Blog

It was this past Saturday night when Joe Paterno was first reported dead.  It was a bizarre twist because he was still alive but the Internet was already buzzing with the story.  CBS Sports, People magazine, and the Toronto newspaper “reported” it.

I remember feeling affected.  Respect for his many good deeds and interest in the complexity of the story were behind my emotions.

But with a few days passing I have put the events of the last year into perspective.  This, by Brian Cook at MGoBlog is fairly close to right on.  Joe Paterno will be remembered most of all for the Jerry Sandusky scandal and his forced departure from Penn State.  There are no ifs, ands, or buts.  That is how it ended.

No, that isn’t how he died, but he chose to stay as coach too long–into his mid eighties–and his firing and death were close to simultaneous.

Personally, I am skeptical of the concept of loyalty and I am downright repulsed by instances of “blind” loyalty.  I mean, there are better words for it–words like devotion, love, admiration, and mentoring.  Mature adults need to know better and need to be responsible for their own actions.  Doing wrong over the course of many years (or even many days, weeks, or months) is not a mistake, human error, or “screw up.”  An eighty-four year-old should know better.

There is a reason why people in Joe Paterno’s shoes are called mandatory reporters and the law doesn’t say anything about thirty-year assistant coaches being exempt.

Joe Paterno had been referred to as “the most powerful person in Pennsylvania.”  He had the means to do the right thing.  After the first known victim he had the means to prevent all subsequent damage.

Like a tragic hero that was his flaw:  loyalty.

Arapahoe County Colorado Sheriff – Interesting on how the elected/top officials include e-mail addresses and direct phone numbers…

Mr. (“Sargeant”) D. Gerlach, Internal Affairs, 303/271-5315.

Boy this drags out–well over a month since Michigan’s last game.  But it is here at last!

Five keys:

1. Denard and interceptions.
2. Will Denard and/or Fitz have good/big games running.
3. Will RB David Wilson have a big game running.
4. Will QB Logan Thomas have a good/big game passing downfield.
5. Intangibles (turnovers, kick returns, penalties, injuries, fieldgoal kicking).

Michigan is favored slightly as seemingly they should be:  slightly stronger schedule, wins over good teams, probably a little more line talent, and more fans at the game.  It is tempting to think Michigan should win because of a basically stronger team (tradition, recruiting, stadium, etc.) and stronger conference but I don’t think that is the case–credit goes to Virginia Tech and Frank Beamer for being creating a similarly-strong program.  Brady Hoke has improved the recent Michigan team fundamentally:  they’re not perfect but they’re solid and capable, don’t make frequent huge mistakes, and they are mentally prepared and in the game for the whole sixty minutes.  All that said, Denard Robinson is a star and a difference maker.  Michigan should win.

I cannot say I am good at predicting scores.  Maybe 35-21 Michigan?

Things are heating up with DPW/CPW.  Time to write Cables and inform him of the shortcomings of his e-mail and my fix and bill philosophy.  Basically,

I believe you are right that many wildlife laws started as protecting commercial interests.  But they have been expanded greatly since often because of equal rights issues.  This law amendment makes that simpler and clearer:  You must provide equal protection to all.  Actually, what is really happening is that you provide worse than equal protection.  Some properties are protected, thereby sending the animals elsewhere to damage properties you refuse to protect.  CRS 33-3-103.5 does not mention anything about protection only for commercial interests; in fact it specifically states temporary game damage materials are to protect “private property.”  In other words, all or any private property.

It is unfortunate that the Commission has not issued regulations for this requirement.

(24) “Harass” means to unlawfully endanger, worry, impede, annoy, pursue, disturb, molest, rally, concentrate, harry, chase, drive, herd, or torment wildlife.My understanding is that “pyrotechnics” are used to frighten deer and elk.

Why the Division of Parks and Wildlife needs to do what they are supposed to.  Correction:  why the people working at the department need to do it.

1-10

1. It is the law.
2. The animals will remain wild.
3. It protects the environment.
4. To control costs the significant costs to homeowners, businesses, etc.
5. People are not above the law.
6. Government officials doing whatever they want to?  That is corruption.
7. Equal protection and equal rights.
8. The issue will receive the attention it needs.
9. Trees reduce energy costs.
10. Trees are beautiful.

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2011/12/04/ccripe/reports_have_virginia_tech_sugar_bowl_boise_state_left_out?page=2

… walking your dog in a vacant lot next to where you live.  It is not a harmless, victimless crime.

It is getting in your car (or, ahem, truck) and driving to a public park.

Often, like today, I notice it because of the noise (this time, the three dogs at the house in front of the park barking at the dog running around).

It has been going on for about an hour.

This was written in March, 2004.

To call it “proven” is not accurate.  That is part of the problem when fighting against deer and elk:  it is a long, ongoing war.

The gist was fine but there are a number of specific refinements:

1. In an area with elk six feet is not high enough.  Six and a half feet is likely enough (particularly for a strong, straight, established tree).  It is important to consider that the terrain (e.g., steepness) may make the height of protection seem like much less.
2. Chicken wire alone does not assure a solution.  Think Like A Beast Tree Protectors (TM) have undergone several key product refinements since this was written.
3. Pruning properly has a lot to do with tree health.
4. Landscaping basics such as good soil, mulch, water, and fertilizer have a lot to do with tree health.

So on to the big issues.  No, not this bad.

I’ll start with the easy stuff.  I shall call it temporary avoidance since I have a lot to resolve now.  If I follow things closely over a period of time I develop thoughts and conclusions.  This one is easy.

It seems people are now considering bowls as more automatic–there certainly are a lot of them–and an opportunity for another win; nonetheless, the Michigan Wolverines finished the season 10-2.  No team put a miracle up on them (so there weren’t any super-tough losses) and they actually could have won the games they lost.  They were extremely competitive.  They did not play any great teams (Michigan State was probably the best) and they were as good as any of them.

The Ohio State game (funny predictions)

lkfjlfkjfljk

dlkjlfjlfjk

akjlkjljlkj