Arrogance

 

The amazing statement people make.  I am to trust them because they said it.  Then when I question the substance of their statement, they get all upset.  It is, How dare you question me.

When I was growing up, one of the things instilled in me was to question things, it was a learning process.  If I don’t understand things, ask questions or if it is not clear ask questions.  So, questions I did ask.  Then as I grew older, I learned a few things.  I took classes in philosophy, which was the very questioning of the order of life.  It was, no, that is not how it is, it is this way, why was the response.  So a person would have to present their thesis with evidence to support their statement.

Today, people put their hypothesis forth with none or very little supporting evidence and expect people to believe it, just because they said it.

I follow some people on facebook that are like that.  They say don’t do this or that, or not buy this.  They don’t say why or anything, it is an empty statement.  Then question them, better get the storm gear on and be ready for a tantrum.

So many people want to be an authority that they will follow along with others, even when it is a half truth.  Look at all of the different stories and blogs out there.  How many support their statements.  Even the weatherman is not always there supporting their forecast.

Arrogance is a psychological disorder, it can be ;looked up.  One of the key parts of arrogance is that arrogant are never wrong.  That is why they blow up when questioned.  They also tend to be control freaks.  Watch people around, especially in crowds and listen to so,e of the statements that are made.  The authoritiarian voice they speak in, they edge of anger or the bully tone.  Then look in the mirror, how close am I to being that way. 

A bit of education can mess one up and if that education comes from a big name school it even messes things up more.  Then there are those that think they have an education…. look out.

Listen to the politicians talk.  Watch their manipulation of facts and how they distort them to fit their agenda.  But do not dare to question them.

The Black Lagoon

Hilary Clinton’s injuries and medical problems were questioned by some.  Boy did some people get hateful over the questioning of her problems.  It was how dare you question what happened to her.  It was, like the truth was irrelevant.

To wonder why one would question her actions, one has to look at her past history of responses to other damming situations she has been in.  Actions speak louder then words.  Just one speaks does not make one and authority or correct.  Even if they say they are correct……. or….. trust me.

Then I ask….”Why can't I question you, you work for me, you are on the taxpayers salary rolls?”

Arrogant people get so mad, especially when they are not in control.

Nature or Marx….?

There is a time to reflect back and look at things from the past.  Ralph Waldo Emerson was considered a brilliant philosopher of his time, Mid 1800’s.  In the 60’s a lots of the hippies adopted him for their mantra.  Emerson wanted to live a quiet life in the woods.  His contemporary, Henry Thoreau was of like mind.  The hippies wanted to live in communes and share their toils being one happy family.  Don’t believe any of those communes lasted very long, for a variety of reasons.  But look at what Emerson had to say.

From this transfer of the world into the consciousness, this beholding of all things in the mind, follow easily his whole ethics. It is simpler to be self-dependent. The height, the deity of man is, to be self-sustained, to need no gift, no foreign force. Society is good when it does not violate me; but best when it is likest to solitude. Everything real is self-existent. Everything divine shares the self-existence of Deity. All that you call the world is the shadow of that substance which you are, the perpetual creation of the powers of thought, of those that are dependent and of those that are independent of your will. Do not cumber yourself with fruitless pains to mend and remedy remote effects; let the soul be erect, and all things will go well. You think me the child of my circumstances: I make my circumstance. Let any thought or motive of mine be different from that they are, the difference will transform my condition and economy. I -- this thought which is called I, -- is the mould into which the world is poured like melted wax. The mould is invisible, but the world betrays the shape of the mould. You call it the power of circumstance, but it is the power of me. Am I in harmony with myself? my position will seem to you just and commanding. Am I vicious and insane? my fortunes will seem to you obscure and descending. As I am, so shall I associate, and, so shall I act; Caesar's history will paint out Caesar. Jesus acted so, because he thought so. I do not wish to overlook or to gainsay any reality; I say, I make my circumstance: but if you ask me, Whence am I? I feel like other men my relation to that Fact which cannot be spoken, or defined, nor even thought, but which exists, and will exist.

 

To be self dependent, does not mean to be dependent of government yet this is how the socialists of the 60’s have corrupted their ideals.  What’s interesting is lots of these people accepted Marx’s teaching and wanted the ideal world he espoused.  Marx and Emerson are at other ends of the spectrum.  Emerson talks about being at one with nature.  This has a wide appeal to those who want to be natural, IE the hippies.  Today many of these people are some of the government bureaucrats and lawmakers wanting to tell people how to live.

 

The Transcendentalist adopts the whole connection of spiritual doctrine. He believes in miracle, in the perpetual openness of the human mind to new influx of light and power; he believes in inspiration, and in ecstasy. He wishes that the spiritual principle should be suffered to demonstrate itself to the end, in all possible applications to the state of man, without the admission of anything unspiritual; that is, anything positive, dogmatic, personal. Thus, the spiritual measure of inspiration is the depth of the thought, and never, who said it? And so he resists all attempts to palm other rules and measures on the spirit than its own.

 

Emerson states that one should resist imposing rules on others.  That one should be allowed to live within their own rules as given by the spirit.  Not many people walk this way.  So many have notions on how others should live, both right and left wing philosophies, and for to the government to impose their beliefs on others.  The biggest imposition of others onto others is morality.  The 20^th amendment is a good example of imposing ones views onto others.  Wasn’t very successful, in fact it created an era of lawlessness.  Oh this imposition came from the right, the holy temperance people.

You will see by this sketch that there is no such thing as a Transcendental "party;" that there is no pure Transcendentalist; that we know of none but prophets and heralds of such a philosophy; that all who by strong bias of nature have leaned to the spiritual side in doctrine, have stopped short of their goal. We have had many harbingers and forerunners; but of a purely spiritual life, history has afforded no example. I mean, we have yet no man who has leaned entirely on his character, and eaten angels' food; who, trusting to his sentiments, found life made of miracles; who, working for universal aims, found himself fed, he knew not how; clothed, sheltered, and weaponed, he knew not how, and yet it was done by his own hands. Only in the instinct of the lower animals, we find the suggestion of the methods of it, and something higher than our understanding. The squirrel hoards nuts, and the bee gathers honey, without knowing what they do, and they are thus provided for without selfishness or disgrace.

 

Emerson is fascinating in that he espouses just the opposite of how the left wants to live.  Yet it was the generation of the 60’s lefties that proclaimed Emerson as being the person to live by.

 

Society also has its duties in reference to this class, and must behold them with what charity it can. Possibly some benefit may yet accrue from them to the state. In our Mechanics' Fair, there must be not only bridges, ploughs, carpenters' planes, and baking troughs, but also some few finer instruments, -- raingauges, thermometers, and telescopes; and in society, besides farmers, sailors, and weavers, there must be a few persons of purer fire kept specially as gauges and meters of character; persons of a fine, detecting instinct, who betray the smallest accumulations of wit and feeling in the bystander. Perhaps too there might be room for the exciters and monitors; collectors of the heavenly spark with power to convey the electricity to others. Or, as the storm-tossed vessel at sea speaks the frigate or `line packet' to learn its longitude, so it may not be without its advantage that we should now and then encounter rare and gifted men, to compare the points of our spiritual compass, and verify our bearings from superior chronometers.

 

Emerson says be a participant in society, contribute.  He does not espouse about being a leech.  He truly expected people to work for their livelihood and there should be a variety of doors for people to enter into for a productive society.

The other thing to look at is his reference to a higher power and spirituality.  Something Marx wants to destroy.  For in Marx it is the Federal Government that is the higher power not man’s spirituality.  One of the first thing Marxist’s do is to ban churches.

Attractions of the Roadside

Roadside Attraction

            Overlooking the valley is an oxymoron of a roadside attraction Built in the era of late 1910.  The horseless carriage was taking to center stage and the American traveler was being born.  Highways were being built to accommodate this new machine.  Boundaries were being broken and the country was prosperous.  There were numerous noveau rich living the American dream.  World War one was on the horizon, Marx and communism were popular and the world was an oyster for many.

            Jump in the car, travel cross country, see the wonders.  No longer was tourism limited to the rich.  The automobile had opened up new vistas for the peasants of the land.  Onto the new highways in their new fangled contraptions the populace jumped.

Many a business sprung up along side highways.  Giving the wearied traveler a brief respite, place to refresh. gas up, eat and spend money.  It was wide open country free of many modern restrictions.

            Conversation in coffee shops on the college campuses was about Marx and his ideal dream.  People were discussing on campus how to impose this dream on their countries.  Meanwhile WWI breaks out and the dream is put on the back burner except in Russia where Lenin and the Bolsheviks bring the communism revolution.  Even in the USA there was a small attempt to bring communism to the country.  WWI slowed it down as did the prosperity after the war.

            People had money to spare, there was land so there was no need to overthrow the evil empire of capitalism.  Jump in the car, go visiting.  After WWI there was a new affluence for the average person surplus income to spend lavishly, in particular on the new automobile.

            The roaring 20’s floated in, flappers, speak easies, gangsters and the car.  It was a buoyant age 

 Federal Government policy built the Interstate highway system bypassing many a roadside business and pushing cars onto to super slab cross country speedways.

            On the highways a new enterprise was cropping up, the roadside attraction, and a place to separate the new tourist from their money.

            Communism went to the back burner in the US but the tyranny in Russia was just beginning.  The people’s party, Bolsheviks were ruling with an iron fist.  Churches were destroyed and people disappeared that opposed the new Russian regime.  A new ruling class was formed in Russia.

            More and more automobiles were being built in the US.  More and more people were acquiring money.  The 20’s were a golden age to be in.  Then 1929 showed up because of a government boondoggle and greed on the part of a few.

            What had been a golden period became a depression leading into the dirty 30’s and communism reared its head again.  There were also numerous government programs leading to the claim of socialism, kind of a polite name for communism.

            All the time people were still traveling cross country seeing the sights it had to offer.

Within, The Terror

 

When Hitler came to power, couple of the things he did, persecute the Jews and try to control the printed word. 

Looking back through history one of the things despots do when they come to power is to pick on a religion.  The Romans, the lions and the Christians comes to mind.  Yet compared to what Lenin and Hitler did, the Romans pale.  Lenin kicked the church out of Russia,no religion of any type was allowed in Russia.  Hitler was an exterminator of the Jews.

The other thing was they controlled was the press and books they did not agree with were destroyed.  Lenin and Hitler wanted to be the focus, they were the god’s of the day.

consider though, Hitler and Lenin at opposite ends of the spectrum.  Prior to WWII there was a communist part in Germany.  The communists were opposed to fascism.  The fascist state invaded Russia.

Reading through history one can see the parallels of communism and fascism, their methods are very similar but very opposite mode.

The other thing is the control of weapons.

So as I watch the politics I watch who is trying to control or rid one of these facets of American life. 

The church has been under attack for a number of years by the left wing of the democrat party in the form of the ACLU and a few others.  Marxists do not want religion in their controlled state.  Marx was very clear, religion is in competion to his state run government.  The gods are to be the political elite of the governing party.

It is also the left wing of the democrats that push for gun control.  Look at the flap over the comments that were made between political pundits.  Free speech comes under attack by both sides but who apologizes for their remarks.

When Hoffa junior told President Obama, “We will get those Republican Sons of Bitches,” and the president said nothing there was lots of implications of how the president views the opposing part.  But let the Republicans use a similar style of language and look what happens.  The left tries to silence their speech.

So as I look at the democratic party I wonder what has happened.  Why have the democrats let the communists run their party.  Is there that much hatred of the Republicans that they would rather live with commies then try to live as free people?

Wonder if the Democrats will stand up to the bullies in the far left wing?  It is not something new, communism has been on the left for a century or better.

During the early 1900’s a group of elites got together in Europe.  Their stated purpose was to move their home countries into communism.  Lenin is the only one with any kind of success in Russia.  There were communist movements through out the world.  In the 30’s though it was the fascists that took a different tack through warfare.

These elements of fascism live today and right now the communist movement is gaining momentum. 

As long as the Constitution can stay intact there is good level of protection for citizens to be protected from both extremes, communism and fascism.  If the left continues to attack the constitution they are leaving the door open for the fascists.

So I wonder if the sensible Democrats will wake up and take back control of their party.  For a reasonable two party system is also a good measure of protection.

 

 

 

 

 

The Terror Within

 

As a country we so often focus on threats from outside the country.  Yet most dictators/tyrants have been home grown.  The Banana Republics and Africa seem to have new dictators every other year.  Government overthrows are not limited to other countries, the USA could fall victim to that very easy.

This is the grave of a German WWII POW buried in a US national cemetery.  After the war no one in Germany claimed his remains.  So today he still resides in the US.

For me this is a reminder of what the New World Order is about.  Germany and Japan, the axis powers were going to conquer the world and be rulers.  It is also a reminder that these so called world rulers rose to power in their home country.  The axis allies citizens followed their leaders blindly, not all, into an armed conflict.

Could it happen in the US, you bet.  There is always a level of unrest in the populace and can boil over in many ways.  The unrest ebbs and flows as the whims of the politicians swing back and forth.

Back at the turn of the 20th century there was lots of turmoil in the country.  communism was very real and threatening. 

Is the head of communism rearing its head again?  Well it has never went away, just been subdued.  There are large groups that believe Karl Marx had the answer to the class warfare of the haves and have nots.  It is an age old scenario that has been going on for eons and will be used by manipulators to gain an advantage over the general populace.

So where are the fascists, they are still around, the Nazi party crawls out of the cellar at times.  Fascism does not have the appeal of Marxism because it is not taught in the colleges as being acceptable like Marxism is.

So as I watch the scene of national politics unfold I watch how the different parties treat each other.  When dictatorial comments are used by the candidates my hackles stand on end.  Both sides use these comments of control and one has to beware.   Is that candidate another Stalin or a Hitler.

The first two years of the Obama administration has been the closest we have came to a dictator.  The democrats could pass any legislation they wanted and they did.   Look at how much they spent and the healthcare bill.  Look at how Obama has consolidated numerous executive powers under the Presidency.

For the party in power it may look good, but for the people it does not bode well.  As more power is given to the few, the less the people have.  Wonder how much power the republican president will grab and then what will the democrats say.  For the democrats will not be in power for ever unless the people allow it and this gives rise to dictators.

Odd as it sounds there should be a balance of powers in government and it is eroding and it will depend on how the citizenry reacts over the next few months. 

Hate the republicans or love them, they are necessary as is the constitution.  Without a bi-caramel system the country tilts to one side or the other and the people become losers.  Look how Russian went, look what happened to the Axis powers.

One thing I hope for is that either party never have another super majority like the democrats  had a while back. 

So I keep Karl Baatz on the back burner and remember what happens when a country gets out of whack.

Oh, there was a recent report of the growth of militia’s in the US.  Do not associate them with the right wing only.  For some of the most violent groups in the country are the left wing environmental extremists.

 

What page of history are we repeating?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Calendar Changed

 

When the first day of the month arrives, my calendars I should go forth and change them.  No, I do not go forth and change the months.  It is nor until I look at days to try and schedule things do I realize I have not changed. 

I have become so spoiled by the puter that I seldom use a calendar any more.  In my gadgets bar I have a clock plus a calendar, day and month.  So when I turn the machine on all this nice information jumps up on the screen and says hi.

So the wall calendars tend to collect dust hanging from their hooks.  This year I got a bunch of calendars and probably could get some more.  Lots of the local businesses are giving out calendars and I have collected a pretty varied group of pictures to hang on the wall.

 

The days of life march past and I am but one little character in the play of life.  So as my chapters unfold I desire to enjoy them. 

There are a few events that happen I want to remember, otherwise the days melt into each other.  Passing as ships in a fog but hearing the chimes of the bells floating past.

The snow if passing in front of the wind, a touch of white patches the brown grasses of the dormant ground.  Birds huddle in the trees, search the rafters for protection seldom venturing out.  The hawk of the north has sent it icy breath across the prairies.  Soon the eve will arrive and the calendar will mark another day.

Flying South…. Nope Not Me

 

This time of year the V’s have been floating over head.  A lots of them have been landing here.  No longer do they go to the warmer climes of the south.  Today there are numerous man made lakes for the birds to splash in.  Nearby are fields loaded with seeds.  It is heaven for birds.  The climate is not that harsh here through the winter.  Daytimes highs occasionally reach into the 70’s during the winter mostly it is the 50’s n 60’s.

So the migrating birds have found it is a nice place to hang out for the winter.  The golf courses make nice places to hang out and the farmers leave behind seeds that were not there a 100 years ago and there are those who feed the birds. 

The journey south is much shorter now.

Seldom do the ponds freeze solid so the birds have a refuge from the two legged critters.  There is plenty of down to insulate them.

In the morning feeding time thousands upon thousands can be seen flocking to the sun flower fields and nearby corn fields.  It is an amazing sight to see millions of birds in V’s up in the air circling fields.

Massive farming has changed the way lots of wildlife lives today.  There is probably more wildlife today then there was over 100 years ago.  There is an abundance of food and shelter that the farmer and rancher have provided.  Don’t tell the greenies that though.  They think the farmers and ranchers are pretty stupid and can’t take care of wildlife.

I put the little bird feeder out for the little birds but to see the millions of massed birds is incredible.  Man influences the environment but to what extent.  Do I really want to foul the land I live in.

Hope your week is going well and that may the bird of paradise be your companion.

A View

 

For a variety of Reasons the eye is attracted to views/images, some are pleasing others distracting and so forth.  The Vista lets the eye travel to the horizon, to the world’s end.  Do a 180 and there is the end of the view.

Parallax is the divergence that never ends and it is the same no matter the distance.  Lines the appear to converge, remain the same distance apart.  To what end does the eye travel?

 

Floating cotton puffs dapple the sky, poles mark lines, cars pass by, wind riffles grasses, a brief moment paused.

From here to there an eternity, flowing together, to never join up.  A separation merging not that gives the illusion of converging.

The weekend is rolling along, it touches not the last, it goes on to the next.  Adjoining but with no attachment.  To the next it marches, pauses not to attach.

May your days have journeys of no end that reach to the next and continue in a path of desires.

Threshers Day….. V Draft Horses

 

The monster horse, does not pull the beer wagon, it pulls the plow and other equipment.  Draft horses are monster horses, they will come close to weighing in at a ton, 1500-1900 pounds.  15 hands tall to big ones over 18 hands.  The average horse is 11-12 hands, 1000 to 1100 pounds.  It is amazing to watch these big brutes work.  They are so gentle and easy to be around.

As I watched them work, it was not easy for the horses to plod over the dirt clods.  They would stumble at times but they maintained their balance.  At a nice even pace they walked the field.

 

I finally got this young lady to pose for me.  She is not a small person but she is dwarfed next to the horse.

As one hooks up the the buggy another keeps the horses still so they do not walk away from the tongue.  Working behind horses is a tricky business and many do not do.  Yet these handlers worked with ease behind their horses.

There were different horses there and there was a set of mules there.

Surprisingly the mule will out work the big horses.  Their stamina is longer and they don’t need the rest like a horse does.  They also tend to be stronger then a horse.  After the oxen the mule was the next preferred beast of burden for plowing or hauling wagons.  The horse is the glamour animal, the worker is the mule.

What was neat to watch was this little girl.  She appeared to be about 12 years old.  She was guiding these big horses around with ease.  A jiggle of the reins, a clicking of the tongue and the animals moved at her command.  It might of been an older brother and little sister, because he was walking with her and talking to her and the horses.  Around the yard they went.

To look over the backs of these animals, one has to be about 6’6” or get a ladder to stand on.

Have a good week.

Threshers Day … IV … Tractors

 

Get country folks together and the tractor weasels it way in to the conversation.  Old Threshers Day has its share of tractors.  They get shown off in the parade or at the pull.

The Johnny Poppers are probably the most popular and the red McCormick's a second.  There is whole other variety of plowing machines.  The steam tractors were missing because of the regulations the government pushed on to them.  Sometimes I would like to plow the bureaucrats into the ground, they would make such good fertilizer.  They also know how to screw life up, oh well, on to the tractors.

These are some of the more unusual and rare tractors on display.

There is usually a homemade contraption around someplace.

 

Men and their machines.

Threshing day…. II

 

The old timers put together quite the display of old machinery that still works.  One of them is a sawmill.  Lumber yards were far and between.  If a person wanted wood, they would go out and cut down the tree and saw by hand the shapes and sizes they wanted.

With the advent of engines no longer did the early settler have to go out and chop his home down.  He could go to a sawmill and order his materials.  Many of the early saw mills were operated by a stationary steam engine.  Then the tractor came along and it was used to run the mill.  Besides plowing, the tractor had other uses.

Here can be seen the long belt that would stretch from the tractor into the shed and run the big blade.

I look at this and marvel at how the early settlers had to work at their land.  They did not have a lots of idle time.  There was always something to do.

Some of the houses and barns that were built with limber from these old sawmills are still standing.  Siding is planked as are roofs.  It is a style of building that is no longer used today.  Some of these people would travel 40, 50, 60 miles to get trees for the sawmill and then haul it back home.  In the early 1900’s that trip was made by horse n wagon, sometimes two and three day trips one way.

It is amazing to watch one of these things work.  The pioneers had to have a variety of skills to build a life out on the prairie.  Not only farm, but also be skilled at mechanics, carpentry and industrial equipment. 

When I have finished for the day a tour of one of these places I appreciate how easy my life is today.  A 12 hour day is considered slavery today, but it was not unusual to put days in that long and longer 100 years ago.

I watch the people that do these shows and see how much fun they have.  It is an annual event and when it is over, they sigh with relief and begin getting ready for the show next year.

Labor Day ….. 2011

A day set aside by the government as a day of rest and celebration.  The day has an unusual history and somewhat checkered.  Lots of it has been lost in the pages of history.  Like so many things, people twist history around to fit their own agenda.

Today Labor Day is not what it used to be.  It has become so politicized by a few that the celebration of the workers has been lost in the name calling.

I will take my picnic and go to the great outdoors and have a quiet celebration.  Big Labor be dammed and Big business…. go fly a kite.  I too can be selfish and focus on self like they do.

All…. enjoy the day…. look out for the ants and have a great one.

The creepy mania of politics

 

Another blogger directed me top another blogger in Wisconsin.   She is a law professor at the university in Madison, the state capital.  She has written about the protests and the associated antics of the left wing losers.  Very little about the right wing for they do not protest that much.  She has been pretty neutral and presented things fairly objective.

 

One of the incidents after the democrats lost the election there was the alleged incident of one supreme court justice trying to choke another court justice.  Apparently the incident did not happen.  It was a case of one trying to protect themselves and the other distorting the truth to gain control of such.

Yet this incident has become a microcosm of the left wing progressive distortion and being sore losers.  Watching the taunts the protestors hurled at the right wing winners was sad.  Yet they, like the supreme court justice made false accusations to try and control the situation in which they lost.

So my question is….. are Democrats becoming liars, half truths, innuendo and distortions to further their agenda.  Where has the Democrat gone that used to be above board and accepted defeat and went on to the next battle.  Puffery is fairly common in politics but where has it descended to in the Democratic party.  Why have they became such sore losers, why do they want control so much.  Why are they not accepting of ideas different from theirs.  What happened to the Democratic party I used to vote for.

In this incident a whole can of worms is now crawling around.  Are the conservative Democrats going to continue to let the progressive Democrats control what used to be a noble political party.

 

Well… so much for my soap box and two cents worth.

 

Have a good week.

Do Not Use….. May Cause Damage

 

Warning labels, on literally everything one buys.

The most infamous label is on the cigarette pack, and then there was the incident with the coffee in Albuquerque.  What is your favorite warning…….?

A fellow blogger bought a new small electrical appliance and it had a warning of not to take it to bed or sleep with it.  Apparently some people have done just that, hence a warning notice.  With the millions of people in the country a few have absurd behavior and it results in an accident.  because of the actions of a few, all have to pay the price of their consequences.  How much extra cost to the product do you think these warning notices add?  There is the oblivious of paper use and extra printing.  There is also the legal review expense and the board decision making time.  These little things add a small bit on the price of items which the consumer pays.

Why the notices in the first place, am I really that incompetent I can not take care of my self or is there something else going on here.  Personally I feel is a little bit on the “Nanny State” thing but a bigger issue is a lawyer thing.

So many lawsuits over frivolous things, yet there is big money, greed is a major force behind lots of these lawsuits.  Next thing to look at is the people who pass the laws and regulations.  The legislators at most levels of government are attorneys and so are most of the executives.  When these people get elected, they do not leave their jobs, most retain a vested interest.  A few leave their jobs to be public servants.  An attorney that is elected retains a interest in their law firm.  The firm generates income for them so it behooves the legal beagle to pass laws that will benefit his firm.

If adding warning labels is to their benefit….. guess what.  If the law firm is a litigator of damage suits…. laws will be brought forth to enable the firm.  The list rolls on, it becomes a cycle that we as voters have enabled.  For whatever reason we keep voting lawyers into the halls of congress.

I read somewhere that about 95% of the Democrats and over 50% of the Republicans are attorneys.  Looking at that one can see why so many laws are passed.  The more convoluted the language is the more a person needs a legal interpreter.

Next time you see a warning notice….. consider who will benefit the most…….?

 

 

When the rain pours here it can fall in buckets and make fields look like rice paddies.  The railroad ROW makes a nice dam and collects run of real quick making small pools.

Some of this fell as ice cubes, turning things white.  I should of planted some rice in the little paddock.

Broken Darkness

 

Amber slices on the far wall.  The streetlight has found an opening between the curtain and the wall, dimly marking a slice on far wall.  Reminding that there is darkness beyond the walls.

 Sun has set, evening has closed the day, far side lies the warmth of Old Sol.   Amber flickers on the wall fade to gray dimness.  The golden orb is returning.  No longer is the far wall marked by street lamp.  Dull gray slices over the wall.  Dogs whine n scratch.  Morning routine is beginning.

New beginnings as darkness retreats, slashed by the golden orb.  Door opens, dogs scurry out, pausing to check the scents from the night.  clouds envelope the horizon, caressing the green grasses, brown earth.  Jewels of dew glisten on the branches as clouds swirl through the branches.

Gray sky blocks the light of day, a still lamp travels over the land, not yet is the darkness broken.  New day beckons.

 

Breezes flow on, marching to their silent drummer.  Whistling through time immemorial, marking steps unseen, carving monuments, changing all leaving nothing different.

With new day I usher forth another mark leaving behind that which is gone.  Looking to that which is there, always right there.

Coffee in hand, settle into chair, gaze out window at the grayness swirling about.  Little dogs curled up in corner.

 

May your weekend be a blessed and peaceful.

Random Quinks

Thoughts from here and there or whatever happened to fall out of the noggin n gray matter.

The fires in Arizona and New Mexico are sharing their smoke with us.  In the mornings the breeze is from the north and it is kind of clear.  As the sun rolls over the wind rolls around to the SW and here comes the smoky haze.

Last night there were pretty good whiffs of burning wood.  As the night settles down the wind calms.  In the morning it is kind of clear.  The haze makes for some interesting sun spots. 

Get lots of complaints from people with respiratory problems, self included.  The smoke effects my allergies and sinus.  I would of not been a good fighter of fires.

Living in the country is a life many dream of but few do.  There is a different lifestyle.  Stores are not close by and medical is further, neighbors are not down the block and nature is the at the step.

 

 

this farm house is fairly well isolated,  couple miles to the nearest neighbor.  It can be lonely at times out in the outback of the prairie.  Here life has a pace of nature.  the seasons change and life changes. 

Civilization is creeping in the country life.    the latest gadgets in the kitchen, monster tractor in the field, slick new pick up to chase the cows and giant windmills.

 

What had once been a far ranging vista is now becoming cluttered with giant three handed machines, 

The landscape is changing yet this same area is also dotted with missile silos.  The giant three handed monsters will be well protected in case of invasion by ET’s relatives.

 

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Ya know what I would like to see….. Congress go back to two sessions, each one 90 days or less, per year.  the end of the session…. every one go home, no more new laws, no more gabbing about nuttin and maybe some peace for the home folks.

 

 

In Memory

This weekend has been referred to as decoration day.  By government decree and the for the want of a paid holiday it is now Memorial Day.  Graves are still decorated, ceremonies are still conducted, friends and relatives go visiting at the cemetery.

There are the moments and stories about veterans making the sacrifice for our country’s freedom.  I used to buy into that big time but in reclining years I question that feel good statement.

I enjoy history and when I look back over the history of the USA I see less and less freedom.  There are volumes of law books published each year and each year there are more laws added to these books.  Each law restricts a person in some manner or other, whether it be consequences, penalties and even taxes.  These new laws are passed by congress, republican and democrat.

Even in my short life I have seen restrictions  placed on me that were not there 30 years ago.  Some are good, few are begin and a lots are ugly. 

So what is freedom……………….?

 

My family heritage in this country goes back to 1750.  This is when the US was a penal colony for England and when Europeans were fleeing the oppression of the royal governments or religious persecution.  The freedom these people sought was brief lived.

Yet I understand what was trying to be accomplished, I also understand why there were so many failures.

Not only do I salute the veterans, I acknowledge their families and the people that support them.

Have a blessed weekend, go forth and roast a…………….

 

Working in the US….. Maybe

The Price of Business

Driving over the prairies one notices the changes, new homes, business and old homes and businesses gone. It is and ever changing landscape that remains the same. Grasses grow, animals graze and life moves on.

Scattered among the rolling hills of the high plains are numerous oil wells, some places spotty, other places very numerous. Drilling rigs rise up over the plains, looking like christmas trees at night. New jobs are being created as new holes are bored into the ground. With new wells come more jobs, setting the pumps in place, more oil pipe, tanks, support equipment and the maintenance of keeping the pumps running. Jobs in the oil patch are good paying jobs and give a boost to the local economy.

Here is a rub, why are not more holes being bored in the ground? Lots of things for one to look at. The so called war in the middle east, conflicts in other parts of the world and domestic policy. Domestic policy feeds lots of anger and it also feeds lots of wallets.

If there was more oil drilling/exploration in the US lots of the problems in the slumping economy could be eased. More people could be put to work, there would be more taxes and more spending on all levels.

President of the USA comes out and says there needs to be more oil production in the US. A very good sounding comment but it is hollow, for it is the EPA that issues permits for drilling and if the EPA does not want to, they can withhold permits. The president knows that and that is why he can make good sounding sound bites and look good, a very good posturing position for the political minded president.

So why doesn’t the EPA issue more permits when the president says we need more oil production, because the laws are made by congress and written by the bureaucrats. The president does not make laws, he only signs or vetoes laws. So who id the EPA responsible to, supposedly it is the citizens of the US. They are supposed to make decisions that are for the common welfare of the country. Like many agencies in government the EPA has developed an agenda that does not always look out for the common welfare of the people. Instead they listen to the wishes of a few special interest people. In this case a small group referred to as environmentalists. The tail is wagging the dog. So this begs a question, why does the public servant, EPA do what’s good for the country? Or why do we let agencies dictate to us our lifestyle?

The oil patch is but one industry that has been stymied by the EPA and the environmentalists. They battle to stop coal and nuclear fired electric generating plants, they battle the farmers on the use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers that help crop production. These environmental rules push up the tab for living and cost jobs. Under the guise of health concerns the EPA stops lots of projects and or makes them more costly.

Stop and look at many jobs have been pushed overseas because of environmental rules, plastic industry, steel mills and even lumbering. These are well paying jobs that are no longer in the states. Does that mean that we are now killing people in these foreign countries because these dirty jobs are no longer in the US? That is one of the reasons jobs went overseas, they were harmful to our health. It must be okay to harm a foreigner’s health?

Back to the middle east and the so called war. What purpose is it over there? Are people being killed over there because of the dirty jobs we don’t want in the US? Is lead poisoning but a secondary killer over there? Will the real culprit be the banned jobs?

Where does the power really lie? We get mad at the politicians and rightly so but where are decisions being made that impact our lives? Presidents have some influence yet in the long run it is the bureaucrats that have the impact on the day to day life. There is no check or balance for the different government agencies. Congress tries but because of political bickering gains are minimal.

Today the dirty industries of the rust belt are some of the cleanest because of clean air technology, automobiles run cleaner than ever and coal fired plants are but a whisper of the junk they used to belch. These industries meet the criteria of today but are vilified by a few and government agencies are used to keep the industry from prospering or growing.

When I fill up at the gas pump it is not the politician I am mad at, although they are partly to blame, it is the faceless bureaucrat I should be kicking at instead of goads.

Domestic Policy has a great influence and it used to be a policy that focused on the common welfare of the people not the ideals of a few.

A Bit of Sun and Leaves

It has not gotten warm enough around here for the leaves on the trees to fully fill out.  It is till early spring for the higher elevations of the plains.  Here is a cottonwood still in early spring stage.  The leaves are still translucent and the cotton buds are forming.  With some more sun and warmth the seed pods will open and the air will fill with cotton.

 

 

With some backlighting and a clear blue azure sky, the young cottonwood leaves set off nicely against the sky.

The weekend is over, a new week begins.  The travels of life continues.

Have a great week.

From Years Ago…. They Roamed

 

Took an afternoon off and went off the sand creek to do some rock hunting and maybe find an arrowhead.  It has been sometime since I found and arrowhead, I have found pieces and a small scraper.  Arrowhead hunting is a hobby for a few people that live on the prairie.  For centuries the Indians wandered across the plains, following the buffalo herds and living out their lives.

Looking up a bluff through a small draw.  There is a small thread of green where the water collects.  The buffalo find these and graze.  It is also a place where the Indians could stampede the buffalo over the ridge and a few of the buffalo would perish in the tumble down the hill.

It would then be easy for the Indians to finish off the animals and skin them.  Below is a creek and a spring nearby for clean water. 

I walk the fields and pastures searching for the tips and scrapers left behind from the processing of the buffalo.  Not much luck but I enjoy the walk and the getting away to a place of solitude.  There is a farmhouse over there about a half mile and another over a mile away.  Then a few more miles to find another farm house.

As I walk the open spaces, the wind dances around, grasses wave in the breeze and clouds are absent.  High clear blue sky.  Summer has been postponed for a few more days, a sweater is need to keep the cool needles out.

Some smoky quartz is found, a few agates, maybe a piece of opal and petrified wood pieces but no arrowheads.  It was a nice walk on a cool day.  Batteries recharged and cobwebs scraped away.

Will have to revisit there another day and remember why life marches on.  Here is a cadence that nature sets.  Man is but a stepper to the cadence.