What Really Happened on Good Friday? Christ’s Body. Christ’s Blood.

For  “Scripture Sunday”,

What Really Happened on Good Friday?

“Every year millions commemorate Good Friday on the Friday before Easter. It’s believed that Jesus was crucified and entombed on that Friday afternoon. But does the Bible teach that Jesus was crucified on Good Friday?

Good Friday is the traditional holiday supposedly honoring the day of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. However, a concordance search will reveal that the term Good Friday is not found in the New Testament. In fact, its exact origin is uncertain. Some sources say it comes from “God’s Friday,” while others say it comes from the German Gute Freitag. It is referred to as “Holy Friday” in Romance languages and was called “Long Friday” by the Anglo-Saxons and is still referred to that way in modern Danish.

But do the four Gospel accounts designate Friday as the day Jesus died and was entombed? If not, then what did happen on that Friday?

When we understand that there were two Sabbaths observed in Jerusalem that week—an annual Sabbath and the weekly Sabbath—understanding Jesus’ statement about “three days and three nights” becomes easier.”  Continue Reading.

From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/what-really-happened-on-good-friday/?

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Christ’s Body

Matthew 26:26

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

The breaking of the unleavened bread at the New Testament Passover service is symbolic of Christ’s suffering in our place for our sins. It reminds us of our deserved punishment that fell on Jesus as His body was beaten and broken.

Eating the bread is also symbolic of our allowing Jesus Christ to live His life in us, and our need to live by every word of God (John 6:35; Galatians 2:20; Matthew 4:4). Just as physical food is essential to maintain physical life, living by the spiritual “bread” is essential for a healthy spiritual life.

Study more about Passover in our Fundamental Beliefs “12. The Passover.” See also “Passover: What Did Jesus Do for You?”

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“This Is My Blood … for the Remission of Sins”

Matthew 26:27-28

Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

It was Jesus’ intent that each year as Christians drink this small glass of red wine that it would serve as a vivid reminder that His blood—His life—was poured out for us. This helps to impress on us the reality of the enormous price that was necessary to pay to forgive our sins—the death of the Son of God!

Christians remember the New Covenant that we made with God at baptism every year as we take the Passover. The New Covenant allows God to write His laws on our hearts, and it provides forgiveness of our sins and a promise of eternal life (Hebrews 8:8-12; 9:15).

Study more about sin and Christ’s shed blood for our forgiveness in our Fundamental Beliefs “6. Sin and God’s Law” and “7. The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.” See also our article “Seven Last Sayings of Jesus.”

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Update.

After two visits to a chiropractor, at my own expense, at last I have some relief from my back pain.  My tailbone will always be a sore spot because it is bent. Still waiting for out of network permission from my medical insurance to pay for treatment.  A friend who does Myofascial Release helped quite a bit.  She originally learned how to do this on horses, but it works on other four legged and two legged beings also.  (It is a type of physical therapy often used to treat myofascial pain syndrome. Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain disorder caused by sensitivity and tightness in your myofascial tissues. These tissues surround and support the muscles throughout your body.)

As I am supposed to have a contract on both my house and the mini-house, so when the opportunity came to buy an old Holiday Rambler Presidential travel trailer, I grabbed it.  Yes, it needs work, but at least I will have a home if the house deal goes through.

Getting the trailer moved was quite a process. It was under a rickety roof-over, which had been repaired with cross beams that were too low to allow the AC to pass under them, so they had to be removed. Then there had been a water leak under it and a great big wet area was hampering getting the leveling blocks out.  A water faucet on a post was not far in front of it, so that meant that the truck couldn’t be lined up very well. 

My girlfrend with a 3/4 ton diesel truck and I couldn’t do it alone, so I called “Mr. Impossible”, my son Kevin.  Fortunately, he has just moved back to TX from FL.  He can do impossible things, and he really did it then.  But because the grass was so slippery we had to pull his big van with my friends diesel chained in front of it, to get the trailer out. One tire was flat so we had to mount the spare. My compressor came in handy to air up the tires too. The trailer has an electric jack which didn’t work, so fortunately my floor jack and some cement blocks did the job.  I still didn’t have my subdivision’s permission to bring it in here, so we took it to my friend’s horse pasture.  But before we could even get it through the gate, Kevin had to cut a bunch of low hanging branches down with his chainsaw. But at least we got it out into a safe place with no real mishaps, and no people, animals or property were hurt in the process.

I made Baked Jimaca Fries and a Bison Impossible Pie for the church’s Sabbath potluck.  Then anything with leavening was taken out of the church’s kitchen for me to store in the empty mini-house fridge, as Passover starts on Friday evening.  A lot of us can’t drive at night, so we are going to have our Passover Service at 11.am on Saturday.

The Bible readings  were Exo. 9:1-35, Isa. 34:11-35:4, Heb. 12:14-17 and Matt. 13:51 to the end of chapter 14.

My little skinny foster cat, Oreo, is really on her last legs, and I have been packing up all her meds and food to give back to my SPCA boss.  Oreo makes her last ride to the vet this afternoon, so I going to go lie down with her for the last time before she goes over Rainbow Bridge.

As you can see I have been really busy, so this post is for last Sunday.

Flashpoint: Ferguson, Missouri. American Nurse in Quarantine Conflict. Update.

 

Flashpoint: Ferguson, Missouri

Police in riot gear use tear gas to clear the street in front of the Ferguson Police Department after the announcement of the grand jury decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old, Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

"Jesus prophesied, “Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). Are we seeing that in the news—and in our own lives?

In the aftermath of the decision by the grand jury that officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted in the death of Michael Brown, how much love was being expressed in Ferguson? Along West Florissant Avenue, businesses were being looted, buildings were being burned to the ground, and rocks were being thrown at reporters.

A banner proclaiming “Season’s Greetings” was being engulfed with smoke, tear gas and the sounds of gunfire. In a season when “peace, goodwill toward men” is often touted, people were aggressively cursing the police and stealing from others.

There were calls for nonviolence from government leaders—all the way up to President Obama—but to no avail. There was little love being expressed toward fellow man. And things will get worse and worse because of sin—which is the breaking of God’s laws. So, what are we to do?"       More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/flashpoint-ferguson-missouri/

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Vertical News: American Nurse in Quarantine Conflict

How does the Bible shed light on the current Ebola crisis and the understanding of an ancient medical protocol?

Source: freeimages.com/wax115

"Nurse Kaci Hickox, from the state of Maine, has been in a legal battle with the state over the need for her to undergo medical isolation known as quarantine for 21 days following her return from working with Ebola virus patients in West Africa. Though she claims she shows no signs of the virus, the state had asked that she be required to fulfill her quarantine through November 10 ^th . However, Judge Charles LaVerdiere rejected this demand and freed her from the legalities of quarantine. She is no longer required to avoid public areas (Nick Bryant, “Maine ‘Thinking Locally’ on Ebola Nurse Quarantine,” the BBC at BBC.com, October 31, 2014).

The issue of quarantine has surfaced frequently during the recent media coverage of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Another doctor who also went to West Africa to work with Ebola patients lied about his self-monitored quarantine and was in fact in contact with the public of New York City many times (Jamie Schram and Bruce Golding, “Ebola Doctor ‘Lied’ About NYC Travels,” The New York Post at NYPost.com, October 29, 2014).

Some news sources and, indeed, some medical professionals have portrayed quarantine as antiquated and hurtful to the mental state of those who must undergo it. It’s hard to find the truth amongst all the hype. Where does the concept of quarantine, defined by isolating an individual or group of people from the larger society for a specific period of time until illness has developed and abated or until no threat of illness is present, originate?

You might be surprised to know that it comes directly from God’s word in the Bible. In the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers God gave to the ancient Israelites an enlightened approach to health and hygiene that included burying human waste and burning clothes or other items that had come into contact with infection, among other measures that prevent disease (Leviticus 13, 14, 15). He also gave Israel the concept of quarantine during times of illness or “uncleanness” as it is referred to in the Bible (Numbers 19, and Leviticus:13:45-46
). This put the needs of the many above the needs of the few and prevented spread of disease, but it also allowed those that were ill to recover away from the rest of society.

When a cure for disease isn’t available, such as in the case of Ebola at the present, then the rules of quarantine serve to protect those who are ill and the greater number who are not. Rather than an antiquated procedure, it’s important to look at quarantine as one of the gifts of understanding that God gave to ancient Israel and through them, to the rest of the world."     From:  http://www.ucg.org/youth/vertical-news-american-nurse-quarantine-conflict/

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Update:

Jay still has his cold, but we installed some more siding on the storeroom extension which is going to be a green house.  The transom window came in, and we framed up for that.

Ray and I painted the bad spots on the other side of the Puddle Jumper.

Ray, Jay and I cleaned up a trailer load of used plywood that I acquired.  We pried out all the nails  and stacked it back up on the trailer and covered it with a tarp.  We will be using the dickens out of that soon, I hope.

On Thursday, my son Kevin came to see me, and we spent a good few hours just chatting.  (Mostly about the motorcycle he was going to buy.)  When he isn't stump-grinding, he wheels and deals in land and motorcycles.

On Friday, Jay and I went to the half-price sale at Angelic Thrift shop.  My old microwave finally had died, so I bought one there, and Jay bought a 47" flat screen TV.  I also bought some very fancy light fixtures.

At church, the Bible readings were Eph. 2, Psa. 56,57,61,62, Gen. 28:10–32:3 and Hos. 12.:11-14-9.

Jeff gave us a great teaching. He called it "The Pre-eminence of Jews".  He is enrolled in several evening classes, and by coincidence in his English class there was a story about a Jewish lady who was in one of the terrible war camps in Poland.  Then in his History class there was a story about a Jewess in the 1900's, about the New York Jews.  And finally in his Musical History class wast he story about Felix Mendelssohn, a Jew. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Mendelssohn   It seems that all through history is there are stories about the Jews somewhere.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Jewish_history    I haven't made it sound interesting, but Jeff did!

Deut. 28:1 "And it shall come to pass, if you shall listen diligently to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command you this day, that the LORD your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth"

We all enjoyed a good potluck, and it was a great day.

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.

Aug 26th is National Dog Day. 10 Ways to Celebrate. And 50 More. Don’t Shop, Adopt! Dog’s Last Will and Testament. Google Dog, Sonya. Watson, Three Legged Dog. Adopt ‘Special Needs’ Pet. Pet Days. Indianapolis 500. Adolf Hitler. Vietnam.

 

For “Mammal Monday”:

August 26th is National Dog Day.

Are you ready?

10 Ways to Celebrate National Dog Day

“While many of us may pamper our pups year-round, August 26^th, or National Dog Day, is a chance for owners to do something extra-special for their four-legged family members.”

“Celebrating National Dog Day is an opportunity to thank your furry friend for his continued loyalty and companionship.

Ways to celebrate your canine companion are limited only by your imagination. So start thinking now about how you want to honor the special dog in your life on National Dog Day.”

Here are 10 ways to celebrate:

Suggestions: 1. A long, unhurried walk... a visit to the off-leash dog park... a ride in the car... a trail hike... a leisurely swim in the lake or your backyard pool.”   More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/07/16/celebrating-national-dog-day.aspx

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And 50 more at:

"We will never meet a human who will love us without condition, without expectation, without someone, at some point, disappointing us, breaking our heart..." Paige said, "Dogs will never do this to us. They are steadfast.... and short, fat, tall, skinny, any race, any religion, there is no discrimination - we are perfect in their eyes. They deserve so much more than they get."

Paige dubbed the holiday a K-9 Fourth of July and asks pet lovers to celebrate by adopting a shelter dog, helping an ill or elderly neighbor by walking their dog, or with a $5 donation to a local shelter. But that's just three of National Dog Day's 50 Ways to Celebrate.”

http://www.nationaldogday.com/ways_to_celebrate.htm

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“Have you thought about what you will do to celebrate the day? Are you adopting a new dog or maybe volunteering to walk one??♥”

“People that say money can’t buy you happiness have never paid an adoption fee”

 

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R.I.P.

“There is always an overpopulation due to overbreeding of pets and they are often discarded when the owners have a financial situation,” said PAWS Director Carole Michales. “We make sure that a lot of great animals, that would have been destroyed at shelters, get good homes.”

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Sonya, the Google maps stray dog rescue.

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Dog rescue: Watson, the three legged dog

Watson’s new home:

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From me: If you feel that you have the heart and home to help a ‘Special Needs’ pet a new start in life, please go to Petfinder.com

Big black dogs. Black Cats. FIV+ cats. Senior pets. Special-needs animals.

“Many factors can make a pet seem “less adoptable.” To promote these unusual (or, in some cases, too common) animals, Petfinder has designated Sept. 17-23, 2012, as “Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week.”

Survey Results: Which Pets are Hardest to Place?

Did you know that 99% of our shelters and rescue groups currently have adoptable pets that have been at the shelters a long time and are having a harder time getting adopted?

In fact, according to our survey, these “less-adoptable” pets wait for a home nearly four times longer than the average adoptable pet does … sometimes more than two years!”  More at: http://www.petfinder.com/less-adoptable-pet-week/

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Of course, every day is hopefully a Special Day for your pet:

http://www.dogtipper.com/fun/pet-holidays

“National Dog Day. Not to be confused with National Mutt Day (Dec. 2), National Puppy Day (March 23) or National Pet Day (April 11), each of the 19 national and international pet days founded by Paige are all designed with one thing in mind: to draw attention to the need for pet rescue.”

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On This Day:

Louis Schwitzer wins first race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Aug 19, 1909:

“In front of some 12,000 spectators, automotive engineer Louis Schwitzer wins the two-lap, five-mile inaugural race on August 19, 1909. This is the first race is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, now the home of the world's most famous motor racing competition, the Indianapolis 500.

Built on 328 acres of farmland five miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana, the speedway was started by local businessmen as a testing facility for Indiana's growing automobile industry. The idea was that occasional races at the track would pit cars from different manufacturers against each other. After seeing what these cars could do, spectators would presumably head down to the showroom of their choice to get a closer look.

In 1965, Schwitzer suffered a stroke while riding a horse on his farm. He was paralyzed, and for a time lost his ability to speak English, reverting to Hungarian. He died in 1967.

To honor Schwitzer's legacy, the Society of Professional Engineers now presents an individual or group involved with the Indianapolis 500 with the annual Louis Schwitzer Award for Engineering Excellence.”

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Adolf Hitler becomes president of Germany, Aug 19, 1934:

“On this day in 1934, Adolf Hitler, already chancellor, is also elected president of Germany in an unprecedented consolidation of power in the short history of the republic.

Hitler had Roem executed without trial, which encouraged the army and other reactionary forces within the country to urge Hitler to further consolidate his power by merging the presidency and the chancellorship. This would make Hitler commander of the army as well. A plebiscite vote was held on August 19. Intimidation, and fear of the communists, brought Hitler a 90 percent majority. He was now, for all intents and purposes, dictator.”

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Many Americans against a bombing halt, Aug 19, 1968:

  “A Harris survey indicates that 61 percent of those polled are against calling a halt to the bombing in Vietnam. President Johnson, in a major speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Detroit, challenged Hanoi to respond to the limitations of the bombing campaign that he had announced in March. But he refused to curtail other military activities in Southeast Asia, saying that, "there are some among us who appear to be searching for a formula which would get us out of Vietnam and Asia on any terms, leaving the people of South Vietnam and Laos and Thailand... to an uncertain fate."”

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Yesterday:

While Ray primed some more of the rafters on the screen porch, I raked up some of the pine needles felled by the recent rains.  There was no wind, but starting a burn pile on a Sunday, when most people are home, didn’t seem like a nice thing to do. 

I called my youngest son, Kevin, who will be 44 today, and we had a long chat.  Doesn’t seem that long ago that he was in school.

The cooler weather has certainly been welcome, but we know it can’t last for many more days.

RV Stuck? Winnie Recall. Cruise and Overdrive Towing? Oil Field Gate Jobs. RV Chalet. RV Dangers. Queen in RV. Ditch Propane Canisters. Slides. EV RV? Apollo 8. Sukkot.

 

For “tRaVersing Thursday”, or RV day:

Off main road with your RV--getting unstuck

“Boondocking away from "civilization" in your RV is a great way to get away from noise and hassles and bring you closer to nature. It can also provide its own set of challenges: Getting your rig stuck off the road is an example, and one you really don't want to experience.
Experienced boondockers can tell you: The best way to get your RV unstuck is not to get stuck in the first place. Whenever your wanderings take you away from maintained roads, it's best to look ahead--without the rig. Scouting ahead on foot can help you identify hazards. Obviously mud is something to steer clear of, but check the terrain carefully--it may be good today while it's dry, but what if rain comes--will that perfect "spot" suddenly become a mire?
Despite your best intentions though, things can happen. You may suddenly encounter a muddy or soft patch on an otherwise good gravel road. Be sure to…….”  Read the rest at: http://www.rvboondockingnews.com/2012/12/off-main-road-with-your-rv-getting.html

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Winnebago Recall:

“Winnebago Industries, Inc. is recalling 2,944 model year 2009-2013
Winnebago model Era, View, and Via motorhomes, and 2010-2013 Itasca
model Navion and Reyo motorhomes. The proper fuses were not installed
for the refrigerator circuits.  Without the proper fuse, heat can build
which could lead to a vehicle fire. Winnebago will notify owners, and
dealers will replace the fuses. The recall is expected to begin in early
Jan. 2013. Consumers may contact Winnebago Industries owner relations at (641) 585-6939. Winnebago's recall campaign number is 127.”

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What about cruise control and overdrive when towing?

“When towing a travel trailer, can you use the cruise control? What about an overdrive transmission? These are questions that can puzzle new RVers--and even some veterans.
First, let's talk about cruise control. Here's a school of thought where most folks who've had cruise tend to agree: Towing a trailer with cruise control is fine--with certain caveats. Towing "on the flat" is a snap, and may save you fuel if your cruise control handles the accelerator. However, if you encounter a situation where your transmission begins to "hunt," that is, to move from one gear to another and back, then you may need to make a change. Usually the "hunting" can be stopped by simply slowing down or speeding up just a tad. If this settles the transmission down, well and good. If not, you may be back to "flying manually."”    More at: http://www.newrver.com/howto/tow_cruise.shtml

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Oil Field Gate Security Booming

“We have just started working in Texas as an oil field gate security gate team. We sign vehicles in and out of a ranch that has one or more oil wells and/or drilling sites. I'm writing this because it took me quite awhile to find out how to get into this business and thought we could help others.

The company we are working for has started us at $150.00 dollar a day or about $4,500 a month. You must be a team of two, as this is a 24 hour position, so one of you must be at the gate at all times. We intend to do this for five or six months, then take two months off and back again for another hitch. The owner of the company was the one that suggested this work schedule. Figure we will need a break after being in the middle of no where for six months.
The owner also asked if we knew any other RVers that might be interested in working as oil field security gate guards. As they are overwhelmed with jobs, your employment would be almost immediate. You must have a clean criminal background history. You will take an open book test on the details of your responsibilities, get finger printed, and then you're off to the job site.
I'm asking that, if you are interested, to contact me by email for further contact information. cstarkey090 at gmail.com .”  By: Tina Starkey
(Working a Paying Job While Full-time RV Living)    From: http://www.rv-life-and-travel.com/oil-field-gate-security-booming.html

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RV Chalet, The best of two worlds.

“Full-time RVing is indeed a spectacular way of life. Extremely popular, but not fully attainable to the multitudes of us who still must work for a living and travel when we can.

The RV Chalet is a means to accommodate RVing and still have a home base to return to when it's time to punch that time clock.  Or for those who are retired or travelling full-time, when it's time to hole up for the winter. In truth, flexibility is the key word, for actually any scenario fits the RV Chalet. Sound appealing?”    Read on at: http://www.rvdoctor.com/2004/11/rv-chalet-best-of-two-worlds.html

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“I wish we had more readers.”

“The sad truth is that a lot of RVers are doing bad things because they have not learned how to properly use their RVs.

They overload them, they drive on defective tires, they don't understand the dangers of carbon monoxide or LP gas, they don't maintain their rigs properly -- some don't even know how to correctly empty their holding tanks. Many put themselves and their families in jeopardy because they don't understand RV electricity.

We have run our "No Shock Zone" series on RV electricity several times and have received at least a few letters from readers who said what they learned may have saved their lives. If we had five times the readers, we could do more good.”    More at: Editor's corner, http://rvtravel.com/?q=rv-travel-newsletter-issue562

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Queen Elizabeth Impressed by RV Factory Tour

Queen Elizabeth II (in pink) exits an RV during her tour of the RV plant in Bristol, England. Photo courtesy of the London Daily Mail.

“Queen Elizabeth II recently visited an RV plant in Bristol, England.  The queen and her husband, Prince Philip, were taken for a brief ride in the motorhome, the Approach SE760, known at the factory as Mavis, and given a tour of the plant.

Aides said they believed it was first journey in such a vehicle for the couple, who are more accustomed to the royal train and the former royal yacht Britannia for mobile accommodation.  Nevertheless, the Queen, dressed in a vivid pink Stewart Parvin coat and hat by Rachel Trevor-Morgan, seemed genuinely impressed.

Click here to read the entire story and watch a video of her visit.”

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Use your RV's propane tank to fuel your gas barbecue

“If you're tired of having to buy those expensive propane canisters to operate your gas barbecue, and running out half way through the campground potluck, then this adaption is just for you.

A gas connect kit, which comes with the fittings including a T to connect to your rig's propane tank, can fuel your barbecue right from your larger tank.

The cost of propane used will be cheaper than the canisters, and with the Quick Connect fitting it can be hooked up in seconds. You can leave it connected while you are camped and only need to pack it away when you move on.

Since I barbecue right next to my rig I installed two book shelf brackets above my propane tank so when I cook, I slip the extensions into the brackets and place a shelf on top. Voila! A place for holding utensils, tools, condiments, barbecue sauce, etc., right at hand.   Kits can be found at RV supply stores and propane outlets.”     By Bob Difley
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How to avoid damaging your slides when leveling your RV

“So what's the correct way to level your rig without damaging the slides -- before or after they are extended? The safest (and most warranty-wise) answer: "Do what your rig's manual tells you. Here's a lift from a Keystone manual: The recreational vehicle must be level to avoid binding the slide-rooms. Remember, stabilizing jacks are not capable of supporting the weight of your vehicle! They are intended only to stabilize the unit maintaining a level condition. Non-leveled conditions cause sticking situations providing damaging strains on the slide-out mechanism."

This advice is pretty much standard with most RVers. If the rig is twisted, even a bit, it can put a real cramp on the slide-out mechanism. Pinching your slide-out can make for a most uncomfortable situation -- particularly if you can't "reel the unit back in" when it's time to hit the road.

As to the case of the "leaning RV," we can only say that if your rig leans after you deploy the slide-out, the most likely issue was not having your unit properly settled in the first place. Were the levelers on firm ground, or did they perhaps "sink" a bit into soft ground? Here's a case for leveler or "jack boots" to provide a larger surface area to those little feet.” By Russ and Tina De Maris
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Electric Vehicle update:

“As EVs continue to gain acceptance, will small RV power plants be far behind? Ford is pushing their small van, the Transit Connect, which could easily be transformed into a Class B RV, and there are several companies producing electric buses. And both Federal Express and UPS are experimenting with electric delivery vans. This experimentation by business and industry will spur further development in more efficient batteries that charge faster and deliver more mileage in less size and weight. And that will be the ultimate game changer.”  More at: http://blog.rv.net/2012/11/electric-vehicle-update-events-affecting-ev-development-and-public-acceptance/  Read the comments, too!

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On This Day:

Apollo 8 returns to Earth, Dec 27, 1968:

“Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon, returns safely to Earth after an historic six-day journey.

On December 21, Apollo 8 was launched by a three-stage Saturn 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, Jr., and William Anders aboard. On Christmas Eve, the astronauts entered into orbit around the moon, the first manned spacecraft ever to do so. During Apollo 8's 10 lunar orbits, television images were sent back home and spectacular photos were taken of the Earth and the moon from the spacecraft. In addition to being the first human beings to view firsthand their home world in its entirety, the three astronauts were also the first to see the dark side of the moon. On Christmas morning, Apollo 8 left its lunar orbit and began its journey back to Earth, landing safely in the Pacific Ocean on December 27.

On July 20 of the following year, Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission, became the first men to walk on the moon.”

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Yesterday:

When I woke up and turned on the news, I heard a familiar voice, it was my son Kevin on KHOU.

Video | News | Weather | Sports

Tue Dec 25 20:01:30 PST 2012

High winds topple trees killed in drought

Many of tall pine trees here along Eldridge Parkway and the surrounding area are the casualties of last summer’s drought. view full article

Partial Transcript:  “Many of tall pine trees here along Eldridge Parkway and the surrounding area are the casualties of last summer’s drought.

The danger proved all too real when a young man tried removing a tree that had plunged down onto the road. A second tree fell on top of him and ended his life.

What’s going to be done to fix this problem is unclear right now.

But tree expert Kevin McKean says it’s likely going to be expensive.

“The problem is it costs a lot of money to get these trees down. With the economy the way it is, people don’t have the money to get their trees done,” said Kevin McKean, of Kevin’s Tree Service.

McKean says if you have a dead tree on your property, you have about six months before it becomes a real hazard.  Brown pine needles and bark that peels off are ways you can tell if a tree is ready to go.

“You have a full size tree that tree is 6,500 pounds and when the top breaks off, it’s going to produce a tremendous amount of force,” said Kevin McKean. “I’ve seen them punch completely through two-story houses and hit the concrete slab on the ground floor.””    From: http://www.khou.com/home/Falling-trees-claim-one-life-expert--184777591.html

 

I don’t know why Kevin was there, as he told me the other day that he wanted to get out of the tree removal business.  With the problems of having to hire competent help, he wanted to concentrate on just stump grinding, which he can do by himself.  He has three different stump grinders for different situations.

The overhead and liability insurance is so much less too.  He has a ladder-truck, log loading truck, crane and big chipper for tree removal, which have to be taken to the site with helper drivers.   Whereas even his large stump grinder, on right, can be loaded into his custom built high-top Astro van with the ramp that he made for it.

Later, I learned that we lost Jack Klugman and Charles Durning.  Two great actors.

I am still watching some of the home renovation shows on HGTV, as it is giving me ideas how to make my house more desirable for someone to buy.  I like it just the way it is, but not everyone likes a small galley kitchen with an ‘Early American’ 3-burner RV propane cook top!  Also, I only have an enormous built-in electric microwave-convection combo, so I might have to buy a regular propane stove with oven.  I rarely use the big microwave-convection oven as I have smaller ones for every day use.

Then, the private appraiser wanted the lots split up on the county records before he does the appraisal.  So I went to our county’s Appraisal District in Conroe and did that, then emailed him the paperwork.  The county is going to send out one of their appraisers too, as now that the RVport and my pergola are no longer here, it alters things.  

As I received some emails about Christ being born during Sukkot, The Feast of Tabernacles, here are these thoughts:

Sukkot, The birth of Jesus the Nazarene

 

Well, that’s it for today.

Mayans. Truth or Tradition? Kiss Cancer Goodbye with Mistletoe? Fossil Fuels. BP Oil Spill Cleanup Toxic. Giza Pyramid. Beethoven's Fifth. Ortolan Bunting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

But first this interesting info from a book written by Pope Benedict.

Truth or Tradition?

 

“When was Jesus born? Why does it matter?”

Transcript:  [Steve Myers] “It's the Christmas season. And with that in mind, I got a copy of a book that was written by Pope Benedict and it's called, “The Infancy Narratives: Jesus of Nazareth ". It concerns itself a lot with traditional views of what Christmas was all about. And it's very interesting what the Pope had to say. In fact, it's kind of created a bit of a controversy in many circles about some of the things that he wrote. And it has to cause us to answer the question, is what we do out of truth or tradition?

Why do we do the things that we do when it comes to worshipping and honoring God? What do we do? But one of the things that the Pope wrote about in regards to Christmas was pinpointing the date of Jesus' birth. And when it comes to that, most people will assume it was 0 A.D.

[Darris McNeely] Just like they assume so many other traditions of Christmas are in the Bible or are factual. To get a figure like the Pope writing a book like this is interesting because of what he brings out whether or not people will actually stop and think, "What else is not true about this particular teaching, holiday? What else do I need to know?" That'll be yet to be determined.

[Steve Myers] Yeah, what many don't realize is that the date of Christmas is certainly suspect. Here's what the Pope writes about this idea of being, Christ being born at 0 A.D. He says, "The starting point for our reckoning time, the calculation of Jesus' date of birth, goes back to the Monk Dionysius Exiguss," which means Dennis the Small for those of us who don't speak Latin.

[Darris McNeely] Thanks for pointing that out.

[Steve Myers] Yeah, it's kind of interesting. But he says, "Who evidently miscalculated by a few years. The historical date of the birth of Jesus is therefore to be placed a few years earlier." Now, it's interesting that the Pope himself recognizes that Christ wasn't born in 0 A.D. And in fact, if you go to Catholic writings themselves, the New Catholic Encyclopedia says this, "Inexplicable as though it seems, the date of Christ's birth is not known." Now they take it a step farther than the Pope and they say, "The gospels indicate neither the day nor the month." So not only 0 A.D. is a false concept, but the idea that Christ would've been born on December 25th in the winter time is a fallacy. There is no way that that's possible according to the Bible.

[Darris McNeely] Again, it just points to the fact that many of the traditions normally associated with Christmas are not found in the Bible and in fact don't always match up with the historical reality, which brings us  back to what is the proper way to worship God, to honor Jesus Christ, and to understand Him? No better verse probably than John 4:23 where Jesus Christ Himself said, "The hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." God must be worshipped in spirit and in truth. And examples like this and many, many others that can be brought out regarding Christmas traditions, even other traditions such as Easter point to the fact that most are not worshipping God according to truth. The fact that a religious figure like Pope Benedict XVI points it out should give us all pause to think and to search into it to find out what else is wrong, and what do we really need to know, and what is the truth?

[Steve Myers] There's a few other things to think about when it comes to Christmas traditions and we'll talk about that in a couple of future BT Dailies . So, we'll look for you the next time.”  From: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/christian-living/truth-or-tradition Wednesday, December 19, 2012

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12 Things to Know about Mistletoe

The white berries of mistletoe plants are poisonous to humans but valuable food to many other species.

“Often used as a symbol of renewal because it stays green all winter, mistletoe is famed for its stolen-kisses power. But the plant also is important to wildlife, and it may have critical value for humans, too.

Extracts from mistletoe—newly used in Europe to combat colon cancer, the second greatest cause of cancer death in Europe and the Americas—show signs of being more effect against cancer, and less toxic to humans, than standard chemotherapy.”  From: http://blog.nwf.org/2012/12/12-things-to-know-about-mistletoe/

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Kiss Cancer Goodbye with Mistletoe?

“Turns out that mistletoe—that romantic staple of holiday gatherings—may have an even more important role: cancer fighter.

Mistletoe has long been a popular alternative remedy for people with cancer. The National Cancer Institute website says that “In certain European countries, preparations made from European mistletoe are among the most prescribed drugs for patients with cancer.” The NCI also says that mistletoe has been widely studied as a complementary therapy, but though there have been some promising results in lab and animal studies, there have been few solid, scientific studies in humans.”  More at: http://www.rd.com/recommends/kiss-cancer-goodbye-with-mistletoe/

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Victories Over Fossil Fuels Strengthen Our Resolve

Earthjustice set to make 2013 the year to powerfully engage climate change

“Earthjustice has just won two major victories over fossil fuels that strengthen our resolve to make 2013 the year America turns from these dirtiest of energy sources and moves towards a clean energy future—the only real solution to climate change.

On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency reacted to Earthjustice legal action by adopting drastic limits on the amount of soot poured out from coal-fired power plants and tailpipes. This powerful achievement will save thousands of lives a year and slow climate change by reducing pollution that accelerates sea ice melt.

And, a few weeks ago, we learned that the Danskammer coal-fired power plant, one of New York’s dirtiest polluters, will be retired and torn down. Recent Earthjustice legal action helped bring about this happy outcome, aided by flooding from superstorm Sandy, a storm made fiercer by the climate-changing emissions from coal power plants like this one.”  More at: http://earthjustice.org/blog/2012-december/victories-over-fossil-fuels-strengthen-our-resolve

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EPA data show dispersants plus oil are more toxic than either alone

“In an earlier post, I noted in haste some apparent discrepancies between EPA and BP acute toxicity data on the Corexit® dispersants.  Little did I realize that the data mix-up was actually telling me something much more significant:  that the dispersant maker’s own test data demonstrate that the combination of oil plus dispersant is quite a bit more toxic than the dispersant alone and – even more significant – the combination is more acutely toxic than the oil by itself.

Let me repeat that:  The data indicate that dispersed oil is more toxic than un-dispersed oil.  EPA has posted the dispersant manufacturer Nalco’s “Technical Product Bulletins” for each of the dispersants that have been used in the Gulf:  Corexit® EC9527A and Corexit® EC9500A.

Now obviously these volumes are a tiny fraction of the volume of the Gulf, or even of the region of the Gulf where the dispersant have been sprayed and injected.

But that still adds up to a lot of extra toxicity to release into the Gulf, especially when you consider it could well be increasing, rather than decreasing the acute lethal toxicity of the oil.”  From: http://blogs.edf.org/nanotechnology/2010/06/14/epa-data-show-dispersants-plus-oil-are-more-toxic-than-either-alone/

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BP oil spill cleanup toxic to key species

An oil-covered brown pelican sits in a pool of petroleum off the Louisiana coast on June 5, 2010. Oil-spill recovery efforts sometimes have to choose between allowing oil to flow into sensitive coastal fish and bird habitats, or dispersing it into subsea depths where it can kill plankton-like species. (Sean Gardner/Reuters)

“Using oil-dispersing chemicals during the massive 2010 spill in the Gulf of Mexico likely did far more damage than good to a crucial aquatic animal, according to new research that wades into the hotly contested question of whether and when to use the chemicals following an oil spill.

The dispersant used by oil company BP, when mixed with crude oil, was found to be 52 times more toxic than oil alone to some microscopic plankton-like organisms called rotifers.

"What remains to be determined is whether the benefits of dispersing the oil by using Corexit are outweighed by the substantial increase in toxicity of the mixture," said study co-author Terry Snell, chair of Georgia Tech's biology school. "Perhaps we should allow the oil to naturally disperse. It might take longer, but it would have less toxic impact on marine ecosystems."  More at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/11/30/bp-oil-spill-dispersants-rotifers-study.html

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Maker Pulls Pesticide Amid Fear of Toxicity

SAN FRANCISCO — “A manufacturer has pulled a controversial pesticide from the American market, surprising both growers and environmentalists who have warned that it poses serious hazards. The soil fumigant, known as methyl iodide and sold under the label Midas, will be withdrawn immediately as a result of a review of the product’s “economic viability in the U.S. marketplace,” the Tokyo-based company, the Arysta LifeScience Corporation said.

In hearings on the chemical, intended for use on the state’s lucrative strawberry crop, scientists and environmental activists raised concerns about its neurotoxicity and its potential to cause cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders. One member of the department’s own scientific review committee called it “one of the most toxic chemicals on earth.”   Still, the company’s sudden removal of the product was unanticipated. “We were totally surprised by this,” said Carolyn O’Donnell, a spokeswoman for the California Strawberry Commission, a growers’ organization. The state’s farmers grow 88 percent of the nation’s strawberries, worth some $2.3 billion a year.”  From: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/us/pesticide-pulled-from-us-market-amid-fear-of-toxicity.html

More at: http://earthjustice.org/news/press/2012/maker-of-cancer-causing-methyl-iodide-pulls-federal-registration

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This Week's Amazing Fact

Cheops (Giza) Pyramid

“As one of the world's oldest structures (4,600 years), the great Giza pyramid is the sole survivor of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It is believed that a massive, enslaved force of about 25,000 men and women built the colossal structure. It took 20 years to raise, using approximately 2.3 million blocks with an average weight of about 2.5 metric tons. The largest block weighs as much as 15 metric tons.

The pyramid currently stands more than 450 feet high, but at its height it stood 480 feet (50 stories)! It stood as the tallest manmade structure for more than 43 centuries—surpassed only in the nineteenth century. It also boasts a 13.6-acre base.

The sloping angle of its sides is 51 degrees and 51 minutes. Each side is oriented with one of the cardinal points of the compass (north, south, east, west). The pyramid is located at the exact center of the earth's landmass, and the average height of all the land above sea level, as measured only by modern-day technology, is 5,449 inches—the exact height of Cheops.

In addition, the interior stones fit so well that even a business card won't fit between them. It’s engineering prowess was so advanced that current technology still can’t duplicate the structure.

The pyramid's core was constructed mostly of soft limestone blocks weighing between 4,000 to 40,000 pounds, but the outer layer of the pyramid is crafted in a beautifully bright, protective layer of polished stone superior in durability against the elements. The casing stones, 144,000 in all, were so brilliant that when sunlight reflected off them, they could be seen from the mountains of Israel hundreds of miles away.

These outer “casing stones” are missing today because of a 13th century earthquake, which loosened them. Arabic looters, recognizing this great quarry of precut stones, carted these off to finish construction of palaces and mosques.”

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On This Day:

Beethoven's Fifth Symphony given world premiere in Vienna, Dec 22, 1808:

“If the initial reviews failed to recognize it as one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, one needs to understand the adverse conditions under which the work was first heard. The concert venue was freezing cold; it was more than two hours into a mammoth four-hour program before the piece began; and the orchestra played poorly enough that day to force the nearly deaf composer—also acting as conductor and pianist—to stop the ensemble partway into one passage and start again from the very beginning. It was, all in all, a very inauspicious beginning for what would soon become the world's most recognizable piece of classical music: Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67—the "Fifth Symphony"—which received its world premiere on this day in 1808.

Also premiering that day at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna were Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58, and the Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68—the "Pastoral Symphony." But it was the Fifth Symphony that, despite its shaky premiere, would eventually be recognized as Beethoven's greatest achievement to that point in his career. Writing in 1810, the critic E.T.A. Hoffman praised Beethoven for having outstripped the great Haydn and Mozart with a piece that "opens the realm of the colossal and immeasurable to us...evokes terror, fright, horror, and pain, and awakens that endless longing that is the essence of Romanticism."

That assessment would stand the test of time, and the Fifth Symphony would quickly become a centerpiece of the classical repertoire for orchestras around the world. But beyond its revolutionary qualities as a serious composition, the Fifth Symphony has also proven to be a work with enormous pop-cultural staying power, thanks primarily to its powerful four-note opening motif—three short Gs followed by a long E-flat. Used in World War II-era Britain to open broadcasts of the BBC because it mimicked the Morse-code "V" for "Victory," and used in the disco-era United States by Walter Murphy as the basis for his unlikely #1 pop hit "A Fifth Of Beethoven," the opening notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony have become a kind of instantly recognizable musical shorthand since they were first heard by the public on this day in 1808.”

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Beethoven Symphony No.5 - Canadian Brass

Canadian Brass is joined by principal members from two of the great names in brass, New York Philharmonic & Boston Symphony Orchestra.

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Or, if you prefer the more traditional orchestra:

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Saving the songbird that inspired Beethoven

“The ortolan bunting, a little songbird said to have inspired Beethoven's fifth symphony, is about to disappear in Switzerland. The species can only be found at a few sites in canton Valais. To stop the species dying out, the canton together with the Swiss Ornothological Institute has started an unusual rescue campaign.”

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Yesterday:

While I was writing this and listening to Beethoven, my son Kevin drove up.  He has a tree felling and stump grinding business and was going by here on his way home from a job in Huntsville, (TX) so he was pretty grubby. 

While we were were talking, a call came from the SPCA.  Prime, my foster cat, is probably going to her new home today.  A lady and her mother are coming to adopt her during Adoption Day.

After Kevin left, I was packing up Prime’s food and favorite toys with tears in my eyes.  Why is she still up for adoption?  Well, she would outlive me, and I don’t want her to wind up in a cage at a rescue, I want her to have her ‘furever’ home now.  I have fostered this sweet cat for nearly four years now, and have dreaded this day.