The Fine Art of Begging

We are all familiar with those pictures we have seen of beggars around the world (especially in India). Those of us with tender consciences wince at them as we empathise and wrestle with the implications for us in a rich society. We’re shocked by the idea of these sort of folks sitting on the street corners of our towns & cities. Those who must live such realities will tell you that there is an art to begging; “It’s in the eyes.” they tell you. Beggars, who are considered little more than dogs, take their lessons from dogs who have perfected the sincere pleading look so necessary to successful begging. Our dogs have mastered the skill and taken it a step further; synchronized begging, willing you to submit to the pack. Gracious body language is a plus as well when one scores and the other hasn’t yet. Patience yields increased pity on the part of the beggee. Just a helpful hint for the 15,000,000 of us who are currently unemployed...
Synchronized begging huh? If all the above fails you are left with one option, MAGIC! Poteen (our youngest) learned early on that all this skill at begging just might not work. Her solution was magical ear-linking; she learned to flair her MAGIC EARS. It worked! We understood! Obediently, we gave in. She had won! Those of you with big ears, who are unemployed might want to make a “note to self” here.

The Agony of Going Down the Drain

What do you do when you find yourself sliced and diced; had blemished parts chopped off and discarded, declared rotten? What do you do when your world is all cold stainless steel and butcher block! Crying out is useless when you have no voice. You are isolated and cut off. All that's left is the plunge to the treatment plant; even your last remaining seeds will be destroyed. Oh the agony of going down the drain. In a martyr’s afterlife this soft, discarded slice will return as an armored cactus flower... “Then maybe, they’ll leave me the Hell alone! Let ‘em attack something with legs”

Rust Race

Deep in the heart of Louisiana I found these two harvesters which used to race each other bringing in the crops. Now, however, they’re involved in another much slower race.