Maggie's Farm

Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.

Saint Augustine

Canada Goose Infestation

Some parts of the US would love to have the problems we have in the Northeast: White-Tailed Deer and Goose infestations. (We now have tons of Wild Turkey too, but I would never term that an "infestation."  These splendid birds are a blessing.)

Trouble is, we have to bow the deer in many populated areas, and these non-migratory Canadas that we have in abundance tend to hang out where you cannot hunt, like town parks and golf courses. It's a damn shame, because they are big, and the breast, marinated then sauteed or grilled rare and thin-sliced, is as good as filet mignon, in my opinion - if not as tender. Our White-Tail deer are bigger than the southern version, or the Texas version, but with smaller racks. Who cares? Excellent dining. Our deer hunters tend to be meat hunters and, where I live, there is no limit on does. When I was a lad, both goose and deer were uncommon sights in New England: these are the kinds of problem you want to have.

Photo: Our pal Yankee retrieving a goose in Manitoba, this October

Latest USFWS report on Canada Goose, below:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Releases Final Environmental Impact Statement on Resident Canada Geese Management
Contact: Nicholas Throckmorton 202-208-5636  (Bold Ours)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced the release of a final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that outlines various alternatives to reduce, manage, and control resident Canada goose populations and reduce related damages. Of the alternatives, the Service’s proposed action will allow state wildlife agencies, landowners, and airports more flexibility in controlling resident Canada goose populations.The Service took this action in response to widespread concern about overabundant populations of resident Canada geese, which can damage property, agriculture, and natural resources in parks and other open areas near water.

"Resident Canada geese populations have increased dramatically over the past 15 years," said Service Director H. Dale Hall. "These high population levels have been shown to cause problems for natural and economic resources, and we believe increased local management with national oversight is the best approach to reduce conflicts and bring the population under control. Through this approach, the Service will continue working to expand and protect hunting opportunity while providing airports, private landowners, and State and local officials the tools they need to address resident Canada goose issues."

I had the pleasure of attending a small charity gathering last night for a good mental health cause at which Ashford and Simpson performed.

Ashford told the story of how the "dumbest, simplest song" he ever wrote (Let's Go Get Stoned) got picked up by Ray Charles, which set their songwriting career into high gear. He also talked about what it was like to present new songs to Berry Gordy with Smokey Robinson in front of you in the line. Daunting.

They had a funky Motown-style band with a couple of back-up singers. They did "Solid," "High Rise," "Let's Go Get Stoned," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and a lot more. Nothing they didn't write.

They have been married for 32 years and are humble, obviously grateful, and likeable folks. Their performance of Solid was much more powerful than this one.

If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.

Saint Augustine

The Manning Report. (He calls Obama "Senator Tarzan," but I call him "Senator Government.") h/t, Moonbattery:

Couldn't resist stealing this from Theo -

Taking a little break from fall planting. Last chance to do some lawn reseeding and to transplant, and to plant the last shipment of perennials hereabouts. I had to make a new small perennial border, under orders. Many bags of cow manure and peat moss from Home Depot, along with compost, to happify the lousy glacial soil we have here.

Simple pleasures. I like digging in the dirt, and I believe in digging and enriching 18" for new perennial plantings. You can only do it once.

Mostly rare Hostas, of course. Mrs. BD is an afficianado. Photo is "Dance with Me." Nice enough Hosta, but you have to get into it to fully appreciate. To get a clue, try Hosta Library.

Do me a favor: never plant Hostas in the sun. Terrible thing to do. And always en masse, or they will offend my delicate gardening sensibilities.

I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are wise and very beautiful; but I have never read in either of them: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.

Saint Augustine 

Hot Hardware has gone video

Wealthy teen nearly experiences consequences

Obama betrayed his message on race. Krauthammer

The Pelosi-Obama-Reid economy.

The carbon offsetting biz is still doing fine. At first I thought this was a satire.

Alaska glaciers are growing again

Finally, drilling off the coast of Florida: maybe we'll be able to buy that oil from Cuba.

McCain compares Obama to European Socialists

Just some guy who lives in my neighborhood?

Obama's lead slips

Quoted from a piece at Dino:

We’re not sure to what extent we agree with the analysis by Sam Schulman in the Weekly Standard. He asks: “Why is Bill Ayers a respectable member of the upper middle class and Sarah Palin contemptible?” His answer: social class. Maybe he is on to something. Those rather condescending interviews by Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson (as contrasted with certain earlier Couric and Gibson interviews) suggest that there is a ring of truth in Schulman’s argument.

Thanks for all of the interesting comments on our Influential Books post.

Matthew 22:1-14

I happen to drive over the Sippican River on the way to Cape Cod. Here's Leonard's Pond on the East Branch of the Sippican River:

Here's Brigg's Marsh (looks good for ducks) near the outlet of the Sippican River. There is nothing on earth as lovely as a brackish salt marsh (except for a pretty girl and, in duck season, it's a toss-up):

Macaulay's books are Bird Dog family favorites:

We posted part of the McCain speech at the Al Smith dinner yesterday, but this is the entire thing. It's a kick - guaranteed, and it would make a heck of a campaign ad:

Obama: "I will change the world." Good grief. If I said that, they'd send the guys in white coats to take me away.

Who knew that the US Supreme Court defined "vegetable" in 1893? Is a pumpkin a vegetable, then?

More press lies perpetuated. We expect this from politicians but not from the press. Well, I guess we expect it from the press now.

How would Obama do with this questionnaire for national security positions?

Quoted at Marginal Rev:

The Bush administration, having entered office as social conservatives, leaves office as conservative socialists, proprietors of the most sudden large expansion of the state's role in the US economy since mobilisation for the second world war.

Credit indicators show progress. Good. That's the fuel for the economy.

Obama mocks plumbers. Is that smart? Everybody appreciates plumbers.

NYT digging deep for dirt on Cindy McCain. That is infra dig. Why do it? Is there no infra to their dig?

Mark Steyn on David Brooks' "elite cocoons" and "conservative cocoons." One quote:

...any PBS-watching inbred stump-toothed knuckle-dragging plaid-clad mountain man not yet face down in the moonshine or enjoying a bunk-up with his sister might think that Mr Brooks' bizarre metaphor gives the game away: the "conservative cocoon" is somewhere you drive through en route to the hiking trip.

Why is the Left and the press going after Joe the Plumber so hard? Because the moment with Obama captured something important. As Cardinalpark at Tiger puts it:

Obama probably hurt himself with Joe the Plumber. If you think about it, Obama has done a brilliant job articulating exceedingly liberal political and economic philosophy in a fashion which sounds acceptable and fair and not altogether different from McCain. However, when he responded to Joe the Plumber about the inherent value of "spreading the wealth", it rang an alarm bell. Most Americans, especially aspirational Americans, like reading Robin Hood, but don't want his philosophy put into practice. This may be the moment that the distinction between Obama's political philosophy and McCain's is finally made clear in a fashion the press can't edit out. The media - even the in-the-tank leftist media - can't resist Joe the Plumber.

We must remember that Robin Hood was a thief. That's what Joe is reminding the voters.

Exactly. Joe doesn't want somebody else's wealth: he wants to make his own. Betsy says "Think of the film of Obama's photo op on Joe's street as Obama's macaca moment." Yes, somebody picked the wrong street.

Interesting comments on Dr. Bliss' Influential Books post. I'd like to read more comments to that post from our readers.

Emily Dickinson's life was not as isolated or loveless as had been thought. How's this for seduction, spiritual or otherwise?

He fumbles at your spirit

He fumbles at your spirit
   As players at the keys
Before they drop full music on;
   He stuns you by degrees,

Prepares your brittle substance
   For the ethereal blow,
By fainter hammers, further heard,
   Then nearer, then so slow

Your breath has time to straighten,
   Your brain to bubble cool, --
Deals one imperial thunderbolt
   That scalps your naked soul.

Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.

Saint Augustine

h/t, Never Yet Melted

They say that our Flicker numbers are decreasing, but we have tons of them around here. A couple of years ago, we had two young dumb ones decided to plunge down our chimney, and it was tough catching them and putting them outside. Sharp beaks.

I heard one calling this morning. "Flicka flicka flicka." They migrate, unlike most woodpeckers, but these guys do more pecking in the earth than they do in trees. They love to eat ants, and suburbia doesn't seem to bother them.

You can read more about these birds here.

This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections.

Saint Augustine

Heard on 770 radio, post-debate, from a caller:

If you want to vote for an American Idol, vote for Obama. If you want to vote for an American president, you'll vote for McCain.

We concluded our most recent planning meeting for our local Ducks Unlimited event by consuming a bottle of delicious, smooth, and healthful Liquore di Mirto (aka "Mirto") which the Dylanologist was kind enough to bring us back from Sardinia this summer.

It is apparently the national drink of Sardinia. They like it in Corsica too. This bottle was from Oristana.

The rosso is like a port, with the extremely pleasant and unique fragrance of Myrtle.

It's too precious and tasty to waste on debate-watching. We recommend shots and beer for that.

Bruce Kesler emails this post:

Many Republicans are outraged that the major media has not delved into Barack Obama’s track-record of ties to radicals and crooks and of baldly denying his own prior  words and actions, or ignoring Joe Biden’s gaffes, especially while devoting major resources and space to – often exaggerating – any deemed peccadillo by John McCain and Sarah Palin.

While this is entirely legitimate ire, it is also so that almost all who are concerned about the deceptive self-presentation by Obama and Biden are aware of it.  What is lacking is the major media imprimatur on their duplicity that provides it with greater impact upon the choice for president.

However, as the election nears, the possibility has risen of Barack Obama being elected  which stimulates some in the major media to reflect more on his background and programs.  This increased attention, while likely being far from what is needed, will still reduce his margin.

But, what is far more pressing on most voters’ minds is naturally the economy.  It will do McCain little additional good to harp on Obama’s associates.  Surrogates can handle that.

The economy should be stressed.  It provides little reassurance to honestly say we’re in uncharted territory.  Most of the public expects government action.  More reflection or restraint is not accepted, because of expectations developed by decades of government promises and interventions, no matter how hollow or unproductive, and by validation from both political parties that government still has ready remedies that will avoid pain.

An email from our WS friend:

BUY MUNIS.  Tax-exempt bonds pricing at 6.25? You'd be insane not to in this market.  Plus, with Dems likely to take over, Muni rates will drop significantly because everyone expects taxes to go up.  The value of your 6.25 coupons (aka bond price) will increase when market yields drop. (Market yields for Munis have spiked to over 10-yr highs in the past week, by the way.) When rates fall, you can either keep you tax free 6 percent or cash out.  If rates don't fall, 6.25 still isn't bad... Its a win-win.  New York City is in the market today and we are all placing bids! Gotta run -