© 2009 Albert A Rasch
I'm getting kinda aggravated.
I don't know why, but it seems that when anyone sets their comment setting to "beneath post", I can't post. It started with SBW's Blog when he changed some of his settings. Then I bumped into a couple of other blogs that had the problem. When I found the same thing at Deer Passion's blog, I fired an email to her on it. She mentioned on her return note, that she had received another email earlier similar to mine.
The resolution is to use the "pop up" option in the comments option page of Settings.
As I have been really punching through the Blogsphere lately, I'm coming up against this more and more frequently. When I email the poor folks on it, some have told me they thought they were alone out there; they didn't know why no one was commenting! Now we know. But the odd thing is that some people can post. Different platform maybe?
I'm sending this to Blogger too, they need to get on the ball.
Of course it might have something to do with my settings... What do I know!
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...
UPDATE
I told you it might be me! For those of us using FireFox, you must set your options to accept third party cookies.
On your tool bar, go to tools/options/privacy/ check box labeled accept third party cookies.
Now it works!
A little research never hurts.
AAR
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
The High Priests of Whatever
© 2009 Albert A Rasch
It seems that no matter what the activity there are always folks that think they know best or at least better.
I remember when the compound bows came out. Oh boy, you could hear the wails of the traditionalists. There was much gnashing of the teeth, hair pulling, and beating of the chest. I remember well the looks of disgust that the older fellows at the local sporting goods shop had for those first four wheelers; it was the same as the ones they gave the magnesium risers on the Ben Pearsons, and the same look they had for the first fiberglass laminates. Being young I wasn't as inflexible as they, and when the two wheelers came around I got a Browning Cobra. But I find myself looking askance at the newest bows with their fancy eccentric cams and laser illuminators.
Funny thing though, they still throw a stick with feathers on one end, and a pointy sharp thing at the other, into target butts and deer. Not much different than the neolithic flat bow my prehistoric cousins used a few dozen millenia ago.
A lot has been made of the disagreements between the inline muzzleloader and the traditionalists. Othmar Vohringer in his article, A Muzzleloader by any Name is Still a Muzzleloader points out the foolishness of the argument between the camps and resolves it neatly.
"This is the 21st century and we’re faced with huge problems that could end the hunting and shooting tradition for the next generation if we do not wake up to the challenges we face. I am glad that with sound reasoning and knowledge I was able to convince my hunting club acquaintance that with a little good will and respect all types of muzzleloaders can be combined into one. I am also pleased to see that the guy realized that we’re faced with more important issues then who shoots what. It is my hope that in the future we can concentrate more on what unites us all and less on what divides us. We’re all in the same boat and the sooner we realize that the better our future will look."
Interestingly enough, just days before, Othmar had posted another article on the crossbow. It seems that Pennsylvania has finally permitted the use of the crossbow for hunting. In Pennsylvania Permits Crossbows, Othmar again defends the use of another tool that has been discriminated against for as long as I can remember.
"Personally I welcome this decision and think it is about high time to make the crossbow a legal hunting tool everywhere. Here in Canada we use crossbows for many years and it has proven a great asset to bowhunting and the recruitment of bowhunters. It might also be interesting to mention that none of the often fabricated negative aspects of crossbow hunting have been noted."
This brings me in a round about fashion to "Religious Falconry."
Sometimes reality is far funnier than anything made up by any comedian. As it turns out, the aficionados of the ancient and honorable sport of falconry have their fair share of controversy. First one must be careful about how one uses the appellations; a falconer flies a falcon; an austringer flies a hawk. Get that wrong and you run the risk of losing an eye to a falconer's hawk or an austringer's falcon!
There's the whole short wing vrs long wing debate, and you can't leave the industrial park vrs open ground opponents out of the mix. As you can see, these can lead to terrible bloodlettings in the mews.
Now when I said "funnier" I really didn't mean it. And I don't think that Issac Nichols thinks it too funny either. He has written a beautiful piece, one that is so well thought out, that I want each and everyone of you to go and read it in its entirety.
Here is an excerpt:
"...While our beliefs about the afterlife, or lack thereof, may cross the spectrum, individuals reading this article most likely all share the religion of falconry, and it is this “religious falconry” to which I would like to speak. It is my intention with this article to encourage all falconers to adopt the above mentioned tenet of my faith as it applies to falconers.
Claim the privilege of practicing falconry according to the dictates of your own conscience, and allow all falconers the same privilege, let them practice how, where, or what they may."
Claim the privilege of practicing falconry according to the dictates of your own conscience, and allow all falconers the same privilege, let them practice how, where, or what they may...
Think about those words. Truer words, I haven't heard spoken lately.
I would like to change that around a little, just as Issac has done:
Claim the privilege of hunting, according to the dictates of your own conscience, and allow all hunters the same privilege; let them practice how, where, or what they may.
I would encourage that all hunters, regardless of the tools they use, adopt the foregoing statement. It is simple and true beyond the few words it contains.
I would like to thank Issac for his well written and thought out article, and I extend an invitation to Issac and all his friends in the falconry world to join us at the Outdoor Bloggers Summit. We all have a stake in the future of each other's sports, and in defending our sacred rights.
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...
Related Posts:
The Best of the Chronicles on Animal Rights Extremism
Giving Conservation a Bad Name
Sometimes it is Hard to See the Forest...
It seems that no matter what the activity there are always folks that think they know best or at least better.
I remember when the compound bows came out. Oh boy, you could hear the wails of the traditionalists. There was much gnashing of the teeth, hair pulling, and beating of the chest. I remember well the looks of disgust that the older fellows at the local sporting goods shop had for those first four wheelers; it was the same as the ones they gave the magnesium risers on the Ben Pearsons, and the same look they had for the first fiberglass laminates. Being young I wasn't as inflexible as they, and when the two wheelers came around I got a Browning Cobra. But I find myself looking askance at the newest bows with their fancy eccentric cams and laser illuminators.
Funny thing though, they still throw a stick with feathers on one end, and a pointy sharp thing at the other, into target butts and deer. Not much different than the neolithic flat bow my prehistoric cousins used a few dozen millenia ago.
A lot has been made of the disagreements between the inline muzzleloader and the traditionalists. Othmar Vohringer in his article, A Muzzleloader by any Name is Still a Muzzleloader points out the foolishness of the argument between the camps and resolves it neatly.
"This is the 21st century and we’re faced with huge problems that could end the hunting and shooting tradition for the next generation if we do not wake up to the challenges we face. I am glad that with sound reasoning and knowledge I was able to convince my hunting club acquaintance that with a little good will and respect all types of muzzleloaders can be combined into one. I am also pleased to see that the guy realized that we’re faced with more important issues then who shoots what. It is my hope that in the future we can concentrate more on what unites us all and less on what divides us. We’re all in the same boat and the sooner we realize that the better our future will look."
Othmar Vohringer
Interestingly enough, just days before, Othmar had posted another article on the crossbow. It seems that Pennsylvania has finally permitted the use of the crossbow for hunting. In Pennsylvania Permits Crossbows, Othmar again defends the use of another tool that has been discriminated against for as long as I can remember.
"Personally I welcome this decision and think it is about high time to make the crossbow a legal hunting tool everywhere. Here in Canada we use crossbows for many years and it has proven a great asset to bowhunting and the recruitment of bowhunters. It might also be interesting to mention that none of the often fabricated negative aspects of crossbow hunting have been noted."
Othmar Vohringer
This brings me in a round about fashion to "Religious Falconry."
Sometimes reality is far funnier than anything made up by any comedian. As it turns out, the aficionados of the ancient and honorable sport of falconry have their fair share of controversy. First one must be careful about how one uses the appellations; a falconer flies a falcon; an austringer flies a hawk. Get that wrong and you run the risk of losing an eye to a falconer's hawk or an austringer's falcon!
There's the whole short wing vrs long wing debate, and you can't leave the industrial park vrs open ground opponents out of the mix. As you can see, these can lead to terrible bloodlettings in the mews.
Now when I said "funnier" I really didn't mean it. And I don't think that Issac Nichols thinks it too funny either. He has written a beautiful piece, one that is so well thought out, that I want each and everyone of you to go and read it in its entirety.
Here is an excerpt:
"...While our beliefs about the afterlife, or lack thereof, may cross the spectrum, individuals reading this article most likely all share the religion of falconry, and it is this “religious falconry” to which I would like to speak. It is my intention with this article to encourage all falconers to adopt the above mentioned tenet of my faith as it applies to falconers.
Claim the privilege of practicing falconry according to the dictates of your own conscience, and allow all falconers the same privilege, let them practice how, where, or what they may."
Isaac Nichols
Claim the privilege of practicing falconry according to the dictates of your own conscience, and allow all falconers the same privilege, let them practice how, where, or what they may...
Think about those words. Truer words, I haven't heard spoken lately.
I would like to change that around a little, just as Issac has done:
Claim the privilege of hunting, according to the dictates of your own conscience, and allow all hunters the same privilege; let them practice how, where, or what they may.
I would encourage that all hunters, regardless of the tools they use, adopt the foregoing statement. It is simple and true beyond the few words it contains.
I would like to thank Issac for his well written and thought out article, and I extend an invitation to Issac and all his friends in the falconry world to join us at the Outdoor Bloggers Summit. We all have a stake in the future of each other's sports, and in defending our sacred rights.
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...
Related Posts:
The Best of the Chronicles on Animal Rights Extremism
Giving Conservation a Bad Name
Sometimes it is Hard to See the Forest...
Bear With Me, Please...
© 2009 Albert A Rasch
Where are all these bears coming from? Where is Goldilocks when you need her?
Seriously, this is a "good" sign that bear populations may be on the increase here in Florida.
February 5, 2009
Contacts: Officer Jorge Pino,
or Gabriella B. Ferraro,
Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rescued an injured, 200-pound black bear Tuesday night (Feb. 3) from the busy Florida Turnpike near U.S. 27 in Miami-Dade County.
FWC dispatch received a call from the Florida Highway Patrol, reporting that a driver had hit the bear. FWC officers found the bear a short time later in a nearby culvert and administered two chemical immobilization darts. The agency safely transported the animal to a wildlife rehabilitation center so workers could assess its injuries overnight.
The bear's injuries are not life-threatening, so further medical treatment is not necessary.
"We applaud our FWC officers' efforts," said FWC Bear Management Program coordinator Dave Telesco. "As a result of their swift action, we were able to ensure public safety and keep the animal out of harm's way."
FWC officials believe returning the bear to the wild without rehabilitation is the best course in this case. Bears are incredibly resilient and normally are able to heal and survive vehicle collisions. Wild bears taken into captivity for injury-rehabilitation risk further injury and can learn to associate people with food. That can create human-bear conflicts once the bear is released.
If a bear poses a threat to human-safety, euthanasia usually is the FWC's only option; even though it is a step no one wants to take.
Officials plan to release the bear into Picayune Strand State Forest, in Collier County.
I have a call into the FWC, hopefully they can shed some more light on this spike in bear sightings and incidents!
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...
Where are all these bears coming from? Where is Goldilocks when you need her?
Seriously, this is a "good" sign that bear populations may be on the increase here in Florida.
February 5, 2009
Contacts: Officer Jorge Pino,
or Gabriella B. Ferraro,
Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rescued an injured, 200-pound black bear Tuesday night (Feb. 3) from the busy Florida Turnpike near U.S. 27 in Miami-Dade County.
FWC dispatch received a call from the Florida Highway Patrol, reporting that a driver had hit the bear. FWC officers found the bear a short time later in a nearby culvert and administered two chemical immobilization darts. The agency safely transported the animal to a wildlife rehabilitation center so workers could assess its injuries overnight.
The bear's injuries are not life-threatening, so further medical treatment is not necessary.
"We applaud our FWC officers' efforts," said FWC Bear Management Program coordinator Dave Telesco. "As a result of their swift action, we were able to ensure public safety and keep the animal out of harm's way."
FWC officials believe returning the bear to the wild without rehabilitation is the best course in this case. Bears are incredibly resilient and normally are able to heal and survive vehicle collisions. Wild bears taken into captivity for injury-rehabilitation risk further injury and can learn to associate people with food. That can create human-bear conflicts once the bear is released.
If a bear poses a threat to human-safety, euthanasia usually is the FWC's only option; even though it is a step no one wants to take.
Officials plan to release the bear into Picayune Strand State Forest, in Collier County.
I have a call into the FWC, hopefully they can shed some more light on this spike in bear sightings and incidents!
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Range Reviews: SOG Twitch I
© 2009 Albert A Rasch The range reviews, SOG, Twitch I
The SOG Twitch I
Photo Courtesy of SOG Specialty Knives
Though I don’t usually bring it up, I have a more than passing interest in self defense and offense. Being prepared for any eventuality is ingrained in me, and I rarely get dressed without a basic set of tools on me.
When stepping out of the house, my primary defensive arm is the SOG Twitch I. (Model number TWI-7.) When SOG decided to upgrade the classic lockback pocket knife, they did it with engineering, technology, and style. From the lightweight construction to the high tech cryogenic treatment on the blade, the Twitch I oozes sexy, covert, special ops –
for the average, every day, 9 to 5 guy.
Sharp accessories.
The handles are hard-anodized aluminum in a very discreet graphite color. The hard anodization is exactly that: hard. After a year of constant use the aluminum shows no sign of scratches, scuffs, or scrapes.
Lightweight and subtle, two things I'm not.
The Twitch weighs 2 ounces exactly; it’s very light. That means that it won’t wrinkle your slack’s pocket nor drag it down. The pocket clip which can also be used as a money clip, is unobtrusive and finished in a matte silver finish.
It sports a two inch long, stainless steel, cryogenically treated, drop point blade. The SOG Cryogenic Treatment process brings the blade down in temperature to less than 300°F and then reverses the process and lets it return to room temperature in a controlled fashion. This freezing and warming, stress relieves the stainless steel on an atomic level. The process increases overall strength, toughness and in addition, increases edge retention. In other words, your knife stays sharper longer with significantly less micro-fracturing and edge-chipping. The Twitch is razor sharp out of the box, and if touched up regularly, stays that way.
The drop point is an excellent choice for defensive knives. It is an effective stabbing profile, but is also very good on the slashing attack.
The split lockback: Pass Through Lockbar
When SOG updated the lockback, they did it with panache. The Twitch features a pass-through lockbar (patent pending). This allows the kicker tab to stick out. One push with the forefinger, and the blade deploys to fully open in a flash. The SOG Assisted Technology is responsible for the lightning fast blade action. Two springs coiled inside the assist assembly propel the blade to fully open once the user has initiated the opening.
SAT Springs in the Assist
Photo Courtesy of SOG Specialty Knives
There is a safety that allows the blade to be locked in both the open and closed position. Mine has a little piece from a bamboo toothpick jammed in it. I don't want there to be a failure to deploy if I ever need it. I'm not concerned with the blade closing on my fingers either. The lock is very secure and sturdy, and for my intended purposes, it should only be in use for moments.
All in all, I find the SOG Twitch I a solid buy. Perfect for discreet wear, it has sufficient style that it would not raise an eyebrow if someone saw it on your office desk. The blade is short enough to pass in most concealed weapons districts. (Check your laws very carefully!)
The price is very affordable; most street prices range from $32.00 to $39.00.
SOG
SOG Twitch I
MSRP: $60.00
The SOG Twitch IPhoto Courtesy of SOG Specialty Knives
Though I don’t usually bring it up, I have a more than passing interest in self defense and offense. Being prepared for any eventuality is ingrained in me, and I rarely get dressed without a basic set of tools on me.
When stepping out of the house, my primary defensive arm is the SOG Twitch I. (Model number TWI-7.) When SOG decided to upgrade the classic lockback pocket knife, they did it with engineering, technology, and style. From the lightweight construction to the high tech cryogenic treatment on the blade, the Twitch I oozes sexy, covert, special ops –
for the average, every day, 9 to 5 guy.
Sharp accessories.The handles are hard-anodized aluminum in a very discreet graphite color. The hard anodization is exactly that: hard. After a year of constant use the aluminum shows no sign of scratches, scuffs, or scrapes.
Lightweight and subtle, two things I'm not.The Twitch weighs 2 ounces exactly; it’s very light. That means that it won’t wrinkle your slack’s pocket nor drag it down. The pocket clip which can also be used as a money clip, is unobtrusive and finished in a matte silver finish.
It sports a two inch long, stainless steel, cryogenically treated, drop point blade. The SOG Cryogenic Treatment process brings the blade down in temperature to less than 300°F and then reverses the process and lets it return to room temperature in a controlled fashion. This freezing and warming, stress relieves the stainless steel on an atomic level. The process increases overall strength, toughness and in addition, increases edge retention. In other words, your knife stays sharper longer with significantly less micro-fracturing and edge-chipping. The Twitch is razor sharp out of the box, and if touched up regularly, stays that way.
The drop point is an excellent choice for defensive knives. It is an effective stabbing profile, but is also very good on the slashing attack.
The split lockback: Pass Through LockbarWhen SOG updated the lockback, they did it with panache. The Twitch features a pass-through lockbar (patent pending). This allows the kicker tab to stick out. One push with the forefinger, and the blade deploys to fully open in a flash. The SOG Assisted Technology is responsible for the lightning fast blade action. Two springs coiled inside the assist assembly propel the blade to fully open once the user has initiated the opening.
SAT Springs in the AssistPhoto Courtesy of SOG Specialty Knives
There is a safety that allows the blade to be locked in both the open and closed position. Mine has a little piece from a bamboo toothpick jammed in it. I don't want there to be a failure to deploy if I ever need it. I'm not concerned with the blade closing on my fingers either. The lock is very secure and sturdy, and for my intended purposes, it should only be in use for moments.
All in all, I find the SOG Twitch I a solid buy. Perfect for discreet wear, it has sufficient style that it would not raise an eyebrow if someone saw it on your office desk. The blade is short enough to pass in most concealed weapons districts. (Check your laws very carefully!)
The price is very affordable; most street prices range from $32.00 to $39.00.
SOG
SOG Twitch I
MSRP: $60.00
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Update: Bear Illegally Shot
© 2009 Albert A Rasch
After yesterday's report on the illegal killing of a bear in Gulf County Florida, I was reminded that good journalism requires one to do his fact checking.
This morning I called on Investigator Steve Thomas for clarification and confirmation.
Investigator Thomas told me that the bear was indeed shot outdoors, on Mr. Colson's lease, under a feeder. Investigator Thomas clarified that there were no extenuating circumstances; it was an indeed an illegal act.
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...
After yesterday's report on the illegal killing of a bear in Gulf County Florida, I was reminded that good journalism requires one to do his fact checking.
This morning I called on Investigator Steve Thomas for clarification and confirmation.
Investigator Thomas told me that the bear was indeed shot outdoors, on Mr. Colson's lease, under a feeder. Investigator Thomas clarified that there were no extenuating circumstances; it was an indeed an illegal act.
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Florida Felons File: Bear Poaching
© 2009 Albert A Rasch
People may disagree with listings and regulations, but if you are going to be a fool, do so at your own risk!
Remember it is your wildlife as much as anyone else's! Report all poaching! It is thoughtless people like Colson that give all sportsmen a black eye!
Reported by Toni Brannon FWC
There is a response section where you can add your comments. Link to article and comments.
Albert A Rasch
People may disagree with listings and regulations, but if you are going to be a fool, do so at your own risk!
Remember it is your wildlife as much as anyone else's! Report all poaching! It is thoughtless people like Colson that give all sportsmen a black eye!
Franklin County man charged with killing bear
A 54-year old Franklin County man landed in Gulf County Jail Friday charged with killing a black bear.
Larry Joe Colson, DOB 4/25/54, of Apalachicola, turned himself in at the county jail in Port St. Joe after Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators told him they had an arrest warrant for him. Colson reportedly admitted to officers he shot a bear on his Gulf County hunting lease Jan. 17.
He's charged with intentionally killing a threatened species, a black bear. The charge is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years imprisonment and up to a $5,000 fine.
"Initially, uniformed patrol officers received information that someone claimed to have killed a Florida panther on private property in Gulf County," FWC investigator Steve Thomas said. "They made an on-site visit Jan. 20 to the property where the incident supposedly occurred, and at first, they didn't find anything.
"They returned on Jan. 22 and found the remains of an adult male bear. Colson was identified as a suspect, was interviewed and admitted shooting the bear."
Thomas said no panther remains were found during the visits to the property.
Officers seized Colson's Remington .30-06 rifle as evidence.
Media Contact:
Investigator Steve Thomas (850) 251-7327
There is a response section where you can add your comments. Link to article and comments.
Albert A Rasch
Monday, February 2, 2009
GUN CONTROL NEWS FLASH!!
ALERT from the NSSF
"Legislation (HR 45 - "Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act") sponsored by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) would mandate numerous gun-control measures if passed. The bill specifically calls for all handgun owners to submit to the federal government a formal application including: photo identification, fingerprints, medical and mental health records and a completed written firearm safety examination. Applicants would also be forced to pay a fee to the federal government. NSSF is vigorously opposing this legislation and is monitoring the bill closely. Please consider contacting your representative and urging him or her to oppose this dangerous bill."
The NSSF has a page HERE where you can voice your opposition.
Don't forget, you can modify the prepared statement and add your own thoughts and feelings to it!
Don't make me get the gator...
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...
"Legislation (HR 45 - "Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act") sponsored by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) would mandate numerous gun-control measures if passed. The bill specifically calls for all handgun owners to submit to the federal government a formal application including: photo identification, fingerprints, medical and mental health records and a completed written firearm safety examination. Applicants would also be forced to pay a fee to the federal government. NSSF is vigorously opposing this legislation and is monitoring the bill closely. Please consider contacting your representative and urging him or her to oppose this dangerous bill."
The NSSF has a page HERE where you can voice your opposition.
Don't forget, you can modify the prepared statement and add your own thoughts and feelings to it!
Make sure you get in there and voice your opinion!
It doesn't take but a few seconds!!!!!!!
It doesn't take but a few seconds!!!!!!!
Don't make me get the gator...
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...