LAND GRAB

 

In the late 19th Century, there were a number of events in which the US government opened up previously restricted federal lands to settlers. They were often a first come - first claimed race for homesteads, known as land rushes or land grabs. The largest was in Oklahoma, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_run . No one said the land was, um, empty.

A couple of our stalwart Articans ran their own version during the festival. At a signal, a couple of dozen people ran across a rough field to claim their pieces of turf. A few indigenous residents already happened to be there. They were ignored or bowled over. I tried to photograph the melee inside the homestead zone but there was such chaos that I would have needed a platform or crane to get above the fracas. There was a lesson to be learned here but most people were too busy with their beer.           

ELEGANCE

Another day offline yesterday. My life is too crowded. We took Ellie to the local Renaissance Festival (more about which later), which chewed up most of the day. I'm walking better but my leg muscles are still weak from months of under-use. Fell asleep again when we got home.

Anyway, back to Artica. The event is completely free form, including music, sculpture and performance art. I'm not sure what's going on here. The tiara resembles that of Our Lady of Artica (more about which later). The dress might be that of an 18th Century noblewoman on hallucinogenics. There had to be a second person under the skirt but I never got a peek.

Sorry no post yesterday. I was at the mighty Washington University Medical Center getting my back worked on. They gave me an IV that doesn't put you to sleep but just makes you . . .smooth while they burn nerve roots in your lower back. It really helps but after Mrs C took me home I fell hard asleep. She had to wake me for dinner. Then a frantic day at work.

Anyway, last weekend brought us the annual Artica festival. You might call it alternative art, or just way out there. I missed most of it while I was in Texas but got by late Sunday afternoon. One piece involved  playing croquet on some rough land. The metal arch contained black light spotlights. All the equipment was painted in day-glo colors and looked wild at night. Unfortunately, it was too dark to photograph that action.            

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT

And just what is that supposed to mean? Mess? This suggests Texas has a bit of an ego and thinks it it is pretty tough. If I make faces and thumb my nose at it what are they going to do, sic Ted Cruz on me?

Otherwise, more pix from the Teas State Fair. The giant figure is the fair's logo, Big Tex. His hands and arms are always posed the same way, Makes him look like he's directing traffic on the parking lot. Then just more signs. It's like Texas has its own smaller scale version of nationalism. I might come back if I happen to be in Dallas at this time of year but usually we just change planes there.       

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - MOO

Texans have a love affair with cattle, or so the people who make money off the transaction would have you believe. Of course, beef consumption is part of the American fabric. I'm not a vegetarian. My remote ancestors were omnivores. I don't eat much beef, though. In part that's because of the nutritional issues but mostly because of the environmental damage. Is there a form of food production that is more harmful to the planet? Having a habitable place to live in a century apparently doesn't trouble the Texas Beef Council.

But then I fly. I know, I know. The ethical issues in all of this are hard.