Before and After

Yesterday, I had Moh's surgery on a squamous cell cancer on my right sideburn area. As always, some incisions were made after deadening, an area was removed, an hour wait as they analyzed the tissue, and finally, the incisions was closed. From what I understand, additional skin is removed to make an oblong diamond shaped area, which prevents puckering of the skin after healing. 

My last surgery was about the same, which left a long incision and me wondering if it would leave a Frankenstein appearance to my face. Due to the expertise of my surgeon, it takes some close looking to see where it was, and I expect this one will be the same. 

                                

Spring Appears

 It's been a remarkable day today. A brisk, clear morning turned into a day with clear skies, a bright sun, and a temperature in the mid seventies. Azaleas are in bloom, trees are budding, and the pine pollen is thick on everything. What was a forest of bare trees is becoming a brilliant green. 

I spent a good part of the day with my herbicide. The edges were treated, the areas around the trees will soon be cleared, and the fences won't need the weeds trimmed. It's much easier than using the trimmer, and makes for a well manicured yard. 

The neighbors are all cutting their yards. We cut earlier in the week in anticipation of heavy rains that were forecast. Instead, we only received a wind shift, and few high clouds, and a strong wind from the north. What little water that's left from previous rain will soon be consumed by the foliage, and without more rain, the stress of drought will appear. 

Still the bird bath is empty, and the blackbirds are wanting their bath. It's time for me to go take care of the task of giving them some water.  

Domestication

I was thinking how people have become as domesticated as the animals they keep for food, and as pets. The laziness of being fed, herded as necessary, and slaughtered for gain is no different than how other species are kept by humans. The most proficient, or intelligent have the yoke of secrecy, loyalty or duress. Those that wander from the herd are culled. Independence is frowned upon, and the herdsmen insure those unwilling to their methods  are penned until time for slaughter. Some are kept for amusement, and others kept to be draft animals. Humans are not kept for food as of yet, but to satisfy the size of the herd, I don't doubt the idea has been contemplated.

Look! Squirrel!

I was reading an article about the student loan forgiveness attempt to buy votes; and the Supreme Court review of the litigation due to the executive order. The comments were revealing, and wandered into the tit-for-tat between the different age group of the commenters. Older retired people would comment on how they worked, never went to college, and don't think it's fair. Younger people would declare Social Security should end, and those that paid for decades into the system deserved the loss because it was all their fault.  

Baby boomers was used often as a derogatory description. At one time, the older generation was respected, but newer generations have many that despise the fact they have to work for a long time to reach the same point that the boomers finally reached. They want to blame the generation for where we are, while never realizing Social Security would be in a very good position, if the government wasn't given it to those that are basically gaming the system, and contributed very little, if any, to the supposed trust fund. They would rather see the generation that paid for their lives for around decades suffer, while never realizing their attitude guarantees their older years will be miserable if they continue their beliefs. 

It was interesting to read the comments, but more than anything else, the comments should have been directed at the huge waste, like Ukraine. Too many don't realize the tactics lead to division, which removes focused citizenry to solve the problems by demanding fiscal responsibility. If everyone would just stop looking for the squirrel, concentrate on the best solutions, and ignore the efforts to divide the country, the results would be astounding. 

The Ohio Train Wreck

 I've been reading some of the reports on the train derailment in Ohio. At this point, everyone is pointing fingers, but I haven't seen anything about it could have just been an accident. 

I worked for years in, and out, of different rail car repair facilities. It was always interesting, and I learned a few things. One thing that caught my attention was a conversation with an inbound inspector at one of the facilities. They explained how the railroad companies didn't like dangerous cars, paid attention to any that were not incompliance, or needed repair, and would leave any they didn't like on a side track. Worse case situations demanded the cars were either repaired by a "mini shop", or placed on a flat car for a haul to a facility. If they felt a facility wasn't releasing safe cars, they could, and would, spike their switch. This was a serious matter, since no cars were allowed on their tracks until a problem was solved. This included any sections of rail they felt were unsafe. 

Rail cars are owned by a multitude of different companies, and people. Individuals may own only one, and companies, or trusts, may own hundreds. All must meet requirements, and the rail companies don't like to get on the wrong side of AAR standards. The consequences are too expensive, and since all rails are owned by private concerns, there isn't a barrier to litigation like with the government.

So, accidents do happen. Ignoring the consequences, trying to assign blame to put feathers in a cap, trying to punish someone for an act of God, or trying to profit from an accident isn't good. Bearings wear, and fail, on rail cars. The rails can crack, or move, due to expansion and contraction. Nothing is perfect, and accidents can happen. The dangerous materials transported are usually well contained, safely being transported, and are never released during derailments. This one was a terrible one, and if there is any blame to be made, it's in the feckless way state, and federal, officials failed to address the immediate problems.