Svengoolie

This is what I do. I got this at Home Depot.

I only use it for camping. I pack it with firewood at home, and dump the wood when we make camp.

I couldn't believe how bad comp hill looked on Sun morn Halloween weekend. Is it that hard to crush your cans and bring them back to camp?

I also pick up "stuff" whenever I stop. I think littering is getting worse.

pictures?

I have one. It's of me holding it last Thanksgiving.

I will find it.

My kids were scared and had fun at the same time.

Thanks so much, Your hard work dedication, and certainly the money spent were appreciated by thousands.

You family is a huge asset to the duning community.

Sounds fishey......

I'm serious. Three rattlers since last Thanksgiving. Yes. Thanksgiving. And it was at night. I thought they would already be hibernating.

SAND~~SNAKES???

Sidewinders, so yeah, I guess they are sand snakes. But they were not invited into our circle.

I have tossed 3 into the wash in less than 12 months (river crossing) so watch out. They are probably pissed!

WE camp near bathroom 12 and for the past two years have had three rattlers in our camp. One of the times we were sitting around the campfire and it sounded like there was some kind of leak. Maybe a propane leak. This went on for a minute or two when someone yelled "SNAKE" It was sitting around the campfire with us rattling for us to leave!

It was close to the wife's foot and she was wearing flip flops. I kicked it away from her foot and went after it as the whole camp scattered. I picked it up and relocated it near the wash past the entrance.

Well, this year we camped in the same place. It was back! Back to the wash it went.

Plus we saw another one by a bush nearby, no campers there so I left it alone.

Keep in mind they are there. Check your campsite and all around well if you have dogs or kids.

Anyone else with these in their camp lately?

Nice debating with you, No harm no foul, just opinions/facts! Next time I am out there, I have a beer for you!

You got it!

Our work dogs can't "sniff" people. That is our policy. Now back in 1979 things were alot different. I am not going to argue that a handler can "cue" a dog into an alert. That has and alway will be a factor. But seeing a positive alert and finding 50lbs of pot from over 75 yards away when he got into odor is pretty darn cool.

.

It's never going to be rock solid, why? It's a dog/man relationship here... Until people do the right thing in life there will always be a need for law enforcement.

How they work is amazing.

I think law enforcement jobs will be secure for quite some time.

I actually like the rangers and deputies at Dumont. They do an excellent job and have always been good to my family and friends.

Let me chime in on the dog aspect here.

The 20%-30% time they are wrong?????.... How do you know they were wrong? There is a positive alert where the dog shows by either a passive (sitting) posture or an active (scratching/barking) posture. When the dog "alerts" all bets are off as far as your right to not being searched.

Now the "false alert" is not really false. It is called a " non-productive alert" Let me explain. How do you know there werent drugs in there at any time prior? The dog is trained on the odors of controlled substances. The dog is trying to find the odor so he can receive his toy from the handler. Its a big game to the dogs of find the toy. The nose of a dog is very sensitve and can locate a very small amount of drugs but turn around a miss a ton of weed simply because he/she was never exposed to that quantity before and was overloaded by the scent. But a good dog that has "alerted" to big and small quantities is a great assett. I am not sure if all dogs are certified on "Oxy" just yet but they need to be. If you have a prescription then your ok, but if you have 3000 tablets then you either have a bad neck ache or your up to no good.

I see an issue with the mass presence of law at any given time. But the dog is always welcome in my eyes. If your breaking the law then don't go where your going to be caught. I got popped for fireworks out there a few years ago. I didn't badge my way out of it. I simply told the officer who I was as I got my wallet and he confiscated my fireworks and let me off with a warning. I would have taken the ticket if issued as I was knowingly breaking the law.

So in short, I would rather have the police presence there and deal with a longer wait time then not have them there if needed. If your know your rights and they ask you to search and you say no! Then unless the dog "alerts" they have no authority to hold you any longer than what their scope allows them to do. And by them stopping you, you are technically under arrest. But allowed until they complete their initial line of questioning.

Ok, off my soap box......NEXT

In Indiana in 1979, 26 trained dogs sniffed 2,780 junior high and high school students, running their noses along the kids’ legs. They identified 50 students as drug carriers. The kids were strip-searched or told to empty their pockets. Thirty-five of the 50 students were clean.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3078300/

I don't do drugs- never have. I still have a serious problem with the "I have nothing to hide" idea.

I have never had a negative run in with law enforcement before. In the few run ins I have had, I was respectful as were they and I went on my way. (I need to drive slower!) They have a tough job and I appreciate them and what they do.

However, I do not want to run the gauntlet of trained dogs and questioning while taking my family to the dunes.

I guess I'll step off the soap box now too!

We had such a good time this weekend, the kids (teenagers) were in bed by 7:30 last night! Completely spent!

There is a trade off being discussed here. The balance of liberty and security. How much government intrusion into our lives will we accept in the name of security?

Political philosopher Thomas Hobbes pointed out 400 years ago, when humans fear for their security, they give up liberty.

It's quite easy to make people feel afraid. Remember terror alerts during the last administration?

Drug sniffing dogs are right 20 to 30% of the time and can be "set off" with only a small command by the officer. The officers beliefs often influence the dogs studies show.

Don't give up my rights for me. They were hard fought with much blood spilled.

I will keep my liberty and lock up my stuff.

"Those who sacrifice liberty for security get neither"

Benjamin Franklin 1775

I wrote in another thread that I was at comp hill Sat night and was approached by two characters dressed in black asking if I had any pot. Having never been into drugs of any kind, I gave them a strange look and stood there for a second. I told them no, I don't smoke. They actually questioned me and asked if I knew anyone who had any. I again told them no. None of my friends smoke. I tend not to hang around with drug people. We don't have much in common. I finally turned my back on them and they walked on down the line. I just thought they were weird, but friends of mine who overheard the whole thing told me they thought they were undercover.

I never knew there was such a big drug problem at Dumont. I always figured druggies would spend their money on drugs, not sand toys.

Thank you for doing this. My kids were among the scared Saturday night.

The verdict?

Thumbs up. They said it was scary but fun.

SOunds like they are looking to stay busy.. I dont think its right.... we are 35 or 45 miles from the closest town and they want to look around? Cmon now we are in the middle of the desert ..

Capt

I was pissed. I'm curious if anyone else was approached by these guys.

I think they might have had undercover people working comp hill Sat night. Two people came up and asked me if I had any pot. I told them I didn't smoke.

They said "come on. You have to know someone who has some" I again told them sorry, I don't smoke and neither do my friends. They badgered me a little more then moved on. It was weird.

I love generators too!

It's sold.

I'm asking $650. Half the price of new.

I forgot the price. Six hundred and fifty big ones. Half the price of new.

Much quieter than the contractor generators. Will start most 13,500 BTU air conditioners. Runs all night on a gallon of gas. Outside a little beat up. (Floor jack rolled and broke a plastic vent on the left side, and has some scratches)

Starts first pull, runs great, no leaks, drips, or ticks. Has battery cables to charge batteries. Has never failed to run or needed a repair. Uses a fraction of the fuel of an Onan.

Clean power suitable for computers or sensitive electronics. Read about it on the net.

http://www.yamaha-mo...e/475/home.aspx

These go for $1300 to $1400 new. About 75 LBS.

SOLD

God, I hate cancer. RIP, Al, you will be missed.

I will begin my "occupation" of Dumont on Wed.

What do I want? Several things. I will occupy until I get them.

1) Want good sand.

2) Hang with friends.

3) Tilt a few (Kids are teens and will drive me back to camp)

4) Wake up smelling like fire.

5) Most important, no one gets hurt, and hopefully nothing major breaks...

If these conditions are met, I will end my "occupation" on Wed.

I will probably re-occupy for Thanksgiving.

just got word my brother passed away in his sleep last night.....probly won't be at the D after all.

So sorry to hear that.

They changed the forecast. Leaving for Dumont in an hour or so...

Just finished loading the trailer. It's 2:00 am. Saw the forecast for rain. We're goin' anyway.

Who is ready for some riding?

$18,500? Really?

It never fails to amaze me how great the duner community is. I'm new to the sport. (2nd season) But I've been into other forms of off road for years. There are times I pull off to the side for a break, and often someone will pull up and ask me if everything is okay. Shanerman, great job. Very sorry to hear of the great loss. I'm guilty of taking small rides without buckling up. That won't happen again. I hope Cindy recovers well.

Chris