Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: tris on December 21, 2017, 01:48:49 AM
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Morning All - picture the scene in 4 days time
It's 2:55pm and you're waiting for the Queen to come on the BBC @ 3pm to see whether she tell us that she's had another "annus horribilis" or not and Aunty Mable asks you to hold her teeth while she gives Cousin John a kiss "for Christmas" and the kids are all moaning because the batteries in their new toys are flat and you forgot to increase the Duracell share price by buying a hundred AAs or so and your wife is in a mood as she put the sprouts on at 11:00 and after 4 hours they still aren't ready so Christmas Dinner will be late
Christmas can be a stressful time and I think it would be useful for us to de-stress ahead of the day by having a good RANT
Anything goes within the forum rules, we wouldn't want to stress Laup or our long suffering Mods!
I'll start:-
Indicators:- Why can't people use the indicators that their cars/trucks/busses are fitted with? Makes life a lot easier if you have fighting chance of knowing where they're going
Middle lane drivers:- I could save this country billions of pounds not building 3 lane motorways given that SO many people sit in the middle lane 1MPH under the speed limit and not on the inside lane where the law says they should be
Grrrr - MERRY CHRISTMAS
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Now now Tris old bean.
Just get yourself a nice set of wire wheels and you'll feel much better in the mornin' then...
Okay ???? :evil:
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What’s the most pointless job in the car industry? Putting indicators on Audis.
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Bloody traffic - all these idiots out doing their last minute Christmas shopping - my missus included. Grrrrrrr
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Not much to rant about here either in SW Florida. If I were back in Minnesota I would be crabbing about the snow and cold and why no one slows down on slippery roads. The only drawback of being here is that there is no Grain Belt beer to be found. Guess I will have to survive on Yuengling instead.
Merry Christmas to all and a Happy and safe New Year.
Earl
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I’m ranted out...
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No pissing and moaning from me.
I follow the KISS plan this time of year.
Keeps the incoming gray hair to a minimum.
Merry CHRISTmas
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Happy Yule, Dec. 21. Shortest day of the year. My rant, it's too cold today to stand out to the Festivous Pole and air my grievances. It will be a quick dash, not unlike a polar bear splash.
Otherwise, quite remarkably, other than A H drivers, no rants.
Again, HAPPY YULE.
Pop
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A Rave: Nothin but SUNSHINE in the Seattle area for the next several days. I have a cold (mid-30s) but sunny 200 mile ride planned for Saturday.
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Battery's, I hate battery's. I pay $.11 per kwh after taxes for electricity at my home. Does any one know the cost for the small amount of electricity stored in the various sizes of battery's. It has to be several dollars per kwh.
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I never thought of batteries that way. I have always thought of them as necessary 'evils'. Especially at the Solstice (Christmas). "Here, take these 3 AAA and don't bother me for 2 hours." Oh yeah, there's a rant. Why is it 2 AA's but 3AAA's with toys. Same voltage?
Popk
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Christmas-time stress hit a peak with us back around 1995 - 2000.
1) I was still working and there were Christmas parties to go to almost every night.
2) End-of-year commitments at work made "overtime" and "vacation" conflict with each other.
3) The kids were young enough to be excited about Santa leaving them presents.
4) The whole family still bought each other Christmas presents, which meant that we were buying and wrapping 40 - 60 gifts a year.
5) Three different Family Christmas things to go to between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Running all over the state regardless of weather. Cooking hams and casseroles by the dozen.
It was getting miserable. Supposed to be a wonderful peaceful time of year and here we were, right in the middle of a post-scarcity society, stressing ourselves out over more food and more "things" that we knew what to do with.
Why? Well, because ... because ... it's ALWAYS been like that!
Not no more it ain't.
1) Two Christmas parties to go to (one Virginia British Motorcycle Club do, and one neighborhood one).
2) Kids aren't at home and all grown up, presents are simple (gift certificate at a gun shop).
3) Me and my siblings, cousins, nephews etc don't exchange gifts any more. We buy little toys and books for the grandchildren, one trip to town, one order on line, and done.
4) ONE Family Christmas gathering to go to, Christmas Day. Minimal cooking. Fay and I will cook up some treats for ourselves and make some eggnog, and done.
It's back to be nice and relaxing ....
Lannis
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Tire gauges. I bought a new one the last time I was in SoCal, and it's either reading 4 lbs low, or my new tires are 4 lbs low. I guess I'll go for a ride. If they are really low, it'll be pretty obvious. :evil:
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I'm hopping to get new air for my tires!
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Christmas-time stress hit a peak with us back around 1995 - 2000.
1) I was still working and there were Christmas parties to go to almost every night.
2) End-of-year commitments at work made "overtime" and "vacation" conflict with each other.
3) The kids were young enough to be excited about Santa leaving them presents.
4) The whole family still bought each other Christmas presents, which meant that we were buying and wrapping 40 - 60 gifts a year.
5) Three different Family Christmas things to go to between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Running all over the state regardless of weather. Cooking hams and casseroles by the dozen.
It was getting miserable. Supposed to be a wonderful peaceful time of year and here we were, right in the middle of a post-scarcity society, stressing ourselves out over more food and more "things" that we knew what to do with.
Why? Well, because ... because ... it's ALWAYS been like that!
Not no more it ain't.
1) Two Christmas parties to go to (one Virginia British Motorcycle Club do, and one neighborhood one).
2) Kids aren't at home and all grown up, presents are simple (gift certificate at a gun shop).
3) Me and my siblings, cousins, nephews etc don't exchange gifts any more. We buy little toys and books for the grandchildren, one trip to town, one order on line, and done.
4) ONE Family Christmas gathering to go to, Christmas Day. Minimal cooking. Fay and I will cook up some treats for ourselves and make some eggnog, and done.
It's back to be nice and relaxing ....
Lannis
Oh God, I used to hate to see Xmas come when I was Toy dept. manager @ Sears Roebuck in Portland, Or. Our job started the day after Thanksgiving @ 6am until Xmas Eve. 6 days a week work 12 hours a day, 1 day a week off.
Before that there was working @ the Post Office swing shift part time only @ Xmas it was full time 12 hr. days 2 weeks straight.
Now retired with no relatives nearby Judy sends some presents to my son's Jake 3 young children, my brother Wes and his 2 sons are all adults and take care of themselves, and we stay @ home, get the fire going and enjoy Xmas eve with our 3 dogs & cat. Xmas day we will join other retirees like us for dinner and BS. Judy & I don't buy gifts for each other any more 'cause we already have everything we need. So Xmas for us is stress free. :boozing:
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I got a small Christmas present today. I was bringing the dogs back from their chauffeured walk, and I'm rolling along just below the point where I'd get speeding ticket when an out-of-state Hyundai SUV passes me, probably going 10 to 15 mph faster than I am.
About the same time, the radar detector buzzes and flashes. "Get him/her!" I am thinking because speeding in that area can be dangerous and also I can be a dick sometimes (I'm trying to figure out where the cop is).
I keep watching the SUV as it continues to pull away from me, and the radar detector continues to flash on and off. About 2 to 3 miles up the road, I see flashing lights on the other side of the the highway--the cop car turns and pulls the SUV over.
Nailed him! Hah!
Rich A
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The mechanical to-do's around the homestead. :embarrassed:
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Christmas can be a stressful time and I think it would be useful for us to de-stress ahead of the day by having a good RANT
Anything goes within the forum rules, we wouldn't want to stress Laup or our long suffering Mods!
I'll start:-
Indicators:- Why can't people use the indicators that their cars/trucks/busses are fitted with? Makes life a lot easier if you have fighting chance of knowing where they're going
Grrrr - MERRY CHRISTMAS
Around here turning on your indicator, is the signal for drivers to cut you off and not let you in. :violent1:
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I got a small Christmas present today. I was bringing the dogs back from their chauffeured walk, and I'm rolling along just below the point where I'd get speeding ticket when an out-of-state Hyundai SUV passes me, probably going 10 to 15 mph faster than I am.
About the same time, the radar detector buzzes and flashes. "Get him/her!" I am thinking because speeding in that area can be dangerous and also I can be a dick sometimes (I'm trying to figure out where the cop is).
I keep watching the SUV as it continues to pull away from me, and the radar detector continues to flash on and off. About 2 to 3 miles up the road, I see flashing lights on the other side of the the highway--the cop car turns and pulls the SUV over.
Nailed him! Hah!
Rich A
Now that's a Christmas present. In over 52 years of driving(legally) I have only had that happen once. I smiled all day.
Pop
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Around here turning on your indicator, is the signal for drivers to cut you off and not let you in. :violent1:
EXACTLY !! Learned that decades ago. :sad:
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The mechanical to-do's around the homestead. :embarrassed:
I have 3 of those so far....replace rear door latch, rebuild bathroom door gate to keep the dogs from eating cat's poop, fix or replace the garbage disposal. :thewife:
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^^^Good rant. I've had a couple of chats with the grim reaper, and he reminded me that every day is a gift. Enjoy it.
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Yeah , those first world problems are just so tough .
Dusty
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^^^Good rant. I've had a couple of chats with the grim reaper, and he reminded me that every day is a gift. Enjoy it.
:1: :1: Words worth living by! Well done Chuck!
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I'm not complaining about things that need repair around the house. Beats paying someone else to do them of which I can do my self. Having done both white collar and blue collar jobs in my life saves us $. :thumb:
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Now now Tris old bean.
Just get yourself a nice set of wire wheels and you'll feel much better in the mornin' then...
Okay ???? :evil:
Well I wished a lot so maybe I'll be lucky?
Southern Hemisphere Christmas's are cool (in the :cool: sense of the word).
In the 70s we lived in South Africa and can remember having Christmas dinner around the pool and getting the upgrade kit for my Meccano and following tradition building the biggest crane I could with my Dad
Cheerio
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Let my daughter fend for herself. I’m getting on the Eurostar tomorrow morning and heading for Strasbourg.
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Our hometown is so small nobody uses indicators because everybody already knows where you're going....
Daughter will be home tonite for Christmas for the 1st time in a few years, so there are a few preparations yet on the list (& if I get them done there's a hockey game for us to go to), but overall, a stress-free weekend is on tap.....
BTW - "life's too short to not have that one more cookie if you want it...."
Merry Christmas to all!!
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^^^Good rant. I've had a couple of chats with the grim reaper, and he reminded me that every day is a gift. Enjoy it.
Winner! You’re the man Chuck!
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I'll start:-
Indicators:- Why can't people use the indicators that their cars/trucks/busses are fitted with? Makes life a lot easier if you have fighting chance of knowing where they're going
Middle lane drivers:- I could save this country billions of pounds not building 3 lane motorways given that SO many people sit in the middle lane 1MPH under the speed limit and not on the inside lane where the law says they should be.
Grrrr - MERRY CHRISTMAS
:1: Around here, the everchanging road condition update signs are displaying "Join the rebellion, use your signal!".
:thewife: When my kids hit driving age I'm positive that my near constant ranting whilst driving will be so burned into their soul that they will use blinkers if they're even considering a lane change/turn! This, along with proper lane choice, 4 way stop/traffic round etiquette, and watching for the ever vulnerable two/three wheelers should make them polite users of our highways and byways.
That's the hope anyway. :thumb:
Oh God, I used to hate to see Xmas come when I was Toy dept. manager @ Sears Roebuck in Portland, Or. Our job started the day after Thanksgiving @ 6am until Xmas Eve. 6 days a week working 12 hours a day, 1 day a week off.
Before that there was working @ the Post Office swing shift part time only @ Xmas it was full time 12 hr. days 2 weeks straight.
Now retired with no relatives nearby Judy sends some presents to my son's Jake 3 young children, my brother Wes and his 2 sons are all adults and take care of themselves, and we stay @ home, get the fire going and enjoy Xmas eve with our 3 dogs & cat. Xmas day we will join other retirees like us for dinner and BS. Judy & I don't buy gifts for each other anymore 'cause we already have everything we need. So Xmas for us is stress free. :boozing:
Working at Circuit City (customer service dpt. super with similar hours as above) for twenty years, pretty much killed the holiday spirit in me. With the help of Amazon and similar, it's slowly been restored, but you won't catch me out shopping with the mad hoards.
Last night, on a fast food run for my ailing husband, the lone counter girl was having register issues. She kept apologizing for her slow performance because she had just started the job a few days ago. After she took my order, I congratulated her on the new job and wished her a Merry Christmas. The poor thing nearly started crying! She explained I was the first person to say either to her, and it meant a lot.
A little kindness, even the absent-minded sort, goes a long way. :bike-037:
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It’s easy for me to not fall into any of the TRAPS involved in the Christmas season. I just st keep the real meaning front and center.
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:1: Around here, the everchanging road condition update signs are displaying "Join the rebellion, use your signal!".
:thewife: When my kids hit driving age I'm positive that my near constant ranting whilst driving will be so burned into their soul that they will use blinkers if they're even considering a lane change/turn! This, along with proper lane choice, 4 way stop/traffic round etiquette, and watching for the ever vulnerable two/three wheelers should make them polite users of our highways and byways.
In 46 years of driving, I've never been involved in an automobile crash, fender bender, or even dented one, because I was taught well.
When my boys came along, I started teaching them early. It was Driving Boot Camp ... I told them "You will brake when I do, you will take the same line through turns that I do, you will drive the same speeds I do. If I'm riding with you and my foot reaches for the brake pedal on the passenger's side out of reflex, then you are Following Too Closely or not braking soon enough, and I'll drive the rest of the way ...."
It's worked, because they've been driving 31 years aggregate between the two of them, and neither one of them has dented a car or been hit by anyone.
You can always unavoidably be crashed into by someone you can't possibly avoid, like you sitting at a light, but you can lower the odds in your favor a LOT with proper training and attitude!
Lannis
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Not much to rant about here either in SW Florida. If I were back in Minnesota I would be crabbing about the snow and cold and why no one slows down on slippery roads. The only drawback of being here is that there is no Grain Belt beer to be found. Guess I will have to survive on Yuengling instead.
Merry Christmas to all and a Happy and safe New Year.
Earl
Never fear Earl, UPS or USPS can and will deliver. The two years I had the privilege of Xmas in USAF at RAF Lakenheath UK my mother sent me twelve pacs of Grain Belt. If you get desprate send up a flare. I think I saw Nord East on sale. Or maybe that was Spotted Cow in Wisconsin.
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We live out in the country and buy quite a bit online. Our UPS driver is at least in his upper 50s I would guess. I always go out to meet the driver to save him some time and steps, same with the mail gal. The UPS guy always seems upbeat even though we are close to the end of his route and he always has excellent classic rock playing on a bungie corded old boom box. :thumb: He the the mail gal will be getting some homemade pepper nuts.
GliderJohn
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I think our mail guy is getting a bottle of wine. It's up to the "Boss". :grin:
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Middle lane drivers:- I could save this country billions of pounds not building 3 lane motorways given that SO many people sit in the middle lane 1MPH under the speed limit and not on the inside lane where the law says they should be
Grrrr - MERRY CHRISTMAS
In my area there are only middle lanes when around larger cities. I was always told the middle lane is for the through drivers who don't want to speed in the left lane and are leaving the inside lane open to mergers and departers.
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getting the place ready for the family coming over for Dirty Santa around 4. :wink:
Heating up the Chili Verde. :drool:
Fireplace and Christmas Lights on. Got the music out: Nat, Jingle Bell Rock, BB King, Elvis, Bing and playing Brian Setzer now.....next will make a batch of Bloody Marys.... :boozing:
rant on. :grin:
Merry Christmas :thumb:
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Rant on?
ok
I just discovered that among my sister's dog's multitude of sins, the damn thing doesn't like snow, either. What kind of dog doesn't like to go for a ride, won't fetch, thinks mice are cute, shits on the rug ON PURPOSE, puts it where the people walk if you force him outside, will only respond to input that has food attached, AND HATES SNOW? :thewife: :violent1: :whip2: :evil: :evil: :shocked: :boxing: :angry: :Beating_A_Dead_Hors e_by_liviu :Beating_A_Dead_Hors e_by_liviu :violent1: :thewife:
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^^^
A smart dog ?
Dusty
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We're not talking okie dogs. :rolleyes:
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What kind of dog doesn't like to go for a ride, won't fetch, thinks mice are cute, shits on the rug ON PURPOSE, puts it where the people walk if you force him outside, will only respond to input that has food attached, AND HATES SNOW?
An ill-conditioned, untrained, unhappy dog that's never been told by its master (in language he can understand) what its master expects of it?
Our Jack is never happier than when he knows he's doing what you want and expect him to do, whether it's waiting quietly in his pen for our return, or running stray dogs off the place, or guarding the garden at night, or letting us know someone is coming up the driveway, or playing tug with his rope toy, or putting his toys away in his box when we ask him, or doing a good "potty" down inside the edge of the woods, or "heeling" as we walk down the street ....
Lannis
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An ill-conditioned, untrained, unhappy dog that's never been told by its master (in language he can understand) what its master expects of it?
Our Jack is never happier than when he knows he's doing what you want and expect him to do, whether it's waiting quietly in his pen for our return, or running stray dogs off the place, or guarding the garden at night, or letting us know someone is coming up the driveway, or playing tug with his rope toy, or putting his toys away in his box when we ask him, or doing a good "potty" down inside the edge of the woods, or "heeling" as we walk down the street ....
Lannis
Jack Russel Terrier ?
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Going out to mow the grass.
Feels like it was 2 days ago that you last had to do it.
No fuel in the Victa, none in the tin.
Siphon some from the Mk 2 and drink a teaspoon full.
Spill a cup full on the tank, drop the cap and it rolls 10 feet under the bench where I can't get to it.
Chuck the juice in the mower and give the starter a pull, cord breaks and whack my knuckles on the wall.
Shove the mower back under the house and then get asked..
"Aren't you doing the lawns today ? Mum's coming around, they look tatty"...
:thewife:
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Jack Russel Terrier ?
I like Jack Russels, but nope, Jack�s a Border Collie, the bestest one ever �
When he was 12 weeks old �
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Jack/i-pKbnKd8/0/efd24b91/X3/100_0494-X3.jpg) (https://lannisselz.smugmug.com/Jack/i-pKbnKd8/A)
8 years later �
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Jack/i-LFNhqrm/0/7a5b7bbd/X3/DSC00980-X3.jpg) (https://lannisselz.smugmug.com/Jack/i-LFNhqrm/A)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Jack/i-n5RPV9d/0/e95faa5f/X3/DSC00982-X3.jpg) (https://lannisselz.smugmug.com/Jack/i-n5RPV9d/A)
A really great companion and family member. Spends about half the night at the foot of our bed, and the rest of the night outside, patrolling the place. Hard to imagine living with a dog that was �hard to live with�, tearing things up, pooping everywhere, annoying people. Why would anyone let themselves in for that �. ?
Lannis
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:1: on the training. In some parts of the world, that dog would be an alternative protein source. It's not doing the job of a "dog". Unfortunately, it's more like livestock. :tongue: IMHO.
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Jeez Lannis, he's absolutely gorgeous !
Hats off to you for your input to him, he looks happy.
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:1: on the training. In some parts of the world, that dog would be an alternative protein source. It's not doing the job of a "dog". Unfortunately, it's more like livestock. :tongue: IMHO.
Shows how different cultures can be.
Like horses. In Europe, horses were owned by the nobility and used to oppress the commoners, so it became no problem for regular people to kill and eat horses - they were just tools of the people beating them up.
In America, most people, even poor formers, owned horses. They were companions and helpers and pets, and people established relationships with them. VERY few people here in the US will stomach killing and eating horses.
Or dogs. The relationship between man and dog is different in the West and East of the world ....
Lannis
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Then you have the dog who lives at this house . We call him the Tri-Terrier of Doom , about 25 lbs highly independent , has his own agenda . He came from up the street , he didn't want to share a yard with pit bulls , so he didn't . He basically lived an independent life for a couple of years , charmed the neighbors and a local cafe into feeding him , and caught the occasional rabbit or squirrel to supplement his diet . We don't put forth too much effort controlling him , other than making him come in at night and during the hours when deliveries are being made ( 10 AM until about 1 PM) . He has more than once placed himself between a stranger and the kids who live on this block , and in no uncertain terms has made it clear that any attempt to get any nearer said kids would be met with force . In return , he has a place of honor among all of the neighbors . Yeah , he is a giant pain in the butt , however his willingness to protect our entire hood , and the way he interacts with anyone he considers a friend earns him some real respect . Fortunately he has good doggie manners , kind of like some Guzzi riders I know :grin:
Dusty
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Shows how different cultures can be.
Like horses. In Europe, horses were owned by the nobility and used to oppress the commoners, so it became no problem for regular people to kill and eat horses - they were just tools of the people beating them up.
In America, most people, even poor formers, owned horses. They were companions and helpers and pets, and people established relationships with them. VERY few people here in the US will stomach killing and eating horses.
Or dogs. The relationship between man and dog is different in the West and East of the world ....
Lannis
Cute dog. My neighbor gave me one when I still lived on Oahu. It loved the rain. :grin:
The ancient Hawaiians brought dogs with them. They were kept and raised with the pigs and got the same food. Vegetarian. Some were kept for guard duty. Most were livestock. No horses. No cows. They were brought in later. Of course, since Hawaii is a state some practices are not done now. Beef is a cheaper source of animal protein.
Chinese, eat anything as long as it's cooked. They don't care what color the dog is.
Filipinos, like black dogs. Supposedly because of the perceived flavor. I won't tale you how they prepped them for cooking.
U.S. soldiers ate the mules during WWII. Just depends on the supply chain. :tongue:
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Cute dog. My neighbor gave me one when I still lived on Oahu. It loved the rain. :grin:
The ancient Hawaiians brought dogs with them. They were kept and raised with the pigs and got the same food. Vegetarian. Some were kept for guard duty. Most were livestock. No horses. No cows. They were brought in later. Of course, since Hawaii is a state some practices are not done now. Beef is a cheaper source of animal protein.
Chinese, eat anything as long as it's cooked. They don't care what color the dog is.
Filipinos, like black dogs. Supposedly because of the perceived flavor. I won't tale you how they prepped them for cooking.
U.S. soldiers ate the mules during WWII. Just depends on the supply chain. :tongue:
All you have to do is look at the way people live in those countries and you can understand why they eat just about anything. It is that or starve. No society safety nets like in 1st world countries.
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(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5624/23619589230_49d7f7e600_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/BZbyZ5)
Rant: I didn't make this for Christmas this year.
(https://flic.kr/p/BZbyZ5)
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What is that horse? I forgot to mention that most of the Hawaiian dogs being raised as livestock evolved to be bark-less. :shocked: