Iran is said to be building a nuclear weapon…Scary, huh? Israel is said to be going to attack Iran’s nuclear plants to stop the building of said nuclear weapons…Even scarier, huh?…Time magazine says these production plants are scattered over half a million square miles, several plants, and one hit and run tactic as employed in Syrian reactor in 2007 probably will not work. And the same for the 1981 hit of an Iraq nuclear reactor. So any kind of attack will have to be of the several days or weeks variety which will have world wide implications and involvement. If nuclear weapons are involved it could start  Armageddon. Since America is a Christian nation, 70 % Christian at my last count and joint heirs to the Jewish believer’s Heavenly Kingdom, we are brothers to Israel and are in my mind duty bound to help protect  that nation….. Which  bring up the elections of 2012. Who is better suited to handle this type situation? To stand and face the Arab world and the rest of the world in general. Obama? Romney? Gingrich? Paul? Picture one of those guys on the international scene trying to settle this type conflict and to handle the possibly of war to protect the nation of Israel, a nation that the Arab world wants  to completely eradicate.  Which man do you think can get the job done and not “bow down to pressure”?…..As  much as I like Paul and his isolationist attitude, Israel would be an exception for me, so I could not support him. Romney and Gingrich have gone through some tough debates and have not backed down in the face of hard issues. One of them would be my choice……Either one of them over Obama…America, it is time to remember the challenge we are faced with and put a man in office equipped to handle it. Mr. Obama is not it. We need to remember that when we pull the voting handle this year. The question of “which one is equipped” needs to be in our prayers. The God of Israel will be the one we are talking to….Remember?

Wow…Mr. Charles and David Koch pledged 60 million along with a few other rich folk kicking in 40 million to get Mr. Obama out of office….That’s great, but who will they choose to run. You remember the ad where Alex Baldwin is in an airplane cockpit in the co-pilots seat and the captain tells him not to touch the controls. Alex says, ” It’s ok, I have played a pilot before.”  Well, I think that may be the answer. We could  find a good actor to play the part of President, place of birth probably does not matter, and for a portion of the 100 million, say those dollars left over from the election, could just go into the pocket of the individual chosen for the part. Now Tom Sellick played Ike, who was a general and president, and he did a pretty good job acting like Ike.  He may be our boy…He’s good….Gives good speeches, plays his part well and plays it convincingly.  He may have a chance….But Romney, Gingrich, Paul….not so much…Santorum, maybe if we can get him on the ticket….So, Mr. Charles and David Koch, could you talk Tom in playing this new role…maybe playing himself,…… Tom Sellick for President….Well, it might work….

On this web site I have posted an article from Dr. Walter Williams, Professor of Economics at George Mason University which states that Obama will win the election in 2012 and states the reasons why. He claims to be a conservative man, also black and is not particular for President Obama to win another election but says it will happen, he will be elected. He says, 1. Blacks will vote for Obama, 2. College educated women will vote for Obama, 3. Liberals will vote for him, 4. Democrats will vote for him 5. Hispanics will vote for him, 6. Union members will vote for him, 7. Big business will vote for him, 8. Media will vote for him, 9. Other minorities will vote for him, 10. One half of independent voters will vote for him…..He may be right on all counts but I am really not sure on the Hispanics or other minorities, big business or union members..What do you think? Does the Republicans have the person available to defeat Mr. Obama? I do not think so myself…I think we got another 4 years to deal with him. We need to make the best of it and do what is right for America and forget “our party” for awhile….Let me know if you disagree…Pete Hester

Oryx, also known as gemsbok, is native to South Africa, but they were introduced into New Mexico is 1969. Since they are a hardy animal that can live in a harsh enviroment  they have adapted well to our part of the world. In New Mexico, they can be found in and around White Sands Missile Range and the nearby mountains. Our herd has grown to around 4000 animals nowadays. They can handle the tough winters and hot summers well. The sparse vegetation and lack of water does not bother them. They obtain liquids from the plants they eat. The Oryx can weigh up to 600 pounds. According to Richard McDonald, Dept of Game and Fish, this is some of the best game meat you will find anywhere. He even inluded a recipe on Chicken Fried Oryx in this issue. Sounds very good.  You can find his article in the latest issue of “New Mexico Wildlife”, vol. 56, No. 4 – Winter 2011 – 2012, www.wildlife.state.nm.us…. check it out as there are several good articles on New Mexico hunting…Hogs, desert bighorns, deer, pronghorn, Barbary sheep and fishing, including ice fishing….I think you will enjoy the articles in this issue…Pete Hester

January 29, 1936…..Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Matthewson and Walter Johnson named to the first major league baseball Hall of Fame….January 29, 1963…Jim Thorpe, Red Grange, and George Halas named to first National Football League Hall of Fame….January 29, 1995, Super Bowl XXIX winner was the 49ers. Steve Young tossed 6 td passes and named MVP while beating the Chargers 49 – 26…January 29, 2012..A beautiful day in Albuquerque NM, sunshine and 50 plus degrees, slight breeze…We are thankful..

This young lady is my niece’s grand daughter….She is a beauty, is she not….Her grand mother had about 40,000 toys for her to play with and she showed KJ and I most of them. This in another of the happy memories from our 2011 reunion visit to Alabama….

450 people turned out at the state capitol yesterday in support of the New Mexico driver’s license for the illegal immigrants in this county. One lady said they had been coming across the border illegally for years apparently because of severe poverty in Mexico….I reckon, that means  the illegal ain’t really illegal in her eyes….To her I guess it should be an open border where those folks could come and go at their leisure. So, I guess us citizens need a passport to prove that we are here legally and when we approve the passports also make it legal to ask if you have one and to make it available to law enforcement officials who inquire…It is a shame it is coming to this, really, cause a person in Arizona or Texas are U S citizens by virtue of having a valid drivers license…Not so here….We are the “state different”, huh? What I’m not sure about is the loyalty of the people running our state…Are we loyal to America or Mexico?….You tell me…

Did I ever tell you guys about coming home from work a while back, pulling into the drive way and a little neighbor girl was riding her bike close by when I pulled in. She rode close by and said, “Hey, Mr. Hecker.” I spoke and let the erroneous name go without correcting her. The next day when I came home, same  thing, she was riding her bike and again said, “Hey, Mr. Hecker”. Well, this time I thought I should go ahead and correct her. “Honey, my name is Mr. Hester.” She quickly replied, “No it ain’t, it’s Mr. Hecker,  Momma said.” It’s bad to correct a Momma so I let it go. She moved away a little later and I suppose she remembers her neighbor, “Old Mr. Hecker.” My sweetie now calls me Mr. Hecker time to time….Pete Hester

The latest count of our birds visiting New Mexico as of Jan. 11, 2012 from Ashley Inslee, Refuge Biologist at Bosque del Apache NWR. Now she says this week’s count represents an approximation…..Ducks, 81,000, Canada Geese, 200….Light Geese, 35,000….Sandhill Cranes, 10,000….Bald and Golden Eagles, 8….American Coot, 762….Marsh and water Birds, 6…..Hawks and owls, 43…..If you are like me you still wonder how they counts the little critters…Well, read all about it in the 2010 Habitat publication at http://www.friendsofthebosque.org/2010Habitatweb2.pdf …..The answer may surprise you…maybe not..Are you interested in helping at the www.friendsofthebosque.org?  In addition to the web site, you could contact Leigh Ann Vradenburg, Executive Director, Friends of the Bosque del Apache NWR, P. O. Box 340, San Antonio, NM 87832..phone 575-838-2120…thanks, Pete  (Did you know that San Antonio, NM is home of the Owl Cafe…The originator of the world famous Green Chile Cheeseburger? Do not pass by without trying one, ok?)

The 11th Annual High Plains “Lesser Prairie Chicken Festival” kicks off April 20 through 22, 2012. You can read all about it on New Mexico Wildlife or you can contact Tish McDaniel at 575-762-6997 or chickenfestival@yahoo.com. The news release states the following: Nature enthusiasts from around the country will hear the annual calls of the lesser prairie chickens this April and flock to Milnesand, NM for the opportunities to see the birds’ colorful, sometimes comical, mating rituals on the prairie grasslands of southeastern New Mexico. Be sure to register early for the 11th Annual High Plains Lesser Prairie Chicken Festival. The event is imited to 100 individuals, and spots usually are full by the April 1 signup deadline. Registration is limited because of the sensitivity of the lesser prairie chicken during the breeding season. A fee of $100.oo per person covers all field trips, five meals and a commemorative poster.  Festival participants will have the opportunties to: Observe and photograph the mating rituals of the lesser prairie-chicken at close range, either from a passenger van or on the ground in a photo-blind ($25.00 per person)…Bird watch with some of the best birders in New Mexico….Talk with ranchers and biologists working to conserve prairie chickens….Learn about the Southern Great Plains ecosystem….Enjoy good food and Western hospitally…

Milnesand, NM is a small community 30 miles south of Portales, NM and it has no motels, so you may want to stay in Portales….please click on www.wildlife.state.nm.us/recreation/prairie_ckn/Festival.html  for further information….

Also from the New Mexico Wildlife News…..Eagle Nest Lake is now open to ice fishing and to all-terrain vehicles and snowmobles…..The ice currently averages 14.77 inches thick….(which ain’t nearly enough in my way of thinking)….The people on site say it is safe to get on, so if you believe that, its ok with me for you to get on it, but don’t come crying to me if you fall through, ok?….Pete