Walking in the Furrow
Common sense used to be a well-understood quality or skill that most individuals possessed, but it's becoming more of an endangered element and less common in a large percentage of the U.S. population.
According to Dr. Dave Cornell, of helpfulprofessor.com, he describes "common sense" as the ability to exercise logical judgment. He goes on to explain that common sense is generally the most obvious and practical course of action that most reasonable people would take in any given situation.
As a dairy farm, we always dreaded the days leading up to July 4 celebrations, and the remaining days that expired afterwards. Fireworks are notorious for spooking and stressing out not only man's best friend, but dairy cows, too. Neighboring homes that bordered our pasture and dairy farm would always light their fireworks within a short distance of the farm, which often times created chaos within the confines of the barn and pasture. The cattle would test the tensile strength of the fence and every gate bordering the overnight pastures. The bright flashes from the fireworks displays, and the constant whistling sounds of gunfire, would always create chaos throughout the milk barn as the cows could hear the crackling effects echoing outside.
The flat-bottom parlor of six stanchions is the area where we milk three cows at a time. It never failed once the cows heard the fallout of the first explosive whizzing rocket; the rest of the evening milking was going to be eventful. The mini-claw milking attachment was often kicked to the side or stomped into the gutter as the cows went nuts, thrashing forward and backwards in their milking stall. Sometimes, there wasn't much forewarning before the fireworks sent the cows in a berserk state-of-mind.
The remnants of firework debris and the use of sky lanterns can result in agricultural hazards in pastures and crops throughout the farmstead, too. Sky lanterns are made from paper-covered wire with a candle inside which helps lift it high in the atmosphere, as it drifts in the air for an unknown time frame or miles with help of the wind. Once extinguished, the lantern components fall back to the ground, where it becomes hazardous to animals and the environment. The inquisitive nature of livestock usually intrigues them to sniff or chew on new things they graze upon, so it is important to scout pasture fields regularly to remove debris such as fireworks.
Don't be fooled into thinking the biodegradable paper lanterns are safe, it takes decades for them to degrade and they can pose a fire risk around structures, woodlands and mature crops like wheat. According to section 308.1.6.3 of Indiana fire code: sky lanterns are not allowed to be released into the sky without having an anchor or being tethered so they cannot freely lift into the atmosphere.
Unfortunately, there is no pill or quick fix to reinstate the ability to use common sense if you lack this quality. If there were, the drug reps would be eagerly marketing this pharmaceutical product at doctors offices around the country.