At first I thought that Uncle Ken's bird was a crow, but when he identified it as a raven, I tended to agree with him. Ravens are larger than crows, and they have sort of a raveny look about them, which I think this one does. Ravens also make different vocalizations than crows, the first time I heard one I thought it might be a pterodactyl. I know that they are supposed to be extinct, but this was in the Upper Peninsula, and you never know about that place. Ravens also like to imitate other sounds that they hear so, if it sounds like a crow, it still might be a raven. I once chased a pair of them all around the swamp for hours, thinking it was my beagles barking. Then I heard the sound directly overhead at the same time I could hear my beagles off somewhere else. I looked up to see a pair of ravens circling above the treetops. I might have been out in the swamp too long that day, but I thought I heard them laughing at me. Probably the best way to identify a raven is if it comes tap-tap-tapping on your door and, when you let it in, it says "nevermore". I must have read that somewhere because I don't remember that it ever happened to me. I have heard that both ravens and crows can be taught to speak English just like parrots, but I have never witnessed that either.
I have seen, in National Geographic, the term "failed state" applied to places like Somalia where, last I heard warlords were running the country because the central government had collapsed. I don't think we're that far gone, at least not yet. The author of Old Dog's link appears to be distraught because the US government is currently not doing what he wants it to. I heard the same thing from the other side after Obama was elected. The government is like the weather that way, if you don't like it, just wait awhile and it will change.
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