A Perfunctary Post

Hello Citizen, Thanks for your participation.

The title says it all, I am truly posting this for no good reason. No news to report, no grave infringements on Liberty, nothing but a sore back and aching limbs.


I could post a brilliant dissertation on last weekend, the weekend I had no time to blog because we had company. No friends like old friends I suppose, but I haven't seen or heard from CHW and Misty in so long I (15 years ), and I am acutely aware how much I have changed in that time, I can only imagine my old friends are not the folks I knew. True. But in a good way. (Yes Mrs. O'Fallon, I know you must not begin sentences with BUT,but...). Chw and Misty are wonderful, and I feel I have made new friends,at no expense to any old ones. I must say, however, if yur looking for brilliance and pictures and deep emotion relating to their visit, I suggest linking to Katies Calamities and Rainy day in May




On said weekend, I did see a sign, posted by our all Knowing, most Merciful Government stating that the area behind said sign was property of the U.S. Government and NO ENTRY WAS ALLOWED. I took pictures (to post ). I ranted. I Opined. CHW yawned. I felt like a bore and shut up about it. My point was to follow logic to it's conclusion, such as who is the government? Why its We The People! Who owned that land; Again, We the People! Who placed the sign? A government employee, acting in the interests of ( and paid by) The People! And now Citizen, guess who can no longer access aforementioned land? You guessed it!


Here's the Big Question...


How can a government of the People restrict the Liberty of the People?


Stupid question.



I think CHW grasped this right off and was being polite, letting me rant and vomit my hastily made and unsupported opinion (the sure sign of a true friend, I must say) . If you want a codified answer to this and many more stupid questions read Thomas Hobbe's essay 'On Commonwealth' and or John Locke's 'Man and the State'. Then, when you wake up from your literary induced coma, apply common sense and you will have it!



As for my general soreness, yesterday was a day of great accomplishment, attaining goals and manual labor.

Saw and split logs for winter firewood? Check. ( this is shameless use of literary device, thanks Misty)

Construct Chicken Coop for thirty hens and one Huge rooster? Check

Move twenty stinky Fryer chicks out of house into brooder? Check.


This morning, I'm beat, sore and precariously blogging on Agent K's time. Lots to do, wife to appease and children to instruct.


Think I'll just leave it at that.........



\

Things that make you go Hmmm......

Hello, Citizen.


Let me preface this Post with a caveat; that being, though I do possess an ideology (and really who doesn't) it is not my intent to be overtly politically motivated.


What does motivate me however, is the basic principles of society and commonwealth , and by that I mean the daily stuff that gets on your nerves and makes you wonder "says Who?"


Take for instance young Fern.


This young lady, sells eggs, and her fondest wish was for her own camera. The lure of the Disney Princess 3.0 mega pixel point and shoot digital, with three inter-changeable face plates depicting a different Princess was indeed great and she saved until she had the needed twenty dollars.


A princely sum, to be sure.


Everything was cool until Dad got involved; that is installing the interactive multimedia software that Windows wouldn't recognize. Sucks to be nine and have to return your stuff to Wal-Mart just because apparently the slackers who programmed it left out something vital.

In all she keeps her chin up, sorely disappointed , but she knows the drill right?


I felt proud of her, exchanging her merchandise receiving her cash, and putting it in her purse. Meanwhile Dad is lurking about, thinking what good training this is until.......


The Clerk Asks For Her Signature.


Now, I ask you why does the largest retailer in the Known World need my daughters signature?

(Actually, I asked The Clerk this)


I have this theory/suspicion that most people will do what you ask of them, especially if you are in uniform ( and apparently little blue smocks with smiley faces qualify for uniform status).


Poor little Fern, my sweet, is standing poised, pen in hand, when I drop this 'bomb'. I get blank stares all around. Mom, Fern, The Clerk, Key Holder and Supreme Commander of Wal-Mart Checkout, and the smiley face are all wondering the same thing.


What?


I mean who cares? Who cares that she's a minor? Who cares that no signature issued by her can be valid. Ever. Who cares that this so-called necessary signature must be handled by HER PARENTS.

The Transaction must go on.

Key Holder is trying to pretend she didn't hear the question. Apparently the mauve vest does give her authority over blue vests and gullible Citizens, it does not have printed on the polyester label any answers to legitimate questions. She looks a Smiley Face. Smiley Face says "Have a Nice Day."


The Clerk sees Key holder consulting her navel, and assumes command.

"She has to sign to show she received the money!" Bright smile on her face, but her eyes say,"succumb to the power vested in me by this blue, um, vest and go away"


Time for the Big Question.

If it doesn't matter if the signature is valid, why do you need one at all?


The Clerk, seeing her polyester authority provides no protection, stammers
"well no kid could ever return things then!"


Now its my turn to smile big, but my eyes say " No Shit,Sherlock".

By now, Key Holder is fishing for her Mace, Agent K has four kids gathered up-wind and Fern has signed the worthless document anyway.


As we walk to our awaiting Suburban, I lose some of my self confidence. For some reason, I need affirmation from someone I respect.


I turn to K and ask, "was I out of line there?"
"no" She says," thank you! Some people never think about what they do; or why."


I think old Smiley Face had it right.....



.