A Little New Years History...!

First of all, let me wish everyone a Happy New Year...almost!

If nothing else, I think we can all say it's been an interesting year! Strange weather, strange politics (as always), and a strange series of events leading us into the unknown of 2012!

Because of all this strangeness, I wanted to calm things down by offering a little history about new years, OK?

New Year Traditions From Around the World

Many New Year customs that we take for granted actually date from ancient times. This year, ring out the old and ring in the new with a New Year tradition—or two!

Make Some Noise

In ancient Thailand, guns were fired to frighten off demons.

In China, firecrackers routed the forces of darkness.

In the early American colonies, the sounds of pistol shots rang through the air.

Today, Italians let their church bells peal, the Swiss beat drums, and the North Americans sound sirens and party horns to bid the old year farewell.

Eat Lucky Food

Many New Year's traditions surround food. Here are a few:

In the southern US, black-eyed peas and pork foretell good fortune.

Eating any ring-shaped treat (such as a donut) symbolize "coming full circle" and leads to good fortune. 

In Dutch homes, fritters called olie bollen are served.

The Irish enjoy pastries called bannocks.

The tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight comes from Spain.

In India and Pakistan, rice promises prosperity.

Apples dipped in honey are a Rosh Hashanah tradition.

In Swiss homes, dollops of whipped cream, symbolizing the richness of the year to come, are dropped on the floors (and allowed to remain there!)

Drink a Beverage

Although the pop of a champagne cork signals the arrival of the New Year around the world, some countries have their own traditions.

Wassail, the Gaelic term for "good health" is served in some parts of England.

Spiced "hot pot" is the Scottish version of Wassail. It's customary to drink a glass or two at home before sharing with neighbors.

In Holland, toasts are made with hot, spiced wine.

Give a Gift

New Year's Day was once the time to swap presents.

Gifts of gilded nuts or coins marked the start of the new year in Rome.

Eggs, the symbol of fertility, were exchanged by the Persians.

Early Egyptians traded earthenware flasks.

In Scotland, coal, shortbread and silverware are exchanged for good luck.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

In Scotland, the custom of first-footing is an important part of the celebration of Hogmanay, or New Year's Eve Day.

This practice holds that the first foot to cross a threshold after midnight will predict the next year's fortune. Although the tradition varies, those deemed especially fortunate as "first footers" are new brides, new mothers, those who are tall and dark (and handsome?) or anyone born on January 1.

I do hope the rest of this new years eve goes good for all of my friends! Please, be safe and take care of yourself. It wouldn't be any fun without you all around!

Coffee in the kitchen this morning! Bread is in the oven!

The High Cost Of Patriotism...!

I know most of us have used or have heard the expression..."Freedom is not free" and this bit of history shows just how costly it can be!

We tend to forget that many, many folks over the years gave all for our freedom! Let's continue to hope that the sacrifices made by so many were not in vain!

Dec 30, 1803:

Francis Lewis dies

On this day in 1803, Francis Lewis, signer of the Declaration of Independence, dies in New York City, at the age of 90.

Lewis was born in Llandaff, Wales, and educated at the prestigious Westminster School in London before immigrating to the North American colonies at 22 years old. Lewis founded businesses in New York and Philadelphia, winning lucrative contracts to provision the British army in America.

During the Seven Years' War, Lewis served General Hugh Mercer as an aide. Traveling with Mercer, Lewis was captured in Oswego and taken as a prisoner of war to France. For his service, the New York government granted him 5,000 acres upon his return to the colony.

In 1765, Lewis served as a delegate to the Stamp Act Congress and retired from his mercantile career to settle in Whitestone, Long Island, becoming active in revolutionary politics, including the Sons of Liberty. In 1775 alone, he participated in the provincial convention, the Continental Congress and the Committee of One Hundred. In 1776, he continued to serve the first two bodies and signed the Declaration of Independence. He continued as a member of the Continental Congress until 1779, when he assumed the position of commissioner of the Board of Admiralty.

Lewis' patriotism came at a high cost. The British army destroyed his Long Island estate and took his wife prisoner in 1776. She remained a prisoner, reportedly without a bed or change of clothes, for many months because the Continental Army had no women of similar status in captivity for whom George Washington could orchestrate an exchange. Neither Mrs. Lewis' health nor the couple's fortune ever recovered from the attack.

I can't help but wonder just how many of us would be willing to pay the price paid by this family. The same type of price is being paid even today by many of our fighting men and women coming back from foreign soil! All paid some...some paid all!

God bless our troops, past and present! Let's remember them even more as we go into a new year!

Coffee on the patio once again! Want some pumpkin pie with that? I've got Cool Whip for the top!

The Present Truth Predicted In 1958...!

Sometimes when you research the past, you find some startling information about the present.

The following clip is from the year of 1958, and more of these predictions than we may want to admit to have come true. In fact, much of what this guy says hits the nail right on the head! If you don't think so, then just watch the first half of this clip and see what I mean!



If for no other reason than this came from 1958, we should pay attention to this bit of the past...because much of it exist right now in the present!

Coffee on the patio this morning! I'll share the last of my home made chocolate chip cookies, just because you're special!

Now THAT'S What I Call Tradition...!

In a time of hustle and bustle, so much of the older traditions seem to be fading away more and more!

A tradition can come in many forms and probably every family either has or has had one over the years. I would venture that not many have one that lasted this long, and in a way...that's a tragedy!

Texas men trade the same Christmas card for decades

Dec. 24, 2011 02:54 PM

Associated Press

WHITEHOUSE, Texas -- A Christmas card that crisscrossed the country as part of an old joke between two Texas men will rest this holiday for the first time in 61 years.

Acker Hanks mailed the card to his former neighbor Lee Kelley in 1950. Kelley, a prankster, mailed it back a year later.

The two continued sending the card back and forth, and when Kelley died, his widow mailed the tattered message for over a decade. Last year, it returned to Hanks unread. He believes Kelley's widow moved to a nursing home.

A list of dates and places in the worn card documents its journey. Hanks plans to frame it.

"I always looked forward to getting the card," he told the Tyler Morning Telegraph. "I don't think it'll ever leave me now."

That, my friends, is as good an example of tradition as there is! Not only that, but it shows a pretty fair amount of love between friends, if you ask me!

There should be that much love in all relationships, I think! Just my opinion, of course!

Coffee on the patio this morning. It's chilly but dry...so feel free to huddle up if you want!

I Wondered Where That Came From...!

I remember the song, but never had even the slightest idea where it came from!

I guess that I always figured that, like most songs, it was something that someone made up. Somehow it's kind of exciting to find out that the character in the song was based on a real person. Kind of makes me want to go back and listen to the song again, only with "new ears!" Does that make any sense?

Dec 27, 1895:

The legend of "Stagger Lee" is born

Murder and mayhem have been the subject of many popular songs over the years, though more often than not, the tales around which such songs revolve tend to be wholly fictional. Johnny Cash never shot a man in Reno, and the events related in such famous story songs as "El Paso" and "I Shot The Sheriff" never actually took place. The same cannot be said, however, about "Stagger Lee"—a song that has drifted from the facts somewhat over the course of its many lives in the last 100-plus years, but a song inspired by an actual murder that took place on this day in 1895, in a St. Louis, Missouri, barroom argument involving a man named Billy and another named "Stag" Lee.

Under the headline "Shot in Curtis's Place," the story that ran in the next day's edition of the St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat began, "William Lyons, 25, colored, a levee hand... was shot in the abdomen yesterday evening at 10 o'clock in the saloon of Bill Curtis... by Lee Sheldon, also colored." According to the Globe-Democrat's account, Billy Lyons and "Stag" Lee Sheldon "had been drinking and were in exuberant spirits" when an argument over "politics" boiled over, and Lyons "snatched Sheldon's hat from his head." While subsequent musical renditions of this story would depict the dispute as one over gambling, they would preserve the key detail of "Stag" Lee Sheldon's headwear and of his matter-of-fact response to losing it: "Sheldon drew his revolver and shot Lyons in the abdomen... When his victim fell to the floor Sheldon took his hat from the hand of the wounded man and coolly walked away."

In his 2003 book Stagolee Shot Billy, based on his earlier doctoral dissertation on the subject, scholar Cecil Brown recounts the story of how the real "Stag" Lee became an iconic figure in African-American folklore and how his story became the subject of various musical renderings "from the [age of the] steamboat to the electronic age in the American 21st century." The most famous of those musical renditions were 1928's "Stack O' Lee Blues" by Mississippi John Hurt and 1959's "Stagger Lee," an unlikely #1 pop hit for Lloyd Price. Versions of the story have also appeared, however, in songs by artists as wide-ranging as Woody Guthrie, Duke Ellington, Bob Dylan, James Brown, The Clash, the Grateful Dead and Nick Cave.



There ya go! Now I feel a lot better that I've used "new ears" to listen to the song again! Sort of makes you appreciate the old songs again, ya know?

Coffee in the kitchen this morning. Let's put on some more of the "oldies" and liven the place up! OK?

Still Hungry ? Try This...!

I have a recipe for a cake from none other than Martha Washington herself!

If this doesn't kill your appetite, nothing will! Believe me!

Martha's Great Cake

Although not the first Christmas cake, this is a recipe from our first First Lady, Martha Washington. These are the exact words in which it was written for celebrating what she called "a true Virginia Christmas" at Mount Vernon:

"Take 40 eggs and divide the whites from the yolks and beat them to a froth, start to work four pounds of butter to cream and put the whites of eggs to it a spoon full at a time till it is well worked. Then put four pounds of sugar finely powdered to it in the same way, then put in the yolks of eggs, and five pounds of flower, and five pounds of fruit. Two hours will bake it. Add to it half an ounce of mace, one nutmeg, half a pint of wine, and some French brandy."

If this doesn't do away with your sweet tooth, don't worry about it! After a couple of slices, the booze will at least make you where you just don't care!

Coffee in the kitchen this morning. Sorry, but no cake left! I drank it...er, I mean ATE it all!

A Few Christmas Facts From The Almanac...!

First of all, let me say "Merry Christmas" to one and all!

This sentiment is from me and my roomie C.B.!

You may or may not already know some of these, but I figured I would offer them to you just in case! Never hurts to have a few mundane facts hidden away to throw out if the conversation gets too slow, ya know?

Here is a little bit about the history of Christmas traditions in America, from Christmas trees to greeting cards, that we all know and love today.

Christmas Trees

The first American Christmas tree can be credited to a Hessian soldier by the name of Henrick Roddmore, who was captured at the Battle of Bennington in 1776. He then went to work on the farm of Samuel Denslow in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, where for the next 14 years he put up and decorated Christmas trees in the Denslow family home.

The first Christmas tree retail lot was established in 1851 by a Pennsylvanian named Mark Carr, who hauled tow ox sleds loaded with Christmas trees from the Catskill Mountains to the sidewalks of New York City.

The first president to set up a Christmas tree in the White House was Franklin Pierce, and the first president to establish the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn was Calvin Coolidge.

In 1882, the first tree lights were sold in New York City.

Well, now you are all set for your next round of Trivial Pursuit! Always something interesting in the Old Farmer's Almanac!

Coffee is ready in the kitchen this morning! I have some Clementines to go along with it!

It's Christmas Eve...!

As I have said, I'm not much into Christmas as it's celebrated now days!

My idea of Christmas is so far removed from all the craziness going on in the shopping world and the traffic that it's not even funny!

However, I thought I might share a little bit of traditional Christmas music with you, just in case you are into that sort of thing! I do have to admit that played on these wine glasses, the sound is very pretty and soothing!



And just in case you didn't like the wine glasses, here is another piece. This one is closer in imagery to the memories of my childhood!



No matter how you celebrate tomorrow or today...or even if you don't, I wish you all peace and joy! Be safe, stay happy!

Coffee in the kitchen this morning! Have a blessed day!

Messin' With Your Mind...!

I know that I've been avoiding the issue, but it's time for me to come clean!

I'm a little crazy! Some would say that I'm more than a little crazy, but I'd rather think that a little is good enough.

These illusions are just to make your mind work a little better this morning, to sort of help get you ready for this weekend!

First, the Spinning Spiral... which is a static jpeg and there's no animation taking place, but if you move your eyes to look in any direction or blink, then the spiral spins.

The two orange circles are exactly the same size; however, the one on the left seems smaller. This is known as the Ebbinghaus Illusion. Cool, huh?

The QR Code Illusion... sort of. It's not a QR code, but look at at the "shimmering" in this image:

Now if your head is all messed up, maybe you are better prepared for the next couple of days! Be of good cheer, my friends! It's almost over...at least the crazy part is!

Oh, by the way...I got these illusions from RelativelyInteresting.com. You should go over and check them out!

How about we have our coffee in the kitchen this morning? It's still damp out on the patio!

So Now We Had A Navy...!

Amazing what came out of such a humble beginning!

When you stop and think about it, this was quite an undertaking for a new country. I can't even imagine what the training must have been like!

Dec 22, 1775:

Continental Congress creates a Continental Navy

On Friday, December 22, 1775, the Continental Congress creates a Continental Navy, naming Esek Hopkins, Esq., as commander in chief of the fleet.

Congress also named four captains to the new service: Dudley Saltonstall, Abraham Whipple, Nicholas Biddle and John Burrows Hopkins. Their respective vessels, the Alfred, Columbus, Andrew Doria and Cabot, became the first ships of the Navy's fleet. Five first lieutenants, including future American hero John Paul Jones, five second lieutenants, and three third lieutenants also received their commissions.

The new Admiral Hopkins, as he was dubbed by George Washington, was a Rhode Islander of some standing. His brother was Stephen Hopkins, the state's governor. Esek Hopkins had married well and used his wife's fortune to buy a ship. It proved a wise investment. He added to his wealth working as a privateer during the Seven Years' War. In his new position, Congress promised to pay him 125 dollars per calendar month; they also informed that he could look forward to some share of the prizes allotted to the captors. Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina designed Hopkins' personal standard, which flew from the first navy fleet. The yellow flag bore the image of a coiled snake and the Patriot motto, Don't Tread on Me.

Hopkins' first assignment was to assess the feasibility of an attack on British naval forces in the Chesapeake Bay. After sailing south with his meager force of eight ships, Hopkins decided that victory in such an encounter was impossible. He sailed to the Bahamas instead, where he attacked the British port of Nassau, a decision for which he was relieved of his command upon returning to the continent.

Old navy or new navy, one thing is always the same! Always obey orders! I'm pretty sure this applies to all branches of the armed service! There is a little bit of a difference between attacking a naval force and attacking a port!

Wonder if he thought his commander wouldn't notice? I'd say "bad judgement call!"

By the way, I got this information from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/continental-congress-creates-a-continental-navy...thought I should mention that!

Let's have our coffee on the patio this morning! It's actually pretty nice outside!

Solar Water Purification...!

Hopefully you'll never have to use something like this, but you just never know.

With all the important things we gather for a "just in case" situation, the most important of all is INFORMATION!

As the old saying goes "Knowledge is power!" If nothing else, maybe you could mentally file this away for future use!

How Do I Use Solar Power to Purify Water?

by Jessica Blue, Demand Media

Choose a clear plastic bottle and remove all labels for a simple water-purification method.

Even when it looks clear, water can carry hordes of microscopic germs — bacteria and viruses that can wreak havoc on your body. Drinking water is normally sanitized at treatment plants before it enters the home, but if you're camping or drinking water from a rural well, for example, you're not drawing water from the typical water purification infrastructure. You can still protect your gut, though, with a simple water-purification method. This approach is similar to boiling water, though it is more effective because along with heat it uses a spectrum of UV-A light that kills many pathogenic microorganisms . However, it does not fully clean very muddy water or water that contains toxic chemical pollutants.

Items you will need:

Plastic bottle with recycling code 1 (PET/PETE)
Funnel
Piece of clean cloth, such as an old T-shirt
Cup or bucket

Step 1:
Wash and dry a plastic bottle and remove all labels. The bottle should be clear to let in as much light as possible.

Step 2:
Choose a relatively clear section of water if you are gathering water from a stream. Mud and other floating matter can detract from this method's effectiveness.

Step 3:
Remove the bottle cap and place the neck of the funnel into the mouth of the bottle. Stretch the cloth across the funnel and tie or hold it in place. The cloth filters particulate matter from the water.

Step 4:
Scoop up some water with a cup or bucket and pour it slowly over the cloth into the funnel.

Step 5:
Stop filling the bottle when it is 75 percent full. Replace the cap.

Step 6:
Shake the bottle vigorously for about 20 seconds.

Step 7:
Place the bottle horizontally on a flat surface like a rock or a rooftop. Ideally, the surface should be dark or reflective. Corrugated tin roofs work best, but any surface works as long as it receives direct sunlight.

Step 8:
Let the bottle sit for at least 6 hours. If the sunlight is indirect or the sky is cloudy, let the bottle sit for 24 hours.

Like I say, you may never need this, but better safe than sorry! Know what I mean?

Coffee in the kitchen this morning. Rain last night made it wet on the patio.

A Little Tuesday Humor...!

I know that everyone is going to spend the next few days getting ready for Christmas.

With that thought in mind, I figured we could use a little humor to level out all the emotions. I do hope that this helps to take the edge off!

The Dead Parrot‏

At dawn the telephone rings, "Hello, Senor Rod? This is Ernesto, the care taker at your country house.

"Ah yes, Ernesto. What can I do for you? Is there a problem?"

"Um, I am just calling to advise you, Senor Rod, that your parrot, he is dead.

"My parrot? Dead? The one that won the International competition?"

"Si, Senor, that's the one."

"Damn! That's a pity! I spent a small fortune on that bird. What did he die from?"

"From eating the rotten meat, Senor Rod."

"Rotten meat? Who the hell fed him rotten meat?"

"Nobody, Senor. He ate the meat of the dead horse."

"Dead horse? What dead horse?"

"The thoroughbred, Senor Rod."

"My prize thoroughbred is dead?"

"Yes, Senor Rod, he died from all that work pulling the water cart."

"Are you insane? What water cart?"

"The one we used to put out the fire, Senor."

"Good Lord! What fire are you talking about, man?"

"The one at your house, Senor! A candle fell and the curtains caught on fire."

"What the hell? Are you saying that my mansion is destroyed because of a candle?!"

"Yes, Senor Rod."

"But there's electricity at the house! What was the candle for?"

"For the funeral, Senor Rod."

"WHAT BLOODY FUNERAL??!!"

"Your wife's, Senor Rod". She showed up very late one night and I thought she was a thief, so I shot her with your new Kreighoff Limited Edition Custom Gold Engraved Trap Special with the custom Wenig Exhibition Grade Stock.

SILENCE........... LONG SILENCE.........VERY LONG SILENCE. "Ernesto, if you scratched that shotgun, you're in deep shit."

What did we learn from this story? I'm not sure, but I guess that the main thing is...keep your priorities straight! Secondly, SAFETY FIRST!

The only reason I bring this up, folks, is that during this time of all the decorating and food handling we need to be sure and keep safety foremost in our minds! I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to anyone, OK?

Coffee on the patio this morning. Just keep a lookout for the rain!

Maybe We Should Memorize These Words...!

Once in a great while, words are written that strike at our very being.

Sometimes they make us sad, sometimes they make us angry, and most always they motivate us in some fashion! That, in my opinion, is what Thomas Paine did when he published American Crisis !

I'm of the opinion that now would be a good time for us to go back and re-read this piece, because these words will never lose their power!

Dec 19, 1776:

Thomas Paine publishes American Crisis

These are the times that try men's souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

When these phrases appeared in the pages of the Pennsylvania Journal for the first time, General George Washington's troops were encamped at McKonkey's Ferry on the Delaware River opposite Trenton, New Jersey. In August, they had suffered humiliating defeats and lost New York City to British troops. Between September and December, 11,000 American volunteers gave up the fight and returned to their families. General Washington could foresee the destiny of a rebellion without an army if the rest of his men returned home when their service contracts expired on December 31. He knew that without an upswing in morale and a significant victory, the American Revolution would come to a swift and humiliating end.

Thomas Paine was similarly astute. His Common Sense was the clarion call that began the revolution. As Washington's troops retreated from New York through New Jersey, Paine again rose to the challenge of literary warfare. With American Crisis, he delivered the words that would salvage the revolution.

Washington commanded that the freshly printed pamphlet be read aloud to his dispirited men; the rousing prose had its intended effect. Reciting Paine's impassioned words, the beleaguered troops mustered their remaining hopes for victory and crossed the icy Delaware River to defeat hung-over Hessians on Christmas night and on January 2, the British army's best general, Earl Cornwallis, at the Battle of Princeton. With victory in New Jersey, Washington won not only two battles, but also the love and thanks of man and woman.

Maybe we should reprint the American Crisis and hand it out at every opportunity! Sure couldn't hurt, in my humble opinion!

Coffee in the kitchen this morning, OK? I have some fresh Clementines to go along with it!

Family Time Is Done...!

I am pleased to say that the family tree is over with and , for the most part, all went well!

Some didn't show, but that wasn't much of a surprise. I'll never understand why some folks commit to going somewhere, and then don't show or call! Very disappointing!

When all was said and done, I think that Mom had a good time and that was the whole point. This is really her holiday. I think that it's just too early for me to get all caught up in the holiday spirit, if you know what I mean.

Besides, I think the folks that get full of the holiday cheer are the oldsters and the youngsters! Nothing lights up like a child's eyes at Christmas, except maybe an oldster's face when remembering the joys of Christmas' past!

Thanks to all that dropped by the blog yesterday and I apologize for not being able to answer the comments. Like we say, sometimes life gets in the way!

Coffee on the patio again. I have some cherry pie to go along with it! Are you game?

No Serious Post Today...!

I don't know if I mentioned it, but I have a family get-together at Mom's today.

Being as I already know how things are going to turn out, and that I need to get things in shape at Mom's, this will be short!

Since I don't have anything worthwhile to say, and I'm going to need all the grins I can get...I'll just share this video instead! After all, isn't that the main reason that adults watch cartoons?



Sorry for the short posting, but I'm already in a foul mood and the crowd isn't due until later! It's going to be a very long day!

Coffee on the patio this morning. I think I have enough time for a cup!

Remember These "Firecrackers..."?

This is a repeat post from last year, in case you don't remember it.

My niece requested that I make some of these for our family get-together this weekend, so I figured they must be pretty good! I like 'em, myself! But then, several things I like are not real popular with other folks.

The beauty of these snacks is that they are easy to fix and CHEAP! I like cheap!

Heck, these are certainly cheaper than making home made cookies! Believe me, I know!

Firecrackers

Things You'll Need:

* 1 box of saltine crackers
* 1 envelope of BUTTERMILK Ranch Dressing Mix (powder)
* 1 1/3 c. canola oil
* 1 Tblsp. crushed red pepper flakes
* Gallon size Ziploc bag

Empty all 4 sleeves of crackers into the Ziploc bag, being careful not to break or crush the crackers. If many of the crackers are broken, you may want to remove the smaller pieces.

In a 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup, pour the 1 1/3 c. canola oil (healthier and absorbs quickly into crackers). Whisk in the dressing mix and the crushed red pepper flakes. Mix well. Pour over the crackers in the bag. Seal the bag tightly so oil will not leak out while you toss the bag to coat the crackers with the seasoning mixture.

Turn the bag every 10 min. for one hour; this helps coat the crackers evenly. You may store these in the Ziploc bag or any airtight container.

* May use Ritz crackers as well.

* Great for the holidays.

* Wonderful for just snacking -- just the right amount of salt and spice.

* May add extra crushed red pepper if you really like it HOT!!!

I really am not looking forward to this gathering this year, but for Mom's sake, I'll make the best of it. Seems like the least I can do, ya know?

Anyway, I hope you try and enjoy this snack. Goes over pretty good for something that doesn't take a lot of time! That's a good thing!

Coffee on the patio this morning if it doesn't rain. Don't worry, though, the kitchen isn't far away!

Never Forget These Rights...!

These are probably some of the most important amendments in our history.

The main thing about these milestones is that they make it clear that the people do not give up all their rights to the government. That is something we need to keep in mind all the time, and we need to make sure that the folks in Washington always remember this as well!

This is one bit of history that should always be foremost in our minds!

Dec 15, 1791:

The Bill of Rights becomes law

On this day in 1791, Virginia becomes the last state to ratify the Bill of Rights, making the first ten amendments to the Constitution law and completing the revolutionary reforms begun by the Declaration of Independence. Before the Massachusetts ratifying convention would accept the Constitution, which they finally did in February 1788, the document's Federalist supporters had to promise to create a Bill of Rights to be amended to the Constitution immediately upon the creation of a new government under the document.

The Anti-Federalist critics of the document, who were afraid that a too-strong federal government would become just another sort of the monarchical regime from which they had recently been freed, believed that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government by outlining its rights but failing to delineate the rights of the individuals living under it. The promise of a Bill of Rights to do just that helped to assuage the Anti-Federalists' concerns.

The newly elected Congress drafted the Bill of Rights on December 25, 1789. Virginia's ratification on this day in 1791 created the three-fourths majority necessary for the ten amendments to become law. Drafted by James Madison and loosely based on Virginia's Declaration of Rights, the first ten amendments give the following rights to all United States citizens:

1.Freedom of religion, speech and assembly.

2.Right to keep and bear arms for the purpose of a well-regulated militia

3.No forcible quartering of soldiers during peacetime.

4.Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure.

5.Right to a grand jury for capital crimes and due process. Protection from double jeopardy, self-incrimination and public confiscation of private property without just compensation.

6.Right to speedy and public trial by jury and a competent defense.

7.Right to trial by jury for monetary cases above $20.

8.Protection against excessive bail or fines and cruel and unusual punishments.

9.Rights not enumerated are retained by the people.

10.Rights not given to the federal government or prohibited the state governments by the Constitution, are reserved to the States... or to the people.

These amendments are law, and they are law for the people! Any person or persons attempting to skirt these amendments is breaking the law! Maybe we should make sure that we remember this and act accordingly! At least, that's my opinion!

Coffee on the patio this morning. It's foggy, but warm enough!

Another Bad Guy Bites The Dust...!

It isn't often that criminals like this joker get caught, but this time was different!

All I can say is, it's about time one of these fools not only got caught...but it's time to put a serious hurt on this guy!

Always a surprise when the crazies show up on your doorstep!

Man Accused of Tainting Water Bottles at Gas Station

Updated: Tuesday, 13 Dec 2011, 2:19 PM CST
Published : Tuesday, 13 Dec 2011, 1:31 PM CST


HOUSTON - Police say a man faces a felony charge after he was spotted injecting a substance into water bottles at a west Houston gas station.

Christopher Slaughter, 26, is charged with ‘tampering with consumer product.’

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office says it was last Thursday when Slaughter was spotted injecting an "unknown substance" into water bottles at a gas station located at 4740 Katy Freeway.

Court documents say it was “probable that the product would cause serious bodily injury, knowing that the product would be offered for sale to the public.”

A witness wrote down Slaughter’s license plate number, and officers with the Houston Police Department later tracked him down and took him into custody.

The D.A.’s office says security video caught Slaughter in the act.

Officials did not disclose whether or not anyone purchased the bad water before it was pulled from store shelves.

Read more: http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/111213-man-accused-of-tainting-water-bottles-at-gas-station#ixzz1gTQC5sIH

Ya know, I'm tired of hearing the excuse for these evil so-and-so's. I personally don't care if these characters are crazy, stupid, products of broken homes, or just plain mean hearted! It's time for somebody to put an end to their games...or maybe to them!

If it helps...I'll bring the rope!

Coffee in the kitchen this morning. Pretty foggy out on the patio!

Politicians Never Seem To Change...!

It seems like the politicos of long ago and the politicos of today have a lot in common.

Appears that they all want to be the leader, the boss, even the King! They seem to want to have their cake and eat it too! Often it isn't enough that they have more than enough to make most folks happy, they always want more!

Greed and ego are nasty task masters, though, and often will bite you in the butt if you aren't careful! Here's a case in point!

Dec 13, 1776:

General Charles Lee leaves his troops for Widow White's tavern

On this day in 1776, American General Charles Lee leaves his army, riding in search of female sociability at Widow White's Tavern in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

General George Washington had repeatedly urged General Lee to expedite his movements across New Jersey in order to reinforce Washington's position on the Delaware River. Lee, who took a commission in the British army upon finishing military school at age 12 and served in North America during the Seven Years' War, felt slighted that the less experienced Washington had been given command of the Continental Army and showed no inclination to rush.

Famed for his temper and intemperance, the Mohawk had dubbed Lee Boiling Water. Lee was an adopted tribesman through his marriage to a Mohawk woman, but his union apparently failed to quell his interest in prostitutes. Lee rode to Widow White's tavern with a minimal guard and it was there that Banastre Tarleton and the 16th Queen's Light Dragoons captured him on the morning of December 15.

The former comrades were now captor and captive. After being disappointed in his efforts to acquire a lucrative royal appointment, Lee had retired to the colonies in 1773 and quickly joined the Patriot cause. Tarleton had sworn in a London club that he would hunt down the traitor to the crown and relieve him of his head. Fortunately for Lee, Tarleton failed to keep his promise, although the vain general may well have preferred a quick end to the humiliation of being led from Widow White's tavern to New York City in his nightdress.

The British rejoiced at the capture of the Patriots' best-trained commander, while Washington fruitlessly negotiated for his release. Meanwhile, Lee enjoyed his captivity, even drafting a battle plan for his captors from plush accommodations in which his personal servant maintained his three rooms and no doubt served his food and wine in a most civilized fashion. The British did not act upon his plan, and Lee reported to Valley Forge upon his release in May 1778. After a series of arguments with Washington, Lee was suspended from the army in December 1778 and dismissed in 1780.

This is what happens when your ego makes you think you are above the law or above the rules! Thinking that you can make your own rules don't make it so. Mouthing off to your commanding officer is not the way to win friends and get a promotion.

Letting folks think you are ignorant is much better than opening your mouth and proving them right, don't you think?

Let's have our coffee in the kitchen this morning. I have some fresh cookies!

I Thought That Cheese Tasted Funny...!

Smugglers will try nearly anything to get their crap into the states.

I have to give them credit for this one, though. I have never heard of this tactic, but I certainly hope none of this ever reaches my grocery store!

Smuggler tried to hide $140,000 drug stash in nacho cheese

Customs and Border officials nabbed a 21-year-old Mexican citizen this week on suspicion of smuggling $140,000 worth of methamphetamine in these three cans of liquid nacho cheese and jalapenos, the LA Times reports. Incredibly, this is not the first time nacho cheese has been used as a smuggling tool. In October, a customs officials found 7 pounds of meth hidden in nacho cheese cans, NPR reports.

Next thing you know, these evil jerks will use my peanut butter to smuggle stuff in! That would be the ultimate insult! I say this has gone far enough! Time to put an end to all this bull!

If they touch my coffee...then we have a REAL problem!

Coffee in the kitchen again, folks! Gonna be that way for a few days!

The Devil Made Me Do It...!

I know this is Sunday and the last thing you want to see is another advertisement, but this is funny!

Well, at least it's funny to me! However, I've been told more than once that I have a slightly warped sense of humor, and that's probably true! Still, I feel that we all could use a good chuckle and if this helps...then it's worth it!



If you don't find this amusing, then just blame it on my poor taste or my lack of sleep or my dread of the family tree next weekend! All will be considered as true and I will accept all the blame for posting it today!

But like I said...I think it's pretty darn funny and I needed a laugh! So there!

C'mon into the kitchen and I'll get you some fresh coffee! There's a few pieces of strawberry cake left, OK?

Heck Of A Way To Go...!

It's always sad when folks decide to take their own life.

I'll never understand it, and I don't know what would ever drive someone to do it. That being said, if I were ever going to try and do it I would choose the quickest and most painless way to go. This does not fall into either in my way of thinking!

Suicide by piranha

By HARRY HAYDON
Published: 08 Dec 2011

A TEENAGER is believed to have committed "suicide by piranha" after leaping into a river infested with the flesh-eating fish.

Fisherman Oscar Barbosa, 18, bled to death after jumping out of his canoe.

He suffered dozens of bites to his throat and face on Bolivia's Yata River, local police chief Daniel Cayaya revealed.

He believed Oscar — from Rosario del Yata in the north east of the country — meant to kill himself.

Mr Cayaya said the teenager knew the river well and would have been aware that it is swarming with red piranhas at this time of year. He added that Oscar was thought to be drunk.

The 14-inch fish have razor sharp teeth and hunt in packs to strip their prey of flesh. They are known to devour large snakes and even jaguars in minutes.

Fatal attacks on humans are rare. But swimmers at a river beach in Brazil were attacked by hundreds of piranhas in September.

I'm afraid that with the holidays all but here, we will see more and more of folks taking this path. I hate to think that so many feel that this is the only way out, but every year it seems this happens.

Maybe an extra prayer or two is needed to help those who really need it the most, you know? Certainly couldn't hurt!

Coffee in the kitchen if that's alright. Sausage and biscuits are available if anyone's interested!

You Lost WHAT...?

What I want to know is...how in the hell do you manage to lose the moon rocks?

I mean, it's not like we can just run down to the corner store and get some more! Someone needs to explain this to me! You better NOT tell me that you accidentally threw them out when you cleaned the store room!

NASA admits losing moon rocks

NASA's Inspector General says the US space agency seems to have misplaced some pieces of the moon, meteorites and other space items.

NASA concedes that more than 500 pieces of space material have been stolen or been missing since 1970.

That includes 218 stolen moon samples that were returned and about two dozen moon rocks and chunks of lunar soil that were reported lost last year.

NASA has loaned more than 21,500 samples to researchers, who in some cases said they never ended up using the material.

The report says NASA needs to keep better track of what is sent to researchers and museums

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/nasa-admits-losing-moon-rocks/story-e6frfku0-1226217824699#ixzz1g0neeZUF

That's the final straw! As of now, you are all grounded from any further trips to space until you find all those rocks! Ya hear me?

C'mon, my friends, let's have coffee in the kitchen this morning.

This Is A Shameful Act...!

I don't want to hear about all the reasons that this was ever considered to be proper!

No matter the circumstances, these remains deserved better! The memories of these troops deserved better! Their very actions DEMAND better!

Sad that this practice was even considered as the best we could do for those that died in the service of our country!

Report Reveals More Soldiers' Remains Went to Landfill Than Previously Acknowledged

Published December 08, 2011

WASHINGTON – A U.S. Air Force Base disposed of at least 274 U.S. troops' partial remains in a Virginia landfill, it emerged late Wednesday -- far more than had been believed.

The practice of dumping incinerated remains in King George County landfill -- revealed last month -- took place from 2004 until 2008, when remains that could not be returned to the soldiers' families, or that the families asked the military to destroy, began being buried at sea.

Data gathered by The Washington Post shows that 274 identified service members' remains were dumped in that manner by mortuary staff at Delaware's Dover Air Force Base, the main repatriation point for U.S. war dead.

The Post reported that dumping incinerated remains in a landfill was never official policy, nor were senior Pentagon officials informed of the practice.

The newspaper's investigation -- which began when it found a single case of a soldier's remains ending up in the landfill -- culminated in air force officials releasing information that showed 976 pieces of 274 identified troops ended up in the landfill.

Another 1,762 fragments of unidentified remains went to the landfill.

The scandal saw three mortuary staff disciplined when the practice was revealed in November.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/07/us-air-force-admits-dumping-over-250-soldiers-remains-in-landfill/#ixzz1fvq0MEhj

I'm sorry, but this bothers me more than I can possibly say! I can't understand it, I don't condone it, and I am ashamed of who ever took part in it! Ashamed!

Coffee in the kitchen this morning. It's nice and warm in there!

Remembering Pearl Harbor...!

America's involvement in World War 2 became set in stone because of the actions of the Japanese on this date.

Certainly one of the most remembered dates in American history, as well as one of the saddest!

Pearl Harbor bombed

At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II.

With diplomatic negotiations with Japan breaking down, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his advisers knew that an imminent Japanese attack was probable, but nothing had been done to increase security at the important naval base at Pearl Harbor. It was Sunday morning, and many military personnel had been given passes to attend religious services off base. At 7:02 a.m., two radar operators spotted large groups of aircraft in flight toward the island from the north, but, with a flight of B-17s expected from the United States at the time, they were told to sound no alarm. Thus, the Japanese air assault came as a devastating surprise to the naval base.

Much of the Pacific fleet was rendered useless: Five of eight battleships, three destroyers, and seven other ships were sunk or severely damaged, and more than 200 aircraft were destroyed. A total of 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 were wounded, many while valiantly attempting to repulse the attack. Japan's losses were some 30 planes, five midget submarines, and fewer than 100 men. Fortunately for the United States, all three Pacific fleet carriers were out at sea on training maneuvers. These giant aircraft carriers would have their revenge against Japan six months later at the Battle of Midway, reversing the tide against the previously invincible Japanese navy in a spectacular victory.

The day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, President Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of Congress and declared, "Yesterday, December 7, 1941--a date which will live in infamy--the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." After a brief and forceful speech, he asked Congress to approve a resolution recognizing the state of war between the United States and Japan. The Senate voted for war against Japan by 82 to 0, and the House of Representatives approved the resolution by a vote of 388 to 1. The sole dissenter was Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana, a devout pacifist who had also cast a dissenting vote against the U.S. entrance into World War I. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war against the United States, and the U.S. government responded in kind.

The American contribution to the successful Allied war effort spanned four long years and cost more than 400,000 American lives.

Please find time today to say a prayer for the memory of those lost in battle, as well as for those that offered their all to protect us from all enemies of our great nation.

God bless all those that continue to do so today! God Bless Our Republic!

Coffee in the kitchen this morning! Want some apple pie with that?

Disaster In Halifax Harbor...!

The most devastating explosion of it's kind happened on this date in 1917, causing unforgettable damage and destruction.

Accidents like this was probably the main force behind so many of the safety procedures we follow today! I would hope this never happens again!

Dec 6, 1917:

The Great Halifax Explosion

At 9:05 a.m., in the harbor of Halifax in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, the most devastating manmade explosion in the pre-atomic age occurs when the Mont Blanc, a French munitions ship, explodes 20 minutes after colliding with another vessel.

As World War I raged in Europe, the port city of Halifax bustled with ships carrying troops, relief supplies, and munitions across the Atlantic Ocean. On the morning of December 6, the Norwegian vessel Imo left its mooring in Halifax harbor for New York City. At the same time, the French freighter Mont Blanc, its cargo hold packed with highly explosive munitions--2,300 tons of picric acid, 200 tons of TNT, 35 tons of high-octane gasoline, and 10 tons of gun cotton--was forging through the harbor's narrows to join a military convoy that would escort it across the Atlantic.

At approximately 8:45 a.m., the two ships collided, setting the picric acid ablaze. The Mont Blanc was propelled toward the shore by its collision with the Imo, and the crew rapidly abandoned the ship, attempting without success to alert the harbor of the peril of the burning ship. Spectators gathered along the waterfront to witness the spectacle of the blazing ship, and minutes later it brushed by a harbor pier, setting it ablaze. The Halifax Fire Department responded quickly and was positioning its engine next to the nearest hydrant when the Mont Blanc exploded at 9:05 a.m. in a blinding white flash.

The massive explosion killed more than 1,800 people, injured another 9,000--including blinding 200--and destroyed almost the entire north end of the city of Halifax, including more than 1,600 homes. The resulting shock wave shattered windows 50 miles away, and the sound of the explosion could be heard hundreds of miles away.

This was, without a doubt, a terrible tragedy! Even though it was a long time ago, the lessons learned from this type of incident have more than likely saved a great many lives. I certainly hope that's the case!

Back in the kitchen again for our coffee this morning. Too cold for me outside!

I'll Drink To That...!

On this same date, the end came to what was one of the most failed experiments in modern times.

The government learned that you cannot curb the appetites for alcohol just by making it illegal! What you do instead is to create a lot of rich gangsters.

Sounds a lot like the "war on drugs", doesn't it?

Dec 5, 1933:

Prohibition ends

The 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, repealing the 18th Amendment and bringing an end to the era of national prohibition of alcohol in America. At 5:32 p.m. EST, Utah became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, achieving the requisite three-fourths majority of states' approval. Pennsylvania and Ohio had ratified it earlier in the day.

The movement for the prohibition of alcohol began in the early 19th century, when Americans concerned about the adverse effects of drinking began forming temperance societies. By the late 19th century, these groups had become a powerful political force, campaigning on the state level and calling for national liquor abstinence. Several states outlawed the manufacture or sale of alcohol within their own borders. In December 1917, the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes," was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. On January 29, 1919, the 18th Amendment achieved the necessary three-fourths majority of state ratification. Prohibition essentially began in June of that year, but the amendment did not officially take effect until January 29, 1920.

In the meantime, Congress passed the Volstead Act on October 28, 1919, over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of Prohibition, including the creation of a special Prohibition unit of the Treasury Department. In its first six months, the unit destroyed thousands of illicit stills run by bootleggers. However, federal agents and police did little more than slow the flow of booze, and organized crime flourished in America. Large-scale bootleggers like Al Capone of Chicago built criminal empires out of illegal distribution efforts, and federal and state governments lost billions in tax revenue. In most urban areas, the individual consumption of alcohol was largely tolerated and drinkers gathered at "speakeasies," the Prohibition-era term for saloons.

Prohibition, failing fully to enforce sobriety and costing billions, rapidly lost popular support in the early 1930s. In 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed and ratified, ending national Prohibition. After the repeal of the 18th Amendment, some states continued Prohibition by maintaining statewide temperance laws. Mississippi, the last dry state in the Union, ended Prohibition in 1966.

What I don't understand is why do the PTB continue to pursue avenues that have long ago ceased to be effective? There has to be some better way to approach the problem.

I can't help but think that instead of making a few industrious criminals rich, we need to find some way to recoup part of those vast amounts of money and put it back into the infrastructure of this country!

Just a thought! Coffee in the kitchen this morning, if that's alright with you!

How About A Sunday Mystery...?

I figured that today would be a good time to share a mystery right out of the history books!

Many of you may have heard of this ship before, but many others may not have had the chance to study it. To this day, the mystery has not been solved and that's what makes it such an enduring maritime tale!

Dec 4, 1872:

The mystery of the Mary Celeste

The Dei Gratia, a small British brig under Captain David Morehouse, spots the Mary Celeste, an American vessel, sailing erratically but at full sail near the Azores Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship was seaworthy, its stores and supplies were untouched, but not a soul was onboard.

On November 7, the brigantine Mary Celeste sailed from New York harbor for Genoa, Italy, carrying Captain Benjamin S. Briggs, his wife and two-year-old daughter, a crew of eight, and a cargo of some 1,700 barrels of crude alcohol. After the Dei Gratia sighted the vessel on December 4, Captain Morehouse and his men boarded the ship to find it abandoned, with its sails slightly damaged, several feet of water in the hold, and the lifeboat and navigational instruments missing. However, the ship was in good order, the cargo intact, and reserves of food and water remained on board.

The last entry in the captain's log shows that the Mary Celeste had been nine days and 500 miles away from where the ship was found by the Dei Gratia. Apparently, the Mary Celeste had been drifting toward Genoa on her intended course for 11 days with no one at the wheel to guide her. Captain Briggs, his family, and the crew of the vessel were never found, and the reason for the abandonment of the Mary Celeste has never been determined.

I always did love a good mystery, but what makes this one even better is the fact that that it is real and not some made up piece of fiction! I, for one, would love to know the whole story, but I suppose we will never find out the true facts.

Like a good mystery book with the last couple of pages torn out, isn't it?

The cold front hasn't come in yet, so let's have our coffee on the patio! OK?

Old Folks With Wheels...!

Yesterday, our friend Dizzy Dick showed us a few pictures of his new motor home.

If you missed it, you can see it over at his Blog! and I have to admit, it is one good looking piece of hardware!

Seeing his new one made me want to look around for something like that for myself! After browsing around, I think I've found the perfect camper for me!

Not quite as big as Dizzy's, but then I don't have three dogs and a wife. That means I don't need much room! For a single person like me, this might be just the thing!

Now, I need to bring you a medical alert that I just heard about! You might be affected and then, you might not...but either way, I felt it important to bring you this warning! I did not know this...


When you drink vodka over ice, it can give you kidney failure.


When you drink rum over ice, it can give you liver failure.


When you drink whiskey over ice, it can give you heart problems.


When you drink gin over ice, it can give you brain problems.


Apparently, ice is really bad for you.


Warn all your friends !

Whew! I feel much better now that I've got the warning out to all my friends!

How about we get some fresh coffee and sit outside this morning? Should be a nice day until the cold and nasty front comes in!

Another Gift From My Cat...!

Do you remember when, not to long ago, I showed you a present from my cat?

In case you have forgotten, here is a picture to jog your memory!

Now, as any of you with cats around the house know, they are notorious for bringing little gifts to the humans that feed them. I don't know if the reason is to show off their hunting skills or just to follow nature's urges!

Anyway, last night C.B. brought me another little present. Pretty nice for a Siamese tom, don't you think? At least this one he left outside and didn't bring into my room!

What was it, you asked? Well, instead of just telling you about it, I better show you! Ready...?

In case you don't know, this is a fully grown opossum, Or as we call it here in Texas...a 'POSSUM! Whatever you call it, I don't ever remember hearing of a cat catching one before!

I'm thinking that in a survival situation, this cat of mine might be handy to have around! If he could bring down a possum, he can be in charge of putting meat on the table!

Making the best of each and every team member's talents, right? That's what it's going to take!

Coffee on the patio this morning. We have some nasty weather coming in later!

You Gotta Love This Guy...!

This old boy lived in a time when men were men.

I don't care who you are, when you have the intestinal fortitude to stand up to 80 Texas cowboys wanting to fight, then you are a "Bad Man!" This man had some major backbone, let me tell ya!

Dec 1, 1884:

Elfego Baca battles Anglo cowboys

Elfego Baca, legendary defender of southwestern Hispanos, manages to hold off a gang of 80 cowboys who are determined to kill him.

The trouble began the previous day, when Baca arrested Charles McCarthy, a cowboy who fired five shots at him in a Frisco (now Reserve), New Mexico, saloon. For months, a vicious band of Texan cowboys had terrorized the Hispanos of Frisco, brutally castrating one young Mexican man and using another for target practice. Outraged by these abuses, Baca gained a commission as deputy sheriff to try to end the terror. His arrest of McCarthy served notice to other Anglo cowboys that further abuses of the Hispanos would not be tolerated.

The Texans, however, were not easily intimidated. The morning after McCarthy's arrest, a group of about 80 cowboys rode into town to free McCarthy and make an example of Baca for all Mexicans. Baca gathered the women and children of the town in a church for their safety and prepared to make a stand. When he saw how outnumbered he was, Baca retreated to an adobe house, where he killed one attacker and wounded several others. The irate cowboys peppered Baca's tiny hideout with bullets, firing about 400 rounds into the flimsy structure. As night fell, they assumed they had killed the defiant deputy sheriff, but the next morning they awoke to the smell of beef stew and tortillas--Baca was fixing his breakfast.

A short while later, two lawmen and several of Baca's friends came to his aid, and the cowboys retreated. Baca turned himself over to the officers, and he was charged with the murder of one of the cowboys. In his trial in Albuquerque, the jury found Baca not guilty because he had acted in self-defense, and he was released to a hero's welcome among the Hispanos of New Mexico. Baca was adored because he had taken a stand against the abusive and racist Anglo newcomers. Hugely popular, Baca later enjoyed a successful career as a lawyer, private detective, and politician in Albuquerque.

Let me say this! If this guy was running for office in my town...I'd vote for him, hands down! I sure wish we had a few men of this caliber in office today!

Let's grab some fresh coffee and sit out on the patio! I'll build a fire in the pit so we can stay warm!