I often look at my truck, and say that’s a really poverty spec truck with the hard steering wheel, the lack of chrome grill, and a lot of frills that are common on F-150s and many passenger cars. You can get a much fancier SuperDuty but I didn’t want to spend the money. I wanted a function truck that has a lot of capacity for a good price. I don’t care that much about fancy trim, but my truck has all the basic things I want – air conditioning, off-road capacity, lots of power and ability to run accessories. Still I does look so basic, so poverty spec despite all of it’s capacity.
In such a world, why write? How justify this mad itch for scribbling?
“Speaking for myself, I write to record the truth of our time, as best as I can see it. To investigate the comedy and tragedy of human relationships. To resist and sabotage the contemporary drift toward a technocratic, militaristic totalitarianism, whatever its ideological coloration. To oppose injustice, defy the powerful, and speak for the voiceless. I write to make a difference.
“It is always a writer’s duty to make the world better,” said Samuel Johnson. Distrusting all answers, to raise more questions. To give pleasure and promote esthetic bliss. To honor life and praise the divine beauty of the world. For the joy and exultation of writing itself. To tell my story. Well now, says the old wolf, vox clamantis in deserto, that should keep him busy for a while.”
~ Edward Abbey, 1984
Pink Poney
I so hate lawn mowers
It’s hard to get away from the constant growl of lawnmowers, leaf blowers and weedwhackers anywhere you are need a residential development. It’s quite obnoxious is my book. A lot of work, equipment and fuel to buy. All for something that is not particularly functional.
Granted when I own land, I don’t necessarily want cows right next to my bedroom window due to well, MOO!, and I would want to keep the weeds down around the trash burning barrel to keep the risk of wildfires down. But still I would avoid having a much lawn as possible, have just a simple electric lawn more, and give over as much land as possible to grazing, wildflowers, and woods.