"Group Think" for the Machine

"I'm sure there's a good reason we are all standing here looking at the gate, but I can't for the life of me figure out what it might be!"

That's what I thought when I saw this picture from a few years ago -- that's what's going through at least one of those cow's heads -- or, it would if they could reason.  It brought to mind "group think."

We all know about "group think."  It happens when a bunch get together and someone makes a suggestion.  The next thing you know, everyone is "piling on" to the idea and it gains a life of its own.  Politicians exploit that tendency.  They, or some political operative, plant suggestions and "suddenly" everyone agrees!  Some examples are "meatless Monday," "taco Tuesday," "Epstein killed himself" -- which, by-the-way, I doubt very seriously (did you catch how I inverted that last one?).

It is easier to follow a suggestion than it is to think independently.  We are lazy.  We are trained to "group think" -- it's called public education.  We are indoctrinated from our earliest years to think and behave as part of a group.  We stand at the gate and wait for the government to "give" us benefits which came out of what they extracted from us already in the form of taxes.  In spite of the rhetoric -- especially from one political party which is quickly morphing into socialism -- the wealthy will never pay "their fair share" of taxes.  It is the poor and middle class which carry the tax burden and it is the wealthy who gain the largest benefit -- especially the subset of the wealthy who claim to be the salvation of the poor and downtrodden. 

The whole impeachment debacle almost exposed what is really a "cash cow" for politicians -- foreign aid.  Much of it is funneled through NGO's (non-government organizations) that are supposedly established for charitable purposes.  More of it is sent directly to foreign governments that are filled with corrupt politicians (yes, even more corrupt than our own) who find creative ways to funnel it into their personal bank accounts -- such as state-owned businesses.  Both methods frequently have plenty of siphons stuck in that lead right back to family members, "non-profit" foundations or, corporations owned or, controlled by the very politicians that authorized the aid in the first place. 

Most folks that lead normal lives which include a job and a paycheck don't realize how much money is actually flowing around this planet.  The amounts are astounding.  There is so much money lying around Europe right now that the banks charge customers to hold their deposits.  Yes, that is correct.  It's not just an issue of low interest rates on savings over there, it's a case of the banks charging customers to keep their money.  Oh, yeah, it's in the hands of that top 1% than controls the bulk of the wealth.  The politicians around the globe are quite familiar with that crowd and work closely with them to make sure they get a piece of that wealth for "protecting" it from unfriendly laws while fleecing the citizen taxpayers of their countries in the process.

Yep, I'm making lots of accusations here and not really offering any proof.  If I had the proof and could lay it out I'd probably end up like Epstein.  I'm not too excited about that prospect.  My point is simply this, don't follow the sheep (or, cows) through the gate.  It might just be the loading ramp to the truck on its way to the harvest.  The politicians own and operate the plant in a very efficient manner.  They are the only ones who will profit from the transaction -- oh, and their very wealthy buddies. 

There is a difference between the two political parties in spite of the fact that both have similar goals in mind; the elephants give you a chance to earn your way into the club, but the donkeys just want you to wear chains and pull the plow.  I'd rather have a chance -- no matter how small.

Billionaire Candidates and Agricultural Ignorance

This is from a few years ago and is among my favorite images.  I find it interesting how the curiosity is strong on both sides of the fence.

Agriculture is something that is little appreciated by most people these days.  Social media has been completely crazy with how one of the current Presidential candidates gave a speech a few years ago to a group of highly educated, full-of-themselves individuals, in which he implied that it didn't take much intelligence to be in agriculture.  In fact, that speech (follow the link to see the article which includes the video) was given at about the same time the above image was taken.

The speech has been taken out of context in such a way that everyone in agriculture has gotten angry rather than thought about what was said.  Essentially, he indicated that civilization has evolved through time from what was, for most of history, an agrarian culture to an industrialized economy and now we are in the middle of a technology-based information economy.  He was correct, but his comments leave one wondering if he truly understands the amount of information and technology that are utilized in agriculture today.

Take that bunch of cows in the image above; they were from a registered herd of Angus that have been carefully selected for over 60 years to produce efficient, fertile, highly versatile animals that provide us with some of the highest quality meat in history.  Each animal is carefully measured in many ways, the data collected, collated and compared against their genetic scores which are developed from genomic testing.  They are rigorously selected based on stringent criteria so that only the best animals are allowed to produce breeding stock for future generations.

They are fed protein and mineral supplements that are carefully formulated to meet the nutritional requirements that the animals cannot attain from forage alone.  They are vaccinated to prevent disease.  They are cared for using scientifically-based methods that reduce the amount of stress to which they are subjected.  The forage they eat is also managed based on best scientifically proven practices.

That's just a small part of agriculture -- raising cattle on a ranch.  I won't even address what happens when they head up the production chain to eventual harvest and presentation in the meat case at your local supermarket.  Technology is everywhere.

When you look at farming it gets even crazier.  The tractors are guided by computers to precisely apply the correct amounts of seed, fertilizer, etc. based on satellite images.  The seeds which are planted are frequently the result of advanced breeding techniques -- including genetic manipulation to enhance disease, chemical and pest resistance.  We have more and better quality food than ever before in history -- thanks to the application of technology to agriculture -- and it costs virtually the same as it did 50+ years ago!

The candidate in question mentions the brainpower required to farm vs. work in a factory vs. create the technology which is so pervasive in society today.  I should introduce him to the rocket scientist I know who ranches in Arizona.  He truly is a rocket scientist -- used to work at NASA.  Or, maybe he should meet some of the scientists unraveling the genetic code which determines disease resistance.  Oh, wait, those are scientists.  Yep, I have worked with them most of my career.  They may be able to manipulate a gene, but most of them have no clue how their work impacts the real world.  They are isolated in their cocoon of technology of which they know much, but they don't know what to do with it much of the time.

I think, ultimately, that is the issue.  I call it intellectual snobbery.  It happens in every field of endeavor.  I've seen it in many, many scientific and engineering fields -- and I've seen it in agriculture.  It goes something like this: "If you don't have a PhD in blah, blah, blah, there is no way you can understand it.  You obviously don't have the intelligence to be able to comprehend it, or you would have a PhD in blah, blah, blah."  Sometimes it isn't just a PhD -- with Engineers it is simply a degree in Engineering -- and they have ranks.  I think Aerospace is at the top and Civil is at the bottom.  Each believes if you "aren't one of us, you ain't nothing."

Back to agriculture -- "If you try to learn how to ranch after a career in something else, you had better be prepared to fail."  "If you didn't grow up in it you will never be able to master it."  Those are incorrect too.

Getting back to the article:  I don't like the candidate mentioned in the article.  Period.  I think he would be worse for our country than most of the others.  Just look at the problems in his state and you should agree.  We shouldn't blast him for what was said, though.  Instead, we should realize that what he said is a symptom of something deeper.  The average person, or the self-proclaimed intellectual elite has no idea about what is involved in production agriculture.  Most of them don't even know what is necessary to get the food to their table.  Billionaire Presidential candidates probably have large staffs that take care of it for them anyway -- they don't even know their food comes from the grocery store -- let alone what it took to get it to the store.

If you don't like the candidate, talk about why you don't like the candidate; don't just blast him by taking his words out of context and failing to address the real issue -- ignorance.  Yep, brilliant people can be ignorant.  If you don't know about something, you are ignorant of that subject.  It doesn't mean you lack the gray matter to understand it given time and effort.  I wish all of the candidates would apply a little more of their gray matter to learning about food production.  Those in agriculture just don't add up to enough votes for it to make a difference to them -- at least in their mind.  We need to explain why it does matter.  Even billionaires won't live long without food.

Each Day New

As I stand and look on high

To pathways etched against the sky

I know there is yet room to grow

And so much more that I could know.

Although I've traveled many miles

Through years of troubles, tears and trials

There is so much left to do,

As if I've started over new,

Each day, beginning, once again,

No different now than it was when

My years were young and I was strong,

To climb the heights for which I long.

Habits

It seems no matter how you try

To cultivate the fields

There will be things that do take root

And take away from yields.

They come from out of nowhere,

To pop up now and then,

You must be ever vigilant

And clear them out again.

I'm speaking of bad habits

That into your life do creep;

They sink their roots unnoticed

And rob you like a thief.

Fox Squirrel

Way up in the greening trees,

Caressed by a light spring breeze,

The fox squirrel sits upon a branch

As if he was in a deep trance.

My searching lens locks onto him

There upon his lofty limb

With acorn locked between his teeth

And me there on the ground beneath.

He thinks I don't see him there

So still, way up in the air

Behind that tiny little twig

Where, to me, he looks mighty big

Covered with his winter fat;

Just another tree rat.

Valentines Day

The azaleas aren't blooming yet, but they will be in a few short weeks.  I figured flowers were appropriate for the day though, so I dug out this image from a few years back of some of the azaleas at our home.  We have them along the front and along a section of the back of our house.  They bloom in groups and are quite a sight if you enjoy such.

So, with that I will say, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Roses are red,

These azaleas are pink,

I prefer poems

That make you think.

I never was good

At the mushy stuff,

To me it just seems

Like so much fluff.

It's a corporate scam

That grows by the year,

Selling roses and cards

And sparkly gear.

If you really do care

Then show them each day

In the things that you do

And the words that you say.

Consumed by Flames

If you look closely at the image of the fire you might see the Flame Monster looking off to the right.  That was random, I'll admit, but it just popped out at me when I posted the picture.  Do you see it?

What is it about fire that mesmerizes us?  I can sit and look at a fire for long periods and it is relaxing.  How can something so destructive be relaxing?  I suspect it is a remnant programmed into our DNA from times long past when fire meant safety, food and warmth.

I love a campfire and I enjoy campfire cooking.  There is an art to building a fire that will start quickly, burn brightly and build a bed of coals that will cast warmth for hours long after the flames have died to memory.

As I write I keep thinking there must be some deeper meaning that I can extract from this, but it just isn't happening.  All that comes to mind is the sound of insects and frogs along with the roar and crackle of the fire as I sit and contemplate -- yep, I almost said stare at the fire.  Contemplate conveys purpose and depth whereas "stare" is empty and meaningless.  Maybe that's part of the attraction -- to let the cares be consumed by the flames, allowing the mind to rest and the peacefulness of a spring evening to cleanse us as we become one with the blaze.  Yep, I'm thinking spring again....

A Loose Grouping?

Sometimes what we think we see is not exactly the reality of the situation.  Take the above image for example; it looks like some loosely grouped arrows in the end of a hay bale.  The reality is that there were 3 ribbons attached by a nail at the top and fluttering in the wind.  Five arrows were shot -- the first 3 at the point where the ribbons were attached and the next two at the loose ends fluttering in the wind.  When you look at it that way, it was some pretty dang good shooting.  Nope, it wasn't me, it was my son about 3 1/2 years ago one day when we were out messing around in the pasture.

I think lots of times when we see things, what we think is clouded by our expectations and we totally miss what is really happening.  I think it especially applies to politics....

That's my thought for the day.  I intentionally left if vague enough for the reader to try and figure out my target.  Posting will be hit-and-miss this week.  Sometimes there just aren't enough days in the hour to get it all done.

Space to Think

When something's eating on my mind

And just won't go away,

I can't seem to let go of it,

It's there throughout the day.

It affects my mood, makes me a grouch

But, it's nothing that you said,

It's whatever this crazy thing is

That dwells there in my head.

Don't take it personally, just give me space,

I'll work it to the bone

But, the best advice I can give to you

Is just leave me alone!

There are times when we just need to be able to think through the things on our mind.  Those times affect our mood and our attitude.  Some would tell you it is best to talk them out with others; that is probably good advice, but at the end of the day, if it is my decision to make, after getting input and talking through my reasons, I still have to be the one to think it through and make certain it is the right thing to do.

Nope, nothing going on that causes me to be in that kind of mood today, I just ran across the image of the Scissor-tail Flycatcher in a Honey Locust tree and it made me think of those times.

In the Moment

Be present in the moment,

Set all else aside,

All the weight upon your shoulders

Will soon slide

Into the waters.

Be present in the moment,

Leave cares for another day,

Focus on the task at hand;

You will see the way

Across the waters.

Be present in the moment,

Focus on the now,

Let time fade all around you

When you don't know how

To face the waters.

Be present in the moment,

Let your heart be filled with praise,

Know that God still loves you

And that you He will raise

Above the waters.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." -- Isaiah 43:2

Bull Haulers

Sometimes I just hunt through the images stored on my computer until I come across one that catches my attention.  This is from when we bought a load of heifers and had them shipped in, but it made me think of shipping time and sending calves to wheat pasture, or the feed yard.

Shipping time;

Bawling calves;

Dust cloud;

Diesel roar;

Headed west;

Time for rest.

"Bull Haulers" get a lot of abuse because they are often short on sleep and look like they've been living in their Peterbilt or, Kenworth for weeks on end -- which they probably have.  They ought to get our respect though, because they are the ones who drive endless miles getting the livestock to the next point in the production chain.  Cattle aren't like a cardboard box full of some unknown consumer good that can sit in a warehouse, or in the back of a truck while the trucker sleeps; they need to get where they are going as quickly as possible to reduce the stress and get them to feed and water.  The driver is the pilot, flight attendant and sometimes gate attendant all rolled into one.  They get the animals to their next home safely and efficiently no matter the weather or, the conditions.  Just like the rest of us, they sometimes need a pat on the back.  Their job is just as critical as anyone else's when it comes to putting high quality beef on the table.

Spring is Coming

A splash of color caught my eye

As it was drawn on high

To a place among the branches

O'er my head

Where sat a Cardinal,

In all his regal glory,

On a crisp, cold day.

Although it was the depth of winter,

Thoughts of spring

Flooded my mind

And my spirit was lifted

Knowing that the buds would soon appear

And the chill grays

Would soon be memory.

Keep Your Focus

When you're balanced on a wire

And it's a long way to the ground

You look and see that there

Is not a net to be found.

What can you do but keep on going

Straight ahead just as you've been?

What put you up there on the wire

You don't want to do again.

Don't think about the problems

Or, what will happen if you fall,

Just focus on the road ahead

And you'll defeat them all.

Controversy and Politics

Yesterday's post apparently got more people's attention than normal.  It seems that controversial subjects draw folks like flies are drawn to a rotting carcass.  I probably have images of a rotting carcass somewhere on this computer, but I figured it best to put something more symbolic at the top, such as this post.  It's a crooked post -- at least from this angle -- but, I suspect if you look at it in line with the fence it appears to be fairly straight.

Our points of view certainly impact our interpretation of things.  Age apparently, based on some of the comments yesterday, is a big factor in that point of view.  The amount of travel we have done and exposure to other cultures also affects our view of things.  Our religious beliefs or, maybe I should better state that as "moral beliefs," also influence how we look at events, people and things.

Apparently something I said in yesterday's post triggered the idea that my commentary was racist in some respect.  It certainly wasn't intended that way; race never entered my mind.  I think race is a misconstrued concept anyway since there is an endless gradation in skin color, eye color, facial features, etc.  Human genetics has become so blended that the concept of race is mostly fallacy anyway except, perhaps, in the case of a few isolated people groups.

Switching gears:  I watched the Presidential State of the Union speech last night.  There really shouldn't have been anything controversial there except that the three figures most prominent throughout were old and white (there's that perception of race again) however, controversy had been injected into the speech before it was ever given since the Impeachment debacle is still ongoing.  I suppose it was simply symptomatic of that ongoing power struggle between the House Speaker and the President that prompted the apparent rancor between them exhibited in a snubbed handshake, a non-traditional introduction and a torn up speech.  The Speaker reminded me of a viper in a cage that really wanted to strike, but knew the glass would just chip a tooth.  I refused to watch the rebuttal -- which the concept of a rebuttal to a State of the Union speech just simply makes no sense to me.  Everything is viewed as political in Washington when instead, it should be about what is being done to help "we the people" experience a better life.

One thing is certain; if I want to increase the readership of my blog I need to stick to controversial topics.  My typical blog traffic usually goes up with a politically related post, but it literally soared yesterday with the commentary regarding the Super Bowl halftime show.  I'm not in it for the readership.  Other than the occasional post that stirs things up I'll probably stick with the ordinary, everyday, hopefully positive message that is my norm.

Halftime Confusion

For some reason this photo of our Redbone Coonhound made me think of the half-time show of the Super Bowl.  I'll leave it to you to speculate why.

It was not a show that appealed to my taste; it was reminiscent of what one might expect at Carnivale in Rio de Janeiro -- which fits when you think about it.  You had a couple of Latina performers in a carnival atmosphere doing what they do -- performing.

Was it appropriate for television?  Hmmm....they put about anything and everything on television these days.  It used to be there were much tighter controls on language and content.  Those controls seem to have slipped until, unless you are watching an old show, you never know what might come across.

It was symptomatic of the confusion regarding sexuality in this country -- especially adding to the confusion for young people.  It's not alone in doing so.  It seems typical that costumes barely cover the ladies and are skin tight whereas the men (not many actors that can be put into that category any more) often wear loose-fitting clothes that adequately cover them.  That applies to swimwear also.  It seems the female gender is encouraged to wear as little as possible and the males are fully covered with lots of material.  It all sends the message to the youngsters, whose view of the opposite gender is in a formative stage, that the female has one purpose.

Add to that the number of single-parent and mixed parentage families and the confusion grows.  Moral boundaries have been crossed to the point that anything is fair game.  It's no wonder there is a global crisis in human trafficking.  Our kids are being raised to see other humans as objects to be used for their pleasure and therefore, their worth as humans is merely what they can do for you -- how they can be used.

I haven't stated any of this very clearly but, hopefully, my intended thoughts are coming through.  Simply put, you can't have it both ways; if you are to have value then you must value others on the same basis.  I suspect the intent of the halftime show was to convey "having fun" but, instead, to many it came across as the type of "fun" to be found in seedy joints in the less reputable part of town.  I don't know that it was meant to "shock" the sensibilities of those who adhere to the values that were once prevalent; it likely never occurred to the performers that it would do so. 

That halftime show was simply symptomatic of the deep cultural war in this country.  That cultural war is merely the latest iteration of the age-old war that began prior to Creation -- it is the war between good and evil -- right and wrong -- God and Satan.  It entered humanity in the Garden of Eden when man chose "self" over God.  Again, you can't have it both ways.  Our value is in the eyes of our creator and we should treat each other as a creation of God -- not an object to be used for our self gratification.

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." -- John 3:16

Conforming or Non-conforming?

When we are young it seems we try our best to fit in.  We want to do what everyone else is doing.  We want to wear the same clothes, have the same shoes and go to the same places.  It isn't so much a matter of conformity as it is a matter of "fitting in" with your contemporaries.

As we age those same urges apply but, the instinct driving them may be slightly different.  Often, it seems that jealousy drives us to want the same things like the cool car, the clothes, the activities.  

At some point, though, we begin to differentiate.  We go our different ways to college or, into the workplace and the conformity begins again.  Most people begin to take on at least some characteristics of the groups they associate with.  I think the college setting is where the real grouping begins.

I suppose there is a comfort in being part of the group.  It goes back to the survival instincts programmed into our genetic template that is the basis for much of our behavior.  For prey animals, especially, it isn't a good thing to stand out from the crowd.  It is the isolated who are picked off to become food for the predator.

Predators learn to like conformity, though.  Think about man, the ultimate predator.  We raise herds of animals that are as much alike as possible for the purpose of providing a known quality of readily available food.

Interestingly enough, although man is designed to be a predator, he is such a wily critter that he sometimes preys on his own kind.  I think the small percentage that have the highest level of predator instinct like to see the conformity of the majority and they cultivate that attitude among others.  Those who have brought that view to the highest level of perfection seem to frequently seek a career in politics where they have powerful tools at hand by which to manipulate the conformists to serve their personal needs and desires.

I will quit there.

What Would You Do?

If you had a billion dollars,

Tell me, what would you do?

Would you head off down a rabbit hole

And buy everything new?

Some folks I know would buy more cows

Or, maybe another farm;

Some would buy a fancy car

And head to some place warm.

Me, I'd buy a brand new jeep

And a cabin in the woods

Near a stream with trout and bugling elk

And stock it with lots of foods

Then I'd get lots of books

And go sit and read on the deck overlooking a lake

lost, far away from the maddening crowd,

So many always on the make.

And no one would know quite where I had gone

But, family and just a few friends

And there with my wife would quietly grow old

Far from the modern day trends.

Dropping Your Burdens

The tiredness in my bones

Slowly drained into the dark waters

And the turmoil in my heart

Left nothing but a tinge upon the sky

As the fading light

Held me

Captive.