Dashing Through the Snow…..

I made a rather interesting discovery on my van, otherwise known as Bit’s Box, this morning.

It turns out that the rearview mirror on it, which has a highly accurate compass display, and real-time outside temp display which is fed from the engine’s computer, also has an indicator which reads “ICE”, that lights up.  Since this is the first time I’ve driven this van in weather this cold, I’d never seen it before.
A new discovery!

Apparently, the light doesn’t stay on at temps below 32 degrees F, but rather is triggered on something else… Possibly a temp/RH combination, I don’t know. Shoot, now I gotta go back and RTFM, again. I remember seeing something about it in there when I read it last August, but it’s not easy to concentrate on passages about ice when you’re sitting in 90 degree temps.

You’ll remember it’s an AWD rig, which makes it a very different animal from my old 95 Astro which you actually guided into corners with the assumption that the back end was gonna get squirrelly. Actual road ice, seemingly, is not a problem for this new rig, though.  I’ve got to drive it a bit more to be sure. The feedback I get from the thing is so steady and so very much ‘yeah, there’s rain and snow…So what?’ that I’ve started to become concerned that it’s not telling me the real traction story, down there. I’m worried it’s giving me a false sense of security.

My usual trick of finding a snow covered empty parking lot and thrashing the thing a bit will have to wait until there’s a snow covered lot in which to thrash the thing a bit. For now, we just have spots of ice, occasionally… And that darned light.

Speaking of the van, I’ve decided, since I’ve been spending so much time and effort on this van of late, that I’d try to hook up with some similar minded folk,a nd perhaps get some ideas meet people have some laughs, etc.  As such, I’ve been looking around for a vanner’s group to get involved with. In years past, we had one of the biggest groups in the nation, right here in good old Ra-cha-cha. This club had over 150 vans in the club at their peak… They could do a ‘run’ all by themselves without inviting any other clubs. Some really wild rides, back then, even by today’s standards.  Of course in those days, about all I could afford was a second-hand Ford Pinto Hatchback that I’d modified into the world’s smallest RV by putting a bed and some curtains in the back.

(Picture this really off-the-hook custom van sitting next to the Pinto Hatchback, with the win 9 foot CB antennae two VHF whips and a scanner whip, and the curtains in the window, and you may begin to understand why I never bothered pressing the vanning matter.)

More recently, in there was one in the Syracuse area, just a short putt down the road from here. Alas, both of them are gone.  Even ones still claiming to be active haven’t updated their sites since the 2002 nationals for the most part.

Really sad.

I did manage to find one based in the Suburbs of Binghamton, which is close enough to make occasional showings, but…(shrug. I’ll have to see it the thing is still active, or not. I see they have a show and shine scheduled in July that might be fun to see. I also see the Nationals are sched’ for mid July in the Keystone state, and that might be fun.

Even there, I’m concerned, though. In the old days, there were some clubs that were sturdily mod/show and shine, and other clubs that got together as an excuse to drink beer. I’ve heard it said that van clubs are motorcycle clubs with four wheels per member vehicle. I suppose that’s true; I’ve DJ’d for bike clubs and can tell you it’s true, from both ends of that spectrum.

What’s odd about that is that now I have two boys, and a wife to consider. Years ago, I’d have thought nothing of some of the wilder aspects of such groups. Now, I’m a little unsure of it all, given my situation and I wonder if that’s not why such clubs are harder to find these days.

Well, we’ll see how this goes. But I’ve got all winter to investigate it.
And looking at the snow, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.

The Man Without Qualities has an interesting note up. He links a WaPo article, which in turn quotes the Folically challanged one, sayng:

“”We have to treat the disease, not the symptom,” [James] Carville said. “The purpose of a political party is to win elections, and we’re not doing that.”

…..to which Robert responds:

“Uh … Mr. Carville … the purpose of a political party is supposed to be advancing and preserving certain moral principles chosen by its members…..Its “disease” is characterized by its ongoing dominance by technocratic functionaries without moral center and those having principles shared by an isolated minority.”

Precisely.
Or, put in a way I’ve had in my right column for years, now: “What do you stand for?”

Jonah Goldberg’s Goldberg has a real gem up today, you should read.  Here’s a bit of it:

“One might ask if the Democrats really want to place so much emphasis on ‘ignorance’ of the base as a defining difference between the parties. By all means let’s break out the number-two pencils and pit the homeschoolers, tractor drivers, and Sunday-school teachers against the voters who wouldn’t have shown up at the polls lest they miss a chance to meet P-Diddy. “

What if THIS had come out before 11/2?

Tell me again, how the press hasn’t been running blocker for John Kerry.

Boortz, today:

“So anyway, a study was done at Harvard (of all places,) and guess what? A study by Associate Professor of Public Policy Alberto Abadie at the John F. Kennedy School of Government found that terrorist violence wasn’t caused by poverty, but instead was determined by a country’s level of political freedom. In other words, oppression causes terrorism, not poverty.

If that’s the case, then what’s the best way to fight terrorism? Well …. duh …. it would be by spreading freedom. Which is exactly what we are doing with the War on Terror. Spreading freedom and liberty in Iraq and Afghanistan gives terrorists two less places to go, thus reducing terrorism

By the way, ever notice that in the last twenty years, all terrorists seem to come from countries where Islam is the dominant religion?”

.

But, I notice this report isn’t in the mainstream press. If someone comes up with a link, other than Boortz for this story, post it in the comments.

The WaTi this morning has an article all about DemoPundit and all-around snake James Carville, who, among other things, had this to say:

” ‘The underlying problem here is, there is no call to arms that the Democratic Party is making to the country,’ “

Well, as usual, Carville only has it half right. What he’s not saying here is that the Democrats and what they stand for, WERE the call to arms… for the Republicans. 

As an example of how the Democrats still don’t get it; Carville himself offers up Hillary Clinton as the choice for 2008. And, in another example, Howard Dean, it appears, is making noises about wanting the DNC chair,a nd it appears he’s gathering support from the power brokers.

Actually, Dean would serve the country well as the DNC chair. Democrats wouldn’t be able to get a seat on the town council with him running things.

And to top that off, we hear this morning that Kerry is thinkng about a 2008 run.

2008 is a long way off, yet, I know… but the Democrats appear to be making no moves whatever, away from ‘more of the same’. And so, will lose in larger numbers in 2008. And should we mention that they have 2006 to lose even more congressional seats, as well while they try to figure out just what it is they stand for?

Anyone doubting the concept of a life after death should simply look at Yassir Arafat. Personally, I’m rather thinking the best tribute we could build over him would be an outhouse. But we can’t… they’re still back and forth over this guy’s path toward room temperature. Here’s someone who even the socialist French doctors say is brain dead… and they should know… it is a concept with which the French are most closely linked of late, after all…. and yet for some reason they’re not ready to give it up.Despite all these death reports, he keeps popping up again, just like Bill Clinton, or Al Gore…  Or, Chucky, possibly….You know, people who should have been dead long ago, and were certainly acting like it, but fooled us all. Or maybe it’s more like people who were simply brain dead, like Jimmy Carter or Walter Cronkite.

Only thing I can think of is they’re hoping for him to kill a few more innocent civilians, before taking a final bow, or something.

But I say, enough is enough. Look, I mean, the guy’s got 65 virgins to get to… and he was only up to number five when we declared he wasn’t dead after all. Give the poor guy a chance, huh? Slot this guy, already, and let’s get to the peace talks, eh? It’s only with him gone that we’re going to have any peace, anyway.

Update: Here we go again; OTB links a wire story that says he is dead after all.  I trust James, but…. I dunno. Stay tuned for yet another resurection tonight, is my advice.

Update2: There’s something remarkably British about Q&O’s comments on this topic.

A friend asked me the question that I’d heard people ask Limbaugh after other elections: “Well, now that the election’s over and Bush won,, what in the world do you plan to talk about?” … Not understanding, apparently, that I seldom actually plan to talk in these spaces, about anything at all, rather tending toward simply giving in to an idea and writing about it. Usually, as long-time readers will know it’s simply something that happens to catch my eye as I look at the world.

At the moment, the Democrats are licking their wounds spinning wild conspiracy theories which are expected and hardly worth noting… While the rest of the world is catching it’s breath, and Bithead’s attention turns to other matters. Not smaller, certainly, but of less notice during the election season,for all the shouting, pre- 11/2.

Our troops, along with the Iraqis and all the people dedicated to that task, are, at the direction of the president of Iraq, moving on the terrorist stronghold of Fallujah. I’ve been offering silent prayers for those people all day. You will want to do the same; They’ll need the help.

My older boy was confirmed yesterday, and we spent the day in celebration of that. And much of the day before, for that matter. To celebrate a bit I brought both he and his brother out to Buffalo’s Frontier Rail yard to blow off some film at the passing parade.  His grandmother popped for a meal at the Olive Garden after services yesterday, it being one of her favorite places.

I imagine I’ve just given some of the leftists reading this blog one more reason to dislike me; I and my family are religious. So be it, it’s they who have problems with my diversity, I suppose.

I said nothing to him, but I saw a lot of myself at that age in my boy this last weekend, and also a maturity that made me sit up and take notice on several levels. It was startling in it’s contrast from what I’ve come to expect over the younger years and I caught myself wondering if I was misreading the situation because of some misplaced parental pride. Oh, he still has his rough edges, make no mistake. But in many ways he’s taking on a personality I’m prouder of by the day, on the whole, and last weekend was a reminder of that.

The Christmas decorations in the stores, which in large part, have been up since the start of September, are at last starting to hit home with me; It’s getting close, and I’m going to need to start shopping. And I’ve got to get the camper back into the garage and up on jacks for the winter.

More hopeful on the horizon is our wedding anniversary. My Donna and I were married on Vets’ day in 1989.  We have made it a tradition, these last 15 years, to play hookie from work this one day out of the year, without fail, and spend the day together doing whatever.  The kids are at school, so for around eight to ten wonderful hours, our time is our own, and precious as rare jewels.

Over the years, we’ve gone on shopping trips to nearby Buffalo, and Syracuse, gone to Niagara Falls, (Where I proposed to her, and where, much to my long lasting happiness, she accepted on the spot.) Once, we even did the Finger Lakes Wine Trail, stopping at a few of the several wineries there and one really first rate restaurant, down that way. It was romantic colorful and above all memorable; Fall was rather late that year making the day rather more comfortable and colorful than we’d seen in years.

I’m not sure where we’re going this year; it’s not often we actually plan the day too tightly. Given the changeable nature of the weather, it’s hard to plan outdoor activity around here his time of year, to begin with, and anyway, we generally just follow our moods. It’s OUR time, dammit, and we do our level best to keep the world from intruding.This year, since the 11th falls on a Thursday and the kids have off from school, and she’s working, we’re taking Friday together.

Above all, life continues.  The very reason I’m able to focus my attention on these matters is because I have confidence in the man we’ve elected. I know he’ll do his job; I don’t have to regard every move he makes with suspicion as would be needed with a John Kerry.

Perhaps that’s the message behind a smaller hitcount than what I got here, before the election, and the lower number of new postings from just about all of Blogdom; We can stop a goodly chunk of our worry, now.

* Well, it’s snowed last night, here in Rochester. Bit’sBox had some annoyng white trim on it… mostly, on the windsheild. It took a few extra minute to clear and to get things up to normal operating range. I am NOT looking forward to winter.  You know the winter reputation Buffalo has.Many still have vivid memories of Bufalo actually shipping trainload after trainload of snow out of town in the 70’s. Well, Rochester is actually a little frther north than Buffalo, and is actually north of a fairly good-sized chunk of Canada. (Brrrrr!)The only advantage here is I don’t have to swap out the ‘holding’ ice in the van’s fridge quite so often. (I use gallon jugs of ice for those times when the truck isn’t running, to keep the temp inside the fridge down where it belongs)

* Just tried Altoids Ginger. Ouch. I can see tossing one of these things into your tea, or cooking with them.

* Hit rates on this page are down from the stratospheric levels they were at on Thursday. Guess the election’s over. I don’t feel too badly about it, though, given everyone else’s hitrates are down by a lot, too, even the first line boys.

*A few mailnotes regards my BitsBit of this week. No, people, I’m not trying to slence the Democrats. I’m simply identifying the group as a collective basket case, which is something they should have done themselves, 70 years ago.

Over at US News, John Leo posts an interesting, somewhat distorted echo of my own long form writeup, of yesterday:

“Doors were slamming in the Democratic Party. Almost all dissent from elite opinion on social issues grad-ually became positioned as a human-rights violation of some kind. (On the cable shows last Wednesday, backers of traditional marriage were denounced several times as gay-bashers.)”

He also offers some advise, which is also an echo of what I’ve been saying for a while, now… before the election, even…

Democrats might want to tone down the contempt for evangelicals in particular and religious people in general that increasingly flows through their secular-dominated party. This is a very religious nation. If the Democrats aspire to become the majority party, why do they tolerate so much antireligious behavior and expression? They also might have a word with out-of-control adjuncts of the party like People for the American Way, whose mission is apparently to hammer away at religious conservatives, and the American Civil Liberties Union, which is always ready to descend on every 6-year-old who writes a school essay on Jesus or who says, “God bless you” after a sneeze. Do they think religious voters fail to notice?

As I point out in ths week’s BIT, the Democrats have not had a true majority on the way to the WH in over 80 years. Leo seems to be among the few who actually understands WHY…. or at least, he’s willing to admit he understands why. Which, as I say in this week’s bit, is perhaps the real problem.

Is it time for the Democrats to disband their party? I address that in this week’s Bits Bit: Is it time for the Democrats go out of business?

“The Democratic Party in years past had much to commend it. That situation, however, has long since ceased to be, as the more radical elements in the party have taken over, and their electoral losses are connected directly to the degree that the left takes over….. Democrats are in trouble today because they have been taken over by the far extreme of their own party, and refuse to recognize it, or else are deathly afraid to make any complaint about it, for fear of being excommunicated from the party. The message clearly has been sent to the rank and file of the Democrat party: Lockstep or step off. And nobody within the party, dares stand up to the Democratic party’s radicals. Thus are the Democrats are destroying THEMSELVES… mostly by holding silence about what they see. The degree to which the Democrats lose voters is directly connected to the amount to which they bow to their extreme left wing. And they still don’t understand this, or are unwilling to admit it and act on it.”

CNN says in their headline: “Americans Flock to Canada’s Immigration Web Site”

Oh, bull.
The fact is that it’s in response to a number of leftie bloggers posting the link on their sites. Another mass exodus that will never occur.

Go back to sleep, CNN.

The divided america the Democrats have been trying to achieve, simply doesn’t exist.

In re-visiting last week’s Bit’sBit it occurs to me;

If the left and the press (there goes that redundancy again) want to speak of a divided America, let’s try the 1860’s on for size. Of course, it should be pointed out that a Republican prevailed there, as well.

The Democrats, seeing this victory are again calling for bipartisanship; something they seemingly are only concerned about when they lose elections. But the recent news apparently hasn’t reached them:

Mr. Bush won this election.
He did not, as some have tried to claim, steal it.
He won it.
Are you listening, Kos, you blithering idiot?
Not by a squeak, but with a roar.

The American people decided that they didn’t want their President going on his knees to the corrupted French and the corrupted UN to ask for permission to do his job, which is what John Kerry repeatedly said we SHOULD be doing.

By means of that victory, does he lose the requirement of going back on all fours, and asking for Democratic party permission to do his job, as well. Democratic party wails to the contrary not withstanding, the Democratic agenda matters not at all, having been removed from office by means of a free vote of the populace. 

If the American people had wanted that limitation to be imposed on our president, as John Kerry had promised, they’d have voted differently, and John Kerry would be picking out a new liquor cabinet for his wife right now, instead of looking around for someone to blame for his loss.

While the election is stll fresh in our memory and the relevance of it is being denied by the losers, I will turn at least part of my blogging attention to my faithful steed….BitsBox

A weird thing to be doing in the coming winter, I suppose, but, whatever.
I’m currently busy trying to decide what aspect of this thing I want to address first. I’m also looking fo an Astro/Safari Owner’s club, or at least a vanning group in the area.

Oh, the heck with this; The truck is calling me; I feel a road trip coming on.

“DES MOINES, Iowa -(AP) President Bush (news – web sites) won Iowa on Friday, finishing the 2004 campaign with wins in all three of the states that were still up in the air on election night.

Bottom Line, here, people, is that Bush won much begger than the Democrats are admitting, here.

Bush – 286
Kerry – 252