Spring may be here on the farm and I am spraying with the Gator

I have been listening to the "Sand Pebbles," while farming.  The book has really given me pause for thought. It is a story about a group of US Sailors on a riverboat in China at the time of the revolution.

I have a theory that popular fiction tells a more honest story about a time in culture than any text book ever will.  The novel is unabashedly biased. The author is playing off popular beliefs or activities of the time to build the dramatic effect. I feel this is most true for adventure stories or detective novels.

The actions of the Chinese in rebelling against the colonial powers and the effectiveness of the bolshevik influence are pretty interesting in when you look at the political climate today.

It is pretty hilarious to see soccer moms who have never had a thought about trade wars or tariffs suddenly posting on facebook and protesting in the streets against Trump. Or claiming to understand Fascism and causes for the Second World War when back in college they were not especially deep.

I am not real confident that Tariffs are the answer to financial wreck our past politicians (supported by the idiots who voted for them) have gotten us into. However, there are limited ways to control the deficit and printing lots of money to devalue the currency lower the value of the debt was not real helpful.

I suspect raising money though tariffs vs raising taxes may have advantages. Raising taxes must become counterproductive at some point. It is driving certain groups into a barter economy. Having lower taxes for corporations seems like it could attract them to the US or at least keep the businesses here.

Many people in the agricultural sector have a wait and see attitude, but I am no super optimistic. I wish Trump would keep a close eye on which people are getting deported as if it were not for the hispanics who came here to get away from gangs, he may not have been elected. I get a little tired of all the law and order Republicans who might be getting a little perspective when the nutcase liberals take over next election.

Speaking of nutcase liberals...

My former employer cannot boost enrollment and so is cutting staff and programs. Apparently while getting rid of anyone who knows anything and then virtue-signaling your way to success seems like a great idea to a certain class of people, it may not always work. 

I was talking to a friend whose daughter attends and he was irritated with the apology for stolen land tagline on every piece of University correspondence. 

"How did you last for ten years at that place, Man we were starting to worry about you," is a comment I get frequently.

I went to lunch with a work friend and then helped him remove a rusted bolt from a pump in one of the mechanical rooms. I mostly just encouraged him to get out the welder and apply heat. I also pounded on stuff. It was a success. His supervisor gave me the most excellent coffee and a fine time was had by all.

I really liked the people I worked with. It was nice to be part of the group again. The people who actually get things done. I didn't hang out with the paper pushers...

We welded a washer and nut onto the broken bolt. My friend had broken the easy-out off in the bolt. He was able to weld the nut onto the easy-out and unthread the easy-out. Then he drilled and tapped the old bolt out. It was hard work all the way.

I have been spraying with the gator-sprayer. I had to do 20 acres with 15ft booms. I have foam makers but it is hard to see the foam when you are low to the ground and in tall barley stubble. I need a new cord to go from the Novatel antenna to my computer as the com-port wires are damaged at the special connector. Then I remembered that the Smart-Ag has bluetooth. So I was actually able to use FarmerGPS for guidance along with the foam. This made things much better.

I sent my old friend from work a picture of my sprayer set up as his department was instrumental in me getting the gator when it was scrapped. He did not think my sprayer setup was going to inspire a lot of confidence in the quality of my equipment. Apparently, it is old.

My previous century farming setup. Which worked amazingly well.

Later I no-tilled peas. This was another long story. But it all ended well.