A little off-topic...

For those of you that know me, you're aware that I got really involved in the hobby of metal detecting after I retired. I'm hooked. If it's nice out, I'm out in a park or the yard of an old property looking for old coins, jewelry, relics from the past...just about anything. It gets me outside and moving, which makes my wife very happy; she was afraid I'd become a permanent resident in my recliner, watching TV all day

It's been a very rewarding venture also, one that isn't measured in dollars and cents. My first cool recovery was that of a railroad switch lock in the spring of 2014, along the old rail bed across State Route 39 from Loudonville High School. The tracks and ties had been removed long ago; all that is left is the gravel bed and berm. It's a Wilson-Bohannon lock; I researched it, and found that it had been manufactured in 1930 in Brooklyn, New York. I'd called the company, which is now headquartered in Marion, Ohio to get some history on this lock, finding that they have their catalogues online dating back to the late 1800s. They asked if I'd donate it to their lobby display; it's still here at Ram Field Ranch. I just couldn't part with it.

Since that time I've detected hundreds upon hundreds of hours and dug thousands of holes in Mother Earth, rewarded with some really sweet items: an 1827 Large Cent, which was produced during the presidency of John Quincy Adams; South Park has given me an 1865 two cent piece; Liberty Park provided an undated Standing Liberty Quarter, 1942 Walking Liberty half dollar, Indian head cents from the 1880s, a sterling silver ring and countless wheat cents; area schools have given me three gold rings...in other words, I think it's time well spent. I use an All-Terrain Pro detector, otherwise known as the AT Pro, made by Garrett Detectors in Garland, Texas. It's the same model used by Tim Saylor and George Wyant on the NatGeo TV show 'Diggers', one that allows me to hunt on dry land, in lakes, streams and even salt water, and I love it. You can watch videos of my metal detectign adventures here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3EBhEhX8q4RZqdyWJx4Vaw

Imagine my dismay last week when my metal detector started acting up; crazy readings and tones, even when held straight up in the air. I checked my purchase paperwork, noting that the AT Pro has a two-year warranty...and I was twenty-four days past the expiration. Less than a month!

I sent the customer service department at Garrett an email, pleading for mercy; repairing a metal detector can get pricey real quick. The next day they replied: they would cover it under warranty as long as they received it before August 1st. I FedExed it the next morning and it arrived there today.

Why am I telling you this tale? It's simple.

Garrett is an American company, one that takes pride in their products. For them to agree to repair my machine free of charge, even though it was out of warranty, speaks volumes of this company. It's probably also part of the reason why Garrett detectors are the most popular machines on the market, too.

 For now, I'm like the kid waiting on Christmas morning to arrive, waiting impatiently for my AT Pro to re-enter my life. I've been lost without it.

Just ask my wife.

A Ridiculous Claim

Here we go again. The silly season that is Presidential campaigns is upon us once more. Each political camp will make absolutely ludicrous claims as to what their candidate 'promises' to accomplish once elected, some of which they have no control over. They'll spout qualifications for the Office of President of the United States that are questionable at best if not downright untrue.

I heard one claim today, however, that just borders on being insane.

Hillary Rodham Clinton believes that she is THE most qualified person to run for the Presidency.

Ever.

In the history of this great and mighty Republic, she believes that she is more qualified that John F. Kennedy, than Abraham Lincoln, than FDR, than Harry Truman was.

Hillary Clinton served in the US Senate for eight years, then as Secretary of State for four years. She has never led a state government, held a county office or even been a mayor or city council member...anywhere. Her eight years as a Senator for the State of New York resulted in no initiatives she had sponsored being adopted as law. As far as her time as Secretary of State, I'll only say this: If Condolleeza Rice had still been in that office on September 11, 2011, four Americans, one being the Ambassador to Libya, would still be alive today.

What Mrs. Clinton DOES have experience in is being embroiled in controversy and investigations. First she was fired from the investigative team of lawyers during the Watergate scandal...for unethical conduct. Then there was Whitewater, Troopergate, Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky vs husband Bill Clinton, conflicts of interest in her appointments and staff management while S of S, the Benghazi fiasco and now the private email server episodes. Although the government declined to file any charges against Hillary Clinton, FBI Director James Comey had this to say about her conduct:"Although we did not find clear evidence that Secretary Clinton or her colleagues intended to violate laws governing the handling of classified information, there IS evidence that they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information."

Although Attorney General Loretta Lynch ruled against filing charges against Clinton, the State Department has now reopened its own internal investigation of Clinton's handling of sensitive information, a move that could strip her of her security clearance.

And she believes she is the most qualified candidate, EVER, to become President?

I think not.

I am not a fully-supportive Donald Trump fan; in fact, he wasn't even my second or third choice, but he is the horse Conservatives have entered into the race, so he gets my vote. Not being a Washington 'insider' is a plus also.

Anyone But Clinton.

Brandon Varner

Some mopes just don't get it, particularly when they're pretty impressed with themselves.

Brandon Varner is a criminal. A petty criminal at that.

He lives and 'works' in the Charleston region of South Carolina. Apparently, a while back, this guy stole some type of an all-terrain vehicle in Berkeley County, SC. He was also wanted for shoplifting, trespassing and probation violation by three other agencies. His probation was as a result of attempting to manufacture methamphetamine back in 2014...in the presence of an 18-month-old infant...with two other amateur pharmacists. He knew he was a wanted man.

Varner taunted law enforcement on social media, specifically Facebook, saying that the cops "...cany catch me." Yes, he misspelled 'can't '.

Mope Varner was proven wrong less that 24 hours later when he was caught by deputies with the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, thanks to the many tips they'd received on his whereabouts after Varner's social media post. He's currently in jail.

I love a story with a happy ending.