Marking Time
Red? Green? wait...!
We're into day 27 of the government shutdown. While for some, this government shutdown does not affect them, Many Americans, it does hit hard. If you happen to eat food, or drink water, or you know... breathe, the government agencies tht monitor pollution, inspect food for disease, or water for more pollution, ....well? Shut down!
Anyone with a kid applying to, or returning to college, Fafsa forms for financial aid, are not being processed. Some types of food stamps and housing aid are not happening. Anyone who is a Native American is getting screwed over for who knows how many times, and now, any form of federal assistance is not happening for them.
Locally, I spend a great deal of time at National Parks, shooting my images, or out on the water, boating. National Parks are open, with people leaving trash all over, getting lost, and in a few cases, simply dying. Without Rangers for Protection and assistance, people are getting hurt, or dying.
On the ocean, the US Coast, for only the first time since the Civil War, is going without getting paid. That's right, a branch of US Military, the men and women who daily risk their lives for others, is going without getting paid. ATONS, Aides to navigation, are getting serviced. Buoys drift. Less stations are manned. Less critical needs are being met. Inspections for safety are not happening.
Oh? Border security? Ports are not effectively being secured. And, in case you did not know, more illegal aliens come through legal ports, like harbors where drugs come through, and airports, than over land across the southern border.
This shutdown is hurting the men and women of the US Coast Guard. Many young families cannot afford to miss paychecks.
/rant
BTW, a Green and Red Buoy marks the center where two channels cross each other. The Men and Women of the Coast Guard check these markers, to ensure the tides and currents have not moved them. Unless of course, the President is a fool and insists on funding for a wall that simply does not address border security or stop drug smuggling.
Semper Paratus: some of us remember your sacrifice and service
Today, is a Marshmallow Day!
Photo by Bluefin Studios
Nikon d50, 200mm, f5.6, 1/100th, Adobe Lightroom, and Photoshop
!steemitworldmap 56.928094 lat -134.531886 long Sea Lions on Buoy d3scr
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lovely photo @bluefinstudios, and the story interesting if not diverse i.e. politics, walls and rules of the sea!, lol
That's a stunning looking bouy, looks great in red and green - I never even knew they had different colours to mean different things like channels crossing. And do I spy a few sea-lions hanging out on the base of that one?
I hear what you are saying about sea border guarding, the UK seems to have a few "vessels" if that is what you can call them floating toward it - quite often they need rescuing before even getting near land - which seems to be dividing opinions on if they should be rescued or not. My personal feeling is they should be rescued - they are still human beings and whatever their reason for trying such a precarious trip - it has to be pretty desperate to risk their lives.
#thealliance #witness
Yes, the colours and numbers are a street sign sort of code for those of us, navigating the coastal waters.
And good eye, there! Yep...Some nice Sea Lions, lounging on the Buoy, before slipping back underwater to chase some fresh sushie!
Excellent reminder of the short-sightedness of many of our politicians. 😞