OUR SENIOR MOMENT

LIFE FIRE

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:54:00 +0000

Christendom claims sex as the Original Sin. It has something to do with a man and a woman and a snake screwing around in a garden. The garden belonged to Eden – I think. You know – “Garden of Eden.”

This sex thing is a broad and fascinating claim that if taken seriously and obeyed would wipeout all the sins that many major religions claim mankind to be burdened with. It is simple – quit the Original Sin and there is no one – no thing – there are no people – to sin. The issue is settled! Pretty sick, isn’t it? Religion wants to wipeout the very act that causes it to live on. Besides – Why would the big man upstairs burden us little powerless folks with the obligation of denying ourselves Sex? Why did he not just make all people sexless? He practiced with some. According to religion it is like God wanted to bait us. He wanted us to sin. So that he could continually kick our Asses.

This garden I write about – it is back there in the ancient city of Genesis. (I give Genesis a new identity because if want too) Its name says it is Eden’s garden but God claims ownership. God is a rather kind, caring, gentle, loving, white bearded character whom takes what he wants when he wants. He also has this big roaring grumpy voice when he yells down over this garden that he thinks is his, “Hey Adam and Eve, do anything you want - but – keep your mitts of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge!!”

Do anything you want? The big man didn’t say, No Sex. He said you shall not consume knowledge. You cannot partake of life’s fire – the energy that ignites mankind’s expansion. So, the truth is - - Sex is not the Original Sin in the Christian mind, Knowledge is. Knowledge of ones self, self-sufficiency is the sin. Independence is the greatest threat that there is to one who wishes to rule over you.

“If you pick and eat one of those apples, your ass is going straight to Hell. And that snake will drop to the earth and crawl along with you." Well – if this legend is true, the universe is going to Hell before snake and mankind. No “Big Bang.” No sex. No Cain and Abel. No world civilization. No Problems!! Whoa Here! Maybe sex is a sin after all.

As you know – Adam and Eve didn’t listen to God. They listened to the snake and stuffed themselves with knowledge. Thus – mankind proved to be slippery slimy smart assess ever after. You don’t believe me? Please note the U.S. Congress. And – Wall Street.

The good news is religion still possesses the best and most powerful control tool of all – FEAR. Fear weakens anyone into completely malleable mush. Of course, this tool is not exclusively used: Politicians, Police Departments, Fire Departments, all levels of Government and Business also use it constantly. Don’t loose it here! Fear has a parallel - - HOPE.

With religion HOPE is fulfilled in Heaven. Totally faithful Christians believe in an “Afterlife.” Other religions do also. In exchange for sacrifice and refrain for all good earthly things the afterlife offers people pure happiness. Not animals! Only people. You see – animals have a purely happy life here on Earth, if they are fortunate enough to live in Nature’s wild they have free unrestricted sinless sex. They even have knowledge for surviving. It appears that the animals get their own way with God as they do with their supposed masters in civilized homes.

Anyway, animals do not get to Heaven – People do. Christian sinners, as all are claimed to be, go to church so that they can get into Heaven where nothing changes. These purified walk around Heaven pacified, blankly gazing into beautiful billowing emptiness while listening to music all day without the accompaniment of nude dancers. At least the Muslims have the promise of nakedness and dancers. All the Sinless Christians have is pillow soft streets to walk upon and ivory castles to sleep within. They don’t even have good food or whiskey. Food is fattening. Whiskey is another sin. It leads to wild animal-like sex – without the forest. And – You can bet your hallows there just ain’t no Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods or Las Vegas. Just Peace.

WMP

THE GREEDY PAPER GOD LOVERS

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:20:00 +0000

An interesting, though disturbing, plus that this slippery world economy projects, is a rare honest peek at how many palms across the world are being greased. From village government to federal governments and world dictatorships too much is rotten. Small business on up through mega-business reeks with dishonesty that most innocent minded people couldn’t imagine.

I point not at showmen like “Joe The Plumber.” My laser pinpoits people like scam artists Bernard Madoff and Allen Stanford. These are people who are but the beginning of the diseased pieces falling away from a deteriorating body. The more the Cash Flow evaporates the more the pirates will appear. Supposed leaders like accused Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and New Mexico Governor (and U.S. presidential candidate) Bill Richardson only foretell the failed honesty at all levels of governance. Do you any longer believe that your local mayor or councilmen or selectmen are not also selling privilege? Its new moniker is “Pay-to-Play.” State senators and legislators are being bought and sold daily by lobbyist. And don’t exclude those quiet bureaucrats hidden away in the shady corners. Everything and every high-class snoot seems "For Sale." Filthy bodies are even dropping from behind the veils of churches. It is damd scary!

Go ahead! Think it! Rome is burning while Nero fiddles. Well - - Hopefully Nero is gone and we in America have a leader whom is as honest as he appears. I know his determination will likely not resurrect a prosperous world economy right away, nonetheless - - we need to save America first. Without healthy muscle none can help others.

Dishonest business people, graft-grabbing politicians, child molesting church members, are not healthy muscle. They are not healthy anything. They are the progressive sickness that led the world to the shaky weak spot where we all stand. But the cure begins at home. And the cure is not throwing unimaginable amounts of money to the same thieves that dragged us here and could insanely care less if they bury all, as long as they can touch the paper gold that they imagine as life giving. These thieving people’s motto is printed upon every piece of American currency, “In God We Trust.” And- their God is that paper displaying that banner. These men and women may be correct, because, in fact, there is no value in that monetary piece other than trust in government. And – presently – that trust is lost. Nonetheless, that fiat paper is the real God that we, alone with the bandits, truly worship – and we must save its trust. Save it, then cleanse it.

Like Ayn Rand, I truly believe in the virtues of honest capitalism. Too work, capitalism must maintain a distance between honest ambition and destructive greed. When balance falters with any aspect of life all goes into freefall. That is where we are now. A stalled freefalling capitalistic engine close to crashing and thereafter rusting away in a dirty dusty hot desert while the economics it moved is on the other side burning to dust. Let us all hope and support the Man of Hope, President Obama, and hope that he has the power to drain the dirty cruddy stalling oil out of Congress, bureaucracy, and Wall Street. Though, I will bet that there is a better chance of the economic motor purring sooner if we all start fighting against and impeaching those greedy paper god lovers at all levels.
WMP

THE ARROGANCE OF BIG BUSINESS

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:10:00 +0000

Let us assume I choose to open a cozy little morning muffin shop downtown. Most people around here leave for work around 5:00AM. Many work in Boston, some in Portland, Maine. So I decide to have the “Morning Muffin Shop” open and serving at 5:00AM. I don’t care for opening that early, I would rather sleep, but if I am going to be successful in the muffin business, this is the thing to do – march alongside your customers.

Oh! Boy! When you walk into my comfy shop the aroma consumes you! Customers love it! They come from towns around. My muffins are truly the best found. We serve corn muffins, blueberry, morning glory and bran. All warm and seeping aroma. I am making money hand-over-hand. This is picture is plain ole Heaven for 10 years - plus. There is plenty of cash. Customers love me. My bank plans on electing me to its Board of Directors. I am home and napping by Noon. I play golf later in the day. Wow! Look at that sun shining down upon me!

Then my customers get this stupid idea they want cranberry/banana muffins instead of what they sucked-up for years. Some kind of ridiculous health kick - - - I guess! I think this one over. I will have to retrofit my muffin kitchen. Purchasing an additional oven may be required. If I am to bake cranberry/banana muffins I certainly need new muffin pans. No Way! Beside, the corn, blueberry and bran companies are giving me a small kickback for leaving things the way they are.

“There will be No cranberry/banana muffins. It will cost too much to re-gear,” I announced from the bakery door. This hurt and displeased many. But, they will adjust.

The following week my profits dropped. The next week I stepped from the bakery area into the sales area and saw that the room held less than half the customer it usually has at this peek time. Gosh! What is wrong?

Cash flow and profits plummeted with the weeks that followed. No one wanted to purchase my “good old muffins.” I was now overstocked with them – having to throw many away. I rushed to the bank where I am loved to take out a loan to bail myself out of this problem. The banker asked for my revival plan. I told him I would do more advertising and drop the price of muffins. The bank refused the bailout loan.

I filed bankruptcy and walked away broke. Riches to Rags. I forgot to recognize that successful business gives consumers what they want.

General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler Corporations all suffer this same ego power driven memory lapse. “I’ll give then what I want – no one can rule me.”

Well! The customer no longer wants to drive gas guzzling, diesel guzzling or oil guzzling automobiles. The public wants CLEAN. The consumer wants “Electric Automobiles.” They will even take “Hydrogen Automobiles.” But – to give the consumer its want, the automobile industry must redesign itself. The world must redesign itself.

Sure! We will need electric chargers at every parking meter and along every highway. Do you know what this major restructuring task does? Yes. You are correct. It puts people back to work. Helps the economy.
I would guess that the day the Auto Industry announced their offering of Electric Vehicles or Hydrogen Vehicles for under $20,000 dollars they would be flooded with so many orders they would have to rehire those they laid off – plus – hire additional breeds of engineers and design developers. Would that not be a much brighter future than these tax beggars offer now?

There is another real neat turn in this reorganizing of the Wheels Industry: Instead of you the taxpayer giving the corporations money to build the car or truck that you will later pay for again when you purchase – the buyer only pays once. But – Who says the industry appreciates that result?

More than GM or Chrysler, Ford Motors seems to deserve some kudos. The managers have yet to ask for or take government bailout money. Henry Ford moved the auto industry to the giant it became simply by giving the masses what they needed and wanted – an affordable vehicle. He accomplished that by thinking ahead of his time and creating “mass-production” – the assembly line. Now the consumer needs and wants an affordable efficient environmentally clean vehicle. Like the Morning Muffin Shop – either do it or die. Don’t suck-off the taxpayer and consumer. Maybe the ghost of Henry Ford will callout from the heavens, "Hi! Ho! Electric Ford."

(The Morning Muffin Shop is fictitious)

(Also note: My friend Max E. reminded me about Ford not taking government money as yet. Thanks Max)

WMP

NEW FROM FORMER STATE REP. LEE QUANDT

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:03:00 +0000

Congratulations to former District 23 State Senate candidate Marshall Lee Quandt. Lee recently entered our world of cyberspace writers. Go to www.exeternewsservice.blogspot.com. I am sure Lee's comments and opinions will be most interesting. He is well know for his honesty and determination to keep government in control of the everyday Joe. I don't believe he cares if this "Joe" is a plumber or not - Or a "Jane" or whatever. He just cares that all people retain their rights and their power over their government. Give his blog a try.
WMP

BIG MONEY SAVER

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:12:00 +0000

U.S.TAXPAYERS could reduce their cost of living 66% by eliminating Congress - the root of American Evil.

AND - They could avoid getting screwed & tatooed by eliminating government

WMP

THE GREAT PRETENSE

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:08:00 +0000

New Hampshire shares a huge problem with the other “fifty.” We do a lot of pretending. We pretend that our state legislators earn a weak sum of $100 dollars annually. This looks rather frugal. With the largest legislative body in America we make believe we cannot afford to pay these public servants more. But – lobbyist can slip them a few rewarding bucks here and there. So – whom do the public servants really end up serving?

The people cannot afford to pay the Governor’s Council $150 thousand dollars per year – but the lobbyist can. We supposedly can’t pay our state senators $100 thousand a year – but corporate America can slide it their way. Voters just can’t afford to up the state representative’s take home to $70 thousand bucks per year – but the PACs are happy to make an investment. We all do often wonder why Wall Street owns government from bottom to top. That answer is simple: Government is Law – and Law is Power – over you and I. And that power is for sale.

There is something wrong! There is something dramatically wrong with political systems from sea to shining sea. That wrong is that the people are not running their government. Nor are we benefiting from our government. Hell! The government, from its base upward to the All Seeing Eye, refuses to listen to its people. The president and vice president blatantly declare that they “don’t give a damd what the people want.” Court judges openly rule that they will not be influence by the mass’s demonstrations. The government is running us. And – sickly – this is happening while it can’t even run itself!!

The solution to this all is not so simple. But the time to correct is now – while the enemy is weak. And the enemy of each American’s freedom is Corporate America.

Sweep Corporate Government out >

WMP

FATAL ERROR

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:06:00 +0000

Throughout America we historically refer to our Congressmen/women, Senators and Representatives, as “Lawmakers.” Consequently – these people feel obligated to write and enact laws.

Back in time, America was lawless. Now, America is law laden. Burdened. Crippled. Weighted by too many government laws. The laws of Nature say we will collapse or suffocate. As a last breath effort lets start labeling these people “Law Repealers.” Maybe We Can Get Our Individual Freedom Back!

WMP

FREEDOM'S DESTROYERS

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:22:00 +0000

It irritates me that the men and women we elect to public offices perpetually enact more and more legislation protecting “Ourselves” from “Ourselves” (Crimes without Victims). Protecting us from personal stuff that is none of the government’s damd business anyway. How about these Congress Persons, Senators, Representatives, Governors, enact and/or enforce laws protecting us from the Hoodlums on Wall Street and in Government. I am sure that one Elected Official screws-up more lives than One Hundred Cigarettes or a Hundred Unbuckled Seatbelts, etc.

A great place to start would be outlawing Lobbyist at all government levels. Another real Democratic act would be “Pro-Choice” with regards to all matters personal.

LIBERTY IN AMERICA

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:42:00 +0000

Eleven score and eleven years ago “our fathers brought forth onto this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” As you are reading this piece I take the liberty of assuming that I need not continue quoting the body of the Gettysburg Address. The first and final lines, here-in served in quotes, speak my purpose - which is:

My first ancestors in America landed shipwrecked at Pemiquid Point, Maine. The rubble remaining along the shore was once the ship “The Angel Gabriel.” They escaped England’s ruthless king and his mighty church and their soldiers who were ordered to kill the family; murder them for not submitting to the will of the king and his ruling church. Those ancestors were Ralph and Elizabeth Blaisdell and their young son Henry. The family came to America seeking Liberty - Liberty to think for and govern their selves. Ralph, Elizabeth and Henry settled in York, Maine and pursued their dream.

Later, ancestors who died in the Revolutionary War believed in the Gettysburg Address - yet its time of creation and fame was far into the future as was its author and speaker - Abraham Lincoln.

My grandfathers who fought and died in the Civil War that fostered this magnificent never to be forgotten presentation by President Lincoln believed its every word. So did the grandmothers who suffered and sacrificed in support of them. Additional family stood against the foe in World War I. Father, alongside General Patton during World War II. He and mother lived every word of Lincoln’s address. Then there were uncles, aunts, and cousins sacrificing in other nations’ conflicts named The Vietnam War. Now again we are on foreign ground trying to save the Liberty of others at the cost of American lives.

My great grandfather Billy Mitchell, a tested and legally naturalized American citizen originally from Prince Edwards Island, Canada came to this nation because it promised personal freedom. He loved and respected those many souls that labored so hard to carry on and protect the freedom won since the first humans stepped foot onto this treasured earth. So-called Native American people included.

I am not much for being the target of lies. So when our modern Corporate Dictatorship strips you and I of those freedoms Mr. Lincoln and our ancestors struggled for – fought for – and died for or became disabled or dismembered for, I squirm. Big!

And you should squirm too. There is a subliminal struggle for control of the White House and Congress. It is not a serious skirmish because the foes often join hands, out of our sight, as with the present grip of our government. This contest takes place between Christian leaders and Wall Street power mongers. Both want absolute control of America and its citizens’ minds, lives, and wallets – and – they are doing a dandy job of accomplishing their desire. The only player not present in this skirmish is Democracy. The player so many died for and so many think they are dieing for today.

In the last forty-years nearly every elected person we trusted and placed in Washington, D.C. to defend our democratic principles turned and bit us. Bit every working class American in the wallet like bloodthirsty vampires. They took care of themselves - their salaries, their health insurance, and their retirement income – and – their foreign investments often gifted to them by the Big Businesses they serve.

Remember China? The Communist Nation that our leaders feared and hated. The nation Washington told us wished to destroy America as they now tell us Al Qaeda wishes. The same as they tell us that Iran’s quest for the nuclear bomb is for killing every person in America. Well! China has and has had nuclear weapons. China is still Communistic. China also has our economy. It is nearly impossible to find a product stamped Made in the USA. Instead you see inferior items and frequently poisonous products and food stamped “Made in China.”

The merchandise traveling across the sea simply cannot meet the American standards that every small business is required to conform too. Why does this happen? It happens because the Corporate Dictatorship controlling Washington, D.C. – And Your Life – And Your Mind – wants it that way. The gold collecting giants are now operating out of China and every other nation in the world that has cheap slave and child labor and no quality standards. They have no intention of returning until they bankrupt every American and have them working for pennies a day while they sit in their warm homes collecting billions.

That Communist nation that America did not trust; That powerful nation that we do not impose the same nuclear distrust upon that we impose upon others; Because of America’s corporate greed that nation holds the power to destroy us without firing a shot. China holds enough American debt to knock this nation to its knees if it chooses to call-in the notes. American corporations are in partnership with the Chinese government. American corporations own Congress and the White House. What happens if China decides to seize all American corporations operating in that nation?

Remember Florida 2004 – as well as the other big states? The turmoil and mess taking place to assure President Bush’s reelection? The corruption even traveled to the high courts. That was the Corporate Party and Christian Evangelicals at their best. I know I am out on a limb here – but they will try to do it again in 2008.

If you don’t like the Corporate Party than pull your shoulders back and step up to the plate. Your Great Grandpa and Ma did. Don’t focus on the most beautiful or most handsome or best lies. Focus on who takes the least money from lobbies and corporate donations and vote for him or her. Vermont’s Howard Dean was the citizens’ savior in 2004. Look at what the corporate vultures did to him. If you can push aside all the skilled professional blindsiding you will experience, and thereafter vote for people who do not thrive upon the “Washington Experience,” you will be on your way toward recapturing the American Dream.

“that we here highly resolve that those dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

By: W. Mitchell Blaisdell/aka/Wayne M. Patten

ADAM & EVE THREATENED

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:43:00 +0000

I've been thinking about poor old Adam & Eve lately: It is good that George W. Bush & Dick Cheney were not God at the time. They would have exterminated Adam & Eve for disobeying and plucking the good fruit. Thus, mankind would have been neatly eliminated. Then, only godly corporate snakes would remain to steal the oil from the fruitful garden.

WMP

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 17:25:00 +0000

2008 MAY PROVE THE COLLAPSE OF THE ELECTORS. By February, within Democrat ranks, the suspicion and tension builds regarding Super Delegates. The close race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton fuels the concern that may kindle into a major inferno. Obama's followers are are even accused as cultist. The explosion will be avoided if the publicly elected delegation develops a large enough vote gap between candidates so that the unelected Super Delegates cannot reasonably alter the public‘s choice. It does not look like such mercy will happen.

Nonetheless, the core of this probable Democrat Primary dilemma does not end when the Republican and Democrat primaries deflate and the November elections begin drawing air. It is November 4, 2008 when all the people’s vote goes blowing in the wind - or at least, many political activists believe so.
The Electoral College (or College of Electors as properly referred) came to be written into law in 1845. Those electors are determined by the number of House Representatives of each state plus their two senators. There is one elector for each U.S. Representative and one for each Senator. All states have two senators each. The number of representatives vary from state to state according to population. It is this faucet that causes large difference in the number of delegates representing given states. Each state has a minimum of three delegates. In as much as the size of the House of Representative is controlled by Census and illegal aliens are often included in census counts some Americans are concerned that non-voting illegal immigrants influence the Electoral vote.
The real nation wide tremor is that the entire vote of the people by the people is ignored in an era when the nation’s vote can be, and is, tallied in an electronic flash. The College of Electors overrode the popular vote several times in recent years. The opposition to the College feels that its power is used to seat the candidates that the political or corporate elitists wish seated. There may be a tornado of truth in that thinking. The state of Maryland dropped out of college - The Electoral College. Presently, seven other states are considering the same. Many activists are moving to strike the College from the Constitution.
From November 4, 2008 through January 6, 2009, when officially counted by a joint session of Congress, the electoral tally will pass through many hands. Of course, the whole world knows the result meanwhile. Typical of government! Nonetheless, this openness signals a vulnerability to corruption.
One must first realize that the U. S. Constitution was not written to protect the common people of the land. The authors of the Constitution were elitists themselves. Like it or not, they were rich aristocratic noblemen out to protect their own interest. They were assuring that their power over “their” government remained in tact - even to surviving a public vote. Thus the College of Electors came to be. All else is a warming homespun American illusion that the common man/woman control the nation.
The U.S. Constitution framework changed little with passing years. Like other governments, America’s government remains comprised of a servitude to the rich and powerful. Only, now, that service is to the huge corporations instead of aloof landowners and farming gentry. And those huge corporations probably do value the Electoral College. After all, President Bush would not be in office if not for the Electoral College. It is time for you too decide how much “change“ you really want.

WMP

THE PEOPLE'S SACK ON THE BACK

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:26:00 +0000

Lobbying is a five-bay garage, wide open and stocked with speeding cold corruption. We the American people take the grueling punishment without closing the doors. Through our government, billion dollar corporations rob us. Religious groups use the presidency and congress to manipulate faith and faith’s followers. Minority groups manipulate how we speak, how we conduct ourselves, what our pleasures will and won’t be. Many of these groups aren’t even Americans as yet, sometimes they can’t speak American – but they dammed well know how to lobby to ascertain that they never have to.

We accept our wallets being raped. We accept our American language being slowly banished. We accept our traditions being trampled upon. What is wrong with us as an American people?

NOTHING! We are simply too tolerant!

If America is too survive, as a government of the majority, there are two elements of our system we must eradicate. Lobbying (gift giving & power peddling) and the Electoral College. These are corruption doors. And that corruption is used from the smallest town in the nation to the presidency.

With last November’s elections we voters shocked the world by sweeping large amounts of rank brown dirt from our political system. We also terrified our remaining tainted establishment. While we have the clean innocent minds that we just elected, we must continue regaining our control. We – from our homes, from our offices, from our work places – must continue our courageous energy and wipeout all lobbying, all campaign gifts and the Electoral College. We do this with telephone calls, emails, and hand written letters – whatever – send smoke signals if you must. And – we do plenty of talking. We write to, we talk to, the people we elected and the people we are going to oust from office if they aren’t reasonable and do it our way. We talk to our friends and neighbors; we let everyone know we are together and moving forward again. And, just like last November, we don’t stop until the dirt is gone. Doing such does not mean we elect all democrats – Congress already shows that to have been an error – we simply renew until we get what is loyal to us instead of immeasurable big-money.

Wayne M. Patten

COYOTES - BEHOLD

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:16:00 +0000

Seeing a coyote during the day does not mean it is rabid. Coyotes will roam at night but when they are hunting they prefer to see - they prefer daylight - same as you and I. Some people think that coyotes are unafraid and dangerous. They may not appear afraid when majestically trotting across your backyard, but pay attention to their actions, their eyes are seldom off your dwelling. In most sightings, if you step outside, the animal will gracefully take off. They are not exactly in love with humans. Smart Animals. Although, there are exceptions. If an animal is thirsty or hungry and there is food or water at your door - you are going to have a visitor. Some of these surprise guest may be as cute as coyotes but some smell much worse. So, a bit of caution with food is quite beneficial for yourself lest your home have an unpleasant air spray. Coyotes won't do that too you. They really won't do much of anything to you. However they will kill small animals - like cats. Also - they are wild animals - always keep a respectable distance.

An exception to the unsociable coyote rule happened to me at my Exeter, New Hampshire home. My place is within the village proper but wooded and private. Two successive summers I encountered a backyard coyote that seemed to love playing games with me. Approximately at dusk, maybe one evening or so a week, a coyote would lurk along the wood line and yip at me sitting on my back deck. I started yipping back. The coyote ran to a distant corner of the yard and yipped again. I replied. It returned to mid-yard - looked straight at me - yipped again. This repeated for five minutes before the animal bored and departed. That was because our conversation was drifting toward the New Hampshire Primary. Maine Dog!

In my youth the only awareness I had of coyotes was in western movies and nature shows. We just didn't seem to have them in New England. They are certainly here now. New England coyotes are smaller than they appear. The only weigh about 35 pounds, about five pound larger than their cowboy relatives. They appear sizable because of their lengthy legs and bushy coat.

Many folks claim that New England's coyotes are actually "coydogs." Coydogs being the result of coyotes mating with house dogs - your loving friend Rover or Jeanie. According to Kristen Rines, Wildlife Biologist with New Hampshire Fish and Game, this is a myth. DNA testing proved the belief wrong. No coydogs - sorry! Rines said that even those coyotes raised with domestic dogs don't like each other all that much. Coyotes mate in February and even if one coyote without moral values did mate with a domestic dog the offspring would likely not survive. Rines also says such an offspring would be sterile. What a waste of a wild night!

Under the best conditions about 80 percent of coyote pups "will not" survive. And, in a bad year 100 percent will die. The parents will drive surviving pups away in the fall unless food is scarce then they are allowed to stay and help the pack survive. Coyotes will eat remains of animals but mostly their diet consists of insects, fruits and rodents. Crickets are a favorite food item for young coyotes.

Considering their natural fatality rate it is amazing that there is one coyote out there for you and I to enjoy. To top the Creator's harshness, mankind does not treat the animal any better. There is no closed season for hunting or trapping coyotes in New Hampshire. Night killing is also allowed. Lights may be used. Electronic calling devices are acceptable. Baiting is permitted. Trappers are killing more coyotes than ever. New Hampshire Fish and Game reports 379 dead in a decade - then 716 in 2004 - One Year. FOR WHAT!! Have you ever heard of anyone serving coyote for diner? Coyote Derbies and killing tournaments take place in New England. SLAUGHTER FOR FUN!!! There are "guide services' that promote coyote hunts at $200 dollars per day. This little animal has hurt no one. It helps rid us of destructive rodents. It only gives beauty to the world. WHY DO WE ALLOW IT SO RUTHLESSLY DESTROYED?

"Thundering from the forest came the most violent destructive danger of all existence - Man." Civilized? - HELL NO!

WMP

THE NORRIDGEWOCK INDIANS' TIME

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:34:00 +0000

Protruding into the Kennebec river just below the Route 8 bridge connecting Emden and Solon, Maine rests a whale shaped ledge outcrop. Its message waits for your arrival and has for over 300 years. You will need to be a bit of a boater or hiker though. You can boat downriver about a 1/4 mile just as the indians did or hike the well marked 1/4 mile down a very steep slope into the natural half-bowl protecting Indian Rock on the west.

Looking upriver toward Bingham, Maine this outcrop protrudes twenty-feet (plus or minus) from the western shore into the Kennebeck. It appears as a whale's head. Although, the whale head feature is not where the interests lay. On the downriver side of this rock are ghostly messages from the people of the Abenaki Nation and the Norridgewock tribe - - Petroglyphs. Mysteriously they survive the perpetual horrendous pounding of the annual spring flood waters.

Petroglyphs are rock carvings accomplished by hammering the surface of a large rock with a small hand held harder stone. The resulting indentations were carefully placed to form drawings. Primitive but pristine art projecting the natives' existence and lives into the unimaginable distant future. It certainly required many peaceful summer or fall hours there beside the Kennebec River's slow moving restful waters to complete the individual's thought.

I can easily identify one messenger as Chief Bomazine, leader of the Norridgewalk Tribe. The Norridgewock's village was approximately ten miles downriver from the Indian Rock at the place where Anson and Madison now set. The tribe's fame is of Father Sebastian Raisle, a French Jesuit priest who chose to leave France and live among the Abenakies and teach them about the Christian God. The tribe's warriors were more involved with raids in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire area and the Isle of Shoals.

It is easy to detect the Norridgewock's confusion with the God/Death/Heaven concept. Upon the great Indian Rock is a drawing of Father Raisle's wooden church with bell tower and all. Projecting from the church roof is a ladder pointing into the sky. On the ground surrounding the little church lays food; vegetables, raccoon, deer parts, woodchuck, etc., all ready for consumption. These folks had determined that it was a long hard climb up to where God lives and they weren't going there hungry.

In addition to canoes, hunting tools, thunder birds and, believe it or not, sexual depictions, there is an indentation of a woman with a papoose on her back. It is toward the river's edge and closely adjacent with a thunderbird. Chief Bomazine's famous totum (signature) was a woman with a papoose on her back.

Bomazine means "slippery cloth" in old English. The chief earned this name from the British by frequently escaping their grip when slipping out of their Boston prison undetected. Chief Bomazine was ambushed and slaughtered with musket fire during the dark early morning hours by British Captain Moulton of Kittery, Maine and his troops. Bomazine was shot down in the middle of the Kennebec River. He was crossing to run upriver from his family's camp and save his tribesmen and women from the bloody British attack. That day - the soldiers killed nearly all except Bomaine's wife and daughter who escaped the bloodbath. The Norridgewock tribe lived no more - - except in memory.

WMP

GOLDFINCH

ourseniormoment@comcast.net (Blog Author: Wayne M. Patten) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:42:00 +0000

This morning I sipped my black coffee and studied the Goldfinch at their feeding stations that I long since placed along the rear wood line. (Society really should find something more productive for us old duffers to do.) The Finch's beautiful bright yellow plumage is pretty much gone. Nonetheless, I find them interesting year-round because of their weird bobbing like flight maneuvers.

The Institute of Biological Sciences says that the color changes are due to plumage wear and breakage thus revealing the bright yellow at the base of the rachillae (the feather stem) during the Spring of the year.

WELL!! - here goes an opinion forming. I decided to study nature for myself. You know - Wayne's Way. Back in October I began to notice the Finch's' yellow color turning a shade of light green. I had not paid attention before, thus this caught my attention. This morning I observed the Finch are nearly light brown. A whole new study scheme formed in my mind. I began to wonder if light level played any part in this coloration change. Yes, I ignored the Institute of Biological Sciences! So I decided to note the color events from September 21st through December 21st (Winter Equinox). I will then pay attention from December 21st to March 21st. If the Finch's bright yellow is at the same level next March 2008 as it was during September 2007, I will know BioOne is wrong and I am correct.

How's that for fool proof scientific study? And I didn't go to college for it! It is just so Natural for me!

If you would like to be one of my disciples just hang out YourTube of thistle seed and study. I don't want to hear your report though. In this study only I can be right - Way Right.

WMP