More about Eggs

 Granny Sue's comment drew me up short, about doing kindness quietly. I really had a good think about whether or not that post was 'virtue signaling'. It could be perceived that way, I suppose. 

And no, this is not a criticism of Susanna AT ALL. It was a moment taken to reflect on what I said and how I said it. Was my point clear? Maybe...maybe not. 

The point of the post, in my mind, was to seize the opportunity to help someone, and finding great satisfaction in doing it. It was about seeing a need, and realizing that you could address it. It was a good feeling, and this is the time for that, for looking around, seeing the need and doing what you can to address it. 

I think most of us are standing by watching events unfold, and it is a helpless feeling. It can't be stopped. Rich men are going to do what they are going to do. We can (and should) object to it whenever and where ever we can, however, we are limited. 

We have the choice. We can be enraged. We can be fearful. We can feel hopeless and helpless and as if everything is futile. What the point of even trying...OR...we can look for the need that surrounds us and do something about that. 

Not going to lie, either. Some days, I do feel hopeless and helpless and if everything is futile. Saturday, though, I saw a need, and I am lucky enough to know a chicken lady. A little coordination, and presto! We took 8 dozen eggs off her hands that she was having trouble moving (living out on a dirt road up a winding hill, ice storms had slowed business for her) and put those eggs in the hands of people who wanted/needed them. 

It was a kindness, yeah, but even more, on a personal level, it was about making a difference. 

Still, though, if anyone saw that as humble bragging, or virtue signaling, or showing off, I apologize. (Although I am bragging about controlling the slide as my car slid back down the driveway...keeping it between the ditches and away from the mailbox was pretty good work if I do say so myself.) 

But yeah...I did not mean for that to be the focus of the post. We all have an opportunity here to combat helplessness, hopelessness and feelings of futility. 

But back to eggs. Later, in casual conversation, I said to someone, "My gosh! Do you know how much they are charging for eggs at Walmart??!!" 

That simple conversation starter led to "Did you hear about the woman (the person was unable to tell me her name or her job) who heard about a farmer who died from Chicken Flu?" 

"Well, I did hear that a farmer died of chicken flu..." 

"She ordered all his chickens killed...BUT THEN she ordered neighboring farms to have their chickens killed too, and some farmers tried to fight back because they'd had their chickens tested and they were negative but she forced them to do it. 600,000 chickens!!! They arrested her and put her in a military prison for it..." 

My ears pricked up at that. 

"What? Was she military?"

"Nooooo..." 

"Well, that doesn't make sense. They don't put civilians in a military prison," but inside I was thinking, 'My god. Have they declared martial law???' and the sickening thing was that I could totally see it happening.

And the response came, "Well, JAG...." 

And I said, "But it doesn't make sense. JAG is for military offenders and offenses. If she is not military..." 

Things were getting the slightest bit testy. "I don't know. Google it. It's all there." 

And you know that I did. I was googling as soon as I got back to the car.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/usda-inspector-poultry-extermination/

and this: 

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/usda-inspector-general-escorted-out-her-office-after-defying-white-house-2025-01-29/ 

(The last article tells us why Elon had a bone to pick with the department anyway.)

The thing that bugs me though is this: The whole story was concocted and distributed on social media. There is no credible news agency reporting this. The whole story was concocted by a facebook poster, and it was disseminated through facebook. She read this, and nothing about it caused her to go 'hmmmmmm...' and think that perhaps this needed further investigating. 

I sent her both links. The one word reply came back: 'Interesting'. 

Were any eyes opened? We can hope, I guess. I just don't understand how in the world anyone would believe for a hot minute that one person would make a decision to do this for the express purpose of raising the price of eggs. How on earth would she profit, personally, from her decision if she had? I mourn the death of critical thinking. 

For anyone interested: Google 'Economic Blackout February 28th'. Let your conscience be your guide. 

Thought for the day?

Trust in your own ability to handle what comes next. 

Interesting thing: A facebook post that I supposedly posted has been flagged as inaccurate. The post says that he-who=shall-not-be=named "blamed DEI' for the Kansas City loss". Interestingly enough, I never posted such a thing. I could care less what the president thought of Kansas City's loss. My old editor got flagged today too, for stating an opinion that all the Gaza chaos is increasing our chances of retaliatory terrorist attacks. 

I thought facebook had done away with fact checking. 

LATE EDIT: I am shocked, but not surprised. 

https://grannysu.blogspot.com/2025/02/sad-news

John (By Stargoose and Hanglands) was a gentle wise soul. His passing is a big loss to our blogging community.