Gladiators: Tigris versus Bambi

Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?

We Who Are About to Die, Salute You.

Sven Ole-Thorsen as Tigris of Gaul, facing off against
Lilly of Canoga

Lilly c. Feb 24, 2009

No disrespect to the late, great, greatest Kate, but I had to share this with you.

Lilly, most versatile hunting dog ever, succumbed today to her would-be quarry, Mr. Tiger. The battle was going her way until he caught her jugular in his vice-like maw.

Kate et al circa 2001

For off-season hunters to mull

ON THE NICKEL
As recorded by Tom Waits on the album "Heartattack And Vine"


sticks and stones will break my bones
but I always will be true
and when your mama is dead and gone
I'll sing this lullabye just for you
and what becomes of all the little boys
who never comb their hair
well they're lined up all around the block
on the nickel over there

so you better bring a bucket
there is a hole in the pail
and if you don't get my letter
then you'll know that I'm in jail
and what becomes of all the little boys
who never say their prayers
well they're sleepin' like a baby
on the nickel over there

and if you chew tobacco and wish upon a star
well you'll find out where the scarecrows sit
just like punchlines between the cars
and I know a place where a royal flush
can never beat a pair and even Thomas Jefferson
is on the nickel over there

so ring around the rosie, you're sleepin' in the rain
and you're always late for supper
and man you let me down, let me down again
I thought I heard a mockingbird, Roosevelt knows where
you can skip the light with grady tuck
on the nickel over there

so what becomes of all the little boys
who run away from home
well the world just keeps gettin' bigger
once you get out on your own
so here's to all the little boys
the sandman takes you where
you'll be sleepin' with a pillowman
on the nickel over there

so let's climb up through that button hole
and we'll fall right up the stairs
and I'll show you where the short dogs grow
on the nickel over there

What hunters do in the off season

Was enjoying reconnecting with the Vicar,
until he began to demonstrate his new-found Ithaca talents.

What hunting dogges do in the off season

Grouse season is closed. Canoga's Tiger Lilly has grown from pup to novice to dogge. What's a newly developed bird dogge to do in the off season?














Here's something constructive. Clearly we need to buy some pillows for the kids.















Versatile Hunting Dogge: Feather, fur and... plastic?

On supererogation, mouse pelts, and thumb puppets

some of you may be curious to see the latest installment of "Jim Tries to Get Under Peoples' Skin RE: Hunting Ethics."

check it out at the Fair Chase hunting blog. Any and all comments are greatly appreciated.

Squirrel Derby at K-Town!!

Bacon Explosion Sweeps Internet

recipe is at http://www.bbqaddicts.com/blog/recipes/bacon-explosion/

who's going to try this first?

Fishin' Ain't So Bad

an oldie but a goodie

Sporting? Ethical? Flat-Out Wrong? discuss.

from today's Ithaca Journal.

February 12, 2009

Dave Henderson: Two bills sure to anger some sportsmen

There are any number of bills wandering about the Democratic-controlled legislature these days that concern, if not frighten sportsmen, but two recent ones have provoked immediate controversy.

One, Assembly Bill A00924, would amend Environmental Conservation law to authorize the use of crossbows as legal hunting implements for able-bodied hunters. Crossbows are currently allowed for severely handicapped hunters, but the Assembly bill (which has no Senate counterpart yet) would allow for a special crossbow season.

It would also allow the use of a crossbow on private property in any deer season — a stipulation that will render those vehement anti-crossbow members of the bowhunting community apoplectic.

The bill calls for a minimum 14-inch bolt (arrow), a safety, a minimum limb width of 17 inches, a minimum draw weight of 100 pounds and maximum weight of 200 pounds.

The bill's justification states that "in states that allow crossbow hunting, including Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio (and now Pennsylvania) crossbows appear to be an important recruitment and retention tool for hunters.

"Further, these states found that crossbow use has not resulted in a decrease in bag limits, nor has poaching increased. As expected, where crossbow hunting is permitted, it has been documented as a safe, responsible and popular means of hunting, and it has had no ill effect on wildlife resources or on any other group of sportsmen."

Virtually identical bills died in the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee in 2005-06 and 2007-08, but Commissioner Grannis, whose party is now in the majority in both houses, has now indicated an interest in seeing it passed.

The second controversial bill is Senate Bill S1598, which would require all pistol permits (outside of New York City) to be renewed every five years, for a fee, and for all first-time permit applicants to take a safety course.

The renewal is currently required in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester and pre-application training in other counties.

The bill's "Justification" notes that "Firearms are clearly a lethal product and the owner of a firearm must know how to operate it and store it properly to prevent needless death and injury. The state requires a person who is going to operate a car to prove that he or she knows how and issues a license. Similarly, the state needs some assurance that an individual knows how to safely use his or her firearm."

License renewal would help account for all licensed firearms in the event of theft, death or other change in permit holder's condition.

This bill will definitely have life, since the sponsor is Senator Eric T. Schneiderman, chairman of the Codes Committee. There is a companion bill, A801, in the Senate.

•••

"a safe, responsible and popular means of hunting . . ."

10-Year-Old Spaniel Completes Comeback

check this out: Stump, a Sussex spaniel, became the oldest dog to win Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/sports/othersports/11dogs.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Washed-up flushing dogge finds new life in show ring

Sports / Other Sports

10-Year-Old Spaniel Completes Comeback

By KATIE THOMAS

Published: February 11, 2009

At 10 years old, Stump the Sussex spaniel should be well into his dotage. Instead, the dog who technically retired four years ago took home Best in Show on Tuesday at the 133rd Annual Westminster Kennel Club show at Madison Square Garden, becoming the oldest to win the award.

Stump, officially named Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee, might have surprised aficionados, who had their eye on a giant schnauzer, but the crowd clearly preferred the jaunty spaniel. Stump was greeted with deafening applause each time he plodded around the ring.

It was the first time that a Sussex spaniel won the top prize, although the breed, which originated as a hunting companion in England, was among the first to be recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Judge Sari Brewster Tietjen said she made her decision at the last minute.

“I didn’t know who he was or how old he was,” Tietjen said. “He’s just everything that you’d want in the breed, and I couldn’t say no to him.”

Going back for more punishment

Here are links to parts 2 and 3 on the philosophy of sport blog, although this time I don't what to expect for response.

http://philosophyandsports.blogspot.com/2009/02/part-2-hunting-for-food-versus-hunting.html

and

http://philosophyandsports.blogspot.com/2009/02/part-3-hunting-as-sport-and-rules-of.html

Let me know what you think.

Jim

Paintings by Melissa Mance

Please join us to welcome the art opening of "Scions of Air" an exhibition of paintings and illustrations by Rochester based artist Melissa Mance. The artist will be on hand to discuss her works with visitors, refreshments will be served, on Friday February 13, 5:00 - 7:00 pm.

Where: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, New York

When: February 13 - April 30, 2009, With opening reception Friday February 13, 5:00 - 7:00 pm

For those bloggers that have enjoyed hunting with Big Jim at Beer Camp, or even his Island for that matter, Melissa is his daughter and she is the artist on display here. Melissa is also an Art professor at Rochester Institute of Technology so she has a lot in common with you professor types. Hope to see you guys at the opening!

As promised: play, game, contest, sport

Here's a chart that summarizes the conceptual or philosophical relations between play, game, contest, and sport. Sociologists among you will no doubt find fault with this scheme. Click to enlarge. Hope this helps.

Rouille - it's not just for fish soup

picture stolen from Food Vagabond

Last night the missus made the most delicious bouillabaisse, which was much simpler to make than it's fancy name belies. She made the stew with bird, not fish, and it soared! Part of what completed the dish was a condiment of spicy french mayonnaise, Rouille, which we dolloped into the soup just as you would sour cream. For the many of us who participate in this blog and who are addicted to garlic and spice, this stuff brings it all together. Today we heated up a beef stew and I threw a dollop of leftover Rouille into my bowl. My first taste of stew and Rouille resulted in a string of french superlatives that I cannot repeat lest I am banned from this manliest, most freedom fry of blogs. I promise you Cagey, spread some Rouille on toast and you'll be exclaiming: "sacre bleu, I just might join the french foreign legion!" Ok, maybe not. But, do me a favor and give this a try with your venison or duck stews.

Rouille recipe from Kelly's favorite cookbook author (makes one cup)
4 large cloves garlic
1.5 tsp salt
1 super large egg yolk, room temp
1.5 TBSP lemon juice
0.5 tsp saffron threads
0.25 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup good olive oil

Place garlic and salt on cutting board and mince together
Throw salty garlic into food processor with steel blade
Add egg yolk, lemon juice, saffron and pepper flakes
Chop till smooth
With machine running, drizzle (very, very, very slowly) olive oil.
You should have a yellow mayonnaise with red flakes that you can store in the fridge.

Introducing....!!!

Check it out. Click on the image, and be sure to let Mo know what you think...

Hunting. Sporting? Ethical? Discuss. Repeat.

Here's a link to a brief piece I've posted to the "Philosophy of Sport" blog about hunting as a sport.

http://philosophyandsports.blogspot.com/2009/02/prolegomenon-hunting-as-sport.html

Part of a larger project while trying to resuscitate my academic career--may be of interest to others here. (where's Coggins when you need him?)

Jim T.

helping the State manage its pesky woodcock population . . .
one doodle at a time

Couldn't resist... Maine diner reprise

Remember this?




Now there's this... and some interesting, though slightly dated, reading...