Gophers, Elephants and Mountain Goats

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Cascades Mountain Goat.jpg

I think many people read this blog not for my sometimes verbose commentary but also for the scathing criticism that some of my most devout readers direct at me (as well as the TWN NoteTakers Scott Paul and Sameer Lalwani). They are well-meaning folks, most of them.

But do know that I also appreciate the friendly, civilized, thoughtful comments that often come more by email than on the blog (!).

One of my commenters -- POA (short for "Pissed Off American") -- has pushed me to the edge a couple of times, and each time, we've been able to hammer out an 'understanding' regarding how high his cries of outrage can go. There are several government officials from countries like Iran, Syria, and Cuba who occasionally email me asking if I need a refuge to escape from my well-meaning attackers. . .seriously. But for POA's reasonableness after we 'chat', I thank him.

That said, he's been harassing me for a couple of weeks now about my inability to distinguish elephants from gophers. I disagree, but perhaps he knows that I'm more tuned into Weimaraners and mountain goats.

The Mountain Goat above is a distinguished looking lad that my fellow hikers met while hiking the Cascades with me in early August. I was ahead on the trail, they behind and the mountain goat in between. In fact, I was moving so fast that they thought I had turned into that mountain goat.

This is a friendly way of saying thank you to all of my commenters -- and POA -- who make TWN a rich and usually semi-safe place for mostly reasonable discussion. But do watch out for the sharp edges on occasion.

For others, you will note in the left column of my blog a box called "RSS Feed/FeedBlitz". If you sign up for that, you'll get a neat looking email everyday notifying you of the roster of posts that has gone up. Many of you request to be on my email list -- but that is the most direct and clean way to do it.

And as always, to those of you who want to PayPal a donation to the blog (upper right hand corner of blog), you have my thanks and appreciation.

-- Steve Clemons

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Posted by JohnH, Oct 12 2007, 6:13PM - Link

You should consider making this mountain goat your mascot. He does not have his head in the sand and has a clear perspective. If he could talk to humans, he would almost certainly be able to unambiguously articulate his strategic goals. Most likely he recognize and avoid all forms of BS and certainly wuoldn't produce any. In all, the swamp known as DC could learn a lot from him.

Posted by Steve Clemons, Oct 12 2007, 6:17PM - Link

JohnH -- What a GREAT idea. I have some other re-design ideas in mind, but I really like the idea of incorporating the Cascades Goat in the mix. We'll see..

Thanks so much -- you've added some pleasure to a rather hellish day.

Steve Clemons

Posted by PissedOffAmerican, Oct 12 2007, 9:48PM - Link

Thanks for the levity, Steve. It made my day.

Posted by Blue Steel, Oct 13 2007, 1:09PM - Link

In addition, the Mountain Goat is not hesitant to turn his head - to see what's coming up behind. Before he jumps.
We could all learn a lesson here.
Have a great day!

Posted by Blue Steel, Oct 13 2007, 1:10PM - Link

In addition, the Mountain Goat is not hesitant to turn his head - to see what's coming up behind. Before he jumps.
We could all learn a lesson here.
Have a great day!

Posted by PissedOffAmerican, Oct 13 2007, 2:00PM - Link

I remember when I lived in Bayview Idaho, on the south end of Lake Pend Oreille, seeing the herd of goats across the bay that lived on the cliffs near Lakeview. Often times I would ride the mailboat with Darlene or her husband George, as they delivered the mail on the east side of the lake, and the goats were always there, perched in seemingly impossible areas. I left there in '91, and like to think that herd is still thriving. Often times, when crewing one of the sailboats in the races, we would pass directly under them, and it was truly awesome to look up off my seat on the rail to see those amazing creatures noting the pasasage of our boats.I left there in '91, and like to think that herd is still thriving. On my desk I have a picture of Gary Mcdonald's Ranger 8.5, fully heeled on a starboard tack, with me faithfully acting as rail ballast, the goat cliffs behind us, as two J-24's pursue us.

Hmmm, maybe the snow wasn't all that bad.

Steve, if you are ever in Coeur D'Alene or Sandpoint, spend a weekend at McDonald's Hudson Bay resort. You won't regret it.

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