The Pit and the Politicians.

(Based on the regular meeting of the Utah County Commission on Tuesday, March 29. 2016)


In Utah County near the town of Benjamin a pit
was dug that made the residents so mad they nearly spit.
The hole was dug for gravel; it was larger than a crater;
it would have fit a football field and an ocean freighter.
The cougar and coyote, and majestic elk, all fled
from this pockmark in the land as if compelled by dread.
The nearby cattle bellowed at such unsightly digging,
and the nature center took offense at all the rigging.
There was a mink ranch operating in that same precinct,
and all the little critters nearly died and went extinct.
The gravel trucks whizzed in and out, no Stop sign did they heed;
and thus the sacred speed limit they managed to exceed.
Whenever some big gravel truck applied their huge air brake
it caused the china in the houses to rattle, roll, and shake.

This gravel mine grew larger and it threatened to consume

all the local farmland and sweet agriculture doom.
And so the doughty citizens of Benjamin arose
to visit their Commissioners and rub it in their nose.
They spoke their piece in public, though the audience was slight,
then waited to see if the County would take up their fight.
The magistrates were patient as they listened to the bleating,
and then decided . . . sakes alive . . . to hold another meeting!
And so the chasm widens as the landscape disappears,
like a black hole yawning out in space, my little dears.
For all I know that hole will still be out there, gaily humming,
after the Apocalypse and the Second Coming . . . 

Can you protect yourself and family during an Emergency or Disaster?

The power's out; there's no water. It is unsafe to travel (due to debris in the streets or other reasons). The authorities are few and far between. You and your family are basically on your own.
And there are looters in the neighborhood.
Hikingware.com asks: What legally can you do to protect your family and property?

Culled from several different legal sources, here is a brief synopsis of what you legally can and cannot do until Martial Law is declared in your area if you feel threatened by looters or trespassers.  (Martial Law changes the parameters quite a bit, and differs from state to state.)

(1)  Is it legal to display signs such as "Trespassers will be Shot" on your property?
(2) Do "Trespassers will be Shot" signs have any legal effect?
and
(3) Is it legal for people to shoot trespassers on their property? 

In the United States, the answer to the first question is yes, the answer to the second question is no (at least not regarding the use of deadly force), and the answer to the third question is more complicated.

First off, with respect to your own property, so long as you haven't agreed to any limitations on the appearance of your home (such as through a Homeowners Association or deed restriction), you're free to put up any signs you want, regardless of how violent/offensive/profane they may be to others.  That's the First Amendment at work--it limits the government's ability to regulate speech--so yes, a sign threatening to shoot trespassers is perfectly legal.  You may not be viewed as the most neighborly person in your community, but the government should not be able to punish you for such a sign, or force you to take it down. And it just might be enough to deter any would-be looters.

Now, to the second question.  Most people who put up "Trespassers will be Shot" signs are using them as a scare tactic, to make sure that would-be criminals get the message that (1) they're armed and (2) they're not afraid to shoot.  There's obviously the hope that a criminal sees the sign and decides that the home with the trigger-happy owners isn't the one he wants to burgle.  And again, that's perfectly legal.  However, installing a sign doesn't give a property owner any special rights; a property owner isn't allowed to draw his/her weapon on a trespasser and shoot with impunity on the basis that the trespasser was somehow "warned" as to the consequences of trespassing.  Conversely, an outsider who knowingly ignores the "Trespassers will be Shot" sign may be guilty of trespassing, but the trespasser does not assume the risk of being shot and thereby lose the right to take legal action if he/she takes a bullet for walking on someone else's grass. Especially during an emergency.  The bottom line here is that if a trespasser is shot by a property owner, the legality of the shooting will depend entirely on the facts of the shooting itself, and not on the existence or lack thereof of a "warning" sign. 

Finally, the third question.  The law regarding self-defense is going to vary from state to state, but generally speaking, deadly force may not be used in defense of property (property can be replaced, lives cannot), and the use of deadly force must be in response to reasonable fear of serious, imminent bodily harm to oneself or others.  
  Further, there is also a distinction between "stand your ground" and "duty to retreat" jurisdictions; in the former category (nearly half of all states), an individual does not have to attempt to retreat before responding with deadly force where self-defense is justifiable.  In a minority of states, the use of deadly force in self-defense is only permitted if an individual cannot safely avoid the risk of harm or death, such as by running away.  And finally, there are a handful of states that are in between, imposing a duty of retreat in only certain circumstances.

But as a general matter, the key terms regarding self-defense are proportionality and reasonableness:  the force you employ to defend yourself must be proportional to the threat presented, and the threat presented must reasonably be viewed as serious.  For example, if a trespasser enters your property and is brandishing a shotgun, then yes, responding with deadly force may be justified depending on jurisdiction:  the criminal has a gun, and a reasonable person would assume that he is likely to use it.  If someone walks onto your driveway and attempts to take your car at knife point or kidnap your child, the use of deadly force may also be justified;  again, there are serious weapons and serious risks presented.  But there would be no serious risk presented by a group of Girl Scouts who walk onto your property and ring your doorbell, or even an intoxicated individual shouting angry nonsense while on your yard (while the latter is perhaps frightening, there's no immediate risk of harm to you), and therefore, responding with deadly force would be highly illegal in both cases, regardless of the sign(s) you've posted.
To put it another way; if you only think someone is on your property to harm you or steal from you (and stealing precious water and food when they are in short supply could be construed as a deadly threat) you have no legal standing in most states for using deadly force against them. On the other hand, if they display a knife or gun you may be justified in responding with deadly force -- but it differs from state to state. 
So be sure you know where your state stands on this hot-button issue before there are any emergencies or disasters where this unfortunate scenario may actually play out. 

Like a watered garden

Isaiah 58:11 " . . . like a watered garden . . . " 

Like a watered garden may I offer beauty to

those who are despondent and could use a better view.

Like a spring of water may my nourishment take hold

to make the weary and the sick rise happily and bold.

Could I but bloom a moment in the midst of mortal strife

I would not fret about the banality of my life.

The Edible Flower Garden

Once you have your emergency drypack food storage in place for you and your family, you may want to give some thought to growing a few perennially fresh items that can be used to garnish your emergency meals in case you can't get to a market or they are all closed for the duration. It will help make your food storage meals more attractive, and add some valuable vitamins and minerals to your diet as well.
Hikingware.com suggests you consider having a flower garden that not only brightens up your yard, but can provide you with additional food flavor in case of disaster or emergency. Beauty is never more appreciated than when it is also functional!
If the thought of feasting on flowers makes you feel a bit standoffish, then here's food for thought: You may already be eating flowers without realizing it. If your diet includes broccoli, cauliflower or artichokes, you are essentially consuming the flowering bud of the plant. Need further convincing? Flowers have been accenting world cuisines for thousands of years, dating back to the use of chrysanthemums by the ancient Chinese.
Consider these bright ideas for your edible flower garden:

BORAGE (Borago officinalis)

Star-shaped blooms with eye-catching appeal in pink, violet or shades of blue. Subtle flavor slightly akin to cucumbers, though some note a grassy undertone.

How to use: Show off their beauty by freezing the flowers into ice cubes and floating them in a beverage, or sprinkle over soups, salads or dips.

Growing tip: This self-seeding annual tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and can be grown in full sun to light shade.

CHRYSANTHEMUMS (Chrysanthemum morifolium, syn.C. x grandiflorum)

All are slightly spicy to strongly pungent, so a little usually goes a long way.

Edible note: As the "radicchios" of edible flowers, their petals kick up the flavor of salads, stir-fries, rice dishes and even burritos.

Growing tip: This perennial thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.

DAYLILIES (Hemerocallis)

Flavor profile varies from sweet and floral to vegetal or slightly metallic, depending on the variety. Always harvest the plumpest buds, just before they open.

How to use: In Asian cuisine, salads, desserts, deep-fried, or sautéed with garlic and asparagus.

Growing tip: Best in full sun or light shade in fairly moist, well-drained soil amended with organic matter.

NASTURTIUMS (Tropaeolum majus)

Arguably the all-star of edible flowers, with a somewhat spicy, peppery tang similar to watercress. (Both leaves and blooms are edible.) Flower colors range from a moonlit yellow to bright yellow, orange, scarlet and red.

How to use: Sprinkle flowers over salads, vegetables, pastas, stir-fries and meat dishes, or blend with salsas, cream cheese or butter.

Growing tip: This easy-to-grow, self-seeding annual thrives in most well-drained soils in full sun to light shade.

ROSES (Rosa)

All rose types vary greatly in flavor -- from full-bodied floral to pleasantly sweet and floral, to slightly metallic or even overtones of ginger -- so it's best to taste-test first.

How to use: Use petals to flavor honey, beverages, a sorbet or fruit compote or make a classic rose-petal jam. Also remember that the rose hip, which comes after the bloom, is a rich source of Vitamin C -- it can be made into a tea or boiled down with sugar for a syrup that goes well with pancakes and waffles.

Growing tip: Best in full sun to light shade and moderately moist, well-drained soil.

SQUASH Blossoms (Cucurbita)

The giant of culinary flowers, all squash flowers are edible -- both winter and summer squash-- though zucchini tends to produce the largest flowers. The texture is somewhat crisp with a sweet zucchini-like flavor, only milder.

How to use: The large yellow blooms are perfect for stuffing or deep frying.

Growing tip: Plant this warm-summer annual in deep, rich and well-drained but moist soil containing plenty of organic matter.

Poetic Thoughts on the Utah County Commission Meeting. Tuesday, March 8. 2016.

Technology is wonderful, from iPads to the drone;
it even lets L. Ellertson conduct things on the phone.
He wasn't there in person as deliberations started;
he'd disappeared to lands unknown and possibly uncharted.
But still we heard his vibrant voice when calling for endorsement
of resolutions and for rules in need of strict enforcement. 
The meeting went by pretty quick, there was no controversy;
nothing to make anyone upset or get all pursy.
However, Item Number Two upon the normal docket
has caused my feelings to explode, in fact to nearly rocket:
How do you take a trifle and expand it so intensely 
that it becomes a problem that perplexes so immensely? 
Do other Utah counties charge a company a fee?
Our recorder doesn't think it's part of our own history.
Provo Land & Title asked why they were singled out
as having some small rule betrayed, ignored, began to flout.
They were assured there was no problem, no worries -- no sirree!
(But maybe they were gonna have to pay some kind of fee.)
The legal scholars had convened and gave as their opinion
that papers must be drawn and signed to guard public dominion.
The issue was not settled, no not even by a vote --
it still appears as murky as a medieval moat.
Were ev'ry jot and tittle to be analyzed this way,
the Commissioners would have to meet twelve hours every day! 

Betting the Farm

I've bet the farm on flying wombat beating 5-stripe skink;
 the odds of praying mantis beating koi now really stink.
My three-toed sloth's a fav'rite against any bivalve punk;
but I never bet against sure things, by which I mean a skunk.
I can't afford to lose because the consequence is stark --
I've given all my markers to a hard-bitten loan shark!

Poetic Notes on the Utah County Commissioners Meeting. March 1, 2016.

The Utah County Magistrates held solemn conclave on
the first Tuesday of March; their faces rather pale and drawn.
And after volunteers for prayer and pledge had been assigned,
they settled down to wade through all the paperwork and grind.

They juggled the agenda so they could begin debate
to get the Giles and Bates contest erased off their full slate.
The right of way, an asphalt road, and section lines demanded
commissioners consult and pass a judgement single-handed.

The atmosphere was tense as lawyers from both sides addressed
the county managers with many counterclaims and zest.
The talk ranged from the pavement to the shoulder's right of way;
a judge's ruling also some small part did duly play.

Ochre lines and yellow lines and fence lines by the score
kept the poor commissioners confused (and apt to snore).
The county engineer had much to say of nuisance strip,
of grading and of right of way -- it gave them all the Pip.

At one point someone said to split the baby -- come again?
Did they mean the pump house? (Let's just all count up to ten.)
The audience grew restless as the brouhaha progressed
from North to South, then East to West -- it was an acid test! 

At last become indignant, Mr. Graves gave vent to wrath
and almost caused a riot and lamentable bloodbath.
In sympathetic rage he yelled "Giles property be damned!"
(Which just might now go viral and be virtually spammed.)

This public road not dedicated caused so much contention
that you would have thought it was the Republican Convention.
Maps and curves were tossed about like twigs upon the sea,
and whether to vacate or not was argued furiously. 

At last "Approved as Stipulated" came up for a vote.
Twas no surprise that two to one it passed as if by rote.
The crowd was so exhausted by the contretemps that most
went home and had a bowl of milk with just some plain white toast. 

Much other work the magistrates of Utah County did.
But by then this poet's brain to stupor mild had slid.
O Commissioners of County, you have got a trying job.
If I were to attempt it how my head should simply throb!  


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Reaction from the Commish:

Tim,

You are an excellent writer and communicator of the feelings and emotions that come with some of the issues. I have often mentioned to those that come to our meetings that we really should be charging for admission because its the best political theater in the valley.   On a serious note I would love to visit with you in the future and wonder if I could get permission from you to use this poem?

Thanks

Bill Lee

Commissioner

Utah County.

Thanks for sharing your talent. Do you have orhers?  Larry Ellertson.

Sent from my Galaxy S®III