Time Travel

I believe in time travel. Really, I do. I left the 1950's in Montana on Thursday and jetted into 2010 in Raleigh, NC. There are more stores in the Delta terminal of the Raleigh airport than in all of Fishtail and Nye combined. And stuff... plain old stuff that no one needs. Reason for the trip? My ex-father-in-law's 90th birthday -- a celebration of a live well-lived and a much loved person. Can I call him my father-in-law? Do I need to put an ex by his name?

but... the return trip... the RDU airport this morning ... at 5:20 am. I was reminded of Temple Grandin's work. She has become a recognized authority on the design of kill floors and slaughter lines--- so that the animals move to slaughter without becoming agitated. Seems that the TSA has adopted some of her measures as bidnessmen were shuffling compliantly ahead clutching boarding passes. I heard and --- I KID YOU NOT--- a bidnessman tell a fellow traveler "if you can monitor it, you can measure it. If you can measure it , you can manage it." and I can dump manure on your pithy sayings.

Airplanes are quite similar to the trucks that take animals to feedlots.... cheek to jowl... only a few have a view. I suppose the difference is that airline passengers do not have to stand in their own waste. Interesting that so many focus on improving the lives of animals when we could also direct some attention on the lives of humans.

But, I am back. Back in the land of no tv, no stores, no commercials. The trees smell fabulous and real manure is actually much more appealing than corporate manure.