Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Nature’s Way

 

 

Scrambling through ditches and pastures I stumble across things that fit or how’d that get there.

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The wind gathers the seeds up and deposits them in among the grasses n weeds.  Jewels to sparkle in the green surrounds.  The beds of flowers and planters spread their bounty on the wind, finding  new places to set roots down.

Tromping among the stickers and thorns these damsels thrive, making a beauty.  Pausing for a moment, enjoy the reward, saying thanks to the ways of nature.

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Along with the beauty are the ravenous monsters.  They eat each other and devour fields.  They can become so thick that the ground moves, sun light fades when they fly in hoards. The grasshopper is related to the locust and like the locust, grasshoppers can strip plants into the ground.

It is amazing anything lives after these little monsters have passed by.  There is a plan for destruction, nature renews itself, even in spite of man’s attempts to the contrary.  One of the reasons I question the greenies cry of wolf on the global warming issue.

Nature has a balance and will make changes to keep that balance… In spite of the human meddling.  We can help… but destroy………..

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Not By Design

 

There are things in life that happen by planning and then there are things that occur by chance.  Working by design takes lots of effort and planning, it is also very rewarding.  Those that happen by chance are a deep pleasure, make a warm fuzzy feely moment. 

I enjoy photography and in particular railroad photography.  While back I was setting up to take some train pictures and I disturbed a four legged critter’s sleep.

 

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I was walking along an overpass to catch the train [passing below and up from under the bridge popped this youngster.  I was startled but gathered myself together to get the camera up for some pictures.  He paused and stared back at me.

This went on for sometime.  One step forward, click of the shutter, pause and look back. The train was setting back in town still not moving so I just sat there and watched him. 

He is a youngster, not big enough to challenge the old bucks for the herd domain.  By himself he roams the grassland.  Sometimes these young bucks travel together but until they get some does they are loners..

White tails are not common around here, we get mostly mulies.  Mule deer are native to the area.  Like the white tail, the mulies are being forced to find new land to roam.  Deer were far and few far between on the plains but that is changing as development forces them out of their homes...

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Eventually he moved on down the hill to open field.  He will find a small harem, become feed for a predator or possibly a trophy for the great white hunter.  In the meantime I appreciated the moment of encounter.

Oh and the train… it went into reverse and I gave up waiting for it..

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

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…….?

 

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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.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Time Marches

The weekend has arrived.  Time to take care of the chores, relax some or go out and play.  There is rain and the green stuff  grows and some of the unwanted green things have to be removed to find the other green things.  Some where over there under the mat is a grill….. hmmm… maybe should use it a little more  often.

Grilled brauts and a beer,  for me good weekend dining.  Let others indulge in the flank pieces of meat.  Put some relish, chopped green onion and brown mustard on and I’m happy.  The garden is putting out lettuce so will have a salad.  Sit in the little courtyard, hope the mosquitos are not hungry.  Watch the sun set, clouds pass over and change colors.

The weekend brings many adventures, sometimes no further then the yard.  Birds flit around, flowers wave in the breeze, trees make shade and good food.  It is time to savor the march of time, pause to listen to the rhythm.

 

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Whatever you chose for the weekend may God bless you in your endeavors.

Have a great one.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Bombs Bursting

Independence day has passed into history and we await the one for next year.  Headlines jump out proclaiming FREEDOM.  Have you ever wondered freedom from what and what really is freedom?

Took a few pictures of the local fireworks few of them came out nice.

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It was a great show.

I was lucky enough years ago to get a tour of Chesapeake Bay.  One of the tour spots was Ft McHenry, where the national anthem was written.  There is a buoy in the bay, supposedly marking where Key sat in his little boat making notes for a song that would be forever etched in the fabric of the USA.

Fireworks displays of today symbolize that battle and others during the revolution.  It was a time when people wanted to throw off an oppressive government.  They wanted to rule themselves, a freedom from restrictive government rules, one of them being taxes.  The biggest was self governance.  Not an absent government that was way over there some where.

Self determination was one of the key factors of the founding fathers used when they trashed the articles of confederation and replaced them with the constitution.

So does the constitution give you freedom to express yourself, live the life you chose or walk a different path.  Within the fabric of the constitution is a very broad avenue for people of the US to travel.

Today can we travel with the freedoms that our founding fathers gave us in the late 1700’s?  Why have we been willing to give up so many freedoms?

When July 4th rolls around I visit the cemetery where many of our freedoms have been placed and wonder if we will get any back.  What changes do I need to make, what should I demand of the politicians?

Look at the real reasons for the Civil War…….. It had very little to do with slavery.

Monday, July 4, 2011

The Puter Is On Trial

Had a catastrophic crash couple of weeks ago.  Don’t know if it will be repairable but will march on with another puter.  The old one will go the examination cubicle to see if repairs are worth while.  So in the meantime I will fumble along with new keyboard and gadgets.

Will also work on getting around and catching up on posts, that I have neglected.

 

Today is July 4th….. So Happy Birthday USA.

Trials

There comes a time in the life of me to stand back and watch for I no longer have the vinegar of youth…… Hah.