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Old Friends... |
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Steve...Unencumbered by the thought process. |
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Wednesday 31st of January 2007 10:07 PM |
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If you've read a paper, watched the news or browsed the internet news wires, you've likely heard the story of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. Barbaro is the latest entry in a long list of fascinating stories surrounding Thoroughbred horse racing. Born in horse racing country near Lexington, KY, the gangly, oversized foal required two people to assist in his delivery. As a yearling, he was splinted because of pulled tendons and watch as other yearlings trained to race. When the big horse was finally given his shot, trainers realized he was something special. Moving through the ranks, Barbaro won race after race. Although he entered the Kentucky Derby undefeated, he was not picked to win. All that changed as he rounded the last turn and blasted into the final straightaway. Barbaro won the derby, not by a nose, but an amazing seven lengths, the most decisive win in over 60 years. The manner in which he won caused many to speculate that Barbaro was the next “Secretariat”. Now destined to win horse racing’s Triple Crown, he began the Preakness with a false start. After a second clean start, he was positioned to take the lead when his right hind leg broke in three places on national TV. He was rushed to emergency surgery and started the long road to recovery, as the world cheered him on. It was not meant to be however, and during the next several months severe laminitis set in. Barbaro’s fight ended when the champion was euthanized last Monday. People around the world mourned his passing. Everybody loves a fighter. I don’t know that a horse could be classified as a hero, but it seems Barbaro has been elevated to that status. Through excellent use of the media and leaning heavily on the idea that he was a fighter, his became a true human interest story. Over one million dollars was raised to aid in Barbaro’s rehabilitation. There are many retirement centers for aging race horses. These facilities have saved many distinguished champions like Barbaro from the slaughterhouse. The Old Friends Equine Center in Kentucky is one such facility and they operate through the generosity of sponsors big and small. You can read their human interest story at www.oldfriendsequine.org. I’m not raising money for them, but if it’s so easy for us to get behind a story like Barbaro’s, why is it so hard to raise money for other worthy causes like breast cancer, heart disease, boy scouts, our local church or even old, retired race horses? -Steve |
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Response 1 |
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Friday 23rd of February 2007 04:12:55 PM |
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Submitted by: Nels Lincoln |
| Is it really that hard to raise money for a worthy cause here in America? I beg to differ with that assumption. Americans by and far are the most giving society on earth, (with their money) The problem as I see is far more complex than that.
It seems to me that we are somewhat cautious in light of the scandal after scandal we are faced with on a daily basis. We boomers seem to be caught up in a belief that if we continue to throw money at a problem a cure can be found for everything instantly.
As long as we continue to throw our money at every cause that arises without some sort of oversight, there will be another boomer willing to siphon it off. There has been a breakdown of the integrity of many members in our society.
In my relatively short 54 years on this earth I have seen so much gain in the world that it makes my head spin. The world population, as a whole continues to give what it can, some more, some less, but they continue to give.
In this society of priveledge, what we really need is to face the facts, and demand accountibility from those we give to. If you give to a cause there is no reason that a mere 10, 20, or even 75% should be eaten up by administration costs! Just because it is a worthy cause doesn't mean that it should become somebody's path to riches!
I do agree that there are many many things that we all need to get behind to find solutions, cures, etc.,but it will never happen as long as the money is in the research and not the cure. RESULTS are what is needed, Accountibility is the way there.
Just my uneducated opinion, still giving to the causes of my choice, and watching where it goes. |
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In For A Penny, In For A Pound... |
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Steve...Unencumbered by the thought process. |
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Tuesday 30th of January 2007 10:27 AM |
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As I go through my daily morning ritual of checking my emails, I came across what can only be described as a life-changing message. According to this electronic letter from Mr. Frederick Martins, with the London-based, Heritage Lottery Fund, I have won the lottery. I know it’s hard to believe, so let me explain. It appears to be a complicated process that started with the advanced automated technology of harvesting email addresses from the internet. My lucky email address was one of an exclusive list of 25,000,000 (how exclusive is that!) emails that made the first cut. No tickets were sold, so it’s easy to see that my chances of winning had already increased greatly. After the automated computer ballot, my email address was assigned a serial number. As the planets came into line, that serial number emerged as the owner of a six-digit lottery number that I didn’t even have to pick…someone did it for me. I wish I knew who that thoughtful person was. My six-digit number was selected and I am now the winner of 850,000 Pounds Sterling, which according to the email, was my share of the 13,000,000 Pounds split between 20 lucky winners. I don’t really know what Pounds or Pounds Sterling translate to in U.S. Dollars, but it sure sounds like a lot. The other thing is I think I got overpaid. 13 million divided twenty ways comes up to 650,000…so unless the math is different for those Englishmen, somebody got short-changed. The email didn’t really say how I’m supposed to collect all those Pounds, so I guess I should contact Frederick. He may need my bank account number to transfer the winnings to. I’m not a greedy guy, either. As soon as I receive my lottery winnings, I intend to spread it around to all my friends. In fact, I think I’ll send them all emails saying they’ve won also! -Steve |
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Tuesday 30th of January 2007 04:14:51 PM |
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Submitted by: Viewer |
| Will the winning ever end, This internet is the greatest thing, all you have to do anymore is have an email address. In fact I may go out and sign up for a few more. |
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Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow... |
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Steve...Unencumbered by the thought process. |
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Wednesday 24th of January 2007 07:57 PM |
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I realize it's been too long since I've posted to this blog and many of you are anxiously waiting for an update. Well, pour a cup of cider and gather the kids around 'cause here it comes. Denver was a success in my book. Despite whatever Mother Nature threw, most everyone was upbeat and positive. We had lots of traffic in the EDJE tent and expenses were down over last year, so business was good. When I left Denver, I flew straight to Phoenix, AZ. I was invited to work as a bidder assistant (aka:ringman) at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. Many of you would know it as the car auction that frequently shows on cable TV’s SPEED Channel. It was quite and experience. 12-15,000 people in the seats, 25 plus ringmen and more auctioneers than you could shake a stick at sold 1,200+ collector and muscle cars. The high selling car, a Shelby Cobra, sold for a record five million dollars. It was an exciting opportunity and I’m glad I was a part. Many of the bidder assistants were friends of mine, so that added to the fun. There were TV cameras airing the event live each day and it was a little unsettling to have one right in your face as you worked. It’s amazing how many people watched and called to say “Hey, I saw you on TV”. So while I’m on that subject, I need to address an issue of hair. It seems that several “friends” were surprised to see me without a hat. Just because you don’t see a head of hair very often, doesn’t mean it’s not up there. Unlike my good friend and fellow bidder assistant, Doug Paul (who is gracefully thinning), I have a full head of hair. It is not a toupee; it is my own hair, unruly as it may be at times. 
(Doug Paul, pictured with a 1953 Bentley) The auctions ran from mid-morning to after 11 PM each day and the long days created sore feet and good friendships. I hope they consider inviting me again next year. -Steve |
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Thursday 25th of January 2007 10:16:50 AM |
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Submitted by: Mark Murphy |
| Ed told me yesterday you began to blog. I didn't realize this considered your daily routines? I'm sure the BJ Auto Auction was a cool experience! How was buses out back for all the ringmen and auctioneers? Doug says they really take good care of the workers. Call me sometime or send a email. See ya KY Beef Expo |
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Thursday 25th of January 2007 11:21:27 AM |
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Submitted by: Connie Jones |
| So, where is you picture? I'd like to see that full head of hair without a hat!! |
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Who wears the W's in your house?... |
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Steve...Unencumbered by the thought process. |
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Sunday 14th of January 2007 01:25 AM |
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Saturdays at the National Western in Denver are great. Lots of people come in, despite the weather. The heaters I mentioned yesterday worked wonders. They changed the whole complexion of things. Spirits were high and lots of folks wanted to get warm. I’ll start my diatribe tonight with a comment about parking at the National Western. It seems to me that without the exhibitors paying entry fees, bedding charges, space reservations, etc., the National Western as we know it, would cease to exist. So why does it appear that the governing powers care so little about accommodating those exhibitors? My beef here is with parking. Exhibitors are asked to pay for virtually everything involved with displaying their wares; including parking passes for certain lots that will allow close access. Yet when it comes time to park in the specified lots, they are turned away, often times forced to park far away. The National Western needs to address this parking problem in a serious way and start paying attention to the ones who foot the bill. Tonight, Ed and I were invited to the Wrangler Jeans 60th Anniversary Customer Appreciation Gala. It was an outstanding event held at the Denver Performing Arts Center. The “Invitation Only” event honored the Wrangler reps and retail dealers throughout the country. You could rub elbows with celebrities and rodeo greats like Tuff Hedeman or Mike Beers. Country recording artist Jason Aldean put on a concert and the room was charged with excitement. It was almost like me and 1,000 of my closest friends. There are lots of nice jeans out there, but Wrangler is still the boss. A very special thanks to our Minnesota friends, Marty and Angie Murphy, who own Cowpokes Western Shop, near Kellogg, MN. Marty and Angie were our hosts for the Wrangler event and we had a great time. -Steve |
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Is that an icicle or are you glad to see me?... |
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Steve...Unencumbered by the thought process. |
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Saturday 13th of January 2007 01:57 AM |
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Our second full day at the National Western in Denver must surely have been the coldest day known to man. Well that's an exaggeration, but it was really cold. Temperatures hovered around 2 to 9 degrees. Standing in an unheated tent in the yards, your fingers and toes are the first to go numb. Our tent is next to Bull Alley, the area where the young bulls and hot new club calf sires are displayed. It’s a real challenge to get these display bulls ready when temperatures dip this low, but the various fitters did nice work. As the day grew long though, the cold took its toll on all. Drool would freeze and icicles formed on sheaths. No more Mr. Tough Guys…we have acquired heaters and hope to be toasty in our tent tomorrow. -Steve |
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Down Home, Southern Cock Fightin'... |
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Steve...Unencumbered by the thought process. |
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Friday 12th of January 2007 12:20 AM |
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I'm writing this entry from Denver, in town for the National Western Stock Show. Yes, there has been snow, but the roads are fairly clear with a little ice. Warm temperatures and sunny skies on my first day, made me wonder what all the fuss was about. Today, though, Denver has turned a little ugly, especially temperature-wise. I could tell, as our plane approached the other day from the Southeast, that it was a lot worse in that direction. At times you lost any definitive landmarks like roads, fence lines and sometimes even trees. I thought it interesting that although those winter storms of disastrous proportions dumped all that snow, the icy winds left thousands without power and human and animal lives were lost, to my knowledge, nobody demanded FEMA trailers, Visa card supplements or blamed the government for not warning them. I’ve spent 20 years traveling around and had the opportunity to see and experience lots of interesting things. But last week I encountered a first. I was in Southern Mississippi on a very quick photo trip, putting together pictures for the upcoming Deep South Bull Sale. After shooting several bulls at Flying B Farms, as I visited with Frank and Greg Brown, I heard an awful racket. They said, “Oh, that’s the roosters. They do that all the time.” These two barn roosters were going at each other harder than Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed. I still had my camera in hand and snapped a few action shots, but these were only a few of the many “aerial death leaps” they made at each other. The Brown’s keep a few roosters around for, among other things, insect control. They said roosters keep the flies at their place to a minimum. The two yard birds did battle like this until Frank grew bored with the whole mess and split them up. It was quite a down-home, Southern cock fight, though. 
I haven’t seen a fight like that since the last time I tried to take my daughter’s car keys away from her. I didn’t get any pictures of that one. -Steve |
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The Road To Denver... |
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Steve...Unencumbered by the thought process. |
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Tuesday 2nd of January 2007 01:56 PM |
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When the New Year's dust settles, many of us will start to focus on upcoming events like the National Western Stock Show. With all the snow, ice and extreme weather, Denver could be a challenge this year. One thing about Denver weather, though, it can change quickly. Those tsunami-size snow drifts in Southeastern Colorado might be nothing more than mud puddles by the time the Stock Show is half over. One of the saddest parts of the weather tragedy is the animals. Much of the livestock in those weather-ravaged portions of Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma have not had food or water for nearly a week. Efforts are underway to airlift supplemental feed but the coverage will be sparse. I hope the weather turns soon. For the past couple years, EDJE has had tent in the yards at Denver and we will be there again this year. The tent is located next to the railroad tracks, where the display bulls are. Look for our yellow and black flags, if you want to drop by. We will move in January 10. I can’t promise that it will be warm in that tent, but if I can talk Ed into a little heater of some kind, it might be bearable. I leave for a short road trip tomorrow or Thursday. I’m driving to Mississippi to shoot bull pictures for the Deep South Bull Sale group. Mississippi has been quite wet recently and everyone tells me to bring mud boots. I’ll leave the Jackson, Mississippi area to work the Southeast All Black Classic Sale in Marianna, Florida on Saturday. All the talk about Denver, reminds me of something. I’m not sure about some of the other cattle breeds, but after tracking several Simmental show results this Fall, I’m convinced that I know who will win Denver’s Simmental Show. The 2007 Grand Champion Simmental Bull will be… (this daily entry closed due to lack of space) |
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