jdmidwest

Today did turn out alot nicer than the Weather Gods predicted for today. I volunteered at a Gun Shop today and was indoors most of the time. It got up to 47 here and the wind died down after noon. I am getting out in the morning for a little squirrel hunting. Even on a nice day, water temps really slow down the fishing. They don't feed much as their metabolism slows.

I came across this brochure on Missouricarry.com. It does explain the Assault Weapon bill of 1994 and why it was repealed in 2004. I copied it and pasted it into a word document so I could post it on here. Assault_Weapon_Info_for_Media.doc

ENGLISH USAGE EXPERT INTERPRETS SECOND AMENDMENT By J. Neil Schulman ...the sentence means that the people are the militia... I recently had a conversation with Mr. A. C. Brocki, editorial coordinator for the Office of Instruction of the Los Angeles Unified School district. Mr. Brocki taught Advanced Placement English at Van Nuys High School for several years as well as having been a senior editor for Houghton Mifflin. He is considered the foremost expert in grammar in the school district, the person others go to when they need a definitive answer on English grammar. I asked Mr. Brocki to parse the following sentence: "A well-schooled electorate, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and read books shall not be infringed" Mr. Brocki informed me that the sentence was over punctuated, but that the meaning could be extracted anyway. * "A well-schooled electorate" is a nominative absolute. * "being necessary to the security of a free State," is a participial phrase modifying "electorate" * The Subject (a compound subject) of the sentence is "the right of the people." * "shall not be infringed" is a verb phrase. * With "not" as an adverb modifying the verb phrase "shall be infringed." * "to keep and read books" is an infinitive phrase modifying "right" I than asked him if he could re-phrase the sentence to make it clearer. He responded: "Because a well-schooled electorate is necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and read books shall not be infringed" I asked him if the sentence could be interpreted to restrict the right to keep and read books to a well-schooled electorate, say, registered voters with a high-school diploma? He said "No." I then identified my purpose in calling him, and read him the Second Amendment in full: "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." Mr. Broki said he thought the sentence had sounded familiar, but that he hadn't recognized it. I asked, "Is the structure and meaning of this sentence the same as the sentence I first quoted you?" He said "Yes." I asked him to re-phrase this sentence to make it clearer. He transformed it to: "Because a well-regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." I asked him whether the meaning could have changed in the 200 years. He said "no." I asked him whether this sentence could be interpreted to restrict the right to keep and bear arms to "a well-regulated militia." He said, "no." According to Mr. Brocki, the sentence means that the people are the militia, and that the people have the right which is mentioned. I asked him if another professional in English grammar or linguistics could interpret the sentence to mean otherwise. He said that he couldn't see any grounds for another interpretation. I asked him if he would be willing to stake his professional reputation on this opinion, and be quoted on this. He said, "yes." At no point in the conversation did I ask Mr. Brocki his opinion on the Second Amendment, gun control, or the right to keep and bear arms. J. Neil Schulman is the author of Alongside Night (1982) and The Rainbow Cadenza (1983). He has recently founded the Committee to Enforce the Second Amendment. He can be reached at P.O. Box 94 Long Beach, Ca. 90801

I usually dress to suit the outside temp. Last time out, 20 degrees with an ice storm going on. I had a layer of wool/thermax underwear, and a pair of polar fleece over the top and was hot after getting set up. Half hour later in the blind, moisture had escaped and I was dry and comfy underneath. As with anything I do, I layer accordingly. I have fished in a snow with the goretex and the only thing cold is the face and fingers. I work up alot more moisture in waders when hunting than I do while fishing. Main thing is to keep moisture away from skin so you don't get cold. Most Goretex waders are sized large enough to layer underneath. Poly Fleece, Polar Fleece, Wool/Thermax blends are great for cold. Duck season can run from 70 to 10 around here and usually I have alot of movement when hunting setting decoys, chasing cripples so I can be sweating one minute and drying out the rest of the time. Goretex is alot more flexible and forgiving than neoprene or cordura so I can get in and out of boats easier or wade further. Goretex is a wind blocker also that helps with the temp management also. Most Goretex waders transpire moisture even while standing in water, some better than others. There are comparisons on the internet for most of the major brands. You may get a moisture buildup from condensation while in water, but it will leave out when you walk in air.

24" reg will make some nice brownies on the tailwaters. I would like to see it on the Spring River also.

This one got ugly in a hurry. Who's having an Obama party next week?

I received it in an email today! The following is the winning entry in an annual contest at Texas A&M University calling for the most appropriate definition of a contemporary term: This year's term was Political Correctness. The winner wrote: "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end..."

Several fishing regulations changes are now in effect Several fishing regulations changes are now in effect LITTLE ROCK – A number of changes in fishing regulations for Arkansas anglers went into effect Jan. 1. Most are minor or local rules, but a couple apply statewide. One new rule will “allow the use of wood or cane poles anchored in the substrate of AGFC-owned lakes to support yo-yos and limblines.” Substrate means the lake bottom. What this rule means is that a fisherman can drive a wooden stake or push a cane pole into the bottom of an AGFC lake to hold yo-yos or limblines. What the rule does not mention, meaning it is not legal to do it, is to use rebar of other metal rods for these anchoring purposes. You can’t use a steel T-post. Metal posts and rods in the water can be hazards to boats. Wood or cane poles aren’t, as boats can bump over them or push them out of the way. The wooden or cane poles must be removed when the angler is done fishing the yo-yo. Another statewide rule is on on how to measure a fish. It received the additional words “on its side.” You measure a fish’s length from the top of the nose to the tip of the tail with the tail’s lobes pressed together. And you do it with the fish lying on its side, not upright. Other new rules in condensed form: * Live wild-caught bait can be used on Lake Norfork if the bait was caught “from the watershed above Lake Norfolk” as well as from the lake itself. * A 14-inch minimum length limit was placed on largemouth bass on the Ouachita River from Tate’s Bluff near Camden to Felsenthal Dam and on the lower Saline River from Stillion Bridge to its mouth. * A 20-inch minimum length limit was placed on flathead catfish in the lower Ouachita River between the mouth of the Little Missouri River and Camden. The rule is for both commercial and recreational fishing. * The boundary was clarified for the Narrows Tailwater Trout Area of the Little Missouri River below Lake Greeson. The boundary is now the Muddy Fork Road bridge at Murfreesboro. * A 15-inch minimum length limit on largemouth bass on Lake Jack Nolen near Greenwood was removed, and the daily limit recorded from 10 to six. Several fishing regulations changes are now in effect * Snaglines must be checked daily. The term was added to the rule on daily checks of trotlines. * Regulations on trout fishing boundaries on the White River below Bull Shoals Dam and Little Red River below Greers Ferry Dam were changed to read :”as indicated by signs.” * A 24-inch minimum length limit and a daily limit of one was put on brown trout on the white River below Bull Shoals Dam and on the North Fork River below Norfolk Dam. * Entergy Park Pond at Hot Springs was added to the AGFC’s Family and Community Fishing Program. * Fish farmers must keep records of sales and shipments for at least three years. * Shovelnose sturgeon were added to the list of Arkansas sport fish. There is no daily limit on them. * The boundary of the White River Border Lake area was changed to Houseman Access. * Hogging and noodling of fish (catching them by hand) will be allowed on Lake Charles and the Strawberry River below U.S. Highway 167. * Ten blue catfish may be taken on Lake Millwood in southwest Arkansas in addition to the daily limit of 10 catfish of all species, due to an overpopulation of blues in the lake. * Mobility impaired anglers must have an AGFC mobility impaired card on them when they fish Dry Run Creek in Baxter County near Norfolk Dam.

"Political Correctness-- a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end..."

"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end..."

Actually, fishing has declined in my lifetime. Many of the streams I fished when I was younger are now drying up or the fishing quality has decreased. More private land management and timber management would help alot of the watersheds. Gravel buildup by over harvest of timber and loss of forest near streams has really choked out alot of my old stomping grounds. Big River, Big Creek, Upper St Francois, Castor, Whitewater, Saline, Bear Creek, Hurricane Creek, Frederick Creek, Upper 11 pt, Warm Fork of the Spring River, Upper Current River, etc have all gotten shallower due to gravel and changes in the water tables or water shed. Fishing has declined in all of these streams in my lifetime of the last 40 years. One section of Frederick Creek and Hurricane Creek has disappeared completely from time to time due to droughts, gravel, and clear cuts. I second the motion that more needs to be done for enforcement, but alot needs to be done about Private Land Management also. MDC needs to work with the private landowners to manage all of the private land also.

It has been a few years since I have been to Lane Springs, used to hit it quite often. I know they were having alot of problems with campground damage and it was getting to be one of the Trolling hotspots for the local gays. 10 Years ago, you could fish and camp during the winter and the park was a change of pace. You can hit Mill Creek, Spring Creek, and Roubidoux all in one weekend.

Neoprene cushions the foot more than a layer of Goretex so it is more comfy and warm. It is also more resiliant than a layer of Goretex and takes more abuse. But, it does not breath. Actually, with the breathable waders, most of my moisture is build up around the back of the legs near the knees for some reason. I wore my Pro-Guides to the duck blind the other day, after busting ice and setting decoys, I had built up quite a bit of heat and moisture. I was sitting in the blind and watching the waders transpire the moisture thru the material at my knees and upper thighs, it was coming off like steam. The stuff really works. All of the new hi tech materials like Goretex and Under Armour make the outdoors so much more comfy than we had it 20 years ago.

I think a Fraidy Hole would be the last place to be in a major earthquake. I would want to be above ground. I started a thread on Earthquakes a few months ago. There was a swarm around Hot Springs this fall and one in Central Ill. this spring. Of course, we always have a swarm here in SE MO, several hundred a year on the New Madrid Fault. Recent Earthquakes in Central US

Which Game Camera are you using? Pretty good pics for a fixed lens.

It depends on the felt, some is glued on and some is stitched. Normally the boot wears out before the felt. Boots usually wear out before the waders.

Pics?? I don't have a solo canoe in my armada, at that price I may need one.

Don't forget to back up your pictures to DVD or CD in case of hard drive failure. I have done several laptops in the past year where the hard drive failed and it had a ton of pics on it. The last one I was able to recover 12 GB of pics, only the MBR was damaged and not the platters. I back up to a USB Drive and disconnect from computer in case of a viral attack along with the CD's. There used to be a day when people were concerned about documents and other personal stuff on the computer, now it is only the pics they don't have copies of. And always make a set of recovery disks when you buy a new computer and keep them where you can find them if you have a crash.

I love a good 1911 and had always disliked the Black Auto's, no style, no class, no customization. Last trip to Alaska, the friend I went with is a lefty and I wanted to supply a firearm for him also to carry when we fished apart. It would have been hard for him to sweep the safety on my 1911, so I bought my first Glock 21. Simply pull the trigger and it goes bang, short learning curve, and surprisingly it hit where it is pointed. Then came the M&P full size and the compact and my 1911 has not seen daylight for a few years. I have owned and shot many 1911's. They can be finicky with ammo, they can jam, stovepipe, and get loose and sloppy. The dreaded Black Autos are fairly consistant, shoot anything you feed them in reason, and shoot the same way every time. I am still looking for a good deal on a Para Ordinance or a Colt Combat Commander. I have seen a few 38 supers coming around again and might have to latch on to one.

Used X-police turn ins can be found in the $300 range, regular used in good shape $400-$450 depending on model. Used guns are scarce now. Every one is in buy mode, not trade mode.

Is Lane Spring completely closed as in gated off or is the water and restrooms just shut off and locked up? Used to you could stay there, just no facilities. Montauk is not far, don't know where you are coming from. Licking has a nice, cheap motel at the 4 way for about $40 a night. Then there is Rolla.

From the amount of use, you will probably want to go with a midrange pair of Goretex waders. I have a pair of Orvis Silver Labels I bought in 2000 that I have used to fish, kayak, and duck hunt. They have been drug thru brush, over the edges of boats and duck blinds, busted ice, and kneeled in gravel and have not been patched. They get worn an average of 40 times per year. I have a pair of Hodgeman Breathables, not goretex, their own version, that are leaking after about 20 uses while duck hunting. I have a heavier pair of Orvis Goretex waders, the Pro Guide series I use in the winter, I have worn them probably 50 times over the past 3 seasons including a week in Alaska where they got more use than the jeans I wore. They are still in fine shape. Goretex is lightweight, packs down easy for travel, lets sweat escape, and keeps you cooler/warmer in the summer/winter. You can layer thermals or fleece under them to suit the water temp you are going to be wading in. You can roll them down and use them as waist high waders in shallow water. When the goretex stockingfoot waders get dirty, put them in the washer on the gentle cycle and was them. Stockingfoot waders let you choose the boot needed for the type of water you are wading. I have a cleated sole for hunting and wading mud, felt soles or felt soles with studs for rocks. The chest waders with a belt actually trap air and give you some floatation if you take a swim. Neoprenes give you some floatation also, as well as warmth. They are usually hot in summer. Hippers fill up if you take a swim and drag you down.

Doctors vs. Gun owners Doctors (A) The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000. ( Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000. © Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171. Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Now think about this: Guns (A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000. (Yes, that's 80 million) ( The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500. © The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is .000188. Statistics courtesy of FBI >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> So, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Remember, 'Guns don't kill people, doctors do.' >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN, BUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Please alert your friends to this alarming threat. We must ban doctors before this gets completely out of hand!!!!! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Out of concern for the public at large, I withheld the statistics on lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention!

I have used Photoshop Elements for years and it works great. I still use an older version, 3.5. If you want something simple and free try Gimp, Faststone Image Viewer, and the software that come with most cameras will edit, crop, fix redeye, etc. Google Gimp Image Edit or Faststone Image Viewer to get download pages.

How often do you wear a pair of waders and how do you store them? Hip waders are worthless unless you are going to be in knee deep water, any deeper than that and they end up becoming 2 lead weights to anchor you to the bottom. Most trout streams exceed the limits of a hip wader. You Any modern chest waders will serve you well as long as you care for them. Dry them by hanging by boots or feet then fold them up and store in temperature controlled environment. There is no "treatments". Goretex or Breathables are the best out there and can be had for less than $150. Neoprene or other materials will be cheaper.