Rainy Day Monday "News on The Run"

Not quite ten in the AM, and it is one of those dismal rainy days best suited to lounging on the sofa with a good book and a hot cup of coffee.  I know we had some sunny days in the month of May, but sure seems like all it has done is rain, rain and then rain some more.  June seems to be following suit with rain in the forecast THROUGH FRIDAY!  OMG....enough already, can we just get some sunshine for a string of say 8-10 days? I need to work on my tan, and need to go out for a walk without getting soaked.

Looking for a FUN volunteer opportunity?  This upcoming Saturday, June 9th there is a work day in Rock Hill as they work on their Category C Sullivan Renaissance project.  If you are a Mountaindale resident who has enjoyed working on Sullivan Renaissance projects in the past and are looking to participate in one this year, come down to Rock Hill this upcoming Saturday and get involved.  We will be meeting in the parking lot across the street from the Trading Post...the new home of the Rock Hill Farmers Market!

Adopt a tree...click here.

News on The Run

This is something I could see myself doing...taking a 727 aircraft and turning it into a house, though think I would have it looking more attractive...still, like the idea.

Will the growth in green electric cars see our in house electric costs increase....PROBABLY!  Seems that electric vehicles will consume upwards of 7 percent of grid electricity by the year 2025 which in turn will PUSH UP RATES as electricity becomes the new gasoline...look for Exxon to start building plants soon.

Largest forest fire ever in New Mexico has claimed the lives to two firefighters so far.

Friday "News on The Run"

BIG SNAKE Out For Swim

What can one say about the weather but beautiful...it is bright and sunny outside, warm but not too warm, and flowers are blooming almost everywhere you look.  It is a nice day for a walk, and I just returned from one along the trail where I saw a VERY LARGE water snake...as in biggest enough to make a few belts out of.  Seriously, this thing had to be at least eight foot long, and just went swimming by as if it had not a care in the world.  Made me think TWICE about dipping my toes in the water this morning.

There are so many things going on in the news.

First, Donna Summer passed away yesterday, losing her fight with cancer.  What a talent she was, and she will so be missed.  What I find odd, is how we as a nation reacted to Whitney Houston's accidental suicide, her remaining a top news story for a full week, CNN airing her funeral service, yet 24 hours after her passing, Donna Summer is barely even a foot note in today's news cycle.  Her Memorial is scheduled for next Wednesday in Nashville.

Abandoned Beauty

Facebook's IPO launches, and Zygna stock crashes....WHOOPS....meanwhile, Facebook did not skyrocket out of the gate like everyone thought it would...my own thoughts...much like MySpace (remember them) the company is not near as valuable as everyone has tried to make it out to be, more of a paper tiger than a true animal of prey capable of delivering the profits stockholders will demand...at least the founders are all now rich, dumping enough of their stocks out onto the market to take care of themselves and their families for generations to come.

Trayvon Martin case looking better and better for Zimmerman.  Seems that the autopsy has revealed THC in Trayvon's blood...in other words, he was stoned.  Which does make one wonder...stoned, did he circle back around and confront/attack Zimmerman as claimed?  Zimmerman's injury's, and the banged up knuckles on Trayvon's hands would indicate that as a strong possibility.  Looking more and more like Zimmerman will walk.

Just a little factoid of the day...did you know that combined, Obama and Romney raised over $80 Million in campaign donations in the month of April?  How much good could that kind of money do spent on something other than negative campaign ads?

Tuesday "News on The Run" and Other Musings

Another dismal rainy day here in downtown Mountaindale New York as a bone chilling dampness fills the air, clinging to the skin when you walk outside.  Look for this weather pattern to continue through at least Thursday with Friday finally bringing us some partly cloudy skies for the weekend.  In short, cool temperatures and wet conditions will be continuing as we get our April showers in May.  Have to love the climate change that comes along with global warming.

The Hummingbirds are back in Mountaindale, and the hummingbird feeders have started appearing all along Main Street as our small hamlet's summertime "Dance of The Hummingbirds" begins.  If you are a photographer and looking for a chance to photograph these magical creatures, a drive into Mountaindale for the day is a great way to get some fabulous shots.  As a bonus we also have a slew of bluebirds that call our community home.

Mountaindale is losing one of our citizens this month...Toby, who is a GREAT portrait artist is in the process of moving to Rock Hill.

"News On The Run"

According to a leak, seems another terrorist threat has been averted.  Seems terrorists from Yemen had built a non-metallic explosive that would have gotten past screening that was intended for a US bound plane.  Glad they caught this one...what concerns me, is the leak to the press.  Do these convenient leaks from people in the know damage our nation's ability to stay one step ahead of those who intend us harm?

Speaking of loose lips...New York's I like to see myself on TV, foaming of the mouth right wing radical Republican Congressman King was quick to rush onto the airwaves too toss in his two cents worth on the foiled terrorist attack, and this weekends drone attack.  People in Long Island really need to vote this dinosour out of office.

In the "We both know you are an asshole" department, former presidential candidate Rick Santorum in the dark of night endorsed Mitt "The Flip" Romney...VIA EMAIL!   My thoughts on this year's presidential election...we have no business allowing another UBER RICH person to BUY POLITICAL OFFICE.  Sorry, but a man that earns (without a job) $36,000 a day is NEVER going to represent the average American.

In a feel good story for the day, "Wilbur the pig wins court case!"

In North Carolina voters today are voting on "Same Sex Marriage".  There is a lot at stake, as this wrong law if passed would eliminate all civil unions, and would define marriage as only between a man and a woman.   Let's be clear...this is a civil rights issue, and it is time that our Supreme Court stop ducking the issue and resolve it once and for all.  Fact is, a marriage license is a government issue document that legal binds one PERSON to another PERSON.  A church BLESSES a marriage, but people are married UNDER THE LAW, and it is time we allow all people who are in love to marry, be they two women, two men, or a man  and a woman.  As for North Carolina...IF THIS AMENDMENT PASSES, I WILL NOT EVEN DRIVE THROUGH THE STATE.

Saturday Musings, and "News on the Run"

One of Our Local Residents

Up early here, the deep freeze we are in seeing me rise early to make a cup of coffee, and kick up the heat to knock the chill off of my apartment.  Slight flurries of snow are dancing about just outside my window, frost creeping up the pains of glass.  Went outside to look at my electric meter, frowned as I watched the little wheel whirling about, dollars ringing up for the utility company as I attempt to chase away the cold...this weather is truly a budget buster for those on a limited income.  The good news in all this is that any real chance of snow has been pushed off till Tuesday...so, today might be a good day to run out and do a bit of grocery shopping before we find ourselves shut in.

In local news, the "Rails to Trails" committee is hoping for some good news this coming week from the "Parks and Trails New York" folks...they have applied for a $3,000 grant.  The decision is slated to be made, and recipients notified this coming Tuesday, January 16, 2012.  The "Capacity Building" grant would be used for such things as a new membership brochure, and a full blown web presence for the trail.  This grant would dovetail nicely with Mountaindale's own plans for new banners, flower boxes and other improvements made possible through the $7,000 grant the community won in last year's Sullivan Renaissance program.  These types of grant funds from outside sources, administered properly bode well for our small hamlet.

Saturday "News on the Run"

Lifestyles of the Rich and Political...take a look at some of the homes Republican Politicians are living in, including one of Mitt Romney's worth almost TEN MILLION DOLLARS (he has several).  He and some of the others living high on the proverbial hog want us to believe they are men of the people.

Cruise ship capsizes after hitting a sandbar...at least three dead, though over 50 others are still missing, so look for the death toll from this tragic accident to rise.  129 Americans were on board when the ship ran aground. 

In more FRACKING NEWS, seems that Lisa Jackson is content to drag the US EPA's feet, content to duck the issues as the citizens of Dimock, PA continue to drink POISON WATER.    One has to wonder which New York communities will be forced to follow in Dimock's footsteps, our children's health being threatened as they have no choice but to drink water CONTAMINATED by the Natural Gas industry's unsafe Hydraulic Fracturing of our pristine lands.

Brilliant homeless teenager and her family now have a home, and they get their dog back in the bargain...this is a feel good story.

Hope you have enjoyed today's "News on the Run"...time to go out and brave the cold as I get my car started, and parked back out on Main Street here in downtown Mountaindale.

Tuesday News On The Run...Fracking Top On List

First up, Mountaindale New York weather...in a word, "UGLY". Step outside, and the misty almost rain clings to every pore of your body as the chill grabs hold and lets you know it is December even though the temperatures are still acceptable. It may be 55, but look for rain, more rain and steadily dropping temperatures as the week progresses. By Sunday, it is going to be feeling a lot more like Christmas and...well, WINTER.

Tuesday "News on the Run"

Fracking is in the news, and we here in New York need to pay attention. The Pennsylvania EPA had found Cabot guilty of contaminating local water aquifer in Dimoch, had ordered Cabot to deliver safe water into the community because of the high levels of methane in the water as a result of the FAULTY Natural Gas wells that Cabot had drilled. Well, guess the Pennsylvania EPA has decided that Dimoch's water though not safe clean, clear drinking water is clean enough to let Cabot off the hook...said company is STOPPING delivery of safe drink water to the community. New York citizens, PAY ATTENTION...you could be the next group of citizens to live the DIMOCH EXPERIENCE.

In Tech news...Amazon's Kindle Fire will account for half of the Android tablets bought in 2012, partially because the company is selling them AT COST...so, maybe now is the time to get one before the price GOES WAY UP. Santa Claus, if you read this post, this or an IPAD are high on my Christmas list...right there above Snow Shoes and poles.

Post Office takes another step closer to EXTINCTION...wants to seriously delay First Class mail delivery in 2012, and lay off perhaps 100,000 plus employees. One has to wonder what will happen to the small rural post offices like the one we have and enjoy here in Mountaindale?

In news that DOES NOT SURPRISE, seems that Halliburton destroyed evidence did inadequate cement work on the Gulf of Mexico oil well that blew out last year...rumors have it that Dick Cheney will testify before the Federal Judge in the case saying such evidence destruction falls under Executive Privilege.

Police in New Orleans peacefully deny citizens their civil rights, evict Occupy Protesters AHEAD OF COURT HEARING that would have granted said protesters a Order of Protection...here is the way it works FOLKS. City of New Orleans rushes into the park in the middle of the night just before they are supposed to go to court. They evict the protesters, and now will march into court and tell the judge that the Lawsuit should be dismissed because the protesters NO LONGER OCCUPY THE PARK. FUCK YOU NEW ORLEANS...and for those offended by the F BOMB I just dropped, if it was good enough for Dick Cheney to drop on the Senate Floor, it should be good enough for me to drop in this blog. To show everyone I am bipartisan, Joe Biden dropped the same F Bomb during the Health Care Reform debate.