Slinging a Smooth Stone

Sometimes, the Right Thing, Becomes the Wrong Thing, to Do

In Virginia recently, a teenage girl was given a two week suspension, (and was recommended for expulsion), for taking her birth control pill without permission.

Ladies and gentlemen, in an effort to protect our children, we have become, and we are making our future generations, into, a bunch of nosy wimps.

In our zealorty to make sure our children aren’t addicted, shot, stabbed, beaten or bullied, we have made an effort to take one of our God-given freedoms away. I’m speaking of Free Will….you remember that…that’s what got Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden. For as long as I remember I was taught right from wrong, and doing wrong brought a price…if you committed a wrong something bad was going to happen, a whipping, you’d be grounded or imprisioned, or…in serious instances, you might pay with your life. It wasn’t ever as simple as Red Skelton’s Bad Little Boy, “If I do it I’ll get in trouble…I’ll do it anyway.” But almost.

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Slinging a Smooth Stone

The U.S. Still Should Look Out, Not Within, for Trouble

Just over 93 years ago, on March 9, 1916, there was a revolution in Mexico that spilled over the U.S. Border. At Columbus, N.M., some 60 miles east of El Paso, Texas, Poncho Villa, and more than 400 men crossed the border into the U.S., (they cut a border fence).

They then rode and walked to Columbus and attacked, looking for supplies, ammunition and weapons.

Before the raid was complete, 100 or more Villiaistas, and 10 civilians and eight U.S. Soldiers lay dead.

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The Boise City News Honored by Oklahoma Press Assoc.

Paper Snags Three Awards for Features, Editorials and Community Leadership

The Boise City News was honored by the Oklahoma Press Association during it’s winter conference Feb., 6, 2009, in Tulsa.

The paper brought home a third place certificate for Community Leadership. This award was for keeping pressure on Governor Brad Henry to visit Cimarron County. The Governor visited in the summer of 2008, bringing aid for farmers and ranchers caught in a drought.

The paper brought home a Third place for editorial comment. Editor, C.F. David, through his “Slinging a Smooth Stone” column took on personal racism and apathy by public entities.

The paper took fourth for feature writing, specifically C.F. David’s article on Duane Ferguson’s battle with alcohol, and his being honored as 2008, citizen of the year.

Slinging a Smooth Stone

     Questionable Rules, Questionable Rulers

    As any student of history knows all civilizations eventually fade away. If some prognosticators are correct, we, (U.S.A.), are, in this the eighth year of the 21st century, witnessing the beginning of America’s slide.

   As a student of history, I knew such a thing was inevitable; however, as an American, I did not, do not wish to believe it is happening within my lifetime. That being said, our nation, our way of life is in danger, and the level of what is and was America took a steep dip soon after Sept. 11.

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Slinging a Smooth Stone

       With the death of the scenic by-way we’ve all lost.

     The scene at the Cimarron Heritage Center was grim last Thursday.
The crowd was stacked against Richard Andrews, of ODOT, Pam Lewis, of OU, and Cimarron County’s own Phyllis Randolph.
   Andrews, Lewis and Randolph, were there in what was a futile effort to save a project they’d been working hard for, for nearly five years.
   The Dry Cimarron Scenic Byway, was to meander through Cimarron County and join up with a similar trail in Union County, New Mexico, alas, neither is to be.
   The group, landowners in Western Cimarron County, and Eastern Union County were there to protest and stop the byway. They had already been successful in Union County a few days before.
   The landowners in the Dry Cimarron, an independent lot, were concerned that the byway was moving hand in glove with Pinon Canyon, a land grab that Baca County, Colorado has been fighting for several years. (The Boise City News has ran several articles about this atrocity.)

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Slinging a Smooth Stone

  Now We Are All Along For The Ride

    For the 44th time in our nation’s history, we lurch once again in our zigzag pattern of changing course. Yesterday, at noon Eastern time, President Obama, took office. I cannot stand to watch such pageantry even when the nation’s economy isn’t in a shambles and $170 million is needlessly spent to launch a new face in the most pressure-filled job in the world. So, I have to glean what I can from on-line written press reports, since I can’t bear watching televised reporters gushing over what should be objective reporting.

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Slinging a Smooth Stone

      2008 is Tired and Worn Out

When I grew up, (You know, back when the dollar was backed by all the gold in Fort Knox; 90 percent of the cars on the road were American and Ford Chrysler and GM weren’t broke. Plus, The Daily Oklahoman and Amarillo Globe-News were readily available in Cimarron County.), back then, the New Year was always pictured as a swaddled infant saying good-bye to a tired and elderly old year.  As this year winds down, 2008 isn’t just tired and elderly, he’s decrepit, hooked to an I.V., while riding in a wheelchair, and taking oxygen, meanwhile 2009 is fearfully being drug in kicking and screaming.

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Slinging a Smooth Stone

Hey Mate, Take Off Your Clothes, Grab a Shrimp off the Barbie, and Blow in the Breathalizer

I constantly, (to my wife Linda), make jokes that the nation of Australia must not have a carpenter left in it. It seems on every garden and home show on U.S. television, there is an Aussie carpenter; it’s kinda like Quigley, with a hammer, in reverse. Except he doesn’t have to kill anyone.

Perhaps, it’s this probable shortage of carpenters in Australia that has brought about another problem down under…drunk politicians.

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Slinging a Smooth Stone

“Only In America” Finally Really Has Meaning

It’s odd yet frightening, all the hand-wringing, leading up to, during and now after, the latest presidential election. President-Elect Obama wasn’t my choice…but….no matter how you voted, as a U.S. Citizen, like it or not, he’s both YOURS and MY president.

The election of Obama means now that the presidency is within reach of anyone, man or woman, black, white, brown, red or yellow, and for our nation, this is a GOOD thing, for finally we will be a government of the people.

I have been both amused, by the e-mails sent to attack Obama (the continuous belief that he is a Muslim), and sickened, (the claim by some Christians he is the anti-Christ), (for if they really believe this they should be rejoicing since Jesus will soon return).

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Slinging A Smooth Stone

To the Oklahoman, We don’t Matter

 

I hate automated phone systems; you know the ones, “Thank you for calling the ABC Widget Company. We want your business. If you speak something other than the English language, push the numeral two. If you want to speak to Mr. A, dial ten…and on it goes through the alphabet. These irritating machines are supposed to make it easier to serve you. All they do is put someone out of work, and irritate thousands more. It really amounts to companies doing their best to ignore us their customers, and hope we go away, leaving our money. In recent months Cimarron County and the entire Oklahoma Panhandle have been getting this cold shoulder in a more direct manner.

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Slinging a Smooth Stone

If Our State Can’t Better Serve Us, Set Us Free

  There isn’t much space to get this said, so here goes. We, in the Panhandle, especially Cimarron County have known for a long time, we don’t get our money’s worth from down state.

 

  It’s never been more plain than in the last 10 days. Beginning the last of October, the City of Keyes and Cimarron County have been locked in a struggle, for life and death, and for the most part, a few health care professionals have been doing it without the help of the State of Oklahoma. This isn’t a joke where the governor doesn’t show up. NO BODY SHOWED UP! As far as I know until citizens called, we got no real action from the State Health Department, our state representatives, nobody. We had two doctors, one, Physician Assistant, countless nurses and a medical staff in
Elkhart, Kan., looking out for us. If the state of Oklahoma can do no better, sell us our school land, let us go, and we’ll keep our tax money.

 

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Slinging a Smooth Stone

PETA, and Enviornmentalists, are not only

As a news source we are constantly and consistently, bombarded with e-mails and faxes from a variety of sources. Some of the more ridiculous and hilarious are from my friends, (NOT!!), at PETA, (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), and environmentalists whose minds and politics only go one way, (insane).

Sometimes I even get them from individuals and groups trying to keep me informed and up-to-date on what the fringe groups are doing and thinking.

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Slinging a smooth stone

Election 2008 Will Be

Historic, and IS Strange

 

 

I have serious doubts that anyone old enough to vote, or old enough to remember, has or will see another national election like 2008.

This election has stuff a TV writer couldn’t think of; a black candidate for president, a female for vice-president, and never in history has an individual’s religious beliefs counted for so much. Not even Kennedy’s Catholicism in 1960 affected the election this much.

The madness of the 1960 elections pale in comparison to this. Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 little girl picking a flower TV ad is nothing compared to the vile hate Sarah Palin and Barack Obama have had leveled at them. It has been, and is, disgusting.

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New Mexico’s Moreno Valley Has Beauty, Utility

by C.F. David

A visit to North Central New Mexico brings you face-to-face with the beauty of the Sangre De Cristo mountains. However, with a quick trip from Red River, to Questa you learn that the range conceals valuable minerals, and that taking them might leave scars.

I haven’t visited this area of New Mexico much, but first came 42 years ago.

I first saw the Palisades near Eagle Nest one moonlit night in early July, 1966. I thought the craggy granite face was stunning then, and each time I make the drive, I always anticipate their beauty.

Most of the weekend of Aug. 22-24 my wife Linda and I spent our anniversary celebration in and near Red River. We browsed the shops such as the Bobcat, where we picked up condiments, and syrups and looked over gorgeous Indian headdresses.

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Slinging a Smooth Stone

 If There Were a 12-Step program…

My Name Is Bill

 

 I could very well be the only man to ever admit this. I kinda like station wagons.

I know, I know, they have stodgie reputations, they’re slow, they develop rattles early in their lives, they look clunky, but I’ve always liked them.

The Chrysler Corporation built one with a rear facing seat…didn’t like that too much, too easy to cause carsickness…to foment the vomit…if you will.

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Slinging a Smooth Stone

Are We Dumb Enough To Fall For This?

I have in the past criticized President Bush and even remarked that he didn’t need a press aide.

That was then, this is now. My question is: Does Obama even need an election committee and volunteers? Three network anchors followed him on his recent tour of Europe and the Middle East. In the meantime lesser reporters were assigned to follow McCain, sometimes only one.

Less than a month ago, The New York Times, ran an editorial written by Obama, (more likely one of his legion of writers, hell, maybe Katie Couric wrote it), but they denied John McCain equal access. It was to me, a slap at the First Amendment and a gutless decision. What does the Times fear? That McCain might have an original thought? The implication by the national media is that Obama has been anointed, why even vote? And they think Bush stole an election???? Who are they kidding?

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Slinging a Smooth Stone

You apparently don’t have to walk on land and breath air to have a foot fetish

I am constantly watching news agencies for something to pique my interest and sick little mind. Usually day to day…I’m not disappointed, and yesterday was no different. I was looking around and happened to see that in Washington D.C., (it’s usually them or Hollyweird), that the latest in spa pampering is….wait for it…fish pedicures.

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Slinging a Smooth Stone

There’s Somethin’ Fishy

in The Big 12

Imagine my surprise to learn that Oklahoma University’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Team just won back-to-back Big 12 Championships. (They are rated 6th in the nation, according to the CBAA, (Collegiate Bass Angler’s Association) website. I kid you not. They beat Texas Tech by catching a tournament winning 50.13 pounds of bass.

Now I wasn’t surprised they came out champions, I mean the Sooners find a way to buy…err….hire…err, fund…. err, attract, yeah, that’s the word, attract the best athletes. But, can a Bass fisherman really be an athlete?? It totally redefines a rotator cuff injury huh?

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