Given that, WTF is up with the staggering increase in police budgets? Armored personal carriers? SWAT teams? Canine units? Helicopters, GPS tracking, drones... what's next? Submarines?
The police will try to argue that it was something they did, some policing tactic or strategy... and of course it was no such thing (feel free to correct me with data). Technology forced changes in behavior, not the police.
The police will argue that we need to keep beefing up those budgets to protect "property"... or until ALL violence is ended... ROFL!!
Ever report a property crime to the police? In no particular hurry an officer might come to you and issue you a police report... often, they won't even do that. You will have to go to the police station to fill out a report that is really a formality for your insurance company. When they do come, there is no investigation or finger print collection (unless it is burglary, et al).
If anybody did a time/motion study of "law enforcement" they will find that essentially all of the payroll resources are spent on traffic issues. Not that this is not important, it is, but the increase in police budgets is overwhelming and in many localities far too heavy handed. A perfect example is the use of 911 for domestic arguments absent violence as the number 1 source of all 911 calls. (What's that all about?)
The federal government is using grants to local law enforcement as a means to stimulate the economy. The unintended consequences of that politically expedient strategy should be plain to see.
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For the homesteader in you:
This is a Surge brand belly milker milking my Jersey, Naomi. A milk cow is the most economically and nutritionally productive component on a family farm/homestead. After hand milking, a milker is just an unbelievable convenience:
I just hung these hams today after 4 weeks in salt. Because they had been completely skinned, 4 weeks should be enough. With skin on, 6 to 7 weeks is more like it. After the salt, just wash them good with a hose and hang for a couple days "naked" (if it is still cold enough that flies are not apparent) and then cover with a cheese cloth bag (or you can make a bag out of an old t-shirt or pillow case) and leave for 4 to 6 more weeks in a dry, cool, dark place. My neighbor likes to leave his for 1 year... I don't have the patience:
