First, there was the outbreak of rabies in the fox population on Boston Hill, our in-town open space. I talked to the Animal Control officer one day, and he said the outbreak was particularly bad because the fox population is so dense on Boston Hill. "The people who live around Boston have been feeding the foxes for years," he said. Luckily, only one person got bit, and none of the dogs who are walked on Boston regularly (including mine) had to be put down because of contact. The rabies did thin out the overpopulation.

The second incident was much worse: A local man, who lived on the edge of the Gila Wilderness, was killed by a mountain lion. The lion had to be hunted down and killed, along with another lioness who had become too familiar with humans. The reason for all this was that someone had been feeding the lions, so he could get good pictures of them. Needless to say, he's being charged with manslaughter for his negligent behavior. One man killed, one man in trouble with the law, and two mountain lions killed, because someone thought it would be a good idea to feed predators.

Update: I don't read the paper, and rely on my spouse to read it and tell me what's going on. He says no one has actually been charged with manslaughter, but the paper said that was a likely outcome.

I've long felt that John McCain-Feingold was probably not going to be my choice, but I'm not sure I want a liberal Democrat in the Whitehouse either. My likely vote for Obama was really going to be a vote against the Republican Party and its abandonment of we libertarians in favor of theocrats and neocons -- neither of whom are conservative in any way shape or form.

However, George Will gives me hope. If he's right, and his reading of Obama makes sense when you think about things like Obama's healthcare plan (reviled by the left for giving people an opt-out option, and therefore not covering everyone), then I can put up with a candidate who wants to nudge We the People, as long as he leaves us ultimately free to make our own choices.

The view from The Kumquat.

So, I complain about the heat, and it starts to rain and hail. The temperature has dropped at least ten degrees in the last hour (maybe more), which means I can wear long pants in comfort.

Everyone in Silver City is happy when it rains -- even the homeless hippy in his sarong (but he's always happy).

What really burns me up, however, is all the women running around in summer dresses. When the dress code says "no short pants," a woman can put on a little cotton shift. She can look classy and comfortable all at once. She can even look over-dressed for Silver City, and stay cool as a cucumber.

There is one guy in town who wears sarongs year-round, but he's an intentionally-homeless hippy dude. Unfortunately, I don't think I could pull a skirt off as well as he does without a good dose of wacky tobaccy and a lack of personal hygiene -- neither of which are my style.

I know they gave an Oscar to Al Gore for his Global Warming snore-fest, and I haven't really respected Oscar since Forrest Gump swept the 1994 Academy Awards, but they haven't sunk that low.

So, I asked the people standing in line. They thought it would take her about an hour. One person said, "But, tell her she's driving too slow." I didn't.

Seriously.

I was taught that the flag should be honored. Don't let it touch the ground. Don't fly it in the rain. Burn or bury it if it gets tattered. I'm pretty sure using the flag as a fly swatter was not one of the ways I was taught to honor it. I just don't get this kind of patriotism -- but, then, I have been told I'm f***king conservative. Maybe I am.