Friday, March 6, 2009

Do I HAVE to live here?

On Capitol Hill, a $1.7 million earmark for pig odor research in Iowa has become a big, fat joke among Republicans, a Grade A example of pork. But the people who live cheek by jowl with hog farms in the No. 1 pig-producing state aren't laughing.
They're gagging.
"You hold your breath and when it's really bad you get the taste in your mouth," said Carroll Harless, a 70-year-old retired corn-and-soybean farmer from Iowa Falls.
In Iowa, where the 20 million hogs easily outnumber the 3 million people, the rotten-egg-and-ammonia smell of hog waste often wafts into homes, landing like a punch to the chest.
To those who make light of the smell, Harkin extended an open invitation: Come to Iowa and take a whiff. The Associated Press


Considering the clean fresh crisp mountain air I was accustomed to breathing before moving to Iowa...I have to laugh at this article to refrain myself from exhibiting gloominess. :)

7 comments:

Katie said...

This is hillarious! Imagine all the people without jobs who could benefit from this money? It's absolutely insane!

The Whitleys said...

Sounds like a normal day of work for me, nice and smelly

Candace said...

LOL! ...that's funny, Kevin! :O

Kristin said...

I really dont understand this article. Are they saying that they want to spend money on finding ways to make the smell less offensive AND are you saying that you think that is stupid?

Candace said...

I don't feel one way or the other about using part of the spending bill now making its way through Congress on controling pig-farm smells in Iowa...it can't be any more pointless then other earmarks in the bill such as...tattoo removal for gang members in Los Angeles; Polynesian canoe rides in Hawaii; termite research in New Orleans; and the study of grape genetics in New York.
It just strikes me as amusing that I live in a state that suffers from pig odors. :)

grandaddy said...

That smell is required to make bacon....so bring it on....and keep it coming!!!....i've been ankle deep in pig manure and it never hurt me....not only that we use to use it in our cucumber patch and the cucumbers had sweet fuzzy little tails...great stuff

Candace said...

Yes, I do enjoy my bacon.
..."sweet fuzzy little tails"...?
Where do you come up w/this stuff, Daddy!? Haha! :)