Soy Alert! GM Soy Contains Round-Up. Ray's FIL Succumbs.

Soy, by any other name:
"But beware: Soy goes by more names than a con man.

Here are some of the terms that will tell you whether a cereal or another food has nestled up with a bean: glycine max, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), textured vegetable protein (TVP), lecithin, miso, mono-diglyceride, monosodium glutamate (MSG), natto, tempeh, tofu, vegetable oil, vegetable gum, vegetable starch, and soybean oil. Any product that contains "flavorings" or "natural flavorings" might also contain soy.
If you have a question, contact the manufacturer.
Oatmeal and creamy wheat and rice hot cereals are free of soy."
http://www.realage.com/blogs/doctor-oz-roizen/can-balsamic-bring-weight-and-blood-sugar-down?click=p3link1
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"Confused About Soy?--Soy Dangers Summarized

• High levels of phytic acid in soy reduce assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. Phytic acid in soy is not neutralized by ordinary preparation methods such as soaking, sprouting and long, slow cooking. High phytate diets have caused growth problems in children.
• Trypsin inhibitors in soy interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders. In test animals soy containing trypsin inhibitors caused stunted growth.
• Soy phytoestrogens disrupt endocrine function and have the potential to cause infertility and to promote breast cancer in adult women.
• Soy phytoestrogens are potent antithyroid agents that cause hypothyroidism and may cause thyroid cancer. In infants, consumption of soy formula has been linked to autoimmune thyroid disease.
• Vitamin B₁₂ analogs in soy are not absorbed and actually increase the body's requirement for B₁₂.
• Soy foods increase the body's requirement for vitamin D.
• Fragile proteins are denatured during high temperature processing to make soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein.
• Processing of soy protein results in the formation of toxic lysinoalanine and highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.
• Free glutamic acid or MSG, a potent neurotoxin, is formed during soy food processing and additional amounts are added to many soy foods.
• Soy foods contain high levels of aluminum which is toxic to the nervous system and the kidneys.

The above soy dangers and our Myths & Truths About Soy are available in our Soy Alert! trifold brochure for mass distribution."
Studies Showing Adverse Effects of Soy

1. Studies Showing the Toxicity of Soy in the US Food & Drug Administration's Poisonous Plant Database (7.5M PDF)
2. Studies Showing Adverse Effects of Dietary Soy, 1939-2008
3. Studies Showing Adverse Effects of Isoflavones, 1950-2010

From: http://www.westonaprice.org/soy-alert.html
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The worst of it is that:  Genetically modified (GM) soy accounts for 91 percent of soybeans planted in the US

This video is in German with English subtitles:

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Here is what Dr. Oz, and other doctors say about it:
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/genetically-modified-foods-pt-1
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/genetically-modified-foods-pt-2
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/genetically-modified-foods-pt-3
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"Genetically modified (GM) soy accounts for 91 percent of soybeans planted in the US and is rapidly growing throughout the world. The dangerous biotech created science behind the introduction of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) is rapidly mounting and can no longer be ignored by scientists or the public.
The biotech propaganda of increasing crop yield and ending world hunger have been proven false, and attempts to skew the simple fact that the sole reasoning for the mass introduction of untested, toxic and dangerous GMOs into our plants, soil, animals and genes is to increase profits at any expense for the large multinational biotech companies.

Transgenic or GM soy is created by haphazardly blasting a gene into the soybean that allows the bean to be resistant to the cytotoxic effects of Roundup (glyphosate). Farmers are able to dose their entire soybean fields with glyphosate and only kill the weeds.

But, wouldn't it make sense that if something kills anything (including weeds) it also would be killing human cells? Also, what health effects are evident from consuming soybeans which have been genetically altered with a promoter virus to ensure the gene slips past the immune system of the plant?"
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/026334_soy_Roundup_GMO.html#ixzz1FGGBSApi
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"After Carrasco announced his findings ahead of publication – the study was later published in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology – a group of environmental lawyers petitioned the supreme court of Argentina to implement a national ban on the use of glyphosate. But such is Argentina’s dependence on GM soy that Guillermo Cal, executive director of the crop-protection trade association CASAFE, said a ban would mean ‘we couldn’t do agriculture in Argentina’.  Much of Argentina’s GM soy is imported into Europe as livestock feed.

Unprecedented ruling
No national ban on glyphosate has yet been implemented, but in a revolutionary ruling in March 2010, a regional court in Santa Fe province banned the spraying of glyphosate and other agrochemicals near populated areas. While the ruling is limited to the area around San Jorge, other courts are expected to follow suit.

Just a month after the court ruling, another bombshell dropped in Argentina’s GM soy republic. The provincial government of Chaco province issued a report on health statistics from La Leonesa, the town where Carrasco was due to give his talk.

The report said that from 2000 to 2009 the childhood cancer rate tripled in La Leonesa and the rate of birth defects increased nearly fourfold over the entire province. The report said that these staggering increases in disease coincided with the expansion of GM soy and rice crops in the region and the corresponding rise in agrochemical use."
More at: http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/commentators/other_comments/686959/revealed_the_glyphosate_research_the_gm_soy_lobby_doesnt_want_you_to_read.html
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More about soy:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/02/19/the-dirty-little-secret-hidden-in-much-of-your-health-food.aspx
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Today,
I am taking Jay into town to cash his check, so we might go to the one thrift shop that is open on Mondays.
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Later:  We just went to our little town, cashed his check, and bought a few items at the Dollar General.

Jay wanted to work for an hour, so he tidied up the front and back yards with the mower and a rake.
I was on the screen porch trying to get the sheets of vinyl off opposite ends of it.  We enclose it during the cold months to protect the plants, and the times that the cats are out there.  Very difficult to believe that we are doing this in February, but we have had to turn the AC on sometimes.!  The top parts are too high up for me, so Jay was helping.

Ray was walking by to go to his son's place on the other side of my house, to tell him that his grandfather had just died.    Rest In Peace John Gray.  That is all I know, today.

What's Next for Oil-Rich Libya? Cargo Trailer Window.

Posted February 23, 2011

"For Libya, the oil-rich North African dictatorship between Tunisia and Egypt, it was only a matter of time before the unrest in the Arab world ignited antigovernment protests. Colonel Muammar Gadhafi has ruled the country with an iron hand since he overthrew King Idris in 1969.

Fight, not flight?

After nearly a week of protests and reports of hundreds being killed, some by government fighter jets, speculation broke out that Gadhafi was fleeing to Venezuela. But he appeared on television Feb. 22 to debunk that rumor.
The Telegraph reported Gadhafi's fighting words: "I will fight to the last drop of my blood. The Libyan people are with me... I'm not going to leave this land. I am going to die here and die here as a martyr."
Protesters seem equally adamant. Ali Zeidan, a senior member of the Libyan League of Human Rights, told The Guardian: "Libyans used to be afraid. But after they saw the blood, they aren't afraid anymore, they are angry."
That anger was partly fueled by the prediction by Gadhafi's son Saif of "rivers of blood" if protesters did not back down.

"Everybody knows somebody who has been killed or injured, everyone is very angry. What Gaddafi's son said made people furious... Now they feel no fear, if there are deaths people accept that we must carry on. Protesters will go to the centre again today and keep demonstrating until the job is done," Ali Zeidan said.
The protesters received support in the form of a fatwa against Gadhafi. New York magazine reported: "An influential Muslim cleric named Yusuf al-Qaradawi issued a fatwa yesterday through Al Jazeera saying, 'Whoever in the Libyan army is able to shoot a bullet at Mr. Qaddafi should do so.' Qaradawi, the spiritual leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, also urged Libyan soldiers 'not to obey orders to strike at your own people,' and urged Libyan ambassadors to disassociate themselves from Qaddafi."

Worldwide impact

Beyond the human cost, other nations are fearful of the impact on the fragile world economy. New York magazine also reported: "Libya, Africa's third-largest oil producer, pumps out around 1.6 million barrels of oil per day and is responsible for roughly 2 percent of global demand. Oil prices rose 9 percent in one day as analysts anxiously monitored the situation. If unrest spreads beyond Libya to other oil-rich countries, industry experts warn that gas prices could hit $5 a gallon by peak summer driving season."
With Gadhafi's days numbered, what will be next for Libya? How will it affect the rest of the world?

Libya in Bible prophecy

The Middle East plays a major role in end-time events leading to the return of Jesus Christ. Libya is mentioned in connection with the conflict between a Middle Eastern power and a European power. Consider these excerpts from our booklet The Middle East in Bible Prophecy:
"Returning to Daniel 11:40, we see that the forces of these two end-time leaders, the kings of the North and South, will clash: 'At the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over' (King James Version).

"The word 'push' is translated from the Hebrew word nagach, which can mean either 'to push' or 'to attack.' It is used of a bull or ram attacking with its horns. Figuratively, this means 'to war against.' The form this 'push' or 'attack' may take isn't spelled out.

"What is evident, however, is that this end-time leader from the south will attack the north in such a way as to warrant a major military invasion of the Middle East. Considering the ways Islamic extremists have attacked the Western powers in recent years, something like a series of major terror attacks against European targets could be the 'push' referred to here. From this point on the king of the South is no longer specifically mentioned in Scripture. What happens to him isn't spelled out.

"The same chapter shows that the king of the North, the European-centered Beast power, will be the victor, as he invades the Holy Land and overthrows 'many countries' (verse 41). Among them are Egypt and the Libyans and Ethiopians (understand that these biblical names for peoples and places may not be precisely identical with today's national borders, although the regions are certainly the same.)"

You need to understand the framework for these prophecies, and the solution to these worldwide calamities. Read or download The Middle East in Bible Prophecy now, and learn more about God's plan for the Middle East and for you."
http://www.ucg.org/commentary/whats-next-for-oil-rich-libya.htm
UCG Commentary | Archives

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Today:
We finally completed the window on the right side, including paneling, the porch light and switch. 





Ray will have to do his thing, touching up the paint, and caulking when he is able.

So it is a good day.

Crates Are Safe Dens. Housebreaking & Common Sense. Cargo Trailer.

As we have a little doggie cookie monster in our midst who has her 'parents' wrapped around her little toe about going back to bed in her crate, I wondered if others out there have the same problem.  No puppy's name mentioned, but it is the Brit word for "cookie"!

Crate training and housebreaking go hand in hand, so some of the videos are about Housebreaking, but we are really interested in the Crate Training tips therein.

Wolves, dogs and dens go back for centuries, and they love their "Dens". 
That is as long as no one has scared them by using their crate as a punishment, they love to go to sleep in their own personal space:

The next two are how you train your dog to be happy in their crate, which is really "Their Den":

More Crate training:
 

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Showing your dog it's mistakes, after the fact, does no good it just confuses them:

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All this training with treats can hurt your dog's appetite,  so only use little pieces of treats, and make sure that they are of good quality.  No sense in feeding your dogs a really good food and then filling them up with junk treats.  As always, read the labels, no cornmeal or 'byproducts' in the treats, just like their food.
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In a former life, my little foster cat, Patches, was locked up in a tiny crate for weeks on end, so she is terrified to go in one now, but she loves to sleep in her big wire cage, as that is where I feed her, with the door open.  So I also have a small wire cage for transporting her, and she will often sleep in that as her den, with the door open.
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Today:
Jay and I went back to working on the right side of the trailer.

The left side, with the "dreaded window" will to be shelved for a while, until the new larger window arrives.

This right side window had only been installed temporarily, as the paneling has to be scribed and cut for the window before we can install it permanently. The inside trim ring goes over the paneling.
But we had to install the porch light and switch first, so we were messing with that and testing it. We should have that window finished tomorrow.

As it was a little cooler, I wore a sweater, today.

Winter Wildlife Quiz. ParkGuides. ZipGuides. Cheap CG On Coast.

Winter Wildlife Quiz













North American animals have numerous strategies for surviving the winter.
Some migrate to warmer climes, others head for a long winter's nap, and some stay where they are and rely on fur, speed, fat, teeth, and claws to keep them safe, warm, and well fed. How much do you know about the winter behavior of North America's animals? Test your winter wildlife knowledge by taking our quiz.
http://enature.com/articles/detail.asp?storyID=590&utm_source=eNature+Master+List&utm_campaign=a4285f8ef3-On_The_Wild_Side_February_20112_8_2011&utm_medium=email
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Get the most out of your next trip to one of our National Parks. With over 300 listings, eNature's ParkGuides offer descriptions, species lists, maps, and more for National Parks and Wildlife Refuges all over the country.
http://enature.com/parkfinder/index.asp?utm_source=eNature+Master+List&utm_campaign=a4285f8ef3-On_The_Wild_Side_February_20112_8_2011&utm_medium=email

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Know what animals and plants share your backyard? Taking a trip? Use our ZipGuides to get a comprehensive local wildlife guide to the animals and plants native to any place in the United States. Or narrow your search to focus only on Endangered Species or poisonous and dangerous species.     http://enature.com/zipguides/

You can search by zip code:

or by clicking on a region:

Select a region or reset U.S. map





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Handy Tip:
Carry a plastic grocery bag or two in your purse, tote, or pocket. Lay them flat and squish the air out of them. Then roll them up tightly so they don't take up much room.
We got into this habit because we often need one for picking up after our dog. We find they are handy for all sorts of things. Here are a few things we've used them for: collecting seashells, shopping at flea or farmer's markets, when we got caught in the rain and had wet shirts that needed to be stashed somewhere, and when picking up litter while out on a walk.

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Cheap CG On Gulf Coast.

"Are you are looking for somewhere to stay on the coast of South TX, that is cheap, but not 'marvelous'?  You can put up with the lack of 'it' factor, if you will be sight-seeing, bird watching, or fishing during the day: http://www.bayviewrv.com/  Near Port Mansfield, TX
It's not fancy. But, it is wonderfully quiet and peaceful. The owner is friendly. The sites are large. It's inexpensive -- only $160 a month."

Port Mansfield: "Situated just nine miles from the South Padre Island National Seashore and Bird Sanctuary on Laguna Madre, the city of Port Mansfield is filled with outdoor recreation and excitement. Those camping will find great campsites and a variety of activities such as fishing, boating, hiking, biking, and hunting."

Climate:

"Located at the same latitude as Palm Beach, Florida, Port Mansfield enjoys mild temperatures throughout the year. Sea breezes cool the summer temperatures, which are regularly in the 90s in July and August. Warm tropical air patterns keep temperatures in the 50-degree range in the winter, rarely dipping down into the 30s in the coldest month of January. The majority of rainfall is received in early June and late October, although summer tropical storms can blow through between those times."
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/320979-campgrounds-in-port-mansfield-texas/#ixzz1EzLDad7K

"Visitors to the Bayview R-V Park will find a quiet, friendly atmosphere with plenty of outdoor recreation nearby. When camping at the park you'll find full hookups for water, sewer, and electric. Other amenities include a bathroom with showers and a clubhouse with a billiard table. Just a short walk from the campgrounds you'll find the fishing, boating, and other recreational opportunities of Port Mansfield. Wildlife, hiking, and biking can also be found throughout the natural surroundings of the area." 
Review: http://bestrvresource.com/camping/texas/bayview-r-v-park-tx/
Read more: Port Mansfield, Texas Campgrounds | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_5956115_port-mansfield_-texas-campgrounds.html#ixzz1EzHgE5Hv

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Today:
It is Jay's mother's birthday, so they are having a family get-together.  Ray is still busy with his dying father-in-law.

I was going to go into town to buy a new faucet for the cut-off in the garage, but I couldn't see the sense in going in for just one item, so I will use the time to do some, "GASP", housecleaning.

As I was vacuuming the back of the computer, I decided now was the time to install the new-to-me flat monitor, even though the squiggly lines go away on the old one, once it has warmed up.
The stand on the new one is a lot taller, so I may have to do something different to my desk, I will see how it affects me.
My granddaughter is always asking me why I keep on using my old mini-keyboard with the letters all worn off, so I installed a different one.  The right side of the space bar didn't work, so I installed this new keyboard, but it just isn't the same, so I am going back to my old one today.

What To Do If Your Brakes Fail. Tips for Safe Texting. De-winterizing.

10 Steps To Stopping Safely.

A brake failure is a fear possessed by many drivers. Here is what to do if it happens to you.  By: Josh Max

"Eddie Hagan was driving down a rural road near his suburban home, behind the wheel of his 2003 Honda Civic. It was just after six in the morning and he was on his way to work. It was just like any other day -- until it wasn't.
"I stepped on the brakes near a curve," he said. "and nothing happened."

His car was gathering speed and headed towards a sharp curve. Seeing traffic approaching, Hagan applied the emergency brake and the car went into a spin, leaving the road and stalling in a field. He was lucky, shaken, but fine.
"In retrospect," he says. "I panicked. I didn't think to downshift. All I could think about was stopping."
Thankfully, complete brake failure is a rare occurrence. But when it happens, it's almost always unexpected -- and the results can be life threatening, to say the least.

In 2008, comedian Jerry Seinfeld crashed his vintage Fiat when the brakes failed. In this case, the emergency brakes also failed and Seinfeld had to swerve to avoid an intersection. The car flipped over before coming to a stop, but Seinfeld was uninjured in the crash, according to reports.

Others have been less fortunate. Experts say the best prevention for brake failure is routine maintenance and inspection, and that drivers should pay attention to their brakes with their feet and their ears. For example, if you hear grinding or squealing, take your car off the road and have it looked at by a certified mechanic. If the brake pedal feels different than it did the day before, do similarly.


10 Steps to Safety:
The National Safety Council recommends the following steps if your brakes suddenly fail:


1. Downshift immediately
Putting the car in a lower gear allows the engine to slow the car, and may give you enough time to be able to safely pull over. Whether you're driving an automatic or a manual, try to downshift smoothly through the gears. If you downshift too quickly, you risk a skid. Do not shut off the car to stop it, as you'll lose your power steering, and do not put the car in neutral or you will lose the engine braking effect.


2. Try the emergency brake, but don't depend on it to stop you
If you're driving a car with a good, strong emergency brake, go ahead and use it. In cars with manual transmissions, the emergency brake is often operated via a hand-activated lever located behind the shifter, while in many automatics you use a small pedal located on the far left of the driver. It helps to try your emergency brake out at slow speeds to see how much stopping power it really has.


3. Work your vehicle into the right lane as soon as you can
Move toward the right shoulder of the road, or, if possible, toward an exit. If it is necessary to change lanes, do so smoothly and carefully, watching your mirrors and the traffic around you closely.


4. Stay off the gas pedal
Perhaps this goes without saying, but do not touch the gas pedal. Your goal, right now, is to slow down, pull over and safely stop.


5. Check for brake pedal blockage
Believe it or not, debris such as as soda cans or bottles, coffee cups, rolls of paper towels and other items bouncing around in the cockpit can wedge behind your brake pedal, preventing its use. Make sure the pedal's path is clear and if not, kick the obstruction out of the way. (Another reason for having animals restrained in a vehicle)

6. Pump your brakes only if you have an older car without anti-lock brakes (ABS)
If your car has standard brakes they may respond to pumping, which could build up enough hydraulic pressure to allow them to work again. But many newer cars with ABS will do the pumping for you, so you should firmly press the brake pedal even if the brakes are not working. The brake failure may be temporary and if they suddenly start working again, your foot will be where it needs to be.

7. Alert others
Turn on your hazards and honk your horn until you're stopped so other motorists will know to give you plenty of room.


8. If you must hit something, aim for something "soft"!
This is a judgment call, but a wooden fence is better than a tree, for example -- and anything is preferable to hitting a human being.


9. Stay calm
Knowing the steps outlined in this article and being able to perform them should give you the confidence to respond naturally instead of panicking, in the unlikely event that your brakes do fail.

10. Once you're safely stopped, summon help
Don't be tempted to drive the car again, even if the brakes suddenly start working. Have the car towed to a repair shop or dealer for inspection and repair."
http://autos.aol.com/article/what-to-do-if-your-brakes-fail/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl11%7Csec1_lnk3%7C202024

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Tips for Safe Texting

• Remain seated -- or at least stationary. Texting while you should be paying attention to where you're headed (walking, driving, etc.) is a dangerous -- to you and those around you.
• Just let it ring or buzz. You can see who texted you after you stop driving. Throw the phone in the back seat if you don't have the will power. It's not worth dying over!
• With great power comes great responsibility. Kids should follow safe texting rules in order to earn the privilege of owning a phone. For guidance on establishing rules for your family, see our tips on Responsible Text Messaging. 
• Monkey see, monkey do. Admit it, parents, how many times have you texted while driving or held a cell phone at the wheel despite hands-free laws? In our 24/7 society, it's really hard to resist the impulse to answer the phone as soon as it rings. But remember: Your kids are watching and will ultimately copy your behavior.

This video is hard to watch, and if your kids are already driving age or nearing it, you should view it first to determine whether you want to share it with them.

http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/17/texting-driving-and-your-kids/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl6%7Csec3_lnk2%7C202196
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Yesterday, as well as getting some grocery shopping done, I managed to visit a couple of thrift shops.  I scored a new bone-color $49 purse, still with label attached, for $2 at the Salvation Army store, and a pair of new bone-color Grasshopper shoes for $3.50, at the Nearly New Thrift Shop. 
I had also off loaded the recycled paper, recycled plastic bags, and gave some good plastic bags to a thrift shop.  Used kitty litter is heavy, if you only have garbage pick-up once a week, so I put the daily bags of it in an empty cat food bag, tape it up, and dropped it off in a community dumpster.  I hope our garbage man appreciates that.
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Today,
As I am going to order a bigger window for the cargo trailer, to replace the 'dreaded' one, that part is at a standstill right now.  So Jay and I just did 'fix-it' jobs.  The outside faucet shut-off in the garage was still leaking, so we tried to fix that.  Fortunately, it was after the shut-off this time, as it will have to wait until I buy a new faucet to fix it.  A fitting broke off in the faucet, but at least I have water in the house until I can get to a store.

Then we attacked the still dormant hedge on the north side, which has grown so high that Bobcat can't watch the traffic going along the road behind my house, from her favorite bed in my bathroom window.
We strung some construction tape from tree to tree with a post in the middle, and Jay cut it all even.  You can hardly see the road, at tape height.











I hope we don't get another freeze, as we uncovered the trough of aloe, which didn't fare too well over this cold winter, nor did the grass.  We took the covers off the soffit vents which are put there to keep the icy Canadian winds out of my attic.  We don't cover the ones on the south, as all the water lines are in the north end of the attic.  Even though the lines are insulated, I don't take any chances.  The covers get stored upstairs in my attic, so we took the inside covers off the turbos and power vent.

By the time we had raked up the hedge clippings and pine needles and taken then to the burn pile, we had had enough for today.

How safe is the water? Bottled Water. Water Filters. Fluoridation.

From Dr. Oz, three short videos:
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/your-water-causing-cancer-pt-1?sp_rid=MTU5OTIyNDc5S0&sp_mid=906091

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/your-water-causing-cancer-pt-2

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/your-water-causing-cancer-pt-3

"The shocking results from Dr. Oz’s special investigation are in. Arsenic, lead, known carcinogen chromium 6, and perchlorate – or rocket fuel – are among the contaminants you are being exposed to every day.
If you are concerned about the safety of your water, follow these action steps to protect you and your family:

• Click here to get your city’s Consumer Confidence Report and find out if there are any violations in your area.
• Call your local health department and see if they offer free or reduced-rate tap water tests.
• Hire a lab to test your water. Testing may cost upwards of $125.
• Choose a water filtration system to remove contaminants from your water at home. Click here for a guide to the best systems."

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Is Bottled Water safe?
"Bottled water has a dirty secret: it may actually be tap water. Regulations for bottled water don’t have to be as good as those for tap water, and water companies are not required to tell you where the water you’re drinking is coming from or how they treat it. Watch to find out what else bottled water may be hiding.
An alternative to bottled water is filtering your own tap water and bottling it yourself. Click here for your guide to the best water filtration systems."

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/what-you-dont-know-about-your-bottled-water-pt-1

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/what-you-dont-know-about-your-bottled-water-pt-2

Local Drinking Water Information

"Welcome! Each year by July 1st you should receive in the mail an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) from your water supplier that tells you where your water comes from and what's in it.
Any community water system that serves more than 100,000 people is required to make its CCR available to customers on a publicly accessible web site. Other community water systems may choose to link their CCRs to EPA’s website as well so that you have easy access to information about your drinking water.

• See if your annual drinking water quality report is posted on-line.
• Read some frequent questions about these reports.

Click here to find the Consumer Confidence Report for your area. If you have any questions about your drinking water or the any of the reports, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline: 1-800-426-4791. Click here for more information on the hotline.
Decoding Your Results: The EPA has drinking water standards in place to address more than 90 contaminants that may be found in drinking water. If a contaminant has a drinking water standard, it means that EPA has determined that it may occur in public water supplies, that it may have adverse health effects, and that regulation can provide meaningful health risk reduction.
In setting the drinking water standard for a contaminant, the EPA first estimates what level somebody could drink daily for 70 years without being expected to experience health impacts. In determining this non-enforceable public health goal, the EPA consider effects not just on the general population, but also on people who are more sensitive, like babies and pregnant women."

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Another additive to water, fluoride:

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Jay has gone to The Medical Center, Houston, with his mother.  He has an appointment at UTMB Dental Branch, across the street from where his mother has to go for her appointment.

Ray is still busy with his dying father-in-law,  so I am going shopping in the next town, as it is Wednesday.

Spay Day. The Skinny on Spays. Awesome Dogs! Cargo Trailer. Michelle. Stupid People!

Today is Spay Day! Support organizations around the world fighting pet overpopulation.
Learn more, then enter the Spay Day Pet Photo Contest, presented by Zazzle.



February 22, 2011

Today is Spay Day!

Dear Friend,
Today is the 17th annual Spay Day -- with critical spay/neuter events taking place across the nation and abroad. More than 50,000 animals were reported spayed or neutered in 2010, including Jack Jack, shown at left with members of his loving family.
Help support the hundreds of organizations helping to fight pet overpopulation this year as part of Spay Day 2011.
Learn more about Spay Day here. Then, enter the Spay Day Pet Photo Contest to show your support.
Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO

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Safe Harbor Farm

"Curious as to what happens when your pet gets spayed? 
 
"This page is dedicated to all those folks who call to schedule an "evening" spay appointment... and ask if they could wait while it was done!...   Say that again?!
Read on for a little tour of what happens after all the patients of the day are dropped off...
Step One:  Each pet is checked for signs that she may not be up for surgery at this time.  Their weights are noted in the anesthetic log.
Step Two:  An anesthetic protocol is chosen for each pet.  This is a combination of drugs that includes a sedative, a pain-killer and one or more anesthetics, some given by injection, some by inhalation.  Dogs & cats usually receive different medications, and an older animal may get different drugs than a younger one.
Step Three:  When it is your pet's turn for surgery, her medications are administered - sometimes one at a time, sometimes in combinations.  Under certain protocols, patients are intubated and hooked up to an anesthetic machine.  Five to ten minutes later, your pet is sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of her surroundings.
Step Four:  A surgical assistant puts a lubricating ointment in each animal's eyes to protect them during surgery.  She then clips the hair off the abdomen, and the pet's bladder is gently expressed to empty it.  Your pet is then positioned on the surgical table, on her back.  Tamed iodine soap and alcohol are used to scrub the surgical site in a circular pattern, a minimum of three times.
Step Five:  After opening up a sterile pack of surgical instruments, together with a suitably sized sterile suture pack & scalpel blade, the surgeon positions a sterile drape over the pet's abdomen, chest & legs, leaving an opening centrally.  Towel clamps are utilized to hold it in place.

Step Six:  An incision is made in the skin, roughly 3/4 inch for young cats who haven't had their first heats, an inch for cats who have, or larger for dogs or pregnant animals.  A similar incision is made between the two major muscles of the abdomen.

Step Seven:  A specialized instrument is used to locate the V-shaped uterus, which is then followed cranially on one side, then the other, until the ovaries are located.  The blood supply to each ovary is tied off twice (once to do the job; the second time to be doubly sure no suture slippage could occur).  This is especially important in obese animals, where the extra fatty tissue makes surgery much, much harder to accomplish smoothly.

Step Eight:  The body of the uterus, where the 2 horns of the uterus meet, is also ligated with 2 separate sutures.  The ovaries and uterus are then removed, leaving the cervix behind.  The pictures above are of a young cat spay.  The uterus of a dog is naturally much bigger and more covered with adipose tissue (fat).

Step Nine: The abdomen is checked for signs of hemorrhage (Note to those who think surgery is, by necessity, bloody: excess bleeding is rare unless an animal is in heat.  Most surgeons will spay cats in heat.  Most surgeons are understandably unwilling to spay dogs in heat for this reason.) 
Step Ten:   Three separate layers of sutures (body wall, subcutaneous tissue, and then skin) are carefully put in place. 
Ta da!  Time to wake up, princess!
The finishing touches: At the Kindness Clinic, all pets get their ears cleaned, their coats combed for fleas and, when requested, samples are taken for internal parasites, feline leukemia/FIV and heartworm.  A few hours of beauty sleep later, these girls are up and, although a bit groggy, looking forward to seeing their folks again.  The sedative that keeps them groggy for awhile also provides pain relief, so additional medications usually aren't required.

A cat's uterus compared to a dog's uterus.  Note the fat in the broad ligaments (the filmy tissue attached to both uterine horns) of the dog.
Now, for what often happens when a pet is NOT spayed...

mammary tumors  +  uterine infection  + post-op, after 2 1/2 hours of surgery that saved her life
From:   http://www.safeharborfarm.org/spays.htm

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See how clever dogs can be, with love and training:

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Today, Jay and I worked on the "dreaded" window.  
We squashed ridges of the piece of siding that came out of the other window.






We cut out the right side of the problem window and moved it over, and then unscrewed the corner of the trailer and slipped the piece of siding in, under the trim.  It isn't finished yet, and even when/if it is, Ray will have to use his painting magic on it. 
I am still not happy with it.

We had two interruptions, first my granddaughter, Michelle came by to pick up some very old handmade quilts that her deceased grandfather had brought from Arkansas.  Her father, my son Kevin, didn't want them, in fact he had even used one for covering an engine, until I rescued it.

Then a family drove about 50 miles round trip, to see a bathtub that I have for sale.   Now, in the ad, I was very specific, posting the exact measurements, pictures, and that it is a right hand drain.  They said it was too long, and the drain was on the wrong side!
So I met another one that is born every other minute, today.

Presidents Day, a Federal Holiday Turned Media Trend. Earned Income Tax Credit. Cargo Trailer Window.

2011 February, 21st

"What is today trending as Presidents Day begun as Washington’s Birthday – a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States. But Richard Nixon decided to change Washington’s Birthday to a more generic Presidents Day, to celebrate all American presidents who helped shape the nation.

Like any other celebration with potential of becoming a viral trend, Presidents Day becomes a powerful online marketing opportunity, with many companies promoting special “President’s Day” offers, President’s Day discounts, promotions, and coupons, all sales strategies often encouraged by marketers and PRs.
A whole retail industry revolves around a celebration that should have more significance than scoring some deals at the local mall.


But online trends are usually influenced by brands, social media influencers, and mainstream media – and sadly, not all articles are eye-openers like Nick Ragone’s FOX News editorial, who writes: Presidents Day should be a chance for Americans to reconnect with the past — both distant and near — and the giants of the office who transformed the country.

As Mr. Ragone notes, it’s doubtful that shoppers are giving too much thought to the greatest American presidents as they troll the discount bins. In fact, as the online search trends show, users are more interested in knowing whether banks are open on presidents day 2011. Other hot searches include: is the post office open on presidents day 2011, USPS holidays, post office savings and so on. Some searchers look for the answer to the question: is Presidents Day a federal holiday? The answer is yes, it is, and yes, some banks choose to close their doors this day, but there are enough that keep a normal program. This, however, is not the issue.

The question is, should Presidents Day be used as a marketing/sales opportunity, or should our focus be more on raising awareness on other issues, of deeper meaning? I choose meaning, and if you do too, you will enjoy Nick Ragone’s Presidents Day: A Time to Remember the Greats, as much as I did."
From: http://www.pamil-visions.net/presidents-day/222925/
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I am all for giving 'Caesar's things unto Caesar', but let's not give him jam on his 'daily bread'!

Matthew 22:20-22 (King James Version)

²¹They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

"EITC is for people who earn less than $48,362. If you qualify, it could be worth as much as $5,666 this year depending on your filing status and the number of qualifying children. So you could pay less federal tax or even get a refund. Just imagine what you could do with that."
More at: https://secure.entergy.com/bill_inserts/multi/12_10/Earned_Income_Tax_Credit_Pub_926.pdf
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Today,


Jay and I framed up, cut out, squashed the ridges on the siding, and temporarily installed the last window in the cargo trailer. 

The squashing went better than expected.







We measured very carefully where we were going to install it, so that the cut out siding could be used to fix the boo-boos on the 'dreaded' window on the other side.








Even though the weather was wonderful, we rolled up the tools, as it did smell like it was going to rain, and we had had enough.

So we didn't work on the 'dreaded' window today.

Profanity. What's In A Name? Cargo Trailer.

Exodus 20:7

20:7  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

This commandment requires serious reflection. Like the second, it includes a warning that God will not hold us guiltless. It seems that sometimes God deliberately understates things for subtle emphasis and to ultimately magnify the meaning.   To understand this commandment better, we need to explain four words:

Take; throughout the Old Testament, is translated into English from seventy-four different Hebrew words. This one means "to lift up," "bear," "carry," "use," and "appropriate."

Vain; has the sense of "desolating"; "that which lacks reality, purpose, value, or truth." It may also be translated "lying," "false," "worthless," "profane," "foolish," "reproachful," "curse," "blaspheme," or "useless."

Guiltless, means "free," "clear," "innocent," "clean," "blameless," "unpunished"

Name; means "a mark or sign standing out"; "a word by which a person, place or thing is distinctively known." Its Hebrew root denotes "high," "elevated," "a monument." It indicates majesty or excellence. A name identifies, signifies, and specifies."

Read more: http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/91#ixzz17TbKLzJE

^"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. "
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"Little Dan, attending Sunday School for the first time eagerly listened as his teacher told of the birth of God’s Son.  He thrilled to the story of the angels, wise men, the star, and the gifts. Then the teacher added, "And they shall call His name Jesus."
He looked over at the person beside him and asked, "Why did they have to name such a sweet baby a swear word?"
It was the first time that he had ever heard His Name used outside of a curse!  (You know, kids just repeat what they hear!) 
The boy's mother was furious. "Young man, where did you learn to talk that way?"
The boy hesitated, looked toward his father, and asked, "Well, Dad, should I tell her?"".
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"God’s Last Name Is Not Damn!"
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 First, why make an exception for a preacher?

"I can’t count the number of times I have come across someone who freely used profanity in my presence, only to apologize upon learning that I am a preacher. While the apology is appreciated, it is also somewhat curious.
First, why make an exception for a preacher? Is the denominational clergy/laity distinction really so strong in our society today that people feel a different set of rules apply when in the presence of a preacher? No such distinction exists in scripture, and it is interesting that it affects even the most profane of individuals in our culture.

Second, as the offender obviously realizes that such language is inappropriate, why is he so quick to use profanity even around people he does not know? Does he think it acceptable to offend people, as long as they are not clergy?
When did it become O.K. to act so offensively in public?"
http://www.ucg.org/booklets/TC/thirdcommandment.asp
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Against More Than Euphemisms

"The third commandment is certainly against common swearing, including using euphemisms so common in society. Many commonly use "gee," "gosh," "golly," "got all muddy," "cheese and rice," "Jiminy Cricket," and "doggone" to substitute for the more offensive words some carelessly spew forth. This commandment also covers the light or disrespectful use of any of God's attributes or character."

 No Need to Chase After a Name

"Many people spend their lives chasing after a name that will bring them honor or notoriety. They want people to associate them with a "name" university, a "name" team or a "name" company. They want to wear clothing with a "name" on its label, drive a "name" car or marry into a "name" family.   But the greatest name that anyone can possibly bear has come to us unbidden.
John writes, "Beloved, now we are children of God" (I John 3:2), and he reminds us of our privilege in bearing that name. Remember that to whom God gives much He requires much.
Chrysostom (c. AD 347-407) instructed parents to give children scriptural names. He told them to tell the child stories about his namesake as he grew up to give him something to live up to."

Read more: http://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/PERSONAL/k/365/The-Third-Commandment.htm#ixzz17TYUIu8M

The Third Commandment: From Profanity to Praise: http://www.ucg.org/booklets/TC/thirdcommandment.asp

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Today:

When dressing, I put on a t-shirt, and the neck of it just felt too hot, this is V-neck, but not quite tank top weather.
Our high was 80 deg., and great for working outside. 
The cats have been on the screened-in porch most of the day.  Paco had his sunbath, so he is happy.

Jay and I undid all the stuffing and cover off the outside faucet that goes to the automatic waterer to the privet hedge and trough of aloe.  We re-installed the water hoses that go to it and the timed lawn waterer.    It hasn't rained for a while, so I turned it on, timed it for 3/4 hour.
 
My Red Maple out front is already budding leaves, maybe Punxsutawney Phil knew what he was doing.



Then we measured, cut, leveled and screwed the uprights and ledger boards in, for the counter top. 
We measured and marked where the front styles should go, so that the fridge door would open.  We didn't finish that, as the "dreaded" window needs to be done first.

We figured out one way to fix it. 

Move the 'dreaded" window about three inches to the right to eliminate the bad part, and when we cut out for the window on the other side, use that siding, affixing it all the way to the outside corner of the trailer.  The next window will have to be cut, so that the conformation of the siding matches exactly with the other side, to do this.





Except for straightening up, and tying up, some of the dangling wires the cable man had left when he installed the digital boxes, that was about all we got done, today.