Finishing a Series

 My wife bought the series "Breaking Bad" on DVD. We started watching it about a week ago, and finished it last night. I can see how it many became engrossed with the series, but with me, I also could see why I've never cared for such things. It took way too long for the end, and too much boring dialog was infuriating. That, and  the railroad hijacking put my critical thinking in gear. All I could do was critique how the tracks were not the right weight, ties needed replacing, the ballast was full of weeds, the string of cars was way too short for a main line train, and there is no way any railroad would have a place where there is no communication with the engineer. Still it was an interesting, and entertaining, series.

All in all, almost all the cast played characters with flexible morals, and the money laundering was astronomical. While it was fiction, it didn't take a huge leap in logic to understand such things are common and widespread. 

Cynical

 Elon Musk now owns Twitter. Supposedly, the platform will now be run by free speech promoting rational people. Call me cynical, since the owner has licked up billions of wasted tax dollars to fund a ridiculous vehicle that would fail in a market untainted by government meddling. I don't trust such people. They operate a criminal enterprise with the help of officials that have no morals.

Watching the Red Heads

Over the last few years, I've watched the red-headed woodpeckers, and still can't determine their society. It's complicated, and how to tell the sexes is beyond my knowledge. 

This morning, two were on the power pole. As I watched, the one on the very top would tap, and the one further down the pole would tap back. It was as though they were enticing each other like two bar patrons flirting at the bar. The one on top would tap, and the other would inch up closer after an answering tap. It went on for a few minutes...but trouble soon arrived. 

Two others arrived, and fought on an adjacent power pole. One chased the other away, but another soon arrived to join the brawl. They all left, but one came back to land on the pole with the two at the "bar". That didn't set well with the one lower on the power pole, and it soon attacked the interloper. Both left, but one soon returned. I think it was the original one, since it started the tapping game. 

The one on top, which I'm thinking is the female, soon resumed tapping, but the interchange was soon interrupted by the return of the other two, and an additional one. Now there was a total of three red-headed woodpeckers, and four were soon fighting and chasing each other. The pole was now empty, except the one on the top. Soon, it too flew away, but returned in a few minutes to start tapping. 

One flew to land near the top, but that wasn't acceptable. The one on the top chased it away, and returned to sit and tap. The others flew around; fussing and chasing each other. Within a minute, one returned to the lower position on the pole, and answered the taps of the one on top. It left, and the one on top remained.

Eventually, one flew to the top of the pole, and the two there stared at each other for long moments. One flew away, and the other followed in about thirty seconds. 

Past experience says mating will soon happen, and the proud parents will bring their young children in a few months. The young will be carbon-copies of the parents, but not have the red head. Eventually they will, and their acceptance at the feeder will be over. The parents will "break their plate" and force them to go out an seek their place in the woods. 

Not seen were the red-bellied woodpecker. We have a few, and they defer to the red-headed woodpeckers. They'll avoid the feeder when the red-headed woodpeckers are there. Also, they'll steal the peanuts the red-headed woodpeckers place in the cracks on the power pole. The power struggle will last until early summer. After that, all the woodpeckers will disappear from the feeder and will only be seen flitting between the trees in the distance.

I've read that the red-headed woodpecker's range is threatened by the red-bellied woodpecker. Maybe so, but in my neck of the woods, the red-headed woodpecker calls the shots.

Twitter Atwitter

 Elon Musk wants to buy all of Twitter. Twitter said no, and took measures to prevent a takeover. Musk is stirring the pot, and if I have to guess, Twitter stock is about to tank, shareholders will be pissed, and the board will find going out is not a good thing. 

Since I don't do Twitter, it doesn't matter to me. It's all a big game, and regardless of opinion, is a huge treasure trove for those that spy. 

Possible Choices

 Biden wants to go to Ukraine, but is considering sending a top official instead. Who will it be? Bozo? Ronald? Maybe Zippy? Surely not anyone in his cabinet. They make clowns look bad, and couldn't be nearly as entertaining.

Watching Spring

I made a walk to the ramp given to us for the front door. It was being stored,  would have been there for a long, long time, and kept me from building one. It's not a necessity at this time, but my wife's knees, and mine too, won't last forever. The ramp will be more than helpful in the future. 

The walk is the simple 12 inch square concrete pads available at most box stores. Placing them requires some fine grading, a little dirt for needed fill, and for me: kneepads. It only took 100 of them, but I can see more to be purchased in the future for additions to the walk. That, and some borders for planned beds. It tedious work, and made me realize how what once was the work of one morning takes a few days. Still, it's satisfying work, and with some help from family, made it a labor of love. 

Spring has been relatively dry. The huge thunderstorms have skirted to the north, and what rain we've received is  in quick heavy showers that leave less than one half inch. It's been enough, and the heavy greenery is proof. Wildflowers on the highways is abundant, and our roses are starting to bloom. 

The wind has been ferocious. Steady wind at 20 mph with gusts above 30 have become annoying. On the cooler mornings, it chills. On the warmer afternoons, it hides the work of the sun. I'm complaining now, but will miss it during the hotter days soon to arrive. 

The hummingbirds are arriving. The few trying to feed must contend with the one that thinks they are all his. He'll chase them away for now, but when the main group arrives, he will be overwhelmed. Most will go on, but we have had a few stay all summer to raise a family. Their tiny nests are something to behold when found. 

Purple martins are skimming the pond for the flying insects. They find the swarms of biting insects, feast, and skim the top of the pond for water. A few will land, chatter with their strange language,  and only stay for a few minutes. Soon, they're off again to feast on the spring bounty.

We hung some heavier curtains on the front porch. Adding some grommets at the bottom, placing some eyebolts for securing small bungee cords, and now having secure curtains leads to afternoons without constantly dealing with the curtains. That, and the shade keeps that part of the house from the evening sun. The benefit is a comfortable place to sit, and reduced cooling bills. 

I could write for hours about the rotten politics, but haven't felt like reiterating what is obvious. All the talk, all the anger, and all the frustrations don't change the fact the changes will only come from a few people being severely punished; regardless of their authority, or position. I don't see that happening within the confines of laws being ignored. The options are there, but will mean some terrible times. Most politicians know what's right, and honest, but ignore their responsibilities. There's wealth to accumulate, people to manipulate, and the suffering of the constituents is not of their concern.

Just Say Nope

There's talk about making pot legal in the United States. It was at one time, but mass hysteria led to laws against it. Right, wrong or indifferent, it's what it is. 

I don't have a dog in this hunt, so it really doesn't matter to me, but my personal experience shows pot heads are just as ornery as alcoholics in refusing to believe they're not charming, or more intelligent, when they constantly get high. That, and pot heads don't need to be driving, or working, under the influence. How they can prevent this is beyond me, but necessary. 

I'm sure the government will want to get their taxes off the stuff, and will pursue them diligently. Unfortunately, pot can be grown in any back yard, and like home brewing, will lead to many just cultivating their favorite blend. Taxes for sales will not be collected, and to make things worse, the black market - with all its nasty problems - will still exist.  

I don't know how this will turn out, but there is supposedly medicinal benefits from the plant. I don't know, don't trust anyone that researches medical products, and would warn anyone that decides to become an imbiber of the herb. Like my doctor said: "Anything you put into your body will have some effect, and it might not be good.".  

Distractions

 I remember the Vietnam war. Lots of military contractors made tons of money, the military was infiltrated with worthless pukes, Johnson signed off to the biggest theft of taxpayer dollars since Roosevelt, Nixon started playing footsy with those that murdered our troops in Vietnam, Nixon turned loose OSHA, they finally removed any intrinsic value to coins by removing silver, Cronkite fooled too many in believing he wasn't a mouth foaming lunatic Communist, and the entire U.S. basically slept as they were raped. The war was the distraction, and thousands of good soldiers died in a country eventually given back to the Chinese, who had good lap dogs to protect part of their border.

Things really don't change. Same shit, different flies, and the entire world is the playground of those that profit from the misery of the common folk.