While growing up in Gainesville (which was before cable and satellite TV) we felt we were lucky to have the University of Florida's PBS station, the CBS and NBC stations from Jacksonville. Of course, this also meant that I never saw any ABC TV series while I was young. Being a horse-crazy kid, I watched every Western show that appeared on TV. I never got to see The Big Valley during it's first run; we got the TV Guide, and I knew about the series, but I never got to actually see it as a child. Since then, I'm sure I've seen every episode at least three times from beginning to end. Lee Majors was added to the cast to get the young female viewers interested - but my favorite actor in The Big Valley has always been Peter Breck, who played Nick Barkley. Nick was hot-headed, as I was (and still, occasionally, am). But he always managed to redeem himself. His character was much more involved with (or in tune with) the ranch, the animals and the crops. I always loved Peter Breck's portrayal of Nick Barkley. Time is marching on, and yesterday, Peter Breck passed away at the age of 82. After he stopped appearing in TV and films, he retired to Vancouver, British Columbia, acted in the local theatre, and had his own acting school. According to his wife, in the last year or so, he suffered from dementia. Peter Breck, you were one of my favorite actors.... You will be mourned and greatly missed.
It's all of 9 degrees outside, and snow started falling while I was on my way home last night. We've gotten two to three inches of light, powdery stuff so far, and it's continuing to fall. I'll be heading out around 11 this morning to stay with Oly, Annie and Bentley until this evening. The kits ran out this morning, and feeling the cold and seeing the snow, ran right back in. Lovey is watching Rawhide, while Nedi is looking outside. .... There are all sorts of things going on... Black Caviar won her 18th straight race in Australia, and this one was her 8th Grade 1. Seems that her people are now planning on running her at Royal Ascot for her out-of-Australia debut. ... Union Rags, the colt trained by Michael Matz, is the early 3-to-5 betting favorite in the Kentucky Derby Future Wagering pool. ... And in Ocala, Florida, an explosion in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber at the Kentucky Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center has reportedly resulted in the death of one person and a horse and left another person severely injured. According to the Ocala Star-Banner, 28-year-old Erica Marshall died and Sorcha Moneley, 33, was injured during the Feb. 10 accident. According to the Star-Banner, fire rescue officials said the horse was inside the chamber, which is approximately 10-feet by 12-feet wide in diameter, when the horse acted up and started kicking. Officials said the workers went to turn the chamber off when the explosion occurred, sending debris over an area covering at least 1,200 square feet. Fire rescue said they got the call at 9:21 a.m.
Located on the premises of the former Farnsworth Farms, KESMARC offers services for all equine disciplines, including a swimming pool, eurocisers, waterciser, aqua treadmill, indoor Polytrack, and housing for horses.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Miscellaneous
A fish-eye lens view of the aurora borealis above Yellow Knife, Canada
Early morning ice crystals on snowy plants
Paint foals at a water trough in New Mexico
A Mish-Mash
When I walked Remy and Rosie Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m., it was 21 degrees - but the sun was shining and there was no wind. Yesterday, when I walked the kids at 10 a.m., it was 23 degrees out, but cloudy, and with a north wind. The wind chill yesterday was 2 degrees. It got up to 39 degrees yesterday, and will hopefully reach that today. But we are expecting more snow tonight, tomorrow and Sunday. Not a big dump, but light snow for quite a while. I was asked earlier this week to stay overnight with the Anatolian Shepherds tonight, and next Thursday and Friday nights. This morning, I was asked to just feed and love the dogs for several hours this evening, and to come back again tomorrow to spend most of the day... At least I'll be able to make brownies tomorrow, so I can deliver them to my bus drivers on Monday.
Let's see... animal news. On the east side of Boulder, the Open Space Rangers shot and killed two coyotes that had followed and bitten joggers on a well-used trail. ... Kyle Dyer was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon, and is expected to return to work in 4 to 6 weeks, once her reconstructive surgery heals and the scars fade a bit. ... My kits have been going out three or four times a day. There is still a good 8 to 10 inches of snow on the ground in the back yard, but they are both running through the snow, half-heartedly chasing the squirrels and birds. Most of the time they spend on the patio, just soaking up the sun. ... The horses are gearing up for the Triple Crown, and in-field entertainment at the Preakness has already been arranged.
Did you know that most commercially-raised poultry (not the organic type) is fed an additive to "help cut down infections and get rid of internal parasites" that contains arsenic? A representative from Maryland is trying to get all additives that include arsenic banned from use by commercial producers. Delegate Tom Hucker, D-Montgomery, told a panel of his colleagues Wednesday that even though Pfizer Inc. has voluntarily suspended the sale of roxarsone, a chemical often put in chicken feed to help the birds grow and fight parasites, he wants the chemical banned here.
Hucker said the chemical and other additives that contain arsenic contaminate chicken meat and waste, polluting soil and the Chesapeake Bay. "We should look for alternatives, but without a ban, there will be far less market pressure to spend money on research for alternatives," he said. Pfizer stopped selling the drug in July after a U.S. Food and Drug Administration study found higher levels of inorganic arsenic in chicken treated with roxarsone than in those that were not fed the chemical. - I'm definitely for banning the use of roxarsone and any other additive in poultry feed that contains arsenic!
Let's see... animal news. On the east side of Boulder, the Open Space Rangers shot and killed two coyotes that had followed and bitten joggers on a well-used trail. ... Kyle Dyer was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon, and is expected to return to work in 4 to 6 weeks, once her reconstructive surgery heals and the scars fade a bit. ... My kits have been going out three or four times a day. There is still a good 8 to 10 inches of snow on the ground in the back yard, but they are both running through the snow, half-heartedly chasing the squirrels and birds. Most of the time they spend on the patio, just soaking up the sun. ... The horses are gearing up for the Triple Crown, and in-field entertainment at the Preakness has already been arranged.
Did you know that most commercially-raised poultry (not the organic type) is fed an additive to "help cut down infections and get rid of internal parasites" that contains arsenic? A representative from Maryland is trying to get all additives that include arsenic banned from use by commercial producers. Delegate Tom Hucker, D-Montgomery, told a panel of his colleagues Wednesday that even though Pfizer Inc. has voluntarily suspended the sale of roxarsone, a chemical often put in chicken feed to help the birds grow and fight parasites, he wants the chemical banned here.
Hucker said the chemical and other additives that contain arsenic contaminate chicken meat and waste, polluting soil and the Chesapeake Bay. "We should look for alternatives, but without a ban, there will be far less market pressure to spend money on research for alternatives," he said. Pfizer stopped selling the drug in July after a U.S. Food and Drug Administration study found higher levels of inorganic arsenic in chicken treated with roxarsone than in those that were not fed the chemical. - I'm definitely for banning the use of roxarsone and any other additive in poultry feed that contains arsenic!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Views of Assateague Island
Sunrise on Assateague Beach
A stallion chasing a bachelor on Assateague Island
Sunrise at Swan Cove on Assateague Island
An Open Letter From a Chincoteaguer Regarding Planned Changes at the Assateague National Seashore
This is a letter reprited from The Chincoteague Beacon, the weekly local newspaper for Chincoteague Island, Virginia. It is in today's edition, and has a headline of: "Consider the Hard Reality of a Beach Bus"
This letter is in reference to the two comments in this past Saturday's Eastern Shore News "Two Cents Worth" section concerning the Assateague Beach and the residents of Chincoteague Island. I would like to give the readers and the Two Cents writers some education on the subject and tell you why the vast majority of us are strongly opposed to some of the points in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Comprehensive Conservation Plan.
» Did you know that Chincoteague Island supplies around one third of the county's tax revenue? This 7-mile-long, 1-mile-wide stretch of land is a huge financial source for the county. It's not bragging; these are facts.
If Chincoteague's tax base dries up, so does the county. I bring this up because in the 2010 survey conducted by the town over 80 percent of those surveyed (these came from all across the country) said that they would vacation elsewhere if they had to take a trolley to enjoy the beach.
No people here to spend money in hotels, restaurants and gift shops means less tax revenue for Chincoteague, and means less tax revenue for the county -- which means fewer services for the people of the county.
» The cost to repair parking lots on Assateague, should they wash over, is around $500,000 per wash over. In my opinion, that is excessive but we all know how the government likes to spend money.
I'm sure Benny Hall and Joe Justice could haul pack soil and oyster shells all day long at a cheaper price than that, but nevertheless, the good old government says it cost that much, so be it.
My point here is that $1.5 million could have gone a long way to repair these lots should a wash over occur (which doesn't happen every year) and not be spent on purchasing land that has to be developed and then hiring trolley drivers, buying the trolleys, insurance and more.
I can't wait to see how much all that will add up to, can you? I bet it is more than $500,000.
» Say you are forced to take a trolley if you want to go to the beach on Assateague. I hope you are going alone and only taking a book because if you want to take your family here is what you are up against: beach chairs, coolers, umbrellas, beach toys, boogie boards, beach bags and junior in tow.
Take the time to pack all this in your car, park the car in shuttle lot, unload the car in shuttle parking lot.
Tote all the items to the pickup area and hold junior's hand because other cars are zipping through.
Wait for shuttle bus under the sweltering sun.
Here comes the trolley, pack all your stuff on it and ride over to unload area, unload all your stuff and walk to open space of beach.
What? You thought they would drop you off anywhere on the beach to your desired spot?
Walk to your desired spot, lay it all out. Look through your bag and discover you left your medicine, sunscreen, and hat in the car or at the hotel room. Too bad.
Better yet, lay out all your stuff and behind you in the distance you see a nasty storm rolling in. What? You want to take cover in your car?
No can do, now you must wait outside in the open with all your stuff and junior crying because he has sand is his shorts. Gosh, sounds like fun to me; does it to you?
And let's not forget this scenario -- you go with some friends and everyone has all their stuff and God forbid one of your friends gets really sick or injured, the ambulance comes and whisks you away. What now?
Think that nice ambulance crew is going to take all your stuff or your friends stuff on the ambulance? Don't think so.
I bring all this up because have some of you really thought this out? I think not.
» Did you know that the CCP plan calls for moving the recreational beach farther north? The USFWS would have to destroy massive amounts of vegetation and environment to accomplish this, not to mention millions and millions of dollars of taxpayer money.
That's right, your money. That is everything that goes against its mission statement.
Also, the alternatives propose reducing the pony herd, not allowing recreational horseback riding and not opening any new oyster and clam grounds should any more become available through leases not renewed.
These are just a few points to be made. There are many more.
I invite the two writers who wrote to the Two Cents Worth column obtain copies of the plan and read it from cover to cover, then comment. Until then please don't, unless you have something useful to comment about. One writer said that we wouldn't be happy if the refuge manager made gold bricks for us up here and the other said they were tired of hearing us complain about this issue and they wouldn't mind riding the trolley. For the one who made the gold brick comment, the refuge manager isn't making gold bricks, he is making a fool of those few who are falling for his plans. He lied to me right to my face about acquiring the campground land. He tells you everything you want to hear, then he lowers the boom on you. For the person who wrote the comment about not minding taking the shuttle, go back and read the above scenario.
The bottom line here is that the federal government is trying to shut down America one town at a time. No, we don't have large factories like in the Midwest or auto makers or huge banks like Wall Street. What we have is a beach, a nice town and a beautiful Eastern Shore unique in so many ways and all of us should be on the same page in arguing against this. Only then will we succeed in showing that our voices matter. We all may live on different parts of the Shore but all of us are the Shore.
Thank you for reading and if you are interested in learning more about this subject and how it will affect Chincoteague Island the entire Shore, please go to the town's website at: http://www.chincoteague-va.gov
The writer lives on Chincoteague Island.
This letter is in reference to the two comments in this past Saturday's Eastern Shore News "Two Cents Worth" section concerning the Assateague Beach and the residents of Chincoteague Island. I would like to give the readers and the Two Cents writers some education on the subject and tell you why the vast majority of us are strongly opposed to some of the points in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Comprehensive Conservation Plan.
» Did you know that Chincoteague Island supplies around one third of the county's tax revenue? This 7-mile-long, 1-mile-wide stretch of land is a huge financial source for the county. It's not bragging; these are facts.
If Chincoteague's tax base dries up, so does the county. I bring this up because in the 2010 survey conducted by the town over 80 percent of those surveyed (these came from all across the country) said that they would vacation elsewhere if they had to take a trolley to enjoy the beach.
No people here to spend money in hotels, restaurants and gift shops means less tax revenue for Chincoteague, and means less tax revenue for the county -- which means fewer services for the people of the county.
» The cost to repair parking lots on Assateague, should they wash over, is around $500,000 per wash over. In my opinion, that is excessive but we all know how the government likes to spend money.
I'm sure Benny Hall and Joe Justice could haul pack soil and oyster shells all day long at a cheaper price than that, but nevertheless, the good old government says it cost that much, so be it.
My point here is that $1.5 million could have gone a long way to repair these lots should a wash over occur (which doesn't happen every year) and not be spent on purchasing land that has to be developed and then hiring trolley drivers, buying the trolleys, insurance and more.
I can't wait to see how much all that will add up to, can you? I bet it is more than $500,000.
» Say you are forced to take a trolley if you want to go to the beach on Assateague. I hope you are going alone and only taking a book because if you want to take your family here is what you are up against: beach chairs, coolers, umbrellas, beach toys, boogie boards, beach bags and junior in tow.
Take the time to pack all this in your car, park the car in shuttle lot, unload the car in shuttle parking lot.
Tote all the items to the pickup area and hold junior's hand because other cars are zipping through.
Wait for shuttle bus under the sweltering sun.
Here comes the trolley, pack all your stuff on it and ride over to unload area, unload all your stuff and walk to open space of beach.
What? You thought they would drop you off anywhere on the beach to your desired spot?
Walk to your desired spot, lay it all out. Look through your bag and discover you left your medicine, sunscreen, and hat in the car or at the hotel room. Too bad.
Better yet, lay out all your stuff and behind you in the distance you see a nasty storm rolling in. What? You want to take cover in your car?
No can do, now you must wait outside in the open with all your stuff and junior crying because he has sand is his shorts. Gosh, sounds like fun to me; does it to you?
And let's not forget this scenario -- you go with some friends and everyone has all their stuff and God forbid one of your friends gets really sick or injured, the ambulance comes and whisks you away. What now?
Think that nice ambulance crew is going to take all your stuff or your friends stuff on the ambulance? Don't think so.
I bring all this up because have some of you really thought this out? I think not.
» Did you know that the CCP plan calls for moving the recreational beach farther north? The USFWS would have to destroy massive amounts of vegetation and environment to accomplish this, not to mention millions and millions of dollars of taxpayer money.
That's right, your money. That is everything that goes against its mission statement.
Also, the alternatives propose reducing the pony herd, not allowing recreational horseback riding and not opening any new oyster and clam grounds should any more become available through leases not renewed.
These are just a few points to be made. There are many more.
I invite the two writers who wrote to the Two Cents Worth column obtain copies of the plan and read it from cover to cover, then comment. Until then please don't, unless you have something useful to comment about. One writer said that we wouldn't be happy if the refuge manager made gold bricks for us up here and the other said they were tired of hearing us complain about this issue and they wouldn't mind riding the trolley. For the one who made the gold brick comment, the refuge manager isn't making gold bricks, he is making a fool of those few who are falling for his plans. He lied to me right to my face about acquiring the campground land. He tells you everything you want to hear, then he lowers the boom on you. For the person who wrote the comment about not minding taking the shuttle, go back and read the above scenario.
The bottom line here is that the federal government is trying to shut down America one town at a time. No, we don't have large factories like in the Midwest or auto makers or huge banks like Wall Street. What we have is a beach, a nice town and a beautiful Eastern Shore unique in so many ways and all of us should be on the same page in arguing against this. Only then will we succeed in showing that our voices matter. We all may live on different parts of the Shore but all of us are the Shore.
Thank you for reading and if you are interested in learning more about this subject and how it will affect Chincoteague Island the entire Shore, please go to the town's website at: http://www.chincoteague-va.gov
The writer lives on Chincoteague Island.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Kyle Dyer Update
Kyle Dyer is reported in "fair" condition at a local Denver hospital, having had reconstructive surgery on her face and lip after an 85-pound Argentine Mastiff bit her, while on the air this morning. Kyle has sent word via her friends, family and co-workers, that she is OK. She got out of surgery around 2 this afternoon.
Max, the dog, is being held at Denver Humane Society for 10 days of observation; his owner had not had the dog vaccinated for rabies for the past two years. The firefighter who saved Max from drowning in a frozen pond yesterday afternoon is a trained paramedic, and he was able to treat Kyle's bite immediately.
Max, the dog, is being held at Denver Humane Society for 10 days of observation; his owner had not had the dog vaccinated for rabies for the past two years. The firefighter who saved Max from drowning in a frozen pond yesterday afternoon is a trained paramedic, and he was able to treat Kyle's bite immediately.
Kyle Dyer and Mastiffs
An American Mastiff
9 News Reporter Kyle Dyer
Two American Mastiffs and a young girl
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