Before life turned to shit? Life has nearly always been shit.
In 1909 Fritz Haber and Robert Le Rossignol demonstrated the Haber-Bosch process that allowed inexpensive fertilizer to be created. Before that, most people had to work on farms because one farmer could not grow sufficient amount of crops. No, most people were not gentleman farmers. Extremely few of today's pampered youth would choose the life of a farmer -- let alone a pre-1909 farmer.
Even though Fritz Haber won a Nobel Prize for his discovery, the other winners that year refused to share the stage with him. Why? Because the other item he was famous for was mustard gas which saw wide spread use during that little dust-up known as World War I. How many of today's youth would volunteer for the trenches of World War I? We (rightfully) criticize the number of deaths in modern wars, but today's wars are just recess level carnage compared to the lives taken and destroyed in World War I.
Of course, post World War I was an idealistic time that was inconveniently marred by The Great Depression. You think you've seen hard economic times. Your grandparents or great grandparents laugh in your general direction. The unemployment rate was 25% and people starved to death. Yes, I know. Today's Instagram models would kill for the non-existent waist of the mother who forgoes eating so that her children don't die of malnutrition.
But that's okay, we got rid of The Great Depression by having World War II. Such a friendly time of gentlemanly behavior where it was decided at the time (and is still considered the right decision today by those that really understand) to end the war by nuking not one, but two cities. 17% of the Polish population died in that war. 15% of the Soviet Union's population died. IIRC, about 9% of the German population died. By count yourself lucky if you're in the west, today women choose to kill about 19% of the population before they even draw their first breath.
Post World War II, we had minor dust ups of Korea, Vietnam, Iraq I, Afghanistan, and Iraq II. We had the Cold War, duck and cover, and the constant fear of being nuked.
Reagan, Thatcher, and Pope John Paul II actively worked to bring down the Soviet Union -- and when the wall fell, we had a period of relative peace and prosperity.
So, sure. Today is shit compared to the 90s and early 00s. But don't worry, we can make it worse. We can fully support the Green New Deal and get behind John Kerry's war on the Haber-Bosch process. Your cushy office job will go away and you'll have to drag your bones back to being a subsistence farmer.
My bet is anon did not know anyone from that time. I did, worked with them and they thought the younger generation was lost. Most of use in the later decades of life tend to think that about the younger whipper snappers. Some times I’m anon just because I forget to add my name. Keep it up.
You all missed the point of the rant ... aimed at the Gen-Z and Millennial that are constantly crying in the beer about how hard life is -- not realizing that they still are living a golden age.
Sorry to disappoint you Paul, but I've talked extensively with the older generation, including relatives that were given the option of staying on the farm or going off to World War II. These relatives choose war because they knew how much farming sucked.
I've also worked with relatives, translating their journals documenting farming with ox and plow, to getting their first tractor, to conversion to greenhouses. The main take away was that farming sucks.
"choose war because they knew how much farming sucked" Uh huh. riiight. Which is why "bought the farm" has been an expression, in various wordings and languages, for a good chunk of recorded history.
Farming may suck. War sucks more. Unless you're a very specific sort of guy, and 99.999% of men are *not* that guy. War is not better than farming.
And there's a reason homesteading has exploded. Because the younger generations are looking at the civilization they live in, and saying "nope! I'd rather grow my own food and raise animals while having a dozen kids, than be a serf to a DEI manager with an MBA while living in a place the size of a matchbox with no wife and no kids." God bless em.
# 16 That's clever. I don't remember where I saw it posted but the person said they wanted to design a shirt with a QR code on it that when someone took a photo of them the phone would automatically download some malware and brick itself. THAT would be some fun right there!
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9) - Asking for a friend -"Can you extract DNA from that soap and grow your own Sydney Sweeney?"
ReplyDeleteMaybe, but from what I've seen of her, she'd need an attitude transplant . . . or at least an attitude adjustment.
DeleteDoes it smell similar to Gwyneth Paltrow's candle?
DeleteProbably, cuz it's made from the same biological cheese based proteins, with hydrolyzed fish oils, and green lipped NZ mussel goo for joint relief.
Delete#17 The God's honest truth...
ReplyDeleteI can't choose so 😎👍 to all of them
ReplyDeleteJD
#12 I imitate Uncle Leo saying "I'm an old man, I'm confused!" all the time.
ReplyDeleteBefore life turned to shit? Life has nearly always been shit.
ReplyDeleteIn 1909 Fritz Haber and Robert Le Rossignol demonstrated the Haber-Bosch process that allowed inexpensive fertilizer to be created. Before that, most people had to work on farms because one farmer could not grow sufficient amount of crops. No, most people were not gentleman farmers. Extremely few of today's pampered youth would choose the life of a farmer -- let alone a pre-1909 farmer.
Even though Fritz Haber won a Nobel Prize for his discovery, the other winners that year refused to share the stage with him. Why? Because the other item he was famous for was mustard gas which saw wide spread use during that little dust-up known as World War I. How many of today's youth would volunteer for the trenches of World War I? We (rightfully) criticize the number of deaths in modern wars, but today's wars are just recess level carnage compared to the lives taken and destroyed in World War I.
Of course, post World War I was an idealistic time that was inconveniently marred by The Great Depression. You think you've seen hard economic times. Your grandparents or great grandparents laugh in your general direction. The unemployment rate was 25% and people starved to death. Yes, I know. Today's Instagram models would kill for the non-existent waist of the mother who forgoes eating so that her children don't die of malnutrition.
But that's okay, we got rid of The Great Depression by having World War II. Such a friendly time of gentlemanly behavior where it was decided at the time (and is still considered the right decision today by those that really understand) to end the war by nuking not one, but two cities. 17% of the Polish population died in that war. 15% of the Soviet Union's population died. IIRC, about 9% of the German population died. By count yourself lucky if you're in the west, today women choose to kill about 19% of the population before they even draw their first breath.
Post World War II, we had minor dust ups of Korea, Vietnam, Iraq I, Afghanistan, and Iraq II. We had the Cold War, duck and cover, and the constant fear of being nuked.
Reagan, Thatcher, and Pope John Paul II actively worked to bring down the Soviet Union -- and when the wall fell, we had a period of relative peace and prosperity.
So, sure. Today is shit compared to the 90s and early 00s. But don't worry, we can make it worse. We can fully support the Green New Deal and get behind John Kerry's war on the Haber-Bosch process. Your cushy office job will go away and you'll have to drag your bones back to being a subsistence farmer.
While I don't disagree, I guess I need to quit posting memes too. Y'all are starting to take them way too seriously.
DeleteWow, you do realize it is not a factual or historical meme, right ? It's all in jest to create a smile no a history lesson...
DeleteJD
hey, lighten up a little man...dont you realize that some of these assholes wouldnt have a life if it werent for you ? heheh
DeleteNah, there's always one asshole out there who acts like we give a shit about what he thinks.
DeleteOh hell no, I love to laugh at these. It is one of the highlights of my retired day.
DeleteAll it takes is one person to screw it up for everyone else. Jeez.
DeletePlease don't stop with the memes . We enjoy them , and your bog in general .
DeleteRelax, guys. I was just fucking with him.
DeleteGood, 'cause I really dig your bog-I guess?
Delete:-)
DeleteYou have to be retired.
DeleteMy bet is anon did not know anyone from that time. I did, worked with them and they thought the younger generation was lost. Most of use in the later decades of life tend to think that about the younger whipper snappers. Some times I’m anon just because I forget to add my name. Keep it up.
DeleteYou all missed the point of the rant ... aimed at the Gen-Z and Millennial that are constantly crying in the beer about how hard life is -- not realizing that they still are living a golden age.
DeleteSorry to disappoint you Paul, but I've talked extensively with the older generation, including relatives that were given the option of staying on the farm or going off to World War II. These relatives choose war because they knew how much farming sucked.
I've also worked with relatives, translating their journals documenting farming with ox and plow, to getting their first tractor, to conversion to greenhouses. The main take away was that farming sucks.
"choose war because they knew how much farming sucked"
DeleteUh huh. riiight. Which is why "bought the farm" has been an expression, in various wordings and languages, for a good chunk of recorded history.
Farming may suck. War sucks more. Unless you're a very specific sort of guy, and 99.999% of men are *not* that guy. War is not better than farming.
And there's a reason homesteading has exploded. Because the younger generations are looking at the civilization they live in, and saying "nope! I'd rather grow my own food and raise animals while having a dozen kids, than be a serf to a DEI manager with an MBA while living in a place the size of a matchbox with no wife and no kids."
God bless em.
#3. Similar to a Western Union receipt.
ReplyDelete#10 - Only half?
ReplyDeleteNews flash: the whole damned crowd is off the rails, and that includes me too.
What! No memes? Can't even imagine a day without Wirecutter...
ReplyDelete# 16 That's clever. I don't remember where I saw it posted but the person said they wanted to design a shirt with a QR code on it that when someone took a photo of them the phone would automatically download some malware and brick itself. THAT would be some fun right there!
ReplyDeleteNeck
All great. I’ve a couple of friends who have a therapy practice. Thanks to you they are well supplied with therapy memes
ReplyDeleteCoelacanth
#19: They built errythang, invented errythang yet mysteriously forgot about Africa.
ReplyDelete- WDS