Hiatus

BookScoutLookOut is on hiatus until 26 September. Off-joyously mind you- to get married,and take a honeymoon!

The Travel Affect

Michigan's Upper Peninsula- the part that does not look like a thumb or a mitten- was the destination for a 3 day rustic
camping trip. The tree filled UP home to among other things pasties, a logged over past, and the setting of some of Jim
Harrison's stories is a great camping, hiking, wild places destination.

I camped just south of Lake Superior and just south of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Somewhat amusingly AP dispatches on the Sleeper Lake wildfire consistently use miles north of Detroit as a reference. Suffice it to say that this traveling Toto was nowhere near Kansas!

I hiked, slept in a tent, swam, waded, took pictures, cooked minimalist camp food and more. What was more
important is what I call the travel affect. Getting out on the road just puts my mind in a good, observant, creative place.

Townes Van Zandt said "Living on the road my friend, Is gonna keep you free and clean." I felt both of those things:
free to make my days and carrying a sharper, cleaner pair of eyes. Here's the results of the sharpened perception of the travel affect.

The state forest campground I stayed at (Kingston Lake) had men's and women's outhouses. The men's had no urinal so I am not sure why they would delineate facilities by sex?

I did have a little media exposure and while listening to a NPR story about the Utah coal mine disaster, along with the
usual reports about Iraq it came clear to me- energy is the root of most of our troubles. The miners
used risky techniques due to high demand for electricity. Why are we in Iraq? I'd think it's because there is more oil
in it's region than elsewhere.

There's traveling- the putting on of miles the getting there perhaps best expressed in On the Road and there's tourism,
getting to know a place preferring the landfall over the voyage. Where do I fit?

A side trip to Munising by vehicle where I ate up miles made me think I'm more or a road tripper than a lover of
details. Having said that I return at least annually to Central UP along Lake Superior and continue to learn details about the area.

While on a hike I realized I am better at seeing what man has done to nature than what nature does to nature. I observe
a beer can in a stump, but when I see a turtle I don't know what kind it is. I can think avidly about what the logging
industry did to the land, but not what the plants and trees do for each other.

Passed a property that stated it was 'under TV surveillance'. Perhaps an admittance that many security guards watch out
more for what's on the tube than what's happening outside that bright meaningless glow?

Being late August we are seeing occasional signs of fall. During my trip it was cool enough that I had to consider my
clothing. Perhaps a long sleeve shirt and pants over shorts and t-shirt? Having to think to dress is a sign of changing seasons.
Once the season has changed the thinking about what you wear goes away again, but it's there a few times a year as a sign of seasonal switch.

Guess I've watched too much Man v. Wild. I'd hiked around Kingston Lake ending up across from my camp site. I saw a
sand bar that led back to my camp. Normally an easy swim. However, I had my digital camera with which gave me pause.

Soon I'd taken the camera and wrapped it in my socks and then stowed it in the tow of a Gore Tex hiking boot and hung the
boots around my neck. I held my backpack high and waded across the distance in skivvies only. Necessary? No, but fun anyway.

The U. P. is big and empty for the USA. The weather forecasts do not mention cities. Rather they use the cardinal directions, rain in the West, clouds to the East, Sunny South, High Winds north etc. Even if you were unfamiliar with the area these directional forecasts might give you a hint at size.

From outhouses to the weather the travel affect had me thinking, now it's onto the next trip.

Onto to the Championship season

Periodic Packer notes Posted by a Passionate Packer fan.

It's not about the loss

Coaches quote: "I feel very good about it. I think there are so many positive aspects of our football team that we're able to build on."

Keepers

No huddle

GM Quote: ""I think we're going to be pretty good," We're going to be solid in both the offensive and defensive lines," Thompson said. "I think that is absolutely key to being able to play.

"I think we're going to have a good defense, and I think our offense will be good when it's all said and done. We still have some unknowns because of injury and other things."

Last Pre Season Game

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Last pre season game day

Defense aims for dominance

Players in need

Ligthouse Summer: Crisp Point

Questions

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Who might make it

Camp review

Manuel: he gone?

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Jets coach Eric Mangini quoted on the most important positions "picked quarterback, interior defensive lineman, left tackle, running back. "The game has changed," he said. "A disruptive tackle up the middle can collapse the pocket oftentimes quicker than the rusher coming around the edge."

The Packers have Favre, a lot of good DT's, Chad Clifton and then youth and question marks at RB. The Bears rank highest at DT, lowest at left tackle. The Lions strength is at QB and DT, while the Vikings have excellent defensive lagging at QB.

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Corner debate

Kicker competition questions

IR talk

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Get yer dope sheet

Powdrell to IR

Coaches Quote: "I'm not going to get into specifics as far as numbers but there is a lot of opportunity in the Tennessee game."

Rush stats

Hodge and the knife



Jolly's progress

Kingston Plains: Stump or Tree

Huck the Retriever

Kingston Lake

Who will make it?

Periodic notes by a passionate Packer fan


Wynn's chance

Keeping kickers

Clowney's progress

Battles

Trades?

Dailies

Coaches Quote: "As far as our football team, the players, we're not prepping them. We're giving these guys a chance to get ready for Tennessee. Some of our veteran, older players have moved on to Philadelphia on their own and with their position coaches. I spent yesterday, exclusively in the morning, on Philadelphia. As a team, our structure is going through a game week to get our time clock back on an in-season schedule and we're working on Tennessee."

2 weeks and counting

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The Punter

Defining Harrell's progress

Bigby moves

1st Cuts

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1st cuts include Ingle Martin meaning Paul Thompson is the 3rd quarterback and P.J. Pope.
Martin orignally played ahead of Chris Leak last years national title QB. Leak won the title, wasn't drafted and is in camp with the Bears while Martin transfered to Furman, did get drafted and now has been cut.

Underwood was cut earlier a 2005 draftee. Besides Terrence Murphy he's the earliest cut from Thompson's 1st draft.

Ferguson Gone

Periodic Packer notes Posted by a Passionate Packer fan.

Ferguson released. He is not in the team's top 20 receivers all time. He came to the team in the same draft as Jamal "3 sacks career" Reynolds & David Martin

Roster Questions

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Ferguson going

Martin progresses

Just notes

LB ?'s

Returners

2000's strong

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Draftee chances

QB thoughts

Bubba finished?

Clifton hurts

4's view

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Favres view on records and his play

Consistency

Holiday works


Coaches Quote: "I think preseason is clearly different. You'd like to win the game but you have a bunch of other issues that you need to answer; it's different combinations of offense, defense and special teams. Health of your football team is a big factor in play time week in and week out. You even call plays differently."

A win but....

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Mixed review win

Harrell wears down

Good game for Rogers

Coaches Quote: "Offensively, I think everything that happened out there in the negative category is definitely fixable."

'Nuff Said

Per NY Times: "Bottled water has now overtaken coffee and milk in sales nationally, and is catching up with beer."

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Backfield limbo

Sixes Good

Lee the TE

Coaches Quote: "I'll say this, you can't make the football team by not being on the field. Availability and accountability are the building blocks of our organization."

Some Notes

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Seeking speedy returners

Kickers break

Jolly Duex

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Peter King: "My advice to Colts architect Bill Polian: Scout the Green Bay Packers on Saturday at Pittsburgh. Look hard at No. 97 for the Pack, Johnny Jolly. He's a 6-foot-3, 317-pound hulk with movement, who, when I saw him last Friday, was every bit the specimen of first-round pick Justin Harrell. And the Packers might not have a spot for him in their DT rotation. Jolly was a sixth-round pick in 2006, and my guess is the Packers would take a low fourth-rounder for him. That's the kind of fix the Colts need to make now, and the kind Polian is so good at."

Mr. Jolly has gone from not passing the conditioning test to being the key to a Super Bowl repeat!

Peter King # 2 :"I think few fan bases are better served by a beat writer than those in Packerdom by Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel."

Harrell not looking good

Barbre has starter potential

Overkicking?

QB Thompson

Banged Up

Coach Quote: "When we talk about the blue print of the Green Bay Packers we talk about the offensive and defensive line. That's where we put our emphasis. The transactions we've made for our football team reflect that."

GM Quote: "We've talked from the get-go that both the offensive and defensive lines are the engines that run the thing."

Jolly, Yes

Jolly, indeed

Deep D Line

Driver's bonus deal

Pope out 3 weeks

Coach on Wynn: "Clearly, where he was drafted and how it equates to what he's done in training camp doesn't add up in my opinion," coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think he's a gifted young man, very intelligent. He's picked up the scheme rapidly."

Corners

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Quite a few corners

GM quote: "We feel like we have a chance to have a good group of corners and safeties that we can play with."

Kicking contest. I still don't think a kicker is worth a 6th round draft pick, nor any pick!

Heavy Harrell

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Orrin Thompson shows well

Harrell sluggish and heavy

Favre: "To be quite honest, more so than ever, the individual things really mean nothin"

Coach on Abdul Hodge: "I think Abdul has done a good job."

Favre on practice: "When it comes to sitting in meetings, I'd much rather practice," Favre said. "And I told Mike (McCarthy) this. He said we're going to take off here, save the legs. I said, 'I'm 37 years old, I could care less. Let's practice.' But he won't listen to me.

"Do I want to go two-a-days every day in full pads? I've done it before. I don't care."

Morency mystery

Trouble for Blackmon

No Okey Dokes

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Jones sparkles

Alternate site practice

Coach Quote on Robert Ferguson: "I think Robert has had a very good camp. We're being cautious with his foot. He's on a one-a-day schedule. He's had an excellent start."

Sleaker Bubba

Say no to the Okey Doke

Harrell & the heat

The other long snapper

O Line continuity