorist regimes in Libya, Syria, Palestine, Eastern Europe, South Yemen and Cuba. Jimmy Carter's presidency was based on the belief that the most important foreign policy was the encouragement of "human rights". While this was a noble goal, it was also impractical. In November 1979, 52 Americans were taken hostage at the American Embassy in Tehran. They were held for 444 days, and released just after Reagan took office. There is much more in this vein, but I will focus on just a bit more. When Reagan took office, much to the surprise of many foreign nations that a nobody actor would be elected to this office, a runaway inflation of 13% was eating up Americans pay. Savings account values were shrinking, and interest rates were at historic levels. Home Mortgage interest rates were in the upper teens and the housing market was in collapse and business and industry were suffering under the crushing interest rates. The US and Russia were in a feverish arms race, spending Billions of dollars every year to stockpile nuclear weapons. The US Senate had refused to sign the SALT II treaty that would have put a cap on the nuclear weapons that the countries could build. There is so much more on what was going on at the time Reagan was elected, that it would be nearly impossible to remember or even blog about it all. Suffice it to say that shortly after Reagan took office, after a small bailout program, he then cut taxes, and within a year the economy had turned around, interest rates began to come down. Crude oil dropped from $30 a barrel to $10 dollars a barrel by April of 1986. ( Boy, wouldn't we like to see the $30 now even) Reagan had to fight a hostile congress and a hostile media for a long time. He believed in America and did not apologise for it to any one. Margaret Thatcher was his only ally for a long time.

Reagan called Communism a failed system, and fought the Russians on every front world wide, until they finally decided that he was a force to be reckoned with. And he called on Russia in 1987 to Tear Down This Wall, meaning the Berlin wall. This did eventually happen. He believed in Peace through Strength, and built up the military arsenal. By the time he left office, eighteen million new jobs had been created, taxes had been significantly cut, unemployment was reduced to 1/2 of what it had been and the inflation rate had been reduced to 4%. The number of pages in publication containing federal regulations had been reduced by half.

Now, I would like to contrast this with the current administration. Once again unemployment is high, the housing market is in decline, and taxes have been raised, not cut. Tax cuts from the previous administration have been eliminated. And Nancy Pelosi just last week or so said that the Government needs to raise the amount of unemployment checks and extend the time they are given as "This will stimulate the economy." Uh! no. It will not. This money comes from pay roll taxes, and until the economy picks up, and people return to work, so there is a payroll, the unemployment checks will only drain the federal coffers further than they already have. Someone needs to un elect that woman. And that is the View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-07-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

SINCE THE CONSTITUTION--I stated that I would have only two more blogs on the subject of the United States. I will hold myself to that, at least for now. So here is the first one of the two. After the Constitution was ratified, the country settled down to actually become the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. However, just a few short years later, the British began stirring up trouble again. With hostile acts against the U.S. beginning in 1807, the U.S. formally declared war against Britain on June 19, 1812. Just like the recently ended revolutionary war, the U.S. lost a lot of battles before the tide began to turn in their favor. I could write a long blog about this war, but will only say this. It was during the battle of Fort McHenry, in September of 1814, that Francis Scott Key, being held against his will on a boat in the harbor, was inspired to write the Star Spangled Banner. If you have never read an account of this battle, I encourage you to do so. If it does not stir feelings in your breast and bring a lump to your throat, I am sorry. It does to me. A treaty to end this was was signed December 24, 1814. I could blog about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil war. ( What was civil about it? ) I could blog about the building of the transcontinental railroad and the settling and taming of the West. I could blog about World War 1, the roaring twenty's and the depression of the 1930's. I could write about World War Two, but will only mention that after this war, the U.S. Government established the G.I. Bill, that helped many of the returning Vets to finance an education and jump start the economy with jobs. I could write about the decade I grew up in, the 1950's and the Korean War, which wasn't actually a declared war, but a designated Police action. I will finish this blog, however, with the end of the 50's and President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the beginning of the 60's and President John F. Kennedy. In the 50's, Russia was experimenting with space flight, and launched a space satellite called Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957. This turned the attention of the U.S. towards it's own space program and the space race began. It was under President Eisenhower and his advisers and the congress of the late 50's that funded and eventually passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act. President Eisenhower signed this act on July 29, 1958. NASA acquired and/or took over all the then existing space labs and their employees and their budget of $100 million a year. The space program continued under President Kennedy, who declared that the U.S. would put a man on the moon by the end of the decade, and then with President Johnson after Kennedy's death. I won't blog about all the things, the research and testing, even my small part in all this as it would take more than one blog to complete. Just find it in the many histories if you are interested. And the U.S. did put a man on the moon, landing them there on July 20, 1969. There were more moon missions and then the space shuttle program. A lot of money and research has gone into the next generation of space vehicles. Now the current administration wants to scrap all this, along with NASA, and give Billions to Russia, to carry our Astronauts to the International Space Station. The opinion of this uneducated dweller is that all those Billions should be spent right here in the good ol' US of A continuing the programs that are already in place and not rely on a foreign government that is not sure if it wants to be our friend or not. It is my opinion that any of you out there in blogger land, if you are actually reading this blog, you should contact your Representatives and Senators and let them know what you think about this. I hope you feel the same way I do. I feel that the current administration should take a good hard look at what his predecessors have done with this program, and then continue this program and not weaken the U.S. in this area. And that is The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-07-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

THE CONSTITUTION---I said in my last blog that I would be able to post several lengthy blogs on the subject of the Declaration and the Constitution and following events. I also said I would try to hold it down to two shorter ones. I think I may wind up with 3 or 4. We will see.

To start this post, I am going to return the the last post for a moment. Although the Declaration of Independence came out on July 4, 1776, the war had already been going on since the 19th of April 1775. That day the war started in Lexington, Ma. with the shot that became known as "The shot that was heard around the world." The war ended with the Second treaty of Paris signed 15 April 1783, 8 years of war later. The last British troops finally left New York on 25 November 1783.

Now, I am not going to go into a lot of the history of the War or it's aftermath. Suffice it to say that the country was living under the Articles of Confederation. And they were not working. so a convention was called and the States were ask to send delegates to Philadelphia to work on the Articles. This was in 1787. All of the States except Rhode Island sent Delegates. As the convention dragged on, some of the delegates got angry and left. Finally the Articles were scrapped and the Constitution was drafted.

There was much wrangling and dissension among the delegates, and what they wanted. The small States wanted equal representation, fearing that they would be left out by the wants of the larger and more populated States. The large States didn't want the small States to have equal representation, fearing they would lose too much by sharing. Many other issues clogged the system. Some wanted a King, some wanted a President to be elected by the people, but he would serve for life. What finally came out is the Constitution, with a preamble that goes like this We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

It was not presented to the states as the law of the land, but to the people to be ratified. It was decided that it would take 9 of the 13 States to ratify it. Rally's by the federalists were organized in each State against ratifying the Constitution. Many States ratified it only by a narrow margin. The Constitution was sent to the States to be ratified BY THE PEOPLE, in September of 1787. Delaware was the first State to ratify it on December 6. New York didn't ratify it until July 26 of 1788. North Carolina and Rhode Island then ratified it after New York. Many leaders of that time were against the Constitution. However, most of those leaders then followed it after it became the law of the land. There are 7 Articles, each Article divided into sections. It spells out what the Federal Government can and cannot do. I am not going to cover those Articles, although I am tempted to do so. I urge all to read them, or reread them if you have already read them. Then read and study the amendments that have been made in the 200+ years that the Constitution has been in effect. Study it closely, and then watch what is being done, and stand up for the rights of the people and the States, if in no other way, than when you vote. And please register and vote. If you do not already do so. I had hoped to finish this subject with this post, but I feel that two more postings are needed, for me even though you may not agree. I feel that we should make our voices heard, and that we should stand up for the Constitution, as there are now, as then, those who would like to see it fail. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-07-01T14:02:00.000-07:00

4 JULY 1776--I could probably write several blogs of considerable length on this and related subjects. I am going to try to hold it to two blogs of shorter length. I assume that most who actually peruse this blog have actually read the Declaration of Independence at least once. If not, I suggest that you do so. I will refrain from going into details that brought about this Declaration, and hope that each of you are aware of the events that conspired to bring this about. I will quote just a bit of this Declaration. It begins "The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United states of America When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying as its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness." There is more and then the Declaration lists the many disputes the colonies have against the King of England and how they have been treated. I will paraphrase the ending of the Declaration, in which the writers and signers said We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends........And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." It was then signed by 56 men from the 13 Colonies.

The war that came then raged for several years, and it wasn't until in the 1780's that the war and the declared Independence was won. There is a saying now that goes---Freedom isn't Free. That is true now, but is never more true than it was in 1776. I encourage all to contemplate this fact, and remember all who have given their time, and their lives, to keep this country free. I hope all have the courage to stand in defense of this country and what it stands for in the face of those who hate this country and would like to see it fall. These people were there in 1776 and they are here today, in and out of this country. I hope we all keep these things in mind as we go into this holiday season, and remember why we celebrate. And that is the View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-06-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

SAINT OR SINNER: Or just a common criminal. Your choice. I'm talking about Billy the Kid. You know, the outlaw from the 1870's and early 1880's. Born in New York City probably in 1860 and killed by Pat Garrett in New Mexico 1881. By any account ( and they are numerous ) he was an out law and a killer. You can read numerous historical accounts about Billy the Kid, and they all have different "facts" about his life, but they all agree that he killed several people. He was offered a pardon by then Governor Lew Wallace, but for whatever reason ( you read the histories) that never came through. One interesting thought was that Governor Wallace was too busy writing Ben Hur to actually bother with the tendered pardon. In any case, other New Mexico Governor's have been ask to extend Billy a pardon over the years and all have refused to do so. However, enter current Governor Bill Richardson, rabid, uh avid, fan of all things Holly wood. It seems that he has, for the last 7 years, been contemplating the pardon of Billy the Kid's sins. There are a number of people in this State that would like him to do this. Many more, myself included, do not want him to do this. He is now taking a poll of the state, via a Santa Fe' columnist, to see how the residents of this State would view the Gov's. actually issuing this pardon. Don't yet know how it will play out, but the Gov. will be OUT of office in 6 months. Now, Billy was a murderer. He killed many people, including law enforcement officers. 2 or more, depending on the history you read. As well as many other people. Although this blog seems focused on Billy, it is more about Bill. The already mentioned columnist said, and I quote "Governor Richardson wants to pardon Billy the Kid of his sins." Not his crimes, but his sins. I don't think even slick Bill has the authority to pardon someone of their sins. He may think he does, but I'm sorry McGee, he don't. Depending on the persuasion of your religious convictions, only a Minister or Priest can do that, and then only after a process is followed, by the LIVING person. In many religions, the Minister can only give you assistance to go though the process of repentance, and then your sins can be forgiven by a Being Higher than even the Minister. But never by the State Governor. Me thinks that Governor Bill needs to spend the last 6 months being a responsible Governor ( what a novel idea) and spend no time at all on Billy the Kid. And his sins. And that's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch bank

2010-06-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

ARE YOU PART OF THE LUMP? You now the one I mean. Every one does. You Don't? Oh! well, then, I'll tell you. It is that lump of Every One. As in: Wal-mart has a new commercial out advertising the new game Mario for the Wii. The one, according to Wal-Mart, that Every One has been waiting for. Now I don't own a Wii, and I wasn't even aware that this game was coming out for the Wii, much less have I been waiting for it. But still I am part of the lump of Every One has been waiting for this game. Oh! I know, that is advertising. And advertisers want Every One to think that their latest product is the One that Every One has been waiting for. And they are not alone. The media, local or national, are the same. How many times have you turned on the news to hear, "Now the details on the story Every One has been talking about; or Every One has been waiting for, some times even breathlessly waiting for. Uh! no, actually I was about to reach the gagging point on Hearing the Latest details on the death of Michael Jackson, or Farah Fawcett, or the latest details of Tiger Woods infidelities, or his struggles to regain his prowess on the golf course, or the latest escapades of other "Celebrities or politicians". Or the one that; a small lie won't hurt, cause Every One does it. Or; you can speed a few miles over the speed limit and the cops won't bother you, cause, well, you know, Every One does it. No, not Every One does it. And, No, I am definitely not part of the lump. And I resent being "Lumped" into a group that I have no wish to be a part of, just cause some advertiser or media person or individual, thinks I belong there. Along with millions of other people world wide who probably don't belong there, or even want to, if they knew they were lumped in the Every One group. And I am sure Every One would agree. Maybe if I start a revolt against the lump, Every One will join in and we can get this lump removed. Naw, I didn't think so. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch bank

2010-06-18T17:04:00.000-07:00

UH! RUN THAT BY ME AGAIN! This past week the CEO of BP was on the hot seat in front of the United States Congress. Answering questions about the Gulf oil spill and the company's responsibility's, what are they gonna do about it, why did it happen in the first place, Etc.; Etc.; and Etc. If you observed these events on any news program, you know what you saw. If you didn't, and want to know what it was about, look it up. The purpose of this blog is not to hash or rehash what was said. Or my opinion of the oil spill. Well, mostly, any way. One thing did kinda hit me as funny, comical actually, and I am going to start this blog with that. It seems the Congress people didn't like the way the CEO was answering the questions. So some members of the Congress got a little upset at him and said " Just answer the questions, honestly. We are tired of evasiveness and double speak." Not an exact quote, maybe, except for the double speak part, but Uh! yes, read the title of this blog right about here. Kinda like the pot and the kettle. This said by the masters of evasiveness and double, or triple speak. Yep, made me want to call that congressman and say, "Now you know how the American people feel when listening to you". Now I am going to end this blog by making a short address to the Illegal immigration situation. Against my better judgement. I have been accused of a lot of things, but having better judgement isn't on that list. Now I could turn this into a Religious thing here, about how we are all God's children and we should love each other and so forth. And I agree with that statement. But even God has given us laws to obey, and told us to obey man's laws also. So I am not going to turn this into Religious discussion. Just the facts, as I understand them. This Country has a law against entering it without documentation. Just like other countries. But this country isn't enforcing the law. And when local law enforcement people, or Federal law people for that matter , like the Border Patrol, try to enforce the law, it seems like they are the one's getting in trouble. And I say Why??? So, the situation for illegal immigration here in the southwest has gotten so bad that U.S. citizens are being murdered by these illegals right here in the U.S of A. Just an hours drive from where I sit typing this ( that's by the road, not as a crow flies ) you cross into Mexico, where 23,000 + people have been murdered by many of these same people in the last few years. Nearly 2000 this year alone. So, the State of Arizona passed a law, which doesn't go into effect for a few weeks yet, to enforce this illegal immigration into their State. A law based on the Federal law that is not being enforced. Now President Obama, his lackey's Holder and Clinton are getting ready to sue the State of Arizona for this law. And again I say What! Run that by me again. A State in this Union of States is trying to enforce the LAW, and the federal Government is filing suit against it. Wouldn't it make more sense to join with them in enforcing the very law they are sworn to uphold? Guess I am just getting old. I feel very afraid for my Grandchildren, and the Country they will inherit. I hope if this law suit actually gets to court, Judge Judy gets to preside. :-) And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-06-14T14:32:00.000-07:00

WHERE IS THE COMMON SENSE---Congressman Harry Teague's (D New Mexico ) legislation to make New Mexico's Katie's Law a national standard for DNA collection and matching recently passed the U.S. House. That is the head line in a news letter type item he sent to all of us in the 2nd Congressional district. Now, before you think I am trashing Congressman Teague, I am not. I am in favor of this law. So, a little background. Carlsbad, New Mexico Native, Katie Sepich, a student at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico was tragically murdered by someone unknown. However, DNA evidence was recovered for Miss Sepichs' fingernails. A man was later arrested for some other crime, and his DNA matched the DNA from Katie's fingernails, and he was Uh! nailed. A law was passed in New Mexico to collect & keep and match all DNA from those arrested for any crime. Now to continue from Mr. Teague's paper. 'Studies have shown that if Katie's Law were to be implemented to the national level it would save lives and many innocent people from becoming victims of violent crime.'
Well, doesn't that make sense. Even to an uneducated feller like me. Why do we even need a law. How about just sharing the information, cause it makes good common sense. How many people are caught in some other State for something, and then let go, cause the States just don't share information. Like it's private to them or something. Like if we share, some other State will get all the glory if they were to catch the criminal. well, DUH! Like who cares. As long as he, or she, is caught and persecuted. And yes I spelled it like I thunk it. Prosecuted is just too tame at times. So, if any of you few who read this blog are from some other State, check and see what their law is on this matter, and if they do not have a program to share this type of information, encourage them to do so. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-06-11T19:25:00.000-07:00

YEP, ARIZONA DID IT! I had intended to blog about something else, but that will have to wait until another day. Three things have prompted this blog. First, an undocumented Mexican was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in San Diego a couple of weeks ago. I heard the news, but didn't pay too much attention to it. Then a few days ago, an undocumented 17 year old boy was killed near El Paso, Texas. By Border Patrol agents. They had responded to a situation involving a group of Mexican citizens trying to enter the United States illegally. While they were dealing with some on this side of the border, the rest ran back across the Grand River, which is now dry, and then began throwing rocks at the agents, from the Mexico side. Now, the Border Patrol agency says these rock throwing events happen regularly, and agents are hurt by them. They reported that the agents told them to stop, but when they didn't they opened fire, killing the 17 year old. He was part of the group that was trying to enter the U.S of A. with out papers. His family said he was a good kid, earning A's and B's in high school and plays on two soccor teams. Maybe he is, but he was still part of a group that were breaking the law. The Mexican government is upset and making threats against the U.S. But what do they do, if someone trys to enter Mexico with out the proper papers.? It ain't pretty McGee. The third event that triggered this blog was this. Yesterday MLWFAE and I were traveling to a southern Arizona town for church purposes, and we were on cruise control, doing the speed limit. No More, No Less. We were passed by some people driving a pickup with Mexico plates. Headed for Arizona. As we discussed the possibility of their having any concerns entering Arizona, we said something like this. IF they have a passport, Visa or whatever papers they need, they don't have to worry about being any where in the U.S., including Arizona. And that is the whole issue. Arizona is only trying to enforce a law that is actually on the books of most, if not all, states, as well as the federal government. My youngest lives in Australia. He had to have paper work in order to enter that country. MLWFAE and I visited there some years ago. We also had to have the proper papers, or we would not have been allowed to enter and visit there. Having the proper papers to visit a country different than the one you are a citizen of requires the proper papers. The above mentioned individuals did not have them. I did not go into all the details of the El Paso killing, nor am I going to. That is not the purpose of this blog. I'm just saying again, breaking the law, is breaking the law, and President Obama or governor Richardson or any one else saying differently doesn't change the law. Mexico government officials are now saying that these two killings are a result of the law being passed by Arizona. So yep! Arizona did it. Even though they actually took place in other states. Sure hope someone don't steal a car some where. I think that is against the law, and since I think so, I may be blamed for it. And that's the View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-06-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

HISTORY, PART TWO---The last blog commented on the history to be made in the State of New Mexico in November at the Primary election. I also commented somewhat on my opinion of Mrs. Denish and Mrs. Martinez. I will continue in that vein today. I do not know either of these ladies personally. I only know them through the news reports. And their campaign ads. Thus, Mrs. Denish is more well known to me simply because she has been in the public eye for the last eight years as Lieutenant Governor. Mrs. Martinez came to my view only since the election campaign started a few months ago. So, here is what little I know, having gleaned these things from above named sources. One of Mrs. Denish's campaign slogan's is that she is New Mexican, born and raised. Mrs. Martinez lives in and works in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She was born and raised 42 miles south of there in El Paso, Texas. I don't know how long she has lived in New Mexico, but she has been the District attorney for Dona Ana County for the past 13 years. She was a Democrat who switched parties in 1996 to run for, and win, this office. She says she is married to a career police officer. City, county or state or federal I don't yet know. Recently, a man was convicted in Albuquerque for killing a deputy sheriff 4 years ago. Since New Mexico had the death penalty then, he can be sentenced to death, even though the death penalty was did away with in the 2010 legislative session. Mrs. Denish says she is against the death penalty, but if this individual is sentenced to death, she will sign the paper as the governor. Mrs. Martinez is in favor of the death penalty, and has stated she will work, as governor, to have the death penalty reinstated in New Mexico. In my opinion, This one item alone, could elect or defeat either candidate. In the Primary campaign Mrs. Matinez emphasized her experience in prosecuting crimes in a county that shares a border with Mexico. She advocated the repeal of state laws that allow illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses and for their children to qualify for state lottery financed college scholarships. She has also promised to fight corruption in state government. Well, we have an abundance of that. She is also endorsed by Sarah Palin, who came to New Mexico to give a campaign speech for Mrs. Martinez. A State political blogger said that Mrs. Denish could have the "home court advantage" ( My words ) because she was born and raised in New Mexico. However, the current governor, slick Bill, was born in southern California and raised in Mexico. Yep, Mexico. A previous two term governor, Gary Johnson, was born in South Dakota. Now for a little more history. While this will be the first time New Mexico will elect a woman governor, only two other states have had two women running against each other for governor. Hawaii in 2002 and Nebraska in 1986. The republican candidate won in both of those instances. Mrs. Martinez is the first Hispanic Woman nominated for governor in the nation by either party. I have my opinions and ideas about who to vote for, but will be watching closely to see what exactly is said, and proved. Mrs. Martinez' closest rival in the primary made some accusations against her, and then when she called him on it, on camera, and proved him wrong, and he, obviously couldn't prove his statements, he lost credibility. Mrs. Denish said on election night that the republicans would do any thing to win this election in November and would fight dirty and throw mud. So far, Mrs. Martinez and her campaign people have not done that, but Mrs. Denish started throwing mud the very next day, and hasn't quit. The above mentioned Governor Johnson ran for and won two elections without throwing any mud and has recently commented that both women should just campaign on what they will do as governor. And then do it if elected. While I said I will be watching and listening, I will decide who to vote for, but which ever one wins, I think, at this time, either could, and I said could, govern well and fairly. Time will tell. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-06-04T11:51:00.000-07:00

HISTORY--Everyone knows what that is. Don't cha? Years ago a newspaper advertised that they had all the news that was fit to print. A local radio station that was here then advertised that if you heard it it was news, if you read it, it was history. I guess if you are bored enough to read this blog, then you are reading history. Some of it in the making. New Mexico held their Primary Election last Tuesday, and we now know that in November we will elect our first ever woman Governor. The Democrat candidate is Diane Denish, who is currently the Lieutenant Governor, and has been for the last 8 years. The Republican candidate is Susana Martinez who is currently the District Attorney for a South Central county. Mrs. Denish ran unopposed in the primary. Mrs. Martinez beat out 3 men and 1 woman to win the Republican nod. This subject will take up this blog and at least the next one, so today I will discuss my uneducated view about New Mexico politics and maybe some about Mrs. Denish.
First of all, those of you that have read more than one of my blogs, probably know I am a Republican, but not so dyed in the wool of a one that I won't vote for a Democrat, if I feel so inclined. I voted for Governor Bruce King, a Dem. each time he ran, much to the disgust of some local Rep. I liked Governor King and thought he was a good Governor. I voted for the current Dem. Governor, Slick Bill Richardson. I didn't really like him, and like him even less now, but thought, since he had served in Congress as a Representative from our state, he would have some connections that would help the state. Seems he had the connections, all right, but not to help the State. Will be so glad when he's gone. I don't know how other states operate, but in New Mexico the Lieutenant Governor runs separately from the Governor. Who ever wins the Lieutenant spot in the primary, then runs on a ticket in the General with the Party candidate for Governor. So, the Governor has no say in who is running with him, or her, in the general election. Mrs. Denish won the democrat spot for Lieutenant Governor in 2002 and again in 2006. So she has served both terms with Governor Richardson. Richardson has been dogged by pay-to- play allegations during his administration, and there is currently a pending federal investigation of state investments and the use of politically connected marketing agents. Early on during Slick Willie's terms, the State was rolling in money. The economy was good and the state had a lot of income from oil and gas and mining revenues. In spite of warnings from the state's legislators about spending all that money, and advise from same to save and invest some of it, Richardson insisted on spending it for unneeded airplanes for the state, building a train that covers a 100 mile corridor between Santa Fe' on the north and Belen on the south. Paid for and maintained by state tax payers. He increased the number of governor appointed State employees that averaged around $ 140 thousand a year in salary, then refused to say who they were or what they did. he increased the number of State cars that state employees are allowed to drive. every where.
Diane Denish has tried to distance herself from the politics of Santa Fe' and often did clash with the Gov. She is a native born New Mexican, and points that out often in her campaign ads, being born and raised in Hobbs, and before her election 8 years ago she ran a company that did market research and fundraising for nonprofit organizations. As lieutenant governor, the first woman to serve in that position in New Mexico, she advocated for programs for children, including pre kindergarten, and played a role in legislation to tighten regulation of payday lenders. Lieutenant Governors in this State have very little to do, except as appointed to do by the governor. The do chair the legislature when it is in session. So, as Governor, it is hard to say just what she will do. Since she was running unopposed, she has had a chance to build up a large financial war chest to campaign on now. She claims she will be for the people of the state, she is not "One of those good ol' boys, and never wants to be" but wants to be a governor for the state of New Mexico and will be concerned with the economical, financial, and job situation in the state. She will slash the number of Governor appointed employees and the number of state owned cars. She has said nothing about the airplanes, yet. The next post will focus on Mrs. Martinez and some opinions of the elections this fall. And who knows what else. And that's the view from the ditch bank.

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-06-01T19:17:00.000-07:00

HOT TODAY--HOTTER LATER THIS WEEK---If I was sitting on my ditch bank right now, which I'm not, I would be able to see an old swimming hole somewhere in the distance. If I looked farther, past that one, I would be able to see another one. And I could lie back and look at the wispy clouds in the sky and dream about going swimming in those old swimming holes. Course, I wouldn't. Not cause they aren't there, cause they are. It's cause I somehow never learned to swim. Oh! and another reason. I agree with Grandpa Pickles. I usually do. But it is hot, and swimming does sound good. And That's The Vies From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-05-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

SO WHAT HAPPENED---To Sunday's, that is. MLWFAE and I were traveling this past Sunday to a neighboring town in Arizona ( 2 hours + away ) and we noticed people out mowing their lawns, trimming shrubs and trees and working on their houses. And all this as we were leaving the town we live in. Observed more of the same as we passed the small hamlets ( small towns, not the hindquarters of small pigs ) and she commented, What ever Happened to Sunday? Now, I know that ever since the children of Adam and Eve were large enough to rebel, there have been people who did not go to church. Still, when we were growing up, a long time after Adam and Eve, the majority of the people did take a day off on Sunday. No working, beyond necessary chores, on Sunday. Maybe they didn't go to Church, but it wasn't a major work day. I guess it did begin as a play day, golf, fishing etc, but now it seems like it is just another day. Businesses are open, people have to go to work, and if they have the day off, they work any way, as mentioned at the start. Wouldn't things be a lot better, if people would go back to using Sunday as a day of rest, and worship. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank

View From The Ditch Bank

2010-05-20T14:06:00.000-07:00

I'M STILL CONFUSED---When I last posted, i wrote about the immigration law. since then, a few things have came up, so I would like to make a couple of comments, or three, before commenting about my original post. Since 2006 there has been 22,000 deaths related to the illegal drug commerce between Mexico and the United States. Many of those deaths have been right along the border of the 4 States that border Mexico, namely; Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Several of those deaths have occurred inside the U.S. border, with the most recent one that of a rancher in southeast Arizona. Most of those deaths do not make the national news, but are reported in the local news only, and almost Ho Hum at times even then. Cities such as El Paso, Tucson, the Mesa/Phoenix area and on in to Southern California have a particular problem with those from Mexico hanging around street corners looking for work. The are NOT here legally. If any one hires them, or transports them, they are arrested and jailed for a week and their car is impounded. So no one hires them. so they steal to exist. Not good, I know, but they do it. On the other side of the coin, ( the worse side ) are the drug dealers and the human and drug runners. They bring people to the U.S. for a large fee, then force the females into prostitution and the males into drug dealers. If they are arrested, they cry foul and are just deported, only to come right back and do it again, and again. When Janet Napalitano was the Governor of Arizona, she was in contact with Washington D.C. on a regular basis, asking for assistance with the border problem. Now, she is in Washington and singing the Washington tune, forgetting where she came from. She is on the Atlantic coast checking out the oil spill and slick. I ask why? Is this her concern. I say, it is a concern and should be addressed by the Environmental Department and/or the department of the Interior. But not Homeland security. This oil does not threaten our National security. The illegals at the border definitely do. Now, Arizona only passed a law that has been on the federal books for decades. This gave Arizona law officials power to do the job that federal officials should be doing, but are not. A New Mexico state Tic said on the news that these people aren't criminals, they are just in the country illegally. That is a quote. What part of ILLEGAL don't he understand. I have heard of people who have managed to get to the U.S. minutes or hours ahead of being killed by the drug cartel's. Many of those, I heard, have lost family members to death at the hands of the drug gangs. These individuals are trying to gain employment and gain legal status. I feel for them. And feel that the U.S. should not arrest them and deport them, to certain death, but help those who want to be here as legal citizens gain the paper work they need. Let them work, and pay taxes and go to school and learn the language, ( I have heard many of them are doing just that ). I have no problem with that. But to come in illegally, and then rob, rape, steal and kill and then cry they have been discriminated against when they get caught, or when a State, or City wants to get tough with them. No, I have no sympathy for them.
This has been a long post. I hope the point didn't get lost in the mix. Now, to refer to the point of my original post. I don't understand why there are people who can stand and say, These people are here illegally, they broke the law, but we need to punish Arizona, or Albuquerque for wanting to do something about that. I think the Tics in Washington and the local state Tics should get behind the state's and enforce the Federal Law, and get tough on those who are running to and ruining this country. The President of Mexico spoke to Congress this morning, to complain about the law in Arizona. Why is he complaining. We aren't coming to his country illegally. he should be helping us to keep his people home and SAFE. I hope I made my point clear. Probably didn't though. That's why I am still confused. And that's the View From The Ditch Bank