Best of Yolo County 2007

The Daily Democrat publishes a Best of Yolo County magazine style insert once a year and I do look forward to it. I may find a new business that I am not familiar with or just to find out where my opinion ranks with others. They don't seem to have it up on their website yet, I will link it when it is posted.

I am just guessing here but it seems the Daily Democrat's motive for this feature is to get businesses who normally don't advertise in the paper to do so. No harm there, in fact I am all for it, its called capitalism. Find new clients, offer them a special rate to spend their advertising budget in a way they currently do not, and maybe 10% will become regular advertisers.

It is also a way to sell more papers, again, that is what a newspaper is there to do, turn a profit. If you want to believe that the main job of today's newspaper is to be a voice for the people, you are an idealist and rather foolish. If you want a 'voice for the people' read the flatlander or some other free paper if you can find it, they certainly don't deliver to your door. If you don't sell add space your dead, if you don't sell classified adds, your dead as disco.

My only criticism of the BoY 2007 is the missed opportunity to really make the list more about the people and connect with the community. This approach would not cost much more include, heck you could do on one page with smaller pictures. with the added awards and the competition they would spark, you might just sell a boat load more newspapers.
Here are my suggestions. -

Best Elementary School Teacher
Best Middle School Teacher
Best High School Teacher
Best Middle School Coach (Girls) and (Boys)
Best High School Coach (Girls) and (Boy)
Best Elementary School Principal or Vice Principal
Best Middle School Principal or Vice Principal
Best High School Principal or Vice Principal
Best City of Woodland Policeman
Best Yolo County Sheriff's Deputy
Best City of Woodland Firefighter
Best place to donate unwanted goods for charity
Best place to take a first date
Best local rock band
Best local country band
Best local rap artist
Best local artist - sculpture
Best place to view wildlife
Best local winery
Best record & cd store
Best place in the shade to spend three hours doing nothing
Best City Park
Best place to browse cool things you can't afford
Best place to buy a new motorcycle
Best place to taco truck
Best used book store
Best free tour
Best local website
-and of course-
Best local Blogger (Inside Woodland , Matt Rexroad and The Pile get my vote)

Any other ideas?

Fall Diner Dance this Saturday in Zamora

The Yolo County Cattlemen and Wool Growers Association will be hosting its annual Fall Diner Dance November 3rd at the Fire Hall in Zamora.

Its a great diner and a great time. Raffles, silent auctions and of course a rib eye steak diner.
Drop me an email if you want to attend, but hurry we need to get the head count finalized in the next day or so.

yolo_cowboy(at)yahoo(dot)com

The Earth will turn into a Burito Supreme in the Year 2133

Hey, call me crazy, I don't care. I won't be around to laugh at in 2133.

Why do we take stories like this one seriously?

Human race will 'split into two different species'
The human race will one day split into two separate species, an attractive, intelligent ruling elite and an underclass of dim-witted, ugly goblin-like creatures, according to a top scientist.

100,000 years into the future, sexual selection could mean that two distinct breeds of human will have developed.

The alarming prediction comes from evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry from the London School of Economics, who says that the human race will have reached its physical peak by the year 3000.

Sure. It reminds me of someone... Hmmmm who could it be?

I can't wait for the 'Green Jesus' to get a fresh coat of tar and feathers.
Al Gore should be around to mock when his apocalyptic predictions turn out to be fantasy in fifteen to twenty years.


Besides, the two species are here already, take a look.

Breeders Cup today

Oh my, the track is a swamp!
Either the quality will rise to the top or the longshots will have a good shot.

Sox up 2-0!

The Boys from Boston beat the Rockies like a rented mule in the first game, 13-1. Now the Sox prove they can beat the Rockies in a nail biter.

I've said before I like the Rockies story, but the Red Sox seem to have it in overdrive.

Papelbon is a nutjob of the first order, but man, can he bring the heat!

Wanted ; new al-Qaida marketing director.

Remember boys, its all about the marketing. Al Jazeera's editor may want to have the janitor start his car for him until this blows over.

Al-Qaida sympathizers have unleashed a torrent of anger against Al-Jazeera television, accusing it of misrepresenting Osama bin Laden's latest audiotape by airing excerpts in which he criticizes mistakes by insurgents in Iraq.

Users of a leading Islamic militant Web forum posted thousands of insults against the pan-Arab station for focusing on excerpts in which bin Laden criticizes insurgents, including his followers.

Hey Democrats, not bad for a plan doomed to failure?

Remember back to mid summer. Do you remember the Democrats appearing on every Sunday show they could find telling America that surge was doomed to fail, in fact it already had, we had already lost? Liberal news outlets would point to any example they could to explain why you should think the surge would fail.

Do you hear much about the surge from the Democrats today? No.

Would you like to guess as to why that is?

Because General Petraeus' plan is working.

If you bother to actually to read news from the people on the front lines, not in a hotel in Baghdad or at a cocktail party in DC, you might see the situation with a little more clarity.

180 pounds of Butt Whuppin'. A hometown boy makes good.

Dustin Pedroia played his high school ball at Woodland High and tonight was a one man wrecking crew sending the Cleavland Indians packing.

3 for 5 with 5 RBIs.

The crowd celebrated by rocking Fenway with the Dropkick Murphys "Tessie".

I've always been a closet Sox fan, but the story of the Rockies is just as amazing.
So who do I root for in the Series?

I gotta back the Yolo County kid.

Perdoia and the Sox in 6.

Turning the tables?

Living here in the Capay Valley, you come recognize certain facts.

• The Casino isn't going away.
• Organic farmers smell a little weird.
• Don't plan any social event on opening weekend of deer season.
• If none of the players on your youth soccer team speak Spanish, your going loose. Badly.
• The majority of the residents in the area drink alcohol, lots of alcohol.

So it came as a surprise tonight when I dropped by the Capay Junction looking around for my friend, the bar was almost empty. Hmm. Where is everyone?

The word at the bar was this is the final weekend of B zone deer hunting. That could explain it. While I ordered my usual Sprite, the bar tender laughed and said the tea totalers out numbered the beer drinkers that night. I looked around and it was true. Four of us at the bar were drinking soda and my buddy Skip was having a beer.

One of the guys drinking soda I met at church a few weeks ago. We talked about how weird it was. Hey I know that some folks in some churches would not approve of being at a bar for any reason. But I don't worry about those people. Everyone needs the grace of Jesus Christ, including those trying to drink their troubles away.

I have never stood up on the pool table and given a sermon, far from it. I just talk with my friends and when they ask why I'm not drinking I explain that I stopped a while ago and I don't seem to miss it. Most of them know I am go to church because of the wedding as funeral services I have performed for friends. I would find it hard to stand in front of them holding a Bible one week and then have them watch me get hammered the next week.

I am the furthest thing from a good Christian you will find. However I do understand that people are looking at me to see if I walk the walk. I try not to do anything that would have people scoff at God because of my actions. I try to do right by people and be there for my friends when they need help.

We all try, we all fail, we all fall short of glory of God, yours truly included.
But I'm trying.

Right brain, left brain. The spinning girl tells all

If you have not seen this, it will trip you out.

I see her spinning clockwise, but my friends see her spinning counter clockwise.
While we were debating, I suddenly saw her spin the other way for a turn or two before she went back clockwise.
Freaky..

Lights, sirens, helicopters and Life Flight, in Esparto

UPDATE
below.

Well, if there is going to be any trouble around Esparto, you can usually drive out my way to find it. Today we had it in spades.

It seems that about the time I turned on the Red Sox - Indians ALCS game I heard the sound of a treetop level helicopter buzzing my house followed by a herd of CHP and Sheriff's cars. A few minutes later I went to the back door to see a Life Flight helicopter landing in the neighbors alfalfa field.

I must say that I strongly dislike 'Lookie Loos', the you type that stop their car to gawk at a wreck on the opposite side of the freeway causing 'rubber neck' backups. I don't do it, but I married into a family of professional gawkers.

My wife was in town and heard that the road was blocked off at our house. She went to go see what was going on. There she met my father in law, he could be on the Professional Gawker Tour if they ever bothered to organize one.

When my wife came back to the house with her father they told us all about the event that brought so much commotion to our rural little slice of Yolo County.

It seems that a high speed pursuit had been going on for quite a while around the Esparto area involving a Suzuki motorcycle and numerous police agencies with a helicopter thrown in for good measure. The motorcycle went screaming by our house and at the next intersection the CHP had a road block set up with two patrol cars. The spacing between the cars was only a few feet and the cars were slightly off set so there was no clear path between them. The motorcycle rider decided he could make it through the road block, but he must have failed his spatial relation and reasoning class when he was in high school because he smashed his bike into one of the squad cars sending Japanese motorcycle parts and himself scattered all over road 23.

My father in law said the Highway patrol officer had a pretty serious leg injury from either the motorcycle smashing into his leg or parts of the wreckage cutting into his leg. He seemed to be alert and awake waiting for the ambulance, the rider of the bike was taken by Life Flight before the gawking duo arrived on scene.

So thats about it. I hope everyone involved will recover. Even the speeding motorcycle jackass, hey I have a soft spot for speeding motorcycle jack asses, I used to be one. I hope the officer heals and is back on the job soon, we need him to keep the casino players from running us locals off the road on their way to loose their money.

UPDATE-
Channel 3 just knocked on my door to ask if I wanted to be interviewed about what I heard and saw. I politely declined and sent the reporter over to my father in laws house. This should make for good TV. See you at 10:00

Hey Democrats, does Pete Stark speak for you?

I'm sure in his district, he does. How about you?


Pete Stark on the floor of the House of Representatives;

"You don't have money to fund the war or children. But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the President's amusement."

The cheek of every JFK democrat must tingle in shame when they hear sort of BS.

Muddy boots, good news if you're a cattleman.

With the ides of October upon us, cattle ranchers and farmers are looking towards the skies hoping for an early and wet winter. At least the ones here in Yolo County anyway. We have had two dry winters in a row and a third would be disastrous to those who rely on ponds for livestock water and lakes and reservoirs to irrigate their crops.

With the early rains the past two weeks, there is a green haze on the hills and along side the roads. The welcoming sign of grass breaking through the ground to start its growing cycle.

I hope it continues.

It must be nice to write a opinion column without having to think

Does anyone read the Winters Express? Well I stop by their website from time to time, but does anyone pay folding money for a subscription to this paper?

I guess if my kid was playing high school football I might, but aside from that, why would you pay for this kind of writing?

If Giuliani had warded off the 9/11 attacks, then he’d have something to boast about. As it is, he was broadsided just like everyone else. That 9/11 happened on his watch was merely coincidental. It’s not like he had an effect on it one way or the other. Maybe his real appeal is that in the midst of chaos, New Yorkers looked to him for comfort and reassurance, and he gave it. Six years later, with no progress made in apprehending the 9/11 mastermind, a war with the wrong country raging on with no end in sight, and the numbers of Islamic extremists growing exponentially worldwide, maybe Republican voters want the same thing New Yorkers wanted: someone to tell them that everything will be okay.
Well, not all Republicans, anyway. Not RRR Republicans, who want a president who will 1) outlaw abortions and 2) prevent gay marriage. And maybe 3) jam extreme “Christian” values down every American’s throat. No wonder they’re disgruntled with Giuliani.

By Debra Lo Guercio
Copyright 2004
McNaughton Newspapers.

RRR stands for Radical Religious Right by the way.

I wonder if Debra has ever heard of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed? Probably not, but if she has I'm sure her thoughts would not focus on him being the mastermind of the attacks on 9/11, she would probably decry his imprisonment at Gitmo. Thats right Debra, the mastermind behind the 9/11 is sitting in a cell on the tip of Cuba. I also wonder if Ms. Lo Guercio has ever read The Looming Tower? I wonder if she knows the surge is working? Again, I have my doubts. She doesn't know the players, the facts on the ground, nor does she seem to want to learn. Just paint with the biggest brush you can find Debra, don't let the facts stand in the way of good tale.

As for the RRRs, she and I must have a very different definition of that group. To her the RRR seem to be folks who go to church, are active in politics, and would like to see our nation turn away from the pornification of our culture.

That is me.
That's me and most of the folks who walk through the doors of the average church across this land. We are the 'the religious voter' the MSM talks about, yet never meets. Rudy is not my first choice, but I don't think Debra has any idea just how determined folks like me are about not having another Clinton in the White House.

Don't get me wrong, there are folks who are Radical, Religious, and way, way right. For every Jerry Falwell, or Pat Robertson there are millions of evangelicals who cringe every time these guys sit across the desk from Larry King because they know they are going to say something to make evangelicals look like religious zealots. If these radicals had the power that Debra claims, their hand-picked candidate would be pulling double digit points in nationwide polls. That is far from reality.

The RRRs are not going to have the impact she states in her piece. Its just like the Ron Paul Pualinoids. They make lots of noise but accomplish very little.

Taking a page from Ms. Lo Guercio, I'll pull up a lawn chair and grab a bag of chips and watch the train wreck coming down the tracks for the Democratic party. Just wait till the junior Senator from New York gets her party's nomination. The nutroots will have kittens. The Kos kiddies and the Moveon crowd will be get behind some third party ticket, they will talk Al 'the green Jesus' Gore into running and that will be fun to watch.

Hannah Montana vs Metallica

I was sitting on the couch the other day watching the news when I heard two familiar yet distinct sounds coming from the other room. The loudest of the two was 'For whom the bell tolls' a song by Metallica that my song is learning to play on guitar and bass. The second was a little quieter, yet more annoying by a factor of 10. It was 'Best of both worlds'.

Cmon cowboy, Van Halen is still good music, you don't have to like Sammy, you can still be a David Lee Roth fan and enjoy "Best of both worlds".

No, no. Not 'Best of both worlds' I'm talking about "Best of both worlds"

????

Hannah flippin Montana's best of both worlds.




A stark contrast I know, but hey my son is 14 my daughter is 7.

I guess they are both age appropriate, well Metallica is a little dark and heavy for a freshman but he likes the music more than the lyrics at this point.

I guess I could have a larger problem if he was listening to Hannah Montana and she was banging her head to Metallica.

Kids, what are you going to do?

1,000 veteran each day in America

Ken Burns, the producer of the PBS series "The War", stated that each day in America, we lose 1,000 veterans. Think about that. 1,000 grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers. Not only will we lose the physical person, but the stories they take with them.

I know a few veterans and I enjoy spending time with all of them. Most of my family's veterans are gone now, my father built PT Boats during the war and my great uncle was killed in a submarine in the Pacific so I find time to visit with my friend's relatives. I think its because I haven't heard their stories a few dozen times like their own grandsons and sons have that I love to sit down with them and listen to how our world has changed.

With this in mind I was pleased to read this story in the Daily Democrat. Another good story written by Crystal Lee.

A new volunteer-based program in Yolo County called the Visit Our Veterans Project aims to increase social contact in the lives of war veterans.

The program, spearheaded by Woodland resident Pat Butler, began Thursday morning with a visit to 12 veterans at Alderson Convalescent Hospital on Walnut Street.

This is indeed a remarkable week. I have written two post praising the Daily Democrat. I am going to check my temperature, I may be running a fever.

Gold Star Marine wife to speak in Woodland October 23rd.

Rachelle Arroyave, a Marine Corps Widow /Gold Star Wife is a Woodland native and activist for military spouses and families who have lost loved ones on active duty.

Ms Arroyave will headline The Woodland Republican Club’s meeting which will be held starting at 7:30 P.M. On October 23^rd, 2007 in the Leake Room at the Woodland Public Library. The Woodland Public Library is located at 250 1ST St Woodland. The Public and members are invited. Cost: – Members – no charge, General Public - $5.00 per person at the door.

Rachelle Arroyave has appeared as a guest speaker on radio (MilitarySpouse TalkRadio, testified on behalf of AB1485 (AB1485) and her and her family’s story has been published in the Air Force Magazine.

Rachelle graduated from Woodland High School in 1994. She had met Jimmy at the Country Oaks Racquet Club. In 1997 she started working for PG & E and after five years she moved the family to Camp Pendleton to be closer to her husband. Jimmy Arroyave had served his country as a Marine for 10 ½ years when he was killed in a non-combat related accident on April 15^th, 2004.

At the time of Jimmy’s death, his daughter Vanessa was 6 ½, Natalia was 2 ½ and Rachelle as pregnant with “little” Jimmy. Rachelle, was also in school at the time finishing her last year in her Social Psychology degree.

Rachelle Arroyave’s story is a poignant and uplifting reminder of the sacrifice that the members of our military and their families give to support our nation and our freedom. The support of her family and friends has made all the difference to Rachelle. Please join us to hear her story and the positive activities that Rachelle has become part of to help other Widows and families. Learn how we can all be part of helping.

The Woodland Republican Club (WRC) is a grass roots political organization. WRC is built upon the shared Republican principles of individual liberty, genuine economic opportunities and leadership in world freedom.

For additional information about the event or for more information on the Woodland Republican Club contact:

Doug Young, President at 530-666-3669

Are there people who still believe the UN ?

If so, I have a question.
Why?

The UN has turned from a good idea, to a semi- effective peacekeeping force, to a completely useless peacekeeping force, to an American bashing debating society and not much else.

The latest example is Burma.

An organiser of the protest movement in Rangoon has blasted the United Nations special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, for bowing to the junta and gaining nothing in his visit to Burma.

Surinder Karkar, also known as Ayea Myint and U Pancha (the Punjabi), was among the Burmese who organised civilian protection circles that ringed monks as they marched through the streets of Rangoon for eight days last month.

"Nothing was achieved … Whatever the regime told him, he did. While he was there we were being shot, we were being detained. After he left there was more rounding up of people," the 43-year-old Sikh Burmese said.

He called on Dr Gambari to publicly release what the detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, had said to him during two meetings in Burma

These UN special envoys are just bureaucrats with lots of frequent flyer miles in hand made Italain suits paid for by you and me.

If it wasn't so tragic, it would be funny.

What's worse than being a buffalo?

I don't know, what is worse than being a buffalo?

wait for it.......

Being a Buffalo Bill!

Two Yolo County Marines come home.

I know that I slam the Daily Democrat for what I consider sloppy work or an opinion that I think borders on the stupid, but I also give a pat on the back when they deserve one. This story is such an occasion. Sometimes the best thing a reporter can do is not to get in the way of a good story.

A tip of the hat to Crystal Lee, a Daily Democrat staff writer. It would have been easy to keep asking loaded questions about the war trying to get a juicy quote, but it didn't seem that was her intention in writing in the article. Here is a piece..

The brothers returned to Woodland one week ago, after serving more than seven months in Iraq at the Al Taqaddum base between Fallujah and Ramadi, two of the most dangerous cities in the country. Luis is a convoy driver and Francisco is a "gunner," armed and charged with the responsibility of protecting a convoy from attacks. Neither was ever injured.

Today, they will be driving back to their duty station in Yuma, Arizona, where they will train, work and wait to see if they are needed in Iraq again.

While serving in Iraq might be a frightening concept to many people, for Francisco and Luis, it was a chance to take their lives in a positive direction.

Happy Columbus Day!

I should take a the day off and head for North Beach. The food is fantastic and a stop by Gino and Carlo's is always a must.
I should, but I have work to do.

Church at Arco Arena

If you remember my post from last week about small churches, you will find it easy to believe how exited I am about our church is having its service at Arco Area. Every two years the Bayside family of churches come together under one roof to celebrate a loving God and to give thanks for our thriving church. From the main church in Granite Bay, Bayside has planted churches all over the area and Sunday all 9 will be together in one building, and that takes a very big building.

I would have never have guessed that I would pay a parking fee to attend church services, but the Maloofs still want their money, so I would advise carpooling. Other than that, the church service is free. Live Music from Lincoln Brewster and more fun for the kids than you can imagine.

Bring a friend, heck bring two or three. If you have family members that are not exactly 'church people' make it a point to bring them, they will have a blast. When you hear 20,000 people singing contemporary worship music, it will be hard not to feel something special is going on. Seriously, we will rock the house and peg the sound meter on the scoreboard.

Get there about 9:00, and enjoy the kids area and check out the resource booths. Service is at 10:00.

Domestic non-blissfulness.

I am not sure why, but my wife enjoys when I leave the house for a few days. I know what your thinking, its because you're a screaming jackass Cowboy, thats why. Nope.

She enjoys having the California King sized bed all to herself. Well she does have to share it with her Jack Russell Terrier Lexi, or the 'little ball of hate' as I call her, but the dog sleeps on my pillow anyway. No snoring from me, no showering noises at 5:30 to wake her, she really enjoys her slumbering time alone. With me gone, it means less laundry, less dishes and more time to watch Grey's Anatomy without me making wise cracks about Mc Dreamy or Mc Steamy or Mc whoever she likes.

When my wife is out of town for a fews days, I hate it. Not that I am a stranger to domestic activity mind you, truth be told I am the better cook and I know my way around the washing machine and dishwasher, but the house is different without her.

I hate sleeping alone. When I roll over in bed and can keep going all the way to the other side, I wake up. When she goes away I get to watch whatever I want, eat whatever I want and use as many pillows as I like. My wife is a certified pillow hog and uses three at the minimum and I have to fight to get mine back if I come come to bed and she is still reading.

Still, with me asserting my authority as king over my home, doing as I please, watching tv with a glass of chocolate milk and cooking with garlic and extra onions, I am a disheartened monarch.

My wife should return Saturday night from Harris Ranch, she is attending a seminar on horse racing and things will return to normal. The dog will ignore me once again, the kids will follow her around as usual and I for one will be a happy co-monarch.

So, how do your people like electricity and food?

I love the coverage of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun meeting with the "Dear Leader" of North Korea, better known as world's largest prison. Don't you enjoy the way the MSM paints the pair as equals that could one day reunite their two peoples. Sure thing.

On the one hand you have a democratically elected President of a thriving industrial nation, and on the other you have a maniacal dictator whose ruthless oppression of his citizens knows few limits.

Yep, like two peas in a pod.

Maybe Kim Jung Ill wants to borrow a cup of light?