"I'll Never Join A Church!" Test Your Knowledge. Eat Your Fruits and Veggies for Disease Prevention. Update.

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

"I'll Never Join A Church!"

"Should the mistakes of religious leaders who "fall from grace" keep you from joining God's church? "

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/christian-living/ill-never-join-church

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Bible Misconceptions: Test Your Knowledge

"Ironic, isn’t it? In our modern world, in which so much information is so easily available, along with the information come many common misconceptions.

Here are a couple of examples: “Christopher Columbus discovered America.” Truth or misconception? In fact, it’s far more misconception than truth. When Columbus landed in the New World in 1492, it had already been “discovered” by at least one other explorer prior to him; the Norse explorer Leif Eriksson had arrived on the shores of the Americas at least 500 years earlier.

Here’s another one: Mexican Independence Day is on May 5, or Cinco de Mayo, right? Wrong! No, Mexican Independence Day is on Sept. 16, the day Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1810. Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on that date in 1862.

There are so many other misconceptions in so many areas of life. Those are just a couple of examples from history.

But here at Life, Hope & Truth, one of our goals is to publish the truth about the Bible, a book that has been subject to many common misconceptions. So, let’s try something here. Let’s do a “pop quiz” on some Bible basics to see just a few of the misconceptions. This quiz won’t be complicated—but it may be surprising.

Okay, so here goes: question No. 1. True or false? Jesus was born in late December.

Now, question No. 2: when Jesus was born, He was visited by some men from the east. The Bible tells us it was three wise men. True or false?

Here’s another one: the apostle Peter was unmarried and celibate. True or false? That’s No. 3.

And here’s No. 4: the Bible speaks of purgatory as a destination when sinners die. That’s No. 4.

No. 5. Ready? Adam and Eve ate an apple in the Garden of Eden.

Okay, so let’s move on to No. 6, and see how much you know about the prophets. Ready? Jonah was swallowed by a whale.

Got that one? Now No. 7. A little more challenging. True or false: the book of Jeremiah contains more prophecies of the Messiah than any other book of the prophets. What do you think?

Now let’s move on to No. 8. True or false? The New Covenant was instituted by the apostle Paul.

Almost done. Here’s No. 9. Moses was a Jew. True or false?

And finally, here’s question No. 10. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” was first uttered by the apostle Paul.

So, how did you do? The answers are easy—all 10 are false.

Now let’s run through them, and give the right answers.

Question No. 1. No, Jesus was not born in December. In fact He wasn’t born in the winter at all. For an explanation of this, please see our article titled “The Birth of Jesus” on the Life, Hope & Truth website.

Question No. 2. While it’s true that the baby Jesus was visited by wise men from the east, the Scriptures don’t say how many. The number “three” is no more than a guess, a tradition, and likely wrong.

Now question No. 3. The apostle Peter was married. 1 Corinthians 9:5—where he is called “Cephas”—tells us so.

Now, No. 4. Purgatory is nowhere even mentioned in the Scriptures, Old or New. No, not once.

No. 5. Adam and Eve ate a fruit, to be sure, but the Bible only refers to it as a fruit from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:6).

Now No. 6. Jonah may have given a dose of indigestion to a great fish, but it is nowhere identified as a whale.

No. 7 now. No, it’s not Jeremiah whose book features all those prophecies of the Messiah. The book of Isaiah has as many as 20 messianic prophecies. Jeremiah doesn’t even come close.

Still with us? No. 8. The New Covenant—a much debated subject. But no, it wasn’t introduced by the apostle Paul. Jesus Christ, when He passed the wine to His disciples on the Passover evening, invited them to partake of His “blood of the new covenant,” symbolically represented by the wine.

Okay, so now here’s No. 9. Moses was an Israelite, but he was born of the tribe of Levi, not of Judah. All Jews are Israelites, but not all Israelites are Jews (Exodus 2:1-10).

Finally, No. 10. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” It is found in a speech given by the apostle Paul, but in fact he’s quoting from the words of Jesus Christ, recorded in the book of Acts, chapter 20 and verse 35.

So how did you do? There may be some Bible experts out there, and maybe also some who were surprised by the answers. Whatever the case, we can see that misconceptions aren’t limited to world history. In fact, the most important misconceptions are the false ideas about the Bible.

We invite you to visit this site often, but be prepared to be surprised about what the Bible really says!"

For Life, Hope & Truth, I’m Ralph Levy. From: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/speaking-of/bible-misconceptions-test-your-knowledge/

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Vertical News: Eat Your Fruits and Veggies for Disease Prevention

Study proves common sense advice to be accurate, eat plenty of produce!

Source: freeimages.com/MissFran

"Eating your fruits and veggies is good for you, specifically to help prevent chronic illness, according to a study from the University of Adelaide in Australia. The study analyzed data from over 1,000 Chinese participants over the course of five years and discovered a link between chronic illness and the amount of produce included in the diet.

Researchers found that those who consumed a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and specific grains decreased their risk of developing several chronic illnesses. Fruit, it seems, helps to ward off the onset of chronic illness, while vegetables help prevent individuals from developing a second chronic illness, if they already had one. It appears that having a diet high in fruits and vegetables is a tonic for improving health in general (Nicky Phillips, “Fruit, Veggies Delay Onset of Multiple Chronic Diseases, Study Reveals,” The Sydney Morning Herald at SMH.com.au, June 24, 2014).

In Genesis:1:29 God instructs Adam and Eve about the abundance of plants foods available to them, “And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food,’ ” (NKJV). Science continues to discover why this part of God’s creation is so powerful for good health, and how it can benefit us when we include it in our daily nutrition along with lean protein, whole grains, healthy fats, and dairy." From: http://www.ucg.org/youth/vertical-news-eat-your-fruits-and-veggies-disease-prevention/

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Update:

Life is everything to do with choices.  I have a sign on my front door that says "Choices have consequences, make good choices", and under it is another one: "Lack of organization on your part, does not constitute and emergency on my part".  Because the people who make the bad choices usually want me to jump up and go help them rectify their "emergency"!

It has been hot and humid and we haven't been able to get much done here.  I think the lawnmower breathed it's last, so I am looking for another one.  Ray went around with a weed eater and tidied up the front of the house.

Jay's little Yorkie Maddie ran into their patio door with such a force that she knocked herself out.  We put her in a comfy bed and rushed her to the vet.  She was just beginning to come around by the time we got there.  The vet said, upon looking into her eyes, that she had a concussion and to keep her quiet and a dark place for a while.  She seems to be alright now.

My latest little foster cat, 'Giovanni' has been in a cage most of his life.  He has gradually been allowed to have the run of my bathroom, bedroom, then living room, and screen porch.  But he has a habit of chewing wires. So far, he has chewed through the wires to my answering machine, computer speakers and bedroom phone.  His real foster mom came over and sprayed the rest of my wires with 'Flooey', a bitter spray, and that seems to have made 'Gio' lose interest in them.  I tried splicing the wires to my answering machine back together, but now it just makes a loud buzz, so I will have to buy another one.

Yesterday, Ray and I went to church.  Jay had overdosed on Dulcolax, so he didn't go.  He always has to overdo everything!  Ray and I enjoyed the service, and the Bible Readings were Psalms 136, 139, 142 and Numbers 16-18.  And the message was interesting, too. It was about how God never changes.  His Word and His Laws stand forever.  We all had a good potluck meal, and had a great day.

Hallettsville, TX. "13 City". Domino Tournament Jan. 26th. Albert Schweitzer.

 

For "Travel Tuesday", Lets visit Hallettsville in the Texas Prairies and Lakes Region

"The Texas Prairies and Lakes Region offers a wide variety of destinations & attractions, from the fast-paced cosmopolitan excitement of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex with the best in shopping, dining & entertainment, to the beautiful lakes & laid-back country lifestyles found throughout the region. Discover the Excitement of the Texas Prairies & Lakes."

Welcome to Hallettsville,  City of Hospitality.

"Hallettsville is a city in Lavaca County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,550 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lavaca County. It is the only place called Hallettsville in the world. Hallettsville is named for an early founding family that colonized this area. John Hallett had received a land grant from Stephen F. Austin in 1831 and after his death in 1836 his wife, Margaret Hallett, donated the land for the town's location.

This woman's life reads better than a novel.
Married to a seafaring man against her family's wishes, the newlywed Halletts traveled west with a wagon whose tongue was cut from a ship's mast and the sails serving as the wagon cover. He even brought his anchor.

A Veteran of San Jacinto along with one of his three sons, Mr. Hallett died, as did all the males in the family, leaving Mrs. Hallett alone with her only daughter. Fluent in Spanish and able to defend herself in two Indian dialects, she left Goliad where they had been living and returned to the original grant in Lavaca, opening a trading post and making friends with nearly everyone. She once cudgeled an Indian who was making a nuisance of himself. The Chief paid her a visit and she explained the injury should be regarded as "a knowledge knot". The Chief laughed. Upon her death in 1863, local Indians decorated her grave. Her grave is in the Founder's cemetery, a short distance from the Town Square.

Lavaca County is also the home of "The Archives War" in which the citizens of Hallettsville rode into Petersburg to liberate the county records, which had been removed in a disputed election over the official county seat. The Hallettsville "committee" rode into Petersburg where the Petersburgans were celebrating their "victory" with a barbecue. They not only reclaimed the records, but also ate the barbecue for their trouble. Petersburg never recovered from this, the greatest Texan humiliation, and faded into oblivion."

More Hallettsville Stories: http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Hallettsville/Hallettsville.htm

Lavaca County Courthouse, Hallettsville

"Hallettsville is the home of the Lavaca Historical Museum (open weekends 2-5) at 413 N. Main.  The Texas Championship Domino Hall of Fame(tournament held every January) shares space with The Texas Fiddler's Hall of Fame (Fiddler’s Frolic held fourth week of April) at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Hwy 77 South. Both are open Mon - Fri 9am to 11am."

"Although the actual town involved in the real story of the "Chicken Ranch" is located a few miles north of Hallettsville on Highway 77, film makers chose the town's historic Lavaca County Courthouse square to serve as backdrop for the city scenes in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the 1982 musical starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton.

Hallettsville is also the featured location in the 2009 horror film titled Hallettsville, which stars Gary Busey and Derek Lee Nixon.

The town is mentioned in the Robert Earl Keen song "Armadillo Jackel" as the place where they pay $2.50 for dead armadillos.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! once called Hallettsville the "13 City" because in 1913 it had 13 letters in the name, a population of 1300, 13 churches, 13 newspapers, and even 13 saloons."

"In 1887 the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway built through the town, and Hallettsville became the principal trading center and shipping point for area farmers and ranchers. By 1892 the town owned an electricity plant and had established a waterworks supplied by artesian wells."

Ancestries: German (32.2%), Czech (20.6%), Irish (8.5%), English (3.9%), United States (2.7%), Scotch-Irish (1.5%).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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TEXAS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP STRAIGHT DOMINO TOURNAMENT

"The annual domino tournament is to determine the State Champion of Texas. From its humble beginning, this tournament has grown to be recognized as the finest competition of straight dominoes nationwide and is held in Hallettsville at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

Historically dominoes played a key role in the lives of people of all walks of life living in Central Texas. Domino halls and taverns had tables located in every nook and cranny to accommodate the legions of faithful players. In 1952 a group of men joined together to formulate a plan to determine the best domino players at straight dominos. The initial tournament, held at the American Legion Hall in Hallettsville, drew 30 teams that engaged in fierce competition.

Today the tournament held in January draws approximately 200 participants from all parts of the country.

Sunday January 26, 2014

Straight Domino’s

Double Elimination Partner Play

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On This Day:

Albert Schweitzer born, Jan 14, 1875:

"The theologian, musician, philosopher and Nobel Prize-winning physician Albert Schweitzer is born on this day in 1875 in Upper-Alsace, Germany (now Haut-Rhin, France).

The son and grandson of ministers, Schweitzer studied theology and philosophy at the universities of Strasbourg, Paris and Berlin. After working as a pastor, he entered medical school in 1905 with the dream of becoming a missionary in Africa. Schweitzer was also an acclaimed concert organist who played professional engagements to earn money for his education. By the time he received his M.D. in 1913, the overachieving Schweitzer had published several books, including the influential The Quest for the Historical Jesus and a book on the composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

Medical degree in hand, Schweitzer and his wife, Helene Bresslau, moved to French Equatorial Africa where he founded a hospital at Lambarene (modern-day Gabon). When World War I broke out, the German-born Schweitzers were sent to a French internment camp as prisoners of war. Released in 1918, they returned to Lambarene in 1924. Over the next three decades, Schweitzer made frequent visits to Europe to lecture on culture and ethics. His philosophy revolved around the concept of what he called "reverence for life"--the idea that all life must be respected and loved, and that humans should enter into a personal, spiritual relationship with the universe and all its creations. This reverence for life, according to Schweitzer, would naturally lead humans to live a life of service to others.

Schweitzer won widespread praise for putting his uplifting theory into practice at his hospital in Africa, where he treated many patients with leprosy and the dreaded African sleeping sickness. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 1952, Schweitzer used his $33,000 award to start a leprosarium at Lambarene. From the early 1950s until his death in 1965, Schweitzer spoke and wrote tirelessly about his opposition to nuclear tests and nuclear weapons, adding his voice to those of fellow Nobelists Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell."

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Yesterday:

Just catching up on more stuff around here.  I am overwhelmed with how am I going to get rid of all these parts, lumber and tools that I have accumulated over the years.  It seems that there is always something to fix, and they are needed.  There are still some carpentry jobs to be done, but I don't know when Jay will be here to complete them.

A lot of time was spent 'on hold', trying to make an appointment to see an ENT doctor. They don't have one at the clinic, so it seems I have to wait 2 weeks to see my doctor, just to get a referral.  My sinuses are my only health problem, so I should be grateful, especially at my age.

With the great weather, the cats spent some time out on the screen porch. They like to watch the birds at the feeder.  They still won't go near each other, but they will share that space.  The windows and doors were open most of the day.

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.

Aluminum and Alzheimer's. The Universe. Big Pharma. Medical Errors. Trans Fats Unsafe. Old Photos. Grand Canyon. Smoking.

 

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

Alzheimer's & Aluminum Toxicity

Reducing Your Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

"There is a strong connection between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease. Research clearly demonstrates abnormally high accumulations of aluminum within the brains of Alzheimer's victims.

Aluminum alloy cookware and containers - Cooking utensils and aluminum beverage cans contribute substantially to our load of aluminum. Beer has more aluminum when it is packaged in aluminum cans. It is best to use stainless steel cooking containers or glass or iron cookware. The older your aluminum cookware is the more rapidly it corrodes. Acid-forming foods dissolve aluminum more rapidly. The amount of aluminum ingested from cookware, however is far exceeded by the amounts ingested from food additives.

Food - Sodium aluminum phosphate is an additive in most baking powders, cake mixes and self-rising flower.. If this form of aluminum combines with maltol, a sugar-like flavoring agent, the resulting aluminum compound is able to get through the blood-brain barrier 90 times as well.
Potassium alum is used to whiten bleached flour.
Aluminum compounds are widely used as additives to prepared foods. They lighten food texture, adjust acidity and keep chunks of processed vegetables and fruits firmer.
Aluminum is even used in infant formulas and beer.
Sodium aluminosilicate or aluminum calcium silicate are added to table salt to absorb moisture and keep it from caking.
Sodium aluminum phosphate is used as an emulsifier in processed cheese.

OTC and prescription drugs - Aluminum is found in many over-the-counter painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs and douche preparations. For instance, aspirin is commonly buffered with aluminum hydroxide or aluminum glycinate. If you wash down your aspirin with orange juice, the buffering powder becomes aluminum citrate which is able to get through the blood-brain barrier five times as well."  More at: http://www.angelfire.com/az/sthurston/alzheimers_and_aluminum_toxicity.html

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A giant step in space measurement: Scale of the universe is measured to ONE per cent accuracy

• "This compares to 20 years ago when data differed by up to 50 per cent
• Scientists mapped over 1.2 million galaxies up to 6bn light years away
• Equations revealed details about expansion, and as a result, dark energy
• They suggest a model of universe that extends into space and time infinitely

There aren’t many things in our everyday lives that we know to one per cent accuracy.

But now scientists claim to have measured parts of the universe to this gold standard using galaxies more than six billion light years away.

The impressive measurements were taken by the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) using the Sloan Foundation Telescope in New Mexico.

‘I now know the size of the universe better than I know the size of my house,’ said Professor David Schlegel BOSS principal investigator." Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2536386/A-giant-step-space-measurement-Scale-universe-measured-ONE-cent-accuracy.html

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Bill Maher on Big Pharma: “We Are Being Poisoned” with David Letterman.

"Please be warned about Big Pharma."

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7 Tips on Surviving The Medical Industrial Complex.

"Dr. Benjamin Rush a Founding Father of America and a signer of the Declaration of Independence was right. America's Medical Industrial Complex has organized itself into an undercover dictatorship and is now "controlling the shots", in every sense of that expression. And they are more deadly that all of the shots fired in all of the wars that America has ever been involved in." 

"Medical errors kill enough people to fill four jumbo jets a week." says The Wall Street Journal

"200,000 to 400,000 deaths per year from preventable harm in hospitals" reports "A New, Evidence-based Estimate of Patient Harms Associated with Hospital Care" published in the Journal of Patient Safety September 2013.

"It seems that every time researchers estimate how often a medical mistake contributes to a hospital patient's death, the numbers come out worse." laments Scientific American"

From: Click here: Medical Errors Kill Enough People to Fill 4 Jumbo Jets a Week. - 7

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FDA Rules Trans Fats Unsafe in Food

"For over 60 years, saturated fats have been wrongfully accused of causing heart disease, despite mounting evidence showing that saturated fat is actually critical for optimal health while trans fat is the dietary fat causing heart disease.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced it is now considering removing partially hydrogenated oils—the primary source of trans fats—from the list of "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) ingredients.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruled for the first time that trans fats aren't considered safe in food, a sharp policy shift that could lead to banning trans fats in baked goods and other foods. Peter Landers reports in this Wall Street Journal video: http://on.wsj.com/1gugKcB

Making trans fat non-GRAS is the first step toward getting trans fats out of the American diet altogether. The FDA’s decision comes right on the heels of a lawsuit filed against the agency by a heart disease researcher.

FDA is still holding fast to its ignorant view on saturated fats, urging you to “choose products that have the lowest combined amount of saturated fat, cholesterol and trans fat.” This advice causes far more harm than good.

Saturated fats from animal and vegetable sources provide a number of important health benefits, and your body requires them for the proper function. Science has firmly debunked the myth that saturated fat promotes heart disease."

More at: http://healthimpactnews.com/2013/fda-sued-forced-to-remove-safety-status-on-trans-fats/

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If you just love old photos.

"If you are over 60 (or you just love old photos) and you do not take a few minutes look over these photos, you have missed a chance to relive your childhood and go back in time to the truly wonderful 1950's.  Enjoy the journey back!

Put your mouse over the photo (do not click) and it tells you who and what it is.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/blast_of_the_past/ "

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On This Day:

Grand Canyon National Monument is created, Jan 11, 1908:

"In January 1908, Roosevelt exercised this right to make more than 800,000 acres of the Grand Canyon area into a national monument. "Let this great wonder of nature remain as it now is," he declared. "You cannot improve on it. But what you can do is keep it for your children, your children’s children, and all who come after you, as the one great sight which every American should see."

Declaring that "The ages had been at work on it, and man can only mar it," President Theodore Roosevelt designates the mighty Grand Canyon a national monument.

Home to Native Americans for centuries, the first European to see the vast brightly colored spectacle of the Grand Canyon was Don Garcia Lopez de Cardenas, who traveled through northern Arizona in 1540 with the Spanish explorer Coronado. Subsequent explorers also marveled at the amazing view from the rim, but few dared to attempt the treacherous descent into the 5,000-foot-deep canyon and explore the miles of maze-like twists and turns.

Even as late as the 1860s, the Grand Canyon remained terra incognita to most non-natives. In 1869, though, the geologist John Wesley Powell made his first daring journey through the canyon via the Colorado River. Powell and nine men floated down Wyoming's Green River in small wooden boats to its confluence with the Colorado River (now in Canyonlands National Park), and then into the "Great Unknown" of the Grand Canyon.

Astonishingly, Powell and his men managed to guide their fragile wooden boats through a punishing series of rapids, whirlpools, and rocks. They emerged humbled but alive at the end of the canyon in late August. No one died on the river, though Indians killed three men who had abandoned the expedition and attempted to walk back to civilization, convinced their chances were better in the desert than on the treacherous Colorado.

Visitors today see a vista little changed from the one Lopez de Cardenas saw nearly 500 years ago."

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50 years since smoking became bad

"On January 11th, 1964, the US Surgeon General issued the first government report linking smoking to disease and death. It ushered in an era of regulation that fifty years later has helped to cut the smoking rate for American adults by more than half."

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Yesterday:

It was a lot warmer and the two cats could go out on the screen porch, but they still keep away from each other.  Maybe, one day they will be friends.

Ray came over and shampooed the carpets, while I washed Misty's beds and blankies in the washing machine.  I'll put the two small beds back under the coffee table and under my bed, where they have always been, as the cats like to curl up in them.  The big bed will probably be stored in the attic.  

It seems strange without Misty, and even though I miss her, I know she is in a better place. She couldn't go on like that.  Nala seems to be looking for Misty, but Ava appears to be more at ease, I think she is scared of dogs.  Both cats nap on opposite ends of the living room and still ignore each other.

A Heat-and-Air man came to look at both houses, and will give me an estimate for mini-splits in the next new days.

Big Bird, Greater Rhea. Parrot Rescue Closing. Where's Marty? Calliope Hummingbird. Dedicated Duck. Cockatoo. BirdNote: What Is the Jynx Bird? Elvis Presley. Gabrielle Giffords. Cold Again.

 

For "Winged Wednesday":

Big Bird: South America's Greater Rhea

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"At up to six feet tall and 60 pounds, the Greater Rhea is the largest bird in the Americas. A member of the group commonly known as ratites (large, flightless birds), their size, long legs, and lack of ability to fly makes them unmistakable.

Although they don’t take flight, Greater Rheas have long wings; the birds use them to maintain balance on tight turns as they run at speeds up to 40 miles per hour, and also during courtship displays. A real athlete, this bird can even swim.

Although the Greater Rhea resembles an ostrich—in fact, Charles Darwin first described it as a “South American ostrich”—the two species are not closely related. Greater Rheas are social, living in mixed flocks of up to 30 or more for most of the year. They often forage with Pampas deer, guanacos (wild llamas), and domestic animals, a behavior that allows them to find food more readily and gives an element of protection from predators.

The recent expansion of the Barba Azul Nature Reserve in Bolivia is excellent news for this species. Other birds that will benefit are the resident Blue-throated Macaw, Cock-tailed Tyrant, and Orinoco Goose, as well as the migratory Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Bobolink.

Learn more, including the unusual role of male Greater Rheas in rearing young>> The males rear the young without assistance from the female, taking care of them for up to four months."

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Parrot Orphanage Closing Its Doors

"Lazicki’s Bird House and Rescue in Rhode Island is being forced from its home after 17 years. As of early November, there were 80 parrots living at the rescue. The story of this bird orphanage highlights the plight of abused and abandoned parrots across the U.S.

The Bird House and Rescue receives about 10 calls every week from bird owners who want to abandon their pets. Perhaps the bird is too loud… too demanding… or it’s living longer than the owner expected.

Many novice bird owners don’t realize that parrots often require a greater commitment of time and energy than a dog or cat. These birds are as smart as human toddlers and require significant mental and social stimulation. They’re also loud, messy, and sometimes aggressive.

If you’re thinking about adding a bird to the family, please carefully consider whether you’re willing to make a long-term commitment to meet your pet’s housing, nutritional and socialization needs."  Complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/01/01/parrot-ownership.aspx

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Where's Marty?

This sprightly fellow is a Marsh Wren.   Based on an original photo by BirdNote science advisor Idie Ulsh, “Marty the Marsh Wren” has been BirdNote’s mascot since the very beginning.

"Some bird-lovers have tagged the Marsh Wren the “Heinz-57 variety bird,” because scientists have recorded 57 different variations of its song. Marsh Wrens usually forage out of view, hopping up only for brief moments. They can be hard to see.

We asked listeners to take an image of Marty with them on their trips from Tulsa to Timbuktu. And Marty has shown up in some pretty unlikely places! People have taken pictures of him in China with the terracotta soldiers, at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and on family picnics. 

We hope you’ll take Marty along on your next trip.  It's easy: download and print Marty, cut him out, and tuck his picture in your suitcase. When you return from your trip, post your photos in the Marty Gallery on Facebook.   Happy travels!" 

View pics from Marty's travels abroad on Facebook!

From me: Another variation of Judy and Emma's Flat Joey! http://travels-with-emma.blogspot.com/2013/04/finally-got-flat-joey-letter-done.html

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Pacific Flyway Stand-out Species: Calliope Hummingbird

Calliope Hummingbird by oldbilluk

"Last week, we brought you the tallest bird in North America, the Whooping Crane of the Central Flyway. This week, we are highlighting the smallest bird north of the U.S.-Mexico border, the Calliope Hummingbird! This species occurs entirely within the Pacific Flyway, breeding as far north as British Columbia and migrating south to winter in Mexico.

Put a penny in your hand, just a single penny. That's how much a Calliope Hummingbird weighs: two and a half grams!
Now, consider that this species migrates up to 5,500 miles - more than double the distance between Los Angeles and New York - every year. Such epic migrations require energy reserves usually found in much larger species.

In fact, the Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest "long-distance migrant" in the world.
Further cementing its status as a "stand-out" species in the Pacific Flyway, the Calliope breeds in mountainous habitats, up to three thousand feet above sea level. These cooler temperatures can be difficult for smaller animals, but Calliope Hummingbirds ingest a lot of nectar - up to several times their body weight every day - to keep their metabolism, and their body temperature, high."

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A Love That Will Not Let You Go

An Amazing Fact: "After her six little ducklings were swept into a storm drain in the United Kingdom, a mother mallard waddled two miles tracking her baby’s chirps from manhole to manhole.

Trapped in a dark tunnel in the city’s underground sewer system and floating at the mercy of the current, the tiny ducklings’ only hope was in their mother. Hearing their distressed chirps emanating from somewhere under the ground, the dedicated mother followed their cries. Her heroic journey led her across a busy intersection, countless roads, a metro train line, a housing estate, and two school playing fields. When her chicks suddenly came to a halt in a housing development, she waddled to a stop over a manhole cover. And there, for the next four hours, the faithful mother remained.

Peter Elliott first noticed the little duck at 6:00 AM when he left his home to go for a run. Surprised that she had not moved when he returned, he went over to see if she was injured. Seeing nothing wrong, he went to breakfast, only to see her still sitting there when he finished. It was only later, when his daughter took his two-year-old grandson to see the mallard, that they heard the ducklings’ little voices beneath the manhole cover.
Mr. Elliot quickly gathered some tools and, along with a neighbor, managed to remove the heavy cover. Peering down they saw six little ducklings paddling around in the drain. With a small fishing net, they lifted each little duck to safety and then released the reunited family in a nearby lake.

Just like that faithful mother duck, our heavenly Father will never forsake us. Though we might stray, His heart of love goes after us still. He is always there, seeking for every opportunity to be reunited with us. Even when His chosen people had broken His heart by their wayward course, He pleaded, “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds” (Zechariah 1:4). The sad record is that “they did not hear nor heed.”"

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This cockatoo obviously believes the way to a dog’s heart is through his stomach!

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BirdNote: What Is the Jynx Bird?

 

Upcoming Shows

Sooty Tern SUNDAY Sooty Tern - Wide-awake Bird by Dennis Paulson  LISTEN NOW ►

Yellow-rumped Warbler MONDAY The Winter Warbler By Vermont naturalist and field guide Bryan Pfeiffer   LISTEN NOW ►

Blue Jay TUESDAY Jaywalking by Frances Wood   LISTEN NOW ►

Great Horned Owl WEDNESDAY Great Horned Owls Nest in Winter by Bob Sundstrom  LISTEN NOW ►

Red Knots THURSDAY Long-distance Migration - A House of Cards? Featuring Scott Weidensaul, author and ornithologist  LISTEN NOW ►

Eurasian Wryneck FRIDAY Jynx! by Bob Sundstrom  LISTEN NOW ►

Bohemian Waxwings SATURDAY Bohemian Waxwings Wander South by Bob Sundstrom LISTEN NOW ►

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On This Day:

Elvis Presley receives his first guitar, Jan 8, 1946:

"In competing versions of the story, what Elvis Presley really wanted for his birthday was a rifle or a bicycle—both fairly typical choices for a boy his age growing up on the outskirts of Tupelo, Mississippi. Instead, Elvis's highly protective mother, Gladys—"She never let me out of her sight," Elvis would later say—took him to the Tupelo Hardware Store and bought a gift that would change the course of history: a $6.95 guitar. It was January 8, 1946, and Elvis Aaron Presley was 11 years old.

The historical significance of putting a guitar into the hands of a young man who would later help define rock and roll is obvious. For Elvis himself, however, getting that guitar was just one more step in a thorough yet totally unplanned program of childhood musical development that prepared him perfectly to ignite a revolution 10 years later."

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Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords injured in shooting rampage, Jan 8, 2011:

"On this day in 2011, Gabrielle Giffords, a U.S. congresswoman from Arizona, is critically injured when a man goes on a shooting spree during a constituents meeting held by the congresswoman outside a Tucson-area supermarket. Six people died in the attack and another 13, including Giffords, were wounded. The gunman, 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, was taken into custody at the scene.

Loughner, an Arizona resident, approached the 40-year-old Giffords and shot her at point-blank range in the head with a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol.

On January 12, 2011, President Barack Obama spoke at a large public memorial service in Tucson for the victims of the shooting spree. Among the dead were a 9-year-old girl, a 63-year-old federal judge and a 30-year-old member of Giffords' staff. Later that month, Giffords was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital in Houston, Texas, where she would relearn how to walk and talk.

That May, Giffords traveled from the hospital in Houston to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to watch the launch of the final flight of space shuttle Endeavour, commanded by her husband, astronaut Mark Kelley. The following month, the congresswoman was released from the rehab hospital and began outpatient treatment. On August 1, she made a surprise return to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time since she was shot, in order to vote in favor of passing a deal to raise the nation's debt ceiling.

On January 25, 2012, Giffords resigned from Congress in order to concentrate on her continuing recovery.  On November 8, 2012, Loughner was sentenced to life in prison without parole."

From me:  So now we have to support him for the rest of his life.

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Yesterday:

Once again, a windy day that started out in the 20's, and didn't get much above freezing. At least the power stayed on, and we didn't have rain or snow.  So many are suffering throughout the nation, so we are grateful.   The cat's water on the screen porch stayed frozen.  Nala, my foster cat, wanted to go out there, but soon turned around and came back in again.

During the day, Ava, my 'new' old cat, usually sleeps on a chair by me, and Nala either sleeps on her kitty condo, or the couch.  They just stay away from each other.  Misty seems to be feeling a bit better, and even played with me for a little while.  Ava is still hissing at them both.  I still can't leave Ava and Misty alone in a room, as Ava doesn't realize that Misty is blind and toothless, and might lash out at her when she walks by.

Ray came over and helped me refill my bird feeder, and put a new light bulb on my front porch. Both too tall for me.  But other than trying to keep the covers on my aloe plants, doing chores, and catching up on emails and blogs, it was a lazy computer day.