When out here no place to go but in when indoors no place to go but out
When I’m out here,” he said, “there’s no place to go but in. When I’m indoors, there’s no place to go but out in the yard.“
“That’s where you’re wrong, my friend,” said a voice.
“You don’t have to stay in that dirty-little dirty-little dirty-little yard,” said the goose, who talked rather fast. “One of the boards is loose. Push on it, push-push-push on it, and come on out!”
So said the goose to Wilbur the pig in Charlotte’s Web.
Please excuse me, I am going to go and push on some boards in the fence around me and see if I can’t find a way out.
But be warned, after getting out, Wilbur says, “If this is what it’s like to be free,” he thought, “I believe I’d rather be penned up in my own yard.”
just another straw is always sunrise somewhere still holds, reveals much
A graffiti-covered trail in Yosemite national park on Sunday. Photograph: AP
I have never been to Yosemite and most likely, I have to admit, I will never get there.
But I get pleasure knowing it is there.
I know its a manipulated moment in time, but after years of seeing it, I can still stare in wonder at Ansel Adams photograph, “Clearing Winter Storm, Yosemite National Park.”
It was with sadness that hit my core when I read that someone had visited Yosemite and had to leave a record of their visit with spray paint.
Stupid I know.
Misplaced and maybe over reacting.
But hear me out.
I can spit in any direction and hit more problems with this world than can be collected in an encyclopedia.
Climate, politics, human rights, civility, guns, housing, wages, food and almost any other story that appears on any front page, and it becomes quite the pile of straw on the camels’ back.
I saw a story on NBC news last night about abandoned disabled people in Ukraine that if it didn’t break your heart and drive you to your knees to beg forgiveness from God for being part of the population of a world that allows this to happen then I don’t know what to say to you.
There is enough, too much, we can agree I think.
And Yosemite National Park got tagged.
Why is this the straw that seems to break my back?
I would say it goes to state of mind.
Yosemite is not easy to get to.
I don’t think it is the type of place you say, “Hey lets go spend a day …” but more of the place where you might say, “Let’s plan …” and you make the trip.
According to the National Parks Website, reservations are needed during peak hours.
Once at the park and the decision is made to hike the Yosemite Falls Trail, visitors are advised that:
Start your hike early; this trail can become very hot mid-day in the summer. By starting as early as possible, you will be able to hike during the cooler part of the day. The upper portion of the trail is exposed, receiving no shade until late afternoon or early evening.
Avoid becoming dehydrated or experiencing heat exhaustion. Drink plenty and drink often; pace yourself; rest in the shade; eat salty snacks.
Sprained ankles and knee injuries are common on this trail. There are many areas of loose sand mixed with rocky terrain, which makes for slippery footing.
Stay on the trail; there are numerous steep drop-offs and ledges off-trail.
Know your limits. Pre-existing medical conditions can be easily exacerbated on the steep ascent.
Do not swim or wade in the creek above the waterfall.
The Parks Website states, If you make the one-mile, 1,000 foot climb (via dozens of switchbacks) to Columbia Rock, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and Sentinel Rock. From there, it is worth the time and energy to hike another 0.5 miles (0.8 km) (some of which is actually downhill!) to get a stunning view of Upper Yosemite Fall. Depending on the season, you may even feel the mist from the fall, which may be welcome respite after the tough climb.
I am assuming that some one read all this, knew all this, packed up there gear, maybe a lunch, water, good shoes and then made sure they had at least two cans or colors of spray paint all ready for the hike.
Who thinks this?
Who plans this?
Why?
What does that say about us?
Can you hear them going over their supplies?
Granola Bars?
Check!
Water?
Check!
Spray Paint?
Check!
As I have already admitted, in today’s news about the climate, politics, human rights, civility, guns, housing, wages, food and almost any other story that appears on any front page, there is plenty to get me going.
As I said, I saw a story on NBC news last night about abandoned disabled people in Ukraine that if it didn’t break your heart and drive you to your news to beg forgiveness from God for being part of the population of a world that allows this to happen then I don’t know what to say to you.
But the story of man’s inhumanity to themselves is as old as Caine and Able.
To willfully damage Yosemite with malice aforethought?
John Muir was the man who set up some of the first boundaries of what became Yosemite National Park and camped their with Theodore Roosevelt that led to lots of parks and preservation of wild areas for the benefit of all of us (Though I have to point out it was Mr. Lincoln who signed a bill on June 30, 1864, granting Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias to the State of California “for public use, resort and recreation,” the two tracts “shall be inalienable for all time“).
Mr. Muir once said, “This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor ever rising.“
It is always sunrise somewhere.
It is always a new day.
But this place, once the sun comes up, reveals a place I don’t recognize anymore.
her eurosceptic disciples misunderstood misrepresented
her opposition centripetal tendencies of the E Union
I love the way Brits can coil syllables together like a snake.
Consider this paragraph from a recent story on Brexit:
“He said that at no stage, despite all her frustrations with the EU and her many battles (which she won!) did Thatcher ever want to leave the EU. Unfortunately, her soi-disant Eurosceptic disciples misunderstood or misrepresented her opposition to the centripetal tendencies of the EU.“
day age we live in you’re entitled to hate them you know what I mean?
“And I think that the day and age that we live in now, it’s just so negative that you see it in everything. Sport, politics, whatever it is, it’s like if you disagree with someone you just feel that you’re entitled to like hate them and talk bad about them and just bash their decision, when everybody’s entitled to their own opinion, you know what I mean?”
PGA Golfer Justin Thomas commenting on the pro golfers who opted to play in the new Saudi backed golf league … and about life in the United States in general.
Back in the day, I think there were just as many opinions and just as many thoughts but if you wanted to express them to the world at large you wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper or called AM talk radio.
Since few people read editorials and fewer people listened to AM talk radio, the opinions were muffled.
Today, all anyone has to do is voice their opinion on social media and their opinions are amplified beyond the wildest imaginations.
Of all the emotions available, it seems that giving into rage, giving into hate, are the most embraced by social media.
I don’t watch the Simpson’s often but I saw the one where Homer went on a work’s outing to the local minor league baseball team and was warned by his wife to not make a drunken fool of himself.
Homer replied that he ‘ … had a ticket! A ticket which gives me the right … no … the OBLIGATION to make a drunken fool of myself.’
As Mr. Thomas said, today we feel ‘entitled to hate.’
The only thing that is left is for when we are obligated to hate.
Sounds stupid until it is remembered that this was not beyond anyone’s wildest imagination and in the book, 1984, by George Orwell, every day all the employee’s gather in the lunch room for the required ’10 minute hate.’
with increased demand please expect shipping delays summer of firearms
With the number of shootings across America that have been reported again and again and again in the past weeks, I have to point out that a local gun shop has summoned up the gumption to apologize.
That’s right, apologize.
They offer daily deals that, “… aim to provide our customers with new products and best sellers at amazing prices. Daily Deal product offerings include American Made firearms, AR-15 parts and accessories, 9mm pistols, bulk ammo, magazines, optics, and so much more.”
They also sell flame throwers with the pledge, “Flamethrower ownership is generally legal in the United States without requiring any sort of background check. This is America, and freedom is something we stand for.”
But they include the disclaimer, “As the product name states, it is simply a long range torch. However, Maryland and California do have restrictions regarding such devices. The city of Warren, Michigan also prohibits possession via local ordinance.”
As I said, of late, on their webage is an apology.
They are sorry but to increased demand, shipments may be taking more time than usual.
It should also be mentioned that their products have a lifetime guarantee.
