Monkeyfister

I am out the door to my friends' house for the weekend. Some hunting tonight and in the morning, a big feast, and then more hunting, and leftovers!

Cheers everyone, enjoy yourselves, eat too much, relax as much as possible, have a good time with your friends and family. AVOID POLITICS!

Be safe!


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Labels: Thanksgiving

There have been others. There will be more. This one was pretty good.



I liked the FReeper-style "!!!!1."


I saw it at Barry Ritholz's The Big Picture.


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Labels: American Idiots

One more reason to salute Paul Stamets. The old-growth forest where he found the Agarikon fungus is scheduled to be clear cut in the near future. Stamets has managed to save, preserve, and grow a very, very important medicinal fungus strain. Rock on!






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Labels: Fungi Perfecti, Medicinal Fungi

I almost forgot to post about this year's Beaujolais Nouveau. I have a glass here, right in front of me, and I have to say that it is the very best Beaujolais Nouveau since probably some time in the early 1990s.

Incredibly well-balanced between dry and fruity, it has a buttery finish, and a bouquet reminiscent of a basket of the finest, freshly-picked berries. This is the most palatable nouveau I have had in a long, long time. I thought last year's was good, but, it had a tartness that effected the finish. I'd serve this with anything one might otherwise pair with a Merlot or Pinot Noir. No "wine face" with this year's Beaujolais Nouveau, for sure. It is almost too drinkable!

via Georges Duboeuf

New York, October 1 - Beaujolais wine producer Georges Duboeuf
is ecstatic about this year’s Beaujolais harvest, predicting it one of the
best Beaujolais vintages in the last 50 years.

“We have had perfect weather with 50,000 grape pickers hard at work across the 3,000 vineyards of Beaujolais since September 4th,” proclaimed Georges Duboeuf in his most recent harvest report, dated September 18th. “The grape bunches are small with a fine purplish black color, and are exceptionally rich in sugar. The berries are thick, and the seeds are a gorgeous amber color, a sign of perfect phenolic maturity. Their brightness, intensity, and above all, their perfect health
are something to behold. We have not seen anything like this for a long time.”
Following the longtime French tradition of releasing Beaujolais Nouveau at one minute past midnight on the third Thursday of November, the 2009 vintage will be released November 19 with celebratory “Le Beaujolais Nouveau Est Arrivé!” events taking place in New York, Miami, Las Vegas and several other locations across the country.

Restaurants will be offering everything from midnight pajama parties to special Beaujolais Nouveau dinner menus. A new website, www.duboeufnouveau.com, with information on Beaujolais Nouveau and events surrounding its arrival in the U.S. will debut in October. “Following last year’s unprecedented, and successful, break from tradition, the 2009 Beaujolais will once again be shipped by boat, not by air, to reduce the carbon footprint of shipping the wine and to onserve fuel costs, ensuring that retail prices are kept affordable for U.S. consumers”, said Bill Deutsch, Chairman of Georges Duboeuf’s exclusive U.S. importer, W.J. Deutsch & Sons Ltd. “We anticipate retail prices to be lower than last year, averaging $9 to $11 per bottle.”

This young fruity wine is made from the region’s Gamay grape. By law, the grapes must be harvested by hand, not machine. August 2009 offered some of the best hot and sunny weather in the last 60 years. The favorable weather has helped the grapes mature nicely. In fact, many winegrowers in the early-maturing area requested a dispensation in order to start their harvest earlier. “To obtain optimum aromas and fruit for our primeurs, and to avoid over maturation, we opened our vinification site August 25th for those parcels with an alcoholic content already over 12°,”
said Duboeuf.

Indeed-- this particular wine is traditionally viewed as the sneak peek into the quality of the European grape harvest at large. If the Nouveau is good, the better wines will be great. Starting out with an OUTSTANDING primeur wine means the broader menu of 2009 wines will be exquisite.

Do NOT miss this one-- it really is worth the few bucks. A real bargain this year, that will garner many compliments.


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Labels: Beaujolais Nouveau, Good Wine

Good crikey, I never knew so much bullshit could pile-up in one morning.

Opening day of Deer rifle season. A beautiful, dry morning, temperature a comfortable 46F (compared with last year's 17F), not a cloud in the sky. A perfect day for hunting, we all agreed, as we settled into our various blinds in the dark hours before sunrise.

Here is an aerial view of the field that we hunt. Earl and I were in the blind at the bottom-right of the field, and Randy and Dusty were in blind at the top-left. Those big, whitish trails are Deer trails. Gives you an idea of just how productive this land is. Click for BIG view.



The sky grayed, followed by the rising of the sun. Lots of excitement and anticipation, as we chatted quietly over our radios to one another. As the sun lifted over the horizon, Randy and Dusty saw the first Buck jog out of the woods at the left end of the field. There are two houses at that end, and the Buck didn't move away from them before strolling back from whence it came. They radioed to us that he was a nice 8-pointer, and had it just moved away from the houses, they would have had it at easy 250 yard range.

Then, it was our turn to see a good Buck. It's getting close to 7am at this point.

Earl and I saw him-- a fat 6-pointer-- trucking along the tree line to the right. That is a 325-yard shot from where we were set up. He was on the neighbor's side of the trees, and we did everything that we could to call him over to us. Just as he was about to jump the fence and come to our side, the neighbor's rifle rang out, the deer leaped through the tree line, and died about 20-yards into the field we were hunting. Un-freaking-believable. We both groaned, knowing what was now to come. A big fucking mess. But, it would get much worse as the day progressed...

Twenty minutes later, here comes the neighbor guy in his orange. He waved to let us know that he was there (as if we didn't know). He had driven up to the tree line in his big, noisy truck, radio blaring. We just wanted him to take his deer, and go home to clean it, but no. He spent nearly a half-hour there, in our field. The bastard didn't just drag his deer over the fence and leave. He spent a half-hour FIELD DRESSING the damned deer, and left the guts right there, to scare away other deer, and attract Coyotes. We ended up having to bury the mess ourselves later. But, it got worse.

Twenty minutes after dude left, Three semi-trucks rattled and roared into the field directly behind us, to pull the giant bales of cotton out of the field.

Twenty minutes after they left, old neighbor dude's buddy pulls onto neighbor's field in a loud-assed panel truck, pulling a damned generator. A half-hour after that, we hear his gun fire, and damn if another Buck didn't run into our field to die in the lower right corner of the field. At least the hunter had the sense to just drag the whole Deer off quickly.

Earl and I were simply disgusted at this point. He actually called his neighbor and explained how upset he was. Oh, the neighbor was apologetic, but, never returned to clean up the Deer guts. Prick.

Finally, everything calms down, it is near 10am at this point. Randy radios over to us that there are four Does moving out of the woods, and out of the angle of the houses, they are moving toward us, and that he and Dusty were going to try and take two, hopefully driving the other two toward us. We were excited. No sooner had Randy hung up, we saw the Does about 425 yards off, and indeed, coming our way.

And then the B-29 bomber with two P-51s in formation flew over at low altitude-- very low. The Does scattered, Randy and Dusty's guns rang out, but both missed the panicked Deer. Earl and I never even had a chance to shoot. I screamed in frustration, Earl cursed a litany of obscenities right along with me. That was it. The morning hunt was over.

...

The evening hunt wasn't much better, the cotton-haulers came back a few more times during the day, keeping the Deer away. We had one notable bit of excitement, when, just at sunset, a Deer ran up immediately behind our tent, and grunted, stomped and thrashed around for about fifteen minutes, as it tried to figure out what the hell this thing was blocking his route across the field. We were both very excited, thinking that the day just might be saved from total ruin. Short-lived, though. It apparently just turned around, and disappeared. We never got to see it.

This morning, it was pouring rain in sheets, and that was that.

Pretty horrible start to rifle season.

I thought the top of muzzle-loader season was bad enough, when the combine pulled in to harvest the soy beans in our field, and remained all weekend.

I really hope that things change for the better come next weekend, because this weekend really put us all in a foul mood of disappointment.



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Labels: Deer Hunting

Finally, rifle season for Deer starts Saturday morning. I'm busy getting my gear together, and taking care of some last-minute chores before heading out to Deer Camp. All through bow season, and this past two weeks of muzzle-loader season, not a single Deer came withing range, but the rut is now ramping up, the weather is just right, the Deer are moving, and I've got high hopes of bagging one this weekend.

This past year, we've been working on optimum power charges as we make bullets for our rifles. It really is amazing how just a single grain of powder can improve or reduce accuracy. Too little powder, and the bullet hits the target a bit low, and can fly a bit erratic. Too much powder, and, beside the obvious danger of over-pressure, the gun will kick painfully hard. This causes the shooter to wince during trigger-pull, and again, the bullet will stray from the target.

After several weekends of loading, test-firing, and comparing notes, we each have 50 bullets that are of optimal charge, optimal length, and achieve optimal bullet placement during target practice.

All we need now is optimal Deer placement!

Never-mind where I am shooting that bullet-- put a Deer in front of it, and I'll hit it! :)

Joking aside, the whole point is to make the most accurate bullets that we can. I think we did well. We'll find out this weekend.



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Labels: Deer Hunting

So, I just called for the cats to come in from outdoors. I had turned on the light for the back deck, and in the gloom of the night, I saw two shapes moving through the gardens. Figuring it was Murray and Mountain Girl coming to my call (for once), I held the door open, and stood out waiting for them. Mountain Girl boogied up the stairs side by side with a HUGE opossum. She was like, "Oh, Hai! Here's my pal, Opossum, we were just playin' and whatnot, can he come in with me?" Ummmm... no.

Mr. Opossum took one look at me, and split off the side of the deck. It scared the living hell out of me-- NOT what I was expecting at all. I'm still astounded at how totally mellow MG was about the whole thing.

Life in the country. I wish I had had the camera ready.


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Labels: My Life... With Cats

A few months ago, I posted a TED Talk by Paul Stamets about how Fungi can save the world. This presentation is a bit longer, and deeper in content.

I have three Oyster mushroom kits sprouting away in my spare bedroom, and am looking forward to the Shaggy Mane, and Giant Garden mushrooms sprouting up in the garden beds any day now... or perhaps in the Spring. The three Oyster Mushroom bags are going to yield bumper crops this time round.



Stamet's kits are really worth the money-- HOWEVER, I suggest that you look at the requirements of time, temperature and watering BEFORE you buy a kit. I am just a single guy, and many of the kits requiring watering multiple times a day, which I cannot do if I am not at home. Others require very, very specific temperature ranges, which might not be realistic for growing in your home. Stamet's staff is VERY knowledgeable, and will provide excellent guidance if you just call and inquire before purchase. A single person will get less than ideal results with the Maitake, Pioppino, and Shiitake kits, which require frequent misting at regular intervals. I suppose one could rig up a pump on a timer...

Their Oyster Mushroom kits are more than worth their price for a single person. I get three good harvests from one kit, and then I bury it outside with some straw, and get at least another harvest. If you have a spouse or a family member at home to tend to the fungi, than that opens up a wide menu of possibilities. Paul Stamets is one good Human doing very good work. I have no problem supporting and blogging about his company. Of course, I take no money, and receive no benefit from posting about him. It's not my way. His company and products are simply excellent, and it doesn't take much effort to proclaim the virtues thereof. The discout for three kits makes up for the shipping costs. I am going to start experimenting with inoculating my own Oyster spawn into straw over the Winter and Spring. YouTube has plenty of videos on the subject.

It is awesome opening the cupboard and seeing jar after jar of dried mushrooms, ready to cook with. I cook with them very often. Since I can't even get them (fresh OR dried) here in the Mid-South armpit of America, they are more than worth the price and effort.


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Labels: Fungi Perfecti, Mushrooms, Oyster Mushrooms, Paul Stamets

Following up on the Guardian article, below, here are some responses from people who know more than I do on this topic.


-- Gregor Macdonald via Seeking Alpha

-- David Cohen via ASPO

-- Kjell Aleklett, President Of ASPO

-- Energy Bulletin Has A Nice Round-up Of Responses.

-- The Oil Drum will be visiting this in full detail over the coming days and weeks. Worth dropping in there for the good data.

This is important news. It is clear, now, that the BIG Energy Crisis is much closer than that fuzzy, out-there in the FUTURE 2030. I feel confident that we're "there" right now-- at the top. Any new discoveries brought online in the future will be not much more than maintenance. Jack 2 comes on line-- Gawar finally goes dead, etc.

I propose that any recovery will be little more than a stabilization of the current situation, but at a lower standard of living than we have right now. Many of those currently shut-out, will remain that way, but they'll find shelter in ample, cheap rentals... Means of economic survival will require imagination and creativity.

Learn A New Skill!



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Labels: ASPO, IEA, Peak Oil, World Energy Outlook 2009

Oh oh!

Bad news for you, not-Strong-Dollar Strong Dollar! [/Telorast and Curdle]

via CNBC

China sent its clearest signal yet that it was ready to allow yuan appreciation after an 18-month hiatus, saying on Wednesday it would consider major currencies, not just the dollar, in guiding the exchange rate.

In its third-quarter monetary policy report, the People's Bank of China departed from well-worn language on keeping the yuan "basically stable at a reasonable and balanced level." It hinted instead at a shift from an effective dollar peg that has been in place since the middle of last year.

"Following the principles of initiative, controllability and gradualism, with reference to international capital flows and changes in major currencies, we will improve the yuan exchange-rate formation mechanism," the central bank said in a 46-page monetary policy report.

The comments, published just days before a visit to Shanghai and Beijing by U.S. President Barack Obama, set out the possibility of a return to exchange rate appreciation that began with a landmark July 2005 revaluation.

The yuan strengthened by nearly 20 percent against the dollar until concern over the impact of the global financial crisis prompted Beijing to hit the brakes in the middle of last year to protect exporters.

The yuan has been stuck at around 6.83 per dollar ever since, drawing increasing ire from other countries, especially as it has followed the dollar downwards against other currencies.

The dollar has dropped 13 percent against a basket of major currencies including the yen and euro since mid-February.

The spin, of course, will be that this will be GREAT for US Exports... the few we have left. We'll be left to realize the other side of the coin, when WalMart's Low, Low Prices are suddenly not so low any more.

I might be short-sighting this... Is there an up-side?

NPR is telling me, as I type, to chill the fuck out-- President Obama is on the plane, and on the way to Asia.

I hope he's packin' the big guns... Wait... WHAT big guns?


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Labels: Chinese Yuan, Global Economy, Inflation, US Dollar, US Economy