Recent comments

I guess the terrorists have won. We have to spoil our national parks just to keep up the recruitment effort. Very sad.

To: Chair, California Desert District Advisory Council
C/O Bureau of Land Management
6221 Box Springs Blvd
Riverside, CA 92505

From: Packrat

Subject: Panamint Valley, Surprise Canyon

Date: January 29, 2003

I am absolutely disgusted that the BLM, out of Ridgecrest no less, has installed a barrier at the mouth of Surprise Canyon to prevent vehicles from driving beyond the Chris Wicht Camp and on up to Panamint City.

All of this because The Center for Biological Diversity has filled a law suite against the BLM for failure to implement a environmental protection measurement?

What this equates to me is that the BLM has stopped all vehicular traffic from using this
RS 2477 designated road. A Court injunction should be filled immediately against the Center for Biological Diversity, to allow vehicular traffic to use this road to Panamint City, whilst the Environmental Impact Report is being established.

Its like saying the people, with their vehicles, that use this RS 2477 road are GUILTY of using a one hundred year old road and will not be allowed to access Panamint City. The people and vehicles should be allowed to use this road whilst the BLM is preparing the EIR.

Furthermore, for the two sections of the, so-called “stream”, are being considered for designation as a “Wild and Scenic River” are completely ridiculous. Anyone with any notion of common sense would not even think this way. Do you think the general public really believes this? If that were the case then would the California Department of Fish and Game require boat permits to use this so called river. I don’t think so!

Being that The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the BLM, and the BLM has, in turn, closed off this road to Panamint City, is another classic case of big government closing areas to the general public, let alone the private landowners up in
Panamint City, CA.

In summary I would like to say the following as a matter of public record:

1. I am against the closure of this RS 2477 road going up to Panamint City, which is in the Death Valley National Park system.

2. I am against the BLM for even considering that this “Rivulet” of water would
be even be considered as a wild and scenic river.

3. I am against the Center of Biological Diversity for filling the lawsuit for the
BLM’s failure to produce a EIR, in an efficient manner. This is just another
waste of taxpayer money!

Respectfully,

Packrat

Epilogue: I still stand to this day on what I sent the BLM in the year of 2003
Been up to Panamint City many times, but not after the summer of
1984. The Government, Environmental people, etc., have way too
much to say and keep on locking all of us Desert folk out of the area,
with the exception of walking and enough is enough...

"I never said the government is the best steward of land, but yes I am dead set against privatization." Leave it to Professor Macdonald to be as clear as mud.

Oh, and I do know the difference between an anarchist and a socialist, since I didn't just fall of the back of the turnip truck yesterday, and I would definitely categorize myself as leaning much more towards the former rather than the latter. I subscribe wholeheartedly to the classical meaning of the word anarchy which is defined in the dictionary as " a theory that regards the absence of all direct or coercive government as a political ideal and that proposes the cooperative and voluntary association of individuals and groups as the principal mode of organized society."

Snowbird the NPS and the military-industrial complex are inextricalbly linked by virtue of their common Decider-In-Chief in Washington, DC. If he and his minions deem the Grand Teton range to be a suitable backdrop to promote the cause of militarism that is totally his perogative. He is after all the Decider and those mountains belong to the gov-mint he runs. So just settle down and enjoy the roar. There ain't nuthin' you can do to stop him. NUTHIN'!

Beamis, one of these days you'll learn the difference between an anarchist and a socialist. I never said the government is the best steward of land, but yes I am dead set against privatization. Actually, I have trouble seeing much difference between the two choices in your false dichotomy. That's in fact why I raised a disgraceful public use of land, but I was also a little clever to mention the public/private partnership that is the military. It was a way of signaling that the discussion isn't being framed correctly by either pro-government control or pro-privatization forces.

Anyhow, c'est la vie

*sticking my head back in the sand*

Jim Macdonald
The Magic of Yellowstone
Yellowstone Newspaper
Jim's Eclectic World

Where have you been hiding your head in the sand Mookie?

Thanks for the visual Frank. A great and tremendous fireball it would be!

Wow...if you really believe that only those who have served in the military have the right to voice an opinion? When did the fascists take over?

FYI, I also blogged (not web-zined) a bit about it. http://www.yellowstone-online.com/2007/07/sounding-off-blue-angels-blast-through.html

I probably won't be chiming in the rest of the day - my grandpa is very ill in the hospital, and I'm traveling to Minneapolis tomorrow. However, I would like to chime in more soon enough.

Jim Macdonald
The Magic of Yellowstone
Yellowstone Newspaper
Jim's Eclectic World

I'd be curious to learn how much this photo-op cost the Navy. Perhaps they could make a like donation to Grand Teton, which could use some extra funding.

Beyond that, though, don't forget that there's a commercial airport within the park boundaries, so it's not the most quiet place to start with.

Does freedom have a sound?

I don't like it...even with the throttles down, the sounds of the engines would still be powerful enough to disturb the wildlife. But I guess the Navy feels harming animals isn't as important than a stupid photo-op.