Sheriff Joe of Maricopa County

This was sent to my inbox today.  I rather liked it.
SHERIFF JOE IS AT IT AGAIN!

Sherriff Joe
Sherriff Joe

Oh, there’s MUCH more to know about Sheriff Joe!

Maricopa  County was spending approx. $18 million dollars a year on stray animals, like cats and dogs. Sheriff Joe offered to take the department over, and the County Supervisors said okay.

The animal shelters are now all staffed and operated by prisoners. They feed and care for the strays. Every animal in his care is taken out and walked twice daily. He now has prisoners who are experts in animal nutrition and behavior. They give great classes for anyone who’d like to adopt an animal. He has literally taken stray dogs off the street, given them to the care of prisoners, and had them place in dog shows.

The best part? His budget for the entire department is now under $3 million. Teresa and I adopted a Weimaraner from a Maricopa County shelter two years ago. He was neutered, and current on all shots, in great health, and even had a microchip inserted the day we got him. Cost us $78.

The prisoners get the benefit of about $0.28 an hour for working, but most would work for free, just to be out of their cells for the day. Most of his budget is for utilities, building maintenance, etc. He pays the prisoners out of the fees collected for adopted animals.

I have long wondered when the rest of the country would take a look at the way he runs the jail system, and copy some of his ideas. He has a huge farm, donated to the county years ago, where inmates can work, and they grow most of their own fresh vegetables and food, doing all the work and harvesting by hand.

He has a pretty good sized hog farm, which provides meat, an d fertilizer. It fertilizes the Christmas tree nursery, where prisoners work, and you can buy a living Christmas tree for $6 – $8 for the Holidays, and plant it later.. We have six trees in our yard from the Prison.

Yup, he was reelected last year with 83% of the vote.
Now he’s in trouble with the ACLU again. He painted all his buses and vehicles with a mural, that has a special hotline phone number painted on it, where you can call and report suspected illegal aliens. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement wasn’t doing enough in his eyes, so he had 40 deputies trained specifically for enforcing immigration laws, started up his hotline, and bought 4 new buses just for hauling folks back to the border He’s kind of a ‘Git-R Dun’ kind of Sheriff.

TO THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH JOE ARPAIO

HE IS THE MARICOPA ARIZONA COUNTY SHERIFF

AND HE KEEPS GETTING ELECTED OVER AND OVER
THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY:

Sheriff Joe Arpaio (In Arizona ) who created the ‘ Tent City Jail’:
He has jail meals down to 40 cents a serving and charges the inmates for them.

He stopped smoking and porno magazines in the jails. Took away their weights Cut off all but ‘G’ movies.

He started chain gangs so the inmates could do free work on county and city projects.

Then He Started Chain Gangs For Women So He Wouldn’t Get
Sued For Discrimination.

He took away cable TV Until he found out there was A Federal Court Order that Required Cable TV For Jails So He Hooked Up The Cable TV Again Only Let In The Disney Channel And The Weather Channel.

When asked why the weather channel He Replied, So They Will Know How Hot It’s Gonna Be While They Are Working ON My Chain Gangs.

He Cut Off Coffee Since It Has Zero Nutritional Value.

When the inmates complained, he told them, ‘This Isn’t The Ritz/Carlton…… If You Don’t Like It, Don’t Come Back.’

More On The Arizona Sheriff:

With Temperatures Being Even Hotter Than Usual In Phoenix (116 Degrees Just Set A New Record), the Associated Press Reports:
About 2,000 Inmates Living In A Barbed-Wire-Surrounded Tent Encampment At The Maricopa County Jail Have Been Given Permission To Strip Down To Their Government-Issued Pink Boxer Shorts.

On Wednesday, hundreds of men wearing boxers were either curled up on their bunk beds or chatted in the tents, which reached 138 Degrees Inside The Week Before.

Many Were Also Swathed In Wet, Pink Towels As Sweat Collected On Their Chests And Dripped Down To Their PINK SOCKS.

‘It Feels Like We Are In A Furnace,’ Said James Zanzot, An Inmate Who Has Lived In The TENTS for 1 year. ‘It’s Inhumane.’

Joe Arpaio, the tough-guy sheriff who created the tent city and long ago started making his prisoners wear p ink, and eat bologna sandwiches, is not one bit sympathetic. He said Wednesday that he told all of the inmates: ‘It’s 120 Degrees In Iraq And our Soldiers Are Living In Tents Too, And They Have To Wear Full Battle Gear, But They Didn’t Commit Any Crimes,So Shut Your Mouths!’

Way To Go, Sheriff!

Maybe if all prisons were like this one there would be a lot less crime and/or repeat offenders. Criminals should be punished for their crimes – not live in luxury until it’s time for their parole, only to go out and commit another crime so they can get back in to live on taxpayers money and enjoy things taxpayers can’t afford to have for themselves..

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PITTSBURGH PENGUINS WIN THE STANLEY CUP!

Hahaha, Marion..... YOU CHOSE WRONG.

You never know who is going to rise up and take over a game.    Max Talbot felt it on this one, and the rest of his team got behind him and held it.    It was awesome.

The last 10 seconds of this game were intense.

Mrs Zip and I haven’t missed a game this year, and we’re still in shock.   Our boys battled hard and refused to lose against a great team in Detroit. My wife is the most balanced person I know, but when it comes to our team, she’s a rabid fanatic. It makes it fun.

What a great season.   I’m going to miss watching hockey with my wife for the next few months.

Pens win the Stanley CupPens win the Stanley CupPens win the Stanley Cup

I still can’t believe it.

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Moved back to wordpress.com

I don’t know if it was my hosting, or some of my add ons nuked my blog, or If I’m just retarded.    Either way,  got tired of the down time so I moved my blog back.   Lost a couple of comments from friends, but I’ll try and get them back.

Also lost that really cool flash picture gallery, which is why I moved it there in the first place.  Oh well.

Changed my oils and plugs yesterday.     Also Put new rear brake pads on The Street Glide.    Washed the bike after.

Court Today w/ BACA.   Then Game 7 of the stanley Cup.   I’m as nervous as a whore in church.

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B.A.C.A. Blues and Barbeque

Yesterday our chapter of B.A.C.A.  held a poker run and fundraiser at Zion Harley Davidson.   We had a decent turnout, and I think everyone had fun.

Bikers against Child Abuse Blues & BBQ

Hondo and I manned the 2nd, and 4th stops on the run.   I love hondo.   He’s 70 years old, got bad kidneys, a head full of great stories, an iron ass and a heart of gold.   He’s not supposed to be in the sun, and refuses dialisis and figures when his time is up, his time is up.   I kind of feel the same way.   He works like a dog for BACA, and straight up he’s my brother.    Any time with Hondo is good time.     If I live to 70, I want his outlook on life.

Bikers against Child Abuse Blues & BBQ

When I got back to the rally I noticed my tires.   Wow, they were terrible.   I was shocked how bad they were, and that I hadn’t noticed.   Luckily I was at the dealership and got a new back tire.

BACA recharges me.   I’ve never been in an organization that I’ve felt fit me like a glove as much as this.    I’ve done alot of service in my life, but none as important as this.   Evertime we ride it directly effects innocent kids.   I love it.

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Officially an Iron Butt: Riding 1134 Miles in 20 Hours.

Ever since I first heard about the Iron Butt Ride of 1,000 miles in 24 hours I’ve wanted to do it.   I wanted to KNOW if I COULD do it.  I was pretty sure I could, but 2 nights ago I still wondered if I’d pull it off.

I was out the door at 3:30.   It had rained the night before and the roads were still wet and I could smell the pinon & Juniper trees, sagebrush and alfalfa fields.   It was awesome.  30 miles outside of town I hit fog.  That may be normal where you live, but it southern Utah its a rarity.   Normally I would have loved it, but I had just started and it slowed me down.    It eased up but I hit it again in caliente for a spell.

Warming up outside of Rachel Nevada
Warming up outside of Rachel Nevada

The sun started lighting things up after Caliente.   By this time I was pretty damn cold.   I had checked the weather reports and it was supposed to be 55, but the guage on my bike said 40 and the damp foggy air made it feel colder.   I’ve been cold before on rides, but I think the early start and long ride without stopping made my jaw lock up and I couldn’t stop shaking.  I stopped at Tonopah, got some breakfast and slammed some hot coffee for 45 minutes till I stopped shaking.  Talked to a few bikers who we’re doing an impressive 600 mile day, and realizing I was almost doubling that. By now the sun had come up and I was good.  I was 6 hours into what I thought might be an 18-19 hour ride.

It all went good.  The roads we’re clear and I hit my furthest point north around 2 pm, then headed south through carson city, California, high mountains and lakes.   Stuff that normally I’d stop and really enjoy, eat the local faire and take pictures and wonder, but I had no time.   It was all new roads now and that’d have to be good enough.

Near Willow Springs California. About 12 Hours into the Ride. Around 700 miles so far...
Near Willow Springs California. About 12 Hours into the Ride. Around 700 miles so far...

By the time I made Bishop California, 16 hours and 800 miles in I started to wonder If I was going to make it.    I was pretty tired, and still had a lot of riding ahead of me. My sweat had got sunblock in my eyes and I was riding one-eyed for about an hour from the sting. I could see the rain clouds forming over the mountain range and called Mrs Zip to confirm the weather.   It said clear, but I could see otherwise.    I headed up what was a 1 lane road at times, and was 25 mph through the winding roads and I could feel the fatigue setting in.   I wasn’t all that sharp, but I felt pretty determined.   I wasn’t going to do this route again.

Looking back, if I had to do it again I’d have taken the Interstate.   Thats easy riding, no stopping and starting, no stoplights or steep grades that required 25 miles per hour.    I’d have done this in 18 hours, and more than likely I’d have tried for an iron butt 1500.   Either way, I picked the route I picked, and I saw new territory to explore later.

Looking Like Rain
Looking Like Rain

By the time I hit Beatty I felt kinda like a zombie.  My legs we’re heavy and I’m not exactly sure I was walking straigh.   90 minutes later I was negotiating the freeway traffic in Las Vegas, slammed a red bull and a sandwitch, and headed home.  At this point, I had my 1000 miles, but no witness to sign off on it, and no paperwork to give someone in a hotel.  If I did, I may have stopped and got a room for the night.   I wasn’t very sharp at all.   I’d like to think I was tougher than this, but I was pretty tired and had been riding for 18 hours straight.

I rode over the utah hill and at this point, honest to God I was starting to hallucinate.   I could hear things in my radio, and my bike felt weird and heavy to me, but I knew it was fine.   It was just taking me a moment longer than usual to discern and disseminate the information I had going on all around me.    Over the utah hill I heard what sounded like parts falling off my bike.   I ignored it, and chalked it up to the sirens I heard in my stereo, and the rabbits I was seeing darting across the road that weren’t there.

I got in at 12:30 AM.   Eleven Hundred and Thirty Four Miles in 20 Hours.    I closed my eyes and I had the wildest dreams I was so beat.

This morning I woke up and noticed my left passenger footboard was missing.   I’m glad to know It wasn’t a hallucination.  I do need to buy another floorboard.

Bolt broke holding my passenger footboard

I’m pretty proud to join the ranks of those who are IBA certified.   I’ll send in my documentation and reciepts, and to be honest even if for some reason they deny me, I don’t care too much.  I know I have what it takes to be a member of the Iron Butt Association.

Officially an Iron Butt: Riding 1134 Miles in 20 Hours. Read More »

Iron Butt Check List

I woke up at 3 AM this mornign to get used to it, I felt pretty good.   I went out to the dealership today to get some oil to top myself off for the trip and I’m ready.   Side note- the dealership has a barbecue every saturday and Robyn and I have gone for the last 2 weeks.     Pretty cool.   It’s a nice outing and a good chance to get a few miles with my wife.   we have fun.

So I’m ready.

  • No coffee (don’t need a full bladder), so I’ll slam a red bull in the morning.
  • Got my gas stations all mapped out, nothing further than 150 miles.   I should be good there.
  • Got my paperwork and my clipboard, ready to save my reciepts to verify my ride to get the certificate.  If you have no idea what I’m talking about, http://www.ironbutt.com should give you details.
  • Tour pak has my helmet, my .38 (don’t leave home without it), 6 bottles of water, sunscreen, rain gear (chance of rain in the afternoons, but I bet I miss it all), and some snack food like beef jerky and granola bars to keep me on the road, and not in the burger king drive through.
  • 3 different credit cards, Just in case the CC company puts a hold on one because they see 1000 miles worth of charges and put a hold on my card.   Have cash backup.
  • Maps and summaries go in my pocket.   I have the route memorized, but just in case I miss something I’ll have a cheat sheet so I don’t have to pull over and spend time figuring it all out.
  • Music – Ipod is updated, and even burned a couple of CD’s with the music that’s been sounding good to me the last few weeks.
  • Bike is all checked out.   I think I’ve got it all planned.

Question is, this is 400 miles more than my furthest ride ever.   Can I do this?  I’m positive I can.   I know some people get uncomfortable, their back hurts, their attention wanes and they get bored with long rides.    I love every second of it.   There’s honestly no other activity in life that I was born to do like Touring.   Even if it takes me 24.9 hours, I’ll do this, weather and traffic permitting of course.   I’m slightly concerned about memorial day weekend traffic, but I’ll figure it out as I go.   It’s not like i’m going to New York city.   I’ll be riding through freaking tonopah and Bishop California.   This should be fun.

I cannot friggin’ wait.    If this goes off without a hitch and my monday morning is normal, then the western US is all of a sudden a much smaller place.   the map on my garage wall will have alot more  highlited roads of places I’ve been.

Wish me luck.

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HR Puffnstuff

I took the wife for a ride up through zion National Park yesterday. Stopped at the dealership for a free hamburger, and came home.  It was a good day actually,  pretty simple.   We stopped on the way home and went to star trek again.   Cost of gas and a Matinee, and good company.   The best.

So today my mind is wandering.

Remember this?[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-yLYz6ejqw&hl=en&fs=1]

HR, PUFFIN STUFF?   Yeah, is it any wonder we all did drugs in the 80s?   Proof that hippies shouldn’t do kids movies.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3U9BuOMkmM&hl=en&fs=1]

Another Gem:[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFMuNkseruo&hl=en&fs=1][youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3T-ZaDiZvE&hl=en&fs=1]

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The Family Von Zip.

I have no idea where I’m at with the Iron Butt now.     It’s nothing but time and money, but both for me are up in the air.   I need money, and I don’t have much time.    If I can get the former, I’ll figure out the latter.

On a side note, I thought I’d post a picture of my family finally.   To hell with identity theft and hiding behind my moniker.

Zip Family
Left to right: Skipper, Zip, "big MO", Mom, Dad, Skeezix. Seated Are Suzy Q, and my other sister Suzy Q, who we're separted conjoined twins.

I’m the one in front with the bowl haircut and the missing Tooth.  I was mom’s favorite.  My older brother Skeezix, is the serious one with the engineer boots. He listened to alot of Alice Cooper and put me in the chest Freezer once till my tears froze.   Luckily, we found a carpeted spot in the forest to take the picture.

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