ness

Zack is right -- it's a Ford/Chevy-type thing. Everybody's got a favorite reel or brand it seems. Fact is, I don't really think there are any flat-out bad reels out there. I bought an Orvis Battenkill many years ago, and I just keep buying them, or spools for them. They work, never give me any trouble, so I don't know why I'd change. Did upgrade to a Battenkill mid-arbor, mainly 'cause I liked the way it looked. We'll see how it holds up. Don't sweat the reel decision too much.

Wrong and wrong, and it's got nothing to do with nothing anyway.

Something to keep in mind: the camera is really just a tool. You've got a good one, and a good lens. Now it's ALL up to you. I'd suggest reading up on how to take good photos of the things you're interested in. Christmas morning indoor kid shots, kid sports, wildlife, landscape, whatever -- there are tricks in how to setup and take the best shot. You'll likely start out on the "green" or program modes, and those are fine. But get to the point where you know how a camera works, and understand light and composition so you can the most out of the things you're shooting. That will get you more than just a 'snapshot'. Good luck and have fun -- it's a great hobby.

I'm used to getting defecated on here. Ooops! I'll delete that if you want me to Dano.

I said generally stay within the system. ness always hedges. And I agree with the rest of what you said, generally.

Wow, Rat. How'd we get here? I've looked around on the net some the last couple days, and the whole forfeiture thing is summed up pretty well on a cornell.edu page. Didn't keep the link, but it wasn't hard to find. Here's a couple interesting points: 1) There's criminal and civil forfeiture. Criminal means taking ill-gotten gains. Civil, means taking property used in the commission of a crime and has a lower hurdle. No conviction necessary. The property owner has the burden of proof, it's the property that effectively on trial. Weird, huh? 2) It's been debated and tested for decades, including at the Supreme Court . So far, it's still out there, but it's been fine-tuned over the years due to the challenges and abuses. 3) There's also a number of stories out on the web about Camp Zoe. Lotsa flower-power stuff, lotsa people talking about how shady the people and the operation were. The only real thing we've got at this point is the complaint. 4) I went fishing with my kids last month. We had fun. Daughter, who rarely wants to go anymore, caught several trout on an 18 Cahill. Happy now, Rat? Some things to keep in mind, and our lawyers/law students can probably speak to this better: law is ever-changing, and always imperfect. No doubt people sometimes end up getting screwed. Hell, is there any doubt in anyone's mind that at least one innocent fellow has been executed over the last couple hundred years? But...this is the system we've got, and it's probably the best one out there. But still not perfect, and it will be tweaked. You can dream about legalized pot, banning sweeteners, free love, whatever. But from a practical standpoint, you probably oughta get your azz outta bed on time, drive your fully-licensed car the speed limit to work, do what your boss says, drive your fully-licensed car the speed limit home from work, pay your taxes and generally work within the system. Camp Zoe didn't, and now they've got a mess on their hands.

Ouch -- 9 hours one way? Well, you gotta do what you gotta do. Let us know how you did and post up some pics.

Yeah, I'm sure Verizon is greasing the palms of The Man so he'll look the other way. They probably narced on that upstanding, law-abiding, musician/small business owner down there too. Look guys -- this ain't a conspiracy, and the government isn't running amok. The guy hasn't lost a thing yet, except the use of his money. It's healthy to question, but it's nuts when you throw common sense out and start seeing the boogie man around every corner. Smallie, I'm not naive. Carefully read my post -- the parts about 'right under the nose of management/security' and repeated 'drug sales to undercover agents' have a great deal of importance in all this. For forfeiture opponents -- does that opposition extend to planes, boats or cars used to smuggle drugs or illegal aliens? Or to weapons used in crimes? Or fishing tackle used illegally*? Drug paraphernalia? Who of you would stand idly by and let drug dealers sell out of your driveway? You'd call the cops because it's illegal, and you don't want the risk. That's what this guy shoulda done too. More realistically,if he would have at least made an honest effort to prevent it, he wouldn't be in trouble right now. He screwed up, and now it's outta his hands. * see, it's still fishing related. Barely.

Yes, I'm gonna guess sales and consumption of hard drugs, and repeated drug sales to undercover agents, isn't occurring at Verizon right under the nose of management/security. Have you got something solid to back your claim up?

There's obviously a difference between a few guys passing a joint around in the dark in a crowd of 10,000 people and a small outdoors venue where hard drugs are openly consumed and sold, repeatedly, to undercover agents. That's probably why your point was ignored.

Phil -- am I remembering correctly that you're from Pratt? I think I saw that somewhere. We hunted Pratt & Greensburg area over the weekend. Lotsa birds this year but really wet and muddy and hard to get around. Justin -- Good luck with your trip this weekend. I may go out again, not quite sure what the plans are yet. I remember Finn -- is he a hunter? RSBreth -- sorry to hear that. It's never easy to lose one, much less two. Time to get a new one ready for next year!

I don't know much about the place, but I think the argument that has been expressed a couple times now that somehow this 'contained' drug use is better needs to be tempered somewhat. While it would certainly be better to have all impaired folks corralled for the weekend, it seems like the place was a safe haven for the use and sale of drugs, and therefore encouraged and likely increased their use. There's nothing preventing these folks from driving out the gate. And drug dealers aren't always nice guys, from what I've heard, so who knows what could have happened? Maybe the big hammer was necessary. Nothing's been taken away from this guy yet. A seizure just means he can't access the money, and the property is still his. This things gotta work its way through the system before we know the outcome. I'm waiting to see the arrests come down. They did say they bought drugs -- those guys gotta go to jail. Al -- you make a good point about law enforcement taking the easy way out at times. I've often thought just a little pressure on an area could turn things around a little. Make a few appearances, or even a few busts and word will get around. On the other hand, I can see how a handful of cops trying to roust a dozen drunks at an access could get pretty ugly too.

Seems like they'd want to nab the actual drug dealers, not the guy providing the venue. No more concerts; drugs still flowing. Also seems like there ought to be more to it, but the actual complaint only states the owners allowed the drug sales to occur. Maybe there's more info to come. If you'd like to donate, there's this available to you.

I'm a Kansas guy, but hunt some in NW Missouri. Mixed reports coming from there this year. A friend hunted Bilby and didn't see a bird, nor did the folks he talked too. We saw several pheasants up on a property near Tarkio a couple weeks ago (youth) but didn't shoot. Did a long tough hunt near Maryville but struck out again. Great habitat, a ton of turkeys but only one rooster. Haven't seen a quail this year. KS opener this weekend...

Will do. I think.

What the hell? That one zipped right over your headdress, Cheef. Nevuh mind.

[birthday wish rescinded due to nastiness on other thread]

Hey KA, TF -- let's try to keep this thread on track. Geez.

Thanks for the green light, oh great one. Not wanting to blow this opportunity, I have consulted one of the foremost resources for mean names. Someplace I'm sure you're familiar with: Cheezus.com/mean so, here I go: Chief ... you're a pale-toed sphincter jockey!

When I was just a young boy My mamma told be son Someday you'll meet a dreamer Whose life has just begun And then there'll be another A name like Mic-O-Say They'll say he has a good heart You serious? No way! But tell them how they should be They'll soon see things your way Just know that you can't cure them It's in their DNA

When I hear that whistle blowin' I hang my head and cry.

3 people jump my bones and there's been 1,500 views and there are something like 6,000 members. Get it now? The rest of your post is just nonsense.

Eric: I simply suggested we steer away from the politics. There were a couple posts heading that direction, by folks other than you too. Go back and read my first post with a cooler head, and then read your response and the progression all the way up to 'zip your pie hole'. I think what I suggested was pretty reasonable, and based on the history of problems in that area and requests by the site owner to avoid it. If the real moderators don't like me jumping in occasionally, they haven't mentioned anything to me yet. Your problem is you feel the need to respond to every single post, usually with some twisted world-view embedded in the response. You're like the nerdy kid who can't get anyone to see his point of view. He gets pissed because he can't make his point, and assumes everyone else is stupid because of it. This forum has given you a platform, and it's obviously one of the most important things in your life. Have a ball. Before you stretch the dislike of my methods into endorsements of your nonsense, consider the hundreds of members here that haven't posted and the 1,800-plus views of this thread as evidence that no one gives a rip what you think. You've made yourself completely irrelevant. Chief: Now we can add Jackwagon to Nancy Boy and dickweed. Keep 'em coming. I love the intelligent discourse.

I didn't single you out -- I made a general comment about politics and this forum. You tagged me King Ness, and then loaded on this crap. It's the same as always Eric -- jump to the conclusion it's directed at you and over do your response. You're narcissistic, your positions are poorly supported and you often make statements aggrandizing yourself. Closing in on 2000 posts? Don't you have a diaper to change? NOW -- that was directed at you. Chief -- you're still a putz. A mean-spirited one at that who somehow feels it's OK to say anything to anybody. Rat -- take your own advice, simply put. You guys ever read what you type?

Oh -- now it's personal. Nice. Goodbye, as in you're leaving? What will we do without your constantly flogging the forum with your political BS? Maybe talk about fishing? It's just old Eric. Really old. The vast majority of the folks here just don't give a rat's arse what you think about that stuff, and you're largely ineffective in making your points because of your inability to steer clear of it. You think you've ever changed anybody's mind here? Nope. So, you just like to hear yourself talk, right? It's a forum about the Ozarks, dude.