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Size Matters, when Fishing! Even 78 years later!

On June 2, 1932 - George Perry decided the weather was too bad for farming. It wasn't very good for a Church steeple in Jacksonville, Georgia either. Strong winds or possibly a small tornado cause the steeple to come crashing to the ground that afternoon.

Storm clouds or not, George went fishing that Thursday afternoon. At 20 years of age, George owned one Rod & Reel and two lures. He was fishing with a friend - from a homemade boat - in a dead oxbow lake off the Ocmulgee River. Known as Montgomery Lake, it was then and now just a small wet spot in South Georgia Swamp Land, a few miles east of Jacksonville.

George cast into the dark waters. Reeling in line, everything came to a stop! Thinking he couldn't lose that lure (these were Depression Times, by the way), George pondered how he could retrieve the lure - for surely it was hung on something. “I thought I had hooked a log”, Perry recalled. “ It was heavy and cumbersome.”

But as it began to move…George saw it was not a log. What was on the end of his line was a Large Mouth Bass the likes never seen before or since.

The pair drove 16 miles to a grocery store in Helena, the fish and George were the talk of the county that weekend. An hour or so later the bass was weighed on certified scales at the Post Office.

Twenty Two pounds and Four ounces

The weight was verified and submitted to Field and Streams magazine for a contest that was being conducted. George was awarded prizes with a total value of around $75.00. These were Depressions Times, by the way.

Today, if you are lucky or skilled enough to catch a Large Mouth Bass that weighs more than 22 pounds and 4 ounces….AND break the World Record that has endured for 78 years now…you could be awarded up to $8 million in cash, prizes and countless endorsements depending on the type of tackle you are using.

And what ever became of that big o'FISH. The Perry family had a fish fry on Friday AND Saturday night. These were Depressions Times, by the way...

Now a photo, salvaged from the personal effects of a distant Perry relative, has been found - taunting naysayers who believe the fish wasn't as big as it was said to be, or perhaps wasn't a largemouth bass at all.

"There is no doubt in my mind it's the world-record bass," said Bill Baab, who retired from The Augusta Chronicle in 2000 after 35 years as its outdoors editor - and who helped authenticate the mysterious snapshot.

Baab knows plenty about Perry and his bass.

In a recent book, Forbes senior writer Monte Burke refers to Baab as "the world's leading authority on the story of George Perry's fish, and the story's most tenacious guardian."
The photo, likely taken near the post office and general store in Helena, Ga., was found by Waycross, Ga., resident Jerry Johnson while going through his late aunt's belongings.

"The aunt was a relative of Perry's," Baab said.

Johnson sent the photo to a Florida magazine editor, who in turn sent it to the International Game Fish Association, which ran the photo in its magazine, International Angler, fall 2005.

11 months ago, a bass was caught from Lake Biwa, Japan that weighed 22 pound 5 ounces. Since the International Game Fish Association requires a fish to outweigh by 2 ounces one it beats, it was considered as tying and not breaking the record that has been around for 78 years...

Let's just adopt "This Country's" Immigration Laws

With the State of Arizona in the center of controversy with it recently adopted immigration law - SB1070,  will more states propose bills of their own?  What pattern will others states follow?  Could state senators and representatives save time by looking at laws United States citizenry must adhere to when they travel out of the U.S.?

Here's one ~~~~

This country welcomes only foreigners who will be useful to The country’s society:


• Foreigners are admitted into This country “according to their possibilities of contributing to national progress.” (Article 32)

• Immigration officials must 'ensure' that 'immigrants will be useful elements for the country and that they have the necessary funds for their sustenance' and for their dependents. (Article 34)

• Foreigners may be barred from the country if their presence upsets 'the equilibrium of the national demographics,' when foreigners are deemed detrimental to 'economic or national interests,' when they do not behave like good citizens in their own country, when they have broken this country’s laws, and when 'they are not found to be physically or mentally healthy.' (Article 37)

• The Secretary of Governance may 'suspend or prohibit the admission of foreigners when he determines it to be in the national interest.' (Article 38)

The country’s authorities must keep track of every single person in the country:

• Federal, local and municipal police must cooperate with federal immigration authorities upon request, i.e., to assist in the arrests of illegal immigrants. (Article73)

• A National Population Registry keeps track of every single individual who comprises the population of the country,' and verifies each individual’s identity. (Articles 85 and 86)

• A national Catalog of Foreigners tracks foreign tourists and immigrants (Article 87), and assigns each individual with a unique tracking number (Article 91).

Foreigners with fake papers, or who enter the country under false pretenses, may be imprisoned:

• Foreigners with fake immigration papers may be fined or imprisoned. (Article 116)

• Foreigners who sign government documents 'with a signature that is false or different from that which he normally uses' are subject to fine and imprisonment. (Article 116)

Foreigners who fail to obey the rules will be fined, deported, and/or imprisoned as felons:

• Foreigners who fail to obey a deportation order are to be punished. (Article 117)

• Foreigners who are deported from this country and attempt to re-enter the country without authorization can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. (Article 118)

• Foreigners who violate the terms of their visa may be sentenced to up to six years in prison (Articles 119, 120 and 121). Foreigners who misrepresent the terms of their visa while in this country – such as working with out a permit – can also be imprisoned.

Under This country’s law, illegal immigration is a felony. The General Law on Population says:

• A penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine equal to $22.96 to $382.73 (USD) will be imposed on the foreigner who enters the country illegally. (Article 123)

• Foreigners with legal immigration problems may be deported from this country instead of being imprisoned. (Article 125)

• Foreigners who 'attempt against national sovereignty or security' will be deported. (Article 126)

Citizens who help illegal aliens enter the country are themselves considered criminals under the law.

• A Citizen who marries a foreigner with the sole objective of helping the foreigner live in the country is subject to up to five years in prison. (Article 127)

• Shipping and airline companies that bring undocumented foreigners into this country will be fined. (Article 132)







By the way, "this country" is MEXICO!!!

Whiskers on Kittens - not one of my favorites at 2 AM

With Sarah spending most of her time with Mama since she took her fall on Monday, I am getting ALL of Millie's attention. Last night, I was re-watching the most recent episode of LOST on-line. Millie gave me the "over the edge of the bed" peer and jumped onto the mattress beside me. She started purring and then started a face to face cuddle. I nearly LOL when her whiskers made contact with my nose.

Fast forward a few hours later. Metro asleep on Sarah's pillow. I'm in some REM zone. Millie is returning to the bedroom from some unknown mission. I heard paws making touchdown and can feel her stitching down the blanket as she walks along my legs and torso.

She is heading right for my face and a repeat performance. In my half aware state, I brace for whisker to face contact. This time, it felt like thousand feathers of tickling torture.

"MILLIE! QUIT!!!"

I'm not sure where she landed!

101 Simple Pleasures

1. coloring (yes, grown-ups can do it, too)
2. crisp cotton sheets
3. soft skin
4. old family recipes
5. the first daffodils of spring
6. sleeping in
7. an exercise endorphin high
8. window boxes
9. a perfect cup of coffee
10. a genuine compliment (giving or receiving)
11. the way babies smell (see #40)
12. a handwritten letter
13. waking up in a good mood...for no real reason
14. fishing
15. finding a couple forgotten dollars in your pocket
16. doing something nice for your neighbor
17. a home cooked meal
18. laughing
19. movie theater popcorn
20. playing hookey
21. long, hot shower
22. swimming
23. an afternoon nap
24. street musicians
25. your favorite song
26. saying thank you
27. helping someone in need
28. old fashioned photo booths
29. fresh whipped cream
30. inspiring blogs
31. a glass of Sweetea
32. rainy afternoons
33. the funny things kids say
34. a novel you can get lost in
35. finding the perfect piece of clothing...on sale
36. clean laundry
37. the wind in your hair
38. treating the person behind you at the drive-thru
39. sharing an umbrella
40. the smell of lavender
41. a long walk that clears your head
42. a bear hug
43. The Beatles
44. smiling at a stranger
45. eating with chopsticks (Chinese food optional)
46. butterflies
47. staying in your pj's all day
48. singing along to the radio and knowing all the words
49. fresh herbs
50. ordering in pizza
51. happy endings...even if they're fictional
52. flying a kite
53. puppies
54. root beer floats
55. holding open the door...
56. ...or having someone hold the door for you
57. fountain Coca Cola
58. white, fluffy towels
59. sunshine
60. spending an afternoon at a museum
61. really great advice
62. green lights all the way home
63. the sound of rain hitting the windows
64. sitting in a booth
65. holding hands
66. a great hair day with no effort
67. building a fort with your kids
68. when someone falls asleep with their head on your shoulder
69. fireflies
70. the perfect taco
71. geraniums on a windowsill
72. slow dancing
73. the smell of fresh-baked bread
74. old flannel shirts
75. great stories
76. the smell of sawdust
77. the cold side of the pillow
78. love letters
79. old friends...
80. ...new friends
81. a pull-through parking space
82. a baguette -- crisp on the outside, airy on the inside
83. when a dog licks your hand
84. sitting at the counter at an old-fashioned diner
85. using your favorite dishes
86. reading your child a bedtime story
87. Girl Scout Cookies (mmmm, Thin Mints)
88. flossing
89. kissing someone you love
90. the smell of onions and garlic cooking
91. hot chocolate
92. jumping in puddles
93. old photographs
94. birds hopping on the sidewalk
95. old toys
96. a spoonful of peanut butter straight from the jar
97. your softest t-shirt
98. a new magazine in the mail
99. fireplaces
100. having exact change
101. bacon and pancakes cooking on Saturday morning

SNOW????

Dear Weather,

You have heaped mounds of snow over my friends. Why have you forgotten about me down here?

It seems as though you are going to be making an attempt to dust the state of GA later today. I don't believe you.

Pls stop bombarding my friends with unnecessary inches of snow. I will gladly take one for the team!

Signed,

Your long lost friend

Kthnxbye