How Do You Like Your Elk? Poached?

A rule that has stood for twenty five years apparently has no sound basis. It seems, in it's infinite wisdom, the Interior Department is going to ease the ban on guns in our National Parks and wildlife refuges.

I posted a protest back in April when this was proposed and I feel as strongly about it now. At the time a commenter, who happened to be a law enforcement officer, felt he should be permitted to carry his weapon. I could find no fault with that. However, I do have a problem with John Q. Citizen.

Our National Parks are basically sanctuaries for the wildlife that call them home. They are also a sanctuary for the millions of people who visit them. The biggest danger one should face is from ones own stupidity for hassling the animals. Tired, unruly children can cause tempers to run thin. Knowing someone who has had enough might be carrying a concealed weapon and feel called upon to use it does not give me comfort.

The system for detection now is flawed. True. But why not mend it rather than making it easier?

Of more importance, I think it will increase the odds for poaching some of those magnificent animals. Maybe that, too, goes on now. I don't know, but why make it easier?

We may not be able to keep guns out of schools. We may not be able to keep the police from wanting to have guns in schools. But I'd like to think I could take kids to our National Parks and not have to worry about - guns!

Frankly, I prefer my elk as pictured above. Peacefully grazing on a warm summer day. Without worrying about - guns.

Build A Better Burg(er) And They Will Come!

Every once in awhile the little town we share a zip code with grabs my attention. I've mentioned before I have a fondness for Rathdrum, Idaho. With the larger nearby towns of Post Falls and Hayden ever encroaching on it's boundaries, they remain staunchly independent while searching for an identity.

I think it may be right under their nose and they have yet to recognize it! It has the potential of becoming the foodie capital of northern Idaho. Not high tone cuisine, mind you, but good stick to the ribs fair. Like great Mexican and Burgers. Yep. Burgers.

First there was
Burger Heaven which has been a favorite of mine since we got here eight years ago. My fellow blogger turned restaurant critic gave it very high marks and I totally agree.

Then came the Salsa Chic who decided Rathdrum was the ideal location for her manufacturing facility and eatery. She's gone from selling her salsa at the local farm markets to national exposure on the likes of the Today Show . Again, deservedly so.

Just this last week I read that another great burger place from Coeur d'Alene, Longboard Burgers, is also opening up in Rathdrum. My bud from Get Out North Idaho gave it rave reviews too.

Now the kids have gotten into the act. Seven years young Charlie Beckett entered Red Robin's "The Next Gourmet Burger Kid's Recipe Contest" and walked off with first place. He's off to visit Jay Leno and his creation, the "Holy-Peno Burger" will be featured on Red Robin's menu for a month this summer with 50 cents from each sale going to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

How great is that?

I've been reading where a group of Rathdrum's Main Street merchants have been meeting to discuss a direction for their town. Well, here it is! You've a pretty good start right here! Take a look at the Food Channel's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives to see what kind of traffic these places can generate when they're really good! Hey, run with it!

Ah, this post has warmed my heart. Maybe it's the season, but it's kind of nice to have some bragging rights for the ole zip code!

Gas Warfare!

The auto industry is in shambles. The price of gas is like a see saw; up and down, up and down. The green machine is trying to force the car manufacturers to build green cars that will run on battery power for maybe 40 miles at a crack. The tax payer is being asked to fork over billions for this effort. Never mind that no one will buy the cars anyway. At least not here in northern Idaho where pick ups are required equipment. And a forty mile drive may just get you to the grocery store before you'd have to recharge to return home. It needs a tad more study.

On the other hand, as is the way of the government, they are looking at charging farmers fees if they have gas producing animals! Okay, the technology for capturing gas from cows and pigs hasn't been perfected, but is it fair to fine those who raise them for a habit that comes naturally?

Yep. The Environmental Protection Agency officially states that greenhouse gases emitted by belching and flatulence is air pollution!

Here is the fee schedule: more than 25 dairy cows - $175 each; more than 50 beef cattle - $87.50/head; more than 200 hogs - $20 each.

That is estimated to cost a modest sized ranch upwards of $30,000 a year when they can barely buy food for the critters to begin with! Then there is worry that it might extend to chickens and other farm animals leading to our having to import them rather than raising them therefore putting another whole industry into more trouble than it already has and we already subsidize! Whew. That was a tough sentence to get out!

We best keep an eye on this or it could adversely affect we humans too. Not from a consumers point of view but from a consumption point of view. Think about how Uncle Charlie relaxes after too much Thanksgiving dinner? Think about what the boys around the TV emit after consuming too many beers while watching the big game!

It could turn ugly. They could charge me a fee for having Bacchus. He's been known to let loose on occasion. What about my fish? What's in those bubbles they blow?

Where will it stop? Where will it stop? As Kermit the Frog once said, "It isn't easy being green." Indeed. I'm turning green just thinking about it!

Barbara's "View" Vs. Dogwalk's - Fascinating!

Tonight is another night for outstanding television "view"ing. Uh, oh. When I start playing around with words you know serious stuff is probably on the back burner for the day.

Well, yes and no. Basically yes. Tonight Barbara Walter's list of The Ten Most Fascinating People will air. I read the list with eager anticipation. What luminaries would be subjects of her probing interviews this year? What might we learn about them that we didn't already know?

Then I read the names. The only one not revealed, of course, is the number one. But that's okay. I thought there would be enough to whet my appetite. Well, it did. For a glass of wine and a good book!

Okay, here we go. Olympian Michael Phelps. What did we not learn about this young man during the Olympics? This young man who spends his entire life training. Oh well, he did make a splash at the time.

Will Smith. Tom Cruise. That they are both Scientologists is old news. If they departed the cult after all this time; now that would be fascinating.

Tina Fey? As good an actress as she is, there is no way she is more fascinating than the woman she impersonates - Sarah Palin. And Palin, herself. I must admit she fascinates me no end. Is she for real or is she just a bad dream that will be gone when I wake up?

I'll pass on Miley Cyrus. It's a generational thing. I'm still a bit fascinated by her Dad, however. How a mediocre talent built a career out of one hit song and a mullet escapes me!

She may have an attention getter with Thomas Beatie as a representative of the increasing visibility of trans gender couples. I must admit I wasn't aware this was happening, and quite frankly can do without being enlightened.

Frank Langella? The luck of landing a role in the film, Frost/Nixon, seems more a stroke of luck than fascinating. Maybe this is a tip of the hat to Whoopi who at one time had a relationship with him.

Oops! Nearly forgot. Rush Limbaugh. He's fascinating all right. How a man who couldn't cut it as a sportscaster; who used to be funny until he decided to pretend he is an intellect and who got off scott free for Doctor shopping to feed his oxycontin habit continues to rake in multimillion's of dollars for dispersing less than accurate information is indeed fascinating. I'm not sure that's what Barbara has in mind though.

Naturally she's being coy about number one. Speculation is that it's Obama himself. I don't know. With all the really fascinating people that could have been chosen for the other slots, I have a hunch Obama may not have been tapped.

Wow. What a line up. I've read blogs that are written by more fascinating people.

Oh well, what the heck. Walters gave up her claim on professional journalism when she became an entertainer. That's all The View is - entertainment. Such as it is. Why would I expect her list to be anything different?

Ah, let's see. What chapter am I on?

Republican Wins Good For The Country

Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss has won his bid for re-election. Many thank Sarah Palin for his win. That is a bit frightening and says little for the strength of the candidate, but he did prevail. Al Franken is trying every trick in the book and then some to deny Republican Norm Coleman a win in their recount but Coleman still leads by the most narrow of margins. I sincerely hope Coleman wins.

This from the person who practically bled blue this past election cycle? Yep. I bled blue for Obama; not a filibuster proof Senate. Even before the election was decided and there appeared to be a possibility that the Democrats would make huge gains, the warning flags went up. The Democrats didn't even try to conceal their hubris. It concerned me.

With comments from Barney Frank regarding the economic melt down suggesting we'd just print more money to the Senate Democrats giving Joe Lieberman a complete pass on his infidelity with the Republicans, I knew instinctively that bi-partisan co-operation was not a part of their game plan.

Now they are going to have to work a bit harder to get their legislative agenda passed. That could mean huge wins for us. We, the people. They are going to have to write it in such a way Republicans will vote for it which means more centrist than either side would like.

We may have been promised change from the top, but these old war horses in the House and Senate aren't going to change their ways unless we threaten them with the glue factory.

We see a strong cabinet being put together; huge egos aside, it contains a powerhouse of expertise and ability. That's the Executive Branch. We can't change Congress quite as quickly but we can make inroads until they too realize there is too much at stake for us to tolerate their shenanigans. Al Franken, you might take note, should you win.

So once again, it's as it should be. Power divvied up so no one party holds it all. Two years from now they'll get their report card and the administration will get a not so sneak preview of how they're doing. We may not really be able to send them to the glue factory but we sure as heck can keep putting them out to pasture!