I Feel...

that the worst thing the world (or even just as an individual) can do is to dismiss threats as little and not dangerous.  Many, many factions once considered non-menacing are now considered such.  Even the smallest of pebbles causes a ripple that spreads.

To turn a blind eye, to remain unprepared for the possibilities, is to remain ignorant and dependent on those that may not (and do not) have your best interests at heart.

Steubenville, OH...

the town that should be utterly ashamed at itself, its people and the lack of morals that has been passed on to yet another generation.

I want to say so very much on how this little town has ruined itself with the way it merely turns its head in the face of illegal activities all for the sake of holding on to a little pigskin glory.  I want so much to express my disgust over how authority figures made sure that these children wanted for nothing (legal or not) and felt comfortable running rough-shot over the rights of others (oh look, little politicians in the making).

It is beyond disgusting that so many saw, witnessed what happened to that 16 year old girl...yet NONE stepped forward at any point in time during the night to put a stop to it.  NONE.  An entire generation belonging to an entire town...numbed and dumbed...unwilling to stand up and do the right thing.

Shame on you Steubenville.  YOU have ruined YOUR children.  Not just the two found guilty in a court of law.  All of them.

Shame on the MSM.  YOU have laid sympathy with CONVICTED rapists (whose social media activities and own friends testimony convicted them) because they are young "promising" football players.  YOU have victimized the victim all over again in so many ways.

Shame on our Society as a whole.  I've seen some incredibly disturbing posts all over the internet today.  Blame being laid on the victim for drinking too much.  Sympathy for the poor young rapists that their lives are now ruined by the conviction.  So much more that makes me wish for days without instant news, instant access and instant ability to post the most idiotic thing a person can post for the entire world to see.

Stop the Planet...I want off.

After This Weekend...

the real work begins.

This weekend is frivolous fun weekend...a day trip to SDC to break in the season passes...then a day of "rest" aka putting together (FINALLY) the table and benches I've been working on (off and on) for a couple of weeks.

Then Monday, the real work begins.

In addition to a new j-o-b for me (Lowe's...infinitely better than slinging burgers for drunks and minimum wage...even if it is just seasonal) there is plenty to be done around the 'Stead.  Topsoil delivery means the raised beds will finally be getting put to use...but that also means shoveling, shoveling and more shoveling along with putting in some PVC hoop frames on a few of them so they'll be useful sooner this spring and longer this fall.  Cherry trees and blueberries need to go in the ground...strawberry "patch" needs to be worked out as the coop has yet to be moved and the area I WAS going to put them in happens to be the chickens' favorite place to take a dirt bath.  If the ground ever dries out enough in the spot we've got to cross (natural wash out area...small raging stream while the rain was melting the ice/snow last week), we'll get the coop moved...IF.  I'm thisclose to just building a new coop.  Seriously.

We'll also start work on the rabbit shed...right now the chow dogs are in small hutches next to the house.  Tanker wants them out further, next to where the coop will eventually be.  Oh and a small barn/shed/whatever is in the works for future cow...whenever she is able to be bought.  Prices have started inching back up on dairy cattle, so looks like we'll be waiting a bit longer on that.  Sigh.  I'm beginning to think just putting up a small barn would be a better choice.  May be chewing that one over with Tanker soon...before any serious building is begun.

And now...I'm off...chicks to attend upstairs and sleep to be had.

I Have Come to the Realization...

(and it's not so shocking of one but I've finally decided to put it here, on the interwebz where it will forever echo through space/time/whatevs)

that our nation is toast.  There is no turning back.  Those of us that try to stand firm will be swept away by the sea of stupidity that has come to rule.  We are few, they are many.  The only thing that we can do at this point is look to ourselves, our families and those of like minds.

I do not believe that technology will be abandoned...there is too much control of the masses in it to let it go to the wayside.  Communication via interwebz, cell phones, etc will remain available (but probably at an unnamed cost) so that the masses can be "informed."  We are a world connected and they'd like to keep it that way.

I'm thinking a future that is a mash up of "Idiocracy" and "The Hunger Games"...keep them down-trodden, but keep them informed with messages you want them to see and keep them stupid.  Control what they see, what they eat, what they drink, how they educate, how they work....

I don't know if this is burnout, irritation or what.

All I know is that I've been watching closely the direction this once great nation has been taking for several years and the past two, in particular, have been one hell of a roller coaster ride...we're reaching the end...that last big climb before the final, bone shaking, terrifying drop.  The brakes are out, the safety belts are broken and there is no one minding the controls anymore.

"Maybe in three years we'll be able to get back on track."  That's what someone said to me today.  I wanted to reply that there was no more track left.  It's been nibbled away, piece by tiny piece, until we see nothing.  There is nothing there anymore that is familiar folks.

I'm not that old (under 40) but I see the massive differences in this nation from when I was just entering adulthood.  It cannot be blamed on ONE party, ONE group or even ONE person.  It is OUR fault, as a nation.  We let things become this...we let it happen because it was the easy way out.  It was easier to take the path that had been cleared versus the path with a few bumps and snags.  It is our fault.  And we will pay the price.