Into the Distance

Some mornings as I sit at my desk pondering various possibilities for my daily post, I find myself staring into the distance.  My mind roams across different subjects that seem relevant for the day.  I try to stay away from purely political or controversial themes although I frequently skirt the edges enough to allow for various interpretations.

I often bring up the idea of cyclicity.  It is a part of nature.  Some cycles are short and others are so long that we often don't realize they are cycles.

There are political cycles as well.  We have seen them throughout the history of this country and throughout the modern history of the world.  World War II saw the ultimate clash between competing political philosophies -- Marxism, Fascism, Capitalism, Social Democracy and Oligarchy.  What exploded in Europe was also going on in the United States but the balance between the competing philosophies was different.  The result was that the competing belief systems became entrenched in separate countries -- Marxism in Russia, Capitalism in the U.S., Social Democracy in Europe and various Fascist Dictators in small countries scattered throughout the world.

Those different political philosophies continue to compete to this day.  Each has spread into the domain of the others.  Each struggle for dominance.  At some point we may see an explosion similar to what engulfed Europe beginning in WWI and concluding in a state of equilibrium at the end of WWII.

The borders created at that time were sometimes arbitrarily drawn by the most powerful without regard to the feelings of those contained within.  Those borders have continued to be areas of conflict -- Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe.

Many people use a plant commonly called Monkey Grass (Liriope muscari) to create artificial borders in their lawns.  They are constantly having to pull grass and other invasive species from those plantings.  Below is a small sampling of Monkey Grass that remains on our place -- planted originally by a previous occupant.  It will likely get to stay.

 Rumblings of Peace

The sky is rumbling this morning.  It is the rumbling that accompanies a gentle rain.  It is peaceful, unlike the violent crashing of a thunderstorm.

The announcement was made last night that the terms of a general peace agreement with Iran have been reached.  An official memorandum is to be signed on Friday in Geneva which will begin a 60-day period in which the details of a comprehensive agreement are to be worked out.

I am skeptical that it will hold.

As with all such agreements there is discontent by many.  In time discontent begins to fester into resentment and finally to action.  Shared common interests are the only way to real peace.  All parties must have the same goals in mind along with an agreed approach to how they are to be achieved.

At the end of the day, it is self-interest that drives behavior.  I don't believe we are at a point where there is common self-interest.

Is true and lasting peace achievable?  Again, I am skeptical.  There is insufficient commonality of beliefs for that to occur.  There is an unwillingness to share power and control.

Perhaps economic incentives can be structured in such a way that peace will be maintained for a period, but in the end, core beliefs will continue to be a well of discontentment.  Pockets of fervent believers who think they have "been wronged" will stir trouble until we again find ourselves in crisis.

This week's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a small beginning.  There will be fortunes made from the impact it has on the markets.  Other fortunes will be made when the agreement is broken.

The small Plant Hopper pictured below is only about 1/4 inch in length.  This one is identified as Ormenoides venusta.  It is not known to be an economically damaging species and is often found feeding on wild grapevines.  Not a lot is known about it, but it obviously fills a niche in the environment that is important or it wouldn't exist.  It is a tiny thing but I'm skeptical about the "not known to be economically damaging" aspect of its description.

 Cooking Biscuits

This post has nothing to do with cooking or biscuits, but it needed a title and for some reason, homemade biscuits with lots of butter and honey came to mind.  The title may be unrelated, but cravings are.  In this case I'm not sure how they are related except that our desires always stem from our cravings -- whether it be happiness, wealth or biscuits.

Often, with the increasing influence of each new generation, we see that the meanings of some words are changed.  The word "bad" comes to mind in that it is often used to mean "the best."  A previous generation used "the bomb" to mean something good.  I thought bombs were used to kill, maim and destroy.  What do I know.

National Socialism defined the political party of Hitler.  Socialism was viewed differently than Bolshevism which was the Russian form of Communism which was derived from the Marx version of Socialism.  Bolshevism and Capitalism were considered the enemies of Socialism by the Nazis who believed that the Jews were behind both of those opposing systems of government/economy.  It is that belief that ultimately drove the behavior of the Nazis to their "Final Solution" to the "Jewish" problem.  It was a movement cloaked in euphemisms and rhetoric that was designed to coerce any who were not "true believers" to accept the party line.  Propaganda was a primary tool of such coercion, and it used words in ways that meant one thing to "the party" and something different to those not privy.

 I believe we see similar tactics in this country today.  I leave it to you to choose (a form of the word choice which also has been twisted) who you wish to accuse of such behavior.  It likely depends on which end of the political spectrum you stand as to how you might respond to that choice.  For those in the middle it appears to be choosing between the lesser of two evils.  The answer is still evil.

The Carolina Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense) is one of my least favorite weeds.  It is invasive, perennial and toxic.  It is difficult to kill even with most herbicides.  It was once listed in the United States National Formulary (a medical guide for treating various ailments and conditions).  But keep in mind, we also used to use leeches to treat ailments.

I think the Carolina Horse Nettle is an appropriate illustration for this brief blog because it can be attractive when in bloom but watch out for the prickly stickers that can penetrate even good leather gloves.  It may even look like the solution to our ailments but is actually quite toxic.

 Not What We Think We See

Sometimes what we think we know is not what it really is.  It is easy to be deceived by appearances and the whole industry of "fake news" -- especially on social media -- is built around that ease of deception.

What is known as Artificial Intelligence makes the process of deception much easier.  What is actually Machine Learning is utilized to generate much of the propaganda that we see.  It is often created by foreign enemies, but also by political movements that are seeking to sway people to a specific agenda.  It happens on both sides of the political spectrum in an effort to promote political positions and garner power, but is often magnified by forces seeking to destroy our country by pitting opposing sides of an issue against each other in such a way that what might have been a civil discussion regarding different approaches to an issue becomes a chasm between different groups.  The old saying of "divide and conquer" is extremely relevant to the current situation.

Everyone is guilty of participating.  If you post or share a post that is generated in this war of propaganda, you are guilty of being part of it.  Social media makes it feel safer than a face-to-face conversation with someone of opposing views, but it is probably more conducive to divisiveness than a personal discussion where understanding is potentially achievable.  After all, most problems are seen by all sides of an issue as in need of resolution, but the approach is often very different.  In the anonymity of social media we look only at those things which coincide with our personal beliefs and make no effort at understanding the position or belief that may be held by others.  It is destroying families, neighborhoods and society in general.

We should all keep in mind that what we see and hear sometimes needs a little interpretation and effort to understand.  Just like the plant in the photo below -- Narrow-leaved-blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium).  It looks like a flower such as is typically found on a forb, but it is actually a grass.  It is commonly cultivated as an ornamental.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

Taking Out The Trash

It's not as clear in the photo as I had hoped, but last night, right after sunset, there was a beautiful crescent moon and a single star (one of the planets) in the southwestern sky.  I thought it would make a great photo, but alas, photography isn't my strong suit.  Thankfully, the iPhone does a credible job.  Hopefully, someone more knowledgeable than me will comment with the name of the planet.

This morning we woke to a cold rain.  It is "trash day" so, I was out in the cold rain taking the trash down to the curb to be picked up.  I didn't really mind until I came back in the house and was hit by how warm it was inside.  You don't realize it until you feel the contrast.

Contrast applies to a lot of things.  It's amazing how our views and attitudes change over time.  We don't realize it until we have been apart from someone for an extended period.  It really hits home when you hear what some of the folks you grew up with have to say about politics.  Most of those I grew up with have similar views to mine, but occasionally I run across someone that is way out there.

Life experiences change us.  Struggles change us.  The people with whom we associate change us.  We are shaped by our surroundings.  It is important to keep that in mind as we go through life; that's why we should be certain we fill our minds and lives with good and positive and not allow the negative and evil to shape us.  I don't even want to read, or watch shows that include things that I don't want in my mind because the taint of them never goes away.

The "shape-ability" of our minds and attitudes is why propaganda is so effective.  It has been used as a tool of the political types since the first caveman decided to run for office.  The messages are shaped in ways that maximize their influence over our thinking.  Often what is said is clearly a lie, yet it lingers in the mind of the hearer.  It's taint connects it with other things and affects how we think about them as well.

Yes, even good people lie, but lying is a highly developed art form among those who would do harm.  To them it is merely a tool to get their way with you.  It seems to be especially effective in the realm of politics because it is so commonly used that it becomes difficult to discern what is truth and what is lie.  The sad thing is that it is so pervasive, there are many who believe the lie to be the truth and the truth to be the lie.

I suppose the image of the moon and star sent me down this path.  It reminded me of Islam and how it is a twisted religion that is a tool of political power.  Even though it was founded long after Christianity, it claims to pre-date it through the lineage of Ishmael.  It further subverts Christianity by weaving Jesus into the narrative as a prophet.

It is easy to see why many politicians who so readily embrace the art of lying also embrace Islam.   I'm not referring to those who support religious freedom, but to those who accept an oppressive religion such as Islam and then condemn Christianity. 

Please don't misunderstand me, there are many Christians who are focused on the wrong things and act just like the zealots of Islam; they focus on the law and the ritual and are quick to condemn others who don't believe as they do rather than living a humble life helping others.  Everyone is tainted by the lies in some form or, fashion.

Now that I have rambled from a beautiful crescent moon and planet to trash to lies, politics and the differences in a couple of religious beliefs, it is time to tie back in the one piece that seems to not fit the others -- the trash.  Maybe it's time to take out the trash politically. 

Blindly Naive

The lowly Armadillo

That doesn't see so well

Has big ears and pointed nose

And hide that's like a shell.

He roots around in rotting leaves

To find a grub, or worm;

Blithely going on his way

About this Terra Firm.

If you stand quite still and wait

He'll walk up to your feet

But, if you move then you can bet

He'll beat a fast retreat.

He came up from the southern lands

Now, Texas is his home;

Adopted by the Lone Star State

O'er most of it to roam.

He decorates our highways

Throughout much of the year

Where he wanders in his blinded state

Not knowing any fear.

It's there he is defeated

By the giant metal beasts

That make him highway pizza

For Vultures in their feasts.

He reminds me of so many folks

Who go about their way

Doing all the things they do

Each and every day

Ignoring efforts by a few

Who wish to gain more power

From seats way up in Washington

Within their Ivory Tower.

Beware my friends and give them heed,

Whatever else you do,

Don't let them take away your rights

'Cause they'll run over you.

Weather, Calving and Political Football

It's strange weather time here in northeast Texas.  It was 64 degrees at 6:00 a.m. with an expected high for the day of 54.  I think The Weather Channel is a bit off on their forecast.  By this evening we will be in the low 30's if they get that part correct.

Wide weather swings are hard on cattle and other animals who live out in it.  We have had rain the last few days that wasn't heavy, but was persistent.  Now, with a day of clearing, we get a 30 degree swing in temperature.

This is also the beginning of calving season for many cow herds in this area.  I'm sure that with the cold front pushing through there will be new babies born and their first wobbly steps will be cold ones.  Their mother will lick them dry and nudge them to get up and find the source of warm nourishment they vitally need.  Then they will lead them to a protected place and let them lie down and rest for a short while before making them get up again and nurse.  The process of leading them to a protected place is critical because it forces that newborn to gain control of those thin sticks underneath them so they will be better able to escape predators which might be lurking nearby.

If there is wind with the cold front that is also helpful because scavengers like the Black or, Mexican Vulture, have a more difficult time detecting the scent and are less likely to attack the cow and calf.  Coyotes rarely will go after a newborn unless it is injured, or the mother had difficulty in the birthing process and is unable to defend it.  They may watch from a short distance, but unless a "sure" opportunity is presented, they typically will move on in pursuit of a small rodent or, some other meal.

Black Vultures, on the other hand, if they spot a cow in the birthing process, will surround her in large numbers and try to kill the baby -- even before it is completely delivered.  They will drive the cow to distraction, sometimes causing her to step on the calf and injure it.  They may remain around the cow and newborn for hours after birth until hopefully, the cow is able to get the calf up and moving to safety in the brush where the birds are less able to get to it.  Often, she is totally exhausted by that time.  In this area, a large percentage of calves lost at birth fall to the vultures.

I suppose this isn't really a subject most people want to read about on their Saturday morning.  It's not enjoyable to think about, but it is the way the world works.  There are predators and vultures at every turn trying to take advantage of the helpless and defenseless.  One of the worst was recently removed from a high position in the Iranian military.  The event seems to have disturbed a bunch of other vultures -- many of which are in our nation's capital.  They are ones whose predatory ways could be stopped by the voters in their home districts.  It's too bad the people who keep them in power are deluded into believing they should remain in office.

On a related subject, the behavior I saw on videos of the signing of papers of impeachment really did remind me of vultures.  They surround and look for every opportunity to pounce on the one who ordered that one of their own be removed from this earth.  I guess when you think about it in those terms it makes more sense that they would behave in the manner they do.

Vultures have a place in nature.  The Black Vultures are an invasive species in this country.  The vultures in Washington are an invasive species in this land of freedom -- they want to take our freedom away.  Black Vultures are also prolific.  It seems there are more and more of them every year.  The same thing is happening with the DC vultures.  Maybe that's what they should re-name their football team since everyone has been up-in-arms about calling them the Redskins.  The "Washington Vultures" would be an appropriate name for the team which represents those in power...

I didn't intend to get political when I started out this morning....

Boundaries

Boundaries.

Defined spaces.

Borders.

Mine:Yours.

Frontier.

Known: Unknown.

Fences.

In: Out.

Partition.

Divided areas.

Perimeter.

Outer edge.

Open borders are no borders at all.

Freedom respects boundaries because it is defined by personal rights;

Both mine and yours.

No boundaries = no rights = no freedom.

Subjects of the Crown

The old Spanish Missions often included a Presidio, or fort.  The image above is from inside one of the towers along the wall which surrounded the compound at Mission San Jose in San Antonio.  The round holes are gun ports.

Small groups of Spanish Priests and their acolytes would trek into the wilderness of the New World accompanied by soldiers.  The soldiers aided in the subjugation of the natives by protecting the clergy and helping to provision them until sufficient numbers of natives could be "tamed" to provide the labor to support the missions.  The stated purpose was to Christianize the natives, but the efforts were supported by the Crown because they wanted easy access to whatever riches might be discovered.  The mission efforts were backed by the government because they wanted to grow their power and areas of domination.

In all of South and Middle America, the Spaniards killed large numbers of the male natives and "married" the women.  The resulting mixed blood people were more easily controlled because of their familial ties -- even though they were second class citizens.  They became the peasantry of the New World.  There are still multiple terms used to describe the percentage of Spanish blood in people in Mexico.  Being fully Spaniard carries prestige not enjoyed by those of mixed blood.

In North America the story was somewhat different.  The small number of French who penetrated the continent sought to trade with the natives.  They were focused on furs and other trade goods rather than gold and mineral riches.  The French trappers often married into the tribes with which they traded.  The English, however, took a very different approach; they simply annihilated the competition.

There were exceptions, though, and those exceptions account for the large percentage of white-skinned population in the U.S. that contain native DNA.  Usually, ahead of the "official" spread of European-blooded population across the continent, there were brave souls who ventured into the wilderness without sanction of the authorities.  They were looking to escape the highly regimented control of the British Crown's colonial policies which placed lands in the hands of a few.  Those explorers were trappers and traders and just people looking to find a place to live in peace on a piece of land that was their own.  They were willing to fight for that privilege.

With the exception of a handful of government sponsored trips, it was only after those explorers had become established and their numbers sufficient to support a viable economy that the federal powers followed with military might.  The spread of "civilization" was through the efforts of individuals first, rather than a deliberate government-controlled plan; however, the wealth that was "discovered" or, built, from the wilderness attracted the powers-that-be and control was soon sought through military might.

To a large extent, it is the descendants of those explorers who populate the middle (flyover) part of the North American continent.  They are the ones who feed the world through their agricultural ingenuity and persistence against the elements.  They are also the ones who seem most to cherish their freedom to pursue the livelihood of their choice without government interference or, support.  They are the "thorns in the side" of those in power who want only a subservient population who will do their bidding without protest.

A Prickly Symbol

I have been trying to avoid political posts, but this old Yucca makes me think of our embattled President.  I'll let you figure out the symbolism.

This image was taken at Mission San Jose in San Antonio, Texas, a few years back.  The mission was founded in 1720.  Official activities of the mission ended in 1824 and the buildings fell into disuse, being occupied by soldiers, the homeless and occasional bandits.  The mission was restored beginning in 1933.

History is filled with the struggle of those who are "civilized" and their attempt to subjugate and "reform" those who remain "heathen."  European powers fought the Mongol hoards, in Africa the Colonial powers fought against the many tribes who were native to the land -- often enslaving them.  On the American continents it was a similar story with European powers "taming" or, destroying those who were here first.

As the world was conquered by the Europeans, there occurred a blending of the blood in such a way that there remains within those of us living today, a streak of the "wild" people who were overcome.  I suppose that brings me full circle to the political aspects of the image that heads this post.  I think we are still resisting the conquering European mindset that has infiltrated political institutions and that is why so many stand with the President in his resistance.  In him -- despite his prickly nature -- is seen the fight to remain independent rather than subject to the powers of those who would govern.  That is, at heart, why the "common" people support him.  It isn't about his style, or his policies so much as it is about seeing him as one who is fighting against the concentrated power of those who would rule rather than serve.  We recognize his imperfections yet see in him the hope of breaking the corrupt "deep state" that sees itself as above the law.

It really has nothing to do with opposition to "climate change alarmists" or, isolationism, or, any of the other "global" issues.  It is about freedom.

Europeans don't understand that mindset since most have never fully escaped the feudal institutions built on royalty versus commoners.  They have never really experienced freedom in the way those who conquered the interior of the American continents did.  Those of us in rural areas of the U.S. still have the blood of that freedom coursing through our veins.  In our hearts we remain free and that is why those in power or, in the crowded cities of the coasts, despise us.  

Yep, I got political.

Telemarketers and Politics

Do you ever have one of those days when you want to go completely off grid?  Yep, I do too.  It's the constant bombardment from telemarketers.  It's "open enrollment" time and the telemarketers are calling 3 or 4 times a day.  Now, they are even sending text messages.  I wonder if the companies funding all of the unsolicited calls will ever figure out that they are wasting their time on me!  There must be enough gullible souls out there that make it worth their while.

It is extremely difficult to be anonymous anymore.  You can't even pay cash for something without them asking for a phone number or, e-mail address.  Society is just a small step away from requiring your fingerprint, or some other form of permanent identification in order to do anything.  It seems there is something in the book of Revelation about that.

Some would argue that "if you have nothing to hide, what difference does it make?"  My response is that it is a matter of freedom.  If your every movement is tracked, you are not free, merely an animal in a cage to be exploited by your masters.  I suppose there are enough people who prefer a state of dependence to the risks of freedom; that's why the voters keep sending the same people back to Washington.

Personally, I would prefer to take my chances without their "nanny state" control.  Let me make my own choices with how I spend my money and my time.  I'm willing to take some physical risks if it means not being subjected to "police state-like" conditions at airports and courthouses.  Have you noticed that the heaviest security measures are in place to protect the lawmakers?  Think about that for a minute.  Why are they so concerned for their own security?  Perhaps they think "their subjects" will be upset when they eventually become wise to the fact they are "subjects" and not free citizens.

So, how did I get from telemarketers to security around the lawmakers?  Do you really think your Senators and Representatives get bombarded with telemarketers all day long?  I feel certain their phone numbers are kept out of the lists they sell to the companies that are making the calls.  Come to think of it, most of the telemarketers are selling insurance.  Now, I wonder whose pocket the lawmakers are in....

I Hope You Voted

It is the responsibility

Of each and every citizen

To remain informed,

To be involved

And to exercise the

Privilege to have their voice be heard,

Whether in protest

Or, in support

Of the actions of those

We have sent

To represent our interests.

In this culture of "placing blame"

Be the one

To take action.

Manipulated by Instinct

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus, is one of my favorite birds.  We see them almost every day, vigilantly perched somewhere in the pasture, prepared to catch the insects which make up their diet.  They are in the same Family as the King Birds and that is why the ominous sounding Family name of Tyrannus (Tyrant).  King Birds are notorious for vigorously defending their territory and will frequently attack larger birds.  We saw one yesterday attacking a Crow as it flew across.  The Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are not that aggressive against other birds, but are stuck with the family reputation.

As I was thinking about that fact -- "stuck with the family reputation" -- it came to mind that people tend to attach "family" reputations to individuals, no matter what their own character might be.  I think this especially applies to what I will term "religious" families, or affiliations.  We create in our minds an all-encompassing view of members of particular religions that don't apply to all adherents.  In fact, they probably don't apply to the religion in general but, are drawn from our "worst" impressions of a group.  We attach the word "terrorist" with Islam and "self-righteous" with Christianity.  We also see many who associate "peaceful" with Buddhism and other Eastern religions.  The problem is that none of those descriptors are true in general, but may be true of specific individuals.

The tendency to quickly classify based on associations such as just described is part of our genetic programming that has evolved as a survival mechanism.  We link to "worst" cases because that is the potential source of danger to us.  It is only when we learn to overcome our genetic coding and view situations and individuals through reasoning and observation that we can see clearly in each case.  Otherwise, our "default" view determines our response.

In this world of "instant" everything, we fail to realize that the immediate gratification is an appeal to our most basic animal responses.  It is the default mode that gives the first and, initially, most likely satisfying result.  It isn't always what is best -- think drug addictions, etc.

One of the things that sets humans apart from animals is our ability to reason and therefore, to differentiate and discriminate between perceived instinctual threats and actual threats.  When we fail in this discernment, we are easily manipulated into behavior that may be detrimental.  We herd cattle based on their instinctual response to stimulus.  Humans follow a similar pattern when they fail to react with reason rather than base animal instinct.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is don't allow yourself to be manipulated.  Dig a little deeper.  Understand more.  Realize that those who would rule you often are not seeking your good, but their own power.  That isn't always the case, but is frequently the motivation for political rhetoric.  Don't be an animal, rise to the level of what makes us human.

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ -- to the glory and praise of God." -- Philippians 1:9-11

Surviving Our Own Blindness

A couple of years ago I was off down in the woods, just taking a walk, when I heard something stirring around in the leaves.  I stopped and stood silently waiting to see if I could spot whatever might be making the noises.  It was only a moment before I spotted this critter poking around looking for something to eat among the detritus of the forest floor.

He walked to within inches of me before discovering that I wasn't a couple of trees standing there.  Upon realization that I was not what he thought, he bolted a short distance and when I didn't follow, stopped and resumed his search.  It's a good thing I wasn't a threat to him.

I think we are often like that armadillo.  We become so focused on our daily routines and tasks that we fail to look up and see the potential dangers lurking around us.  Even worse, we often mistake those dangers for something benign.

It would be very easy to "go political" with that analogy.  I will leave that to the minds of anyone who might read this.  I could also go into the realm of business and examine the many ways this occurs in that area.  It also is applicable to our personal lives and the dangers presented by the various human predators lurking around us -- which brings us back to the political.

Personally, I think a certain level of danger is good for the human species.  Without it we lose sharpness.  Dullness can apply to a blade or, to a mind, or to physical health.  Without the stimulus of occasional danger we lose attentiveness and the ability to respond.

I'm not advocating that we should constantly seek unreasonable risk, but I am saying we are "wired" for danger-awareness.  I suspect it is why there are so many thrill-seekers doing crazy things that we read about or, watch on a YouTube video.  We are genetically programmed to risk danger and learn how to respond to its presence.  It is part of the survival mechanisms wired into the very fabric of our being -- even at the sub-cellular level.  It is that important.

Along with that importance is the tendency to build defenses against the danger.  That leads me back to the political.  A "Nanny State" is not the answer; personal responsibility is.  If we abdicate personal responsibility for our own safety to a "benevolent, all-protecting government" we will find ourselves blindly falling into the hands of the predators who seek those positions of power -- much like the sight-challenged armadillo that walked up to me. 

Yeah, I ended up going political anyway....

Wind, Cattle and Politics

This is one of my favorite photographs of all time.  I have used it before, although it has been a few years.  It was taken near Vega, Texas, at a wind farm.

I suppose it is a favorite because it shows energy and beef side-by-side on the Texas Plains not far from where I was raised.  Texas has long been known for both, although normally it is oil and gas that comes to mind.  These generators sit on the edge of the Canadian River breaks.  If you could look across the river to the north you would see plenty of the oil and gas production.

It is also a favorite because it shows the two enterprises as being complementary.  The land is being used in a sustainable way for cattle grazing on native pasture while the ever-present wind generates electricity that is sent through the power grid to cities far down state.  The last I checked, Texas still leads the nation in wind-generated power.

Those generators are becoming a problem though.  As time passes, that problem will become even bigger.  What do you do with one when it is broken and no longer can be fixed?  There are quite a few beginning to accumulate around the world.  The proponents of wind energy don't acknowledge the problems with it because it isn't in their backyard -- it's in "flyover" country. 

Food production, energy production, mining/extracting of minerals -- all, for the most part, are in "flyover" country.  The people driving for changes in how these things are done are located on the coasts in their elite enclaves of energy-sucking mansions, dining at high-end restaurants and flying around the world in their private jets.  They dictate policy through their manipulation of the political machinery (which includes the press) but don't have to live with the consequences.  They just enjoy the fruits.

There is always room for improvement, but out here in the country we get a lot of things right.  The wind generators in the photo wouldn't exist without large subsidies extracted from the taxpayers of this nation and passed on to already wealthy individuals who invest in the wind-capturing technology.  What we got right is that it didn't really disrupt the production of protein too much as evidenced by the cattle grazing beneath the generators and it brought a portion of those tax dollars out into the countryside in the form of jobs.

I really didn't intend to bring the political aspects into this brief commentary this morning, but it is a fact of life that the "fat cats" in Washington tend to find ways to make life difficult for the rest of us.  It's all about power and money -- it doesn't matter which political party, they're all essentially the same.