Guns, Weed and Pit Bulls - Satirical Memes Weaken the Good Fight

     The FB experience is a hotbed for political expression.  The funny thing about the social media phenomenon is that many of the shared political and social memes are inaccurate.  “Satirical” material is the king now, designed to inflame and impassion people into action with outrageous claims.  The old adage about putting your best foot forward is definitely good advice.  With all the crap flying through the web these days, nothing beats solid facts.  I have some experience in these matters so  I’m sharing what I think is the best argument that cuts through the hype.

Marijuana

   Let’s start with an informational toke to let the inspiration flow.  Let it be known that I have never been able to use marijuana.  I got my student pilot license at 14 and have been in jobs that require drug-tests throughout my civilian and military career.  Pot just wasn’t on my radar.

     First of all, marijuana is not a miracle cure.   Sure, some studies have shown it to be beneficial in cancer treatment but marijuana doesn’t seem to stand out as a cancer fighter among other homeopathic treatments.  There’s no conspiracy keeping weed down to help the chemo companies make money.  Nothing works better than the current treatments, and no single treatment cures everything.  Believe me, if burning a doob dropped a patient’s CEA (tumor marker), M.D. Anderson Cancer Center would open a hooka bar.  I am a cancer patient and have discussed this with doctors and other patients as well as having done plenty of web research.  Money is made based on cure rates, not the sale of medication.  If a medication doesn’t produce satisfactory results, it’s kicked to the curb.  Weed is a hit-or-miss thing with cancer.  It’s highly beneficial to some in helping with chemo side effects, but not for others.

     Any cop will tell you that a stoner is typically non-violent and easier to deal with than a drunk, junkie, speed freak or coke head.  I don’t know the numbers on driving incidents involving weed, but I have extensive experience in arresting DWI’s and the number of marijuana related stops were dwarfed by those of alcohol.  The best argument for weed is that the criminal and sociological impact is far less than other drugs.

     I don’t support the “gateway drug” ideology.  It’s not the substance that leads a person down the path of destruction, it’s the person.  I was raised to believe that only losers smoked dope, so I didn’t.  Experience has since shown me that many mainstream successful people use it, but it’s still common among losers.  I’ve heard people say they stopped because it made them unmotivated.  Others report a Ritalin-like effect that helps them focus and endure monotonous tasks.  This seems pretty consistent with alcohol.  Some people become lifelong drunks, others like a couple of drinks to loosen up before going on stage (ok, I can vouch for this one.)  In day-to-day calls for service, the average complaint about a pothead was that they wouldn’t get off the couch.  Drunks are a different story with far more violence and family impact issues.

  I don’t currently support marijuana use.  I do take my oath to uphold the law seriously and ganja is still illegal, but more importantly in our area, buying the stuff likely supports the brutal Mexican drug trade.  I’m hopeful that legalization will help topple the cartels, at least in the weed market.  They still have the harder stuff to profit from but weed remains a big moneymaker along the border. 

     The bottom line is that people smoke weed to feel good.  It’s not a miracle cure but there are some medical benefits.  It’s not for everyone.  It won’t make someone a heroin addict and it won’t turn everyone into Tommy Chong.  Heads are less likely to be violent and don’t seem to be the public risk that drunks are.  I’ve personally seen booze and prescription drugs cause more damage to families than weed.  I believe this ideology will help turn the tides into a legalize-and-tax situation.

 The Pit Bull

     I’ve seen some memes out there that tell us that people discriminate unreasonably against the breed.  The most frequent thing I hear is that a Pit’s behavior depends upon how it’s raised.  I know several owners of Pits, and there’s a common thread.  While they praise the animal’s friendly disposition, in other conversation they are leery or even proud of their potential for aggressiveness.  There’s a reason for this, and it’s not the fault of the dog or a responsible owner.

     I’m very lucky to have attended a seminar led by Lieutenant Colonel David Grossman.  He is a leader in the psychological effects of killing in soldiers and police.   He teaches police and military leaders how to deal with PTSD and other problems caused when a normal person is forced to kill another in deadly force situations.  In his teachings, he points out that animals are normally resistant to killing their own kind outside of a few circumstances like infanticide (i.e. a lion killing cubs of another male to make room for his own).  Most animals will fight and injure each other over mating rights and territory, but even the most dangerous animals don’t routinely kill each other.  In the case of the pit bull, however, animals are trained to kill their own kind.  The ones that kill are bred to similar dogs.  The less aggressive dogs are destroyed.    The breeding is fast and plentiful, unlike the breeding practices of responsible owners.  Over years of the fast-moving dog fighting market, this produced a sociopath.  Breed traits are very difficult to train out, and the traits have triggers.  Herders herd.  Pointers point.  Retrievers retrieve.  Greyhounds chase.  Terriers dig.  Fighting dogs kill dogs. 

     In my years on the streets, Pits were common in crappy neighborhoods and were often aggressive.  I was never attacked by a Golden Retriever, Great Dane or any other large breed.   Pits were a different story.  Especially in those crappy neighborhoods, owners were proud of the breed’s aggressiveness, citing protection for the owner.  Any breed will show protective behavior for their owner.  Some will alert and run, and some will hold at bay, some will attack.  I’m married to a former animal control officer who bears more scars than I do from Pit Bulls.  There is definitely a tilt in the scales toward aggressiveness in Pit Bulls, so it’s not discrimination that caused a cautious eye to be cast on the breed. 

     Even the ASPCA is very cautious in their attitude toward the breed.  U.S. Studies typically show the Pit Bull at the top of the list in attacks against humans.  The best any opposition has been able to spin the numbers is to show that the population per capita of attacking Pits is lower than any other dog.  I don’t understand how they know the numbers of all breeds, but even the more favorable studies show Pits as the top attacker.

     The absolute best argument for the pit bull is that media popularity is causing more responsible pet ownership.  Dogs with strong pet traits grow in number while those with sociopathic aggression diminish.  This takes longer because pets are loved, nurtured, live long lives in good care and are bred more slowly than fighters.  The support in rehabilitating the breed is hurting the fighting industry.  Responsible pet owners are slowly winning the battle of attrition against years of intentionally malicious inbreeding.

   Like plenty of other problems in society, it’s a problem caused by stupid, greedy, criminal people who victimized the innocent.  It can only be fixed by responsible, civil and caring people.

 Guns

     The most near and dear argument to me is that of firearms.  The second amendment is very clear, and is the default in most arguments.  Add to it the statistics showing that big cities with strong gun control have the highest murder rates.  The problem is media sensationalism.  It’s like a plane crash.  You’re safer in an airplane than a car.  I’ve never offered someone a car ride and had them appear nervous about crashing.  When I offered an airplane ride, some completely refused because they were afraid of crashing.  News media will report on a plane crash for weeks even when more people died in car accidents on the same day.  It’s the same for gun violence.  So, there are some of the best arguments.  Now let’s talk about some BS that hurts our case.

     The “Assault rifle” title has been around for a long time.  The concept of lighter, multi-purposed fighting rifles started with Germany in WWII and continues to this day.  There is absolutely no denying that weapons like the AR-15 were designed for shooting people.  If I were going to plan a mass shooting, it would be a semi-auto shorty and a wheelbarrow of magazines.  (They’re NOT “clips,” dammit!)  We’re better off countering with the second amendment along with the fact that it was designed as a multi-purpose weapon and there are plenty of “sporting” uses for it today.  Many sports have descended from combat and warfare and there’s no reason that the evil assault rifles can’t come along.  The overwhelming stats of responsible ownership versus criminal use are very much ignored by the anti-firearm community and are among the strongest arguments for keeping government away from black guns. 

    I can’t warm up to the concept of open carry.  For me, open carry is a pain.  To this very day I prefer to carry concealed when I’m in public.  The mere presence of a weapon changes the dynamics of everything.  It’s very popular for an idiot to cross a plain clothes cop in an everyday conflict only to later complain that they were intimidated by the holstered gun.  It’s a magnet for people I don’t know to talk to me.  There’s also the less-frequent occurrence of the personality change of some people when they strap on a heater.  I’m also very concerned that people will open carry when they are not able to retain their weapon from a criminal determined to take it.  Disarming someone is pretty easy, and there’s no shortage of prison training on the skill.  In some situations open carry may be a deterrent, but I’m not sure how much more so it is than widespread concealed carry.  Opinions may vary, but I’ve found that society grinds along much more quietly around me when my weapon isn’t visible.  It’s very comforting that I can ventilate an armed criminal if necessary.

     I’ve followed some local stories and had conversations with other officers in bigger cities about the popularity of open carry demonstrations.  There’s a trend among these groups to be a bit obstinate in arranging the proper permits and following the restrictions for use of public property for demonstrations.  It results in a cop telling them to disperse or be arrested for violation of a city code.  This turns to spouting of second amendment violation accusations and the show starts.  Liars like Alex Jones fuel the fire and we have a mess on our hands.  It is far more effective to demonstrate that gun owners are very much law abiding citizens.  I believe that gun rights demonstrators should show the public that we gun owners are respectful of the law so much that we’re willing to fill out the monotonous paperwork and pay the fees to demonstrate.  Neckbearded dimwits marching in the streets and taunting local cops is not going to sway opinions.

     In the recent memes about Eric Holder's bracelet idea, the concept of GPS tracking has been added by detractors.  The bracelet isn't a new idea.  Decades ago, Smith and Wesson introduced a revolver that required the shooter to wear a special ring before the weapon would fire.  Years later there was an electronic fingerprint ID holster that was marketed to police that required the shooter's thumb to be scanned before the holster would release.  These were well-meaning ideas but they both had fatal flaws.  They were useless if the shooter had to use his non-dominant hand.  I don't trust any system of this kind with my life.  Sure, I suppose GPS tracking could be added to the bracelet, but it's not worth muddying the waters while trying to make a good argument.  These systems are unsafe and there's more than enough government involvement in firearms ownership already.

     There’s my inflammatory $0.02 on some recent hot-button issues.  I encourage everyone to Google anything they’re considering passing along on social media and make sure it’s factual before passing it on.  Not only does it keep egg off  the user’s face, it perpetuates a better argument for the cause.  After all, if you’re taking the time to share something, it’s most likely very close and important to you.  Fight the good fight and fight it wisely!

Alex Jones Lies

     Social media has escalated the tin-foil hat revolution.  Baseless, fact-lacking garbage is multiplied a million-fold with the click of a mouse.  When reading the latest drivel, every person has to wonder what truth lies behind the sensationalism.  For once I’ve had a front row seat to the malicious nature of shock journalism.

     Fifteen years of my law enforcement career were spent on the Midland County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team.  My last five years on the team were spent as commander before I transferred to the District Attorney’s Office.  I’ve worked in or with many government entities in police and military capacity at state, local and federal levels.   My experience is that most government failure is the result of incompetence, complacency or indifference; all of which make a successful far-reaching conspiracy almost impossible. 

     Around 1998 our team received two M113 Armored Personnel Carriers from the military’s 1033 program.  The current conspiracy theory is that these vehicles are to be used against civilians in a massive sweep to move the population into death camps.  I never received any orders to take people to death camps, but we did deploy the vehicles in several high-risk situations.  My team and its command consisted of very strong, proud patriots so I didn’t have much concern about their part in a world-domination plot.  By providing smaller agencies with gear like the M113, the government has reduced the dependence of local police upon state or federal tactical assistance; which is the exact opposite of the alleged conspiracy.  Further discredit of the 1033 foil hat theory is fodder for another blog post.

     In 2007 our M113, nicknamed “Bubba,” was used to capture Pedro Armendariz in Hobbs, New Mexico.  We were called to assist the New Mexico State Police because Pedro was firing on officers with an SKS rifle from inside his home and we had the closest armored vehicle.   I drove the vehicle during the incident and managed to run over Pedro’s junk car while maneuvering the 12 ton APC into a position to deploy gas into the house while Pedro bounced rounds off the APC's hull.  I still haven’t heard the end of the ribbing. 

     The conspiracy spin begins with a smartass in the office next to me.  Said smartass had access to a sign printer.  It’s important to note that the road signs you pass every day on the street are blank when purchased.  Since there are a few basic shapes and colors, it’s cheaper to purchase them blank and print adhesive vinyl lettering and pictures as needed.  Our jokester decided it would be funny to stick a small adhesive car near the driver’s hatch to commemorate the fate of Pedro’s car.  He didn’t stop there.  He also wanted to mark successful arrests made during the vehicle’s deployments that year:  Pedro Armendariz and Larry White.  Larry killed three Odessa Police Officers earlier that same year.  In the database of sign graphics, the best match for an arrested person was the stick figure used for pedestrian crossings.  So “Bubba” was adorned with a small adhesive car and two stick figures.

     In April of 2008 my team was called to assist the Schleicher County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers in the search of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints compound near El Dorado, Texas.  I was told that the cultists promised a fight to keep us out of their temple despite a lawful search warrant, but fortunately they didn’t deliver.  The older men ran away and left behind crying, terrified, unarmed young teen boys to defend their gates.  We were all fortunate that the incident wasn’t a bloodbath.  About eighteen men were convicted of sex crimes after the incident.  During the media blast, photos of our armored vehicle made it all the way to the national media scene, including The Oprah Winfrey Show.  That’s when my phone started ringing.

     First, it was one of my superiors.  He was getting calls about the “kill marks” on our vehicle.  I told him the story about how the marks came to be.  He wasn’t thrilled, and I was definitely having “good idea at the time” thoughts.  I told him the stickers would come off, and if he’d forward the calls to me I’d glady tell the story.  I was forwarded a few calls, and most identified themselves as media.  One tried to pass himself off as a college student but I didn’t believe him.  I told him that I wasn’t going to lie, so I would appreciate the same courtesy.  I told him the truth.    

     The calls tapered away, but I got called to the carpet one last time.  Our department had received a Freedom of Information Act request for maintenance records of our armored vehicle, and the request was specific to the incidents involving the people we killed with it.  I explained that there were no records because all we had done was change the oil, a job that was performed by the team members.  We had no records to show that we’d killed anyone because there were no kills.  That’s classic Roswellian fiction.  Demand something that doesn’t exist then cry “conspiracy” when it isn’t produced. 

     What followed was an article on Alex Jones’ Infowars written by Paul Joseph Watson.  The full article is linked below.  First, the title of the article is “Militarized Police Celebrate Killing Americans.”  The article states that Gary Roberts, “former US Army tank driver” said that the marks mean we had killed two people with what the article called an “APC SWAT tank.”  Watson goes on to claim that the only threat in the “polygamist retreat” was women and children.  The rest of the lies are shown here:  http://www.infowars.com/militarized-police-celebrate-killing-americans/.

     First and foremost, MCSO’s vehicle isn’t a tank.  Tanks are larger and have fixed guns.  An armored personnel carrier holds people.  The only armament on board is the small arms carried by officers.  My experience with the FLDS has proven it to be nothing more than a cult centered on the sexual abuse of young children.  However, Watson chose to downplay the reality of the compound being a pedophile cult.  He dedicated the article to his disgust of how my team celebrated the murder of two innocent people; a story he fabricated.  My Spidey senses tell me that Watson was one of the people I spoke to on the phone.  Since the truth wasn’t sensational, he found it best to quote someone with absolutely no useful knowledge of the matter at hand.  Never let the truth interfere with a good story.

     I ignore most anti-police stories, but this one insulted a team I’m very proud of.  The men in that vehicle volunteered for that duty.  Like the sheriff who commands them, they are patriotic people who swore an oath to defend the constitution.  It is my hope that this story will sow seeds of doubt in the satirical media garbage that is carelessly spread these days.  Watson’s article is pure hatred and self-serving commercialism.  Alex Jones and those like him are a hindrance to defending ourselves against real constitutional threats.     

The Goddard Rocket

     Circa 1983 I sat in Mr. Garcia’s math class at Goddard Junior High in Midland.  I wasn’t much of a student until well into adulthood, so many hours of that class were spent staring out the window at the Goddard Rocket.  It was on the south side of the building in those days, painted white with an air force emblem on it.  The second floor classroom put me close enough to the rocket to see  rivets, hinged control surfaces and access panels.  She was definitely real and definitely guided.  As a young rocketeer I learned that forward fins only worked on guided missiles.  I almost burned a vacant lot to the ground with a model rocket while familiarizing myself with stability. 

     Years later, I’m still a rocket builder.  Cold War era machines fascinate me more than ever, and the Goddard rocket was moved to the southwest corner of the football field.  It was nicely painted with school colors and affixed to the same display mount.  While I was researching info for a scale model rocket project, I ran across Andreas Parsch.  He's the owner and operator of DesignationSystems.net, a website dedicated to collecting information on rockets, drones and missiles that I used for research.  I went through his site and couldn’t find a match for the Goddard rocket.  I sent him an email photo and he quickly returned an answer along with a link to a page on his site I’d overlooked.

     The Goddard rocket is GAM-63 RASCAL ( Guided Air-launched Missile, RAdar SCAnning Link).  It was an early 1950’s nuclear capable weapons system designed to be launched from the B-36, B-47 and B-52.  The “captive carry” launch system meant that it had to be attached to the underside of the bomber.  The bottom fin folded so that the weapon could be slid under the mother ship on a dolly, so our local example must have lost this part somewhere in her travels.

     The RASCAL didn’t work out so well for the Strategic Air Command.  She was expensive, burned toxic fuels and the performance was problematic.  With one successful test flight out of 65, she makes a better giant garden gnome than a tactical weapon.  Around 136 were produced and were either tested, destroyed or pressed into junior high mascot service.  MISD probably paid nothing for their rocket, but I’m sure a study of the development costs would compare to a gold life-size bust of Dr. Goddard himself.  I’d like to know more about how she made it to the football field.

     I always loved static military displays as a kid.  I miss the Odessa American Legion’s tracked artillery piece and Hawk missile and Corpus Christi’s guns under the harbor bridge.  I suppose old military gear is no longer a fashion statement, but it still impresses me.  Fortunately there’s an old practice bomb case from Midland Army Airfield that serves as a bird condo in my back yard.

     I will update this blog with any new info that comes to me about the rocket's history.  If you have any info, please comment or e-mail!

Here are some links to more info on the GAM-63.  The first is cool 50’s military film:

             http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_V5ZwRzn8M

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/gam-63.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAM-63_RASCAL

Update:  Here's the rocket from a 2003 Google Earth photo showing the original color and location:

Update:  1979 yearbook photo:

Photo courtesy Susan N. Freeman

Modes

     This post is a project for a Humanities class to show examples of modes of reflection and expression.  I mirrored it to my regular blog so the links would work correctly.

     The YouTube link below will take you to a 2008 performance of Cool #9 by Joe Satriani in Paris.  He is accompanied by bass guitarist Stu Hamm, Jeff Campitelli on drums and Galen Henson (a Lubbock native) on rhythm guitar.  These are some of my musical heroes and I've had the honor of meeting them.  This piece was released on Joe's self-titled album in 1995.  In this album, he explored a different style of recording based on multiple live tracks, and he called in some top notch talent to back him.  The album has a fusion feel with Joe's rock roots.  I've been a fan since his first album over 20 years ago and have enjoyed hearing his music evolve.  Joe writes so much music that he often names pieces by the "feel" of the song and the sequential number, hence the title "Cool #9."  A few others have made it to press with their original names:  Dreaming #11, Ice 9, etc.  Stu is my bass idol and it's worth the searching to hear a few of his solos.  The recording begins with a vamp groove and the song starts at 1:25.  The guitar lick at 2:48 will send a chill up your spine (still puts a lump in my throat) and there's a nice little break at 3:30.  Joe will be making his first appearance in Midland on September 29.  My son and I already have front row tickets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEqr4BzOy2c

 

     I'd also like to share with you a piece by Dick Kramer.  Dick is well known in the police and military for his representational art depicting specific military branches, police roles and individual units in pen or pencil drawings.  He has an interesting bio: http://www.dickkramer.com/About-Us_ep_7.html.  I had the pleasure of meeting him at a SWAT conference several years ago.  He's a very nice fellow and I bought a large print of the following piece that now hangs in my office with his autograph.  He gave me the best advice for buying art: "Buy what you like, then wait for me to assume room temperature and hope the value goes up."  This piece is called "Homeland Heroes."  It depicts a SWAT team covering their grenadier who's deploying a "flashbang) distraction device. Photo is from Dick Kramer Studios, www.dickkramer.com.

 

 

     Studying stoicism and epicureanism in this class has often reminded me of Tomas Paine's "The Age of Reason."  This pamphlet conveyed a belief in Deism, which similarly dismisses much religious thought in favor of reason and natural law.  The following is a portion of this writing that is often referred to as his "creed:"

 

          I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life.

 

          I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.

 

          But, lest it should be supposed that I believe in many other things in addition to these, I shall, in the progress of this work, declare the things I do not believe, and my reasons for not believing them.

 

          I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church.

 

          All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.

 

          I do not mean by this declaration to condemn those who believe otherwise; they have the same right to their belief as I have to mine. But it is necessary to the happiness of man, that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.

 

          It is impossible to calculate the moral mischief, if I may so express it, that mental lying has produced in society. When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to subscribe his professional belief to things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime. He takes up the trade of a priest for the sake of gain, and in order to qualify himself for that trade, he begins with a perjury. Can we conceive any thing more destructive to morality than this?

 

                                                            -Thomas Paine, "The Age of Reason" (1794)

 

 

     Last is a Haka, or Maouri dance and chant called "Ka Mate" and came to be sometime around 1820.  It is performed before each game by New Zealand All Blacks, the famous rugby team.  The video at the end is the All Blacks performing the haka before a game. It exemplifies a Maori belief in the triumph of life and good over death and evil.

Here's the All Blacks' version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?tdMCAV6Yd0Y

 

 

 

                                                 Ka Mate Haka

 

Ka mate ! Ka mate !	I die ! I die !
Ka ora ! Ka ora !	I live ! I live !
Ka mate ! Ka mate !	I die ! I die !
Ka ora ! Ka ora !	I live ! I live !
Tenei te tangata puhuru huru	This is the hairy person
Nana nei i tiki mai	Who fetched the Sun
Whakawhiti te ra	And caused it to shine again
A upa ... ne ! ka upa ... ne !	One upward step ! Another upward step !
A upane kaupane whiti te ra !	An upward step, another.. the Sun shines !!!
Hi !!! (Translation from Maori.org)

Six Mile Trails

     Sometime around 1980 I got my first motorcycle, a 1976 Kawasaki KX 125.  It isn’t possible to explain the elation that went through my 10 year old brain as this was still the On Any Sunday era.  We lived out in the county and I learned to ride on some private property with a few trails and lease roads near our house.  Once I learned the ropes and kept the bike vertical most of the time, I was graduated to the Six Mile Trails in Midland.

     The trails are bordered by Interstate 20 and Business Loop 20 (old Highway 80) between Loop 250 and South County Road 1250 in Midland County.  At the time I started riding there, 1250 was still dirt.  I remember the impressive sight of a mile of pickups parked on the service road lined up bumper-to-bumper with motorcycles buzzing everywhere.  It was an intimidating place for young riders, but the old salts were quick to show me the ropes.  The riders established the direction  and other courtesy rules of travel on the course, and I soon learned to get out of the faster riders’ way.  The trail system had four major lobes that adjoined a central circular track around an old windmill tank near a “buffalo wallow.” 

     Sunday was the big day for the trails, with dozens if not a hundred spending the day at the track.  My family would pack lunch and drinks along with enough pit gear to keep me going through the day.  My mom usually watched in horror as I tore up the dirt with the much older and more experienced riders.  Trail riding is different than motocross, and this is where I discovered the zen-like state that a long motorcycle ride delivers.  Even a kid experiences stress, and I was happy to leave my worries on the track. 

     As I entered high school we moved closer to the Six Mile Trails.  I was now able to hit the trails in the evening and summer days when almost no one else was there.  My cousin and I discovered that we could reach the trails with a short trip down a county road to the dirt.  The trails would take us all the way to the National Truck Stop where we could refuel and score snacks and drinks. 

     During my first semester at Midland College, my Kawasaki KLR 250 was my only mode of transport, rain or shine.  While the KLR is a perfect dual-sport machine, I learned quickly that the wear-and-tear of trail riding makes it tough to get to school in the morning.  More than once the odd mesquite-flattened tire caused me to be late for class.  I once lost a license plate after crushing it between the tire and fender on a jump.  Still, the trails were a great escape.

     I didn’t own a motorcycle again until 2003.  I still made trips to Six Mile Trails, but this time it was on a mountain bike.  I worked evenings and would make morning trips to get a workout.  This is when I noticed the end of the trails coming.  Four-wheel ATV’s were becoming the norm, and they changed the shape of the trails.  There were now two “ruts” instead of a concave cross section, and it altered the feel and speed on two wheels.  The biggest change was that the trails were very popular and people began centering around the lake bed instead of alongside the road.  For some reason, riders started cutting numerous new trails near the lake bed to the point that it was tough to discern the original trails.  Accidents were becoming more prevalent, and it was common to see four helmetless kids piled onto a four wheeler while drunk parents looked on.  Much of the land was owned by the City of Midland, and one day the “no trespassing” signs popped up and the sheriff’s office began enforcing the closing.

     The Regional Planning Commission built a police driving track on the north side of the trails sometime around 2000 and the trails evolved around the driving track.  Agri-Empressa purchased a large chunk on the east side that fenced off the southeast loop.  I drove by the site in January of 2013 and saw that most of the property is being developed and the remaining trails are disappearing into vegetation.

          It is also the site of the best snipe hunt ever conducted.  Sometime around 2004 when I was a patrolman for the Midland County Sheriff's Office, I rolled up on a suspicious vehicle inside the circular lake bed track one winter night.  It was a group of teens, and one of them came running up to me.  She explained that it was a snipe hunt for an out-of-state relative who desperately deserved practical joke revenge.  It was a slow night, so I told the girl to act scared as the other kids walked up to see what was going on.  I put the word out over the radio and was soon joined by a couple more deputies and the high sheriff himself.  I began reading the Endangered Species Act (well, I made it up) and explained that the snipe was endangered and snipe hunters could be subjected to a hefty fine.  All was going according to plan until one of the co-conspirators broke out laughing.  The victim conceded that revenge was duly served, and we all posed for a photograph with the kids.  The mark was featured with his snipe stick and bag in hand.

     I’m saddened to see Six Mile Trails fade away, but it’s the price of a strong economy. Not only is it where I found a love for motorcycling, it is where I flew model rockets with my son, hunted rabbits with my cousins, and had tailgate parties with high school friends.  I miss the dirt bike days, but my  Councours 14 and miles of open road does the trick these days.

    The photo is dated 1996.  The major trails are visible, but the newer trails can be seen.

     I’m sure there are others with memories or historical info about the trails.  Please comment and share your story!

 

The Vegan Experiment

     I recently met with a friend I hadn’t seen in several months.  He dropped 45 pounds and looked and felt great.  He told me that the movie “Forks Over Knives” had introduced him to a vegan diet that led him to a healthy meatless existence.  I watched the movie and read over the Engine 2 diet.  These guys link the consumption of meat to just about every health problem known to man, much like the “Wheat Belly” folks demonize wheat products.    They approached it from a nutrition standpoint with no mention of animal rights or anything on that avenue.  After discussing his diet, I told him I believed the weight loss came from reducing “white” carbohydrates and junk food, not the elimination of meat.  I decided it was time to prove a point.

     I read up on Engine 2’s 28 Day Challenge, in which the diet’s creator, Rip Esselstyn, promotes a plant-based diet that fueled him through his career as a professional triathlete.   Go ahead, read the last two words again.  Got it?  That’s right, PRO triathlete.  I haven’t done any endurance racing in a while, so I decided to brush up on distance running during the 28 day experiment since I’m between fencing tournaments for a while.

     Boring diets are no stranger to me.  It’s the price you pay to lose weight, and I used to tip the scales at 250 plus pounds.  At the end of the 28 day period, I was up five pounds and couldn’t wait to get back to an omnivore lifestyle.  I’d like to share my observations with you:

1.        I’m pretty sure even God hates kale. 

2.       I have no problem with tofu as its creators intended.  It is an abomination to attempt to pass it off as anything else. 

3.       It was easier to stay hydrated

4.        I actually had dreams about eating meat.

 

5.       I added three additional workouts (weights and treadmill) per week in addition to my regular fencing regimen and still gained weight. I watched caloric intake to make sure I was eating enough- failure to do so can cause weight gain.

6.       A wheat-based breakfast left me fighting for consciousness by 10:00am. 

7.       A little fiber in your diet will make you regular.  An all-fiber diet will make you unstoppable. 

8.       The veggie version of any meat product should be against federal law. 

9.       I slept better and never had any heartburn or indigestion. 

10.   I now know why I don’t like most vegans.  It’s not their fault they don’t socialize well.  They spend most of their lives eating horrible food while staying hungry the whole time, they can’t eat any food commonly found at restaurants or parties, they’re broke from buying food from niche stores, they have a constant ringing headache and can’t be more than five minutes away from a bathroom. 

     I ended the diet by taking down a 12 pack of tacos.  I did gain some skill in making vegetables more interesting.  I’m still a believer that meats in moderation are important and vegetables are more than just a side dish.  I’ve added more whole foods to the mix.  Most importantly, I proved to myself that wheat is my personal dietary greatest evil.  I can say I gave Engine 2 a solid try and it failed for me.  I’m firmly convinced that we are products of our individual evolutions and there’s no one perfect diet for anyone. 

Your First Telescope

     The West Texas Astronomers recently held a presentation at the Blakemore Planetarium that featured a show-and-tell view of popular “first” telescopes.  There is no better way to crush a budding young astronomer’s spirits than cheaply constructed gear.  What’s presented here is a consensus of local amateur astronomer opinions as to what will ensure the best observing experience without breaking the bank.

    We tend to avoid buying used things as gifts.  That’s usually the best way to extend your astro-dollar, but it’s understandable that hand-me-downs aren’t popular under the tree.  If you stick to the basics listed below and come across good used stuff, you may go bigger for the same or less money.  Astronomy gear tends to be well cared for and makes for an excellent value.  I’ve never owned a new scope!

     The first rule is to NOT purchase from discount, sporting goods, electronics or department stores.  It is very rare that reasonable quality scopes are found in such places.  The brand names populating our astronomy club’s list are Orion, Celestron, Meade and Vixen.  While these brands range from middle to higher quality gear, some of their less expensive gear doesn’t fit the bill for a beginner.  These brands are usually found only in astronomy shops.

     Without going into great detail, there are two types of telescopes in the price range for beginners: Newtonian reflector and refractor.  A refractor uses a main lens to collect light and focus it to a point where it can be viewed through an eyepiece.  This is the typical tube telescope we’re used to seeing.  Binoculars and spotting scopes work in this manner.  A Newtonian reflector collects the light with a large mirror which focuses the light to a second smaller mirror and then the eyepiece.   Larger diameters collect more light which allows the observer to see dimmer objects.  Of the two designs, the reflector gives more light collecting ability than the refractor for the same money, generally speaking.

     It makes no difference what “power” the telescope is.  Quality scopes advertising magnification power are, generally speaking, not worth having.  There are quality optics like binoculars and fixed-power spotting scopes where this number is important, but astronomical scopes have to be a bit more flexible.  Interchangeable eyepieces are used in astronomy to vary the field of view and magnification power to suit the conditions and the object viewed.  Very seldom is maximum magnification used.  Remember, diameter is king.

     The reflector with its larger diameter will provide good views of the moon, planets and stars with the added advantage of seeing some deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae.  Refractors in the same price range are less likely to see the “faint fuzzies” in deep-sky viewing but typically work for planetary and lunar work.  The refractor is a bit more durable and maintenance-free than the reflector.  Reflectors require collimation, which is the aligning of the mirror.  It’s a little tricky to learn but not impossible.  Fortunately there are some good YouTube videos on the topic in addition to several sites explaining the process. 

     Finally, you have to decide on a mount.  The general consensus of the locals is that the Dobsonian is king of the beginner mounts.  It’s a cradle that holds the scope tube like a cannon barrel.  It stays at a reasonable height and there’s very little setup involved.  Don’t worry, as you expand your interest in the hobby you’ll be able to spend thousands on a suitable mount.  I started with a “Dob” and it’s still a favorite.  The mount was invented for “sidewalk” astronomy at star parties.

     Here come the specifics.  The highest overall recommended scope by our local club is the Orion SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian.  At $309 shipped, it’s a turn-key setup with everything needed to get started.  As for refractors, the Meade Terrastar 90 and Vixen Space Eye 70 are good values.  The refractors come with a tripod.  Make sure the scope you pick comes with an eyepiece or two.  Prices fluctuate, especially around the holidays, so make sure you search for the best deal.

     Entire books have been written about eyepieces, and they can get extremely expensive.  The most hardcore amateur astronomers I know still have a few $20 eyepieces as spares.  These are a very popular item to trade among other stargazers.  Just about any scope can use something in the 10, 15 and 20mm range.

     If you’re willing to spend a little more money, larger diameter never hurts!  Keep in mind that larger scopes get heavy, so check the specs.  Computer guidance  is nice, but it’s always best to start with an unguided scope to browse and learn the sky.  Pick up a star chart, Google Sky phone app or Stellarium and you’re set for stargazing!

     I strongly recommend hitting a star party or two WITH your scope.  You'll receive plenty of friendly support from your local astronomy club.  Any input is appreciated, so please feel free to leave comments!