dryfly

We had turkey today. I did not eat any turkey at the dinner table ... I cut the critter up so had a couple of tastes in the process. I had a big salad (yes), winter squash laced with butter; mashed spuds laced with butter and some dressing. I also went on four walks today and totaled perhaps 7 km in all. Took about 500 pictures of birds and grandkids. I think the kids ended up with the leftovers....Leth kids got some and our bachelor son is taking a care package back home with him. That's fine--we get the soup! Yum. Happy Thanksgiving to all. Cheers! Clive

The MOST disturbing thing about Ken Boshcoff's article was that it really ONLY mentions a money transfer. I sure as hell am not rich and taxes on energy are ridiculous and I am sick and tired of paying them. Voting Liberal, Green and ND is suicide. Carbon taxes are NOT working anywhere and carbon trading schemes are merely a huge scam with traders potentially making billions while NOTHING is going toward environmental protection. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL. We HAVE a lot to be thankful for. Cheers! Clive ================== (The UK has been trying to reduce carbon emissions with silly policies and taxes for two decades. Look where it's got them? Everything below is quoted The UK In World Context The UK has the world’s longest national record of fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions, from 1751 to 2005. Its total fossil fuel emissions in 2005 (149,131) ranked seventh in the world behind The People’s Republic of China (2005: 1,514,126; estimates for 2006/7 above the USA); the United States of America (1,576,537); The Russian Federation (2004: 415,951); India (382,740); Japan (335,706); and Germany (213,969). Canada (146,704) is next, eighth, after the UK. These figures confirm two trends, reinforced by 2007 estimates, namely that fossil fuel emissions of carbon dioxide are continuing to rise very quickly, but more significantly that they are shifting towards the East [see: ‘CO2 emissions booming, shifting east, researchers report’, News Release, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, September 24]: “... annual carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels and manufacturing cement have grown 38 percent since 1992, from 6.1 billion tons of carbon to 8.5 billion tons in 2007. At the same time, the source of emissions has shifted dramatically as energy use has been growing slowly in many developed countries but more quickly in some developing countries, most notably in rapidly developing Asian countries such as China and India.” China became the largest emitter in 2006/7, while India is poised to pass The Russian Federation to become the third largest emitter, probably later this year or next year. The total world fossil fuel carbon dioxide emission figure for 2005 was 7,985 million metric tons of carbon. =============== The Australian, 4 July 2008 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...5005200,00.html AUSTRALIA risked tarnishing its reputation with international investors if an emissions trading scheme was implemented too swiftly, destroying the value of existing power assets, TRUenergy managing director Richard McIndoe says. "Given that Australia is really going out on a point on this matter ... to introduce a high (carbon) tax immediately would be fraught with risk," Mr McIndoe said yesterday. "I think you'd see significantly less appetite from international investors in (energy) assets because they'd see a huge level of sovereign risk in investing in the electricity sector in Australia." ======================= England The costs of suicidal ‘global warming’ policies are soaring like our newly-returned swallows On Sunday, The Daily Express highlighted the cost for UK families of the government’s ill-judged policies, based on a newly-released report carried out by respected energy consultants for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform [what a 1984 invention] [‘Labour’s Green Tax Will Cost Every Family £3,000’, The Daily Express, May 4]. These costs are no longer a joke. Here we have a Labour government heaping burden after burden on the poorer members of society, at a time when people’s finances are under greater stress than usual from rising food and fuel bills, from the increasing unavailability of mortgages, and from a series of ill-thought out tax and pension decisions. No wonder Labour received a drubbing last week in the local and London elections. It is just asking to be voted out of office. Tuesday, 6 May 2008 ====================

No carbon tax petition and video

"There are nearly 7 billion ( 7 000 000 000 000) of us 2 legged upright bastards" I happen to think humans are not bastards as a species. It is lost (easily) on many people that us humans are part of the earth's bio-eco-sytem. We are not aliens from space who just dropped in on this orb to mess it over. We are as natural a part of the planet as any other creature. Alas, it is not always pretty what we do, but it is imperative that we do not forget who and what we are.... Homo sapiens, resident of the planet along with millions of other species. Lions will eat the oozing intestines out of an still alive gazelle. Snakes eat frogs whole. Nature is ugly from many many aspects. Man is not a lot different than most beasts and what we do is often ugly. We kill for the sake of religion and power and hell we don't even eat what we kill in war. I am uncomfortable with the amount of development in Alberta--and THAT is what this is about. But what we going to do about THAT? Tell everyone who arrived here within the past 40 years (after I came ... naturally ) that they have to leave. I don't like what happened to the sow either. But this was a policy decision. Policies are largely are changed politically. Opposition should be aimed at Ted Morton, and bet he has heard an earful already. As Toolman noted, if they had relocated the bear and it killed another, there'd be some hollering then. Cheers! Clive

From the pen of a Liberal MP. The Green Shift plan is a tax grab. It is a major money grab from Alberta and SK. ================ From an Liberal MP's blog ... since removed =============== "The ‘shift’ will transfer wealth from rich to poor, from the oil patch to the rest of the country" Thursday, 10 July 2008 A Green Anti-Poverty Plan Submitted by Ken Boshcoff M.P. The Liberal Party’s Green Shift announced on June 19th marked the most aggressive anti-poverty program in 40 years. The ‘shift’ will transfer wealth from rich to poor, from the oil patch to the rest of the country, and from the coffers of big business to the pockets of low-income Canadians. Roughly $9 billion of the $15.3 billion expected to be collected annually in carbon tax revenues would be returned to Canadians earning less than $40,000 annually. This would be done through a combination of income tax cuts and benefits targeted at children, low wage earners, rural residents, and individuals with disabilities. In addition, this fiscal framework will work collaboratively with the Liberal 30-50 Plan to Combat Poverty. Together, I am excited by the prospect that this comprehensive strategy holds for both the environment and for the people of our riding. As part of this plan, Liberals have committed to expanding and improving the Canada Child Tax Benefit. With the proposed ‘green shift’, Liberal have reaffirmed their pledge to introduce a $350 universal child tax benefit by backing it with $2.9 billion in carbon tax revenues. The Green Shift will also increase support for low-income seniors. The Guaranteed Income Supplement would be increased by $600 a year over the course of a Liberal mandate. The cost would be met by $800 million in carbon tax proceeds. Liberals have also committed to ensuring that work pays more than welfare. The Green Shift would enrich the Conservative government’s Working Income Tax Benefit and replace the employment tax credit with $1850 refund targeted at those earning less than $50,000.00. The $765 million cost would also be covered by carbon tax revenue. I invite and encourage everyone to visit www.thegreenshift.ca to see how this comprehensive plan will benefit low-income Canadians. I will continue to work collaboratively with my Liberal colleagues towards a fairer, richer, greener Canada. Ken Boshcoff MP www.kenboshcoff.ca NetNewsledger.com offers Leader's Ledgers and Candidate's Ledgers to the elected officials in Northwestern Ontario as well as to the registered candidates of the political parties. The opinions expressed in their columns are those of the author and may, or may not reflect those of NetNewsledger.com

Background 1) Leth Herald has a "roast and toast" section every week 2) Four years ago the Coaldale police service was disbanded and amalgamated with the Leth regional police service 3) Three months ago a Tim's opened in Coaldale. This hilarious "toast" was in last week's Herald.

You are welcome Jayhad. jksnijders .. nice pix. I know where the bottom one is...but where is that treeless/valley/mountain shot from? Looks like maybe Yukon. Nice. Clive

A few more with a polarizer... Cheers! Clive Livingstone Range Crowsnest Mountain Somewhere somewhere

A polarizer MIGHT help fishing pix if you were dealing with glare or were taking arty scenics that included sky and water. For general photg they are of little benefit and in fact reduce light quite a bit thus lowering shutter speed. Like Taco said, get a good one. Get a THIN one that does not cause much vignetting with a wide angle lens such as your 18-55. Expect o pay $80 to $120 for a good circular polarizer. If already using a UV filter it is advised that you removed the UV before putting on the polar filter. Stacked filters can cause vignetting with wide- angle lenses. Polarizers enhance clouds and skies and used a lot in scenics...see samples here. Storm clouds in July Waterton Park on Monday...

Posted some pix under the "stillwaters" reports...here. Clive

Wes...great pictures again. Love the bald iggle picture. You sure got into some nice pike. Cheers! Clive

WELL DONE! Thank you! Clive

Paper title might be changed... Spontaneous knotting of an agitated string TO Spontaneous knotting by an agitated fisherman

I guess that's what is called "String Theory" eh Terry. But there is a major weakness in their work as it applies to fly line. We are dealing with a single-end system whereas they were testing two-end strings. So there is obviously another factor involved that causes our fly lines to turn in wads of knots: the Dork Factor perhaps. I've been using furled leader of late (taken off now) and now there is a test of your patience. They are great when they don't mess up, but you can get some serious macrame with furled leaders.

I've not been on the Crow for about 3 weeks. However, by now the fish are super fly shy and key onto small stuff. If you use an aquarium net to skim the film, you will find all sorts of TINY pieces of midge and BWO crud with no discernible whole insect bodies. But they seem to see stuff we can't. It can be frustrating. Obviously they are eating something and it's always small..there are no end of #26 through #32 midge on the Crow. It is common to see midges flying that are 2 mm long. Evil stuff for fly anglers. When you see a bunch of fish in a confined area it SEEMS that they may all be eating different species of bugs AND/OR different stages of bugs. AND it seems to be aggravated as they seem to cycle through insects species or stages. So it is pretty damn difficult to find something a that works consistently for any period of time. So you tie in 17 different flies and then get a hit and think you have found the key and it works for one fish and then does not work. There are a few things to try (NOTE: I am not saying they will work.) 1) Go to small dries. #22 and #24 midges for example. 2) Go under the film...#22 BWO nymphs/emergers or midge pupae fished just under the surface. 3) Use 7X tippet. It is no time any more for 5X. 4) Tie on a small #18 black ant. 5) Tie on a #10 foam black beetle--as has been suggested. Go big..up to 20 mm long. 6) Go have soup at the Lundbreck Cafe. They have seen 40 gazillion Stimies by now and so that's unlikely to work. Good luck. Clive

"but didnt ya put this up a month or so ago?" YES! Forgot!! Time for the home. Read my new signatures!! I had posted them on a photography board and a wildlife board two months ago but forget they had be previously posted here. So I have a bit of an excuse ... but also have a red face. Now..where are my keys? Cheers! Clive

Thanks. Fun stuff. TM ... adc and I were yakking about that last week.... Week of Oct 20 ??? ...we've a couple of lake trips lined up in the next while and then there is Turkey Day with assorted family responsibilities...I'll check with Al...I am hooped on Oct 14-16....Will advise. Thanks. Clive

A few I like... Bison at Waterton .. this could be my fave shot of the year...just something about it ... Doe muley .. Cowley Livingstone Range at sunup... Old brown-phase black bear at Waterton ... we are trying to find more bears at Waterton next week ... View from camp at Whitetail last month...cosmic trip...cosmic fish.... Goose portrait ... Baby house wren making ts first trip outside... Muley doe and fawn...Cowley ... that's a 2007 fawn, not an 08 fawn. She seemed to be barren this year. American goldfinch .. Cowley .. enough already ...

From mid August ... posted on another board way back then. Inspired by Wes's great thread. Clive ====================================================================== Walked across the road after dinner today ... I saw one damsel and as I focused with the macro realized it was eating another insect. (Type unknown. Thought was a small mayfly, but no tail. Prob a small diptera of sorts.) The damsel moved twice while I was shooting so there are three venues here. (Good thing it did not fly away vs just move and I could track it.) 1) When I first saw the damsel with the insect. 2) Closeup ... while most of the insect's abdomen was whole. Its head is not being eaten but hidden behind the damsel thorax. 3) Abdomen half gone. Yum! 4) New location. Not much left. 5) Another location. Nearly gone. 6) Done. Perhaps the head and most of the thorax are not too nutritious or tasty. The damsel released the insect and one of the expired insect's legs caught on the damsel's leg and hung there. Oh BTW..the insect struggled most of the time and was still alive (or at least protesting) until the very end. Hardly lions-eating-gazelles stuff, but still fun. Well ... maybe not if you are dinner.

Great shots Wes. Love the ruffie. Did you "chum" the eagle with a small pike? Get enough tips to spend the winter in Belize? Clive

Ho Girl I ain't touching that with a 10-foot pole. Could it be the shack nasties have started early this year?

"the thread is now complete with Clive's addition of a picture-from-his-collection-of-many." Man fishing is sooo good right now and we are messing around on the Internet. Taco..."hope i don't get like that when i retire" Wadaya mean "GET like that" ? ?

I lived in Edmonchuk for 13 years between grade 3 and finishing at the U. (1955-1968.) When I was about 12, we made gunpowder (carbon, sulfur and saltpeter) in the backyard and burned it. We made a gun with plumbing pipe and the big fire crackers that would shoot a marble into a tree and through ½-inch plywood!! We shot BB guns in the backyard and in the Mill Creek ravine. In junior high, we'd openly walked with our BB guns over to the ravine. In high school, we walked to the ravine with 22s for heaven's sake and no one said boo. This was in the city!! I killed a rabbit with my bow and arrow in Mill Creek when I was about 13 or 14 and carried it home along 76 avenue...my mother thought that was great!! We'd be arrested today for all of this stuff. Schools would be locked down. We'd get counseling and probably "do time" for heaven's sake. No one lost an eye. We were not arrested. Gee ... maybe we shoulda been arrested.

This thread is NOW complete having gone sideways!

Did somebody say cake? Click here. Don't blame me. Is this somebody's mother?