An excerpt:

I’ve noticed, in my non-scientific polling of post office conversations, that lately the standard answer to “How are you doing?” has changed. I have always relied on that old standby, “Good. How are you?” But I seem to have missed a major shift in word usage, because my “How are you?” is rarely answered with an agreeing “Good” anymore. Now, I’m much more likely to hear, “Oh, you know. Busy.” or “Ugh. So Busy.” Or a tired sigh and a shrug, suggesting that the “busy” is so obvious, who needs words for it?

Click the image below to read more of Tonya’s article:

http://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2014/12/02/sowing-clover-living-on-company-time-by-tonya-stiles/

An excerpt:

The almost fanatical quest for fees turned to tragedy in New Mexico a few weeks ago at Elephant Butte State Park when a state park ranger shot a tourist to death during a dispute over a camping fee. According to a story in the Las Cruces Sun-News, the victim, apparently a tourist in his 50s from Montana, became belligerent with Ranger Clyde Woods, a three-year veteran of the parks department when he refused to pay a $14 camping fee. Woods attempted to arrest the camper for trespassing and the man put his hands in his pockets and refused to remove them.

According to a spokeswoman for the parks division, Erica Asmus-Otero, the man “acted in a manner that our officer is trained to respond to,” and said he was “aggressive and verbally abusive.” So Ranger Woods shot him dead. The dead man was NOT carrying a firearm or a knife of any kind.

After the shooting, Parks Director Dave Simon said, “Deadly force is always a last resort” and added that the “vast majority of park users comply willingly with park fees.”

Click the image below to read more of Jim’s article:

http://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2014/12/02/take-it-or-leave-it-my-almost-ferguson-moment-rangers-should-range-but-fear-adrenalin-can-be-deadly-by-jim-stiles/