Tiger got to hunt

Bird got to fly

Man got to ask himself “why, why, why”

Tiger got to sleep

Bird got to land

Man got to tell himself he understand

Yeah. I totally get it. It does take effort to preserve any wonder and stave off cynicism. Especially in these days of ever growing inequality and tougher material conditions for folks in general. When I was growing up there sure seemed more cause for optimism. Now, folks who look squarely at reality find it tough to muster, what with stagnated wages, an erosion of personal ties, a generally lousy work/life balance for most.

Still, I try to look to and look after my friends, my community. It’s not much, but it’s what I can do. I’ve seen hardship, illness, betrayal, personal devaluation, loss. But I’d rather not become a bitter, old bastard like so many I see in this region.

And I’m cracking up at the scammers phoning up my 85 year old father telling him his Windows has been compromised on his Linux desktop.

“and POTENTIALLY tell me to go fuck myself.”

Oooh. Catharsis.

If you are in the U.S. and have a Habitat for Humanity ReStore nearby, there are often lots of “dumb” flat screens to be had for a song. If you don’t mind a slightly older bit of hardware.

There’s a meatpacking plant in the closest little town to us out here in the Appalachian sticks. It stinks to high heavens from miles away. Nobody seems to work there long. They had some push to import laborers from eastern Europe and for a time had flyers posted around town in those languages. Then, after a while they all seemed to be gone.

Yes! Those channel knobs were so easily broken. I thought we were the only ones turning channels with pair of vice-grips clamped on the nub.