Ugly Drum Smoker

I have been wanting to build a smoker or BBQ for quite a long time but they seemed expensive. Bricks are permanent and I rent so that isn't gonna work well. I don't have a welder so making a 55 gallon barrel BBQ is kinda difficult and cutting one in half can be quite a chore. Not to mention getting the straight line.
Then I discovered the UDS. A 55 gallon drum that retains its shape and sits on its butt. No cutting! I searched the web for instructions and found The Q Joint and it includes pictures, instructions and a parts list. Pretty cheap to get going over all.
You don't have to go all out and you can buy cheap if you need to and improve later. You don't even have to paint it! But I strongly encourage you to burn out your barrel with high heat. The exterior paint will burn off and it will stink. The interior seal should burn off as well. Some guys go so far as to sand the interior down to bare metal. We'll see where I end up. I burned it pretty good and I dread having to stick my body inside that drum and sanding.

I got this drum for $15!


















Picked up some materials from Lowes and my buddy and I started drilling and attaching parts


















The red inside the barrel is the food safe coating and it has to be burned out






















































My Buddy Steve is a bit of a perfectionist Machinist and that's a good thing. I left for the weekend and came home to the barrel being painted and ready for assembly.




































The biggest issue seems to be the fire basket. We tried a cable handle but that just let the basket fall upside down. So Steve went to town and build handles and a lift stick. Freaken sweet set up! We'll add a pan on the bottom of the legs to catch ash so we can avoid tipping the drum upside down to empty too often.




































All said, we spent approximately $125 and that includes paint, barrel and bits and pieces. The build took about a week off and could be done in just a weekend if you don't spend too much time on the fine details. But details make it look damn good without looking like you spend a grand. It also helps to have a metal guy doing most of the work. without Steve this build wouldn't look quite so nice.
Also check out The BBQ Bug
There are hundreds of pages out there with info and pics. Read a few and make your own!

Oregon gun laws

With all the recent rhetoric from those that fear guns I decided to do a little research about what my rights are as an Oregon resident. There are some very good sites out there that are informational and help keep us all legal. The problem is, the Constitution gives us the right to bear arms. Any law restricting that right flies in the face of the constitution. Many people may disagree with that blunt statement. But think about it. The 2nd amendment guarantees us the right. There was no exceptions or exemptions.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The above link has a "note" that goes a bit into discussion about the altering of the 2nd Amendment. I haven't read it all but what I did see, I'm not a fan.

Cornell University Law School has a little to say about it too.

But I live in Oregon and want to be sure I don't give anyone a reason to arrest me. Here are a few more links to read. Be legal. Carry Legal. Defend your right.

www.opencarry.org

Oregon Gun Rights

Dutch Brothers coffee

I love Dutch Brothers coffee stands. There are 2 in my town and they have great staff, great service and great coffee every single time I go there. I go there way too often.
This time of year you start seeing window painting on businesses. You see winter scenes, "holiday" decor. The DB I frequent also has window painting. It's Rudolf the red nosed reindeer with the word balloon saying "Happy Holidays!". I have issue with this. Rudolf is a Christmas character. If you are going to use Christmas characters, then say Merry Christmas!
This is kinda a thing with me. And I'm not silent about it. I tip more when someone says Merry Christmas. I go out of my way to say Merry Christmas when someone says happy holidays. So I wrote an email to the the DB headquarters via their website. I got the greatest response ever!

Thank you for your kind feedback. I am in complete agreement regarding Christmas! Happy Holidays just doesn't do it for me :)

I will pass your comment onto the owner of the Newberg location. He will love to hear it!

Merry Christmas,

I will continue to frequent DB and support them as much as they support our community.They made a mistake with the window, I hope they correct it. You can bet I will remind them often.

Bill Sizemore

Today I had the pleasure to meet the infamous Bill Sizemore and hear him speak. I'm still trying to wrap my head around him. I have read and heard so much about him, the real man is lost in the misinformation.

I get that his biggest goal is to break the unions of their stronghold on Oregon politics. The unions are hell bent on destroying him. It’s truly David and Goliath. And that, right there, is why I like him.

His tactics have been questioned heavily but the result is an Oregon system of getting measures on the ballot that appears to be better for the people and more difficult for unions and big money.

But has he hurt the process? Have his tactics made it more painful for grassroots organizations to initiate change?

Just the mention of his name can send chills down the spines of people getting a process going. Will his involvement at any level, hurt or help them? Is he an asset or liability?

Love him or hate him, he has influence. He has access to donors, experience and support that any political group needs and pays dearly to acquire. But who can afford him? That knowledge is well beyond the financial reach of small groups or new entrants into the political arena. And again there is the name. Ignore the financial cost if you want to hire him. Can you afford to have his name tied to your cause? Even if you agree with his cause, would his reputation turn you away?

Bill Sizemore is a force to be reckoned with, and I would hate to be on the wrong side of him. But can you afford to have him in your corner?

If George W. Bush had...

HOW TO SELL ... TOOTHBRUSHES The kids filed back into class Monday morning. They were very excited,Their weekend assignment was to sell something, then give a talk on productive salesmanship. Little Sally led off, "I sold Girl Scout cookies and I made $30.00," she said proudly, "My sales approach was to appeal to the customer's civil sprit and I credit that approach for my obvious success." "Very good," said the teacher. Little Jenny was next. "I sold magazines," she said, "I made $45.00 and I explained to everyone that magazine's would keep the up on current events." "Very good Jenny," said the teacher. Eventually, it was little Johnny's turn. The teacher held her breath. Little Johnny walked up to the front of the classroom and dumped a box full of cash on the teacher's desk. "$2,467.00", he said. "$2,467.00!", cried the teacher, "What in the world were you selling?" "Toothbrushes", said little Johnny. "Toothbrushes", echoed the teacher. "How could you sell enough toothbrushes to make that much money?" "I found the busiest corner in town", said little Johnny. "I set up a Dip & Chip stand and I gave everybody who walked by a FREE sample."They all said the same thing, "Hey this tastes like dog shit!" Then I would say, "It is dog shit. Wanna buy a toothbrush"? Little Johnny continued, "I used the government approach of giving you something shitty that they say is good, and then making you pay to get the shitty taste out of your mouth."

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If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?

If George W Bush had reduced your retirement plan's holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given Prime Minister Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when PM Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?

If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia , would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the non-existent "Austrian language," would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?

If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had stated that there were 57 states in the United States, would you have said that he is clueless.

If George W. Bush would have flown all the way to Denmark to make a five minute speech about how the Olympics would benefit him walking out his front door in Texas, would you have thought he was a self important, conceded, egotistical prick.

If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to "Cinco de Quatro" in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?

If George W. Bush had mis-spelled the word "advice" would you have hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potato as proof of what a dunce he is?

If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he's a hypocrite?

If George W. Bush's administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?

If George W Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans, would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?

If George W. Bush had created the position of 32 Czars who report directly to him, bypassing the House and Senate on much of what is happening in America, would you have approved.

If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had proposed to triple the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had then proposed to triple the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had called this a Muslim nation, would you have approved?

So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can't think of anything? Don't worry. He's done all this in 10 months -- so you'll have three years and two months to come up with an answer.

Remember in the early days of the campaign, Oboma stated that we should be a multi-language nation to be able to converse with other?

Guess who knows and speaks more foreign languages than Oboma, yes, it is George W. Bush.

It's been a long time

It seems I don't blog list I used to. I was strongly motivated a few years back but seem to have lost it. Some things have changes, career, time, family and facebook.
Yeah, facebook seems to have stolen a lot of time from independent bloggers and redirected us to "social networking". Isn't the internet already "social networking"? Oh well. Now that I think about it, isn't facebook just AOL recreated? Most of us make fun of those that have an AOL email address and can't imagine why people still subscribe. But then we join facebook and it's just AOL with a new User interface and name. Talk about going full circle. I started on AOL back in 1996 when that was pretty much the only option. Then I got a taste of the "real" internet and ran away from them. Seems that maybe they had a good business plan anyway. Not sure where they went wrong and facebook stepped in.
Well, I hope to return to blogging soon. There is so much happening in the world that needs to be talked about. We have a huge oil leak in the gulf coast, a US government that is hell bent on making us a socialist country, a congress that is hell bent on shutting down free speech and local politics all over the country going crazy to try and get back our constitutional rights while others try to take them away. We have a Mexican President telling America how to govern itself. What? Yeah, a 3rd world country full of corruption is trying to tell us how it's done. And our President is listening. So much going on! I have to get writing again.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD A FIRM GRASP ON THE SITUATION.

LET ME SEE IF I GOT THIS RIGHT.
IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12
YEARS HARD LABOR.

IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED
INDEFINITELY.

IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET SHOT.

IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE
JAILED.

IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU MAY NEVER BE
HEARD FROM AGAIN.

IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE
BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.

IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE THROWN
INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.

IF YOU CROSS THE U.S. BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET

1 - A JOB,
2 - A DRIVERS LICENSE,
3 - SOCIAL SECURITY CARD,
4 - WELFARE,
5 - FOOD STAMPS,
6 - CREDIT CARDS,
7 - SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE,
8 - FREE EDUCATION,
9 - FREE HEALTH CARE,
10 - A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON
11 - BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS PRINTED IN YOUR LANGUAGE
12 - AND THE RIGHT TO CARRY YOUR COUNTRY'S FLAG WHILE YOU PROTEST THAT YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH RESPECT

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD A FIRM GRASP ON THE SITUATION.

Portland Public Schools has failed its English language learners

OFIR members and supporters:

After five or more years learning English as their second language, (ELL, ESL), in Oregon schools, 75 percent of those students still are not proficient in English according to a report out today.

In the Salem-Keizer School District 84 percent of the students in their ELL program fail to meet minimum standards.

The Oregon Department of Education, (ODE), gives an extra $2700 per ELL student to each school district. Despite spending 50 percent more per student there is a 75 percent failure rate. Obviously spending more money doesn’t equate with success.

Until the Oregon Legislature deals with the failures and waste of money by the Oregon Department of Education, OFIR will urge voters to reject any increase in taxes. We urge members to vote against Measures # 66 and # 67, the tax increases that will be on January ballot.

If you wish to call the Oregon Department of Education the number is: (503) 378-3600.

The headquarters of the Salem School district is: (503) 399-3000.

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Most Oregon schools slow to get English learners proficient

By Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian
December 10, 2009, 5:00AM

After five or more years learning English as their second language in Oregon schools, 75 percent of those students still are not proficient in English according to a report out today.

Portland Public Schools has failed its English language learners for so long that the state this fall cut off federal funding for students with limited English proficiency, a loss of more than $600,000 a year to the state's largest district.

The Oregon Department of Education says it's crucial that schools help students gain proficiency in English, and the U.S. Department of Education says five years should be enough time for a typical student to master the language.

But most districts aren't coming close to that target.

Half the state's English language learners are concentrated in just seven school districts, including Portland and Beaverton. And in four of those -- Hillsboro, Reynolds, Salem-Keizer and Woodburn -- fewer than one-quarter of the students are fluent after five or more years, according to today's accountability report.

In Salem, which has more English learners than any other district -- 5,700 -- only 16 percent mastered English after five or more years in English as a second language classes, the state reported.

State monitors are upset with Portland's performance because the state notified the district in 2005 that it was violating federal education law. The district fixed the problems to the satisfaction of state monitors in 2006, but when the state checked again in 2009, the district had slipped back into some of its old ways.

Among the problems found in early 2009 and still not fixed to the state's satisfaction: Some Portland schools don't give English learners enough language support to learn the core subject matter for their grade level, and not every student is being taught English language development using research-backed techniques.

Assistant State Superintendent Colleen Mileham notified Portland in late September that the state would withhold federal funds, a step it rarely takes, to communicate how important it is to consistently serve English language learners well.

Schools across the state generally do a good job helping students progress through the early stages of speaking, reading and writing English, the state report says.

The problem occurs when schools try to move students to advanced and proficient levels so that they can exit the English as second language program. Helping students master complex verb tenses, idioms and advanced academic language is challenging, says Kim Miller, statewide coordinator of English as a second language programs.

Under the federal No Child Left Behind law, the state expects schools to get half their English language learners proficient within five years. Only 16 of the state's 200 school districts managed to do that, and only two of them -- Redmond and Eugene -- served a large number of English language learners.

Martha Hinman, Redmond's director of student services, said teachers there make sure they spend enough time and concentrate on the right skills to get students up to speed in academic English. For non-native English speakers, mastering academic language in math, science, health and literature, as required, is "really tough," Hinman says.

The state education department is supposed to require big changes in school districts that chronically fall short. If a district fails to succeed with its English learners for four straight years, federal law gives the state two options. It can require a district to change its "curriculum, program and methods of instruction" or it can withhold funding and require that educators responsible for the poor results be replaced.

Oregon mainly opts to require curriculum and teaching changes, says Jake Weigler, communication director for the agency. Portland is the only district ever to have its English proficiency funds withheld, he said.

Schools guide

» Search for your district

- Betsy Hammond betsyhammond@news.oregonian.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2009/12/most_oregon_schools_too_slow_g.html

Write your local newspaper!

Barack Obama's " Organizing for America " has put the call out for people to email their local papers and write a letter to the editor. They have created a VERY easy and fast way to write all your local papers with just a few key strokes. PLEASE take a minute to do this today and jump behind enemy lines to help kill the bill. Forward this to everyone you know.

Here's what we need to do :

1. Go to: http://my.democrats.org/page/speakout/posthouseLTE

1. Put in your Zip code. You will be redirected to a page where you enter all your address information.

2. Check all the boxes for all of your local papers. But, DO NOT CLICK NEXT or you'll send someone else's message.

3. NOW CAREFUL THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART ! DO NOT CLICK NEXT. Instead Click " 2. Compose Letter " this is in the top middle of the page. This will allow you to compose your own letter to the editor against the healthcare bill.

4. Write your letter to the editor against the healthcare bill.

5. Now click Next

6. Preview your letter to the editor and click Send Email

Source: my.democrats.org

The rest of the email

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.

Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me
to my doom...'

When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge T ax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the hell happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'
And I still have to 'press 1' for English!?