ness

Ahh -- that's the only way to be!

I can't help but think a little change in your technique could help. Maybe tie in a little wider strip of tail then you normally do, and make sure those first wraps at the back don't splay the fibers out. Also, make sure it's laying right where you want it before you wrap. Do one fairly loose wrap, make that final adjustment, be sure the fibers are still together then finish with a few tighter wraps.

Good post, rcguy.

Yeah, where's a guy like Harry when you need him? He rose to prominence in the Senate primarily through his efforts to root out waste in government military spending. He didn't make many friends, but he wasn't looking to make friends.

95th Street? That's 'Old OP' now Did you shop at the 'French Market'?

Yikes.

Think 'Macarena'.

I'm wrapping up post production on my documentary 'Trout Gone Wild: Salmonid Sinners'. It will answer all your questions.

I'm ok with taking care of people who can't take care of themselves. But as with everything government -- it starts out as a good idea and then they keep adding layers. And with a system that bloated you obviously can't turn it off immediately. There certainly are people in the system who don't need our help. Those are the ones I think we need to weed out. Like my brother's friend who has soaked up 2 years worth of unemployment without really trying to get a job. His wife's a teacher, so they get by. She gets benefits and a state guaranteed retirement when she's 50-something. But he sits on the couch waiting for high-paying employer to come knock on the door and offer him a job. Yet the 'illegal Mexican' finds his way to California. Were they better equipped with their backpack and water bottle? Or is it that those substandard jobs should go to others, so we can keep our kind nice and comfy? Kinda harsh, I know. But when you're basic needs are taken care of, there's really not much incentive for Podunkians to go west. I think you're sensationalizing a bit, but I'll take a stab at it: You take care of the ones that can't take care of themselves. That includes kids, handicapped, disabled, whatever. But there needs to be a rigorous review process that includes exploring what family or private resources are available as an alternative. Right, it's not exactly a business, but it needs to practice sound financial management nonetheless. There's a few thousand years of history to draw from to see what happens when you get that wrong. I'm not against government spending, and certainly don't think shutting it off is anywhere near possible. But like a business, the government should spend wisely, and operate within boundaries. It's abundantly clear to me that the current spending and borrowing patterns cannot continue on this trajectory. Everything, and I mean literally everything, is dependent on confidence in our fiscal stability. If that goes, we're gonna have problems that make the current ones seem tame in comparison. But.......only difference is we just keep them barely comfortable? Well, protecting too-big-to-fail companies comes in several flavors. Banks and the financial markets run on credit. If it dries up -- like it nearly did in the fall of 2008 -- you're facing problems of a magnitude that are almost unimaginable. Picture this: you've got money in the bank, but the bank can't clear your check, so the grocery store won't take it. Or your paycheck bounces. Not saying it's always justified, but it's a big one. Saving Chrysler, GM, GMAC, whatever: I've got mixed feelings. Chrysler and GM were so shaky that they went from business as usual to insolvent in a matter of a few months. No politician anywhere is gonna thumb his nose at the UAW and say you're on your own. But, in the long run it might have been best to let them fail and let things readjust to equilibrium. That may have meant some pain for a lot of folks, but a brighter future. As it is, the pensions are still a mess with no fix in sight. Kinda like their new partner's.

Yeah, I know. 27 miles one way.

Bingo.

I thought I re I thought I recognized that casting stroke

Not picking on you Al -- you make some good points here. Just wanna add my take on them: True -- military and entitlements are huge expenditures, but I can't help but think there's plenty of room for improvement in the way those funds are spent. It's viewed as almost sacrilegious to say we should cut military spending, because we've been trained to believe that means you don't 'support the troops'. What I don't support is reckless spending on military equipment and endeavors. I'd like to see us be a lot more prudent about the money we spend and which foreign causes we feel a need to pony up for. We should rethink being the world's police force. We simply can't afford it. As far as the high rate of assistance in the Ozarks: The government essentially provides an incentive for people to remain in economically depressed areas. I wouldn't advocate pulling the rug out, but I think we ought to get out of the business of helping people who won't help themselves. I can accept a little spillage, but I don't believe we're putting enough effort into helping just the helpless. No doubt a lot of folks simply find it's more convenient to suck at the government teet. We should rooting those deadbeats out. For the rest, who are able, we should be making them get to work filling potholes, picking up trash, whatever. I guess I'm more skeptical than you about the need or validity of every program. As far as too many people for too few jobs: It should work itself out through good old supply and demand for the most part. But, we have a minimum wage and essentially incent some people not to work through unemployment benefits...so it gets a little more complicated. You can be sure that's a large part of why we ended up with 12 million illegal immigrants doing the jobs we feel are beneath us or don't pay enough to get us off the couch. When we insert these non-economic elements into the equation, in ever increasing amounts, we create our own problems. It seems like a good idea at the time, and all people/voters like more money, but we're just borrowing from the prosperity of our future. Part of what I find discouraging, even maddening, is the exaggeration of these points by so many, including our President. I thinks it's poor leadership, irresponsible and pandering to tell tales of kids without food, teachers fired, air traffic controllers furloughed, long(er) lines at airports for flights that will be less safe. It's just another example of politicians boiling a complex issue down to a few sentences that make it all sound sooo obvious and the opponents soooo bad. What really sucks though is that this is a result of our legislators -- all of them -- not being able to rise above the petty, personal BS and work for the American people. In the grand scheme, these cuts are minuscule -- approximately 2 percent of annual expenditures. Any enterprise that can't withstand a 2% hiccup needs to freaking rethink things. Correcting the situation will certainly cause some pain, but it's just payback for all the excesses we've been enjoying. We're at the point where we have made promises we can't possibly keep. We've assumed the burden of insuring everyone is comfortable and has healthcare when we can't possibly know what those costs will be in the future, much less create a self-sufficient program for it all in the present. Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, other welfare total around 60% of expenditures. Defense is around 20%. We've become largely dependent on foreign capital for the normal operation of our country. About 1/3 of the national debt is owned by foreign entities. Another 1/3 is held in trust for entitlements. (That's kinda like taking out a loan to pay your bills).The debt and deficit need to be corrected -- quickly and permanently. Throughout our 200+ years we've been through ups and downs and have emerged as the wealthiest nation on earth, ever. Lot's of folks will say we'll make it through -- because we always do. Well, I'm not Chicken Little, but I will say -- it isn't a sure thing. It never is.

Just wrapped up "Woe to Live On" by Ozark writer Daniel Woodrell. I can't remember who it was here that recommended him, but I'd like to say thanks. He's a talented author that I'm gonna read more of. You may know him from "Winter's Bone". WTLO was about the border wars before/during the Civil War, told from the perspective of a pro-slave Missouri bushwhacker. Awful good read that captures what those violent times were like. You Tiger fans would enjoy the section on the burning of Lawrence.

Kinda depends on the seeds. If it was a cache from grandpa, I'd do about whatever I could to get them going. If it's an old box of my stuff I forgot about, well... I live in Shawnee and work in Grandview, so I know both areas pretty well.

Yeah, I've got most of my stuff started in the basement. I kinda stagger them out based on where I want them when it's time to plant. Peppers, maters, herbs, onions started back in January. Followed up with some Alpine strawberries, annual flowers, ground cherries. Will start lettuce, cabbage, this week. blue79: Seeds will last for more than the current year depending on how they're stored, what kind they are, etc. Cool and dry conditions are the best. Some of my starts this year are 3 year old seed. I'd do a germination test on the old stuff you're interested in trying: wet a folded paper towel, lay out a bunch of seeds, fold it over and place in a sealed baggie. Keep in a warm place -- I use the back of my shop lights over the ballast. Check every couple days and see what happens. Some will naturally sprout fast, some slow so be patient. If you catch them just as they sprout, but before a root gets into the paper towel, you can gently transfer those to some seed starting material.

I agree with duckydoty

Yeah CWF -- I'd do it for sure. It's a Saturday next year -- even better. For the naysayers, it's not about fishing really. It's a chance to shake off the shack-nasties while pretending to fish. Since there's about a 50-50 chance the weather will be miserable, you can fish the first 30 minutes then call it a day. Drink a little brown likker, smoke a stogie er two, fart with with folks who appreciate it, eat greasy fried foods, tell some lies, play some cards, whatever. Gawd I do love it so.

Nice report and nice fish, Ollie. That rainbow's a chunk! My tummy tells me the browns are generally caught downstream and the rainbows upstream. Can anybody shed any light on that theory?

Welp, the frame on my Smith's cracked over the lens. Gonna gather up my paperwork and take advantage of the lifetime warranty -- again. The prescription photochromic glass is near perfect, though a click or two behind on prescriptions.

Not the handsomest bird around, but they are kinda cool they way they fly together, lock their wings and glide. I didn't know we got them around here.

With the heavy snows last week and another 10 inches or so today on top I wasn't able to go to work today. I was able to get a start on the first pattern I'm tying though -- a popper. I'll be working on number 2 tonight

Very cool! Thanks for sharing those.

I should. It's clearly defective.

Kinda depends. I do like to fish alone -- just do it when, where, and how long I want. If I want to take a break, smell the roses, smoke a stogie, explore a little, whatever -- I can do it without thinking about what the other guys have in mind. It's nice to just be there alone, soak it up, not interact with humans -- which I get plenty of in day-to-day living. But, I also love to fish with others too. I've gotten to be friends with a few folks through the internet -- the old Conservation Cafe, Ozark Chronicles and now here. Good folks to spend a weekend with. It's just gotten harder to find the time and sync up for a weekend the last few years. I've got local friends I like to fish with too, but it's gotten just about as hard to hook up with them as it is my St. Louis buds. What I've enjoyed the most the last few years is 'guiding' my daughter and nephews. The nephews are in their 20s and both aspiring fly fishermen. My daughter's college age, and has come back around to wanting to spend a little time with pops (especially when there's nothing better to do). When I'm with them, the whole dynamic changes and I'm 100% focused on getting them fish. I get more exited about their success then I ever do on my own.