I was reading Walden, by Henry David Thoreau and this passage, written in 1854 — 166 years ago — seem capture the world we live in overflowing with crap churned out by the factories, at least in redneck land where you can still burn things

I was reading Walden, by Henry David Thoreau and this passage, written in 1854 — 166 years ago — seem capture the world we live in overflowing with crap churned out by the factories, at least in redneck land where you can still burn things. I tell you, when I own my own land, purges will be fiery ….

My furniture, part of which I made myself, and the rest cost me nothing of which I have not rendered an account, consisted of a bed, a table, a desk, three chairs, a looking-glass three inches in diameter, a pair of tongs and andirons, a kettle, a skillet, and a frying-pan, a dipper, a wash-bowl, two knives and forks, three plates, one cup, one spoon, a jug for oil, a jug for molasses, and a japanned lamp. None is so poor that he need sit on a pumpkin. That is shiftlessness. There is a plenty of such chairs as I like best in the village garrets to be had for taking them away. Furniture! Thank God, I can sit and I can stand without the aid of a furniture warehouse. What man but a philosopher would not be ashamed to see his furniture packed in a cart and going up country exposed to the light of heaven and the eyes of men, a beggarly account of empty boxes? That is Spaulding’s furniture. I could never tell from inspecting such a load whether it belonged to a so called rich man or a poor one; the owner always seemed poverty-stricken. Indeed, the more you have of such things the poorer you are. Each load looks as if it contained the contents of a dozen shanties; and if one shanty is poor, this is a dozen times as poor. Pray, for what do we move ever but to get rid of our furniture, our exuvi?; at last to go from this world to another newly furnished, and leave this to be burned? It is the same as if all these traps were buckled to a man’s belt, and he could not move over the rough country where our lines are cast without dragging them,—dragging his trap. He was a lucky fox that left his tail in the trap. The muskrat will gnaw his third leg off to be free. No wonder man has lost his elasticity. How often he is at a dead set! “Sir, if I may be so bold, what do you mean by a dead set?” If you are a seer, whenever you meet a man you will see all that he owns, ay, and much that he pretends to disown, behind him, even to his kitchen furniture and all the trumpery which he saves and will not burn, and he will appear to be harnessed to it and making what headway he can. I think that the man is at a dead set who has got through a knot hole or gateway where his sledge load of furniture cannot follow him. I cannot but feel compassion when I hear some trig, compact-looking man, seemingly free, all girded and ready, speak of his “furniture,” as whether it is insured or not. “But what shall I do with my furniture?” My gay butterfly is entangled in a spider’s web then. Even those who seem for a long while not to have any, if you inquire more narrowly you will find have some stored in somebody’s barn. I look upon England to-day as an old gentleman who is travelling with a great deal of baggage, trumpery which has accumulated from long housekeeping, which he has not the courage to burn; great trunk, little trunk, bandbox and bundle. Throw away the first three at least. It would surpass the powers of a well man nowadays to take up his bed and walk, and I should certainly advise a sick one to lay down his bed and run. When I have met an immigrant tottering under a bundle which contained his all—looking like an enormous wen which had grown out of the nape of his neck—I have pitied him, not because that was his all, but because he had all that to carry. If I have got to drag my trap, I will take care that it be a light one and do not nip me in a vital part. But perchance it would be wisest never to put one’s paw into it.

I would observe, by the way, that it costs me nothing for curtains, for I have no gazers to shut out but the sun and moon, and I am willing that they should look in. The moon will not sour milk nor taint meat of mine, nor will the sun injure my furniture or fade my carpet, and if he is sometimes too warm a friend, I find it still better economy to retreat behind some curtain which nature has provided, than to add a single item to the details of housekeeping. A lady once offered me a mat, but as I had no room to spare within the house, nor time to spare within or without to shake it, I declined it, preferring to wipe my feet on the sod before my door. It is best to avoid the beginnings of evil.

Not long since I was present at the auction of a deacon’s effects, for his life had not been ineffectual:—

“The evil that men do lives after them.”

As usual, a great proportion was trumpery which had begun to accumulate in his father’s day. Among the rest was a dried tapeworm. And now, after lying half a century in his garret and other dust holes, these things were not burned; instead of a bonfire, or purifying destruction of them, there was an auction, or increasing of them. The neighbors eagerly collected to view them, bought them all, and carefully transported them to their garrets and dust holes, to lie there till their estates are settled, when they will start again. When a man dies he kicks the dust.

The customs of some savage nations might, perchance, be profitably imitated by us, for they at least go through the semblance of casting their slough annually; they have the idea of the thing, whether they have the reality or not. Would it not be well if we were to celebrate such a “busk,” or “feast of first fruits,” as Bartram describes to have been the custom of the Mucclasse Indians? “When a town celebrates the busk,” says he, “having previously provided themselves with new clothes, new pots, pans, and other household utensils and furniture, they collect all their worn out clothes and other despicable things, sweep and cleanse their houses, squares, and the whole town of their filth, which with all the remaining grain and other old provisions they cast together into one common heap, and consume it with fire. After having taken medicine, and fasted for three days, all the fire in the town is extinguished. During this fast they abstain from the gratification of every appetite and passion whatever. A general amnesty is proclaimed; all malefactors may return to their town.—”

“On the fourth morning, the high priest, by rubbing dry wood together, produces new fire in the public square, from whence every habitation in the town is supplied with the new and pure flame.”

They then feast on the new corn and fruits, and dance and sing for three days, “and the four following days they receive visits and rejoice with their friends from neighboring towns who have in like manner purified and prepared themselves.”

The Mexicans also practised a similar purification at the end of every fifty-two years, in the belief that it was time for the world to come to an end.

I have scarcely heard of a truer sacrament, that is, as the dictionary defines it, “outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace,” than this, and I have no doubt that they were originally inspired directly from Heaven to do thus, though they have no biblical record of the revelation.

Upcoming Holidays – March 26, 2022

  • Two Saturdays until 7:30 PM Sunset πŸŒ‡ – Apr 9
  • Three Saturdays until Average High is 60 🌷 – Apr 16
  • Six Saturdays until 8 PM Sunset πŸŒ‡ – May 7
  • 16 Saturdays until Last Sunset After 8:30 PM πŸŒ† – Jul 16
  • Five months – National Dog Day 🐩 – Friday Aug 26
  • 24 Saturdays until 6:30 Sunrise πŸŒ‡ – Sep 10
  • 25 Saturdays until Constitution Day πŸ“œ – Sep 17
  • 27 Saturdays until October πŸŽƒ – Oct 1
  • 28 Saturdays until Average High is 65 πŸ‚ – Oct 8
  • 32 Saturdays until Daylight Savings Time Ends πŸ›₯️ – Nov 5
  • 34 Saturdays until Regular Deer Season in Southern Zone 🦌 – Nov 19
  • Eight months – Small Business Saturday πŸ›οΈ – Saturday Nov 26
  • 37 Saturdays until 7:15 AM Sunrise βŒ›οΈ – Dec 10
  • 39 Saturdays until Christmas Eve πŸŽ… – Dec 24
  • Nine months – Boxing Day πŸ₯Š – Monday Dec 26

I have to wonder how much of the Ukraine – Russia War is just about replaying the 2020 US Election 🐴 🐘

I have to wonder how much of the UkraineRussia War is just about replaying the 2020 US Election 🐴 🐘

Pretty much every body knows what has happened over the past few years. President Trump was buddies with Russia as they cut him a good deal on financing, likely chopping a few points off his interest rate on financing his junk bonds, saving him millions in monthly payment on loans. Lower interest rates means more pocket money as less monthly payments. The Ukrainians in contrast gave Joe Biden’s son a no show job, buttering up President Joe Biden.

I doubt any politician would be so brash or frankly stupid to do a quid pro quo, but politicians know who butters their bread and takes care of their needs. Much corruption is not explicit but informal and resides subtly in the back of folks minds. Most partisans know that Ukraine takes good care of their fellow Democrats, while Russians care for the GOP. It’s not bribes being handed out, it’s knowing where their friends are. Most people know that standing with the Ukrainians isn’t about standing for peace – especially when the US is arming them – but demonstrating to the public you are a good Democrat, standing up against the Russia and the GOP.

I don’t believe we should be war mongering in Eastern Europe. It sucks to be an Ukrainian resident right now, although ordinary Russians are also suffering a lot. But we should be focused on back home and not Russia or Ukraine. We should be a voice for peace, not war. 

Weather Update – March 26, 2022

Figure it’s best to enjoy the morning before things go down hill 🌦️

Unless you like rain and cold it’s hard to argue that the best is yet to come. But within a few days things will moderate. Spring is still coming and probably in two to three weeks things will green up locally.

Today.
Feels like …
March 21st.

Slight Chance of Showers then Showers is likely

A chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail. Mostly cloudy.

Calm wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

and

47 degrees , 7:15
sunset.
Tonight.
Feels like …
April 4th.

Chance of Showers then Slight Chance of Rain/Snow

A chance of rain showers, possibly mixing with snow after 1am, then gradually ending. Mostly cloudy.

West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

and

32 degrees , 6:44
sunrise.
Sunday.
Feels like …
February 27th.

Chance of Rain/Snow

A slight chance of rain and snow showers before noon, then a chance of rain showers between noon and 3pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers after 3pm. Cloudy.

West wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

and

39 degrees , 7:16
sunset.
Sunday Night.
Feels like …
February 14th.

Chance of Snow Showers

A chance of snow showers, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy.

Northwest wind around 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

and

17 degrees , 5 max wind chill, 6:42
sunrise.
Monday.
Cold !

Mostly Cloudy

Mostly cloudy.

Northwest wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

and

25 degrees , 4 max wind chill, 7:18
sunset.
Monday Night.
Feels like …
February 10th.

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy.

and

16 degrees , 3 max wind chill, 6:40
sunrise.
Tuesday.
Feels like …
February 20th.

Sunny

Sunny.

and

37 degrees , 3 max wind chill, 7:19
sunset.
Tuesday Night.
Feels like …
February 28th.

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear.

and

21 degrees , 14 max wind chill, 6:39
sunrise.
Wednesday.
Feels like …
March 17th.

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny.

and

45 degrees , 14 max wind chill, 7:20
sunset.
Wednesday Night.
Feels like …
April 1st.

Chance of Rain/Snow

A chance of snow showers, mixing with rain after 8pm, then gradually ending. Mostly cloudy.

Chance of precipitation is 30%.

and

31 degrees , 6:37
sunrise.
Thursday.
Feels like …
April 4th.

Mostly Cloudy then Chance of Showers

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy.

Chance of precipitation is 50%.

and

53 degrees , 7:21
sunset.
Thursday Night.
Feels like …
April 24th.

Showers is likely

Showers likely. Mostly cloudy.

Chance of precipitation is 70%.

and

40 degrees , 6:35
sunrise.
Friday.
Feels like …
April 13th.

Chance of Showers

A chance of showers. Partly sunny.

Chance of precipitation is 30%.

and

58 degrees , 7:22
sunset.