Although various sites have posted pictures of our gatherings at the "Hole In The Wall", as I was sorting through pictures today, I did come across several that have not been posted. Perhaps there is a reason for this, I am not one to judge. You may not recognize some of the "visitors" in these shots but they seemed to be enjoying themselves during their visit.

This visitor stopped by Burger King on her way to the "Hole In The Wall" and complained the entire time that we did not have side tables next to the lawn chairs surrounding the fire pit. But, she discovered a great cup holder.

This guy was visiting the "Moose Clan", can't remember his name but he did forget that he was suppose to wrap a blue tarp around himself when utilizing the facilities. The only reason that I think he was a guest of the "Moose" as it appears to be their deck and trailer. Fortunately, the facility has been replaced with the "Duck House".

The term, "Global Warming" is one of those buzz words that we hear on a daily basis. In recent months, we have seen and read constant daily references to this term. With the onslaught of the politicians vying for your vote in November 2008, we will continue to be bombarded by this term. Hollywood has endorsed this term to new heights. Through their support it has escalated the popularity of Al Gore to a position that he is once again considering to run again for the Presidency of the United States. All of this was based on a movie that he narrated pertaining to "Global Warming". Perhaps, the effect of "Global Warming" would decline rapidly if the politicians and others would just shut up. The omitting of their "hot air" could be a contributing factor to the warming change.

In recent days, I came across a couple of articles pertaining to this global crisis. One such article pointed out that the sea levels are rising due to the melt down of the glaciers. The data pertaining to this claim was taken from a variety of coastal areas. Test sites were utilized in New York City, Galveston, Texas, San Francisco, and Sitka, Alaska. These sites were chosen in order to represent the coastal zone of the United States. Based on these studies, the sea level is increasing .08 to .12 inches per year. EXCEPT, in Sitka, Alaska where the sea level is dropping .12 to .27 inches per year. Their conclusion on this discrepancy in the data was that the "land mass of Alaska is rising". Have you noticed an altitude change lately? If the glaciers are melting so rapidly, one would think that it would affect Sitka prior to the remaining test sites. However, I only base this on common sense.

We have all survived the onslaught of the dreaded Spruce Bark Beetle that devastated areas of forest throughout Alaska. The onslaught of the Bark Beetle was also contributed to "Global Warming" by several environmental groups. This day, I discovered that we now have a problem with our spruce forests as a result of "Global Warming". According to a recent news release, "rising temperatures fueled by global warming are causing spruce trees to invade Arctic tundra". A second quote, ""While in many places the idea of more trees is a good one, this Arctic takeover endangers species like caribou and sheep that thrive in the tundra". I am not positive, but I always thought that the caribou enjoyed a few tress to provide them shelter. Whenever, I see the caribou on the Kenai Peninsula they seem to be hanging around the trees. A second point, when was the last time that you saw any sheep standing out in the tundra, they are suppose to be hanging out on the mountains? Although, no conclusion was reached in this article, I can only assume that we should be logging the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in order to protect the tundra.

I am only one small voice, but I am in favor of "Global Warming" . I tire easily of the snow, ice and cold temperatures, I want to see some green grass, flowers and the opportunity to walk through my spruce forest before they have to be cut down to insure they do not spread and encroach onto the wetlands.

Despite the fact that we have been feeling the effects of Global Warming over the past eight weeks, we once again saw a little winter again today. Eight weeks ago this past Monday was the last time I had to plow snow, however, that record will be broken come daylight. We got dumped on most of the day with near white conditions existing most of the day. Our total accumulation in the Little Village By The River is about ten inches and still snowing.

It is not often that I compliment our bureaucrats, however, this morning as I saw the snow falling on my clean driveway, I clicked onto the weather site. I was shocked at the new layout. It is really neat, the various weather forecast areas are color coded and if you slide your cursor over the map, it will give you a mini weather report for each area without having to go to the primary forecast page. The site is vastly improved and deserves a visit and added to your favorite list. From the side bar, you can click on "radar" to get a live read from the Doppler Radar by clicking on the area that you want to check. Next time you see a prognosticator, pat them on the back and let them know that it was a job "well done".

Since my discovery of the Arctic Polar Pig several months ago, I have utilized this forum of communication to educate the general populace on the exploitation of the pig. Being that it is the "Year of the Pig" and birth year of Hillary Clinton, I feel that is of great importance that this campaign continue. With the exception of the Arctic Polar Pig, there is no great concern of them appearing on the "endangered list" anytime in the near future. However, their exploitation is of great concern. We have seen pictures of them dressed up in clothing, members of sporting teams such as track and field events, swimming, and high board diving. We have ridiculed them for centuries as being dumb, dirty, and the only purpose of their existence is to provide us daily rations of bacon, ham, sausage, spare ribs, head cheese, and pickled pigs feet. We have contrived stories of them building their houses out of sticks and mud as well as teaching our children how to count their toes. Hollywood has not assisted in the endeavors to stop this exploitation. How many years has it been that we have been subjected to seeing "Porky" on the big screen in various stages of nudity and laughed at because of his speech impediment.

The exploitation has now evolved into genetic alteration of the specie to further enhance the specie. This exhibition is in the infancy stage, it will slowly evolve to the point that through genetic alteration we will be seeing pigs with two additional legs to in order to provide additional hams at little or no extra cost to the supplier. In my continued research of the exploitation of the pig, it has been discovered that the genetic alteration experiments are being conducted in China's Shannxi Province. On March 6th of this year, this piglet was photographed. The genetic balance of this piglet has been altered enough that it has one head, two mouth's, two noses, and three eyes. I would encourage all of you to support me on this issue and boycott all pork imported from China. If we stand in one unified voice, we can make a difference and stopped the exploitation of these lovable creatures.

3/7/2007 11:21 pm: This picture has been added to the site since the initial posting. The picture just become available utilizing mirrors to "show off" the facial features of this piglet. Exploitation has to stop.

I know not how others feel, but for myself I am getting awful tired of being treated as a third world country when it comes to shipments bound for Alaska. This is a problem that has transpired for years, catalog sales, distributors, and dealerships view Alaska as a foreign country. They do not even recognize the U.S. Postal Department, even though this self supporting former government agency still receives large subsidies from our tax dollars. Very few companies choose to utilize the shipping methods of the postal service, instead they choose the two majors, Fed Ex and UPS. Just a little prattle prior to the story behind the headline.

Now the problem exists, where do you find a filament bulb that was produced for a projector forty years ago? The size of the bulb is a DJL , 150 Watt , 120 Volt and manufactured in Canada. After contemplating the situation for a few days, the only choice I could see was the Internet. Not expecting much to happen, I typed in "djl projector lamp" into the search engine. Much to my surprise, I had several thousand hits! Flipping through several web sites, comparing prices on my "antique" bulb, I finally settled on a photography company in New York City. Much to my surprise, they were only open six days a week, with Saturday being the day that they were closed! What is with that? The cost of the bulb was $24.95, in my mind that is pretty cheap for an antique!

The sign of spring is airborne! Talked to brother, Ranger Bill this morning as he was motoring across the flat lands of Nebraska. Having escaped the winter wastelands of Minnesota and Iowa where all the highways were closed due to snow. This is a picture of his "home on wheels", some where east of Grand Junction, Colorado inbound for a mandatory layover in Beaver, Utah.
This trip is taking him on a westerly course to Fontana, California, he should be slowing down for another mandatory layover in Beaver, Utah come daylight in the morning. We should see something on his blog site today, evidently, they only place that you can blog in the lower forty eight is in Beaver.
The reason for his telephone call, as he was speeding down the interstate, the sky was filled with flocks of geese headed on a northerly route. Base on his observations, the current position of the jet stream and prevailing winds, I have been able to calculate that we should start seeing these same flocks of geese entering our air space on April 2nd. Those living in the LA area, will see them a little sooner since you have more paved parking lots than anywhere else in Alaska. Based on my calculations, you should start seeing your residential wild geese arriving in Anchorage on or about March 27th. Good hunting to all.

In Anchor Point, we have our first flower of spring, however, keep in mind that it is in our dining room arboretum. However, if you look in the center of the flower you will see the little bee feeding upon the sweet and succulent pollen of the flower.
With the bee already arriving on site and the geese inbound from the lowlands there can be no denial that spring is not to far into the distant future.

If you have recently driven down the main street of Anchor Point you have undoubtedly noticed the new addition to our community. If you are not aware of where Main Street is in Anchor Point, it is also often referred to as the Sterling Highway. I gave notice to this in an earlier blog, however, for those that have joined us late. Our small community is going metropolitan. We not only have an airport, but we also have a challenging and quality golf course and driving range. Our latest innovations is a cellphone tower in the center of town at the intersection of Main Street and the North Fork Road. Being that it was constructed during the height of winter, the two hundred foot tower leans slightly, approximately five degrees to the north. Being that my business is on the opposite corner, I have had ample time to study this structure and make the determination that the use of the structure as a cell phone tower is not the "highest and best use". Having discovered that the contractors had completed the construction phase of the project between Homer and Soldotna, they did have one remaining tower that was considered excess. In that, I permitted them the use of my parking lot to stage their equipment and supplies, I was able to acquire the structure. It took a few "toddies" but I also managed to talk them into moving their equipment into the "Hole In The Wall" and erect the foundation for my future recreational cabin. I have taken a picture of the tower and transposed a conceptual picture of my "summer" cabin, once it has been built and place onto the foundation, I will never have to worry about high water, bears, or visitors. With a small t.v. antenna, I should be able to get excellent reception and be able to do away with DISH network. I hope to have the cabin built by Memorial Day weekend so we can all be together for the "raising of the cabin" , it should be easier than moving the "Duck House".

THE "EAGLE NEST"

These representatives of P.E.T.A. (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) were demonstrating at the Cherry Creek Mall in Denver, Colorado on February 24th.

I can appreciate their right to protest in the nude against those that prefer to wear fur. They missed a great opportunity in scheduling, they should have been in Anchorage for the Fur Rendezvous. With the temperatures ranging in the low teens to 15 below zero, they would have been able to better express their points.

I find this picture a little hypocritical, what is with the gloves? If you are going to protest in the nude, why cover your hands? They had best not be Virgin Wool gloves!


This is the same organization, a different model and costume. What is an exotic animal? If there is a difference in animals between being exotic and non-exotic, then it must be permissible to keep non-exotic animals in zoos. I would like to see a list of what may or may not be retained. Why is a leopard more important than a pig? Are they not all creatures of nature, just as we are? How many of our children can take trips to the exotic wilds to see the animals, they cannot even go to Canada or Mexico without a passport. The only time that I have seen a leopard laying in a tree and smiling is right after they have devoured a gazelle!









We can not wear the animal, we cannot place them into controlled environments, and now the same organization is telling us we cannot eat them! This demonstrator is wearing a "head of lettuce", wasn't it lettuce that killed several people last fall from being contaminated by e-coli? I forget but how many people died in the U.S. last year from mad cow disease - oh, now I remember there were none. I enjoy a good lettuce salad on occasion, but at least she could have accessorized it with a few cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and a good wallop of blue cheese dressing.




I have several "thoughts to ponder" pertaining to these particular protest campaigns:
1. Why is it the models are always beautiful, sexy women?
2. Don't ladies in the mid thirties to eighties feel the same way towards animals?
3. Why don't we ever see nude or provocative posed man in these protest marches?
4. Where are the feminists advocates?
5. Are we not "exploiting" these women to protest the "exploitation" of animals?
6. Are animals more important than the female gender of the human race?
7. Why are they posing in the nude, women quite wearing fur undergarments a few years ago.

The next time you hear about a PETA protest in the buff, would someone please call me so I can attend and "oogle" the protesters!