Thinking About Alligators

 For some reason, I was thinking about alligators this morning, and remembered some times I spent in the marsh back in the early seventies. At that time, alligators were newly placed on the endangered species list, and even today, with their numbers rebounding, they're a protected species. 

Back then, I would go with my brother, and friends, to go fishing in the local marsh. Part of the marsh was impounded with levees, which was fresh water, and the majority of the marsh was a salt water marsh, with an entirely different fauna, except for the alligators. There were many alligators. They thrived in both habitats, and required wariness when in the marsh. While they were usually afraid of humans, large females could become aggressive when protecting their nest. If they happened to attack, and you were alone, they could hold you in a death spin until you drowned. After that, if you weren't found, they could feed on your deteriorating body. Rotting meat being much more tender, eating a person was an easier task. 

Maybe they were endangered, but considering what I saw, I have a suspicion their numbers were probably smaller than when they were originally counted, but never to the point of endangerment. Doing so allowed the species to grow in numbers, protecting the species allowed hunting permits (taxes for more public sector employees) and with government inclusion, opportunities for grants, with other slush funds for politicians. I may be wrong, but I might be right. I'll probably never know, but after watching the antics of government entities, I have a feeling I am probably right.

A New Battle with Poison Ivy

About two years ago, while at my sister-in-laws, I noticed some poison ivy in one of her planted beds. Closer inspection revealed a main trunk next to a pine tree thicker than my thumb. Looking up, I could see the runners were up to fifteen feet into the tree. I asked if she would mind if I eradicated the infestation. With her permission granted, I went home, gathered my supplies, and went to work. 

I cut the main trunk at the base, sprayed the leaves around the bed with glyphosate, and left the herbicide to work its magic. Over the next few months, I took care of any stray shoots, and keep an eye on the bed when I visit. So far, only a few stragglers will appear, and are sprayed when found. II haven't found any this season so far, which is a good sign. I did the same at my mothers house years ago after my wife had a terrible reaction to some in a bed she was clearing for the approaching sale of my mother's house. Neither of us had noticed the poison ivy, and while I'm usually not affected, my wife's strong reaction required a visit to the doctor. 

The day before yesterday, while at the back of the land, I noticed a few poison ivy leaves near the ground. Looking closer, I realized the entire area was filled with poison ivy, and as much as I wanted to spray, the wind was too high. So, today won't be a good day to spray either. Tomorrow will be the same, and it's not looking like it will be accomplished until next week, if not later. It will be a new battle, but I plan on winning. It's been years since I had a real bad dealing with poison ivy after clearing a right of way on a project. The painful itch was maddening, and only the hottest of water I could stand would relieve the itch. It took over a week for the areas on my arms to finally become clear, and the memory will remain forever. 

Dealing With Those on Their High Horse

I get tired of the condescending airs of too many people that have a duty to be honest, competent, and have an integrity to match their important positions. The media is one of the worst places to find these people. Supposed journalists, with their subverted education, have unrealistic views of anyone other than their peers, fail in their duty to factually describe their findings, have a disrespect for those that don't follow their narrative, or expose their shortcomings, and pontificate on opinions that are beyond their duty. 

Politicians are another. They ignore their constituents, lavish taxpayer gifts on their promoters, and fail to do the simplest of required tasks, such as balancing their budget. In their minds, we're supposed to defer to them, regardless of how feckless, dishonest, and crooked they are. 

Judges may be the worst. The law allows them drag their feet, place extreme financial burdens on the innocent, allow attorneys to make a mockery of the judicial system, ignore Constitutional mandates, and do so with the knowledge they are failing to provide everyone with the same rights. Simple legal proceedings require more money than many people have available, and the result is they're defeated before they ever have a chance. When you add the groups that subvert the judicial system with frivolous tort, and the judges don't throw them out of their courtroom, it's not hard to fathom how people become very wary of the legal system.

It appears some things are changing. Judges are being scrutinized, which is important. They have specific tasks and those wandering from their jobs should be taken to task for their errors. Legal relief shouldn't be only for the rich, or for those financed by groups with money provided by those that want to destroy the United States. That, and it shouldn't take years to solve many problems. 

The legacy media is faltering, which is a good sign. There needs to be integrity in news reporting, and a realization multiple sources of good information are more important than favorite news channels. There are good news sources, and they should be consulted instead of relying on the legacy media, or social media posts.

Politicians always have been a untrustworthy group. Finding the good ones is like digging through horse manure for grains of corn. As a group, they've proven they fail in the most important of tasks, and created more problems than they solve. I don't see much of a change, but know if you throw enough of them in prison for their criminal actions, the rest may get a clue.

 

A Tale of Two Bridges

 It's not actually two bridges. It had two different names over time, and it consolidated the traffic of two streets that hadn't crossed the interstate for decades, but some planners (planners/politicians/grifters) decided it was necessary, and threatened to kill a puppy if it wasn't built. (No, they didn't plan to kill a puppy, but probably threatened to elect a more terrible derelict to Texas Congress. That's probably worse). It won't be standing much longer. Demolition is soon to start.

The bridge is masterpiece of glut, unnecessary embellishment, and for those that I knew that built it, a thing of beauty and accomplishment. Formwork required panels that reflected stonework of a time past, and the lighting was of a past century. The safety rails took some fancy detailing in formwork to reflect bannisters of an expensive staircase. I was impressed with the work. 

 It is beautiful, but in reality, the amount of traffic it allows convenience never satisfied the cost. That, and when I first drove under the finished bridge, I wondered if the clearance would become a problem in the future. That, and glad my commute through that area didn't have to deal with the construction traffic due to the bridge.

The interstate is in the process of expansion. Two main travel lanes in each direction are not enough. They haven't been for years, but funding wasn't available. The bottleneck at two major exchanges requires much more pavement, and from what I'm seeing, flyovers will be required. The bridge that had the name of a local politician, after the name of the two streets it consolidated, is in the way. In April, it will close, and the traffic on the interstate will become a nightmare for those traveling to, and from, across Texas. Demolition of a bridge over a live interstate requires detours, detours require the walls of death, and the carnage will begin.

So, progress is on the way. It requires me to avoid that section of the local city if I decide to visit. I already avoid it as much as I can, but now have another very good reason to not visit. It's looking too much like parts of Houston, and the traffic is sometimes worse. 

In a few months, there will be a much different appearance of this area.

So, What Did They Do With The Money?

 A few local communities are having problems with their infrastructure. Roads are the usual problem. Traffic changes, traffic loads increase, and even some newer roads are showing signs of problems. Many I watched during construction. Since I have no access to testing reports, or watched them performed, there's no way I can say it's due to shoddy construction, but know enough to see where it probably happened. Laziness, outright fraud, and unscrupulous contractors can lead to "boiler-housed" test reports, and failures in the future. City crews do what they can, but do so at a pace that guarantees they probably are rejects from the private sector.

The problem that is found more in the news is the problems with sanitary sewers. Regardless of the millions spent in the eighties by grants for rehabilitation, and new systems, the sewer systems are failing. Why? There's too much groundwater infiltration from dilapidated pipes, overloaded systems, and a failure to upgrade capacities. This causes the sewers to surcharge in rain events, toilets don't flush, and some neighborhoods are filled with people calling their insurance agent to claim they need new carpet. Why is there so much infiltration? Cities don't spend the money on for what it was intended. They spend it on useless salaries, unwarranted benefits, ridiculous programs, and the necessary things are pushed to the back burner...until they break. Then it becomes a crises without funds for necessary upgrades.

I'm sure this is not just isolated locally. Cities, like all government entities, are filled with incompetent, selfish people that never intend to do anything but secure a salary and retire with a pension you can't find in the private sector. It is what it is, and I'm glad I moved away from a city decades ago. I like my toilets to drain, my water supply to be without repairs I can't do, and not having to deal with the bureaucrats that ignore telephone calls. As far as the roads, our county commissioner does what they can, but is a politician. That explains it all.