Has America Lost the Iraq War? When Birds Fly in V Formation. Jewish Africans.

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

Has America Lost the Iraq War?

This photo posted on a militant website on June 14, 2014, shows militants from the al-Qaeda-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria leading away captured Iraqi soldiers dressed in plain clothes after taking over a base in Tikrit, Iraq (Photo: AP via militant website, File)Since the U.S. withdrew in 2011, Iraq has disintegrated. Now a terrorist organization threatens to reverse everything America accomplished there.

"In 2003 America and its allies launched the second Iraq war—dubbed Operation Iraqi Freedom—to oust the Baathist regime of Saddam Hussein. At the time, the Bush administration reasoned that a Hussein-led Iraq was a strategic threat to the security of the United States.

The war was sold to the American public and the international community based on the belief that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) that he could use against the West (or Israel)—or give to terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda. The Bush administration was convinced that an Iraq without Hussein would result in more stability in the Middle East, make the United States and other Western nations safer, provide more freedom to Iraqi citizens and help start a wave of democracy across the Middle East.

The second Iraq war, though successful at defeating and overthrowing Hussein’s regime relatively quickly, achieved very few of the above objectives. The reality is that Iraq is more volatile and unstable today than it was under Hussein. Arguably, the Maliki government is not as brutal and violent as Hussein’s, but it has proven inept and unjust in other ways……

What we see in Iraq today is the hard-won coalition achievements quickly crumbling away."  Complete article at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/has-america-lost-the-iraq-war/  by Erik Jones - June 18, 2014

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When Birds Fly in V Formation, Timing Is Everything

It’s an established fact that when birds fly in V formation, it offers considerable benefits in both energy expenditure and distance covered. But exactly how birds manage to stay in position in a “V” has been a bit of a scientific mystery… at least until recently.

"A team of European researchers devised an ingenious way to monitor the flight of captive-bred ibises that migrated from Austria to Italy. First they convinced the newly hatched chicks to view human volunteers as their moms. When it was time to migrate, the “moms” traveled just ahead of the birds, calling to them. The ibises, for their part, wore tiny backpacks containing monitoring equipment that collected data on their location and wing beats.

The researchers discovered that while flying in V formation, the birds flap in such a manner that one of their wing tips matches the pattern of the nearest wing tip of the bird in front, allowing the follower to take advantage of the upwash created by the forward bird."  Complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/06/18/birds-v-formation.aspx

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Jewish Africans

An Amazing Fact: "For as long as anyone can remember the Lemba tribe in Zimbabwe, South Africa has claimed to descend from Hebrew ancestors. The Lemba people look like regular Africans but have some very Jewish customs. For example they abstain from eating pork and other unclean foods. They are monotheistic, keep the Sabbath, and shun idolatry. They wear yarmulke-like caps and prayer shawls. They conduct religious animal sacrifice, and mark their gravestones with a Star of David. They even circumcise their male children, which is uncommon in Zimbabwe.

For years people laughed at the Lemba claims of Jewish heritage. But now, according to a recent BBC report, the legend has been backed up by science. British scientists have succeeded in proving the 80,000 member tribe in Zimbabwe descended from Jewish ancestors. The scientists conducted DNA tests on a large sample of the Lemba people, which confirmed Semitic origins dating back more than 2,600 years.

In fact, members of the priestly clan of the Lemba were discovered to have a unique genetic element only found among the Jewish priestly line known as Cohen. In addition, the report says the Lemba have a sacred prayer language that combines Hebrew and Arabic.

So how did their Jewish ancestors get there? The tribe’s oral tradition says that centuries ago a small group of men fled the Holy Land, making a 3,000 mile journey from Israel to southern Africa. They carried with them a replica of the Ark and took African wives along the way. This story does coincide with the disappearance of the real Ark around 586 b.c., just before Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of the Jewish temple.

Despite their “Jewish roots,” many of the tribe people are now Christians. One Lemba pastor explained, “Christianity is my religion and Judaism is my culture.”
Finding a genetic connection with Jewish ancestors is fun and interesting but will not guarantee you an automatic ticket to heaven. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, explained to the Roman Christians, “Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith” (Romans 3:29, 30). We may all be God’s children through faith.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. - Galatians 3:29

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Update:

Work had been slow around here, either Ray or Jay were sick, but Ray did get the hedge trimmed and Jay mowed.  Everything grew up like crazy with the rainy spell.  Now it has all grown up and needs mowing again!

Roni, the weird gal from down the road was put into a mental hospital for a while.    Some "friends" of Roni's had taken her dog and chained it to a tree in the woods, with no shelter, next to their place.  Said the dog couldn't be on their property because of her fleas.  They were going to charge Roni for "boarding" her. I explained to them that it is illegal in TX to leave a dog chained up 24/7, and anyway the poor dog was so miserable, I had to do something.  "Big Girl" had gone around and around the tree with the chain, and couldn't get to her water, so her urine was really dark, and she was very dehydrated when I rescued her.  Also, she has an abscess in her mouth, so I have been feeding her canned food mixed with good quality dry food soaked in salt-free chicken bouillon. 

Roni had fed the poor dog cheap cornmeal-based dog food and hadn't given her any flea or heartworm protection.  Obviously, the dog has a corn and flea allergy, so she has lost a lot of her hair from scratching all the time.  Big Girl used to be such a pretty black lab with a shiny coat.  Ray helped me put her up onto an outside table so that we could bathe her with the water hose. There was no way that I was taking her into my dog-bathing bathroom! Once she was flea-free and dry, I let her stay in my air-conditioned grooming room, and she thinks she is in dog heaven.  The next day, I put a hefty dose of Revolution on her, de-wormed her and now she is a happy dog, wagging her tail to beat the band.

Jay and I went to the morning church on FM1097 yesterday, the Sabbath.  The Bible readings were Psalms 103,104,105.  Lev.24,26,27 and some verses from Jeremiah.  The message was about Weaknesses.

So the SPCA foster mom who lives near me picked up my three foster cats at 10.30, so we could be at church by 11.  I felt bad that the cats had to stay in their carriers until 12.30 when they were put in their display cages for Adoption Day.  Chelsea was the most outgoing and greeted people who came by her cage. They were brought back at 6.00pm and seemed glad to be home. We will see if any adoption applications come in.

Ray came over and we got a few jobs done today.

Kennel Cough. Elephants. Help Whales. Wolves Keep Balance. Free Clicks Feed Animals. Greyhounds. Adopt A Senior Pet. Lonely Cats. Ernie Kovacs And Corvair.

 

For "Mammal Monday":

Why This Vaccine is WORTHLESS and Won't Stop Your Dog Getting Kennel Cough…

"If your dog seems to be coughing a lot or making choking sounds, he may have a case of canine infectious tracheobronchitis, more commonly known as kennel cough.

Believe it or not, as awful as the choking, hacking noises sound, most episodes of kennel cough are not serious and resolve without treatment.

About Vaccines for Kennel Cough

Many veterinarians recommend bordetella vaccines – either by injection or nasal mist delivery.  I’m not one of them, however.

Many boarding kennels, doggie daycare facilities, groomers and other similar businesses require dogs be vaccinated for kennel cough. Please understand the reason behind this requirement – it is to remove liability from those establishments.

The truth is, these vaccines are ineffective and will not prevent your dog from getting kennel cough. The infection is caused by a wide variety of bacterial and viral agents, and no single vaccine can provide protection from them all. Nor will the vaccines treat an active infection."  More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/09/09/9-natural-remedies-for-kennel-cough.aspx

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From me:  The same applies to flu vaccines for people.

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Elephants in Mourning

"A herd of elephants stumble on some elephant bones and mourn the loss of fallen relatives."

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Tell Japan It's Time To Stop Slaughtering Whales

"Stop Japan from ignoring the International Whaling Commission's moratorium on commercial whaling.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague has finished hearing a case brought by Australia that may end Japan's annual slaughter of hundreds of whales. Show your support for conservation and Australia's effort to end Japanese whaling while we wait for the ruling. Please, Sign today!"

http://therainforestsite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/trs/petition/JapanWhaling?&utm_source=ctg&utm_medium=home-feature&utm_term=20130102&utm_campaign=trs-petition

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A Wolf's Role in the Ecosystem - The Trophic Cascade

"A young forest service employee named Aldo Leopold, charged with killing wolves in New Mexico in the early 1900's started to notice that as the wolves died off, the deer population boomed and ate all the plants to nothing. In his groundbreaking work, "Thinking Like a Mountain", (Please read that article) Leopold put forth an idea 50 years ahead of his time: predators control ecosystems.

Since wild wolves have returned to Yellowstone, the elk and deer are stronger, the aspens and willows are healthier and the grasses taller.  For example, when wolves chase elk during the hunt, the elk are forced to run faster and farther.  As the elk run, their hooves aerate the soil, allowing more grasses to grow.  Since the elk cannot remain stationary for too long, aspens and willows in one area are not heavily grazed, and therefore can fully recover between migrations. 

As with the rest of the country, coyote populations were nearly out of control in Yellowstone before the wolves returned.  Now, the coyotes have been out-competed and essentially reduced by 80 percent in areas occupied by wolves.  The coyotes that do remain are more skittish and wary.  With fewer coyotes hunting small rodents, raptors like the eagle and osprey have more prey and are making a comeback. 

The endangered grizzly bears successfully steal wolf kills more often than not, thus having more food to feed their cubs.   In essence, we have learned that by starting recovery at the top with predators like wolves, the whole system benefits.  A wild wolf population actually makes for a stronger, healthier and more balanced ecosystem.  From plant, to insect, to people... we all stand to benefit from wolves."  More at: http://www.missionwolf.org/page/trophic-cascade/

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The Animal Rescue Site.

Free clicks feed animals in shelters and rescues while they wait for their forever homes. The food is funded by the advertisers.

http://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/ars/home

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Adopt a Greyhound:

"The story of how my ex-racer found her true calling..."

 http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org/

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7 Great Reasons to Adopt a Senior Cat

"Why might you want to consider adopting a senior cat? There are lots of good reasons. Here are seven of the best.

1.   When you adopt a kitten, its personality is still developing. As a result, you won't know whether your new friend is going to be a lap cat or an independent spirit. With a senior, that's not true. Its personality is already fully developed, so what you see is what you get. You'll know right away whether your new feline companion is going to be a cuddlebug or an independent thinker. But keep in mind that in a shelter environment, your new cat's personality might not shine through quite as strongly because of the stress and fear associated with being in a strange place.

7.   Senior cats are often among the hardest pets for shelters and rescues to place in a new home. Especially black ones.  By adopting a senior cat, in most cases, you'll literally be saving the cat's life. Your senior citizen will repay you for your kindness with friendship and appreciation. You'll also be allowing your new cat to live out her senior years in the comfort and dignity that an older cat deserves."     Rest of the reasons at: http://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/lhuston/2013/nov/seven-great-reasons-to-adopt-senior-cats-31020#.UtNHqyu2VSg

This applies to dogs, too.

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From me:  My 'new' 12-year old cat, Ava, is a very sweet, loving, black cat.  She was surrendered to a pound by her previous people as she had lost most of her hair and she was as skinny as a rail.  They didn't want to address her medical issues, and she didn't fare much better at her foster home.

Now that I have got her health and terrible dandruff straightened out, and she no longer makes me wheeze, I wouldn't part with her for anything.  She just needed to be on a better diet and some vitamins.  She appreciates that, and tells me every day.  It is so rewarding that I can give her a better life in her old age.

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Should You Leave Your Cat Home Alone While You’re Away?

"Over half of U.S. cat owners feel it’s fine to leave their feline companions alone at home while they’re away. And while it’s true most kitties don’t require the same level of attention dogs do, leaving a cat home for days with no one to check on her can backfire.

What if your cat, home alone, gets sick? Who will tend to him? And what if the problem is very serious, like a urinary blockage? Will you get home in time to save him?

Another consideration is your cat’s diet. The only food that can be safely left in kitty’s bowl during your absence is kibble. However, kibble is far from ideal nutrition for cats. The species-appropriate nutrition that is healthiest for your cat can’t be left in a bowl on the floor for days, as it will spoil.

And what about that litter box? Cats don’t like dirty litter, and if her box isn’t being scooped at least once daily, your kitty may acquire a habit of eliminating in inappropriate locations.

Our recommendation is to have someone visit at least once a day while you’re away to feed your cat, scoop the litter box, and insure your pet is eating and appears healthy." Complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/01/06/home-alone-pet-cat.aspx

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On This Day:

Ernie Kovacs killed in Corvair crash, Jan 13, 1962:

"On this day in 1962, Ernie Kovacs, a comedian who hosted his own television shows during the 1950s and is said to have influenced such TV hosts as Johnny Carson and David Letterman, dies at the age of 42 after crashing his Chevrolet Corvair into a telephone pole in Los Angeles, California, while driving in a rainstorm. Kovacs, who often appeared on camera with his trademark cigar, was found by police with an unlit cigar, leading to speculation that he had been reaching for the cigar and lost control of his vehicle.

The Corvair was later made infamous by Ralph Nader's groundbreaking 1965 book "Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile," about unsafe practices in the auto industry.

It was the only American designed, mass-produced passenger car to feature a rear-mounted air-cooled engine.

The Corvair, which suffered from slumping sales due in part to the negative publicity from Nader's book as well as to consumer lawsuits (the car's suspension system was blamed for rollovers), was discontinued by GM in 1969.

In a bitter coincidence, one of Kovac's three children was later killed in an auto accident."

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Yesterday:

Another mild day, so the cats could go out on the screen porch for a while.  They still ignore each other and give each other a wide berth, so I did the 'sock trick'. 

I got a pair of socks and rubbed each one on each cat, especially on the scent glands around their mouths, and then put the sock in the other's bed.  This is supposed to familiarize them with each other's scent, without actually being up close and personal.  This has stopped a lot of the hissing at each other.  I know that Nala wants Ava to play with her.  It is always more difficult to get cats of the same sex to be friends.

My time was eaten up by catching up on emails, blogs, paying bills, making Kale Chips, steaming veggies, trying to find the right Heat/Air, and the usual chores.  While I had the steamer out, I steamed some soft-boiled eggs.  If you put several eggs in boiling water, it lowers the temperature and they can't be timed right.  If you steam them they are all the same.

I had already juiced the stems of the kale, so the leaves were all ready for: http://pickyeaterblog.com/garlic-parmesan-kale-chips/ 

Another quiet day.

Thanksgiving Recipes. Avoid Toxic Chemicals. Daniel's Diet. What's Wrong with Veal? Barbecue Bliss. Kennedy Assassination.

 

For "Foodie Friday":

Thanksgiving Recipes

6-Minute Fudge Microwave

Apple Cider Crockpot

Baked Corn Oven

Campfire Apple Pie Campfire

Chocolate Pudding Pie Refrigerate

Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing Crockpot

Pecan Caramel Rolls Oven

Pumpkin Pie Crescent Rolls Oven

Pumpkin Stew Oven

Three Cheese Potatoes Grill or Campfire

From: http://gorving.com/

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10 Ways to Avoid Toxic Chemicals in Your Thanksgiving Feast

10 WAYS TO AVOID TOXIC CHEMICALS IN YOUR THANKSGIVING FEAST

"One thing never to be thankful for? Toxic chemicals and other unhealthy ingredients that can lurk on the typical Thanksgiving dinner plate.

Here are ten things to watch out for this feast-gobbling season. Not cooking? Share this eye-opening list with your relatives and friends who are.

1. The turkey. It’s the Thanksgiving centerpiece but was possibly routinely fed antibiotics that created resistant strains of bacteria. One study found 77% of turkey samples contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Many turkeys are also injected with flavor-boosting chemicals. Skip birds labeled self-basting, deep-basted, enhanced, or marinated, and go organic. There is probably still time to order a pastured bird from a local farm.

2. Canned foods. Most cans are lined with bisphenol-A, an endocrine disruptor that leaches into the food inside. Acidic foods like cranberry are particularly at risk. The good news? Canned foods are easily replaced with fresh-prepared versions. So bypass the can and grab a bag of fresh cranberries instead.

3. Monosodium glutamate. This flavor-enhancing chemical can trigger reactions like breathing difficulties and changes in heart rate. Glutamate, its key component, also hides in hydrolyzed, whey, soy, and textured proteins; sodium and calcium caseinate; yeast extract; and autolyzed yeast. Check your labels!

4. Rice. Recent tests uncovered a shocking amount of carcinogenic inorganic arsenic in rice—virtually all samples far exceeded safety standards. White rice is safer than brown. Jasmine and basmati types scored better, too. Keep this in mind when making or eating that pilaf.

5. High Fructose Corn Syrup. Some research links this sweetener to type 2 diabetes and weight gain. It’s no surprise to find it in cranberry sauce and packaged desserts, but be careful—it also appears in unexpected foods like stuffing.

6. Genetically modified foods. Most soy and corn ingredients come from crops with artificially scrambled DNA, and most processed foods contain corn or soy. Even your turkey may have eaten GM feed. The best option is organic foods, which by law cannot be genetically modified.

7.Artificial colors. They have been linked to ADHD and hyperactivity, and while they’re common in Thanksgiving staples like pie filling, you’ll also find them in unexpected places like gravy and dinner rolls. Always read labels when shopping.

8. Pesticides. Contamination is common on non-organic produce. Potatoes, for example, a Thanksgiving necessity, made the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list of the most contaminated fruits and vegetables. Choose organic to reduce your pesticide residue load.

9. Perfluorochemicals. These compounds make cookware non-stick, but under high heat they release toxins into the air and food. Cook and bake in and on cast iron, enamel coated cast iron, and stainless steel instead.

10. Food Additives. According to new research we recently highlighted, some 10,000 additives are permitted in food. But the FDA has no basic toxicity data on about 80 percent of them. That’s another vote for a homegrown holiday handmade from whole foods and other natural ingredients." From: http://healthychild.org/10-ways-to-avoid-toxic-chemicals-in-your-thanksgiving-feast/

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Step It Up

An Amazing Fact: "There are 18 doctors in the United States with the name Dr. Doctor; there is also a Dr. Surgeon; Dr. Rash, a dermatologist; Dr. Couch, a psychiatrist; and an anesthesiologist by the name of Dr. Gass.

It seems popular these days to do whatever it takes to be healthy. Simply starting out the day with a cereal box in view can give you information like “Whole Grain Guaranteed;” “Low Fat, Naturally Cholesterol Free, Excellent Source of Fiber, No Salt Added;” “Whole grains have powered people from London to Los Angeles and everywhere in between;” “Add banana and almonds for more calcium and Vitamin E—staying full until lunchtime is easy with this fuel efficient combo!” The media is full of all kinds of advice on diet, exercise, rest, and many other ways to maintain health and fitness, including medications meant to cure any ill.

In the first two chapters of the book of Daniel, the prophet and his three friends made a proposal and stuck to a healthy diet in the king’s palace. They were judged to be healthier and better nourished than any of the other young men who ate the royal food. Why not make your own plan to encourage improved health of body and mind? God is not going to work any miracle to counteract your bad habits. It takes work on your part to stay fit.

Keep in mind the words of David: “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). We need to stay that way! “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3: 16, 17). If we want God to dwell in us, we need to make sure we’re providing Him a well-maintained home. Plus, there will be fewer visits to Dr. Doctor, Dr. Surgeon, Dr. Rash, Dr. Gass, and Dr. Couch!"
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
- 3 John 1:

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What's Wrong with Veal?

Calves in veal crates.

"Along with foie gras and shark fins, veal has a reputation for being one of the cruelest foods because of the extreme confinement and cruelty involved in the way veal calves are raised on factory farms. For many, veal is among the most politically-incorrect meals.

From an animal rights perspective, eating calves violates the calves' right to freedom and life, regardless of how well they are treated when they are being raised.

What is veal?

Veal is meat that comes from the flesh of a slaughtered calf. It is known for being pale and tender, which is a result of the animal being confined and anemic. Instead of living on his mother's milk, the calf is fed a synthetic formula that is intentionally low in iron to keep the animal anemic and keep the flesh pale.

The calves used in veal production are a by-product of the dairy industry. Adult female cows used in dairy production are kept pregnant in order to keep up their milk supply. The males who are born are useless because they do not make milk and they are the wrong breed of cow to be useful in beef production. About half of the female cubs will be raised to become a dairy cows like their mothers, but the other half are turned into veal."  More at: http://animalrights.about.com/od/FactoryFarming/a/Whats-Wrong-With-Veal.htm

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What are the Ethical Objections to Eating Veal?

"Many veal products are now advertised as free range, and those who enjoy eating veal claim free range veal is as good or better than confined veal.

One of the troubles with the free range label for veal is that the term is not clearly defined. Even when eating veal advertised as free range, one could still be eating veal raised in difficult conditions. Free range could mean a veal calf gets out as little as once a week for a few minutes. Since diet still must be restricted, older veal calves would need to be kept from consuming grass or grazing.

Some farmers do raise veal in more humane fashion. For instance, instead of removing calves from their mothers, the cows keep their calves and stay with them through the first months of life. Farmers may also allow cows and calves to roam fairly freely most of the time, instead of just for short time periods. Veal diet is still restricted to milk and egg powder, inducing anemia. These changes often make some people feel better about eating veal.

The trouble is, since the raising of veal is not clearly legislated in the US, it may be hard to know just how ethically a veal calf is being raised. Unless one could have free access to a veal farm, and actually see the treatment of the calves, it may be difficult to determine if you are eating veal that is treated in a humane way.

In response to ethical concerns about eating veal, some states are now attempting to legislate specific ways in which veal must be raised in order to reduce cruel treatment of the animals. Not all who farm support these measures, but many of them do."  More at: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-ethical-objections-to-eating-veal.htm

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Barbecue bliss: Keeping bacteria at bay

"Holidays bring out barbecue grills, at home and at the campground. It also brings out bacteria, which multiply in food faster in warm weather and can cause food borne illness (also known as food poisoning). Following a few simple guidelines can prevent an unpleasant experience.

*Wash your hands
Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food. If you're eating where there’s no source of clean water, bring water, soap, and paper towels or have disposable wipes/hand sanitizer available.

*Marinate food in the refrigerator
Don’t marinate on the counter — marinate in the refrigerator. If you want to use marinade as a sauce on cooked food, save a separate portion in the refrigerator. Do not reuse marinade that contacted raw meat, poultry, or seafood on cooked food unless you bring it to a boil first.

*Keep raw food separate
Keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood in a separate cooler or securely wrapped at the bottom of a cooler so their juices won’t contaminate already prepared foods or raw produce. Don't use a plate or utensils that previously held raw meat, poultry, or seafood for anything else unless you wash them first in hot, soapy water. Have a clean platter and utensils ready at grill-side for serving.

*Cook food thoroughly
Use a food thermometer to make sure food is cooked thoroughly to destroy harmful bacteria. Refer to the Safe Minimum Temperatures chart for safe internal temperatures for foods. Partial precooking in the microwave oven or on the stove is a good way to reduce grilling time—just make sure the food goes immediately on the preheated grill to finish cooking.

*Keep hot food hot and cold food cold
Keep hot food at 140 degrees F or above until served. Keep cooked meats hot by setting them to the side of the grill, or wrap well and place in an insulated container. Keep cold food at 40 degrees F or below until served. Keep cold perishable food in a cooler until serving time. Keep coolers out of direct sun and avoid opening the lid often. Cold foods can be placed directly on ice or in a shallow container set in a pan of ice. Drain off water as ice melts and replace ice frequently.

*Don’t let hot or cold perishables sit out for longer than two hours, or one hour if the outdoor temperature is above 90 degrees F. When reheating fully cooked meats, grill to 165°F or until steaming hot.
Transport food in the passenger compartment of the car where it’s cooler in the summer—not in the trunk.

Put these items on your list
These non-food items are indispensable for a safe barbecue.
--Food thermometer
--Several coolers: one for beverages (which will be opened frequently), one for raw meats, poultry, and seafood, and another for cooked foods and raw produce
--Ice or frozen gel packs for coolers
--A jug of water, soap, and paper towels for washing hands
--Enough plates and utensils to keep raw and cooked foods separate
--Foil or other wrap for leftovers
This article appeared on FDA's Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

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On This Day:

President Kennedy is assassinated, Nov 22, 1963:

"President John F. Kennedy is shot and killed as his motorcade drives through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. Kennedy's suspected assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, was believed to have used a mail-order rifle in order to shoot the president from the sixth story window of the Texas School Book Depository.

On November 22, several people claimed to have seen Oswald near the sixth floor of the Depository, where he was employed. From the sixth floor window, atop cartons of books assembled to make a sniper's perch, Oswald purportedly fired three shots, the last of which killed Kennedy as his motorcade passed by the building. A gun that was later located in the Depository had a palm print that matched Oswald's.

Forty-five minutes after the assassination, Oswald was seen hurrying through the Dallas streets by police officer J.D. Tippit, who identified him as matching the description of Kennedy's killer. When Tippit attempted to apprehend him, Oswald shot him to death with a revolver and fled.

In the early afternoon, police converged on the Texas Theater, where Oswald had been spotted. Inside, Oswald punched an approaching officer and withdrew a pistol. The gun misfired and other police officers grabbed him. "I am not resisting arrest," Oswald cried as he was dragged out in front of an angry crowd of onlookers. "Don't hit me anymore! I want a lawyer!" In fact, Oswald would never require the services of an attorney because he was shot and killed by Dallas restaurant owner Jack Ruby as he was being transferred from the police station to the county jail two days later."

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The Kennedy Assassination - 50 Years Later

"I teach a class of young adults who were not even alive the day Kennedy was shot. What should they learn from this piece of history.

Excerpt from Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/news-and-prophecy/kennedy-assassination-50-years-later :

"November 22nd 2013, the 50th Anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on a Friday. I wrote the article that is in the current issue of our Good News magazine that talks about this subject, and in which I drew a number of different points that I think are appropriate to our country today and what has changed in the United States since that day in Dallas when John Kennedy was killed."

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Kennedy becomes fourth president to be assassinated

"In 1865, Abraham Lincoln became the first president to be assassinated when he was shot by a Confederate sympathizer while attending a play at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. In 1881, James Garfield was shot by a disgruntled federal employee and lived 80 days before succumbing to his wounds. William McKinley was killed by an anarchist in 1901. Several other presidents have survived or narrowly avoided assassination attempts. Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest in 1981, but survived. Gerald Ford escaped two assassination attempts. An attempt on Andrew Jackson's life in 1835 was foiled when both of the gunman's two pistols failed to discharge properly."

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Yesterday:

Before we did anything else, Ray and I moved my van's stored third bench seat into it's old place, but we couldn't get it set up the way it was before.  That's a heavy and ungainly thing to handle.  Ray apologized for moving it, and said that he'll leave my things alone from now on.  He has never touched my stuff without asking before, so I don't know why he did it. 

Then we turned our attention to one of the side triangles on the screen porch that need to be screened.  I cut some spacer boards on the chopsaw, one with the 20° angle required, and we screwed them up there to have wood for stapling the screen wire.  It is a very awkward place to get to safely, as it is right next to my front porch fence, and different ladders had to be used.

Then Roni, the gal from down the street, arrived with a cage and the scared, starving, nearly bald, mangy, black lab dog that I have been trying to catch for some months. Every time I tried to feed him, other dogs would take his food, because he was so weak and shy.  He really needed help or to go to Rainbow Bridge.  My big cages are all clean and in use for my foster animals, so that's why Roni brought her folding cage.  Animal Control likes to pick up animals right here at the front of the subdivision, instead of having to wind around the 169 acres of curvy streets.  We were grateful that this poor dog's suffering should end now. 

When Roni arrived, Ray had to go next door to stop Shay from coming outside and flaring up at Roni.  Roni just wouldn't hurry up and was nattering away about nothing, so that took over ½ an hour off our work time.  Finally she left, and Ray painted the new lumber.

By then, it was time to quit for the day.

Laser Toys. Responsibility Of A Pet. Aflatoxin In Food. Saying Boo to a Sloth! Baby Badgers. Cougar Follows Fishing Boat. Sound Barrier. Cuban Missile Crisis. 24 Mile Skydiver.

 

For "Mammal Monday":

Why Laser Toys Can Be Bad News for Your Pet

"Dogs instinctively chase laser beams simply because they move, and movement triggers the canine prey drive. In fact, when a laser dot stimulates your dog’s predatory systems, he can’t NOT chase it.

According to animal behaviorist Dr. Nicholas Dodman, laser toys are probably not a good idea for pets – especially dogs – because chasing the beam can become an obsession from which behavior problems develop. Never catching the “prey” can actually mess with a dog’s psyche.

Alternatives to laser toys for dogs include puzzle and treat-release toys that stimulate the drive to hunt, and also deliver a reward in the end. If you’re not quite ready to put away the laser toy, you can hide dog treats around the house and occasionally focus the beam on a treat, allowing your pet to “catch” her prey.

Cats have shorter attention spans than dogs when it comes to chasing prey. A cat in the wild will only stalk prey for a few minutes at a time. Since it’s unlikely your cat will develop a laser beam obsession, it safe enough to use a laser toy to help your kitty play and stay physically active.

If you do notice your kitty becoming obsessive about chasing laser beams, we recommend replacing the laser toy with a toy he too can “catch.”   More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/10/02/pet-laser-toys.aspx

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Is Your Family Ready For The Responsibility Of A Pet?

"Have your children been begging for a new puppy, kitten or other small house pet? How can you tell if your children are ready for the responsibility of pet ownership? If you don't have children but are considering getting a pet of your own, how do you know that you're ready for the responsibility?

It's an unfortunate fact that many pets end up in shelters because they were bought on a whim (many puppies were purchased because of 101 Dalmatians, sales of Jack Russell terriers soared because of the popularity of Eddie on the TV show Frasier, bunnies and baby chicks are routinely given as pets at Easter) If the novelty wears out or the cute puppy grows into a large dog, or the tiny kitten becomes a full grown cat, you need to be able to make the commitment to that pet to raise him from the time you adopt him until he crosses the Rainbow Bridge.

Here are some questions you should ask to determine whether you're ready for the responsibility of pet ownership:"    More at: http://www.blogpaws.com/2013/10/is-your-family-ready-for-the-responsibility-of-a-pet.html

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Aflatoxin: The Single Pet Food Ingredient to Be Especially Vigilant About

"Plant-based proteins are not recommended for carnivorous pets like cats and dogs, who are designed to consume animal-based proteins. But what you might not know is that there is another concern with plant-based pet food ingredients – the potential for contamination with aflatoxins.

According to PetfoodIndustry.com, “Pet foods with plant-derived proteins may also contain more harmful toxins than pet foods with traditional fish and meat proteins.” The plant with the highest incidence of aflatoxin contamination is corn, followed by peanuts and cottonseed. Other frequently contaminated crops include certain cereals, oilseeds, spices and tree nuts.

Symptoms of aflatoxicosis in animals include severe, persistent vomiting; bloody diarrhea; lack of appetite; fever; sluggishness; discolored urine; and jaundice, especially around the whites of the eyes, gums and belly.

An expert in mycotoxins at the University of Guelph in Canada cautions pet parents to minimize the risk of aflatoxins by avoiding inexpensive pet foods containing vegetable cereals, corn or wheat fillers, and rice bran.

We recommend transitioning your pet away from all dry pet food toward a balanced, species-appropriate diet of whole, fresh food – either commercially prepared or homemade."  Full article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/10/09/aflatoxin-contaminated-pet-food.aspx

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Saying Boo to a Sloth!

"In this amusing and entertaining clip from the BBC's Life of Mammals, David Attenborough looks at the life of a sloth. The sloth has adapted to the lack of nutrition in its diet of leaves by hanging around not doing very much at all. We even get to see one moving at high speed!"

 

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BABY BADGERS AT THE SECRET WORLD REHABILITATION WILDLIFE CENTRE

"At the Secret World Rehabilitation Wildlife Centre in the English countryside, workers are busy every day caring for the animals in need of their help. Their aim is to nurse sick or injured animals back to health with the goal of one day releasing them back to the wild.

Recently, the centre cared for an adorable cete of badgers kits. As they've grown, they've become quite a handful for the caring staff.  Meet a couple of sweet and mischievous baby badgers at the Secret World Rehabilitation Wildlife Centre in the English countryside for jam sandwiches and bottled milk." 

 

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Dog-Paddling Cougar Follows Fishing Boat to Shore

"A guide and three fishermen were heading back to shore after a day spent catching salmon and halibut, when they realized they were being followed.

The creature was furry, so they assumed it was an otter… until they realized it had ears and was dog paddling in their direction.

The furry beast turned out to be a young cougar, who for some reason decided to behave in a very un-cougar-like fashion by going for a dip in the Nootka Sound in broad daylight. The fishing guide managed to get some of the action on film.

The story has a happy ending… both the fishing group and the cougar made it safely to shore."

Video and more at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/09/30/dog-paddling-cougar.aspx

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On This Day:

Yeager breaks sound barrier, Oct 14, 1947:

"U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager becomes the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound.

For years, many aviators believed that man was not meant to fly faster than the speed of sound, theorizing that transonic drag rise would tear any aircraft apart. All that changed on October 14, 1947, when Yeager flew the X-1 over Rogers Dry Lake in Southern California. The X-1 was lifted to an altitude of 25,000 feet by a B-29 aircraft and then released through the bomb bay, rocketing to 40,000 feet and exceeding 662 miles per hour (the sound barrier at that altitude). The rocket plane, nicknamed "Glamorous Glennis," was designed with thin, unswept wings and a streamlined fuselage modeled after a .50-caliber bullet.  Because of the secrecy of the project, Bell and Yeager's achievement was not announced until June 1948. Yeager continued to serve as a test pilot, and in 1953 he flew 1,650 miles per hour in an X-1A rocket plane. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1975 with the rank of brigadier general."

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The Cuban Missile Crisis begins, Oct 14, 1962:

"The Cuban Missile Crisis begins on October 14, 1962, bringing the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear conflict. Photographs taken by a high-altitude U-2 spy plane offered incontrovertible evidence that Soviet-made medium-range missiles in Cuba—capable of carrying nuclear warheads—were now stationed 90 miles off the American coastline.

Tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union over Cuba had been steadily increasing since the failed April 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, in which Cuban refugees, armed and trained by the United States, landed in Cuba and attempted to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro. Though the invasion did not succeed, Castro was convinced that the United States would try again, and set out to get more military assistance from the Soviet Union.

Khrushchev also had always resented that U.S. nuclear missiles were stationed near the Soviet Union (in Turkey, for example), and putting missiles in Cuba might have been his way of redressing the imbalance.

During the next two weeks, the United States and the Soviet Union would come as close to nuclear war as they ever had, and a fearful world awaited the outcome."

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Skydiver breaks sound barrier with 24-mile jump, Oct 14, 2012:

"On this day in 2012, Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner jumps from a capsule attached to a helium balloon approximately 24 miles above Earth and becomes the first person to break the sound barrier without the protection or propulsion of a vehicle. After making his record-setting jump, which was witnessed live by a global audience via cameras mounted on his capsule, the 43-year-old Baumgartner landed safely in the desert near Roswell, New Mexico.

On the morning of October 14, 2012, a 550-foot-high helium balloon made of 40 acres of ultrathin plastic lifted the capsule carrying Baumgartner, nicknamed “Fearless Felix,” from the launch site at Roswell International Air Center. After reaching an altitude of 127,852.4 feet, Baumgartner stepped off the capsule and plunged toward Earth. His descent took nine minutes and 18 seconds—four minutes and 20 seconds of it in a free fall of 119,431 feet, during which he reached a top speed of 843.6 miles per hour, or Mach 1.25. Specially designed cameras positioned inside and outside of his capsule, as well as on the ground, enabled millions of people around the world to watch Baumgartner live online and on television. At an altitude of 8,421 feet above sea level, he deployed his parachute and went on to land smoothly in the desert. His entire mission, from launch to landing, took two hours and 47 minutes.

In addition to breaking the sound barrier, Baumgartner also set a new record for the highest-altitude jump. The previous record holder, Joseph Kittinger, skydived from an altitude of 102,800 feet in 1960. Kittinger, a former Air Force colonel, was part of the team that helped prepare Baumgartner for his jump, which happened to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the day when Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier in a plane." (See above)

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Yesterday:

Even though it was a rainy day, Muffie's 'Dad' brought her for grooming at 7.30 am.  But when she didn't want to eat her breakfast, I knew that something was wrong.  (She usually expects to eat when Misty does.) She just wasn't feeling up to par, and had an upset tummy.  She is a terror to groom even when she is feeling well. 

So why do I groom her?  Because no-one else will, and I am the one who rescued her from abuse many years ago, and found her that good home.  She is a loving little 10 lb dog, but she can't stand to be touched in some places, and let's me know with her teeth.  That was her only defense when she was being abused. She has always had one leg and hip that bother her, and has to have the fur clipped very carefully.  So I let her rest for a long time before I started on her, and even curled up with her on my bed.  For a while I thought I was going to have to keep her overnight. When she started to feel better, little by little I did a bit more to her, and by late afternoon I had finished, but it took me all day.

Days of Noah? Doll's Life? Childish Things. Above Rubies. 72 Hours to Chaos. Canada Saved. Artmobile. Sukkot.

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

"He who does anything because it is the custom, makes no choice." ~ John Stuart Mill

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Are We Living in the Days of Noah?

"Recent floods remind many of the days of Noah. Incredibly, the Bible talks about the last days being like the time of Noah. Are we living in those times now?

In the past month some 21 inches of rain fell on Boulder, Colorado, destroying some 1,600 homes and damaging 20,000 more. The National Weather Service referred to “biblical rainfall amounts” that caused flooding in the Boulder area.

Yet Colorado isn’t the only area being affected by flooding. The U.S. Northeast was pummeled with rain and floods this past summer, and just recently the Pacific Northwest was hammered by rain. A series of flash floods in northern India and Nepal claimed more than 1,000 lives in June. Europe has been the hardest hit with flooding, and the costliest natural disasters around the world this year have been floods.

When Jesus Christ walked the earth 2,000 years ago, He said that just before His second coming, the world would be like it was in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37-39). Almost everyone associates the account of Noah with a worldwide flood. But was Jesus Christ referring to a future time of destruction—or was He referring to much more?

The world at the time of Noah

Many know about the story of Noah and the Flood. But how many know why the Flood came, and why Noah was saved from that worldwide disaster?

Notice what God says about the condition of the entire world in Noah’s time: “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).

Does this sound like our world today?

Let’s review some of the major acts of evil we have seen in headlines throughout the past year:

• Senseless murders. Just this year two teenagers killed a man just to know what it was like to kill a person. People enter public places to gun down and blow up innocent people.
• Sexual immorality. Young women are kidnapped daily and used as sex slaves all around the world. Premarital sex is encouraged, and same-sex relationships are not just approved of but glorified in the news.
• Sexual and violent entertainment. Movies and video games viewed and played by millions are violent and often pornographic. Celebrities—widely followed by impressionable, young people—dress and perform lewd acts in music videos and on television.
• Theft. All around the globe hackers steal people’s identities and rob them every day.

While all the above are shown front and center on the news and in the media, almost anything associated with God and the Bible is hidden or labeled intolerant.

Yes, this is the world we live in. And such was the world Noah lived in.

That should concern you and me, especially when we consider the words of Christ about the condition of the world just before He returns."    More at:  http://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/are-we-living-in-the-days-of-noah/    by Tim Groves - October 2, 2013

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Are You Wrapped up in a Doll's Life?

"Have you drifted spiritually and lost your way into the forest of consumerism?"

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Putting Away Childish Things

"Can you imagine if people in our nation started making spiritually mature decisions? What would this look like?"

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Above Rubies

An Amazing Fact: "Ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone. Chromium causes the color red, and a ruby’s value is determined by the four C’s: color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. The Smithsonian received as a gift one of the world’s finest and largest ruby gemstones—a 23.1-carat Burmese ruby. Known as the “King of Gems,” rubies have sometimes been priced seven times higher than diamonds.

The beautiful gemstone in the Smithsonian was mined in Burma (now Myanmar) in the 1930s and was donated by Peter Buck in memory of his late wife. It displays a richly saturated red color along with exceptional transparency.
Rubies and sapphires come from the same family. The red ones are called rubies, and the others are called sapphires. Like many gemstones, rubies are often heat-treated to improve their color. A well-cut ruby can come close to the brilliance and sparkle of a diamond.

As early as 200 B.C. there is record of rubies being transported along the North Silk Road of China. Rubies have been held as very precious in Asian countries for centuries. They were used as jewelry and as ornaments on armor. Some were even placed underneath the foundations of buildings as good fortune. They are extremely hard, only slightly softer than diamonds, and have a melting point of 3,711 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Bible says this about rubies. “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10). When you study how rubies are measured for value, you see how the description applies to the character of a good wife. Her beauty is more than exterior. It comes from the clarity from within.
Perhaps even the most valuable rubies, which are rich in a red color, might describe the value we can have in Christ when our sins are covered by His blood."

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. - Proverbs 3:15

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The program on WGN TV this morning:

72 Hours to Chaos

"How thin is civilization's veneer? What could cause average people to steal or turn violent? Learn how not to fear such chaos."

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/christian-living/72-hours-chaos

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On this Day:

Sir Isaac Brock saves Canada, Oct 13, 1812:

"During the War of 1812, British and Indian forces under Sir Isaac Brock defeat Americans under General Stephen Van Rensselaer at the Battle of Queenstown Heights, on the Niagara frontier in Ontario, Canada. The British victory, in which more than 1,000 U.S. troops were killed, wounded, or captured, effectively ended any further U.S. invasion of Canada. Sir Isaac Brock, Britain's most talented general in the war, was killed during the battle."

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World's first traveling art museum opens in Virginia, Oct 13, 1953:

"The world's first art museum on wheels—an "inspiration for the nation," says a representative from the Smithsonian--opens today in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was called the Artmobile. At the dedication ceremony, the state's governor declared that the project "initiates something new in the cultural and spiritual life of the Commonwealth which has never been done before anywhere.

It took the staff of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts almost five years to get the Artmobile up and running.  A $20,000, 34-foot-long air-conditioned trailer with museum-quality lighting and walls that hinged out to create a lean-to-esque exhibition space around the vehicle. The trailer was pulled around the state behind an enormous blue truck; at the wheel was William Gaines, the retired registrar of the Virginia Museum.

Visitors entered the Artmobile in small groups and were free to look at the art on display for as long as they liked. (Admission was free for schoolchildren and members of local women's clubs; everyone else paid 25 cents to get in.)  Meanwhile, a 15-minute mini-lecture explaining the significance of the works in the exhibition looped in the background. The lecture was very informal and was usually narrated by a local radio personality, so most visitors felt right at home.

For its first tour through the state, the Artmobile carried sixteen paintings by 15th- and 16th-century Dutch and Flemish "Little Masters": Bosch, Brueghel, Cuyp, Jordaens, van Rhysdael and Terborsch. The museum had borrowed the paintings, worth about $500,000, from the collection of Walter P. Chrysler Jr. (Chrysler, an art collector and theater producer whose father founded the Chrysler Corporation, had an estate near Warrenton, Virginia.)  In all, the Little Masters traveled 20,000 miles in their first 53 weeks on the road and had 60,000 visitors, mostly students who had never been to the brick-and-mortar museum in Richmond.

The Artmobile was so successful that other states began to plan similar projects. By 1965, there were four Artmobiles in Virginia and a handful of others in places like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Today, there are dozens of Artmobile-inspired museums on wheels in cities and towns across the United States and around the world."

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Yesterday:

Wendy and I had our usual Saturday morning phone call.  She told me that they were in the process of buying the land next to their lake house at Lake Somerville, so that they can build a new house.  They have sold their house outside of Houston, moved to their little lake house, and decided that the country life is for them. 

An alarming thing happened to their small dog, she managed to get in a ripped seam in a sleeping bag, burrowed along, trying to get out, and nearly suffocated.  Wendy only just managed to revive her.

At church we had the song service and then readings from Deut. 33 and 34, and then Joshua 1, about observing God's laws. 

This church will be celebrating The Feast of Tabernacles (Zech. 14:16-21) next week. Apparently, the date depends on if you count from before or after the new moon in the Spring Equinox.  Sometimes it is called Sukkot, or The Feast of Ingathering or The Festival of Shelters (Lev 23.33-43).   Sukkot is celebrated by a number of Christian denominations that observe holidays from the old testament. These churches base themselves on the fact that Jesus celebrated The Feast of Tabernacles (see John 7:1.)   http://www.ucg.org/bible-faq/why-should-christians-celebrate-feast-tabernacles  As it is also to celebrate the harvest, it is better to have the festival after all the harvest is gathered in.

The sermon brought up some interesting points. That it was about 2,000 years from Adam to Abraham, and about 2,000 years from Abraham to Jesus, and it is about 2,000 years since then.

The potluck was great and we all had a good time sitting around, eating and chatting. The sun was shining all morning, but after I returned home, it started to rain.

The little kitten was let out of his cage for the first time since his surgery, so he inspected the Grooming Room, but he will have to be kept in it again this morning, as I am grooming Muffie today.

Hazing Bison. Dogs For PTSD Vets. Tangled Whales. Adopt-A-Mutt. Pig Poop In National River? Pet Poisons. Seal's Whiskers. “U.S.A”. California.

 

For “Mammal Monday”:

Give Yellowstone's Buffalo More Room to Roam

“Most of Yellowstone National Park is over 6,000 feet in elevation. As a result, deep snows during harsh winters force Yellowstone’s bison to lower elevations outside the boundaries of the park in search of food and shelter.

The bison remain at the lower elevations outside the park’s boundaries into the spring when they give birth to their calves.
And it is in spring when workers from Montana’s Department of Livestock start hazing bison back into the boundaries of Yellowstone with helicopters, four-wheelers and horses. This practice to try and prevent the bison from coming into contact with local livestock has been going on for more than a decade.

The hazing can be a real horror show—bison calves bawling as they search for their mothers; and even worse, calves suffering broken legs or other potentially fatal injuries in the mayhem.

In the coldest months of winter, sometimes thousands of bison migrate out of Yellowstone—largely to National Forest lands immediately outside of the park.

Then in the spring bison are hazed back into Yellowstone to address ranchers’ fears that the bison could transmit disease to domestic livestock. This hazing still occurs even though, most of the National Forest lands no longer have domestic cattle on them, and thus there is no risk of disease transmission.

It’s time to eliminate these out-of-date policies that compel agencies to haze bison back into Yellowstone Park every spring.
We have until September 13 to submit comments on behalf of bison to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Your voice is extremely important in this effort, as local livestock interests are strongly resisting any change in the status quo.”

Please speak up now to end this hazing of bison and help bison to roam year-round on lands adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. 

More at: http://online.nwf.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=142871.1&dlv_id=144998 

and one from the National Parks: https://secure.npca.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1125

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How Dogs Can Help Veterans Overcome PTSD

““I would constantly be scanning for who was going to come stab me from behind,” says Robert Soliz, a 31-year-old former Army Specialist from San Joaquin, California. He was discharged in 2005 after serving in a heavy artillery quick-reaction force in South Baghdad. But fear, anxiety, depression and substance abuse swept into his life, and Soliz became one of 300,000 U.S. veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

New research finds that "man's best friend" can be lifesavers for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”    Video: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/multimedia/videos/How-Dogs-are-Replacing-Drugs-in-the-Treatment-of-PTSD.html#ooid=Z5dnk4NTo3AUO-ZgwUJ36PJ8OIElKneg

Article at: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/How-Dogs-Can-Help-Veterans-Overcome-PTSD-160281185.html#

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Four-Legged Therapy for Military Veterans with PTSD

Fireworks are no fun for vets with PTSD

“Several hundred thousand U.S. military veterans are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) each year. It has been shown that many of the most distressing symptoms experienced by combat veterans can be eased by the presence of a specially trained therapy dog.

The Veterans Administration currently does not provide service dogs for vets with PTSD, unless they also have a vision, hearing or mobility problem.

Fortunately, there are organizations across the U.S. that have realized the enormous value of therapy dogs for PTSD sufferers and are raising money to provide more dogs to more U.S. military veterans.”  Complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/08/26/therapy-dogs-m

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Protect Right Whales from Slow Death

“Every year right whales, humpback whales, and other endangered whales get tangled in heavy lines used in lobster and other commercial fisheries. Once entangled, they can drown or die slowly from wounds and infection.

Females and young right whales tend to die more frequently. These deaths threaten the species as right whales struggle to grow from a current population of only around 500 whales.

The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed restricting fisheries in times and areas where right whales are most at risk. Although they are proposing greater protections in some areas; they are also proposing to reduce protections in others. Please let the NMFS know it’s important to require changes in commercial fisheries to reduce deaths of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.

TAKE ACTION
Please fill out the form below to tell the NMFS that although you support their proposal to restrict fishing gear, you do not agree that large areas of the East Coast should have exemption from this rule.”    https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=6245

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A unique way to get people to adopt dogs.

“No one wanted abandoned mixed breed dogs until a rescue organization did something unique to help them.”

“Mutts are great! Just choose the correct size for you and you have a loyal companion.”

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6 Reasons to Go Mad for a Mutt

“Mutt… mongrel… Heinz 57… all-American. No matter what you call your mixed breed dog, he’s no less wonderful for his unknown ancestry. In fact, he may be the dog of your dreams…

1: You can pick your favorite size and color.

Mutts come in small, medium, large and XL sizes. They come with short, long, curly or wiry coats in every color. They have small ears that stand up, or big floppy, droopy ears. They come with long or short legs, and big fluffy tails, or no tail at all. Whatever you're looking for in a canine companion, you can find in a mixed breed dog.

 

2: You can find a mixed breed to fit your lifestyle.

You might be looking for a very friendly dog, or one who's security conscious. Perhaps you want a four-legged workout partner or a snuggler who enjoys long naps on the couch. Whatever your lifestyle, there's a dog out there who will fit right in.

 

3: You don't have to spend big bucks.

Animal shelter adoption fees are much more affordable than the cost of a purebred dog. (But keep in mind that every dog requires a nutritious diet, routine vet visits, obedience training, grooming supplies, bedding, a collar and leash, toys, and other odds and ends.)

 

4: Many mutts are great athletes.

If your mixed breed dog is healthy and active, he can compete and earn titles in agility, dock diving, flyball, canine disc, freestyle, lure coursing, obedience, rally and more.

 

5: You can DNA test your mixed breed dog.

 

Doggy DNA tests are growing in popularity as more pet owners realize the value of learning something about the breeds that make up their furry friend.

 

6: You're saving a life.

Mixed breed dogs account for about 75 percent of the U.S. shelter population, so adopting a homeless pet means one less animal languishing in the system or being euthanized.”

From: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/09/06/mixed-breed-dogs.aspx

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Keep Buffalo National River Pristine: Ask Cargill to Move C&H Pigs!

“A factory farm threatens to pollute the Buffalo, America’s First National River. Please ask Cargill to move C&H Farms, Inc. to a more appropriate location. This factory farm will produce over three million gallons of manure, litter, and wastewater each year. Don’t let waste ruin the Buffalo National River. Cargill is C&H Farm’s primary customer. Please ask Cargill to move C&H farms to a more appropriate location and protect the watershed of the Buffalo National River.” Learn More.

TAKE ACTION! Keep Buffalo National River Pristine, ask Cargill to move C&H pigs!

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Pet Poisons:

 

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A Seal's Amazing Whiskers

“God's creation is vast and varied.

Researchers in Germany have discovered that seals are able to detect prey by following the invisible trails left by fish in the water. Even in low visibility and murky water, seals use their whiskers as a locating device, picking up movement in the wake of prey up to 35 seconds after the fish have passed by.

Experts believe that all seals, and likely sea lions, share this ability. The role whiskers play in hunting is comparable to echolocation used by dolphins and whales. Seals may also use their whiskers to tell the size of the fish and speed at which their prey is traveling. (Richard Gray, "Seals Can Detect Underwater Wakes Left Behind by Fish," Telegraph.co.uk, June 20, 2010).

The creatures He designed are brilliant in their complexity, and their God-installed instincts are astounding.”   From: http://www.ucg.org/science/news-seals-amazing-whiskers/     Article by Amanda Stiver

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On This Day:

Congress renames the nation "United States of America", Sep 9, 1776:

“On this day in 1776, the Continental Congress formally declares the name of the new nation to be the "United States" of America. This replaced the term "United Colonies," which had been in general use.  Congress had created a country from a cluster of colonies and the nation's new name reflected that reality.”

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California becomes the 31st state in record time, Sep 9, 1850:

“Though it had only been a part of the United States for less than two years, California becomes the 31st state in the union (without ever even having been a territory) on this day in 1850.

Mexico had reluctantly ceded California and much of its northern territory to the United States in the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,. When the Mexican diplomats signed the treaty, they pictured California as a region of sleepy mission towns with a tiny population of about 7,300-not a devastating loss to the Mexican empire. Their regret might have been much sharper had they known that gold had been discovered at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California, nine days before they signed the peace treaty. Suddenly, the greatest gold rush in history was on, and "forty-niners" began flooding into California chasing after the fist-sized gold nuggets rumored to be strewn about the ground just waiting to be picked up. California's population and wealth skyrocketed.

Most newly acquired regions of the U.S. went through long periods as territories before they had the 60,000 inhabitants needed to achieve statehood, and prior to the Gold Rush, emigration to California had been so slow that it would have been decades before the population reached that number. But with gold fever reaching epidemic proportions around the world, more than 60,000 people from around the globe came to California in 1849 alone.

Faced with such rapid growth, as well as a thorny congressional debate over the question of slavery in the new territories, Congress allowed California to jump straight to full statehood without ever passing through the formal territorial stage. After a rancorous debate between the slave-state and free-soil advocates, Congress finally accepted California as a free-labor state under the Compromise of 1850, beginning the state's long reign as the most powerful economic and political force in the far West.”

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Yesterday:

Misty didn’t want to go walkies with me when I went to get Jay.  I put her leash on her, but she didn’t want to be disturbed from her after-breakfast nap.  At her age, that’s OK if we take our walk later.

Ray painted some high places on the front porch entry, while I held the extension ladder, then Jay went up there with his long arms, and did the rest of it. Jay had hired ‘three men’ to level out the gravel ready for the metal carport.  Supposed to be ‘three men’ for one price.  Two teenage boys arrived.  We screwed some boards onto the existing posts, to hold the gravel in place. The boys worked hard smoothing out the gravel, and I hope it will be what is needed for the installation of the carport on Tuesday.