THINGS TO PONDER

  UNIONS: "The recent labor protests (and counter-protests) in Wisconsin are part of a long tradition of politicians letting public unions take the heat for government fiscal woes."..(Fortune Magazine 2-28-11) This is a thought-provoking article that may change your mind about your position (if you have one) on unions. "Are public unions our convenient economic scapegoats?"

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  WAR: “Any future defense secretary,” Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told  an audience of West Point cadets Friday, “who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should have his head examined.” February 26, 2011

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  RAILROADS/ENVIRONMENT/ECONOMY: "Mr. Buffett attributed much of the year’s success to his acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad, calling it the highlight of 2010. The $26 billion deal, he said, has increased his company’s earnings power by more than 30 percent. But Mr. Buffett also trumpeted the benefits of rail travel beyond profits."  “Railroads have major cost and environmental advantages over trucking, their main competitor,” said Mr. Buffett. “Our country gains because of reduced greenhouse emissions and a much smaller need for imported oil. When traffic travels by rail, society benefits.”.. (New York Times February 26, 2011)

(Hill Country Flyer)

  More folks in business and government should listen to Warren Buffett. I never really understood the loss of so many American railroads. (Shades of Ayn Rand!) I'm glad to hear his position on rail transportation in these times of rising oil prices as well as the impact on the environment if we continue trucking -- if that is even an option in the future with gasoline prices going up, up, up. I loved the few cross-country trips I took on railroads as a child. I really wish we had more rail transportation from outlying towns into big cities in Texas. There is a steam engine train that makes weekend trips to Burnet from Cedar Park, a suburb of Austin. As we have fewer and fewer tourist sites for visitors to see, I wonder if most will continue to ride the train just for the sake of saying they rode a train!

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American Goldfinches

  EARLY BIRDS: I have been mesmerized by the number of beautiful birds the past week. This is the first time I have seen cedar wax wings, and the first time I have put out a thistle sock for the goldfinches since moving to Burnet. The cedar wax wings have shown up in a flock, and decided to stick around when they found the abundance of hackberries in the trees surrounding my backyard. And of course, the water is plentiful as well.  Times like these I wish I had a really good telephoto lens.  The zoom feature on my camera doesn't do justice to these lovely creatures when I have to shoot through a glass window. I spend way too much time looking out the windows and watching these and the tiny American goldfinches that often fight over the thistle sock I provide for them.  I cannot think of any more soothing activity than watching the birds from my window. Take time to look at nature, 

and wonder at the beauty of our world.

Cedar Wax Wings

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On this note I will close. I plan a trip to my 92-year-old dad's home tomorrow.  I'm hoping to hear more of his stories of his youth. In recent years he never ceases to surprise me with things I never heard him speak of before. I will share them in the future.


Love, peace, and healing to the world and all my loved ones who are dealing with health challenges,
Marilyn