Oh come now! Another one? It seems that whenever a golden child/cause of the left is called into question it is automatically a cover-up or a vast right wing conspiracy. Today it is Global Warming and it's all Dubyas fault! I wasn't aware that it was a subject that was a secret to the masses or that the media hadn't already jumped into it with both feet. It's been a media darling for the last decade, at least, and NOW there is a cover up? The government is keeping it's secrets on this subject quiet? Hell, they can't even keep secrets among the ones who like each other and now they have been able to keep some secret about such a high profile subject? The problem with global warming is that not even science is of one mind and accord as to whether man is responsible for it and what we will even be able to do about it, so now it must be a conspiracy to mislead the public. Ladies and Gentlemen..I have a secret..The public has known about the stuff for years and the debate on every aspect of it is nothing new. Each camp has had their mind made up about whole thing for some time and anything a scientist has to say beyond what is already out there isn't going to change anyones mind one way or the other(as it is with most "hot potato" subjects).

I did notice it was an environmental activist group(like those level headed folks who toss acid on and set fire to SUVs to save the planet)who brought this before a Senate committee chaired by a liberal. I guess the actual scientists in question are being held at gunpoint in a top secret facility under a Wal-Mart in Virginia. No, there are no actual persons backing up this allegation, just the usual blasting of the "chump d'jour" by another special interest group with no shortage of axes to grind. If the actual people in question are so concerned, why not "leak" the facts to their buddies at the Times(pick one)? That's how things are generally done. Then there could be a villian and a hero(just like Libby and Plame)the public could wrap their opinions around. If they feel so strongly, why not quit the Federal gravy train job they have, venture into the real world, write a book, go on Larry King, Oprah and the other "Oh My God(even if they don't believe in Him), You can't be serious" and the "See, We told you so" book tours instaed of having the usual whackos doing their bidding? I mean, if big tobacco can have it's whistleblowers, why not government employed scientists?

No, this is an agenda driven fishing expedition aimed at "The New Kids On The Block" to get them to toss some bucks and exposure(possibly one in the same?)to the "envirojoes". The proof of that is at the end of the piece(the part the media bets that nobody will ever get to)where it states, quite plainly, that there is already an effort(on both sides) to gather thousands of non classified documents(mostly e-mails)surrounding ONE 2003 EPA report that MAY have been less than accurate in its findings. Gee, I'll bet THAT has never happened with any other administrations(anybody remember the Clinton administration blowing off the Kyoto treaty? I do)on the subject. These groups count on alarmist reactions to such matters to stay in the limelight and keep their agendas in the minds of those who tend to react instead of consider, and the sappy, scoop scrounging media are, for the most part, a willing and ignorant accomplice.

Is there a global climate change occurring? It would appear to the case, but so far, it has been impossible to determine if it has anything to do with mankind, or if it is another natural planetary shift like the ones that have occurred hundreds of times in Earth's history without even the existence of mankind or fossil fuels. We simply haven't been around long enough to know. Perhaps in a few hundred years we will know one way or the other, but not yet. I think the folks in the mid west would challenge the idea that things are warming up. The fact is that many places on the planet are getting colder over the last decade, so who can say what is happening or why. We(mankind)can be very arrogant when it comes to thinking we have all the answers when we have only been here a geological second.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't be keeping an eye on things, reducing our emmissions and looking into alternative fuel sources, but let's make sure we actually know what's going on before we start making accusations against mankind and administrations. The liberals had better beware of the environmental extremists they so readily throw thier hats in with lest they be the next ones accused of vast conspiracies when we start to realize there may not be much we can do about this problem anyway.

I love Motocross and Supercross. Most people have no concept of what an exciting form of motorsport it really is. Most have never even seen it on television as it is not a true mainstream sport, even though it is light years ahead of what it was just five years ago. A few of the Supercross races during the season(16 events in all)are now shown live on Speedchannel, another few are shown on the same day on ABC and the rest are shown next day. The outdoor Motocross Nationals are shown the following week. It is hard to get most people to understand how difficult and dangerous it is as most tend to equate racing with a casual put in the foothills on their old Honda 175. It's one of those things that you have to do to understand.

One of the things I do enjoy is being involved in friends(or strangers)first exposure to an event in person. I have never seen anyone not come away impressed or say thay didn't enjoy themselves, especially at a Supercross race. Supercross is raced in a stadium(it was orginally called "Stadium Motocross")on a man made track in front of sold out crowds. This past week Bev and I treated our long time Harley riding buddies, Jill and Elgie, along with Bev's Sister to their first such event at round three od the series held at Anaheim in Angels Stadium. There is nothing like walking onto the terrace and seeing the track out there under the lights waiting for the pro's to put it to use.

We arrived about an hour later than we had planned due to traffic hitches and got there just in time to get into the pits(pit passes come with the tickests)before they stopped letting people in. I had never been in teh pits this late and it looked as if most people thought the pits CLOSED at 5:30, but that's just when they stopped letting people in! There were almost no people in the paddock and we were able to get around unhindered by the massive crowds that usually accompany a trip to the pits. We were able to walk right up to deserted factory rigs and talk to and take pix with a few of the stars you would usually have to wait in long lines to see and they certainly wouldn't have time to BS or take pix. Pro-Circuit Kawasaki's owner, Mitch Payton was having some grub but took the time to pose for a pic. His young new star, Ryan Villopoto snapped a shot with my wife, one of his biggest fans. I ran into retired superstars like Jimmy Button and Sebastian Tortelli just standing around and had short conversations with both, but the high point of the evening for me was seeing my all time favorite rider, Honda's Kevin(K-Dub)Windham, as he was strolling from the 250F teams rig to his own. I just said "Hey, K-Dub"! like I had known him forever. He came out to where we were and I had him sign my wifes shirt(I rarely get autographs, but hey, It was K-Dub!), told him he was my fav and asked if he'd take a pic with us, which he did. I wished him luck and we headed for our seats.

A supercross race is not just a race. It is an Event. There are interviews, videos on the big screen, t-shirt guns thumping shirts into the upper decks and scantily clad women pushing all sorts of industry related goodies, not to mention the lovely Erin Bates(whos autograph I got at the Glen Helen National last fall)doing her pre race track facts and interviews. After the National Anthem and Color Guard ceremony the laser light show and anticipatory music starts as the top riders are introduced with a smal fireworks show following each introduction and that rider doing some trick, walking down through the crowd or just waving to the fans(all of this is up on the big screen) until it gets down to the top three in points. This year that was James Stewart and Chad Reed. Ricky Carmichael was actually second in points, but didn't race this round as he is only doing six of the rounds in this, his farewell tour. After the intros were done, Chad and James took a "hotlap" whipping their bikes off the big triples. Our frind, Jill, gasped in amazement never having seen such antics on a bike.

The racing commenced shortly thereafter with the 250F class, which is made up of the younger up and comers who haven't graduated to the premier 450F class, going off with it's two heat races(the first nine riders advance to the main), then the premier class and it's two heats followed by the Last Chance Qualifier in each class(four to the main in the 250 class, two to the main in the 450s). During intermission they stage the KTM junior SX race in which kids in the 5-8 yr old range who are picked at random from pre entries race identically prepared KTM50s around an abbereviated track in front of a delerious crowd. Can you imagine being that age and having 45,000+ fans screaming for you? Once that is done the main events get underway. This year Pro-Circuit's Ryan Villopoto devestated the 250 competition, much to my wifes delight. In the main premier class it was James Stewart who had to race past a determined privateer, Nick Wey, but eventually put on an amazing display of riding to win by a 20 second margin.

Our sister and our friends had a blast and James Stewart has a brand new superfan in Jill. She whooped and hollered every time he hit the triples and cleared the step up in our section. Bev and I had our usual blast(I have been to countless SX races since my first in 1975, Bev started going with me ten years ago)and we all left satisfied that a good time was had by all. I can't wait till my next race, but more than that, I hope Supercross' newest fans can't wait till THEIR next event!

My Mom(SurferGrandma)and I were invited by the Californian to do a spot on the blogs and the generalities of why we do it. It was pretty cool and we had some good laughs, met some fine people and got our 15 minutes. As I was driving home I got to thinking a little more about all this blogging stuff and what it's all about for me. I can't, nor do I wish to, speak to anyone elses reasons for blogging as I am certain not everyone does it for the same reasons. One of the things Mom and I talked about in the interview was politics being the majority topic on the site. It's true, and there's nothing wrong with that, but for me, it's about sharing the parts of my life that I find interesting. Sometime politics slips in, sometimes it doesn't. I am political only where politics itself is concerned. That is to say that the majority of MY life and conversations have nothing to do with the stuff. I feel the way I feel about things political and nobody on the other side will ever convince me to change. You see, there was a time I was a liberal, but that is fodder for another post.

I would rather talk about my kids, grandkids and the exploits of my family than about the new majority. I'd rather talk about the last poker tournament I played in than the last time I voted. I'd rather talk about my last jam session than last nights news, and I'd rather talk about motocross than just about anything else in the world. There are enough people out there who's lives center on politics and causes to fill a medium sized country and I am happy to say I am not among them! I do enjoy offering my opinions on causes and matters political, but I quickly tire of the rhetoric on both sides and am soon ready to share about my new grandsons latest smile or one of my Harley advetures or whatever, and I can think of no better place to do that than right here on a blogsite comprised of mostly local bloggers. We argue, debate and seem to exasperate each other at times, but it also seems that as we wear on each other, we grow on each other. My recent yakitty-yak with Mattloch and our ten year bet, arguing with ProgressivePete or Hardliner, not to mention the ones with whom I generally agree(or they with me). I'd still like to have a meet and greet with them all. Just because we don't see eye to eye doesn't mean we don't have a certain amount of respect for each other for sticking to our guns and that we can't break bread with each other. I don't care for it when posters make it personal, but that is the exception to the rule, and in any case, the folks who tend to do that would probably not take the time to come meet the rest of us who understand that differing views is what this country is really all about. It's what got us going and what keeps things in balance, even if sometimes out of whack.

Bakersfield is not a perfect place, but it is OUR place. I enjoy reading and talking about the things that go on around here, things going on elsewhere that affect us, and just seeing what the local folks think about whatever it is that tickles their fancy. The majority of posts may be about the new, old and whatever majority and who's who in Washington and the various capitols, but there is plenty to read about that has nothing to do with that and I really hope that as many of us who make sure we read and respond to the political stuff at least read about the other stuff. I don't always comment on the other subjects, but I enjoy reading about them nonetheless. Thanx to you all and to the Californian for giving me something to look forward to other than the usual blah afternoon TV. I only wish I had more time to dedicate to blogging!....Or do I?...:o)

I read today that women, in increasing numbers, no longer need men to have a full and satisfying life. Three cheers for the women! I am serious. I understand that feeling(from the other side of the fence)and have a great amount of respect for those who decide to go it alone. BUT...If they choose to go it alone, it should be on thier own. If a woman makes the choice from the beginning of her adulthood to do that, fine. If a woman decides that her marriage is isn't working and wants to bail for her own reasons and not reasons her man can control or change, she should have to sign away her rights to anything that is his, including his money. Sure, split the stuff you accumulated and the equity in the house, but there should be no alimony involved and no going after anything she had no hand in aquiring. In such cases, "irreconcilable differences" should not be allowed. There should have to be a specific reason she is leaving and one that can be proven and corroborated. If there are children involved, child support should be fair, not the raping it is by the court system we have today. I found it interesting that the fedaral government said my kids only needed $3,500 a year(each, my standard deduction)), but the DA Child Support division thinks it took $7,800 a year(each) to support them(I now have custody and receive NOTHING from their mother)!

If there are no reasons other than "she needs her space to pursue her individuality" involved, alimony should be taken off the table, no matter how long the couple was together. It's not the guys fault a woman decides she wants something different.

As a man who paid $500 a month(on top of the $650 Ch. Sup.)to a woman who never worked or made any attempt to contribute to the home before she decided I was too demanding for asking her to do things like get up before noon, wash the clothes while I worked two jobs(I worked part time for a small Railroad signal company in the mid 90s)to feed her voracious appetite for spending(her food bill wasn't cheap either!), and make dinner after I had worked a 16 hour day, I know from whence I speak!

I wonder why it is that when a woman wants to stay single or bocome single she is exploring her indepenence, but when a man wants the same thing, he is being a selfish, insensitive butthead. I, myself, enjoy for the most part, the confines of a relationship(as my three marriages attest), but some guys aren't that way. I have heard guys I know who chose never to marry or become involved in a commited relationship called all sorts of unflattering names! I just think they are exercising good judgement and being honest with themselves and those around them. Women who make the same decision are seen as strong, independent and forward thinking, and I couldn't agree more, just make it the same for the guys who make that decision.

As for guys who decide they are not cut out for relationships after they have become involved in one, they too are ostracized. They are slapped with some societal moniker associating them with smelly parts of the human anatomy and they certainly will receive no monetary compensation from a partner who may or may not earn more than they do, and they don't deserve it. I just think the playing field should be level when it is a woman who makes that decision. You go, you go without compensation or aid. Life is an expensive proposition and it should notbe paid for by someone you left for selfish reasons.

It's odd how things come to pass. Just when you think something is bound not to happen, it happens, and it's usually for the good. I have lost count of the times I thought I was stuck with the short end of the stick only to have the long end fall right into my hands(or right on top of my head), or have the door to a great opportunity shut in my face just as another door to an even better opportunity open in it's place. This is one of those times. In a couple of posts I have lamented the fact that I would not be involved much in my new grandson's life. My daughter lived in Vegas sharing a place with her Mom, and her fiance' was whisking them off to, most likely Germany, as soon as his rehabilitation is complete(he was severely wounded in Iraq). Those facts would keep them far away for the first couple of years of my grandson's life.

Enter fate. December 28th I got a call from my daughter saying she just couldn't deal with her Mom any longer and asked if she could come home(she lived with me most of her life) till her and Joe(her affianced)got married in January and she could get a place here in town. I won't get into the reasons behind the problems between her and her Mom, but it was upsetting to hear her so upset having just had a baby and me not there to be able to do anything to help. The only immediate problem was that the truck was in the shop grtting tires and the van was in the shop for repairs so the trip would have to wait a day.

We retrieved both cars that afternoon, and early last Friday I headed for Vegas for the first time in my life without the intention of gambling. No problem. There was no doubt I was coming home a winner! We loaded all we could into the truck and hightailed it out of town! With the Vegas skyline receeding in the mirrors I stuck my hand back into the car seat and felt my grandson grab my finger for the first time. I cooed and blathered the way I did when my children were that small. Although I really wished that things hadn't deteriorated between my daughter and her Mom, I was overjoyed to have them coming home. My daughter insisted to her Mom that this would be better since they wouldn't be arguing all the time, which I am sure is right, but I doubt that made Nannette feel any better right then.

My Mom had been bummed that her first great-grandchild wasn't going to in her life much either and I could sense the excitement in her voice when I called the night before I went to tell her waht was going on. I called her from Edison and told her I would be home shortly and she said she'd meet me at the house. When she got there she just dropped all of her stuff in the floor and went for the baby. She didn't even leave the bedroom for half an hour(or put the boy down!). We took pix and talked of how much he looked like his Mom when she was an infant. We did all the baby talk stuff that so may people find annoying when it is someone else's kid being coddled. When he started to cry, Mom(my Mom)got to feed him. She looked so happy. It was awesome.

It's so cool having him right here(ok,,it's great to have Cassie home too!). Cassie, Ariel and I went shopping for "stuff" on Sunday, getting, among other things, a sling and a glider rocker. His little aunts(my two youngest girls)are fascinated with him even thogh Ariel, the youngest, is still afraid to hold him. Bev and I have no such problems. Poor Bev has been sick and unable to hold him and I know she wants to, but doesn't want to take any chances. We probably hold him more than his Mom would like, but that's tough! Soon enough they will be off to wherever their lives take them and we will not have the pleasure of grabbing him up anytime we like. He is starting to look around and react to the sounds of peoples voices, his eyes are getting brighter and he is focusing on the world around him. What a cool thing to get to go through from a different perspective than that of a parent.

So, as a believer that everything happens for a reason, this door has opened and I was able to walk through and enjoy the gifts on the other side. This door will close when Joe, Cassie and Aidan leave for Germany. It will suck, but maybe the closing of that door will open the one that will take us on a family vacation to Europe in a couple of years. Who knows? All I know is that, right now, my Daughter and grandson are here, and I am not going to squander that time and the chance to bond, as much as I can, with Aidan.