I think capitalism and the global economy first, your comfort second, the EPA third. Remember when all you could buy in a car was from the big three? Remember when a company making 5% profit increase over the previous year was something to invest in? Now they fire the CEO. Money, pure and simple - and FAST OR ELSE. And lest anyone thinks that made in the USA still means as much today as then, look at the car industry. Look at Delta Tools. How much of a tractor is actually made in North America as opposed to assembled here? When I started looking for a LT everyone said 'gotta have a cast iron front axle!' Some Kubota's front axles are steel and look very sturdy. What I'm getting at is that if a company can save $ by buying parts in Asia, they will. There's also no reason that those parts aren't every bit as good IF the buyer insists on the specification and quality and keeps the supplier honest. They can make good stuff; they can make crap. The only way to stop the crap is to not buy it. How can we tell this? We can't always, except in rare cases that cause death or injury and you see it on the news. Magazine reviews and forums like this are one way to share that information but we all have biases. When they show too strongly, it can have the opposite effect. I initially refused to look at John Deere because of the many strong opinions here. I really think we could use a MODERATOR or two! A little off topic; Many here think THE magazine that just did reviews is too easily manipulated by biased feedback from owners. Others think they shouldn't be charged a fee for supplying data to a non-profit organization whose purpose is to help people without a clue wade through the mountain of advertisement, whether print, TV, or religion. We all need to use some common sense when buying anything. Funny how many JD fans dislike the magazine yet they rated the product pretty darn well. Perhaps too much biased feedback? I dunno, but It's what actually got me to consider the product. I looked around, not knowing too much and open to everything. In the end, the collective qualities of the machines, dealers, and the level-headed input from several people here helped me decide. You know, if we had a moderator I couldn't go on like this... ns-gardener

Dear Lily, I feel for you. I had 2 cats over the age of 13 that I had to put to sleep October 26, 2007. I miss them so much. They were brother and sister. Jagger was dying of diabetes. He used to be a big fat cat(which is what caused his diabetes) He was diagnosed last December. He needed insulin shots twice a day and was on a prescription cat food diet($17 a bag) Needless to say, this treatment did not work and was very expensive due to having to go to the vet every few weeks just to be told the treatment was not working. He was dying right before my eyes...he even quit going upstairs and would just lay on the kitchen floor breathing very fast. I miss him so much, but am at peace with my decision. Anna on the other hand had a peeing problem. She always did. Every apartment I lived in, she would find a "pee corner" Yet, she also used the litterbox. About 2 years ago, she was peeing in the corner of the dining room of the apartment we live in. It was so bad, they ripped up the carpet and put vinyl flooring in. She stopped for the most part after that, but occasionally, she would pee behind the TV or pee in the dining room. A couple months ago she started peeing in the living room at the bottom of the steps. I would scrub the carpet after each time, but the smell got so bad, it hurt my throat. I had the carpets professionally cleaned and she did it again! My 6 year old son stepped in it. The next morning she peed all over a throw pillow in the living room. My house smelled and her pee areas were expanding. It definitely was not Jagger, it was Anna...we would catch her sometimes right when she was getting ready to pee. The vet told me we could try so medicine, but it may not work. I'm sorry, but we have already spent too much money on one cat and treatment did not work...we cannot afford to try treatments on a 13 year old cat that may or may not work. We live in an apartment pay check to pay check and have 2 kids to support, and are deep in debt. I had made the HARDEST decision I have ever made, and had her put to sleep as well. The guilt was unbearable...I am just starting the healing process. Whenever I find their hair on something I start to cry. I have had cats all my life that have lived to be 18-20 yrs old that have died of old age. I have never had to put an animal to sleep, let alone 2 the same day. I truly believe that Anna would not have stopped her peeing. I loved her for over 13 years. I felt like I tried everything...I literally agonized over this decision. I do not wish it on anyone. But, I hit my breaking point. I came across this website and saw what "labmomma" had posted in another discussion and I felt like someone knew what I was going through. I thank her for that! I was devastated. I hope you find a solution to your problem and wish you strength. I know whatever you decide will not be easy. Good Luck

I, too, have a 1974, 2200 SF ranch. I have 6.5 acres and dogs. I have to tell you that you'll use a darned mud room, laundry and open kitchen far more often than you'll set up a bunch of guests for a formal dinner every day. Since you seem to have a bug about what people will say in the future, keep in mind that if they're buying a working farm and you tromp right into the kitchen to sit down at the nice dining room? Someone's gonna wish they had a mudroom to take care of all that mud and grass mess! My house, like many ranches, is linear. If you enter from the garage, you have mudroom (where the dogs have their door to a fenced yard), kitchen, (peninsula) dining area (seats 6 comfortable, can be more). Then we have a wall, behind which is the MBR, then MBR bath. Turn left and you're into the laundry room. Continue turning left and you keep walking back down the house to end up at the den. That was the former "formal" dining room, which doors to the kitchen. So we make a loop. Can you picture this? It's all functional and if you live in the country, it works. Drop boots & coats in the mudroom, then in the MBR, drop dirty clothes in the adjoining laundry. (No one walking nekked thru the house with GIANT windows!) I'd make the mudroom as big as it would allow, while still making design sense. You've got a lot going on in there. Kennels, laundry baskets, folding areas, food, (water? I have a dump sink, thank God!) coats, boots, umbrellas, (kids?) sports equipment, (stop me....!!!!) I wish I had one of those single, deep tub type things to wash my dogs in. That might be in the future. Anyway, it'll look big until you fill it. I highly recommend you go for it. Particularly once you mentioned mud and grass. [LOL] Christine

Not a deflection at all - PETA was very involved with this issue. Read the link in the very first post. Also, PETA has provided money and other support over the years to supporters of the extremist Animal Liberation Front (which has done bombings, arson, and other attacks). Be informed. Many of the activities and positions of PETA and its "friends" aren't the kind of things fair minded people should be comfortable with, much less support.