Honor Our Mothers. Israel is 70 years old. God’s Enduring Love for Israel.

       

For “Sunday Scripture” on Mothers Day:

Honor Our Mothers

Ephesians 6:1-3 reminds us of the fifth Commandment, Honor your father and mother.        

“The importance of mothers in building stable families cannot be overstated. They deserve honor for the selfless sacrifices they perform each day. This blog post is for them.

Mother’s Day is a day designed to formally give our mothers extra honor. This can take the form of a card, flowers, breakfast in bed or a special dinner. Mother’s Day is a good time to remember and thank your mother for her selfless love, all the service she does behind the scenes and how she is always there for you when needed. Of course, not all people have mothers like this—but many of us do.

In today’s society, sometimes the role of a mother is not as highly esteemed as it should be. A mother who chooses to focus on raising her children is sometimes referred to as “just a stay-at-home mom.” Some see this as a waste of a woman’s potential and think it’s a pity that someone would sacrifice her goals to change diapers.

Yet being a mother is one of the most important roles on earth. Let’s look at some of the important characteristics and roles of a good mother.”

Continue Reading at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/honor-our-mothers/

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If you continue reading Ephesians 6 to verse 4, it also says “Fathers, (and mothers) do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the LORD.”

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Israel at 70

The Amazing Story

“The dreams of a people would at last begin to be fulfilled with the remarkable events leading up to 1948 and in the years since. Yet there is a much greater fulfillment still to come.

As modern Israel turns 70, we look back at what led up to the amazing reestablishment of a Jewish state in the Holy Land after centuries of exile, and the struggle endured since—and ahead to promises and yearning yet unfulfilled.

Photo collage by Shaun Venish/Mariusz Prusaczyk/Mathias Rhode/PaylessImages/123RF

The state of Israel’s formation and continued existence have been according to God’s plan.

The modern state of Israel, likely the most complicated and controversial geopolitical entity in the world today, was born 70 years ago on May 15, 1948. Many have described the history of its existence, settlement and survival as miraculous.

And, given that Bible prophecy reveals a Jewish political presence in Jerusalem and the surrounding area in the end time, and given that this development seemed unlikely if not impossible for centuries, it is quite sensible to recognize the hand of God at work in bringing this about. God declares that He brings to pass what He has foretold (Isaiah 46:9-11).

The dreams of a people would at last begin to be fulfilled with the remarkable events leading up to 1948and in the years since. Yet there is a much greater fulfillment still to come.

What is the story behind the formation of the Israeli state? Many readers will be somewhat familiar with the Jewish nation’s existence in the Holy Land at the time of Jesus Christ and the apostles, but what followed after that? The amazing story is a remarkable testimony to God’s faithfulness in bringing about what He promised and foretold.

The Jewish people saw their ancient presence in the land formerly known as Canaan, and in New Testament times as Judea, Samaria and Galilee, as a fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham—the territory referred to as the Promised Land. And even after the Romans cast them out, the Jewish people continued to look to God’s promises and prophecies of bringing the tribes of Israel and Judah back to the land.

Observant Jews, those who continued to follow Jewish religious traditions, retained a deep longing to return to their homeland. Their annual Passover and Yom Kippur (or Day of Atonement) services typically ended with the plea, “Next year in Jerusalem!”

After so long, the dreams of a people would at last begin to be fulfilled with the remarkable events leading up to 1948 and in the years since. Yet, as the Bible reveals, there is a much greater fulfillment still to come.

The Diaspora

Near the end of His ministry, Jesus foretold the temple’s imminent destruction (Matthew 24:2). The plight of Jewish exile from the land of Israel began in A.D. 70 at the hand of the Roman emperor Vespasian through his son and successor Titus, who was then a general, just 40 years after Jesus spoke those words. The city of Jerusalem and the temple of God where Jesus had worshipped and taught were destroyed.

The Jews expected the Messiah to be a nation-restoring king who would set them free from Roman rule—not the sacrificial Lamb of God sent to free them from a spiritual slavery they were ensnared in yet largely ignorant of.

The Jewish desire for independence from Rome ultimately led to uprisings that brought about their own undoing, and to this day the Arch of Titus stands outside of the Colosseum in Rome as a testament to the conquest that initiated 1,800 years of “Diaspora”—the dispersion and scattering of the Jewish people out of the land of Israel. The building of the Colosseum itself was funded by the spoils of the war with the Jews.

Another Jewish attempt to cast off Roman rule 65 years later, the Bar Kokhba revolt of A.D. 132-135, was crushed by the Romans under Emperor Hadrian. This resulted in the expulsion of the Jews from Jerusalem, which was transformed into a pagan city with a pagan temple atop the Temple Mount.

The centuries dragged on, and the Promised Land was eventually conquered and subjected to Muslim rule, which would last for many more centuries. It seemed impossible that Jewish rule could ever be reestablished there.”  Continued at: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-magazine/israel-at-70-the-amazing-story

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God’s Enduring Love for Israel  

The Bible explains the divine purpose for Israel’s existence in the ancient world and as a modern nation today.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/3zhIDKgZIvo

Transcript:

[Darris McNeely] “Here today, we are going to look at a nation and a people whose very existence tells us God and the Bible can be trusted. God does care about this world. Who is this nation? We are going to look at the story of the State of Israel. For more than 70 years the presence of the Jewish state in the Middle East is a sign that God cares and is involved. To understand the State of Israel is to understand the grace of God.

Christ said to the people listening to one of His sermons they needed to “discern this time” (Luke 12:54-56). He said they were able to look up at the sky and to see a cloud rise out of the west and they would say “a shower is coming.” And if the south wind would blow “it’s going to be hot.” But this same people had trouble discerning exactly who He, Jesus, was as He taught them and they could not act upon the message of the gospel that He taught.

How about you?

Can you discern your time, our time, our time in prophecy? Can you discern today’s world with all the many events that are shaping our lives? Let me show you how by looking at a part of the world that we regularly hear about.

Let’s look at the State of Israel. This tiny nation in the Middle East plays a significant role in world affairs. The State of Israel is 70 years old, having been created in May of 1948 and recognized by the United Nations. Israel lives in a tough Middle Eastern neighborhood. They are continually forced to defend their existence to survive.

However, in spite of 70 years of hostility Israel has developed a vibrant and prosperous society. Its people make positive life-enhancing contributions to the world in many critical areas such as technology, medicine, education and humanitarian efforts. So, why does Israel struggle against continual danger? Why must it defend itself before the court of world nations? Why all the antagonism and the hatred?

If we are to understand this paradox of hostility and blessing surrounding the State of Israel we must look to the Bible for the story. It is in Scripture where we see the backstory of Israel’s origin. Only in the Bible do we find the divine purpose for Israel’s existence, both in the ancient world and as a modern nation today. God had a purpose for Israel then and God has a purpose for Israel today. To understand Israel is to understand the grace of God. Let me repeat that. To understand Israel is to understand the grace of God.

Let’s understand how this story of Israel began. It is found in the Bible.

The ancient nation of Israel was a nation composed of descendants of the twelve sons of the man that we know as Jacob. Jacob was the son of Isaac and Isaac was the son of Abraham, and Abraham of course he is the father of the faithful people, all faithful people for that matter, who seek after the God of creation. Looking at Jacob it’s an interesting story. Any man who had twelve sons makes for an interesting story and Jacob was no exception. The book of Genesis tells Jacob’s story. His life involves every element of a good story. It has betrayal, revenge, children by multiple wives and concubines. It’s all there, the good and the bad.”  Continued at: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-television-program/gods-enduring-love-for-israel

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Update.

As for Mother’s Day today, the 13th. May, I do not have good memories of my mother who took off when I was 4 years old, and I was glad when she left.  So I was battered around different places until I was out on my own at 15.  My father was in the Air Force overseas, so even though he had custody of me, he couldn’t take care of me.  I did live with him and one of my step-mothers, for a couple of years when I was 13, but I never saw him, as he was always working.   But today, I did wish my daughter and granddaughter ‘Happy Mother’s Day’.   Becky, my ex-daughter-in-law who died of cancer, used to take me out to eat on Mother’s Day.

Monday, the 7th. May was a Holy Day, and the church service was at the usual 11 am, with a potluck afterwards. So, on Sunday, I made a beef stew with lots of veggies.  Still no leavened bread allowed until dusk that evening.

The Bible readings were Psa. 113, 114 and 118, and Exo. 13:17-15:26 about a pathway in the Red Sea drying up for the Jews to pass, and then the water came crashing back down to drown Pharoah and his men.  Then 2 Sam. 22:1-51 and Rev. 15:2-4.  The Teaching was about how we need to be washed in The Blood of The Lamb.

On Tuesday, Zack did a bit more painting in the mini-house.  On Wednesday, it was a shopping and ‘un-shopping’ day as I had some things to buy and return in Conroe.  But it got hot very quickly that day so I didn’t stay in town very long.  In the summer, if I can’t park the van in the shade of a tree, I don’t like to get back in it.  Even though my sunshades and AC work fine, it still takes a while to cool down.

Thursday was a key day.  A contractor finally showed up, and on time, to work on the mini-house.  While his two helpers worked on installing the kitchen drain, one inside and one under the house, he installed the 15-light door in between the new living room and bedroom, and he even nailed up the trim, plinth blocks and rosettes.

Friday is always my ‘preparation day’, getting ready for the Sabbath, so we don’t work on the mini-house.  I work on other stuff though.  Getting my clothes ready, according to the weather forecast, and preparing food for the potluck.  Sometimes I have an extra hour so that I can list something for sale. This Sabbath I had to go to the POA (Property Owners Assn.) meeting and vote.  We had a man on the ballot who has been good about cleaning up our neighborhood, and I wanted to make sure that he could continue with authority.  I left as soon as I had voted, but I knew he would win.

So, as I was going to be late for church, I made a beet and mandarin salad (which has no mayo) that I could keep on some dry ice in a cooler until I got to the church.  I arrived there in time to participate in the last couple of hymns, prayers for those in need, and hear the Teaching which was ‘On the Way To Freedom’.  The Bible readings are at the start of the service so I missed Lev.19:-20:27, Amos 9:7-9:15, 1 Cor. 6:9-20, 1 Pet. 1:13-16, so I was able to read them later that day.

     

Being a Better Dad. If I Were a Rich Dad. Children Need Time With Their Dads. Update

For Scripture Sunday: which is also “Father’s Day”:

Being a Better Dad

“With Father's Day upon us, here are some tips for us dads.

1. Don't be harsh or ridicule your child.

"And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath..." (Ephesians 6:4). The New International Version translates it, "Do not exasperate your children."

This can also discourage children (Colossians 3:21).

2. Use everyday experiences to teach your children God's way.

"You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 6:7).

3. Did we mention, teach them about God and His way?

"…but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). The Amplified Bible says, "but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord."

For more on this subject, read the online article Does Father Know Best?”

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If I Were a Rich Dad

“The book Rich Dad, Poor Dad taps into our desire to understand what the rich know. But I look to a different book to understand fatherhood—and true riches!

Many years ago on a long road trip taking our kids to summer camp, a friend played an audio book called Rich Dad, Poor Dad. The subtitle of the book is “What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!”

The author’s basic theme is that his real dad, a highly educated public servant, constantly complained about being broke, while his best friend’s father constantly enjoyed the finer things in life. The book claims to be a collection of financial lessons he learned from both men. From the parts I heard, it was clear that he had more respect for his “rich dad’s” street sense and his financial goals and choices.

I admit that I didn’t hear the whole book and I remember even less, so I’m not trying to comment on any financial principles the book might espouse. But what stuck with me was the low esteem the author seemed to have for his real dad’s accomplishments in life.

My poor dad

My own father has never been rich, but I have felt richly blessed to have him as my father. My dad was actually doing fairly well financially working for a huge aerospace firm, but when he learned about the biblical Sabbath, he faced a choice between keeping his job or obeying the things he was learning in a best-selling book: the Holy Bible. He chose faith over financial security.

In his new profession as a self-employed house painter, my dad worked hard. He was fair—and more than fair—to his clients. He never wanted to charge more than he thought was reasonable, and he ended up absorbing some losses because he was too nice.

Doing these things did not lead my dad to financial success, but they are admirable qualities of a true and giving Christian. I saw the biblical principles of turning the other cheek and esteeming others better than himself in action (Matthew 5:39; Philippians 2:3).

My rich Dad

As much as I respect and appreciate my poor dad, I also appreciate that he helped introduce me to my rich Dad and His wonderful instruction book. By bringing me up “in the training and admonition of the Lord,” my dad helped me to identify the true riches (Ephesians 6:4).

What are those true riches? The Bible records this breathtaking promise to those God is calling:

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).

God—the Creator of the entire universe, the owner of all the gold and silver, the most powerful being imaginable—loves us and wants us to be His sons and daughters!

That’s a message that I want to share with my family and friends and everyone!

If I were a rich dad …

I am not considered rich in this society, but I have been blessed in many ways, including living in the United States and having a rewarding job that takes care of my needs. In talking with people from developing countries, I am reminded of how blessed I truly am!

However, I don’t have a large inheritance to pass on to my children in this world. Like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, I could wish I were a rich man—at least for the sake of my family.

But most of all, I hope that I have shared with my children what has been entrusted to me—the true riches of a spiritual relationship with God our Father. In the eternal scheme of things, that relationship is far more valuable than all the silver and gold in the universe.

I hope you will want to learn more about my rich Dad and His offer to humans to become His children. There is no priority more important! Please take time now to read more of what the Bible reveals about this wonderful truth in the article “Children of God.”

Happy Father’s Day to my poor dad and my rich Dad!”

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Children Need Time With Their Dads

“Ansel Adams, the famous photographer of the Yosemite valley, was a restless child who had difficulty adapting to traditional schools. His father decided to teach him at home where he spent time helping him discover and cultivate his talents. Ansel later said this about his father: "I am certain he established the positive direction of my life that otherwise, given my native hyperactivity, could have been confused and catastrophic. I trace who I am and the direction of my development to those years of growing up propelled especially by an internal spark tenderly kept alive by my father" (Source: www.pbs.org).

Ansel Adams' story is an illustration of the vital truth that fathers can have a significant influence on their children's lives. When a father determines to make his children a top priority it conveys to them that they are deeply valued, needed and appreciated.

Children need time with their dads. This includes time to play, time to talk and to time to listen. When my son was about four or five years old and wanted to tell me something, I would often squat down and get at his level and look him in the eyes. Sometimes he would sit on my lap and put his arm around my neck as we talked. The feeling of closeness I had with my son during those times was priceless.

When a dad sets aside time in one-on-one opportunities with his children, it helps him become more familiar with their needs, fears, feelings and desires. When I was young my dad would often have me work with him on various projects around the house or at my grandparents' house. We would talk to each other as we worked but even when we were not conversing, just being alone with my dad was special and rewarding to me.

When a father spends time with his child he can also become better acquainted with his or her individual talents and abilities. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." This scripture doesn't just mean disciplining children or giving them rules. It also means recognizing and directing a child's talents so he can best develop and utilize them throughout life, including earning a living.

Children also benefit by a father's masculine influence. By spending time with his dad, a son can discover more about being a man, and a daughter can learn how to understand and effectively relate to men. In a study of 200 fathers over four decades, psychologists John Snarey, Joseph Pleck and Anthony Maier found that a father's positive impact on his children can be substantial (Dad's Involvement With Kids Pays Off Now and in Future," June 15, 1989, by Marjory Roberts, Health & Fitness News Service; articles.sun-sentinel.com). The study found that a father's focused attention consistently produced confident, secure, capable children. Daughters for example, excelled at school when their fathers helped them learn physical skills. Sons, whose dads played games with them and took an interest in their friends, greatly benefited from such "warm, altruistic fathers," the researchers wrote.

Spiritual growth and maturity is also a vital fruit produced when a dad devotes time to his children. As he instructs them in spiritual, moral and ethical principles, they develop respect and honor, not only for God and His laws, but also for the laws of man. 2 Peter 3:18 explains that Christians should "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ." A child can develop in this manner just as can adults.

So fathers can have an enormously constructive influence on their offspring. By spending time with their children, dads can better understand their needs, apprehensions and aspirations. When a father nurtures and cultivates his children's talents and abilities, they can benefit physically, emotionally, intellectually, morally and spiritually. The incomparable fact is that children need time with their dads.

To learn more about the great importance of fathers and how they can adeptly help their children achieve true success in life, we invite you to read the following articles:

Playing the "Dad Card"

If Children Could Choose Their Parents

Where Have All the Fathers Gone?

Thanks for reading, and best regards.”  John LaBissoniere, Circulation Manager, The Good News.

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Update.

Not having been raised by my father, I have no idea what it is like to have one.  He was off overseas in the Air Force for years and years, and when he got out, I only lived with him and one of my stepmothers, for a short time.  Then he was always working, so I never saw him.  My mother had left when I was four years old, so I just lived here and there until I was 15, then I went out to work to support myself.  I was buying and selling bicycles and baby carriages to make my rent and food until I got a job handing out parts and keeping inventory in a factory.  As soon as I had a motor scooter I went on to working in banks.  Had to be 18 to get a car driver’s license in England back then.

A few more jobs are done even though we only worked five mornings this week.   We still haven’t installed the ceiling fan and light that are giving us so much trouble as we had to make a part for it.  We just had more important things to do.  The trim ring that the bell shaped housing screws onto was missing, so we cut one out of wood.  The bell housing will cover it, and the fan hangs on that globe thing anyway.   It is a very heavy fan and light, so we are not looking forward to wrestling that big thing in place!

Wednesday was a neighbor’s 83rd birthday and there was a potluck party for him at the YMCA where he exercises.  He took me there and I, with about 50 other seniors, did an hour of exercises before the potluck and then played Bingo.  I won a YMCA T-shirt.  I am not used to exercising, but I am walking around here, lifting things, going up and down ladders, so I suppose that qualifies as exercise.

The following day, the canvas canopy on the motor home carport cover had worn out in the middle, and so I had to order another one.  But before it could be installed, Roy primed and painted the metal frame so that it would all look new.  While he was painting and priming, he had started the ratty old mower for me.  It started at the first pull, and I mowed the front yard.  Then I knew that my arms were sore from the exercises the day before!

We spent a couple of mornings repairing the fence.  My place backs onto a main road, and I like the white wooden fence to be neat.  A lady had run into it several years ago and the repair that Jay did wasn’t very thorough.  Roy took down all that section of fence, and then we had to cut away a big old weed root which had grown up over the years as it was pushing out the bottom fence board.  He replaced the boards and then primed and painted them, too.  The welded wire that staples onto the fence to keep animals in or out still has to be re-installed.

On Friday, a man (a wholesaler) came and made me an offer on my house.  I discussed it with my daughter, and I think I will take it.  It has to be sold sometime as my daughter does not want to have to deal with it on top of all she has to do with her houses.   I am tired of paying out all this money on insurance, taxes, utilities etc., and it will be cheaper for me to live in the mini-house.  It will have to be made habitable first, though.  We had to remove the diverter on the Moen tub faucet as it wouldn’t stop dripping, and a new diverter is $80.  I might just put in a cheap faucet for now.  If I take the offer, it will be a mad scramble to get all this stuff out of here.

On Saturday, the Sabbath, I left early to go to the other church on FM 830 because they have a Bible Study first.  I arrived even earlier than anticipated and watched the band practice their songs.  Not just a guitar like the other church, this one had three guitars, two keyboards, a set of drums, and two lady singers.  They were very good.  The words are on a great big screen for everyone to follow along.  The Bible study was from Jeremiah.  The Teaching was “A Dad above All Other Dads” .  Some very interesting thoughts about child rearing according to the Bible.  I took hurried notes, and maybe one day I will decipher what I wrote, and be able to print it out.  The potluck afterwards was great and we all had a great time in the dining hall.

Today, my granddaughter, Michelle and her new fiance took me out for Father’s Day.  Michelle’s late mother, Becky, used to do that, too, as she said I had to be a mother and father to my children.

So to whom it may concern……….Happy Father’s Day.

Catholic Church Admits Changing The Sabbath. Sabbath Commandment in the New Testament. Saturday in Many Languages. Update.

 

For"Scripture Sunday":

Catholic Church Admits They Changed The Sabbath.

"I have repeatedly offered 1000 dollars to anyone who can proved to me from the bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday Holy, there is NO SUCH LAW in the Bible."

Published on Jun 20, 2013

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Why is the Sabbath Commandment Not Repeated in the New Testament?

"Jesus Christ and the apostles lived and taught in a Sabbath-keeping society.

Some people believe that, since the Sabbath commandment isn't explicitly repeated in the New Testament, it is no longer binding. But is this true?

The Sabbath commandment did not have to be repeated in the New Testament, simply because the people to whom Jesus Christ and the apostles preached would never have imagined that it needed to be repeated!

The Scriptures that would later be called the Old Testament were their Bible, their guide for living (Romans:15:4). Paul described them as being "given by inspiration of God, and . . . profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy:3:16-17).

The Holy Scriptures clearly commanded them to keep the Sabbath, and the common people accepted that as God's inspired instruction.

Jesus Christ and the apostles lived and taught in a Sabbath-keeping society. Jesus' confrontations with the Pharisees were over how to observe the Sabbath, never over whether to observe it.

When the apostles took their message beyond the confines of Judea, Sabbath observance was well known in other parts of the Roman Empire. Notice, for example, what the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, writing during the New Testament period, said: "The multitude of mankind itself have had a great inclination for a long time to follow our religious observances; for there is not any city of the Grecians, nor any of the barbarians, nor any nation whatsoever, whither our custom of resting on the seventh day hath not come . . . As God himself pervades all the world, so hath our law passed through all the world also" (Against Apion, Book 2, chap. 40).

The examples of Jesus and the apostles confirm that they believed in and obeyed all of the Ten Commandments. Throughout the book of Acts—written by Luke, a gentile —the Sabbath and the annual Sabbaths described in Leviticus 23 are mentioned quite routinely (Acts:13:14, 42, 44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4, 21; 20:6, 16; 27:9). Whether to observe them simply wasn't a question."  From: http://www.ucg.org/booklet/sunset-sunset-gods-sabbath-rest/was-sabbath-changed-new-testament/why-sabbath-commandment-no/

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Names for Saturday in Many Languages Prove Which Day Is the True Sabbath

"Which day of the week is the biblical Sabbath? It is clear from the names for the seventh day of the week, Saturday, in many languages.

Many are confused over the issue, but such confusion is unnecessary. Not only is the answer plain from history and the Bible, it is also clear from the names for the seventh day of the week, Saturday, in many languages.

For example, the Spanish word for the seventh day of the week, Saturday, is sabado—the same word for "Sabbath." In fact, in more than 100 ancient and modern languages the seventh day of the week was named "Sabbath" or its equivalent. Following is a list of names for the seventh day of the week, Saturday, in 24 languages in which the root word Sabbath is still easily recognizable.

Such widespread use of forms of the word Sabbath for the seventh day of the week, Saturday, is clear evidence that speakers of these languages understood which day is the Sabbath.

Likewise, the fact that in no language do we see "Sabbath" similarly linked with Sunday, the first day of the week, is an obvious confirmation that this day never was considered the biblical Sabbath until later religious leaders tried to substitute Sunday for the true Sabbath day.

Arabic: Sabet

Armenian: Shabat

Bosnian: Subota

Bulgarian: Sabota

Corsican: Sàbatu

Croatian: Subota

Czech: Sobota

Georgian: Sabati

Greek: Savvato

Indonesian: Sabtu

Italian: Sabato

Latin: Sabbatum

Maltese: is-Sibt

Polish: Sobota

Portuguese: S ábado

Romanian: Sambata

Russian: Subbota

Serbian: Subota

Slovak: Sobota

Slovene: Sobota

Somali: Sabti

Spanish: Sabado

Sudanese: Saptu

Ukranian: Subota"

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Update:

Some occurrences around here have rather knocked the stuffing out of me, and I am still not up to par.  Sometimes, I have to force myself to look at this computer.  One was the death of my ex-daughter-in-law, Becky from cancer.  Also, it is really getting me down that they still have not arrested the burglars who robbed my house while I was in the hospital.  They were picked up on another charge, and bonded out!  How slowly moves the long arm of the law. 

Jay has started on a wall in the old carport which is in front of the storeroom, where the Puddle Jumper used to be parked.  This will keep the driving rain out and give more storage or even a greenhouse, on that lot.

After I got wet and cold when shopping for building materials, I came down with a fever and my chest hurt.  It takes 2 weeks to get an appointment at the clinic, so I could have gone there and sat around for hours waiting to be seen, but I just didn't feel well enough.  I thought I had cracked a rib, but it was much better after some Aleve and bed rest.  So I have switched doctors.  This one says that if you call by 8.15 am, that you will be seen that day.  I hope so!

The dog that I rescued had her second trip to the vet to look at her infected ears, and Nala my foster cat went to have her rabies shot and microchip.  SPCA asked if I would pick up one of the cats from the Cat Habitat at Petco and take it to the vet too, as it wasn't feeling well.  The vet told me not to take it back to the habitat as it had something that could be contagious. I couldn't get hold of anyone to ask them where to take it, so I had to isolate it in my grooming room.  Kenya picked it up that night, and another foster mom helped me sanitize the grooming room the next day.   My other foster cat, Siamese Purrcy, went to the sanitized habitat to take it's place.  Now I have Giovanni, a beautiful, gentle, gray male older kitten to keep Nala company.  He is so sweet, and likes to hug your neck, ever so gently.  He is the litter brother of our favorite kitten, Silver Belle, who was here when I was in the hospital.

One Sabbath Jay went with me, and last Sabbath Ray went with me.  The Bible readings were: Psalms 104 and 111, Numbers 13-15, and the sermon was about The Word, and how it has been given to us as a message from God.  We had a good potluck and an enjoyable day. 

Car Unsunk! Plastic Pollution in Our Homes And Bodies. Johnson Space Center. Commonwealth of Independent States.

 

For "Summary Saturday", News, some new, some old:

How these Russians got a car out of the river!

"You got to hand it to them, they got the job done."

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GreatPacificGarbagePatch - Arlene Blum - Plastic Pollution In Our Homes

"Scientist Arlene Blum speaks about the connection between plastic pollution and flame retardants."

Dr. Oz even had a show about it this week:  "Is your sofa making you sick?"  http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/toxic-flame-retardants-your-home-right-now

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GreatPacificGarbagePatch - Stacy Malkan - Plastics Industry Makeover

"Stacy Malkan, the leader of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, speaks about the connection between plastic pollution and cosmetics. There are toxins even in Johnson's Baby Shampoo!!"

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GreatPacificGarbagePatch - Ken Cook - Plastic Pollution in Our Bodies

"Ken Cook, president of EWG, speaks of the toxic chemicals leaching into our bodies from plastic containers, plastic packaging and plastic pollution."

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GreatPacificGarbagePatch - Ed Begley, Jr - Living a Sustainable Life

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An Unlikely Beginning For Johnson Space Center, By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn .Oct 29 2013

"You can’t judge a book by its cover. And if in 1961 you happened to be standing in the wind-battered cow pasture on the shores of Clear Lake, just southeast of downtown Houston, you could be forgiven for not believing that in a few short years, this would be the future home of an elite cadre of scientists and airmen, destined to leave this planet and set foot on another world.

This year marks the 50^th anniversary since NASA’s Johnson Space Center – originally named the Manned Spacecraft Center – opened its doors.  As recently told to the Houston Chronicle, the effort to land the nation’s premiere space center in Houston was not your typical application process.  But thanks to the foresight of a group of Houston businessmen and the deft political maneuvering of one powerful Texas politician, Space City was born.

Interestingly, it wasn’t the politician whose name the Center now bears.  Rather, it was longtime Houston Congressman Albert Thomas.  As NASA’s site selection committee contemplated Baton Rouge, Jacksonville, Tampa, and even San Francisco, Thomas used his influence on the House Appropriations Committee to bring NASA to Houston.

In the intervening years, Houston has become synonymous with humankind’s exploration of space.  As the home of Mission Control and the training facility for the Astronaut Corps, humanity’s progress into the vast unknown has, quite literally, been led by Texans.  From the days of Project Gemini, when San Antonio native Lt. Col. Ed White became the first American to perform a spacewalk, to the Apollo era, which brought mankind to a new world, and on through the Space Shuttle program and it’s enduring legacy, the International Space Station, Texans have pioneered the celestial frontier.

As anyone living in Clear Lake and the surrounding area knows, these remarkable men and women are not only explorers, scientists, and engineers at the tops of their fields: they are friends and neighbors, fellow congregants at churches, and parents cheering on the local little league team.  Over the last five decades, Houstonians have shared in the triumphs and tragedies that have befallen the NASA community.  The city rejoices with each safe return to Earth of its fellow Texans, and it grieves deeply when they are taken away by the ever-present dangers of spaceflight.

Americans of all ages look to NASA for inspiration.  We see in our astronauts the manifestation of the highest ideals of the American spirit: forging ahead into a new and dangerous frontier in the courageous pursuit of knowledge.  The achievements of the last 50 years have been breathtaking.  Now, as we move beyond the Space Shuttle program and into a new era of exploration, the world will once again look to Texas for its bold leadership into space." Sources: Houston Chronicle, NASA

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On This Day:

Soviet republics proclaim the Commonwealth of Independent States, Dec 21, 1991:

"In a final step signifying the dismemberment of the Soviet Union, 11 of the 12 Soviet republics declare that they are forming the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Just a few days later, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev announced he was stepping down from his position. The Soviet Union ceased to exist.

The 11 republics-Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan-signed an agreement creating the CIS, known as Russia.

Only Georgia, embroiled in a civil war, abstained from participation. Exactly what they created was open to debate. The CIS was not a new nation, but merely an "alliance" between independent states. The political meaning of the alliance was hazy. The independent states each took over the former Soviet government facilities within their borders.

The military side of the CIS was even more confusing. They agreed to sustain any arms agreements signed by the former Soviet Union. The former Soviet defense minister would retain control over the military until the CIS could agree on what to do with the nuclear weapons and conventional forces within their borders. Complicating the situation were terrific economic problems and outbreaks of ethnic violence in the new republics.

For Gorbachev, the announcement was the final signal that his power—and the existence of the Soviet Union—was at an end. Four days later, on Christmas Day, he announced his resignation."

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Yesterday:

As I was going to have lunch with my ex-daughter-in-law Becky, who has cancer again, I was busy all morning printing out all the info that I had gathered about the treatment she wants to get. Hyperthermia therapy, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperthermia_therapy .

We met at Bing's Asian Bistro, but found that they were closed for a special function, so we drove back into Willis, and went to the Mexican restaurant, "Los Pericos". (The Small Parrot or Parakeet)  Their food and service is always good. 

My granddaughter, Michelle, Becky's daughter, met us there, too. 

Becky was very interested when I showed her that The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston is having clinical trials of Hyperthermia Cancer Therapy now.  And it isn't the only university doing that around here, either, there are more in Houston and Galveston.

Becky's little son, Karson was with her.  She is in good spirits for a young person with a terminal prognosis.   This last batch of chemo is taking a toll on her hair and body, such a shame.  We discussed what she was doing for her cancer, and exchanged other information about diet and remedies that we had gleaned from the internet.

All too soon, we each had to go our separate ways, after having a great day.

Big Bend Ranch State Park. Photo Tour, Dec 20-22. Landing and Take Off at BBRSP. Commander at Pearl Harbor Canned. Hyperthermia Cancer Treatment.

 

For "Travel Tuesday", let's visit Big Bend Ranch State Park again, in The Texas Big Bend Country region.

"Named for the Big Bend National Park, the westernmost region of Texas boasts pristine parklands, wide open skies, popular hiking and camping areas, and the beautiful Davis Mountains. Relive the days of the Wild West or experience the international culture of old El Paso. Discover the Park Lands of the Texas Big Bend Country."

Big Bend Ranch State Park

"The ultimate hikers paradise that is fascinating and different each time you visit. The Closed Canyon Trail is one of the few slot canyons in Texas and follows a dry creek bed from the head of the canyon to the Rio Grande. The trail is about a mile and a half, easy going for the first quarter mile, and then gets steeper with rocky drops. The scenery is breathtaking - steep sheer tall cliffs that seem to close in on you, large veins of calcite on the cliff faces, cactus growing sideways from solid rock, and lots more.

 

Over a quarter million acres to horseback ride, raft, mountain bike and camp under a blanket of stars.

Welcome to the Other Side of Nowhere!

Big Bend Ranch State Park offers outdoor recreation for the truly adventurous. This remote park features rugged mountains, steep canyons, amazing views, unparalleled night skies, and solitude in a high desert setting. The park stretches along the Rio Grande in far west Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Things to Do

Visitors can hike, mountain-bike, backpack, paddle, ride horses or explore by vehicle (the park has two- and four-wheel-drive roads). This is Texas’ biggest state park, so there’s a lot to explore!

The park has 238 miles of multiuse trails (for hiking, biking and horseback riding). Visitors can explore 70 miles of unmaintained dirt roads in high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles. The Rio Grande/Rio Bravo area offers great day-use access. Visitors can float, fish and hike, or drive the scenic Camino del Rio (FM 170). Each February, the park helps host the Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest. Visit our Activities page to learn more.

Campers can choose from vehicle-accessible, backcountry or equestrian sites. All sites (except backcountry) can be reached by vehicle. Some roads require four-wheel-drive or high clearance. Campsites offer solitude and great vistas; all (except backcountry) offer some camp amenities. Limited lodging and food service are available at the Sauceda Ranch House and Sauceda Bunkhouse.

The park also has a 5,500-foot paved airstrip. If you plan to fly in, call ahead to let park staff know when you will arrive and to get up-to-date information.

Pick up backpacking, camping and river-use permits at the following places. You can also purchase maps and hunting and fishing licenses, as well as find information about the Big Bend region.

• On the east side, near Lajitas:  Barton Warnock Visitor Center
• On the west side, near Presidio:  Fort Leaton State Historic Site
• In the park’s interior:  Sauceda Ranger Station.

For more information on visiting the park:

• El Solitario Newsletter:  Overview and Visitors Guide
• What to do in one day, three days, or one week!
• Policies on Dogs at Big Bend Ranch State Park
• Swimming Safety Tips

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are always needed at Big Bend Ranch State Park. Visit our Volunteer page and keyword search for “Big Bend.”

Ranger Programs

Park rangers lead tours throughout the year. These include hikes and four-wheel-drive trips to learn about archeology, geology and nature. Rangers also lead mountain-biking and photography tours. Call the park at least seven days before your visit to request a tour.

• For more information, visit our Activities page.
• Check the Events page for upcoming activities.
• Ask about the Junior Ranger Explorer Packs available for free checkout at the park!

Commercial Outfitters

Commercial outfitters lead guided tours and rent sports gear. They rent kayaks, canoes and mountain bikes, as well as other camping equipment. Outfitters lead horseback rides, river rafting trips, 4x4 tours, mountain bike tours, campouts, nature and birding hikes, and art and photography classes.

Are you uneasy about tackling this rugged park on your own? Do you want to try a new activity, like mountain-biking? An outfitter may be able to help. Visit our Outfitters page for contact information.

Area Attractions

On your way in or out, stop for a dip in the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool at Balmorhea State Park.

Near Fort Davis, you can visit Fort Davis National Historic Site or Davis Mountains State Park. Learn about desert plants and animals at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center. Enjoy a solar viewing or star party at the McDonald Observatory. You can also tour museums and art galleries, and road bike and hike through scenic areas.

If you like desert quirky, check out Terlingua. Tiny Marfa offers art galleries, mystery lights, and more."  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/big-bend-ranch

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Big Bend Ranch State Park Photo Tour

"Come take a Photo Tour with us to enjoy the true photographic magnificence and backcountry camping of Big Bend Ranch State Park. You will be able to photograph and camp in areas of the park that are only accessible via primitive roads, impassable to all but 4-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicles. Each tour goes to a different location within the park.

When:  Dec 20, 2013 05:00 PM to Dec 22, 2013 01:00 PM

Where: Big Bend Ranch State Park

Contact Name-Blaine Hall. Contact Email: blaine.hall@tpwd.texas.gov 

Phone 432-358-4444

These tours will take you to some of the most rugged, remote, and scenic locations in the park and are intended for photographers who would like to work in the park but lack the proper vehicles for reaching these sites.

Different tours will go to different locations, so join us for more than one! An experienced professional will be available to answer questions and provide help where needed, but there are no classroom activities – just 2 days of uninterrupted photography.

The tour price of $350 includes one night’s lodging at the Bunkhouse, one night’s camping “on location”, all meals, and transportation. Space is limited to 6 photographers – the perfect size for a campfire supper and friendly conversation. Reservations, details, and payment can be made by calling 432-358-4444. The tour fee will need to be pre-paid and is non-refundable.

**Note: you must bring your own camping supplies: tent, cot, sleeping bag, pillow, etc. We are only providing the ride to the location, food, and the atmosphere.

Tour dates are: December 20-22, 2013; March 21-23, 2014; March 28-30, 2014"

Big Bend Ranch Airport, from the east.

The park also has a 5,500-foot paved airstrip. If you plan to fly in, call ahead to let park staff know when you will arrive and to get up-to-date information."

Landing at Big Bend Ranch State Park

"Visiting BBRSP by airplane is the best way to go - overfly the ranch compound to alert them to your presence, and a truck will come out to pick you up."

 

Takeoff from Big Bend Ranch State Park airstrip

 

More at: http://www.tomzap.com/FLIGHTtoBigBendRanch.html

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On This Day:

Commander at Pearl Harbor canned, Dec 17, 1941:

"On this day, Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel was relieved of his command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet as part of a shake-up of officers in the wake of the Pearl Harbor disaster.

Admiral Kimmel had enjoyed a successful military career, beginning in 1915 as an aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He served admirably on battleships in World War I, winning command of several in the interwar period. At the outbreak of World War II, Kimmel had already attained the rank of rear admiral and was commanding the cruiser forces at Pearl Harbor. In January 1941, he was promoted to commander of the Pacific Fleet, replacing James Richardson, who FDR relieved of duty after Richardson objected to basing the fleet at Pearl Harbor.

If Kimmel had a weakness, it was that he was a creature of habit, of routine. He knew only what had been done before, and lacked imagination—and therefore insight—regarding the unprecedented. So, even as word was out that Japan was likely to make a first strike against the United States as the negotiations in Washington floundered, Kimmel took no extraordinary actions at Pearl Harbor. In fact, he believed that a sneak attack was more likely at Wake Island or Midway Island, and requested from Lieutenant General Walter Short, Commander of the Army at Pearl Harbor, extra antiaircraft artillery for support there (none could be spared).

Kimmel's predictability was extremely easy to read by Japanese military observers and made his fleet highly vulnerable. As a result, Kimmel was held accountable, to a certain degree, for the absolute devastation wrought on December 7. Although he had no more reason than anyone else to believe Pearl Harbor was a possible Japanese target, a scapegoat had to be found to appease public outrage. He avoided a probable court-martial when he requested early retirement. When Admiral Kimmel's Story, an "as told to" autobiography, was published in 1955, Kimmel made it plain that he believed FDR sacrificed him—and his career—to take suspicion off himself; Kimmel believed Roosevelt knew Pearl Harbor was going to be bombed, although no evidence has ever been adduced to support his allegation."

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Yesterday:

In the morning, Ray came over to visit for quite a while, just to get away from the hubbub at his house.  He still hasn't been able to get all the matted blood out of his hair from the truck accident.  It will take some scrubbing, which he isn't prepared to do yet, as it hurts too much.

A little while after Ray left, I had a long chat with my ex-daughter-in-law, Becky.  She had a double mastectomy a couple of years ago, only to find out that she is now riddled with cancer all over her body. Right now, she is on chemo again, and she is trying to raise $45K to have full body hyperthermia cancer treatment in Germany.   Well, I had to find out more about it and spent the entire afternoon researching the treatment, and who does it. It works on the same principle as having a fever which is the Lord's way of killing the bad cells. That's a lot of money, but she thinks it is her only chance. 

I did find out that they also do it in the USA, and even have clinical trials near here in Houston.  I printed out a bunch of information about it, and will give it to her when we have lunch together on Friday.

RV Fridge Vent. Internet! 6v.Batteries. Outside Sink. 4-Bike Rack. Generators. Daniel Boone. Motorola Radio. Shannon Lucid. Computers and Cancer.

 

For "tRaVersing, or RV Day":

RV refrigerator rear venting
"An RVer recently asked if it was possible to install an LP-fired RV refrigerator so that the lower venting of the 'fridge would come from the "toy hauling" section of his RV. No, we don't mean stepping into the cargo area to get access to the refrigerator, we mean installing the refrigerator inside the "living area" of the RV, on a common wall to the cargo area. If you're thinking about it, in a word, "Don't."" Read more.

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The olden days when mobile Internet access was slow. . . very, very slow

RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury received this email from reader Bob Hoffman in response to his essay in RV Travel News 519 about his early days on the road when he carried a small portable darkroom and typed on a manual typewriter.

Dear Chuck,
"Your story about using a typewriter reminded me of my first RV computer experience back in 1984. On that first RV trip, I carried along a VT-100 computer terminal, a 300-baud acoustic coupler, a 100' extension cord, and a 100' phone line. I'd stop at a pay phone, dial the 800 number of the computer I accessed in Huntsville, Alabama, then put the phone on the acoustic coupler and run back to the RV to access it from my terminal. At the time, I thought I was the height of technology. Though 300 baud was slow, it was much faster than the 110 baud that I'd been using back in Huntsville on a teletype machine back in the 1970s.
You can imagine the strange looks that I got from passers-by, wondering if I was doing something illegal or just plain crazy. Sitting there with my generator running and strange wires running 100' from my RV to the phone booth certainly raised a few curious looks. But, it got the job done and I was able to continue making a few bucks while traveling, which was and is always my intent."  Visit Bob's website InternetOnTheRoad.com

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How are your RV batteries connected?
Dear RV Doctor,
"The two house batteries in my motorhome have been removed to be replaced. They were 6-volt batteries but the person who removed them does not remember if they were wired in series or parallel. The motorhome is a 2005 Cross Country. How should the house batteries be wired?" --Will S., (Seminole, OK)
Read Gary's response.

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Sink Away exterior sink keeps dirt outside

"Now have a sink and water supply on the outside of your RV with Sink Away Exterior Sink! The ultimate campsite convenience is an RV sink outside where it's really needed!
Self-contained, portable Sink-Away mounts almost anywhere on RV exteriors and is ready to keep dirt and messes outside where they belong. Its ideal for washing hands, paws, faces, and fresh food–even for cleaning fish.
Sink-Away is lightweight, compact, easy to store, with optional accessories. It comes with the sink and frame, 3/4" water supply inlet connection, unique flexible gooseneck faucet, drainage hose, and mounting bracket. Coiled Hose sold separately." More at: http://www.greatrvaccessories.com/2012/01/sink-away-exterior-sink-keeps-dirt.html

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glideAWAY bike rack enables easy access to hatchbacks and SUVs

"If you tow a hatchback or SUV behind your motorhome you know the difficulty of carrying bicycles on a rack and accessing the rear hatch with the rack and/or bikes in place.
Heininger's Advantage glideAWAY deluxe 4 bike carrier eliminates the irritation with other rear mounted carriers of having to take your bikes off every time you want access to your vehicle from the back.   http://youtu.be/p5iO2TFaDvI
Designed to hold up to four bicycles with 1-2" top frame tubes, the ingenuous accordion style folding arm construction of the Advantage glideAWAY allows it to be pulled away from your vehicle with the simple lifting of the handle of its spring loaded safety latch, located behind its main upright support post. " More at: http://www.greatrvaccessories.com/2012/01/glideaway-bike-rack-enables-easy-access.html

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Tech Tips from Mark Polk

Generators need exercise, too
"When I worked at an RV dealership, every spring our service department was booked with appointments for generators that either wouldn't start, or if they did start they had that all too familiar surging sound. This was a result of letting the generator sit for periods of time without starting and exercising it. Lack of use is one of the biggest problems with generators. In gasoline generators the fuel breaks down and gums up causing hard starting and surging problems. This can happen in as short a period of time as two months." Read more.

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Random RV Thought
"A tiny broom, sometimes sold at toy stores, can do a good job of cleaning a floor, even most carpets. No power is needed except human power and the broom stores easily in a closet. It can also be used to tidy up a campsite."

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On This Day:

The famous frontiersman Daniel Boone dies in Missouri, Sep 26, 1820:

"On this day in 1820 the great pioneering frontiersman Daniel Boone dies quietly in his sleep at his son's home near present-day Defiance, Missouri. The indefatigable voyager was 86.

Boone was born in 1734 to Quaker parents living in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Following a squabble with the Pennsylvania Quakers, Boone's family decided to head south and west for less crowded regions, and they eventually settled in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina. There the young Daniel Boone began his life-long love for wilderness, spending long days exploring the still relatively unspoiled forests and mountains of the region. An indifferent student who never learned to write more than a crude sentence or two, Boone's passion was for the outdoors, and he quickly became a superb marksman, hunter and woodsman.

Never satisfied to stay put for very long, Boone soon began making ever longer and more ambitious journeys into the relatively unexplored lands to the west. In May of 1769, Boone and five companions crossed over the Cumberland Gap and explored along the south fork of the Kentucky River. Impressed by the fertility and relative emptiness of the land--although the native inhabitants hardly considered it to be empty--Boone returned in 1773 with his family, hoping to establish a permanent settlement. An Indian attack prevented that first attempt from succeeding, but Boone returned two years later to open the route that became known as Boone's Trace (or the Wilderness Road) between the Cumberland Gap and a new settlement along the Kentucky River called Fortress Boonesboro. After years of struggles against both Native Americans and British soldiers, Boonesboro eventually became one of the most important gateways for the early American settlement of the Trans-Appalachian West.

Boone became a symbol of the western pioneering spirit for many Americans. Ironically, though, Boone's fame and his success in opening the Trans-Appalachian West to large-scale settlement later came to haunt him. Having lost his Kentucky land holdings by failing to properly register them, Boone moved even further west in 1799, trying to escape the civilized regions he had been so instrumental in creating. Finally settling in Missouri--though he never stopped dreaming of continuing westward--he lived out the rest of his life doing what he loved best: hunting and trapping in a fertile wild land still largely untouched by the Anglo pioneers who had followed the path he blazed to the West."

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First day of work at the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation, Sep 26, 1928:

"On this day in 1928, work begins at Chicago's new Galvin Manufacturing Corporation. (The company had officially incorporated the day before.) In 1930, Galvin would introduce the Motorola radio, the first mass-produced commercial car radio. (The name had two parts: "motor" evoked cars and motion, while "ola" derived from "Victrola" and was supposed to make people think of music.)"

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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:

Misty and I went to get Jay for shopping day, and we had our stroll down there.  When we got back here, we loaded 2 desktops and a laptop into the van.  The small HP desktop with Windows XP Pro, that I bought refurbished at the beginning of the year has been giving me trouble for quite a while.  I found a computer repair man who lives in a subdivision not too far from here, and so I thought I'd give him a try at fixing it, and my 'molasses' laptop.  I took my big old Dell desktop with me, just in case I could do some 'horse-trading'. 

I had told Rich, the computer man, that the HP's computer clock had stopped a long time ago, and he said a new battery would be $4, and that could have a lot to do with the problems.  Now that XP is on it's last legs, I thought I might try Windows 7.  So he said that he would put Windows 7 in my desktop, and 2 more GB of memory, then it should run like a gazelle.  He also recommended putting AGV in it.  He said he would wipe my 'so-slow-that-it-can't-catch-a cold' laptop clean, and do a reinstall.  He thinks that is what's wrong with it. My old Dell desktop was never even mentioned.  So Jay and I left the computers there and went on into the next town.

We unloaded the paper recycling at St. Mark's Thrift Shop, and bought a few things there.  I have been disappointed with the produce at the Kroger stores, so we went to our new HEB.  I asked the produce guy if any of it was grown locally, hoping that it would be fresher.  I put a lot of raw veggies through my auger juicer, so I want them to be fresh.  He showed me which ones were Texas grown, and they all looked fresh, so I bought some.

Then we stopped at Petsmart.  Last time I was there, I had a 'thrifty spell' and bought some cans of Purina food for Misty.  But when I really looked at the labels, I saw that it has 'by-products' in it.  Now, I am not going to feed that to my old Misty.  So I exchanged them for more expensive Organix organic canned food, which is what she is used to eating, mixed with what I cook for her.  I have kept her in good shape for 2-1/2 years past her cancer 'expiration date', so I don't need to cut corners now.  She is my treasure, and she's worth it….

Later, after I was home, I got the old Dell desktop out of the van and hooked it back up. So that's what I am using now.  With only one computer working, I can't get on RV-Dreams chat, as I have to use this one for work in the evening.  Usually I have two going.  I don't like the keyboard on my laptop, so I don't use it often.

Rich called with some bad news. The mother board was going out on my HP desktop and some of the capacitors were swelling.  He said they don't make the small desktops any more because of overheating.   But that doesn't make sense to me…what about the small space in laptops?  (I bought a laptop fan to sit my old laptop on, so it doesn't seem to have that problem)  But it was obvious that when HP refurbished the desktop, that they didn't go through it thoroughly.  So I will have to get another computer. 

Then my grown granddaughter Michelle (my son's daughter) called, she is doing well, finishing last term of dental hygienist school, as it is already paid for, and then she is going to train to be a game warden.  But her mother, Becky, is now dying of cancer, even though she had that double mastectomy.  Her life expectancy is very short.  That is sad news for anyone, especially someone in her 40's.  So now they are getting future custody organized for Becky's toddler son, and Sheltie dog. 

Last night two sweet starving stray dogs came up to the houses, my house and the guest house.  So Shay and I were feeding them.   Looked like they were litter mates, but one was a lot smaller than the other. Maybe because it is so shy, and the bigger one keeps eating her food.  Shay held the big one so I could feed the little one. Poor babies, they must have been dumped.  Then a stray tabby cat came up, wanting to be fed.  When does it end?  Same old story, different day.

Overweight Pets. Tigers. Poachers. Jaguars. Possum. Fire Goats. Guar. First Pres. Louisiana Purchase. Women's Prison. Cancer Benefit.

For "Mammal Monday":

If Your Pet is Overweight, Please Stay Away from These "Fixes"


Story at-a-glance:  "Pet food manufactrers continue to try convince consumers their too-heavy dogs and cats can lose weight by being stuffed full of grains and fiber-filled pet food.   The goal of many pet weight management formulas is to create a temporary feeling of fullness in dogs and cats so they won't beg for food. This takes the heat off owners who don't want to say no to a begging pet.

One company has even gone so far as to invent a bizarre ingredient that when added to pet food impedes digestion so the animal feels full longer.   And the gimmicks being employed! There's a 'meal replacement' drink for cats that contains not a scrap of animal protein. And then there's the 'weight management' dog food loaded with seven different kinds of grains and a special 'fat-burning' ingredient.   Parents of overweight pets would be wise to steer clear of the ever-evolving gimmicky 'weight loss' products appearing on store shelves. Almost without exception, these formulas contain as much if not more of exactly the type of food that is making pets fat in the first place."

By Dr. Becker: "As pets keep getting fatter, pet food companies get ever more creative developing 'weight management' formulas to peddle to uninformed consumers.  It's a discouraging trend, since most of these special formulas consist of the same inappropriate, low quality ingredients that contribute to pet obesity in the first place.   And in fact, these foods actually contain more of exactly the wrong type of nutrition for overweight pets ... or any pet.

The Goal: Fool Pets into Thinking They're Full

According to PetfoodIndustry.com, one of the goals of pet food companies is to develop formulas for overweight dogs and cats that create a feeling of fullness or satisfaction.  Per the article, inducing satiety is important because, "... as long as the pet doesn't act hungry we will be less likely to give in and overindulge begging behavior."  And according to one pet food manufacturer, studies show overweight dogs fed 'fiber-enhanced' foods consume fewer calories and appear less hungry.

So if I understand this correctly, the goal is to stuff carnivorous dogs and cats full of species-inappropriate fiber rich food so they won't act hungry, and in turn, their owners won't overindulge them.  This thinking is so wrong on so many levels I'm not sure where to begin.

Let's just say I'm adamantly opposed to intentionally feeding companion animals biologically inappropriate nutrition, so their owners don't have to deal with begging behavior or the temptation to overfeed their pets.

Certainly if we have an overweight pet we can find the energy and ambition to feed our dog or cat the nutrition she was designed to eat, in reasonable portions?   And certainly we can muster the patience to ignore begging behavior (which is typically temporary when ignored) for the sake of our pet's health?
Read more at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/03/02/ridiculous-pet-weight-loss-products.aspx
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Sumatra's Last Tigers
  "A National Geographic production broadcast on ABC Nightline looked at a spate of tiger attacks on humans in 2009, and asked why such attacks might be happening. According to conservationists like Joe Walston, WCS Executive Director for Asia Programs, hungry tigers will occasionally turn to people out of desperation, as their forest homes and prey dwindle. The pressures on Sumatran tigers have become so severe, only 400 of these top predators remain in the wild."
View Here: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/sumatras-tigers-15813981
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Jail Time for Thailand's Tiger Poachers

The sentencing of two tiger poachers marks a major turning point in Asia’s war against wildlife crime. WCS helped apprehend the pair last summer after authorities discovered a cell phone with images of a dead tiger.


"The evidence for their crime was grim: Two poachers posed proudly over the corpse of a tiger, shotguns in hand. Thai park guards found the photos on one of the poachers' cell phones last summer. After examining the images more closely, WCS conservationists confirmed the cat was one they had been tracking in the Western Forest Complex.

Authorities arrested the poachers, using the photos to help prove their guilt. Now, Thailand is hoping to send a new warning to the criminal gangs that continue to pursue the world's last wild tigers. The two men will serve up to five years in prison, the most severe sentences for poaching ever handed down in that country."
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Kaaiyana and Her Cubs
 "Kaaiyana," a female jaguar, and her two cubs plod through Kaa Iya National Park, Bolivia, just a short distance from the Isoso Station of the Santa Cruz-Puerto Suarez Gas Pipeline. Kaaiyana has lived in the area for at least 6 years, according to WCS conservationists who work in the region.   At more than 13,200 square miles, Kaa Iya is the largest protected area in Bolivia and safeguards the most expansive dry forest in the world. Park guards work with Gas TransBoliviano personnel to ensure the protection of wildlife, including jaguar prey, in the area.  
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Wildlife Conservation Society


"WCS is starting 2012 off on the right paw; a team of our conservationists was delighted to take this recent image from a craggy peak in Afghanistan’s Sarkund Valley. Although this is first image of a mother and cub taken in the region, WCS has been conserving wildlife and improving local livelihoods in Afghanistan since 2006 with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)."
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Possum eating strawberries: http://youtu.be/VWwNkIRGnRk

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Goats Grazing Fire Breaks.



"California's Lake Siskiyou Campground hosts more than RVers. Hundreds of goats are browsing to maintain a 40-acre fire fuel break. The 450 caprines are efficient, inexpensive and environmentally friendly. It helps they have big appetites, too."
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Goats have proven to a great tool in preventing forest fires: http://www.lslm.org/fire_mitigation.html
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Caught in the Crossroads, Trying to save a Gaur Stuck In Mud.

"Hear about the life-and-death struggles that took place one morning this spring in Northern Cambodia, where a group of shy forest denizens have found their world changed by a single, muddy road.
"The northern plains of Cambodia are home to rare wild cattle, deer, wild pigs, and elephants. These shy forest denizens travel from pond to pond and between mineral deposits, foraging as they go. With the development of new roads and settlements throughout the region, this unique landscape, often called the "Serengeti of Southeast Asia," has become increasingly fragmented. As a result, its wildlife residents face increasing risks to survival as they search for resources. And sometimes, as this photo essay shows, a single road can change everything."     http://youtu.be/V9AGeff43RU  More at: http://www.wcs.org/safepassages
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On This Day:

The first presidential inauguration, Apr 30, 1789:

"In New York City, George Washington, the great military leader of the American Revolution, is inaugurated as the first president of the United States.

In February 1789, all 69 presidential electors unanimously chose Washington to be the first U.S. president. In March, the new U.S. constitution officially took effect, and in April Congress formally sent word to Washington that he had won the presidency. He borrowed money to pay off his debts in Virginia and traveled to New York. On April 30, he came across the Hudson River in a specially built and decorated barge. The inaugural ceremony was performed on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street, and a large crowd cheered after he took the oath of office. The president then retired indoors to read Congress his inaugural address, a quiet speech in which he spoke of "the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people." The evening celebration was opened and closed by 13 skyrockets and 13 cannons.

As president, Washington sought to unite the nation and protect the interests of the new republic at home and abroad. Of his presidency, he said, "I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn in precedent." He successfully implemented executive authority, made good use of brilliant politicians such as Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson in his cabinet, and quieted fears of presidential tyranny. In 1792, he was unanimously re-elected but four years later refused a third term. In 1797, he finally began a long-awaited retirement at his estate in Virginia. He died two years later. His friend Henry Lee provided a famous eulogy for the father of the United States: "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."
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Louisiana Purchase concluded, Apr 30, 1803:

"On April 30, 1803, representatives of the United States and Napoleonic France conclude negotiations for the Louisiana Purchase, a massive land sale that doubles the size of the young American republic. What was known as Louisiana Territory comprised most of modern-day United States between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains, with the exceptions of Texas, parts of New Mexico, and other pockets of land already controlled by the United States. A formal treaty for the Louisiana Purchase, antedated to April 30, was signed two days later."
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The first federal prison for women opens, Apr 30, 1927:

"The Federal Industrial Institution for Women, the first women's federal prison, opens in Alderson, West Virginia. All women serving federal sentences of more than a year were to be brought here.

Run by Dr. Mary B. Harris, the prison's buildings, each named after social reformers, sat atop 500 acres. One judge described the prison as a "fashionable boarding school." In some respects the judge was correct: The overriding purpose of the prison was to reform the inmates, not punish them. The prisoners farmed the land and performed office work in order to learn how to type and file. They also cooked and canned vegetables and fruits.

Other women's prisons had similar ideals. At Bedford Hills in New York, there were no fences, and the inmates lived in cottages equipped with their own kitchen and garden. The prisoners were even given singing lessons.

Reform efforts had a good chance for success since the women sent to these prisons were far from hardened criminals. At the Federal Industrial Institution, the vast majority of the women were imprisoned for drug and alcohol charges imposed during the Prohibition era."
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Yesterday:

Jay and I sorted out the grooming room.  A lot of boxes had got bunged in there on the way to my attic. The attic steps are in my grooming room.  Mindi's dogs were supposed to arrive for boarding for a few days.  But that was postponed until today.

Then Jay and I went to a benefit for my ex daughter-in-law, Becky.  She has been through chemo, but now they found more cancer, so she is having a double masectomy, and is going to need help paying her insurance premiums while she was on sick leave.  I didn't know that the benefit was being held in an Ice House, and Jay felt very uncomfortable there, as he would love to have stayed there and got sloshed.  I bought a plate of the delicious BBQ, to bring home. 

On the way home, we happened to see a sign for another branch of our church, Church of God, and went back to check it out.   It is a lovely looking building, but "beauty is, as beauty does", and we will check it out next Saturday. Their services are in the afternoon, which will be better for me on Adoption Days.

Later on in the afternoon, I went back there, without Jay, and made another donation to the fund.  But I couldn't stay, the band was playing so loud that you couldn't hear yourself think.  I don't think I would want to go to another Ice House, the big doors are open, so there was no air conditioning on.    Not my kind of enjoyment at all.  

I didn't buy a drink, as I was driving, and I don't like to be around a bunch of drunks. It just reminds me of the loss of  my other granddaughter to a drunk driver.  So I didn't stay long.

But I did see Michelle, Becky's daughter, my granddaughter, so that made my day.