Women are by nature Democrats.

I base this on observations of my wife in her wildflower garden. If it were up to me, whichever flowers thrived in our soil and microclimate would be the ones I'd want. But laissez-faire Libertarianism is not for her. She feels a compulsion to mercilessly uproot anything healthy and lush lest it "take over". Species that struggle to survive, however, are pampered. Success is punished and weakness is subsidized. It's the American economic system in microcosm. As a result, the "wildflower garden" is mostly bare dirt with a few struggling, scraggly flowers and a lot of opportunistic weeds. Like I said, the American economic system in microcosm.

Gear that belongs in the Garbage: Hydration systems

"Hydration systems". That's kind of like calling the floor a "horizontal walking surface".

I bought a Blackhawk Hydrastorm years ago, and the bite tube leaked so badly that I gave it away. I was recently issued a Camelback, and it seemed to be of higher quality, so I took it with me on a ten-day trip through the Grand Canyon. It was inconvenient to fill and clean, but at least it was comfortable to carry. 

On the last day, the mouthpiece snapped off and all the water poured out. If that had happened in the middle of a ten-mile backcountry hike in that hot, arid country it would have caused an extremis situation. I left it in a trash can at the airport on the way home.

Pop bottles are lighter, more durable, easier to fill, and they're free. If you absolutely have to spend money, use a Platypus bottle.

Cowbird Egg in a Phoebe Nest

Cowbirds are parasitic. They lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and let someone else do the parenting, at least until after college. 

I held my camera over my head to snap this pic, and didn't realize until I reviewed it later that there was a cowbird egg in there. 

Pack ice and 'bergs off Greenland

Flew a great-circle route from London to Boston today. South of Greenland, there was pack ice and icebergs to the horizon in every direction. Incredible blues and whites, the pic doesn't even give a hint of it. The water was clear enough to see even the underwater parts of some of the 'bergs. Global warming in action, but at least it looks nice.

The Manhattan Wildlife Preservation Society

There really is such a thing. They had a kiosk set up in Central Park. 

What do they do, feed the pigeons? 

I wanted to ask the vegetarian hippy-chicks handing out leaflets if they'd ever actually seen a wild animal. 

Bailing out GM

No one would buy their shitty cars, but now we're paying for them anyway. Not only are taxpayers 17 billion dollars in the hole with no end in sight, but a very dangerous precedent has been set with president Obama firing GM's CEO.

GM will eventually go bankrupt, which is what should have happened in the first place. But not before this latest excuse for our leaders to grab more power and money has run it's course. 

If you think bailing out big businesses, banks and mortgage companies is expensive, unfair and inefficient, wait until you get a load of government healthcare.

"The land of the free and the home of the brave" isn't headed towards socialism, we're there. And we went like sheep. Now the flock is being driven at a downhill run towards totalitarianism.

Gringos in Mexico

The Mexican hotel I'm writing this from has a brunch buffet you have to see to believe. All sorts of exotic ethnic foods, not just latin, and a fruit bar with varieties I've never seen or heard of before. I gorged myself into a paralytic torpor. Right now I'm laying on the bed in my room like an anaconda that swallowed a pig, with my computer balanced on top of my distended belly. 

I couldn't help but notice during my orgy of gluttony that I was the only one trying anything unusual. Most looked at the strange foods, said "Ew", and moved on to the sorts of things available at McDonald's.

I also notice that the hotel's pools are crowded, but almost no one swims in the ocean.

Why do people bother leaving home if they're determined not to experience anything unfamiliar?