Post number 1400

(UPDATE: Actually, I just re-checked. This is only published post 1372. There are a bunch of drafts, 28 to be exact, that never made it.)

This situation may be desperate for the lady in question, but as a keeper of hogs, I couldn't help but laugh (God have mercy on me!)

Caroline Hayes, 63, tried leave her house in Uki, New South Wales, to use the outdoor toilet, (didn't know they still existed in places-JC) but the animal bit her and shoved her back inside.

Bruce, who is the size of a Shetland pony, showed up at her home 10 days ago after his owners were unable to cope with him and let him loose in the rainforest.

Mrs Hayes began feeding the beast, but he became more aggressive, demanding more food and biting her on the leg when she tried to go to the toilet.

Local rangers tried to rescue her but could not capture the huge animal. "The rangers came out to my house with a dog cage and this pig is that big, it's like trying to put an elephant into a dog cage. They go him half-way in, and he just backed off (We know about this problem - JC) and went back to my dam, where he was having a lovely time in the water"

The case has now been handed over to the Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB), who have promised not to put the animal down. (I'd have made him into sausage and chops in a heartbeat - JC)

Mrs Hayes told how she took pity on the beast, but it soon took over her home.

"When I found it, it had 15 ticks in its eyes which I actually took out," she said. "One of its eyes it couldn't see out of, so I put cream in it, but apparently it's actually claimed my land and claimed my place. It started getting very pushy, started pushing me around, so I started to get a bit frightened, until the stage that it started knocking on my door at 4am, actually head-butting my door.

"I wanted to go to my toilet, which is outside. I opened up the door and the pig pushed me that hard, it pushed me back into my room, where I fell over. I picked up a broom and poked him out with it - and he snapped it in half with his mouth."

Apparently (see here) the pig siege is over. They are lifting "Bruce" out and bringing him to local pig farm to be a boar. From the picture, "Bruce" is a pretty good looking boar-long and lean. An ornery pig can be tough to handle if you don't know what you're doing.

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Everyone is talking about the bailout (I wrote to my senators and Rep yesterday in opposition) of Wall Street, but I also wonder about what no one else is talking about-the pumping of $30B into foreign markets yesterday and $180B last week. How, why, and where do these billions come from?

I am not sure either of "the candidates" are impressing many with there "leadership" during this "financial crisis". Both seem to be "responders" rather than leaders. (And isn't what the Senate does? Respond to bills sent up from the House or from the President?)

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Today I hope to prepare the ground for some more planting and maybe work on the shop a little. It is too disorganized now to get much done.

I picked up some cedar lumber in town last week from a gentleman who had it hanging around for some years. All kinds of lumber find project homes around here.

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Finally, a thought and a question. Does one have to act on every "good" idea? Maybe its a good idea for someone else to pursue-but then, if so, why didn't the someone else have the idea? Things to ponder ....

Oremus pro invicem!