"Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot a man during a quail hunt ... making 78-year-old Harry Whittington the first person shot by a sitting veep since Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton, of course, (was) shot in a duel with Aaron Burr over issues of honor, integrity and political maneuvering. Whittington? Mistaken for a bird." —Jon Stewart
"Good news, ladies and gentlemen, we have finally located weapons of mass destruction: It's Dick Cheney." —David Letterman
"Cheney's defense is that he was aiming at a quail when he shot the guy. Which means that Cheney now has the worst aim of anyone in the White House since Bill Clinton." —Jay Leno
"You can understand why this lawyer fellow let his guard down, because if you're out hunting with a politician, you think, 'If I'm going to get it, it's going to be in the back.'" —Craig Ferguson
"But all kidding aside, and in fairness to Dick Cheney, every five years he has to shed innocent blood or he violates his deal with the devil." —Jimmy Kimmel
"The Vice President is standing by his decision to shoot Harry Whittington. Now, according to the best intelligence available, there were quail hidden in the brush. Everyone believed at the time there were quail in the brush. And while the quail turned out to be a 78- year-old man, even knowing that today, Mr. Cheney insists he still would have shot Mr. Whittington in the face." —"Daily Show" correspondent Rob Corddry
Letterman's Top Ten Dick Cheney Excuses
10. Heart palpitation caused trigger finger to spasm
9. Wanted to get the Iraq mess of the front page
8. Not enough Jim Beam
7. Trying to stop the spread of bird flu
6. I love to shoot people
5. Guy was making cracks about my lesbian daughter
4. I thought the guy was trying to go 'gay cowboy' on me
3. Excuse? I hit him didn't I?
2. Until Democrats approve Medicare reform, we have to make some tough choices for the elderly
1. Made bet with Gretzgy's wife
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Monday, February 13, 2006
Dick Cheney Jokes
"According to the Washington Post, Vice President Dick Cheney is limping today because he injured his foot. Cheney said 'If you think my foot looks bad, you should see the old lady I was kicking.'" --Conan O'Brien
"The former chef of the White House has written a tell-all book. For example, he says that Dick Cheney, Vice President, his favorite dish is a dish called Chicken Gitmo. It's chicken bound and gagged on a bed of rice." --David Letterman
"According to the latest poll, 66% of Americans believe Dick Cheney has been given too much power by President Bush, and the other 34% think President Bush has been given too much power by Dick Cheney." --Jay Leno
"A Filipino spy broke into Dick Cheney's office this week, and that takes a lot because Dick Cheney's office is the back of a speeding ambulance." --Bill Maher
"Vice President Dick Cheney will have elective surgery or, as his doctors call it, a pre-autopsy." --Jay Leno
"A White House spokesman announced today that Vice President Dick Cheney's recovery is exceeding his doctor's expectations. You know what that means? He's still alive." --Jay Leno
"President Bush sent Vice President Dick Cheney to New Orleans. Is that what they need down there? Another person requiring emergency medical help?" --Jay Leno
"Although the waters have receded from New Orleans, it's still a huge, huge problem and will be for months to come. You see the fresh water is contaminated with oil and gas. Actually, from Dick Cheney's perspective, the oil and gas is contaminated with fresh water." -Jay Leno
"There's a rumor Dick Cheney may run for president in 2008. If he wins, that would make him the first three-term president since Franklin Roosevelt." --Jay Leno
"We finally have a scandal in this election: Lesbogate. Bob Schieffer asked a question about is homosexuality a choice, and Kerry mention Cheney's daughter. The Cheneys are now furious at him. They say they are very proud of her daughter. They are so proud, she should never, ever be mentioned in public." –Bill Maher
"Dick Cheney wouldn't even confirm that she's gay. She just says that she touches her roommate in an undisclosed location." –Bill Maher
"Dick Cheney feels responsible for his daughter being a lesbian because growing up, she heard him say 'go f**k yourself' so many times, she finally tried it." –Bill Maher
"The most amazing part of the debate was when Dick Cheney told John Edwards in his Darth Vader voice, 'John I am your father.'" --Jay Leno
"Dick Cheney said that if John Kerry wins, there will be another attack. Then Cheney said, if Bush wins, I'll call it off." —Conan O'Brien
"The Bush campaign unveiled its new slogan. The new slogan is 'We've Turned A Corner And We're Not Turning Back.' This replaces their old slogan 'Do What Dick Cheney Says And Nobody Gets Hurt.'" —Conan O'Brien
"I don't know if you've heard the rumors — George Bush may be dropping Dick Cheney. George Bush says he's going to give Cheney four more years. The bad news — the doctor is only giving him two" —Craig Kilborn
"Cheney's temper got the best of him last week when he told Vermont Senator Pat Leahy to 'go F yourself' on the Senate floor. Wow that's so out of character. He seems like such a peach. ... Afterwards President Bush would not comment on Cheney's outburst adding, 'You think I want that psycho coming after me.' ... Dick Cheney does have a history of swearing, but usually he's clutching his chest and falling down." —Craig Kilborn
"This was nice, President Bush wished the Iraqis God's grace on their road to democracy. And then Vice President Cheney told them to go F-themselves." —Craig Kilborn
"Dick Cheney has announced that he has agreed to be Bush's running mate in 2004. Cheney says wants four more years as vice president, but I get the feeling Cheney wants four more years at anything. He said the only thing that could keep him from running is another double bacon cheeseburger." —Jay Leno
"Dick Cheney agreed to be President Bush's running mate once again in 2004. He made the announcement while riding in Ambulance One. In fact, he's got a new campaign slogan: No chest pain, no gain. ... He said he wanted four more years but his doctor is only giving him two." —Jay Leno
"Dick Cheney said he was running again. He said his health was fine, 'I've got a doctor with me 24 hours a day.' Yeah, that's always the sign of a man in good health, isn't it?" —David Letterman
"Big news coming out of Washington, Dick Cheney will be running again for vice president. He says he is very healthy and that he has a doctor watching him 24 hours a day. This is a big improvement, it used to be a coroner." —David Letterman
"As Cheney told CNN, he has been 100 percent heart attack free since ascending to the vice presidency. He added, 'In fact, rather than giving me stress, being vice president has actually fueled my blackened soul, allowing me to gorge vampire-like on the bloody nectar of unlimited power.' I'm sorry that should have read 'I never felt better.'" —Jon Stewart, on Dick Cheney's insistence that he is the picture of health
"Vice President Dick Cheney has given another speech linking Saddam Hussein with the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Didn't President Bush say Saddam Hussein has nothing to do with the terrorist attacks? Here's my question, what if it turns out that Dick Cheney is the dumb one?" —Jay Leno
"It looks like they don't like us on TV, but you have to watch some of the other stories. I saw a story on an Iraqi/Kurd family who had so much appreciation for what we did in 1991 that they named their kid Dick Cheney. I'm not kidding. They have a little 11-year-old boy named Dick Cheney who is smart, brave, and gets along very well with his retarded brother Dan Quayle." —Bill Maher
"No one knows if Saddam is still alive. They keep showing old footage of him on TV saying that it's live. You know, it's like the same thing we do with Dick Cheney." —David Letterman
"The U.S. army confirmed that it gave a lucrative fire fighting contract in Iraq to the firm once run by the Vice President Dick Cheney without any competitive bidding. When asked if this could be conceived as Cheney's friends profiting from the war, the spokesman said 'Yes.'" —Conan O'Brien
"Vice President Cheney continues his whirlwind 11-nation middle eastern tour designed to bring America's anti-terror message to the region. That message: Help us fight terror or ...Is that oil?" —Jon Stewart
"The Security and Exchanges Commission is going to be investigating Vice President Dick Cheney. They'll begin that investigation as soon as Congress finishes investigating the Security and Exchanges Commission." —David Letterman
"The White House is sending Vice President Dick Cheney to the Middle East this month. You get the feeling that President Bush's opinion of Cheney has changed since the Enron thing broke? You know a few weeks ago, all they would say about Cheney is that he was in a safe, undisclosed location. He's hidden away. As soon as Enron popped up, they sent him to the most dangerous place in the world." —Jay Leno
"Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge has unveiled a new color-coded system to warn the public about different states of danger. Red is the highest state of alert, and it means that Dick Cheney is about to eat a mozzarella stick." —Conan O'Brien
"There are certain elements of the Bond lifestyle I have yet to experience, Jay, but I'm hopeful." —Dick Cheney, joking on the Tonight Show about being described in the New York Times as having a "James Bond-like aura"
"Dick Cheney finally responded today to demands that he reveal the details of the Enron meetings. This is what he said. He met with unnamed people, from unspecified companies, for an indeterminate amount of time at an undisclosed location. Thank God he cleared that up. I'm ready to move on." —Jay Leno
"Today at the White House the president pardoned the turkey. This is done every year. The turkey will live out the rest of its life at a petting zoo in Virginia. By coincidence that's the same place that Dick Cheney is at." —Jay Leno
"Vice President Dick Cheney is currently out in South Dakota on a three-day hunting trip. What better place for a man who has had four heart attacks than to be carrying a big gun and a backpack through the snow looking for red meat." —Jay Leno
"Everybody is talking about finding bin Laden. How about finding Dick Cheney? Where did he go? What have we got caves over here now, too? Where did he go? I think his Secret Service code name is 'Waldo." —Jay Leno
"Plans are being discussed as to who will replace Dick Cheney if he has to resign for health reasons. It's not easy for President Bush, he can't just name a replacement. He would first have to be confirmed by the oil, gas and power companies" —Jay Leno
"At his wife's 60th birthday party in Jackson Hole, Wyoming Dick Cheney had a huge steak and battered onion rings for dinner. Afterwards he met with 100 donors, not campaign donors, heart donors." —Jay Leno
"President Bush spoke briefly to reporters before playing a round of golf in Crawford, Texas earlier today. ... This raises the question: Shouldn't the guy who is really running the country and who has had like 20 heart attacks be taking the vacation?" —Craig Kilborn
"President Bush is taking the entire month of August off. Bush said today he thinks it is important for a president to spend time away from Washington. Or at least that's what Dick Cheney told him." —Jay Leno
"According to doctors, George Bush has the lowest heartbeat ever recorded by someone in the White House. Well, second lowest. Dick Cheney got his down to zero a couple of times." —Jay Leno
"President Bush played golf yesterday and I understand Vice President Dick Cheney also got in a couple of strokes." —Jay Leno
"Vice President Cheney is also on vacation. He's in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. What better place for a guy who has had 4 heart attacks than a place with thin air, rugged hiking and all-beef dinners? Why don't they get some snow for him to shovel while he's out there, too?" —Jay Leno
"Plans are being made to replace Dick Cheney if and when it ever becomes necessary. They have to plan for this kind of stuff, you know, Cheney had what, a stent, put in his artery to keep it open, had a defibrillator with batteries implanted in his chest. I think they've already started replacing him, piece by piece." —Jay Leno
"Here's your tax dollars at work. We are supposed to be conserving energy. The navy is now being asked to pay the electric bill for Vice President Dick Cheney's house in Washington, the Naval Observatory. They are asking us, the taxpayers, to pay the bill. You now how much it is? It is $186,000 a year! How many times are they shocking him back to life? There are two people that live in the house! What, are he and Bush electrocuting guys in the basement now?" —Jay Leno
"Dick Cheney, I wouldn't give this guy's troubles to a monkey on a rock. He gets his electric bill. He doesn't live in the White House. He lives next door in the junior White House. He gets his electric bill and it is $186,000. I am telling you he should have gotten the solar-powered pacemaker. You would have a big electric bill if you had to use those electric paddles eight times a day. On top of all that Cheney has laryngitis. He can't talk. Of course, that's from yelling all day: 'Quick, my heart pills, quick!'" —David Letterman
"Republicans want to know why the Navy won't pay for it. Democrats want to know why Cheney won't pay for it. And Californians want to know how come his electric bill is so low?" —Jay Leno
"Yesterday Vice President Dick Cheney came down with laryngitis so his wife had to deliver a speech for him. After the speech, Cheney's wife had to spend the rest of the day telling President Bush what to do." —Conan O'Brien
"I'm told it's already an energy efficient device." —Dick Cheney, joking about his possible new pacemaker
"The latest mini-scandal to hit Washington, it seems the other night the Bush administration held a big party at Dick Cheney's vice presidential mansion for people who had given over $100,000 to the Republican party. He originally wanted to hold the party at the White House, but the donors that gave $100,000 to Cheney said no, no, for the kind of money we're spending, we want to meet the top guy, the man in charge." —Jay Leno
"In an interview with CNN this week, Dick Cheney said he may need more heart surgery. Cheney says his doctors have advised him to cut out all red meat, avoid stress and drop the extra 175 pounds (Bush picture on screen) that have been weighing him down." —Tina Fey, on Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update"
"Dick Cheney, our vice president, he was on a program the other night talking about his health. And, you know, he's had half a dozen heart attacks and he's always going back in for, you know, tune-up work and that kind of thing. And he said now that he may in the future have to have another procedure. And I was thinking I, you know, I miss the old White House. I miss Clinton. You remember the procedures he was getting?" —David Letterman
"While speaking to conservationists this week, Dick Cheney made it clear that he plans to deal with the rising gas prices by drilling in our federal wildlife refuge in Alaska. Cheney tried to sway his opponents saying trust me, there's enough oil up there to last us the rest of my natural life." —Tina Fey, on Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update"
"George W. celebrated his 100 days in office yesterday . So George invited Congress to a luncheon and only a third of them showed up. Seems, kind of rude, doesn't it? But to be fair — who wants to watch Dick Cheney have his soup intravenously?" —David Letterman
"On Monday, President Bush will reach his 100th day in office. It's a big milestone for him, surpassed all expectations. In fact, so has Dick Cheney. Cheney was only supposed to make it to day 73." —Jay Leno
~Compiled by Daniel Kurtzman
Flying Karamazov Brothers
We braved the Blizzard of Feb 2006 to see the Flying Karamazov Brothers new show LIFE, A Guide for the Perplexed. It was excellent and I'm glad we made the two and half hour white knuckler drive. How often do you get so see a man juggle a boiled lobster, a vintage oak toliet seat (two piece) and a half frozen milk jug of water with baby oil poured on it?
At one point in each performance the Bros ask for objects from the audience and then the audience picks the items for "The Champ" to juggle. I thought the jug with baby oil poured on it was a bit too much from some manic audience member. Felt a bit cruel but the Bros went with it anyway and the champ did manage to juggle the items for a bit before the toliet seat crashed to the floor and split in two and the Champ accidently stepped on the lobster. Only in Maine would someone bring a boilded lobster to a juggling show and only in Maine would the audience NOT get upset by its use on stage. Bugs be bugs. -- Ed
At one point in each performance the Bros ask for objects from the audience and then the audience picks the items for "The Champ" to juggle. I thought the jug with baby oil poured on it was a bit too much from some manic audience member. Felt a bit cruel but the Bros went with it anyway and the champ did manage to juggle the items for a bit before the toliet seat crashed to the floor and split in two and the Champ accidently stepped on the lobster. Only in Maine would someone bring a boilded lobster to a juggling show and only in Maine would the audience NOT get upset by its use on stage. Bugs be bugs. -- Ed
Rave Review of Fishboy's New Fish GrpZ fishing tool!
New review from Hunting and Fishing Gear Review
http://www.hunting-fishing-gear.com/review-display/1913.html
Fishboy
Fish Grpz multi-tool fishing pliers
Fishing Misc Equip
Manufacturer: Fishboy
Model: Fish Grpz multi-tool fishing pliers
Category: Fishing Misc Equip
Purchase: Purchased from Fishboy for $22.50
Likes: Fishboy's Fish GrpZ has a shape unlike any other on the market - its rubber grip handles resemble two fish when closed. When opened Fish GrpZ's is a comfortable and useful set of fishing pliers as well as a jack of all trades with its knife, screwdriver and other tools. In all there are 17 functions in this stainless steel pocket tackle box. The plier end features bent tips for reaching deep inside a fishes mouth for lure retrieval and an assortment of cutters and grips to handle just about any situation.
Dislikes: Nothing.
Quality: The Fish GrpZ is solid stainless steel construction with comfortable rubber grip and a special locking mechanism to keep all the tools safe.
Summary: Bottom line for less than $25 this is one sharp looking multi-tool.
Rating: 5
http://www.hunting-fishing-gear.com/review-display/1913.html
Fishboy
Fish Grpz multi-tool fishing pliers
Fishing Misc Equip
Manufacturer: Fishboy
Model: Fish Grpz multi-tool fishing pliers
Category: Fishing Misc Equip
Purchase: Purchased from Fishboy for $22.50
Likes: Fishboy's Fish GrpZ has a shape unlike any other on the market - its rubber grip handles resemble two fish when closed. When opened Fish GrpZ's is a comfortable and useful set of fishing pliers as well as a jack of all trades with its knife, screwdriver and other tools. In all there are 17 functions in this stainless steel pocket tackle box. The plier end features bent tips for reaching deep inside a fishes mouth for lure retrieval and an assortment of cutters and grips to handle just about any situation.
Dislikes: Nothing.
Quality: The Fish GrpZ is solid stainless steel construction with comfortable rubber grip and a special locking mechanism to keep all the tools safe.
Summary: Bottom line for less than $25 this is one sharp looking multi-tool.
Rating: 5
Friday, February 10, 2006
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Fishboy and Customer Service
As the entire customer service department at Fishboy Art and Design I'd like to share some unique insight into the fishy world of Fishboy and share some of the comments we've received about our products and service.
First things first, what is Fishboy?
Fishboy is a company that markets sportswear based on the designs of artist Paul Ocepek. It sells its designs all over the country through a network of retailers who carry the Fishboy line through Lakeshirts and Fishboy sells direct to its customers via its web site. Fishboy has been around for about eight years and has grown its offerings to nearly 100 products including t-shirts, hats, decals and gift items.
How do I describe Fishboy? Well, its sort of like Big Dogs only for fish Like Big Dog they have funny graphic tees and other sportswear that appeals to fishermen and hunters. They also have a selection of cool fish related products like coffee mugs, fish shaped fishing pliers, fish shaped wine openers etc.
Fishboy has about 70 different t-shirt designs and the selection rotates as new designs replace the old ones. Some of the most popular designs include "dumbass", "fish control my brain" and the identification line which covers everything from sharks to turkey to white tail deer to sucker fish.
You might have seen Fishboy stuff while on vacation in Florida, Maine and Hawaii but no where else can you find the same selection of Fishboy products then the Fishboy web site. In the market for a gift for your fishing or hunting friend? Fishboy is the place to go.
So what feedback do we get about the Fishboy experience? I'd say its overwelmingly positive. Yahoo+ gives us their top ranking for overall customer satisfaction. People seem to delight in discovering our brand of funny fishing and hunting clothing. Once in a while we screw up an order or run out of something but the customer satisfaction department (me) makes sure we turn it around into a positive experience. Exceed expections is the goal.
Here is what some of our most recent (last five customers who left feedback) customer's have been saying:
"Best store I have been to on internet in a long long time! They have wonderful merchandise, I have already been back once, will be back again!"
"FISHBOY is a wonderful company. i have ordered products (mostly silkscreened t-shirts) from them around 6 times. i have always received shipment promptly and in excellent condition. customer service emails have been answered quickly, too. their products are top-notch, creative and unique. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!"
"An extremely delightful product. My item was loved by the person who received it as a gift. A definite hit! Put in more of your heavy cards with orders.. mine was fought after by four people :-)"
"The t-shirts arrived quickly and the people they went to loved them. They were going out of the country to Labrador and Newfoundland, and the men that wore them were offered twice and three times their cost for the shirts."
"Wow, wow, wow!!! The artwork is superb, and the quality of the materials are great as well. For anyone with fishermen (or women) who have a sense of humor will most definitely appreciate Fishboy! There are also great items featuring other outdoors sports, and also some fun kids items. The items arrived quickly, and the customer service was great. I had a question about another item and received an email response the same day! Thank you! I know Ill be back!"
Shipping
We ship out about 2 pm everyday. Any order that comes in before that time is shipped out the same day. We ship via U.S.P.S Priority Mail which has proven to be very reliable and very fast. We often surprise our customers with the quickness of delivery even though we are shipping from an Island off the coast of Maine. Donna at the post office is a big help.
We charge a flat fee of $4.95 for shipping so on big orders we end up picking up the rest of the postage. A lot of people would love to see us offer free postage (who wouldn't) but this keeps us from filling a lot of small orders on which we would make no money.
Fishboy can be found on the web at: www.fishboy.com
+To date we have received 589 customer ratings via Yahoo. 470 gave us excellent, 96 good, 17 ok, 4 bad and 2 awful.
First things first, what is Fishboy?
Fishboy is a company that markets sportswear based on the designs of artist Paul Ocepek. It sells its designs all over the country through a network of retailers who carry the Fishboy line through Lakeshirts and Fishboy sells direct to its customers via its web site. Fishboy has been around for about eight years and has grown its offerings to nearly 100 products including t-shirts, hats, decals and gift items.
How do I describe Fishboy? Well, its sort of like Big Dogs only for fish Like Big Dog they have funny graphic tees and other sportswear that appeals to fishermen and hunters. They also have a selection of cool fish related products like coffee mugs, fish shaped fishing pliers, fish shaped wine openers etc.
Fishboy has about 70 different t-shirt designs and the selection rotates as new designs replace the old ones. Some of the most popular designs include "dumbass", "fish control my brain" and the identification line which covers everything from sharks to turkey to white tail deer to sucker fish.
You might have seen Fishboy stuff while on vacation in Florida, Maine and Hawaii but no where else can you find the same selection of Fishboy products then the Fishboy web site. In the market for a gift for your fishing or hunting friend? Fishboy is the place to go.
So what feedback do we get about the Fishboy experience? I'd say its overwelmingly positive. Yahoo+ gives us their top ranking for overall customer satisfaction. People seem to delight in discovering our brand of funny fishing and hunting clothing. Once in a while we screw up an order or run out of something but the customer satisfaction department (me) makes sure we turn it around into a positive experience. Exceed expections is the goal.
Here is what some of our most recent (last five customers who left feedback) customer's have been saying:
"Best store I have been to on internet in a long long time! They have wonderful merchandise, I have already been back once, will be back again!"
"FISHBOY is a wonderful company. i have ordered products (mostly silkscreened t-shirts) from them around 6 times. i have always received shipment promptly and in excellent condition. customer service emails have been answered quickly, too. their products are top-notch, creative and unique. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!"
"An extremely delightful product. My item was loved by the person who received it as a gift. A definite hit! Put in more of your heavy cards with orders.. mine was fought after by four people :-)"
"The t-shirts arrived quickly and the people they went to loved them. They were going out of the country to Labrador and Newfoundland, and the men that wore them were offered twice and three times their cost for the shirts."
"Wow, wow, wow!!! The artwork is superb, and the quality of the materials are great as well. For anyone with fishermen (or women) who have a sense of humor will most definitely appreciate Fishboy! There are also great items featuring other outdoors sports, and also some fun kids items. The items arrived quickly, and the customer service was great. I had a question about another item and received an email response the same day! Thank you! I know Ill be back!"
Shipping
We ship out about 2 pm everyday. Any order that comes in before that time is shipped out the same day. We ship via U.S.P.S Priority Mail which has proven to be very reliable and very fast. We often surprise our customers with the quickness of delivery even though we are shipping from an Island off the coast of Maine. Donna at the post office is a big help.
We charge a flat fee of $4.95 for shipping so on big orders we end up picking up the rest of the postage. A lot of people would love to see us offer free postage (who wouldn't) but this keeps us from filling a lot of small orders on which we would make no money.
Fishboy can be found on the web at: www.fishboy.com
+To date we have received 589 customer ratings via Yahoo. 470 gave us excellent, 96 good, 17 ok, 4 bad and 2 awful.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Rate Fishboy On Epinions
If you've had a positive experience with Fishboy why not tell the world? You can write a review of Fishboy.com and post it on Epinions. Thank you!
http://www.epinions.com/pr-Online_Stores_Services-FISHBOY
http://www.epinions.com/pr-Online_Stores_Services-FISHBOY
Coyote Love
Its Coyote mating season here on Mount Desert Island. How does one know? Well not by seeing them just being waken up in the middle of the night by some really scary howling. Last night I stumbled down the hall to check on my six year old. I thought he was having a nightmare and letting out some kind of moan. It wasn't until the way back to bed that I heard more oooooohhhss coming from outside. When you live in the middle of nowhere those coyotos can send a shiver up your spine!
About Coyotes:
A coyote reminds one of a small German shepherd dog. Coyotes weigh between 20 and 45 pounds, have a bushy tail with a black tip, are yellowish gray with a whitish throat and belly, their ears are prominent, and their tail is held below their back while running.
90% of a coyote’s diet is small mammals, but they will also eat birds, snakes, insects, fish, fruit and vegetables. Coyotes are opportunistic hunters, feeding primarily on what is most available: squirrels, voles, mice, rabbits, injured or sick deer. They rarely kill prey larger than themselves, but will scavenge on a fresh carcass. Coyotes are capable of taking a small dog (less than 15 pounds) or a cat, but they rarely take supervised pets.
Coyotes live in prairies, brushy areas, and wooded edges; however, not in heavily wooded areas. They prefer suburban areas with broken forests. Coyotes like to travel along trails/paths or ridges and waterways. They often deposit feces or scent mark with urine along the way. They are mostly active at night, but may be seen during the day, especially in the summer when young are more active. They sometimes hunt in family units, but are more often alone or in male / female pairs.
Their barks and yips usually increase in power and pitch and ending in a long, flat howl. Young have a higher pitch than adults do. Howls increase during mating season, but decrease when they have young. Coyotes can also howl at sirens or whistles. Howls carry 2 –3 miles. Young are born in April and May in dens found along drainage ditches, fence rows, under abandoned buildings. Young are on their own at 6-9 months.
About Coyotes:
A coyote reminds one of a small German shepherd dog. Coyotes weigh between 20 and 45 pounds, have a bushy tail with a black tip, are yellowish gray with a whitish throat and belly, their ears are prominent, and their tail is held below their back while running.
90% of a coyote’s diet is small mammals, but they will also eat birds, snakes, insects, fish, fruit and vegetables. Coyotes are opportunistic hunters, feeding primarily on what is most available: squirrels, voles, mice, rabbits, injured or sick deer. They rarely kill prey larger than themselves, but will scavenge on a fresh carcass. Coyotes are capable of taking a small dog (less than 15 pounds) or a cat, but they rarely take supervised pets.
Coyotes live in prairies, brushy areas, and wooded edges; however, not in heavily wooded areas. They prefer suburban areas with broken forests. Coyotes like to travel along trails/paths or ridges and waterways. They often deposit feces or scent mark with urine along the way. They are mostly active at night, but may be seen during the day, especially in the summer when young are more active. They sometimes hunt in family units, but are more often alone or in male / female pairs.
Their barks and yips usually increase in power and pitch and ending in a long, flat howl. Young have a higher pitch than adults do. Howls increase during mating season, but decrease when they have young. Coyotes can also howl at sirens or whistles. Howls carry 2 –3 miles. Young are born in April and May in dens found along drainage ditches, fence rows, under abandoned buildings. Young are on their own at 6-9 months.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Live Lobster Crane Game
There are certainly many ways to enjoy Maine lobster! Now there is the claw game version of lobster selection...
According to the manufacturer:
The Love Maine Lobster Claw is an extremely fun game that people of all ages love to play. For two dollars per play, a customer has 30 exciting seconds to catch a live Maine Lobster. This is when all the hoot and hollerin begins. Winning customers automatically set off a light house attached to the top that attracts even more players.
Fast Fact:
In Episode 9, Season 3 of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the team renovated the home of Doug Goodale, a veteran lobster fisherman and his family from Wells Harbor, Maine. A brand new Love Maine Lobster Claw Game was included in the renovation of the Doug's home.
You can watch a video of the lobster game in action!
http://www.hanna-vending.com/lobstergame2.htm
PETA tells kids "Your Daddy Kills Animals"
"Until your daddy learns that it's not fun to kill, keep your doggies and kitties away from him. He's so hooked on killing defenseless animals that they could be next!"
Those domestic terrorists known as PETA, people want to put animals above people on the food chain, are at it again with their indefensible tactics of trying to pit children against their own parents.
Now they have produced a comic book attacking the American pastime of fishing called "Your Daddy Kills Animals" and send their cult members to fishing derbys to hand out this hate groups (they basically hate people but love vegatables) propoganda.
According to PETA's web site "Fishinghurts.com" PETA’s new comic for kids takes aim at dads who fish and "PETA aims to help kids see the violent bloody truth behind their fathers’ outdoor pastime".
Enough is enough. How sick in the head do you have to be to try to turn kids against their parents?
Those domestic terrorists known as PETA, people want to put animals above people on the food chain, are at it again with their indefensible tactics of trying to pit children against their own parents.
Now they have produced a comic book attacking the American pastime of fishing called "Your Daddy Kills Animals" and send their cult members to fishing derbys to hand out this hate groups (they basically hate people but love vegatables) propoganda.
According to PETA's web site "Fishinghurts.com" PETA’s new comic for kids takes aim at dads who fish and "PETA aims to help kids see the violent bloody truth behind their fathers’ outdoor pastime".
Enough is enough. How sick in the head do you have to be to try to turn kids against their parents?
Goldfish Cracker Mobile
The only way to drive!
The Pepperidge Farm mobile measures 23 feet long and 13 feet tall, and it sports an 8-foot pair of sunglasses. At the events, visitors can play games, win prizes, take pictures with the Goldfish character, and enjoy free samples of Pepperidge Farm treats.
Fish Discovered With Human Face Pattern
A fish that has a pattern resembling a human face on its body was found in a pond in Chongju, South Korea, according to a Local 6 News report.
The news of a fish with a human face spread to South Korea through the Internet after a Japanese sports tabloid reported on the unusual fish.
A South Korean newspaper then carried an article about the fish in South Korea.
The fish is the result of artificial insemination between a carp and ayu sweetfish.
As the fish grew larger, the design on the fish reportedly changed to look more like the face of a human being.
Rare markings on a fish are considered a good omen in some Asian countries, according to a report.
The news of a fish with a human face spread to South Korea through the Internet after a Japanese sports tabloid reported on the unusual fish.
A South Korean newspaper then carried an article about the fish in South Korea.
The fish is the result of artificial insemination between a carp and ayu sweetfish.
As the fish grew larger, the design on the fish reportedly changed to look more like the face of a human being.
Rare markings on a fish are considered a good omen in some Asian countries, according to a report.
Fish Wine?
From Reuters (via Yahoo! News):
Waiter, There's a Fish in My Wine!
Mon Jan 31,10:36 AM ET Oddly Enough - Reuters
BEIJING (Reuters) - The French used grapes, Russians fermented potatoes,
Koreans put ginseng in their drink and Mexicans distilled cactus plants to
make fiery tequila.
Now China is introducing fish wine.
Sun Keman, an entrepreneur in the northeastern port city of Dalian, has
formed the Dalian Fisherman's Song Maritime Biological Brewery, with a plan
to use his background in the fishing industry to make fish into wine.
"Different from China's thousands of years of brewing, the brewery will
clean, boil, and ferment fish for making wine," the official Xinhua news
agency reported.
The company already had orders from Japan, Russia and other parts of China,
it said.
Tipplers might also take heart in knowing the brew is purported to be good
for them.
"Experts said the wine is nutritious and contains low alcohol," Xinhua said.
Waiter, There's a Fish in My Wine!
Mon Jan 31,10:36 AM ET Oddly Enough - Reuters
BEIJING (Reuters) - The French used grapes, Russians fermented potatoes,
Koreans put ginseng in their drink and Mexicans distilled cactus plants to
make fiery tequila.
Now China is introducing fish wine.
Sun Keman, an entrepreneur in the northeastern port city of Dalian, has
formed the Dalian Fisherman's Song Maritime Biological Brewery, with a plan
to use his background in the fishing industry to make fish into wine.
"Different from China's thousands of years of brewing, the brewery will
clean, boil, and ferment fish for making wine," the official Xinhua news
agency reported.
The company already had orders from Japan, Russia and other parts of China,
it said.
Tipplers might also take heart in knowing the brew is purported to be good
for them.
"Experts said the wine is nutritious and contains low alcohol," Xinhua said.
North American Man-Carp Love Association
I think this guy is taking his love of fishing a bit too far...
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Fool A Fish - ultraviolet vision fishing
By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press
— SPOKANE, Wash. _ In the ancient struggle between man and fish, man has a new weapon. Forget fancy lures, depth charges or precision casting guns. The new weapon requires vision _ ultraviolet vision.
Called Fool-a-Fish, it comes in a bottle that sprays titanium dioxide on fishing lures and bait. The chemical lights up the watery depths like a disco ball, luring fish from half a mile away.
Fool-a-Fish is the brainchild of a Spokane physician named Milan Jeckle _ that's Dr. Jeckle to you _ who combined his love of chemistry and the outdoors into a new business. Fool-A-Fish is earning a growing reputation as anglers from Alaska to Florida enjoy success with the product.
"You catch three or four times more fish, and the biggest fish," Jeckle contended.
Researchers have discovered that while humans see in three colors _ red, yellow-green and blue _ fish and birds see a fourth color in the ultraviolet range, which shows up as a white glow, Jeckle said. This color is invisible to humans.
Working with David Cleary, a chemistry professor at Spokane's Gonzaga University, Jeckle came up with the formula combining titanium dioxide, which is used in sunscreens, and several other chemicals. The whitish liquid dries quickly, and will stay on a lure for some two hours, he said. It is nontoxic, odorless and washes off with soap and water.
But underwater it shines like a beacon to fish.
In November of 2004, Jeckle and two friends went to Moses Lake, in central Washington, to try it out.
"I put it on my bait and caught a 6-pound walleye," Jeckle said. Later he took it to Alaska and caught several 100-pound halibut.
Jeckle said many of the spray products currently used to lure fish are scent-based, because fish are known to search for food by smell.
"This is based entirely on vision," Jeckle said. "This is a new way to fish."
"It's not just blood that attracts sharks," he added. "They can see a swimmer half a mile away."
Jeckle makes up batches of Fool-A-Fish in his kitchen. The spray is sold in some outdoor stores in the region, and it can be ordered on Jeckle's Web site. It is also getting written up in fishing magazines. Northwest Angler said the formula "makes it super easy for fish to see lures or baits from great distances."
Instructors at Salmon University in Tacoma, a guide service and fishing school, also report success with the product. John Keizer, one of its chief instructors, said he found that treated herring caught three fish for every one caught on untreated herring.
Jeckle has also adapted his formula to produce Fool-A-Bird, which works on a reverse principle. Birds use ultraviolet vision to avoid humans, so Jeckle created a formula that when sprayed on a hunter's clothes, body and gun will absorb ultraviolet rays.
"You spray it on yourself and they treat you like a tree trunk or a dead stump," Jeckle said. "They ignore you."
Jeckle grew up in Green Bay, Wis., where he began fishing for perch as a boy. He practiced for three decades as a family physician in Spokane, and went into semiretirement five years ago. That's what gave him the time to develop his products, he said.
Jeckle cautioned that Fool-A-Fish is not foolproof.
"It's not magic," Jeckle said. Some days nothing will make fish bite, and other days they will bite at anything, he said.
"This is for when it's in-between," he said.
___
On the Web:
http://www.Foolafish.com
© 2006 The Associated Press
— SPOKANE, Wash. _ In the ancient struggle between man and fish, man has a new weapon. Forget fancy lures, depth charges or precision casting guns. The new weapon requires vision _ ultraviolet vision.
Called Fool-a-Fish, it comes in a bottle that sprays titanium dioxide on fishing lures and bait. The chemical lights up the watery depths like a disco ball, luring fish from half a mile away.
Fool-a-Fish is the brainchild of a Spokane physician named Milan Jeckle _ that's Dr. Jeckle to you _ who combined his love of chemistry and the outdoors into a new business. Fool-A-Fish is earning a growing reputation as anglers from Alaska to Florida enjoy success with the product.
"You catch three or four times more fish, and the biggest fish," Jeckle contended.
Researchers have discovered that while humans see in three colors _ red, yellow-green and blue _ fish and birds see a fourth color in the ultraviolet range, which shows up as a white glow, Jeckle said. This color is invisible to humans.
Working with David Cleary, a chemistry professor at Spokane's Gonzaga University, Jeckle came up with the formula combining titanium dioxide, which is used in sunscreens, and several other chemicals. The whitish liquid dries quickly, and will stay on a lure for some two hours, he said. It is nontoxic, odorless and washes off with soap and water.
But underwater it shines like a beacon to fish.
In November of 2004, Jeckle and two friends went to Moses Lake, in central Washington, to try it out.
"I put it on my bait and caught a 6-pound walleye," Jeckle said. Later he took it to Alaska and caught several 100-pound halibut.
Jeckle said many of the spray products currently used to lure fish are scent-based, because fish are known to search for food by smell.
"This is based entirely on vision," Jeckle said. "This is a new way to fish."
"It's not just blood that attracts sharks," he added. "They can see a swimmer half a mile away."
Jeckle makes up batches of Fool-A-Fish in his kitchen. The spray is sold in some outdoor stores in the region, and it can be ordered on Jeckle's Web site. It is also getting written up in fishing magazines. Northwest Angler said the formula "makes it super easy for fish to see lures or baits from great distances."
Instructors at Salmon University in Tacoma, a guide service and fishing school, also report success with the product. John Keizer, one of its chief instructors, said he found that treated herring caught three fish for every one caught on untreated herring.
Jeckle has also adapted his formula to produce Fool-A-Bird, which works on a reverse principle. Birds use ultraviolet vision to avoid humans, so Jeckle created a formula that when sprayed on a hunter's clothes, body and gun will absorb ultraviolet rays.
"You spray it on yourself and they treat you like a tree trunk or a dead stump," Jeckle said. "They ignore you."
Jeckle grew up in Green Bay, Wis., where he began fishing for perch as a boy. He practiced for three decades as a family physician in Spokane, and went into semiretirement five years ago. That's what gave him the time to develop his products, he said.
Jeckle cautioned that Fool-A-Fish is not foolproof.
"It's not magic," Jeckle said. Some days nothing will make fish bite, and other days they will bite at anything, he said.
"This is for when it's in-between," he said.
___
On the Web:
http://www.Foolafish.com
Friday, February 03, 2006
Fish GrpZ - Fishboy's Ultimate 17 Function Multi-tool Fishing Pliers
Now you can carry the fishing tool that we do - Fishboy's Ultimate 17 Function Multi-tool Fishing Pliers!
There are those times when you wish you could bring a complete assortment of tools, but just thinking about lugging all that weight is enough to make most anglers cringe. Multi-tools offer a way to combine just about all the necessary tools into one easy to cart gizmo.
Don't clutter your tackle box with a pile of tools. Our fisherman's multipurpose tool fits them all in your pocket. This multitool has been designed especially for fisherman, including everything needed when out on the water in a pocket-sized package. This is the only tool you'll ever need on your next fishing trip!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Holy Oscar Fish!
An amazed pet shop owner has discovered markings on the side of one of his fish that he claims spells the words Allah in Arabic.
Tony Walker, 47, who runs Walker Aquatics in Waterfoot, Lancashire, was stunned when a customer told him the Oscar fish had the holy word on one side and Mohammed written on the other.
The Asian shopper immediately splashed out on the £10 fish and even bought a £700 tank in which it will live.
Mr Walker said: "When he first told me about the pattern on the side of the fish I didn't know whether to believe him or not.
"I did wonder if he was nuts but then he said he was going to buy a £700 tank, so I thought he must be serious."
He added: "The fish is about two years old and we've had it in the shop for about eight weeks.
"It just looked like a normal Oscar to me. I had absolutely no idea what was written on its sides.
"Once the writing was spotted though, we've had lots of people coming into the shop to have a look.
"Everyone seems to agree about the markings. It has caused quite a stir."
The albino fish, which has the Latin name, astronotus ocellatus, measures around eight inches long and can grow to 16 inches.
The unidentified new owner must wait six weeks before he can collect the creature but he is expected to return to the shop tomorrow to pick up his tank.
Tony Walker, 47, who runs Walker Aquatics in Waterfoot, Lancashire, was stunned when a customer told him the Oscar fish had the holy word on one side and Mohammed written on the other.
The Asian shopper immediately splashed out on the £10 fish and even bought a £700 tank in which it will live.
Mr Walker said: "When he first told me about the pattern on the side of the fish I didn't know whether to believe him or not.
"I did wonder if he was nuts but then he said he was going to buy a £700 tank, so I thought he must be serious."
He added: "The fish is about two years old and we've had it in the shop for about eight weeks.
"It just looked like a normal Oscar to me. I had absolutely no idea what was written on its sides.
"Once the writing was spotted though, we've had lots of people coming into the shop to have a look.
"Everyone seems to agree about the markings. It has caused quite a stir."
The albino fish, which has the Latin name, astronotus ocellatus, measures around eight inches long and can grow to 16 inches.
The unidentified new owner must wait six weeks before he can collect the creature but he is expected to return to the shop tomorrow to pick up his tank.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Catch of the day: Researcher stakes claim to tiny-fish title
By Sandi Doughton
Seattle Times staff reporter
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
This 1.8-inch female Photocorynus spiniceps has what looks like a small nub in the middle of her back. Actually, that's the male, the world's smallest known vertebrate.
Last week, scientists claimed this is the world's smallest known fish, discovered in Indonesia. The fish, a member of the carp family, has a translucent body and a head unprotected by a skeleton.
UW researcher Ted Pietsch shows a photo of the female Photocorynus spiniceps with the tiny male on her back. "He's actually fused to her body," said Pietsch, who has studied the creatures for 35 years. "He feeds off nutrients in her bloodstream."
Fishermen usually exaggerate the size of their catch, but biologists are engaged in a friendly feud over the title of the world's smallest fish.
An international team of fisheries scientists claimed the record last week with a type of carp that measures less than a third of an inch long and lives in Indonesian peat swamps.
Not so fast, says University of Washington researcher Ted Pietsch, who read a news article on the discovery last Thursday in The Seattle Times.
In his office, Pietsch has the only four specimens ever collected of a fish he says is "hugely smaller."
It's also a contender for strangest lifestyle.
Male anglerfish of the species Photocorynus spiniceps measure a scant quarter-inch long, which would make them not only the world's smallest fish but the smallest vertebrate, or animal with a backbone.
They spend most of their lives clamped onto females, which are many times larger. Biologists call the arrangement "sexual parasitism."
Though it sounds like something Dr. Phil would disapprove of, for anglerfish it's a matter of survival.
With their oversized heads and spiky bodies, the fish are adapted to the chill, dark waters up to a mile below the ocean surface. They get their name from the luminescent lure that dangles from their head and attracts prey. A vacuumlike swallowing action allows them to engulf meals as big as their own bodies.
At least that's how the females do it.
In species like spiniceps, males freeload.
"He's actually fused to her body," said Pietsch, who has studied the creatures for 35 years. "He feeds off nutrients in her bloodstream."
In their brief, free-swimming stage, the males rely on large eyes to spot the females' lures, and huge nostrils to sniff them out. Unable to feed on his own, a male who doesn't find a mate will die.
Some females — perhaps the Angelina Jolies of anglerfish — tote up to eight diminutive males on their bodies. But the fish are so rare that most females spend their entire 25- to 30-year life cycles traveling the depths without ever encountering a little Mr. Right, Pietsch said.
"The chance of finding each other down there is almost zero."
Scientists also have a hard time finding anglerfish. Occasionally, research ships snag one or two in their deep-sea trawl nets. Pietsch's spiniceps specimens were collected in the Philippines.
Pietsch published his description of the minuscule anglerfish in September and pointed it out last week in an e-mail to the scientists who thought their Indonesian carp was the world's smallest fish. Lead researcher Maurice Kottelat, of the National University of Singapore, graciously conceded the title.
"So our little fish is only the smallest freshwater vertebrate," he wrote in an e-mail. "Now I wait until the next smallest fish is discovered."
That might not take too long, said Christopher Kenaley, a UW graduate student who works with Pietsch.
About 200 new fish species are described each year, he said in an e-mail. And males of several anglerfish species still haven't been found.
Seattle Times staff reporter
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
This 1.8-inch female Photocorynus spiniceps has what looks like a small nub in the middle of her back. Actually, that's the male, the world's smallest known vertebrate.
Last week, scientists claimed this is the world's smallest known fish, discovered in Indonesia. The fish, a member of the carp family, has a translucent body and a head unprotected by a skeleton.
UW researcher Ted Pietsch shows a photo of the female Photocorynus spiniceps with the tiny male on her back. "He's actually fused to her body," said Pietsch, who has studied the creatures for 35 years. "He feeds off nutrients in her bloodstream."
Fishermen usually exaggerate the size of their catch, but biologists are engaged in a friendly feud over the title of the world's smallest fish.
An international team of fisheries scientists claimed the record last week with a type of carp that measures less than a third of an inch long and lives in Indonesian peat swamps.
Not so fast, says University of Washington researcher Ted Pietsch, who read a news article on the discovery last Thursday in The Seattle Times.
In his office, Pietsch has the only four specimens ever collected of a fish he says is "hugely smaller."
It's also a contender for strangest lifestyle.
Male anglerfish of the species Photocorynus spiniceps measure a scant quarter-inch long, which would make them not only the world's smallest fish but the smallest vertebrate, or animal with a backbone.
They spend most of their lives clamped onto females, which are many times larger. Biologists call the arrangement "sexual parasitism."
Though it sounds like something Dr. Phil would disapprove of, for anglerfish it's a matter of survival.
With their oversized heads and spiky bodies, the fish are adapted to the chill, dark waters up to a mile below the ocean surface. They get their name from the luminescent lure that dangles from their head and attracts prey. A vacuumlike swallowing action allows them to engulf meals as big as their own bodies.
At least that's how the females do it.
In species like spiniceps, males freeload.
"He's actually fused to her body," said Pietsch, who has studied the creatures for 35 years. "He feeds off nutrients in her bloodstream."
In their brief, free-swimming stage, the males rely on large eyes to spot the females' lures, and huge nostrils to sniff them out. Unable to feed on his own, a male who doesn't find a mate will die.
Some females — perhaps the Angelina Jolies of anglerfish — tote up to eight diminutive males on their bodies. But the fish are so rare that most females spend their entire 25- to 30-year life cycles traveling the depths without ever encountering a little Mr. Right, Pietsch said.
"The chance of finding each other down there is almost zero."
Scientists also have a hard time finding anglerfish. Occasionally, research ships snag one or two in their deep-sea trawl nets. Pietsch's spiniceps specimens were collected in the Philippines.
Pietsch published his description of the minuscule anglerfish in September and pointed it out last week in an e-mail to the scientists who thought their Indonesian carp was the world's smallest fish. Lead researcher Maurice Kottelat, of the National University of Singapore, graciously conceded the title.
"So our little fish is only the smallest freshwater vertebrate," he wrote in an e-mail. "Now I wait until the next smallest fish is discovered."
That might not take too long, said Christopher Kenaley, a UW graduate student who works with Pietsch.
About 200 new fish species are described each year, he said in an e-mail. And males of several anglerfish species still haven't been found.
Singing the Praises of Lumber-camp Food
Here I am making fun of our Maine traditions..." -- Ed
from the History of Bean-hole Beans
http://www.umaine.edu/folklife/bhbhistory.htm
....Songs were made about lumber-camp food. Larry Gorman, a Prince Edward Islander who came to Maine to work in the woods and later lived in Brewer, Maine. He made up songs about many things, including the lumber-woods work. One song, “The Good Old State of Maine” has two stanzas about lumber camp food:
"Now for the grub, I'll give it a rub, and that it does deserve,
The cooks become so lazy they'll allow the men to starve;
For it's bread and beans, then beans and bread, then bread and beans again,
Of grub we would sometimes have a change in that good old State of Maine
Our meat and fish is poorly cooked, the bread is sour and old;
The beans are dry and musty and doughnuts are hard and old;
To undertake to chew one, that would give your jaws a pain,
for they're not the kind we used to find in that good old State of Maine."
from the History of Bean-hole Beans
http://www.umaine.edu/folklife/bhbhistory.htm
....Songs were made about lumber-camp food. Larry Gorman, a Prince Edward Islander who came to Maine to work in the woods and later lived in Brewer, Maine. He made up songs about many things, including the lumber-woods work. One song, “The Good Old State of Maine” has two stanzas about lumber camp food:
"Now for the grub, I'll give it a rub, and that it does deserve,
The cooks become so lazy they'll allow the men to starve;
For it's bread and beans, then beans and bread, then bread and beans again,
Of grub we would sometimes have a change in that good old State of Maine
Our meat and fish is poorly cooked, the bread is sour and old;
The beans are dry and musty and doughnuts are hard and old;
To undertake to chew one, that would give your jaws a pain,
for they're not the kind we used to find in that good old State of Maine."
Maine's Choice For A Saturday Night Meal
Picked up this item in the local supermarket. I don't know it seems more like a Tues night meal to me. -- Ed
State Of Maine Jacob's Cattle Beans with pork
... Maine's Favorite - The sauce for these Jacob's Cattle Beans has been prepared according to a recipe in use by Maine's lumberjacks and fishermen for over 100 years.
The formula used in the preparation of this product has been handed down from one Maine generation to another.
TO SERVE HOT
Remove contents and heat in saucepan
MAY BE EATEN FROM THE CAN
MAINE"S CHOICE FOR A SATURDAY NIGHT MEAL
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Fishing for cheap salmon and sustainable capitalism
As Ellsworth seems on the brink of getting a Super Walmart...
Fishing for cheap salmon and sustainable capitalism
By KATHLEEN PARKER
If you love buying cheap salmon from Wal-Mart, you might not after reading Charles Fishman's new book, The Wal-Mart Effect.
Few issues in American life, except perhaps the war in Iraq, are as polarizing these days as how Wal-Mart sits in our landscape, our economy and our consciousness. Fishman, a friend and former editor — but more important, the kind of reporter for whom no detail or decimal is too small to fascinate — tells the Wal-Mart story in such intricate detail that you'll never see your local store in the same way again.
Wal-Mart isn't just a company. It's a global market force — a nation unto itself.
Ponder this: Americans spend $35 million every hour at Wal-Mart, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Wal-Mart is so huge and so powerful, you'll wonder how you failed to notice that the company affects not just how we shop, but how we think and live — even if we never set foot in a Wal-Mart store.
Not everyone has missed the Wal-Mart effect, of course. The company has plenty of critics, but Fishman puts in perspective not just the power of Wal-Mart, but the good that the mega-corporation does and could do. Recently, for instance, Wal-Mart announced energy- and fuel-saving plans for its stores and trucks that, if successful, could serve as a model for the nation. No one will cheer louder than Fishman if that happens. Such is the kind of global good Wal-Mart can and should do, he says.
On the home front, Fishman argues that critics are wrong when they say that Wal-Mart puts little people out of business. We (consumers) put little people out of business, he says. We vote with our wallets, and we're the ones who choose Wal-Mart over local stores. Wal-Mart, in that sense, is the ultimate model of democracy.
Consumers also have made possible the company's phenomenal growth. In 1990, Wal-Mart had just nine supercenters in the U.S. By 2000, there were 888. Wal-Mart is the No. 1 grocery retailer in the world. Between 1990 and 2000, 31 supermarket chains sought bankruptcy protection, including 27 that cited Wal-Mart as a factor.
Ah well, we say, so it goes in love, war and business. Competition is the engine that drives a capitalist society. But Fishman argues that Wal-Mart's power and scale hurt capitalism by strangling competition.
"It's not free-market capitalism," he says. "Wal-Mart is running the market. Choice is an illusion."
Wal-Mart not only changes the way we buy, but the way we think, Fishman says. If Wal-Mart charges $5 per pound for salmon, then shoppers wonder why a restaurant charges $15. We expect salmon to cost only $5. Or a microwave to cost only $39. The Wal-Mart effect first changes our expectations, then changes the quality of merchandise, which is cheap, because it isn't always well- or ethically made.
Take salmon. Wal-Mart, which buys all its salmon from Chile, sells more than anyone else in the country and undersells all other retailers by at least $2 per pound. That's a lot of market power, which prompts Fishman to ask: "Does it matter that salmon for $4.84 a pound leaves a layer of toxic sludge on the ocean bottoms of the Pacific fjords of southern Chile?"
Salmon in Chile are raised in packed underwater pens — as many as 1 million per farm — and fed prophylactic antibiotics to prevent disease. Here's a fact you'd rather not know: A million salmon produce the same amount of waste as 65,000 people. Combine that waste with unconsumed food and antibiotic residue, and you've got a toxic seabed.
Does it matter?
Only if consumers say it does, says Fishman. Wal-Mart listens to "voters." If shoppers say they won't buy salmon until Wal-Mart insists on higher standards from suppliers, then Wal-Mart will make those demands. Incentive is the engine that drives the company that promises low prices — "always."
Fishman also raises questions about worker wages, health insurance and working conditions in other countries where Wal-Mart suppliers treat human workers little better than Chile treats fish.
In the final analysis, he asserts, the scale of Wal-Mart makes it a different species than we've known before. Therefore, horse-and-buggy business rules no longer apply. He insists that transparency, which corporations (especially Wal-Mart) resist, is key not only to preserving the capitalist system we value, but to ensuring fair and humane business practices here and abroad.
Ultimately, Fishman's book posits a question of values: What kind of country are we going to be?
It is a worthy question that consumers will have to answer.
Parker is a syndicated columnist for the Orlando Sentinel.
Fishing for cheap salmon and sustainable capitalism
By KATHLEEN PARKER
If you love buying cheap salmon from Wal-Mart, you might not after reading Charles Fishman's new book, The Wal-Mart Effect.
Few issues in American life, except perhaps the war in Iraq, are as polarizing these days as how Wal-Mart sits in our landscape, our economy and our consciousness. Fishman, a friend and former editor — but more important, the kind of reporter for whom no detail or decimal is too small to fascinate — tells the Wal-Mart story in such intricate detail that you'll never see your local store in the same way again.
Wal-Mart isn't just a company. It's a global market force — a nation unto itself.
Ponder this: Americans spend $35 million every hour at Wal-Mart, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Wal-Mart is so huge and so powerful, you'll wonder how you failed to notice that the company affects not just how we shop, but how we think and live — even if we never set foot in a Wal-Mart store.
Not everyone has missed the Wal-Mart effect, of course. The company has plenty of critics, but Fishman puts in perspective not just the power of Wal-Mart, but the good that the mega-corporation does and could do. Recently, for instance, Wal-Mart announced energy- and fuel-saving plans for its stores and trucks that, if successful, could serve as a model for the nation. No one will cheer louder than Fishman if that happens. Such is the kind of global good Wal-Mart can and should do, he says.
On the home front, Fishman argues that critics are wrong when they say that Wal-Mart puts little people out of business. We (consumers) put little people out of business, he says. We vote with our wallets, and we're the ones who choose Wal-Mart over local stores. Wal-Mart, in that sense, is the ultimate model of democracy.
Consumers also have made possible the company's phenomenal growth. In 1990, Wal-Mart had just nine supercenters in the U.S. By 2000, there were 888. Wal-Mart is the No. 1 grocery retailer in the world. Between 1990 and 2000, 31 supermarket chains sought bankruptcy protection, including 27 that cited Wal-Mart as a factor.
Ah well, we say, so it goes in love, war and business. Competition is the engine that drives a capitalist society. But Fishman argues that Wal-Mart's power and scale hurt capitalism by strangling competition.
"It's not free-market capitalism," he says. "Wal-Mart is running the market. Choice is an illusion."
Wal-Mart not only changes the way we buy, but the way we think, Fishman says. If Wal-Mart charges $5 per pound for salmon, then shoppers wonder why a restaurant charges $15. We expect salmon to cost only $5. Or a microwave to cost only $39. The Wal-Mart effect first changes our expectations, then changes the quality of merchandise, which is cheap, because it isn't always well- or ethically made.
Take salmon. Wal-Mart, which buys all its salmon from Chile, sells more than anyone else in the country and undersells all other retailers by at least $2 per pound. That's a lot of market power, which prompts Fishman to ask: "Does it matter that salmon for $4.84 a pound leaves a layer of toxic sludge on the ocean bottoms of the Pacific fjords of southern Chile?"
Salmon in Chile are raised in packed underwater pens — as many as 1 million per farm — and fed prophylactic antibiotics to prevent disease. Here's a fact you'd rather not know: A million salmon produce the same amount of waste as 65,000 people. Combine that waste with unconsumed food and antibiotic residue, and you've got a toxic seabed.
Does it matter?
Only if consumers say it does, says Fishman. Wal-Mart listens to "voters." If shoppers say they won't buy salmon until Wal-Mart insists on higher standards from suppliers, then Wal-Mart will make those demands. Incentive is the engine that drives the company that promises low prices — "always."
Fishman also raises questions about worker wages, health insurance and working conditions in other countries where Wal-Mart suppliers treat human workers little better than Chile treats fish.
In the final analysis, he asserts, the scale of Wal-Mart makes it a different species than we've known before. Therefore, horse-and-buggy business rules no longer apply. He insists that transparency, which corporations (especially Wal-Mart) resist, is key not only to preserving the capitalist system we value, but to ensuring fair and humane business practices here and abroad.
Ultimately, Fishman's book posits a question of values: What kind of country are we going to be?
It is a worthy question that consumers will have to answer.
Parker is a syndicated columnist for the Orlando Sentinel.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Visit Maine's Fort Knox Historic State Park
Inside the massive granite walls of Fort Knox is a great place to spend a hot summer afternoon!
When you drive "downeast" from Boston, there are two ways to go. One you can take 95 directly to Bangor and take a right on Rt 1A to Ellsworth, or you can take the more scenic route coastal route by getting off 95 in Augusta and taking RT3 to RT1.
Most people take 95 to Bangor even though its more miles out of fear of getting behind a big, slow RV on RT1. The coastal route is more direct but the speed limits on RT3 and RT1 stay around 50 miles an hours. BUT...if you take the Bangor route you miss one of the coolest man-made attractions in the whole state of Maine!
History of the Fort
During the American Revolution and again during the War of 1812, British naval forces controlled the lower stretch of the Penobscot River. Fort Knox was built during the mid-19th century to thwart a third British invasion that never came. However, the story of how and why the Fort was built is a compelling tale of Maine’s Golden Age as the Lumber Capital of the World.
At one point Bangor, just up the Penobscot River, was the lumber capital of the world and lumber of course was an extremely important commodity. A commodity worthy of protection. Constructed between 1844 and 1869, the fort was strategically located on the narrows of the Penobscot River. The fort also includes two Rodman cannons.
Even though the site was used by the state for all kinds of none historically preserving things over the years - a school, a department of transportation - the current condition of the fort is extremely good due to a lot of hard work by the Friends of Fort Knox.
What's left is an extremely well preserved historic fort, features stunning military architecture and master granite craftsmanship including some stunning spiral staircases made out of granite block.
A Visit To the Fort
A visit to the park starts off with a visit to the bathroom facilities (you don't want to avoid making the hike back once inside the fort) and a visit to the small museum and tiny gift shop maintained by the Friends of Fort Knox. After learning about the history of the fort and grabbing a map of the area, its time to explore!
Bring some bottled water, a hat and a good pair of shoes. Prepare to walk and explore! Unlike most historic site you are used to with all of the roped off areas and museum guards telling you not to touch anything, Fort Knox is extremely accessible. Bring a flashlight because you can even explore dark passageways and imagine being the soldier in charge of bring forth the powder kegs.
You can see the parade grounds, the food storage areas, the cannon mounts, the sleeping quarters, the powder rooms - everything all on the banks of the Penobscot River and its pretty view of Bucksport.
Its a great place for a picnic and a picnic area is available.
Although Fort Knox is Maine's largest historic fort and Maine’s most-visited state historic site, but you rarely find a crowd there and its such a big park you have a lot of space to yourself.
Admission Fees: $3.00 for Adults, $1.00 for Children ages 5 - 11, Children under 5 and Seniors over 65 are free!
Fort Knox is open to the public daily from May 1 - November 1. Guided tours are available on weekends. Group tours can be arranged by calling (207)469-6553
or writing to:
Fort Knox State Historic Site
711 Fort Knox Road
Prospect, Maine 04981
Other events at the Fort include an annual Easter Egg hunt, Go Fly a Kite Day, Blacksmith Demonstrations, Paranormal/Psychic Faire (complete with ghost hunting), Scottish Tattoo, Revolutionary War encampments, Civil War Cannon Firing, Medieval Tournaments, and the famous Fright Nite at the Fort at Halloween time.
Other Sites In The Area
Fort Knox state historic park is situated in the shadows of the new cable stay bridge which is replacing the aging Waldo-Hancock Bridge, Maine's first long-span suspension bridge. When the new bridge is completed it will include an elevator to the top and a viewing platform. It will be quite a view!
Also after visiting the Fort, head over the bridge to Bucksport, Maine as you continue your journey to Acadia National Park(I'll assume that is your final destination).
Right in the middle of town is a graveyard commemorating the town's seventeenth-century founder Colonel Jonathan Buck. Now here is the mystery to be witnessed - directly under the name "BUCK" is a stain on the stone in the shape of a leg and foot. The stain can not be removed according to local lore. It is part of a curse put there by an innocent women that Colonel Buck sentenced to death. According to the legend, the women's last words were "I'm innocent and you know it and I'll dance on your grave".
The stain appeared across the stone after Buck's death and no one has ever been able to remove it. whoooooooooo!
Fishboy Designs At Boaters World
If you don't mind advertising Boater's World, you can pick up a few Fishboy designs rather cheap. Striper ID is only $9.95 with free shipping and no sales tax!
http://www.boatersworld.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&productId=13252622
This might be an error on their web site so snatch them up quick! Elsewhere on the site they list for $16.99 Only medium and large available.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Review: Hikari Cichlid Gold Fish Food
I bought a bag of Cichlid Gold at the time I picked up my assortment of African Cichilds at the pet store. I figured they would be better than flake food for keeping the tank clean and a little color enhancer couldn't be bad. The color enhancers are basically carotene and the food also contains a high level of stabilized vitamin C to strengthen resistance to disease and stress.
Cichlids, who always appear to be on the edge of starvation the way they greedily attack food, had no problem finding these floating pellets at the top of the tank. The only problem was the size of the pellets. My one and a half inch fish tried their best to gulp down this food but mostly they could only nibble at it and play a sort of "pellet volleyball" in which on fish would manage to get the pellet underwater only to lose it and have it fly back up to the top of the tank. Once the pellet softened up a bit, they were able to swallow a pellet and then spit out about half of it. It kind of made a mess. When they are older no doubt they will be able to manage a pellet in one bite.
My African Cichlids love this love this product but it should be used with caution. In the wild, herbivorous fish such as African Cichlids who sustain themselves in the wild mostly on plant material such as algae that grows on rocks. Hikari Cichlid Gold's main ingredients are white fish meal, wheat flour, wheat-germ meal, brewer's yeast, soybean meal, shrimp meal and alfalfa meal. Not much algae or spirula here! So maybe this food is a staple for carnivorous cichlids and not herbivorous cichlids.
While herbivorous fish do need some "meat" in their diet, and carnivorous fish need some vegetable matter in theirs. These should be seen as supplements however, and not as the main staple of their diet.
For herbivorous fish, spirulina can make up 60% to 70% of the fishes diets with some other foods as an occasional treat. African Cichlids in particular can contract the fatal "Malawi Bloat" in which their digestive tract becomes blocked and the blow up like a pine cone and eventually die. Diets high in algae and low in fat as well as frequent water changes and not overfeeding can keep these fish "regular" and healthy. Also, be aware that pellet foods contain air that will be swallowed and could also lead to digestion problems especially in the herbivorous African cichlids.
Cichlids are one of the most adaptive species of fish on the planet and each has specialized on a feeding method that works where they live so its important to research what type of cichlid you have. They are found all over the world with heavy concentrations in Africa and South America. They can be:
Carnivorous: These fish prey on other fish, especially the fry of other species.
Herbivorous: These fish are grazers and subsist by scraping algae off of rocks.
Omnivorous: These fish have a variety in their diet, eating both plant matter, invertebrates, and small fish.
Micro-predators: These fish eat small invertebrates such as artemia and plankton.
So its important that you know what you have so you can match the fish with its proper food requirements.
Spirulina (a type of algae) is commonly sold in health food stores for human dietary supplementation because of its outstanding nutritional quality. It contains high levels of easily absorbed anti-oxidants, including chlorophyll, beta-carotene, and phycocyanin. In addition, it also has high levels of iron, vitamin B-12 and chromium (useful for metabolizing sugars). Furthermore, Spirulina is 65-70% protein. Consequently, you do not have to feed your fish lots of frozen foods or fish meal in an effort to get them their protein.
Hikari Cichlid Gold has a higher protein (40%) content then say Super Veggie Kelp Flakes which has more kelp and spirulina algae content and only has 33% protein. Keep the Hikari Cichlid Gold for your carnivorous or omnivorous cichlids or as an occasional treat for your herbivorous cichlids.
Ingredients
White fish meal, wheat flour, wheat-germ meal, brewers' dried yeast, soybean meal, shrimp meal, dehydrated alfalfa meal, carotene, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin A supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, vitamin B12 supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, choline chloride, D activated animal sterol, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite, inositol, para-aminobenzoic acid, zinc oxide, manganous oxide, salt, ferrous chloride, copper suflate, cobalt sulfate.
Cichlids, who always appear to be on the edge of starvation the way they greedily attack food, had no problem finding these floating pellets at the top of the tank. The only problem was the size of the pellets. My one and a half inch fish tried their best to gulp down this food but mostly they could only nibble at it and play a sort of "pellet volleyball" in which on fish would manage to get the pellet underwater only to lose it and have it fly back up to the top of the tank. Once the pellet softened up a bit, they were able to swallow a pellet and then spit out about half of it. It kind of made a mess. When they are older no doubt they will be able to manage a pellet in one bite.
My African Cichlids love this love this product but it should be used with caution. In the wild, herbivorous fish such as African Cichlids who sustain themselves in the wild mostly on plant material such as algae that grows on rocks. Hikari Cichlid Gold's main ingredients are white fish meal, wheat flour, wheat-germ meal, brewer's yeast, soybean meal, shrimp meal and alfalfa meal. Not much algae or spirula here! So maybe this food is a staple for carnivorous cichlids and not herbivorous cichlids.
While herbivorous fish do need some "meat" in their diet, and carnivorous fish need some vegetable matter in theirs. These should be seen as supplements however, and not as the main staple of their diet.
For herbivorous fish, spirulina can make up 60% to 70% of the fishes diets with some other foods as an occasional treat. African Cichlids in particular can contract the fatal "Malawi Bloat" in which their digestive tract becomes blocked and the blow up like a pine cone and eventually die. Diets high in algae and low in fat as well as frequent water changes and not overfeeding can keep these fish "regular" and healthy. Also, be aware that pellet foods contain air that will be swallowed and could also lead to digestion problems especially in the herbivorous African cichlids.
Cichlids are one of the most adaptive species of fish on the planet and each has specialized on a feeding method that works where they live so its important to research what type of cichlid you have. They are found all over the world with heavy concentrations in Africa and South America. They can be:
Carnivorous: These fish prey on other fish, especially the fry of other species.
Herbivorous: These fish are grazers and subsist by scraping algae off of rocks.
Omnivorous: These fish have a variety in their diet, eating both plant matter, invertebrates, and small fish.
Micro-predators: These fish eat small invertebrates such as artemia and plankton.
So its important that you know what you have so you can match the fish with its proper food requirements.
Spirulina (a type of algae) is commonly sold in health food stores for human dietary supplementation because of its outstanding nutritional quality. It contains high levels of easily absorbed anti-oxidants, including chlorophyll, beta-carotene, and phycocyanin. In addition, it also has high levels of iron, vitamin B-12 and chromium (useful for metabolizing sugars). Furthermore, Spirulina is 65-70% protein. Consequently, you do not have to feed your fish lots of frozen foods or fish meal in an effort to get them their protein.
Hikari Cichlid Gold has a higher protein (40%) content then say Super Veggie Kelp Flakes which has more kelp and spirulina algae content and only has 33% protein. Keep the Hikari Cichlid Gold for your carnivorous or omnivorous cichlids or as an occasional treat for your herbivorous cichlids.
Ingredients
White fish meal, wheat flour, wheat-germ meal, brewers' dried yeast, soybean meal, shrimp meal, dehydrated alfalfa meal, carotene, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin A supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, vitamin B12 supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, choline chloride, D activated animal sterol, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite, inositol, para-aminobenzoic acid, zinc oxide, manganous oxide, salt, ferrous chloride, copper suflate, cobalt sulfate.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Scientists Discover World's Smallest Fish
BANGKOK, Thailand Jan 25, 2006 — Scientists say they have discovered the world's smallest known fish in threatened swampland in Indonesia.
The fish, a member of the carp family, has a translucent body and a head unprotected by a skeleton.
Mature females grow to less than a third of an inch long. The males have enlarged pelvic fins and muscles that may be used in reproduction, researchers wrote in a report published Wednesday by the Royal Society in London.
"This is one of the strangest fish that I've seen in my whole career,' said Ralf Britz, a zoologist at the Natural History Museum in London. "It's tiny, it lives in acid and it has these bizarre grasping fins. I hope we'll have time to find out more about them before their habitat disappears completely."
The fish are found in an acidic peat swamp on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Indonesian peat swamps are under threat from fires lit by plantation owners and farmers as well as unchecked development and farming. Researchers say several populations of the tiny fish, Paedocypris progenetica, have already been lost, according to the Natural History Museum.
The previous record for world's smallest fish, according to the Natural History Museum, was held by a species of Indo-Pacific goby one-tenth of a millimeter longer.
"You don't wake up in the morning and think, 'Today we will find the smallest fish in the world,'" Swiss fish expert Maurice Kottelat, who helped discover the fish, said in a telephone interview from his home in Switzerland.
According to researchers, the little fish live in dark, tea-colored water at least 100 times more acidic than rainwater. Such acidic swamps was once thought to harbor few animals, but recent research has revealed that they are highly diverse and home to many unique species.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Coming Soon! Shark Bottle Openers!
Open your beer bottles in style with these cool stainless steel shark bottle openers! Coming soon to Fishboy Gift section!
Patrick F. McManus: Funny Stuff
"Many people think that my reputation as a great outdoorsman is a product of inherent athletic ability." so begins this funny book of self-deprecating humor, philosophy and childlike innocence, as Patrick F. McManus weaves yarns about his outdoor experiences. Full of bravado he launches into tales of impossible situations that would make great fodder for TV sitcom.
If you fish, camp or hunt or intimately know people who do then this is the perfect humor book for yourself or as a gift. I first discovered McManus in the comedy section of the books on tape at the library and found his humorous accounts of fishing and hunting trips that had turned for the worst so funny I nearly crashed the car. Like the story of going hunting on his bicycle and gets the deer stuck on the pedals.
Or how about some of his definitions like:
Corn Flakes: A common camp food. Often eaten dry with salt and pepper since no one thought to bring milk.
Camping manuals: Books filled with ingenious camping tips which are forgotten the instant the camper sets foot in the field. "I read about a way to cook a chicken with a camera lens and a wire clothes hanger, but I can't remember how," he says. "Better just fry it."
Downwind: Whichever side of the campfire you happen to be on.
Or "When hell freezes over": An expression used by wives and mothers to indicate the next time you'll get them to go on another camping trip.
Or when he explains the finer points of fishing etiquette:
"Climbing up the cliff behind your partner and throwing a large rock in the hole is considered a breach of fishing etiquette. Furthermore, it will be difficult to convince the offended party that you threw the rock in the hole accidentally."
McManus's humor has an easy going innocence to it that is never mean spirited and is fine for the whole family and unlike Dave Barry, McManus doesn't slip into a formula to be repeated over and over like a assembly line. Once you give this author a try you'll be hooked!
Other titles by McManus include:
Rubber Legs and White Tail-Hairs
The Bear in the Attic
The Good Samaritan Strikes Again
Into the Twilight, Endlessly Grousing
The Deer on a Bicycle: Excursions into the Writing of Humor
They Shoot Canoes, Don't They?
A Fine and Pleasant Misery
The Grasshopper Trap
The Night the Bear Ate Goombaw
Real Ponies Don't Go Oink!
If you fish, camp or hunt or intimately know people who do then this is the perfect humor book for yourself or as a gift. I first discovered McManus in the comedy section of the books on tape at the library and found his humorous accounts of fishing and hunting trips that had turned for the worst so funny I nearly crashed the car. Like the story of going hunting on his bicycle and gets the deer stuck on the pedals.
Or how about some of his definitions like:
Corn Flakes: A common camp food. Often eaten dry with salt and pepper since no one thought to bring milk.
Camping manuals: Books filled with ingenious camping tips which are forgotten the instant the camper sets foot in the field. "I read about a way to cook a chicken with a camera lens and a wire clothes hanger, but I can't remember how," he says. "Better just fry it."
Downwind: Whichever side of the campfire you happen to be on.
Or "When hell freezes over": An expression used by wives and mothers to indicate the next time you'll get them to go on another camping trip.
Or when he explains the finer points of fishing etiquette:
"Climbing up the cliff behind your partner and throwing a large rock in the hole is considered a breach of fishing etiquette. Furthermore, it will be difficult to convince the offended party that you threw the rock in the hole accidentally."
McManus's humor has an easy going innocence to it that is never mean spirited and is fine for the whole family and unlike Dave Barry, McManus doesn't slip into a formula to be repeated over and over like a assembly line. Once you give this author a try you'll be hooked!
Other titles by McManus include:
Rubber Legs and White Tail-Hairs
The Bear in the Attic
The Good Samaritan Strikes Again
Into the Twilight, Endlessly Grousing
The Deer on a Bicycle: Excursions into the Writing of Humor
They Shoot Canoes, Don't They?
A Fine and Pleasant Misery
The Grasshopper Trap
The Night the Bear Ate Goombaw
Real Ponies Don't Go Oink!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Campobello Island - Spectacular rugged coastline scenery
Photo and Text By Edward Fielding
I live on Mount Desert Island, Maine, home of Acadia National park - one of the most beautiful spots on earth no doubt, but in Acadia in the peak summer season one doesn't always get that peaceful sense of tranquility one imagines getting from such a setting. The problem is that Acadia National Park is the smallest park in the national park system and it gets three million visitors a year, all within a four month period - June, July, August and September.
When my family wants to "get away from it all" for a weekend, we head up north from Ellsworth where the last of civilization seems to be left behind. One of our favorite desinations is Campobello Island, home of the Roosevelt Campobello International Park, its Canadian soil but the park is run jointly by the US and Canada.
Roosevelt Campobello International Park is not a unit of the United States National Park Service or Parks Canada. It is administered by a joint U.S./Canadian Commission, funded equally by the two countries.
The Roosevelt Campobello International Park is a unique example of international cooperation. This 2800 acre park is a joint memorial by Canada and the United States and a symbol of the close relationship between the two countries. Here are the cottage (keep in mind that the term "cottage" was used from Newport to Bar Harbor to describe a rich persons idea of roughing it - to your or I it is a mansion although it was certainly more rustic than the mansions of Newport or Bar Harbor) and the grounds where President Roosevelt vacationed, the waters where he sailed, and the woods, bogs, and beaches where he tramped and relaxed. The Roosevelt Campobello International Park was established under an agreement signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson on January 22, 1964. The Roosevelt Campobello International Park was officially opened on August 20, 1964.
In preparation for a trip to the park I'd suggest a viewing of the movie Sunrise at Campobello (1960) which was filmed at the real "cottage". It's the story of Franklin Roosevelt's (Ralph Bellamy) bout with polio at age 40 in 1921 and how his family (and especially wife Eleanor - Greer Garson) cope with his illness. From being stricken while vacationing at Campobello to his triumphant nominating speech for Al Smith's presidency in 1924, the story follows the various influences on his life and his determination to recover - based on the award winning Broadway play of the same name.
Other Things To Do
For most a visit to Campobello would be a day trip from Acadia National Park but there is enough to do on the Island for a long weekend especially if you like hiking and camping.
Keep in mind that this part of the world doesn't see a lot of crowds and the fishing industry which made it famous in years past has dwindled so there are not a lot of typical tourist type "services". I.e. Don't expect a Dunkin' Donuts and a McDonalds - this is a refreshing area for the mind and sole to think that some parts of the world are actually true to their origins.
Witness the incredible tides at the local beaches, see the fishing weirs and salmon farming pens, go on a whale watch. At low tide take a very challenging hike to the East Quoddy Light (watch out for the missing rungs on the ladders!)
Play golf and lay on the beach at Herring Cove. Nature lovers can watch seals in the harbors, eagles soaring overhead. Have the best seafood chowder in the world at the Family Fisheries Take-out and Fish Market. Get your groceries at the Co-Op supermarket on the island. Take a guided bog walk with a park ranger. Explore the numerous hiking trails and deserted beaches. Visit Lubec and the chocolate "factory". Go kayaking!
Herring Cove Provincial Park
Campobello Island is also home to the wonderful Herry Cove Provincial Park with its campground and golf course. Located on the Eastern side of Campobello Island, Herring Cove Provincial Park, borders on a truly spectacular mile long, pebble and sandy beach.
The 425 hectare Park features a challenging nine hole golf course with clubhouse and licensed restaurant facilities.
The adjacent Campground and Day Use Area, features 76 Camp
Sites with 40 electrical hook-ups. Shady and sheltered or open sites. Spacious Pull-Throughs. Showers, kitchen shelters and playgrounds are located on the
property. Plus its not difficult to get a spot expect on major holiday weekends.
Light houses
Light house lovers will rejoice in the knowledge that the Campobello Island area is blessed with a wealth of lighthouses. There are two Lights on the island: East Quoddy Light at Head Harbour and Mulholland Light . The Channel Light is located between Lubec and Campobello Island. From almost any point along Campobello's shore, other lighthouses are visible -- on Grand Manan Island; West Quoddy Head Light in Lubec, Maine; and several across Passamaquoddy Bay from Deer Island to Black's Harbour on the New Brunswick mainland. The varied design and generally easy access to the lighthouses makes them a delight to view or visit.
Weather
I think part of the reason this area hasn't been overdeveloped is due to the weather in the area. Its maritime weather means its often cool, overcast, foggy or stormy. Be prepared.
Operating Hours & Seasons for the Cottage
Daily, Saturday following Victoria Day (the Saturday prior to U.S. Memorial Day), and remains open through Canadian Thanksgiving (U.S. Columbus Day). Visiting hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A.D.T. (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. E.D.T.) seven days a week. The last tour of the cottage is at 5:45 A.D.T. (4:45 E.D.T.).
Getting There
Plane
Nearest full service airports located in Bangor, Maine; St. John, New Brunswick; and Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Car
From Boston take I-95 north to Bangor, Maine. Continue east on Route 1A to Ellsworth and then east on Route 1 to Whiting Village. Take Route 189 to Lubec and cross the International Bridge to Campobello Island. The Park is located approximately two miles from the International Bridge.
Note: You will be going through a customs checkpoint so bring proper identification. Passage on the bridge is free and there is not fee for the parks. Quite a bargin!
Accomidations: We've camped at the campground which was nice and also rented one of the oceanside cabins at An Island Chalet which was great in June when it rained all weekend. A more upscale retreat would be the The Lupine Lodge.
Official web site of Campobello: http://www.campobello.com/
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Recipe File: Guinness Ice Cream
Makes 1 quart
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup Guinness stout
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons molasses
4 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. In a medium saucepan, scrape in the vanilla bean seeds. Add the pod, milk, and cream. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let the flavors infuse for 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk together the stout and molasses. Bring to a boil and turn off heat.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the yolks, sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk in a few tablespoons of the hot cream mixture, then slowly whisk in another 1/4 cup of the cream. Add the remaining cream in a steady stream, whisking constantly. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan.
4. Stir the beer mixture into the cream mixture. Cook the custard over medium heat, stirring often with a wooden spoon, for 6 to 8 minutes or until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon.
5. Strain the mixture into a bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Process the custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
All recipes adaptedfrom ''Sunday Suppersat Lucques"
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup Guinness stout
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons molasses
4 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. In a medium saucepan, scrape in the vanilla bean seeds. Add the pod, milk, and cream. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let the flavors infuse for 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk together the stout and molasses. Bring to a boil and turn off heat.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the yolks, sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk in a few tablespoons of the hot cream mixture, then slowly whisk in another 1/4 cup of the cream. Add the remaining cream in a steady stream, whisking constantly. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan.
4. Stir the beer mixture into the cream mixture. Cook the custard over medium heat, stirring often with a wooden spoon, for 6 to 8 minutes or until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon.
5. Strain the mixture into a bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Process the custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
All recipes adaptedfrom ''Sunday Suppersat Lucques"
Things To Eat Before You Die
In March 2004 the BBC ask people to vote for the top things everyone should try a bite of in their lifetime. This is how they voted. Personally I'm not surprised at the top 10 but "Moreton Bay Bugs" and "Guinea pig"?
1. Fresh Fish
2. Lobster
3. Steak
4. Thai food
5. Chinese food
6. Ice cream
7. Pizza
8. Crab
9. Curry
10.Prawns
11. Moreton Bay Bugs
12. Clam chowder
13. Barbecues
14. Pancakes
15. Pasta
16. Mussels
17. Cheesecake
18. Lamb
19. Cream tea
20. Alligator
21. Oysters
22. Kangaroo
23. Chocolate
24. Sandwiches
25. Greek food
26. Burgers
27. Mexican food
28. Squid
29. American diner breakfast
30. Salmon
31. Venison
32. Guinea pig
33. Shark
34. Sushi
35. Paella
36. Barramundi
37. Reindeer
38. Kebab
39. Scallops
40. Australian meat pie
41. Mango
42. Durian fruit
43. Octopus
44. Ribs
45. Roast beef
46. Tapas
47. Jerk chicken/pork
48. Haggis
1. Fresh Fish
2. Lobster
3. Steak
4. Thai food
5. Chinese food
6. Ice cream
7. Pizza
8. Crab
9. Curry
10.Prawns
11. Moreton Bay Bugs
12. Clam chowder
13. Barbecues
14. Pancakes
15. Pasta
16. Mussels
17. Cheesecake
18. Lamb
19. Cream tea
20. Alligator
21. Oysters
22. Kangaroo
23. Chocolate
24. Sandwiches
25. Greek food
26. Burgers
27. Mexican food
28. Squid
29. American diner breakfast
30. Salmon
31. Venison
32. Guinea pig
33. Shark
34. Sushi
35. Paella
36. Barramundi
37. Reindeer
38. Kebab
39. Scallops
40. Australian meat pie
41. Mango
42. Durian fruit
43. Octopus
44. Ribs
45. Roast beef
46. Tapas
47. Jerk chicken/pork
48. Haggis
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
The Strange Tale of the Wedding Ring & The Sailfish
Lore of the Ring
Whether it was fluke or fraud, a man from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, made front pages around the world in February with a fishy story about his wedding ring.
Eric Bartos claimed he not only caught the same sailfish he released two years earlier, but also that it was still wearing the gold band he had shoved around its bill.
The 38-year-old fisherman was going through a bitter divorce when he went fishing with two friends, Blake Liebeskind and Jamie Artzt, near Fort Lauderdale. Upon catching the 40-pound sailfish, he put the ring on its bill as a symbolic act of closure and set it free.
Fast forward to last January: The friends were competing in the Rod and Reel Club’s Interclub Sailfish Tournament and having a tough day of it. They were about to call it quits when they felt a bite on one of the reels. After pulling up the fish, Liebeskind exclaimed, “It’s the ring fish.” Bartos and his fellow fishermen removed the ring and took pictures to show where the bill had grown around the ring.
As the tale circulated, many doubted its authenticity. But Bartos was so determined to prove it, he took a lie-detector test with Doug Reno, a polygraph expert (and nephew of former U.S. Attorney Janet Reno), who says, “He was overwhelmingly truthful.” Bartos passed the test with flying colors.
Though many remain cynical about the tale, one veteran fisherman says it’s not that far-fetched. “I think it’s a very believable story. The sailfish has a very coarse bill, and if he shoved that ring on there tight enough, there’s no way the fish could have gotten it off,” says Cam Sigler, a billfish expert in Vashon Island, Washington. “If you fish long enough, you hear stories like that. I knew a father and son who tagged and released a blue marlin and four years later caught the same fish in the same spot.”
According to The Miami Herald, one person who never doubted the man’s story was, believe it or not, his ex-wife. “It’s great,” she was quoted by the paper as saying. “Maybe this is a sign for us to make peace.”
Whether it was fluke or fraud, a man from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, made front pages around the world in February with a fishy story about his wedding ring.
Eric Bartos claimed he not only caught the same sailfish he released two years earlier, but also that it was still wearing the gold band he had shoved around its bill.
The 38-year-old fisherman was going through a bitter divorce when he went fishing with two friends, Blake Liebeskind and Jamie Artzt, near Fort Lauderdale. Upon catching the 40-pound sailfish, he put the ring on its bill as a symbolic act of closure and set it free.
Fast forward to last January: The friends were competing in the Rod and Reel Club’s Interclub Sailfish Tournament and having a tough day of it. They were about to call it quits when they felt a bite on one of the reels. After pulling up the fish, Liebeskind exclaimed, “It’s the ring fish.” Bartos and his fellow fishermen removed the ring and took pictures to show where the bill had grown around the ring.
As the tale circulated, many doubted its authenticity. But Bartos was so determined to prove it, he took a lie-detector test with Doug Reno, a polygraph expert (and nephew of former U.S. Attorney Janet Reno), who says, “He was overwhelmingly truthful.” Bartos passed the test with flying colors.
Though many remain cynical about the tale, one veteran fisherman says it’s not that far-fetched. “I think it’s a very believable story. The sailfish has a very coarse bill, and if he shoved that ring on there tight enough, there’s no way the fish could have gotten it off,” says Cam Sigler, a billfish expert in Vashon Island, Washington. “If you fish long enough, you hear stories like that. I knew a father and son who tagged and released a blue marlin and four years later caught the same fish in the same spot.”
According to The Miami Herald, one person who never doubted the man’s story was, believe it or not, his ex-wife. “It’s great,” she was quoted by the paper as saying. “Maybe this is a sign for us to make peace.”
Friday, January 13, 2006
Can't get enough of those SNAKEHEADS!
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- They're called "snakeheads," and they just aren't welcome in these parts.
But a member of that voracious breed of Asian fish has been found in a Memphis lake, the first of its kind to turn up in the wild in Tennessee.
Snakeheads are native to China and Southeast Asia and are bad boys of the fish world, with sharp, jagged teeth and the ability to drag themselves across land for short distances.
They can grow up to 4 feet long, eat other fish and are always hungry. The species has been dubbed the "Frankenfish."
A 17-inch snakehead found dead last month in a small lake in Shelby Forest State Park has wildlife agents worried that others of its kind might be lurking nearby.
"If there is a positive side to this, it's that the fish was floating dead," said Bobby Wilson of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. "That could mean that it had been living in an aquarium and was used to being fed by hand. Once it was forced to find food on its own, it couldn't survive."
At first, authorities thought the snakehead might be a goldfish, Oscar fish or other breed often kept by aquarium owners. But biologists at the University of Memphis said no such luck.
"Those species are unusual, but for the most part they're harmless," Wilson said. "The snakehead has the potential to cause a wide range of ecological problems."
Now, wildlife agents are preparing their electronic gear and other equipment for a fish count in Poplar Tree Lake. If other snakeheads are found, the 125-acre lake popular with pole-and-bobber anglers, canoeists and picnickers may have to be drained.
State wildlife management rules list the snakehead as "injurious to the environment," and they are illegal in Tennessee. It is also illegal to release any fish in Tennessee waters that is not native to the state.
"We're already having a lot of problems in Tennessee with Asian carp and Zebra mussels," Wilson said. "We don't need the snakehead added to that."
In Maryland in 2002, snakeheads were found breeding in a private pond. Authorities poisoned that pond and two others and found more than 1,000 juvenile snakeheads and six adults. The fish were traced to a Maryland man who discarded two fish after buying them live in a New York market.
Snakeheads also have been found in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania and California.
But a member of that voracious breed of Asian fish has been found in a Memphis lake, the first of its kind to turn up in the wild in Tennessee.
Snakeheads are native to China and Southeast Asia and are bad boys of the fish world, with sharp, jagged teeth and the ability to drag themselves across land for short distances.
They can grow up to 4 feet long, eat other fish and are always hungry. The species has been dubbed the "Frankenfish."
A 17-inch snakehead found dead last month in a small lake in Shelby Forest State Park has wildlife agents worried that others of its kind might be lurking nearby.
"If there is a positive side to this, it's that the fish was floating dead," said Bobby Wilson of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. "That could mean that it had been living in an aquarium and was used to being fed by hand. Once it was forced to find food on its own, it couldn't survive."
At first, authorities thought the snakehead might be a goldfish, Oscar fish or other breed often kept by aquarium owners. But biologists at the University of Memphis said no such luck.
"Those species are unusual, but for the most part they're harmless," Wilson said. "The snakehead has the potential to cause a wide range of ecological problems."
Now, wildlife agents are preparing their electronic gear and other equipment for a fish count in Poplar Tree Lake. If other snakeheads are found, the 125-acre lake popular with pole-and-bobber anglers, canoeists and picnickers may have to be drained.
State wildlife management rules list the snakehead as "injurious to the environment," and they are illegal in Tennessee. It is also illegal to release any fish in Tennessee waters that is not native to the state.
"We're already having a lot of problems in Tennessee with Asian carp and Zebra mussels," Wilson said. "We don't need the snakehead added to that."
In Maryland in 2002, snakeheads were found breeding in a private pond. Authorities poisoned that pond and two others and found more than 1,000 juvenile snakeheads and six adults. The fish were traced to a Maryland man who discarded two fish after buying them live in a New York market.
Snakeheads also have been found in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania and California.
Watch Timber Tina Chop Down The Competition on Survivor!
Here at Fishboy we are all going to be rooting for Timber Tina on the upcoming Survivor series. Tina is a great local personality and runs a fun "LumberJill" show for the tourists each summer. She has survived a terrible personal tragedy this past year that will make Survivor a piece of cake. I expect her to go far in the show with her great woodsmen skills, maturity, and great personality. Go Tina, Go! Yoohoooooo!
Timber Tina on ‘Survivor’
By Sarah Hinckley
TRENTON—Maine Lumberjack Show founder “Timber” Tina Scheer will try to saw her way to the top of a new competition on “Survivor: Panama – Exile Island,” set to premiere on CBS at 8 p.m. Feb. 2.
As part of the international circuit for lumberjack competitions, Ms. Scheer has become known around the world as one of the top athletes and advocates for women in logging sports.
Tina Scheer of Trenton, owner of the Maine Lumberjack Show, is a contestant on the hit television show “Survivor: Panama,” which begins on CBS on Feb. 2.
This 12th season of the reality television show has a new twist in which 16 contestants will be divided into four teams, according to age and gender. Each week a contestant will be banished to a nearby island to fend for himself or herself – a situation unlikely to faze Timber Tina.
She spends the summer in Trenton running the Maine Lumberjack Show. The nightly show, which runs one hour and 15 minutes in length, involves such stunts as wood chopping, ax throwing and speed climbing, skills that could come in handy in the wilds of Panama.
Ms. Scheer was originally scheduled to participate in “Survivor: Guatemala” which concluded Dec. 11, 2005 on CBS. But her survival instinct was put to the ultimate test when her 16-year-old son, Charlie, died in a car accident a week before she was to leave for filming.
“He was her wing man,” said Judy Hoeschler, of Lacrosse, Wis., Ms. Scheer’s older sister and seven-time world logrolling champion. “She had this horrible grief that she couldn’t talk to anyone about.”
Comment could not be obtained directly from Ms. Scheer about the upcoming show because contestants are sworn to secrecy. The CBS network was great, said Ms. Hoeschler, to give Ms. Scheer time to grieve and to hold a spot for her on the next show.
While preparing for “Survivor,” Ms. Scheer’s son (and her only child) was her greatest confidant. For a 16-year-old boy, what could be cooler than your mom being on Survivor? Ms. Hoeschler asks rhetorically.
“She really felt she needed to do it,” Ms. Hoeschler said Tuesday, “to finish something that she and Charlie had started.”
When “Survivor: Panama” begins next month, Ms. Scheer will have fans cheering her on from around the globe, especially those she has touched personally.
“She’s got thousands of friends around the world and has much love,” Ms. Hoeschler said of Timber Tina. “She’s very funny and wise and strong … anyone who can swing an ax is a good contestant in the survivor part of it. I’m very interested to see the outcome of this.”
Timber Tina on ‘Survivor’
By Sarah Hinckley
TRENTON—Maine Lumberjack Show founder “Timber” Tina Scheer will try to saw her way to the top of a new competition on “Survivor: Panama – Exile Island,” set to premiere on CBS at 8 p.m. Feb. 2.
As part of the international circuit for lumberjack competitions, Ms. Scheer has become known around the world as one of the top athletes and advocates for women in logging sports.
Tina Scheer of Trenton, owner of the Maine Lumberjack Show, is a contestant on the hit television show “Survivor: Panama,” which begins on CBS on Feb. 2.
This 12th season of the reality television show has a new twist in which 16 contestants will be divided into four teams, according to age and gender. Each week a contestant will be banished to a nearby island to fend for himself or herself – a situation unlikely to faze Timber Tina.
She spends the summer in Trenton running the Maine Lumberjack Show. The nightly show, which runs one hour and 15 minutes in length, involves such stunts as wood chopping, ax throwing and speed climbing, skills that could come in handy in the wilds of Panama.
Ms. Scheer was originally scheduled to participate in “Survivor: Guatemala” which concluded Dec. 11, 2005 on CBS. But her survival instinct was put to the ultimate test when her 16-year-old son, Charlie, died in a car accident a week before she was to leave for filming.
“He was her wing man,” said Judy Hoeschler, of Lacrosse, Wis., Ms. Scheer’s older sister and seven-time world logrolling champion. “She had this horrible grief that she couldn’t talk to anyone about.”
Comment could not be obtained directly from Ms. Scheer about the upcoming show because contestants are sworn to secrecy. The CBS network was great, said Ms. Hoeschler, to give Ms. Scheer time to grieve and to hold a spot for her on the next show.
While preparing for “Survivor,” Ms. Scheer’s son (and her only child) was her greatest confidant. For a 16-year-old boy, what could be cooler than your mom being on Survivor? Ms. Hoeschler asks rhetorically.
“She really felt she needed to do it,” Ms. Hoeschler said Tuesday, “to finish something that she and Charlie had started.”
When “Survivor: Panama” begins next month, Ms. Scheer will have fans cheering her on from around the globe, especially those she has touched personally.
“She’s got thousands of friends around the world and has much love,” Ms. Hoeschler said of Timber Tina. “She’s very funny and wise and strong … anyone who can swing an ax is a good contestant in the survivor part of it. I’m very interested to see the outcome of this.”
Thursday, January 12, 2006
English Lawyer Patrick "Paddy" Pakenham R.I.P.
During his legal career, Pakenham became something of a legend, and, 25 years on, accounts of his exploits are still current. During his appearance before an irascible and unpopular judge in a drugs case, the evidence, a bag of cannabis, was produced. The judge, considering himself an expert on the subject, said to Pakenham, with whom he had clashed during the case: "Come on, hand the exhibit up to me quickly." Then he proceeded to open the package. Inserting the contents in his mouth, he chewed it and announced: "Yes, yes of course that is cannabis. Where was the substance found, Mr Pakenham?" The reply came swiftly, if inaccurately: "In the defendant's anus, my Lord."
Bass Pro's Weird Catch
Not long after moving to Florida's Lake Okeechobee, Steve Daniel was throwing a lipless crankbait when he hung a fishing line.
"On one end of the line was somebody's shiner rod and reel," the Elite Series pro said. "On the other end was a 4-pound largemouth and he was still alive. I guess the bass jerked somebody's rod out of the boat when they weren't watching."
"On one end of the line was somebody's shiner rod and reel," the Elite Series pro said. "On the other end was a 4-pound largemouth and he was still alive. I guess the bass jerked somebody's rod out of the boat when they weren't watching."
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
How to Catch Walleye
Most people think that Walleye are a difficult fish to catch. They're not! The trick is to know how, when and where to fish for them. I'm lucky enough to live in Toronto, Ontario, an hour's drive away from some of the best Walleye fishing anywhere.
Here's what I do to consistently put fish on the end of my line, in the boat, and ultimately on the table.
First, don't try fishing in the daytime. This is frustrating, and slow. Go out just as the sun's going down, stay out all night if you want, and go home when the sun comes fully above the horizon in the morning.
Pick a night when there's a full moon (or the day before or after this event takes place). For some reason, fish go into a feeding frenzy at this time.
Choose a lake or river that you know contains a good population of Walleyes. I go to the Trent Canal just off of Lake Ontario.
Now for presentation. By far the best lure is a crankbait imitation of a minnow. Rattles help. A silver body, long and slender, and one that doesn't dive too deep. Anchor you boat near any shoreline (preferably one with rocks or a sandbar with weeds). Anchor just far enough from shore that when you cast, your lure just hits the place where the water meets the shoreline. Then cast there. Try to make as small a splash as possible. If at all possible, cast onto shore, then reel in until the lure hits the water. Then, let it sit there for 2 seconds, before slowly begining the retrieve. HOLD ON TIGHT!
I've caught lunker Walleyes five at a time from the same spot within 2 feet of shore using this method - it never fails to catch at least one Walleye. If you don't hook one within five casts, move to another spot.
Sometimes, they won't hit this type of lure (very rare). Another presentation I've found that works is a white plastic twister tail jig on a fluorescent jig head. Use the same method as above, or cast into deeper water, and retrieve slowly near the bottom.
If both of the above fails to work, try a large nightcrawler or live minnow suspended below a bobber so that it sits just about a foot off of bottom. If none of the above methods work, either there has just been a cold spell in the area, and the fish are sluggish and not hungry, or there are no Walleyes in the area/water you're fishing.
When you do catch them, remember to take one or two home for dinner. These fish are excellent on the frying pan, and they'll keep you comming back for more! Good luck.
Here's what I do to consistently put fish on the end of my line, in the boat, and ultimately on the table.
First, don't try fishing in the daytime. This is frustrating, and slow. Go out just as the sun's going down, stay out all night if you want, and go home when the sun comes fully above the horizon in the morning.
Pick a night when there's a full moon (or the day before or after this event takes place). For some reason, fish go into a feeding frenzy at this time.
Choose a lake or river that you know contains a good population of Walleyes. I go to the Trent Canal just off of Lake Ontario.
Now for presentation. By far the best lure is a crankbait imitation of a minnow. Rattles help. A silver body, long and slender, and one that doesn't dive too deep. Anchor you boat near any shoreline (preferably one with rocks or a sandbar with weeds). Anchor just far enough from shore that when you cast, your lure just hits the place where the water meets the shoreline. Then cast there. Try to make as small a splash as possible. If at all possible, cast onto shore, then reel in until the lure hits the water. Then, let it sit there for 2 seconds, before slowly begining the retrieve. HOLD ON TIGHT!
I've caught lunker Walleyes five at a time from the same spot within 2 feet of shore using this method - it never fails to catch at least one Walleye. If you don't hook one within five casts, move to another spot.
Sometimes, they won't hit this type of lure (very rare). Another presentation I've found that works is a white plastic twister tail jig on a fluorescent jig head. Use the same method as above, or cast into deeper water, and retrieve slowly near the bottom.
If both of the above fails to work, try a large nightcrawler or live minnow suspended below a bobber so that it sits just about a foot off of bottom. If none of the above methods work, either there has just been a cold spell in the area, and the fish are sluggish and not hungry, or there are no Walleyes in the area/water you're fishing.
When you do catch them, remember to take one or two home for dinner. These fish are excellent on the frying pan, and they'll keep you comming back for more! Good luck.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
DOING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME
When doing it for the first time its important to get all of the information you can about your possible partner in this exchange. Often women jump right in without proper preparation or information on how to do it properly. The end result is that the man's head simply doesn't always fit in the hole or the hole is too large for the man to achieve a comfortable fit. Although the media will have you believe that all men are of a similar size and men tend to over exaggerate their size, everyone simply can not be extra large. True some men are truly extra, extra large but most end up falling in smaller categories. The point is with the proper information you can create a situation where all parties, the giver and the receiver are satisfied. Keep in mind that shrinkage is overstated. The thingys do shrink but like most fun things they always bounce back to full size. Remember Fishboy shirts are available in adult medium , large, extra large and extra extra large. Chest width 20", 22",24", 26". Buying your man a Fishboy T-shirt for the first time can be intimidating but not if you are armed with the proper information.
Friday, January 06, 2006
St. Valentine's Day Specials For Fishermen: FREE HEARTS!
In love with a fisherman? Show them how much you love them this Valentine's
Day with cool gift from Fishboy! Right now if you purchase any one of our great fishing t-shirts and select the gift box option, we'll toss in some great tasting heart candies!
Our collectible tin gift boxes are like mini tackle boxes and feature painted freshwater fish on the outside. Your lover can use it to store tackle, condoms and massage oil, Viagra pills or use it as a snack box. This year give the fisherman in your life something really great - a funny fishing t-shirt from Fishboy and a cool box with free candy hearts!
Day with cool gift from Fishboy! Right now if you purchase any one of our great fishing t-shirts and select the gift box option, we'll toss in some great tasting heart candies!
Our collectible tin gift boxes are like mini tackle boxes and feature painted freshwater fish on the outside. Your lover can use it to store tackle, condoms and massage oil, Viagra pills or use it as a snack box. This year give the fisherman in your life something really great - a funny fishing t-shirt from Fishboy and a cool box with free candy hearts!
"Fishing with John" (1991) [TV-Series]
The entire "Fishing With John" is now available on DVD. Probably the most unique fishing show ever created. Makes a great gift for St. Valentine's Day! -- Ed
Interesting Experimental Fishing Show with So-So Results
Author: zetes from Saint Paul, MN
I had gotten a gift certificate from Amazon, and this program seemed interesting to me, so I went ahead and bought it. I'm not entirely glad I did. I enjoyed the cinematography and the music very much, but you know you have a problem when this is the most noticeable aspect of any film. The comedy is often very subtle and clever, but it is also very hit-and-miss. There are also a lot of dry spells during which the narrator, Robb Webb, tries his hardest to liven things up with his often hilarious, but also often annoying, narration. Here are my critiques of the individual episodes:
Episode 1: Montauk with Jim Jarmusch - Being the first episode, you have to give it a little bit of first-timer forgiveness, but this episode is bordering on terrible. Probably the best part of the series is just seeing what these famous people are like in their normal lives. And while Jarmusch is a major player in current independent cinema, I had never even seen him in person before, nor did I know anything about his personality. Neither he nor John Lurie talk very much at all. Robb Webb doesn't say much, either. John Lurie made a major mistake when making this episode by guessing what Jarmusch and the fish they are catching are thinking. "Why I am I here?" he says three different times when Jim Jarmusch is on camera, and "HELP ME!" when the fish are being pulled up. This doesn't work at all. It makes the show seem like a cheap version of MST3K or that Blind Date show on the UPN network. I give this one a 4/10.
Episode 2: Jamaica with Tom Waits - It's sporadically funny. And it's very nice to look at. This episode has one major problem: Tom Waits is really, really angry at John through most of the episode, and we never see why. "You are a real mess, John," he says at the very end of the episode. Tom seemed to be having fun for most of the episode. Also, Robb Webb is at his most annoying, least funny mode in this episode. At one point, he says for no reason, "I would love a bite of your sandwich." This could have been hilarious if he had delivered it properly, say, if he read the line as if he were actually asking somebody in the sound recording booth for a bite of his sandwich. Instead, the line sounds as if the filmmakers are just trying to be weird. The beginning narration by Webb is classic, though he says the same thing again in episode 5. 6/10
Episode 3: Coasta Rica with Matt Dillon - This is my favorite episode. It was pretty consistently funny. There are a lot of funny jokes about the rickety plane they travel in, John's inability to comprehend Spanish fully, Matt Dillon's connections to james Arness' character on Gunsmoke, and especially magical customs and beliefs of the indigenous peoples. The fish dance which John and Matt do "to apologize for the pain that the fish suffer" is the highlight of the entire series. Webb is also very funny in this episode. 8/10
Episode 4: Maine with Willem Dafoe - This is a very close second best episode. While it does not match the hilarious antics of episode 3, it is so cleverly directed and edited that it is actually exciting to watch. We are lead to believe that the fishermen are suffering and struggling for life in the icy weather. This excessive cleverness put a sly smile on my face for the entire episode. 8/10
Episodes 5 & 6: Thailand with Dennis Hopper - These episodes are well worth watching just for Dennis Hopper, even though he doesn't really talk that much (Willem Dafoe and Tom Waits are the two guests who talk the most). Their humor value is not enormous, but it is not hit-and-miss, either. The big joke about these two episodes is that Webb narrates as if Dennis and John are hunting for the never before caught giant squid, whereas the two men are obviously just fishing for, well, fish. 7/10
Overall: well worth a weekend rental, but I doubt many rental stores will have it. It's not worth owning. Overall: 7/10
Interesting Experimental Fishing Show with So-So Results
Author: zetes from Saint Paul, MN
I had gotten a gift certificate from Amazon, and this program seemed interesting to me, so I went ahead and bought it. I'm not entirely glad I did. I enjoyed the cinematography and the music very much, but you know you have a problem when this is the most noticeable aspect of any film. The comedy is often very subtle and clever, but it is also very hit-and-miss. There are also a lot of dry spells during which the narrator, Robb Webb, tries his hardest to liven things up with his often hilarious, but also often annoying, narration. Here are my critiques of the individual episodes:
Episode 1: Montauk with Jim Jarmusch - Being the first episode, you have to give it a little bit of first-timer forgiveness, but this episode is bordering on terrible. Probably the best part of the series is just seeing what these famous people are like in their normal lives. And while Jarmusch is a major player in current independent cinema, I had never even seen him in person before, nor did I know anything about his personality. Neither he nor John Lurie talk very much at all. Robb Webb doesn't say much, either. John Lurie made a major mistake when making this episode by guessing what Jarmusch and the fish they are catching are thinking. "Why I am I here?" he says three different times when Jim Jarmusch is on camera, and "HELP ME!" when the fish are being pulled up. This doesn't work at all. It makes the show seem like a cheap version of MST3K or that Blind Date show on the UPN network. I give this one a 4/10.
Episode 2: Jamaica with Tom Waits - It's sporadically funny. And it's very nice to look at. This episode has one major problem: Tom Waits is really, really angry at John through most of the episode, and we never see why. "You are a real mess, John," he says at the very end of the episode. Tom seemed to be having fun for most of the episode. Also, Robb Webb is at his most annoying, least funny mode in this episode. At one point, he says for no reason, "I would love a bite of your sandwich." This could have been hilarious if he had delivered it properly, say, if he read the line as if he were actually asking somebody in the sound recording booth for a bite of his sandwich. Instead, the line sounds as if the filmmakers are just trying to be weird. The beginning narration by Webb is classic, though he says the same thing again in episode 5. 6/10
Episode 3: Coasta Rica with Matt Dillon - This is my favorite episode. It was pretty consistently funny. There are a lot of funny jokes about the rickety plane they travel in, John's inability to comprehend Spanish fully, Matt Dillon's connections to james Arness' character on Gunsmoke, and especially magical customs and beliefs of the indigenous peoples. The fish dance which John and Matt do "to apologize for the pain that the fish suffer" is the highlight of the entire series. Webb is also very funny in this episode. 8/10
Episode 4: Maine with Willem Dafoe - This is a very close second best episode. While it does not match the hilarious antics of episode 3, it is so cleverly directed and edited that it is actually exciting to watch. We are lead to believe that the fishermen are suffering and struggling for life in the icy weather. This excessive cleverness put a sly smile on my face for the entire episode. 8/10
Episodes 5 & 6: Thailand with Dennis Hopper - These episodes are well worth watching just for Dennis Hopper, even though he doesn't really talk that much (Willem Dafoe and Tom Waits are the two guests who talk the most). Their humor value is not enormous, but it is not hit-and-miss, either. The big joke about these two episodes is that Webb narrates as if Dennis and John are hunting for the never before caught giant squid, whereas the two men are obviously just fishing for, well, fish. 7/10
Overall: well worth a weekend rental, but I doubt many rental stores will have it. It's not worth owning. Overall: 7/10
Barry White works magic on love-shy sharks
Scientists creating mood for Valentine's Day
Reuters — Feb. 13, 2002
LONDON, England — Despairing staff at a marine center in central England are going to extraordinary lengths to tempt their sharks to mate, playing them tunes by American love crooner Barry White.
With Valentine's Day just two days away, marine scientists at Birmingham's National Sealife Centre said on Tuesday they hoped the so-called "walrus of love" would get the love-shy creatures in the mood for romance.
"They haven't been mating, so we are hoping we can encourage them with a bit of romantic music as it's coming up to Valentine's Day," said marine biologist Karen Hewlett. "We are playing a variety of music from Barry White to modern pop classics."
The center, which boasts breeding success with many marine species, including seahorses, turned its attention to the sharks after U.S. research suggested they enjoyed music.
The Rowland Institute for Science in Cambridge, Mass., found fish processed songs in a similar way to humans and even appreciated different tunes and melodies.
Staff in Birmingham are pumping the music into the tanks of three species of small sharks: topes, dogfish, and starry smooth hounds.
Hewlett said it was not clear how long it would be before the music took effect but added success would be easy to judge. "In the early stages of shark courtship, the male will chase the female at high speed 'round the tank and attempt to bite her back and pectoral fin," she said.
Reuters — Feb. 13, 2002
LONDON, England — Despairing staff at a marine center in central England are going to extraordinary lengths to tempt their sharks to mate, playing them tunes by American love crooner Barry White.
With Valentine's Day just two days away, marine scientists at Birmingham's National Sealife Centre said on Tuesday they hoped the so-called "walrus of love" would get the love-shy creatures in the mood for romance.
"They haven't been mating, so we are hoping we can encourage them with a bit of romantic music as it's coming up to Valentine's Day," said marine biologist Karen Hewlett. "We are playing a variety of music from Barry White to modern pop classics."
The center, which boasts breeding success with many marine species, including seahorses, turned its attention to the sharks after U.S. research suggested they enjoyed music.
The Rowland Institute for Science in Cambridge, Mass., found fish processed songs in a similar way to humans and even appreciated different tunes and melodies.
Staff in Birmingham are pumping the music into the tanks of three species of small sharks: topes, dogfish, and starry smooth hounds.
Hewlett said it was not clear how long it would be before the music took effect but added success would be easy to judge. "In the early stages of shark courtship, the male will chase the female at high speed 'round the tank and attempt to bite her back and pectoral fin," she said.
Fishermen Spot Human Head
Fishing pals find a head in the water
BY KEVIN DEUTSCH
Palm Beach Post
Two teenagers fishing for dolphin off Jupiter Island Wednesday discovered a human head floating in the ocean.
Michael Puscani and Rocke Greco, both 17, spotted the head about 4 p.m. At first, Greco thought the head was that of a mannequin.
'We didn't know if it was real or not, so we came around again and we were like, `That's a human head,' '' said Puscani, a classmate of Greco's at William T. Dwyer High in Palm Beach Gardens. ``I was just in shock, and it's a story that's kind of hard for people to believe.''
They radioed the Coast Guard, and marine units from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Jupiter Island Public Safety arrived shortly after, sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller said.
A corporal with Jupiter Island Public Safety used a bucket to scoop the head out of the water, and authorities took it to a marina in Jupiter, where medical examiner's officials picked it up, Miller said.
Because it was deteriorated, officials said they don't know its sex or race, just that it belonged to an adult. The sheriff's office is conducting a homicide investigation.
On Friday, two fishermen found a man's right foot floating in the ocean off Deerfield Beach, about a mile offshore and a mile
BY KEVIN DEUTSCH
Palm Beach Post
Two teenagers fishing for dolphin off Jupiter Island Wednesday discovered a human head floating in the ocean.
Michael Puscani and Rocke Greco, both 17, spotted the head about 4 p.m. At first, Greco thought the head was that of a mannequin.
'We didn't know if it was real or not, so we came around again and we were like, `That's a human head,' '' said Puscani, a classmate of Greco's at William T. Dwyer High in Palm Beach Gardens. ``I was just in shock, and it's a story that's kind of hard for people to believe.''
They radioed the Coast Guard, and marine units from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Jupiter Island Public Safety arrived shortly after, sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller said.
A corporal with Jupiter Island Public Safety used a bucket to scoop the head out of the water, and authorities took it to a marina in Jupiter, where medical examiner's officials picked it up, Miller said.
Because it was deteriorated, officials said they don't know its sex or race, just that it belonged to an adult. The sheriff's office is conducting a homicide investigation.
On Friday, two fishermen found a man's right foot floating in the ocean off Deerfield Beach, about a mile offshore and a mile
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Seal Cove Maine
History of Tremont, Maine
From A Gazetteer of the
State of Maine
By Geo. J. Varney
Published by B. B. Russell, 57 Cornhill,
Boston 1886
** **
Tremont, in Hancock County, embraces the south-western portion of Mount Desert Island. Tinker’s, Moose, Hardwood, Grott’s and Longley’s Islands are also within its limits. The feature from which the town takes its name is the three contiguous peaks of Beech Mountain, and east and west peaks of the Western Mountains. Dog Mountain has been carefully prospected with spade and pick, for money hidden by Captain Kidd. The peak known as the “Lover’s Scalp” has, on its eastern side, an almost perpendicular descent of 900 feet to the waters of Soines’ Sound. The other mountains of Tremont are Dog, Flying, Bald, Burnt and Mount Gilboa. Dog Mountain is 670 feet in height; Flying Mountain, 300; Bald Mountain, 250; Burnt Mountain, 175; and Mount Gilboa, 160. South West and Bass are the chief harbors, and the villages on these are the principal centres of business in the town. On Heat’s Stream is a saw-mill, and upon the outlet of Seal Cove Pond is a grist-mill. Both streams empty into Seal Cove, which is a safe and convenient harbor. The production of the saw-mill is about 250,000 M. of lumber, and several hundred thousand staves annually. There is also a shingle-mill on Bass Harbor Stream. Some ship-building is done at both Bass and South West harbors. At the latter place is a factory for canning fish, and at West Tremont is a fish-curing establishment; also the large brick-yard of the Tremont Brick Co., and a boat-builder’s shop. The “staff of life” to the people of the town is found chiefly in the sea.
Fernald’s Point on Somes’ Sound near the northern border of the town is thought by many to be the site of the ancient “St. Sauveur,” the settlement of the colony sent out by Madame de Guercheville in 1613. “About half across the isthmus and a little up the hill (Flying Mountain), so as to command the water on either side without losing its shelter, are two holes in the ground which are shown as the ruins of the Frenchmen’s cellars. They are a few rods apart, running north and south, 10 to 12 feet long at present, from 2 to 3 feet deep, and of varying width. They seem to have been gradually filled in from the hill above, and overgrown with grass. On the very day of our visit (1866) a spruce, some eight inches in diameter had been cut down in one of them. The old man who was our guide said the cellars were there in the time of his grandfather, who was the first settler, and he always said that they were the remains of the French colony.” Stories of the discovery of gold buried by the French are rife, like those of pirates’ treasures further south. A bank of shells near North East Harbor, on the opposite side of the Sound, probably marks the neighborhood of an Indian village; and Indian relics of various sorts are not uncommon. Tremont was set off from Mount Desert and incorporated in 1848, under the name of Mansel, from Mount Mansel, the name given to the island by Winthrop’s company of emigrants to Massachusetts Bay in 1630; it having been the first land discovered by them. See Eden.
Tremont has two churches, a Congregationalist and a Methodist. Thirteen public schoolhouses, and school property to the value of $13,500, furnish the means of youthful education. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $262,353. In 1880 it was $361,419. The population in 1870 was 1,822. In the census of 1880 it was 2,011.
From A Gazetteer of the
State of Maine
By Geo. J. Varney
Published by B. B. Russell, 57 Cornhill,
Boston 1886
** **
Tremont, in Hancock County, embraces the south-western portion of Mount Desert Island. Tinker’s, Moose, Hardwood, Grott’s and Longley’s Islands are also within its limits. The feature from which the town takes its name is the three contiguous peaks of Beech Mountain, and east and west peaks of the Western Mountains. Dog Mountain has been carefully prospected with spade and pick, for money hidden by Captain Kidd. The peak known as the “Lover’s Scalp” has, on its eastern side, an almost perpendicular descent of 900 feet to the waters of Soines’ Sound. The other mountains of Tremont are Dog, Flying, Bald, Burnt and Mount Gilboa. Dog Mountain is 670 feet in height; Flying Mountain, 300; Bald Mountain, 250; Burnt Mountain, 175; and Mount Gilboa, 160. South West and Bass are the chief harbors, and the villages on these are the principal centres of business in the town. On Heat’s Stream is a saw-mill, and upon the outlet of Seal Cove Pond is a grist-mill. Both streams empty into Seal Cove, which is a safe and convenient harbor. The production of the saw-mill is about 250,000 M. of lumber, and several hundred thousand staves annually. There is also a shingle-mill on Bass Harbor Stream. Some ship-building is done at both Bass and South West harbors. At the latter place is a factory for canning fish, and at West Tremont is a fish-curing establishment; also the large brick-yard of the Tremont Brick Co., and a boat-builder’s shop. The “staff of life” to the people of the town is found chiefly in the sea.
Fernald’s Point on Somes’ Sound near the northern border of the town is thought by many to be the site of the ancient “St. Sauveur,” the settlement of the colony sent out by Madame de Guercheville in 1613. “About half across the isthmus and a little up the hill (Flying Mountain), so as to command the water on either side without losing its shelter, are two holes in the ground which are shown as the ruins of the Frenchmen’s cellars. They are a few rods apart, running north and south, 10 to 12 feet long at present, from 2 to 3 feet deep, and of varying width. They seem to have been gradually filled in from the hill above, and overgrown with grass. On the very day of our visit (1866) a spruce, some eight inches in diameter had been cut down in one of them. The old man who was our guide said the cellars were there in the time of his grandfather, who was the first settler, and he always said that they were the remains of the French colony.” Stories of the discovery of gold buried by the French are rife, like those of pirates’ treasures further south. A bank of shells near North East Harbor, on the opposite side of the Sound, probably marks the neighborhood of an Indian village; and Indian relics of various sorts are not uncommon. Tremont was set off from Mount Desert and incorporated in 1848, under the name of Mansel, from Mount Mansel, the name given to the island by Winthrop’s company of emigrants to Massachusetts Bay in 1630; it having been the first land discovered by them. See Eden.
Tremont has two churches, a Congregationalist and a Methodist. Thirteen public schoolhouses, and school property to the value of $13,500, furnish the means of youthful education. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $262,353. In 1880 it was $361,419. The population in 1870 was 1,822. In the census of 1880 it was 2,011.
Ghost Man Tom of Bar Harbor
by D. T. Harris
In fall, here, the "downeast" wind blows down not up, off waters to the north and east. With ghostly misdirection, this wind feels even more like the cold, wet fingers of a dying season, as they work their way between the window and the frame, the door and jamb, the warp and weft of coats pulled tight around the shivered bodies that remain. In the coming months these remnant bodies will cling by their electric, telephone and cable tethers like colonies of fragile lichen to this island rock of land, held by a wire to life, throughout the winter's inhospitality.
But now the wind off Frenchman Bay is just the creaking door of what's to come, as it finds the town and sweeps deserted streets, blowing empty burger wrappers, french-fry envelopes and Big Gulp cups to the shelter of a bush or fence. The summer yachts are gone, summer houses shuttered, and many shops, restaurants and taverns sit closed. The flocks of summer money have all flown south, and once-crowded sidewalks are now open promenades for gulls and terns -- and Ghost Man Tom, the limping phantom you might have seen, just there, across the street, before that van drove by.
Ghost Man Tom is as much a landmark of Bar Harbor in the autumn as is Egg Rock Light. He's rumored to be toothless, which means that no one has ever seen him speak, or smile, or knows for sure if he does have teeth. Look there -- that was him, standing at that mailbox down the block.
In fact, since no one has seen him from closer than eighty feet, or for longer than three seconds, some people think he's bodyless, too -- just an old, wool overcoat, a hat and pair of pants that have, somehow, been kept together and blown around each autumn, for years now, by the wind. There -- he just slipped down that alley.
To the locals -- both the ones with tongues still labored by their roots, and more recent emigrants "from away" -- it doesn't matter if he's real or not. They let him be in quiet peace, which is how he seems to want his social intercourse.
A life lived close, here, to the rock that weathers into soil creates a stark but leveled personality of place. The ghosts of people living, and those dead, are offered similar respect and expectation -- which creates another apparition, as individual regard becomes a clay that shapes itself to form the hallowed ground of character.
In fall, here, the "downeast" wind blows down not up, off waters to the north and east. With ghostly misdirection, this wind feels even more like the cold, wet fingers of a dying season, as they work their way between the window and the frame, the door and jamb, the warp and weft of coats pulled tight around the shivered bodies that remain. In the coming months these remnant bodies will cling by their electric, telephone and cable tethers like colonies of fragile lichen to this island rock of land, held by a wire to life, throughout the winter's inhospitality.
But now the wind off Frenchman Bay is just the creaking door of what's to come, as it finds the town and sweeps deserted streets, blowing empty burger wrappers, french-fry envelopes and Big Gulp cups to the shelter of a bush or fence. The summer yachts are gone, summer houses shuttered, and many shops, restaurants and taverns sit closed. The flocks of summer money have all flown south, and once-crowded sidewalks are now open promenades for gulls and terns -- and Ghost Man Tom, the limping phantom you might have seen, just there, across the street, before that van drove by.
Ghost Man Tom is as much a landmark of Bar Harbor in the autumn as is Egg Rock Light. He's rumored to be toothless, which means that no one has ever seen him speak, or smile, or knows for sure if he does have teeth. Look there -- that was him, standing at that mailbox down the block.
In fact, since no one has seen him from closer than eighty feet, or for longer than three seconds, some people think he's bodyless, too -- just an old, wool overcoat, a hat and pair of pants that have, somehow, been kept together and blown around each autumn, for years now, by the wind. There -- he just slipped down that alley.
To the locals -- both the ones with tongues still labored by their roots, and more recent emigrants "from away" -- it doesn't matter if he's real or not. They let him be in quiet peace, which is how he seems to want his social intercourse.
A life lived close, here, to the rock that weathers into soil creates a stark but leveled personality of place. The ghosts of people living, and those dead, are offered similar respect and expectation -- which creates another apparition, as individual regard becomes a clay that shapes itself to form the hallowed ground of character.
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