Yippie, Yea, Okay, You Got It!

Yup, this issue of The Pines Review is finished, posted and all that. I hadn't planned to spend the entire month of May getting it put to bed! Well, most of the month of May. Still, took me longer than I had anticipated but I think the results are well worth it. The link to the MagCloud site is at the end of this post in case any of my dear readers are interested in ordering a print copy. Okay, it is pretty cheap advertising on my part but can anyone blame me? I am trying to make a buck or two to help defray the costs. Actually, the print copy is worth it because of the quality of the printing (full color) and paper. If you are like me and counting pennies these days you can also enjoy it on the Issuu site, and you get to do that for free! I'm really tickled with the Issuu site and the quality of the technology. If you go to the magazine and look at the cover you'll discover the contents column on the left side of the cover is fully liked to the articles, that means if you want to read (say) the story about the Zimbabwe Borderline Walk, you can put your cursor on that story, click on the arrow and it will take you to that page.

As promised, this issue has a very long profile of Dr. Randall Eaton. I encourage everyone who has a concern about the future of wildlife, our society, and not just hunting, to give it a read. There is a whole lot more taking place in what Eaton is saying than first meets the eye. I am not saying I agree 100% with Dr. Eaton, but with what he is saying there is so much truth.

The Borderline Walk in Zimbabwe is one of the most unusal stories that I've ever worked with. African Expeditions Magazine took on a huge project when the editors decided to support David Hulme in his project to walk around the border of Zimbabwe. David is doing it to draw attention to the plight of Zim's wildlife. Read it, you will not be sorry.

Finally, there is a whole lot more in the journal: poetry, some great photos, some good fiction and even some technical stuff. I feel good about this issue. And now, it is time for me to take a break and finish my porch. Oh, and start getting Cookie into shape, she's gotten fat over the winter. Well, so have I.

Here is the Issuu site so you can read (or even download) The Pines Review online. I look forward to hearing your comments, especially your reaction to Dr. Eaton. http://issuu.com/thepinesreview/docs/v_iii_no_2_spring_summer_2010_online?viewMode=magazine
And to order a copy, here is the link.

Computer Stores and Hunters

The past two days have been nothing short of down and dirty awful. Here’s why. As most of you know my other laptop was destroyed by water dripping through the roof. I had to replace it. This time I vowed not to buy my computer from one of the big box stores for several reasons and those being: First, I did not want all of that pre-loaded crap that computer manufacturers feel compelled to put on new machines. Second, I was sick of the quasi-service you get. My experience has been that even the Best Buy “Geek Squad” is going to charge you at least half of a C-note to tell you they can’t fix it and the computer needs to go to the manufacturer for repair. Or, if they can fix it (after the first poke at your checkbook) it is going to take days, no matter how simple the job. So, I went to a local store front retailer, “Computer World” in Fargo to be specific. I bought a Sony Vaio and one of the store owners promised me that because I bought the computer from his store they would take care of me. Okay, good sales pitch. So, here I am six weeks later. I’m doing some work with African Expedition Magazine and trying to finish putting together my own little literary journal for outdoor writers. (The Pines Review, anyone who wants to get it, I send it out as a pdf attachment to email, need only let me know.) Suddenly my screen went bonkers. My computer was doing something weird with all of my files. I tried everything I could think of but nothing worked although I did finally get it to shut down. Next day, I’m off to Fargo. Two hours later the report is, “I don’t know how you did that, but I’ve fixed it, just don’t ever do that again.”

He might as well tell the bear what not to do in the woods.

Yesterday, I was back to work on African Expedition Magazine and the computer did the same thing. Today I was back in the store and this time we worked together on the problem and finally isolated it as being connected to Windows 7™ and the program I was trying to use that is online is not compatible with Windows 7. The main thing for me was that they were able to put everything back like I had it. Total time the crew at Fargo’s Computer World had invested in me now stood at about five hours. When I asked the person who had sold me the computer what the bill was he said, “I told you, you buy a computer from me, I’ll take care of you.”

Warranties and all other considerations aside, I felt pretty good because they had stood behind the computer. It would have been far easier for them to tell me that it was all my fault. Instead, they looked for an answer. I’m telling you this as a warm and fuzzy. There are still good people in this world. And, oh, coincidently—they are hunters and we’ve had some good conversations about hunting. Interesting, isn’t it, that so many of the people who keep their word are hunters and so many who don’t keep it think we’re barbarians?

As for Microsoft--once again there is a compatibility curve--fix the problem.

Now, with all that out of the way, the snow is perfect, December is cold and Cookie is chomping to get out of here. This weekend we’re going bird hunting. Besides, it’s too cold to work on the roof.
glg

PS I've got a couple of book reviews in this issue of African Expedition Magazine so check them out if you get the chance. Go to http://www.africanxmag.com. There are some great stories in this issue, including another report on the Zim Border Walk adventure.

Cold is baaack and Africa

The cold is back. Sort of like “they’re baaack.” Here in North Dakota they like to say they have a January thaw that tricks you into thinking winter is going to end, and then it returns with a vengeance. The commonly held belief is that the winter thaw (that’s what they call it) melts some of the snow and relieves the pressure on the rivers to reduce the possibility of spring floods, or at least reduce the amount of flooding. So, I guess we had a winter thaw, although I don’t think it thawed very much, and now we’re back into winter’s merciless grip and the threat of some serious flooding is really something to take very seriously. At least most of the little town where I live is above any flood plain, ever overland flooding (that where run-off floods the land) so we’re safe from that. What I do have to worry about is the spring melt around my house being serious enough that it digs out part of a weak wall in my basement. I’ll be keeping a watch on that this spring. In the meantime, while I ride out the second stage of winter, I’ll be burning more firewood in my stove and trying to cope with more of wicked winter.

One of my mistakes that irks me is I missed the spring turkey license deadline. I had planned to get out and fool one of the toms that I’ve seen down by the river but I screwed myself this time. On the other hand the spring goose season is going to be open for business starting on Saturday and I’m looking forward to that. When the snow geese begin their northern migration I’ve actually seen the flights stretching from horizon to horizon. It’ll be a fun time and an excellent opportunity to improve my shooting form with the muzzleloader shotgun. At the SHOT show I was given some instruction on how to pass shoot the muzzleloader and how to make better use of it over decoys. My “sort of” dream with the muzzleloader is reach a point of about 60% kills when I shoot. Maybe it is too much to ask, maybe not, but spring goose hunting should help me toward that goal. With that in mind I’m going to start pre measuring my loads.



One of the magazines I write for is African Expedition and they recently launched a new promotion that I am going all out to promote and it is called “Revolution” and it is focused on how hunters really are the source of conservation. This is coming right out of Africa and the publisher means everything that he is writing. Those of you who have an interest in Africa should read this magazine because it is packed with a lot of stories and useful information. But not all of the magazine is on hunting, the magazine's editors are always on the lookout for nonhunting stories that the readers will enjoy. I admit that I am really supporting this magazine and I love the "Revolution" campaign because it speaks about hunters in an "in your face" way that has never worked before. This one does. Below is some contact information and their promtional poster. You can expect to start seeing this poster at any event where outdoor writers gather and even a few other places and yes, if you would like to get a poster to hang in your office they are going to be making them available, I think the largest size is 11x17 and there are plans to print full size posters later this year.

Hunters and adventurers everywhere have had enough.
We are starting a revolution.
Ethical hunters and adventurers have always been green.
So here it is - a magazine that speaks for hunters who actually admit: "We have been conserving nature all along. So sue us."
Join the read revolution. Now previous African Expedition issues can be read online - and you can flip through the pages just like a book.
Now you can save paper and have fun.
Spectacular articles, incredible circulation and superb presentation. African Expedition Magazine.
"Who's like us? - Pretty darn few". Chimp from Babe: Pig in the City
http://www.africanxmag.com/

Have a good end of week. glg