Colorado Fly Fishing – Bait Huckin' vs. Fly Fishin'

This scene looks like fishing in the Thousand Islands, NY or in Northern Minnesota. I've fished in the states of Minnesota, New York, Colorado, and Ohio. I am old fashioned.....I like live bait..........worms, minnows, crawdads, etc. I like jigs, plugs, etc., but was never interested in fly fishing! My favorite "fishing holes" in Colorado are the Poudre River, near Fort Collins, and a bunch of stocked ponds in the same area. I guess I haven't had a fishing license in over 10 years!


It was one of those fishing trips. You know, everyone catches fish but you, you loose six or eight of your most expensive streamers, it rains buckets, and you sink the boat. That’s right; I got skunked at Steamboat Lake over Memorial weekend.

I was determined to show those meat huckers (worms and power bait) that a well chosen and strategically placed fly was as effective as anything a conventional fisherman could load on a hook and hang under a bobber. Well, no such luck, I got stomped.

The fish were rising like mad on a midge hatch, and I threw everything in the box at them. I could swear I saw a hefty rainbow nudge my fly to the side to eat the natural laying only centimeters from my damn near perfect replica. As we watched the group of 12 year olds add another 18” fish to their stringer (full loaded, I might add) I decided it must be a lake thing. I don’t fish lakes often.

I usually have good luck with a streamer in faster moving water, so I head for one on the several tributaries hoping to get the boat up far enough to make a make a few good casts. No such luck, here comes the wind. Determined and frustrated, I proceed to lose several of my best streamers in the dense shrubbery surrounding the mouth of the creek (can’t retrieve them since the current is too strong to get the boat any further up the creek).

On the way back to camp we are passed by a couple of boats with stringers of fish crashing off the bows of their boats (hmmm, are they just rubbing it my face, or are they tenderizing the meat?)Questioning my decision to become a fly fisherman, I head over to the dock to pick up my 5 year-old son and a fresh styro of night crawlers. I'll let my son fish the meat before I crumble and load one up on the spinner myself. Surprising, no luck with the meat either, and hear comes the rain. I throw my arms up and ponder my karma activity of the past year.

We charge for shore as the lake turns to white caps. The rain and lightning moves in fast. Did I mention that we got the boat for free and have no clue what to do in the rain? We pull the boat up close to shore near our camp, outside of the no-wake zone. We leave all of our gear and head for the soggy camp.

Well, apparently it’s best to leave your boat in protected cove in the no wake zone. From what we could tell, our boat was hammered with 300 to 400 gallons of water from the waves and boat wakes from boaters rushing back to the dock. Yes, it sank in 18 inches of water. I didn’t realize a boat could sink in 18” of water! All of our gear is floating around the shore. The gas tank and gear which included an Orvis waste pack with hmmmm, some 500 plus flies. Every box any fly had to be opened and dried on the dashboards of our trucks.

We bail the boat, load the truck and haul our soggy gear and crippled egos back home.

Next Memorial Day, it’s back to the river!!!

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com


About the Author:
Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of writing journals for fly fishing. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more about the great outdoors as well as fly fishing articles and stories.

Model Trains

I had an extensive model train layout when I was young...vintage Lionel .027 gauge, 12' X 16'. I sold it when in college to one of my dad's coworkers younger son. Seeing the vast increase in prices of Lionel equipment..........I had a dozen remote switches, for example. I regret it.

I hope to have another layout, if I ever get to my retirement digs..this time will be in HO scale.

Model train manufacturers have done a great job of recreating life size trains as realistic models. And they’ve been doing it since the late 19th century when electric model trains first appeared. Take a moment to discover the magic of model trains.

Germany is where it all began when Marklin introduced their full line of model trains back in 1891. Their first trains were based on earlier toy models and were available in three scales. They were made from tin and were very crude, but they were a great success.

Then, in 1901, Joshua Cowen entered the market with Lionel trains. Lionel would soon come to dominate the model train market in America.

Of course there were other companies that came on board with their own lines of model trains. Ives, American Flyer, and Marx all introduced model trains.

Because model trains are so interactive they are a great choice for children and adults. Even the youngest children can enjoy them. It’s not uncommon for adults to recall their first train when talking about their fondest childhood memories.

Lionel was quick to recognize the importance of starting train collectors at a young age and that’s why they’ve got wooden train sets for ages 4 to 6. By the age of 8, kids are ready to be introduced to S scale, G scale, and the ever popular HO scale electric trains. And the hobby continues into adult life. Of course expanding on your model trains is just a matter of time, money, creativity, and space.

There are several different scales of model trains to choose from to fit your space, budget, and personal preferences. For example, if you are limited by space you can choose one of the smaller scales. Here are some of the most popular scale choices you have.

1. Z Scale is a 1:220 ratio. It is tiny and highly detailed, and is an excellent choice if you have limited space.

2. N Scale is a 1:160 ratio. It is the second smallest scale available and it’s a great choice for the hobbyist that want to be able to incorporate scenery and longer trains.

3. HO Scale is a 1:87 ratio. It is probably the most popular scale of model train. There is an endless supply of trains, cars, tracks, buildings, and scenery. The detail on HO is good and a fabulous setup can be put together in a reasonable amount of space.

4. S Scale is a 1:64 ratio. It is larger than the HO and is popular among those with plenty of room. It is the scale of American Flyer products.

5. O Scale is a 1:48 ratio. It is a popular choice for young children because they are able to easily handle them. Lionel carries a full line of O scale for the young ones.

6. G Scale is a 1:22.5 ratio. It is the perfect choice for the garden set up. Bachmann, L.G.B, and Aristo-Craft all make G scale trains.

To put together your model train you will need at least one engine along with some train cars. You can decide whether you want passenger cars or freight cars. And of course you will need train track. The type of track and how much track you’ll need is a personal choice.

You’ll also need a transformer to provide the electricity to your train. Then all that’s left is the scenery you want. Choose trees, tunnels, people, signals, or a host of other items.

If you are looking for a fun and rewarding hobby, why not discover the magic of model trains?




About the Author:

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for GetModelTrains.com. To learn more about model train kits, and model train sets, visit us.

Read more articles by: Gray Rollins

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Preparing For A Natural Disaster, Terrorists Attack Or Bird Flu Pandemic

I have been doing this (preperation), since three days before 1-1-2000..and I gotta tell you the "pickings were slim"........camp stoves, flashlights, batteries, MREs, etc. were out of stock....I had to go to at least 5 stores just to get bottled water. That was mere speculation....imagine a disaster! I have a "bug out" kit complete with surgical instruments and KI.

How prepared are you? Will you be like thousands of others and wait until the last minute to stock up on food and water? Do you even have a working flashlight in your home or auto? As we have clearly seen, waiting until it is too late does not work. Grocery stores run out, gas stations run dry and we certainly can’t depend on the government to help.

You need to start planning today, preparing for the unexpected so that you and your family can survive. Official sources always recommend having a 72 hour or 3 day kit. While it certainly helps, it is nowhere near adequate for an extended survival situation. As we have seen a natural disaster can last for more than 3 days. A possible bird flu pandemic may keep you housebound for weeks or months at a time. So how much is enough and what do you need?

You should plan on meeting your family’s daily needs for a minimum of a month, preferably up to 3 months or longer. This can include:

Food—Stock up on the basics. Flour, sugar, non-perishable foods like macaroni products, rice (a 25lb bag of rice is around $6.00 at SAM’s club), dried milk. Canned goods usually are good for a year or two. Start adding to your pantry now by buying a few extra items every time you go to the grocery store. Take advantage of sales, coupons and store brands. Buy foods you can fix easily, don’t need a lot of water or don’t need to be cooked at all. You can also add to your supply long term dehydrated foods that you can supplement your other food stores. They are vacuumed sealed and have a shelf life of 20-30 years. MRE’s ready to eat meals can also expand your food stores. Buy food and supplies in bulk at Sams club or Costco. Rotate your stock so you always have the freshest food available. Also include things like high-energy bars. Don’t forget pet food.

Water—You can store water in large containers, 5-gallon mylar water bags, camping jugs and other containers. You should also own a good water purifier.

Tools—are you equipped to handle minor repairs around your home? Fix your auto? Repair or build needed survival supplies? Tools to turn off natural gas, shovels to dig out, chainsaws to cut up downed trees and other essential rescue tools may be needed.

Energy—there may be interruptions or outages in electrical and other utilities. Do you have an alternative way of heating your home? A way of supplying power to lights and other needed electrical devices? Stocked up on batteries? A portable generator can be used for emergency backup. You will need gas to run the generator. Solar panels are handy for charging batteries. Extra propane can be used for a stove, lights or heat. Have several flashlights on hand. Newer flashlights feature L.E.D. bulbs that burn brighter and last forever. Also look for hand cranked flashlights that don’t need batteries. Include lighting such as oil or propane lanterns.

Medical— a good first aid kit is a must have. Over the counter drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, antacids, etc. Also personal medications and other first aid supplies. Don’t forget spare glasses/contacts and contact lens solution. Brush up on your first aid skills.

Household supplies—everything from shampoo and toothpaste to toilet paper, soap, detergent, bleach, disinfectants and everything else you use on a daily basis. Don’t forget hair clippers if you can’t get out to the barber. Have supplies on hand to deal with sanitation and garbage.

Communication—Newer walkie-talkies that have a 10-12 mile range will help you stay in touch with your family in the event your cell phone stops working. Give each member of your family one and tune them all to the same channel. Buy an emergency battery for your cell phone. They are good for about 60 minutes of talk time. Portable shortwave radios will help you keep in touch with the world. A small portable tv will also help keep you informed if the power is out. A hand cranked radio is also a must have.

Camping equipment—stoves, tents, sleeping bags can all come in handy especially if you need to relocate. Pick up camping supplies on sale and used equipment at garage sales.

Bicycles—if you need to get around and there is no gas a bike is the best item to have.

Relocating—if you choose not to stay in your home, then you need a plan on how you will relocate-to another town or remote cabin, etc. You may want to stock your vacation home with supplies and be prepared to “bug out” before travel is restricted.

Figure out how far you need to get away. Think about storing extra gas to provide a full tank and enough for your journey. 3 or 4–5 gallon gas cans, could be enough to get you several hundred miles away. Because of the fire danger it is very important that you store them safely and rotate them on a regular basis. Meaning, if you have 3 filled cans, week one dump that in your gas tank and refill that can. Week 2 dump the second can in your gas tank and refill that can. Week 3 dump can 3 into your gas tank and refill that can. Week 4 start over with can one. Using this system you will always have 15 gallons of fresh gas on hand in addition to gas that is already in your gas tank.

Plan your exit strategy from your city or town. Keep a map in your car with the roads out highlighted. Find all the alternative routes out of your city or town. Stay away from main highways if at all possible. Have copies of the map in other vehicles if other family members need to meet you later. Practice your escape route by driving it at least once.

Store your “bug out” survival supplies in containers that can be quickly loaded into your vehicle. Keep a smaller version in your vehicle at all times.

Start today preparing for the unexpected and if it happens you won’t need to divert your time and energy away from caring for your family, waiting in long lines for essential goods and services or waiting for the government or other aid organizations to come to your rescue.




About the Author:

To stay up to date on avian influenza, bird flu and the h5n1 virus visit The Bird Flu Index http://www.birdfluindex.com Find links to bird flu websites, blogs, forums, official medical and government sites and full information about how the bird flu could turn into a global pandemic.The latest bird flu news at http://pandemiczone.blogspot.com

Read more articles by: Pandemic Zone

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Build Your Own PC?............No Way!

I have bought software, and “parts” from three places: Tiger Direct, Computer Builders Warehouse, and Micro Center.......this includes mother boards, CPUs, hard drives, DVD drives, fans, cables, etc.

I personally have.......... and most companys have, a “budget” per unit..........weather it be $1,000 or $5,000.

Buying it built or custom, the budget still exists. Look at the prices...............your really only saving the labor costs..........your not going to get the specs of a $5000 machine for $1500......even if you build it yourself..........my estimate is the most you save is 35%. Everything in the unit has to be 100% compatible and correct.....screw up and everything gets fried and you've lost it all. No warranty, no one to complain to........yeah it's cool, you built your own PC..........but I would say less than 5% can do it. Less than 5% of companies even need those high specs. Some “gamers” use machines more powerful than those used to create the movie “Final Fantasy” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_graphics

Like I said before, Maya, Dreamweaver, Macromedia Flash and Shockwave, Photoshop, as well as audio software like Audacity and Muzys, etc. rung on my 400 mhz Dell. Eventually I'll get a faster machine, but will probably only spend $500-800. Like I also said I don't game.

Tiger http://www.tigerdirect.com/

Computer Builders Warehouse http://www.cbwstores.com/

Micro Center http://www.microcenter.com/

Uh Huh !

Cancer is once again in the news. Celebrities and government officials falling to the scourge. Theories abound to the cause........genetics (family history)......environmental causes including heavy metals, pollution, etc...........also smoking, race, and lifestyle.

Allow me to give my opinion on the real cause of the death of the baby-boomer generation........Radioactive Fallout ! There is no cure..........cases will be exploding in number in the next 20 years!

Even CNN reported back in 2002 that the fallout was worse than previously thought.
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/03/01/nuclear.fallout/

The US government will never admit to this responsibility, due to the hundreds of billions of dollars in liability that would ensue.

Anyone born between 1945 to 1963 (The Boomers) were exposed to high levels of radioactive fallout from hundreds of above ground nuclear tests throughout the world. One of the main reasons for the “Test Ban Treaty” was the radiation in mother's breast milk.

Fallout in the US Northeast was as high as in parts of Colorado and Kansas from tests in Nevada (guess where I grew up?).


We are all gonna die!

Here are some information sites why boomers are and will be dying:

http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/index.html

http://rex.nci.nih.gov/INTRFCE_GIFS/WHTNEW_INTR_97.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fallout

Why I am Bald

My Great-Grandfather and me!

I started going bald about 15 years ago..........my father and grandfather on his side wasn't bald. My father-in-law was bald and all my ex-wives brothers, but I didn't think that baldness was an STD.

In doing genealogy research, I found pictures of my great-grandfather and all his brothers on my mom's side..............yup, all bald.

Wilderness Survival: What To Do When Things Don’t Go As You Planned

Being in the great outdoors enjoying nature is a great way to spend your free time. The wilderness is very exciting, but it can also be very dangerous when things don’t go as you planned. The very best action plan is to always be prepared for such a scenario to take place. You never know when you may get lost, injured, or have to stay longer than planned due to the weather. Keep children close to you at all times so they don’t get lost or attacked by animals.

Even if you plan to only be in the wilderness for a short period of time make sure others know where you went and when you should arrive back. This way if you don’t return they know where to start rescue efforts and when. Always dress in layers so that you can add or remove clothing as needed. It can get very hot or very cool in just a few hours out there so be ready for it.

You should always carry a survival pack with necessities. Your supplies should include plenty of water or water purification tablets, dry food, a first aid kit, a cell phone, emergency flares, and a flashlight. It is very important that you stay hydrated and alert if you become lost in the wilderness. If you are with other people make sure everyone stays together and talk yourselves through the situation. Make sure you secure a safe place to sleep should it appear you may be there throughout the night.

The wilderness is a great place to explore and get back to nature. It offers a relaxing break from our hectic lives. However, people do get lost in the wilderness and things don’t always go according to plan. By always being prepared for such an event, you have the very best chance of remaining calm and having your basic needs met until help arrives.




About the Author:

Get military survival equipment, Princeton tec headlamps, and more from our outdoor sports store.

Read more articles by: Gabriel Adams

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Terrorism In America

OK, I admit it, I am a Terrorist/Survivalist junkie...........I have supplies, KI radiation pills, and think WWIII will happen soon. Here is another opinion!

The mechanics of terror work quite simply. First, execute the act(s) of terror. Then observe the secondary and tertiary effects. Execute additional acts when and where required. The wave of effects that follow the act will include, but not be limited to, increases in crime; adverse economic impact; joblessness; business closings; shortages; increased policing activities negatively affecting good citizens; a loss of faith in the abilities of protection agencies such as police, etc. Finally, the greater the scope and magnitude of the terror acts perpetrated, the greater the subsequent effects will be, and the longer they will last.

In Terror in America, many of the teams' missions do not really cause that much death or destruction. But the basic mechanics of terrorism, combined with the manner in which our society and culture function, do not require that each and every act of terrorism produce a high body count or a hefty dollar amount of damage.

After 9/11, which was perpetrated using commercial aircraft, immediate actions were taken to heavily secure airports and passenger planes. People were understandably afraid to fly for a while. When people did fly, they were subjected to the most intense searches and security scans of their lives. The bottom line is simply that when we saw people getting killed on commercial flights, we became afraid of flying – thus allowing the government to instigate humiliating, costly, time consuming search protocols. Terrorism creates fear. If we think that terrorism can only occur on air flights, we feel more in control and somewhat less threatened. After all, we can skip flying, if we choose, and not everyone flies anyway.

In the greater Los Angeles area, for example, there are tens of millions of people. If terrorists go to LA and kill fifty people everyday for a week, it makes an almost unnoticeable difference in the population. However, if those killings are ruthless and well directed, there are long-lasting, pernicious subsequent effects. When school children enjoying recess on the playground are shot by snipers, parents will become reluctant to allow their children to go to school. Add killings in hospitals, malls, convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, discount stores, and so forth, and nobody wants to go out – anywhere!

As the mechanics of terrorism engage, the people of LA will stop going out. Restaurants will lose money, as will gas stations, retail operations and so on. Within days, the economy is adversely affected. Soon after that, jobs disappear and crime elevates.

Every major city in America has an example of a form of terrorism. In those examples, we can see the nefarious mechanics of terrorism at work. There is an area of every major city where 'regular folks' dare not travel. Often, the police do not travel to these places either. People are afraid of these high crime areas. Since these areas are confined, we know that if we don't go there, we are okay. That's how we cope with it. When no place is safe, however, people will not go anywhere.

There are also potent psychological affects associated with terrorism. Humans, instinctively, do not like the thoughts and physical and that accompany 'being afraid.' Some people do not deal with fear well at all. Those people will require professional treatment. Their numbers will quickly increase. As people become more afraid of going out, more confinement related problems will occur. Cabin fever, followed by domestic violence, will become commonplace.

The horrific events that occurred on US soil on 9/11 initiated the mechanism of terrorism in America. The secondary and tertiary effects are still growing, so no additional acts have been necessary. Look at what has happened to America since 9/11. Our citizens have never been so split on their thoughts about critical issues; there is a complete lack of faith in the government; the effectiveness of the US military is being questioned; illegal wire taps are being used; billions of dollars of our resources are spent on new (largely ineffective/unnecessary) security measures; frightening questions about habeas corpus violations; the checks and balances system of the federal government is failing; our country makes threats, and does not follow through; and finally, the war in Iraq. Americans are told Iraq is the battle front for the war on terrorism. It throws our young men and women into harms way, and has emptied our treasure chests. Our young people die, and we continue to spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year – yet Americans see nothing but growing losses and no end in sight. Losing on the 'battlefront of the war on terrorism' is ample evidence of our leaders' inability to protect American citizens on US soil. If the people of Iraq cannot be protected in a military state, how can the people of America possibly expect to be protected?

The mechanisms of terror are formidable and enduring. 9/11 made Americans afraid, and a fearful population is easy to lead – or mislead. To disrupt the ongoing mechanisms of terror in America, Americans must unite as individuals ready to protect themselves, their families, their property and their country.By Ned Kalbfleish, author of Terror in America http://terrorinamerica.com/

About the Author:By Ned Kalbfleish is the author of the controversial new novel: Terror in America http://terrorinamerica.com/

Read more articles by: Ned Kalbfleish
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Socialism In The United States

One of the reasons for the demise of the Soviet Union and other forms of communism, was because such governments opposed the private ownership of things. The government used socialism to try to control what a person could own or even hope to achieve throughout his or her life.

Initially capitalism was based on the idea that an individual can own what one desires if one chooses to work for it. Under capitalism, a hard worker can hope to prosper and control one's life in any way one chooses.

But instead of the capitalist ideal, it seems the United States of today is more socialist than ever before. Consider the following elements of current American life.

Hospital care is so high that most individual Americans cannot afford to pay for it. So they must depend on their employer ( Corporate America).

The price of colleges and other schools are out of range for most individual Americans. To send their kids to college average people depend on things like college insurance, loans, scholarships, and grants. Another words, the education of most Americans depends on the benevolence of some Corporate or Government Entity.

Most Americans can't afford property, they have to take out mortgages with Corporate Banks. If they pay off their mortgage, they still don't own their property. Taxes have become so high, that, in some cases, it costs more in taxes than if the equivalent property was rented. Whenever the government or some other corporation decides, they can condemn a person's property and have that person forcibly evicted. A new Supreme Court decision was handed down this year (2005) to make it easier for local Government Entities to legally confiscate your property for the common good (Kelo vs New London ).

Family Homes are being replaced by condominiums. This scheme allows you to "own" a unit, but you must pay for the upkeep of the common area where your unit is located.( The individual gives up control of the land his unit is on to some corporate entity. The unit cannot exist without the controlling entity. )

Most Americans can't afford to buy cars with cash, so they must take out a loan with a bank or the auto company's finance service. Years ago a person could save up and make a cash purchase of a new car, but today one can't even buy a decent used car without some form of credit.

Furniture is being rented by some people, because they can't afford to buy it. Practically all new furniture stores offer credit, because they realize most people can't afford cash purchases.

There are so many Federal, State, and Municipal laws (and the number grows every day), that just by being alive a person must be violating some law. If a government or corporate agency felt like it, an individual can be arrested at any time.

High tech tracking has made it hard to maintain your privacy. Soon everyone will be connected to the internet through DSL lines, Cable Modems, or other high speed connections. This type of media maintains connections continuously. Currently an individual can turn his computer off and disconnect from the internet even if he has DSL. The day is coming where it will be against the law to turn off a computer, TV, or any other monitoring device. Americans will be forced to listen to the ravings of Corporate Aliens during breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Independent small businesses will soon not exist. Large corporations are either wiping out, merging, or partnering with small business. Even such a basic business as farming is becoming corporate rather than family owned. Soon every business will be either a branch or a partner of a large corporation.

So how socialized is the United States of America? If it continues at this rate it will soon be called the United Socialist States of America (USSA). While dictators like Stalin were trying to force the population of the USSR into submission, the Corporate Aliens launched a quiet invasion, and little by little gained more and more control over the majority of the American people. Unlike the Soviet Union, US socialism is not totally government controlled, but it's a joint effort of both government and corporate entities. What's even worse, is that the entire world is being groomed based on similar principles.

About the Author:George Lunt is someone who feels the world is getting too corporate. His writings relate the individual's struggle with big government and big corporations.

His website is http://www.corporate-aliens.com. This article is © George Lunt. All usage of this article must include a citation to the author and a link to corporate-aliens.

Read more articles by: George Lunt
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Cancer: Death of the Baby Boomers

Cancer is once again in the news. Celebrities and government officials falling to the scourge. Theories abound to the cause........genetics (family history)......environmental causes including heavy metals, pollution, etc...........also smoking, race, and lifestyle.
Allow me to give my opinion on the real cause of the death of the baby-boomer generation........Radioactive Fallout ! There is no cure..........cases will be exploding in number in the next 20 years!

Even CNN reported back in 2002 that the fallout was worse than previously thought.
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/03/01/nuclear.fallout/
The US government will never admit to this responsibility, due to the hundreds of billions of dollars in liability that would ensue.
Anyone born between 1945 to 1963 (The Boomers) were exposed to high levels of radioactive fallout from hundreds of above ground nuclear tests throughout the world. One of the main reasons for the “Test Ban Treaty” was the radiation in mother's breast milk.
Fallout in the US Northeast was as high as in parts of Colorado and Kansas from tests in Nevada (guess where I grew up?).

We are all gonna die!

Here are some information sites why boomers are and will be dying:
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/index.html
http://rex.nci.nih.gov/INTRFCE_GIFS/WHTNEW_INTR_97.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fallout

Death By Lack Of Medical Insurance: An Ignored Truth

By: Jacob Jaffe

Do you know that Americans suffer 18,000 unnecessary deaths yearly?

I was as shocked as you to realize that during the five years that have passed since the Twin Towers disaster, an estimated 90,000 Americans have died because they had no medical insurance as compared to those who were insured.

Imagine — 30 times the number killed on 9/11! These figures were carefully estimated by the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences.How could that be possible in the wealthiest nation on earth?I had only a vague idea of the problem confronting 41 percent of nonelderly adults with incomes between $20,000 and $40,000 who are without health insurance until I read an article by the economist Paul Krugman.

When illness strikes many of these people, they avoid going to doctors until their conditions become serious. If and when they do go, they may not have appropriate medical follow up and have trouble filling prescriptions. With savings wiped out, they have difficulty surviving and may go into bankruptcy. The irony is that these uninsured, when their savings are wiped out, end up getting medical care at public expense in costly hospital emergency rooms or in intensive care.

Other countries that cover medical expenses for all their citizens spend less for medical care and have healthier and longer living citizens!How could such a condition—basic medical care— be lacking in the wealthiest nation on the planet that flaunts itself as a model of democracy and concern for its citizens?

Do we not care?

Or have we become a nation of the have and have-nots, with the wealthy selfishly interested in taking care of themselves while those with much less money not having the political clout to change the situation? Do those who have coverage ignore those who don’t have coverage? Do people just not know?

The Krugman article and the Institute of Medicine’s report were in the back pages of some newspapers or not reported at all in newspapers or on television. Or have we become cynical that there can be any change when self-serving medical institutions and health insurers are more interested in their vested interests than the welfare of the entire community?

Are our politicians wary of such far-reaching changes now as they were years ago when Medicare was first proposed?I was roused to write this article, as well as to contact my Washington political representatives. Hopefully, you reading this will be similarly aroused and make your views known.

When I was a child (and I’m not that ancient!) there was no social security, no unemployment insurance and the absence of the many safety nets that we now take for granted (described in my novel, “Land of Dreams”). In my novel “Hobgoblins,” I describe the machinations of the unscrupulous business tycoons and their bought politicians who threaten our democracy.

In this article, I hope to help alert the grass roots (and metaphorically watering them) so that the sturdy tree of medical care will have branches and leaves covering all Americans.

About the Author:Jacob Jaffe is a psychologist who has taught at Columbia and the City Universities. He has published two novels. "Hobgoblins" is a political-psychological thriller about the corruptions of American politics and "Land Of Dreams" a family saga. Visit his web site at http://www.jaffeauthor.com

Eyes in the Dark

I live adjacent to a small mesa..........an open area of sandstone, yucca, and cactus overlooking Colorado Springs, CO.

A few nights ago about 11:15 PM, I decided to take a walk out there in the full moon! It was awsome.......moonlight illuminating the yucca and rocks......the twinkling city and mountain lights......the light reflecting off a pair of eyes about 20 feet away by a yucca!

It could have been a mountain lion, a kitty cat, a coyote (already saw one of those there), or a bunny.........but I didn't have a flashlight and didn't stay to find out! LOL

The Great Job Hunt!

OK, I have updated all my resumes on various job sites, gotten a local phone number, and had my first interview in 7 years at a Temp Agency!

Yup, it all still sucks.

I uploaded my resume to the interview site, but in their office, they can't download it. Uh huh.

Companies I have worked for in the last 15 years (Manpower) have purged me from their files (no record...........but I have my W-2's).........last employer has a company policy of not writing letters of reference or even phone references....only work date confirmations. Uh huh.

And an updated correctly formatted Resume is worth what exactly?

One local School District 20...........well, let me post their requirements......this is for any position even janitor or Bus Driver, as well as Teacher. Uh huh.

This must eliminate 80% of applicants. I have letters of references from jobs back in the 1980s..many are dead or retired. Not good enough................the clerk at HR tells me references need to be recent last 5 years. Who can do this?

A completed application includes:

• 
  The Application Form
• 
  Current Resume with Work History (from date of high school graduation to present)
• 
  Four Professional References (listing the business, the references name, title and current phone number)
• 
  Three to Four Letters of Recommendation (preferably from current or former supervisors)
• 
  A visit to the Human Resources office to show driver's license and to complete paperwork requiring signature in person
• 
  Release of Information Form
• 
  Notarized Applicant Testimony Form (This can be notarized in the Human Resources Office or else where at your convenience.)

This is starting to annoy me.........I mean, I am not looking for a career, but only something to get me to age 62!

Job hunting is as bad a dating!

Go West Young Man......Old Geezers Too!

OK, I give up...UNCLE!

The job market in Detroit , Michigan is dismal at best. Numerous newspaper articles in the Oakland Press and the Detroit Free Press allude to a 3-4 year timeline for any recovery.

HR friends say I am competing against 300 - 400 people for every job! That's rediculous.


I give up, and plan to move within a week to Colorado Springs, Colorado (369,000), a state with at least 2% better unemployment and which I have lived over 15 years.

It can't be worse than a place that I have lived for over 7 years. In that time the unemployment went from 3.7% to the current 6.7%. At this point even Temp Agencies like Manpower aren't taking applications..........That's really bad.

I really like Michigan too..........Maybe will come back if things improve or I win Lotto. Meanwhile I need a job............so it's "Go West Young Man...and Old Geezers Too!"

Gee a cold spring day in Rochester. Went for a walk in city park............lots of ducks, mostly drakes. Cold damp wind......not fun, but at least the sun was out! Not many people out and about........though there were a few "joggers"!

What a waste of time!

Jobs? Where are they?

Looking for a job? So am I, or at least the income. I can find enough to "keep me busy", but I need an income stream!

Work basically sucks, just look at all those 100,000 layoffs looming in the auto industry.....geeeeeeeez, where will all those people go to find jobs?

People I chat to on the web say Florida is rocking with jobs.....uh huh. No one wants to live there casue of the hurricanes...probably many have moved out!

The Northeast isn't the palce to work. The SW is growing as always, but the pay sucks and the housing is expensive!

I hate looking for work...how about you?

GM Set to Implode......"Black Tuesday"

WOW, the job market is getting to really suck here in SE Michigan. GM is giving the pink slips to 500-1200 salaried engineers and white collar workers today! Marching them right out the door. Uh huh.

The TV interviews with the potential "layoffers"....all run the same......Surprise, shock (who me?), anxiety over how to pay for all the expensive crap they just bought, etc.

The Real Estate market should be even more of a glut soon! Already there are tons of houses, some of which, have been for sale for over two years!

Words of advice for all you children in school........Don't go into the Auto Industry!

Job Creation Myth

Wow, I have been looking for work. It sucks. It sucks big time.

I have about 75 graduate credits in Education and MBA courses. I have a BA and enough other undergraduate credits for two more degrees! (Yeah OK, I was kind of a "professional" student!)

Anyway..the job environment is highly competitive.....I mean 200 qualified applicants apply for the same $25,000/yr job. Does that mean 1000's apply for $75,000+ per jobs? Crap!

They claim there is a booming economy......to me that means every qualified person should be able to get a job with pay according to their skills and education! NOT! It means that the few jobs out ther epay more, but there are thousands who apply. That's just bullcrap!

In my reality, statistics say that 25% of people have a bachelors degree.......10% have a Masters, and 5% have a PhD. All that education should translate into multiple job offers, not multiple job appliers!

Nature? What the hell?

OK, I started hiking out in mother nature......Michigan's version that is. I bought an annual Metro Parks Pass ($20). The nearby Stoney Creek Metro Park is a good size, a big lake, tails, boat rental, a golf course, etc. It evidently also has a nearby offsite shooting range. On my last hike, I thought I was in Bosnia or Iraq. These two idiots a shotgun and .22 must have fired 1000 rounds during my hike. It was highly annoying.

Today I went to a small nature center. No guns, but traffic noise was clearly heard. Then just after spotting two white tail deer, parents with screaming kids showed up, closely followed by a couple with two dogs......dogs in a nature area? What the hell?

I can see now that quiet is not something I'll see (unlike in Colorado, where you can be miles from other humans), until I go up north perhaps to the UP?

Making Money the Old Fashioned Way

OMG, getting started on eBay, setting up AdSense on my web sites, is soooooo time intensive.

Perhaps it is easier to get money the old fashioned way...by working?

If I had paid myself $10/hr for what I have done so far, I would have several hundred dollars in my pockets instead of ....zero!

Oh well, nothing ventured nothing gained.

Time to check my Ebay site, the auction is almost finished. I will only lose about $150. Great!