Penny's Tuppence (2 cents in Brit)

Weighing RV. Wheels and Tires. Lug Nuts. Rubber Valves. Flashers. Future RV Now. Fort Ross.

2012-02-02T06:22:00.001-06:00

For"tRaVersing or RV day":

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Why should I weigh my Trailer tires individually?

"Many times when I give a seminar or class to people from the RV community on proper application of tires, I get asked the above question by trailer owners.

Motorhome users seem to understand that knowing the actual load on each corner of their RV will allow them to select the tire pressure they want to run as they balance Ride, Tire Durability, Fuel Economy and Steering Response.

Owners of trailers say they have been told that all they need to do is to run the max inflation on the sidewall of their tires. Almost all the time, that is the information on their placard per the trailer manufacturer’s guideline so that recommendation seems reasonable.

Recently I have been having a discussion via email with an owner of a large 5th wheel trailer.
He even believes that because the load changes on every trip and almost every day it could be “dangerous” to get the trailer weighed as that could mislead the trailer owner to think it OK to lower the pressure to just match the minimum needed to carry the measured load.

I would like to offer a different view on why it is important to get the trailer weights on each tire at least once.

More than half of the trailers that have been weighed over the years have been found to have a tire or other suspension component exceeding its maximum load capacity. We all know what happens to people who “Assume” something. When you get the trailer weighed, it does need to be with all the stuff you normally carry on your travels. Knowing this load you will have the facts to see how critical it is to re-distribute the load side to side or front to rear. You will also know if your unbalance has overloaded one or more tires even when the total load seems OK.

You will also know if you have proper loading on your pin. I have heard that some axle manufacturers consider having one end of an axle loaded to more than 50% of the total axle rating as overloading the axle. This means that even if you have changed wheels & tires to not overload those components you might still be overloading the axle if you are not careful.

Another thing to consider is the “Reserve Load”. That is the “safety factor” between the actual load and the calculated maximum for a component. Most cars have a 12 to 18% reserve load. One of the other benefits of having a good sized Reserve Load is that it will allow you to occasionally bring home that big load of stuff you just had to buy at the flea market and not overload a component. One way to identify a minimum cushion would be to look at the load capacity of your tires when inflated to a pressure of at least 15 psi below the max inflation and to be sure your load does not exceed that level. A 20 psi cushion would be even better. Reserve load helps compensate for the unbalance that occurs due to side loading because of road crown and wind side loading.

You are probably asking yourself why trailers can’t lower their tire pressure the way motorized units can. The reason has to do with the mechanics of axle spacing and tire side loading whenever you turn a corner. Trailers with two or three axles put enormous side loading on the tires, wheels, and axles whenever they turn corners. A quick look at the tire distortion when you see a big twin axle trailer park will confirm that the tire needs to be as stiff as possible when side loaded. Since we all know it is the air that carries the load we also now realize that it is the air that stiffens the tire and as a result will lower the side deflection and loading.

BOTTOM LINE: Next time you are fully loaded please go to the effort of weighing your trailer and go the extra mile to do the multiple weighing and the math needed to calculate the actual load on the individual tires. Remember a blown trailer tire can lead to substantial damage and financial loss. "

From: http://www.rvtiresafety.com/2011/10/why-should-i-weigh-my-trailer-tires.html

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Uneven Tire Wear on Travel Trailer

Posted by RV Doctor

"I noticed that my travel trailer tires seemed to be wearing unevenly side to side. I measured to ground, the side with the most tire wear and it is about 3/4-inch lower to the ground than the other side. This is after replacing all the tires and checking inflation. I then weighed both sides of the trailer and found that the side with the most tire wear was about 500 pounds more. This is the side where the refrigerator is directly over the tires. We presently have over 15,000 miles on the trailer. Is there anything we can do to make the trailer level. I know because of the design there is little that can be done to equalize the weight side to side." Jim, (North Augusta, SC)

Read Gary's response.

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Gentle care for lug nuts

"Here's another area of RV tech that few of us give much thought to--until we have a flat tire on the road. These characters play a critical role in RV safety, yet often get little more than lip service. Here's some thoughts--and tips--on dealing with lug nuts.
Lug nuts and their mates--the lug stud--are designed to be torqued to a given point. The nut and stud, when put under twisting pressure (loosely translated "torque") actually stretch a bit. When the pressure is taken off, the metal snaps back, allowing the nut and stud to mate. One technician describes this process as a sort of welding that can later be taken apart.

So what happens using the "quick and dirty" method of just jumping on the lug wrench or slamming the lug nut with an impact wrench until that clattering noise stops? Likely you'll have a lug nut that's either too tight, or too loose. Either one can lead to problems--even to disasters. Too loose, the wheel's bolt holes can be scoured and create damage; unwelcome vibration; even uneven tire wear. Too tight, the stud can be stretched too far, weakening it; and if on a wheel equipped with a spindle, the spindle itself can be damaged. And in the catastrophic category, too loose or too tight can actually lead to the old "drive 'til the wheels fall off" scenario. So what's to be done?" Read More: http://rvtechtips.blogspot.com/2011/11/gentle-care-for-lug-nuts.html

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Quick post on rubber valves

"I continue to see posts from RV owners saying they have "Rubber" valves. This even though most rubber valves are only rated for 65 psi cold. There are some rubber valves rated for 80 and even some rated for 100 psi but these are not interchangeable.
How can you tell if you have the correct rubber valve for your application without dismounting the tires?
A quick examination should give you an idea of what you have.

What to look for:
First unscrew the cap. See if the the only metal you see is the threaded part right under the cap. This is just over 3/8" long.

This valve is usually about 1-1/4 long outside the wheel. Is designed for a hole in the wheel of 0.453 and is rated at 65 PSI Max Cold inflation.

If you see metal even with the cap on like this:

It is either a 600HP series which is rated for 80 psi Max Cold inflation or a 801HP series rated for 100psi Maximum Cold inflation.
NOTE these are NOT interchangeable as the 600 is designed for a rim hole of 0.453" while the 801 needs a hole diameter of 0.625".

Now even if your cold tire pressure does not exceed the rated capacity for the valve you have I strongly suggest you consider switching to a bolt in metal valve with the appropriate rim hole size as if you run valve extenders or hoses or external TPMS you are probably applying more side load to the valve that it was initially designed to accept.

Also you should be running metal valve caps not the cheap plastic ones that probably were OE for if the valve core leaks due to a bit of dirt the metal cap can hold much more pressure than the plastic one.
NOTE if still in doubt you should have the valves inspected by a tire dealer. Call and ask if they have a Technician ASE Certified on tire inspection. If not, select another dealer." From: http://www.rvtiresafety.com/2011/10/quick-post-on-rubber-valves.html

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Using hazard flashers in bad weather.

"In the hill country out west it’s not uncommon to find 18-wheelers the hard climb with ‘warning flashers a'blazin. To most RV folks it just makes sense. After all, crawling up a steep grade and traveling far less than “freeway speed,” giving a bit of a warning to the folks coming up from behind is no more than sensible. What about RVers?
What about RVers? Towing a big trailer or hauling up the hills in the old motorhome, at times our speed can drop below the "norm." Most of us are courteous enough (and smart enough) to pull over into the right lane. But do we turn on the hazard flashers to give a little additional warning to those behind us?
What about in fog? The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that in daytime fog conditions just running tail lights isn’t enough to give folks behind a good warning–in fact, turning on tail lights gives no more visibility than if they were turned off. However, the NTSB found that even the lowest rated hazard flashers could increase visibility. For example, if you’re driving fog where your rig could be seen 300′ to the rear, by turning on your hazard flashers you could be seen 450′–this with the least of the light emitting hazard flashers. It seems to make sense that using hazard flashers when moving slow or when obscured by weather." http://www.newrver.com/haz_flash.shtml

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Weird RV comes from the future, is available in the present

"In the market for a futuristic and slightly bizarre motor home? Aren't we all? You'll be the envy of the trailer park when you pull up in this 500 horsepower, 40-foot long monstrosity, which features a fireplace, a pop-up sky lounge with fog machine, and paint that glows in the dark.

If the design looks vaguely familiar to you, that's because it's based on one of Luigi Colani's striking truck prototypes. Yes, they look strange, but apparently the design is aerodynamic enough to give a fuel efficiency boost of about 20% along with what I have to assume is a fairly tremendous view of the road.

As for the rest of the RV (called the eleMMent), it's packed full of the sort of luxury that makes people like me feel guilty and uncomfortable whenever we're exposed to it, including about 500 square feet of usable area, a master bedroom with a 40" flat-screen TV and attached spa bathroom, a living space with a couch and table that turns into a bar and lounge at the push of a button, and an "integrated vehicle wash system," 'cause you don't want to have to worry about your strange new ride ever looking dirty." More and 11 pictures at: http://dvice.com/archives/2011/10/weird-rv-comes.php

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On This Day:

Russians establish Fort Ross, Feb 2, 1812:

"Staking a tenuous claim to the riches of the Far West, Russians establish Fort Ross on the coast north of San Francisco.

As a growing empire with a long Pacific coastline, Russia was in many ways well positioned to play a leading role in the settlement and development of the West. The Russians had begun their expansion into the North American continent in 1741 with a massive scientific expedition to Alaska. Returning with news of abundant sea otters, the explorers inspired Russian investment in the Alaskan fur trade and some permanent settlement. By the early 19th century, the semi-governmental Russian-American Company was actively competing with British and American fur-trading interests as far south as the shores of Spanish-controlled California.

Russia's Alaskan colonists found it difficult to produce their own food because of the short growing season of the far north. Officials of the Russian-American Company reasoned that a permanent settlement along the more temperate shores of California could serve both as a source of food and a base for exploiting the abundant sea otters in the region. To that end, a large party of Russians and Aleuts sailed for California where they established Fort Ross (short for Russia) on the coast north of San Francisco.

Fort Ross, though, proved unable to fulfill either of its expected functions for very long. By the 1820s, the once plentiful sea otters in the region had been hunted almost to extinction. Likewise, the colonists' attempts at farming proved disappointing, because the cool foggy summers along the coast made it difficult to grow the desired fruits and grains. Potatoes thrived, but they could be grown just as easily in Alaska.

At the same time, the Russians were increasingly coming into conflict with the Mexicans and the growing numbers of Americans settling in the region. Disappointed with the commercial potential of the Fort Ross settlement and realizing they had no realistic chance of making a political claim for the region, the Russians decided to sell out. After making unsuccessful attempts to interest both the British and Mexicans in the fort, the Russians finally found a buyer in John Sutter. An American emigrant to California, Sutter bought Fort Ross in 1841 with an unsecured note for $30,000 that he never paid. He cannibalized the fort to provide supplies for his colony in the Sacramento Valley where, seven years later, a chance discovery ignited the California Gold Rush."

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Yesterday:

I couldn't take Misty for her usual walk, as Jay had somehow wound up in Conroe overnight, and I had to go get him. His mother wasn't up to going. We stopped at one thrift shop and Krogers, then came back here.

We took all the glassware off the yard sale shelf and washed the fragile items in the utility sink, as they were dusty. I wonder why, they have only been sitting there for a year!

Misty finally got her walk when I took Jay home. She wasn't so chipper, as something had upset her tummy the night before. I wasn't either, as she got me up to take her outside every time she had to heave. She is the first dog that I have had that didn't just throw up on the rug. TMI. Sorry.

After lunch, I went back out to the RVport and emptied more boxes onto yard sale tables, while I waited for a couple who were coming to buy the other storm door. Come to find out that he was in the USAF, and went to Lakenheath AFB, Suffolk, England, where I worked before I immigrated here. Small world. Very nice couple.

After yesterday's rain, it was a pleasant warm T-shirt day.

Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager. Wedge-tailed Shearwater. Eastern Bluebird. Bird Friendly Buildings. Sage-Grouse. Columbia.

2012-02-01T06:25:00.001-06:00

For "Winged Wednesday":

Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager

"The Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager is a noisy forest denizen of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula and adjacent Golfo Dulce lowlands. Its strident voice is often compared to the sound of tearing paper. This bird can be found in pairs or small family groups, sometimes accompanying mixed-species flocks. It feeds mostly on insects, but will occasionally eat fruit as well.

Unfortunately, loss of forest habitat to logging, agriculture, gold mining, colonization, and road construction has cut the Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager’s range nearly in half since 1960. The bird has become increasingly scarce in remaining fragmented habitat outside of protected areas such as Corcovado National Park. As a result, the Osa Peninsula is recognized by the Alliance for Zero Extinction as being critical for the protection of this species.

In 2008, ABC helped Osa Conservation (OC) purchase and protect nearly 2,000 acres of habitat for the Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager at OC’s Cerro Osa Reserve. In 2011, ABC, the state of Wisconsin, and the Southern Wings Program – a partnership of U.S. state agencies – helped OC obtain an additional 1,300 acres of habitat.

Click here to learn more about this bird!

Help ABC conserve this and other birds and their habitats!"

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Another of ABC's News Highlights of 2011

First U.S. Predator-Proof Fence Delivers on Promises - Important Seabird Species in Hawaii Producing Chicks in Record Numbers.

Wedge-tailed Shearwater by George Wallace

"The first predator proof fence in the United States is producing dramatic results that may eventually lead to a resurgence in decimated seabird populations in Hawai’i. The Wedge-tailed Shearwater, which nests in the remote coastal dunes on the now-fenced Kaʻena Point at the northwestern tip of O’ahu, has produced the highest number of chicks since the annual survey began in 1994.

“This is extraordinary news. It has been only eight months since the predator-proof fence was installed and already, we are seeing results. This year’s chick count of 1775 is a 14% percent increase over the previous high count in 2007 and the highest number ever recorded at the point. So far, the fence has done a great job of preventing bird predation by rats, cats, mongoose, dogs, and even mice,” said Dr. George Wallace, Vice President for Oceans and Islands at American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the leading bird conservation group in the United States…" More at: http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/111209.html

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Denise Gibbs —Small-scale Successes

Eastern Bluebird.

“We established and maintain a meadow on our land for birds and butterflies,” explains Denise. “We selected native grasses that would produce seed for birds and act as hosts for the caterpillars of several butterfly species. The meadow contains native herbaceous perennials that are also good butterfly nectar and host plants, as well as bird seed sources. We mow the meadow in late February/early March each year and re-seed the native grasses periodically.
We have also provided bird feeders in both the front and back yard. These contain Nyjer seed (thistle), black oil sunflower, millet, peanuts, and suet.
Our water sources include a small pond and several bird baths.

Denise’s personal philosophy on maintaining wildlife habitat echoes the landscape-level restoration and preservation goals of ABC and its partners. “My conscience will notallow me to purchase and plant any species that is not beneficial to wildlife,” she says. “I often seekout native plants that have the dual role of providing for both birds and butterflies. We are also gradually ridding our yard of non-natives and replacing with natives that produce fruits and berries for birds.” "

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Bird-Friendly Building Guide Now Available!

"This 58-page publication focuses on both the causes of
bird-glass collisions and potential solutions, with comprehensive information on the biological science behind
the issue, legislative approaches to reducing collisions, new construction ideas, options for retrofitting of old buildings, and landscaping and lighting considerations.
To download a PDF version visit: http://www.abcbirds.
org/newsandreports/BirdFriendlyBuildingDesign.pdf

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The Bird That Won the West, The Sage-Grouse.

"The fascinating Greater Sage-Grouse courtship ritual is imitated in dances by Plains Indian nations such as the Sioux, Cheyenne, Blackfoot and Shoshone.Sage grouse have been declining dramatically since the 1960s as a result of habitat fragmentation and degradation, resulting from fences, roads, oil and gas development, over-grazing, prescribed fire, spraying of herbicides and farming."

"With over forty years in local, regional and international conservation, Rutledge has led the National Audubon Society's efforts in Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain west for the last seven years. Fostering research on African wild dogs, guiding ecotours to many corners of the globe and managing major zoos, Rutledge reflects on the Sagebrush Initiative as his most rewarding achievement."

"Brian Rutledge is dedicated to protecting Greater Sage-grouse and the sagebrush ecosystem that is part of our country's great natural heritage. In his role as a member of Governors' Freudenthal draft and initiate the Sage-grouse Core Area Program, directing state agencies in the Cowboy State to conserve key breeding areas for this dwindling species. "

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On This Day:

Columbia mission ends in disaster, Feb 1, 2003:

"On this day in 2003, the space shuttle Columbia breaks up while entering the atmosphere over Texas, killing all seven crew members on board.

The Columbia's 28th space mission, designated STS-107, was originally scheduled to launch on January 11, 2001, but was delayed numerous times for a variety of reasons over nearly two years. Columbia finally launched on January 16, 2003, with a crew of seven. Eighty seconds into the launch, a piece of foam insulation broke off from the shuttle's propellant tank and hit the edge of the shuttle's left wing.

Cameras focused on the launch sequence revealed the foam collision but engineers could not pinpoint the location and extent of the damage. Although similar incidents had occurred on three prior shuttle launches without causing critical damage, some engineers at the space agency believed that the damage to the wing could cause a catastrophic failure. Their concerns were not addressed in the two weeks that Columbia spent in orbit because NASA management believed that even if major damage had been caused, there was little that could be done to remedy the situation.

Columbia reentered the earth's atmosphere on the morning of February 1. It wasn't until 10 minutes later, at 8:53 a.m.--as the shuttle was 231,000 feet above the California coastline traveling at 23 times the speed of sound--that the first indications of trouble began. Because the heat-resistant tiles covering the left wing's leading edge had been damaged or were missing, wind and heat entered the wing and blew it apart.

The first debris began falling to the ground in west Texas near Lubbock at 8:58 a.m. One minute later, the last communication from the crew was heard, and at 9 a.m. the shuttle disintegrated over southeast Texas, near Dallas. Residents in the area heard a loud boom and saw streaks of smoke in the sky. Debris and the remains of the crew were found in more than 2,000 locations across East Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. Making the tragedy even worse, two pilots aboard a search helicopter were killed in a crash while looking for debris. Strangely, worms that the crew had used in a study that were stored in a canister aboard the Columbia did survive.

In August 2003, an investigation board issued a report that revealed that it in fact would have been possible either for the Columbia crew to repair the damage to the wing or for the crew to be rescued from the shuttle. The Columbia could have stayed in orbit until February 15 and the already planned launch of the shuttle Atlantis could have been moved up as early as February 10, leaving a short window for repairing the wing or getting the crew off of the Columbia.

In the aftermath of the Columbia disaster, the space shuttle program was grounded until July 16, 2005, when the space shuttle Discovery was put into orbit."

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Yesterday:

Jay and I took my big kennel cages out of the grooming room closet, unfolded them and set them up for pictures, as someone has shown interest in buying them. Now, they have the pictures, so we will see what happens.

Then we set up one more yard sale table in the RV port. Displayed a lot of ~~junk~~ stuff on it, and covered it up with a tarp until the two-day sale starts on Thursday.

It started out rainy, and then turned into a nice sunny 'window-and-doors open' day.

Enchanted Rock. Balanced Rock. Bear Mtn. Cross Mtn. Wildflowers. Peaches. Bats. Apollo 14.

2012-01-31T06:04:00.001-06:00

Last "Travel Tuesday", we visited the City of Fredericksburg, TX, now let's go to some of the surrounding areas.

Enchanted Rock

"Fifteen miles north of Fredericksburg is the geographical landmark Enchanted Rock. The Rock is a huge, pink granite exfoliation dome, that rises 425 feet (130 m) above ground, 1,825 feet (556 m) above sea level, and covers 640 acres (2.6 km²). It is one of the largest batholiths (underground rock formation uncovered by erosion) in the United States, and was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1970. In 1994, the State of Texas opened it as Enchanted Rock State Natural Area after adding facilities. The same year, Enchanted Rock was added to the National Register of Historic Places."

Enchanted Rock, as seen from the trail leading to its summit.

"Enchanted Rock is an enormous pink granite pluton rock formation located in the Llano Uplift Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, which includes Enchanted Rock and surrounding land, spans the border between Gillespie County and Llano County, south of the Llano River. It is the largest such pink granite monadnock in the United States. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, a part of the Texas state park system, includes 1,644 acres (665 ha). Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1936. Click here: TPWD: Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

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Balanced Rock.

Fredericksburg, TX (3.9 m SSW)
Eckert, TX (9.3 miles NE)
Cain City, TX (9.4 miles SSE)
Blumenthal, TX (10.1 miles SE)
Willow City, TX (10.5 miles ENE)
Luckenbach, TX (11.8 miles SSE)
Morris Ranch, TX (12.1 mi SW)

Stonewall, TX (13.1 miles ESE)
Cherry Spring, TX (14.1 mi NW)
Bankersmith, TX (14.2 miles S)

"Balanced Rock was a famous local landmark that perched atop Bear Mountain ten miles (16 km) north of Fredericksburg. The natural wonder stone pillar, about the size of a small elephant, precariously balanced on its small tip. It fell prey to vandals who dynamited it off its base in April 1986."

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Bear Mountain.

“Precambrian rocks reach the surface in the Llano region of Central Texas in the highest part of a broad domal arch, the Llano uplift, which appears on a regional geologic map as an island of igneous and metamorphic rocks surrounded by Paleozoic and Cretaceus sedimentary rocks. The widest expanse of Precambrian rocks is about 65 mi ( 105 km), extending westward from the valley of the Colorado River through a subdued topographic basin drained by the Llano River. The broad, gentle basin carved into the Precambrian rocks is bordered by a discontinuous rim of flat-topped limestone hills which are the dissected edge of the Edwards Plateau. Within the basin and at its margins are erosional remnants and down-faulted blocks of Paleozoic rocks which form prominent hills, locally referred to as mountains.”

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Cross Mountain

"Elevation 1,915 feet (584 m). The first known record of Cross Mountain was in 1847 by Dr. Ferdinand von Roemer. Native Americans used the location to signal each other about intrusions into their territory. The area was part of settler Dr. John Christian Durst's 10-acre (40,000 m²) allotment. Durst found a timber cross on the mountain, indicating that Spanish missionaries had once used the site. Durst named the place "Kreuzberg," or Cross Mountain. In 1849, a priest named Father George Menzel erected a new cross.

In 1946, St. Mary's Catholic Church erected a metal and concrete cross. The mountain has been used both for the Easter Fires pageant and for Easter sunrise services. Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1976."

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Wildflowers

"Over 5,000 wildflower species make their home in the State of Texas, products of the state’s different ecosystems. The Texas Hill Country is defined by limestone cliffs, granite outcrops and hidden springs, providing diverse habitats for wildflowers.

But if you want to take some home with you, don’t pick them—visit Wildseed Farms, the nation’s largest wildflower farm located just outside Fredericksburg."

Lavender flowers with bracts exhibiting a good example of the color lavender.

"Herb farms, grape culture, lavender production and wildflower seeds have become burgeoning businesses in Fredericksburg. Combinations of agribusiness with day spas, wedding facilities, or bed and breakfast accommodations is not unusual. There is even a Texas Hill Country Lavender Trail.

Lady Bird Johnson's passion for Texas wildflowers not only lives on in the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, but she also sparked off a high demand for seed. The 200-acre (81 ha) Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg was founded by John R. Thomas in 1983 as a result of that high demand, and produces 88 varieties of wildflower seeds. It is the largest family-owned wildflower seed farm in the United States and host of an annual Wildflower Celebration." More at: http://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/attractions-activities/wildflowers/

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Peaches

"Gillespie County produces 40% of all the peaches grown in the state of Texas. Roadside stands line many of the roads leading into Fredericksburg, with a major concentration along Highway 290 between Fredericksburg and Stonewall and along Highway 87 South. The peach season runs from mid-May through the first week of August in a normal year. Several orchards offer pick-your-own. The Hill Country Fruit Council produces a listing of its members in a brochure entitled Fredericksburg-Stonewall Peaches, which is normally available at the Fredericksburg Visitor Information Center or visit www.texaspeaches.com. " or: http://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/attractions-activities/peaches/

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Birding

"Approximately 300 species of birds occur in the Texas Hill Country, where birding is great all year. The area is an overlap zone of ranges of eastern and western bird species, as well as some north and south species. Be sure to look for the endangered Black-capped Vireos and Golden-cheeked Warblers. An excellent place to view birds in Fredericksburg proper is the Live Oak Wilderness Nature Trail in Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park. Stop for a bird check-list at the park office. Pedernales Falls State Park, near Johnson City, has wildlife viewing stations, while Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, 18 miles north of Fredericksburg, is also a premier bird-watching location." From: http://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/attractions-activities/birding/

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BATS!

Old Tunnel entrance

"An abandoned railroad tunnel that is home to millions of Mexican free-tailed bats every May through October. Located 10.5 miles south of Highway 290 on the Old San Antonio Road. The upper viewing deck is open nightly at no charge. The lower viewing area is open on Thursday through Sunday evenings for special educational presentations for a $5 per person fee. Please call for the current bat emergence time: (866) 978-2287."

"The Old Tunnel WMA is the smallest Wildlife Management Area in Texas, containing only 16.1 acres of land. Despite its small size, there are a variety of recreational and wildlife-viewing opportunities at Old Tunnel WMA. The abandoned railroad tunnel is home to up to three million Brazilian free-tailed bats (T. b. mexicana) and 3,000 Cave myotis (Myotis velifer) from May to October, more mammals than any other WMA. From May to October, visitors come to watch the bats emerge from the tunnel each night, and nightly educational programs provide guests with a better understanding of the life history and ecology of bats. See the book Frankie the Free-Tailed Bat(PDF 1641 KB)." From: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/wma/find_a_wma/list/?id=17

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On This Day:

Apollo 14 departs for the moon, Jan 31, 1971:

"Apollo 14, piloted by astronauts Alan B. Shepard Jr., Edgar D. Mitchell, and Stuart A. Roosa, is successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a manned mission to the moon. On February 5, after suffering some initial problems in docking the lunar and command modules, Shepard and Mitchell descended to the lunar surface on the third U.S. moon landing. Upon stepping out of the lunar module, Shepard, who in 1961, aboard Freedom 7, was the first American in space, became the fifth astronaut to walk on the moon. Shepard and Mitchell remained on the lunar surface for nearly 34 hours, conducting simple scientific experiments, such as hitting golf balls into space with Shepard's golf club, and collecting 96 pounds of lunar samples. On February 9, Apollo 14 safely returned to Earth."

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Yesterday:

Wagging her tail, Misty trotted happily along her usual trail like she could see, when we went to pick up Jay. That walk is the highlight of her day.

It started out cool, then the sun came out so it was pleasant working outside. Prime and Bobbiecat watched our comings and goings from the screen porch.

Jay and I set up two yard sale tables outside, sorted out a lot of the items and set them up for display. All the expensive items will be on tables in the RV port, under cover, as we have 20% chance of rain. Then we covered the outside tables with big sheets of black plastic until the sale days.

Squirrels. Chipmunk. Lab Beagles. Scoop-A-Poo. Berlin. Gandhi. Kansas. Baseball.

2012-01-30T07:26:00.001-06:00

For "Mammal Monday:

The squirrels might still be hibernating where you are, but here they think it is Spring. Some ways to stop them from raiding your bird feeders.

Yankee Flippers

"Your squirrels will flip right out! The second a squirrel jumps on the Yankee Flippers perch, his weight activates a motor and the perch begins to spin. Your squirrel quickly loses his grip—and whoops—off he goes!"

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SquirrelScatter

"The SquirrelScatter squirrel proof bird feeder senses the weight of an unwanted visitor, and begins to slowly spin your feeder. It actually teaches the squirrel to forage elsewhere! "

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Find humane alternatives to a squirrel problem

"Backyard squirrels can be troublesome, whether they're feeding on human food, eating seed left for birds or burrowing inside human homes. The annoyance some people feel toward squirrels causes inhumane actions such as shooting, trapping and poisoning, which the Humane Society of the United States reports is "unacceptable."

There are gentler ways to reduce a squirrel infiltration, and other ways to live peacefully with the animals.
Despite the fact that squirrels are a highly successful species and not close to endangerment, killing them is still wrong. Humans can dissuade the competent critters from feasting at their bird feeder by changing the type of seed on the menu.

The HSUS says that safflower seed and Nyjer thistle attract and nourish birds such as cardinals, chickadees and goldfinches, but that squirrels don't like it. Some birdseed is made with capsaicin as an additive. Birds don't feel the burn that this pepper ingredient causes in mammals.

Some people find it easier just to share some of the seed with the squirrels so they don't have to steal it. Bird watchers can keep the squirrels away from their feeders by sprinkling seed on the ground or providing them with their own feeder. "

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Chipmunk in "squirrel proof" bird feeder.

"I found this funny little guy stuck inside of my "squirrel proof" bird feeder. I have no idea how he was able to get into there. It's 6 feet off of the ground and hanging by a 3 foot chain. After completely filling his face with seed, he can't seem to fit though the cage to get back out. He finally makes it but I doubt he'll try that again."

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Tattoos, Vocal Cord Removal Among Controversial Beagle Lab Tests.

Every year, about 70,000 dogs are tested on in labs in the United States, reports KTLA. Watch Parker's KTLA report with video of both freed and caged lab beagles.

The dogs are injected with drugs, prodded, poked and illegally burned with chemicals.

"You've likely heard the term lab rat, but what about lab dog? Approximately 70,000 dogs are tested on yearly in the United States. The dogs are routinely used in experimental surgical procedures and toxicology tests for cosmetics.
The breed of dog most tested on is the Beagle. PETA's Lindsay Rajt told KTLA that "The people using animals in testing like the beagle because they are small dogs, friendly and docile. They can be manipulated."

It's common for labs to remove the dogs' vocal chords so their cries don't bother the technicians, and Parker alleges that some facilities beat and kick the dogs. Parker also called attention to the fact that only last week, a North Carolina grand jury indicted four lab workers on 14 felony animal cruelty counts. This charge was groundbreaking, since it is legal to test on dogs.

PETA has a guide listing companies that do and do not test on animals.

There is also an iPhone app for more information about animal testing. Find out more about helping the Beagle Freedom Project here.

Rabbits, and cats, are used in experiments, too.

"Investigation Victory: Just one week after PETA released the results of its shocking undercover investigation of North Carolina--based contract animal testing facility Professional Laboratory and Research Services, Inc. (PLRS) and filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), PLRS is surrendering nearly 200 dogs and dozens of cats and shutting its doors for good. This is a monumental victory and the first time that a laboratory has been forced to surrender animals and close under pressure on the heels of a PETA investigation and while facing a formal USDA investigation."

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Scoop-A-Poo. Encourage pet owners to collect their animal's waste so it will not wash into sewers and streams.

"The girl and her dog, they were fine (wow)

Until they left a doody -- that's a crime (bow wow)"

"The thing about dog waste is that it's the only bacteria source that people willingly leave on the ground," Janet Geer, spokesperson for a partnership of regional governments dedicated to improving local water quality, said "For some reason it doesn't sink in that it is raw sewage." While Geer acknowledged the power of poop "to bring out the 6-year-old in a lot of people," she also emphasized the seriousness of the issue. It's not just a stinky situation -- skipping scooping poses a public health hazard.

For one, pet feces carry bacteria, viruses and parasites into waterways that can cause unpleasant infections such as giardia and E. coli. More indirectly, the excrement also releases nutrients into the water that can feed algae, kill marine life, contaminate beaches and send unlucky swimmers home with bouts of diarrhea or hives.

As Luther states simply in the song: "Hey yo, you don't want to swim in poo"

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On This Day:

RAF launches massive daytime raid on Berlin, Jan 30, 1943:

"On this day, the British Royal Air Force begins a bombing campaign on the German capital that coincides with the 10th anniversary of Hitler's accession to power.

Strategic bombing was the policy of using bombers to destroy an enemy's warmaking capacity, also referred to as "area bombing." Churchill described it as an "absolutely devastating, exterminating attack by very heavy bombers...upon the Nazi homeland."

To celebrate the anniversary of Hitler's 1933 appointment to the office of chancellor by then-President Paul von Hindenburg, both propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels and head of the Luftwaffe Hermann Goering planned to give radio addresses to the German masses. Goebbels intended to bolster morale by hailing an impending victory in Russia: "A thousand years hence, every German will speak with awe of Stalingrad and remember that it was there that Germany put the seal on her victory." As the speeches were broadcast, RAF fighters rained bombs on Berlin, the beginning of devastating attacks on German cities that would last until the very end of the war. To make matters even worse for the Germans, the next day a massive surrender of German troops occurred at Stalingrad."

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Gandhi assassinated in New Delhi, Jan 30, 1948:

"Mohandas Gandhi, the world's chief advocate of non-violence, is assassinated in New Delhi by a terrorist sponsored by a right-wing Hindu militia group. The murder came only 10 days after a failed attempt on Gandhi's life. Thirty-nine-year-old Nathuram Godse shot the great Indian leader as he made his way through a small crowd to lead a prayer session.

The father of Indian independence had angered Hindu extremists by his efforts to bring peace in the wake of the British withdrawal from India. Muslims and Hindus had been fighting a civil war since the decision to the Muslim-dominated western region of India had become separated as Pakistan. Religious-inspired riots were breaking out all over India when Gandhi went on a hunger strike in September 1947.

The fast almost killed Gandhi but it successfully suspended the fighting. However, he was forced to fast again in January in order to finally bring the sides together for a peace pact. Hindu extremists saw this as selling out the nation and plotted Gandhi's death. On January 20, the group detonated explosives inside the wall of a New Delhi house where Gandhi was, but stopped short of throwing a grenade at Gandhi because they feared that bystanders would be killed.

His ideas and tactics were later borrowed by Martin Luther King, Jr., who used them successfully in the 1960s civil rights protests.

The assassin Godse tried to kill himself after the attack, but was grabbed before he had the chance. Four accomplices were arrested over the next several days. Godse showed no remorse for his crime. Along with Narayan Apte, Godse was hanged to death on November 15, 1949, against the wishes of Gandhi's sons, who argued that the execution stood against everything Gandhi believed in."

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Yesterday:

Kansas enters the Union as a free state, Jan 29, 1861:

"On this day in 1861, Kansas is admitted to the Union as free state. It was the 34th state to join the Union. The struggle between pro- and anti-slave forces in Kansas was a major factor in the eruption of the Civil War.

In 1854, Kansas and Nebraska were organized as territories with popular sovereignty (popular vote) to decide the issue of slavery. There was really no debate over the issue in Nebraska, as the territory was filled with settlers from the Midwest, where there was no slavery. In Kansas, the situation was much different. Although most of the settlers were anti-slave or abolitionists, there were many pro-slave Missourians lurking just over the border. When residents in the territory voted on the issue, many fraudulent votes were cast from Missouri. This triggered the massive violence that earned the area the name "Bleeding Kansas." Both sides committed atrocities, and the fighting over the issue of slavery was a preview of the Civil War.

Kansas remained one of the most important political questions throughout the 1850s. Each side drafted constitutions, but the anti-slave faction eventually gained the upper hand. Kansas entered the Union as a free state; however, the conflict over slavery in the state continued into the Civil War. Kansas was the scene of some of the most brutal acts of violence during the war. One extreme example was the sacking of Lawrence in 1863, when pro-slave forces murdered nearly 200 men and burned the anti-slave town.

During the Civil War, Kansas suffered the highest rate of fatal casualties of any Union state, largely because of its great internal divisions over the issue of slavery."

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U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame elects first members.

"On January 29, 1936, the U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame elects its first members in Cooperstown, New York: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Matthewson and Walter Johnson.

The Hall of Fame actually had its beginnings in 1935, when plans were made to build a museum devoted to baseball and its 100-year history. A private organization based in Cooperstown called the Clark Foundation thought that establishing the Baseball Hall of Fame in their city would help to reinvigorate the area's Depression-ravaged economy by attracting tourists. To help sell the idea, the foundation advanced the idea that U.S. Civil War hero Abner Doubleday invented baseball in Cooperstown. The story proved to be phony, but baseball officials, eager to capitalize on the marketing and publicity potential of a museum to honor the game's greats, gave their support to the project anyway.

In preparation for the dedication of the Hall of Fame in 1939--thought by many to be the centennial of baseball--the Baseball Writers' Association of America chose the five greatest superstars of the game as the first class to be inducted: Ty Cobb was the most productive hitter in history; Babe Ruth was both an ace pitcher and the greatest home-run hitter to play the game; Honus Wagner was a versatile star shortstop and batting champion; Christy Matthewson had more wins than any pitcher in National League history; and Walter Johnson was considered one of the most powerful pitchers to ever have taken the mound.

Today, with approximately 350,000 visitors per year, the Hall of Fame continues to be the hub of all things baseball. It has elected 278 individuals, in all, including 225 players, 17 managers, 8 umpires and 28 executives and pioneers."

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My Yesterday:

When Misty and Maddie had their walk down at Jay's, I took a picture of the 'lack-of- Lake-Conroe' down there at that 'lack-of-boat-ramp'. It even has grass growing on it. This is a different boat ramp from the one I usually show, it is on this side of the subdivision.

When we got here, I set up my laptop in the living room, so that Jay could watch the program for that morning: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/sin/you-have-destiny He listened intently while he was rolling his cigarettes. He hadn't been drinking sloshingly the night before like he usually does, so maybe God is working on him, or rather Jay is letting Him now. I hope this continues, for Jay and his mother's sakes.

The RV port is still full of yard sale stuff, and I am hoping to get rid of some of it the first three days of February, weather permitting. Good time to have a yard sale when a lot of folks get their checks. We moved some items up on shelves, sorted some stuff out, and actually saw some of the table tops.

Still lots of articles to be unpacked from boxes and displayed, but at least we made some headway yesterday.

When Time and Chance Happen. Blessed Are Those Who Mourn. Destiny. Seminar.

2012-01-29T07:46:00.001-06:00

Why am I posting this today? Six years ago my granddaughter was hit by a drunk driver, and I am hoping this will be some comfort to all of us who knew and loved Susan.

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When Time and Chance Happen to You

"How can we deal with devastating circumstances? How do you pull through without your life disintegrating?

"It was a warm, summer morning in New Bedford, Ohio. Soft breezes gently swayed the leaves on the maple tree in the front yard of our home. It was July 17, 1986. I had the day off work. It was promising to be an enjoyable one with my family.

The children were up out of bed, and Jonathan, our 1-year-old, was bouncing on my knee. My wife enjoyed one of those peak moments of life that morning: Jonathan said "Mama" for the first time.

Later that same morning Daniel and Mary Ann, our two older children, watched as I adjusted the brakes on our Pontiac. In spite of busy fingers, dirty faces and countless questions, I completed the job in record time. Then the children stepped back so I could test the brakes. I got in the car, shifted to reverse and slowly began to back up when I felt an abrupt and unexpected bump.

The children screamed. What toy had I run over? I wondered.

So I continued to back up, expecting to see a smashed little red wagon. Instead I saw, there in the driveway, the lifeless body of Jonathan.

I jumped out of the car, and as I ran to my youngest son many questions raced through my mind. How could this have happened? How did he get under the car without my seeing him? I thought Jonathan was still in the house! How would I tell my wife? How could I comfort the children when I had just killed their brother?

My wife came running as the children looked on stunned. We stood there, numb in shock and grief, as we realized Jonathan was dead. What could we do? Where could we go for help?

Seek God, I thought. But then I wondered, Will God support me when I have just killed my son? We called paramedics and accompanied our children into the house. A day that had begun so pleasantly had become a nightmare.

Tragedy Becomes Real

We live in a world of tragedies. We read of them in the newspaper and see them on television. We think they happen to other people but not to us. I know now, as the police reminded me that awful day, that these things can happen to anyone. The grim reality is that, even as you are reading this article, someone somewhere is experiencing a tragedy similar to ours.

How can we deal with such devastating circumstances? How do you pull through without your life disintegrating? Can you ever again enjoy life after such a tragedy, or are you doomed to suffer through an endless series of nightmares?

From experience I can say that, yes, you can eventually enjoy life, even after the worst of tragedies. Eventually the pain subsides. If handled properly, the memory of the tragedy can serve as a motivation that will bring positive changes to your life. Perhaps this article—a message from one who has been there—will bring hope and encouragement to people who have experienced similar trials.

Time and Chance

The first thing that comes to mind in the aftermath of a tragedy is the big question why. Why did this happen? Why did it happen to me? Why did it happen to my loved one?

On the heels of those thoughts and emotions come the if-onlies. If only I had done this or not done that. If only I had known my baby was under the car.

But the reality is that I did not know. If I had known, the accident would not have occurred.

King Solomon pondered these questions when he set his heart "to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 1:13See All...). After his study of the vagaries and uncertainties of human experience, he concluded that "time and chance happen to them all" (Ecclesiastes 9:11See All...).

Time and chance had paid us a visit. Jonathan, whom I had last seen as a bouncing baby in the house, was lured by curiosity to creep underneath the car. Why didn't he come to the side of the car where I was working so I would have been aware he was there? Why did he crawl beneath the car where I couldn't see him? How did he get there in the first place? Why did he have to be positioned in the path of the tire the moment I backed up?

God intervenes powerfully for His people on many occasions. But, as Solomon pointed out, time and chance affect us all.

Help is Promised

When time and chance happen to His people, God sometimes chooses not to intervene when He sees that His intervention would not work to our ultimate good. Nevertheless, He promises that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28 See All...).

Furthermore, God promises we will not suffer anything that is not common to man or more than we can bear. Most important, God always provides a way of escape to endure such trials (1 Corinthians 10:13 See All...).

These promises are certain, and my family found great comfort in them. Yes, God allows trials for our ultimate good, but He always provides a way out. Often in the aftermath of a tragedy we find ourselves in a state of shock. We need something as solid as a rock to anchor to—and that rock is Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4 See All...). Friends can help, but ultimately God is the One who sees us through and heals our wounds.

Jesus Christ knows that a natural human emotion is grief. We mourn when a loved one dies, especially when one dies unexpectedly. In the hours just before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples He would "go away"; He would die. "But because I have said these things to you," He said, "sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away . . ." (John 16:5-7 See All...).

Can you imagine how the disciples must have felt when they heard their Leader say this? But then He gave the key to overcoming tragedy and overcoming long-term mental and emotional distress: ". . . For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send [it] to you" (John 16:7 See All...). Jesus was sending help, and that help would guide, strengthen, comfort and empower His people at all times, especially when they were in trouble. This helper is none other than the very power of God, the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:19 See All...).

Luke wrote that the brethren in the early Church, after experiencing great persecution and witnessing the martyrdom of Stephen, "had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied" (Acts 9:31 See All...); See also Acts 4:1-31 See All...; 5:17-42; 6:8-15; 7:1-60).

Paul wrote to Timothy to urge him "to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:6-7 See All...).

During a time of tragedy, more than anything else we need love, comfort and a strong, sound mind filled with wisdom to maneuver through the emotional jungle. Such help is readily available. God promises His Spirit and a liberal supply of wisdom to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13 See All...); James 1:5 See All...).

Accepting Reality

The first step toward a healthy recovery from debilitating tragedy is to accept the reality of what happened. This is a necessary step, even though it may seem easier, at first, not to face it.

Reality can be excruciating, even nightmarish, but it is necessary to deal openly with events and discuss them, especially with your immediate family and close friends. You need not be ashamed of your emotions.

I remember recounting the event to a close friend and finding great comfort in doing so.

In our case the whole family was at the scene of the accident. Two of our children saw their beloved younger brother die. The experience was traumatic for them, but children have an amazing ability to come to grips with abnormal circumstances if they are simply told the truth. They accept reality and God's promises with an inspiring innocent faith that adults would do well to develop.

Our children immediately accepted and were soothed by God's promise of a future resurrection for their little brother.

Knowing the truth about life after death was of great comfort to us and gave us hope. We knew our son would live again. This reassuring knowledge helped us accept the reality of what had happened.

Pitfalls to Avoid

In charting your way through the maze of emotions, you need to avoid certain things. Otherwise you may cause yourself much additional pain.

The first thing our pastor told my family when he arrived at our home was, "Whatever you do, don't start blaming each other or God." I will be forever grateful for this wise counsel. It helped us avoid many pitfalls.

It is only natural to want to blame something or someone for what happened, but that is a useless, unproductive waste of time. No matter how much blame or accusation is leveled against something or someone, it will not change the reality of what occurred. It will only extend the emotional anguish and prolong the process of accepting what happened.

This, of course, does not mean that if criminal activity were involved appropriate legal action should not be pursued, but leave that to the lawyers and courts. Don't allow a court of accusers to convene in your mind. It will only perpetuate the misery.

It is especially important not to accuse or lay blame if a member of the family appears to have been the cause of the accident. In our situation this was the case. This could have been fertile ground for accusations, blame and hurtful arguments. However, we realized we needed each other's encouragement and comfort, not accusations. This realization saved us untold grief and greatly strengthened our relationship.

The grim reality was that our situation was exactly as Solomon described—a product of time and chance. As the police officer told me that day, sometimes no matter how careful you are accidents will happen.

Dealing with Emotions

At times like this many strong emotions come forth, ranging from anger to guilt, from anxiety to utter despair. These are entirely normal during bereavement. It is important to bring and keep them out in the open until the healing is complete. Make sure communication stays strong in the family. Discuss the tragedy as often as necessary to allow each family member to come to terms with it.

This is especially important with children. They may be little, but their minds hold an amazing capacity to discern fact from fiction. They find comfort in facts but feel insecure and distressed when they hear vague answers.

Emotions are a natural reaction to human experience. They help us develop sensitivity and compassion for others. We begin to understand why and how God is sensitive to our needs.

Allowing Tragedy to Change You

After you have accepted the reality of what has occurred, it is important to ask yourself some questions: How can this help me make positive changes in my life? What can I possibly learn from this experience that will improve my life and the lives of others? What could be the reasons God allowed me to suffer like this?

Notice the words of Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3 See All...). This is an apt description of God, and in the next verse the apostle gives one reason God allows us to suffer: He "comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Corinthians 1:4 See All...). These are insightful words indeed! God expects us to use our experiences to comfort others in the same way He comforts us. In the process of doing so we find the greatest comfort of all—joy. You will find joy as you reach out to others, comforting and encouraging them with the sensitivity you have to their circumstance because of your own experience.

The amazing thing is that you will find this will speed your healing process like ointment in a wound. This is why Paul could say: "I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation" (2 Corinthians 7:4 See All...).

The second great benefit that can come from a tragic experience is an unrelenting motivation to enter God's Kingdom. The death of a loved one should naturally fill us with a sense of obligation and responsibility to seek that Kingdom—if not for our own benefit, certainly for the benefit of the deceased.

For me, the death of our son has served as the single biggest motivation in my life. It has helped me focus on what is most important: seeking first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33 See All...). When we seek the Kingdom of God, He promises us an abundant life (John 10:10 See All...). A better and more meaningful family life is sure to result when you focus on the Kingdom of God and use your experiences to help others by showing compassion and encouraging them.

Looking Forward

The final step is to look to the future. The Bible is replete with promises of a future life for the deceased. Jesus himself said, "He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" and that "the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth" (John 11:25 See All...; 5:28-29). The prophet Ezekiel saw the resurrection of the dead in a vision from God and graphically recorded it for us in Ezekiel 37.

I remember my first thought when I saw my son dead in the driveway: He will live again. He will be resurrected to life.

It is important to talk about the deceased as years go by, to keep them a part of the family. We have had many inspiring discussions with our children about our son and their brother and what things will be like in the new life. They know and understand God's promise of a better life in this world to come.

Zechariah prophesied a time when "old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each one with his staff in his hand because of great age. The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets" (Zechariah 8:4-5 See All...). This is most assuredly not a description of Jerusalem today, but it is the sure reality of the world tomorrow.

Time and chance are a reality we face. They are simply a part of life. But, with God's loving help, His healing comfort, tragic experiences can motivate us to a more positive and abundant life, one that is focused on the Kingdom of God." Article by John Miller From: http://www.ucg.org/christian-living/when-time-and-chance-happen-you/

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Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

“I walked a mile with Pleasure, she chatted all the way; but left me none the wiser, for all she had to say. I walked a mile with Sorrow and ne’er a word said she; but, oh, the things I learned from her when Sorrow walked with me!” —Robert Browning Hamilton

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. See All...). It is hard to understand how we can be blessed while going through great sorrow and pain. Sometimes things come crashing into our lives that cause us great sadness, mourning and throw us out of sync. No one wants to go through sorrow, yet life is simply not filled with laughter and joy all the time. Believe it or not, it is not good for us.

Grief comes many times throughout our lives, such as when there is a death of a loved one, the death of a pet, the loss of a job, or the loss of advancement in a job. It can come through divorce, the loss of a friend, a move from one community to another, the loss of a dream (goal), the aging process, or when children leave home by going to school or by getting married. Grief can come from marriage itself, financial difficulties, the illness of a friend, or a friend moving. The list could go on and on.

In John 11, we read about the death of Lazarus who was Mary’s brother (Mary, the one who anointed Christ’s feet with fragrant oil). Her brother was ill, so she sent word to Christ Jesus who loved Lazarus. You have heard the expression, “Boys don’t cry”—well, Christ wept. Many thought He wept because of His love for Lazarus, but He actually mourned over their lack of faith in Him and in the Father. Verse 4 states that when Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Then, in verse 40, He states, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

Those who are able to feel the pain of the loss of a loved one are better off than those whose feelings are numb. Psychologists now confirm that people who never feel sorrow can never feel joy. It is literally true that the happiest people are those who experience the depths as well as the heights of human emotion.

It is much like coming through a cold bitter winter or a horrible storm. When the sun comes out, then and only then can we truly appreciate the sunshine. If it were always sunny, how could we truly appreciate it? There is an old Arab proverb that says, “Sunshine all the time makes deserts.” Nothing grows in the desert that is continually filled with sunshine! It is the rain that brings forth the greatest growth. (Ecclesiastes 7:4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.See All...) says, “The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.” So why is it good to mourn?

What I have learned about sorrow

* Going through sorrow causes us to stop and take stock in our lives.
* It makes us ponder the whys of past or current events.
* It gives the opportunity to draw closer to God.
* It gives God and others the opportunity to love and comfort us.
* It teaches us how to comfort others.
* It gives us understanding of other’s sorrow and grief.

Through sorrow, we grow strong as we let God into our hearts through the broken places. L. B. Bridgers discovered this the day he lost his wife and family in a tragic fire in their residence in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, on March 26, 1911. His response was to write the song, “He Keeps Me Singing.”

“There’s within my heart a melody.
Jesus whispers sweet and low,
‘Fear not, I am with thee. Peace, be still,’
In all of life’s ebb and flow.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know.
Fills my every longing.
Keeps me singing as I go.”

Let us be kind and patient with each other in times of sorrow. It is a necessary part of growth. Be there for one another. Encourage one another and remember there is hope and sunshine after the rain that produces growth in you and in others.

The Friendship Book, written in 1950, has a quote about suffering. “When misfortune comes to you, it is two things. It is a pity. Who would choose to be bereaved, to have to tread a hard road, to be out of work, to suffer pain, to have sadness in his heart? But it is also a challenge. It is a challenge to make the best of things, to keep on somehow, to be patient, brave, and hopeful; a challenge never to let misfortune make you bitter or break your spirit. And the wonder is this—that so often misfortune brings a blessing with it to those who accept the challenge.”

Going through sorrow is certainly a challenge, but there is a promise that God holds out for all of mankind. Revelation 21:4 states, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away (King James Version).”

Yes, blessed are all of us who go through periods of mourning, for we shall be comforted, the sun will come out, and spiritual growth will emerge!" article by Janet Treadway From: http://www.ucg.org/christian-living/blessed-are-those-who-mourn//

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The program for today: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/sin/you-have-destiny

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Yesterday:

If you have been reading my Sunday postings, you have heard of the Kingdom Of God seminars. Jay and went to one yesterday, 40 miles from here. It was very interesting, even Jay enjoyed it, and wants to go back. Maybe this is the turning point when he will lay off drinking so much beer. The 100+ people were very friendly, not trying to "out-Jones" each other, and not condescending like some congregations. They served some delicious, healthy, finger food afterwards, so we sat at one of the big round tables, enjoying the companionship of these lovely people. All this was free, and they did not ask for donations. They try to do everything the way Jesus would have done it. Very refreshing these days of 'mega-churches'.

January 23, 2012 - "Attendance at recent seminars have been encouraging. God is working with many people at this time."

We both enjoyed our time there, and are ready to go back another day.

News: Sunset Act. Making Fun of God. Abortion. Saturdays. Saigon. Challenger. Nat. Geo. Faucets.

2012-01-28T07:09:00.001-06:00

News, Some New, Some Old.

Sunset Act, Purpose:

"To provide for the periodic review of the efficiency and public need for Federal agencies, to establish a Commission for the purpose of reviewing the efficiency and need of such agency, and to provide for the abolishment of agencies for which a public need does not exist."

"For those in Congress who are committed to cutting wasteful spending, a federal Sunset Law is a powerful tool. No longer will federal agencies, once created, assume immortality.

Sunsetting shifts the burden of proof, forcing agencies to regularly justify their existence to American taxpayers who will have a real say in whether they deserve our precious tax dollars.

We support the Federal Sunset Act and encourage members of Congress to join Representative Brady in bringing accountability to our massive federal bureaucracy."

- Thomas Schatz, President (http://www.cagw.org/about-us/staff/thomas-schatz.html )

More at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_provision and

"If the President wants to seriously streamline the federal government and save money, I would invite him to embrace the Federal Sunset Act modeled on successful consolidation programs in more than twenty of our states. A bipartisan sunset law, which sets an expiration date on every federal agency and program and requires them to prove their value to the taxpayers or face elimination, that's how you eliminate obsolete and duplicative federal programs." January 15, 2012

http://www.house.gov/brady/sunset_executive_summary.html

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Making Fun of God?

January 17, 2012 - "God and Christians are under attack. Award shows, animated programs and even documentaries seem to make fun of God, faith, and the Bible. What can be done?

It's been all over the news with the condemnation of Christianity out there in the world today. Whether it's Tim Tebow and praying in public or whether it's at the Golden Globe Awards, it seems that people just cannot resist putting down any form of Christianity."

http://youtu.be/W-H0_Ay9JYA

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January 27, 2012 - "For those struggling with guilt over a past action there is a path to forgiveness and redemption."

The previous messages on this subject:

Roe v. Wade: Abortion's 39th Anniversary. The US Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973 but can we really call it freedom and liberty?
http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/christian-living/roe-v-wade-abortions-3...
Abortion and History. Nations have declined when they choose a culture of death over life.
http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/christian-living/abortion-and-history

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Some Amazing Facts about Saturday. "History's Greatest Hoax."

http://www.amazingfacts.org/television/amazing-facts-presents/ctl/playmedia/mid/411/mdid/1014.aspx

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On This Day:

Cease-fire goes into effect, Jan 28, 1973:

"A cease-fire goes into effect at 8 a.m., Saigon time (midnight on January 27, Greenwich Mean Time).

When the cease-fire went into effect, Saigon controlled about 75 percent of South Vietnam's territory and 85 percent of the population. The South Vietnamese Army was well equipped via last-minute deliveries of U.S. weapons and continued to receive U.S. aid after the cease-fire. The CIA estimated North Vietnamese presence in the South at 145,000 men, about the same as the previous year. The cease-fire began on time, but both sides violated it. South Vietnamese forces continued to take back villages occupied by communists in the two days before the cease-fire deadline and the communists tried to capture additional territory.

Each side held that military operations were justified by the other side's violations of the cease-fire. What resulted was an almost endless chain of retaliations. During the period between the initiation of the cease-fire and the end of 1973, there were an average of 2,980 combat incidents per month in South Vietnam. Most of these were low-intensity harassing attacks designed to wear down the South Vietnamese forces, but the North Vietnamese intensified their efforts in the Central Highlands in September when they attacked government positions with tanks west of Pleiku. As a result of these post-cease-fire actions, about 25,000 South Vietnamese were killed in battle in 1973, while communist losses in South Vietnam were estimated at 45,000."

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Challenger explodes, Jan 28, 1986:

"At 11:38 a.m. EST, on January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Christa McAuliffe is on her way to becoming the first ordinary U.S. civilian to travel into space. McAuliffe, a 37-year-old high school social studies teacher from New Hampshire, won a competition that earned her a place among the seven-member crew of the Challenger. She underwent months of shuttle training but then, beginning January 23, was forced to wait six long days as the Challenger's launch countdown was repeatedly delayed because of weather and technical problems. Finally, on January 28, the shuttle lifted off.

Seventy-three seconds later, hundreds on the ground, including Christa's family, stared in disbelief as the shuttle exploded in a forking plume of smoke and fire. Millions more watched the wrenching tragedy unfold on live television. There were no survivors.

In 1976, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) unveiled the world's first reusable manned spacecraft, the Enterprise. Five years later, space flights of the shuttle began when Columbia traveled into space on a 54-hour mission. Launched by two solid-rocket boosters and an external tank, only the aircraft-like shuttle entered into orbit around Earth. When the mission was completed, the shuttle fired engines to reduce speed and, after descending through the atmosphere, landed like a glider. Early shuttles took satellite equipment into space and carried out various scientific experiments. The Challenger disaster was the first major shuttle accident.

In the aftermath of the explosion, President Ronald Reagan appointed a special commission to determine what went wrong with Challenger and to develop future corrective measures. The presidential commission was headed by former secretary of state William Rogers, and included former astronaut Neil Armstrong and former test pilot Chuck Yeager. The investigation determined that the explosion was caused by the failure of an "O-ring" seal in one of the two solid-fuel rockets. The elastic O-ring did not respond as expected because of the cold temperature at launch time, which began a chain of events that resulted in the massive explosion. As a result of the explosion, NASA did not send astronauts into space for more than two years as it redesigned a number of features of the space shuttle.

In September 1988, space shuttle flights resumed with the successful launching of the Discovery. Since then, the space shuttle has carried out numerous important missions, such as the repair and maintenance of the Hubble Space Telescope and the construction of the International Space Station.

On February 1, 2003, a second space-shuttle disaster rocked the United States when Columbia disintegrated upon reentry of the Earth's atmosphere. All aboard were killed. Despite fears that the problems that downed Columbia had not been satisfactorily addressed, space-shuttle flights resumed on July 26, 2005, when Discovery was again put into orbit."

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Yesterday:

National Geographic Society founded, Jan 27, 1888:

"On January 27, 1888, the National Geographic Society is founded in Washington, D.C., for "the increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge."

The 33 men who originally met and formed the National Geographic Society were a diverse group of geographers, explorers, teachers, lawyers, cartographers, military officers and financiers. All shared an interest in scientific and geographical knowledge, as well as an opinion that in a time of discovery, invention, change and mass communication, Americans were becoming more curious about the world around them. With this in mind, the men drafted a constitution and elected as the Society's president a lawyer and philanthropist named Gardiner Greene Hubbard. Neither a scientist nor a geographer, Hubbard represented the Society's desire to reach out to the layman.

Nine months after its inception, the Society published its first issue of National Geographic magazine. Readership did not grow, however, until Gilbert H. Grosvenor took over as editor in 1899. In only a few years, Grosvenor boosted circulation from 1,000 to 2 million by discarding the magazine's format of short, overly technical articles for articles of general interest accompanied by photographs. National Geographic quickly became known for its stunning and pioneering photography, being the first to print natural-color photos of sky, sea and the North and South Poles.

The Society used its revenues from the magazine to sponsor expeditions and research projects that furthered humanity's understanding of natural phenomena. In this role, the National Geographic Society has been instrumental in making possible some of the great achievements in exploration and science. To date, it has given out more than 1,400 grants, funding that helped Robert Peary journey to the North Pole, Richard Byrd fly over the South Pole, Jacques Cousteau delve into the sea and Jane Goodall observe wild chimpanzees, among many other projects.

Today, the National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions. National Geographic continues to sell as a glossy monthly, with a circulation of around 9 million. The Society also sees itself as a guardian of the planet's natural resources, and in this capacity, focuses on ways to broaden its reach and educate its readers about the unique relationship that humans have with the earth"

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My Yesterday:

After walking Misty and Maddie when I went to get Jay, we started getting everything ready to put a faucet in the cargo trailer's sink. I have always disliked the two-knobbed white faucet on my utility sink. My hands don't turn knobs very well. The faucet I bought at the thrift shop is a lift up single-lever type. So we swapped them out. Jay took the utility sink loose from the cabinet next to it, which has a big draining board with a row of perforations at the low end to drain into the sink. Then we took it outside to work on it.

Ray came over to spread the fertilizer on the lawn (grass and weeds), but there was still dew on the ground. So he was roped into doing some other jobs first. The removable metal legs on the utility sink had become ratty looking, so Ray primed and painted them. I spent most of the time cleaning up the white faucet that was on the utility sink. That sink gets used for cleaning all kinds of things, and the faucet was quite grubby. I hope everyone will take better care of the chrome one. With it's lift-up handle, maybe it won't be so apt to get paint, etc. on it.

We rolled out the plumber's putty, and installed the 'new' faucet on the utility sink before we put it back in place, easier that way. The used faucet works great.

Ray put their two 'outside-daytime-only' cats up in their beds in his utility room to keep them out of the way of the spreader, and spread the fertilizer as soon as the dew had dried. Then he watered in the whole area. http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Cornmeal-Uses-and-Reports_vq18.htm Hopefully, it will kill the cockleburs, and dandelions.

It was lovely and sunny, great to be working outside. The high was 67° yesterday.

Do You Want Cauliflower With That? Yes, If You Don't Want Bleach .

2012-01-27T07:27:00.001-06:00

For "Foodie Friday", Kick the unhealthy white flour habit:

Original Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Casserole

Who loves macaroni and cheese? This version features cauliflower to give it a healthy boost.

Added to Recipes on Fri 01/13/2012

Ingredients: Serves 8

Kosher salt, as needed, plus 1/2 teaspoon
Vegetable oil spray
1 large head cauliflower, cut into small florets
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 ounces cream cheese, cut into small pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, plus ½ cup for topping the casserole
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, seasoning the water with salt. Spray an 8x8 baking dish with vegetable oil spray.

Cook the cut cauliflower in the boiling water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.

Drain well and pat between several layers of paper towels to dry. Transfer the cauliflower to the baking dish and set aside.

Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan and then whisk in the cream cheese and mustard, continuously whisking until smooth.

Stir in the 1 1/2 cups of cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and whisk just until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat, pour over the cauliflower, and stir all to combine.

Top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake until browned and bubbly hot, about 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

Helpful Hints: To save on paper towels, we’ve found that you can place the cauliflower in a colander and drain the excess water by pressing down on the florets with a heavy bowl.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 190. Fat: 15g. Protein: 7g. Fiber: 3g. Net Carbs: 4g." From: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/original-cauliflower-mac-and-cheese-casserole

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Cauliflower Pizza

"A skinny secret from guest Caroline, this delicious cauliflower pizza is a popular diet dish that is easy to make and incredibly versatile. Bake the crust in half an hour and throw on your favorite toppings."

Ingredients

1 cup cauliflower, grated
1/2 cup shredded light mozzarella cheese
1 egg
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp basil
2 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp fennel
1 green pepper
1 onion
1 tomato
Garlic powder, to taste

Directions

Chop pepper, onion and tomato. Set aside. Steam the cauliflower, let it cool and then grate it.

Combine grated cauliflower with the mozzarella and egg in a large bowl. Spray a circular or rectangular metal pan with cooking spray before spreading the dough evenly. Sprinkle the dough with fennel, oregano, parsley and basil. Add garlic powder.

Bake at 450° F for 12-15 minutes. Remove the dough from the oven and sprinkle chopped green pepper, onion and tomato, as well as the remaining mozzarella cheese on top. Return the pizza to the oven. Turn the heat up to broil and leave in until the cheese has melted and the crust is crispy." From: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/cauliflower-pizza

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Another one, plus several other cauliflower recipes:

Cauliflower Crust Pizza.

"This pizza is a wonderful alternative to your favorite guilty pleasure. What is very exciting is that it’s loaded with vegetables and is low on the glycemic index scale. This means you prevent unnecessary insulin spikes that lead to mood swings and weight gain. If you are on a Health plan you know to avoid certain foods at night that cause us to store fat, well this meal is perfectly fine for your supper meal! Feel like you are having something treat-like and make this pizza this week!"

Cauliflower Crust Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked plain Cauliflower Rice (as shown above or microwave if you are in the worlds biggest hurry. It pains me to even suggest this, just don’t add any water)
• 1/4 cup egg whites, or 1 large egg, or 2 small.
• 1 cup low fat mozzarella cheese OR Feta
• 1 tsp oregano
• 2 tsp parsley

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F
2. Slightly grease a cookie sheet (or use my favorite baking stone)
3. In a bowl combine cauliflower, egg whites and cheese.

Press evenly on to the pan and sprinkle with the oregano and parsley.
4. Bake at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes (depending on your oven – *see below).
5. Remove the crust from the oven. Add organic, natural pizza or pasta sauce (see Simple Marinara Sauce below), toppings and lightly with the cheese.
6. Place under a broiler at high heat until cheese is melted and golden. Remove and Enjoy!
*Tip – Here are my main tips to make your crust crusty:
1. Make sure your cauliflower is dry after washing (no water to cook).
2. Spread your crust out thin (not too thin – just a thin layer).
3. Bake until crust-like. If you peak at your crust at the recommended cooking time and the middle is still not cooked… cook longer."

Toppings *see recipe ideas below.

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Garlic Breadsticks

"These also are wonderful as garlic breadsticks. For garlic breaksticks follow the above recipe but add garlic salt (2 tsp). Form the crust “dough” into sticks on a sheet instead of the pizza crust shape. These garlic breadsticks are great for dipping in soups or chili. They are also great to just dip in your all natural pizza sauce or the Simple Marinara Sauce below.

DAMY Veggie Pizza

• Sun-Dried tomatoes (Chopped)
• Low Fat Mozzarella or Feta Chopped
• Chopped Broccoli
• Diced onion
• Spinach
• Black Olives Sliced
• Red Bell Peppers
• Simple Marinara Sauce

Chicken BBQ Pizza

• All natural BBQ sauce in place of the pizza sauce
• Grilled chicken (sliced)
• Red pepper slices
• White onion slices
• Low fat Mozzarella

Hawaiian Pizza

• Ground turkey
• Pineapple chunks
• Roasted red pepper sauce
• Mushroom slices
• Feta cheese

Spicy Sausage Pizza

• Spicy Sausage (see recipe)
• Red Pepper Slices
• Orange Pepper Slices
• Onion Slices
• Mushroom Slices
• Simple Marinara Sauce
• Hot Sauce

If you want to get really healthy on me – here is a great, simple pizza sauce recipe

Simple Marinara Sauce

Makes about 3 cups
Use this simple marinara sauce as a topping for your pizza or as a dipping sauce for your garlic breadsticks.

Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 cup finely chopped white onion
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 tbsp no-salt-added tomato paste
• 2 (15-ounce) cans no-salt-added chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp thinly sliced fresh basil
• 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh oregano
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, bring broth to a simmer. Add onion, garlic and crushed red pepper and cook until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium, stir in tomatoes and cook about 15 minutes to blend flavors, stirring occasionally to make sure mixture doesn’t stick to the pan. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Serve warm or chill until ready to serve."

Ground Turkey Sausage:

• 1 lb Lean Ground Turkey
• 2 tsp Olive Oil
• ½ tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
• 1 tsp Fennel Seed
• ½ tsp Red Pepper Flakes
• ½ tsp Smokey Paprika
• ¼ tsp Ground Cayenne Pepper

Directions:
1. Heat olive oil in a frying pan.
2. Add the ground turkey and all seasonings and cook.
3. Chop turkey while frying to hamburger consistency.
4. Cook until browned completely!
5. Add to your pizza

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Whipped Cauliflower “Potatoes”

"Use these whipped potatoes instead of your regular potatoes tonight for supper. I bet no one in the family notices and if they do it will be because they are so darn yummy. They feel so naughty but they’re not. They are a must try this week! They are “whipped potatoes.” No where in this recipe will you find potatoes! Instead we will be using cauliflower! We choose this due to the many health benefits of coniferous vegetables (phytonutrients and vitamin C). Aside from all the wonderful health benefits of cauliflower this recipe is delicious! You will be addicted!

Ingredients:
• 1 large head cauliflower
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1/4 cup fresh herbs (chives work particularly well)
• Sea Salt
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• ½ Cup Onion
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil

Directions:
1. Chop cauliflower into smaller chunks – about bite-size pieces works well.
2. Peel garlic cloves and cut in half, lengthwise. Chop onion into slices.
3. Steam cauliflower, garlic and onion for 15 minutes, or until cauliflower and garlic are tender enough for a fork to easily pass through.
4. Combine steamed cauliflower, garlic, onion, olive oil, fresh herbs, pepper, and sea salt in a food processor and blend until everything comes together into a mashed potato-like consistency. I like mine whipped. Top with a little pepper for looks and enjoy your guilt free whipped potatoes.
TIP: if you love a sour cream and chives on your whipped potatoes; top your whipped cauliflower with a dollop of fat free Greek yogurt and some fresh chopped chives! So delish!

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Cauliflower Fried Rice

"This recipe is sure to become a regular in your kitchen; it is easy, simple and yummy.

Ingredients:
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 head cauliflower, trimmed and coarsely chopped
• ¼ tsp sea salt

Directions:
1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
2. Sauté onion over medium heat for 10 minutes, until soft.
3. Meanwhile, place cauliflower in a food processor with the “S” blade and process until the texture of rice. (TIP: if you do not have a food processor do not fret, you can simply use a cheese grater to grate the cauliflower into rice. Works awesome!!
4. Add cauliflower to skillet, cover and cook 5-10 minutes, until soft, then add salt.
5. Enjoy this “rice” in soups, as a side for supper in place of rice, or in a casserole. Serve as your “rice” side dish with chicken, or fish, veggies and a side salad for a complete meal!

For “Fried Rice” simply add some spices to this dish, red peppers, mushrooms and some ground turkey (see the spicy turkey sausage recipe below) and have a wonderful “Fried Rice” meal!"

From: http://www.damyhealth.com/2011/03/the-secret-life-of-cauliflower/

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Why All The Fuss about Bleached Flour?

Do You Want Bleach With That?

"The truth about white bread. What is enriched bleached white flour?"

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The Little-Known Secrets about Bleached Flour...

"Nearly everyone knows that white flour is not healthy for you, but most people don’t know that when white flour is bleached, it can actually be FAR worse for you.

It’s generally understood that refining food destroys nutrients. With the most nutritious part of the grain removed, white flour essentially becomes a form of sugar. Consider what gets lost in the refining process:

Virtually all of the vitamin E
Fifty percent of the calcium
Seventy percent of the phosphorus
Eighty percent of the iron
Ninety eight percent of the magnesium
Fifty to 80 percent of the B vitamins
Half of the beneficial unsaturated fatty acids

And many more nutrients are destroyed -- simply too many to list.

The Journey of the Wheat Berry

Have you ever wondered how white flour is made?

The website Healthy Eating Politics has an interesting article about the process.

Most commercial wheat production is, unfortunately, a “study in pesticide application,” beginning with the seeds being treated with fungicide. Once they become wheat, they are sprayed with hormones and pesticides. Even the bins in which the harvested wheat is stored have been coated with insecticides. If bugs appear on the wheat in storage, they fumigate the grain.

A whole grain of wheat, sometimes called a wheat berry, is composed of three layers:

There are 3 parts to a wheat kernel (sometimes called a wheat berry):

1) The BRAN is the hard outer covering of the wheat kernel, high in fiber & nutrients.

2) The GERM is the nutrient-rich embryo that will sprout and grow into a new wheat plant.

3) The ENDOSPERM is the biggest part (83%), the "insides" of the kernel - mostly starch.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diets rich in "whole grain" foods and other plant foods low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
WHITE FLOUR is made from the endosperm only = NOT a whole grain

WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR combines all 3 parts of the wheat berry
= a whole grain.

The bran
The germ
The endosperm

The bran is the layer where you’ll find most of the fiber, and it’s the hard outer shell of the kernel. The germ is the nutrient-rich embryo that will sprout into a new wheat plant. The endosperm is the largest part of the grain (83 percent), making up most of the kernel, and it’s mostly starch.

White flour is made from the endosperm only, whereas whole-wheat flour combines all three parts of the wheat berry.

Old time mills ground flour slowly, but today’s mills are designed for mass-production, using high-temperature, high-speed steel rollers. The resulting white flour is nearly all starch, and even much of today’s commercially processed whole wheat flour has lost a fair amount of nutritional value due to these aggressive processing methods.

White flour contains a small fraction of the nutrients of the original grain, with the heat of the steel rollers having destroyed what little nutrients remain. But then it is hit with another chemical insult--a chlorine gas bath (chlorine oxide). This serves as a whitener, as well as an “aging” agent.

Flour used to be aged with time, improving the gluten and thus improving the baking quality. Now, it is treated with chlorine to instantly produce similar qualities in the flour (with a disturbing lack of concern about adding another dose of chemicals to your food).

According to Jim Bair, Vice President of the North American Millers Association:

“Today, the US milling industry produces about 140 million pounds of flour each day, so there is no way to store the flour to allow it to age naturally. Plus, there is a shelf life issue.”

It has not been determined how many mills are bleaching flour with chorine oxide, but we do know the use of chlorides for bleaching flour is considered an industry standard." More at: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/03/26/The-Little-Known-Secrets-about-Bleached-Flour.aspx

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Yesterday:

As long as she is on familiar turf, near-blind Misty will quicken her pace, so I made her trot instead of her usual 'sniffing stroll', down at Jay's. She doesn't eat much, but she is getting fat.

We went into town, the main goal was to find a faucet for the stealth-cargo-toyhauler trailer. (Album on the sidebar) When my kitchen faucet went kaput, I 'stole' the new one out of the trailer. We looked in Lowes, Home Depot and a thrift shop. My, how faucets have gone up, but what hasn't? I couldn't find the kind I wanted, but bought one that I can use at the thrift shop.

Organix is changing the packaging on their organic dog food, so I got some at half price at Petsmart. That's my kind of shopping.

The weather was back to sunshine, after all that rain yesterday.

How RVers Can Prepare For Severe Weather. Tankmin. Generator. Australia. Audie Murphy. Auschwitz. Chubby Checker. Rain!

2012-01-26T06:24:00.001-06:00

For Thursday: "tRaVersing, or RV Day".

We might have a tornado watch today, so:

"Unfortunately, as we have seen in 2011, natural disasters can happen any time, and with little warning, whole communities can be destroyed, as happened on June 1st in Massachusetts. A day that started out as a beautiful summer like day ended up in tragedy as the Village Green Family Campground in Brimfield Mass. was completely destroyed. One RVer lay dead and up to 100 injured following at least an EF-2 tornado."

More at: http://rvtravel.com/RVtravelinfo/Chris_Dougherty_Article.shtml

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Hurricane Preparedness for RVers

"If you RV on the East Coast, through the southern Gulf States to Texas, you’re already aware that Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico hurricanes and tropical storms are a fact of life from June 1 through November 30 and the height of the hurricane season occurs from late August through early October."

"Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Hurricane Wilma was a category 5 hurricane and one of the costliest storms in history. Hurricane Wilma's highest sustained winds was at 185 mph. Lowest pressure point measured at 882 mbar." (Credit: hurricane-facts.com)

"Although less common, they do occur on the Pacific Coast in southern California and Baja California, Mexico. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15th and also ends November 30th.

As we enter the peak of the hurricane season, you’ll turn on the TV and see a meteorologist pointing to a radar blob in the Gulf of Mexico make two basic meteorological points: 'There is no need to panic' or 'We could all be killed'!

You may wish to follow this simple three-step hurricane preparedness plan:

Step 1: Buy enough food and bottled water to last your family for at least seven days

Step 2: Load these supplies into your recreational vehicle

Step 3: Drive to Wyoming and stay there until after Thanksgiving.

While you may deem this plan to be somewhat overkill, it begs the question: What should RVers do? Above all else, use common sense and remain calm.

Planning and preparation is the key—and that’s where you should start NOW. As an RVer you are already several steps ahead in preparation for a hurricane." Read More: http://blog.rv.net/2011/09/hurricane-preparedness-for-rvers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RvnetBlog+%28RV.net+Blog+Daily+Updates+Feed%29

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Driving Stormy Weather, A good time to take a break.

"You’ve been busy all your adult life. Work, raising a family. Now that you are RVing more, it’s time to slow down a bit. Especially when your safety is at stake.

Tip: The next time you’re driving your big rig and a storm looms up and the wind starts hooting, instead of fighting your barn door of a rig down the road—which is not only stressful but also dangerous--take the next exit and sit it out.
It is a great time to explore an area you might never have considered before, sprawl out on the couch and start that book you’ve been meaning to read, or take the time to create a “chef’s surprise” in your galley to surprise your mate.
Wherever you were headed will still be there after the storm passes over."

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Tankmin can make your boondocking chores pleasant

Random drawing on 1/29/12, attendance not necessary, shipping is not included. (From Me: Try to win one, as they are expensive!)

"Tankmin, the portable RV tank system that lets you pump out your holding tanks, and pump up your freshwater tank -- all without moving the RV." More at: http://www.rvboondockingnews.com/2011/11/tankmin-can-make-your-boondocking.html

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Fire Safety Tip from Mac McCoy
"Have at least two escape routes -- one in the front and one in the rear of the coach. As soon as they're old enough, teach children to open hatches and emergency exits." Learn more about Mac and fire safety.

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RV Savvy Tips by Mark Polk

"In RV’s Carbon Monoxide Gas usually results from: 1.Exhaust leaks from either a vehicle engine or a generator. 2.Improper use of portable gas powered heaters. 3.Someone else’s vehicle or generator when camping in close quarters. 4.Malfunctioning or unvented LP gas appliances

If your RV doesn’t have a carbon monoxide detector you need to purchase a battery operated carbon monoxide detector designed for use in RV’s. Test the carbon monoxide detector every time you use the RV. Replace the carbon monoxide detector batteries when you change clocks for daylight savings time. "

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Tips to a Long Lasting Generator, by Mark Polk

"If a generator is properly maintained and cared for it is quite possible it will last longer than the RV itself.

Here are some of my tips to a long lasting generator. 1) Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. 2) Preventive Maintenance. 3) Routine or Scheduled Maintenance. 4) Exercise your Generator. 5) Generator Operating Conditions. 6) Storing your Generator. CO Gas Poisoning Symptoms. Article at: http://blog.rv.net/2011/10/tips-to-a-long-lasting-generator/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RvnetBlog+%28RV.net+Blog+Daily+Updates+Feed%29

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Trivia:
Before the Civil War, many local banks issued their own currency. In New Orleans, where there was a large French-speaking population, a bank produced a $10 bill, with the term "Dix" printed on it, which means "ten" in French. Soon, the bills became known as "Dixes." Riverboat men from the north, when heading south, would say they were going downriver to pick up some Dixes in Dixie Land. In time, the term Dixie came to be applied to all of the Deep South.

Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.

Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers to ensure your clothes smell freshly washed for weeks to come. This trick also works with towels and linen.

Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for a minimum of 3-hours prior to burning.

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On This Day:

Australia Day, Jan 26, 1788:

"On January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip guides a fleet of 11 British ships carrying convicts to the colony of New South Wales, effectively founding Australia. After overcoming a period of hardship, the fledgling colony began to celebrate the anniversary of this date with great fanfare.

Australia, once known as New South Wales, was originally planned as a penal colony. In October 1786, the British government appointed Arthur Phillip captain of the HMS Sirius, and commissioned him to establish an agricultural work camp there for British convicts. Accompanied by a small contingent of Marines and other officers, Phillip led his 1,000-strong party, of whom more than 700 were convicts, around Africa to the eastern side of Australia. In all, the voyage lasted eight months, claiming the deaths of some 30 men. As Phillip said before leaving England: "In a new country there will be no slavery and hence no slaves."

Though Phillip returned to England in 1792, the colony became prosperous by the turn of the 19th century. Feeling a new sense of patriotism, the men began to rally around January 26 as their founding day. Historian Manning Clarke noted that in 1808 the men observed the "anniversary of the foundation of the colony" with "drinking and merriment." Finally, in 1818, January 26 became an official holiday, marking the 30th anniversary of British settlement in Australia.

Today, Australia Day serves both as a day of celebration for the founding of the white British settlement, and as a day of mourning for the Aborigines who were slowly dispossessed of their land as white colonization spread across the continent."

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Audie Murphy wounded, Jan 26, 1945:

"On this day, the most decorated man of the war, American Lt. Audie Murphy, is wounded in France.

Born the son of Texas sharecroppers on June 20, 1924, Murphy served three years of active duty, rising to the rank of staff sergeant, and finally winning a battlefield commission to 2nd lieutenant. He was wounded three times, fought in nine major campaigns across Europe, and was credited with killing 241 Germans. He won 37 medals and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star (with oak leaf cluster), the Legion of Merit, and the Croix de Guerre (with palm).

The battle that won Murphy the Medal of Honor, and which ended his active duty, occurred during the last stages of the Allied victory over the Germans in France. Murphy acted as cover for infantrymen during a last desperate German tank attack. Climbing atop an abandoned U.S. tank destroyer, he took control of its .50-caliber machine gun and killed 50 Germans, stopping the advance but suffering a leg wound in the process.

Upon returning to the States, Murphy was invited to Hollywood by Jimmy Cagney, who saw the war hero's picture on the cover of Life magazine. By 1950, Murphy won an acting contract with Universal Pictures. In his most famous role, he played himself in the monumentally successful To Hell and Back.

Perhaps as interesting as his film career was his public admission that he suffered severe depression from post traumatic stress syndrome, also called battle fatigue, and became addicted to sleeping pills as a result. This had long been a taboo subject for veterans. Murphy died in a plane crash while on a business trip in 1971. He was 46."

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Soviets liberate Auschwitz, Jan 26, 1945:

"On this day, Soviet troops enter Auschwitz, Poland, freeing the survivors of the network of concentration camps—and finally revealing to the world the depth of the horrors perpetrated there.

Auschwitz was really a group of camps, designated I, II, and III. There were also 40 smaller "satellite" camps. It was at Auschwitz II, at Birkenau, established in October 1941, that the SS created a complex, monstrously orchestrated killing ground: 300 prison barracks; four "bathhouses" in which prisoners were gassed; corpse cellars; and cremating ovens."

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"The Twist" ends record-setting run, Jan 26, 1962:

"On January 26, 1962, "The Twist" by Chubby Checker finally ends its record-setting run at #1.

Back in 1958, Ernest "Chubby" Evans was a high-school student and part-time chicken-plucker about to be touched by the hand of fate, in the person of Dick Clark. For his industry holiday card that year, Clark decided to have a Christmas novelty record made, and he delegated the job to a friend in the business named Kal Mann. Mann's friend Tony Anastasi, owner of the Philadelphia poultry market where young Ernest Evans worked, suggested that Mann give his charismatic young employee a shot at recording the tune. Thus did Chubby Evans—renamed Chubby Checker by Dick Clark's wife as a takeoff on "Fats Domino"—take the first, small step down a path toward selling more than 250 million records worldwide."

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Yesterday:

It just HAD to start pouring just as Misty wanted her first 'outs' in the back yard. So we both donned raincoats as she is quite happy to go out in the rain when she has her coat on, and I wanted to make sure she 'went'.

It was really shopping day, but I had more sense than to get mixed up with the dangerous roads, and drivers! Especially as the road into town might flood.

Just as it was getting dark, I was outside with Misty when the back yard lights went off. The traffic light on the corner was out, too, so it was pretty widespread. Misty found her way back in better than I did. After fumbling around with a flashlight trying to get candles lit, and trying to insert new AAA's in the LED touch light under my range hood, it came back on again.

No more mention of a tornado here, but there was damage in other places like Brenham and Pearland. Houston had flooded streets. This was in Huntsville, TX, a few miles north of us.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/Severe-weather-pounds-Houston-area/-/1735978/8492314/-/ansmx8z/-/index.html

But here it was just a dreary rainy day.

Trumpeter Swan. Millerbirds. Blue-winged Warbler. Mercury. Birds of Cuba. Bycatch. Dragonflies. Roe v. Wade. Kennedy. Olympics. Weeds.

2012-01-25T06:57:00.001-06:00

For "Winged Wednesday":

Trumpeter Swan

"The majestic Trumpeter Swan has a wingspan of up to eight feet and can reach 35 pounds - it is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world. This swan once bred widely across North America, but by the early 20^th Century had experienced severe population declines due to habitat loss and market hunting for feathers and meat.

The Trumpeter is particularly sensitive to human disturbance and pollution, and does best in clean, quiet waters where there are abundant invertebrates and aquatic plants available for food. It matures late, not nesting until 4-5 years of age, at which time birds form life-long pair bonds.

Threats to the Trumpeter Swan include lead poisoning and loss of wintering habitat. Release of captive-bred swans has resulted in some non-migratory populations, which places a strain on habitat resources when resident birds are joined by flocks of overwintering swans in some areas. Overcrowding also creates the potential for outbreaks of avian disease, and can make birds vulnerable to a single catastrophic event, such as a bad storm.

The Trumpeter Swan has responded well to conservation measures that include a ban on lead for waterfowl hunting in 1991, and its population has increased to over 35,000 adults. Continuing conservation measures for the species should include protection and restoration of freshwater wetlands.

Help ABC conserve this and other birds and their habitats!

Listen to a two-minute broadcast on this bird!"

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Newly-translocated Millerbirds Getting Busy on Laysan

"A translocated Millerbird checks out its new territory on Laysan Island. Each released bird was color-banded so that individuals can be closely tracked." Photo: Robby Kohley.

“The speed with which the Millerbirds have established territories and begun nesting is truly amazing and has exceeded all of our expectations,” said George Wallace, ABC’s
Vice President for Oceans and Islands. “The breeding success of the translocated birds and their over-winter survivorship will inform our decision about whether to move more birds to Laysan or not. We are all rooting for them!”

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Delivering Conservation in the Central Hardwoods Region

Blue-winged Warbler: Greg Lavaty

"Many bird species of special concern
inhabit the CHJV, (Central Hardwoods Joint Venture) such as Bachman’s Sparrow, and Prairie and Blue-winged Warblers. Breeding Bird Survey data show that populations of these birds
have been on a steady decline since the 1960s, and are quickly disappearing from areas where they were once common. To stop this trend and stabilize or restore these species, we have recommended that over one million acres of native grassland-shrub or open oak woodlands will need to be restored."

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Mercury’s Harmful Reach Has Grown

"The new study found dangerously high levels of mercury in several Northeastern bird species, including rusty blackbirds, saltmarsh sparrows and wood thrushes. Previous studies have shown mercury’s effects on loons and other fish-eating waterfowl, as well as bald eagles, panthers and otters. In one study, zebra finches lost the ability to hit high notes in mating songs when mercury levels rose, affecting reproduction.

The wood thrush is one of the species found to suffer neurological disorders caused by mercury exposure." More at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/science/study-finds-mercury-in-more-northeastern-bird-species.html?_r=2&scp=2&sq=mercury&st=cse

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The Birds of Cuba

"WCS conservationist Dr. Steve Zack knows the grassland birds of the Great Plains and the shorebirds of Alaska's coastal wetlands like some of his own neighbors. Until recently, however, the birds of the Caribbean were a mystery to this seasoned ornithologist.

Last winter, Zack got a chance to visit Cuba as part of an effort to help WCS's Latin America and Caribbean Program build new partnerships to protect the island's wildlife. The diversity of both native birds and international migrants he saw amazed him. Of Cuba's 369 species of birds, some live nowhere else, including the enigmatic bee hummingbird, the world's smallest bird. But the majority are migratory, and Zack marveled at the masses of shorebirds, raptors, and warblers he encountered – including some familiar faces dressed in colorful breeding plumage.

"It was really impressive to see the sheer numbers of American migratory birds wintering in Cuba – or as Cubans would say, Cuban birds about to go visit the United States," he said.

Hear more about Zack's trip and check out his travel photos in this audio slideshow."

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Get Into Birds with Audubon

"Birds are one of the few forms of wildlife that just about everyone sees every day. Get into birds, and discover an amazing world."

Find out why nearly 50 million people in the United States watch birds. Read More

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Some Birds Eat Fish:

WCS Wins Grand Prize for Fisheries Project

January 10, 2012

"A WCS marine project to reduce bycatch in Kenya and Curacao through a low-cost, low-tech fish trap design takes the top honor in a contest sponsored by Rare, in partnership with National Geographic.

The program, entered into a contest called "Solution Search: Turning the Tide for Coastal Fisheries," promotes fish traps with rectangular gaps that permit small, juvenile fish to escape. The solution is entitled “Bycatch Escape Gaps for Fish Traps,” and reduces bycatch by 80 percent. " More at: http://www.wcs.org/news-and-features-main/grand-prize-for-fisheries-project.aspx

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The Amazing Engineering of the Dragonfly

"For its small size the dragonfly can fly an incredible 60 miles per hour. It can dart quickly from side to side, fly backwards and stop instantly in midair. It can lift 15 times its own weight. Such feats are not yet possible with human aircraft. How is it possible with the dragonfly?

Curious researchers visited swamps and captured dragonflies to find out.

One reason they chose to study the dragonfly is because it's a comparatively simple flying creature. It doesn't change the shape of its body or wings when flying, taking off or gliding like a bird does. For example, a hummingbird's wings change shape continually during each stroke. In addition, its feathers pop up or stay down at various periods throughout each cycle. Scientists would like to know more about the hummingbird's flight, but it's just too difficult to reproduce.

How it flies

The dragonfly's method of flying is completely different from the smooth flight of airplanes and soaring or gliding of birds. It's a mode called "unsteady aerodynamics" which means there is constant turbulence around the wing.

The front pair of wings churns up a small vortex of rapidly whirling air. Meanwhile, the back pair of wings, which may be down when the front wings are up (or vice versa), captures the extra energy from this turbulence. This produces extraordinary lift as the air flows much faster over the top of the dragonfly's rear wing than along the wing's lower surface. By changing the tilt and speed of its wings and varying the timing between them, the dragonfly performs its graceful acrobatics.

What's intriguing about air turbulence is that in man's flying machines, both fixed-wing and helicopters, these gyrating air currents are usually harmful and can be deadly. Helicopter blades weaken because each whirling blade runs into the turbulent path of the preceding blade. Resultant vibrations eventually weaken the metal. Many planes have crashed due to turbulence. But, the dragonfly actually produces precise, predictable turbulence and uses it to its advantage."

Complete article at: http://www.ucg.org/science/amazing-engineering-dragonfly/

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Politics are not my thing, so I didn't post this on the 22nd:

Roe v. Wade, Jan 22, 1973:

"The Supreme Court decriminalizes abortion by handing down their decision in the case of Roe v. Wade. Despite opponents' characterization of the decision, it was not the first time that abortion became a legal procedure in the United States. In fact, for most of the country's first 100 years, abortion as we know it today was not only not a criminal offense, it was also not considered immoral.

In the 1700s and early 1800s, the word "abortion" referred only to the termination of a pregnancy after "quickening," the time when the fetus first began to make noticeable movements. The induced ending of a pregnancy before this point did not even have a name--but not because it was uncommon. Women in the 1700s often took drugs to end their unwanted pregnancies.

In 1827, though, Illinois passed a law that made the use of abortion drugs punishable by up to three years' imprisonment. Although other states followed the Illinois example, advertising for "Female Monthly Pills," as they were known, was still common through the middle of the 19th century.

Abortion itself only became a serious criminal offense in the period between 1860 and 1880. And the criminalization of abortion did not result from moral outrage. The roots of the new law came from the newly established physicians' trade organization, the American Medical Association. Doctors decided that abortion practitioners were unwanted competition and went about eliminating that competition. The Catholic Church, which had long accepted terminating pregnancies before quickening, joined the doctors in condemning the practice.

The fight over whether to criminalize abortion has grown increasingly fierce in recent years, but opinion polls suggest that most Americans prefer that women be able to have abortions in the early stages of pregnancy, free of any government interference."

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On That Day: "The US Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973 but can we really call it freedom and liberty?"

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On This Day:

First Winter Olympics, Jan 25, 1924:

"On January 25, 1924, the first Winter Olympics take off in style at Chamonix in the French Alps. Spectators were thrilled by the ski jump and bobsled as well as 12 other events involving a total of six sports. The "International Winter Sports Week," as it was known, was a great success, and in 1928 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially designated the Winter Games, staged in St. Moritz, Switzerland, as the second Winter Olympics.

In one of the most unexpected stories to come out of the first Winter Games, the Norwegian-born American ski jumper Anders Haugen, captain of the U.S. Olympic team, came in fourth, but was awarded the bronze medal a full 50 years later, when a mathematical error was discovered that would have put Haugen in third place."

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Kennedy holds first live television news conference, Jan 25, 1961:

"On this day in 1961, President John F. Kennedy becomes the first U.S. president to hold a live televised news conference.

From a podium in the State Department auditorium, Kennedy read a prepared statement regarding the famine in the Congo, the release of two American aviators from Russian custody and impending negotiations for an atomic test ban treaty. He then opened the floor for questions from reporters, answering queries on a variety of topics including relations with Cuba, voting rights and food aid to impoverished Americans.

Ever since his televised presidential debate with Richard Nixon in 1960, Kennedy had been aware of the media's enormous power to sway public opinion. On that day, Kennedy had appeared rested, well-groomed and in control. Nixon, on the other hand, was not as telegenic as Kennedy and appeared sweaty and flustered. His five o'clock shadow created more of a stir than his responses to the moderator's questions."

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Yesterday:

Again Maddie didn't get her walk, when I went to get Jay, but Misty did. That, and eating, are the highlights of her day like most dogs, but it even more so for a blind one.

My Red Maple had shed all it's leaves, and is now shooting out new ones. Poor thing, all this nice weather, it thinks that it is Spring.

For the first time in the Winter, we had to mow. The 'lawn' (grass and weeds), was looking very straggly. I don't like to use chemicals, but the drought really made the weeds grow, so we got cockleburs in the pet's hair. Those can be very dangerous if they get in the 'leg-pits' (arm pits) of the pets and start to make sores which can become infected, if not noticed in time. Also we have a lot of other weeds, like dandelions growing in the grass this year. If the cockleburs were gone, maybe we should just have a mowed dandelion lawn!

The weeds are so well established that Corn Gluten Meal isn't going to work on them, so we might have to resort to other methods. So Jay mowed high enough not to cut down the weed's leaves, as that is what Weed-N-Feed uses to kill the weeds, just in case we have to use it. We have got to stop the cockleburs this year. But as least it is all one height now, as we won't be able to mow for a while.

Before we use the spreader, we have to water, so this was a good time to mow, as it is going to rain for the next couple of days.

Fredericksburg, TX. Sutter's Creek. Canned Beer. Churchill.

2012-01-24T06:39:00.001-06:00

For "Travel Tuesday", let's go to Fredericksburg, Texas. It is one of 55 beautiful cities/areas located in the Hill Country.

Herzlich willkommen in Fredericksburg!

"Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 and named after Prince Frederick of Prussia. Old-time German residents often referred to Fredericksburg as Fritztown, a nickname that is still used in some businesses. The town is also notable as the home of Texas German, a dialect spoken by the first generations of German settlers who initially refused to learn English." From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredericksburg,_Texas

There is so much to do there!

Pioneer Museum Complex

"Experience the rich German heritage of Gillespie County. This 3.5-acre museum complex contains superb examples of early German structures and artifacts. Several times a year, the Pioneer Museum will hold events staffed by docents in period dress that are fun for the whole family including storytelling, rope making, soap making, sheep shearing and more."

The German families that settled Fredericksburg were proud of their education and culture. That spirit endures to the Fredericksburg of today. We live our heritage.
Main Street is home to the famous Nimitz Museum of the Pacific War - touchstone for a generation; Pioneer Museum - preserving our heritage; Fort Martin Scott - a frontier outpost. A casual stroll down any street reveals historic German homes of limestone and fachwerk. A short drive takes you to jewels of history, including the LBJ Ranch.

Arts are a way of life. http://www.fredericksburg-texas.com/Arts/
An ever-growing number of artists find Fredericksburg the perfect inspiration and outlet for the arts. All types of visual artists support galleries and shows. Fredericksburg boasts a strong community theater. And of course, the area is gaining an international reputation for its live music scene, with many clubs, concerts, and performing venues.

Culture is the community.
Fredericksburg continues the tradition of the "verein" or community club. Various groups of like-minded citizens gather to listen to music, share poetry, stay fit, even to compete in traditional shooting sports. Every city has museums. But Fredericksburg lives its memories."

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ADMIRAL NIMITZ MUSEUM

Main Street is home to the famous Nimitz Museum of the Pacific War. Fredericksburg is the birthplace of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz. http://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/index.asp

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Pioneer Church or Vereins Kirche. A replica of an 1847 early church, called the Coffee Grinder Church.

"The architectural structures of Fredericksburg are often unique to the to the Texas Hill Country, and are historical edifices of the German immigrants who settled the area in the 19th Century. Many of the structures have historic designations on a state or national level. The Gillespie County Historical Society is actively involved in assisting with preservation. On October 14, 1970, the Fredericksburg Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas."

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Events in the area, too many to list here. Go to: http://www.tex-fest.com/

"Laissez les bon temps rouler
at the Fredericksburg Crawfish Festival" May 25, 26 & 27, 2012

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"Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas, With Waylon and Willie and the boys. This successful life we're livin', Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs and Newberry's train songs and Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain Out in Luckenbach, Texas ain't nobody feelin' no pain"

http://www.luckenbachtexas.com/

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Fasching 2012 – Winter Karneval

Feb 18 2012 to Feb 18 2012

"Fabulous costume ball celebrating Fasching – also known around the world as Carnival and Mardi Gras. Prepare yourself for an event like no other and enjoy beautiful ice sculptures, vodka bar, wine fountain, bourbon bar, cigar suite – and that’s just the beginning! Presented by the Fredericksburg Area Lodging and Hospitality Association. To be held at the Hangar Hotel Conference Center."

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Texas Hill Country Wineries “Wine Lovers Trail”.

Feb 10 2012 to Feb 19 2012

"Love is in the air! Indulge in a little wine and chocolate. Come spend a romantic weekend in the stunning Texas Hill Country sipping and sampling wine and chocolate at the 33 Hill Country wineries. The Wine Lovers Trail has been extended to 10 full days this year . . . the perfect time to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This is a self-guided tour and includes a box of custom chocolates, a set of complimentary tastes and a special 15% discount on a three bottle purchase of wine. During regular winery hours. "

Visit Event Website

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123rd GILLESPIE COUNTY FAIR

"Join us for a weekend of Texas Hill Country and Gillespie County hospitality, including fun, entertainment and a few ice cold beverages at the 123rd Gillespie County Fair - the oldest, consecutive annual County Fair in the State of Texas. Once again we will have a great lineup of events - carnival and midway, great fair food, livestock exhibits in the show barn, agriculture and household exhibits, arts and crafts booths, antique tractor shows, live pari-mutuel horse racing, and dancing under the stars to live music!" Gillespie County Fair

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"Interested in learning more about Fredericksburg festivals and events? Click on the mailbox to be on our email list to receive newsletters and updates. Thank you!"

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On This Day:

Gold discovered at Sutter's Creek, Jan 24, 1848:

"A millwright named James Marshall discovers gold along the banks of Sutter's Creek in California, forever changing the course of history in the American West.

A tributary to the South Fork of the American River in the Sacramento Valley east of San Francisco, Sutter's Creek was named for a Swiss immigrant who came to Mexican California in 1839. John Augustus Sutter became a citizen of Mexico and won a grant of nearly 50,000 acres in the lush Sacramento Valley, where he hoped to create a thriving colony. He built a sturdy fort that became the center of his first town, New Helvetia, and purchased farming implements, livestock, and a cannon to defend his tiny empire. Copying the methods of the Spanish missions, Sutter induced the local Indians to do all the work on his farms and ranches, often treating them as little more than slaves. Workers who dared leave his empire without permission were often brought back by armed posses to face brutal whippings or even execution.

In the 1840s, Sutter's Fort became the first stopping-off point for overland Anglo-American emigrants coming to California to build farms and ranches. Though sworn to protect the Mexican province from falling under the control of the growing number of Americans, Sutter recognized that his future wealth and influence lay with these Anglo settlers. With the outbreak of the Mexican War in 1846, he threw his support to the Americans, who emerged victorious in the fall of 1847.

With the war over and California securely in the hands of the United States, Sutter hired the millwright James Marshall to build a sawmill along the South Fork of the American River in January 1848. In order to redirect the flow of water to the mill's waterwheel, Marshall supervised the excavation of a shallow millrace. On the morning of January 24, 1848, Marshall was looking over the freshly cut millrace when a sparkle of light in the dark earth caught his eye. Looking more closely, Marshall found that much of the millrace was speckled with what appeared to be small flakes of gold, and he rushed to tell Sutter. After an assayer confirmed that the flakes were indeed gold, Sutter quietly set about gathering up as much of the gold as he could, hoping to keep the discovery a secret. However, word soon leaked out and, within months, the largest gold rush in the world had begun.

Ironically, the California gold rush was a disaster for Sutter. Though it brought thousands of men to California, the prospectors had no interest in joining Sutter's despotic agricultural community. Instead, they overran Sutter's property, slaughtered his herds for food, and trampled his fields. By 1852, New Helvetia was ruined, and Sutter was nearly wiped out. Until his death in 1880, he spent his time unsuccessfully petitioning the government to compensate him for the losses he suffered as a result of the gold rush he unintentionally ignited."

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Boy Scouts movement begins, Jan 24, 1908:

"On January 24, 1908, the Boy Scouts movement begins in England with the publication of the first installment of Robert Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys. The name Baden-Powell was already well known to many English boys, and thousands of them eagerly bought up the handbook. By the end of April, the serialization of Scouting for Boys was completed, and scores of impromptu Boy Scout troops had sprung up across Britain."

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First canned beer goes on sale, Jan 24, 1935:

"Canned beer makes its debut on this day in 1935. In partnership with the American Can Company, the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company delivered 2,000 cans of Krueger's Finest Beer and Krueger's Cream Ale to faithful Krueger drinkers in Richmond, Virginia. Ninety-one percent of the drinkers approved of the canned beer, driving Krueger to give the green light to further production. Today, canned beer accounts for approximately half of the $20 billion U.S. beer industry."

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Winston Churchill dies, Jan 24, 1965:

"Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, the British leader who guided Great Britain and the Allies through the crisis of World War II, dies in London at the age of 90."

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Yesterday:

After I walked Misty, Jay and I came here and did some more work on the drawer under the little dishwasher. Then we went into town to get a few things as I had completely run out of fresh veggies. Jay always wants to go with anyone going into town, just to get out of the subdivision.

Another lovely "windows and doors open" day.

Humane Scorecard. Run For The Wild. Puppy Mills. Dogs Save Cheetahs. Prairie Dogs and Tigers. Blackfeet Massacre. Pebbles and Precious. Dishwasher.

2012-01-23T06:42:00.001-06:00

For "Mammal Monday":

"The new report is hot off the press. The 2011 Humane Scorecard provides an easy way to track the performance of your federal lawmakers on key animal protection issues during last year, and I hope you'll take a moment to check it out.

The first year of the 112th Congress brought encouraging advances for animals, despite tough political and economic times, but also deeply troubling setbacks for horses, wolves, and others.
With many lawmakers focused on deficit reduction, it was a challenging climate to seek funding increases. Nevertheless, thanks to a concerted lobbying push by HSLF and our supporters, Congress still approved some record-level boosts for key animal welfare programs in fiscal 2012. They included:" More at: http://www.hslf.org/pdfs/2011-Humane-Scorecard-Final.PDF

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EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
WCS Run for the Wild: April 28, 2012 $5 OFF!

"This year's WCS Run for the Wild at the Bronx Zoo is set for Saturday, April 28, in support of lions. There's no need to wait until spring to register:

When you sign up during the month of January, you'll get $5 off the entrance fee. Then, get a jump on raising funds for lions – all adult (and senior) participants are required to raise at least $30 in order to participate. We've also got a great variety of prizes in store for fundraisers this year, so register now for your chance to win. Thank you for helping us to make tracks for lions."

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Thank USDA for Ending Puppy Mill Imports

"Help us stop the import of puppy mill puppies! The USDA issued a proposed rule to implement the 2008 amendments to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

These amendments banned the import of puppies from foreign puppy mills for resale in the U.S.

It's high time the import regulations are finalized and strictly enforced. Please thank the USDA for issuing the proposed rule, and encourage them to put it into action as soon as possible.

TAKE ACTION
Complete the form below to automatically send a message to the USDA, thanking them for taking this important action to protect animals.

The USDA receives a lot of email, so remember to personalize email message below so that your message stands out." Form at: https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=5181

More at: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/tips/what_you_can_do_stop_puppy_mills.html

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"Dogs are used to protect sheep and other livestock from the cheetahs in Africa - thereby saving the big cats from potential shootings by aggrieved farmers."

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Protect the Underdogs of the West

"How much do you know about prairie dogs? Did you know that the intricate burrows they dig go as deep as 15 feet, or that their language is so sophisticated they can communicate people’s sizes and shape to each other?

Prairie dogs are also very social. But they're often poisoned, shot for sport, or killed as their colonies are bulldozed for development because many ranchers, farmers, and government agencies consider them to be "pests."

Because of the unjust pest label that plagues prairie dogs, their population has plummeted 95 percent from decades of persecution.

And when prairie dogs decline, so do foxes, owls, black-footed ferrets, and other animals who depend on them for food and shelter.

The good news is that we’re tackling many of the threats faced by prairie dogs -- but we need your support to continue.

An animal native only to North America, we have a lot to learn about prairie dogs. Will you help us ensure that their fragile existence is preserved?"

See the slideshow from our recent efforts to save prairie dogs; then please make a donation to help us continue»

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Wildlife Trade.

"I'm horrified that we're on the brink of losing wild tigers forever.

These big cats are threatened by organized gangs of poachers who use explosives, poison bait, and wire traps to kill them – and then sell their skins and other body parts.

With fewer than 3,500 wild tigers left, we don't have a moment to lose to prevent these magnificent animals from becoming extinct.

Help conservation organizations such as the Wildlife Conservation Society to protect tigers from poaching and crack down on the illegal trade in tiger parts. We can help save wild tigers from extinction. Thanks." Take action: https://secure3.convio.net/wcs/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=383&s_src=2011-09_ADV_WildlifeTrade "

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On This Day:

Soldiers massacre the wrong camp of Indians, Jan 23, 1870:

"Declaring he did not care whether or not it was the rebellious band of Indians he had been searching for, Colonel Eugene Baker orders his men to attack a sleeping camp of peaceful Blackfeet along the Marias River in northern Montana.

The previous fall, Malcolm Clarke, an influential Montana rancher, had accused a Blackfeet warrior named Owl Child of stealing some of his horses; he punished the proud brave with a brutal whipping. In retribution, Owl Child and several allies murdered Clarke and his son at their home near Helena, and then fled north to join a band of rebellious Blackfeet under the leadership of Mountain Chief. Outraged and frightened, Montanans demanded that Owl Child and his followers be punished, and the government responded by ordering the forces garrisoned under Major Eugene Baker at Fort Ellis (near modern-day Bozeman, Montana) to strike back.

Strengthening his cavalry units with two infantry groups from Fort Shaw near Great Falls, Baker led his troops out into sub-zero winter weather and headed north in search of Mountain Chief's band. Soldiers later reported that Baker drank a great deal throughout the march. On January 22, Baker discovered an Indian village along the Marias River, and, postponing his attack until the following morning, spent the evening drinking heavily.

At daybreak on the morning of January 23, 1870, Baker ordered his men to surround the camp in preparation for attack. As the darkness faded, Baker's scout, Joe Kipp, recognized that the painted designs on the buffalo-skin lodges were those of a peaceful band of Blackfeet led by Heavy Runner. Mountain Chief and Owl Child, Kipp quickly realized, must have gotten wind of the approaching soldiers and moved their winter camp elsewhere. Kipp rushed to tell Baker that they had the wrong Indians, but Baker reportedly replied, "That makes no difference, one band or another of them; they are all Piegans [Blackfeet] and we will attack them." Baker then ordered a sergeant to shoot Kipp if he tried to warn the sleeping camp of Blackfeet and gave the command to attack.

Baker's soldiers began blindly firing into the village, catching the peaceful Indians utterly unaware and defenseless. By the time the brutal attack was over, Baker and his men had, by the best estimate, murdered 37 men, 90 women, and 50 children. Knocking down lodges with frightened survivors inside, the soldiers set them on fire, burnt some of the Blackfeet alive, and then burned the band's meager supplies of food for the winter. Baker initially captured about 140 women and children as prisoners to take back to Fort Ellis, but when he discovered many were ill with smallpox, he abandoned them to face the deadly winter without food or shelter.

When word of the Baker Massacre (now known as the Marias Massacre) reached the east, many Americans were outraged. One angry congressman denounced Baker, saying "civilization shudders at horrors like this." Baker's superiors, however, supported his actions, as did the people of Montana, with one journalist calling Baker's critics "namby-pamby, sniffling old maid sentimentalists." Neither Baker nor his men faced a court martial or any other disciplinary actions. However, the public outrage over the massacre did derail the growing movement to transfer control of Indian affairs from the Department of Interior to the War Department--President Ulysses S. Grant decreed that henceforth all Indian agents would be civilians rather than soldiers."

______________

Yesterday:

We heard from the couple who adopted Precious and Pebbles, the little orphan kittens that I bottle fed. They said that the babies are doing well, and like to watch the birds and squirrels through the window. I am glad that I didn't let the pound put them to sleep.

Jay and I took Maddie and Misty walking when I went to get Jay. There is less traffic down at his part of the subdivision down by the lake.

When Jay and I returned here, Jay started to install that big drawer that I bought to go below my little Danby dishwasher. A big space had been left below it, when I took the full-size dishwasher out. It isn't finished yet.

I had one of these Danbys when my DH was still alive. I sure like these little dishwashers, they are just right for one or two people. They use less soap and hot water, and the smaller door doesn't get in the way.

I know winter can't be over, but it seems like it.

Another lovely "windows-and-doors-open" day!

Vibrant Health: The Crucial Biblical Keys. Queen Victoria. L.B. Johnson.

2012-01-22T06:46:00.001-06:00

"The Bible has a surprising number of things to say about your health. In recent years researchers are discovering that its health advice is sound—and far ahead of its time."

Source: Digital Vision

"Good health is something we take for granted—until we start to lose it. When our health takes a downturn, we quickly begin to question our habits and diet.

One man, lying in a hospital bed while regretting the damage he had inflicted on his body over a lifetime of bad choices and habits, offered a suggestion for God: "How would it be ... if we arrived in the world with an owner's manual tied to the umbilical cord?" ( Minneapolis Star Tribune, Jan. 25, 1989).

The human body is an "instrument [that is] the most resilient on Earth. It can endure fractures and adhesions. It can endure constant pain and great stretches of tedium.

Yet it is also the most fragile instrument on Earth, because it is not built to handle excess, whether this takes the form of nourishment, fuel or additives. Unlike machines, this instrument chokes on poisons when they are administered in continuing doses and mistaken for fuel ... It is an instrument [that] has moving parts, thinking parts and feeling parts. All of them can be misused" (ibid.).

Many people do not realize that God does supply an "owner's manual" that tells us how to operate the human body, and it's been with us for millennia. The problem is that not enough people pay much attention to it.

That manual is the Bible, a book that contains instructions for proper maintenance of our moving, thinking and feeling parts. Although it isn't a medical text, it is God's Word, and in its pages He reveals many basic principles for good health.

A major part of the Bible's health instruction dates back to the time of Moses. Yet in our day, some 3,500 years later, many researchers and medical doctors are stunned at the accuracy and effectiveness of its many provisions.

"The laws given by God to Moses contained remarkable rules pertaining to public health ... What are the primary concerns of a public health officer today? Water and food contamination, sewage disposal, infectious diseases, health education—these are all dealt with in the Mosaic health laws" ( The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, 1975, "Diseases," p. 460).

What are some of these health principles that have been rediscovered only in recent times? What do they offer us? What do we have yet to learn about the Bible's instructions regarding health?

If we learn and practice the biblical instructions on healthy living, we can enjoy more-vibrant, energetic lives. Let us, then, examine what the Bible says about health and wellness, concentrating on seven key principles.

Principle One: Obey God's commandments

The first principle, a foundational key to physical and mental health, is simply to obey God. We find this in Proverbs 3: "My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you ... It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones" (verses 1-2, 8).

It should not surprise us that obedience to God's commandments and other laws would promote health. When we obey them, we operate in accordance with our Maker's instructions. As our Creator, He certainly knows what's best for us. "Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person" (Ecclesiastes 12:13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. See All..., New Living Translation).

Remarkably, researchers have found that believing in God and living according to that belief bring significant health benefits. "In 1995 ... a Harvard Medical School conference [was convened] on the subject of faith and health ... One study reviewed at this conference found that weekly churchgoers in Maryland were less likely to die from heart attacks (50 percent less), emphysema (56 percent less) cirrhosis (74 percent less) and suicide (53 percent less)" than non-churchgoers (S.I. McMillen, M.D., and David Stern, M.D., None of These Diseases, 2000, p. 200).

The recognized father of aerobic exercise, Dr. Kenneth Cooper, stated: "Intrinsic belief ... characterized by such qualities as profound spiritual commitment, a sense of having found the ultimate meaning of life, a devotion to heartfelt prayer, and a quest for a truly transformed life ... has the capacity to spark major personal enrichment in every area of life—including dramatic improvements in physical health, emotional well being, and levels of fitness" ( It's Better to Believe, 1995, p. 4).

Some biblical statements about health are specific. "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians" (Exodus 15:26And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. See All...).

What diseases afflicted the Egyptians? "... Autopsies on Egyptian mummies have shown evidence of tuberculosis, arteriosclerosis, arthritis, cancer, gallstones, bladder stones, schistosomiasis and smallpox" ( Wycliffe, p. 459). In short, the people of Egypt suffered from the kinds of diseases that have ravaged mankind throughout history.

God's commandments and statutes include many laws that pertain to pathology as well as spiritual principles. The Egyptians suffered many diseases because they did not understand the health principles God gave Moses . Their ignorance is illustrated in the Ebers Papyrus, an Egyptian medical text dating from 1500 B.C. (about the same time God revealed His health laws to Moses ).

"The remedies it prescribes make modern readers cringe. A few of the treatments include: statue dust, beetle shells, mouse tails, cat hair, pig eyes, dog toes, ... eel eyes and goose guts ... To splinters, the ancient Egyptian doctors applied a salve of worm blood and donkey dung. Since dung is loaded with tetanus spores, a simple splinter often resulted in a gruesome death from lockjaw" (McMillen and Stern, p. 10).

The Egyptians believed evil spirits were the cause of illness. Consequently the priest-physicians applied "magical" cures. Conversely, the biblical instructions regarding health maintenance and recovery from illness involve application of cause-and-effect principles—based on true science—that were given thousands of years before scientists developed the technology that enabled them to discover germs, bacteria, viruses, genes and the like. Modern medical science has 'discovered' many principles of good health, but God originated them.

Principle Two: Basic sanitation

In contrast to the unsanitary medical treatments of the Egyptians, God emphasized physical cleanliness to His people. Today no educated person doubts the connection between hygiene and health. The major plagues and epidemics that killed millions through the ages generally originated because this principle was compromised in some way. Cholera, for example, has been one of the major killer diseases throughout history. It breaks out when sanitation principles are violated, and the resultant epidemics can be global.

For example, a cholera pandemic began in India in 1817, then spread to China, Sri Lanka, East Africa, the Philippines, Japan, Persia, Arabia and Russia. Another wave began in India in 1826, following a similar course, but spread also to mainland Europe and the British Isles.

From there it crossed the Atlantic to Canada, and then it made its way to the United States, appearing in Chicago and spreading south into the Mississippi Valley. Also, "it appeared concurrently in New York City and Boston and spread south and west, so that by 1836 cholera was present in most of the U.S. and did not disappear until 1838" ( Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1961, "Cholera").

To this day cholera is endemic to many parts of the world and breaks out when unsanitary conditions prevail. This is especially true when the improper disposal of sewage is present, because the disease is usually spread from the fecal matter of cholera victims. Should we see a large-scale breakdown of sanitary measures, "the rapidity of travel ... would make possible the spread of cholera in pandemic proportions in a matter of a few weeks or months" (ibid.).

Yet thousands of years ago the Bible provided instruction that would prevent cholera and other similar epidemics: "Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement" (Deuteronomy 23:12-13 [12] Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad: [13] And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee: See All..., New International Version).

"Used as directed, this [simple] prescription could have saved more lives than every drug ever made" (McMillen and Stern, p. 34). God directed that raw human sewage must be disposed of in a manner that keeps people and animals from direct contact with it.

Everyone needs to apply these commonsense principles to avoid person-to-person transmission of contagious diseases. Otherwise carelessness by only a few negligent people can start a full-scale epidemic, particularly if the sanitary standards of a community are lax. Collective diligence is essential for avoiding the spread of contagious diseases.

Death in Vienna

In 19th-century Europe no one knew about bacteria. In a hospital in Vienna, Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis was appalled at the death rate of pregnant women who came to the hospital to give birth. The deaths were attributed to "labor fever." After the women died, medical students would perform autopsies and then immediately proceed to treat live patients.

After much observation, Dr. Semmelweis arrived at a revolutionary conclusion: It might be contaminants on the medical students' hands that were responsible for spreading death from one patient to another. Thus he ordered the interns to wash their hands in chlorinated water.

He then watched to see the results. "The history books tell us what happened next ... In just three months the death rate fell from 18 percent to 1 percent" (ibid., p. 20).

Yet more than 3,000 years earlier God had revealed to Moses the sanitary measures people were to take if they touched a corpse. First, they were to be considered "unclean" for seven days and had to wash with water on the third and seventh days. (Numbers 19:12-13 [12] He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. [13] Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.
See All...). As long as a person was unclean, he was to avoid social contact with others. Although it served a ritualistic purpose, this law also literally served to protect others from exposure to harmful bacteria, even though people at the time did not know such things existed. The washing procedure cleansed the person of germs, and exposure to fresh air and sunlight between washings assisted in further purification.

Another basic rule of sanitation revealed in the Bible is the practice of quarantine. Bubonic plague, also known as the black death, ravaged Europe on several occasions through the centuries. One of the worst episodes came in the 14th century. Historical estimates of the death toll at that time ranged from 25 to 50 percent of the population. Sometimes whole towns were lost.

Yet, if the biblical law regarding quarantine (Leviticus 13:46All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be. See All...) had been strictly practiced, the spread of the plague could have been minimized. In fact, "the origin of the word ‘quarantine' is the Jewish use of the period of 40 days of segregation from patients with certain diseases ... adopted by the Italians in the 14th century because of the relative immunity of Jews from certain plagues" ( New Bible Dictionary, 1996, "Health, Disease and Healing," p. 455).

Principle Three: Sexual purity

One of the current controversies swirling around sexual permissiveness in society is the imperative of practicing "safe sex." The truth is that there is only one kind of completely safe sex, and that is to live by the laws of the Bible regarding sexual behavior. Sexual practices should always be monogamous and always within the context of marriage.

Rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are surging the world over. "Worldwide, estimates hold that there are more than 300 million cases of STIs annually" ( Johns Hopkins Family Health Book, 1999, p. 861). And "worldwide in the next few decades AIDS is expected to kill almost 300 million—more than the population of the entire United States" (McMillen and Stern, p. 116).

Some experts push condoms as a reliable way to arrest these epidemics. But condoms are not the answer. "Condoms, long the mainstay of the safe-sex public health model, do not protect against the spread of nearly all sexually transmitted diseases, according to a benchmark report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services" ( Women's Health Weekly, Sept. 6, 2001, emphasis added).

Huge numbers lose their health, reproductive capacity and sometimes even their lives because of sexual promiscuity. They find themselves regretful only when it is too late. "For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two edged sword ... And you mourn at last, when your flesh and your body are consumed" (Proverbs 5:3-4 [3] For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: [4] But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. See All..., 11).

Sexual permissiveness can also cause psychological harm. Adultery saddles a person with guilt and destroys marriages. Sexual profligacy before marriage detracts from happiness after marriage.

For many people cohabitation serves as a substitute for marriage. Yet it is a cheap and ungodly substitute. "People who are cohabiting are less happy generally than the married and are less satisfied with their sex lives" (Linda Waite and Maggie Gallagher, The Case for Marriage, 2000, p. 74).

A systematic study found "higher reported levels of emotional and physical pleasure for married people than for cohabiting or single people" ( Journal of Marriage and Family, February 2001). Serial cohabitants also run a high risk of contracting STDs, which they are apt to pass on to later sexual partners, including their spouses if they later marry.

The Seventh Commandment—"You shall not commit adultery"—is God's way of preventing epidemics of STDs, as well as helping us achieve happiness sexually and in other areas of life. "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral" (Hebrews 13:4Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. See All..., NIV).

Principle Four: Circumcision

Infant male circumcision is a practice at least 4,000 years old, originating in the Bible. Can we find sound medical reasons for it?

Some doctors say no, and some groups have organized to ban the practice. But let's examine some of the evidence. For starters, "uncircumcised boys [are] ten times more likely than circumcised boys to suffer urinary tract infections" (McMillen and Stern, p. 73). This conclusion draws from a study that involved the medical records of 200,000 infant boys.

It also appears that circumcision impedes the spread of AIDS and other STDs. "In Africa AIDS spreads mostly among tribes that do not practice circumcision" (ibid., p. 76). Why is this? The foreskin of uncircumcised males provides a warm, moist environment for the multiplication of bacteria. This poses a threat to the men, as well as their wives. "... The female partners of uncircumcised males have more infections, which in turn result in a higher incidence of cancer of the cervix" (Rex Russell, M.D., What the Bible Says About Healthy Living, 1999, p. 11).

Circumcision also provides protection against another disease—penile cancer—that is almost nonexistent among circumcised men and boys.

The Bible states that circumcision, when done, should be eight days after birth (Genesis 17:12And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
See All...). Doctors have routinely performed this procedure soon after birth instead. The result has sometimes been prolonged bleeding because the blood resisted clotting. Researchers have since found that in the first few days of life infants have a low supply of vitamin K, the vitamin that provides the blood's clotting capability. "After five to seven days ... infants have built up enough vitamin K to allow blood clotting to withstand circumcision" (ibid.).

Until these discoveries by modern medicine, the instruction to circumcise on the eighth day was believed to be superfluous, but we now know it was based on solid physiological reasons, proving the wisdom of the Bible.

However, it should be mentioned that the New Testament makes it clear that circumcision is not required for salvation in the Kingdom of God: (Romans 2:26-29 [26] Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? [26] Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? [27] And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? [27] And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? [28] For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: [28] For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: [29] But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. [29] But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. See All...; 1 Corinthians 7:19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. See All...; Galatians 5:6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. See All..., 6:15.)

Principle Five: Control Your Stress Level

Stress is unavoidable and sometimes even helpful because it can add spice to our lives. People who are insufficiently stressed become bored; they find life lacks interest. When most of us use the term "stress" today, we really mean we are in distress or experiencing stress overload. Living with too much stress can bring frustration and anxiety. "An anxious heart weighs a man down" (Proverbs 12:25Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
See All..., NIV).

The list of diseases that stress can exacerbate includes AIDS (by hastening its onset after contracting HIV), cancer, heart disease, herpes, respiratory infections and disorders of the digestive system.

It is critical, especially in our fast-paced world, that we manage our stress load. If we subject ourselves to relentless stress, it will be only a matter of time before our bodies pay a price. The challenge of accomplishing a lot of things and perhaps making a lot of money may be thrilling for a while, "but at the same time, it causes an accelerated wear and tear in our bodies. In a nutshell, stress is accelerated dying" (Archibald Hart, M.D., The Anxiety Cure, 1999, p. 136).

Keys to stress management include setting priorities and avoiding taking on more than we can handle. Jesus gently corrected one of His friends who violated this principle. "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things" (Luke 10:41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: See All...). He urged her to reorder her priorities as her sister Mary had done (verse 42).

The focus of Jesus' teaching was the Kingdom of God. He told the 12 apostles to seek the Kingdom of God above all, and, if they did, God would supply their other needs (Matthew 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. See All...).

One of the keys to stress management is a relationship with God and an understanding of His purpose for life. "... Hundreds of studies have examined the relationship of faith and health. Eighty to ninety percent of these studies have reached the same conclusion: Faith makes fit, and doubt makes sick" (McMillen and Stern, p. 199).

One study examined the value of church involvement for recipients of open-heart surgery. "Those who neither had regular group participation nor drew strength and comfort from their religion were more than seven times more likely to die six months after surgery" (Dean Ornish, M.D., Love and Survival, 1997, p. 51).

God can lighten the stress of life so you can deal with it—if you put your trust in Him. "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you," says Psalm 55:22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. See All....

One of the ways to do this is to observe His weekly Sabbath rest. Neither our bodies nor our minds are designed to go days on end without a break in our routines.

Some attempt to cope with high levels of stress by using alcohol or other drugs, including illegal substances. This practice often results in substance abuse and addiction. Avoiding addictions is critical to handling stress and life in general. Addictions are not a solution and will only add to one's problems.

Principle Six: Exercise

The Bible contains few commands about physical exercise. Paul wrote that "bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things ..." (1 Timothy 4:8For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
See All...). Paul did not mean that physical exercise has little value. Indeed, he was acknowledging that there is profit in it. But he was contrasting the short-term physical benefits of physical exercise with the long-term spiritual benefits of living a godly life—to live forever and enjoy true and lasting happiness.

In Bible times it was not necessary to exhort people to exercise regularly. Most people would walk a considerable distance daily in the course of their regular routines and work. Someone calculated, using maps of the roads during Jesus' earthly life, how far He must have walked in the three-plus years He traveled and taught. That researcher "calculated that the total miles Jesus walked during the three years of His public ministry were 3,125 miles" (Don Colbert, M.D., What Would Jesus Eat?, 2002, p. 168).

Today many if not most people lead sedentary lives. The result is a dramatic increase in obesity and a host of diseases that threaten to decrease the quality and length of life.

Aerobic exercise—which can be something as simple as walking—helps control weight, lowers blood pressure and improves cholesterol levels. "In one study, researchers monitored more than 84,000 female nurses for eight years. Those women who exercised regularly had a 54 percent decreased risk of both heart attack and stroke when compared to sedentary women. Similar studies with men have produced similar results" (ibid., p. 170).

Exercise lowers the probability of adult-onset diabetes. Weight-bearing exercise, including walking, provides insurance against osteoporosis because it helps maintain bone density. This disease is a particular threat to women over age 50.

"There is even evidence that regular, moderate exercise may slightly reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer, especially cancers of the colon, breast and uterus. A nineteen-year study of over a million Swedish men found that those who led sedentary lives had a 30 percent greater risk of developing cancer of the colon" (Paul Martin, M.D., The Healing Mind, 1997, p. 246).

The people of the Bible—except for the severely physically disabled and elderly—were not sedentary. Their primary means of travel was walking. The work of men was generally physically demanding, and the same was true for women. Among the chores women customarily performed was the daily drawing and transporting of water for their households. This often required a fair bit of encumbered walking, because water sources were frequently central wells that were some distance from home.

People commonly lived to 70 years of age during biblical times (Psalm 90:10The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. See All...). It is probable that their physical activity coupled with other factors contributed to their longevity. Life expectancy didn't reach 70 in later centuries until 1955 (Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World, 1995, p. 10).

Principle Seven: Emotional Management

Proverbs 17:22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. See All... states, "A merry heart does good, like medicine ..."

In recent years the health profession has affirmed the truth of this ancient wise saying, but a corollary, which could be phrased this way, also applies: A dejected spirit is like a toxin to the body.

"Research has confirmed the existence of systematic links ... between anxiety, stress, depression and hostility, and a wide range of physical disorders including minor infections, gut disorders, herpes, allergies, asthma, arthritis, coronary heart disease and cancer" (Martin, p. 32).

Anger—in its various forms—is particularly harmful to one's health. This is something that has only recently gained the attention of medical science. "For most of the twentieth century, medical experts did not consider hostility to be a major health risk ... Few worried about high hostility" (McMillen and Stern, pp. 206-207).

In one study "researchers tested hostility levels in 255 medical students ... Over the following years ... the doctors with high hostility [died] like raging bulls ... By middle age, 13 percent of the high-hostility men had died. In contrast, only 2 percent with low hostility had died. The men with grudgitis had more hypertension and five times more heart attacks" (ibid.).

How can anger be so debilitating? "Anger management is vital to your health because the chemicals released in your body during a tirade or tantrum are as dangerous to your cardiac health as smoking or a high-fat diet" ( Portland Oregonian, Aug. 20, 2000). According to Stephen Sinatra, director of the New England Heart Center: "When a surgeon operates on a diseased heart, he can't tell if the person has a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet or if he has simmering anger" (ibid.).

Manifestations of anger constitute part of what the Bible calls the "acts of the sinful nature" (Galatians 5:19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, See All..., NIV). The list includes "hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy" (verse 20). If these or other malevolent emotions are a residual part of your mentality, you are setting yourself up for serious future health problems.

You can begin a process of eradicating these characteristics from your personality by seeking to emulate the attributes called "the fruit of the spirit." These are "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23 [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
See All..., NIV). In so doing, you will make life better for yourself and everyone around you. Your new conduct will also please God.

Of course, to truly take on the characteristics of God's Spirit and root out wrong, sinful emotions requires that His Spirit be in us—which comes after repentance of sin and baptism (Acts 2:38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. See All...).

What will you do?

It was not until the modern era that men obtained detailed knowledge of human physiology and medicine. Yet the Creator God, who is sometimes called the Great Physician, knows everything about us.

God doesn't want anyone to suffer unnecessary illnesses; He wants us to enjoy good health (3 John 2). That's why He gave us the foundation for a program to provide for healthy living. The Bible provides the necessary keys. The choice of whether to apply them and reap the resultant benefits is ours to make." Article by Noel Hornor From: http://www.ucg.org/christian-living/vibrant-health-crucial-biblical-keys/

------------- By the same author:

Thousands of Muslim pilgrims flock to the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, during the anual Hajj.

The History of Islam: What Does It Teach Us?

http://www.ucg.org/news-and-prophecy/history-islam-what-does-it-teach-us/

____________

On This Day:

Queen Victoria dies, Jan 22, 1901:

"The death of Queen Victoria on January 22, 1901, ends an era in which most of her British subjects know no other monarch. Her 63-year reign, the longest in British history, saw the growth of an empire on which the sun never set. Victoria restored dignity to the English monarchy and ensured its survival as a ceremonial political institution.

Born in 1819, she came to the throne after the death of her uncle, King William IV, in 1837. As a young woman ascending to the throne, her future husband described her "as one whose extreme obstinacy was constantly at war with her good nature." Her first prime minister, Lord Melbourne, became her close friend and adviser, and she succeeded in blocking his replacement by Tory leader Sir Robert Peel in 1839. Two years later, however, an election resulted in a Tory majority in the House of Commons, and Victoria was compelled to accept Peel as prime minister. Never again would she interfere so directly in the politics of democratic Britain.

In 1839, her first cousin Albert, a German prince, came to visit the English court at Windsor, and Victoria proposed to him five days after his arrival. Prince Albert accepted, and in February 1840 they were married. He soon became the dominant influence in her life and served as her private secretary. Among his greatest achievements as royal consort was his organization of the Great Exhibition of 1851, the first world's fair, in the Crystal Palace in London. He also steered her support away from the Whigs to the conservative Tories; she later was a vocal supporter of Benjamin Disraeli, leader of the Conservative Party.

Victoria and Albert built royal residences at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight and at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and became increasingly detached from London. They had nine children, including Victoria, later the empress of Germany, and the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. In 1861, Albert died, and Victoria's grief was such that she did not appear in public for three years. She never entirely got over the loss, and until the end of her life she had her maids nightly lay out Albert's clothes for the next day and in the morning replace the water in the basin in his room.

Disraeli coaxed her out of seclusion, and she was impressed by his efforts to strengthen and expand the British Empire. In 1876, he had her made "empress of India," a title which pleased her and made her a symbol of imperial unity. During the last few decades of her life, her popularity, which had suffered during her long public absence, increased greatly. She never embraced the social and technological advances of the 19th century but accepted the changes and worked hard to fulfill her ceremonial duties as head of state. When she died, she had 37 surviving great-grandchildren, and their marriages with other monarchies gave her the name the "grandmother of Europe."

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Lyndon Baines Johnson dies in Texas, Jan 22, 1973:

"On this day in 1973, former President Lyndon Baines Johnson dies in Johnson City, Texas, at the age of 64.

After leaving the White House in 1968, L.B.J. returned to his beloved home state, Texas, with his wife, Ladybird, and immersed himself in the activity dearest to him: ranching. Although ostensibly retired, L.B.J. kept up a busy daily schedule reminiscent of his days in the White House. His biographer, Doris Kearns, observed Johnson going about ranching duties with the same intensity he had once displayed at work in the Oval Office. At morning meetings on the ranch, Johnson instructed each hand to make a solemn pledge that you will not go to bed tonight until you are sure that every steer has everything he needs. We've got a chance of producing some of the finest beef in this country if we work at it.and if we treat those hens with loving care we should be able to produce the finest eggs in the country. Each night he found not presidential briefings on his bedside table, but reports he had ordered on the ranch's daily production of eggs. To Kearns, Johnson's obsession with his hens' inability to produce as many eggs as he expected contained a hint of the frustration he had once experienced in trying to win an apparently un-winnable war in Vietnam.

Beneath the bustle, Johnson remained, in his own words, miserable. For a man who had wanted to carve out a legacy as the creator of a Great Society in America, his disappointment that his part in escalating the Vietnam War overshadowed his other accomplishments was immense. Johnson's record included successful social and economic reforms such as the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act, improvements in housing and urban development and strong support for America's space program, but these seemed to be forgotten as public criticism of the war dogged L.B.J. into retirement and even beyond the grave.

On the day of Nixon's second inaugural celebration, Johnson watched sullenly as Nixon announced the dismantling of many of Johnson's Great Society social programs and, the next day, that he had achieved the ceasefire in Vietnam that had eluded Johnson. Johnson had reportedly predicted that [when the Great Society] dies, I, too, will die. The following day, while Ladybird and their daughters were in Austin, Johnson suffered a fatal heart attack at his ranch in Johnson City."

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Yesterday:

It was Adoption Day. I was under the impression that the couple who adopted Patches where coming to see Prime. As they are already approved, they could take her right away. So I spent quite a bit of time getting different things printed up about Prime, and her medical records, then packed her toys and some food.

But when the foster mom who lives near me picked up Prime, she said she had not had time to email Patches' folks to let them know that Prime would be there.

Later, Prime was very happy to be home, and the foster mom said they were very busy at Adoption Day, but the interest was in dogs. Our SPCA boss who is in mourning for her husband, was there for the first time since his death. They have three applications for dogs, but Prime wasn't even looked at yesterday.

News: Squirrel Day. Can Euro Survive? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Hamas Logo. Sabine Pass,TX. Lenin. Toyota # 1.

2012-01-21T07:02:00.001-06:00

News, Some New, Some Old:

Squirrel Appreciation Day: 5 Ways to Go Nuts

"January 21st is Squirrel Day this year. In honor of our tree-inclined friends I thought we could swap squirrel stories and memories. I’ve been thinking a lot about how wildlife impact our daily life, and very few animals are as accessible as squirrels. They scamper openly in parks, they take advantage of our bird feeding and they make interstates out of our power lines. It’s hard not to be impressed by an animal that has adapted to humans so well.

Here are five ways you can celebrate Squirrel Appreciation Day." Read the rest at: http://blog.nwf.org/2012/01/squirrel-appreciation-day-is-january-21st-5-ways-to-go-nuts-for-squirrels/ From Wildlife Promise

10 Tips for Outwitting Squirrels

Tired of squirrels raiding your bird feeders? Here are 10 ways to thwart the furry bandits. Read more at: http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Birds/Archives/2010/Squirrels.aspx

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Eurozone Crisis: What Investors Want To See From Eurozone Countries. Posted: 1/19/12

"The question is far from trivial. Without private investors buying up the bonds of troubled European countries, the economic crisis overseas is likely to limp along. And though Europe has faded from the minds of many Americans as election season heats up, worries of the crisis spreading to the U.S. persist. On Friday, ratings agency Standard & Poor's downgraded nine eurozone countries, including France, Italy and Spain. After months of uncertainty, Greece drew closer to a settlement with private bondholders that would force them to take a significant loss on their Greek government debt holdings and help prevent a Greek government default." From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/eurozone-crisis-investors_n_1211305.html

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Can The Euro Survive? Jan 20, 2012

"After the events of last Friday when the Greece bailout talks with her creditors stalled and Standard and Poors downgraded 9 eurozone nations, this subject just went straight back to the headlines and is clearly very important in its potential significance."

Uploaded by HeadsUpShowTV http://youtu.be/J-NFIrYKufU

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European Crisis Can Spread to US. 17 Jan 2012

"The European debt crisis has now claimed France, which just lost its coveted AAA rating amid a Standard & Poor's downgrade, and eventually U.S. financial systems could be due for a fresh bruising", says Robert Wiedemer, financial commentator and best-selling author of "Aftershock."
Like Greece and other European countries, the United States is carrying too much debt and won't be able to handle it much longer without facing backlash from ratings agencies or markets.
"I think what most people are ignoring is that the U.S. has a lot of these same problems. I think they think it's just a Europe problem just as France and Germany thought it was a Greek problem or an Ireland problem," Wiedemer told Newsmax.TV in an exclusive interview."
Story Continues Below Video." Read more at: http://www.moneynews.com/StreetTalk/Wiedemer-European-Crisis-US/2012/01/13/id/424197

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The Iranian President's Goals For Mankind

"The Koran, Islam's holy book, envisions a world in which Islam will eventually dominate the entire globe."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Source: Wikimedia

"Failure to understand this basic fact blinds many Western leaders to the overall goal of Muslim leaders who take their religion seriously. Some Muslims, predominately Shiites, believe in a coming Islamic messiah whom they refer to as the mahdi, meaning "Guided One." This mahdi, they believe, will lead Islam to what they believe to be its rightful place as the dominant religion over the entire world, with followers of other religions either forced to convert or put in subjugation to Islam.

Though such religious fervor seems far-fetched to those in the largely secular and irreligious West, some Islamic leaders are quite open in stating this as their belief and ultimate goal. For example, in his last three speeches before the United Nations General Assembly (2009, 2010, 2011), Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed his ultimate desire for the world—a new age in which the mahdi would come and establish Islam as the religion for all mankind in a world governed by the Koran. Notice these excerpts:

• UN speech in 2009: "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe, and peace and blessings be upon our master and prophet Muhammad . . . O God hasten the arrival of Iman Mahdi" (Sept. 23, 2009).

• UN speech in 2010: "The Holy Qu'ran [Koran] is the Divine book and the eternal miracle of the Prophet of Islam [Muhammad]" (Sept. 23, 2010).

• UN speech in 2011: "A promising future for humanity . . . will be built when humanity initiates to [tread] the path of the divine prophets and the righteous under the leadership of Iman Al-Mahdi, the Ultimate Savior of mankind . . . The creation of a supreme and ideal society with the arrival of a perfect human being who is a true and sincere lover of all human beings, is the guaranteed promise of Allah" (Sept. 22, 2011).

The Bible, however, presents a very different picture. The apostle Peter said of Jesus Christ: "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
See All...). The perfect human being, without sin, came to this earth some 2,000 years ago." From: http://www.ucg.org/news-and-prophecy/iranian-presidents-goals-mankind/

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Telling Symbolism From the Hamas Logo

"Hamas is the Islamic group that controls Gaza, from which attacks are regularly launched against Israel."

Source: Wikimedia

"The symbols of the Hamas logo illustrate the group's intractable attitude toward Israel. At the top is an outline of the territory of Israel, Gaza and the West Bank shown as one entity covered in green, Hamas' symbolic color. In the center is the Muslim shrine the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, surrounded by banners bearing the phrases "There is no god but Allah" and "Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." Underneath those are the words "Palestine" and "Islamic Resistance Movement—Hamas." The swords are a common Islamic motif, representing the power of Islam and the desire to spread the religion, by force if necessary." From: http://www.ucg.org/middle-east/telling-symbolism-hamas-logo/ About Hamas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas

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On This Day:

Rebels recapture Sabine Pass, Jan 21, 1863:

"On this day in 1863, two Confederate ships drive away two Union ships as the Rebels recapture Sabine Pass, Texas, and open an important port for the Confederacy.

Sabine Pass lay at the mouth of the Sabine River along the gulf coast of Texas. The Confederates constructed a major fort there in 1861. In September 1862, a Union force captured the fort and, shortly after, the port of Galveston to the southwest. The Yankees now controlled much of the Texas coast. In November, Confederate General John Bankhead Magruder arrived to change Southern fortunes in the area. Magruder, an early Confederate hero in Virginia, was assigned the difficult task of expelling the Federals from Sabine Pass and Galveston.

Magruder's efforts paid quick dividends. He recaptured Galveston and then turned his attention to Sabine Pass. The decks of the two Rebel ships, the Bell and the Uncle Ben, were stacked with cotton bales. Sharpshooters were placed behind the bales and the ships steamed towards the two Union ships, the Morning Light and the Velocity. Some of the sharpshooters became seasick and had to be removed, but the expedition continued. The Confederates chased the Yankee ships into open water, and the sharpshooters injured many Union gunners. Both Union ships soon surrendered. Magruder's victory reopened the Texas coast for Confederate shipping.

The Union tried to recapture Sabine Pass later in the year, but the effort was thwarted when less than 50 Confederates inside the fort there held off a much larger Union force."

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Vladimir Lenin dies. Jan 21, 1924:

"Vladimir Lenin, the architect of the Bolshevik Revolution and the first leader of the Soviet Union, dies of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 54.

In the early 1890s, Lenin abandoned his law career to devote himself to Marxist study and the provocation of revolutionary activity among Russian workers. Arrested and exiled to Siberia in 1897, he later traveled to Western Europe, where in 1903 he established the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party. The Bolsheviks were a militant party of professional revolutionaries who sought to overthrow the czarist government and set up a Marxist government in its place.

In 1905, workers rebelled across Russia, but it was not until 1917, and Russia's disastrous involvement in World War I, that Lenin realized that the opportunity for Communist revolution had come. In March 1917, the Russian army garrison at Petrograd defected to the Bolshevik cause, and Czar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate. Lenin immediately left Switzerland and crossed German enemy lines to arrive at Petrograd on April 16, 1917. Six months later, under his leadership, the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia, and Lenin became virtual dictator of the country. However, civil war and foreign intervention delayed complete Bolshevik control of Russia until 1920.

Lenin's government nationalized industry and distributed land, and on December 30, 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was established. Upon Lenin's death in early 1924, his body was embalmed and placed in a mausoleum near the Moscow Kremlin. Petrograd was renamed Leningrad in his honor. Fellow revolutionary Joseph Stalin succeeded him as leader of the Soviet Union."

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Toyota officially passes GM as planet's biggest car maker

Jan 21, 2009: "After more than seven decades as the world's largest automaker, General Motors (GM) officially loses the title on January 21, 2009, when it announces worldwide sales of 8.36 million cars and trucks in 2008, compared with Toyota's 8.97 million vehicle sales that same year. However, the news wasn't all rosy for the Japanese auto giant, which later in 2009 posted its first-ever loss as a public company.

The roots of GM competitor Toyota Motor Corporation date to the late 1920s when Kiichiro Toyoda, who worked for his father's Japan-based textile machinery business, Toyoda Loom Works, began plans to develop an automobile. In 1933, an auto division was formed within Toyoda Loom Works and two years later a prototype vehicle, the A1, debuted. In 1937, Toyota Motor Corporation was formed as a spinoff of Toyoda Loom Works. In 1947, Toyota produced its 100,000th domestically made vehicle and in the 1950s began exporting cars to America. During the oil crisis of the 1970s, Toyota's small, fuel-efficient vehicles experienced a boost in popularity in America and by the end of the 1990s, Toyota had produced over 100 million vehicles in Japan."

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Yesterday:

After walking Misty and Maddie down at Jay's, for once Jay and I accomplished everything we set out to do here. But Jay insisted on bringing Maddie up here, against my advice. He had forgotten how she squeals and barks unless she is right where he is. As we had the back gate open, she had to be fenced next to where we were working. Her barking and pleading was stressful for us and Maddie. But she is fine when he isn't here. Spoiled brat!

We changed out the propane tank that makes my gas cooktop work. That tank had lasted about a year! Then another trip up to Ray's attic with the small TV, digital box, tools, etc, and made Ray's HDTV show all 73 channels again, but not with the new fancy splitter.

Then both armed with rakes, we scooped up all the piles of pine needles and made another burn pile. I cheat, I use a dustpan to hold them on the rake when I scoop up piles, not gloved hands, to put them in the bin. Works for me. Then Jay drags the big bin to the burn pile on the side lot.

So far we have had 12 days in January in the 70's. Then yesterday even T-shirts felt hot, as it was a very humid 80° day.

Do You Want Sugar With That? Lake Conroe.

2012-01-20T07:39:00.001-06:00

For "Foodie Friday":

Jorge's Interview with Dr. Mehmet Oz, author of 'You: On a Diet.'

"Dr. Oz: "A lot of folks think that sugar becomes sugar in the
body and fat becomes fat in the body and protein becomes
protein. Not true. Think about cows: they don’t eat meat but they got meat on them, right? …………..
Dr. O: So these key messages – the messages about the
white foods, about the importance of the belly being less than
half the circumference than your height, about the importance of omentum fat causing high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
diabetes and impotence and loss of libido – all these are
messages that need to be dispersed out there. And you’re the
army."" From: http://youtu.be/RAHgChvUwh8

More at: http://thebellyfatcure.com/bfc-fast-track

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DEATH BY SUGAR by Jorge Cruise

http://youtu.be/aH47sGmJZaQ

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Video by leading Nutrionalist Professor Adam Carey on the subject : 'Side Effects Of Too Much Sugar'

http://youtu.be/HTBNnsxTHDA

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The Impact of Sugar on Your Health, Total Health Breakthroughs expert Laura Lavalle discusses the impact sugar can have on your health.

http://youtu.be/SZFyA-VyMwg

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The Bitter Truth Behind Our National Sweet Tooth

A fitness expert—and pre-diabetic exposes how America's love for sugar helped lead to a national epidemic. By Amanda Schupak O, The Oprah Magazine | From the August 2011 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

Read the article at: http://www.oprah.com/health/How-Sugar-Affects-Your-Health-Does-Sugar-Cause-Diabetes#ixzz1k0MRtgux

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This will amaze you:

Please look at the list, it is too long to post it here. Even print it out and put it on your fridge!

"146 Reasons Why Sugar Is Ruining Your Health

List at: http://rheumatic.org/sugar.htm By Nancy Appleton, Ph.D. Author of LICK THE SUGAR HABIT and LICK THE SUGAR HABIT SUGAR COUNTER."

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On This Day:

Actress Audrey Hepburn dies, Jan 20, 1993:

"One of America’s most beloved actresses, Audrey Hepburn, dies on this day in 1993, near her home in Lausanne, Switzerland. The 63-year-old Hepburn had undergone surgery for colon cancer the previous November.

The daughter of an aristocratic Dutch mother and an English businessman father, Hepburn was born in Brussels, Belgium, and educated mostly in England. During World War II, the young Audrey and her mother were in the Netherlands when the Nazis invaded that country. The war left a permanent mark on Hepburn’s family: An uncle and a cousin were executed, and one of her brothers was interned in a Nazi labor camp. At war’s end, Hepburn was finally able to return to England, where she modeled and began landing parts in movies as a chorus girl and dancer. While shooting one of these films in Monaco, the lithe and graceful Hepburn was spotted by the French author Colette, who recommended her for the starring role in the upcoming theatrical adaptation of her novel Gigi.

Gigi opened in November 1951 at New York City’s Fulton Theater, and Hepburn received glowing reviews for her performance. Impressed with her screen test, the director William Wyler held production on his film Roman Holiday while Hepburn finished her run on Broadway. “That girl,” Wyler is said to have remarked after filming was completed, “is going to be the biggest star in Hollywood.” After the release of Roman Holiday in 1953, his prediction seemed well on its way to coming true: Hepburn won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as a princess on the loose in Rome who falls in love with a journalist (Gregory Peck). The same year, she won a Tony Award for her starring turn in Broadway’s Ondine.

Slim, elegant and unfailingly stylish, Hepburn turned the image of the bosomy blonde Hollywood starlet on its head, presenting a new ideal of beauty for millions of moviegoers. In Sabrina (1954), Funny Face (1957) and Love in the Afternoon (1957), she matched off with Hollywood’s leading men (William Holden and Humphrey Bogart, Fred Astaire, and Gary Cooper, respectively). Hepburn’s embodiment of Holly Golightly, the ultimate free spirit, in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) was one of her most enduringly popular roles, and earned her a fourth Oscar nomination for Best Actress. (She was also nominated for Sabrina and 1959’s A Nun’s Story). In 1964, controversy flared when Hepburn was chosen to play Eliza Doolittle in the film version of the musical My Fair Lady, beating out Julie Andrews, who had originated the role on Broadway. Playing opposite Rex Harrison, Hepburn acquitted herself well, although her singing was dubbed (by Marni Nixon).

In 1967, Hepburn got her fifth Academy Award nomination for her performance as a blind woman whose house is burglarized in Wait Until Dark. Soon after that, she left full-time acting and lived mostly in Switzerland, appearing infrequently in movies that were both praised (1976’s Robin and Marian with Sean Connery) and panned (1979’s Bloodline and 1981’s They All Laughed). Married to the actor Mel Ferrer in 1954, Hepburn had two sons with him before they divorced in 1968; the following year she married Andrea Dotti, an Italian psychiatrist, with whom she had one son. They later divorced, and she began a relationship with Robert Wolders, a Dutch actor, in 1980.

Hepburn’s most significant work over the last two decades of her life was not captured on film. Named a special ambassador for UNICEF, the United Nation’s children’s fund, in 1988, Hepburn traveled extensively raising money and awareness for the organization. Her UNICEF field trips spanned the globe, from Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela and El Salvador, to Turkey, Thailand, Bangladesh and Sudan. In addition to field work, Hepburn was an eloquent public voice for the organization, testifying before the U.S. Congress, participating in the World Summit for Children and giving numerous speeches and interviews about UNICEF’s work. In 1992, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Even after she was diagnosed with cancer, Hepburn continued her travel and work for UNICEF. Mourned by countless fans, she was posthumously given the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 1993 Academy Awards, which her son accepted on her behalf. In her last screen appearance--Steven Spielberg’s Always (1989)--Hepburn played an angel guiding the movie’s protagonist to heaven, and the role served as a fitting reflection of the screen goddess’s public image during the last years of her life."

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Yesterday:

When Misty and I went to get Jay, Misty and Maddie had their walk. We went walked to the boat ramp on this side of the subdivision to see how much the lake had risen. But I didn't take a picture there because the pictures that I usually show are at the other boat ramp. Then they can be compared.

We went up in Ray's attic and replaced the faulty splitter with the expensive one that I bought yesterday, which is especially for HDTVs. Ray wasn't home, so we had to assume that it was fixed.

Jay got on a ladder and put some more screws in a beam in the RVport, and then went up on the roofs to blow off the pine needles and clear the gutters. The electric blower started making a nasty squealing noise, and as I bought it when I had the mini-golf in the 80's, I thought it was a gonner. We sprayed some contact cleaner, then some PB Blaster in it, and it stopped squealing. So far so good. On the ground, I was raking the pine needles in to piles.

When Misty and I took Jay home, we went over to the other boat ramp. This is how it looked after the drought in October when Dizzy-Dick and Ruth were here.

Now, The bulkheads have a little water near them.

At least the ducks can get to us now, as they love to be fed by the residents.

This how it looked before the drought. The island was a lot smaller, and we could see all the way to the main part of the lake.

When Ray got home, he said that he had no picture on his TV, so I went up in his attic and got it working, but only on 20 of the 74 channels.

Fixing the cable, and moving all the piles of pine needles, will have to wait until today.

RV: Cool RV. 1935 RV. 1950's "Fifth Wheel". Shady Dell's Vintage RVs. RV Museum. New Westfalia. Pruis. Saab. Bombs. Antarctica. Meissen.

2012-01-19T07:35:00.001-06:00

For "tRaVersing, or RV Day". RVs, Some Old, Some New:

Decoliner, RV with flying bridge:

"Check out this crazy ride from automotive artist Randy Grubb, who's built cars for Jay Leno. He calls it The Decoliner - and he drives it from the roof - that's correct - the roof. It's fully functional and you'll see him drive it."

"It's part 1950's-era White Trash Truck and part 1973 GMC Motorhome, combined with a lot of creativity."

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Here's a project:

1935 Ford House Car.

Description: "Johnny Cash drove this conversion in The Man in Black. It was topped w/metal and lost that as well as it's engine, hood, and tranny etc to thieves before I found it. At this point, I want to see it go to a home that will restore it. It is currently in a private lot in Southern Oregon ready for you to pick it up and save it. If it doesn't sell (sale fell through first round due to lack of ability to move it), it most likely will be scraped. Just the fenders are worth it. Make me an offer:)) The interior is shot, hence no pics. The living area will need to be redone. The original layout inside is: front living area w/kitchen and sofa area that turned into beds. Shower and another small bed in rear. The frame is SOLID and STRAIGHT! It's doable." From: http://www.tincantourists.com/classified/showproduct.php?product=4526

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1950's Fifth Wheel Parking Concept

The meaning of "fifth wheel" in the 1950s

"Admit it. You've always wondered why a trailer with two or four wheels of its own is called a "fifth wheel", right? Still, we know what it means. It's an RV travel trailer that is towed from the bed of a pickup truck or a truck tractor, allowing for more driving stability and interior space. But there was a time when the term "fifth wheel" was relatively unheard of and much more literal.
Check this out. And then you might be wondering why what seems like a great idea didn't go into mass production."

From: http://www.rvvideos.com/2011/04/meaning-of-fifth-wheel-in-1950s.html

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Shady Dell RV Park and Dot's Diner

"If you love vintage Americana, especially in the form of cool, restored trailers from the 1940s and 50s, a night at the Shady Dell in Bisbee, Arizona needs to be added to your to do list. With nine trailers to choose, decorated with vintage mid-century modern decor, you'll feel like you've stepped back in time."

"The Shady Dell’s long and epic journey began in 1927 as a place to provide trailer and camping spaces to weary travelers along the famous Highway 80, which stretched from Savannah, Georgia to San Diego, California. Like its more famous brother Route 66, Highway 80 was a center of travel, exploration and family getaways in the early portions of the 20th century. Today, the park is a nice mix of practicality and vintage fun-seeking. Part of the park is equipped with full RV hookups while the other part is a unique step back to the heyday of travel trailering in America."

"The scoop on Dot's Diner is that it's an authentic ten-stool 1957 Valentine that served Los Angeles patrons for 26 years, sat idle and neglected for 13 more, and was then moved to Bisbee and the Shady Dell RV park in 1996. It took six months to restore it, but from the looks of things, the effort was well worth it. And the food is great! I had three meals there, and the place was always full (and with locals, too. Always a good sign.) And just like the Shady Dell, there wasn't a whiff of phony '50s nostalgia; just good food in a cool place." From: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/6429

More pictures of the vintage RVs at: http://www.theshadydell.com/Rates.html

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Just One Example from The RV Hall of Fame:

1915 MODEL T WITH 1916 TELESCOPE APARTMENT -- RV Collection 3 (David Woodworth Collection)

"A unique unit built in California on the back of a Model T Ford roadster. A novel feature is multiple slide-outs on this vintage model." Many more at: http://www.rvmhhalloffame.org/museuminv.cfm

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For those who want an everyday driver and a camper:

The New Westfalia, the venerable "camper van" launches new rig for 60th anniversary.

"Call them "hippie vans" if you must, but the venerable Westfalia camper van, mounted on a Volkswagen bus platform carries on a proud tradition. Marking its 60th anniversary, Germany's Westfalia is rolling out a new camper van.
The original camper van was called a "camping box" and rolled out in 1951. Since then generations of families (both traditional and esoteric) have cruised happily down the highways of the world, bumping along with a little "pancake" engine powering their little motorhomes."

rvbusiness.com

"The new "Edition 60" is a limited production model, and will be showcased at this year's Caravan Salon Dusseldorf. At that time a more proper name for the little rig will be released. Don't despair if you can't lay your hands on one of the early releases, the company promises that within a few weeks of the prior, limited edition model, they will go into full production for the masses.
The new model will include two single beds, or a single built-in bed with a convertible bench seat making down into yet another bed.

No need for searching for comfort stops, Westfalia will include a toilet, cleverly stashed under the beds, and easily pulled out via a guide rail system. And those needing a trip to the biffy in the middle of the night won't need to disturb their fellow sleepers, the system allows the pot to be pulled out without moving either bed.
During day use a swivel mounted table provides functionality for eating, game playing and other flat surface applications. What's a motorhome without a galley? Westfalia's new rig includes a sink, hotplate, compressor-operated cooler, and a cabinet to stash your stuff.
One thing missing on the new rig: The old "Volksy" noise. The new edition Westfalia camper van is built on a Mercedes platform." Russ and Tina DeMaris

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More about Westfalias from Rex Vogel:

1969 Westfalia Camping Bus 2009 Westfalia Michelangelo

Mercedes Westfalia James Cook

http://blog.rv.net/2011/08/westfalia-launchs-anniversary-camping-box/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RvnetBlog+%28RV.net+Blog+Daily+Updates+Feed%29

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http://www.westfalia-mobil.net/en/modelle/james-cook/james-cook.php

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“Edition 60” of the Jules Verne Westfalia.

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"CLEARLY written by someone who has had a VW van! (later ones called vans, earlier ones called buses)."

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More new RV's in the news:

"If you are asking us whether someone has been creative with a ton of snow, the answer is no. So what in the blazes is it, we hear you ask? Well, it's a Toyota Prius camper van conversion and it was unwrapped (or so to speak) at this weekend's 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon with NAPAC. And no, we are not pulling your leg – it does exist and it's available for order.

It's the wacky creation of Campinn, which specializes in these sort of builds. The transformation from going green to living in green involves the addition of a huge lump on top of the Prius, which is made entirely of Fibre-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) and increases the hybrid's length to 4,980mm (196-in.) and height to 2,050mm (81.1-in.).

Inside, there's what the company describes as a living area that can be optionally fitted with retractable coffee table and/or a side sofa while doubling as a bed, and if someone happens to visit, there's also as second bed on the…second floor. Did we mention that it also gets a back door?

What will they think of next…" http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/01/so-you-never-want-to-leave-your-toyota.html

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Classic Saab 900 - Miscellaneous

The Toppola Camper - (1) 2

"With the Toppola Camper you can hook up your trailer or “housewagon” behind your SAAB. For those that own a horse or a boat or likewise need a transport carriage, the Toppola Camper is the ideal option. It gives you possibility to live both cheaply and comfortably.

Many self-employed have seen the possibilities with the Toppola. On the transport carriage you will load the work gear, anything from ladders and paint cans to mini-diggers, and on your Saab you’ve got the TC. Working far away from home, it’s comfortable after the days work to spend the night in your Toppola Camper. " More and pictures of the inside at: http://www.saabcentral.com/features/saab_900/misc/toppola_a.php

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On This Day:

First air raid on Britain, Jan 19, 1915:

"During World War I, Britain suffers its first casualties from an air attack when two German zeppelins drop bombs on Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn on the eastern coast of England.

The zeppelin, a motor-driven rigid airship, was developed by German inventor Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin in 1900. Although a French inventor had built a power-driven airship several decades before, the zeppelin's rigid dirigible, with its steel framework, was by far the largest airship ever constructed. However, in the case of the zeppelin, size was exchanged for safety, as the heavy steel-framed airships were vulnerable to explosion because they had to be lifted by highly flammable hydrogen gas instead of non-flammable helium gas.

In January 1915, Germany employed three zeppelins, the L.3, the L.4, and the L.6, in a two-day bombing mission against Britain. The L.6 turned back after encountering mechanical problems, but the other two zeppelins succeeded in dropping their bombs on English coastal towns."

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Wilkes claims portion of Antarctica for U.S., Jan 19, 1840:

"During an exploring expedition, Captain Charles Wilkes sights the coast of eastern Antarctica and claims it for the United States. Wilkes' group had set out in 1838, sailing around South America to the South Pacific and then to Antarctica, where they explored a 1,500-mile stretch of the eastern Antarctic coast that later became known as Wilkes Land. In 1842, the expedition returned to New York, having circumnavigated the globe.

Antarctica was discovered by European and American explorers in the early part of the 19th century, and in February 1821 the first landing on the Antarctic continent was made by American John Davis at Hughes Bay on the Antarctic Peninsula. During the next century, many nations, including the United States, made territorial claims to portions of the almost-inhabitable continent. However, during the 1930s, conflicting claims led to international rivalry, and the United States, which led the world in the establishment of scientific bases, enacted an official policy of making no territorial claims while recognizing no other nation's claims. In 1959, the Antarctic Treaty made Antarctica an international zone, set guidelines for scientific cooperation, and prohibited military operations, nuclear explosions, and the disposal of radioactive waste on the continent."

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Yesterday:

It was time to go shopping to stock up on good canned cat food for Prime and Bobcat. Jay went with me, as he wanted to go thrift shopping.

I bought some Blue Onion Corelle, which included 4 bowls, 4 small 'bread-and-butter' plates, and 4 big dinner plates, all for $4! Each piece of used Corelle is usually over a dollar. The large dinner plates I didn't need, so I will probably sell them.

I don't think anyone uses the large size dinner plates anymore, as they have found out that using a smaller 'lunch plate' for dinner helps stop obesity! I use my lunch size plates every night for dinner, they are just the right size.

We used real Meissen Blue Onion plates when I was growing up, so this is a nostalgic journey for me. But at $100 each, they are not practical, and anyway they are too heavy.

One thrift shop had so many clothes that they were having a sale at 50c each, so I scooped up a terry bathrobe, shorts, blouse and beige pants.

They were having a half-price sale on Organix lamb canned dog food at Petsmart, so I bought all they had. I hope Misty doesn't start bleating.

It was cold first thing, so I headed out in four layers of clothing, but came home in just a T-shirt and jeans. That's a normal TX winter for you! The last 2 winters we have missed that, as it stayed cold most of the time. We are now in a La Niña, and it can stay that way.

Today's weather is going to be like yesterdays'.

Birds: Bahama Swallow. Black-capped Petrel. Conservationists. Birds and Weeds. Hawaii. South Pole. Wikipedia.

2012-01-18T06:15:00.001-06:00

For "Winged Wednesday":

Bahama Swallow, The "Good Luck" bird.

"Various folk traditions consider swallows to be good-luck bringers, so this Friday the 13th, we feature a swallow that needs a share of good luck (and good conservation) itself!

The Bahama Swallow is a medium-sized, trim-looking swallow with iridescent green upper parts, deep blue wings and tail, and white under parts. It closely resembles the Tree Swallow, but can be distinguished by its deeply forked tail. The species is rapidly disappearing throughout its range, and little is understood about its natural history.

Key threats to this bird include the loss of its preferred pine woodland habitat to development and logging, invasive House Sparrows and European Starlings, which co-opt suitable nesting cavities, and severe weather.

The Bahama Swallow would benefit from further surveys of suitable breeding habitat, plus assessment of its winter distribution and habitat requirements.

Natural nest sites should be maintained through a pine snag management program, and the success of nest box usage should be assessed. Perhaps most importantly, the remaining forest in the Bahamas should be protected."

Help ABC conserve this and other birds and their habitats!

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Good News for a Bad-luck Bird
First photos of petrel chick renew hope for endangered seabird.

One of the first-ever images of a Black-capped Petrel chick in the nest. Photo by J. Volquez, Grupo Jaragua.

"Friday the 13th is turning out to be a lucky day for a Caribbean seabird whose eerie night-time calls have long haunted visitors to its cliff top breeding grounds. Today a crew of researchers is launching an expedition to search for additional nesting sites in the Dominican Republic. The expedition caps a headline year for the endangered Black-capped Petrel.

First, scientists working in Haiti obtained the first-ever photos of a chick—a fist-sized ball of gray fluff that was discovered at a nest inside a mountaintop cave. Then the International Black-capped Petrel Conservation Group brought together participants from 12 countries to produce the first comprehensive conservation action plan for the species.
The Black-capped Petrel is known as the diablotín, or “little devil” in Spanish, probably because of its spooky cries. Best estimates suggest that fewer than 2,000 breeding Black-capped Petrel pairs remain. The crow-sized birds nest only in the Caribbean but feed as far away as Gulf Stream waters off the Mid-Atlantic United States.

The nest, containing a single egg and an incubating adult petrel, was discovered on March 3, 2011, by Jairo Arache of Grupo Jaragua. On return visits in April, May, and June researchers photographed, but did not handle the growing chick as it waited for its parents to return with food. An automatic camera showed that adults visited the nest for an average of 80 minutes every couple of nights, typically between 9 p.m. and midnight." More at: http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b35ddb671faf4a16c0ce32406&id=3f8fcab9fa

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Turning Birders into Conservationists.

"As a birder of modest skills, I am delighted that over the years I have shared my interest with a handful of others who have then become birders themselves. These birders comprise one of my favorite “life lists”.

However, as a conservationist, I take even greater pride in having influenced a few birders to become conservationists. My birding converts appreciate all that birding provides, but my conservation converts are changing the world for the better.

Rather than speculate which actions or behaviors of mine influenced others to conserve nature, it may be more illuminating to recount how this conversion happened to me. I came to conservation consciousness very early in life. Raised on a small farm north of Baltimore, I became sensitized to habitat loss by creeping sprawl; new housing that eliminated many of the secret woodland haunts of my childhood. So, an early love of nature and loss of home territories are certainly conservationist drivers.

More than anything, though, I was influenced by individuals I admired and their varied, often crafty ways of teaching a reverence for all life. On summer evenings, my father, who could not get around well, would point out bird songs and ask me to go find them in the woods nearby. It was years later before I figured out that he knew those songs and was simply training me to pay attention. I particularly remember going in search of a Wood Thrush, and having to gingerly penetrate the honeysuckle and poison ivy wood edge. On the inside, I could see how the understory thinned for lack of sunlight—an easy lesson. And I remember finding an old, disintegrating fence within; evidence that this place had not always been forest—an
early lesson about time and natural renewal." More at: http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/birdconservation_pdf/MagWinter12.pdf

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The birds and the weeds: A farm conservation love story. 6 Jan 2012

"Tree sparrows have seen large declines in western Europe, in part due to changes in farming practices.

Call it the bird tax — or rather, the amount of food that farmers need to set aside in order to get birds to stick around and stop dying. Farmers don’t historically have an awesome relationship with birds [PDF], but in recent years, they’ve actually been paid to scatter grain around their land after the harvest, since a lack of seed resources in winter is thought to be one of the reasons for birds’ dramatic decline. Some of the seeds farmers spread around the edge of their fields are also attractive to pollinating insects, which is also thought to be good, since birds like to eat insects too.

Why put so much effort into attracting birds to farms? Well, the steady decline of most birds in the world and the increase of the human population are related — and, idealism aside, there’s only so much that wilderness conservation can do to alter that trajectory. And so a fascinating and pragmatic branch of science is developing. It asks the question: Is there a way to feed wildlife, while feeding ourselves?" More at: http://grist.org/sustainable-farming/2012-01-05-the-birds-and-the-weeds-a-farm-conservation-love-story/

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ABC's Top Ten Tips for Bird-Friendly Living:

http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/special_reports/Toptips.pdf

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On This Day:

Cook discovers Hawaii, Jan 18, 1778:

"On January 18, 1778, the English explorer Captain James Cook becomes the first European to discover the Hawaiian Islands when he sails past the island of Oahu. Two days later, he landed at Waimea on the island of Kauai and named the island group the Sandwich Islands, in honor of John Montague, who was the earl of Sandwich and one his patrons.

In 1768, Cook, a surveyor in the Royal Navy, was commissioned a lieutenant in command of the H.M.S. Endeavor and led an expedition that took scientists to Tahiti to chart the course of the planet Venus. In 1771, he returned to England, having explored the coast of New Zealand and Australia and circumnavigated the globe. Beginning in 1772, he commanded a major mission to the South Pacific and during the next three years explored the Antarctic region, charted the New Hebrides, and discovered New Caledonia. In 1776, he sailed from England again as commander of the H.M.S. Resolution and Discovery and in 1778 made his first visit to the Hawaiian Islands.

Cook and his crew were welcomed by the Hawaiians, who were fascinated by the Europeans' ships and their use of iron. Cook provisioned his ships by trading the metal, and his sailors traded iron nails for sex. The ships then made a brief stop at Ni'ihau and headed north to look for the western end of a northwest passage from the North Atlantic to the Pacific. Almost one year later, Cook's two ships returned to the Hawaiian Islands and found a safe harbor in Hawaii's Kealakekua Bay.

It is suspected that the Hawaiians attached religious significance to the first stay of the Europeans on their islands. In Cook's second visit, there was no question of this phenomenon. Kealakekua Bay was considered the sacred harbor of Lono, the fertility god of the Hawaiians, and at the time of Cook's arrival the locals were engaged in a festival dedicated to Lono. Cook and his compatriots were welcomed as gods and for the next month exploited the Hawaiians' good will. After one of the crewmembers died, exposing the Europeans as mere mortals, relations became strained. On February 4, 1779, the British ships sailed from Kealakekua Bay, but rough seas damaged the foremast of the Resolution, and after only a week at sea the expedition was forced to return to Hawaii.

The Hawaiians greeted Cook and his men by hurling rocks; they then stole a small cutter vessel from the Discovery. Negotiations with King Kalaniopuu for the return of the cutter collapsed after a lesser Hawaiian chief was shot to death and a mob of Hawaiians descended on Cook's party. The captain and his men fired on the angry Hawaiians, but they were soon overwhelmed, and only a few managed to escape to the safety of the Resolution. Captain Cook himself was killed by the mob. A few days later, the Englishmen retaliated by firing their cannons and muskets at the shore, killing some 30 Hawaiians. The Resolution and Discovery eventually returned to England."

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Scott reaches the South Pole, Jan 18, 1912:

"After a two-month ordeal, the expedition of British explorer Robert Falcon Scott arrives at the South Pole only to find that Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer, had preceded them by just over a month. Disappointed, the exhausted explorers prepared for a long and difficult journey back to their base camp.

Scott, a British naval officer, began his first Antarctic expedition in 1901 aboard the Discovery. During three years of exploration, he discovered the Edward VII Peninsula, surveyed the coast of Victoria Land--which were both areas of Antarctica on the Ross Sea--and led limited expeditions into the continent itself. In 1911, Scott and Amundsen began an undeclared race to the South Pole.

Sailing his ship into Antarctica's Bay of Whales, Amundsen set up base camp 60 miles closer to the pole than Scott. In October, both explorers set off; Amundsen using sleigh dogs and Scott employing Siberian motor sledges, Siberian ponies, and dogs. On December 14, 1911, Amundsen's expedition won the race to the pole. Encountering good weather on their return trip, they safely reached their base camp in late January.

Scott's expedition was less fortunate. The motor sleds soon broke down, the ponies had to be shot, and the dog teams were sent back as Scott and four companions continued on foot. On January 18, they reached the pole only to find that Amundsen had preceded them by over a month. Weather on the return journey was exceptionally bad, two members perished, and Scott and the other two survivors were trapped in their tent by a storm only 11 miles from their base camp. Scott wrote a final entry in his diary in late March. The frozen bodies of he and his two compatriots were recovered eight months later."

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Also Today:

Wikipedia goes dark for 24 hours to protest web piracy bills. Published January 18, 2012

"Google protests anti-piracy laws by putting a black bar over its logo and urging users to contact their Congress members over the bills. Can the world live without Wikipedia for a day? The shutdown of one of the Internet's most-visited sites is not sitting well with some of its volunteer editors, who say the protest of anti-piracy legislation could threaten the credibility of their work." Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/01/18/wikipedia-goes-dark-for-24-hours-to-protest-us-web-piracy-bills/#ixzz1jokBdvbs

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Yesterday:

The day before, Jim, the mechanic down the street, took my faithful Aerostar van for it's 2½ year check up. It has taken him some time to get around to this, as I bought it 2¾ years ago. He replaced the front brake pads, wiper blades, packed the wheel bearings, cleaned the headlight lenses, checked belts and hoses, and changed the oil, etc. So I hope it is good to go, for a while.

Ray reminded me that his TV cable was messed up so he could only get 20 of the 73 channels available. Misty and I went to get Jay. It was a T-shirt morning, so no coats were required while I took Misty for her walk-about. As she can't see, her walks are mostly sniffing expeditions.

Jay and I went up in Ray's attic, while Ray stayed outside by his patio door to watch his TV so he could report our progress. To check the connection, Jay carried my smallest TV, digital box and remote up there. Of course, that entailed carrying extra coax cables, extension cords, tools etc. It took a while, but we eventually found out that it was the splitter, so we re-connected it without one. That means that the TV in Shay's room won't work, but she is still house-sitting elsewhere right now.

One more thing, a splitter, to put on my shopping list, which gets longer by the day.

TX. Van Horn & Fort Stockton. Alpine. Brinks. Northridge.

2012-01-17T07:25:00.001-06:00

Why these two? Well, if you are on I-10, to get to Big Bend they are on the way.

VAN HORN, TX

"Van Horn, the county seat of Culberson County, is on the Missouri Pacific Railroad thirty-six miles west of Kent in southwestern Culberson County. The Van Horn Wells were reportedly discovered twelve miles south of the future townsite by Maj. Jefferson Van Horne, who became commander at Fort Bliss in El Paso in 1849, and were well known to nineteenth century travelers. The coaches of the San Antonio-El Paso Mail passed through the area in the late 1850s and early 1860s, when Lt. James Judson Van Horn, no relation to Major Van Horne, was in command of an army garrison at Van Horn Wells.

VAN HORN MOUNTAINS

The Van Horn Mountains begin nine miles southwest of Van Horn in southeastern Hudspeth County and stretch sixteen miles southeast, across southwestern Culberson County and into northwestern Jeff Davis County The highest elevation in the Van Horn Mountains is 5,565 feet above sea level. The surrounding rugged terrain is surfaced by shallow, stony soils that support post oak, live oak, piñon, juniper, chaparral, and grasses. The mountains, like the town of Van Horn, were named after Lt. James Judson Van Horn, who commanded a garrison at nearby Van Horn Wells from 1859 to 1861. The Van Horn Mountains have been fertile ground for minerals. The Hazel Mine, opened in 1856 by Thomas Owen or Owens, yielded over a million pounds of copper between 1891 to 1947 and more than two million ounces of silver over a similar period (see COPPER PRODUCTION, and SILVER MINING). When the price of silver rose in the early 1970s, exploration began near the old Plata Verde mine, but it ceased in the early 1980s when the price of silver dropped again. A mica quarry operated briefly in the Van Horns in the early 1980s.

VAN HORN CREEK

Van Horn Creek rises a mile southwest of Farm Road 2017 in the eastern Van Horn Mountains in western Jeff Davis County one mile southeast of the Culberson county line. The surrounding flat terrain has local shallow depressions and is surfaced by clay and sandy loams that support water-tolerant hardwoods, conifers, and grasses. Van Horn Creek, like the mountains in which it rises and the town of Van Horn, is named for James Judson Van Horn.

More at: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/search/results/Van%20Horn

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Fort Stockton Historical Tours

"Directional Signs have been erected to guide visitors around town to sixteen points of interest.

The tour begins at Paisano Pete at the intersection of Dickinson (Business I-10) and Main Street. Brochures with a map of the route are available from the Chamber of Commerce, Annie Riggs Museum, Historic Fort Stockton, and Grey Mule Saloon.

Fort Stockton in 1884

The tour signs are blue and white with a black arrow. Following the arrows, the visitor travels through the National Register Historic District and will see general mercantile stores, a saloon, two churches, even a house ordered from the Montgomery Ward Catalog. Not all of the buildings on the tour are open to the public. Several of the buildings now serve alternative uses either as offices or homes. The tour is just under two miles long.

Fort Stockton is a designated Main Street City and numerous downtown businesses take pride in refurbishing the store fronts along the historical tour. The Annie Riggs Museum, housed in a turn-of-the-century adobe hotel, provides insight into the region's history and development with exhibits in thirteen areas.

Former Jail, Fort Stockton

The tour travels past the 1912 Pecos County Courthouse (Fort Stockton is the county seat), the 1883 Jail, the oldest remaining school in town, the "Oldest House" and the Grey Mule Saloon. Also on the tour is one of the nine springs in the Comanche springs system, which once had a flow of 65 million gallons of water a day.

The frontier army post includes three remaining quarters on Officers' Row on the grounds of Historic Fort Stockton.

Yes! Fort Stockton has a fort. The frontier army post, active from 1867-1886, includes three remaining Officers' Quarters, the Guardhouse, and Parade Grounds. Two Enlisted Men's Barracks and their Kitchens have been reconstructed, one of which houses the Fort Museum.

The tour ends at the Fort Cemetery. All the headstones are for civilians, as the military personnel and dependents were exhumed and moved to the National Cemetery in San Antonio in 1888.

Sheriff A.J. Royal's tombstone bears the inscription "assassinated", a testament to a violent period in our history."

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Alpine, TX. Another great area at the gateway to the Big Bend country, is scenic Alpine, TX, the county seat of Brewster County.

"Come see for yourself the beauty and the wonder of the place called the Last Frontier!"

"Alpine is a gem. A remote, high-desert jewel nestled in the tall hills of West Texas. It is a friendly, bustling community of a little over 5,000 people in a scenic valley that feels like nowhere else in the state. You’ll immediately take note of the natural beauty surrounding the city, if you don’t notice the great weather first."

"In the heart of the beautiful mountains of West Texas, Alpine is the gateway for Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, and the Davis Mountains. Nearby is the Ft. Davis National Historic Site, the McDonald Observatory, the Marfa Mystery Lights (seen on the TV show Unsolved Mysteries), the Chinati Foundation, and spectacular wildlife viewing! Alpine is also the home of Sul Ross State University, location of the Museum of Big Bend."

"Alpine is listed as one of the fifty safest and most economical places for retirement in the United States. It is often spoken of as the "heart of the Big Bend," the "Alps of Texas," "out where the West begins," and the "economic, cultural, and recreational center for Trans-Pecos Texas.""

"The region encompasses vast expanses of the Chihuahuan Desert, picturesque hills and mountains reaching more than 8,000 feet high, rolling plains, grasslands and a wide assortment of plants, wildlife and geological features which attract visitors from throughout the world."

"The climate is mild year-round and a perfect place to visit all year long. Summer has low humidity with light breezes and cool nights. Winter is also mild with lots of sunshine!"

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Everyone I know from Alpine, is ready to go back!

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On This Day:

The Great Brinks Robbery, Jan 17, 1950:

"A team of 11 thieves, in a precisely timed and choreographed strike, steals more than $2 million from the Brinks Armored Car depot in Boston, Massachusetts. The Great Brinks Robbery, as it quickly became known, was the almost perfect crime. Only days before the statute of limitations was set to expire on the crime, the culprits were finally caught.

Tony Pino, a lifelong criminal, was the mastermind behind the audacious theft. Together with Joe McGinnis, he assembled a group that meticulously planned the heist. They staked out the depot for a year and a half to figure out when it was holding the most money. Then, the gang stole the plans for the depot's alarm system and returned them before anyone noticed that they were missing.

The criminal team held repeated rehearsals, with each man wearing blue coats and Halloween masks. On January 17, they finally put their plan into action. Inside the counting room, the gang surprised the guards and tied up the employees. Multiple canvas bags, weighing more than half a ton, were filled with cash, coins, checks, and money orders. Within 30 minutes, the Brinks robbery team was gone--taking $2.7 million with them. They left no clues at all.

Next, the gang met and split the proceeds of the theft. They agreed that each would stay out of trouble for six years and they almost made it. However, one of the men, Specs O'Keefe, left his share with another member because he had to serve a prison sentence for another crime. O'Keefe, worried that he would be cheated out of his money, indicated that he might begin to talk. The others decided to send a hit man to kill O'Keefe but he was only wounded, and the assassin was caught. O'Keefe made a deal with police and testified against the others. Eight participants in the Great Brinks Robbery were caught and convicted. However, only a small part of the money was ever recovered."

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Earthquake rocks Los Angeles, Jan 17, 1994:

"On this day in 1994, an earthquake rocks Los Angeles, California, killing 54 people and causing billions of dollars in damages. The Northridge quake (named after the San Fernando Valley community near the epicenter) was one of the most damaging in U.S. history.

It was 4:31 a.m. when the 6.7-magnitude quake struck the San Fernando Valley, a densely populated area of Los Angeles located 20 miles northeast of the city's downtown. With an epicenter 12 miles beneath the earth's surface, the earthquake caused the collapse of several apartment buildings. At the Northridge Meadows complex, 16 people died, all of whom lived on the first floor, when the weak stucco structure fell down on them as they slept.

Given the strength and location of the earthquake, it was fortunate that the death toll was not far higher. Two key factors were critical in reducing the casualties. First, the quake struck in the middle of the night while nearly everyone was at home in their beds. A mall parking lot in the Valley collapsed, but no one was killed because it was entirely empty. Several highways also suffered critical failures, but only one police officer died, when his vehicle plunged off an overpass. The other key factor was that the city's building and safety codes were strengthened following the 1971 Sylmar quake that collapsed the San Fernando Veterans Hospital. Every building constructed after the new regulations were implemented stayed intact.

Still, the quake caused a huge amount of property damage over a wide area, especially in the beach community of Santa Monica, even though it was relatively far from the epicenter. As much of Santa Monica stands on soil that is less solid than bedrock, it suffered severe ground movement during the earthquake. The partial collapse of the Santa Monica freeway snarled traffic in Los Angeles for months. All told, it is estimated that the earthquake was responsible for $20 billion in damages."

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Yesterday:

Even first thing in the morning it was warm, so the cats were out on the porch early, and the windows and doors were open.

I knew that I had to try out some of the new things that I had bought, so I spent a long time getting the Linksys router set up. Then I tried out the really long Ethernet cord. I bought it as the Wi-Fi won't work in the living room, well, I never could get it to work, and there have been times when I wanted to use the laptop in there. (The cable guy couldn't get the Wi-Fi to work, either.) The Linksys looks and works so much better than my old Radio Shack router.

I spent a while talking back and forth to my friend in the RGV, "The Land of Two Summers", (http://www.rgvpride.com/rio_grande_valley.html).

He travels up and down the USA in his RV, making and selling dog tags, with his beautiful 150 lb Newfoundland puppy, Smokey.

The news said our weather was more like April not January. Not really much going on here, except the lovely weather and high of 78 yesterday.

Diabetes in Pets. Clicks. M.L. King. Prohibition. Persian Gulf War.

2012-01-16T06:56:00.001-06:00

For "Mammal Monday":

The 'Human' Disease that's Soaring in Pets

"Banfield Pet Hospital has released the results of a survey of over 2 million dogs and 450,000 cats that shows increases in certain health problems among U.S. pets, including: Diabetes, Dental disease, and Flea infestations.

The rates of diabetes in pets are rising faster than for humans. From 2006 to 2010, diabetes rates in U.S. dogs increased by over 30 percent, and by 16 percent in cats. In humans, the rate rose 10 percent over the same four year period.

According to Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, DVM and chief medical officer for Banfield: "We have increasing obesity in dogs and cats, just like in humans. It's no mystery how that occurs: overfeeding and lack of exercise." Sources: PetfoodIndustry.com April 21, 2011 . dvm360 April 21, 2011

Dr. Becker's Comments:

"The conditions listed above are entirely preventable in the vast majority of dogs and cats. It’s heartbreaking to know so many animals are suffering needlessly with these easily avoidable health problems, all of which can dramatically impact your pet’s quality of life.

Diabetes: Preventable!

According to the Banfield survey, obesity ranked in the top five health problems of young adult, mature adult and senior dogs in 2010. It was in the top three for cats of the same age. As almost everyone knows, obesity is the biggest risk factor for diabetes.

Other risk factors include:

Over-vaccination. Re-immunizing your pet for diseases he’s already protected against thanks to puppy or kitten shots, can over-stimulate his immune system. This can result in an immune-mediated disorder. There appears to be an autoimmune component in the development of diabetes mellitus, particularly in dogs. The number of pets with autoimmune disease has been on the increase for several years. Over-vaccinating is likely one of the primary causes of this unfortunate trend.

Lack of exercise. Your pet needs physical exertion, every day if possible, to keep her frame strong, her muscles toned, and to ward off obesity. If your dog isn’t getting from 20 to 40 minutes of aerobic activity on a regular basis, she’s just not getting enough exercise. If your companion is a kitty, work with her natural instincts and get her involved in games that encourage her instincts as a hunter.

Biologically inappropriate diet. Most U.S. pets are fed a high calorie, high carb diet. That’s despite the fact grains are a biologically inappropriate food for dogs and cats. Carbohydrates, which can add up to as much as 80 percent of the contents of many commercial pet formulas, break down into sugar. Excess sugar can result in diabetes. Your carnivorous pet should eat like a carnivore to maintain an optimum state of health.

Don’t let your precious dog or cat become another statistic of the diabetes epidemic spreading through the U.S. pet population. Avoid unnecessary vaccinations, make sure your furry pal gets plenty of exercise to maintain a fit body condition, and feed a moisture rich, species-appropriate diet containing few if any carbohydrates and no grains."

More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/05/26/these-3-common-pet-diseases-are-absolutely-preventable.aspx

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Diets for Diabetic Cats

"One of the questions that diabetic cat owners ask most frequently is “what should I feed my cat?” It is an excellent question, because diet is the cornerstone of health for all cats, but especially the diabetic cat.

1) First and foremost, always choose a canned, pouched, or raw meat diet for your cat. No type, brand or variety of dry food is acceptable for any cat, but especially not for any diabetic cat!! This includes every single food that is labeled as “for diabetics” (such as Hills m/d dry, Purina DM dry and Innova Evo dry). I CANNOT emphasize this point enough. I have had several clients whose diabetic cats have been released from their dependence on insulin who subsequently relapsed because their people believed what they read on a bag of dry cat food. There is simply NO dry cat food, and there likely never will be any dry cat food that will be an appropriate food for diabetic cats!

2) Look for a food that contains little or NO cereals, vegetables or fruits of any kind. Some of the most expensive of the “wet” cat foods available today contain hideous amounts of completely unnecessary plant-derived ingredients like corn, corn flour, corn grits, corn gluten, rice, rice flour, wheat, wheat gluten, soy protein, potato, sweet potato, carrots, apples, cranberries, blueberries and similar.

These ingredients might be part of a well-balanced human diet, but they have no place in the diet of even a healthy cat, much less a cat already debilitated by the ill effects of a high-carbohydrate diet. Pet food companies put these ingredients in their canned foods because they are cheap and plentiful, and because they appeal to the pet food buyer’s mistaken ideas about what is “good food” for cats. These ingredients have no scientifically-demonstrated value for the cat; in fact these ingredients contribute unacceptable amount of carbohydrate, sugar, and fiber (gastrointestinal residue) that the cat is not equipped to handle. The use of these ingredients is solely the result of corporate profitability and marketing considerations! "

Complete Article at: http://yourdiabeticcat.com/diet.html

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Dogs... Love.... Food.

T-SHIRTS: http://talkinganimalmerch.com (all profits go to SPCA)

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What's The Right Price For Pet Food?

"Your pets are like family, but are you seriously overspending when it comes to their food? Here are some tips to consider when picking your pet’s nutrition.

Avoid Filler Foods

Early this year Petco created a new “Certified Nutrition” program that divides pet foods into three categories — essential foods, natural foods, and advanced foods. Each of these groups fulfills a different requirement: essential foods include basic fillers like wheat or corn, while natural foods contain many familiar ingredients like meat, fruits and vegetables. Advanced foods, finally, are formulated for pets with special medical needs.

According to Petco dog trainer Somers Pierre, natural food brands like Wellness, Halo or Natural Balance are the best choice because they promote health and longevity for your pet. On the other hand, they cost a little more than the basic kibble with fillers. For example, a 30-pound bag of a filler-based essential brand like Beneful costs between $26 and $35, while a natural brand like Wellness costs between $46 and $54.

Pet expert Arden Moore emphasizes nutrition: “It is vital these days that the very first ingredient is a real protein — not meat byproducts and definitely not wheat or corn,” she says. “If you get high-quality, nutritional food, you’re going to have fewer pet bills, and your pet is going to live a longer healthier life.”

You can save on natural food by purchasing a less-known brand like AvoDerm. On average, that will save you about $10 a bag." Read the full article here: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/10/04/savings-experiment-whats-the-right-price-for-pet-food/

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What’s Better… Canned or Dry Dog Food?

"Ever wondered what’s better? A canned dog food… or a kibble? For me, it took a trip away from home and a call from the kennel attendant that finally helped me solve that riddle.

“Bailey hasn’t eaten a bite in two whole days,” she advised. ”What would you like us to do?

We had gone away for the holidays and had no choice but to leave our little guy with the vet.

And now we were worried." Read More: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/canned-or-dry-dog-food/

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Gypsy Commented on Saturday:

"I'm sorry, but I have never believed that clicking on a link will do anything but give whoever has that link the ability to get your computer information or place a cookie on your computer. Why would anyone, especially in difficult economic times, donate a cup of food or a make a donation to anything just because I click on their link. I wish their was such altruism in the world, but just don't think it's so."

My reply was: From The Rescue Site: "How does the site work? When you click on the purple "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button, your click is counted by our servers and you move to the Thank You page, where you will see small ads for our site sponsors. There is no charge to you; bowls of food are fully paid for by these sponsors.

100% of sponsor advertising fees goes to our charitable partners.

Every click on the purple button results in funding raised for the charitable partners who care for rescued animals. The more people who click, the more bowls of food we can fund.

Who pays for the bowls of food and care?
Site sponsors purchase small ads on the Thank You page for a certain amount of time. The Animal Rescue Site then tabulates the number of people who click during that time frame and bill the sponsor for the appropriate amount. The Animal Rescue Site divides the monies between The Fund for Animals, Petfinder Foundation, Rescue Bank, North Shore Animal League America, and GreaterGood.org.

How do you calculate the amount of food given by visitors' clicks?
We count the number of clicks each day. The amount paid for those clicks is based on the type and structure of advertising agreement the site sponsors have with The Animal Rescue Site.

The two keys to the success of The Animal Rescue Site are site sponsors and visitors like you. The more sponsors the site has, the more funding toward food and care for rescued animals is given with each click. The more visitors who click each day, the more advertising fees we can collect and the more food and care we can fund together! That is how your free click works."

I have been clicking for years, and it has never caused me to have spam, and IF it does put place a cookie in your computer, it should be deleted when you do your Disk Clean, or Clear My Footprints, each day.

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On This Day:

Martin Luther King Day in United States

"Martin Luther King Day marks the anniversary of the date of birth of the influential American civil right leader of the same name. List of dates for other years

Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States."

"The Stone Of Hope" memorial by master sculptor Lei Yixin was opened to the public in West Potomac Park, Washington DC, on August 22, 2011. ©iStockphoto.com/Camrocker

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"Martin Luther King had a "dream". Where does the realization of that dream really begin?"

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Prohibition takes effect, Jan 16, 1919:

The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, prohibiting the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes," is ratified on this day in 1919 and becomes the law of the land.

The movement for the prohibition of alcohol began in the early 19th century, when Americans concerned about the adverse effects of drinking began forming temperance societies. By the late 19th century, these groups had become a powerful political force, campaigning on the state level and calling for total national abstinence. In December 1917, the 18th Amendment, also known as the Prohibition Amendment, was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.

Prohibition took effect in January 1919. Nine months later, Congress passed the Volstead Act, or National Prohibition Act, over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of prohibition, including the creation of a special unit of the Treasury Department. Despite a vigorous effort by law-enforcement agencies, the Volstead Act failed to prevent the large-scale distribution of alcoholic beverages, and organized crime flourished in America. In 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed and ratified, repealing prohibition."

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The Persian Gulf War begins, Jan 16, 1991:

"At midnight in Iraq, the United Nations deadline for the Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait expires, and the Pentagon prepares to commence offensive operations to forcibly eject Iraq from its five-month occupation of its oil-rich neighbor. At 4:30 p.m. EST, the first fighter aircraft were launched from Saudi Arabia and off U.S. and British aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf on bombing missions over Iraq. All evening, aircraft from the U.S.-led military coalition pounded targets in and around Baghdad as the world watched the events transpire in television footage transmitted live via satellite from Baghdad and elsewhere. At 7:00 p.m., Operation Desert Storm, the code-name for the massive U.S.-led offensive against Iraq, was formally announced at the White House.

The operation was conducted by an international coalition under the command of U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf and featured forces from 32 nations, including Britain, Egypt, France, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. During the next six weeks, the allied force engaged in a massive air war against Iraq's military and civil infrastructure, and encountered little effective resistance from the Iraqi air force or air defenses. Iraqi ground forces were helpless during this stage of the war, and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's only significant retaliatory measure was the launching of SCUD missile attacks against Israel and Saudi Arabia. Saddam hoped that the missile attacks would provoke Israel to enter the conflict, thus dissolving Arab support of the war. At the request of the United States, however, Israel remained out of the war.

On February 24, a massive coalition ground offensive began, and Iraq's outdated and poorly supplied armed forces were rapidly overwhelmed. Kuwait was liberated in less than four days, and a majority of Iraq's armed forces surrendered, retreated into Iraq, or were destroyed. On February 28, President George H.W. Bush declared a cease-fire, and Iraq pledged to honor future coalition and U.N. peace terms. One hundred and twenty-five American soldiers were killed in the Persian Gulf War, with another 21 regarded as missing in action.

On March 20, 2003, a second war between Iraq and a U.S.-led coalition began, this time with the stated U.S. objective of removing Saddam Hussein from power and, ostensibly, finding and destroying the country's weapons of mass destruction. Hussein was captured by a U.S. military unit on December 13, 2003. No weapons of mass destruction were found. Although U.S. President George W. Bush declared an end to major combat operations in Iraq on May 1, 2003, an insurgency has continued an intense guerrilla war in the nation that has resulted in thousands of coalition military, insurgent and civilian deaths."

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Yesterday:

Misty and I went down to get Jay in our winter coats. It warmed up later in the day so the cats, Prime and Bobcat, were able to bask in the sun on the screen porch.

Jay shampooed two rooms of carpet, plus some other rugs, as I moved the small furniture out of the way. This time we moved the dining table and chairs to clean that carpet, though my dining area hardly never gets used.

I was tired of sitting lopsided to use the big long keyboard and reaching a mile to my mouse, and coffee! Also I couldn't use my "pedal cycle" under the desk, so I went back to the cheap Chinese "Tenkeyless", that's what they are called. This is the one with with the narrow letters. I hope I find a mechanical one soon. Oh, I did, but they wanted $125 for it, plus the shipping from some far away land. They are have such a better feel than this mushy membrane one: http://www.pcworld.com/article/240939/mechanical_keyboards_should_you_switch.html So I will be going back and deleting the extra letters this narrow-keyed one writes for many a day.