A review of Habits of Empire: A History of American Expansion by Walter Nugent

Nugent concludes his survey with words:

" This history of national expansion reals that it has not always been clean. America's preeminence, even its very territory, frequently resulted from force, subterfuge, or other reprehensible means, often varnished over by the language of liberty, freedom, and such terminology familiar since Jefferson, rephrased by Lincoln, and repeated in the American-inspired United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Beautiful rhetoric expresses the ideals of the republic. But the unspoken, unadmitted reality was and is that of an empire." pg. 316.

This conclusion is not the result of just one instance in the past but a parade of occurances and policy that started at the beginning of this country's foundation and carried forward in an almost continuous progression of taking what was wanted by any means necessary. This progression can be explained by merely looking at the chapter headings and confirming the facts presented. Those facts are not always pleasant and often reveal a dark underbelly that too few care to recognize.

Chapters are as follows:

Transappalacthia, 1782: First Land, First Good Fortune

Lousiana, 1803 : Second Good Luck

Canada, 1812-1814: Failed Aggression Northward

Florida, 1810-1819: Southward Aggression I

Texas, 1811-1845: Overpopulating and Conquering

Oregon, 1818-1846: Fixing the Canadian Border

California and New Mexico, 1846-1848: Southward Aggression II

Populating the Empire

To Alaska and Across the Pacific

Around The Caribbean

The Global Empire.

Nugents conclusions are not new ones. What Nugent does do is to put these various movements and periods together, and concentrating on the imperial tendancies we can see that his conclusion is the only one that matches with the reality of history. All through the book he brings to life the thinking of the leaders and exceptionalism and the notions that only white Americans can make best use of the territories as they present themselves on the horizon.

An interesting point in light of some current debate is that the filling of the continent could not have been accomplished without easy immigration. Immigration as long as it was the right kind. It was also the notion of excluding the granting of citizenship to conquered peoples hindered some of out more lustful desire of aquisition such as the taking of all of Mexico.

The postscript accurately describes our imperial appetite as a changed form that does not include direct possession. We have many bases around the world and those forces are there to make sure we have access to raw materials and markets.

These are hard lessons to learn but stopping our ears and eyes do not make them go away. Being aware of our past might help change our views and make our place in the world better. By being aware of our past dark side we may someday really stand for those ideas of liberty.

The Superman Chronicles Volume 3

Just completed my third volume of The Superman Chronicles. These are color reproductions beginning with volume 1 of every Superman story in order. The third volume consists of Superman stories from Action Comics No. 21 (Feb 1940), Action Comics No. 22 (March 1940), Action Comics No. 23 (April 1940), Superman No. 4 (Spring 1940), Action Comics No. 24 (May 1940), Action Comics No. 25 (June 1940), Superman No. 5 (Summer 1940), and finally a story from New York World's Fair 1940.

Superman is still without flight. He does have the ability to leap large distances quickly, but does have most of this powers. It is in this series of issues that the Daily Star becomes the Daily Planet. Most of the stories up to now centered around villians who were usually modsters and petty criminals it in this time frame that an evil scientist shows up by the name of Luthor.

This is not the Superman that I grew up with in the 1950s and 1960s but I have enjoyed reading these early entries in the Superman universe. These reproductions are certainly cheaper to come by than copies of the original comic books.

There are further volumes available, but for now this is the last of this series that I currently own.

Kitty's Greatest HIts by Carrie Vaughn

Just received in the mail from TOR books what was the 3rd book I won on Goodreads but the first to arrive. Kitty's Greatest Hits: A Collection by Carrie Vaughn. It is in trade paperback so is not a mass-market paperback. I have not read anything by Vaughn. Most of these short stories in the Kitty Norville "universe" which consists of several novels have been previously published elsewhere. This is not a book I would likely buy myself generally but will give it a try because it was given to me. Kitty Norville is a werewolf and radio personality. The back says this is a "world with shape-shifters, vampires, demons, mermaids, and other supernatural creatures coexist with ordinary men and women.".......but then...I do quite enjoy the X-Files. I will review when I complete my reading. I love FREE books.

A Review of Redshirts by John Scalzi

In the classic Star Trek series it was fairly typical that the anonymous redshirt on away teams would not return due to some mishap or aggresive alien life form. Redshirts begins the same way. Death by Borgovian Land Worms. The reader begins by being introduced by who could only be considered as Redshirts waiting for their time to come and following the exploits of the Intrepid as they hurtle through space.


One away mission finds Dahl, one of the new low rank redshirts in peril:

"Dahl weaved through the trees, screaming for Q'een and Taylor. Some part of his brain wanted to know if he was running in the right direction; another part wanted to know why he wasn't using his phone to contact Q'eeng. A third part reminded him that he had a pulse gun of his own, which might be effective against whatever was currently eating Cassaway and Mbeke.

A fourth part of his brain was saying, This is the part where you run and scream a lot.

He was listening to the fourth part."

These lines early in the book tickled me and really sets the stage for what is to come. However, why did Dahl not be consumed? He is after all a low ranked officer in a redshirt on an away mission. Therein we are led into another mystery. What really is going on?

We will soon be left pondering if this story line is reality, or........is it merely a television science fiction series where the characters have taken on a life of their own. I will let readers ponder this on their own. Star Trek, eat your heart out.

I came to what I thought was the end of the story but there are 3 Codas at the end. When I started reading the first I was thinking that this was really an unnecessary addition and that the story could have concluded previously. However, as I continued to read this first Coda and the following 2 I realized that my opinion was premature because they really did add to the story.

This was a most enjoyable read and as an original Star Trek original series fan during their first run, this book did indeed turn that world upside down. It was almost as if the transporters malfunctioned and created a bizarro world. I recommend this book to Star Trek fans, fans of television science fiction, whatever....anyone would enjoy this book.

To my surprise I came to learn that John Scalzi was Creative Director on the recent series Stargate Universe, a short lived but I thought an excellent addition to that franchise. I still would like to know what became of the crew. I watched a rerun of S-U and checked the credits more carefully. He is somewhat responsible for the creative direction. Can't wait to read his Fuzzy Nation sitting in my stack.

The Family of Mary Wright wife of William Sabin and Mother of Samuel Sabin

  My last blogpost talked about William Sabin and his possible candidates for his parents. I want to provide some information regarding the family of William Sabin's first wife Mary Wright and begin to write about Samuel his first born.
  William Sabin married twice. His first wife was Mary Wright. Mary was born in 1618 in England. It is not known for sure where in England she was born, but I would suspect the south of England. We do not know who her mother was but her father was Richard Wright.
  Richard Wright was born probably sometime around 1598 in England. There is a record of his marriage in 1625/1626 (some dates are a little tricky because of the calendar system at the time) in Stepney, London, England. It is not recorded who his wife was. Richard Wright came to Boston with Winthrop in 1630, accompanied by 4 daughters and a Margaret Wright who may have been his wife, a sister, or other family member. Church records in Boston indicate that Richard was member #89 and Margaret Wright #99. Richard worked for John Humphrey developing land at Saugus (later Lynn, Massachusetts). Richard was likely a bondservent to Hunphrey because there a court record making him a freeman in May of 1634. He was already a leading citizen as he was a made a Captain of the milita in 1630.Richard was fined 6 pounds in 1638 for selling 130 acres of land at Mount Wollaston without the consent of the town. It was not permissible to sell land without permission. There is also a record of Richard selling 200 acres to William Tynge of Boston in 1639. Richard was dismissed from the Boston church in 1639 and joined the Braintree church. In 1641 it is known he had a mill with exclusive rights, in other words a sanctioned monopoly at Braintree. Richard was next found in Seekonk in 1643 where he was one of the first purchasers of land and the primary organizer of the town. Richard was the richest man in what would become Rehoboth with an estate valued at 834 pounds. He got exclusive rights to a corn mill in Rehoboth in 1643. Living there was also his 3 sons-in-law and was appointed overseer of estate of friend Thomas Blaise of Rehoboth in 1649 but apparantly never served. He had gone to England at that time. There is a deposition about some troubles in Rhode Island in 1656/57 with the last recod of him in 1661.
  William Sabin and Mary Wright together had 12 children. The oldest of these children was Samuel Sabin my ancestor in this line. He was born about 1640 probably in England. It was custom at the time to name firstborn sons after their grandfather, which would be Williams father. This is the reason some suspect that William Sabin's father was Samuel Sabin. That theory has some doubters when we look at Samuel son of William and his children.
  It is only his sibling Elizabeth who is thought to have been born in England along with Samuel. All others were born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Elizabeth was born about 1642. The other siblings are in order of birth:
Joseph, June 1645
Benjamin, July 1646
Nehemiah, May 1647
Experience, August 1648
Mary, July 1652
Abigail, November 1653
Hannah, December 1654
Patience, February 1655/56
Jeremiah, March 1657/58
Sarah, September 1660.
  It would seem that Mary Wright died during childbirth or shortly thereafter because there is a record that she died in September 1660 in Rehoboth, leaving William to raise 20 children. He would raise these children until 1663 when he remarried. Williams second wife was Martha Allen. William and Martha together had 8 children. Since my concentration from my personal tree involves Samuel son of Mary Wright I will discuss this step-family in another article.
  William would live until February of 1686/87. The records indicate that his burial was on 8 February in Rehoboth. It should be noted that his second wife was buried July 17, 1687. From this one family it is understandable why there are some 40,000 + decendants in the United States and Canada.

At the end of my last post I indicated that I would discuss the family of Samuel Sabin, Sr. but I thought it would be appropiate to discuss Mary Wright's family first. In order to not make these essays too long I will end this one here. Next up will definately be Samuel Sabin, Sr.

William Sabin, His Roots in England and Establishment in America

  The immigrant ancestor of the Sabin family in the United States and Canada is William Sabin. The miller William married twice and fathered 20 children and is considered the patriarch of the family. Research on
the family must center on him and this first family in the United States. We know that William was born in Titchfield, Hampshire, England. The following line is recorded in in St.Peter's Parish, Titchfield, England on the occasion of his baptism. "Oct 1609 bapt William Sabin, the XI daye". The custom of the day was to record the names of the child's parents but sadly their names are not recorded.

  There are two theories as to who William's parents are. The predominant theory is that his parents are Richard Sabin and Mary (Bushe) Sabin. The other theory says that Samuel and Elizabeth Sabin are his parents. Perhaps someday a researcher will find a record that will settle this question.

  Richard Sabin and Mary Bushe were married 29 October 1608 in Titchfield. Richard was born in 1589 and Mary Elizabeth Bushe in 1591. The Parish Register in St. Peter, Tichfield lists the burial of Richard as 1 June 1641 and that of Mary as 14 October 1644. Associated with Richard and Mary according to some researchers list possible siblings for William born 1609 as
Thomas, born 1614
Richard, 1616
Peter, 1619
Frances, 1619
Henry, 1624
Robert, 1629
Richard, 1629
all born in Titchfield, England. It was not unusual and quite common to name a later child with the same name as a previous child that died young. That would account for the two Richards as William's siblings. Without an actual record of these relationships that connect one to another it is difficult to establish definitively this family as such. The one evidence that gives pause to this association is in the William's family. William did
not name his first born son Richard as was the custom of the day. One more pause for doubt is that the first born daughter was not named Mary but was named Elizabeth which was Richard's wife's middle name. William did not name any of his sons Richard.

  Other researchers have listed William's parents as Samuel and Elizabeth Sabin, both of Titchfield, England. William's first two children were named Samuel and Elizabeth which would seem that this pair could be the correct answer to the question of who William's parents are. We may never know for sure.

Titchfield in southern England

  William Sabin arrived in the America sometime before 1642. His name appears in connection with the formation of the villiage of Rehoboth, Massachusetts. How William actually arrived in America still has not been discovered. In May 1618 a group from Titchfield, England sailed from Southampton in May of 1638 on a ship called the Brevis. Someday a passenger register may be found and we would know

the names of those that sailed that voyage to the new world.

  William Sabin and his wife Mary Wright appear to have been married prior to coming to America. The IGI claims a Mary Wright was born about 1620 in Kirk, Deighton, North Riding Yorkshire, England to Richard Wright whose wife is unknown. William and Mary were married about 1639. It is also speculated
that their first two children Samuel and Elizabeth were born in England and traveled to America with their parents. Samuel is William's son that my family is decended from.

  Rehoboth (The Roomy Place) is located near Swansea, Massachusetts. Rehoboth has the distinction of establishing the first free public school in America. It wasn't until four years later that Massachusetts Bay Colony followed. William was present during the founding of Rehoboth and took up land for himself in the area, now known as Seekonk, which is now located in Rhode Island. Rhode Island became a haven for Roger Williams, baptist, when he fell out with the leaders of Plymouth Colony.

  William Sabin was a leading citizen of Rehoboth and was very much involved with local matters dealing with schools, church, and affairs of the Plymouth Colony. Looking at the accounts of his estate and gifts for relief to those who were victims of indian attacks would indicate that William was a man of considerable wealth and culture. William was a miller and in the area of Rehoboth there is a sign that indicates the location of his mill at the body of water that bears his name.

  John Dickinson Sabine wrote a book The Family and Decendants of Rev. James Sabine, Washington, DC, 1904. James Sabine was a later immigrant to America in the early 1700s was not a decendant of William Sabin. Some of William's decendants, however, would adopt the spelling of Sabine for their surname. In this book John Dickinson Sabine would write "The Sabine family can be trace back as far as 1600 AD. The first we find of them is in the County of Hampshire (Hants) England, at Titchfield and towns near thereto. They were Puritans and Nonconformists of early date and glorious memory."

  This then is the beginning of the Sabin family in the Americas. Early settlers in New England as part of the Plymouth Colony. Next up will be Samuel Sabin, SR. and Mary Billington, daughter and granddaughter of two passengers on the Mayflower. Mary's grandfather has a distinction beyond coming to America on the America's most famous and celebrated voyage even though it was not the first.

Massive solar flares, zombies and greys oh my

Recently my son Tim asked me to write an article about radio and their usefulness during periods of survival. The following is published here for readers of my blog, which looks to have been nearly abandoned.

One of the technologies that we take for granted is the interlaced global communications satellites. As a benefit of a massive government investment in the 1960s space race you now have the ability to have a cell phone, satellite television, and GPS to show you how to get from point A to point B. All good, but what happens if those satellites no longer function?
Massive solar storms have the potential to damage satellites to burned out hulks of mechanical and electrical components. Should we be the target of an invasion from outer space, the first order of business would be to take out our "eyes". In the case of zombies you would probably be too busy avoiding having your brains eaten.
How would you communicate in the event of an apocalyptic event? Are there means at your disposal to coordinate with fellow survivors? The answer to that is yes.
One of the items that readily available is the simple walkie talkie. Many electronics stores sell these in a wide variety of styles and ease of use. Many outdoors stores sell these even with GPS built in...for a price. There are several services that fall under this category that require no license to those that do require them. The problem with these is that they often are of very low power and only have the capabilities to communicate short distances. They are also fixed on channelized frequencies that require some skill to modify (which is a violation of FCC rules). They also require a charger to convert 120volts AC to the appropiate voltage DC to operate. Some models only require a couple of batteries and an even greater sacrifice of power. If the function is for survival I would probably avoid this method.
Another option is the traditional CB radio. These come in a variety of quality. The advantage of CB is that they operate in the 11 meter band which is down in the upper end of what is called the High Frequency range. They are capable of skipping some distance but it is generally unreliable as a general rule. These are generally mobile and can even be operated as a base station with power from a simple car battery. One downfall is that these radios also have channelized frequencies. While you can modify these it is once again against FCC rules unless you are doing so to work them into the 10meter Ham band and have an FCC license. This is not the most efficient use however.
The next form of communication is to go ahead and get a Ham license. The entry level is the Technician Class and can be obtained relatively easy. This license allows radio priveledges in the VHF (Very High Frequencies) UHF (Ultra High Frequencies) and SHF (Super High Frequencies or more commonly the microwave bands). Many use walkie talkie type units the operate in the 2meter band although you can get them in multiple bands. I own one that allows 4 different tansmitting bands and has general receiving capabilities that include AM, FM, TV, Marine, Air, and commerical frequencies up to 900 MHZ with cell phone frequencies blocked. These bands are generally line of site with the use of repeaters placed in strategic places to retransmit the signal or repeat. The repeater splits the signal by receiving on one frequency and transmitting on another. Modern radios has these splits programmed in and allow modification if a local group chooses to do so. With repeaters here in the Portland metro area I have the capability with low power to talk to people in SW Washington, south to Salem and into the east county metro area. Because there are hills between me and Beaverton I can hear their signals but I cannot transmit into the repeater from my location. The radios are also capable of point to point single frequency transmit and receive but again, you must be in the "line of sight". Certainly usable in emergencies. A test of simple basic electronics, a simple understanding of radio theory, safety, and FCC rules and at one time $12 would net you a Technician Class FCC license.
If you are really looking for long distance and fairly reliable communication the recommended the next step up and test for the General Class license. This license allows numerous radio frequencies along with those of the Technician Class. The plus factor is access to High Frequency bands with much higher power that allows worldwide communication without the use of repeaters or satellites. There are commercially available radios that can operate off a simple car battery with excellent results This license can be obtained by knowing and understanding more advanced electronics, and radio theory. Communication can even include teletype, slow scan television (within allowed frequencies), and even digital data modes. Far more bang for your buck.
While the notion that learning electronics and radio theory seems daunting, it is accessable to anyone. The national organization that represents the Amateur Radio hobby is the Amateur Radio Rely League (ARRL) in Connecticut. They have available for purchase study guides with test questions. Test questions come from a predetermined pool. Each individual test will include several questions from each section of the pool. Morse code is no longer required, but can be learned after obtaining a license and there are study materials even for that. Morse code is handy during periods of high noise or low power and allow a signal to penetrate through the muck when other modes just won't get the job done.
The bottom line is that there is not need to fear communicating in the event of apocalypse. A little preperation beforehand will yeald satisfactory reults. You can even build gear out of old parts. In high school we wound coils of wire around toilet paper rolls to build transmitters on a piece of wood.

On my daily walk

summer at Westmoreland Park

geese, ducks, watch your step

The Archimedes Codex

The Archimedes Codex : How A Medieval Prayer Book Is Revealing The True Genius Of Antiquity's Greatest Scientist by Reviel Netz & William Noel was a very fascinating read. It is both a story of how an ancient Greek text was salvaged from the repurposing of those plimpisets for use as a prayer book in Medieval days. While the destruction of the original text may have caused this work of Archimedes to be lost forever, this destruction actually saved the text. Part of the book is dedicated to the process of removing the text of the prayer book and restoring the original writings by means of the latest scientific processes.

What was found underneath all the later work was a fascinating scientific work that changed the way we have thought about early Greek science. Greek science did not have a pure concept of infinity. They did have an understanding of many many that they were able to conceptualize, but that fell far short of pure thought of infinity. Infinity is pure thought experiment. That Archimedes conceptualized it forces a rethinking. With the notion of infinity the groundwork for Calculus begins and Archimedes had taken a leap well before later "inventors" of the mathematics. The reading of this particular codex has revealed the genius of this ancient Greek scientist.

The book took some time to read because it was slow going in places, however, I only read in short sections as I had several other books in progress at the time. IN a sense this was two stories in one. The process of restoration and the mathematical implications of what was found in the text itself. If you are interested in ancient science and mathematics I would recommend this book.

Health update

It has been some time when I last posted anything at all on this blog. I have seen several different doctors for various ailments and have managed to find solutions for most of the problems afflicting me.

One of the appointments that has helped me was a visit to the diabetes center at OHSU. This appointment was with a nutritionist who gave me some guidance on reading food labels on packaged goods as well as what to allow for with natural foods that don't have nutrition labels pasted on the side. Since I was given a weight loss goal by one of my doctors the nutritionist gave me a low carbohydrate goal which would facilitate weight loss, and to help ease my high blood pressure a low sodium goal. How I combine the foods to reach that goal is up to me but he did stress that green veggies are free and do not count against my limits of carbs.

Since that appointment I have been successful losing weight. At one point in time during the last few years my weight had started approaching 250 pounds. According to medical studies, I should properly be around 180-190 pounds, with 180 the ideal goal. Using a starting point of September 3, 2010 and a weight of 225 pounds, I have been making steady progress towards my goals. The first benchmark that I have set for myself is 200 pounds even.

This first benchmark goal is nearly within reach. A few weeks ago I spent nearly 3 weeks running between 207 and 209 pounds and it seemed at the time that I had stalemated and was going to have difficulty moving forward. Fortunately, that was only temporary. As my digestive health specialist indicated to me at my last visit, I am doing this weight loss the right way. Small chunks of loss and holding steady will make success far more lasting than large losses at once. Slow and steady as she goes. I have now spent a week weighing in at 203-204 pounds. The mark of 200 now seems just within my grasp and I should be there in the next week or so if the progression in my medical logbook holds out to be the trend I seem to have.

I did say medical logbook. I have one of those school composition books with the black and white marbled cardboard covers that I have added columns for the purposes of recording daily everything of importance regarding my health. I have columns for my daily weight, blood sugar readings, my blood pressure, and pulse. I also have a column which I can record other information along with notes about diet that might impact my blood sugars. This is important to remind me that the late night Fig Newtons might result in an elevated blood sugar reading in the morning. I loved science in school and some of the first lessons always involved observation and the recording of those observations. This logbook is just a way for the science geek in me to come out. Incidently I also have a logbook where I have been recording outside temperatures, usually several times a day. I think I have to get myself one of those wireless weather stations so I can really let the geek fly.

In December of 2009 I had surgery to remove my prostate as I was found to have cancer. I have had regular followups since that time and am currently on a 3 month cycle. I have a followup next month and I believe after this appointment I will be going to a 6 month cycle. All blood tests since the surgery have not shown any signs of elevated PSA levels. They have been non-detectable. All good news. I am still having some issues with incontenance. I am much better with that since there has been improvement earlier but seem to have had stopped making improvements. I think that this may be changing. It seems that my nighttime condition may be approaching normal again with very minimal leakage. I also have seen a little bit of improvement during the day.

My blood pressure is being controlled with medications. I had been as high as 186/ and normally around the 160s/. Regular checking shows that I am at a much more managable 100 to 110s/ with occasional readings in the 120s/. This in combination with trying to get my good cholesterol up should keep the heart reasonably healthy. It takes a licking but keeps on ticking. Move over Energizer bunny.

I think I will stop for now. This posting will accomplish the goal of actually using this blog which I have set up and left idle for months, as well as let anyone who is interested my current state of health. As long as I am here doing some thinking, I am thinking it has been too long since I have posted any drawings. I should try to change that.

January 14, 2010

Made it through 59 years.

Wonder what year 60 will bring.

Time has passed quickly

TGIFish Friday December 4, 2009

Capoeta Titteya or Cherry Barb. For my TGIFish Friday piece this week I decided to use the ATC format. Color pencil on Bristol.

Grand Central Bakery

I wanted to get my hand into drawing buildings in urban environments. I am not that happy with it for a couple of reasons. As I was concentrating on the building I got caught up in the building itself and didn't leave myself blank areas to put in some foreground items such as the Trimet route/stop sign. I will probably try this one again as this place makes a really good egg salad sandwich on olive bread.

December 2, 2009

We can't be certain, but I believe I know why we are unlikely to find badgers on Saturn's moon Titan. Color pencil in Moleskine

December 1, 2009

One of my favorites is the Science Channel. Last night I watched an episode of The Universe on the theme of liquids in the universe. When thinking of liquids we often consider only liquid H2O or water. The program took us to Saturn's moon Titan. There with temperatures of around -290 degrees water ice would be rock solid, however Methane would be in a liquid form rather than a gas as it would be here on Earth. Liquid methane would present different properties than liquid water. Liquid methane is less dense, clearer due to not breaking down materials as water does. Methane being less dense than water it was suggested that, for a 200 pound man, trying to dogpaddle in liquid methane it would be like trying to do so in water with an 80 weight wrapped around them. Then again, it would be a brave soul who would do so considering that the temperature would be around -290 degrees. Jupiter is a whole different set of circumstances with pressures and temps increasing to the point that liquid hydrogen appears. Continuing further the liquid hydrogen becomes liquid metallic hydrogen. From various computer generated images I sketched this small sketchbook image and an ATC taken from the sketchbook.

November 22, 2009

Color pencil on paper. Spent Saturday morning watching the grandkids. I spent a lot of the time with my feet elevated to get swelling down, but there was some time spent with them on my lap as we checked Papa's farm, cafe, and roller coaster park on facebook. No visit is ever complete without the light saber fight.

Imaginary landscape

Just playing with the color pencils.

TGiFF

I was in kind of a funk last night about what to sketch. Since the following day was Friday I thought this might be a good time to revive a theme I used for a time last year. Thank God it's Fish Friday. To kick off I did this little Puntius Tetrazona or Tiger Barb. Many years ago I used to have several aquariums and I always had a few of these. They could be aggressive but I never really had any trouble from them. The occasional nipped fin was about all I would witness. They were always an easy sell at the store I worked at back in the day. I managed the fish department in the hardware store I worked. We had about 30 tanks to display all types of fish and these guys were ever present. Beautiful in schools.

November 18, 2009

Clan of the Cave Dachshund. Not as well known as the Clan of the Cave Bear, but just as fierce.

Just trying to button down freehand circles.