Hymns and Hers

The chorus that sang at tonights food pantry fund raiser......


Hymns and Hers from p guston on Vimeo.

Victorian Holiday Tea

The Gustons and Curmudgeons went to the Reformed Church tonight.  The Holiday Tea is to benefit our local food pantry, a very worthy cause.  The atmosphere was very cheery and festive.  Everything was very good: soup, salad, roast beef, turkey, lamb, and desserts......wow.  The Hymns and Hers sang some traditional and not so traditional Christmas Carols, just what is needed to get into the Christmas Spirit.  Nice job to all that served us and to those that stayed behind the scenes in the kitchen.  And Judy Keeler told some great Christmas stories.

What can I say......I had a good time.....

Here is another video.........what the hell........I do not have anything else to do till the next VB meeting....

MXG said if you like this song then it is Bob singing but if you do not like it then it is Ron. I waited to see if both the Waterson Brothers would sing but........Ron was being stubborn or was that Bob.  Either way there was a crew of em down at the dog tonight.  Good to see ya all!


Another Local Sings from p guston on Vimeo.

Here's Johnny

JC sings another song:

Anyone that can sing, I hold in the highest regard.  And if they play an instrument, more power to them.  More from Johnny Comstock, not sure who originally sung this song, but who gives a hoot.......


JC sings Again from p guston on Vimeo.

A Song For Padre

There is an old proverb:

"If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad will go to the mountain"

At the Dancin Dog tonight, Johnny Comstock does a song By Johnny Cash......Ring Of Fire.  The title sounds like it could be a sermon, but it is not.


Ring of Fire from p guston on Vimeo.

Here are the lyrics so you can all sing along:

Love is a burning thing
and it makes a firery ring
bound by wild desire
I fell in to a ring of fire...
I fell in to a burning ring of fire
I went down,down,down
and the flames went higher.
And it burns,burns,burns
the ring of fire
the ring of fire.
The taste of love is sweet
when hearts like our's meet
I fell for you like a child
oh, but the fire went wild..
I fell in to a burning ring of fire....

Thanksgiving Prayer

Joe the Homeless  has something to share with all of us.  I know you guys are to lazy to follow hyper-links to other sites, especially when there might be news of Armageddon around one of those "WWW"corners.

William S. Burroughs

"To John Dillinger and hope he is still alive.

Thanksgiving Day November 28 1986"

Thanks for the wild turkey and

the passenger pigeons, destined

to be shat out through wholesome

American guts.

Thanks for a continent to despoil

and poison.

Thanks for Indians to provide a

modicum of challenge and

danger.

Thanks for vast herds of bison to

kill and skin leaving the

carcasses to rot.

Thanks for bounties on wolves

and coyotes.

Thanks for the American dream,

To vulgarize and to falsify until

the bare lies shine through.

Thanks for the KKK.

For nigger-killin' lawmen,

feelin' their notches.

For decent church-goin' women,

with their mean, pinched, bitter,

evil faces.

Thanks for "Kill a Queer for

Christ" stickers.

Thanks for laboratory AIDS.

Thanks for Prohibition and the

war against drugs.

Thanks for a country where

nobody's allowed to mind the

own business.

Thanks for a nation of finks.

Yes, thanks for all the

memories-- all right let's see

your arms!

You always were a headache and

you always were a bore.

Thanks for the last and greatest

betrayal of the last and greatest

of human dreams.

Now that is a Burger

Heart Attack Grill  this looks so yummy.  A heart stopping burger.  I bet Dotster can not eat one of these!  They cook the fries in Lard and layer the burgers in everything bad.  This has to be good for the economy.....not the heart !  This is the quadruple bypass burger.

Gobble Gobble

All the other bloggers are wishing the bloggees a Happy Thanksgiving, soooooooo

"WASTE" of Time

Has the Town Board of Alexandria been notified about the waste conversion plant?
NO
Have other communities [ Clayton, Omar, Cape Vincent ] been made aware of the waste conversion plant?
NO
Is the village of Alex Bay in the running for consideration for a site for this plant?
NO

The reason for all the answers of NO?  According to Trustee Drake there is not enough information to get all the communities involved yet.  Hmmmm, but there was enough information for the VB to contact the WDT and Channel 7 News?  Just what is going on here?  Let me sum it up with a picture:

Questioning The Conversion Plant

It is not just about year round jobs!  We need to ask some serious questions before we or some other community in our area is saddled with something unmanagable........or horrible.  Here are a list of concerns we all should have the answers to:

Does the plant emit any emissions?
How long is the raw material [waste] in transportation till destination?
How long is the raw material [waste] stored in the plant till its conversion?
Once the conversion of waste to diesel is completed, how is the new waste disposed of?

How will it effect the quality of this regions resources?  Water, Air, Noise etc....

Has this company or contract hauler ever had a serious environment issue? [Litigation]

Any special licenses or endorsements  needed to operate these transport vehicles?

What is the noise level of the plant during operation?

Does it operate around the clock?
Does the trucking operate around the clock?

Where will the work force come from?  Local, cross country, around the world?
What is the minimum education/trade experience needed for entry level positions?
Is the technology so complicated that only unskilled low paying jobs will be offered to the locals?

What is the life expectancy of the physical plant used in the conversion process?

Are there any provisions for dismantaling the plant upon abandonment?

Give all these some serious thoughts

VB Audio Nov, 25 2008

Click on the following link for the Audio from Tonight VB meeting. 

Trustee Sweet and Chief Mullaney were absent from tonights meeting.
Some where in the begininng of the meeting, The mayor reads a letter from some ACS students.  Good for them. The letter is addressed to Mayor Millett.  There were a few chuckles over this because the VB was thinking the reference was to acting DPW Supt Greg Millett.......Ummmm the funny part would have been Martha Robb, maybe the students are looking into the future when the 2 boards merge.....

Trustee reports start at about 6:05

Surplus Equipment, Two village vehicles 21:27

Repair or replace trash truck 25:01

Re-levy taxes to the amount of $255,075.26  ............29:31

Castle Cable Request .......32:10
This is kind of interesting. No smart aleck comments from me on this one!

Town of Alexandria Arena Advertising 37:55

Service Request by one of our taxpayers on Steamboat Is.  41:14
A letter addressed to the VB from Richard B. Sherker Jr.  Evidently he is upset that islanders within the village are not receiving village services like all the other mainland taxpayers.  He wants the same police, emt, and fire protection that we get ........all year long.  Again no smart aleck comments from this responsible blogger........yah right!

Waste Conversion VB Meeting

Audio from tonights VB meeting.  Trustee Drake takes time at the end of the meeting to clarify the plan for this new industry.  I first read about this in the WDT and then saw a Channel 7 News report on it Sunday night.  Myself and others were amused and irritated at HOW  these 2 news sources reported this information.  Especially  Channel 7 showing the vacant lot on the corner of Walton St. and Rt 12 which is adjacent to our school, implying that it was a potential location. 

That being said,  slide your seek bar to about 4:06 and listen closely to what is said by Trustee Drake about smart aleck comments.  The catalyst for those comments was the way The Times and News 7 were contacted and the slant that they took when reporting the information to the public.  Abay.com is a forum and this site is a blog.  Both of which support free speech and opinion.  If referring to our thoughts as smart aleck while glaring across the table is meant to discourage or intimidate this blog or the forum members, then I have a question for you.  Have you been living under a rock?

Side note........Did not see any news from Governeur about this.  Did anyone else?

A smart aleck reference.

Asked what kind of waste will be used, the company responded YOU NAME IT!!!

What Happened to Danger Democrat?

Lots of conjecture regarding the demise of Ted Ford.  Political IV claiming to be the white knight slaying the dragon blog.  How very romantic that sounds........gag barf gag more barfing!!!!!!  A few of my fellow assassins were concerned about the well being of TF.  I took it upon myself to call and ask him what was up, are you ok, is there anything I can do.  Ted and I had a nice conversation and he is alive and well.  Just taking a break from blogging and trying to drive his wife nuts.  He told me that he even cleaned his closet today.  I wonder what he found in there?  Bottom line is.....Ted is ok and you will be hearing from him soon enough.

Freezing My Butt Off

Man it was a cold walk downtown last night.  I got a late start, so I had to cut my rounds down to one stop.  Into the Dancin Dog I went, shivering and stamping my feet, trying to warm them up.  I was greeted by my friend MXG.  He was very concerned that I may have gotten chilled to the bone......... Give Jim a shot and a beer, now that is music to my ears.  I opted for a Blue and a Tequila with a couple more through the night.  There is always  interesting groups of people to chat with........topics ranging from politics, guns, economy, music.........I took a bunch of videos last night, but the first video turned out the best........my equilibrium wavered as the night went on.  The guys playing last night were not the usual Dog Brothers.  These guys played some short cuts of songs, followed by full ones.......banging them out one after another.  Ya never knew what they were going to play next.


steppin stone from p guston on Vimeo.

Thoughts on $700 effin Billion

I said it before,  He is raw and unedited, speaking his mind.  How can I set myself free like fellow blogger Joe the Homeless.  Here are some his thoughts on Henry Paulson and Bush.  Be prepared for shock and awe as Joe makes his point with tons of F bombs.

Sharing Village and Town Resources

At the last VB meeting, Mayor Robb briefly mentioned the idea of sharing services with the Town.  He highlighted the possibility of consolidating snow removal between the two entities.  I was going to wait to bring this topic up when both the Mayor and Town Supervisor Martha Millett were ready to start some serious discussions, probably around the first of the year.  But the way I look at it.......why wait????

Actually I was doing some shopping at a local hardware store, when Town Councilman Dale Hunneyman brought up this subject of sharing services.  TC Hunneyman suggested sharing/consolidating zoning, planning boards and possibly the position of DPW Super.  HMmmmm,  I am open to this concept, the question I have for the rest of you.........Are you ready for this change?  If we do not start thinking creatively and with open minds, our community is doomed to be crushed with increasing taxes and a reduction of services.  TC Hunneyman encouraged me to start attending the Town Meetings.  Here is an invitation for the rest of you, directly from the Town web site:

Town Board Meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. at the Town of Alexandria Municipal Building on Old Goose Bay Road. The public is always welcome and encouraged to attend these meetings.

Cheers

I ran into this guy tonight and this is what he had to say about local politics

Three little Soldier boys walking in the zoo;

A big bear hugged one and then there were two.

Two Little Soldier boys sitting in the sun;

One got frizzled up and then there was one.

One little Soldier boy left all alone;

He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.

1972

I was in 6th grade attending a catholic school in Watertown.  I remember when the missing posters went up looking for Jack Blake.  I knew his family well and I remembered being scared $h1tless.  Adults tried creating a net of security around us kids, to shield us from something as ugly as the crimes commited by Arthur Shawcross.  I sometimes wonder now if Shawcross and monsters like him created authors like Dean Koontz and Stephen King .  Was the Genesee River Serial Killer actually the boogeyman............YES HE IS!  How does someone like him become a killer?  Was he a bully in school, did he perform cruel acts to small creatures.  How did his parents and society let little Arty become the monster...........

VPD Station Renovation

I was told by the VB that anyone of us could have gone into the VPD Station and asked to look around to see what renovations were planned.  That sounds nice but........what would be the chances of catching the Chief there, afterall he could be off that day or out on tour of the streets.  Nice gesture by the VB but I do not buy it.  That is why I asked at the last meeting [I was ignored] then I asked again at last nights meeting......Can we just take a few minutes and go and look and listen to what the plans are for renovation.  I wanted to have a better understanding of how this money was going to be spent and was it actually needed.  I was surprised when my request was honored and off we went, about 8 of us to the VPD station.  The entrance to the station opens into a small lobby with a counter at the opposite side.  The counter looks like something you might see at a deli.  Not what I would expect to find in a Police station even a small station like this one.  The evidence room is a small closet,  janitors have bigger closets than this.  It is loaded with articles confiscated, that need to be inventoried until they are mandated as no longer needed by the county.  Some of these items have been in evidence for years and probably will remain there until who knows when.  It became clear to me that this station was in need of some serious work.  I did find out that the station was originally designed by B/C Architects.........what were they thinking.  The place is as open as Mayberry's Station, the only thing missing was Andy and Barney.  I could go on and on about the deficiencies of the design but I won't bore you........just listen to the first 20 minutes of the audio.
*************************************************************
We returned to the meeting and I heard the mayor say something about that was fun, we need to do more field trips.  Attorney Gebo muttered something about lets take a field trip to a pizza place next. As a result of all this, I can see that the work is needed................no more comments by me about this project..............well almost.........lets just hope that the project gets completed on time with a reasonable amount of billed labor...........
Anyone want to comment?

VB Meeting Nov. 11, 2008*****Audio

As one Anon. Commentor stated [ deleted BTW]  I rushed home and uploaded the audio.  Not for my own benefit but for our Village Community, so that anyone that wants access to it can stay informed.

This audio is the Public Hearing tonight regarding parking on Church St. in the area of the Reformed Church. Oddly enough nobody from the church showed up at this special public hearing.

The next audio is from the regular VB meeting.  I will add the time stamps of the highlights later.  We did go on a field trip to the VPD to see what renovations need to be done..........more later

Added later:

00:00 to about 20:00 Public concerns, this is where I voice my concern for the renovation project {Backed by Carol Shepherd, Kay Doheny, and a few others} and convince the VB to take a short field trip down the hallway to see just what they want done.  I did pause the audio till we all settled in at the VPD.

20:57 to 26:01 Department reports

47:52 Re-Levy unpaid taxes to Jeff. Co. Treasurer  $200,000 up from $60,000 last year.

51:32 Trash Truck trashed maybe need to replace, some discussion about shared services

57:39  Residential Complaint

Some items are discussed inbetween the above highlights.

Added this morning:  WDT article on lasts night public hearing

Veterans Day 2008

To my Dad

Frank the Thank sez Tanks

Yes I did the topic on purpose.............



Frank the Thank says Tanks from p guston on Vimeo.

Beer Guitar Slide with one of the Dawg Bros.

Yuengling Guitar Beer Slide from p guston on Vimeo.

Minor Hockey Benefit

If you did not make it down to the Dancin Dawg today for this benefit......you have no idea what you missed.  All natural wild game prepared by local cooks.  When you walked into the Dawg the aroma knocks you over and the salivation starts..........I was desperately looking for a bib.  I could tell you what was being served on the buffet tables..........but then I would have to kill you and then field dress you and prepare you for next years benefit buffet.  Enjoy the slide show without the aroma...................

What is a Zebra Really?

A Zebra dies and arrives at the Pearly Gates. As he enters, he asks St. Peter, "I have a question that haunted me all of my days on earth.......Am I a white horse with black stripes, or a black horse with white stripes?"
St. Peter said, "That's a question only God can answer." So the zebra went off in search of God. When he found Him, the zebra asked, "God, please - I must know. Am I a white horse with black stripes or a black horse with white stripes?" God simply replied "You are what you are." The zebra returned to see St. Peter once more, who asked him, "Well, did God straighten out your query for you?" The zebra looked puzzled. "No sir, God simply said 'You are what you are.'" St. Peter smiled and said to the zebra, "Well then, that answers it, you are a white horse with black stripes." The zebra asked St. Peter, "How do you know that?" "Because," said St. Peter, "If you were a black horse with white stripes, God would have said, "You is what you is.

Another Blogger

I like this guy alot!  He is raw and unedited.  Speaking his mind......bluntly.  Ladies and Gentleman I would like to introduce:

Fellow Blogger Joe the Homeless

I pale in comparison.  Be thankful all you nay commentors................

MY Blog My Opinion

I voice my opinion based on facts.  I gather them from VB meetings which I record.  This way all you blogamites can listen and hear the facts.  If I need more info about an issue I ask one of the VB members.....most if not all the time, the Mayor.  Then I apply my point of view after I report the facts to all of you.  So all you "bully anonymous said posters" stop picking on me!!!!!  Agree with me or disagree with me I really do not care.  But ya better back up your point of view, and your opinion with some sound reasoning based on facts.  You want to take a jab at me with "jimmy your negative" or "cummings you do not report the facts" or "you cut ppl down" type comments.......guess what, those comments will not get approved.  This site gets over 100 hits a day and the only points of view I get are negative, off topic, miss the whole point comments.

People that post that stuff are nothing but..........

So if you disagree with me then back it up with why and try to stay on topic.

I am Jim Cummings the blogger, formerly known as pguston

Minor Hockey Benefit

Wild Game Feed

Sunday November 9th @ the Dancin Dog

3pm to 7pm

$3.00 Donation

A Night at the Dawg

Big Joe Williams originally did this song, Please Don't Go, back in the late 1930's.  Tons of others have remade this song including KC and the Sunshine Band.  But tonight you get a chance to hear the Dawg Bros. doin it Dawgy Style with Alex "SilverSmith" Mosher sittin in playin the mouth organ.  This is good stuff folks.  Get out and enjoy some great music before the cabin fever sets into your bones and makes you crazy!

A Night at the Dancin Dawg from p guston on Vimeo.

Local Voters Cast Their Votes

Incumbent/Appointed[by Mayor Robb] Village Trustee Richard Drake is ousted.
Appointed[by Mayor Robb] Trustee Helethea Roy is officially elected for a 1 year term.
Cindy Chaltain wins a 2 year term.
Steve [emtsteve] Jarvis also wins a 2 year seat on the VB.

Abay.com unofficial election results

So what happened here?  I certainly did not expect Drake to get ousted.  Did the other younger [R] Drake cause confusion to some of the voters?  Did they pull the wrong lever giving the wrong Drake the desired vote?  Did the presence of Kay Doheny's name in the voting booth steal some votes away from Drake?  Or is it something else.  Are the voters in the village taking charge of their village?  Is this retribution for all the VB antics of the past year?  Did Drake take a hit  for being part of this board.  Two other board members resigned earlier this summer for reasons that are mysterious or suspicious......  Two board members remain and they are both up for re-election in November 2009.  I wonder what their fate will be next fall, what will be their choice:.....run for re-election or just quietly fade away averting the truth of the voting booth...........................

Abay Police Station Renovation

Its going to cost a couple thousand dollars in materials and probably the same in labor.  I am guessing the whole renovation price tag is going to be around 5 Grand, maybe a little less.  But do not worry folks the cost of this renovation is not going to cost the tax payers a dime.  According to Mayor Robb the money comes out of a special village savings account called the Municipal Building Fund which is for projects like the PD renovation.  Everybody NOD in AGREEMENT.......NOD NOD NOD..............Well I say WRONG and I am shaking my head NO NO NO.  I do not give a rats a$$ where that money comes from.  Our economy is going down the tubes and most people are following this philosophy:  Reduce spending and evaluate what you really need.  $ave our money for a rainy day.  Screw the bids and screw the project. That police station is fine for the time being.  Lets wait and see what the very near future brings before the VB votes on any more frivilous projects.  Stop spending our money like it will not ever run out.................

BTW.........two VB meetings ago, the Mayor mentioned something  about a "spending freeze".  He used that phrase with caution saying that he did not want to call it a freeze but implied that the Village should spend with caution.  Reminding the VB members that they need to approve any spending over $100.00.  Freeze the PD Renovation project

,,,,,ride on the Peace Train

Andy did ya hear bout this one...............

.....................To Smithereens

CyniCaL GuRl

Crenshaw as in Marshall

Just Chillin

I love these guys.............

Sleep Tight Tonight

To Darrel and Addie including all their families. get your rest.......things will be moving quickly soon enough

A Note of Thanks from Addie

Thank You!
I want to take this opportunity to thank the hundreds of people who have, in one way or another, volunteered their time, made a donation, or helped with my campaign. I truly appreciate all of your hard work and encouragement and your generosity will remain with me for life.


Assemblywoman-Elect,
Addie Jenne Russell

A Thank You from "Our Guy" Darrel Aubertine

Friends,

Everyone is part of this victory.

I'm so thankful for the support that I received across party lines, from the Republicans, Democrats, Conservatives, independents, and liberals.

We must look at backgrounds of our candidates and stand with the person that you feel most represents your values and who you trust to work hard for you and your family every day. I'm humbled that so many of you chose to stand with me.

This is a victory for all of us.

Darrel Aubertine

Our Girl Won!!!!

In the middle of all the excitement last night Addie and I had a chance to Talk.  Dotster took this picture and I am stealing it from him. 

Senator Aubertine and Assemblywoman- elect Russell

Darrel and Addie from p guston on Vimeo.

Darrel and Addie

Letter From Addie Russell

My Sincere "Thanks"...

I want to take this opportunity to thank the hundreds of people who have, in one way or another, volunteered their time, made a donation, or helped with my campaign. I truly appreciate all of your hard work and encouragement and your generosity will remain with me for life..................

News 10 Now in the Bay

News10Now coverage of the Assembly race for the 118th River District. Write up and video of Addie's visit yesterday in A Bay.

Addie Russell makes a "House Call"

Addie wanted to meet "Aunt" Marie Tousant of Alexandria Bay.  Aunt Marie is a special lady because she is 101 years old and a Democrat.  This was a very enjoyable visit for both Addie and Marie and I am glad I had the opportunity to video it.

Rally for Addie in Alex Bay

Addie was in Abay this morning part of her 23 stop tour.  She took time out of her busy schedule to make an extra stop.  She wanted to meet and visit with a real Die Hard Democrat.  Check out the slide show.

This Sign Says It All !!!!!!!

A sign at Skiffs in Abay.........
Later added:  Damn!  I guess I am not the only one that wants to add an extra "L" onto Darrell's name Darrel's name