Festival of Tabernacles. Jelly is Dreaming. Christ's Second Coming: Can You Believe It? USS Nautilus.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

What was Jesus doing for you in the fall of 30 A.D.?

“Nearly 2,000 years ago this October, our Savior Jesus Christ set us an example of power and courage.  Despite living in a world that rejected Him, He openly celebrated a timeless Festival that is established forever. What is this joyous event and what does it mean for you?

If one reads about an event in the Bible that all  nations would one day be required by God to observe, wouldn't it make sense to find out more about it now?  Here's a sometimes overlooked biblical fact: The Bible tells us in Zechariah 14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. See All...   that everyone in the coming Kingdom of God will observe the biblical Festival of Tabernacles and worship Jesus Christ there as King.

And no surprise, as Jesus Himself observed this Festival while living on the earth nearly 2,000 years ago (John 7:2-52 [2] Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. See All...).

So what exactly is this Festival of Tabernacles?

The biblical Festival (or Feast) of Tabernacles occurs in the fall (as reckoned in the northern hemisphere), and serves as the capstone of the seven annual Holy Day seasons revealed by God (Leviticus 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. See All...).   As the seventh chapter of John eloquently and powerfully confirms, Jesus observed this Festival Himself, setting an example for His 21st century disciples.

Jesus declared that His Church—people who actually followed His commands and example—would never cease to exist (Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. See All...).  

That declaration continues to be fulfilled today, as a "little flock" (Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. See All...)—multiple thousands of Christians—are gathering this fall. They are assembling to observe the same biblical festival that Jesus kept in a very high profile way just a few months before His crucifixion.

Why Keep the Festival in the 21st Century?

As these Christians observe the Festival of Tabernacles today , you may wonder why this ancient event is relevant in a digital age. When the Holy Day seasons were first openly revealed to humanity, the Israelites would take palm and tree fronds to build temporary dwellings (Leviticus 23:30 See All...). In Hebrew, the Festival of Tabernacles is literally called "the Festival of Booths" ( Sukkot  in Hebrew).

Today, in the spirit of those temporary dwellings, Christians observe the Festival outside of their regular homes, travelling to cities and meeting places around the globe. There they celebrate the fact that our fragile lives are but temporary, and that we look to a new life of eternal service beginning in the coming Kingdom of God!

This joyous Kingdom of God, which Jesus and the apostles referred to more than 100 times in the New Testament, will be a time of great peace and prosperity.  What is your priority as a Christian in your day-to-day affairs? Your Savior and future King declares to you and me: "Seek  first  the Kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. See All...).

So if this Festival of Tabernacles pictures the coming Kingdom of God, when Jesus Christ will have returned to this earth to rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:15-16 [15] And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. [16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. See All...), what about the other six Holy Day seasons of God?

A personal prophecy for you

The entire seven Holy Day seasons of God represent nothing short of God's amazing and wonderful plan for all of humanity!  The incredible truth? These biblical seasons represent a personal prophecy for you, your family, your friends—literally all who have ever lived or who will live. (This is all explained in detail in our free booklet God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for all Mankind . If you don't have a copy, order one today, or download it free).

The first three—the Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost—have collectively opened the door to salvation and spiritual understanding for Christians today.  The four remaining holy day seasons –the Festival of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Festival of Tabernacles and the celebration of the Eighth Day (also known to some as the Last Great Day) —represent an intense and happy vision for us.  They picture a time of profound "gladness and joy" when God will directly intervene globally in human affairs, "and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
See All...). They represent a time of great globe-encircling peace!

No wonder Jesus was unafraid to openly keep the Festival of Tabernacles some 2,000 years ago, despite open death threats. No wonder He assertively made breathtaking declarations (John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. See All...) and performed stunning miracles (John 9:1-11 [1] See All...).  If you truly understand God's plan for you, then you too can say with confidence: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. See All...).

As you read this, thousands of members of the United Church of God are keeping this Festival in many locations around the world . There may be one near you. If you'd like to see what this celebration of the coming Kingdom of God is like, you are welcome to see for yourself.  Jesus set an example for all of us in 30 A.D., pointing us to the final victory of God pictured in the joyous Festival of Tabernacles.” From: http://www.ucg.org/blog/what-was-jesus-doing-for-you-fall-30-ad/

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Jelly is Dreaming of the Kingdom

“It's time for the Feast of Tabernacles! The Feast gets Jelly dreaming of a world of peace and harmony after Jesus Christ returns to establish the wonderful Kingdom of God. (Isaiah 11:6 See All..., Leviticus 23:29-43 See All...)”

Jelly is Dreaming of the Kingdom Lyrics at: http://www.ucg.org/ucg-short-film/gods-holy-days/jelly-dreaming-kingdom/

Download the children's choir arrangement of Dreaming of the Kingdom and other children's choir songs by Mark Graham .

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The Blessing of the Feast of Tabernacles

“All around the world, faithful Christians are preparing to celebrate the great Feast that Jesus Christ and the apostles observed 2,000 years ago. This is the same Feast that all of the world will learn to celebrate in the coming Kingdom of God. The Feast of Tabernacles is a joyous celebration. It is also a commanded assembly that true Christians continue to observe. What is the Feast of Tabernacles? Why is observing the Feast of Tabernacles a blessing? And what does this Holy Day point to? 

More at: http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/the-blessing-of-the-feast-of-tabernacles

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More about The Feast of Tabernacles: 1st. Oct is a Holy Day

http://www.ucg.org/booklet/gods-holy-day-plan-promise-hope-all-mankind/feast-tabernacles-jesus-christ-reigns-over-all-e/

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The program on WGN this morning:

Christ's Second Coming: Can You Believe It?

Opinions vary widely as to whether Jesus will return or has already. What is the real truth?

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/jesus-christ/christs-second-coming-can-you-believe-it

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The USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear submarine, is commissioned by the U.S. Navy: Sep 30, 1954:

“The Nautilus was constructed under the direction of U.S. Navy Captain Hyman G. Rickover, a brilliant Russian-born engineer who joined the U.S. atomic program in 1946. In 1947, he was put in charge of the navy's nuclear-propulsion program and began work on an atomic submarine. Regarded as a fanatic by his detractors, Rickover succeeded in developing and delivering the world's first nuclear submarine years ahead of schedule. In 1952, the Nautilus' keel was laid by President Harry S. Truman, and on January 21, 1954, first lady Mamie Eisenhower broke a bottle of champagne across its bow as it was launched into the Thames River at Groton, Connecticut. Commissioned on September 30, 1954, it first ran under nuclear power on the morning of January 17, 1955.

Much larger than the diesel-electric submarines that preceded it, the Nautilus stretched 319 feet and displaced 3,180 tons. It could remain submerged for almost unlimited periods because its atomic engine needed no air and only a very small quantity of nuclear fuel. The uranium-powered nuclear reactor produced steam that drove propulsion turbines, allowing the Nautilus to travel underwater at speeds in excess of 20 knots.

In its early years of service, the USS Nautilus broke numerous submarine travel records and in August 1958 accomplished the first voyage under the geographic North Pole. After a career spanning 25 years and almost 500,000 miles steamed, the Nautilus was decommissioned on March 3, 1980. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1982, the world's first nuclear submarine went on exhibit in 1986 as the Historic Ship Nautilus at the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Connecticut.”

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Yesterday:

In the morning, I took Jay into Conroe to pay off a stupid PayDay Loan.  His mother wanted me to keep him out as long as I could, as she and her neighbor were packing up all Jay’s stuff that was at her house, and taking it over to his house next door.   She was throwing him out, AGAIN! 

We ate lunch at the China Buffet, and I also picked up my new prescription driving sunglasses.  But it was raining off and on, and very overcast, so I had drive in my old faded out prescription sunglasses. 

By that time it was afternoon, so I told Jay that I didn’t have the time or gas to take him back home, and that I was going to church, which was on the way home.  He hadn’t planned on that, so I said he could just sit outside the church, but he came in with me, and enjoyed being there.

Jay’s mother wanted him out, as she knew he would get drunk on his birthday today.

Warriors on Denali. Google Under Water. Fish Circles. Keystone Pipeline. Mississippi River. Laundry. Misfortune? Rudolf Diesel.

For “Summary Saturday”, News, Some New, Some Old:

2012 Wounded Warrior Denali Challenge

“Three months ago, five wounded warriors – four of them retired – attempted to climb the Denali (Mt. McKinley) summit. The team members said the climb wasn’t only for them, but for others severely wounded in wars.

These five brave men came from the Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam conflicts and their ages ranged from 31 to 64 years old. But they all had one goal in mind: to get to the top.  Five wounded warriors with a self-described total of four good legs.

From an Associated Press article: After nine days on the 20,320-foot mountain in the Alaska Range, the expedition was resting at 14,200 feet Thursday and was being warned by guides the climb only gets more difficult.

Unfortunately though, the men had to stop there. It wasn’t their limitations that stopped them; it was the weather.”

 

“Five wounded warriors challenge their disabilities to take on the tallest peak in North America.”

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Google Unveils Stunning Underwater ‘Street Views’ in Maps [PICS]

Google Street View is no longer limited to roads and sidewalks — now, you can browse stunning panoramic images from under the sea.

With a simple click or swipe, users can explore the subacquatic world, including Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii’s Hanauma Bay and Apo Islands in the Philippines. In total, there are panoramas of six of the ocean’s coral reefs.   More at: http://mashable.com/2012/09/26/google-underwater-street-views/

 

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Japan’s Underwater Crop Circle Was Made By A Tiny Pufferfish

“The mystery behind an underwater crop circle in Japan has been solved.

Underwater photographer Yoji Ookata spotted a strangely beautiful structure off the coast of the southern Japanese island of Anami Oshima. According to Geekosystem, the strange formation, dubbed the mystery circle, could not be explained by Ookata or the camera crew.

So what built it? Underwater aliens? An ancient sea creature?   It turns out that the strange circle was created by an ordinary pufferfish.”    Read more at: http://www.inquisitr.com/339040/japans-underwater-crop-circle-was-made-by-a-tiny-pufferfish/#va1dYhZRUfeRIlPi.99

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The Keystone Pipeline Myth Machine – 2012 Election Edition

“The Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is one of the most controversial environmental issues in years and has already figured prominently during this election season. President Obama rejected the original proposal back in the beginning of 2012 but is now considering a slightly modified blueprint. Meanwhile, Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has promised he would approve KXL on his first day in office, saying “I will build that pipeline if I have to myself.”

It’s a topic that has transcended facts to become a political litmus test, but the truth is more complicated than Mr. Romney and Keystone XL’s owner, TransCanada, are admitting. And President Obama isn’t off the hook by any means, as there remain concerns that his Administration may not factor climate change — the million dollar question — into their analysis. Here are some of the biggest myths about KXL, and the facts behind this massive threat to our wildlife and the planet’s future.

MYTH #1: Keystone is a jobs juggernaut.

MYTH #2: Keystone XL will improve America’s energy security.

MYTH #3: Keystone XL is safe.

MYTH #4: The government review process for Keystone XL has been fair and thorough.

MYTH #5: Keystone XL will reduce our energy prices.

MYTH #6: Canadian tar sands will be developed anyway, even if we don’t build the pipeline.

MYTH #7: The pipeline poses no risk to the Ogallala aquifer.

MYTH #8: Keystone XL will generate billions in tax revenue for American federal, state, and local governments.”

Complete article at: http://blog.nwf.org/2012/09/the-keystone-pipeline-myth-machine-2012-election-edition/ from Wildlife Promise

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What’s Floating in the Mississippi? New Report Reveals Progress but Also Challenges for Historic River

“The Mississippi River is an icon of our nation that conjures up images from the pages of Mark Twain. Yet at the same time, the river has been a target for industrial waste that basically choked the life out of the river. Now, forty years after passage of the Clean Water Act, it is time to find out just how healthy our mighty Mississippi is today.

Major findings include:

• Elevated levels of mercury and other elements have compromised the healthfulness of fish caught in the river.
• Excessive bacteria have impaired some sections of the river.
• More water is flowing into the river than before, bringing pollution and destabilizing the watershed.
• Invasive populations of Asian carp continue to spread and threaten native aquatic life.

Not all the findings are negative. Bald eagles, mussels, and fish are thriving, for example, indicating that river restoration has had a positive impact on some wildlife. To read the full report, visit the new State of the River website.”   More at: http://www.parkadvocate.org/what%E2%80%99s-floating-in-the-mississippi-new-report-reveals-progress-but-also-challenges-for-historic-river?p=1688

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Wash and Save on Laundry

“Many of us have been taught to wash colored clothing in cold water and white laundry in hot water, but that old rule of thumb doesn't necessarily apply when you're trying to save money.
Ninety percent of energy used by washing machines goes into heating water, which means washing clothes on the hot or warm cycle is actually more costly than washing them on cold. When you break it down, doing laundry with a hot wash and warm rinse costs 60 cents per load, while a cold wash and cold rinse costs just 4 cents per load.

If your family does one load of laundry each week on the hot cycle, it will cost $35.36 for the year. Meanwhile, washing one load of clothes per week in cold water will cost just $2.08 for the year. That's 94 percent less expensive!
So, when it comes time to do laundry, only use hot water for white sheets and towels. Also, pre-treat stains when you can. This breaks down oils so they can be removed more easily. Follow these easy tips and you'll never wash savings away again.”  From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/08/28/wash-and-save-on-laundry-savings-experiment/?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-nb%7Cdl7%7Csec3_lnk3%26pLid%3D211619

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Neither fortune or misfortune

Here's a story I found helpful in worrying times... It came from an email.

  
“One day while working out in the fields the farmer's son fell and broke his leg. The villagers came to the farm and said, 'My, that's a great misfortune. Your son has broken his leg: now he can't help you in the fields.'   The farmer said, 'It is neither a fortune nor a misfortune.'

A day later, the government troops came to the village looking for young men to conscript into the army. They had to leave the boy behind because his leg was broken. Again, the villagers came to the farm and said, 'My, that's a great fortune.' The farmer replied, 'It is neither a fortune nor a misfortune.'

Then one day the farmer's only horse jumped the fence and ran away. The villagers came to the farm and said, 'What a great misfortune that your horse has run away.'  The farmer said, 'It is neither a fortune nor a misfortune.'

Two or three days later, the horse came back with a dozen wild horses following behind him. The villagers came to him and said, 'It's a great fortune that your horse came back with twelve others.'  The farmer replied, 'It is neither a fortune nor a misfortune.'

You see the farmer was wise enough to know that everything that was happening had a purpose and meaning beyond the simple appearance of the event that had occurred. So many times we are trapped by the emotion of the events in our lives. Remember the teaching that . . . 'nothing is long or short, hot or cold, good or bad.'

If you define it as good or bad, you always must ask yourself 'Good in relation to what or bad in relation to what?' 
Until we decide what the event means to us there is no meaning. Once you accept this and apply it to your life, you're free and that's important. Life is indeed what you make it.”

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On This Day:

Inventor Rudolf Diesel vanishes, Sep 29, 1913:

“On this day in 1913, Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the engine that bears his name, disappears from the steamship Dresden while traveling from Antwerp, Belgium to Harwick, England. On October 10, a Belgian sailor aboard a North Sea steamer spotted a body floating in the water; upon further investigation, it turned out that the body was Diesel's. There was, and remains, a great deal of mystery surrounding his death: It was officially judged a suicide, but many people believed (and still believe) that Diesel was murdered.

Such an engine would be unprecedentedly efficient, Diesel argued: In contrast to the other steam engines of the era, which wasted more than 90 percent of their fuel energy, Diesel calculated that his could be as much as 75 percent efficient. (That is, just one-quarter of their energy would be wasted.) The most efficient engine that Diesel ever actually built had an efficiency of 26 percent--not quite 75 percent, but still much better than its peers.

At the time of Diesel's death, he was on his way to England to attend the groundbreaking of a new diesel-engine plant--and to meet with the British navy about installing his engine on their submarines. Conspiracy theories began to fly almost immediately: "Inventor Thrown Into the Sea to Stop Sale of Patents to British Government," read one headline; another worried that Diesel was "Murdered by Agents from Big Oil Trusts." It is likely that Diesel did throw himself overboard--as it turns out, he was nearly broke--but the mystery will probably never be solved.”

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Yesterday:

My journal is like Seinfeld,  “The Journal About Nothing”!  Because nothing really has been happening around here.

Ray wanted to mow, but first I had to get gas for the mower.  Then when we put it in there, it wouldn’t start, and started leaking gas out of the carburetor.  This is the same problem as before, and I have had two people work on it.  So Ray had to use the old mower, while I went ahead of him picking up twigs, little branches and pine cones.

The rest of my afternoon was spent doing procedures that HP Customer Care had emailed me to do, to make a printer work.  After I had done those steps, I emailed them back that it still said “Scanner Failure” across the screen. 

Then after an hour or so, they emailed back and told me to hold down on # and 6 while plugging it in, as that was supposed to set it back to factory settings. So I dragged the darn thing back out of it’s box, and tried that.  Then I emailed them that it still didn’t work.  Then came; “Penny, I would like to inform you that your printer is facing a hardware malfunction.” Then they emailed back wanting the serial number etc, which I furnished. 

Come to find out, that it wasn’t the printer that came in the box, and it is out of warranty.  Someone must have returned their old printer in their new printer’s box, and I bought it.  The store won’t do anything about it, because I can’t prove it.

Then more emails back and forth to another company, about different steps to make the new battery for my laptop work, as it won’t hold a charge. 

So how was your day?

Nat. Parks. Do You Want Food Dye With That? Food Dye and ADHD. Vietnam Hero.

For “Foodie Friday”:

But first this Public Service Announcement:

Make Plans for Public Lands This Saturday–and Enjoy a Fee-Free Park Day

“All national parks will waive their entrance fees this Saturday, September 29, for National Public Lands Day, the largest one-day volunteer effort for public lands in America. According to the National Environmental Education Foundation, the nonprofit organization that promotes this annual day of “Helping Hands for America’s Lands,” a whopping 170,000 volunteers are expected to spend time removing invasive species, planting trees, picking up litter, maintaining trails, and performing countless other tasks this weekend that will help restore and beautify our public places.

NPCA is proud to be supporting five different events for National Public Lands Day. Please consider joining us! Just click the links below for descriptions and RSVP information:

• Repair park trails, clean up campgrounds and picnic areas, and plant native vegetation at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state.
• Take down barbed-wire fencing that can harm pronghorn antelope at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming (generously sponsored by Nature Valley).
• Remove invasive buffelgrass that threatens native plants near Saguaro National Park in Arizona.
• Remove cut lotus flowers from the ponds and perform other maintenance tasks at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC.
• Restore trails and playgrounds, chop and stack wood, and maintain common areas at Greenbelt Park in Maryland.

Can’t make it to any of these events? Choose from hundreds of other volunteer opportunities around the country on the National Public Lands Day website.

As an added incentive, volunteers who participate in National Public Lands Day at a National Park Service site (as well as a number of other public sites) are eligible to receive a coupon to enter for free on another day of their choice within the next year. So, you not only get to enjoy the park and help out without paying any entrance fees, you also get to go back for another full day for free on any public lands site! Get more details on the National Public Lands Day website.

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Dangers associated with food dyes

“Synthetic food dyes are used in many processed foods, such as colored breakfast cereals, candy, and “fruit-flavored” beverages and snacks. A total of 15 million pounds of dyes are added to the U.S. food supply each year. Our consumption of food dyes has increased 5-fold since 1955 as our nation has consumed more and more packaged foods.

These synthetic dyes have been linked to a wide variety of health concerns including behavioral problems, hyperactivity, allergic reactions, and even cancers. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), an organization that advocates for nutrition and food safety, is calling for a ban on these synthetic dyes. Food-based dyes such as beet juice and turmeric are readily available, but are more expensive and often less bright, making synthetic dyes more attractive to food manufacturers.

Food dyes and allergic reactions:

Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 have been reported to cause allergic reactions in some people.

Food dyes and hyperactivity:

Food dyes are of particular concern for children, since many colored foods are marketed to children, and their smaller body size makes them more susceptible to potential toxins. Hyperactivity in children following ingestion of food dyes is well-documented in placebo-controlled studies. Furthermore, a 2004 meta-analysis of 16 studies in children who were already hyperactive showed that their hyperactive behavior increased in response to food colorings. In a study published in Lancet in 2007, researchers tested two different mixtures of food dyes vs. placebo in children of two age groups – one mixture increased hyperactivity in 3 year old children, and both mixtures increased hyperactivity in the 8-9 year-olds. This study sparked a reaction by the British government. They instructed food manufacturers to eliminate all of these synthetic dyes by the end of 2009. In fact, starting later this month, a warning notice will be required on dyed foods in Europe stating that these foods “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”  As a result, several international food companies now produce products with food-based dyes or no dyes in the U.K., but continue to include synthetic dyes in their U.S. products.

Food dyes and cancer:

There are eight commonly used synthetic dyes in the U.S., and all have undergone toxicity and tumorigenicity testing in animals. CSPI summarized the results of cancer-related studies in a recent report:

Red 3 was acknowledged by the FDA to be a carcinogen in 1985 and was banned in cosmetics and externally applied drugs.  However Red 3 is still used in ingested drugs and foods.

The three most widely used dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6) which account for 90% of dyes in the U.S. are contaminated with low levels of chemical carcinogens, as byproducts of the manufacturing process. Although the FDA places limits on the concentrations of these contaminants in the final dye products, they still may pose risks.

Citrus Red 2 added to the diet resulted in bladder tumors.

Red 3 resulted in thyroid tumors and caused DNA damage.

The simplest and most effective way to avoid the potential harmful effects of synthetic dyes is to avoid processed foods.   Unrefined plant foods contain health promoting phytochemicals, not empty calories and synthetic additives of questionable safety. When buying the occasional packaged food, check the ingredient list to avoid synthetic dyes.” From: http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/food-safety-dangers-associated-with-food-dyes.html

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Are You or Your Family Eating Toxic Food Dyes?

“Food dyes are one of the most widely used and dangerous additives. While the European Union has recently placed regulations on labeling food dyes to inform consumers of the health risks, the United States has no such requirement.

Here are some of the most common food dyes used today, according to the Food Freedom Network:

Blue #1 (Brilliant Blue)   An unpublished study suggested the possibility that Blue 1 caused kidney tumors in mice. What it's in: Baked goods, beverages, desert powders, candies, cereal, drugs, and other products.

Blue #2 (Indigo Carmine)  Causes a statistically significant incidence of tumors, particularly brain gliomas, in male rats. What it's in: Colored beverages, candies, pet food, & other food and drugs.

Citrus Red #2  It's toxic to rodents at modest levels and caused tumors of the urinary bladder and possibly other organs. What it's in: Skins of Florida oranges.

Green #3 (Fast Green) Caused significant increases in bladder and testes tumors in male rats. What it's in: Drugs, personal care products, cosmetic products except in eye area, candies, beverages, ice cream, sorbet; ingested drugs, lipsticks, and externally applied cosmetics.

Red #3 (Erythrosine)  Recognized in 1990 by the FDA as a thyroid carcinogen in animals and is banned in cosmetics and externally applied drugs. What it's in: Sausage casings, oral medication, maraschino cherries, baked goods, candies.

Red #40 (Allura Red)  This is the most-widely used and consumed dye. It may accelerate the appearance of immune-system tumors in mice. It also causes hypersensitivity (allergy-like) reactions in some consumers and might trigger hyperactivity in children. What it's in: Beverages, bakery goods, dessert powders, candies, cereals, foods, drugs, and cosmetics.

Yellow #5 (Tartrazine)  Yellow 5 causes sometimes-severe hypersensitivity reactions and might trigger hyperactivity and other behavioral effects in children. What it's in: Pet foods, numerous bakery goods, beverages, dessert powders, candies, cereals, gelatin desserts, and many other foods, as well as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Yellow #6 (Sunset Yellow)  Caused adrenal tumors in animals and occasionally causes severe hypersensitivity reactions. What it's in: Color bakery goods, cereals, beverages, dessert powders, candies, gelatin deserts, sausage, cosmetics and drugs.”

From: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/02/24/are-you-or-your-family-eating-toxic-food-dyes.aspx

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Food Dye and ADHD

“For more than 30 years, scientists have examined the relationship between food coloring and hyperactive behavior in children, but with mixed results. To date, no conclusive evidence has been found to show that food coloring causes ADHD. Some studies, though, have suggested an association between the two. Most likely, ADHD is caused by the combination of changes in brain structure, environmental factors, and heredity.

Can food dye cause hyperactivity?

A study by the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency in 2007 showed that the consumption of foods containing dyes could increase hyperactive behavior in children. In the study of 3-, 8- and 9-year-olds, children were given three different types of beverages to drink. Then their behavior was evaluated by teachers and parents.

One of the drink mixtures contained artificial food colorings, including:

• Sunset yellow (E110)
• Carmoisine (E122)
• Tartrazine (E102)
• Ponceau 4R (E124)

It also contained the preservative sodium benzoate. The second drink mixture included:

• Quinoline yellow (E104)
• Allura red (E129)
• Sunset yellow
• Carmoisine

It also had sodium benzoate. The third drink mixture was a placebo and contained no additives.

The researchers found that hyperactive behavior by the 8- and 9-year-olds increased with both the mixtures containing artificial coloring additives. The hyperactive behavior of 3-year-olds increased with the first beverage but not necessarily with the second. They concluded that the results show an adverse effect on behavior after consumption of the food dyes.”  More at: http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/food-dye-adhd

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On This Day:

President Johnson honors American soldier, Sep 28, 1967:

“On this day in 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was coming under increasing criticism for sending American men to fight and die in Vietnam, bestows the Congressional Medal of Honor on Sgt. David Dolby, a member of the Army's 1^st Cavalry.

On May 21, 1966, the 21-year-old Dolby acted to save many of his fellow soldiers' lives during an intense firefight against North Vietnamese troops. He had previously been awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star. While praising Dolby and American troops, Johnson expressed "sorrow" that war was still necessary in the 20th century. He also took the opportunity to respond to criticism of his policy of increasing troop strength in Vietnam since 1964. "No one hates war and killing more than I do," said the president. He continued, "no sane American can greet the news from Vietnam with enthusiasm" but "we recognize...the hard reality that only military power can bar aggression and can make a political solution possible" in Southeast Asia.

Johnson also pointed out that the U.S. had offered repeatedly to negotiate with the North Vietnamese but had been rebuffed. So until peace talks could be initiated, Johnson believed, the U.S. had no choice but to sustain a military presence in South Vietnam to prevent a communist takeover of the entire nation. Johnson continued to send American troops to Vietnam in an ever more costly and controversial war until 1968, when he announced that he would not run for a second term.

The war dragged on until January 1973, when President Richard Nixon halted the U.S. military offensive in North Vietnam. The last American troops left the country on March 29, 1973, ending the longest war in America's history.”

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Yesterday:

Jay’s mother went to pick him up at the hospital at 1.45 AM, they didn’t want him there any more.  Then she had to get ready to go to the dentist, so she was really tired.  Jay doesn’t realize the stress he puts her through, especially as she is a liver transplant recipient.

Ray’s back was feeling OK, so he wanted to get the coax cable re-routed. We had temporarily strung it through the window and across his bedroom into his living room.  I was all for that, let’s get ‘ur done. 

We spent all morning running up and down the stairs in my attic, and his attic, and up and down the extension ladder, but we couldn’t make his TV work.  We tried different splitters, and tested the cable again. Ray locked  up his “Cat from Hell” in his bathroom, so that I could go in his living room to see if his TV worked at each different combination.  I called up to him in the attic and asked him “Did you put the connection back on your TV securely?”, and he said “Yes, but you can check it”, so I did, and it was tight.  But then I reached down to the cable outlet on the wall.  He had taken out the screws to check inside there, and when I touched it, the TV came on!  There must have been a loose connection in there all along.

So we wasted a lot of time when the problem was inside his house.  We still have to staple the cable up in his attic, so that we don’t run into it, but we had had enough for the day.

Black Streaks. Roof. Overnight RV Parking. Ply Rating. RV Antifreeze. Sewer Solution. Fall Foliage. Placido Domingo. Burdock Root. Reverse Mortgage.

For “tRaVersing, or RV day”:

Black streaks on your RV:

Rubber roofs do not cause black streaks. All kinds of airborne pollutants land on your RV roof, including plain old dirt and mold. Many of those pollutants have properties that help them stick around. When a good rain comes, or if you give the roof a good cleaning, the pollutants can get dislodged and wash down the RV's sides, only to stick around there. The result: ugly black streaks. Learn more.

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What type of roof is on your RV?

“Watch the video that shows you two methods for determining what type of RV synthetic roof you have. For the most part there are two synthetic roofing materials, EPDM and TPO. In this video, presented by Dicor, learn how to correctly determine your RV roof type.”

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Overnight RV Parking and not camping

“We keep expanding our sections on Overnight RV Parking locations so it is time for a roundup. Many times we want to get from Point A to Point B without much relaxing on the trip. We may only need to stop for some sleep and then get back on the road. Some us are frugal and don't like paying $25-$70 just to park and sleep. We may not need a pool and all the luxury items that many resorts and KOA parks have. Those are great when we need them but sometimes we just want a break and to fill up on supplies.

Please keep in mind that this is parking and NOT camping. Abuse ruins it for everyone. There is a growing trend against banning this privilege so lets try to keep it as long as we can. Don't put your slides out. Don't use your awnings, grills or jacks. Don't leave garbage behind or drain tanks on the blacktop. Don't even leave your steps out. Many stores use this as the definition of allowing it. It should appear like you just ran into the store for something like any other shopper.”  List at: http://www.allstays.com/c/camping-overnight-rv-parking.htm

and check the FREE or under $10 places at: http://www.freecampgrounds.com/

and FREE parking at casinos: http://www.casinocamper.com/rv-parking-locations

and: http://seniortravel.about.com/od/rvtravelroadtrips/qt/lowcostrvplaces.htm

and: http://www.overnightrvparking.com/ Costs $25 a year.

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Your tires: What is ply rating?

"Ply Rating" is an old term left over from the days of cotton being used for tire reinforcement. Pre World War II. Today the actual number of layers or "ply" in the sidewall and tread are molded into the sidewall of your tires. The term "Load Range" is used today to identify the maximum inflation for a tire. Read more.

 

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RV antifreeze: Is it all the same?

“Most RVers are already aware that you DON'T want to pump automotive antifreeze into your water supply system. That stuff is generally toxic and will create real issues. Nope, "We use the pink stuff," is the typical response we hear from experienced RVers when the subject comes up. But is all "pink stuff" created equal? Absolutely not.

As winter sneaks up on us, some RVers should begin to think about winterizing their rigs. For those who'll be winging to the south to avoid the cold snaps, more power to you, but if you're stuck where temperatures will drop below the freezing point, winterize or prepare to repair broken plumbing come spring. But here's a question -- is there a difference in the types of RV antifreeze?”

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"Building blocks" make for RV tongue jacking quicker.

“If you struggle to use a manual tongue jack to raise your travel trailer, or even if you hate grinding away with an electric one, you've probably tried stacking blocks under the jack foot to reduce the amount of jacking. Here's a quick, inexpensive, and safer way to make up the difference in height. Read more.”

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RV sewer solution

Dear R.V. Shrink:
”You mentioned a few weeks back that you used some kind of sewer disposal unit that worked like a macerator using water to break down the solids. I am still trying to find the unit you were referring to. I am hosting in a park that offers me hookups but I have to move once a week to dump. If I could pump 50 yards I wouldn't have to move. We end up spending one morning a week putting everything down and away just to drive next door to dump. You could help restore my sanity if you could solve my sanitation situation without the need to move.” --Dirty Swirly in Sweetwater        Read the RV Shrink's response.

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Where to look for fall colors, Leaf peepers--it's time.

“The Forest Service’s Fall Colors 2012 website includes clickable maps that link to forest-by-forest fall color information and to state tourism and fall color websites. Some of our most popular family friendly features include locations of scenic drives and trails, coloring pages for kids, the science behind the season, and links to a tree database. Photographs from visitors nationwide will be added to the site.”    See: http://www.fs.fed.us/fallcolors/2012/index.shtml

If you're away from the Internet, you can make a phone call to the Fall Colors Hotline at 1-800-354-4595. The hotline provides audio updates on the best places, dates and routes to take for peak viewing of fall colors on national forests.    Stock up the RV refrigerator, get plenty of batteries for the digital camera and make this a memorable autumn.

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  Bill's Hints  re:  Power cables
“Use the shortest power cable possible. Voltage drops result from long cable runs. Most permanently attached power cables are 25 feet long and are rated at 30 or 50 amps. Buy and carry a 25-foot extension with appropriate RV connectors.”

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Random RV Thought
"Don't bring firewood from home with you on your camping trips. Many campgrounds do not allow the practice anymore because the wood may bring along harmful bugs that can get lose and harm the native habitat."

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On This Day:

Placido Domingo breaks Caruso's opening-night record at the Metropolitan Opera, Sep 27, 1999:

“On September 27, 1999, operatic tenor Placido Domingo makes his 18th opening-night appearance at the Metropolitan Opera House, breaking an "unbreakable" record previously held by the great Enrico Caruso.

Caruso, of course, was the biggest star the world of opera had ever seen. Following his New York debut with the Metropolitan Opera in 1903, he made opening-night appearances at the Met in 16 of the next 17 years. With his death in 1921, Caruso's streak stopped at 17—a mark that no other singer even remotely approached for the next 60 years. The Italian bass-baritone Ezio Pinza was the closest challenger to Caruso before Placido Domingo came along, but even Pinza failed to reach double digits, topping out at nine opening nights with the Met over the course of his 22-year career. Even Domingo never thought that Caruso's record would be broken, much less that he would be the one to break it. "But when I was in my 11th or 12th opening night," he recalled during an interview before his record-setting performance, "somebody asked me, 'Do you realize how close you are to the number of times Caruso opened the Met season?' What can I tell you? I started to think maybe I can do it.''

As a contemporary of the great Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo never enjoyed undisputed status as the greatest tenor of his time. But his far superior stamina and his broader repertoire made him the go-to choice for opening nights at the Met, of which Pavarotti sang only seven. Domingo sang his first opening with the Met in 1971, in Verdi's Don Carlo, and over the years he sang opening-night parts as diverse as the title role in Verdi's Otello and Sigmund in Wagner's Die Walkurie. When he sang at his record-setting 18th opening night on this day in 1999, Domingo did so, appropriately enough, as Canio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci—a role most closely associated the man whose record he surpassed, Enrico Caruso.”

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Yesterday:

It was supposed to be a Holy Day, and a day of atonement and rest, but it didn’t turn out that way.

Yesterday morning, I called Wendy, and she said that her son’s dog, Foxy, was feeling much better and acting more like normal. Wendy bought beef flavored Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM liquid at Petsmart, which she put on Foxy’s food, and she willingly ate it.  She also gave her some Burdock Root from Vitamin World, and the combination seems to be doing the trick.  Plus she has put Foxy on Wellness dog food.   Wendy said that she will give a small amount out of the capsule of Burdock Root to little Foxy, and take the rest of it herself, hoping to relieve her back pain.  I don’t know how that will work, as I have never taken Burdock Root, but then I don’t have back pain.  I thought it was mostly an anti-inflammatory, and that the Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM would work better for back pain.

“There is considerable evidence in the scientific literature that burdock root tea is a powerful anti-inflammatory remedy. Its numerous antioxidants protect the liver from toxic chemicals, allowing it to process the body's naturally occurring steroids which are helpful in achieving hormonal balance.” From: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/burdock_root.php

“Some people use burdock root to treat cancer. In fact, burdock is a key ingredient in the popular purported cancer remedy called Essiac.”
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/90679-safety-burdock-root/#ixzz27fjQTVQC

Burdock and Velcro: “After taking his dog for a walk one day in the early 1940s, George de Mestral, a Swiss inventor, became curious about the seeds of the burdock plant that had attached themselves to his clothes and to the dog's fur. Under a microscope, he looked closely at the hook-and-loop system that the seeds use to hitchhike on passing animals aiding seed dispersal, and he realized that the same approach could be used to join other things together. The result was Velcro.” From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burdock

In the afternoon, I was expecting a phone appointment about counseling to get a Reverse Mortgage.  But after looking at the horrendous closing and other costs, I decided that it was not a prudent thing to do.  My children don’t need my house, and it would be tempting to have all those thousands of equity dollars at my disposal, but I don’t need it.  I have been mortgage free for 30+ years, and it would give me an uneasy feeling. So I didn’t take the counseling.

Then in the early evening Jay called to say that he would be off today and wanted to go shopping.  I hadn’t been this week, and I had a few things on the list, so that was OK by me. 

But, about an hour later his mother, Claudia called me to say that Jay was stumbling around, incoherent, and falling down, so she finally got him to go to bed at her house.  She didn’t want him to be alone in his house next door.  A little while later she called to say that he had got up and had been tearing out shelves, overturning tables and wrecking her house.  Claudia was frightened of him.  I told her “I’ll get off the phone, call 911”. 

The EMT said that Jay was having hallucinations and hauled him off to the hospital strapped to a gurney.   They will do blood tests to find out what he had been taking, as he couldn’t tell them.  But as usual, the authorities won’t do anything about it, they say that Jay has to be ready, and he will be released today.

Antioquia Wren. Fukushima Mutations. Peru’s Birding. Sunflowers. Bird Collisions. Yom Kippur. Shannon Lucid.

For “Winged Wednesday”:

Antioquia Wren

“The Antioquia Wren was first seen in 2010, and formally described as a new species in the July 2012 edition of The Auk. This wren is mostly brown and white, and differs from similar species in plumage color of the upperparts, pattern of barring on the wings and tail, smaller body size, and unique vocalizations.

One of the biggest threats to the Antioquia Wren is the ongoing construction of a multi-million dollar hydroelectric dam, which will flood 15 square miles of its habitat, including all six locations where the bird has been confirmed. Increased mining, tourism, and deforestation for agriculture have also resulted in widespread habitat loss. Unfortunately, none of this region's dry forest is currently protected, making conservation of the Antioquia Wren even more imperative.

A closely-related species, the Niceforo’s Wren, which inhabits dry forest in eastern Colombia, has been protected by ABC, World Land Trust-US, and ProAves at the Cucarachero del Chicamocha reserve.”

Help ABC conserve this and other birds and their habitats!

Photo: Carlos Esteban Lara; Range Map, ABC

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'Severe abnormalities' found in Fukushima butterflies

“Exposure to radioactive material released into the environment has caused mutations in butterflies found in Japan, a study suggests.  Scientists found an increase in leg, antennae and wing shape mutations among butterflies collected following the 2011 Fukushima accident.

The link between the mutations and the radioactive material was shown by laboratory experiments, they report.  The work has been published in the journal Scientific Reports.”

More at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19245818

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Bird-watching tourism to generate $50M in revenue next year

Lima, Sep. 13 (ANDINA). “More than 20,000 bird watchers are estimated to visit Peru in 2013, generating over US $50 million in revenue, according to the Ministry of Trade and Tourism.  Minister Jose Luis Silva said that Peru will be hosting a new competition which offers people the chance to watch and listen to a variety of birds in their natural habitat.

Silva noted that the country aims to attract about 20,000 bird watchers per year. The visitors, whose ages range between 50-75, spend $2,000 on average during their stay, he added.  Most foreign bird watchers visiting Peru come from the United States (23 percent), Canada, France and Spain (nine percent each).” From: http://www.andina.com.pe/Ingles/noticia-birdwatching-tourism-to-generate-50mln-in-revenue-next-year-428220.aspx

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From me:  If it generates that much in Peru, how much does bird watching generate here?

“Birdwatchers spend an average of $100 million in each state which, in turn, directly supports more than 200,000 jobs and generates more
than $1 billion in state and federal taxes.”  From: http://library.fws.gov/Pubs/mbd_bottom_line2.pdf

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Fighting birds with birds

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. (AFNS) -- “The 22nd Air Refueling Wing Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program is being overhauled with new contractors employing the use of a falcon to keep skies clear from avian adversaries.  The BASH program is in place to reduce bird strikes by introducing a natural predator into the area to ward off smaller animals.
McConnell will be changing the type of predator used from a dog to a pair of falcons. 

Elaina, a Barbary falcon, and Jack, a Peregrine-Prairie hybrid, will be McConnell's new solution, capable of providing smaller birds the motivation to move along.

"One strike, if the bird hits the wrong spot on a plane, could do $50 to $100 thousand worth of damage," said Maj. Jeremy Fischman, 22nd ARW flight safety chief.  "It is really easy for the program to pay for itself by preventing one bad bird strike."
Preventing bird strikes also maintains safety by not putting Airmen in a situation where they have to maneuver aircraft damaged in flight.
There were 4,471 bird strikes Air Force-wide in 2011. These incidents cost $13,061,140.”  More at: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123317076

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A Crop Dividend: Restored Bird Habitat in New Jersey

John P. Parke/New Jersey Audubon

Raj Sinha’s sunflower farm in Augusta, N.J. The seeds are bagged and sold to finance grasslands restoration on a site 40 miles to the south.

“Farmers and wildlife advocates don’t often see eye to eye; each can look at a field and see widely divergent possibilities. Yet by encouraging farmers to plant fields of flowers, an innovative program in New Jersey is helping to finance the rehabilitation of wildlife areas for endangered species of birds.

The crop is sunflowers, and sales of sunflower seeds, bagged and sold as birdseed by the New Jersey Audubon Society, have financed the conversion of a 70-acre tract of state-owned land into a grassland habitat. Since the program began five years ago, flocks of 50 or more bobolinks, a threatened species in the state, have been counted at the site. Other threatened species, including the American kestrel and grasshopper sparrow, have also been sighted.

And for the seven New Jersey farmers taking part in the program, growing acres of sunflowers for the Audubon society offers the promise of a ready buyer for the crop before it is even planted and an opportunity for agritourism.

In Augusta, near the state’s northwest corner, Raj Sinha has carved a maze into his 50 acres of bobbing shoulder-high dinner-plate-size flowers. He charges $8 for adults, $5 for children, and his parking area has been full on weekends since opening in mid-August.”  More at: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/a-crop-dividend-restored-bird-habitat-in-n-j/

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Agritourism, Flowers for the Bees and Seeds for the Birds.

“The sunflower maze in Sussex County, NJ is 50 acres and one of the largest on the east coast. This is a story about the maze and the importance of agritourism in general.”

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Trying to save birds from the wilds of the big city

Bags of hurt birds collected Thursday by Chicago Bird Collision Monitors. Volunteers awaiting transport to Willowbrook Wildlife Center for care. | Neil Steinberg photo

“The early bird catches the worm, but how early must you wake to catch the early bird? In Annette Prince’s case, it’s 4:30 a.m. Thursday to head downtown to collect birds, both living and dead, whose journey from the wilds of Canada to the rainforests of South America have been interrupted by the brightly lit trap of Chicago.

“We have about 10 people out today,” says Prince, director of the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, a group of volunteers who fan out over downtown every day during migration season — mid-August to early November, and again in the spring — to gather birds that collide with buildings during the night.”  More at:  http://www.suntimes.com/news/steinberg/14973965-452/trying-to-save-birds-from-the-wilds-of-the-big-city.html

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Today is Yom Kippur.  Why should Christians celebrate the Day of Atonement (also known as Yom Kippur)?

“Long after Jesus Christ’s death, the Day of Atonement continued as an important Holy Day for the New Testament Church of God. What does the Day of Atonement mean for Christians today?”

Answer:

“The Day of Atonement is the fifth of God’s annual Holy Days:

(Leviticus 23:26-32 [26] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[27] Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. [28] And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. [29] For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. [30] And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. [31] Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. [32] It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath. See All...),

following shortly after the Feast of Trumpets.  Observed by fasting (verse 27; compare Isaiah 58:3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. See All...),

which means not eating or drinking (Esther 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. See All...),

this day portrays the human race finally becoming at one with God.

At the return of Jesus Christ, Satan the devil, who now leads all of mankind astray (Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: See All...;

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
See All...),     

will be bound      (Revelation 20:1-3 [1] And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. [2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, [3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
See All...)       so all humans of all nations can be reconciled to God.

In the New Testament Luke referred to this Holy Day as "the fast" in Acts 27:9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, See All....

When the meaning of the Day of Atonement is fulfilled in the future, it will set the stage for the sixth festival of God, the Feast of Tabernacles.”  From: http://www.ucg.org/bible-faq/why-should-christians-celebrate-day-atonement-also-known-yom-kippur

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On This Day:

Shannon Lucid returns to Earth, Sep 26, 1996:

“U.S. astronaut Shannon Lucid returns to Earth in the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis following six months in orbit aboard the Russian space station Mir.

On March 23, 1996, Lucid transferred to Mir from the same space shuttle for a planned five-month stay. A biochemist, Lucid shared Mir with Russian cosmonauts Yuri Onufriyenko and Yuri Usachev and conducted scientific experiments during her stay. She was the first American woman to live in a space station.

Beginning in August, her scheduled return to Earth was delayed by more than six weeks because of last-minute repairs to the booster rockets of Atlantis and then by a hurricane. Finally, on September 26, 1996, she returned to Earth aboard Atlantis, touching down at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Her 188-day sojourn aboard Mir set a new space endurance record for an American and a world endurance record for a woman.”

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Yesterday

While I was reading up on The Day of Atonement and Yom Kippur, my daughter called.  Their son’s dog is not well, and she needed some advice.  The vet said “Foxy” had a ruptured disk, gave her two shots, and prescribed bed rest.  So Wendy wanted to know how she could help the poor little thing without more pain shots, which will eventually hurt the dog’s kidneys.   We looked up some natural remedies, so she headed to their nearest large town, Lake Jackson, to buy some organic food and supplies.  When her dog had to be PTS, she hadn’t been buying the organic food for her son’s dog, and had been feeding it grocery store pet food which could cause Foxy to have more inflammation.

Misty and I had our walk around here, and saw Ray hobbling around outside, his back is still bothering him. He hadn’t even managed to go shopping, so he came in to borrow some cat food.  We discussed some things he could take for his back pain, as he hates getting those shots in his back.  There is no way he will take prescribed narcotic drugs for it.  We have seen several people get addicted right here in this subdivision.   Once in a while, they used to come begging for money to buy more pain pills on the black market, until they found out that we weren’t going to donate.  One gal takes so many that her face is distorted. 

So my workshop and washer/dryer area is still in disarray from us trying to locate the break in the TV coax cable.  So in the word’s of Scarlett O’Hara… it will be straightened out another day.

Austin City Limits. Bikinis, TX. Oldest Town. Mad Island Marsh Preserve. Oysters. Bill of Rights. Satchel Paige. Irish Republican Army. Soaking Grains.

For “Travel Tuesday”:

ACL Festival 2012

Connect with us October 12-14 at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Zilker Park ACL Festival © Ashley Garmon

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Nature is resilient, and with the right help can manage impressive comebacks. You can help us with this awesome conservation work! What will it take to ensure the survival of Texas’ rivers, lakes and streams? Visit The Nature Conservancy’s ACL booth to find out how you can help (and pick up some cool stuff)!

• We’ll be giving away some cool “communication devices” made exclusively for the 2012 ACL Fest! You’re definitely going to want one of these. 
• Enter to win a brand new standup paddleboard*, courtesy of SUP ATX. The winner will be chosen at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 14 at our booth.

We’ll also have Conservancy staff on hand to talk about one of the biggest issues facing Texas – clean, fresh water. Right now:

• Texas has a population of 25 million people. That’s 25 million straws in our lakes, rivers, streams and aquifers.
• We’ll have nearly 50 million people in Texas by 2060.
• In that time period, demand for fresh water is expected to increase 22%, but existing water supplies are actually expected to decrease by 10%.
• Our conservation work helps to protect nearly a dozen Texas waterways and over 100,000 acres of land above precious groundwater supplies.

Stop by our ACL booth—in the ACL Cares section—to see what you can do to make Texas a better, wetter place to live, work and play.”  More at: http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/texas/acl-2012.xml

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Bikinis, TX:

“The town of Bankersmith is pretty much a ghost town. But soon it will be full of women in bikinis, which entrepreneur Doug Guller hopes will bring in the crowds. Guller, who owns Bikinis Bar & Grill recently purchased the small town and renamed it Bikinis, Texas.  Guller is hoping to turn the town into a “world-class destination.”  Guller writes:  “Bikinis, Texas, will be a world-class destination, and I am thrilled to expand the Bikinis brand to include town ownership… There can’t be a better way to put Bikinis on the map, literally.”

Guller didn’t say how much he purchased the town for or who he bought it from. Guller did disclose, however, that he made the purchase after seeing an ad on Craigslist.

Bankersmith, now Bikinis, Texas, is located 29 miles north of Boerne and 10 miles south of Fredericksburg. The town was founded in 1913. In 1949 Bankersmith had just 20 residents. Today, it has none.”    Read more at: http://www.inquisitr.com/279437/bikinis-texas-restaurant-owner-changes-name-of-bankersmith-to-bikinis/#i1yK2wEX5pHyqzHm.99

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The oldest town in Texas? by Bob Bowman

“For longer than most of us can remember, Texans have been squabbling over which community is the state’s oldest.
The principal players in this ongoing feud are a couple of East Texas cities, Nacogdoches and San Augustine, and a West Texas village, Ysleta.
Now, it appears there may be another contender.

History watcher Billy Bob Crim of Kilgore recently sent us an article from Marfa’s Big Bend Sentinel indicating that Presidio, on the Texas-Mexico border in the Big Bend country, may also be a player in the oldest town competition.
While it recently observed only its twentieth anniversary as a municipality, Presidio claims it was first inhabited about 1200 A.D., more than 500 years before the Declaration of Independence, and was founded in 1683 when Jesuit priests from El Paso established a number of missions in the area, an event commemorated by Presidio’s Santa Teresa de Jesus Catholic Church each fall.
Archeologists claim hunter-gatherer tribes came to the valleys of the Rio Grande and Rio Concho rivers about 1200 A.D.

Every town seems to have its own way of staking a claim in the oldest town sweepstakes.
We like the story told us by a Nacogdoches resident with a good memory. He says a local booster wanted to make the claim that Nacogdoches was Texas’ oldest town and went to a historian at Stephen F. Austin State University. He asked him: “Can anyone prove we aren’t the oldest town?”
The historian thought about it for a few minutes and concluded, “Nope, I don’t think they can.”
“Okay,” said the booster, “from now on, we’re the oldest town in Texas.” More at: http://www.texasescapes.com/AllThingsHistorical/Oldest-town-in-Texas-BB109.htm

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Mad Island Marsh Preserve

Clive Runnells Family Mad Island Marsh Preserve

“Mad Island Marsh Preserve is part of a network of coastal wetlands that once stretched from the
mid-coast of Texas to the central Louisiana coast.
The preserve is an integral part of maintaining a healthy, functioning ecosystem in Matagorda Bay. The combination
of fresh and saltwater wetlands, along with thousands of acres of native prairie act as a nursery for thousands of species of plants and animals.

LOCATION : Situated around Mad Island Lake on West Matagorda Bay, the preserve is located off FM 1095 in Matagorda County, southeast of Collegeport.    SIZE : 2,860 ha (7,063 acres)

HABITAT : Mad Island Marsh is a mosaic of habitats. Upland native coastal prairies are crisscrossed with freshwater wetlands on the north end of the preserve. As one moves toward the south end, the wetlands become more
brackish, finally terminating into Mad Island Lake, a tidal saltwater lake fringed with saltmarsh vegetation. A corridor of native shrub-land growing atop an ancient shell ridge is also found on the south end of the preserve. This rare strip of trees, shrubs, vines and flowers is especially attractive to songbirds.

BIRDS : Over 300 species of birds have been found at the preserve. During the winter months large numbers of Sandhill Cranes flock to the site along with numerous waterfowl including: Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Canada Goose and Snow Goose.  Winter also brings various birds of prey such as White-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, White-tailed Kite and Bald Eagle. During the spring, Mad Island is a primary stopover point for neotropical songbird migration. The heat of the summer slows down the species count, but it is the time to find Wood Stork and several species of nesting waterbirds, including Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Great Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, Yellow-crowned
Night Heron, Mottled Duck and Black-bellied Whistling Duck.

CONSERVATION : Mad Island Marsh Preserve is always undergoing habitat restoration or enhancement. Prescribed fire is used during the summer and winter to keep the coastal prairies healthy and productive. Freshwater wetlands are managed to suppress invasive species such as cattail, Chinese tallow trees and giant cane. Erosion control keeps salt
marshes from being inundated from the neighboring bay. This site also serves as a demonstration for combining compatible agriculture with
conservation. Cattle are raised on native prairie using a rotational grazing
program and about 400 acres of rice are grown each year. The rice fields
are left flooded during the winter to provide additional wetland habitat for
migrating and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds.” From: http://www.gcbo.org/html/madisland.pdf

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They have Audubon Bird Counts there too:

Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count at Mad Island Marsh Preserve

“Every year the Texas Chapter of the Nature Conservancy hosts the Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count at Mad Island Marsh Preserve. This video highlights the count for 2011. We used footage and photos from multiple sources to create a fun and engaging piece about one of the biggest and more important bird counts in the US.

Travel along with the Conservancy's Anne Zuparko as she participates in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count at Mad Island Marsh Preserve. This count has been ranked #1 in the nation for 14 years, and this year 244 species were spotted! Bird counting is more than just relaxing with a pair of binoculars—participants in this count embarked on 4:00 a.m. ATV trips through the mud, got up close with alligators and more!   Learn more at:  http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/texas/explore/mad-island-bird-count.xml

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And there is oyster restoration, too:

Half Moon Oyster Reef and Mad Island Marsh Preserve

“Matt & Riley hit the gulf coast to report on oyster reef restoration projects. Alligators, lots of mud and everything you need to know about building an oyster reef.”

 

 

 

Time-lapse: Oysters Filtering Water

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From me: When I went to Matagorda Bay, many years ago, there was no sand on the beach, it was all clam shells.

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Then there is the shipwreck:

RAISING THE BELLE
In 1686, La Salle's last ship sank in Matagorda Bay.  

• Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle claimed Louisiana for France.  La Salle sailed from France to claim Louisiana for his king; today, his ship is being reclaimed. 

• In East Texas, somewhere between the Trinity and Brazos rivers, La Salle was murdered by his own men in 1687.  No one knows where La Salle's body ended up.  Today, a statue of the explorer overlooks Matagorda Bay.” 

• More at: http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/belle/index.html and: http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/belle/excavations.html

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On This Day:

Bill of Rights passes Congress, Sep 25, 1789:

“The first Congress of the United States approves 12 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, and sends them to the states for ratification. The amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were designed to protect the basic rights of U.S. citizens, guaranteeing the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and exercise of religion; the right to fair legal procedure and to bear arms; and that powers not delegated to the federal government were reserved for the states and the people.”

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Fifty-nine-year-old Satchel Paige pitches three innings, Sep 25, 1965:

“On September 25, 1965, the Kansas City Athletics start ageless wonder Satchel Paige in a game against the Boston Red Sox. The 59-year-old Paige, a Negro League legend, proved his greatness once again by giving up only one hit in his three innings of play.

Leroy Page was born on July 7, 1906, in Mobile, Alabama. Page’s family changed the spelling of their name to Paige to differentiate themselves from John Page, Leroy’s absent and abusive father. "Satchel" got his nickname as a boy while working as a luggage carrier at the Mobile train station. When he was 12, his constant truancy coupled with a shoplifting incident got him sent to the Industrial School for Negro Children in Mount Meigs, Alabama. It turned out to be a lucky break, as it was there that Paige learned to pitch. After leaving the school, he turned pro.

On September 25, 1965, Paige’s three innings for the Kansas City Athletics made him, at 59 years, 2 months and 18 days, the oldest pitcher ever to play a game in the major leagues. Before the game, Paige sat in the bullpen in a rocking chair while a nurse rubbed liniment into his pitching arm for the entire crowd to see. Any doubts about Paige’s ability were put to rest when he set down each of the Red Sox batters he faced except for Carl Yastremski, who hit a double.

Arguably the greatest pitcher of his era, Paige was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.”

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IRA officially disarms, Sep 25, 2005:

“Two months after announcing its intention to disarm, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) gives up its weapons in front of independent weapons inspectors. The decommissioning of the group s substantial arsenal took place in secret locations in the Republic of Ireland. One Protestant and one Catholic priest as well as officials from Finland and the United States served as witnesses to the historic event. Automatic weapons, ammunition, missiles and explosives were among the arms found in the cache, which the head weapons inspector described as "enormous."

Although many Northern Irish Protestants did not trust that the IRA was truly giving up all of its weapons, the disarmament represented an important step toward lasting peace in the long-troubled region. In the aftermath of the disarmament, IRA splinter groups threatened to continue the violence.”

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Yesterday:

Ray’s back was hurting him, so we didn’t get anything done.  I took the garbage cans to the road, so he could stay on his heating pad.  Mostly, I just puttered around doing odd jobs, and getting sidetracked while looking at different things to put in this journal.

I had found some more nuts in the cupboard, but this time I soaked them overnight, and made more nut butter in my auger juicer.   This is the reason for soaking: http://www.healthbeyondhype.com/hidden-dangers-your-whole-grains-beans-nuts-seeds-ezp-138.html  as Sally Fallon points out in her highly recommended cookbook Nourishing Traditions… So Who Is Sally Fallon?http://www.angelfire.com/folk/realmilkalliance/page11.html

The nut butter was better for the soaking.  It is also better to soak brown rice, (I don’t eat the bleached non-nutritious white rice), and quinoa before it is cooked, so I will try that today.