I hope that some grape growers in Northern California come to their senses, otherwise I will stop buying their wine. The Mercury News has this story:
Some winery owners have summoned authorities to trap and shoot black bears - as well as wild pigs, deer, turkeys and mountain lions - that plundered their vineyards. The killings have sparked debate over the future of wildlife in the nation's most famous wine-growing region....
...With premium Cabernet grapes that can be produced only in mountainous regions selling for $5,000 to $7,000 a ton, vineyards have sprouted on slopes and ridgetops where animals make their homes. The state is required to issue extermination permits if property owners show evidence of damage caused by wildlife, Larson said.
Earlier this year, animal control officers caught and killed four black bears - two males and two females - at the Aetna Springs Vineyard in the rugged Pope Valley. Winery owner Paul Maroon said he had tried scaring off the bears, but resorted to getting rid of them for good because he feared they might hurt his field workers....
Grape growers in Northern California: the bears and the other animals were there first. You entered their habitat. Either build better fences, or risk losing customers if you continue to have animals killed.
When I think of Montana, I think of the beauty of nature and good people. Unfortunately, Conrad Burns doesn't fit into any of those categories. I cannot understand how the people of Montana can give their support to a man who is motivated more by money than preserving their state and helping its people.
Montana Republican Senator Conrad Burns, took big money in contributions from Abramoff and his associates. Although Burns plans to return the money, there is still the fact that money was given for the purpose of gaining influence. Recently, Burns said that the 9/11 hijackers had entered the U.S. through Canada. He was wrong. Later he said he misspoke. Really? When one makes an error in speaking, it is usually by substituting one word for another. Burns said what he meant to say, but now he got caught. Nice going, Burns! You've just pissed off an entire country with your ignorance! Shame.
NORM, NORM, NORM
Minnesota Republican, Sen. Norm Coleman, has gotten many of his constituents angry. Here is why:
Coleman, R-Minn., said the bill deserved an up-or-down vote, and that he would have voted against it if ANWR survived. But environmental groups said his vote against the filibuster amounted to a breaking of his 2002 campaign pledge to oppose ANWR drilling...
Nice try, Norm. I still can't believe that people voted for this twit. Have you ever heard him ask questions in a committee meeting? Perfectly awful.
