The Origins of Minka

The idea came to me as a pen name when I wrote for a now defunct political blog. Minka.  A nod to my Scandinavian heritage. At the time the surname was Böotes (a nod to my hobby as an amateur astronomer) as a play on words. Minka is Polish in origin meaning protector. My government name means the same thing in a different language. After the political blog went defunct when my editor could no longer keep the domain name it became du chat.... meaning the cat in swedish. I love cats but once I got more active in social media I shortened it into Duchati. It wasn't until a couple of years I found out there's an Italian motorcycle company with that name. (I've never been sued and I honestly had no idea until a Latina friend from Puerto Rico told me about it because they have the vehicle there 😂🤦🏼‍♀️.)

I've been Minka for so long online that I'd probably respond to it in some fashion as well as responding to my legal name. 

The cat part -- well, I love cats and it came naturally. So my new name was born!!

I've met so many fantastic people in the past ten years that I've shifted platforms with and even some who became personal friends. I don't think that would be as easy now with how the internet is now vs 2014. But here I am, still Minka and ever evolving for better or worse....

The problem with eggs (aka cost)

I explained this some time ago on the platform I hate but most of my family still uses. Only 2 M-- products I still have installed remain because of ad spam and ideological differences.

This is at least my explanation of how avian influenza affects egg prices. 

1) Upon testing positive for flu, commercial egg producing entities must destroy their animals. Starting fresh from a sterilized environment takes several months as it takes roughly 5-6 months for a chick to start laying eggs. 

2) Less supply means more demand and prices on commercial chicken feed have gone up each year for several years due to grain shortages. In order to gain profit, the egg prices go up and some corporate entities can and will price gouge on top of the wholesale price.

and finally 

3) Avian influenza has affected the amount of chicks available causing chick costs to increase every year since 2022 (for my area).

Once again goes to supply and demand. This particular year most hatcheries have already closed this season due to running out of stock. Chick season doesn't typically start till mid March and hatcheries will presale chicks around February. 

People are ordering in record numbers without realizing how much work is actually involved in the costs of raising poultry. Hope this helps explain things a little bit.

~~ Minka

Now begins our winter of Discontent

It's been several years since I've touched this account because honestly, I thought things had taken a turn for the better. I was wrong. We have been subject to a second 45 term from here he's more hell-bent in vengeance than addressing the issues that are facing the nation. I did not vote for Elon Musk to run ramshackle through our democratic systems taking a chainsaw to them. I've been on the receiving end of anti american sentiment from other countries that I don't deserve because even though I disagree with the current administration I still somehow to blame for it?? I voted for Harris. I wanted to keep far away from what I knew would be a disaster. 

It's taking a toll mentally and physically. I have developed a need to check my phone constantly while on break from tasks I need to take care of and after working on them and when I'm ready to sleep at night the phone comes with me and I spend time doom scrolling waiting for the next shoe to drop. I constantly fear that I will be taken from my home for being on medications that help make me a protective member of society and sent to one of the proposed "wellness camps" that the current director of the HHS has in mind for the goal of "reparenting" and having me off scripts I have a genuine need for. I have nightmares. 

I'm afraid access to vaccines will waiver and fully expect the covid vaccine to disappear completely and I rely on that to help reduce the chances of giving it to my parents whom are immunocompromised.

I worry about cuts to the VA because my father relies on them for healthcare we spent years fighting to get. 

It's getting harder to take care of myself because I've been in the longest rheumatoid arthritis flare I've had since being diagnosed. I'm constantly fighting the urge to sleep and subsist on energy drinks to keep me awake. 

I knew things were going to be bad if 45 was elected again. I was hoping that people might steer 45 away from P25 but our politicians are plowing through full steam ahead. 

I sit in front of digital copies of books on how to grow/store your own food and prepping for disaster. It's the only way I see to survive this administration. They're unread. I'm too tired. This is just the beginning of more blogs to come, this is simply what has been on my mind today. All for now

~~Minka