Northwest Guy's Blog

Aliens Boost Tourism In Eastern Washington

2009-08-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

Be A Better Blogger. WTF??

2009-08-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

Someone is finally saying what most of us have been thinking.

*By the way, I'm a fan of ProBlogger.

Family Camping Tents: Your Home Away From Home

2009-08-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

by Michael Skatoli
There are few things that are more rewarding than leaving the stresses of day-to-day life behind and setting out for the great outdoors. Nevertheless, whether you are going to enjoy a quick break at a campsite or heading into the wilderness, good equipment is essential and a strong camping tent should be one of your top priorities.

There a few different factors which will determine which is the right camping tent for your needs. If you do not go camping that often and conditions will not be too extreme, then something cheap and cheerful should do the job. However, if your camping tent is going to see a lot of use in different kinds of weather then it certainly is worth investing in good quality and the right design. There’s nothing more dispiriting than having your camping tent falling to pieces around you in the dead of a stormy night.

One of the first things you need to consider is the number of people your camping tent needs to hold. Camping tents can range in size from one-man, with just enough sleeping room for a single person, to big family tents with a number of rooms.

The second thing to think about is convenience, both in terms of the weight of the tent and how easy it is to put together. If you are hiking you will want a tent that is not too heavy, definitely weighing no more than five kilograms. One-man camping tents can be as light as 1.5kgs, though lighter models are usually more expensive.

How easy your tent is to put together should also influence your decision. If you plan on setting up camp somewhere for a few days, then this is not a big concern. On the other hand, if you need put up your tent every day, maybe sometimes in stormy conditions, you will require something that you can assemble quickly. Many camping tents literally pop up in a matter of seconds, while cheaper models could take a good 15 minutes to assemble.

There are a few different tent designs and some are better built for certain conditions and needs than others. If you are an occasional camper this needn’t be a big concern. On the other hand, if your tent will regularly be exposed to wind, rain or even snow, design can make a big difference.
Geodesic – This is thought to be the strongest of the camping tent designs. Intersecting tent poles ensure it has excellent strength to withstand extreme conditions. This is the camping tent for the hardcore outdoor expeditionist.
Dome – This is perhaps the most popular tent design. It weighs very little, is cheap, is easy to erect and offers good overall strength. A common choice among backpackers.
Tunnel – Another common choice, though not quite as lightweight as the dome tent. That said, it is a good deal more spacious.
Finally, it is important that your tent’s fabric is made from the right fabric. Lightweight nylon or polyester are the best fabric for the job, andit goes without saying they should be fully waterproof. Also, it is often a good idea to waterproof the seams of the tent yourself as an extra safety measure.

About the Author:
Michael Skatoli is a columnist with over a dozen years editorial experience. Michael is engaged as a journalist for fuzing.com and is considered the resident specialist on camping.

Review: Jump Off Joe Lake Resort, Valley, WA

2009-08-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend (Aug. 8 & 9 2009) at Jump Off Joe Lake Resort, 3290 E. Jump Off Joe Rd., Valley, WA 99181. We camped in Matilda The Motorhome while some friends of ours joined us and camped in their travel trailers. I don't do tent camping.

In my opinion, Jump Off Joe Lake Resort has the potential to be one of the nicest little campgrounds in eastern Washington State. That said it was disappointing to witness how poorly it was managed and maintained.

Here's what I liked:
Shady campsites: The sites were a little tight and not particularly level, but most of them had at least some shade and appeared to have been cleaned between users. There was lots of well maintained grass over where the seasonal campers had their places but not so much for those of us in the transient section. Compared to some campsites I’ve stayed in however, Jump Off Joe’s campsites weren’t that bad.

Full RV hookups: They were positioned and functioned as expected.

Swimming area: Nicely roped off area with a sandy bottom and a diving platform.

Fishing/boat dock: Long with lots of benches and a cleaning station.

Convenience Store: It carried the basic stuff people might need while they are out camping.

Boat, canoe and kayak rentals: Kind of expensive but no more so than other campgrounds I’ve been to.

Moveable fire pits: They looked like sawed-off burn barrels on legs. They worked very well. Firewood was available at the resort store and they even let you borrow little red wagons to haul the wood to your campsite.

Here's what I didn't like:
Fishing/Boat dock: “Wait a minute!” you say. “Didn’t you just tell us you liked the docks?”
I did, but at the same time I was disappointed at how poorly they were maintained. There were lots of piles of dried and fresh piles of duck dung all along the length of the dock. (If you aren't familiar with duck poop, let me warn you that it isn't a little white splotch you can wipe off with a Kleenex.) Some dogs don't dispose of the amount ducks do. Unless you had prior Special Forces training in dodging land mines, there was almost no way that you weren't going to step in the duck doo sooner or later. I understand that ducks and geese are hard to control, but would it have been too much to ask them to take a hose to the dock and benches every now and again? (Shrug?)

Ducks: And speaking of fuzzy little dung droppers, the ducks had set up shop all over the swimming area and the docks. There wasn't even a Do Not Feed The Ducks Cause They Crap All Over The Place! sign posted that the campers could ignore.

Noise: Most campgrounds have so-called quiet hours when everyone is supposed to keep it down. If there was such a rule at Jump Off Joe Lake Resort, it was not enforced. Happy campers – some a little too happy - were up partying hardy till the wee hours. After two nights of whooping and hollering and general mayhem, the people we were camping with (in a tent trailer, poor things) started to resemble creatures from the movie Dawn of the Dead.
Look. I’m no big fan of Noise Police and I am all for being allowed to have good time, but this was ridiculous.
(I wonder if those two loud and intoxicated middle-age women campers next to us ever did go skinny dipping like they announced to the whole campground they were going to?)

Playground Equipment: They had a cool looking playground setup with swings and a slide, but in order to use them, your kid (or the occasional intoxicated camper) had to wade through pools of standing water on the equipment. One of the swings was also hanging by a single chain the entire time we were there.

Pets: There is a rule about keeping pets on a leash that is printed on the resort's price list. It says, “Pets must be kept on leash and clean up after them.” This rule was not enforced. Not only did camper's dogs wander about freely, but pets belonging to the resort staff were allowed to run around unleashed. There was this one Great Dane...
There were also signs posted in the day use area that prohibited dogs, "Beyond this point." Just like the leash rule, those signs were evidently there for show only. I saw dogs of every breed and size roaming through the day use facilities and adjoining swimming area like they owned the place. It’s all kind of surprising too when you consider that the resort charges $2.50 a day – per pet!

Bees: Were everywhere! Buzzzzzzz! In fairness to the resort’s management there were several wasp traps located throughout the campground. Even so, that didn’t stop one happy little buzzer from doing the backstroke in my huckleberry pancake syrup. Damn bug.

So. Would I go camping at Jump Off Joe Lake Resort again? Probably not. While I do think the resort is cute and has potential in a quaint sort of way, the fishing in the small lake is not good enough to make putting up with the poor management and maintenance worth it.

The basic info: Private resort, 22 full hookup sites (water, sewer, electricity), 34 ft. max RV length, 4 cabins and a loft for rent, convenience store, bait, moveable fire pits, pets allowed, playground, boat, paddleboat, & kayak rentals, fishing dock, swimming area (no lifeguard), day use area with covered shelter, picnic tables, daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal rates. 509-937-2133Fish in the lake: trout, bass, and lots of tiny bait-stealing sunfish.

Crude Oil - Gas Prices - Think about it.

2009-08-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

Ever notice how when the price of crude oil goes up, the price of gas at the pump goes up immediately? Have you ever wondered why when the price of the very same crude oil falls, the price of gas does not drop proportionately? If ever.

And they say we aren't being price gouged. Yeah, right.

GOP Senator: No "Death Panels," Palin "Nuts"

2009-08-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

And your point is...?

The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.

2009-08-12T06:57:00.000-07:00

Credited to Bertrand Russell.

The behavior at the recent town hall meetings about healthcare prove this.

'The Cove:' Japan Has a Dark Secret It Hopes the World Will Never See

2009-08-06T09:26:00.000-07:00

If you like 'Whale Wars' you are going to love this.

Will You Pay For News Online? Rupert Murdoch Says You Will

2009-08-06T08:09:00.000-07:00

For those of you supporting Murdoch's idea of charging for the news you get online, let me ask you: Do you really want people like Rupert Murdoch controlling what news you can read? That's what is really at stake here. Controlling the news.

Many of Murdoch's supporters are saying that the quality of news available on the Internet would be better if you had to pay for it. Just because you paid for it, would you really trust Murdoch to give you accurate and unbiased news? You know, fair and unbiased...like the kind you now get with Fox News.
Without checks and balances, people like Murdoch would have us all become ignorant ultra-conservative slugs.

Personally, I think that if Murdoch starts charging for news on the Internet, the majority of people will start seeing a whole lot less of Fox News. Hey! Wait a minute! That's not such a bad idea. Hmmm. Maybe I should rethink this.

Seriously though, Ask yourself this: Do you really think that Murdoch and his kind have your best interests at heart? Even if you pay for it? Would you also trust Adolph Hitler? Dick Cheney? George W. Bush? Kenneth Lay, Pee Wee Herman?

Additional Links:

*http://www.newser.com/off-the-grid/post/231/this-is-ruperts-last-stand-making-you-pay.html

*http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/05/08/rupert-murdoch-says-kiss-the-days-of-the-free-web-goodbye/

*http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/06/rupert-murdoch-website-charges
*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090805/media_nm/us_newscorp

Save Money - Split The Cost Of Your Internet Connection.

2009-08-05T16:15:00.000-07:00

So I recently read that you could save money on your Internet connection by sharing it with your neighbors. It was pointed out that this idea might be particularly well suited to people who live in apartment buildings. According to the article, you could easily set up a security key, then for a monthly fee, give it to your neighbors to use.
*
I found this idea intriguing, especially in light of the recent Qwest High Speed Internet (yeah, right) television commercials where you see the lady who got caught trying to hijack some free WiFi having to perform community service by picking up litter along the highway. (I watch way too much TV.) I wondered how the Internet service providers felt about this. Would they think it was a good idea? I get my service (No - I pay out the nose for my service) from Comcast, so I decided to give them a call. A nice-sounding young man by the name of Colin said he didn't think there would be any problem with someone trying this. He emphasized that you'd have to be real careful who you gave the security key to, but he kinda sorta thought it might fly.
In all fairness, Colin didn't sound all that sure of himself so if anyone wants to try subletting their Internet connection, I would recommend that you double check with your service provider first.
*
This may not be the best money-saving scheme to cross my path, but you have to admit, it's an interesting concept. Oh, and if anyone actually does try this, please, please, please let me know how it goes.

Video: When Geese Go Bad

2009-08-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

As this video clearly shows, there is just something inherently funny about a guy being chased by a goose.

Amazing Photo: Hidden Owl

2009-08-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

Assuming it hasn't been Photoshopped, this is an incredible picture.

If it's not real, my hat is off to the creator because it is still an incredible picture.

What do you think? Real or fake?

Converting or Showing Their Stupidity

2009-08-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

On one of my other blog's Twitter account, I posted a link to a CBS News Story describing how ultra right winger, Glen Beck made President Obama out to be a racist.
I received one reply to that Tweet. (That's one more than I usually get.) Some guy responded, "look at Obammys past he fits it to a t!!"
This no doubt witty response started me wondering: Do people who use negative-sounding terms like "Obammy" think that in some mystical way they are going to convert me to their way of thinking? Or is it more likely that are they just fulfilling some weird need to express just how stupid they are?

Bank of America: Who pays the SEC fine? We do of course.

2009-08-04T07:46:00.001-07:00

Bank of America (BofA) has agreed to pay a $33 million fine to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for lying to its stockholders about authorizing Merrill Lynch to pay up to $5.8 billion in executive bonuses. (You might recall that Bank of America was the financial institute that received $45 billion in bailout relief from U.S. taxpayers.)

My question is this: Where does the $33 million that BofA is going to pay the SEC come from?
Does it come from the $45 billion bailout dollars we've already given them? Or are we taxpayers going to fork over an additional $33 million? Either way you look at it, American taxpayer money will be used to pay the U.S. government fine. So who exactly is the SEC penalizing?

Oh. I almost forgot to ask, do we taxpayers write a check to pay the fine before or after we pay executive bonuses?

Bank of America: We don't care. We don't have to.

The "Undiscovered Corner"

2009-07-31T17:20:00.000-07:00

Stimulus $ Bypass Washington Bridges

2009-07-31T17:16:00.000-07:00

Role Models - Whether They Like It Or Not

2009-07-28T07:11:00.000-07:00

Most of us are familiar with former Phoenix Sun's forward Charles Barkley's declaration that he was not a role model. Being an inspiration to young people all across the U.S. was a mantle he refused to wear. So he said.
Fact is, without those young kids admiration, Barkley and others like him would never have reached the level of fame that they did. Those kids bought tee shirts, posters, and video games all featuring the athletes they admired.
"Hey Bobby. Let's play some basketball. I'll be Charles Barkley"
"Nah man. I wanna be Barkley."
"No way, I've got an autographed basketball."
"So what? He signed my jersey."
And so on and so on.

The truth is that in U.S. culture, professional athletes are role models. Whether they like it or not. I'm not saying that they asked for the job or for that matter even deserve it (Michael Vick, Dennis Rodman, Rafael Palmeiro et al I rest my case.), but it's theirs just the same.
And is it really so much to ask that they take the responsibility seriously? Some of these athletes make millions of dollars off kids that aspire to be like them. Many of them live lives of largess that most of us can only imagine.
Fortunately, there have been athletes who understood this responsibility and if they didn't hold it sacred, they at least didn't throw mud on it. Sports greats like Michael Jordan, Jerry Rice, and Joe Montana, enjoyed the adoration of millions of aspiring young athletes all across the country. Like most people, they probably all have skeletons in their closets somewhere, but they didn't rattle the bones in public. They let their talent and determination speak for itself. They seemed to understand that with fame came responsibility. They acted like what they were, role models.

Welcome to Northwest Guy's Blog!

2009-07-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

I'm really happy you decided to drop by. I hope you'll visit often.