Quote of the day

This from Neal Boortz, regarding the proposal by Iowa Senator Charles Grassley to tax pimps and hookers: "Hookers could not possibly be a greater blight on our society than politicians."

Read Nealz Nuze.

What I'm listening to

I thought I'd start posting what I'm listening to every once in a while. I absolutely love music of all kinds. I'd like to share with you my impressions of what I'm listening to and hopefully get some recomendations of other worthwhile music I could check out.

This morning, I'm enjoying the latest by Ben Harper, Both Sides of the Gun. This is an awesome release, spanning the range from Blues and R&B to downright grinding Rock. it's a pleasure to listen to all the varying textures of the disc. If you haven't checked him out lately (or never) get theeself to the record store and check out Ben Harper. You won't regret it.

What I did last weekend

I spent the weekend running the dogs in Lewiston, NY (pretty much Niagara Falls area). Yep, drove up there last Thursday and Friday and got back today at 2 pm. I had a great time coursing at the Lake Country Lure Coursers club trials this past weekend. It was good to see Karen and Mike again (we just don't get to see each other nearly enough). Sweeney was sure happy to see ya'll. Thanks so much to Patty and John for extending their hospitality and putting me up at their house. I had a great time and ya'll can put on quite the spread.

I wish that they had a little more rain before we had gone since so many dogs blew pads. I know the two winning greyhounds from Saturday blew pads and couldn't come back on Sunday and quite a few top-notch whippets were blowing pads. This heat/drought is getting out of control. At least we got some rain down here over the weekend and continuing today, so hopefully Cartersville will have good footing (parkerism) this weekend.

Damn it's hot

'nuff said.

New hosting service

I've changed my hosting service recently. If you have any trouble viewing my web, please contact me at todd@toddbirchfield.com.

Fun drive home.... :)

Jeep
+
top down
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He Gay?

It's time to get political. What the hell is going on with the Bush administration? First they come out with a convoluted, poorly organized "plan" to deal with illegal immigration, now we have a proposed Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage. Amend the Constitution? To what end? Is gay marriage so dangerous to the United States that language banning such has to be in our foundation document? Jefferson is spinning in his grave! The last thing we need is more government in our lives. BACK OFF G.W.!

BII

Even though I didn't get to go to the II this year, I wanted to share HUGE congratulations to Miller and Teri and Jack for the BII win! Miller is an awesome hound who has proven his mettle on the coursing field. At last year's II, he earned a well deserved spot in the BII runs. I thought he had won last year but was just edged out by Sweeney. This year I was lucky to have had the honor of judging him in Lawrence, Kansas at the HCA/NCA Memorial Day weekend. Miller won Best in Event that weekend against a strong field of competitors. He followed that strong showing with his BII win last weekend. What a strong running little guy! It's always a joy to see such great hounds run and be recognized for their accomplishments. I just wished I could have been in Colorado Springs last weekend to witness his latest win.

What's going on...

Some random thoughts...

• Here it is June already. Dayam.
• The II is this weekend and I'm in Georgia and not in Colorado.
• Kudos to ASFA president Marilyn Staderford for doing the right thing!
• I wonder how people become so judgemental. Before you choose to judge someone's actions, you better look at how you live your life.
• Work is going well. I just finished a pretty cool little db project for a department on campus.
• Kids are out of school for the summer. But the summer only lasts for 2 months now. Amazing!
• Heads up to anyone who might be used to viewing this, my site might go down for a few days. Hopefully it won't be for long. I'm shopping for a new hosting service and I think I might have found something.
  

Lobo

 

Kansas

Spent the weekend in Kansas judging for Heartland Coursing Association and Nebraska Coursing Association. Thanks to Marilyn, Kent, Russ and Vickie for having me out to judge. I had a great time. The clubs put on great trials with wonderful amenities. If you get the chance to go, you should. I met some really wonderful people who have some awesome hounds. Look forward to seeing ya'll again.

To everyone going to the II this year, have fun and I hope your hounds run well. Please drop me an email or add a comment to this and let me know how things are going. I'm looking forward to possibly getting to a few regionals this fall and the II next year in Minnesota.

Brother and sister (Sweeney and Dresda) tearing up the coursing field.
photo by ShotonSite 

Three beauties

I'm partial to the ones holding/attached to the leash! :)
photo by ShotonSite

AKC

Went up to Cartersville for the day Saturday so that I could help Les with the MAWA AKC trial. Had a good time overall. I always enjoy getting out and seeing good dogs run. Deb and Maurice were there, it was good to see them. Their little bitch Pearleen took Field on Saturday, handily defeating all of the whippet competition and dominating Best in Field. That's a hella litter you have there!!! I still like Roux. :)

The ASFA board needs to get a grip on what issues they decide to exercise jurisdiction. You're alienating a huge segment of your coursing population with your decision to ajudicate a disagreement between two breeders. The ASFA board should only have jurisdiction over issues that arise at field trials, ocurring between roll call and ribbons. The message you have sent is that an exhibitor with a beef can use the ASFA board to punish someone they don't necessarily like. It could be me or you (or a member of said board) next on the chopping block. If you don't know where your ASFA representative stands on the issue of jursidiction, please ask them. If you don't know who to ask, look at ASFA.org . Les Pekarski (lpekarski at aol.com) is making some signs for people to put on their vehicles and display to bring attention to the board's over-reaching actions. Contact him if you'd like one.

I'm looking at the AKC coursing program and thinking I like some of what I see. The AKC seems to know a little restraint when it comes to personal issues. One issue that I'm looking at seriously is that the per-capita is lower for AKC than it is for ASFA. My biggest gripe (and this is a deal killer for me) is that AKC requires a hound to have a JC in order to compete in a trial. There is no grandfathering for hounds who already have ASFA titles (a much better indication of running ability, imho). So, my BII Greyhound, my LCM 4 Whippet and my LCM 7 Whippet will be staying away from AKC until/unless this is changed...

Back?

I've decided to try this blog thing again...

Not going to the II this year. Too many factors to list, but suffice it to say, I hate not going but I know we made the right decision. Everyone have fun at the II this year. We'll be on the road agian later in the year with Sweeney, Everett and Lobo. Oh, and look out for Nellie.