Glen Canyon - The Visuals

While I'm sure they weren't on any illegal drugs, Ben & Jen did get some awesome visuals while in Glen Canyon. Here are a few pics for you all. Thanks Jen!

Glen Canyon

Ok so I don't have time to write a big blog entry, but I would like to take a few minutes to talk about my recent trip to the Glen Canyon National Recreation area. The Lawellin clan got together for a week and rented a houseboat down at Lake Powell and had a wonderful time down there. We rented a couple canoes and checked out a bunch of the little canyons back there. We spent most of the time in the Escalante river arm scouting out the various canyons and enjoying the beautiful scenery. It was really great. The temperatures were a bit warm, especially in the middle of the day, but it wasn't to extreme(at least for me). Now that, that trip is over I am about to take off on the thru hike of the Colorado Trail. I take off this Friday the 26th and intend on finishing on the 14th of July. I am doing it mostly solo, but some friends and family out in Colorado will hopefully be able to hike with my on the weekends. So stay tuned to the Idaho Rocks blog for updates on my progress and I'll try to post some pictures here and there. Any way take it easy everyone and wish my luck.

Ben

Camping on the Big Smokey & South Fork of the Boise

The water flow this year is absolutely huge. I've already been talking about it, but we took some more pictures this weekend of the South Fork of the Boise. I've posted a picture of this same location previously on this blog. Here you can tell how much more water is flowing.

The South Fork of the Boise River

Big Smokey Creek Canyon - Hike to Skillern Hot Springs

The way a weekend should be spent

Enjoying a beer around a fire. Nice way to end off a day of playing up the Big Smokey Creek canyon.

The View of Soldier Mountain from Aly's backyard

Yet another beautiful picture of Soldier Mountain. This one is from my sister's back yard.

Little Smoky Creek Area

Amie and I took a trip over Couch Summit yesterday and went on a bike ride. It is so nice over there right now, and we didn’t even see one person the entire time! We parked in one of the camp grounds right when you get over the summit. Then we rode our bikes out to Warswick Hotsprings and checked that out. The springs are overflowing right now, and since there is a bunch of snow melt, they aren’t very hot currently. Once that snow melt is done, they will be nice though! I’ve included a few pictures below. One thing I don’t have for you right now is a picture of the Black Bear we saw! He ran across the road and then ran up the hill. We got some pictures, but none really worth sharing.

This is a picture of Little Smoky Creek - Much bigger than normal.

This is a picture of Amie sitting above the hotsprings stream.

This is a picture of the Little Smoky Creek Canyon. Beautiful!

The View of Soldier Mountain from Mormon Reservoir

Amie and I went hiking out by Mormon Reservoir today. I thought this picture was cool because of the wildflowers on the ground, and Soldier Mountain in the background.

Eye Level with Soldier Mountain

Beautiful Picture of Soldier Mountain I just had to share. This was taken from some of the property for sale out by the Golf Course. Excellent opportunity for investment (and views), so don't forget to contact Amie if you know of anyone looking.

Camas Centennial Marsh

I wanted to take the opportunity to share some pictures Amie and I took last weekend. We drove out to the Camas Centennial Marsh, just outside of Fairfield & Hill City. The Marsh is HUGE this time of year. Especially with all the extra water we are receiving.

This is a picture of both of us near the top of the mountain we hiked up. You can see the Soldier Mountains in the background, and the Camas Marsh below.

This Picture is from the top of a mountain we hiked up. As you can see, the Marsh is HUGE this time of year. The big "island" in the middle is where you normally drive to. The road going out to it is completely underwater though.

Camas Creek Canyon

Another picture for your viewing pleasure. This picture is of Camas Creek. Notice that the river is HUGE! This Creek is normally just that… A creek! I’ve seen in many times where there isn’t even any water running through it. It is bound to get higher too. I’ll send more pictures if it does indeed rise.

Gooding City of Rocks

I had to take the opportunity to share some photo's from our recent hikes to Gooding City of Rocks. This is such an amazing place that not many people actually know about. If they do know about it, they don't take the time to check it out! I've included a link that has some great information on this area. You can also check out this map that will show you how to get there.















Cool leaning Hoodoo Structure.
















Amie in front of a Waterfall at City of Rocks. Spring time is about the only time of year you can experience the water flow.

Beautiful Soldier Mountain

I just had to share this awesome picture of Soldier we took about 2 weeks ago. THIS is why I love living where I live! For those of you looking for a great Real Estate investment in our area, the lots I recommend are just at the base of this fabulous mountain. Plus, they are right on an 18 Hole Golf Course, and one of the only areas in Camas County close to commercial zoning for tourist activities. Contact Amie if you want more info on that.

Shoshone Falls

Based on all the recent fuss about the waterways in our parts, we decided to check it out for ourselves. If you haven't already seen for yourself, both Shoshone Falls, and the Falls below Magic Reservoir are amazing! There is so much water! I've never seen this much water running personally. And based on how much snow is in the mountains, we haven't even seen the beginning of it. - This is a picture of Shoshone Falls. We took Golf Course Road to check it out instead of going to the actual viewing area. If you squint, you can see that it was a LONG wait to use the public road accross the canyon.

Camas County - Where are we headed?

On my drive home from work today, I heard an interesting segment on NPR regarding New Urbanism Design and Theory. As I was listening to the commentator, I couldn’t help but think of Fairfield, and the current design process we are going through in Camas County. If you aren’t familiar with the New Urbanism movement, it goes something like this: New Urbanism Designers are involved in new development, urban retrofits, and suburban infill. In all cases, New Urbanism neighborhoods are walk able, and contain a diverse range of housing and jobs. New Urbanism supports regional planning for open space, appropriate architecture and planning, and the balanced development of jobs and housing. They believe these strategies are the best way to reduce how long people spend in traffic, to increase the supply of affordable housing, and to rein in urban sprawl.

Needless to say, I like the thought. I’m interested to hear everyone’s comments on it as well. So far the last public meetings haven’t really seemed to focus on any of these issues. We seem to be debating more what specific plots of land can and can’t be used for. In my opinion, that is silly. Who cares what color of the map my property is on? Instead, I feel we should be focusing more on a “community plan” that would outline specific building requirements, and processes to go through in order to build in our community. If someone who owns land up Soldier Creek can build a sustainable community that supports the local economic base, while also creating jobs and a greater Camas County overall, I say go for it. Just because his land might be zoned A-80 (or whatever) doesn’t mean that his land is best suited for A-80. Instead, as a County, why can’t we say, “we’ll look at any ideas IF they meet the following requirements”.

One more point I would like to make is this. I’m not a professional planner, and I’m certainly not a professional developer. However, I do know what I like and what I don’t like. I know what attracts me to certain places, and I know which places I’m not attracted to. I like areas like Hyde Park in Boise. There is a great mix of commercial and residential development in a small place. When walking through Hyde Park, you get the feeling of going back in time. It is peaceful and very much feels like a community should. On the other hand, I don’t like areas like Blue Lakes Boulevard in Twin Falls. Walking on Blue Lakes is almost unheard of, and the feeling of sprawl is almost unbearable (apologies to those who have a different view). I have a feeling that when the Twin Falls P&Z sat down to discuss the future of Twin Falls, they decided to “Zone” all of Blue Lakes as Commercial. Now look at what we are left with! I would much rather see our community head in the direction of Hyde Park or Hidden Springs, and steer away from something like Blue Lakes.

Here are a few links to check out. Please let me know your thoughts on this topic.

NPR Segment – http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5338974 (click on “listen”)
Congress for New Urbanism - http://www.cnu.org/index.cfm

Hidden Springs - http://www.hiddensprings.com/community/tour.asp (community close to us)

Fairfield Sherpa

Luckily the local Sherpa's in town are very helpful.

Fairfield Flooding

Driving through the Camas Prairie right now, one would think they were in a completely different place. Where there has been feet upon feet of snow, there now lies lakes, rivers and streams in every direction. Camas Creek runs west to east and is normally nothing more than a small trickle, if anything at all. But right now, the river is at least an eigth of a mile wide in some spots!



All over town there are lakes, and streams. Heath & Amanda's place has been submerged for 3 weeks already, and we refer to his backyard as "Lake Norton". Heath dug a ditch all the way from his back yard, down the alley behind his house, and to a storm drain he found. When that wasn't enough, he had to rig up a set of HDPE pipes and a 1/2 HP pump to get it out of his yard. The water is leaving slowly, but their backyard still looks pretty much like it does in the picture below.



It is simply amazing the changes that this area goes through throughout the seasons. Soon the lakes and rivers will dicipate and we will be left with green fields and camas lillies once again.

Boise, Idaho - Please Stand Up

For those of you uncertain about the local Boise Idaho Real Estate market, have no fear. I just read a post by Eileen over at Rain City Guide (one of my favorite RE Blogs), where she talks about the top 10 Markets in the country where Real Estate values should continue to grow. Who was at the top of the list? None other than our very own Boise, Idaho! I’m not surprised either. If you think about it, Boise is still an affordable place to live, and very desirable as well. Median home prices are still in the 100’s to 200’s, plus there are plenty of jobs and other things bringing people to Boise. I don’t know about you, but a city where you can leave your Condo on the 15th floor, drive for 5 minutes and be at the base of hundreds of hiking trails is unheard of! I have a friend who wakes up some mornings, goes kayaking, and still makes it to work by 11am. Oh, the beauty of Idaho!

Modern Diseases - Truth or Fiction?

I'm posting this blog in hopes that whoever reads it, actually clicks on this article. This rather short article pretty much sums up my views on modern healthcare and disease. The modern system is broken. We are a society focused on treating symptoms and not actually preventing any real disease. Please take the time and read this article written by Dr. Gary L. Tunsky. After reading it, please post a comment and let me know your thoughts. Does it really sound so crazy that we should focus on being healthy instead of pumping out bodies full of crap every day?

http://www.newstarget.com/019330.html

Today I Begin Again

It’s March 20th. There is 3 feet of snow in my front yard, and it is officially the “Mud Season” here in Fairfield Idaho. And while today is the first day of spring, you would never be able to tell by visiting my small town. Especially seeing as how when I left my house at 9am this morning it was snowing, and when I returned this evening at 6:30pm I find not much has changed. And even though the skies are grey, and everything around my house is brown and black from mud, it doesn’t seem to get me down. It seems more like a blessing in disguise. The lightly falling snow and the mellow sounds of Amos Lee playing in the background make me content.

I’m sorry I haven’t been writing more. My goal is to change that. It isn’t that I haven’t been Blogging. I just haven’t been paying enough attention to my original and most fun project of all. - idrocks.com – Indeed it does. Expect more frequent posts, and updates to the site.

If you do want to check out some of the other things I’ve been working on, please be my guest:

CamasWeb – Community Website project for Fairfield. This isn’t really anything I’ve told anyone but Amie about, but it was an idea we were throwing around. Kind of a place for people to get community news, have forums, classifieds, news, etc… Let local businesses use the site. Who knows.

REIdaho – The beginning of a Real Estate Blog. Amie and I both have really been in to Real Estate lately, and we are learning a lot. Stuff we would love to share as well. With inspiration from other people doing the same thing, we have decided to document our travels in this arena. For a while the site will be pretty stagnant I imagine. Mostly just me posting, and getting all the content in place. But as we put more time and effort in to it, eventually we hope to make it thrive.

Just Laws

Here is my latest and greatest English essay. Let me know what you think.
Just Laws?
Laws never made men a whit more just, because the men who make the laws are for the most part not just either. A just law maker is one who operates using their conscience; unfortunately many people use other things to pass judgment. What makes a conscientious man more just some might ask? The answer is nothing. A person might have a conscious, but that does not mean their conscious will necessarily benefit the greater good. A great many people make decisions using their conscious every day, which does not mean that they have made the right decisions. In the law makers mind they may have made a ‘good’ law, but it might not necessarily be the ‘right’ law.
Thoreau says that men are inherently good. If they are inherently good then they would be governed by their conscience. Their conscience would steer them on the path of righteousness. With their conscience steering them on the right path then they will be able to make the correct choices, pass the good laws, do the right things that will benefit society. However peoples conscience is merely a extension of their beliefs and values. What they believe will influence their actions, this creates a conflict of interest when it comes to passing judgment on a law or a particular action that could affect others. What this person decides might not necessarily be for the good of everyone. What the law makers want and what would be the most beneficial to everyone is not always the same. A law maker might make a law that includes the majority and excludes the minority, according to their own conscience. A different person might make a law that is completely different but with the same problems. A law maker can also make a law that might include a minority group and exclude the majority and other minority groups. Examples of this would be affirmative action, where people that belong to minority groups get preference in jobs, schooling etc. Over a person who belongs to the majority. The reason for this law is to ensure that people from all walks of life get the same opportunities at the getting a good job as everyone else. In theory this law would work great. However in reality many employers will hire a less qualified minority over a better qualified non-minority, just to remain in compliance with the affirmative action laws.
Another example would be the Housing Urban Development (HUD) laws. These laws are too ensure that people with low incomes can have access to quality housing. While this law is great and extremely beneficial to people with low incomes, people who make more money than is allowed under the HUD laws cannot get housing through the program. In towns where the majority of the housing is HUD housing, it makes finding a place to live very hard for average income or single people. A good example of this is the town of Mountain Home, ID. The HUD housing apartments are the most numerous and the best quality in the immediate area. For military members that are looking for housing it is extremely difficult to find it. The only options available are to either settle for lower quality housing at a higher price or make the commute to the next population center 40 miles away. In the end it comes to paying more for less either way. Most people who live in the town make more money than the HUD program allows to qualify for housing, so it excludes a large majority of people from finding affordable, quality housing. This is one example of a law that is not just. While helping out one group it excludes another and does not help them. The person or persons who where the driving force behind it probably used their conscience and where of good mind when creating the law, but they did not think what the consequences would be for the majority of people. Or they just didn’t care and excluded the majority on purpose. . If they believe that HUD laws are just and fair to everyone, then they will support those laws and try to get them passed. This will benefit the low income people, while it will oppress the middle class people who cannot afford the high income housing and do not qualify for HUD housing.

It is sometimes difficult for law to create justice because law is created by law makers and law makers us their conscience to create laws. By using their conscience they apply their own beliefs to their work. This can be applied to any organization such as corporations and governments too. An organization is really only as great as the people that belong to it. If a corporation is full of people with good intent and are conscientious then they will generally do the right thing, making good decisions for their employees, customers, the environment and countless other factors that make up a successful company. On the other hand if a company of schemers and people whose conscience does not play a part in their dealings then the company will have dealings similar to what happened with Enron. Or the people involved with Saudi Oil. Conscience must start from the top and hopefully have a trickle down effect. If for example the President is a conscientious person and this reflects in how he or she (it will happen) makes policy, administers the Executive, deals with foreign governments and all the rest of their responsibilities it will encourage and reflect on the rest of the government to act responsibly and do the right thing. Not just in the professional aspect, but in personal life as well, since personal life at least for well known people is just a visible as their professional life these days. Would the President being conscientious guarantee justice though? No. For starters one person’s idea of justice could differ from the next person. For a psychopathic murderer one person might want the death penalty, while another would want imprisonment and treatment. Same crime, different justice. The laws that people pass might not fit another persons idea of justice, just their’s. However if a person was conscientious enough to consider all angles of what their law or course of action might cause then they could know what the causes of what they are doing. It would be impossible for one person to do this though. A group of conscience minded people together could figure it out though. That is why laws in the American government system are put to a vote. Hopefully with enough conscience minded people together they would be able to make a law that works for everyone. Thoreau says “No man with a genius for legislation has appeared in America. They are rare in the history of the world”. This is proven quite true in the current government.
Thoreau’s idea of not belonging to any incorporated entity or government would be the perfect form of conscience minded justice. Without anyone to make any rules or laws for the society that a person inhabited their conscience would govern themselves. Dispensing justice where it is due, at the whim of their own conscience. This would work great if every one had the same idea of justice and if people where truly inherently good. In the perfect world this would work great, but not in reality. People are always looking for at what is on the other side of the fence, wondering if the grass is greener on that side. Well it looks greener maybe they could just go take some from their neighbor and bring it back to their side. Well their neighbor doesn’t want to give up their greener grass and stops the person from taking it. Something happens and they dispense their own form of justice on each other. That’s where laws come in to dispute these problems. It is in people nature to want something better. It is really a survival instinct from the cavemen days. Back then they had to fight for just the basics to survive so it was bred into human beings to fight for what they want. So because of this people are not inherently good.
In conclusion Thoreau’s idea that laws never made men a whit more just is correct. Laws are created by mankind, and the people who make the laws are not just, so they cannot make a just law. Law makers create laws using their conscience, their conscience is swayed by their beliefs and values so everything they do will have their interests in mind, not really the interests of every one. People are supposed to be inherently good, but human nature disproves this making Thoreau’s belief in that not true. Laws never made man a whit more Just.

WHISTLER

The day has finally come and past. The fabled trip to Whistler-Blackcomb. This trip started over 6 months ago in the hot dusty deserts of Iraq. A dream of one man who thought "What am I gonna do with all this money? I'm going to go skiing. I'm going to go to Whistler." From their the planning took off. Asking friends and family if they wanted to come. Many said they wanted to come. Many said hold on let me check. Some said they would come. In the end it was no I can't make it. Would have made it a lot easier if they had replied sooner. Could have saved about a grand, but whatever. In the end only two people stood out from the rest of the masses and calmly said "Yes Ben we shall brave the barbaric Canadians and join you in the fabled fantasy land of Whistler, British Columbia!! Through our powers combined we shall slay the beast known as Whistler-Blackcomb!!!" Little did we know what this mythical creature had to offer. I decided to go during the peak time when the beast would distracted by hordes of other skiers and snowboarders. Thats right during New Years. I found a base of operations from which to unleash our campaign on the mountain and the bars. A small but exquisitely furnished condominium known by the code name "Marketplace Lodge". At a key point in the "village" this stronghold would play a huge part in recovery, storage and nourishment operations. It also served as a excellent place to stage out of before the frequent assaults on either of the two 8,000 foot monsters. Come the 27th Day in the 12th Month in the Year of our Lord 2005 the three intrepid adventurers went forth and began the journey to Whistler. Flying to Seattle the City of Rain where they met up with a late arrival in the pack of Snow Slayers, from there we traveled by train to the fortress city of Vancouver and from there by bus to the city in the clouds, Whistler.

Here we go again
New skiing stuff again
Skiing down the avenue
Gonna show these Canadians a thing or two
ooooh hoh oh oh oh oh Hua!

Exiting the bus we quickly took in the surroundings noticing the over abundance of snow and the beautiful people. Making our way to the field operating post in the 'MarketPlace Lodge" was no easy task. Carrying our Weapons of Mountain Destruction slowed our advance to a near crawl, but we eventually rallied up at the entrance to our room. The room was decked out in splendid furnishing and had a good observation point overlooking the mountains. Would be very effective in determining what kind of snow we would be up against in the coming days and nights.

Jump up, buck up, shuffle to the door
To be a super skier,
You gotta be hardcore

The next day a full fledged assault on Blackcomb Mountain began in earnest. At the crack of 1245 we hit the slopes like a rolly polly. Ice and poor visibility degraded our navigation systems forcing members of the group to move slowly and retire early. The initial attack on Blackcomb was not successful, but the future was bright. That night the crowds where out in force slowing the nourishment process and the consumption of the adult beverages. It was a early night. Not that, that kept everyone from sleeping in late as hell. The next day the elite Spec Ops Recon team advanced relentlessly up the snowy face of Whistler Mountain. This 7,160 foot monster had thousands of acres of terrain to conquer and they where up for the job. After a morning of laying tracks in fresh snow they where met by the Ninja assassin known only as "K-le", while secret agent "Da Boss" took part in a top secret training exercise. The trio decided to begin a offensive on the legendary Harmony Bowl, hearing rumors untouched powder devils and steep formidable slopes. Many acres of powder where layed low during the foray that will live on as the Wait in the Lift Line. Surely songs will be sung of its tragedies and triumphs.

Oh when I go home people they will ask me
How did you spend your vacation boy?
How did you play?

I'll reply as I stare them in the eye
Skiing, Riding every day

That evening the evil Canuck air played biological warfare on a member of the team. GrandMaster B of the Wilson Clan was layed out by a sinister germ. Down a member the group pushed on undaunted. Finding sustenance at the exquisite Mongolie Grill and parting at Tommy Africa's (which has nothing African about it). Taken down a notch by the night operation, everyone crawled out of bed with head aches and need for greasy food. Only I 001981 was able to muster up the strength to strap on the Weapons of Mountain Destruction and take a couple of runs at Whistler Mountain. Taking a double black diamond from the Harmony Ridge I vanquished a whole division of powder demons. However I was beginning to feel the effects of the germ warfare as well and had to retire early. Getting back to the 'MarketPlace Lodge' I took a much needed nap. That night we acquired raw fish product wrapped in rice and seaweed. It was delicious and free. Suffering from fever and the onset of the Ebola Virus, GrandMaster B and 001981 where regulated to couch and sleeping duty, while K-le and Da Boss went out to enjoy the New Years festivities.

Oh when I go home people they will ask me
How did you spend you vacation boy?
How did you play?

I'll reply as I'm flying
sick and dying

Still under the weather the next day it was a day of relaxation. Ninja assassin K-le was called off assingment to go on a other more urgent mission known only as "work and school". That night Fondue was had in mass quanities and proved to be a boon in the recuperative effects. Massive quanities of tea where also consumed which where the key to health. That night 12 inches of snow fell on the mountains. A emergency action message was sent out by higher headquarters calling for immediate operations to take place. Still feeling not operational GrandMaster B and Agent Da Boss remained in the 'village' to look for suspicious activity, while 001981 fought the ski battle of a lifetime in the 7th Heaven Zone and Blackcomb Glacier of BlackComb Mountain. After a test fire of the Weapons of Mountain Destruction on the Jersey Cream, 001981 heard reports of untouched powder amongst the cliffs and hidden glades of the 7th Heaven Zone. Spying a likely target 001981 zeroed in for the kill. Trying to get a angle on the target ( a long extremely steep straight away of virgin powder with small cliffs and kickers in its midst before giving way to glades) required much traversing and hucking off a small cliff to get in the right position. Screaming down the hill at exponential speed 001981 slashed through powder of incredible depth with wide sweeping arcs. Coming up to a cliff 001981 hunkered down and leaned back, hitting the cliff at Mach speed. Flying through the air to land perfectly amongst a large heap of powder demons. Stamping hard and hanging on 001981 vanquished them with a double slash mark of his Line Mike Nick Pro Model WMDs. Speeding along our hero fought bravely down the rest of the mountain to the Lift Line. This battle played out numerous times throughout the day with sometimes the powder and trees getting the upperhand and 001981 suffering coldly. The balance of power went both ways through out the day, with the battle raging all over BlackComb mountain. Drop Kick Murphys are coming out with a battle ballad about it soon. At the end of the day 001981 was the victor, skiing triumphantly to the Apres ski.

Not to be out done though, Whistler Mountain seeing its sister was in trouble, knowing that it could not survive another onslaught from 001981, sent its Australian Sirens to make sure that he did not ski again.....They plied 001981 with the high octane Molson Canadian and said hello to the arch enemy of the ski day....Jose Curevo.
Blurry images
Dancing
more blurry stuff
Where are my glasses?
small dorm room
bunk beds?
Blurry
001981 was way to hung over the next day as he stumbled home after his latest mission. "No skiing for me today" he thought. The mountain had won, through devious means, but thats what mountains do. The next day the crew left Whistler-Blackcomb behind, with its mountains of powder and beautiful people. Maybe next year they will return for another attempt to conquer its majesty, but for now they are going home.

001981 OUT

Retro = Cool

Hey, if you haven't already purchased yours, make sure to while supplies last. The newest in cellular and retro cool technology. The Retro-Cellular Handset!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/7830/

Quote of the Day

I thought this was an interesting Quote for us all to consider. Whether you are Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Buddist, or an Individual, it is important to note why much of the world is at war with one another. In fact, some could argue that beliefs, are the only thing that cause war.

"What weighs nothing and yet is powerful enough to start a war? A belief." Unknown

Airman's words fly shop into chaos, improve productivity

A recent slip of the tounge by a young Airman First Class (we will call him Airman Topo Map) slipped the normally peaceful 366 Logistics Readiness Squadrons Air Terminal Operations Flight into utter chaos. On Monday afternoon a certain Staff Sergeant (we will call him Sgt. Chuck Taylor left shoe) asked Airman Topo Map how close he was to getting his flightline drivers licsense. At the time Topo Map was surfing the internet and looking up some phat' scores on his home team. (Cuz dats whats we do back in da crib ya know) Without even looking up from the screen he replied "I'm workin on it". SSgt Chuck Taylor left shoe responded by telling him "It sure doesn't look like it, you need to be working on it instead of looking at this crap"
"Hold on man"
"What the $#@# did you just say!! In my office now!!
"Ok oK in a second man"
"I SAID IN MY OFFICE NOW YOU WILL NOT DISRESPECT ME!!"
At this point Topo Map got off his ass, and proceeded to get a quite complete chewing of the hind quarters by SSgt Chuck Taylor left shoe, TSgt Belt Buckle and MSgt Doritos Bag. Afterwards a harsh silence fell over the entire shop and people vacated the scene like cockroaches. Now a new sense of edginess has fallen over the shop, with rumors of harsh punishment to come for infractions and laziness. When asked later about the incident SSgt Chuck Norris left shoe replied "Damn kid, just lucky we weren't in Iraq or I would have instituted some wall to wall counseling."
"Yes jolly o we need to bring that back" said Pippin
"Shut up Pippin"
A1C Topo Map had this to say about the incident "Well you know I was workin on it, but not very hard, I know I disrepected him but he didn't need to yell at me like that. I mean I'm just a dumb airman. Maybe next time a NCO tells me to do something I'll do it then and not be a moron."
Mr. Real Mckenzies came forward with this statement "I think this is what this place really needed. It been a long time since there has been a real good chewing of the posterior around here"
"Right 'o' chaps" said Pippin
"Shut up Pippin"
Since then workers make themselves busy through out the day, not wanting to be seen sitting around. The same forklift has been checked out and washed at least 5 times today. Training gets done on time now.
"Sgt. Chuck Taylor left shoe struck me a usually a quite kind of guy, didn't really expect him to get loud like that, don't want to piss him off no way." said SrA Lord of the Rings DVD
New to the Air Force Airman Basic Obe Won Kenobi thought "He is my supervisor I hope he doesn't freak out on me like that."
"I'm glad I had such a impression on the airmen, this way they are acutally more productive. You would be amazed what taking away someones weekend or making them stay late will do. But seriously what do I care I'm out in May... yeah. Hell yeah." Said SSgt Chuck Taylor left shoe.

Christmas Gone Wild

If you think you have seen it all on Christmas, think again. This is an example of "Taking it too far". You have to admire the people that did this though:

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000263069055/ - Click on the picture series to view Clark Griswold times 2.

Attention all Birds!

ATTENTION ALL BIRDS

Official Department of Homeland Insecurity Memo:

Due to a heightened state of alert concerning the bird flu virus, the Department of Homeland Insecurity has determined that birds will no longer be offered unrestricted access to United States airspace.

As of January 1, 2006, all migratory birds will be required to arrive at international airports where Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) personnel will check for proper travel documentation and clear the birds for entry into the United States, provided they are not carrying undeclared fruit, which is even more dangerous than bird flu.

All birds wishing to enter this country will be required to carry passports, proof of immunizations, and entry visas. Birds who do not have visas will be charged (ducks will be billed) a flat $250 entry fee which must be paid three separate times, at three different government offices, after standing in three different lines as per standard INS regulations.
All undocumented birds shall hereforth be deemed "terrorists."

Birds entering U.S. airspace without proper authorization will be escorted by military aircraft to the nearest landing facility.

Birds("terrorists") that approach the Pentagon or White House will be fired upon with bird-seeking air-to-air missiles. All such violence will be televised by Fox News in a glitzy special entitled "Terror from above!"

The Department of Homeland Insecurity is requesting that all hunters and N.R.A. members assemble on the U.S. / Mexico border and shoot anything that appears to be flying. This includes UFOs, which are required to be videotaped with low-resolution video cameras held by people experiencing epileptic seizures.

Birds attempting to illegally cross the U.S. / Canada border in order to gain entry will be rounded up by volunteer bird watchers armed with high-powered binoculars and delivered to Tyson Foods' Guantanamo Bay Division for interrogation at the hands of experienced bird torturers. (Torture photos will be posted online by Dick Cheney.)

Parrots that unquestioningly repeat everything they hear may be offered jobs as reporters covering the White House beat.

Birds who attempt to impersonate chickens will be eaten by Morgan Spurlock.

Birds whose migratory patterns are disrupted by this Homeland Insecurity action will be offered assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), which is standing by with five thousand tons of ice that was never delivered to hurricane Katrina victims and still hasn't completely melted.

All bird houses owned by U.S. citizens must be registered with federal officials under Chapter IV, Section 8 of the Patriot Act.

Citizens caught harboring undocumented birds in undeclared bird houses will be deemed "enemy combatants" and subjected to the whims of Tyson Foods foul interrogators.

All birds made of white meat are hereby requested to report to their nearest INS facility for processing into Chicken McNuggets.Questions about these policies should be directed to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's food pyramid website, which has the same answer for everyone: "Drink more milk."

Thank you for your compliance,
- The Department of Homeland Insecurity, Multiplication Division

Authored by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger.
http://www.NewsTarget.com/013054.html

Quote of the Day - Special Edition

This Quote of the day is for Ben. Since he thinks they are "Super Cool".

"Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right." Henry Ford

still rockin' on

Well.....hmmmm haven't written anything in a long time. Have I had any adventures lately, that can even become to compare with my posts from Iraq? I mean you can't really top the streets of Iraq in terms of sheer adrenaline. Nothing like an IED to get the heart pumping, or to know how big the line between life and death is. (About this big _______) Most of my posts are usually stories that deal with my life or tied to it some how, not deep philosophical stuff like Bryan and his "quote of the day" (which are usually super cool yeah). I think my time over there has really given me a new outlook on life. I sure appreciate things a whole lot more, (hot women, cold beer) but just not appreciating things. Over there I was the Lead Guntruck Commander. What I did was control the convoy in all terms. I was the master of my domain. I spotted the IEDs, the gunmen on the sandy knoll, I set the pace for the convoy, I lead from the front. I noticed everything. I still do. It is called hyper alertness. I'm not looking for IEDs or the such, but when I see something I truely see it. It is really just paying more attention to my surroundings. It surely makes enjoying the outdoors a whole cooler experience. So I'm still rockin' on. I really have enjoyed my time back. It took a little getting used to, but at least I'm not wigging out every time a car comes speeding at me from a intersecting road any more. Camping, hiking , what have you its been great. I would really like to thank my family and friends for being so supportive while I was deployed and since I have gotten back. Thanks for listening to my slurred stories and just being there for me. Trust me you haven't heard them all. Well bring on the Snow and lets go tear up some Freshie!!

Whistler your next!

The Death of Compassionate Conservatism

I had to share this with everyone. This comes from a Christian magazine, but applies to everyone. They make a VERY good point.


Hearts & Minds - The death of compassionate conservatism
by Jim Wallis

Last week, I spoke with other religious leaders at a pressconference in the U.S. Capitol, urging the House ofRepresentatives to oppose cuts in social services in theirbudget bill. When it was over, we walked to the rotunda to offera prayer for our nation and its leaders, that they would do theright thing for people in poverty. Suddenly, we were face toface with Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and took theopportunity to deliver our message directly to him. He listenedpolitely, but offered little response.

The House is scheduled to begin debate tomorrow on its budgetbill, which includes $54 billion in cuts. On the table are cutsof $9.5 billion in Medicaid - by requiring co-pays for pregnantwomen and children for the first time; $8 billion in fostercare, child support enforcement, and aid to the disabled; and$844 million in the Food Stamps Program, which would prevent300,000 people from receiving food stamps. Forty thousandchildren would be cut from reduced-price school lunches.Lawmakers intend to follow these with a further cut of $70billion in taxes that will primarily benefit the top 3% oftaxpayers. The message from Congress is that in response toHurricane Katrina, we're going to cut services for the poor, cuttaxes for the rich, and increase deficits for our children and grandchildren.

These plans for deep cuts to social supports, paid for by taxcuts for the wealthiest, are contrary to the national prioritieswe need to protect our most vulnerable citizens. We need strongmoral leadership in Congress, especially during this time ofwar, record deficits, rising poverty and hunger, and naturaldisasters. Cutting food stamps and health care that meet thebasic needs of poor families is an outrage. Cutting socialservices to pay for further tax cuts for the rich is a moraltravesty that violates biblical priorities. The House leadershipseems to be saying they literally want to take food from themouths of children to make rich people richer. If this ideologyand politics of rich over poor prevails and our leaders fail togovern from a set of moral values, then the religious communitymust conclude that compassionate conservatism is dead.

As this battle for the budget unfolds, I am calling on membersof Congress, some of whom make much out of their faith, to startBible studies before they cast votes to cut services that willfurther harm the weakest in our nation. They should focus on thegospel imperative - what Jesus tells us about our obligations tothe "least of these." Some of them have heard the slogan "Whatwould Jesus do?" Now they should ask, "What would Jesus cut?"Budgets are moral documents, and they reflect our nationalpriorities and values. In the name of social conscience, fiscalresponsibility, equal opportunity, protecting our communities,and the very idea of a common good, the upcoming budget voteswill be closely watched by people of faith.

I urge you to read the alert that follows, pick up your phone,and call your member of Congress. Tell him or her to showpolitical will in standing up for the least of these, as Jesusreminds us.

------------------------------------------------

Call Rep. Simpson now, toll-free:
(800) 426-8073 (Thank you, American Friends Service Committee).
The House of Representatives will vote on this immoral budgetproposal as early as Thursday of this week, and a one-minutecall from you and others could mean the difference between a"yea" or a "nay" vote from Rep. Simpson. Dialingthe number above will get you to the Capitol switchboard. Whenyou reach an operator, ask for Rep. Simpson, andwhen connected, say something like:

"As a person of faith from Idaho, I urge Rep.Simpson to vote "no" on this immoral budget billthat cuts $54 billion in vital services to vulnerable people,including Medicaid, foster care, food stamps, and child support.These cuts will hurt survivors of Katrina and countless workingfamilies. Along with proposed tax cuts for the super-wealthy,these are the wrong priorities at the wrong time."

Since Sliced Bread!

Have you ever had a great idea on how to change America for the better? Have you ever wished there was a way to get your idea across and really try to make a difference with it? Well, now there is a way! Maybe. I came across a company that really intrigued me with what they were doing. The company is called Since Sliced Bread (http://www.sinceslicedbread.com/) . They are asking anyone and everyone to submit their ideas for a better America. Not only that, they really want to implement the changes that are submitted. The catch? Thousands of people are sending in their ideas, and only one will be chosen. The upside? If you are smart/fortunate enough to get the winning idea, they will pay you $100,000 dollars. Fire up the motors and start submitting!

Slow it down a bit - Follow your dream

The world is a crazy place, and moves at a pace similar to that of a honey bee. The harder you work, the more you are rewarded. The more money you make, the happier you will be. Can we all agree this is true? Do we all believe in this “system”? Personally, I would like to think not. I would like to think that we have it all wrong. That our current system of work for money, get paid. Don’t get paid, don’t have enough money, get stressed. And since the majority of us don’t seem to have enough money, instead we spend our lives stressing out about it, and possibly not living the lives we were meant to.

Last year I was inspired by a group of people that happened to pass through my small town. They were camped in the park across the street from my house, and on the side of their trailer was painted a large logo that read, www.10mph.com .

What these people were doing was amazing. They quit their corporate jobs to pursue their dream. They decided to throw “conventional wisdom” out the door, and pursue what was in their hearts. Not only that, they decided to include the world, and hopefully inspire them to do the same.

If you haven’t already, check out what these guys are doing. They are well on their way to completing their documentary about America. I think you will enjoy reviewing their trailer.

Click here to learn more

Quote of the Day

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." Walt Disney

Quote of the Day

"Cherish your visions and your dreams, as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements." Napoleon Hill

Do what I say, not what I do

This is just another article highlighting and proving the absolute error American's made in electing George W. Bush. So far, he has more qualities of evil than that of what he tries to make us think. Even when listening to NPR the other day, the only good reason it gave for Bush nominating Harriet Miers was that "They Share a common Faith". BS!!! Read below.

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: October 19, 2005

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (Iraq News Agency) - A delegation of Iraqi judges and journalists abruptly left the U.S. today, cutting short its visit to study the workings of American democracy. A delegation spokesman said the Iraqis were "bewildered" by some of the behavior of the Bush administration and felt it was best to limit their exposure to the U.S. system at this time, when Iraq is taking its first baby steps toward democracy.



Friedman Responds to Reader


The lead Iraqi delegate, Muhammad Mithaqi, a noted secular Sunni judge who had recently survived an assassination attempt by Islamist radicals, said that he was stunned when he heard President Bush telling Republicans that one reason they should support Harriet Miers for the U.S. Supreme Court was because of "her religion." She is described as a devout evangelical Christian.

Mithaqi said that after two years of being lectured to by U.S. diplomats in Baghdad about the need to separate "mosque from state" in the new Iraq, he was also floored to read that the former Whitewater prosecutor Kenneth Starr, now a law school dean, said on the radio show of the conservative James Dobson that Miers deserved support because she was "a very, very strong Christian [who] should be a source of great comfort and assistance to people in the households of faith around the country."

"Now let me get this straight," Judge Mithaqi said. "You are lecturing us about keeping religion out of politics, and then your own president and conservative legal scholars go and tell your public to endorse Miers as a Supreme Court justice because she is an evangelical Christian?

"How would you feel if you picked up your newspapers next week and read that the president of Iraq justified the appointment of an Iraqi Supreme Court justice by telling Iraqis: 'Don't pay attention to his lack of legal expertise. Pay attention to the fact that he is a Muslim fundamentalist and prays at a Saudi-funded Wahhabi mosque.' Is that the Iraq you sent your sons to build and to die for? I don't think so. We can't have our people exposed to such talk."

A fellow delegation member, Abdul Wahab al-Unfi, a Shiite lawyer who walks with a limp today as a result of torture in a Saddam prison, said he did not want to spend another day in Washington after listening to the Bush team defend its right to use torture in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfi said he was heartened by the fact that the Senate voted 90 to 9 to ban U.S. torture of military prisoners. But he said he was depressed by reports that the White House might veto the bill because of that amendment, which would ban "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment of P.O.W.'s.

"I survived eight years of torture under Saddam," Unfi said. "Virtually every extended family in Iraq has someone who was tortured or killed in a Baathist prison. Yet, already, more than 100 prisoners of war have died in U.S. custody. How is that possible from the greatest democracy in the world? There must be no place for torture in the future Iraq. We are going home now because I don't want our delegation corrupted by all this American right-to-torture talk."

Finally, the delegation member Sahaf al-Sahafi, editor of one of Iraq's new newspapers, said he wanted to go home after watching a televised video conference last Thursday between soldiers in Iraq and President Bush. The soldiers, 10 Americans and an Iraqi, were coached by a Pentagon aide on how to respond to Mr. Bush.

"I had nightmares watching this," Sahafi said. "It was right from the Saddam playbook. I was particularly upset to hear the Iraqi sergeant major, Akeel Shakir Nasser, tell Mr. Bush: 'Thank you very much for everything. I like you.' It was exactly the kind of staged encounter that Saddam used to have with his troops."

Sahafi said he was also floored to see the U.S. Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan agency that works for Congress, declare that a Bush administration contract that paid Armstrong Williams, a supposedly independent commentator, to promote Mr. Bush's No Child Left Behind policy constituted illegal propaganda - an attempt by the government to buy good press.

"Saddam bought and paid journalists all over the Arab world," Sahafi said "It makes me sick to see even a drop of that in America."

By coincidence, the Iraqi delegates departed Washington just as the Bush aide Karen Hughes returned from the Middle East. Her trip was aimed at improving America's image among Muslims by giving them a more accurate view of America and President Bush. She said, "The more they know about us, the more they will like us."

The Honest Food Guide

Hey Everyone, here is something that I've posted on my other website, but not here yet. I really wanted to let you know of this so you can print it and save it for yourself. Its called the HONEST food guide. Please note that this food guide is actually based on real foods that will actually benefit you, and not big industry specifically.

It is high quality, so please print yourself a copy by clicking here!

Nobel Prize Winner in Idaho - Helping Dogs with Low Self Esteem Everywhere

It has been a few days since I've been able to post anything, but when I read this article, I knew I needed to share it with the world. There are few times in history when people make such a large contribution that it simply cannot be ignored by the public. Please take this time to read about one of society's and especially Idaho's greatest inventors:

Click here to read the article

Why Help Never Arrived

I had to share this. It explains so much!

Quote of the Day

“Widening roads to overcome congestion is like loosening our belt to solve obesity.” John Norquist, former mayor of the U.S.city of Milwaukee and president of the Congress for New Urbanism. (Green Future, May/June 2005)

Click Here to read more quotes of the day, and other good stuff I like to keep track of.

Coming Home

Well here I am. The tour in Iraq is finally over. Finished the last mission. The next and last time I go out the wire will be on a airplane. Then on to Kuwait for a couple days, then to Baltimore. RON in Baltimore, with lots and lots of booze. Strippers!!! Or probably only two or three beers before I'm wasted. After Baltimore on to Boise. Finally home. Its been a long journey, one that started in the chilly winter month of Febuary and is ending in the chilly(at least in the states, its still hot as hell over here) month of October. From Camp Bullis, Texas to Tikrit, Iraq. Finally over. No more getting having to carry a weapon and ammo every where you go. No more wearing this damn helmet. No more tan, khaki and brown. No more sand. No more constantly being on edge. No more getting shot at. No more scanning for IEDs, no more getting blown up!!! No more Chow Hall!!! YEEEAAAH. As far as I'm concerned Iraq can kiss my ass. For a area that was supposed to be the birthplace of civilization these people sure are backwards. Where the United States was standards of living, sanitation, economically, cultural ect. back in the 1800s this place is today. It truely is Just Another Third World Arabian Shit Hole. It will be a little wierd coming home. Especially for the first couple days. Driving is going to be crazy. Be driving down the middle of the road, trying to run vehicles off the road, cussing at pedestrians, blaring the horn at everything, freaking out when someone puts on a turn signal. Yelling at the passenger to "Call that stuff on the side of the road in!!" "Hey get that guy". Scanning for IEDs or looking at bystanders suspiciously. Call the cops over some "suspicious looking roadkill". Might be a little intense for a while, a little wild eyed. I'll calm down after a while though. Just need some fresh mountain air and to see my friends and family again and I'll be as right as rain. A couple good brews wouldn't hurt either. I look forward to seeing every one in a couple days.
Ben



OUT

I am ALIVE

I am alive. I am the bringer of light against the darkness of evil. I am the sword wielder. I am the eyes of the eagle that sees the evil that is hidden from us. I am the master and at the same time the student. I am the healer, but not the injured. I am the navigator who takes the right path. I stay cool where others grow heated. I see through all the bullshit to see that it really is all bullshit, even calling it bullshit is bullshit. Most importantly I am alive.

New Orleans: What you didn’t see...

The images we often see, The images we rarely see, and The difference.

Much of the United States and the world has been focused on the tragedy and sorrow of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast as of late. The unimaginable damage and destruction is overwhelming. It goes to show that nothing is forever, and no matter how much you protect yourself and your nation, no matter how many steps you take to combat terror, there is always the chance for loss and death. Nature can be just as destructive as anything in this world. However, Nature is something we can't avoid or predict. Anger and violence is. It is unfortunate that so much attention is being put towards the unfortunate, and non-avoidable event in the Gulf Coast, and there isn't as much fuss over the man made, and completely avoidable DISASTER caused by the very nation struck by hurricane Katrina. Click on the link below to read a wonderful article by Jurrian Kamp of Ode Magazine on this topic.

Click Here for the Entire article

Am I just whining?

What is it about life that just seems to not be right? Every day we wake up (against our desire), go to work (usually against our desire), and work for a “living”. At the end of a usually long day, we get in our cars, drive home, and try to integrate back in to normal life. After about 4 hours of this normality, its time to go to sleep, wake up (against our desire), and do it all over again. All the while dreading that next day, and never really (and fully) enjoying our time off. Fifty percent of our waking lives are spent working for the elusive buck, just so we can spend the other 50% spending and using the money we just made, and sleeping. Does anyone else think it should be easier? Does anyone else think life should be a bit more fulfilling than just working the nine to five? Were we put here on earth just to be stressed out and tired all the time?

I for one don’t want to take it any more. I want to find that burning desire that I know is in there. Find the thing that drives me to step outside the boundaries of every day monotony, and break free! There has got to be something that would let me be the person I know I want to be. Maybe a Natural Doctor, maybe a backcountry guide, or a Nature Photographer. Perhaps a journalist for a new age magazine or newspaper. I don’t know! The possibilities are endless. There really are so many things that I’ve wanted to do (and still want to do).

Perhaps I’m just so overwhelmed with the possibilities. Perhaps having so many choices and so many roads to go down is really my main problem. Maybe I’m just so paralyzed in my decision making process that it is impairing me from actually getting off my ass and really going for it! Yes, I think that is it. I just can’t make a decision.

Okay Bryan, as any AA attendee would tell you, “First step is admitting you have a problem. Now, what are you going to do about it?”

I know the problem, but don’t have that extra push to simply detach from outcome and make it happen.

I’m working on it though, and slowly, one step at a time, I think I can break this destructive habit, and really start going for the things that matter most (to me) in life.

The Man Who Could Fly

I for one would not be the type you would find jumping off of a tall building or bridge. I’m more of a land loving, go on a hike or hop on a bike kind of a guy. But, just because I don’t partake of some of the worlds more “iffy” type sports, doesn’t mean others can’t. Miles Daisher proved this statement just last Friday. And, not only did he BASE jump off of the Perrine Bridge once to prove it, he did it a record breaking 50 times in one day! That’s right. Yesterday, in Twin Falls Idaho, Miles Daisher obliterated the standing world BASE jumping record of 22 times in a 24 hour period. Miles more than doubled the record with 50 jumps!

Click Here to read the entire article

Idaho's Centennial Trail

I have all sorts of Idaho Maps, and I've always seen the Centennial Trail sitting there, waiting to be looked at. Although, through all of my backpacking adventures, and trips in to the Idaho Backcountry, not once have I actually hiked the trail itself. Not even a portion (I don't think). Aside from having so many choices, and so little time, I really have no other excuse as to why I haven't given it a try. Maybe, just maybe, I'm waiting for the day that I can do the whole thing from start to finish. Based on what this article says, I may be the first person to do it.

Read the Article Here

Dalai Lama meets Idaho’s religious leaders

The 14th Dalai Lama met with Idaho’s religious leaders Wednesday morning at the Beaver Springs home of his local sponsor, Kiril Sokoloff.

The event drew more than 100 spiritual and religious ministers from around the state representing a spectrum of faiths including Muslim, Hindu, Native American, Christian, Buddhist and others.

The talk was billed as a means of bridging the gaps that divide religious groups and the Dalai Lama gave several views on such remedies.

Click Here to read the entire article

Willie Nelson, The Dali Lama, and Hotsprings!

While this weekend was a blast, no pictures were taken. Not because I didn’t want to take them, no… But both major events we attended had a strict “no camera” policy.

To be honest, I wasn’t even planning on having a big weekend. In fact, last weekend was supposed to be the one weekend that Amie and I stayed home and actually got something done at our house. If you know us, we are always SAYING we need to get stuff done at home, but when something, actually ANYTHING more fun is presented to us, we almost always go with it. So, yet again, our weekend of productiveness and accomplishment was replaced with a weekend of partying, being with friends, and chilling with the Dali Lama.

Yes, you heard it correct. The Dali Lama. Why would the Dali Lama come to Hailey Idaho? Good question. We are a small, somewhat remote area of the United States, and centrally located in probably one of the most republican concentrated states in the country. But, Sun Valley being an Island in a sea of republicans must make it attractive. Kind of like Hawaii or Fiji. Although both of those islands are surrounded by water.

Back to the point, we sat with the Dali Lama (and about 15,000 other people) on Sunday afternoon, September 11th, 2005. His message was that of bringing more compassion to the world. The person who brought him here, is supposedly world renowned for predicting when big shifts in society are going to happen. This same person believes the shift from hatred and fear is happen, and compassion and love is the only logical alternative. I sure hope he is right. If I hear any more negativity and fear, I think my head might explode.

His Holiness’s speech wasn’t exactly what I expected it was going to be. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad or anything like that. I guess I was just expecting some ground moving, consciousness changing address. Instead, he spoke like a normal human. Fancy that! He didn’t have any fancy speech prepared, no lights or gimmicks. Simply a discussion on his views, and an offer of hope and compassion. Nothing more. The way he spoke wasn’t like that of a politician; rehearsed and fake. It was more like sitting down with a wise old man. He simply wanted to share his wisdom, answer a few questions, and nothing more. It was perfect.

Of course the night before the Dali Lama was someone a bit more…. Let’s say… Moving. And not in the spiritual “moving” sense. I mean, he made you move. It was none other than Willie Nelson. He had a great show, and there were a ton of people there. Probably as much as the Dali Lama. However, the spiritual sense I got at the concert was probably more due to the copious amounts of beer as opposed the feeling of interconnectedness among all humans.

That night, all 14 or so of us went up to the Pace family cabin in Frenchman’s Bend, Idaho. A nice evening with friends is always nice. The private hotsprings sitting on the edge of the river put the finishing touch on the night.

Idaho Rocks Email

We have secured a new domain name & email host. If you want a FREE idrocks.com email address, please let me know. Mine is bryan@idrocks.com .

The email is/has:
- Web accessible
- Virus Protection
- Spam Protection (if wanted)
- POP3 Enabled (you can use it with Outlook)

Kind of cool. If you want one, let me know what you want (i.e.: bigdork@idrocks.com) I'll set it up for you and send you instructions on how to access it, etc...

Eastern Idaho

Wow. I thought Island Park was going to be cool. I didn't know it was THAT cool though. We had a great time. I wanted to write some big article on the trip, and give some history on the area, but honestly.... I just haven't had time. Plus, trying to get this stuff posted while at work isn't working. I'm hoping my internet is back up and working at home soon. Our trip covered MANY different cool aspects of Idaho. We went (in order) to Island Park, West Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, Hebgen Lake, Earthquake Lake, Upper & Lower Mesa Falls, St. Anthony Sand Dunes, and Craters of the Moon National Park. In 4 days. Below are some pictures we took (as promised).

This is a picture of me at Craters of the Moon. Sexy, I know....

Amie & Della having fun at the largest beach in Idaho. Too bad there isn't any water for miles.

Don't forget. DO NOT FEAD THE BEARS at Yellowstone!!

Amie overlooking Earthquake Lake. This lake was created after an earthquake. Clever name eh??

This one below, you can see that Amie was pretty impressed with Mesa Falls...

Over and out....

Island Park - The Place to be

I've been to Island Park once before, and I definitely was not dissapointed. The last time was a "drive through" on my way to the better known Yellowstone National Park. This weekend is a Hanks family reunion, and I'm looking forward to meeting up with some family, and especially enjoying the beauty of the area. Here is a nice picture of the area I found online. I should have some pictures of my own to post when I get back on Monday. 4 day weekend!! Woohooo!!!

What to write about

Well I've been getting some requests for another "Law in Iraq" story and cannot really decide what to write about. So I've narrowed it down to two different stories. The trip to FOB MON or Forward Operating Base Middle Of Nowhere aka COP Rawah and the story about the donkey from abu dabi aka the Golden Mule. I'll tell them in a linear order so because the Golden Mule happened first I'll tell it now.

"BoBoBoBoBOBOBooom" Spat the .50 "Thats the sound of my gat when it goes brraaat" I mimicked some rapper that my roommate had been spouting off for the past week. The fifty cal was wound up tight and had a great test fire. Rattled off twenty rounds of API and APIT in a matter of 2 to 4 seconds. I was the rear .50 gunner today escorting a convoy of fuel tankers. Normally I don't gun, but Everything got switched around today, I decided I would gun. Nothing new I had done it a handful of times before. The convoy took off and started out fine. For the first few hours everything was going great. It was a beautiful day (for Iraq) and the convoy was going fast. Then. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM. A huge explosion erupted about ten meters behind the truck with me facing right at it. The sudden shock wave hit me a knocked me back against the armored wall of the turret. Ping ping ping all sorts of stuff was hitting the turret, pieces of shrapnel and rocks and all sorts of stuff. Ziiinnnngg I heard something fly past my head probably missing me by a foot or so. The fifty cal jerked at a crazy angle upward and the rest of the vehicle was peppered by debris. Upon later inspection a couple large pieces of shrapnel where lodged in the bed of the truck and a couple of pieces blew up 2 vehicles ahead of us. The rear of the cab of my truck had all sorts of pock marks and other crap. All this was irrelevant at the moment though. I immediately started scanning the area looking for the trigger man. He had better be praying to Allah that I didn't see him or I was going to tear him to pieces. Luckily for him he was hiding pretty well. Good for me too, because the barrel of the fifty cal had taken a hit and was all jacked up. Shooting it probably would have caused it to blow up. Any way in the midst of all this we where still driving on. A donkey came in to view standing on the right side of the road not more than fifty meters away from where the IED blew up. It was looking up, with a kind of bewildered expression, like what the fuck just happened. I was amazed it was still there, just not alive but in one piece. As we passed by it the donkey looked around once more and started wandering off the road. By surviving a terrible blast with no injury at all or anything worse for wear, the donkey has earned the title the Golden Mule. I am still amazed that nothing had happened to it, when everything around it had been blown to pieces and even a armored vehicle like mine had taken damage. This little donkey must of been blessed or something because it should have been in a thousand pieces. So don't mess with donkeys because they can a lickin and keep on tickin.

Carbonate Mountain Trail

If living in a beautiful place like Idaho isn’t enough, try taking in the area from above. This is a view of the Wood River Valley from the top of Carbonate Peak in Hailey. Amie and I like to do this hike at least once a week. It is only 3 minutes from our offices, and a great work out. Not to mention the incredible view!

Sawtooths & Little Basin Creek Trail

Wow. I've been on a lot of Mountain Bike rides, but this one is definitely a keeper. The 14.5 Mile Single Track loop is among the best I've ridden so far, and definitely one of the most tiring! Amie, myself, and our friends Terry & Heather (soon to be contributors of IdahoRocks Blog), took part in this adventure this weekend. The first 2.5 miles are a grinder, but after that, expect 10 miles of both smooth rolling downhill, and technical downhill. After that, another 2.5 miles of gradual uphill. We had a blast! Of course, no great bike ride is complete without a dip in the nearby lake (Stanley Lake in this case)!

Sorry, no pictures this time. We took the camera with us, but as usual, the batteries died before we got any good shots. :-( Next time folks!

South Fork of the Boise River

This is a picture of me (Still fat, but losing weight!) from last weekend on the South Fork of the Boise River behind my house. I LOVE it back there. This is on the way down to Baumgartner Swimming hole & HotSprings.

Fairfield Sunset

This is not rare where I live. Every night we get something similar. Too bad there are four houses being built behind me.. :-(

Still Rockin!

I haven't been very good about putting pictures up here. This site is dedicated to the beatuy of Idaho, and since I'm not a poet, I'd better put some darn pictures up to prove it!

The picture to the left is from two days ago. Amie and I go on a hike (almost) every day after work. This is from Quigley Peak, and Hailey, ID is in the background.

Yesterday's Post & My "Other" Blog

In case you wanted to read yesterday's post, and are wondering what happened to it, I decided that this blog (Idaho Rocks) was not the proper place. You can find that post on my other blog, titled: "A Closed Mind is a Wonderful Thing to Lose".

Click Here to Go there

Great Thought for the Day

"If you only believe what you see, then you are limited to what's on the surface. If you only believe what you see, then why do you pay your electric bill?"

- Dr. Wayne Dyer

Boardman Peak Trail

If I woke up every morning and crossed this bridge to start my day, I would be a very happy man. This is a picture of my "back yard". If you don't already know, my backyard is the Sawtooth National Forest, and is one of the coolest places I know.

Respect the Law and Use it

Coming in to FOB Warrior yesterday I saw a sign that said "Respect the Law and Use it", it then repeated it self in Arabic underneath. I saw the sign and thought to myself first off "that would be a real cool sign to steal" you know if it didn't mean getting out of my truck in the middle of Clemson, especially after having pissed off half the town of Kirkuk. How did I piss off half the town of Kirkuk? Well that is the story I am about to tell.
The convoy had been stopped for about an hour for a suspected improvised explosive device. I was the gun truck commander for Gun 4 at the rear of the convoy. Usually Gun 4 is pretty boring relatively few decisions to make and most of the time all you say over the radio is "Copy" or "All vehicles clear check point". Today was another matter though. A large amount of vehicles had gathered about 200 meters behind us on the road. The road was curving around and a lot of tractor trailers where parked to the side hiding the approach of any incoming vehicles towards us. Suddenly a navy blue 4 door Opel sedan came around the parked tractors, flying at us at a extremely high rate of speed. My gunner started yelling and waving his arms at the vehicle. It still didn't stop. 50 meters away. "Crack,....Crack" One warning shot, then another. The vehicle locked them up and slid to a stop. After about a minutes hesitation the vehicle turned around and sped off. About twenty minutes later the same thing happened. The vehicle looked suspiciously like the one that had taken a run at us earlier. It sure seemed liked it was testing us. Normally I won't report warning shots because you have to go through the Spanish Inquisition afterwards, but this time I decided to let the C2 know what was going on. This vehicle was acting very suspicious, much like a VBIED (Vehicle Bourn Improvised Explosive Device to you civilians) . If it did it again this guy was going to get lit up by the .50. Luckily a few minutes later EOD cleared the suspected IED that we had been stopped for and we started rolling out. This is when things started getting exciting. The convoy came up on a traffic circle. Our route of travel required us to enter in the circle at 6 o'clock and leave at 12. Well Gun 2 missed putting up the block as they entered the traffic circle so a large amount of civilian traffic was able to infiltrate to convoy. This screwed up the KBR drivers who didn't really have a idea of where they where going to begin with. So the ninth KBR fuel tanker, (oh yeah by the way the trucks we where escorting where fuel tankers full of aircraft fuel) exited the traffic circle at 3 o'clock a very bad thing to do in the middle of a extremely crowded city in the middle of the day. Gun 3 had managed to set up a block when they got to the circle so after my truck entered the circle they tried to bound up to the front of our part of the separated convoy. Hundreds of hayji vehicle are all around us, 3 is trying to get to the front literally pushing vehicles off the road to get to the front. Gun 4 is still in the back. 5 miles down the road we finally come to a stop. Gun 3 had stopped us on a frickin bridge!!! I'm on the radio cussing at gun 3 to move us. He finally pulls his head out and puts a block on west bound. I hop to the front of our element and start leading us to safety. There was so much traffic in the way. It was literally like parting the Red Sea of vehicles. I felt like frickin Moses or something. We finally got back the traffic circle and took the right turn and caught back up with the rest of the convoy. Every one else in my truck and myself where so wound up that when we finally got back on base 5 minutes later we all almost fell asleep after all the adrenaline drained away. It was pretty intense for a while. So many people glaring at you. People pointing at you, so many vehicles. Our 5 ton truck literally rammed a couple vehicles to get them out of the way, pushed them off the road. Some crazy stuff. Any way the trip back was very quiet and that is the story, mostly.
Ben
out

It's Time to Listen

This is a great article and one that I think puts our whole "world epidemic" in to perspective. If people would really just start listening (and especially respecting) other people, where they come from, and their life experience, this world just might be a better place.

Imagine an America that had been listening to the voices in the Middle East. Not interviews with military consultants on CNN, but traumatized Palestinian children, the Israeli whose family disappeared in a bomb blast, the castigated Afghan widow, the Iraqi father who cannot find or afford medicine for his daughter. What if we had been listening for years, no, let’s say decades?

Click Here for full article: http://www.odemagazine.com/article.php?aID=4141

Get back in your fu@#%*g truck

The subject of my post is a pretty common phrase that I use around here. The damn third country nationals really seem to like to get out of their trucks when we are on a convoy. I have learned a couple phrases in arabic, mostly things that have to do with vehicles. Truck, engine, lights, fuel, air things like that. However nothing that comes close to "Get back in your fucking truck". The TCN trucks break down quite a bit so we are stopping all the time. I try to stay in the truck as much as possible, but my I am the rear gun truck commander so my vehicle has to stay at the rear of the convoy and make sure that the tail of the convoy is covered. So if something happens in my part of the convoy, my truck has to stay there while I go find out what is going on. So I dismount from time to time. Probably the most dangerous thing to do. When your in the truck you have all the armor of the truck, lots of comm and a big crew served weapon to take care of bussiness and are relatively safe. When your out of the truck its just you. While I would laugh at any haji bobby that tried to fuck with me its still a little intense running up to a broken down vehicle all exposed with nothing, but a M-4. The TCNs don't understand much english so you have to usually resort to yelling and pointing to get your point across. You would be surprised just how quickly people hop to work when you are yelling loud enough in the right tone of voice. Every time something has happened to me or something exciting, is a time that I dismounted the truck to find out what a stupid TCN was doing. They also try to take advantage of every stop to get out of their truck and go pee or get something to eat or some kind of other fucking around. We don't have time for that hence the phrase "Get back in your fucking truck!!" They look at you and say something in JATWASH language and scurry back to their truck. Well I don't really know how to end this story so BAM there its done.
Ben

The rest of the crew - City of the Rocks

This is the rest of the crew having a tasty adult beverage. This picture was taken on top of a rock very close to our campsite. One would not want to fall backwards!

Picture of Bryan at City of the Rocks

This is another picture of me standing on the rock formations really close to lookout rock.

Idaho City of the Rocks

We just got back from a AWESOME trip down to City of the Rocks in Southern Idaho. For the most amazing granite rock formations in the western united states, one MUST check this out. We arrived there on a Saturday afternoon. It looked like it was going to rain, but ended up being a fabulous night. After driving around to every camp site in the park, we finally decided on one and set up camp. There were hardly any other people there at the time, so we had the luxury of choosing the best spot. We hiked around all day, and the following day. We almost got lost (easy to do), but ended up finding the trail as the sun was going down. Below is a picture from our adventures there. This is a picture of Terry standing on the (almost) top of Lookout Rock.

The Law in Iraq

I spoke with my cousin Ben (The Law) today. He called me from Iraq. It was VERY nice to hear from him since we don't get to communicate on a regular basis. It sounds like he is doing pretty good over there. He has been on a few missions already, and it is his job to protect army convoys. I'm not sure why the Army can't protect themselves but.... He sounds like he is in pretty good spirits, but that something could happen any day. He almost shot someone yesterday, and that was kind of freaky. Anyways, he would really love a Dentist Scrapping tool for cleaning his gun, and not much else he requested.... If anyone reading this knows Ben and wants his address to send him some stuff, just let me know.

No Internet, No Blog.

Obviously right? Still no internet for Bryan in Fairfield. Word on the (dirt) street is that a new provider is coming to town and I won't have to use the evil LiteLink service that I've been forced to use. I'm praying that the new service comes quickly. I would really love to be able to use my Rhapsody account again.....

You Deserve an Explanation

I promise there is a good reason why this blog has remained stagnant for so long. Not necessarily because I haven't wanted to write, but mostly because I live in a rural part of Idaho and my current internet provider, a company called Lite Link is the worst company on the face of the earth. These people have a monopoly on the internet market in Fairfield. Since they are the only people that provide the service, the believe that they can offer crappy service. And they do. I've been without internet for almost 4 weeks now. And since the service provider employees are located in Twin Falls, I have to pay $80 dollars for them to come fix my internet. I have to pay them to get the service I ALREADY PAY FOR working. It is complete BS!! Anyways, there is good news. The good city of Fairfield, ID, headed by their magnificent Mayor David Hanks are here to help. They are putting the finishing touches on a new T1 line for the city. Once the line is complete, and they have the service up and running. I'm personally going to call up Lite Link and tell them what I feel. I'd tell you what I feel right now, but there might be little kids reading.

SOON! Soon there will be posts and pics again. IdahoRocks blog will be back!

Home Sweet Home

I'm back. I'm here. Wow. Feels Great.

I stand on a small island among a sea of white

Outstretched before me the great arms of mother nature herself

Calling me to her

Her purfume is a two stroke essence, reminding one of epic voyages accross her great expanses

Her voice that of the faintest falling snow

She whispers to me....

Hurry up and get your $*C&ing snowboard on and come ride me you son of a #@!t*h!

Freshie???

"Freshie???" the old Korean lady asked me and my friends. "You want freshie??? Hahhahaha you want freshie!!!!" The old flower lady had overheard a conversation some friends and I where having about fresh snow and how good it was to ski on. She went on to try and sell some flowers to a bunch of guys and then laughed some more and said something about being hungry. The topic of the conversation remained the same though about good powder skiing or 'freshie pow pow'. New snow is the absolute best to ski or snowboard on hands down. There was no freshie in Korea, but here in Idaho we just got dumped on with tons and tons of freshie pow pow. Some nice, fluffy, deep, perfect pow pow. I came up to Fairfield after a blizzard through the back way around Gooding Idaho and saw fields of snow that boggled the mind. That afternoon Heath, Amanda and myself got the snowmobiles running and took off to the backcountry. Heath and Amanda riding and myself getting pulled along behind the sleds water ski style it was great fun. The snow was so soft and deep that the sleds would get stuck if they went off the trail. Heath would drag me up to the top of a hill with the sled going full power and just barely make it up. The skiing down the hill was great, except there was too much snow!!! You had to find a really steep hill or the snow would stop you. It was a great time. The next day Amanda and I went skiing at Soldier Mountain. Tons upon tons of fresh powder lines that you could hit from all directions. Some truely great freshie pow pow. Idaho really does get great snow. If it had only gotten here earlier. Its Freshie now though. And that is why Idaho kicks pututer.

Zen and the Art of Skiing

I started skiing at the age of two. Back then it was cross country skiing with my father and mother. It started out being carried by my dad on a backpack, then evolved to myself skiing. At age seven I downhill skied for the first time out in Utah. I enjoyed cross country skiing, but I loved downhill skiing. Skiing has always been very asthetically pleasing to me. The grace, elegance, speed, seeing how far you can push the limit, pass over it and come back to talk about it all combines to form something like art. When you think about it skiing is almost a art form. You need form, grace, balance and determination to be a good skier. Are these not the same disicplines of a artist? I think so. Next to nothing I have ever experienced comes even close to the exhiliration that I have felt getting fresh tracks cruising along though a wooded glade, with nothing but the moment on your mind. Or blowing down a hill, pulling huge super G turns, turning so hard my legs feel fit to burst and knowing that one little mistake would be my last. Skiing, like running brings me to a almost different plane of existence. I can't honestly say that I have had a "Zen" experience or if I had would know it, but this is probably pretty close. When I am skiing my entire body and skis seem to become one. The skis go where they are supposed to without any conscious effort, everything works together in one seemless functioning order. The skis become just a extension of my body. Some sort of wierd laminated maple macroblock core growth that sprouts from my feet in the winter. That say LINE on them. Right about know you might be asking yourself, "What caused 'The Law' aka me to go off on this whole philosophy kick?" I had a couple really great, no not just great. They where awesome out freaking standing kick ass days of skiing with another great person, that I met skiing. Maybe I'll write about that later. That is my story and I'm sticking to it.